Asheville Lexington Ave Arts Fun Fest 09

LAAFF - All Local ~ All Original
Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF) on Sun Sep 6 from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Lexington Ave
Contact Info: lexfest@gmail.com

The 8th Annual Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival Downtown Asheville ~ Sunday, Sept 6th, Free! ~All Local ~ All Original~

LAAFF is an annual FREE end-of-summer celebration of Asheville's artistic and musical communities. Three blocks of N. Lexington Ave in downtown Asheville are brimming with all local art, food, beer, music, street performers, and random acts of creativity on Labor Day Sunday, September 6th from 11am - 9pm between College Street and the I 240 overpass.

LAAFF has become the showcase event for all types of talent on multiple stages and performance areas including rock and roll, indie pop, funk, folk, ragtime, reggae, world beats, singer-songwriters, bluegrass, old time, African drummers, clowns, magicians, contortionists, belly dancers, modern dancers, vaudeville actors, break dancers, hula hoopers, and more. LAAFF has grown over the years to become known as Asheville's largest independent street festival with upwards of 12,000 in attendance.

LAAFF is is an experience the whole family can get into. Kids will love making art, dancing, getting their faces painted and having fun all day long. Kids are also in on the act showing off their breakdancing, parading, and making music. The big "kids" enjoy the ever popular bicycle jousting, local brews provided by the Asheville Brewers Alliance, an eclectic culinary and artistic experience, as well as the new big people game, Big Wheels for Big Kids. There are lots of fun new vendors as well as old favorites with a ton of variety.

The ever popular Bicycle Jousting, once again makes it's appearance, led by LAAFF co-founder, Michael Mooney, as Medieval Knievel. This is a fun and safe bike joust where contestants are armored up with foam and helmets. The sit upon bike with banana seats and wheel with elliptical hubs which make the bike bounce up and down like riding on a horse. Each contestant holds a long pole with a boxing glove on the end..If they can reach each other they try and joust the other off the bike. It is extremely fun to watch and a great activity that Michael created as an event at LAAFF. Will you dare to ride?

LaZoom Tour Bus is also involved as a performance area this year if you just want to enjoy an easier going ride... LaZoom has six scheduled shows departing from the top of Lexington Ave on the top of each hour starting at 2pm. Each ride will be a 40 minute loop around Asheville. There will be a variety of acts; a kids show, three family friendly shows, and two adults only shows. This is set up as an affordable way to fundraiser at LAAFF with extra entertainment to the festival. $2 for kids and $3 for adults.

The Asheville Arts Center and the Oddysey Kid schools will be teaming up to host the LAAFF Kid's Area. There will be free face painting and a chill out zone for parents with babies who may need to sit down and relax, breastfeed, or change a diaper.

As part of an ongoing commitment to improve and expand the role of the Lexington Avenue Arts Festival in the community, greening efforts and more emphasis on environmental issues will continue to increase. The core principle of being an all local event has been a foundation of the festival's efforts to support local artists, musicians, restaurants, and non-profits. For instance, using water sales as a way for local non-profits to raise funds and involving the Asheville On Bikes organization to host a bike corral, encouraging participants in the festival to ride bikes, use public transportation, and carpool to limit their impact. Reducing waste has always been an important goal, and last year composting was added to the recycling and reuse efforts. Many of the food and beverage vendors are now using compostable cups and utensils from local business Jack's Boxes. The festival will
continue to include local non-profits, especially environmental and arts organizations and hopefully will showcase renewable energy at next year's event. For more info email greening@lexfestasheville.com.

LAAFF will also have a great merchandise area with performer merchandise, Freaks of Asheville calendars, LAAFF T-shirts, and LAAFF water bottles. 100% of performer merch proceeds goes back to the bands themselves. There will also be a silent auction to raise funds for Arts 2 People.

LAAFF relies on community support to ensure our success each year. LAAFF is a volunteer driven event, with minimal staff put on by and for the community. If you'd like to donate to the festival or Arts 2 people, your tax-deductible contribution ensures the ongoing successes of this much anticipated yearly Asheville celebration. Contact director@lexfestasheville.com.

For more info visit out website www.lexfestasheville.com

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Asheville College Colors Day Sept 4 09

National College Colors Day Representin
Host:The Dog Pound: Officer/ Chair Board
Fri Sep 4 from 12:00 am to 11:55 pm

Venue: UNC Asheville campus:
Basically, wear your Asheville blue around campus and get free cookies that will be given out to anyone showin' their Bulldog love! (and it has to be ASHEVILLE college colors, representin other schools doesn't earn you cookies)

"College Colors Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promote the traditions and spirit that make the college experience great by encouraging people across America to wear apparel of their favorite college or university throughout the day of Friday, September 4."

