05.14.2024

Today’s Forecast

67º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:25 a.m. | Sunset 8:27 p.m.

Telling the city’s story through public art

Follow the history of Asheville’s Urban Trail

This giant iron by Reed Todd replicates one used by a local laundry. | Photo by @downtownasheville

Scattered across downtown, over the course of 1.7 miles, there are 30 intriguing art works, including everything from a giant flat iron to a swinging bell to a bronze version of Thomas Wolfe’s shoes. In a place like Asheville, where art is around every corner, they could be easy to overlook. But these sculptures + plaques are telling a collective story, each marking a stop along the city’s historical Urban Trail.

While each of these public art pieces represent a slice of history in their own right, today we’re charting how the Urban Trail came to exist in the first place and how the trail has continued to evolve to reflect a more inclusive, contemporary history of Asheville.

Wall St. Cat — One of these three cats was stolen in 2018 but eventually replaced by the City.
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Photo by @karenthib

Blazing a trail

The Urban Trail initially took shape in 1989 when city staff + residents came together to rejuvenate a long-deserted downtown. The goal of the 30 works of public art was to commemorate Asheville’s history, culture, and architecture, while inviting more growth and new activity to the spaces.

The trail is divided into five historical periods that have corresponding symbols:

A feather for the Gilded Age (1880-1930)
A horseshoe for the Frontier Period (1784-1880)
The city building for the “Era of Civic Pride” (late 1800s)
An angel for the impact of Thomas Wolfe on downtown (1900-1938)
The eagle, representing the age of “cultural diversity” (mid to late 1900s)

A map of the 30 stops on the Asheville Urban Trail — The Urban Trail takes ~2 hours to walk.
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Map via Explore Asheville

Spearheaded by the Asheville Downtown Association, the trail took 10 years to complete. Much of the project was funded by individual donors who purchased commemorative bricks to support its creation, which can be seen downtown between the now-former site of the Vance Monument and Pack Fountain. The final piece of art, named Walk Into History, was installed in May 2002.

Pro tip: For folks who want to learn more, check out the short documentary “Walk into History,” which was produced by local filmmaker + historian Erin Derham.

Station #7's upcoming update

Asked

If you could add a stop, what would the piece be and what part of local culture would it represent?

Whether that’s a sculpture to showcase the city’s love of beer or a mosaic to honor your favorite historical figure, this is your chance to play public artist.

On the right track

Events

Tuesday, May 14

City of Asheville Spring Free Store | Tuesday, May 14-Saturday, May 18 | Times vary | Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St., Asheville | Free | Donate items through Thursday then browse upcycled offerings Friday and Saturday.
Generation Plus Social Hour with Blue Ridge Pride | Tuesday, May 14 | 5-7 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr., Ste. 100, Asheville | Free | Meet, mingle, come together, and connect with LGBTQIA+ folks who are 55 and older.

Wednesday, May 15

AVL Digital Nomads: Leadership on Tap | Wednesday, May 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Mojo Coworking, 81 Broadway St., Asheville | Free | Learn to lead, encourage engagement, and produce productivity in a remote workforce.
Slice of Life Standup Comedy Contest | Wednesday, May 15 | 6:30 p.m. | Pulp, 103 Hilliard Ave., Asheville | $15 | Settle in for a night of area comedians competing to win your laughs and your vote for top comic.

Thursday, May 16

Thursday Night Concert Series Kickoff | Thursday, May 16 | 5-8 p.m. | JuneBug Retro Resort, 355 Clarks Chapel Rd., Weaverville | Free | Jam out to off-the-beaten-path bluegrass from Buncombe Turnpike while you enjoy dinner from Appalachian Chic.
Film Screening: “Who is Bozo Texino?” | Thursday, May 16 | 7-9 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | Free with admission | Experience the 16-year search for the source of a graffiti character who appeared on railcars for more than 80 years.
New Beer Thursday benefitting Asheville Habitat for Humanity | Thursday, May 16 | 6-9 p.m. | Wicked Weed Brewing, 91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | Free | Kick off AVL Beer Week with Wicked Weed Brewing’s new Coolcumber cucumber ale + live music.*

Friday, May 17

Yoga on the Mountain | Friday, May 17 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Bearwallow Mountain, 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Rd., Hendersonville | $65 | Make your way along a two-mile-round-trip hike, and enjoy an hour of yoga at the panoramic summit of Bearwallow Mountain.
West Side Stories: Sharing West Asheville’s History | Friday, May 17 | 5-6 p.m. | West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Learn and share your stories at this West Asheville History Project event, held in partnership with the West Asheville History Museum.

