Food Drive this week at Vinnie's to support MANNA

Vinnie's Family Italian is hosting a food drive this week from November 15 through November 19th. Bring some extra cans of food when you come to dine this week and receive a free order of their famous garlic knots or a free cannoli for dessert (with the purchase of an entrée).

All food donations will help benefit MANNA Food Bank which helps distribute food to needy families across Western North Carolina.

Roux serves up Thanksgiving dinner in Asheville

Looking for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Asheville this year? Roux, located in the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, will be serving a fantastic menu - buffet style - from 1PM until 7PM Thanksgiving day. However, if you want to have Thanksgiving at home, and don't have the time to cook, then take advantage of the Thanksgiving To Go option. Your turkey will be slow cooked early so when you come to pick it up on Thanksgiving day it will be hot, fresh and ready.

The following is what you can expect.

- Organic Spinach Salad with Shaved Fennel and Bermuda Onions, Figs, Gorgonzola & Orange Cider Vinaigrette
- Curried Sweet Potato Salad with Honey and Pine Nuts
- Sesame Green Bean Salad with Soy Glazed Almonds
- Artisan Breads with Herb Butter & Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Wild Mushroom Bisque
- Roasted Medley of Brussel Sprouts, Carrots and Parsnips
- Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel and Marshmallow Topping
- Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
- Traditional Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Homemade Turkey Gravy

From the Carving Board:
- Roasted Tangle Wood Farms Turkey with Orange-Cranberry Relish
- Baked Ham with Pineapple-Mustard Glaze

Desserts
- Pumpkin, Pecan or Buttermilk Pie Served Table Side with fresh Whipped Cream

Prices for the Thanksgiving buffet are $21.99 per adult and $12.00 for children 12 and under. If you are interested in the To Go program then the prices are $164 to feed 10-12 people and $87.00 to feed 4-6 people. Please call 828-209-27145 for reservations. You will need to place all To Go reservations by November 19th.

For more information call the number above of visit the Roux website.

Hilton Asheville achieves LEED Silver Certification

The Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, announced that it has been awarded LEED® Silver certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

“The Hilton Asheville is a great example of how to combine sustainability with exceptional features and amenities to create a memorable guest experience,” said Ron Storto, Vice President of Hotel Development. “From a destination spa and fine dining to eco-conscious products and operations, this new addition to our hotel portfolio pairs environmental stewardship with Biltmore Farms legacy of service, style and innovation.”

Hilton Asheville achieved LEED certification for incorporating a variety of sustainable strategies. The largest factor being that Hilton Asheville is among the first hotels in the country to install a solar hot water system. It is the largest system installed in Western North Carolina to date. Water throughout the hotel, including the pool, is heated using solar power, eliminating 25 tons of carbon dioxide per year, which is the equivalent of planting 7,000 trees. By using less energy and water, LEED certified buildings, such as the Hilton Asheville, save money for families, business and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

LEED certification of Hilton Asheville was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

• Solar Powered Hot Water System.
• Low volatile organic compounds used as building materials.
• All ENERGY STAR® qualified CFL lighting throughout the hotel.
• Saline pool reduces purchase, transport & storage of chlorine chemicals.
• Full scale recycling program including guest rooms.
• Farm to table menu items.
• Donation of cooking oil for alternative fuels.
• Donation of food waste for composting.
• A linen and towel reuse program to reduce water consumption.
• Shuttle service provided in an alternative fuel vehicle.
• Special parking for all hybrid vehicles.
• Bicycle racks available for alternative transportation

Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park is the first hotel in Western North Carolina to achieve a LEED certification and it is one of only three in the state of NC. To learn more about the sustainability efforts of the Hilton Asheville and all of the Biltmore Farms Hotels please visit our sustainability site. For more information on the Hilton Asheville please visit here.

