Asheville, NC: 2012

north carolina

ashevilleBottle groundBeer City USA once again

cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum

a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success

sponsored By the asheville area chamBer of commerce

2012 | imagesasheville.com

www.abtech.edu

www.visit.missionhearts.org

about the coverAsheville artist Wendy Whitson’s work, “On the Parkway” seemed to be a perfect fit for this year’s Asheville magazine cover. It combines key elements for which the city is known: breathtaking natural landscapes created by layers of lush, leafy forests, the misty Blue Ridge Mountains and expansive, cotton-fiber clouds draped across crystal blue skies.

And we learned from the artist, there’s even more dimension in the details. Whitson collages sheet music into the trees, “a little surprise” she says.

So there you have it: Music, mountains, trees, clouds and color, observed from the Blue Ridge Parkway, interpreted in an original work of art created by an artist in the city’s flourishing River Arts District. It’s so Asheville.

Read more about Whitson and the River Arts District on page 10.

north carolina

asheville2012 edition | volume 10

contents

Features

10 a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success

14 cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum

16 Welcome, linamarCity, county, state collaborate to land global manufacturer

26 Bottle groundBeer City USA once again

32 asheville’s appetite City’s popularity grows with epicurean fans

10

26

anniversaryissue

10th

imAGeSASheville .Com 1

BiltmoreThe AAA Diamond Rated Quality Inn & Suites Biltmore East is conveniently located just minutes from downtown Asheville

and Biltmore® – America’s largest home.

Free, Full, Hot Breakfast Buffet • Free Wireless Internet Access Free Business Center • Free Local Calls • Free Newspaper

Free Cookies at Check In • Free Coffee and Tea Fitness Center • Seasonal Outdoor Pool and Gazebo Biltmore® Tickets Sold • Five Miles from Biltmore®

Near Restaurant Row

1430 Tunnel Rd. • I-40, Exit 55 • Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 298-5519 • Toll-free: (877) 299-5519

QualityInnBiltmore.com

Asheville Specialty Hospital (ASH) offers a new option in care. Patients who have suffered a catastrophic illness and are anticipating a lengthy hospitalization are appropriate referrals. Patients with complex medical needs benefit from ASH.

Asheville Specialty Hospital is NOT a nursing home. Otherwise known as a long-term acute care hospital, patients are given the extended time and highly specialized level of care and services to help them obtain their maximum level of recovery. For most patients, the average length of stay is usually between three to four weeks or about

21-28 days. As the only accredited specialty hospital in the region; an experienced staff of physicians, nurses, therapists and case managers work closely together by approaching care from a physical, emotional and spiritual standpoint; ASH’s team maintains a goal of achieving the highest level of wellness possible.

Asheville Specialty Hospital 428 Biltmore Ave., 4th Floor Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 213-5400 tel (828) 213-5443 fax

www.ashevillespecialtyhospital.org

Long Term Acute Care

2 ASheville imAGeSASheville .Com 3

www.tsaavl.org

www.ashevillespecialtyhospital.org

www.qualityinnbiltmore.com

north carolina


32 38

23

departments

6 almanac

18 Biz Briefs

21 economic profile

23 education

25 health & Wellness

38 sports & recreation

40 arts & culture

42 image gallery

47 community profile

48 through the lens

All or part of this magazine is printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

please recycle this magazine


Visually explore Asheville in our online photo galleries

Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.

Photos

Digital magazine

north carolina

ashevilleBottle groundBeer City USA once again

cleaning upGreen solutions make local businesses hum

a culture of creativityRiver Arts District is cresting with success

sponsored By the asheville area chamBer of commerce

2012 | imagesasheville.com

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

living hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

viDeoGet a moving glimpse at favorite local places and attractions

What’s online imagesasheville.com

4 ASheville

content director LiSA BAttLeS

proofreading manager RAven Petty

content coordinator JeSSiCA WALkeR

staff Writer kevin LitWin

copy editor JiLL WyAtt

contriButing Writers DAn HieB, LAURA HiLL, Joe MoRRiS,

CHRiS RUSSeLL, kARen SCHWARtzMAn, BetSy WiLLiAMS

senior graphic designers LAURA GALLAGHeR,

JAnine MARyLAnD, kRiS Sexton, vikki WiLLiAMS

graphic designers RACHAeL GeRRinGeR, tAyLoR nUnLey

senior photographers Jeff ADkinS, BRiAn McCoRD

staff photographers toDD Bennett, Antony BoSHieR

color imaging technician ALiSon HUnteR

integrated media manager HURCHeL WiLLiAMS

ad production manager kAtie MiDDenDoRf

ad traffic assistants kRyStin LeMMon, PAtRiCiA MoiSAn

chairman GReG tHURMAn

president/puBlisher BoB SCHWARtzMAn

executive vice president RAy LAnGen

senior v.p./sales toDD PotteR

senior v.p./operations CASey HeSteR

senior v.p./client development Jeff HeefneR

senior v.p./Business development SCott teMPLeton

senior v.p./agriBusiness puBlishing kiM HoLMBeRG

v.p./Business development CHARLeS fitzGiBBon

v.p./external communications teRee CARUtHeRS

v.p./visual content MARk foReSteR

v.p./content operations nAtASHA LoRenS

v.p./travel puBlishing SUSAn CHAPPeLL

v.p./sales HeRB HARPeR, JARek SWekoSky

controller CHRiS DUDLey

senior accountant LiSA oWenS

accounts payaBle coordinator MARiA McfARLAnD

accounts receivaBle coordinator DiAnA GUzMAn

office manager/accounts receivaBle

coordinator SHeLLy MiLLeR

sales support coordinator ALex MARkS

i.t. director yAnCey BonD

system administrator DAnieL CAntReLL

WeB content manager JoHn HooD

WeB project manager noy fonGnALy

WeB designer ii RiCHARD StevenS

WeB developer i yAMeL HALL, neLS noSeWoRtHy

WeB account manager LAURen eUBAnk

photography director JeffRey S. otto

media technology director CHRiStinA CARDen

media technology analysts BeCCA ARy,

CHAnDRA BRADSHAW

audience development director DeAnnA neLSon

marketing creative director keitH HARRiS

distriBution director GARy SMitH

executive secretary kRiSty DUnCAn

human resources manager PeGGy BLAke

receptionist LinDA BiSHoP

Asheville magazine is published annually by Journal Communications inc. and is distributed

through the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses.

for advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact

Journal Communications inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].

for more information, contact:Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

36 Montford Ave. • Asheville, NC 28801Phone: (828) 258-6101 • Fax: (828) 251-0926

ashevillechamber.org

visit Asheville online at imagesasheville.com

©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. no portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member the Association of Magazine Media

Member Custom Content Council

Member Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

north carolina


Pediatric & Adolescent Dental Specialists

Accepting New Patients at Both OfficesAsheville: 10B Yorkshire St. • (828) 274-9220

Waynesville: 50 Bowman Dr. • (828) 454-9156 www.GreatBeginningsPedo.com

A great reason to smile.

