These mountains sure will make you feel small. | Photo by CLTtoday
There’s a lot of lore encapsulated in the Appalachian Mountains — more than a billion years’ worth. The rocks at the core of the mountains formed more about 1.2 billion years ago, and the plate collisions that began to create our beloved mountains occurred ~480 million years ago. Let that sink in.
As you get ready to spend the summer outdoors or on the trails, think on these facts about the origins of the Appalachian Mountains.
The Appalachian Mountains are older than:
Dinosaurs
About 200 to 250 million years ago, dinosaurs first appeared during the Triassic Period. And the creatures weren’t strangers to Appalachia — check out the Appalachiosaurus, with fossils found in NC, SC, and AL.
Trees
Fossil records show that the first trees (or tree-like plants at that) didn’t hit the scene until about 400 million years ago.
Saturn’s rings
While some recent discoveries may call it into question, it’s long been thought that the planet’s rings formed between 100 and 400 million years ago.
Golden Folk Sessions | 6 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $12+ | Settle in for original songs from a handpicked lineup of six artists, only revealed when the show begins.
Sturgill Simpson | Tuesday, May 20-Wednesday, May 21 | 8 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville | $72+ | The Kentucky-based singer is bringing his style of outlaw country and authentic songwriting to his “Who The F**k is Johnny Blue Skies?” tour.
Wednesday, May 21
“Free For All: The Public Library” | 6-8 p.m. | North Asheville Library | Free | Sit in for the documentary screening to learn how the public library system came to be, followed by a Q+A with Buncombe County’s Public Library Director to dissect the issues presented in the film.
GRINDFest 2025: Taste of Black Asheville | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center | $25 | Spend the afternoon dining on delicious dishes from Black-owned restaurants.
One Year Anniversary Throwdown | 4-7 p.m. | Cooperative Coffee Shop | Free | Raise a cup of joe to six years of the roastery and one year of the cafe with a coffee tasting, latte art throwdown, and a cookout.
Saturday, May 31
Crowded Table A Celebration of Diversity and Inclusivity | 3-5 p.m. | Grace Covenant Presbyterian | $20 | This is the second show of a three-concert series, “Women: Together We Can Change the World,” including a performance by the winner of Womansong’s first-ever songwriting contest, Andrea Rosal.*
The community features 89 spacious lots, each averaging over an acre. | Photos by GVLtoday
Prioritizing personal wellness is easier said than done. But what if you lived in a community designed to make healthy lifestyle choices easy? We recently visited Longview Carolina, a new “agrihood” in Easley, SC designed to do just that.
Here’s what we learned during our private tour of the gated community:
It’s intentional: Longview was developed with Blue Zone principles in mind and is building on the region’s sustainability efforts. There’s an onsite working farm where residents can grow their own food and harvest eggs.
It’s convenient: The community is just 20 minutes from Greenville and Clemson, and minutes from downtown Easley — but the serene neighborhood couldn’t feel farther away from the hustle and bustle.
It’s scenic: It’s hard to describe the natural beauty of this area. We enjoyed taking in the panoramic mountain views of the Upstate from the community’s peak and walking along the wooded trails.
70 years. That’s how long the Southern Highland Craft Guild Shop has been operating on Tunnel Road, serving as a hub for generations of craft lovers and artists. To commemorate this milestone, the guild will host live craft demonstrations and serve complimentary refreshments each Saturday in June.
Regional
At an event in Rutherford County yesterday, May 19, Gov. Stein announced a second Helene budget proposal, requesting an additional $891 million. The largest chunk of the proposed budget, $260 million, would “spur economic recovery by supporting businesses and local governments and promoting western North Carolina’s tourism industry.”
Giveaway
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, local marketing agency Kudzu Brands is launching a $15K Brand Giveaway. One minority-owned business or nonprofit will earn a package of brand story development, logo design, marketing collateral creation, and customized brand strategy. Applications are due Friday, June 6.
Civic
This week is National Public Works Week, and we’re tipping our hard hats to the Asheville Public Works staff who have been rebuilding our city’s infrastructure. Since Helene, staff restored 110+ stormwater pipes, hauled more than 21,000 tons of rock, and cleared more than 2,000 trees from roadways.
Cause
The Women for Women giving circle has distributed 11 grants totaling $258,974 at a recent fundraising celebration. Nonprofits like Equal Plates Project, Thrive Asheville, and Verner Center for Early Learning are among the recipients recognized forincreasing economic stability for women and girls in response to Helene’s devastation.
Theater
Grab your lawn chairs because the Montford Park Players will soon debut their second show of the season. Friday, June 6, will be the first performance of Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” this time set in the 1950s. Before seeing this tale of retaliation, catch “The Book of Will” through the end of the month.
Pet
Today is National Rescue Dog Day, meant to show plenty of love to the pups in our local shelters. Consider expanding the family with a furry friend from a Brother Wolf, Asheville Humane Society, Mountain Pet Rescue, or Charlie’s Angels. Then, take them out on the town with our guide to dog-friendly businesses.
Biz
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.
Downtown After 5 is back at its original Pack Square Park location | Via AVLtoday
The cicadas are buzzing, and the sun is setting after 8 p.m. — we’re calling it, the summer concert season is here. So grab your picnic blankets and head out to these five summer concert series.
Arbor Evenings | Wednesdays, June 11 – Sept. 18 | NC Arboretum | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | $20 | Listen to local artists while strolling through the gardens at golden hour. Guests are free to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy, or purchase wine + beer on site.
Swanannoa Gathering | June 30 – Aug. 2 | Warren Wilson College | 7:30 p.m. | $35 | Artists from around the world gather at Warren Wilson College to teach weekly courses in various forms of folk music. Hear performances from renowned instructors each week.
Shindig on the Green | Saturdays, July 5 – Aug. 23 | Pack Square Park | 7-10 p.m. | Free | Experience a true Appalachian summer with bluegrass music, string bands, clog dancers, ballad singers, and storytellers.
One of our favorite trends of the summer: textured handbags. From straw to beaded, these are our top five picks:
🌟 This standout wood bead bracelet handle bag is the perfect accessory for your beach vacation.
🌟 This versatile braided tote made with 70% recycled plastic is available in 35+ colors.
🌟 MANGO’s woven canvas crossbody with smooth faux leather detailing offers fun textural interplay.
🌟 This crescent straw bag with an adjustable shoulder strap will be our go-to all summer long.
🌟 An elegant rope clutch is a must for summertime weddings and cocktail parties.
Today is Pop Bubble Tea’s third anniversary and 520 Day, an unofficial Chinese holiday celebrating love (phonetically, the number 520 is similar to “I love you” in Mandarin). To spread the love, the bubble tea shop will have a love letter writing station and debut a new lineup of lemonades for summer. The matcha lemonade is calling my name.
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