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Meet Asheville’s sister cities
Dunkeld-Birnam, Scotland, also has ties to literary legends. | Photo via @rikkiwsalmond
Ah, sisters. They might pull your hair or borrow your clothes without asking, but they also teach you a lot about the world.
Today is National Siblings Day, and we’re celebrating by reminding you of Asheville’s seven sister cities across the globe.
What is a “sister city”?
A sister city is a partnership between two communities in different countries designed to promote peace and understanding through global friendships and cultural exchange programs.
Local nonprofit Asheville Sister Cities was established in 1988 to promote international awareness and maintain relations with our sister cities. In 1990, Vladikavkaz, located in the Caucasus Mountains of Southern Russia, became our first sister city.
Asheville’s most recent Sister City
In 2017, the neighboring cities of Dunkeld and Birnam in Scotland became our newest sister cities. Like Asheville, the region is surrounded by lush forests, sits along a river, and has a rich arts scene. Locals enjoy a rich cultural history steeped in music and the arts, surrounded by local distilleries — sound familiar?
Honky Tonk Thursday: Gold Rose | 6 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company | Free | Stomp along with the Asheville-based five-piece outfit playing outlaw country-inspired tunes.
Friday, April 11
Artist Talk with Reuben Negron | 10:30 a.m. | Blue Spiral 1 | Free, RSVP | Hear directly from the artist on what inspired his solo exhibition “A Dialogue with Sparrows: Part II” and other works during the Q+A session.
Into The Woods | Friday, April 11-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Asheville Community Theatre | $18+ | Take a seat for the opening night of the musical and watch as famous fairy tales intertwine.
Saturday, April 12
Pure Barre Pop Up | 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing Company | Free, RSVP | Try out Pure Barre, then reward yourself with a refreshing brew — bring your own mat.
Arbor Day Celebration | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | $20 | Celebrate Arbor Day with tree giveaways, guided trail walks, and live music.
Sunday, April 13
Greenville Drive at Asheville Tourists | 1:05 p.m. | McCormick Field | $13+ | Celebrate the spring weather by spending Sunday afternoon at the ballpark.
Monday, April 14
Flowerpot Painting | 10-11 a.m. | Asheville YMCA | Free | Make your flowers bloom even brighter by adding a creative touch on the outside.
The Asheville City Council unanimously approved an action plan for $225 million of federal disaster relief funds. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has 45 days to review + approve the plan before funds are released. If approved, the city anticipates housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization projects to begin this fall. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Biz
Asheville Downtown Improvement District, the organization responsible for overseeing the Downtown Business Improvement District, now has a board of directors. The Asheville City Council approved the board positions at this week’s meeting, completing a final step required to start delivering services this spring.
Opening
Café Bomba, the Latin-inspired breakfast and brunch spot in North Pack Square, will reopen tomorrow, April 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The prime people-watching spot returns with a refreshed menu, including new dishes and a few old faves.
Regional
More high-speed internet is coming to Buncombe County. Last week, Governor Josh Stein announced a $31 million investment in the Completing Broadband Access program projects, which will connect 10,810 households and businesses across the state. Buncombe County will see just under $1 million of those funds, benefiting 123 homes or businesses.
Outdoors
FIND Outdoors is hosting a free chainsaw safety course at its Pisgah Forest Headquarters on Thursday, April 24 at 5:30 p.m. Whether there’s still debris on your property to clear, or you want to help out a neighbor, learn the basics of operation, maintenance, and protection. Register in advance.
Concert
Lucy Dacus, the indie rock artist and one-third of the supergroup Boygenius, is bringing her “Forever is a Feeling” tour to Asheville Yards on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Snag tickets early on Wednesday, April 16 with this pre-sale code.
Featured Home
Escape to your dream mountain retreat in the exclusive community of Gateway Mountain. Being sold turnkey, this stunning home on 2.81 private acres offers a stone fireplace, an expansive deck with a creek below, a finished basement for a game room or guest suite, and an attached double-car garage.*
$3,500. That’s how much dough you might have to drop if your dog eats their chew toy. Yes, pets are expensive, but they’re worth it — and this pet insurance could reimburse 90% of those expenses.*
Read
1440’s daily newsletter is an unbiased, fact-centric digest of global events, culture, business, and beyond — and it only takes five minutes to read. Subscribe for free.*
Category
Try This
Shop the “grown-up” Scholastic Book Fair
Support Literacy Together by rounding up your tab throughout May. | Photo via The Whale
Picture this: You’re in elementary school again, clutching a baggy of change and crumpled dollar bills, hoping to score a new book, pencil eraser, or maybe even one of those cool posters. It’s the best day of the year — it’s Scholastic Book Fair Day.
Head to The Whale in West Asheville this Saturday, April 12, from 1-5 p.m. to relive the nostalgia at the Whaleastic Grown-Up Book Fair.
Malaprop’s, Blue Moon Books, Firestorm, and other local bookstores will be on site to help recreate the magic. Use your grown-up money to shop for bookmarks, jewelry, and journals from local vendors and hear from local authors who will be there signing books.
Items like a copy of “Goosebumps” autographed by the illustrator Tim Jacobus and a Firestorm Books gift basket will be auctioned off to raise money for Literacy Together, a local nonprofit organization.
The Buy
The Buy
There’s nothing like a seasonal wardrobe refresh. Join us in adding these five spring activewear essentials to your cart:
Today’s lead story has me reflecting on a recent trip to Scotland, and while we didn’t make it to Dunkeld and Birnam, we did spend time in — get this — The Isle of Skye. Perhaps it’s time for the Land of the Sky to add another sister city to its list.
The Buy
The shoe of the summer: sneaker mules (aka smules). Effortlessly stylish and easy to slip on, these can be paired with your go-to shorts, sundresses, linen jumpsuits, and more. These are five of our favorites:
👟 Under $150: Dolce Vita’s sporty-chic sneaker mules in a fun + flirty pink floral pattern.
👟 Under $80: This pair by Anne Klein that will go with practically everything in your closet.
👟 Under $60: Blowfish Malibu’s platform style with adjustable lacing and a unique patterned insole.
👟 Under $50: These Naturalizer white leather smules made with comfort technology for all-day walking.
👟 Under $30: These canvas kicks available in 15+ colors and constructed with a memory foam insole for maximum comfort.
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