*ELIZABETH EDWARDS' Bowling One, Health Care Zero | As North Carolinians vote in their primary, the woman from North Carolina who could have been the first lady writes a thought-provoking editorial about today's shallow reporting that undermines America's freedom. Click Here> 


James Nave: LEAF Slammaster MC, performance poet, Writing Salon founder * Compliments of LivePoets.com
*PERFORMANCE POETRY RETROSPECTIVE April 25 | Readings about the Performance Poetry Scene in the 90s by James Nave', Glenis Redmond, Allan Wolf, and Laura Hope-Gill at Malaprop's, Fri., April 25, 2008, 10 p.m. Click Here>

*PAGENTS Miss Teen, Miss and Mrs. NC April 26 | NC International Pagents take the stage at Diana Wortham Theatre on Sat., April 26, 2008. Click Here>

*WORDFEST of Poets April 27 | Black Mountain College Arts Center has assembled a gathering of local poets on Sun., April 27, 2008, 7 p.m. Featured poets are Thomas Rain Crowe, Jeff Davis, Keith Flynn, Lee Ann Brown, David Hopes, Gary Lilley, Rose McLarney and Allan Wolf. Co-sponsored by Wordfest Asheville. $5 students; $7. Click Here>


*EAT Three Square Meals Today | During breakfast, lunch and dinner, participate in the 6th annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser. "Join 7000 other caring individuals on April 24th for breakfast, lunch or dinner or all three at 100 of WNC restaurants and 20% of your bill will be donated to support the Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP). All you have to do is go out and have a great meal. How easy is that?" writes WNCAP executive director Ron Curran and event coordinator Harry Brown. Click Here>


Compliments of ButtonsOnline.com
*HILLARY CLINTON  Presents "Solutions" Event in Asheville April 24 | Sen. Clinton is scheduled to visit Downtown Asheville on Thurs., April 24, 2008. Her "Solutions for America" political event is open to the public and will take place at the Asheville Civic Center, beginning at 8 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m. Click Here>


*WHY I Endorsed Obama | In his spanking new, got-my-tie-on YouTube video, Buncombe County Commission candidate and newsman Cecil Bothwell explains why he's set on handing out 1,000 FREE Obama yard signs. So what the hey is he thinking? Find out. Click Here>

FEATURED NEWS...

*REPUBLICAN DEBATE for 11th District Videotaped | In their effort to unseat U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (Dem.), the three Republican congressional candidates for the 11th District -- Carl Mumpower (pictured), John Drummond and Ron Ballard -- debated on March 23, 2008, at the URTV studios, which was videotaped and recently released by "Sound Off Buncombe" Richard Bernier of AshVid.net. Click Here>

*ASHEVILLE'S Future? | Neighborhood coalition sees local residents as key to shaping the city's future. Click Here> 


Compliments of SignMonster.com
*CITY Seeks Volunteers for Enforcement | City program to train volunteers to help with handicapped parking enforcement. Click Here>


Photo by Wikipedia Commons
HATCHET JOB:
COUNTDOWN TO A CUTTING
Asheville's 100-year-old magnolia tree faces the hatchet ...
"Inside the Park" condominiums raises community ire ...
City Council to decide fate of people's park ...

*PROPOSED "PARKSIDE" CONDO PROJECT includes Pack Square Park Land | The mighty magnolia in Asheville's central park has stood for 100 years. In a few weeks, Stewart Coleman, one of Asheville's most powerful citizens, and his hatchet men may have the power to chop it down. It's now up to Asheville City Council to sort out the mess created by the Buncombe County Commissioners.