Asheville NC Stage Company Day & Night!

*VOLUNTEERS LOSE SLEEP OVER SHAKESPEARE AT NORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANY'S BARD-A-THON FUNDRAISER in Asheville, NC.

North Carolina Stage Company, Asheville's local professional theatre, hosts the 2nd annual Bard-a-thon, a 48-hour Shakespeare marathon, September 11- 13, 2009. North Carolina Stage Company is a non-profit organization and depends on donations for 40% of its operating expenses.

The Bard-a-thon is a fundraiser in which volunteer readers ask their family and friends to sponsor them as they read Shakespeare non-stop from Friday night to Sunday night.

The Bard-a-thon is a grassroots, volunteer-based fundraiser: last year volunteers raised over $5,000 through the Bard-a-thon with the average pledge of under $50. The Bard-a-thon is modeled after a walk-a-thon or crop walk.  Participants are professional actors, community members and board members who agree to read Shakespeare for a certain number of hours, and collect donations from family and friends.

North Carolina Stage Company is a professional, non-profit theatre, now in its seventh season.  About 40% of the theatre's budget is supported by individual contributions.  The theatre hopes to raise $7,000 through the Bard-a-thon to support its professional theatre and arts education programs. All donations through the Bard-a-thon are fully tax-deductible. 

Participants can choose to read individually or as a team.  Prizes will be awarded to volunteers who raise the most money, recruit the most donors, read the most plays, and read the most consecutive hours.  Local businesses have donated prizes for the readers. Sponsors include LaZoom Tours, The Market Place Restaurant, Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge, and The Secret Garden Inn & Spa.There is no charge to attend the Bard-a-thon readings, which are scheduled every four hours, on the hour.  The readings will also be broadcast live on the web, via NC Stage's website www.ncstage.org.  The fundraiser will begin Friday September 11th at 8:00pm with the classic Romeo and Juliet.  All readings are at the NC Stage theatre at 15 Stage Lane in downtown Asheville.

Full Bard-a-thon schedule - September 11- 13, 2009

Friday September 11

7 pm - The Annual Alley Awards
8 pm - Romeo and Juliet

Saturday September 12

12 am - All's Well That Ends Well
4 am - Two Gentlemen of Verona
8 am - The Taming of the Shrew
12 pm - Henry IV, Pt. II
4 pm - Henry V
8 pm - The Merry Wives of Windsor

Sunday September 13

12 am - Twelfth Night  
4 am - Titus Andronicus
8 am - Hamlet
12 pm - Merchant of Venice
4 pm - As You Like It

North Carolina Stage Company 15 Stage Lane, Asheville NC 28801 (828) 239-0263 web: www.ncstage.org

Asheville Italian & Greek Restaurant - Bellagio Bistro

I stopped by Bellagio Bistro in North Asheville the other day and the food, staff, and service was wonderful, like always. The owners Chris and Angelo are always anticipating making another satisfied client out of you. I love Italian food, and Asheville is happy to have Bellagio in the area! If you are in the Woodfin area, stop by and check them out.

Aqua Environmental Resource Center in Asheville NC

Did you know we have a water saving guru in the Asheville area? Chris from Aqua Pro Solutions has just opened up a brand new showroom for the local community. Here is some footage of the grand opening. Food, networking, and education... nice! Asheville can really save some natural resources by working with this great company.

What are Asheville Twitter Hashtags anyway? #avlhashtags

Hashtags are a quick and easy way to label and track certain topics, groups, and ideas over the Asheville Twitter network. All you have to do is add a pound sign (#) and a word right after (no spaces) to use for Twitter tracking purposes.

For example: A popular hashtag in the Asheville area is #asheville. When someone is talking about something in the area, and wants to make sure that they defining their location, they add #asheville to the end of their tweets. So here is a sample tweet: “Had a great sandwich at Circle in the Square today #asheville.” Sometimes local communities and groups make up hashtags that are a little more detailed. For example: #avlrestaurants is a good one for Asheville Restaurants. Here is a sample tweet: “Great beer and dinner at Bellagio Bistro in North Asheville on Merrimon Ave. #avlrestaurants.” Oh, the avl (AVL) is short for Asheville if you are not familiar with the area.

Hashtags do not belong to AskAsheville or anyone else in Asheville. They are community property, if I may. When I am tweeting or retweeting something on Twitter about the Grove Park Inn, I sometimes use the hashtag #avlgpi to label the Tweet. When I am talking about an Asheville hair salon, I usually tag the tweet #avlhair. When I am mentioning an automotive service in Asheville, I use #avlauto after my sentence or so. Pretty simple.

