RiverLink Holds Meeting for Proposed Housing Project

December 10, 6 PM at  RiverLink's Warehouse Studios, 170 Lyman Street, in the heart of Asheville's River Art District - Join RiverLink and developer Jay Fiano for a neighborhood and community meeting to view and review plans for a new proposed housing project on Amboy Road directly across from the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay greenway.

RiverLink is spearheading the economic and environmental rebirth of the French Broad River and its watershed as a destination where everyone is invited to live, work and play. They accomplish their mission by providing permanent public access to the river through conservation and recreation easements, reclaiming contaminated lands for public use, greenway development, adaptive reuse of historic structures, creating public no-fee no-reservation camping sites along the river, adaptive reuse of historic structures, educating 5,000 school children a year and the public-at-large about the importance of the river, and empowering 1,700 volunteers annually.

International Nominee "Town Mountain" Headlines Friday Night at RiverLink RiverMusic Concert

August 23   River Music Concert Series   Dance under the stars next to the beautiful French Broad River at Asheville's new summer concert series hosted by New Belgium Brewing and RiverLink.  There will be New Belgium beer, a variety of good eats provided by your favorite Asheville food trucks and the waters of the beautiful French Broad flowing right by the stage. Best of all, these events are FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chair  and enjoy the view of the French Broad River.23 String Band and Caro Mia Featuring Bluegrass, Soul, Old Time Roots & Blues will perform at Asheville's premier multi-modal even.  The live music performance beside the French Broad River begins at 5 PM  at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza in the River Arts District. 

The rain-or-shine event features five local craft brewers: Highland, Pisgah, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium and Asheville Brewing Co. To feed the hungry, there will be foodtrucks: Melt Your Heart, Pho Ya Belly, The Low Down, Gypsy Queen Cuisine, and non-alcoholic beverages and other goodies from Ursa Minor.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at the event at 144 Riverside Drive by bike, on foot, or even by boat. Watercraft can easily be landed at the new river access RiverLink had constructed at the site. Asheville on Bikes will offer a bike corral for safe bike parking. 

A new transportation option this year is the Gray Line Trolley. Gray Line Trolley has signed on to provide a shuttle between  the downtown area the RiverMusic site. This is being accomplished in cooperation with the Asheville Downtown Association. The trolley will loop between the event site and the Aloft Hotel. The last trolley will leave the concert site at 10 PM.

Get links for more Asheville events and complete visitor information on the Asheville NC Guide.

 

Whitewater Rafting Trip Supports RiverLink

May 5 -  Blue Heron Whitewater is hosting a whitewater rafting trip in support of RiverLink.   Join the adventure for a half day trip down Section 9 of the French Broad River. Spend the day on the river having fun and enjoying our beautiful river, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting RiverLink the Asheville conservation

organization that is spearheading the French Broad River Paddle Trail and interactive map, the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay, watershed education for children all ages, and empowering 1,700 volunteers to assist with  numerous programs and projects improving water quality and economic development  in the French Broad River Watershed.

Participants will meet at Blue Heron Whitewater at 1:30 PM. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED  - call Blue Heron Whitewater to reserve your space at 1-888-426-7238 or 828-450-4663. The cost is $44 per person with a Minimum age of 8 years old. The price  includes: rafting, gear, guides, and safety overview.

Find more Asheville events, lodging and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

The Art of Business or the Business of Art Seminar

April 11 -   Phil Mechanic Studios and Flood Gallery & Fine Arts Center,  in association with RiverLink, Self-Help Credit Union (SHCU) and the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), are pleased to present:

"Shedding Light on the Business of Art:  An Intensive One-Day Workshop on Business Basics for the Artists of the Watershed."

 From 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Phil Mechanic Studios will open their doors for this one-day-only, free seminar (with lunch included) that will engage you in topics such as:

• Improving Your Credit Score
• Licensing, Registration with the State, and Legal Considerations
• Obtaining Funding
• Developing a Business Plan
• Growth Strategies
• Marketing, Pricing, Preparing a Professional Portfolio, and the Appropriate Use of Social Media

Each topic will be discussed by a group of experts in the field and then opened up for questions from the audience.  In addition to members of the four sponsor organizations, panelists will include, among others, representatives from AB Tech's Small Business Center, Asheville Grown, the City of Asheville, Eagle Market Street Development, Handmade in America, Mountain BizWorks, the Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIF), OnTrack Financial Education and Counseling, SCORE, the Small Business Administration (SBA),  The Support Center, Venture Asheville and from the consulting firm, Who Knows Art.

Two special sessions will round out the day:  one that will present two artists in front of a select group of experts and give them the opportunity to present issues/problems/needs facing their business and receive feedback and a second that will wrap up the day with "success stories" that will inspire and empower you.