Dr. Doug Pratt • Dr. Bill Chambers Dr. Angie Baechtold • Dr. Ryan Haldeman

4 ASheville

www.greatbeginningspedo.com

Welcome to AshevilleAn intRoDUCtion to the AReA’S people, plACeS AnD eventS

you Can take it With youWish you could enjoy delicious tupelo Honey Cafe food anytime,

anywhere? thanks to food writer elizabeth Sims and chef Brian

Sonoskus, that dream can now be a reality, as they have created Tupelo Honey Cafe: Spirited Recipes from Asheville's New South Kitchen. the

cookbook comprises more than 125 of Sonoskus' recipes, each paired

with mouth-watering images taken by local photographers. And it's

not just your own belly you'll be helping with your book purchase;

a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Manna foodBank and

the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

Goodbye, GraffitiWhile the Hunter Banks Company may be one of the best

places to find fly-fishing equipment, it stands out for another

reason, too – because it's pretty hard to miss the giant rainbow

trout and fisherman painted on the side of the building. the

mural, created by Asheville artists Jeremy Russell and Scott

Allred, was completed in June 2011. Shop owner Frank Smith

commissioned the mural as a way to combat the graffiti that

was often gracing his building. For extra protection, the mural

has been coated with a “graffiti-guard” to allow for easy

graffiti removal while also preventing permanent damage.

eat Like a LocalHosted by the Asheville Area

Chamber of Commerce, the Montford

tailgate Market is Asheville’s newest

among scores of markets in the area.

it is open on Wednesday afternoons

from 2 until 6 p.m., and takes place in

the chamber’s parking lot each week

through thanksgiving. Customers can

visit an array of vendors, as more than

20 local farmers set up shop to sell

their produce and goods. for more

information about the Montford

tailgate Market, contact the chamber

at (828) 258-6101 or visit its website

at www.ashevillechamber.org.

Almanac


Artful Home furnishingsA working studio and gallery, the Boggs Collective is located

in Asheville's Biltmore Village. Customers can select from a line of

furniture designs or commission a piece from their own inspiration.

the collective’s master craftsmen, including Brian Boggs, Andy Rae,

Gary Rawlins and Seth Weisenecker, begin their process by

selecting the perfect tree for their creations; from there, these

craftsmen design custom furniture built to inspire generations

of users. Clients often participate in the process, from material

selection to design, and visitors are always welcome. for more

information, contact The Boggs Collective at (828) 398-9701

or visit their website, www.boggscollective.com.

An Asheville AdventureExperience Asheville in a whole new way during

an exciting tree-based tour courtesy of Navitat

Canopy Adventures. take in the beauty of the

Blue Ridge Mountains and fly high during a zipline

canopy tour consisting of 10 ziplines, two bridges,

two rappels and three short hikes. night owls, check

out navitat at night and enjoy star-gazing in Moody

Cove while zipping from tree to tree. each tour

group is accompanied by two trained canopy

guides, as well as a supervisor on the ground.

to learn more about navitat Canopy Adventures,

call (828) 626-3700 or visit www.navitat.com.

Stop Here firstnewcomers, make the Asheville

visitor Center your first stop when

you make it into town. Located

in downtown Asheville and open

seven days a week, the visitor

center provides brochures and

coupons for local attractions and

accommodations, as well as maps

and other must-haves. Guests can

also pick up tickets to Biltmore,

and can embark on tours via

trolley or Segway. And, because

no trip is complete without the

perfect souvenir, visit the Asheville

Shop, which offers prints, photos

and crafts created by local artists,

with Asheville-inspired apparel

available, too. PH

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www.ashevilledentalassociates.com

www.pisgahvalley.org

Fast Factsn Biltmore, America’s largest home, has 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, 70-foot ceilings, an indoor bowling alley and priceless antiques.

n Asheville’s temperate climate makes year-round living a breeze. its average annual snowfall is only 13 inches.

n Renowned golf course designer Donald Ross designed the Buncombe County municipal Course, the course at the Grove park inn Resort & Spa, the Country Club of Asheville and Biltmore forest Country Club.

n mount mitchell is at an elevation of 6,684 feet, making it the highest peak east of the mississippi River.

251

63

209

19

19

25

74

BLUE RID

GE PKW

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BLUE RID

GE PKW

Y.

BUNCOMBE

26

40

Weaverville

Black Mountain

Canton

Swannanoa

Hendersonville

Asheville

asheville at a glancepopulation (2010 estimate)

Asheville: 83,393

Buncombe County: 238,318

location

Asheville is in Western north Carolina,

tucked away in the Blue Ridge

Mountains. two major interstates,

I-40 and I-26, intersect just outside

the city limits.

Beginnings

Asheville was incorporated in 1797

and named in honor of north Carolina

Gov. Samuel Ashe.

for more information

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

36 Montford Ave.

Asheville, NC 28801

Phone: (828) 258-6101

Fax: (828) 251-0926

www.ashevillechamber.org

Asheville

What’s online Take a virtual tour of Asheville, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesasheville.com.

Walk (or Drive) this Way

Helping residents and

visitors make their way around

the city, the Asheville Area

Wayfinding Program began

in 2009. The system includes

signs designed for both

vehicles and pedestrians, as

well as parking identification

signs, gateway/district

identification signs, information

kiosks and more. featured in

American Style magazine, the

signs are decorated with art

created by various talented

locals, complete with historical

and literary allusions. With

more than 2.9 million people

visiting the Asheville area

each year, it's safe to say

that the signs may provide

some much-needed guidance

and reassurance to travelers.


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imAGeSASheville .Com 11 10 ASheville

Throughout its history, Asheville’s riverfront has seen an economic ebb and flow of abundance

and hardship along the waters of the city’s French Broad River.

Today, abundance is f lowing again, as a riverfront renaissance is riding a crest in Asheville’s f lourishing and eclectic River Arts District (RAD).

setting the stageIt started in 1985 with Brian and

Gail McCarthy’s Highwater Clays, the first arts-based business, followed by Porge and Lewis Buck, who in 1987 transformed a former feed store into Warehouse Studios.