Here's the latest lowdown, public poop, and bold blogs concerning the controversial Coleman/Swag Holdings/Black Dog Realty proposal to take down the tree and build a high-rise condo, known as Parkside Condominiums. There's work to be done. Chop, chop. Click Here>

---

Big Sam's Funky Nation to appear at Lake Eden Arts Festival
LEAF FESTIVAL Advance-Only Tickets Still Available | Asheville Area's most eclectic outdoor event no longer offers at-the-gate sales. So buy your tickets now for the May 9-11 party of peace, poetry, dance, music and munchies, located just east of downtown off I-40. Click Here>

UNCA Master Calendar | Events for students and the public. Click Here>

MALAPROP'S Events | One of Downtown's favorite places. Click Here>

CIVIC CENTER Schedule of Events | In the heart of Downtown Asheville, big events for big (and sometimes wierd) fun. Click Here>


Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos
FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS April 5 - May 18 | For a bloomin' good tulip time, visit the Biltmore Estate. Click Here>

RINGLING BROS. Barnum & Bailey Circus May 28 - 31 | The all-new "Boom A Ring" Gold Tour of animals, acrobats and more at the Civic Center. Click Here>


FINE FLICKS at the Fine Arts | Popcorn and beer, too. Click Here>

DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Schedule of Events | Some of Downtown Asheville's best performances await you, including Capitol Steps political comedy (April 19), NC International Pagents featuring teens, miss and mrs. (April 26), the high-energy Koresh Dance Company (May 2-3) and Buille Irish music (May 22). Click Here>

TOURIST Calendar of Festivals and Events | Something for everyone. Click Here>

13 Calendars of Events | Always something new to do. Click Here>


KEOWEE Chamber Music | 8th Annual Festival begins June 3. Click Here>

WRITERS' WORKSHOPS | At Flood Gallery in Asheville's River District. Click Here>

ART WALKS in Downtown Asheville - June 6, Aug. 1, Oct. 3 | Rain or shine, on select Fridays from 5 to 8 p.m., the art galleries of Downtown Asheville invite you to come early and stay late. Click Here>

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Architectural Tour Click Here>

GROVE ARCADE Architectural Tour | Simply spectacular. Click Here>

Who's Doin' The Peel? Click Here>

GRAY EAGLE Live | Pickin', singin', playin'. Click Here>

TOP 20 Night Spots | For fun downtown. Click Here>


Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos
WRITE to this journalistic, grassroots-oriented, community news website | Tell us your Downtown Asheville story; inspire us this spring with your words and images. (Of course, we'll give you attribution.) Click Here>


BOTHWELL 4 Buncombe | Long-time local news writer and editor Cecil Bothwell has decided it's time for the average citizen to have more of a say in Buncombe County government. Writes Bothwell: "I'm running for the Board of Commissioners because I am a strong, ethical leader and believe I'm able to guide our community in tackling hard problems and realizing our full potential. I believe government works better when average citizens step up to the plate and take their turn in office, doing the hands-on work that democracy requires." More details at bothwell4buncombe.com or Click Here>


JONES For Commissioner | Asheville city council member Holly Jones announced her election bid for the Buncombe County Commission and invited the public to attend her Volunteer Kickoff. Click Here>

FREE Hugs for Obama | Sweet, little, YouTube video about Ashevillians giving out a little sweetness in Downtown Asheville. Click Here>


PHOTO Tour of Downtown Asheville | Compliments of ExploreAsheville. Click Here>

HAPPIEST Place to Live | It's Asheville, NC, says Eric Weiner in his new travel book, "The Geography of Bliss." Click Here>

BIKE Plan Pedals Forward | Reports Asheville Daily Planet. Click Here>

RABBIT Rabbit | A Note from Laurey. Click Here>

CULINARY Course| Weeklong summer courses offered by the Swannanoa School of Culinary Arts at Warren Wilson College are filling up, so sign up now. Click Here>

LOCAL INFO...
*Weather: Now More>
*Driving Conditions & Traffic Updates: Important More>
*BeamPost Video Cameras: Live More>
*Sexual Offender Registry: Necessary More>
*Buncombe County Courthouse: Trials More>
*City of Asheville: Official More>
*Buncombe County: Government More>
*Events: Daily More>
*13 Calendars of Events: Worthy More>
*List of Local Media: Useful More>
*Real Estate Listings: WNC More>

*Asheville City Council Members: Changed More>
*Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce: Active More>

CONCERTS Continue at St. Mathias | Complete 2008 schedule Click Here>

ALIVE in Asheville | One of America's top places to live Click Here>

WORTHY WEBLINKS...

