Visit To Asheville

Gwinnet Daily Post in Georgia visits Asheville and has delightful things to say about it.


My last visit to Asheville was in the early 1990s, and I never would have imagined what it would become in the year 2005: a breathtaking community filled with artists' studios, restaurants, bistros, shops, nightclubs and, of course, eclectic bookshops like Malaprop's.

Who knew this once-hidden outpost in western North Carolina's landscape would be the center of a strong concentration of creativity and beauty? Nowhere in the Southeast can you find this much class, style and culture.

[MORE »]

Communal Living - CoHousing

Interested in an Intentional Community? Earthaven Ecovillage and Southern Dharma are a few communities in our area.

The Practice Community at Southern Dharma (PCSD) is an intentional sangha or practice community developed adjacent to Southern Dharma Retreat Center (SDRC) where individuals with a spiritual practice can live, retreat, study and meditate with the support of others.

The PCSD consists of ten sites or "holdings" that are divided into three clusters along the Dharma Path. Seven of the ten holdings are now owned. These holdings consist of five completed cabins, one pre-existing cabin, and one cabin under construction this Fall 2005.
Link
* * * * * * * *
Earthaven Ecovillage is an aspiring ecovillage in a mountain forest setting near Asheville, North Carolina. We are dedicated to caring for people and the Earth by learning, living, and demonstrating a holistic, sustainable culture.

Since 1995, we have grown to 60 full members--from young children to a great-grandmother--and we expect to grow to 150 people. We are building homes in 14 neighborhoods and developing on-site businesses as part of our own village-scale economy.
Link
* * * * * * * *
Zendik (zendik.org) moved a few years ago to West Virginia, but there's also the Westwood Cohousing Community, and Zim Zam Intentional Community.

Blue Mountain Schoolhouse

Not so long ago, the traditional one-room schoolhouse was the heart and soul of community education in America. With a couple of changes, it still is.

The one-room schoolhouse brought students of all ages, all skill levels together – to learn together. That’s the idea behind Blue Mountain Schoolhouse, a return to community-based education. Through independent workshops and classes, teachers offer one-on-one training in fine art, crafts, trades, healing arts, and spiritual disciplines.

Blue Mountain Schoolhouse is a Western North Carolina teacher cooperative made up of a small administrative staff and an unlimited faculty drawn from the community. It’s a return to natural community-based education.

Link

Asheville Elects First African-American Mayor

After thanking a list of Asheville’s African-American pioneers, Democrat Terry Bellamy said the election results show she has a clear mandate that includes:

• Creating more jobs that pay a living wage.

• Increasing housing that working people can afford.

• Keeping students from dropping out of school

• Reducing drug usage and improving public safety.

"It is my goal to leave Asheville in a better position than I have found it," Bellamy said.

She's generating a lot of excitement and hope. Truly great news for Asheville.

Link

Bhagavan Das

Virato of Virato Live radio program on The Revolution, 880 AM, enjoys a lay back rap with Bhagavan Das Saturday, November 5, 11:00 AM - Noon EST, the first American to live with the acknowledged saint Neem Karoli Baba and was the catalyst for the many westerners that followed on a similar journey to the East in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Born in America, and definitely not of Indian extraction (he was a California surfer), he spent six continuous years in India and Nepal. In fact, he was the person who introduced Dr. Richard Albert to Neem Karoli Baba, who gave Albert the name Ram Dass

While there he studied Hinduism and Buddhism, living the life of a sadhu (ascetic renunciate). During those years, he received numerous initiations and teachings from living Masters including Karmapa, Dudjom Rinpoche, Lama Kalu, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and Anandamayi Ma.

Back in America, Bhagavan Das met and began working with the likes of poet Alan Ginsburg and Zen spiritualist Alan Watts among others. He also made friends was with many in the pop music world. It was during this time that Bhagavan Das was introduced to Jimi Hendrix’s manager Michael Jeffries who arranged for him to record in the legendary Electric Ladyland studios.

Those sessions led to his first album entitled AH. AH is one of the earliest recordings in what would be known as "world music". And today, Bhagavan Das is quoted as being "the Jimi Hendrix of Kirtan masters."

Bhagavan Das has opened for The Grateful Dead, and performed with Bob Dylan, Madonna and many other musical celebrities.

If you want to feel and hear Virato chanting with this icon you need to buy the CD...

Asheville: The Top 25

How do we love North Carolina's favorite mountain town? Brad Tuttle counts the way in no particular order. For Example---

6. The banned-book list at Malaprop's

In addition to titles of gay, lesbian, and transgender interest--and separate sections for graphic novels and local writers and poets--this very independent bookstore has several shelves of books currently banned by schools and libraries around the country. Gone With the Wind, Lord of the Flies, Hamlet, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and a few of the Harry Potter titles are all on someone's no-no list. Several times a week, the bookstore-and-café hosts author readings and live music. The bulletin board where locals post events, jobs, and solicitations is absolutely worth a look. One recent flyer read: 2chix lawn care--support the women's movement. 55 Haywood St., 828/254-6734.