“They unknowingly set the stage for what is today’s River Arts District,” says landscape painter Wendy Whitson, owner of Northlight Studios and president-elect of the River Arts District Artists. “On any given day there are 65 artists, studios and businesses open for business,

and it’s growing every day as more people discover this great area and the energy we are generating.”

When RAD pioneer and leader Pattiy Torno was seeking a new location for a nightclub in 1989, she spotted the neglected area and saw potential.

“There was no arts district at the time; it was just an abandoned part of town,” she says. “The buildings are so amazing in their construction, with high ceilings and big banks of glass windows.”

Today, Torno’s CURVE Studios & Garden, located in three renovated Riverside Drive buildings, houses 13 working artists specializing in a wide variety of media, including her own quilts and eclectic clothing.

arts studios, restaurants find a home

Pink Dog Creative, taking over an expanse of buildings on Depot Street, recently opened its doors to more than a dozen artists and The

asheville’s river arts district is cresting With success

the River

StoRy By Betsy WilliamsPHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins & Brian mccord

clockwise from left: the River Arts District includes a variety of businesses such as hofman Studios, which specializes in handbuilt porcelain; Wedge Brewing Company; and pink Dog Creative, where founder and creative director Randy Shull paints in his studio.

Down By


Junction restaurant, while Glen Rock Depot has debuted with 60 affordable residential units and commercial space, including The Magnetic Field Performance House & Café and West One Salon. Wedge Brewing Company, 12 Bones Smokehouse, Clingman Café and Hatchery Studio’s White Duck Taco Shop are just a few of the restaurants creating the river scene.

“The River Arts District has flourished amazingly well in the last five years,” says Torno, who serves on the Asheville Area Riverfront Redevelopment Commission. “It’s continuing

to grow; people are purchasing buildings and investing in this area.” New construction, building renovation and an influx of restaurants, new businesses and full-time residents have created a hip urban feel down by the river. Events spaces, framing shops, health- and pet-care providers, landscape architects, building suppliers and nonprofit organizations are all adding to the vibe that is the River Arts District.

new streetscape, Wayfinding in place

A $1.2 million streetscape

improvement project, funded by the city of Asheville and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is bringing a real sense of place to the RAD, with sidewalks, bike lanes, landscaping and parking improvements. A recent wayfinding project, spearheaded by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, is helping residents and tourists alike better find their way to an array of glassblowers, weavers, sculptors, painters, and ceramic and furniture craftsmen, including one furniture maker whose goal is to resurrect North

clockwise from above: Artist Wendy Whitson’s gallery is located at northlight Studios; ian Whitt blows glass for a crowd of spectators in the River Arts District; Acrylic paints; pink Dog Creative on Depot Street


Carolina’s furniture industry, says Torno.

Twice-yearly Studio Strolls, outdoor movies, live theater productions and concerts lure people unfamiliar with the RAD who then return on a regular basis to enjoy the offerings of art, food and entertainment.

“It’s succeeding because of collaborative efforts,” Northlight’s Whitson maintains. “The artists who are here are very serious and passionate about their art form. They love what they’re doing, and that passion makes this neighborhood have a real heartbeat.”


twenty-seven tons of trash. That’s how much waste Danny Keaton’s company diverts from the landfill each week by making it easier for other people to compost and recycle.

His Danny’s Dumpster is one of several businesses around Asheville that have found making money and helping the environment can intersect.

Business leaders say that not only do environmentally sound practices help keep Buncombe County beautiful, they also make for higher profits and a more stable economy. In a county where tourism generates a $1.9 billion annual economic impact, the lessons learned could help keep the region attractive for generations to come.

danny’s dumpster turns restaurants greenWhen Keaton started his waste disposal business

in 2007, a new state law was on the horizon, and with it a new opportunity. The 2008 law said that businesses that sold alcohol for on-site consumption – bars and restaurants – had to recycle alcohol containers.

Keaton started hauling the recycling, but soon realized that restaurants also generate a lot of organic waste. Now he hauls food scraps to Crowell Farm for composting. Keaton returns the resulting rich soil to customers who want it, like Sunny Point Café, where compost helps feed the backyard garden that supplies fresh ingredients.

“When you look at what’s being diverted from the landfill, sometimes it’s 75, 80 percent of what they were sending,” Keaton says of his customers.

And the cost of disposal isn’t any higher, since less winds up in the dumpster.

thermo fisher scientific sets a Bold goalJeff Powers’ inspiration came during a conference

at Penn State, in which a fellow presenter told students how Subaru had managed to cut its landfill waste to zero at a plant in Lafayette, Ind. Powers, who is director of manufacturing operations for Thermo Fisher Scientific-Asheville, set out to duplicate the feat.

Last fall, the site established a “green team” that promotes recycling. Monthly waste dropped

green solutions make asheville Businesses hum

greening asheville

StoRy By dan hieB | PHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins


25 percent. This summer, employees did a dumpster dive to see what was still being thrown away. Powers estimates that 75 percent of what was found could be recycled or composted. He hopes to eliminate the remaining 25 percent by 2015 by adjusting manufacturing processes.

The site, which is already part of Thermo Fisher’s company-wide lean-enterprise program focusing on eliminating waste, went through an “E3” process, which identified ways to cut consumption and be more efficient. Implementing the changes has not only saved money, but led to a smoother operation that has achieved 100 percent on-time delivery to customers.

keeping extra trucks off the roadTo begin to understand the impact of the WNC

Transportation Alliance, consider this number: 42,000.That’s how many gallons of diesel are saved each year

along one trucking route between Asheville and Florida.The alliance serves as a matchmaker between

businesses that truck products. For instance,

Southeastern Container Inc. ships soda bottles to Florida, while Ingles Markets imports fresh produce from the state. With a little coordination, the same truck that carries bottles to Florida can return with groceries.

Sharing that one route is saving the companies $307,652 a year and prevents 462 tons of carbon emissions by reducing miles driven with empty trailers.

“That’s out of the many, many shipping channels that those two companies have,” Clark Duncan, spokesman for the alliance, says.

