Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake

June 13 Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake. Begins 8AM The picturesque Biltmore Lake community is the site of the second Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake, which attracts athletes from across the Southeast. This sprint triathlon features a 750 meter swim, 17.5 mile bike and 5K run.

THE CORNER KITCHEN

THE CORNER KITCHEN (IN BILTMORE VILLAGE)- The absolute best homemade vegetable chips on the planet. But then they'd have to be great to share a plate with some of the best sandwiches in Asheville. All are with fresh, natural, quality ingredients. Open breakfast, lunch, dinner with truly special meals for all three.

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY - an Asheville haven

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY. 1+ bd, 1 bath with mountain VIEWS, wood-burning fireplace and firewood, walking trails, guest robes, picnic baskets, BBQ grill, rockers, hammock, hot tub, Reiki Sessions on site. $175-$215 night, $1050 - $1290 week.

The North Carolina Arboretum

The Arboretum's 434 acres of natural beauty provides ample opportunities for all ages to connect with nature and learn how plants are important to our world. Visitors from across the world enjoy exploring the Arboretum's outdoor exhibits such as art installations and 65 acres of cultivated gardens, including one of the finest, most unique bonsai collections in the United States.

Nestled in one of the most botanically diverse and beautiful natural settings in America, the Arboretum offers engaging outdoor and indoor exhibits that provide opportunities to cultivate connections with plants and explore how plants are important to our world.

Featured traveling exhibits at the Baker Exhibit Center provide interactive, enriching exhibits for all ages and interests, including group tours, field trips for school groups, members and visitors. The Education Center displays exhibits throughout the year by regional artists and craftsfolk that highlight the region's rich cultural heritage and crafts industry, and the Arboretum's Production Greenhouse displays innovations in horticulture.

Learn to Brew Class

June 7 noon-4PM Asheville, Hops & Vines.
All grain German Kolsch Bier. Learn all then ins and outs of all-grain brewing and feel confident in making the next step. We brew the beer on premises and cover everything - mashing, sparging, recipe formulation, sanitation and fermentation and bottling. The class includes a follow up bottling class two weeks later, when we bottle the beer and you take home a 6 pack of the brew! We've had great response with our classes, so sign up now and start brewing great beer right out of the gate.
$45 per person covers everything. We require pre-payment to reserve your spot. 828-252-5275

Open Studios at Grovewood Gallery

June 6 Asheville, Grovewood Gallery.
Grovewood Gallery welcomes art lovers to go behind the scenes and visit Grovewood Studios. This event is free and open to the public. Studio hours vary on the artist.
111 Grovewood Road
828-253-7651

Mountain Sports Festival for Pro and Amateur

May 29-30 Asheville. Pro and amateur atheletes compete in mountain sports. Live music, food, demos at Festival Village.
Contact: info@mountainsportsfestival.com
(828) 251-4029

Annual Rose Exhibit at the Arboretum

May 30-31st
The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will hold its annual exhibition at The North Carolina Arboretum.
For more info call 828-665-2492.

Summer Furniture Exhibition

May 25 - August 10 Asheville, Grovewood Gallery.
Dual Personalities: Multifunctional Contemporary Furniture - a unique studio furniture exhibition chop full of character. This invitational exhibition will coincide with The Furniture Society’s 2009 conference in Boone, NC and pre-conference tour to Asheville. The exhibit will feature a variety of one-of-a-kind functional pieces, by leading North Carolina furniture makers, that have the common theme of multiple uses.
Call 828.253.7651 or visit www.grovewood.com.

2nd Annual Laugh Your Asheville Off Fest

The 2nd annual Laugh Your Asheville Off comedy festival has come to town to spread the laughs around on July 17, 18 & 19. Half of the 21 comedians involved are from Asheville. There will also be a comedy and magic show for kids too.
For tickets and details visit www.laughyourashevilleoff.com

Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting- The Wine Guy North

May 27 7-9PM Asheville, The Wine Guy North. Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting - Nine full-bodied wines from around the world.
Reservations at 828-254-6500.
Visit: www.theashevillewineguy.com

Mad Hatter's Tea Party & Garden Tour

May 31 Asheville Legendary Inns are opening their spring gardens for you to tour!
Meet the Innkeepers and see the 1st floor of these seven magnificent homes ~ Capping off the event with limited availability, will be the Mad Hatter's Tea Party ~ where a judging for the most creative, funny and beautiful spring hat will take place. www.bedandbreakfastasheville.com/

Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

May 27 7-9PM Asheville, The Wine Guy North. Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting - Nine full-bodied wines from around the world. Reservations at 828-254-6500.
Visit: www.theashevillewineguy.com

Annual Rose Show-NC Arboretum

May 30 - 31 ASHEVILLE Annual Rose Show.
The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society will hold its annual exhibition at The North Carolina Arboretum. Roses of every color and size will be featured during the exhibition. Knowledgeable society members, will be available to provide information about the selection, care and history of these magnificent garden plants.
(828)665-2492
www.ncarboretum.org

Free Wine Tasting

May 23 FREE Wine Tasting - Crazy for Carmenere!
One of the most ancient European grape varieties, Carmenere was originally planted in the Médoc region of Bordeaux. It's name is derived from the French word for "crimson", which describes the bright red color of the foliage just prior to leaf fall. Today, it is found scattered around France, but is most widely planted in Chile, where it was mistaken for merlot for many years! 828-252-5275 Asheville, Hops & Vines.

Clearwater Connection performs May 24th

May 24th Asheville Community Theatre.
Tickets may be purchased in advance online, over the phone by calling 828-254-1320 or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office at 35 E. Walnut in downtown Asheville.

