Downtown Asheville Fireworks

For a second year in a row you can watch the fireworks over downtown Asheville every Saturday in December through the 19th. The event is called Sizzle at Seven and is very popular among visitors and locals to the Asheville area. Each weekend the show is a little different and a little bigger than the last. The show goes on no matter what the weather outside may be.

Asheville has long been known as a destination for holiday shoppers. There are countless boutiques and shops all over the Asheville area that offer something a little different than your typical retail chain store.

Be sure to check out these great stores for your shopping list.

Biltmore Park shops:

-Dwell - for stylish home furnishings
-Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory - for the sweet tooth
-Biltmore Grande Regal Cinema - for movie gift certificates
-Sensibilities - for spa Treatment gift certificates
-REI - for the person who loves the outdoors

Downtown Asheville:

-The Loft - for the person who's hard to shop for.
-Mountain Lights - for unique candle and lighting options.
-Kress gallery - for a more artistic gift.
-Union - for stylish clothing from a hip boutique.

Asheville Mall:

Stores include: Banana Republic, Sears, Dillards, Abercrombie & Fitch, Buckle, Aeropostale, American Eagle, JC Penney, Hot Topic, Game Stop and many more.

If you need a place to stay during these holiday festivities please check out these fantastic accommodations.

Thanksgiving at roux in Asheville

For travelers and residents of Asheville who don't already have holiday dinner plans this year, you should visit “roux” for a truly inspired Thanksgiving. A four course dinner will be the perfect compliment to a memorable holiday celebration. Executive Chef Randy Dunn has crafted an innovative menu with selections from traditional roasted turkey to spiced apple and pork roulade with jalapeño-apricot marmalade. For a more detailed selection of menu items, please review the attachment. You can make reservations by calling 828-209-2715. “roux” is located inside the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park at 43 Town Square.

4 Course Select Menu
- Seating from 11:00am until 4:00pm

1st Course
Butternut Squash Bisque, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Crème Fraîche

Smoked Mussel and Saffron Bisque

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Grilled Spicy Napa Slaw

BBQ Duck Corn Fritter, Sun Dried Cherries, Balsamic Onions, Gorgonzola

2nd Course
Grilled Vegetable and Chevre Terrine, Mixed Greens, Balsamic Reduction

Arugula Salad, Roasted Beets, Walnuts, Bacon, Spicy Maple Vinaigrette

3rd Course
Roasted Acorn Squash
Wild Rice and Cranberry Stuffing, Corn Pudding, Grilled Broccolini

Traditional Roasted Turkey
Marble-Smashed Potatoes, Cornbread Stuffing, Green Beans, Cranberry Chutney

Grilled Black Angus Filet
Smoked Cheddar and Horseradish Au Gratin, Grilled Asparagus, Black Currant Demi

Carolina Coastal Wild Striped Bass
Pumpkinseed Crusted, Butternut Risotto, Grilled Broccolini, Vanilla-Bean Soy Cream

Spiced Apple and Pork Roulade
Spaghetti Squash, Green Beans, Jalapeno-Apricot Marmalade

4th (and certainly the best)Course
Pumpkin Cheesecake, Caramel Sauce, Candied Walnuts

Cranberry-Butterscotch Bread Pudding, Crème Anglaise

If reading that menu made you hungry then book your reservations today by calling 828-209-2715. Seating is limited and is filling up quickly. If you are in need of a hotel reservation for this holiday weekend please visit here. We look forward to having you at our place for Thanksgiving!

The Blue Ridge Parkway turns 75

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469.1 miles (755 km) through the famous Blue Ridge Mountains, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains. Land on either side of the road is maintained by the National Park Service and in some stretches, by the United States Forest Service.

Begun during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the project was originally called the "Appalachian Scenic Highway". Work began on September 11, 1935 and took over fifty-two years to complete, the last stretch (near the Linn Cove Viaduct) was completed in 1987 around Grandfather Mountain. The Parkway runs from the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia to U.S. 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina.

Special events are planned throughout the weekend starting this Thursday. Below is a list of activities you can attend.

Thursday, November 12th at 6:00 PM
“Natural Resource Stewardship — An American Indian Legacy and Model for our Future,”
Located at Cherokee High School Auditorium.

Friday, November 13th at 12:00 PM
Passing of the torch from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Blue Ridge Parkway
Located at Ravensford Overlook, milepost 467. Park at the Cherokee Transit Lot on U.S. 441 and take a shuttle to the overlook.

Starting at 12:00 PM
Guided tours of the southern end of the parkway from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian , 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee. Cost is $20 and includes a box lunch. Reservations required by calling 497-3481.

Saturday, Novermber 14th from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Parkway History Day
Located at the Folk Art Center, Milepost 382.

Starting at 7:00 PM
Blue Ridge Parkway 75th Anniversary Benefit Concert, featuring Nanci Griffith and The Blue Ridge Bluegrass All-Stars, Doyle Lawson, Sammy Shelor, Bryan Sutton, Tim Surrett, Jim Van Cleve and the Warriors of AniKituhwa. Hosted by David Holt.
Located at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville. Tickets start at $35 and are available at the Asheville Civic Center Box Office, online at Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000.

If you are traveling to the Asheville area for the event please check out these great hotels.

Christmas at Biltmore begins this week in Asheville

Christmas at the Biltmore House officially begins Friday, November 6th through January 3rd, 2010 in Asheville, NC.

The Biltmore Christmas celebration is a tradition that spans 114 years. Although George Vanderbilt moved into Biltmore House in October 1895, the house did not officially open to guests until Christmas Eve of that year. Great efforts were made to ensure all would be ready by this special day. Mr. Vanderbilt was still a bachelor during the first Biltmore Christmas and his mother, Maria Louisa, presided as hostess. Correspondence between Vanderbilt and his staff indicates that planning was intensive and no detail was left unattended.