*Blog Asheville: Write More>
*Western Carolina Business Journal: Subscribe More>
*The Greener Home Monthly: Advertise More>

LAUGHABLE NEWS...
*News of the Weird Click Here>
*The Onion Click Here>
*Asheville Disclaimer Click Here>
*Asheville Citizen-Times Click Here>

CURRENT NEWS...
*City of Asheville Press Releases More>
*Buncombe County's Official News More>
*Asheville Global Report asks for your help ($$$) More> 
*Relocate-America Ranks Asheville as Number One More>
*Malaprops Booksignings and other events More> 
*Cecil Bothwell's Blog provides thoughtful analysis More>
*On Energy Activists Mike Hopping sheds some light More>
*Liberty and The News to be reissued by Princeton More>
*M.A.I.N. news and views More>
*MountainXpress opinion page More>
*WPVM Radio archived programs now online More>

SHOPPING ASHEVILLE...
*Wall Street: Our featured street More>
*Malaprop's: Ashevilles' favorite bookstore/cafe More>
*Antique Tobacco Barn: A barnful of bargains More>
*Sweeten Creek Antiques: At the sign of the rooster More>

DINING ASHEVILLE...
*AIR Association: Independent restaurants downtown More>

HISTORY OF ASHEVILLE...
*Ah, the Paris of the South...
Asheville, NC, is the official seat of Buncombe County and the unofficial capital of Western North Carolina (WNC). There is more to Asheville, North Carolina, than the Biltmore House, Biltmore Village, and the Grove Park Inn. The new gem in the southern crown is Downtown Asheville. It is a designated All-American City (1997). Above all, Asheville is known for its sense of community, eclecticism and free spirits. Click Here>

  MORE WORTHY WEBSITES...
*ArtAsheville.com The Artists and Galleries of Asheville
*ArtsAsheville.com All About the Arts in Asheville
*AshevilleOnStage.com Spotlight on the Performing Arts *CraftsAsheville.com The Artisans of Asheville
 *LisaRing.com Sparkling watercolorist and photographer
*RapidRiverMagazine.com Arts and Culture Monthly
*TheGreenerHome.com Sustainable Living Resource
*VadimBoraStudio.com One of Asheville's finest
*WesternNorthCarolina.com Real Estate Guide
*WNCTraveler.com Wonderful Destinations in Western North Carolina
*YevasUniverse.com Travel beyond Asheville
  

NATIONAL NEWS...
*The Atlantic: Intelligent More>
*CNN's Lou Dobbs: Tonight More>
*Huffington Post: Insightful More>
*MotherJones.com: Fearless More>
*MSNBC's Keith Obermann: Countdown More>
*NYTimes.com: Reliable More> 
*Salon.com: Respected More>
*Slate.com: Post-ful More>
*Time.com: CNN-ish More>
*TNR.com: TheNewRepublic More>
*WeeklyStandard.com: Kristol's More>
*WSJ.com: WallStreetJournal More>
*List of Alternative Weeklies: Nationwide More>
*List of Newspapers: Worldwide More>
*List of Broadcasters: Diverse More>

QUICK QUIZ...
*What's Russia Doing? Claiming the Artic Click Here>
*What's Wikimedia? For the giving Click Here>
*What's Wackenhut? For the fighting Click Here>
*What's North American Union? For the questioning Click Here>

EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS... Click Here>
You are encouraged to email your press releases, comments and announcements that pertain to Downtown Asheville and your organization, as well as timely news about the Asheville Area and Western North Carolina. If you'd like to be a "Citizen-Reporter" for DowntownAsheville.com, just let us know your area of expertise. Thank you.

BLACKBIRD FRAME & ART Grand Opening April 5| From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., April 5, the public is invited to celebrate BlackBird's second (NEW!) location (Lexington Station at 159 S. Lexington Road, just south of Kress and just north of Wild Wingz), which includes a reception for artist Gayle Paul from 10 a.m. to Noon, and then party and prizes from Noon to 3 p.m. Nice people. Nifty art. Click Here>


BARBER OF SEVILLE April 4 & 5 | Presented by Asheville Lyric Opera. Click Here>

UNCA ArtsFest! April 5 | An all-day event. Click Here>

MALAPROP'S April 5 | At 7 p.m., meet Kris Radish, author of Searching for Paradise in Parker, PA .Click Here>