“It hits the triple bottom line,” he says. “They recognize they can run their business in a smarter, more efficient way while also benefitting the environment. And making businesses more profitable means more jobs for Buncombe County.”

clockwise from top left: Danny Keaton of Danny’s Dumpsters; Recycling containers are emptied into a Danny’s Dumpster truck; thermo fisher Scientific-Asheville’s dumpster dive; thermo fisher Scientific-Asheville

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By capitalizing on years of bringing everyone to the table, Asheville and Buncombe County

economic development officials now can add global manufacturer

Linamar to

their roster of success stories.The Canadian firm, which

makes parts of engines, transmissions and drive trains at facilities around the world, has taken over a former Volvo plant in south Asheville. After some retooling, the facility will supply precision-machined components

to customers of Linamar’s Industrial, Commercial

and Energy Group.

state, local officials offer grant, tax packages

A combination of state and local incentives was put into play to help seal

the deal, including state Job Development

Investment Grant funds that could reach $2.5

million if Linamar meets its specific job-creation targets,

and a $200,000 One North Carolina Fund grant. To get those funds, Linamar has agreed to create 363 jobs over four years beginning in 2012 and to make a capital investment of at least $80 million. The company’s jobs are expected to average nearly $40,000 per year, not including benefits.

Asheville and Buncombe County officials say that the Linamar deal is just the latest successful result of literally decades of getting every conceivable player involved in business recruitment and retention.

“Five months before the announcement, we were meeting with them,” says K. Ray Bailey, a Buncombe County commissioner who also is president emeritus of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and board chair of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County.

city, county, state collaBorate to land gloBal manufacturer

Welcome, linamar

StoRy By joe morris

Business

16 ASheville

“The state department of commerce was involved, as were the board chair and president of the chamber, county manager, city manager, mayor, local colleges, employment commissioners and school superintendents. We put a large group of people around that table.”

As Linamar narrowed down its potential sites, Gov. Bev Perdue was brought into the talks with the company’s top officials, which showed the area’s seriousness about making a deal, Bailey says.

advance planning speeds linamar startup

“We agreed early on to make sure we had an incentive package, both for the city and county, and then the state came in to help with their grant funds,” he says. “We kept working at it, and they saw us working at it, and eventually we came to an agreement.”

Linamar has held job fairs and is hiring for the facility in anticipation of being fully operational by January 2012 in order to begin meeting orders that have already come in to the plant. It’s been able to keep to that accelerated schedule thanks to all the local stakeholders being on board early in the process, which allowed for training programs and more to come online quickly.

“That’s how we do it here,” Bailey says. “We gather everybody and talk about what each group or organization can provide. That’s been important, and I think that the successes we’ve had over the years are because all of us in the community work collaboratively to make them happen.”

www.ashevillecityschools.net

scorecardBusiness at

a glance

$2 billionannual retail sales

$29,279retail sales

per capita

$391 millionannual hotel

and food sales

9,224total number

of firms

source: U.s. Census QuickFacts

Business

Biz BriefsBUSineSSeS – Both lARGe AnD SmAll – thAt help Define

ASheville’S eConomiC ClimAte

jus’ runningBiz: Shoe storeBuzz: The perfect pair of running shoes awaits in Jus’ Running, a shoe store dedicated to not only supplying a variety of shoes, but finding the exact pair to suit each customer. The store provides a professional fitting process that includes a free biomechanical analysis and matches appropriate support and cushioning. Brands include Nike, New Balance, Adidas and more.www.jusrunning.com


Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.

Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon

Living greenstarts from the ground up.

groveWood galleryBiz: Arts and crafts retailerBuzz: Grovewood Gallery opened officially in 1992 to take over for Biltmore Estate Industries, an established education program known for its hand-loomed fabrics. Now Grovewood has evolved to include the NC Homespun Museum, Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, a cafe and a studio. Visit the gallery to purchase unique jewelry, ceramics, glasswork and sculptures.www.grovewood.com

B.B. BarnsBiz: Garden centerBuzz: Asheville gardeners get their green thumbs at B.B. Barns, a 7-acre destination garden center. Along with the garden center, B.B. Barns offers landscape design, installation and garden maintenance services, as well as education programs in areas such as container gardening for beginners. Also on-site is a gift store with selections ranging from outdoor furniture and accessories to candles and bath and body products.www.bbbarns.com

sunny point cafeBiz: RestaurantBuzz: Restaurants like Sunny Point Cafe have given Asheville an edge on the foodie scene. Sunny Point is best known for its famous breakfast, which is served all day, but they also serve lunch and dinner. The restaurant grows its own garden and has received rave reviews from the likes of Southern Living magazine and a slew of foodie favorite blogs.www.sunnypointcafe.com

avl technologiesBiz: Mobile satellite and antenna manufacturerBuzz: Founder Jim Oliver, former engineering manager for the antenna division of Scientific Atlanta and co-founder of SatCom Technologies, began AvL Technologies in 1994. Originally designed to manufacture a lightweight positioner for ERA Technology, the company has grown to specialize in the design, development and production of mobile satellite antenna/positioner systems and offers the world’s largest range of satellite antennas for vehicle mount and flyaway applications.www.avltech.com


www.thefarmevents.com

Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

10 SurprisingFood Cities

EUGENEOregon

PUEBLOColorado

LOGANUtah

WICHITAKansas

ASHEVILLENorth Carolina

BOULDERColorado

KANSAS CITYMissouri

WALNUT CREEKCalifornia

ALBUQUERQUENew Mexico

TRAVERSE CITYMichigan

Ashevillemade the list.10 Surprising Food CitiesSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.


www.livability.com

www.livability.com

and enter the Parkway in

Asheville than at any other

point along the road’s 470

miles. there are seven

Asheville-area Parkway exits.

Asheville transit Authority

360 W. Haywood St.

(828) 253-5691

AiR:

Asheville Regional Airport

61 terminal Dr., Ste. 1

Fletcher, NC 28732

(828) 684-2226

ww.flyavl.com

RAil:

Amtrak

www.amtrak.com

Workforce

77% White-Collar Jobs

23% Blue-Collar Jobs

education

26%Associate Degree

23%Bachelor’s Degree

16%Graduate Degree

taxes

2.5%County Sales tax

4.5%State Sales tax

7%total Sales tax

$.945/$100 Residential property tax

$1.5/$1,000Commercial property tax

income

$27,829 per Capita income

$49,257Average Annual household expenditure

transportation

ROAD:

I-40 East from Knoxville, Tenn.;

I-40 West from Statesville and

Raleigh, N.C.; I-85 to I-26 from

Charlotte and South Carolina;

and 19/23 South from Johnson

City/Bristol, tenn.