Did you know that when the holiday ends Biltmore recycles the live trees used during the season? Asheville Treecyclers will make wooden Christmas ornaments out of the trunk. Look for these decorations to be available next Christmas!

There are a variety of activities planned. Here is a list of all the important things you should know while planning your visit.

River Bend Farm Holiday Season Activities:

-Santa Claus visits the River Bend Farm for photo opportunities and to hear wish lists!
Saturday and Sundays from November 7- December 20
12:30-4:30

-Farm Life Demonstrators/Crafter’s Corner
Watch skilled crafters demonstrate traditional crafts in the River Bend Farm
1:00pm- 5:00pm daily

-Blacksmith, Woodworker, Butter Churning, Quilting, Jewelry, Weaving
Turn of the Century Games: Children and adults can experience games that were common during the days of the Vanderbilts.

Holiday Dining Options:

Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009

-Bistro: Advance reservations by phone required at the restaurant (225-6230)
12:00pm- 7:00pm
$45 per person

-Deerpark Restaurant: Advance reservations by phone required at the restaurant (225-6260)
11:00am – 6:00pm
$36.95 (adults); $19.95 (youth); $11.95 (ages 5-9)

-Stable Café Dining: Reservations are available, walk-ins accepted. (225-6370)
11:00am- 4:00pm
$12.00-$27.00 (entrees)

-The Dining Room at the Inn on Biltmore Estate: Not available to daytime guests for Thanksgiving Day.

Biltmore Hours of Operation:

November 6- January 2, 2009
Biltmore Admission’s Gate for daytime: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Biltmore Winery: 12:00pm – 9:00pm
Candlelight Evening visits begin as early as 5:30pm. Evening visit requires separate ticket that is date and time specific.
CHRISTMAS DAY HOURS: 10:30AM – 3:00PM

Biltmore Ticket Prices:

Nov 6, 2009 – Jan. 3, 2010
Gate Price: $60 daily (1-day ticket)
Online Price: check here.
Guests can upgrade daytime tickets to include evening visit for only $10. Guests need to check with a Biltmore Guest Service Station for availability.

Biltmore House Reservations:
As we move into the holiday season, the estate will become more popular and guest volume will be higher. Having a time to go into the house prevents guests from standing outside in line to get into the house. Guests can obtain a time to enter Biltmore House at the Stable Archway to the right of the house. Then, guests can visit the Conservatory, shops, restaurants, or even the Winery prior to visiting Biltmore House. All guests visiting Biltmore House must have a reservation.

Hotel packages are also available.

I-40 Detour Information

For anyone traveling via I-40 through Western North Carolina please be aware that a rock slide has occurred near the Tennessee / North Carolina border that is blocking traffic in both directions. While the DOT is working diligently to remove the debris they are having to be cautious due to the fact that the mountain is still moving. Early estimates say this could take anywhere from three to eight months to get the road open again.

Asheville is still easily accessible from all points north, east and south. From the west there are two detour routes in place as shown on the map below. These detour routes will take drivers through some of the most picturesque scenery in Western North Carolina. They will add some time to your trip so just be sure you plan accordingly before heading this direction.



For up to date information please visit the I-40 Detour website. For those who are traveling through the area and need a place to rest before taking on the extra drive, we can help.

Halloween 2009 in Asheville

Halloween is just a week away, and Asheville is filled with spooky fun for all ages. Check out our Halloween events and activities:

Only-in Asheville Halloween Fun
• “The Legend of Tommy Hodges” walking outdoor mystery, October 23 and 24
• LaZoom Haunted Halloween Bus, October 29-31
• “Skeered,” an Evening of Local Ghost Stories, October 29-31
• Appalachian Ghost Stories Beneath the Stars, October 30
• Appalachian Mountain Mysteries, October 30
• Spirits of Asheville Masquerade, October 31
• Haunted History & Murder Mystery Ghost Trolley Tour
• Haunted Asheville Pub Crawl
• Haunted Asheville Ghost Tour
• Haunted Asheville Trolley Tour
• Haunted Biltmore Biltmore Village Tour

Family Friendly Halloween Events
• Halloween Dog Event, October 24
• Howl-O-Ween at the WNC Nature Center, October 24
• Harvest Hoe Down, October 31
• Cold Mountain Corn Maze, open through October 31
• Castle in the Corn Maze, open through October 31
• Blue Ridge Corn Maze, open through November until harvest

Grown-Up Halloween Fun
• Pinhead’s Graveyard through November 1
• The Woman in Black at Flat Rock Playhouse through November 1
• Screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with the Montford Park Players, October 24 and 31
• Screamfest at the Grove House, October 27-November 1
• Graveyard Book Party at Malaprop’s Bookstore, October 31

Thank you to Explore Asheville for this comprehensive list.

Need a place to stay? Try one of these haunted houses, er... I mean hotels. We don't have ghosts, but we do have candy!

Biltmore Park Concert Series

During the entire month of October, Biltmore Park is featuring live music every Saturday night from 7:00 - 9:00 PM in the park outside of Brixx Pizza. The schedule is as follows:

October 3rd - 96.5 House Band


October 10th - The Scenic Roots (special early show starts at 5PM) & The Firecracker Jazz Band



October 17th - The Caribbean Cowboys


October 24th - Robin Rogers


Admission to this event is free. Biltmore Park is located in South Asheville right off of I-26 at Long Shoals Rd. If you are traveling there is lodging available just steps away from the event at the brand new Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park hotel.