You can also make your own hashtags to use on Twitter. If you wanted to tag your weekly meeting for your business or sales group, it is very easy. For example: “Meeting with some of the managers to go over our Green Building 2010 mission #gb2010” I just made a twitter hashtag called #gb2010 for simple identification and tracking. On Twitter or on the Twitter search, people can now click that hashtag link and gain all of the information from many different people all in one place because of this great resource. Before events begin, it is good to let people know that you have a #hashtag if they are using Twitter.

If you need some more info on Twitter or other forms of social media and networking in the Asheville area or beyond, please see G Social Media.

Asheville NC Hashtags for Twitter and Tweeting #asheville

Hashags are a great way to build community in the new Twitter Tweeting world that we now live in. When you add a hashtag to your tweets, you are labeling them for easy use. People can then go to these hashtags and search for a community bin of experiences, thoughts, ideas and reviews. This is perfect to use to track all of the local action going on about any certain subject. Here is a preview of a simple hashtag directory that we are building for the Asheville area. If you have an "avl" hashtag that you think should be included, feel free to send it over to us for consideration on our website contact form.

You can also use these types of hashtags for your local community. For example, you may want to use #wvlrestaurants for restaurants in the Weaverville North Carolina area, and #hvlmusic for music in Hendersonville North Carolina.

Note: You can search any of these Asheville hashtags on Twitter by clicking HERE!

Asheville Hashtags:

***Perfect Real Time Info Hashtags for Asheville North Carolina:

#avlnow - Something interesting or important happening right now in Asheville NC. In the moment!

#avltoday - Happenings or events going on today in Asheville North Carolina. Important hashtag for people looking for things going on Today!

#avltonight - Happenings or events going on in Asheville tonight. Perfect for people looking to do something this evening, or if they want to make some last minute plans.

#avltomorrow - Here is something that is happening tomorrow in Asheville. Maybe a last minute notice of an event, concert, or party.

#avlweekend - Have something coming up this weekend in Asheville NC? This hashtag is perfect to add to your up and coming event.

***Restaurants, Dining, Cafes, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Food Hashtags in Asheville:

#avlrestaurants - This is the most widely used hastag for all Asheville area restaurants, whether local independent or chain restaurants. Please also mention the name of the restaurant!

#avldining - This is used for Asheville dining experiences and is somewhat similiar to the Asheville restaurants hashtag, but used for more of a fine dining experience.

#avlcafes - Use this hashtag for an eating experience in Asheville in a Cafe or Diner. This is more of a lighter dining experience, usually in a smaller type environment.

#avlfastfood - Use this hashtag when talking about Asheville eating experiences in their fast food establishments. Fast food can most of the time be identified by if they have a drive-thru window.

#avlbreakfast - Use this hashtag to offer or talk about a breakfast in Asheville NC.

#avllunch - Use this hashtag to offer or talk about a lunch in Asheville NC.

#avldinner - Use this hashtag to offer or talk about a dinner in Asheville NC.

#avlbrunch - Use this hashtag to offer or talk about brunch in Asheville NC.

#avleats - This is a simple hashtag to share some of the meals you have eaten in Asheville NC. A Twitpic would go nice with this too!

#avlfood - Use this hashtag to talk about food in Asheville North Carolina.

***Music, Parties, Events, and Shows in Asheville North Carolina:

#avlmusic - Have a music show coming up in Asheville or want to share a blog or video about a music experience? Use this hashtag for music in Asheville.

#avlevents - Use this hashtag to share or promo an up and coming event in Asheville. This could be a concert, theatre show, party, community event, fundraiser, etc.

#avlconcert - Use this hashtag to mention a concert coming to Asheville NC.

#avlshow - Use this hashtag to promote an up and coming show in Asheville NC.

#avlbands - Use this hashtag to mention, promote or talk about bands in Asheville North Carolina.

#avldj - Use this hashtag for Asheville DJ and Disc Jockey promotions in Asheville NC.

***Asheville Art and area Arts hashtags:

#avlart - Use this hashtag to talk about art in the Asheville area. Adding a Twitpic to this is also a great bonus!

#avlarts - Use this hashtag to talk about and promote the Arts in the Asheville area. Whether performing arts, paintings, musical... this is a great hashtag to use.

#avldance - Use this hashtag to promote, talk about and invite others to a dance ir dancing event in Asheville NC.

#avldancing - Share your dancing experiences in Asheville NC with this hashtag. You can also use this to tweet while you are dancing and mention the name of the event or location too.

#avlgraffiti - Use this hashtag for graffiti art in Asheville North Carolina. A twitpic or similiar accompanying this is a good idea.