for a more scenic and leisurely

drive, try the Blue Ridge

Parkway. More motorists exit

major employers

3,000+ employees

Buncombe County

Public Schools

ingles Markets, inc. (Home

office) Buncombe County

Mission Health System and

Hospital

1,000-2,999 employees

City of Asheville

the Biltmore

Company Museums

Buncombe County

Government

the Grove Park inn

Resort & Spa

vA Medical Center –

Asheville Department

of veterans Affairs

750-999 employees

BorgWarner turbo &

emissions Systems

CarePartners nursing &

Residential Care facilities

eaton Corporation –

electrical Division

500-749 employees

Asheville City Schools

MB Haynes Corp. (Division

offices) Construction

Arvato Digital Services

Business climateAsheville has both low unemployment and strong job growth.

fueling the area’s sound business climate are stable population

growth, a healthy housing market, expanding professional services,

robust small business and health care industry growth, and a steady

tourism industry.

economic profile

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Ashevillemade the list.10 Surprising Food CitiesSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.



www.edschool.org

exciting news occurred in

Asheville in July 2011 on a

couple of fronts.

first of all, Canadian-based

Linamar Corp. announced that it

is investing $125 million to establish

a construction-equipment parts

manufacturing plant in Asheville

that will create 400 jobs. Adding

to the excitement is that Linamar

chose Asheville-Buncombe

technical Community College to

provide an array of pre-hire training

for employee candidates, then A-B

tech will also provide post-hire,

on-the-job follow-up training.

“We scheduled leadership and

managerial skills classes along with

computer training and quality-

control sessions for Linamar,” says

Shelley White, A-B tech senior

executive director of economic

and workforce development and

continuing education. “the state

of north Carolina funds the

training costs, which was part of

the incentive package for Linamar

locating here.”

the Linamar success story

is one of many occurring these

days within the Workforce

Development Department at A-B

tech. White says 17,000 students

a year enroll in classes that are

earmarked toward getting people

ready for today’s hottest careers.

“nowadays we are offering our

students a lot of computer and

software technical classes plus

plenty of training in health

occupations,” she says. “We make

great efforts to connect with local

businesses and groups like the

Asheville Area Chamber of

Commerce and their economic

Development Coalition to ensure

that we are in touch with the

training needs in the community.”

White says a popular current

curriculum is a nurse’s aide

program that takes only seven

weeks to complete, and another

is an automated-machining

program that takes only 12 weeks

a Force behind the WorkforceA-B teCh hAS Key Role in eConomiC Development

education

Students learn about manufacturing processes at Asheville-Buncombe technical Community College.

for students to finish.

“Most machining students

are going right to work after

completing the program,” she

says. “that’s a good deal –

getting a good job after only

three months of training.”

one local company that has

a history of accessing A-B tech

training programs is eaton Corp.,

which is involved with metal

working for the aerospace

and automotive industries. one

specific program that A-B tech

offers to Eaton is a 40-hour pre-

hire training session that teaches

applicants about blueprint

reading, lean-manufacturing

principles and other fundamentals

of a manufacturing environment.

“After the 40 hours of training,

we advise eaton of the students

who are best qualified for their

company,” White says. “even if

a student isn’t hired by eaton, that

student now has the skills to seek

employment and get hired at

other manufacturing companies.”

Part of the A-B tech campus

is also set up as a small-business

incubator, with a small-business

information center for anyone

interested in starting a small

business.

“We can also lease office

and storage space at a very low

cost to fledgling business owners,”

White says. “in addition, we have

a large commercial kitchen on-site

where people can manufacture

food products and then go

through the process of testing,

marketing, selling and so forth.

Workforce development programs

in a variety of areas – that’s what

is occurring these days all over the

A-B tech campus.” – Kevin Litwin



www.fourseasonsCFL.org

www.stjude.org/tribute

rusty owen says the

accounting profession tends

to be somewhat of a sedentary

lifestyle, with employees sitting

at a desk and computer all day

except for going out at lunch

to grab fast food.

owen himself, director

of marketing and business

development at Johnson, Price

& Sprinkle, says his marketing job

at the Asheville-based accounting

firm often has him on the “wine-

and-cheese circuit,” attending

corporate and client functions

where plenty of food and

beverages are served.

“i’m a big guy to begin with, and

I could easily weigh 400 pounds if

i wanted to,” he says. “About two

years ago, i realized that i needed

something to get myself and other

people at JP&S in better shape, so i

approached our Ceo Ben Hamrick

about the possibility of embarking

upon a wellness program. Ben

was totally on board with it.”

90 percentJP&S has accounting offices

in Asheville, Boone and Marion,

so owen began conversations

with officials at the yMCA, which

has branches in those three cities.

“Ben and our company partners

voted that JP&S would pay

90 percent of annual YMCA

membership fees for any of our

employees interested in joining,”

owen says. “our company has

gotten a lot of attention from this.”

Johnson, Price & Sprinkle has

a total of 55 employees, and

about 35 are participating in

the yMCA program.

“Some can’t join because they

getting better all the timeCompAny SUppoRtS employee fitneSS initiAtiveS

Health & Wellness

forty-five Johnson, price & Sprinkle employees and family members participated in a Chamber Challenge 5K.

have health issues that make

it impossible to go out and run

2 miles or whatever,” Owen says.

“But for us others, the yMCA

puts together a good schedule

of activities such as zumba

classes, water sports, weightlifting

sessions and so forth, plus they

host short seminars on stress

management and nutrition.”

Friday Wallyballowen says a group activity

that the yMCA hosts every friday

evening is wallyball, which is a

game like volleyball that is played

inside a racquetball court. All

walls are in play and there are

teams of usually four against four.

“Wallyball has been an

interesting company tool, because

the Ceo and an intern might

be playing shoulder-to-shoulder

or nose-to-nose on the court,”

he says. “then when everyone

gets to work on Monday morning,

communication barriers that

might have existed between

people don’t exist anymore.”

sick days decreasedowen says sick days at JP&S

have decreased and insurance

premiums have gone down.

the company also recently

had 45 employees and family

members take part in a Chamber

Challenge 5k.

“We are also working with

north Carolina Prevention

Partners that is involved in

something called WorkHealthy

America,” he says. “We are one of

about 10 businesses in Asheville

they are tracking for two years to

chart our health progress. We’ve

made a lot of changes at JP&S.

our company used to have pizza

fridays, and now there is still

pizza, but also salads and fruits

and other healthy alternatives.”

– Kevin Litwin

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Asheville has refreshing answers to whatever “ales” you, thanks to 10 microbreweries doing business in the community.

In 2011, and for the third consecutive year, Asheville won the national title of Beer City USA as voted by readers of Examiner.com and organized by the Denver, Colo.-based Brewers Association.

