Get a glimpse of the setup at VISUALS. | Photo by AVLtoday
Last week was all work — now it’s time to play.
Catch some rays or laze in the shade at one of these 35+ Asheville patios. Pro tip: Don’t miss the shade or coverage level we’ve included for each of these locations. Here’s a quick peek and we’ve got plenty more on our website.
Rooftop views
VISUALS Rooftop Bar | 40 Collier Ave. | Partially covered
Burial opened this spot atop Eulogy to showcase its natural wine program — snack on a tinned fish plate or charcuterie board while you sip on a wine flight.
Low-key locations
All Day Darling | 102 Montford Ave. | Partially shaded
The historic Montford spot features tree-shaded spaces for your enjoyment of baked goods and coffee, seasonal fare, and signature cocktails.
Al fresco for cold weather
Mother | 244 Short Coxe Ave #110 | Uncovered
The South Slope spot lets you dine out in the sunshine but keeps the heaters on to make sure you’re toasty.
Live Music with Andy Ferrell | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | 12 Bones Brewing | Enjoy live music every Thursday with a talented local bluegrass artist.
Bless Your Heart Trivia with Harmon | 7-10 p.m. | Eda’s Hide-a-Way | Free | Gather a group and test your knowledge with host Harmon of Dumb Ashe Trivia.
Friday, March 28
Vintage Pop-Up Market | Friday, March 28-Sunday, March 30 | 12-8 p.m. | The Booth Fairy Project | Free | Shop hand-picked vintage pieces in a variety of sizes — your dance moves could score you a discount.
Open Hearts Art Center Annual Talent Show | 5-8 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company | $25+ | Experience a night of fearless creativity and artistic expression while dressed as your favorite wild animal — psst: the event features food trucks this year.
Asheville Orchid Festival | Friday, March 28-Sunday, March 30 | Times vary | The North Carolina Arboretum | $0+ | Expect gorgeous orchids everywhere you turn, from rare species to new, cutting-edge hybrids from world-class growers.*
Saturday, March 29
NØLO Nonalcoholic Bottle Shop Free Tasting | 12-3 p.m. | NØLO - Non Alcoholic Bottle Shop | Free | Taste test a selection of delicious non-alcoholic beverages at the bottle shop inside Atomic.
Sunday, March 30
Chords For Callum Benefit Concert | 12 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $12+ | This benefit boasts an extensive lineup of local musicians and a silent auction with donated items from Billy Strings, the Orange Peel, and Wicked Weed.
Federal funding from FEMA has been granted to the state for wildfire relief, and locals can lend a helping hand too. First responders from impacted counties are accepting a variety of donations, ranging from sandwich bags to disinfectant wipes to sports drinks. (WLOS + FOX Carolina)
Opening
Mad Co. Brew House is hosting a grand reopening today, marking another major recovery milestone for downtown Marshall, which was completely flooded from Helene only six months ago. Mad Co. will have drinks and music while it finishes repairs on the kitchen. (WLOS)
Watch
Don’t forget — Asheville will be featured on today’s episode of “Good Morning America,” which airs from 7 to 9 a.m. The segment captures AVL’s last six months of Helene recovery, highlighting all the resilient efforts from local folks. (Explore Asheville)
Closing
Isa’s Bistro announced it will permanently close after temporarily shuttering during Helene. However, this isn’t the end for the restaurant group behind Isa’s. It is working on Fitz and the Wolfe — a new lounge, event space, and eatery expected to open this summer. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Community
Improvements on Memorial Stadium are nearly finished and it’s time for a celebration. Stop by on Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. for a ribbon cutting then see all the new features, including a fresh track + updated turf. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Coming Soon
Pho Real could be opening in AVL soon after locals noticed new signage in front of the restaurant located at 640 Merriman Ave. According to its website, a spring 2025 opening is expected. Stay tuned for more updates.
Travel
Making summer 2025 your main character era? Perfect timing: Snag this travel credit card’s rare, limited-time welcome bonus (worth ~$1,000) to fuel your summer adventures — whether it’s island-hopping like a Love Is Blind escapee, chasing Sabrina or Kendrick on tour, or simply living your best jet-set life.*
Finance
If you’re in credit card debt, you could spend hours (or days, or weeks) mapping out how to reduce it on your own... or you could let Freedom Debt Relief step in to renegotiate with debtors and consolidate your payments. See if you qualify.*
Bright hues but a little bit gloomy — the autumn atmosphere is unmatched. | Photo by @jess.runs2explore
Asheville has deep roots with nature and March is a warm reminder of its rich history.
On March 27, 1911, the US Forest Service authorized the first-ever purchase of timberland for eastern national forests. It included seven total areas, five of which were in WNC with many eyes eagerly locked on the 215,000+ acres around Mt. Mitchell.
These forests weren’t built overnight — it took until December 1911 for any of this to become a reality when 8,100 acres of land near the head of Curtis Creek was acquired from an NC-based lumber company.
Fast forward five years and that acquisition stood as one of many. All of those collective efforts led to the creation of the Pisgah National Forest in 1916, which is the first national forest in the eastern US.
So what set all this in motion? The Weeks Act allocated $9 million to the USFS for conservation efforts after concerns were raised about wildfires across the country. It was passed on March 1, 1911 and it was instrumental in establishing national forests in eastern America.
The Buy
The Buy
A purse organizer that’s 69% off thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Say goodbye to a messy handbag with this organizer featuring 13 thoughtfully designed pockets to keep everything in its place. Read: You’ll never be endlessly digging around for your keys again.
My social media feed has been dominated by two shows lately: “The White Lotus” on HBO + “Severance” on Apple TV+. And if you’re a fan of the latter, our friends at RALtoday have an inside scoop with NC local Sarah Bock, better known as Miss Huang on the show.
