The Biltmore Villagerestaurant isn’t a stranger to flooding — or rebuilding. The team repaired the restaurant after major flooding in 2004, just six months after opening, and once again, they’re restoring the nearly 130-year-old historic home.
Currently, the inside of the building is stripped bare. But before the studs are sealed with drywall, the team is leaving an indelible mark by placing time capsules inside the wall.
Corner Kitchen’s first-ever menu. Amy Westmoreland’s original key lime tart recipe. The mud-soaked menu from the shadowbox outside when Helene struck. These items, and many more personal artifacts that the staff provided, are sealed up into nine mason jars, preserving mementos of what the restaurant means to the community.
The team has no intention of ever retrieving the jars. In the distant future, there will be a story for someone else to uncover.
The memories sealed away serve as symbols of the heartfelt community, camaraderie, and resilience that has defined the restaurant from its beginnings in 2004 to the tumultuous times of Helene.
Local’s Night | 11 a.m.-11 p.m. | Antidote at Chemist Spirits | Price of purchase | Grab a friend and treat yourself to 25% off beer, wine, and food every Monday.
Mindful Monday | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | B&S Community Center, Swannanoa | Free | Begin the week with a renewed sense of mindfulness as instructor Carol Jones leads you through intentional movement and reflective journaling.
Tuesday, April 15
Pitch Party | 6-9 p.m. | Hatch Innovation Hub | Free | Think you have the next great business idea? Make your pitch perfect with the help of mentors.
Wednesday, April 16
Junior Wild Walk | 9:30-11 a.m. | Western North Carolina Nature Center | Kids ages 5-12 can get a taste of the wild side and see what it’s like to be an animal keeper for the day.
Kayla E. presents “Precious Rubbish” | 6-7 p.m. | Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe | Free | Learn about author Kayla E’s groundbreaking use of graphic storytelling in conversation with local author Tessa Fontaine.
Thursday, April 17
Asheville StorySLAM: “BLOOM” | 3 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $18 | Prepare a five-minute story about growth and new beginnings — or sit back and enjoy stories from others.
Wine By the Vines: Sicily | 6-8:30 p.m. | Gemelli | $75 | Savor five courses of Southern Italian fare, each paired with a wine from the region — you can purchase by the bottle at the end of the night.
Friday, April 18
Kyle Gordon | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $32+ | The comedian is taking his viral joke songs on the road to celebrate the release of his new album, with parody tracks spanning from pop to nu metal.
Look forward to a range of sites and housing types, from luxury custom builds to innovative remodels.
🗝️ Explore homes your way
The in-person tours are fully self-guided, meaning you and your friends can browse at your own pace, pausing for photo inspo or just taking a beat to admire the views.
Prefer browsing in your PJs? The Parade of Homes also offers free virtual tours, which launch online the same weekends.
Whether you’re house-hunting or just hunting for ideas, the Parade of Homes is your inside look at what’s possible in WNC living.
Who knows? You might just find your new favorite way to spend a spring morning.
$500,000. That’s the amount of grant funds the SECU Foundation awarded to Helpmate to construct a new shelter for survivors of domestic violence. The nonprofit still needs $1 million to build the 43-bed shelter. Make a donation and learn how you can volunteer with Helpmate. (Mountain Xpress)
Theater
The Montford Park Players will kick off its 2025 season with a production of “The Book of Will,” which tells the story of Shakespeare’s confidants as they work to preserve his legacy. The show will run from Friday, May 9 to Saturday, May 31. See what else is in store for this season of “lunatics, lovers, and poets.”
Environment
Members of the wildlife coalition Safe Passage will be at the NC Welcome Center on I-26 West this Saturday, April 19 to educate drivers about its work to prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions in WNC. Drop by from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to learn more about the group’s advocacy. (Mountain Xpress)
Regional
According to WorldAtlas, seven of the 10 best road trips in NC are in our neck of the woods. The geography site published a list with pro tips to make the most out of your scenic drive. Gas up, grab your favorite snacks, and hit the road to see stretches, including the Cherahola Skyway and Waterfall Byway. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Pets
It’s officially patio season. And if you’re brunching at Beradu in Black Mountain, you’re going to want to bring Fido to check out its new pet menu. Your furry friend can choose from the barkin’ beef bowl, doggie scramble, or catdog hash — after munching on a complimentary bacon appetizer, of course.
Seasonal
It’s social event season — outsmart the noise of rumbling crowds and hear conversations more clearly. Most hearing aids have one processor, but these bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. That’s why 540,000+ customers swear by them.*
Biz
Our Parents’ Gift Guide is almost complete, but we have a few spots left to feature your business’s product or service. Secure your spot just in time for Mother’s Day + Father’s Day.
It’s five o’clock somewhere — and on select Fridays in Asheville, that means it’s time to head downtown for dancing, shopping, drinks, and food truck bites.
Downtown After 5 returns this Friday, April 18, and this year, the free community concert series is heading back to Pack Square Park instead of North Lexington Avenue.
The venue change brings new features including more room to spread out on the lawn, access to public restrooms, a dedicated kids zone, and a marketplace of local goods curated by Horse and Hero.
Friday’s concert is the first of three, each highlighting different themes, genres, and local partners. Here’s what’s in store:
Downtown in Bloom | April 18 | Music by: Caitlin Krisko + the Broadcast and The Dirty French Broads | Partner: Asheville Greenworks
Juneteenth Celebration | June 20 | Music by: Southern Avenue and DJ Phantom Pantone | Partners: MLK Jr. Association + Black Wall Street
90’s Country Night | August 15 | Music by: Mustache the Band and Take the Wheel | Partner: Blue Ridge Pride
LED under cabinet lights, so you can finally have light in dark closets, above kitchen counters, or beneath shelves. The wireless lights turn on with a motion sensor and can be adjusted between five different brightness levels.
Later this week, we’ll be sharing plenty of Earth Day service opportunities, but here’s one cleanup happening a bit earlier. Sign up to help Asheville GreenWorks clean up Haywood Road this Saturday, April 19. Your service will be rewarded with breakfast and some post-cleaning treats from local businesses.
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