Nine Mile

Nine Mile restaurant in the Montford neighborhood of Asheville

is named after the birthplace of Bob Marley and the names

of the entrees reflect the island influence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOum9kcJO7o 

The food is tasty and Red Stripe beer is also available.

http://ninemileasheville.com/

Twelve Bones Smokehouse

Folks in Asheville love their ribs and the best place

to eat the best ribs is at Twelve Bones Smokehouse in the River Arts District.

If you don't believe me ask Obama.  Yes, THE President himself.  The

last time he visited Asheville his first stop after getting off

Air Force One was, yup, Twelve Bones.

This place has it all..their food is delicious.

Check it out...Obama has -  twice.

http://www.12bones.com/



Drum Circle Redux

Always popular..Drum Circle..Asheville on Friday night..

........the beat goes on....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3fyeCQxnA8



Chikoro Marimba Band

A recent Friday evening in Asheville....Art Walk at the galleries..

and a performance by Chikoro Marimba Band...

a typical evening in this mountain city.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so481XPj5R8



Urban Art

Interesting wall mural on dance in an Asheville alley...



Old Europe

Old Europe is a European style bakery in Asheville that

is small in size but large in delicious pastry and deserts.

Check it out http://www.oldeuropepastries.com/Home_Page.html

There is something here for everyone - rum balls, tiramisu,

creme brule, carrot cake, ........



River Arts District Studios

The River Arts District recently added more studios adjacent

to some new mixed use development.

http://www.riverartsdistrict.com/blog/2011/3/10/clingman-avenue-make-over.html

Bouchon Bistro

Bouchon Bistro is one restaurant in Asheville that is on my list of

"favourite restaurants that I have not sampled yet."  The

fare is billed as comfort food and the menu looks great!  When

they are open for business the french doors/windows are

open and the diners are eating right at the window

engaged with the street crowd.

http://www.ashevillebouchon.com/

An outdoor seating area beside Bouchon main

entry shown in the previous photo. 

Boca Restaurant

Boca Restaurant is located on North Lexington Avenue in Asheville

and serves "tex-mex" fare in interior and outdoor dining rooms.  A perusal

of their menu makes my mouth water.  Check it out http://bocaasheville.com/

The outdoor dining area features an interesting wall

with the element of water...

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway connects the Great Smoky Mountains National

Park in North Carolina with the Shenandoah National Park 469 miles

away in Virginia.  The parkway was begun in 1935, completed

in 1983 and has a maximum speed limit of 45 mph.  This

picture was taken near Craggy Gardens, about 30 minutes

from Asheville. http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/index.php

Bier Garden

Located on Haywood Street in Asheville, the Bier Garden

has an extensive beer selection and good food. Their

sidewalk signage isn't too bad either.

http://www.ashevillebiergarden.com/

Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival

Each year Asheville does a good job with numerous fairs and festivals.

The Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival (LAAF) takes place

on North Lexington Avenue and engages the community with

art, crafts, childrens activities, food and music.

This group was very good with a bohemian/indie/rock genre.

One of the couples dressed for the festival doing

their part to "keep Asheville weird."

Jammin' in Pritchard Park

A typical Saturday afternoon in Pritchard Park, Asheville.

This small, urban park is the scene of the Drum Circle

on Friday nights as well as the impromtu

gatherings of music, arts and crafts.

A couple of free spirits gettin' down..

Pack Place Railing

A very interesting, artistic railing at the new Pack Place Park

in Asheville.  I like the way the ball/globe appears to

be  escaping the confines of the railing as

the top rail attempts to hold it in check.

Kenilworth Neighborhood

One of many historical residences in the Kenilworth neighborhood

in Asheville.  This house uses a lot of stone and relates well to the site.

Garage with apartment above; notice the matching mailbox.

Montford Arts Festival

Reggae music at the Montford Arts Festival last month

provided by Pure Fiyah Reggae Band.

Good vibes and lots of people were moving to the beat.

One of the hulahoop ladies present doing her thing.  Hulahoops are quite popular in Asheville and are custom decorated.  The little guy at the extreme right found a hole in the asphalt, filled with water, and had a great time pushing that stroller through it.  I tell you, children really know how to have a great time...

Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center

Completed in 2008, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is located at milepost 384 of the 469 mile parkway that stretches from Virginia to the extreme southwest corner of North Carolina.  This award winning building showcases the history, construction and attractions of America's most scenic highway.  For more information see the following link http://blueridgeparkway75.org/

An interior view of the Center looking towards the main entry.

Public Service Building

The Public Service Building, constructed in 1929 just before the Stock Market crash, has a beautiful terra-cotta exterior in a neo-Spanish Romanesque design. 

The stone and tile work at the top of the building is very

intricate and exceptional.

Narrow Building

This building on Biltmore Avenue in Asheville is no longer a "10c shoeshine" establishment but it still remains an interesting narrow establishment.  It is approximately 10 feet wide - about the width of an alley in the city. I wonder what business occupied this space before the shoeshine.  Its small size reminds me of the many small specialized shops that are numerous in the Gothic District of Barcelona.

The Orange Peel

The Orange Peel was voted as one of the top five rock clubs in the USA by Rolling Stone

Magazine.  Acts have included Blondie, Smashing Pumpkins and Matisyahu to name a few.

It  also is the location for Highland Christian Church on Sunday mornings.

Some of the musical acts on the marquee for The Orange Peel.