Essential Journeys Open House in Asheville

Buy local is a mantra in Asheville and here is a chance to take part in that. Asheville-based Kimberly Masters, is the founder of Essential Journeys which specializes in handcrafted soaps, lotion, lip lube and soy candles, all made from natural ingredients and inspired from travels around the world. The studio is hosting an open house for everyone to explore the studio and learn about the soap making process.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 2010 from 1:00p.m. - 6:00p.m. The soap studio is located at 77 Vermont Ave, Asheville, NC. It will be a wonderful opportunity for some holiday shopping and mingling. Hot cider and snacks will be provided. There is no cost to attend and guests will have a chance to meet Kimberly and ask any questions.

For more information you can call 828-350-0395.

Halloween 2010 in Asheville

It's that time of year to find fun activities all geared towards spine tingling fun and eating candy. I'll opt for the eating candy part myself. There are a ton of activities going on in Asheville this weekend. The largest of the events is MoogFest which still has some day passes available. I'll be going to see Big Boi, Pretty Lights and the School of Seven Bells. Other big artists like Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation are on the list as well. You can visit here for more information on that.

For other options check out what ExploreAsheville.com has to say. They have a great list of kid friendly and adult only activities.

For those in the downtown Asheville area Sunday night around 8PM, you may be lucky enough to catch a Thriller flashmob which will be a true Halloween treat.

During the day you can still see a lot of great leaf looking as the trees are in full color. Be sure to check out the fall color report.

Hotels are booking up fast, but we still have some availability at our Biltmore Farms Hotels. Be sure to check us out if you're looking for a place to stay.

Jeff Hamilton Trio this weekend in Asheville

This Sunday, October 24th starting at 7:00 PM, the Jeff Hamilton Trio will be performing at the Diana Wortham Theatre in downtown Asheville, NC.

Renowned drummer Jeff Hamilton has mastered dynamics and subtlety, an exceptionally rare achievement. Fortunate audience members on October 24 will experience why jazz bible JazzTimes magazine assessed Jeff's Trio's 2009 recording "Symbiosis" so glowingly:

"Jeff Hamilton's Trio integrates parts like a master chef integrates components to make a mouth-watering dish. Individually each instrument has a neutral glow, but when the parts are bridged together, the result metamorphoses into a grand montage with big band muscle. The trio's rapport is inspiring and their dialogue is aurally melodic, producing music with dancehall style and swing-jazz sophistication. With tracks that are sentimental, exuberant, and consoling, Symbiosis exudes characteristics that touch human emotions."

Tickets are $25 for members of the WNC Jazz Society and $35 for non-members. Students p[ay $10 with ID. This will be the final performance of the 2010 series. There will be a pre-show meet and greet with refreshments and entertainment starting at 6:10. For more information visit WNC Jazz Society's website.

If you are traveling form out of town and need a place to stay please check out these great Asheville hotels.

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam lineup announced

The holidays are fast approaching and nothing says Christmas in Asheville like the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam scheduled for Saturday, December 11th at the Asheville Civic Center. This week the preliminary lineup was released and there are a ton of great musicians that we be present this year.

This is the twenty second year that this festival has taken place and it is always a sellout show. You want to make sure you purchase your tickets early if you want to go. The London Times has called this "one of the top ten concerts in the United States." That's a pretty impressive statement, but then again check out the bands that are playing.

The featured list includes:

-Steve Miller Band
-The Warren Haynes Band
-Gregg Allman
-Widespread Panic's John Bell
-Widespread Panic's John "JoJo" Hermann
-Drive-By Truckers
-Umphreys McGee
-The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
and there's more to be announced in the next few months.

Tickets will go on sale on October 23rd through Ticketmaster and the Asheville Civic Center ticket office. There is a pre-sale planned starting this Thursday, October 14th through Friday the 15th (while supplies last). VIP passes are also available and include tickets to the pre-show at The Orange Peel and the main concert, early admission to the show, a special catered private party, a VIP viewing area close to the stage and lots of other goodies. For more information visit the official website.

If you're traveling out of town there are great deals available at these Asheville hotels.