“I was the first person to start a microbrewery in Asheville back in 1994 and never could have imagined that today there would be 10 microbreweries in a city of 70,000 residents,” says Oscar Wong, president of Highland Brewing Company in Asheville. “People here are supportive of local businesses and are open to new ideas, and that has really helped this industry succeed. Plus, the city’s location is ideal because water that flows down from the nearby mountains is great for brewing.”

asheville tapped again as Beer city usa

bottle GRoUnD

StoRy By kevin litWinPHotoGRAPHy By jeff adkins

owner oscar Wong gives a tour of highland Brewing Company.


fresh enthusiasmWong says he is also surprised

that microbreweries have actually become an important part of Asheville’s tourism sector, with brewery sites serving as destinations to many visitors.

“Speaking of which, I was given the 2011 William A.V. Cecil Tourism Leadership Award by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce at their annual dinner,” he says. “The microbreweries in Asheville are like teenagers, still with an enthusiasm for this business. Many microbrew operations in other cities have matured and became complacent and even a bit boring, but Asheville is still a youngster at all of this.”

Highland Brewing Company is the largest microbrewery in Asheville and in the top four in microbrew sales throughout the entire Southeast United States. Their beer brands are sold in restaurants, beer stores and

above: visitors listen to music on the lawn at highland Brewing Company. far right: employees at Asheville pizza and Brewing Company


events always Brewingcity hosts many Beer-related festivals

Many tourists to Asheville actually

make visiting a microbrewery a

priority, so it makes sense that the city

hops to it when it comes to hosting

beer-focused festivals and events.

For example, more than 30

American breweries from throughout

the nation showcase more than 100

different beers every mid-September

at the Brewgrass festival. the

popular event takes place at Martin

Luther king Jr. Park, with food and

water vendors in attendance, along

with live entertainment provided

by a lineup of national and regional

bluegrass musicians.

Bavaria meets ashevilleonly a few weeks later, the well-

known oktoberfest descends upon

downtown Asheville on Wall Street.

the city’s reputation as Beer City

USA makes the downtown district

an ideal place to enjoy this festival

that blends Bavarian traditions with

Asheville’s eclectic scene. Live music

is also a major part of the festivities.

Meanwhile, local microbreweries

are also a big part of Bele Chere, a

festival that occurs in late July along

a number of downtown streets. Bele

Chere allows anyone in attendance

to drink beer along the streets as

long as they stay within the

designated festival boundaries.

fifteen microBreWsAnd throughout the entire year,

Asheville is home to an Asheville

Brews Cruise that allows beer

enthusiasts to ride in a roomy

12-passenger van to tour three local

microbreweries in the span of 3.5

hours. For $40 a person, participants

sample 14 or 15 microbrews during

that time, with each beer sample only

about four ounces. the participants

drink about the equivalent of four full

beers during the entire trip.

– Kevin Litwin


taverns in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

“We produce a Gaelic ale that accounts for about 50 percent of our sales, and the second most popular is an oatmeal porter dark beer,” Wong says. “Highland Brewing also does a lot of specialty brews, including an occasional wheat beer and one specifically for Oktoberfest.”

houdini and ninjaA key reason why Asheville

microbreweries have become so popular in recent years has been the establishment of an Asheville Brewers Alliance that markets the industry. The ABA was formed knowing that Asheville’s microbreweries (and a few others in surrounding communities) are in individual competition with one another, but as a unified group the alliance can market the entire industry to attract the brew tourist to Asheville.

The alliance’s president is Mike Rangel, who also owns Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, which has two locations and has been crafting ales since 1999. His company produces a variety of brews with names like Houdini, Ninja, Rocket Girl and Scout Stout.

“The Asheville Brewers Alliance doesn’t necessarily market to tourists who visit Biltmore and places like that. We target the tourist who actually makes visiting a microbrewery a priority,” Rangel says. “Alliance members meet once a month at different breweries to talk about interactions with the city as well as supporting nonprofits that approach us, and we discuss how to further promote the Beer City USA brand for Asheville.”

A variety of local beers are on tap at Asheville pizza & Brewing Company.


www.christschool.org

www.cancer.org

appetiteasheville’s


known as Foodtopia for its impressive array of fine restaurants, commitment to locally grown ingredients and variety of food-related events and initiatives, Asheville

soon may also lead the nation in green restaurants.With 100,000 residents, the city already has an

oversize devotion to culinary excellence and variety. It boasts more than 250 independent restaurants, 17 active farmers markets, longstanding support for the farm-to-table movement and a bevy of local farmers.

“We’re one of the top destinations in the country, and what makes people want to come here also makes chefs want to ply their trade here,” says Steve Frabitore, proprietor of Tupelo Honey Cafe’s two locations and head of Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR). “We’re surrounded by natural beauty, this is a free-spirited and eclectic town full of great art and theater, and we have a great farming community. The quality of food and service here has just skyrocketed in the last five years.”

StoRy By laura hill

city’s popularity groWs With epicurean fans

local squash noodles with fettucini, portobellos, patty pans and heirloom tomato sauce at Corner Kitchen.J

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independent eateries growProving the point, membership in Asheville

Independent Restaurants doubled in 2010-2011 to 70 members, Frabitore says, thanks to dedicated chefs and owners, and the organization’s commitment to “helping make our members better at what we do.” Active community sponsors, from hospitals to linen companies to credit card processors, help support AIR’s educational and community programs. The group has partnered with Mission Hospital on improving kids’ menus, offered $10,000 in scholarships to culinary students in 2011 and is developing an innovative program to retrain workers for the culinary field. In 2011 AIR trained 25 restaurants in gluten-free cuisine, making Asheville the nation’s leader in that regard. And now AIR aims to make Asheville No. 1 in the country in per capita number of restaurants certified green by the Green Restaurant Association.

“If we can say that Asheville is the greenest restaurant city in the country, that’s a very big thing,” says Kevin Westmoreland, co-owner of the Corner Kitchen and part of AIR’s Green Team. “Asheville is a city that wants to be green, that is trying to be green, and this is a big step toward making that happen.”

clockwise from above: Corner Kitchen is one of more than 250 independent restaurants in Asheville; Broccoli and gorgonzola quiche at the Green Sage Coffeehouse and Cafe; french comfort food is served at Bouchon.

