Anticipation builds for the WNC Wine & Food Festival

Well known for being a culinary destination, Asheville will be celebrating its local “foodie” community with a weekend filled with delicious activities.

The WNC magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival will be held indoors on August 14, 2010, in the new expo facility at the WNC Agricultural Center across from the Asheville Regional Airport and adjacent to Interstate 26 with easy connections from Interstate 40. With more than 60 regional, national, and international wineries already committed to this year’s festival, along with regional restaurants and local food producers, this event will allow attendees to experience the diverse culinary offerings of Western North Carolina. (More information about the festival can be found at WNC Magazine's official site.

In conjunction with this event, the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park is providing you a special package that includes:

- Deluxe overnight room with King Bed or Two Queen Beds
- Complimentary Hilton Shuttle service to and from the event
- (2) Tickets to the Asheville Wine & Food Festival
- Champagne Sunday Brunch for Two

Total cost of this package is $189 per night, plus tax. To book, call the Hilton directly at 828-209-2700 or click here to book on-line.

Don't miss the Freddy Cole Quartet

Jazz lovers in Asheville are in for a real treat this Saturday, July 31st as Freddy Cole, brother to Nat King Cole, takes the stage starting at 8:00PM in the Diana Wortham Theatre.

With his signature elegance and authentic cool, legendary vocalist-pianist Freddy Cole's performances make every audience members' heart smile. The New York Times recently heaped rare praise in Cole's direction: "Freddy has an impeccable sense of swing...he is, overall, the most maturely expressive male jazz singer of his generation, if not the best alive."

Cole doesn't apologize for a style that faintly echoes his brother, Nat "King" Cole. There are certain unmistakable similarities. He plays piano masterfully and sings and performs live with guitar and upright bass, just like Nat. Yet his voice is raspier, smokier, jazzier even. In truth, his phrasing is far closer to that of Frank Sinatra or Billie Holiday than that of his brother and his timing swings a little more. His vocals-suave, elegant, formidable, and articulate-are among the most respected in jazz.

If you would like to learn more about the show visit the WNC Jazz Society's site. There you can also listen to select audio clips of Freddy's music. If you are traveling in from out of town and need a place to stay, check out these great hotels.

The stars come out at Biltmore

The Biltmore Summer Concert Series is in full swing and this weekend is packed with large name acts. The South Terrace at the Biltmore is the perfect backdrop for an outdoor concert with mountain views, a glorious home and bright stars in the sky and on stage.


On Thursday night Mary Chapin Carpenter will grace the stage. Over the course of a 12–album recording career, Carpenter has won five Grammy® Awards and sold over 13 million records. Carpenter will celebrate her return to a favorite venue, playing the music of her latest album, The Age of Miracles, which was released this spring.


On Friday night, after much anticipation, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard kick off their North America tour at Biltmore. Concert goers can expect an entertaining evening as two friends and colleagues blend their talents for an unforgettable show. Clay and Ruben will be performing their renditions of classic hits from the past five decades. In 2003, on the second season of American Idol, with over 24 million votes cast by the TV viewing audience, Ruben Studdard won the title, while Clay Aiken was the very close runner up.

The concert starts at 8PM and Biltmore recommends you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to show time. Tickets range from $40 for general admission to $75 for premium seating. You can also purchase packages that will include an Estate pass so that you can tour the home, winery and gardens prior to showtime. For more information on the concerts please visit here. If you are traveling in from out of town and need a place to stay check out these great hotels.

Parkway Playhouse presents: Annie

This weekend the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, NC will be running it's final four performances of the classic stage show Annie.

The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. Annie is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Annie first appeared on the scene in 1924 and her daily comic strip ran for almost 85 years ending just last month (June 2010). You wouldn't know it from the infectious smile and the curly red ringlets of hair, but the story of Annie was, at times, considered controversial for its political undertones and the way it highlighted the more darker aspects of human nature such as the disparity between the rich and the poor.