Participating artists will include Sean "Jinx" Pace, Melissa Terrezza, Jeremy Russell, and others.

This one-day event is FREE and open to all artists in the Watershed, but registration is required in order to assure seating and lunch.  Register today by calling 828.252.8474 ext. 10.  

  

RiverLink Kicks Off Warehouse Studios Revitalization Fundraiser with Kickstarter

RiverLink is in the process of giving the Warehouse Studios a facelift. Part of this project includes a mural painted by a local artist. This is being done for free. To bring the building back to its full glory, we also need new handrails for the Warehouse Studios (both into our offices and for the handicap access for the artist studios on the second floor).

These handrails will be a collaboration between a local Asheville artist and RiverLink as well as the Biltmore Iron & Metal Company who will be donating the metal.

RiverLink is starting a new KickStarter initiative to fund the project. The project is called artistic hands and the goal is raise $4000 by April 30, 2013.

Kickstarter is based on all-or-nothing funding. Starting March 1, people will be able to sign on and pledge money to help with the Artistic Hands projects. We have set a goal, and if for some reason that goal is not reached, RiverLink will not get any of the money pledged.

RiverLink is very excited about this project, and committed to ensuring artists of the River Arts District are able to make a living from their trade. The money raised in this project will make sure RiverLink is able to pay the artist who will create the handrails and help bring the building, and the River Arts District, back to life. 

Riverlink,  located in Asheville's River Arts District,  is a regional organization spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River watershed as a destination where everyone can work, live and play .

CLICK HERE for more information about the Artist Hands project.

RiverLink Offers Free Children's Tickets to Piccadilly Circus: Blammo

RiverLink is offering free Children's General Admission tickets to the Piccadilly Circus: Blammo! in Fletcher, a suburb of Ashevillle.  The circus will feature the Cossack Warriors, comedic clowns, a free petting zoo and the My Little Pony Parade. The event will be held at the WNC Agriculture Center Arena on Thursday March 7, 2013.  Show times are 4:30 and 7:30 PM.  

Each ticket is good for free admission for children under the age of 13. The ticket will admit ONE child with purchase of an adult ticket. This is for Children's General Admission and is not a Children's VIP area ticket. 

Adult tickets may be purchased online. Use the code "CIRCUS" until 10:00 AM the morning of the show to receive 50% off the Adult General Admission ticket price. 

Tickets are first come, first serve. Stop by the RiverLink offices at 170 Lyman Street to pick them up.  More info about the Picadilly Circus can be found  HERE.

Final River Music Concert for the Season

September 14  River Music Concert Series  These concerts by the French Broad River are among Asheville's newest entertainment offerings, but quickly have4 become among the most popular.  The last concert will be held  rain or shine at the RiverLink Sculpture and Performance Plaza in the heart of the River Arts District.  Dance under the stars next to the beautiful French Broad River.

Gates open at 5 PM and the music begins at 6 PM. Purveyors of the funk Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band with special guests The Fritz will be performing.   RiverLink's RiverMUSIC 2012 is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, inspired by the Chaddick Foundation and supported by Pisgah Investments.

Buy a Raffle Ticket to Win a Fat Tire Bicycle

Be sure to come early and support local businesses along the French Broad River. There will be New Belgium beer and a variety of good eats provided by your favorite Asheville food trucks. Best of all, these events are FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chair and picnic basket and enjoy the view of the French Broad River.

River Music Concert Series continues this Friday

August 24   River Music Concert Series   Dance under the stars next to the beautiful French Broad River at Asheville's new summer concert series hosted by New Belgium Brewing and RiverLink.  There will be New Belgium beer, a variety of good eats provided by your favorite Asheville food trucks and the waters of the beautiful French Broad flowing right by the stage.

Best of all, these events are FREE to the public. Bring your lawn chair  and enjoy the view of the French Broad River.

Celebrate the French Broad River at Riverfest

August 11, 1 PM - 7 PM  RiverFest 2012   Celebrate the French Broad River with an exciting lineup of music with Asheville's own Nikki Talley leading off the afternoon, followed by Mountain Feist, and RiverFest 2012 headliner The Galen Kipar Project. There will also be kids activities, food, beer, crafts, and of course, the Anything That Floats Parade of rafts.

Anything That Floats Parade Teams of adults and/or youths build anything that floats without a motor with creativity, innovation and zaniness are encouraged. Rafts can represent a business, organization, group, or any personal theme. The parade begins at Hominy Creek Park and finishes at Jean Webb Park. The home-made crafts will be competing for the titles of Most Creative, Green Machine, Ugliest, Funniest, and Most Unique Design.

Get more information about the French Broad River and Asheville attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide