6AM City In-house

Take it easy with these local activities

Gentle ways to explore Asheville, NC
A look at wildflowers and a sunset along the Blue Ridge Parkway
A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great and easy way to explore the sights. | Photo by @honeybadgerimages
Whether you’re nursing an injury or managing other mobility limitations, you still want to get out and see the sights. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to explore the 828 without any strenuous physical activity.
  • Scratch that hiking itch (and see some really cute critters) with a stroll around the 42-acre WNC Nature Center.
  • Get a rush with the immersive racing simulation at The Track at Asheville, which offers 12 state-of-the-art racing rigs that recreate a stunningly similar experience to being in an actual Formula One race car, rumbles, wrecks, and all.
  • Go chasing waterfalls with area photographer + author Kevin Adams’ 100 Disabled Access NC Waterfalls.
  • Explore WNC’s museums, which highlight everything from art + rare cars to pinball machines and radios.
  • Book with Asheville Jeep Tours and experience the mountains while off-roading over forest service roads.
  • Cast a rod and see what you catch at some of the area’s handicap-accessible fishing piers.
  • Meander through the woods on a foraging tour with No Taste Like Home and learn to identify edible plants in the wild.
  • Get your favorite tunes or podcasts queued up and set out on some of WNC’s most scenic drives.
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Today
  • Downtown After 5 | Fri., Sept. 16 | 5-9:30 p.m. | N. Lexington Ave. | Free | The last Downtown After 5 of the season features live music from Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience and local DJ Molly Parti.
  • Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band 20th Anniversary | Fri., Sept. 16 | 6:30 p.m. | Salvage Station | $20+ | Enjoy two sets of rollicking funk tunes from this local band.
  • Cry It Out | Fri., Sept. 16-Sun., Sept. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Attic Salt Theatre Company, 2002 Riverside Dr.| $22 | This humorous + heartwarming look at modern motherhood is penned by writer Molly Smith Metzler, who’s written for hit shows including Shameless and Orange is the New Black. 🎭
  • Mountain State Fair | Fri., Sept. 16-Sun., Sept. 18 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | WNC Ag Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd., Fletcher. | $5+ | Enjoy rides galore and fair food at this beloved event’s final weekend. 🎡
Saturday
  • Clawtoberfest | Sat., Sept. 17 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy. | Free | Enjoy food trucks and live entertainment at this Oktoberfest-style party that celebrates the release of Highland’s seasonal Marzen Lager, Clawhammer. 🍺
  • Art in Autumn | Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Main St., Weaverville | Free | Get an early start on your holiday shopping at this juried event featuring arts and crafts in pottery, glass + photography. 🖼️
  • Wild Night Out — Playing For Partners | Sat., Sept. 17 | 6-8 p.m. | Old Rock Cafe, 431 Main St., Chimney Rock | Free entry | Proceeds from this riverside dinner with live entertainment benefit local nonprofit Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.
Sunday
  • Barktoberfest | Sun., Sept. 18 | 12-3 p.m. | Down Dog Yoga Studio & Dog Bar, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Free entry | Don your lederhosen for this event with pretzels, German beer, and plenty of adoptable pups from Mountain Pet Rescue. 🐾
  • Community Plant Swap | Sun., Sept. 18 | 12-5 p.m. | The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd. | Free | Buy, sell, or trade plants, cuttings, and botanical arts + crafts at this outdoor market. 🪴
Last Minute Deal
  • Jack White | Fri., Sept. 16 | 7 p.m. | The Orange Peel | Prices vary*
Plan Ahead
  • John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival | Sat., Oct. 1-Sun., Oct. 2 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 1 Folk School Rd., Brasstown | Adults: $10; Seniors 65+/Veterans: $8; Kids (ages 12-17): $8 | Celebrate the best of Appalachian heritage at the 46th Fall Festival ft. artisan craft exhibitors, traditional roots music, and more. 🍂 *
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Culture

Spend local, support community 🛍️
Presented by an AVLtoday Partner
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Of the NCRMA’s 25,000 members, 60% are small businesses and independent retailers. | Photo provided by North Carolina Retail Merchants Association
DYK? For every $100 spent at small businesses, $48 is put back into the local economy. Spending dollars locally means helping friends, neighbors, and family members — fellow Ashevillians — succeed.

