The cat carousel is just one of the fantastic feline attractions at the American Museum of the House Cat. | Photo by AVLtoday
Time to expand your horizons. The WNC area has some unique + wonderful museums to enlighten you with some off-the-wall knowledge sure to impress your friends and family. Here are seven spots all within an hour’s drive of Asheville.
American Museum of the House Cat | 5063 US 441 South, Sylva
This Jackson County gem is one of only a few of its kind in the country and showcases thousands of pieces of cat art and memorabilia, including toys, pottery, sculptures, figurines + more. The best part of this feline museum? The proceeds help provide free and low-cost spaying and neutering services for local kitties.
Craggy Mountain Line | 111 Woodfin Ave., Woodfin Consider it a museum on wheels. Hop on the trolley car to ride a 7-mile round trip on the tracks that used to run to Asheville’s downtown via Charlotte Street. The trains run every Thursday and Saturday at 4 p.m. — grab tickets for $15 per person.
Rest and Reset Pilates | 6-7 p.m. | Happy Body Pilates | $35 | Give your body a reset at this equipment-based Pilates class with movement, breathwork, and stretching techniques.
Live Music with Pat Sheridan | 6-8 p.m. | Doc Brown’s BBQ, Candler | Free | Support the local blues singer, songwriter + multi-instrumentalist as he performs from his debut album, “Trials & Errors.”
Jerrie Settles Art Show Reception | 6:30-8 p.m. | East Asheville Library | Free | Celebrate the June Flowstate artist-in-residence and check out her works on display.
Wednesday, June 25
Author Event: Rahim Thawer | 6-7:30 p.m. | Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe | Free | The author, social worker + psychotherapist discusses his book “The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys.”
Hippie Dippie Summer Social | 6-8:30 p.m. | The Foundry Hotel | $40 | Break out your flower crowns, this event will feature many complimentary experiences focused on wellness, energy, and lifestyle.
Rakish | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $21+ | This folk duo shares their infectious, playful music with tracks from their new album “Now, O Now.”
Thursday, June 26
Toddler Sip & Splash | 3:30-5 p.m. | Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center | Free | Bring your toddler to this exploration-based program that combines water play and a sensory-rich environment.
Lace Larrabee | 8-10 p.m. | Third Room | $18 | Get ready to laugh — Disclaimer Comedy presents the beauty queen turned comedian + “America’s Got Talent” contestant.
Expect another hot day; the heat wave in Asheville will continue, with temperatures expected to exceed 90° today and tomorrow. The National Weather Service anticipates slight cooling later this week, though temps will remain in the high 80s. Stay cool by following these safety tips.
Outdoors
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation will receive a three-year, $750,000 grant from Asheville-based Dogwood Health Trust. The funding will benefit tourism and economic development through initiatives outlined in the Blue Ridge Rising Action Plan which encourages natural and historic preservation of the land. (WLOS)
Open
The Cava restaurant in Biltmore Village has wrapped up repairs and reopened. The Mediterranean-style eatery had been closed since September due to damage from Helene. Upon its reopening, Cava donated $5,000 to support nonprofits with hurricane recovery efforts. (The Asheville Citizen Times)
Closing
Manicomio Pizza delivered sad news: It will close at the end of June. The downtown pizzeria showed gratitude for its eight years in business and shared future plans for the Biltmore Avenue space. It will be taken over by Birdie’s Pizza — a similar concept with a TBD opening date.
Arts
Can you picture your artwork being displayed in Asheville? ArtsAVL is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cycle of its Arts Build Community initiative through Monday, July 21. Recipients will receive grants from $1,000 to $2,500 for projects that inspire community involvement and civic engagement.
Award
Recreate Asheville — Parks and Recreation’s comprehensive 10-year plan — received the Merit Award in Analysis + Planning from the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The honor recognized the community-driven plan for its innovative and resilient approach to managing the city’s outdoor spaces.
Real Estate
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Your favorite bug banisher, to get you through the summer season unbitten:
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The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I hope everyone is staying cool during the hot weather. I definitely prefer the heat to the cold, but these temps have me sweating. It might be a good time to think about taking a swim — and if you need ideas, we know a bunch of local spots.
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