I found this list to be quit handy for both visitors and natives.

Link

After debunking right-wing propaganda in his bestselling books, Al Franken took the fight to America's airwaves on Air America Radio. Now he's bringing his fearlessly irreverent commentary, comedy, and interviews to Asheville.

On Wednesday, November 30th, The Al Franken Show will be broadcast live from Thomas Wolfe Auditorium here in Asheville, NC.

Link

Coven Oldenwilde

Asheville's 11th Annual Public Witch Ritual will be celebrated Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, from 8-10 p.m., at French Broad River Park in West Asheville. Circle with Southeast Pagans, Witches, and our local Hispanic community at Coven Oldenwilde's popular, powerful, family-friendly religious rite! Link

Asheville Fall Color

Asheville's tourist season is in full swing. People from all over the world come to view the changing leaves each fall. Best viewing time is primarily between October 15 - 25, I've decided, after living here all my life. It's still very nice a week before and a week after. Here are a few websites to help with chosing your fall leaves touring route.

The Explore Asheville website is the handbook on Leaf Reports for our area. And you can see more of the beautiful fall report when viewing these
Blue Ridge Parkway photos.

It's actually beautiful everywhere you look; especially during the fall and anytime on the Parkway.

Any Way You Like It

Asheville's old marketing slogan was "Land of Sky," a motto that touted its mountain beauty.

As of Tuesday, the new slogan is "any way you like it," a motto that touts the city's acceptance of the unconventional.

Beginning next winter, TV spots will air in Atlanta, Charlotte and Orlando, showing skinny-dipping seniors in mountain streams and mountain bikers careening down the grand staircase at Biltmore House.

Travel magazines will show traffic signs that urge pedestrians to skip rather than walk or "Stop and Smell the Cappuccino."

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority spent two years and $200,000 researching Asheville's image before unveiling a new logo and TV spots Tuesday.

"For many years, Asheville positioned itself as a hub destination in the mountains where you go to all these attractions. But as the market became more cluttered and consumers more sophisticated, that message didn't resonate," said Herman Turk, general manager of the Asheville Renaissance Hotel and chairman of the TDA.

Marla Tambellini, director of marketing for the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city needed to go behind its superficial identity.

"We need to go beyond the physical attractions and find the emotional connection," she said. "What do visitors experience when they visit here?"

The TDA will spend $1.7 million for an ad campaign starting next February to promote Asheville as a unique destination where anyone can find a personal adventure.

"We did think outside the box," said Leslie MacInnis of Cramer-Krasselt, the TDA's new ad agency based in Orlando, Fla. "This campaign will stand out for the community, but hey, this is a standout community, what can I say. This town can deliver on the promise. When you come on an Asheville vacation, anything can happen."

Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com

Katuah Sudbury School

Katuah Sudbury School will be opening Wednesday, October 5th at the Unity Center in Fletcher. Sudbury schools are completely democratic and believe in the individual's innate wisdom to choose. For children 5 - 17.

To get more info on Asheville's new school go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AshevilleSudbury or visit their website at http://www.katuahsudbury.org/

Located in South Asheville, looks like another great educational option added to the progressive mix.

Asheville Pagan Pride Day

There IS a Pagan Pride celebration here this weekend and it's being held at the university, UNC-Asheville. I had previsouly read the date wrong. Diotima Mantineia, associate editor of The Witches’ Voice (www.witchvox.com), will speak on “Confessions of a Dirt Worshipper: At the Interface of Science and Magic,” about how she reconciled her training as a scientist with her belief in magic.

Participants will also be talking about the 11th annual observation of Samhain, the pagan new year celebration Oct. 31, at the French Broad River Park.

Asheville’s 2005 Pagan Pride Day is being sponsored by CERES (Cosmic Connections and Ancient Journeys).

Link

OrganicFest

OrganicFest 2005 on September 10, is a celebration of everything organic! A FUNtastic day of live music, dancing, drawings for baskets of fabulous organic goodies and gift certificates, free organic samples and giveaways, an Organicfest Market on the Square featuring the finest organic: food and refreshments, clothing, herbs, flowers and natural arts and crafts. Informative conversation and help with organic living, organic gardening, and more. Fun activities for kids including the Organicfest Garden Parade at 1pm. Join the celebration on Saturday, September 10th from 10am to 6pm in Pack Square, downtown Asheville!

Link

POWWOW

The T.o.u.c.h. Samadhi
2nd Annual Arts and Music Festival

One Who Has Visions
Autumn Equinox - Sept. 23 - 25, 2005
Deerfields - Asheville, NC

www.touchsamadhi.com

Link

Mellow Mushroom

There is a popular restaurant in the middle of downtown Asheville, called the
Mellow Mushroom.

It's main attraction besides their delicious pizza is their sidewalk cafe. A prime spot for people watching and meeting friends for a leisurely lunch or a few tasty beers. Here is a picture of the restaurant. Longtime residents will know this as the old Stone Soup.

This wall surrounds the courtyard and was found at Zen's Flickr website, who's always got good local photos.