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SNAPSHOT on June 13, 2008 MEDIABEAR PROUDLY PRESENTS
DowntownAsheville.com: Connected "Community News from the Grassroots Up" TM  Photo Courtesy of AdvantageWest *WELCOME to Independent News about Downtown Asheville, North Carolina ... a diverse, urban, Southern Appalachian city ... where business bustles ... new ideas germinate ... grassroots' activism grows ... the All-American City and county seat of Buncombe ... "Anyway You Like It" ... located in the Blue Ridge Mountains ... along "America's Favorite Highway," the Blue Ridge Parkway ... a vibrant city dubbed "Paris of the South" ... the heartbeat of Western North Carolina. Click Here> *TODAY'S Weather | And seven-day forecast. Click Here> *ASHEVILLE AREA Maps | Find your way. Click Here> *NEW QuickClickDIRECTORY | Click Here> BIG PARKSIDE RUMOR Stewart Coleman is rumored to be trying to get his building permit this morning, June 13, 2008, for his controversial ParkSide Condominium project. This news was provided by a very-much-in-touch preservationist who made this report to DowntownAsheville.com immediately following last night's public meeting covering the Downtown Master Plan at the Civic Center. Tell us what you know, Asheville. Click Here> PARKSIDE SHAM(E)?! *SCRUNTINY HOOLIGANS Takes On Parkside Condo Proposal and Buncombe Commissioners | Public outcry against the proposed ParkSide Condominiums continues on the streets (everybody's talking about it), in print (recent cover story in MountainXpress), and on the web (particularly on ScrutinyHooligans.us). The Buncombe County Commissioners began the whole mess by quickly selling one of the most valuable pieces of downtown public parkland property right next to City Hall, an art deco wonder, with little public notice. An old Washington, D.C., adage assigned to a Buncombe County representative who was well known for spouting fish stories may be dusted off and applied today: "It's just a whole lot of Bunc." Click Here> $250 Artist Prize *ARTIST COMPETITION for New LAAFF Logo Announced | Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival, a downtown event that draws over 10,000 people each year, is soliciting artists to submit a logo design for the event. The submission deadline is July 15, 2008. LAAFF is one of Downtown Asheville's most popular and vibrant community events. This year's event takes place on September 7. For contest details, Click Here>  Take Me Out to the Ball Game *FIRST-PLACE TOURISTS Play Ball at Home | Sing Jack Norworth's famous "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" song during the seventh inning stretch while you enjoy the Asheville Tourists, farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994, in the their homestand runs from June 4 to June 12, then from June 24 through June 28. Click Here>  River District Studio Stroll June 14 & 15 *FLOOD GALLERY Fine Art Center Keeps the Events Coming in June | Located in the Phil Mechanic Studios Building at the corner of Roberts St. and Haywood Rd. in the River District, just west of Downtown, Flood Gallery Fine Art Center offers arty events and instruction, including mold-making workshops. For Flood Gallery details, Click Here. For information about the River District Studio Stroll on June 14 & 15, Click Here  Wally Bowen (right) manned the MAIN tent on Earth Day 2008 *M.A.I.N. Community News Network Promotes Free Speech | No one in Asheville has championed democracy and freedom of speech through independent news more than Mountain Area Information Network's Wally Bowen. For daily food for thought and important events, Click Here>  *URTV Celebrates 2nd Anniversary | URTV-20 invites the public to celebrate Asheville's only public access TV station, along with an Urtie awards presentation, during its weekend-long MediaFest on June 13, 14 & 15. Click Here>  *WHO'S DOIN' The Peel? | One of America's best small musical venues. Click Here>
*THE GRAY EAGLE Live | Pickin', singin', playin'. Click Here> *TOP 21 Nightspots | For fun downtown. Click Here>  *THE PURPLE BALL Fun-draiser | On June 14 the Asheville Area Arts Council holds its annual fundraiser and throws one of Asheville's best downtown parties of the year. Click Here>  *FINE FLICKS at the Fine Arts | Popcorn and beer, too. Click Here>  *Arts2People ORGANIZES Pritchard Park Cultural Arts Program | A new arts program for downtown residents, workers and visitors begins in June and is partially funded, Arts2People executive director Kitty Love told DowntownAsheville.com. Donations are needed to help fund the entire program from June through September, which will be held in Pritchard Park during lunchtime and on select weekends. "It's a pilot program," said Love. "We need people to donate." To contribute or learn more about the new Pritchard Park Cultural Arts Program, Click Here>  FREE 'Antony & Cleopatra' at Montford's Outdoor Theatre *THE MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS Open Their 36th Season with Free Summertime Shakespeare Each Fri., Sat. & Sun. | Bring your blanket and treats. Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. "Antony & Cleopatra" will be performed every weekend throughout June in Montford Park, located a few blocks from I-240. It's great family fun that adds considerably to Asheville's unique sense of community. Click Here>  REAL & REFLECTED: Fabio Parrini practices and performs during the first week of the two-week Keowee Chamber Music Festival. Photo: LisaRing.com Chamber Music Festival Continues *KEOWEE Chamber Music | The festival, now in its 8th year, moves into its second week with a new program in North Carolina and South Carolina venues. Click Here>  *TERPSICORPS Dances With Elvis | Asheville's contemporary ballet company begins its new season June 26 - 28 with its presentation of Elvis & Other Men. Click Here>  *UNITED WAY UNVEILS New Campaign Slogan | "Live United" is the United Way's new marketing slogan, which was unveiled locally on June 5 at the Asheville area's annual meeting. Click Here> DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN UPDATE *ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETINGS by Downtown Master Plan Consultants on July 28, July 29 & Sept. 18 | City-Hired Consultants Continue to Work with Public as Asheville's New Downtown Master Plan Is Created and Reaches Consensus. SUCCESS! On Thurs., June 12, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Asheville Civic Center, approximately 100 people, including the Mayor, several City Council members, and at least one Buncombe County Commissioner listened and interacted with the city-hired urban planning team of Goody Clancy of Boston, Massachusetts during the first presentation of a "draft vision and goals session for the Asheville Downtown Master Plan." During the discussion groups when citizens asked the consultants questions and critiqued the vision, competing visions of the future plan emerged. At times the discussions became contentious. However, in general, the public remained civil and was pleased with the first draft. Many complimented the consultants for their professionalism and quality of their work, as well as the overall progress of the complex and important project. Numerous topics were covered, including building height, building form, the massing and placement of buildings, design, pedestrian walkways, downtown management, and transit circulator service. Citizens pushed the consultants on providing more detailed concrete suggestions on how to support and encourage diversity and downtown businesses, particulary independent, owner-operated establishments. Two additional informal drop-in seesions and one more major public meeting are planned. Two Master Plan Strategy Input Sessions will be held on Mon., July 28 and Tues., July 29, at locations to be announced. Topics to be discussed are to be announced as well. In the fall, a Draft Plan Presentation will be given to the public. It is tentatively planned for Thurs., Sept. 18, 6-8:30 p.m., at the Asheville Civic Center. For details, Click Here>  JUNE 2008: Rapid River Magazine is WNC's oldest arts and culture magazine *BEYOND ASHEVILLE: TAAS Gallery in Old Fort, NC | The Appalachian Artisan Society (TAAS) Gallery celebrates its second anniversary in June, reports Rapid River Magazine. Click Here> *NEW GasBuddy.com | Local gas prices Click Here> *LIVE Downtown Video | On Battery Park Ave. Click Here>  The Natural Home * Photo compliments of LisaRing.com *FEATURED Street| Lexington Avenue Click Here> *ASHEVILLE ART Galleries | Dozens to visit. Click Here> *URBAN Trail | History worth walking. Click Here> *ASHEVILLE Calendar | Just about any way you like it. Click Here>  Jim Coman (left), 2008 Sondley Award recipient, receives hearty applause. *PRESERVATION SOCIETY Presents Griffin Awards, Coman Receives 2008 Sondley Award | On May 20, 2008, at The Princess Anne Hotel, The Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County presented its annual Griffin awards for local preservation efforts. Noteworthy was a special "stewardship" award presented to Asheville Design Center for outstanding design work on an alternative I-26/I-40 connector. For more info, Click Here>  Compliments of AllFordMustangs.com TONGUE-IN-CHEEK Questions of the Week What are fries on the side? Click Here> Are you acting inappropriately yet? Click Here> When should you use a lime? Click Here> What are "Hillary Rules?" Click Here> Why would you say that? Click Here> Who's full of hot air? Click Here> Should you laugh your Asheville off? Click Here> For more pressing questions, Click Here>  *RESTAURANTSAsheville.com | Only unique restaurants in Asheville listed, such as Rosetta's Kitchen. To find your favorite, Click Here>
*LOCAL Maps | Downtown, Asheville Area and WNC. Click Here> *13 CALENDARS of Events | Always something new to do. Click Here> *CITY OF ASHEVILLE News | Water line replacement continues. More city news: Click Here>  *LOCAL FILMMAKERS MEET 'N GREET for Asheville 48 Hour Film Project | On May 22, 2008, at the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, local filmmakers met to discuss this year's upcoming contest June 20 - 22 with screenings to be held the following week. Click Here> I-26 Repair Zone *I-26 NIGHTTIME CONSTRUCTION to Begins | Look for delays in the evenings as repair of the bumpy road begins. Click Here> *ASHEVILLE'S Future? | Neighborhood coalition sees local residents as key to shaping the city's future. 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> QUICK QUIZ... *What's URTV celebrating? Its 2nd year. Click Here> *What's PURPLE about the Arts Council? Its ball. Click Here> *What's RAPID about this River? The arts. Click Here> *What's NATIONAL? Our media list. Click Here> *What's THE North American Union? For the questioning. Click Here> *What's the REAL unemployment figure? Click Here>  *CITY SEEKS VOLUNTEERS for Handicapped Parking Enforcement | City program to train volunteers. Click Here> *VIDEO RELEASED WITH MOTHER OF MURDERED SON Includes Announcement of "Justice Advocates for You" (JAY) | Carol Yerkes, mother of Jay Yerkes who was murdered in Asheville, announced the formation of a new, local, victim advocacy group. For MountainXpress's cover story about the trial, Click Here. For Richard Bernier's video of Carol Yerkes's press conference, Click Here> THE MEDFORD TRIAL...