#avlgraff - Same as the #avlgraffiti hashtag.

***Other Asheville Hastags:

#avlquestions - Have a question about Asheville North Carolina. This is the perfect hashtag to use to ask that question.

#avlanswers - People that have the answers to the Asheville questions people are asking should use this hashtag when responding.

#iloveavl - If you want to express your love and gratitude for Asheville North Carolina, please use this hashtag.

#comn2avl - Coming to Asheville NC for a vacation, visit, or just stopping by? Use this hashtag to make your announcement. Businesses can check these hashtags out and maybe offer you some great incentives while you are here.

#movn2avl - Are you moving to Asheville? Let us know the good news by using this hashtag!

#avllost - Did you lose something in Asheville? Use this hashtag to let us know your loss. You can also use this hashtag if you yourself are lost in the Asheville area, and need some directions.

#avlfound - Found something in Asheville that you think someone may have lost? Use this hashtag to list your find.

#avlnews - This is a great hashtag for "New by You in Asheville". If you have something "newsworthy", please tag it with this hashtag.

#avlcrime - Talking about, tweet reporting, or witnessing a crime in Asheville NC? Call 911 and then use this hashtag on Twitter.

#avl4sale - Do you have something in the Asheville and Buncombe area (WNC) that you would like to sell? Use thus hashtag to promote your items.

#avlsales - Do you have a sale at your place of business in Asheville? Let us know with this hashtag!

#avlgrocery - Talking about groceries and food at Asheville area supermarkets? Use this hashtag in your mentions.

#avlpolitics - Use this hashtag when talking about local Asheville WNC area politics.

#avlservices - Do you have a service that you offer in the Asheville NC area? Use this hashtag to let us know.

#avlhotels - Use this hashtag to talk about hotels experiences in the Asheville NC area. Hotels can also use this hashtag to promote their establishments.

#avlpics - Do you have photos or picture in or of Asheville NC? Use this hashtag in your tweets to identify and share them.

#avlrealty - Use this hashtag to promote or talk about real estate in the Asheville NC area.

#avltix - Use this hashtag for anything to do with tickets for an Asheville event, raffle, fundraiser, etc.

#avlpolice - Use this hashtag when tweeting about the Asheville Police or departments in the AVL area.

#avlfiredept - Use this hashtag when talking about Asheville Fire & Rescue, Fire Department.

#avlems - Use this hashtag when talking about the Asheville and Buncombe Emergency Medical Services, EMS.

#avlbaseball - This hashtag is to reference any baseball activities or events in the Asheville area.

#avlfootball - This hashtag is for any football reference in the Asheville NC area.

#avlsports - This hashtag is for any and all sports activities in the Asheville Buncombe area.

#avlnightlife - This is a great hashtag to use when tweeting about or during a night out in Asheville NC.

#avlclubs - Use this hashtag when talking about nightclubs in the Asheville North Carolina area.

#avlespanol - Use this hashtag when tweeting in Spanish or mentioning something that pertains to the Hispanic community in Asheville.

#avlrequests - Use this hashtag if you are requesting something in or for Asheville North Carolina.

#avlneeds - Need something from the Asheville community? Use this hashtag to let us know.

#avlstores - Talking about a store in Asheville? Use this hashtag please.

#avlreviews - Have a review of a business, restaurant, store, or whatever in the Asheville area? Please use this hashtag!

Other Hashtag Sites of Interest: What The Hashtag, Hashtags.org

Thank you! -AskAsheville and G Social Media

Buncombe County Citizens Academy

Asheville - Sheriff Van Duncan is pleased to announce the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office 3rd Annual Sheriff's Citizens Academy starting October 3rd. The Sheriff's Citizens Academy is a program where members of the Sheriff's Office staff educate the public about the different divisions within the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office with the goal of giving the public a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Sheriff and Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Duncan said, "It has been a goal of mine since being elected to begin offering a citizens academy through the Sheriff's Office. I believe in order for our agency to be successful we need the involvement and support of our community. The academy will give the public an opportunity to learn about their Sheriff's office, and better understand the challenges we all face to make Buncombe County a safer place to live, work, and play."

The academy will be held at Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Facility, 150 Westwood Place, Asheville, North Carolina and meet each Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm starting October 3, 2009 and go through October 24, 2009. There is no fee for the course, but enrollment is limited to the first 25 that register.

If you are interested in attending please call Corporal Ben Parker at (828) 775-2672 or via email at ben.parker@buncombecounty.org

Lutovsky - Named Executive Of The Year

ASHEVILLE AREA CHAMBER PRESIDENT NAMED EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR BY CAROLINAS ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER EXECUTIVES

The Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) recognized Richard J. Lutovsky, President & CEO of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, as the North Carolina Chamber Executive of the year at their Annual Management Conference in Raleigh, NC on July 29, 2009.