The North Carolina Retail Merchants Association (NCRMA) just launched a new campaign, “Welcome! We’re Here for You,” to celebrate retailers across the state and encourage customers to shop in store and use #ShopNC on social media to share purchases made at local bizzes from the coast to the Piedmont to the mountains of our beautiful state.*

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Weather
  • 80º | Sunny | 9% chance of rain
Civic
  • The City of Asheville has several vacancies for its Boards & Commissions, including: African American Heritage Commission, Audit Committee, Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee, Human Relations Comission, and Public Art + Cultural Commission. Applications are due Mon., Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. (unless noted otherwise on the flyer).
Community
  • Looking for a job? Buncombe County will hold Project Fresh Start on Sat., Sept. 17 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Arthur Edington Center Education & Career Center. The free event will offer professional headshots, resume building assistance, professional clothing closets, and businesses hiring for open positions. 💼
Try This
  • Asheville Salt Cave is hosting a mini wellness retreat to celebrate its 10 year anniversary on Thurs., Sept. 22 from 3-7 p.m. The event will feature 15 minute massages, herbal foot soaks, and salt cave immersions, plus swag bags and complimentary bites + sips. Get tickets.
Outdoors
  • Ever seen swirling clouds of Chimney Swifts in the air? Get your chance on Thurs., Sept. 29, when the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter holds its annual Swift Night Out. Held at 6:45 p.m. on the top floor of the Civic Center Parking Deck, the free event will allow folks to watch these majestic birds enter communal roosting sites. 🐦
Eat
  • Is anything better than a grilled cheese sandwich? We think not, and it just so happens Chef Katie Button has shared her recipe, which features an unusual twist: a drizzle of maple syrup for a salty-sweet crunch. 🧀
  • Corner Kitchen is known for its fabulous farm to table fare, and we’re thrilled to discover they’ve shared their recipe for chicken meatballs. Stuffed into a sandwich or submerged in a steaming bowl of soup, there’s no wrong way to enjoy these flavorful little bites.
Seasonal
  • Fall is nearly here, and that means it’s time for the leaves to change from green to brilliant + blazing reds, oranges, and yellows. Wondering where to go for the most glorious views? Check out this leaf peeping guide from the folks at Our State, who’ve compiled a list of WNC’s 25 best mountain views. 🍁
The Word
  • Pumpkin spice. The ubiquitous autumnal flavor is now officially in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Are you a fan of this lightly spiced sweet treat? We recommend trying the pumpkin spice latte at Round Earth Roasters and the harvest spice from Gallivant Coffee. ☕
Ranked
  • No. 8. That’s the ranking UNC Asheville earned on U.S. News & World Report’s recent list of “National Public Liberal Arts Colleges.” Congrats, Bulldogs.🏅*
Drink
  • It’s time to BYOB: Be Your Own Bartender. Celebrate the end of the week with an at-home happy hour. Check out this how-to cocktail video for a step-by-step guide to crafting your own Elderflower Gin and Tonic. 🍹*
Real Estate
  • This authentic arts + crafts home within the Village of Cheshire blends modern comfort with Appalachian Americana-inspired details (think: antique light fixtures and extensive built-ins). The 2 BD, 3 BA home boasts two decks, a gourmet kitchen, and an office/studio that can be used as a short-term rental. 🏡 *

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AVL’s most bangin’ cheeseburgers

Must-try cheeseburgers in Asheville, NC
The Madness Burger featuring cream cheese, crab salad, and sushi.
Don’t worry, you won’t relocate your jaw eating this incredible creation. | Photo by @laurahackk
While many of us celebrate them regularly, Sun., Sept. 18 is officially National Cheeseburger Day.

Naturally, the AVLtoday team felt obliged to share some of our favorite burger spots so you can commemorate the day accordingly.
  • The Double Cheeseburger from Baby Bull is made from a custom blend of Angus brisket, shank + chuck and comes with American cheese, B&B pickles, caramelized onions, and Duke’s Mayo on a pillowy soft potato bun.
  • The Madness Burger from The Madness is a mile-high handheld featuring cream cheese, spicy crab salad, crispy fried onion, avocado, lettuce, tomato + unagi sauce. Oh, and it’s topped with a piece of sushi.
  • We all know Sand Hill Kitchen reigns supreme when it comes to fried chicken, but its Love Cheeseburger deserves fame in its own right. The 2018 Winner of the Battle of the Burgers is made with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes + grilled onions. We recommend adding pepperjack pimento cheese and bacon.
  • Farm Burger is renowned for its burgers, but you won’t miss the meat with its veggie burger. Made with quinoa, black eyed peas, kale, roasted mushrooms, and sweet potatoes, we like this richly-spiced patty best with cheddar and candied jalapenos.
  • The Vault Burger from Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge is widely considered the city’s best burger (as evidenced by multiple Battle of the Burger wins). Nosh on one, made with Hickory Nut Gap beef, bacon, white cheddar, arugula, red onion, and spicy mayo, and it’s easy to see why.
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: Who has your favorite cheeseburgers, Asheville? We’re always on the prowl for more, so please let us know. 🍔

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Don’t miss our look at Asheville’s cost of living.
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Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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