Retrocade is a blast for all ages. | Photo by AVLtoday
Spring break is right around the corner, and you’ll have no trouble entertaining the youngsters with this list of 30+ kid-friendly activities around the 828.
🎢 Thrill-seeking fun
Launch Family Entertainment, 24 Walden Dr., Arden
High-energy kiddos can bounce across the trampoline park, race up the climbing wall, and rack up tickets in the arcade. Kids will remember making it through the Ninja Course.
🎳 Indoor adventures
Asheville Retrocade, 800 Haywood Rd., #100
In addition to 5,000 video games, there’s also pinball, skeeball, and foosball. Kids will remember discovering the games you loved as a kid.
Gamers’ Haunt,211 Merrimon Ave., Ste. 241
Pique your kids’ imagination with games that take them on magical, mythical quests. Kids will remember tales of folklore and mythology.
Murphy-Oakley playground features a wheelchair-accessible entry and music area.
Photo via Asheville Parks and Recreation
☀️ Playgrounds
Murphy-Oakley Park, 715 Fairview Rd. | Free
This park packs a lot in its 7.7 acres, including the city’s first all-abilities playground. There are plenty of slides, swings, and designated cognitive play areas to let imagination run wild. Kids will remember stopping by the Oakley Library for story time.
Mahjong Community Group | 1-4 p.m. | Woodfin YMCA | Free | Improve your memory and sharpen your mind while learning a new game, or hone your skills with a friendly group.
Tuesday, April 8
Community Craft Night | 6-7:30 p.m. | East Fork Asheville | Free, RSVP | Grab that project you’ve been working on and join fellow creatives every second Tuesday of the month for snacks and crafting — spots are limited.
Wednesday, April 9
Statemint AVL Charity Pre-Sale | 5-8 p.m. | WNC Ag Center Boone Building, Fletcher | $10+ | Get early access to the best deals before the public — all proceeds go to Beloved Asheville.
Save Your Public Lands Network + Learn | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company | Free | Local, regional, and national organizations will present ideas about conservation, advocacy, and volunteer opportunities.
Thursday, April 10
Welcome to Gardening in WNC | 10-11:30 a.m. | Reems Creek Nursery, Weaverville | Free, RSVP | Whether you’re new to the area or new to gardening, Ruth Gonzalez will equip you with all the tips and tricks for success in our soil.
Books and Brews Trivia with Lit Local | 6-8 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge- Riverside Tasting Room | Free | Test your bookish knowledge of all things 90s and early 2000s.
Friday, April 11
Burton Street Fish Fry | 1-5 p.m. | Burton Street Community Center | $5 | Devour a crispy, golden, fried fish sandwich with all the classic sides while supporting Asheville Parks and Rec programming.
Spartanburg is a community of artists, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and more. | Photo by Sam Dean
Imagine a place where your career thrives and your weekends are filled with live music, local boutiques, and scenic trails. We’ve found just the place. Enter: Spartanburg, South Carolina, where small-town charm meets big-time opportunities.
Rowan Coffee’s West Asheville cafe is now open on Haywood Road, across from Garden Party. The shop operates from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., so you can grab a coffee in the morning and relax on the patio with a glass of natural wine in the evening — all while snacking from its Scandinavian-inspired menu, of course.
Award
Some of the best pizza in the Southeast is in Swannanoa. Good Company Pizza, which opened this past summer, placed second in the region at the International Pizza Expo in the cheese slice category. Visit the restaurant to congratulate them and get a slice (or two). (Black Mountain News)
Health
All Souls Counseling Center and Linked4Life have teamed up to offer local food and beverage workers six free in-person or virtual counseling sessions. Service workers can call (828) 259-3369 to get connected with a therapist — just be sure to mention that you’re a food + beverage worker.
Community
Buncombe County has added a Community Engagement Market in Swannanoa to fight food insecurity following Helene. Markets are on the first Monday of the month, beginning today in the Asheville Christian Academy lot at 74 Riverwood Rd., 4:30-6 p.m. Resources from the Health and Human Services Mobile Health team will also be available.
Plan Ahead
$275,000. That’s how much the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County has provided through its Preservation Grant Program for Helene-affected structures. You can help them raise more and explore an astonishing Prohibition-era property at its Spring IntheOaks Time Traveling Gala on Saturday, May 31. Snag tickets for the soiree.
Featured Home
On the market for the first time since its construction in 1916, this Montreat home presents a rare opportunity to own a piece of local history. Just a short walk from Lake Susan, the home boasts a covered front porch, a stone patio with fire pit, and plenty of character.*
Calling all business owners and hiring managers — we’re growing our AVLtoday Job Board, which means you can post unlimited job listings for free. No tricks or gimmicks — simply create an account and start posting your open jobs.
Answered
Answered
Which local restaurants do you think deserve a spot in the MICHELIN Guide American South?
Tall John’s was a popular answer.
Photo by AVLtoday
The MICHELIN Guide announced it will launch an “American South” guide this year, and Asheville restaurants could earn the esteemed honor. Here are the spots our readers and Instagram followers think should make the cut.
Cúrate was a top answer, with reader Robin A. adding, “There’s not a bad choice on the menu.”
The acclaimed Neng Jr.'s also earned many mentions for its umami-rich Filipinx food with Southern flair.
For classic dishes cooked to perfection, Tall John’s was a frequent flier.
Several readers honored Chef Brian Canipelli’s legacy, with Kathleen H. writing that Cucina 24 is “the most consistent, creative, fresh, delicious, incredible restaurant that has ever existed in Asheville.”
plant earned its flowers from reader Robbie C. (and many others) for “its creative, tasty, cruelty-free fare.”
If you’re eager to give your friends or loved ones a fun, spring-themed gift, why not make them a seasonal basket of goodies? Here’s some inspiration to get you started:
🧺 Start with a sturdy woven basket that they can reuse as a versatile storage solution.
🍊 Add this refreshing room diffuser with notes of green tea, cotton, and orange peel.
🌱 Include “The Complete Gardener’s Guide” so they can learn everything they need to create their perfect garden.
🌷 Throw in this Amazon exclusive set of floral Happy Socks.
🍬 Complete the basket with the best-selling Owala FreeSip in the fun Candy Store colorway.
Of all the somewhat arbitrary “national” holidays, National Beer Day is one I certainly don’t mind celebrating today. Raise a glass at one of our 50+ local breweries.
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