Lutovsky was recognized for his efforts since joining the Asheville Area Chamber in September of 2000. Through his leadership the Chamber now resides in a new 33,000 square foot state of the art building and visitor center that welcomes close to 200,000 visitors annually. Lutovsky has been instrumental in the development of key community partnerships that have created a pro business climate in Asheville and Buncombe County. Lutovsky has also been a driving force for the Chamber on key issues affecting the business community of Asheville including wellness, healthcare, economic development and transportation.

In addition to his role internally at the Chamber, Lutovsky was also recognized for his work in many community organizations including the YMCA of Western North Carolina, WCQS public radio, the United Way, the Economic Development Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and the North Carolina Arboretum. Lutovsky has a long history of leadership on a national scale, serving on the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives national committee, providing leadership on issues nationwide.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is a 2,100-member organization representing 86,000 employees. Chamber members collaborate with community organizations and coalitions to support the community and each other with the mission of increasing the region's livability by advancing its economic vitality. The Chamber moved to a new location in early 2006 and is now home to the 4,000 square foot Visitor Center which welcomes 200,000 visitors per year.

www.AshevilleChamber.org

Now You See Them @ SEE expo 8/22

Now You See Them at the SEE Expo! ..as a benefit for WNCA! Western North Carolina Alliance on Saturday Aug 22 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in Fletcher, NC, Sales Arena, WNC Agricultural Center, Fletcher, NC. Contact Info: 8282588737 or email: ryan@wnca.org

Join us on August 22 at 7PM in the Sales Arena at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher (after the SEE Expo)- where Now You See Them will be playing a benefit for the Western North Carolina Alliance!

"Now You See Them is a super-fun acoustic indie/folk trio dedicated to delivering a great time. Appealing to virtually all audiences through beautiful harmonies, slow burning lyrics, and non traditional instruments, NYST combines thoughtfully ironic originals alongside carefully selected covers making their shows a not-to-be-missed breath of fresh air.

"Now You See Them also just won the Last Band Standing contest which landed them a spot at Bele Chere. They're grrrrreat!

Tickets are $10 and get you two drinks of your choice- beer (provided by Kind Beers), soda, or water.

Don't miss the chance to see this fabulous group and support your favorite environmental non-profit, WNCA!

Mercy for Animals Fundraiser @ Firestorm

Asheville Mercy for Animals Fundraiser - We're donating 10% of all sales, all day

Host: Firestorm Cafe and Books on Thursday Aug 20 from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm on 48 Commerce St. in Asheville NC, Contact Info: 8282558115 or email: info@firestormcafe.com

Drop in and have a bite to eat or browse our book selection. Every sale benefits the local chapter of Mercy for Animals, a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal advocacy organization that believes non-human animals are irreplaceable individuals who have morally significant interests and hence rights, including the right to live free of unnecessary suffering.

Asheville Latin Dance Party - Wednesdays

"LATIN DANCE PARTY" Every Wednesday Night from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am at Scandals 11 Grove St in Asheville NC, Salsa Lessons from 9:00pm to 10:00pm Cost $10.00 - Includes the club entry fee!!! EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

The Best Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata Music With: Dj Ozkar!!! Cover Only $5.00, Students: $3.00, 10pm to 2am, DRAFT BEER $ 1.50

IT HAS BEEN GROWING EVERY WEEK!!! COME OUT AND JOIN US AND HAVE FUN ON THE BEST DANCE FLOOR . THERE IS GREAT MUSIC, LIGHTS, AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE!

Meet the Buncombe County Sheriff

Asheville - Buncombe County, North Carolina - Meet the Sheriff

Do you have questions or concerns about the things going on in your community?

Have you wanted to talk to Sheriff Van Duncan and were not sure how to do it?

Have you ever wondered how to get a gun permit?

Sheriff Van Duncan has scheduled a series of 'Meet the Sheriff' meetings that will give you the opportunity to Meet your Sheriff, and get these and other questions answered. Representatives from numerous divisions of the Sheriff's Office will be available - able to answer your questions and let you know what is going on in your Sheriff's Office. Please make plans to join us when we travel to your neighborhood.

One highlight of these meetings will be the introduction of the new interactive Buncombe County Sheriff's Office website which has user friendly features that allow the public to search crime statistics in their neighborhoods, look up current jail inmates and get real time information on department operations.

When, Where, What Time?

