Plus, the airport's new air traffic control tower
6AM City In-house

Can we get a trail yeah? 🥾

2023 is the Year of the Trail in NC
mountains-to-sea-trail-mst-asheville-nc-avltoday
The Mountains to Sea trail is 1,200+ miles long. | Photo by @bthefruit
If your New Year’s resolutions involve getting outside more or leveling up your weekly walks, you’re in luck — 2023 is the Year of the Trail in NC. This campaign celebrates our state’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways through guided adventures, learning opportunities, workdays, and more.

In 2021, the NC General Assembly designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail. Why? This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act, which created the NC Trails Program.

NC is the Great Trails State and it shows. Trails are the cornerstone of outdoor recreation in NC, which provides 260,000+ jobs and has an economic impact of more than $28 billion annually. NC has 12 state trails and 40+ state parks with hundreds of miles of trails (think: Lake James State Park and Mount Mitchell State Park).

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

Find the biggest trees in the state at Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

Photo by AVLtoday


Whether you want to walk, run, hike, bike, paddle, or ride, there’s a local trail for everyone. Here are some ways to get involved:
Find a trail near you and view more trail events.

Which of these NC state parks was established first?
A. Fort Macon
B. Weymouth Woods
C. William B. Umstead
D. Mt. Mitchell
GO ON, WOOD YOU?
North Carolina Arboretum

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Jan. 24
  • Tuesday Bluegrass with The Jacktown Ramblers | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 6-8 p.m. | Taproom At Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Ste. 200, Asheville | Free | The JackTown Rambles brings a blend of bluegrass, swing, and gypsy jazz to the stage.
  • Winter Birds of Western North Carolina with Simon Thompson | Tuesday, Jan. 24 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Rd., Fairview | Free | From waterfowl to sparrows and finches, let Ventures Birding Tours’ Simon Thompson introduce you to WNC’s winter birds.
Wednesday, Jan. 25
  • Ayni51 Last Supper | Wednesday, Jan. 25 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Outsider Brewing Company, 939 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $65 | Enjoy a five-course vegan Peruvian dinners from Ayni 51 paired with an optional beer flight.
Thursday, Jan. 26
  • The Naughty New Year Showcase | Thursday, Jan. 26 | 6-9 p.m. | Rhubarb, 7 SW Pack Sq., Asheville | $35 | This 21-and-up event features a range of seductive experiences, including a product display from VaVaVooom, sensual burlesque performances, and live caricature drawings from Paul Choi of Bad Drawings.
Friday, Jan. 27
  • Family Education: Fun with Food & Picky Eaters | Friday, Jan. 27 | 10-11 a.m. | Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain | Free | Dana Miller will share practical information with parents and caregivers about how to make healthy eating fun for kids.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
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Have the party without the hangover
Athletic Brewing Jan 2023 Mini Article (Cropped)
Every beer is non-alcoholic (0.5% ABV or less). | Photo by Athletic Brewing Company
You might even have more fun.

Athletic Brewing Company makes non-alcoholic beer you can drink without sacrificing feeling your best. It tastes great, has all the variety from IPAs to goldens, and has even won awards. (Read: Even beer snobs think it’s good.)

Ready to give dry a try? Subscribe to get 50% off your first month, and get members-only perks (think: early access to new launches + merch). Cheers. 🍻 *
TRY IT FOR 50% OFF

Weather
  • 37º | Snow showers | 50% chance of precipitation
Civic
  • At its Tuesday, Jan. 24 meeting, Asheville City Council will vote on an ordinance that prohibits concealed handguns in recreational areas and, as Mountain Xpress reports, a resolution from the Community Reparations Commission to audit local government. Also on the agenda: a resolution to purchase four new buses. Tune in at 5 p.m.
Development
  • The Asheville Regional Airport will break ground on its new air traffic control tower on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The state-of-the-art tower will replace the airport’s current 62-year-old structure. The Asheville airport is one of only two airports nationwide that received a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funds for a new air traffic control tower. ✈️
Try This
  • New York Times cocktail columnist Robert Simonson will make an appearance at Antidote on Saturday, Jan. 28 for a special Q&A book signing event. The two-time James Beard Award–nominated author and journalist is best known for his work “Modern Classic Cocktails.” 🥃
Community
  • Did our feature on winter gardening get you thinking about what to plant? If so, you may want to check out Buncombe’s three free seed libraries, located at the Black Mountain Library, Leicester Library, and Weaverville Library. Special thanks to reader Beth R., who reminded us of this wonderful local program. 🌻
Shop
DYK
  • Local architectural studio Samsel Architects recently underwent a name change? ICYMI, we’re introducing you to Altura Architects (different from Samsel in name only). The studio is still locally owned by Duncan McPherson and Nathan Bryant, who’ve both been with the firm for 20+ years. Learn about the meaning behind the new name.*
Eat
  • Looking to expand your local restaurant rotation in 2023? Here are the dishes you need to try next at The Lobster Trap — making your next date night location selection as easy as A-B-Sea. Reserve a table. 🦞 *
Arts
  • Did you know that the John C. Campbell Folk School offers online courses? From cheese making and watercolor to painting and bookbinding, there’s something for everyone — all from the comforts and convenience of home. Learn more about how you can be part of the Folk School experience.*
Stat
  • A structure catches fire in the US every 64 seconds. The local pros at MB HAYNES share three ways to help prevent your home or business from joining that statistic. 🔥 *
Travel
  • Scott’s Cheap Flights is going, going...Going. The travel membership that saves you hundreds on flights has a new name, and in honor of the rebrand, you can get 30% off a Premium membership with code 6AMCITY30. What you’ll get: last minute weekend trips, mistake fares, and early deal alerts. Hurry — this offer ends tomorrow, Jan. 24. ✈️*
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Food

Little D’s to open in North Asheville this winter
The future site of Little D's
Little D’s will be in the same plaza as 828 Family Pizzeria and Petco. | Photo by AVLtoday
Chef Owen McGlynn and Mindi McGlynn, owners of the glitzy, live-fire downtown steakhouse Asheville Proper, have announced the launch of their second restaurant. Little D’s, a casual eatery with a focus on seasonal fare and shareable plates, plans to open in North Asheville this winter at the former site of Metro Chinese (952 Merrimon Ave.).

In a press release, a spokesperson shared “Little D’s is a place for locals to gather without the hustle and bustle of downtown.” The menu will include a combination of seasonally-rotated meat and veggie-forward offerings, plus a selection of classic craft cocktails, wine, and local beer.

The 2,000-sqft space aims to be cozy, with emerald tones, gold furnishings, and seating for up 40 guests. Follow the restaurant on Instagram (and keep reading our newsletter) for updates on the grand opening.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: Friendly reminder that today is your last chance to celebrate Asheville Restaurant Week. Over the weekend, I stopped by La Bodega for a fantastic lunch — and tonight I’m headed to Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse for a $28 three-course meal of a soup or salad, skewer, and ramen. Talk about a deal!

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Look back at the snowiest days in Asheville history, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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