City officials broke ground on phase two of the Rehabilitation and Upgrade Project last week. This next phase contributes to the plant’s resiliency and lays important groundwork for phase three of the project, which will ultimately double the plant’s production capacity to account for population growth in our area and expand service beyond South Asheville.
Significant elements of this project include:
Increasing the plant’s finished water storage capacity to 1.5 million gallons.
A new backwash lagoon to prepare for an increase in treatment capacity.
New switchgear for the plant’s emergency generator to provide more reliable power transfers during power loss situations.
City officials expect phase two to take three years to complete and to begin phase three in 2029.
Events
Events
Wednesday, May 28
Conservation Conversations | 5:30-7 p.m. | RAD Brewing Co. | Free | Meet the organizations conserving the places we love — MountainTrue will host the evening of socializing and presentations, where you can learn how to get involved.
Thursday, May 29
Biltmore Park Farmers Market | 3-6 p.m. | Biltmore Park Town Square | Free | Stock up on pastries, produce, and premium meats and seafood during the first market of the season.
GRINDFest | 5-11 p.m. | The Radical | Free | The month-long celebration of Black business and community empowerment culminates with an evening of live music and art.
Friday, May 30
Dinner Under Dinos | Friday, May 30-Saturday, May 31 | 5:30-9 p.m. | Asheville Museum of Science | $30+ | Drop the kiddos off at the museum for a lively night of pizza, playtime, and a movie while you have a date night.
Moon Taxi | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $44 | Hear the alt-rock band play its hits like “Morocco” and “Two High.”
Saturday, May 31
Potter’s Yard Sale | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Odyssey ClayWorks | Free | Expand your studio setup with pottery wheels, kilns, glazes, and other tools for sale at majorly discounted prices.
Look Homeward, Asheville | Saturday, May 31, Saturday, June 7 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site | $5 | Join the walking tour to explore places pivotal to Thomas Wolfe’s life and hear excerpts of his writings and personal anecdotes along the way.
North Asheville boutique hotel, Blind Tiger, is celebrating Pride this year by offering a free Elopement Day on Saturday, June 28. Couples can exchange vows in a short and intimate ceremony in the outdoor garden with up to four guests. Sign up via email.
Featured
Asheville restaurants dominated Southern Living’s 20 Best New Restaurants in the South list, with Potential New Boyfriend, Luminosa, and Good Hot Fish all earning high praise. See what else the restaurant scene is cooking.
Arts
When was the last time you made a trip to the Asheville Mall? There’s a lot going on these days, from the mall’s first wedding venue opening to the artist collective Mall R.A.T.S. turning vacant space into an exhibition where all artists are welcome. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Read
Western Carolina University biology professor Dr. Jim Costa and museum curator and scientific illustrator Leslie Costa were chosen as the Smokies Life 2025 Steve Kemp Writers in Residence. The couple is working on a field guide to the insects of the Smokies, with special events slated for late September.
Try This
The clock is ticking on submissions for Music Video Asheville. The competition returns on Wednesday, Sept. 10, where ~30 of the most impressive music videos will be screened after a red carpet ceremony. Want to see your work in the spotlight? Check out the details for entering.
You can co-own a movie studio. Add Hollywood to your portfolio + join 50,000+ investors including Morgan Freeman with Legion M, the world’s first fan-owned movie studio.†‡*
Asked
Legacy
Remembering Oscar Wong
Oscar P. Wong, known as the “Godfather of Asheville Craft Beer,” died on Sunday, May 25, at age 84, with his wife Anna and daughter Leah at his side, according to a statement from Highland Brewing. He was 84.
A retired engineer, Wong brewed Highland’s first beer using refurbished dairy equipment in the basement of Barley’s Taproom downtown. Here, Wong laid the foundation for what would become a robust and thriving craft beer industry in Asheville.
Highland Brewing is Asheville’s oldest brewery, and more than 30 years later, the family-owned business remains an integral part of the community.
There will be a celebration of life at Highland Brewing on Sunday, June 29, at 12 p.m. Read more about Wong’s legacy in the brewery’s statement.
The Buy
This digital measuring spoon. Perfect for baking or any time you need a precise measurement, it features a battery-operated scale with multi-unit measuring.
We’re extending our most heartfelt sympathies to the Wong family and the Highland team. Oscar was a true community leader, and his impact is felt throughout Asheville.
‡This is a paid advertisement for Legion M’s Regulation CF Offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.legionm.com.
}})