Attention Photographers! Day in the Life of Asheville

May 22-23 A Day in the Life of Asheville photo project is back for another year, and invites anyone with a camera to participate. This year, photographers will hit the streets beginning at noon on and will shoot until 11:59 p.m. May 23 for the spring 2009 edition of DITLO Asheville. The event is aimed at getting the community involved in artful photography, but you don't need to be a professional shutterbug with an expensive camera to participate. All are invited. All you need is any working camera, a flickr account, and access to Asheville. You never know when the perfect setting is met with a click!
http://ditlo.org/

Music on the deck at Shoji

Shoji Spa & Lodge.
Every Wednesday Night - Asheville
Music on the deck 7-10pm, complimentary libations, snacks and deep woods hot tubs. Enjoy our rejuvenating escape with a new twist. Receive tours of Shoji Spa & Lodge and relax at our mountain retreat.
www.shojiretreats.com
Phone: 828-299-0999

Ben Sollee at Grey Eagle Music Hall

May 23 8:00 PM Asheville, Grey Eagle Music Hall. Ben's unique performance experience and creative vision trump his 24 years and traditional classical training; he is poised to emerge as a solo artist, bridging genres and demographics with earnest and dynamic songwriting. However, the single most salient quality of Learning to Bend, is Ben's contagiously optimistic worldview. Ben is not just expressing his personal quest for flexibility and is asking the entire country to learn to bend, learn how to cry, learn how to see the sun rise!

Family Farm Tour

June 27-28 1-6PM Asheville, Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.Visit farms and gardens throughout Western North Carolina. Discover more about Western North Carolina’s local food movement and agricultural history with the Family Farm Tour from the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) and its partners. Purchase a button for admission for $20, plus $2 shipping at www.familyfarmtour.org. One button admits everyone in your car. You may also purchase buttons at participating farms on the day of the tour for $25. Gather your friends, fill a car, choose the farms you want to visit and plan a route. There are more than enough locations to fill a schedule for Saturday and Sunday.

Come with a cooler and your appetite. A variety of vegetables and fruits, trout, beef, pork, lamb, eggs, artisan cheeses, herbs, mushrooms, honey and preserves are available to sample or for sale. Watch animals such as bison, llamas, baby lambs and bunnies.

See traditional skills in practice—and even try them out yourself! Demonstrations include border collie shepherding, outdoor apple butter making, milking, maple syrup tapping and wool spinning.

Learn about new ideas during a tour of renewable energy systems. See a hydroponics system, visit an edible landscape and explore a garden labyrinth. Eat bread fresh from a wood-fired oven, savor artisan ice cream and stop for a picnic at one of the many beautiful farms along the way.

"Unto These Hills" Opens 60th season

June 5 - Opening performance. The world famous outdoor drama "Unto These Hills" has chronicled the history of the Cherokee Indians and entertained more than six million visitors since it first opened in 1950, and this year the drama opens its 60th season on June 5 in the newly renovated Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee. SPECIAL: 2 Children's tickets FREE with the purchase of an Adult ticket. Offer not available online, please call 1-866-554-4557 to purchase.

HIGH TOWER VACATION RENTAL

High Tower Vacation Rental perfectly located between Black Mountain and Asheville. 5 bds, 3 baths, frplc, ht tub, WIFI. Near Asheville, Biltmore Estate, Black Mt. Long range VIEWS. Ping Pong, games, 7-person jacuzzi on deck. Can be rented as 3/2 or 2/1 or entire home. Accommodates 2-14. $140-$328 per nt, $1905*per wk

Wildflower Day at the Parkway

May 23 Asheville area, The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, located at Parkway Milepost 384 will be the site for Wildflower Day at the Blue Ridge Parkway. Music, traditional dance, a guided Discovery Walk and other hands-on activities will be included. It's a great way for kids and their families to get out into nature and learn about the plants blooming around them. The high definition movie, "Blue Ridge Parkway, America's Favorite Journey," will be shown on the half hour, and the gift shop will be open with books, educational gifts and edible and scented products from local farms.

Tours of Civil War Markers

May 22-23 Asheville. The Buncombe County Civil War Trails Committee will host three opportunities for bus tours (2.5 hrs) of 11 of the 14 sites. Local historians will offer information on such sites as the slave village for the Eagle Hotel (Asheville City Works Building) and Vance Birthplace, home of Civil War Governor Zeb Vance. Tours leave from the Visitor Center. Friday, May 22 - 9am and 2pm - in partnership with Asheville Historic Trolley Tours. For reservations call 828-242-5435, $20 www.ashevilletrolleytours.com Saturday, May 23 - 10am - $5/person - This tour will use a Buncombe county activity bus and will see a slightly different tour with fewer markers. For reservations call 828-232-5024

Bed and Brakfast: The Lion and the Rose

The Lion and the Rose
Asheville restored mansion, rooms & suites with fireplaces, fridge $140-$225 full GOURMET breakfast WIFI, 24hr guest pantry, robes - walk to downtown from prime location in Asheville's historic Monford district. $140-$225 per night.
Toll free 1-800-546-6988

Asheville Wins East Coast Title for Beer City USA

Over the past month, more than 16,000 craft beer enthusiasts from 46 countries cast votes for “Beer City U.S.A.” in an online poll posted by founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian on www.Examiner.com. With roughly 30% of votes each, the top honor of Beer City U.S.A. was ultimately split between two cities--Portland, Oregon on the west coast (an epicenter of American brew culture with more than 30 breweries) and, unexpected underdog, Asheville! The vote results coincide with American Craft Beer Week, May 11 – 17, a national celebration highlighting the culture and contributions of craft beer.