Tuesday August 25, 2009 Skyland Fire Department

Tuesday September 1, 2009 Enka-Candler Fire Department 7:00pm

Tuesday September 8, 2009 Reynolds Fire Department 7:00pm

Tuesday September 15, 2009 Leicester Community Center 7:00pm

Tuesday September 22, 2009 Swannanoa Fire Department 7:00pm

Service, Accountability, Dignity, Professionalism, Integrity

Asheville Broadway Musical Revue

Auditions for "The Songs: An Asheville Arts Center Cabaret" - A Broadway Musical Revue in Two Acts

Sat Aug 29 at 4:00 pm until Sun Aug 30 at 7:00 pm at the Asheville Arts Center on 308 Merrimon Ave.
Contact Info: 8282534000
michael@ashevilleartscenter.com

Asheville Arts Center's Fall Community Theatre show! A Broadway Musical Revue in Two Acts. Saturday & Sunday, August 29 & 30 from 4 PM - 7 PM.

What to prepare: Your favorite song from a Broadway show. Please bring sheet music, no recordings or Disney songs please.

The show will contain solos, small group numbers and full ensemble numbers spanning many decades of musical theatre. The songs for the show will be selected after auditions.

Rehearsals begin mid-September. Production dates are the first 2 weekends in November. (November 5th - 15th.) Performances will be held at the main campus of Asheville Arts Center, in the old church!

Directed by Michael Wilson, Musical Direction by Chuck Taft, Choreography by Mary Katherine Smith, Produced by Heather Taft, Asst. Director: Jennifer Russ, Stage Manager: Artemis Adams, Asst. Choreographer: Mary Katherine O'Donnell, Asst. Stage Manager: Daniel Moore

Come one, come all! We will select roughly 30 people, children & adults, for the show. See you at auditions!

Asheville Dig Fest - Music Bands Clubs

The Dig Festival Night 1 - $5 Ticket $10 for all night, all venues. $15 Everything

The DIG Festival on Thursday Aug 20 from 8:00 pm to 2:00 am, Downtown with some Independent Groove

Contact Info: thedigfestival@hotmail.com

The Orange Peel - The Enemy Lovers, Chris Cates & The Master Plan, Kovacs & The Polar Bear. Mo Daddy's - Pierce Edens & The Dirty Work, Ian Thomas, Lewis. The Emerald Lounge - Sol Driven Train, Wilsin, The Pond Bros. Bo Bo Gallery - Moses Atwood, Now You See Them.

The Dig Festival Night 2 - $5 Ticket $10 for all night, all venues.

The DIG Festival on Friday Aug 21 from 8:00 pm to 2:00

The Orange Peel - Josh Phillips Folk Festival, Josh Blakes Big Money Band, Ralph Roddenbery, Grant DaSantos & Fatback. Mo Daddy's - Soulgrass Rebellion, Pierce Edens & The Dirty Work, Erika Jane & Remember The Bees. The Emerald Lounge - David Earl & The Plowshares, The Trainwreks, The Humbuckers. Bo Bo Gallery - Galen Kipar Project, Nikki Talley, Jeff Santiago

New Home in Weaverville N of Asheville

BEST BUY IN WEAVERVILLE NC!
Walk to Everything!

Only 10 minutes North of Asheville -
Fantastic Buy! Located in picturesque downtown Weaverville within walking distance to the quaint Main Street shops and Lake Louise! This brand new almost 2000 square foot home has three bedrooms, three full baths, rock accents and hardiplank siding, hand hewn hardwood floors, upgrade carpet and tile, and a whirlpool tub in master bath. Master on main and rooms with a view upstairs. Upgrade appliances, fixtures and molding, three decks for nature lovers. Office, second den or possible fourth bedroom in this low maintenance, energy efficient home. Beautifully landscaped, almost one half acre lot with adjacent stream and end of the road privacy. Located at 33 Ballard Road in Weaverville North Carolina, 10 minutes North of Asheville.

Just $269,900!
MLS# 435635
(828) 768-3339
828-645-2924

4 New Educators @ Asheville Arts Center!

Asheville Arts Center Introduces Four New Drama/ Theatre Educators! 

The Asheville Arts Center (AAC) is excited to announce the hire of four new drama educators! They all come from hefty backgrounds of experience and will be a great asset to the center as the classes develop and grow each year. On the horizon we will be offering adult drama classes as the new teachers settle in. Below is a brief bio of each. For more visit www.ashevilleartscenter.wordpress.com. 

