The 2,500-seat facility would be a main home of the Asheville Symphony. | Photo provided by Asheville Symphony Orchestra
The City of Asheville announced a partnership with UK-based ATG Entertainment to begin predevelopment on a new arts and entertainment facility in downtown Asheville.
A new venue has long been under discussion as the city has considered options for renovating Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Ultimately, consultants and stakeholders all recommended moving forward with a new build over a more costly renovation.
The city shared that a key part of the 2,500-seat facility’s programming would be Broadway shows, in addition to hosting the Asheville Symphony.
With the predevelopment stage expected to last up to two years, there are plenty of details left to be ironed out — for now, here’s what we know about the venue:
Who’s involved?
The public-private partnership would be a collaboration between the City of Asheville, ATG Entertainment, and other community partners, including Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, ArtsAVL, and the Asheville Symphony.
2025 NC Apple Festival | Friday, Aug. 29-Monday, Sept. 1 | Times vary | Historic Downtown Hendersonville | Free+ | Join the celebration of apples, local culture, and community spirit.
Drivin N Cryin | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $27 | Hear tracks like “Fly Me Courageous” and “Honeysuckle Blues” from the Southern rock band.
NC Hellbender Festival | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Downtown Spruce Pine | Free+ | Celebrate the native salamander while supporting environmental stewardship and community resilience with exhibits, food, vendors, and music from The Local Honeys and River
Blue Country Line Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch | 11 a.m. | The Grey Eagle | $11+ | Learn some of the hottest country hip hop line dances and strut your stuff to the music.
Picklefest 3 | 1-4 p.m. | The Whale West Asheville | Free | Back bigger and brinier than ever before, the beer bar will be serving pickle brews and fermented eats and hosting gherkin-themed games.
Sunday, Aug. 31
“When Pigs Fly” Tiki Dinner | 7 p.m. | Pillar Rooftop Bar | $87 | The rooftop bar will be giving off island vibes during this tropical feast.
Presented by Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina
Many items donated to your local Goodwill are brand new and still have tags on them. | Photos via AVLtoday
Every new season brings new fashion trends, and pressure to buy something, well, new.
The good news: You can find name brands and seasonal stylings while keeping the environment (and your budget) in mind by shopping at Goodwill.
We recently visited the Goodwill on Tunnel Road, which has reopened after experiencing devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene.
The store is fully restocked with all our favorite fall finds, including a vintage 100% cotton sweater, a wool mini skirt, black leather boots, and popular name-brand jeans.
While you’re there, don’t forget to shop the home decor section, which is already stocked with seasonal items for fall, Halloween, and even a few Christmas items.
Pro tip: Now through Sunday, Sept. 14, get $5 off when you spend $25 or more, meaning we pretty much got that pair of jeans for free.
$45.7 million. That’s how much Asheville Markets — the East Asheville shopping center housing a Whole Foods, Guitar Center, and Hollywood Feed — sold for earlier this month. It’s the largest real estate sale in Buncombe County this year so far. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Festival
In its second year, Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL kicks off today, Aug. 29. If you’re planning to check out the heritage trail tours, community workshops, local artisans, and live music, this “know before you go” guide will come in handy.
Featured
“Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons recently posted about her visit to Good Hot Fish to have “the best damn fish sandwich of my life” and to visit former contestant, Ashleigh Shanti. We know “Top Chef” is shooting in the Carolinas this season — does this mean Asheville will make a cameo? Only time will tell. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Biz
The Wake Forest University Center for Private Business has partnered with UNC Asheville as it expands into WNC, offering programming, events, and peer-led group support to 230+ privately-owned businesses across the state. The first Asheville workshop, titled “Creating a Self-Managing Business,” is Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Cause
This week, Asheville’s Young Professionals (aka AYPROS) graduated its first Get on Board cohort. For six weeks, a group of 24 professionals under 40 studied nonprofit governance, financial oversight, fundraising, and strategy — now, they’ll be connected with nonprofit board internships to serve the community.
Weather
The winter weather forecast from the 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac was released this week, predicting a colder and snowier season than usual here in Asheville. We’ll see how the 2025/2026 winter stacks up against 1993, when a blizzard brought more than 18 inches of snow. (WLOS)
Home
Why choose between nature and convenience when you can have both? Hominy at RiverBlue offers modern studio to three-bedroom apartments surrounded by 24 acres of preserved green space, plus perks like a pool, coworking lounge, and outdoor kitchen. Explore floor plans.*
Featured Deal
Best-selling activewear and everyday apparel up to 60% off? Athleta’s taking an extra 30% off sale items now through Monday, September 1. Shop the sale.*
Category
Food
Sugar & Snow Gelato’s RAD return
The more brownie, the batter. | Photo via Sugar & Snow
Sugar & Snow Gelato owner Amy Murashige said that her gelato machine was one of the few things spared when Helene hit the Riverside Drive shop, tucked inside Second Gear. And now, that machine will accompany Sugar & Snow’s next chapter, as the team prepares for a mid-November opening inside The Wyre apartment complex in the upper RAD.
“To be able to reopen and bring that machine to a new location feels like part of the healing we are all doing and an act of resilience,” Murashige said.
In addition to cups of homemade gelato, the shop will serve dessert pizza, adding the frozen dessert and toppings on a sweet brioche dough. Before the official opening, Sugar & Snow plans to host a special tasting event and fundraiser — follow along on social media to know when tickets go live.
For now, you can pick up a pint from the freezer at Second Gear or hit up the North Asheville Tailgate Market — if you’re all about fall flavors, pumpkin gelato debuts at the market this Saturday, Aug. 30.
The Buy
Meridian’s original hair trimmer, now 40% off for Labor Day. This unisex shaver was built for beards, chest, legs, and bikini lines, is 100% waterproof, and was top rated by Elle, Esquire, GQ, and Forbes. Psst — Shop tons of great markdowns like this one while Labor Day sales last.
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.
Before you make plans for your fall plantings, check out Asheville Botanical Garden’s fall plant sale on Saturday, Sept. 13. In addition to plants grown at the gardens, there will be eight local nurseries on-site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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