*FORMER BUNCOMBE SHERIFF Awaits Sentencing after Guilty Verdict | Local blogger and newsman Cecil Bothwell's up-to-the-minute, gavel-to-gavel coverage continues: "After two hours of deliberation the jury found Bobby Lee Medford and Guy Kenneth Penland guilty on all ten counts with which they were charged." For insights and unanswered questions, Click Here> For previous Medford Trial reports and testimony, Click Here> PERSONAL NOTES...
*A NOTE From Laurey | Laurey Masterton of Laurey's Catering paints pictures with words in "North to South, Birds to Bees." Click Here> *WEAR SUNSCREEN Advice on Life | This YouTube All-Star favorite, which is posted along with others on FreakinAsheville.com, has had millions of views since it was first released, and for good reason with its observations: "Do one thing every day that scares you ... Sing ... Floss ... Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements. Stretch ... Dance ... Do not read beauty magazines; they will only make you feel ugly ... Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life." This one's for you, Dad, with love and tips for the future, on your 92nd Birthday. Click Here>  406 Oaktree Lane in Buncombe County * MLS 397232 * Click Here *REAL ESTATE Listings | Featured homes. Condos. Vacation rentals. B&Bs. Hotels/Motels. For sale. For rent. 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 - and sometimes wierd - events for big fun. Click Here> *DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Schedule of Events | Click Here> *CALENDAR of Festivals and Events | Something for everyone. Click Here> HISTORIC...  It's Obama *HISTORIC EVENT That Asheville Helped Make Happen | Buncombe was the only county in Western North Carolina to prefer Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton. The New York Times' superdelegate chart shows the critical turning point immediately after the North Carolina and Indiana May 6 primaries. For Obama's democratic nomination victory speech on June 3, 2008, Click Here. For news about where the Dems go from here, Click Here> *HISTORIC DOWNTOWN Architectural Tour Click Here> *GROVE ARCADE Architectural Tour | Simply spectacular. 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> *CONCERTS Continue at St. Mathias | Complete 2008 schedule Click Here> *ALIVE in Asheville | One of America's top places to live Click Here> *BUNCOMBE County Primary | Race Results Click Here> QuickClickDIRECTORY... Click Here> LOCAL INFO... *Weather> *Traffic> *BeamPost Live Video> *Sexual Offenders> *Buncombe Trials> *City of Asheville> *Buncombe County Government> *Events> *13 Calendars> *Media List> *Real Estate Listings> *City Council> *Chamber of Commerce> *Blogs> *Business Journal> *The Greener Home> LAUGHABLE NEWS... *News of the Weird> *The Onion> *Asheville Disclaimer> *Citizen-Times> CURRENT NEWS... *City Press Releases> *County News> *Global Report> *Asheville Ranked No. #1> *Malaprop's Events> *Cecil Bothwell's Blog> *Mike Hopping Energy Reports> *M.A.I.N.> *MountainXpress> *WPVM Radio> SHOPPING ASHEVILLE... *Wall Street: Another 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> *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 *AshevilleOnStage.com *CraftsAsheville.com *FrenchBroad.com *LisaRing.com *RapidRiverMagazine.com *RestaurantsAsheville.com *TheGreenerHome.com *VadimBoraStudio.com *WesternNorthCarolina.com *WNCTraveler.com *YevasUniverse.com  LOCAL NEWS FROM THE GRASSROOTS UP... Your comments and press releases are always welcomed. We've been reporting our unique community's news online for nearly four consecutive years. So email your news, photos and essays to us. The more we know about each other, the more we are truly connected. Help keep Downtown Asheville weird, wired and wonderful ... from the grassroots up. Click Here> ABOUT US... *DowntownAsheville.com is published by MediaBear, an independent Internet publisher and writing service based in Buncombe County. Click Here> MediaBear, PO Box 1040, Skyland, NC 28776 * 828-768-5600 Copyright 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 All Rights Reserved |
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