• Andrew Gall has taught acting, voice, theory and movement at the college and high school levels as well as privately for most of his career. He is also currently the Producing Artistic Director of Burnesville's Parkway Playhouse, the oldest professional theatre in Western North Carolina.  Gall is one of WNC's more prolific directors who has directed a wide variety of range of style of production on a regional level as well as nationally. His most recent work is producing "Esley"  

• Graduating from Greensboro College wit a BA in Theatre and then achieving her MFA from UCONN, Ann Mahoney-Kadar as lot of experience to offer students at the AAC, including elements from her training in the Suzuki Method. She has taught acting, movement, and voice for the University of Connecticut, Delgado Community College, and the Tulane Summer Shakespeare Festival.  Kadar has directed, choreographed, and performed many a lead role regionally at Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Greensboro College, Delgado Community College, Southern Repertory Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Long Wharf Theatre and also has had leading parts in film and tv.  She is a member of both the Actor's Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.  

• Robyn Parnell recently moved the vibrant artsy town of Asheville from Atlanta, Georgia where she taught Music and Drama for over nine years, as well as being a public school teacher and director of her own Performing Arts Studio in Peachtree City, Georgia. Being the mother of two young children, she has really made a home for her family within the setting of the AAC and Asheville.  
• Under a rare and generous Merit Scholarship, Dominic Aquilino received his Masters of Music and Professional Studies from the Manhattan School of Music. This Baritone actor/ singer is highly regarded as a featured soloist in theatres across the country.  He has performed with the with Dayton Opera Lyric & Opera Cleveland in Ohio; the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute, Cantiamo Opera & Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York; Washington DC; Virginia Opera; and the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program. Newly married, Aquilino has settled down the Asheville NC and already this summer performed leading roles at the Parkway Playhouse and the Asheville Lyric Opera. The singing actor is no stranger to Musical Theatre. Some of his favorite roles are El Gallo in The Fantasticks, The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Javert in Les Miserables, Adam in Seven Brides and Seven Brothers and the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods. He is often a featured guest on numerous Pops and Musical Theatre Galas across the nation.  

AAC offers performing arts education for children starting at 18th months all the way to 98 years!  The Asheville Arts Center in unique in its curriculum in that, based on student (and also parent) feedback, they adapt and create their programming to fit the community's needs. The AAC has a huge variety of programming in three locations in Asheville and is celebrating five years of success at being a leader in performing arts education this August!   

Along with Kindermusik, theatre classes, private music classes, Rock U (kids rock and roll), the Gallagher School of Irish Dance, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap and plenty of fun summer camps; AAC is also active in the local theater community.  AAC produces a variety of musicals and plays throughout the year, so far some of this year's favorites have been "Into the Woods" and "The Who's Tommy". Stay tuned for more news about upcoming shows throughout the year! 

If you are interested in being updated on a more regular basis please check out the blog www.ashevilleartscenter.wordpress.com  AAC is also on Twitter www.twitter.com/AVLArtsCenter  and Facebook www.facebook.com/AshevilleArtsCenter The Asheville Arts Center - 308 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 253-4000 Office

8/14 - 8/29 Freaks of Asheville Calendar

Exhibit for LAAFF and the New Freaks of Asheville Calendar ~ Come meet the Freaks at Pack Place's Arts 2 People Opening August 14th ~ Pack Place Front Gallery

Education, Arts & Science Center - Opening Friday, August 14th 2009, 5-7pm. Exhibit runs through August 29th 828.257.4544

2 S. Pack Square Asheville, NC 28801 Event Contact: Kitty Love, Arts 2 People's Exec Director, LAAFF Co-Founder Interactive Arts Director, Freaks of Calendar Director
828-776-6248
Arts2people@gmail.com
www.arts2people.org
www.lexfestasheville.com 

Please join us in celebration of Arts 2 People's first annual Freaks of Asheville Calendar and Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF) for the gallery exhibit's opening event on Friday, August 14th at Pack Place in downtown Asheville from 5-7pm. The exhibit runs through August 29th.  This entertaining show will feature photographs from the Freaks of Asheville Calendar as well as photographs from the LAAFF, which is ever so fun and just around the corner on Sunday September 6th! 

The Freaks of Asheville Calendar will capture the power and personality of Asheville eclectic and unbridled cultural creatives. Each month will feature a classic portrait of a noted Asheville "Freak" and tell the story behind their uniqueness. All photos were shot by Michael Traister, photographer for Sock Monkey Dreams and Faces of Izzy's.  Joining forces with Traister to bring the calendar to fruition are Kitty Love and Jon Elliston. 

Together, they are compiling these photos as well as a list of key dates in Asheville freak history: when did certain "freaky" establishments open and close? When did freakish things happen? Other milestones in local freak and counterculture history? The Freaks Calendar is calling for your input on this as well.  Please, come one, come all, and tell us which dates deserve a mention in the calendar! 