Saturday, May 18

Grovewood Village Studio Tour | Saturday, May 18-Sunday, May 19 | 12-5 p.m. | Grovewood Village, 111 Grovewood Rd., Asheville | Free | Gain insight into the creative process of resident artists + browse works of art for sale next door at Grovewood Gallery.*

100+ events in AVL

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Outdoors

🏔️ A true Blue escape just minutes from downtown Asheville

Hike the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains or explore the Biltmore Estate when you stay at AutoCamp Asheville, your getaway to the calm of North Carolina. | Photo provided by AutoCamp

Imagine waking up to the crisp scent of mountain air as sunlight gently filters through the forest’s canopy. AutoCamp Asheville — the newest addition to the AutoCamp family — invites you to experience the great outdoors in unparalleled comfort.

Cozy up in a variety of accommodation options, like:

Custom-designed Airstreams
Premium cabins with outdoor spaces + fire pits
Luxury tents with access to spa-inspired bathrooms

No matter which suite you stay in, get access to the scenic riverside clubhouse offering dining, drinks, comfortable lounge areas, and more.

Pro tip: Book early for the best rates (AutoCamp Asheville’s doors open in June).

Book your getaway

News Notes

Civic

The City of Asheville will begin removal of the base of the Vance Monument today, May 14. During the removal’s estimated two-month timeline, North Pack Square will be closed to vehicular traffic but South Pack Square will remain fully open. After demolition is complete, a local landscaper will install plants at the monument site.

Outdoors

Grandfather Mountain will announce the dates for its 2024 Grandfather Glows firefly viewing events this Friday, May 17 (they’ll fall somewhere between mid-June and early July). The lottery for tickets will get the green light at 12 a.m. on Monday, May 20 and run through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 27.

Shop

Support for local causes is in the (shopping) bag. The second annual WNC Nonprofit Yard Sale will take place this Saturday, May 18 in the parking lot of the WNC Bridge Thrift Store (75 Fairview Rd.). Hunt for bargains that benefit more than a dozen area charities, like Homeward Bound and Eblen Charities.

Health

A North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings judge upheld the state’s decision to grant AdventHealth a Certificate of Need to build a 67-bed hospital northwest of Weaverville. The nonprofit plans to select an architect and contractor over the next few weeks and hopes to increase the bed count to 93. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Cause

Good will is growing. Root Cause Farm’s Share Market begins on Tuesday, May 21, offering farm fresh goods at no cost to help the community handle rising food prices. Bring your own bag for produce from Root Cause and other local farms every Tuesday, 3-4 p.m. Reach out to volunteer.

Arts

Philip DeAngelo, an Asheville artist, and Michael Cartellone, Damn Yankees founding member and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s drummer since 1999, will hold a joint show at Philip DeAngelo Studio and Gallery. The Bella Italia exhibit, comprising paintings that showcase the artists’ shared experience of Italy, opens Saturday, May 25 with a meet + greet from 12 to 5 p.m.

Eat

Sourhouse, an Asheville-based company that creates sourdough baking products, launched a Kickstarter for DoughBed. The glass dough bowl and cork lid come on top of a warming mat that’s designed to keep your dough at perfect proofing temperature. Check out the campaign to contribute your dough.

Drink

🍻 Fermentation collaboration

Highland Brewing Company and local AAPI community members unite for a pint

Chef J Chong pulls a red lever as part of the beer making process at Highland Brewing Company

Chef J Chong was among the beer’s collaborators. | Photo via @highlandbrewing

The Xie Xie beer collaboration was first pitched by Highland Brewing Company Production Services Specialist, Ana Reynolds — but the original intention was just a laid-back brew for the team to enjoy. Then the idea grew into something bigger.

“We realized that a rice lager was an exciting West Coast style that aligned with owners Oscar Wong and Leah Wong Ashburn’s Chinese heritage,” said Reynolds, who is of Filipino German heritage, in a press release. “I brought the idea of an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) collaboration brew to Leah.”

So Highland hosted a brew day back in March, bringing together a distinguished group of Asheville AAPI members to contribute to the Xie Xie lager (which means “thank you” in Mandarin), including HP Patel of BCA Hotels and Carol Nguyen Steen of Biltmore Farms.

Beyond the sense of community the collaboration fostered, it’s also a celebration of AAPI Heritage Month and the brewery’s founder — it will tap on Thursday, May 16, recognized locally as Oscar Wong Day.

The Buy

The Buy 5.14.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Clinique’s Take The Day Off cleansing balm makeup remover. This balm’s silky, buttery formula dissolves long-wearing makeup and sunscreens — and it’s one of the brand’s best sellers.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

I just got back from an out-of-town weekend where most of what we did was eat incredible food. You might think I’d be sick of that then — but you’d be wrong. And I’m already counting down the days to Utopian Seed Project’s next Trial to Table series this Saturday, May 18. Four local chefs will whip up dishes inspired by (and using) products of the nonprofit’s produce trials, and Chef Sunil Patel will host a demo on using taro at home. Grab your tickets to taste.

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