34 ASheville

crazy for cocoa chocolate shops in asheville create treasures

As aficionados know, there’s chocolate,

and then there’s chocolate: the kind some

swear is better than – well, you know. And

fortunately, available right here.

indian kulfi, Dragon’s Sigh, Ancient

Pleasures, Canela Picante and Masala Chai

may sound like exotic treasures – and they

are. All are unique chocolate truffle flavors

you’d be hard-pressed to find in an

ordinary sweet shop, but are right at

home in Asheville’s finest chocolate shops.

the french Broad Chocolate Lounge is

just that, a quiet retreat where chocolate

lovers can relax with coffee, wine and an

assortment of fine chocolates and pastries,

courtesy of owners Dan and Jael Rattigan.

the Rattigans learned their art in Costa

Rica, opened their “sacred space for

chocophiles” in Asheville in 2007 and are

nationally acclaimed for their chocolates,

passionately conjured up from locally

sourced fruit, honey, maple syrup, berries,

nuts, butter and other ingredients – just

about everything but the cacao itself.

on Haywood Street, the Chocolate

fetish has tempted visitors with hand-

crafted, small-batch chocolates, made

without vegetable oil or preservatives,

since 1986.

Proprietors Sue and Bill foley and

daughter elizabeth say “it takes a village”

to produce their unique chocolates, which

include their trademarked America’s Best

truffles and ecstasy truffles.

Bill and Sue lived for years in Brussels,

Belgium, and have visited and been

inspired by europe’s finest chocolate

shops. elizabeth studied at the french

Pastry School with chocolatier Jean-

Pierre Wybauw.

– Laura Hill

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Bill foley at the chocolate fetish


greening the restaurant sceneThe group’s Green Team had earlier helped

restaurants go greener with low-cost, simple steps, from using low-flow sprays on dishwashers to eliminating Styrofoam. But in July 2011, AIR received a $240,000 grant, courtesy of the state of North Carolina and federal stimulus money, that allowed it to go bigger – and greener.

Seventeen member restaurants underwent training that will lead to certification by the Green Restaurant Association. Grant money, matched by participating restaurants, will help provide solar panels, efficient water heaters, insulating curtains in walk-in coolers and other energy-saving features. Restaurants will save energy and, over the long term, money. And the community will reap considerable benefits too.

“This will pull a lot of BTUs out of the system that we are currently using,” says Westmoreland. “It amounts to the electricity that would be used by 100,000 televisions each year, which will help ease the strain on the power grid. We’re excited about this. When we get done we can walk the walk and not just talk the talk.”

above: fresh, local ingredients at Bouchon right: tupelo honey Cafe

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www.liveunited.org

www.parsecfinancial.com

Sports & Recreation

in Asheville, outdoor recreation

is out of sight.

from whitewater rafting and

scenic biking trails to beautiful

gardens and horseback riding,

Asheville is a hub for outside

activities.

it’s no wonder the city recently

hosted the annual conference

of the outdoor industry

Association, a trade association

that provides services for more

than 4,000 manufacturers,

distributors, suppliers and

retailers in the industry.

With such a strong reputation

as a leader in open-air activities,

it’s only natural that a unique

retail and concept shop would

find its way to the area.

nantahala outdoor center at the grove park inn resort & spa

Asheville’s historic Grove Park

inn Resort & Spa is teaming up

with the city’s nantahala outdoor

Center to build the nantahala

outdoor Center at the Grove

Park inn Resort & Spa.

Described by noC Marketing

Director Charles Conner as an

“adventure concierge,” the location

will allow visitors and guests of the

hotel to inquire about the best

and most appropriate outings

around Asheville.

“Guests can reserve numerous

guided trips including whitewater

rafting on four nearby rivers,

canopy tours, fishing excursions,

area day hikes, flatwater paddling

tours and more,” Conner says.

“Beyond guided trips, our staff

will provide resources for do-it-

yourself adventures and maps

to recreation areas, as well as

expert advice on how to best

enjoy these destinations.”

outdoor gearthe shop will have a limited

selection of gear and apparel

from such leading outdoor

lifestyle brands as Patagonia,

Mountain Hardwear, keen and

the north face.

“Beyond just outfitting guests,

the shop will have gifts and

information about Asheville’s

outdoors, making the shop

valuable to armchair adventurers

or those on an all-business

itinerary,” Conner says.

leed-certiFiedAnd as a LeeD-certified

establishment, the nantahala

outdoor Center at the Grove

Park inn Resort & Spa will be

built with not only outdoor-

adventure seekers in mind,

but the outdoors itself.

its LeD lights consume low

amounts of power and don’t

emit much heat. the floors and

countertops will be made from

rapidly renewing resources like

bamboo and wheatboard. the

building will also utilize renewable

power and even encourage

sustainable practices from the staff

and guests, such as promoting

bicycle use for transportation.

“We’re excited to be the official

activity provider for the Southeast’s

most beloved resort, and we’re

determined to add value to every

guest’s visit. Asheville visitors can

now have it all – the best of the

indoors and the best of the

outdoors,” says Sutton Bacon,

Ceo of the noC. – Chris Russell

the great outdoorstWo entitieS ComBine to CReAte An ADventURe ConCieRGe

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perfect place to growoutdoor-themed companies ready to gain traction

it’s known as the great outdoors.

in Asheville, that word can also

describe the future of outdoor-

product companies – great.

A few of the successful

organizations that are poised

for prosperous years in this area,

rich with natural resources, include

Pyrahna Mouldings (a British-

based kayaks and canoe company

with an Asheville location), Astral

Buoyancy Company, (which

specializes in clothing, primarily

buoyancy jackets), Columbia

and the north face.

the new nantahala outdoor

Center at the Grove Park inn

Resort & Spa, which will feature

gear and apparel from popular

outdoor retailers, only adds to

the potential.

Being part of the new store is “a

great opportunity to showcase the

innovative products from Columbia

and further our partnership with

noC, a premier outfitter in the

Southeast,” says Columbia sales

representative Chappie Powell.

“Having the north face

involved with two great companies

like the noC and Grove Park inn is

a great fit,” says Adam Pinkston,

representative for the north face.

“Having the expertise of outdoor

adventure from the noC will be a

great benefit to guests. And with

all the new outdoor activities, the

great relationship between the

north face and the noC makes

this a very exciting time.”

– Chris Russell

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www.lakepointretirement.com

Arts & Culture

music rocks the city of

Asheville with the coming

of Moogfest, the three-day, multi-

venue event where artists,

audiences and energy coexist

in harmony.

But the music remains long

after the curtains close on

Moogfest’s final act.

creatively contagious

thanks in part to an art-

conscious culture, Asheville has

grown a music scene to rival

cities twice its size, and its

creativity is proving contagious.