The Pack Place Gallery exhibit will also feature sorts of images from LAAFF's past. Photographers include Frank Merenda, JJ Jackson, Kitty Love, and many more…   The Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival, LAAFF, will take place on Sunday of Labor Day weekend, September 6th from 11am - 9pm between College Street and the I 240 overpass on N. Lexington downtown.  This free annual end-of-summer celebration of Asheville's artistic and musical communities brims three downtown blocks with all local art, food, beer, music, street performers, and random acts of creativity.   LAAFF has multiple stages and performance areas that include rock and roll, indie pop, funk, folk, ragtime, world beats, singer-songwriters, bluegrass, old time, African drummers, clowns, magicians, belly dancers, vaudeville acts, b-boys, hula hoopers, and more! 

Special to the exhibit is a display of Medieval Knievel's Bike Jousting Gear.  Bike Jousting is a fun and safe joust where contestants are armored up with foam and helmets.  They sit upon bikes with banana seats and wheels with elliptical hubs. The crazy wheels make the bike bounce up and down like riding on a horse. Each contestant holds a long pole with a boxing glove on the end. If they can reach each other, they try and knock the other off the bike into the bails of hay lining their arena.  It is extremely fun to watch and a great activity that Michael Moony, aka Medieval Knievel and Co-Founder of LAAFF, created as an event for LAAFF, but has also hosted elsewhere, including Snowshoe Ski Grounds. Come and see the gear… Maybe you will participate this year… 

For more about LAAFF visit www.lexfestasheville.com. 

Both LAAFF and the Freaks of Asheville Calendar are fundraisers for Arts 2 People, a non-profit that is devoted to promoting the role of the arts as an integral part of our culture by serving the entire community through arts outreach, bringing the arts to those in need of the healing power of art, supporting the careers of artists, and through community cultural development. Arts 2 People is the umbrella organization for the Lexington Ave. Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF), the REACH Programming series, the Asheville Mural Project (AMP), Moving Women, the Pritchard Park Cultural Arts Program 08, Faces of Asheville, and hosts numerous events and workshops and events throughout the year. To find out more, visit www.arts2people.org. 

Please come out and help celebrate this wonderful collaboration of creativity!

Asheville Arts Hop Ice Cream Social 8/6

Ice Cream Social - Presented by Asheville Arts Center & The Hop Ice Cream Cafe

Thu Aug 6 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Asheville Arts Center on 308 Merrimon Avenue

Contact Info: 828-253-4000 or email: aac@ashevilleartscenter.com

There is absolutely nothing like an old-fashioned ice cream social! Come join us for some delicious ice cream, courtesy of our friends at The Hop Ice Cream Café and take a tour of the Asheville Arts Center. Suggested donation of $2 to benefit the Asheville Arts Center's scholarship program, whose mission it is to offer quality performing arts education to all.

Kindermusik Storytime in Asheville NC

Free Kindermusik Music & Movement Storytime! Experience the magic for yourself.

Wed Aug 5, Tues Aug 11, and Tues Sep 1 at the Asheville Arts Center 633 Merrimon Ave (North) / 9 Summit Ave (South, in Arden) Contact Info: 828-253-4000 or email aac@ashevilleartscenter.com

Come sing, move, listen and play with us! For parents & children, ages newborn to 7 years. Reservations requested - space is limited. We are offering several opportunities for you to come visit: Wednesday August 5, 2009 (AAC North location), Tuesday August 11, 2009 (AAC South location), Tuesday, September 1 (AAC North & South locations) Call 828.253.4000 to reserve your spot!

What is Kindermusik?

Simply put, Kindermusik is a music and movement program. Each week in class you'll play, listen, and dance to music that will impact you and your child in profound ways. That's because every song, story, and two-step has a carefully chosen purpose in this creative curriculum—one that's designed to stimulate and strengthen the vital neural wiring taking place in your child's mind, right now. A Kindermusik educator will guide you every step of the way so you know how each activity contributes to your child's overall growth and development.

The latest research with proven methods—that's Kindermusik, too. Our child-centered curricula incorporate ongoing, in-classroom studies with our own, 30-years' experience in music and child development. Plus, we've combined the best music learning methods found in Orff, Kodaly, and Suzuki.

"Take-home" books, instruments and CDs from class let you take learning with you wherever you go. All while strengthening the emotional bond between you and your child.

So whether it's twirling under a sea of scarves, experimenting with age-appropriate instruments, singing about a scampering squirrel, creating a musical ensemble, or snuggling in your lap during story time, Kindermusik speaks your child's language and offers her (and you!) the best music and movement class available.