During the 1930's a radio show called Little Orphan Annie hit the airwaves and lasted for ten years before ending in 1940. Also during the same decade two films were created based on Annie. In 1977 the first Broadway stage show was created and it ran until 1983. Another movie was released in 1982 revitalizing the popular songs such as Hard Knocked Life and The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.

You can enjoy those songs again this weekend. The show at Parkway Playhouse begins at 7:30PM this Thursday running through Saturday with a special matinee show beginning at 2PM on Saturday only. Tickets range from $12-$22 and can be purchased here.

If you're traveling in from out of town and need a place to stay check out these great hotels.

Live Music in Biltmore Park this Saturday

This Saturday, June 19 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM you can enjoy the music of The Business in Biltmore Park. There is no cost to anyone who would like to attend.

The Business is a collection of musicians that have devoted their lives to creating memories through music. Their good time feel and their repertoire of songs that span decades make them a group you don't want to miss.

Listen to their music here and then head out on Saturday night. Make sure you get a bite to eat at one of Biltmore Park's great restaurants. I recommend roux. There you can enjoy some great meals and local brew for a lower price than most Asheville eateries. Saturdays are also half off appetizers! Roux is located inside the Hilton Asheville.

Summer Festivals in Asheville

Asheville, North Carolina (June 8, 2010) Summer in the Blue Ridge Mountains brings many wonderful music, art and food festivals – and much of the fun is free! Here are the Top 12 Summer Festivals this year in the Asheville area, as selected by www.RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide:

June 11-12: Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival in Tryon features Hog Heaven with 80 cook teams, live music and craft fair.

June 12-13: River District Artists Studio Stroll in Asheville is your chance to tour the studios, meet with the artists and purchase artwork.

June 25-August 8: Brevard Music Center Festival features 400 of the most talented students in the world, joining Brevard's artist faculty to present more than 80 concerts in a beautiful setting.

July 3, 10, 17, 31 August 14, 21, 28, September 4: Shindig on the Green attracts musicians and dancers from Western North Carolina on Saturday nights to share the region's Southern Appalachian mountain culture in downtown Asheville.

July 8-11: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is considered to be the grandfather of Scottish Games in the United States.

July 22-August 1: Folkmoot USA is North Carolina's Official International Festival, a two-week celebration of the world's cultural heritage through folk music and dance.

July 23-25: Bele Chere is the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast, held in downtown Asheville.

August 6-7: Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair is the oldest and largest crafts fair in the Blue Ridge with 250+ craftfolk showing their work in downtown Burnsville.

August 7-8: Village Art & Craft Fair in Biltmore Village hosts 125 artists from 20 states representing the full spectrum of craft media – jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional art and more.

August 14-15: Sourwood Festival fills the streets of downtown Black Mountain with great music, lots of fun, and plenty of great mountain cookin'.

August 27-29: Goombay is an African-Caribbean style festival in downtown Asheville with entertainment including steel drums, African-America dancers, local gospel groups, and contemporary rhythm bands, plus crafts and great food.

September 3-6: NC Apple Festival in downtown Hendersonville features more than 150 vendors with continuous entertainment. The King Apple Parade, always held on Labor Day, culminates the Main Street activities.

If you are traveling to Asheville for any of these great events then check out these wonderful hotel options. For more information on area festivals visit here.

Dine to support Relay for Life

On Tuesday, June 8th you can support the Biltmore Park Relay for Life event by dining at one of the restaurants listed below. Each restaurant will be donating ten percent of all proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

Participating Restaurants Include:

- Brixx Wood Fired Pizza
- 131 Main
- Hickory Tavern
- Cold Stone Creamery
- roux at the Hilton Asheville

Each restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and roux will also be open for breakfast. All are located in Biltmore Park Town Square in South Asheville. If you would like to support the Relay for Life in other ways please visit the official site for this event.