“Asheville attracts an active,

arts-going crowd that has been

extremely receptive to live acts,”

says Liz Whalen, marketing and

special events director for the

orange Peel music venue. those

live acts include major names

like Bob Dylan, Smashing

Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Lauryn

Hill, My Morning Jacket, Arcade

fire and the Avett Brothers,

to name a few.

the Peel, as Ashevillians

affectionately call it, is the largest

venue of its kind in Western north

Carolina and has been highlighted

as one of the best live-music

venues in the nation by the likes

of Rolling Stone, USA Today

and Cosmopolitan.

“it helps that we’re in downtown

Asheville, a fun, urban neighborhood

where people can make a night of

eating dinner, walking around and

catching a show,” Whalen says.

Also bright on the scene is

the Grey eagle, where all ages

are free to enjoy the space and

sounds brought by a range of

well-known bands.

in the mood For moogWhen a late-night concert

doesn’t cut it, Moogfest comes in.

“it’s a wonderful opportunity

for people to come together in a

social environment and share their

enthusiasm for life, music and a

sense of community,” says Ashley

Capps, president of AC

entertainment, the company

that produces the festival.

Still in its beginning phases –

moog to the musicneW feStivAl A hiGhliGht of thRivinG live mUSiC SCene

right: Gillian Welch at the orange peel

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40 ASheville

Moogfest is set to put on its

second annual festival in october –

the concert series has garnered

praise and big names in a short

time. Moogfest began as a way

to honor the legacy of Bob Moog

and the many contributions he

made to the music industry,

and features mainly electronic

and alternative rock, according

to Capps.

“the focus is really on

musicians whose work displays

a genuinely restless, innovative

and creative spirit,” Capps says.

overall, Moogfest aims to

celebrate Asheville’s already-

established and diverse music

scene.

“We hope that serves to inspire

musicians, artists and the creative

community as a whole to create

more, and is seen as another

aspect of the continuing growth

of arts and culture, not just in

Asheville, but throughout the

Southeast,” says Capps.

– Karen Schwartzman Ali mousavi performs at moogfest in Asheville.

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40 ASheville

www.deerfieldwnc.org

image Gallery

42 ASheville

Downtown Asheville

Photo by Brian McCord


The fountain in J. Rush Oates Plaza in downtown Asheville

Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto

image Gallery

44 ASheville

Sunflowers for sale at the Montford Tailgate Market

Photo by Jeff Adkins


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climate

84° FJuly high temperature

27° FJanuary low temperature

37”Annual Rain fall (vs. national Average Annual Rain fall of 37”)

time zone

eastern

cost of living

$43,592median household income

$195,800median home price

$688median Rent for a two-Bedroom Apartment

Asheville, NC 99.7

Charlotte, NC 94.0

Durham, NC 92.1

Raleigh, NC 92.4

Wilmington, NC 99.8

Winston-Salem, NC 90.3

Atlanta, GA 97.5

Charleston, SC 101.1

Columbia, SC 94.3

National Average = 100

land area

40.9Square miles

household information

AGe:

40median Resident Age

22% 19 and Under

48% 20-54

30% 55 and over

MARiTAl sTATUs:

46% married

54% Single

eThNiCiTY:

77% White

14% Black

5% hispanic

4% other

transportation

16 minutesmedian travel time to Work

numBers to knoW

driver services nCDot Division of

Motor vehicles

600 tunnel Rd.

Asheville, NC 28805

(828) 298-4544

www.ncdot.org

curbside recycling Curbside Management

116 n. Woodfin Ave.

Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 252-2532

www.curbie.com

voter Registration

Board of elections

35 Woodfin St.

Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 250-4200

www.buncombecounty.org

snapshotAs a resort and therapeutic health center since the late 1880s,

Asheville has long been a destination for people searching for

a mountain escape, its population climbing to nearly 30,000

seasonal residents in 1890. More art deco architecture built

in the late 1920s and early 1930s can be found in downtown

Asheville than in any other city in the Southeast outside of Miami.

community profile


Ad Index 17 Asheville City sChools

8 Asheville DentAl AssoCiAtes

C3 Asheville sAvvy

C4 Asheville sChool

2 Asheville speCiAlty hospitAl

C2 Asheville-BunComBe teChniCAl Community College

C3 BeAr Creek ApArtments

C3 BmW Asheville

8 BrightstAr

22 CArolinA DAy sChool

31 Christ sChool

41 DeerfielD episCopAl retirement Community

24 four seAsons

46 givens estAtes

5 greAt Beginnings peDiAtriC & DentAl speCiAlists

C3 hAmpton inn & suites/ homeWooD suites

C3 hunter BAnks

46 JonAs gerArD fine Art

39 lAke pointe lAnDing

24 mAheC DentAl heAlth Center

Ad Index 24 mAheC fAmily heAlth Center

39 mAheC oB/gyn speCiAlists

C2 mission hospitAl

37 pArseC finAnCiAl

8 pisgAh vAlley retirement Community

2 QuAlity inn & suites

2 sAlvAtion Army of Asheville

19 the fArm

through the Lens

Asheville, north Carolina has

been named Beer City USA by

readers of Examiner.com for

the third year in a row. this

is why i love Asheville.

Last week, i was assigned

to photograph the Highland

Brewing Company as well as

Asheville Pizza and Brewing

Company to illustrate a story

about microbreweries for

Asheville magazine.

the week started out with

a tour of the Highland brewery

by oscar Wong, president of the

Highland Brewing Company, also

known as the “grandfather of

beer” in Asheville since he opened

the first microbrewery in the area

– not because he’s old. i made

several return trips to catch the

bottling line in action as well as

the friday evening live music that

happens every week. i also made

several trips to both of Asheville

Pizza and Brewing Company’s

locations to see how they make

beer from scratch, from milling

their own grains to filling kegs

with the final product …

From our photo blog: asheville

PoSteD By Jeff ADkinS

more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

Now that you’ve experienced Asheville through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

get the story behind the photo

48 ASheville

www.throughthelensjci.com

www.throughthelensjci.com

Bear Creek Apartments

110 Bear Creek Ln. • (828) [email protected] • www.bearcreek-apts.com

Your new home in west Asheville

Asheville Savvy?

Asheville’s First Mobile GuidePromoting Local Merchants, Events, Restaurants,

Pubs, Festivals and More

Visit us at: www.ashevillesavvy.com

Are You …

www.bmwofasheville.com

www.ashevillesavvy.com

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Asheville, NC: 2012

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