At AVLtoday, we share hyper-local and need-to-know information about your Asheville faves. Meet: AVLtoday’s Best. From restaurants to salons, we’re asking for your insight on the top-tier spots Asheville has to offer. Nominations are open until Friday, October 3.
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City
Spread the local love with AVLtoday’s Best
Make your voice heard, nominate your favorite local biz and they could win AVLtoday’s Best Competition. | Graphic by 6AM City
At AVLtoday, we bring you the best of Asheville — now it’s your turn to highlight the city’s top spots.
Introducing: AVLtoday’s Best
From coffee shops to event venues, we want your input on Asheville’s top businesses.
We’re celebrating local talent across various categories, including -
Food & Drink: Happy Hour, Tap Rooms, Breweries, Brunch, Fine Dining, Food Trucks, Coffee Shops
Lifestyle & Services: Spas, Gyms, Medical Centers, Home Services, Real Estate Agents
Entertainment & Culture: Music Venues, Theaters, Party Venues, Museums, Local Influencers
More: Coworking Spaces, Pet-Friendly Venues, Apartment Complexes, and more
How to Nominate:
Nominations open Monday, Sept. 15 – Friday, Oct. 3. Use your desktop or mobile to submit your nominations.
Select a category
Enter the business name or address and choose from the drop-down
Douglas D. Ellington, “City Building of Asheville,” 1928. Watercolor and tempera on paper, 11 ¼ × 8 ⅛ inches. Douglas D. Ellington Collection, gift of Sallie Ellington Middleton, 1998.16.001.22.
This Friday, Sept. 19, the Asheville Art Museum will introduce a new exhibition paying homage to some of the city’s most influential architects: “Lasting Legacies: Architecture in Asheville by Richard Sharp Smith, Albert Heath Carrier, and Douglas D. Ellington.”
On view through mid-January, the exhibition will highlight architectural materials from the early 20th century, as well as the parallel revival of craft in WNC.
To support the opening, the museum is hosting several events:
Antique Car Show | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 1-4 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum | Free | See a collection of antique automobiles that drove the streets of Asheville in the 1920s.
Douglas Ellington Architecture Trolley Tour | Sunday, Oct. 5 | 2-5:30 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum | $100 | Heath Towson of Mountaineer Motor Tours will lead this tour of four iconic Ellington buildings — along the way, you’ll stop for refreshments at the historic S&W Cafeteria.
Events
Events
Monday, Sept. 15
Live from the Joke Shop | 7-9 p.m. | Sparky’s Bardega | Free | Bring your best zingers or kick back and watch local comedians take the mic.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
RAD Rendezvous Grand Opening | 4 p.m. | RAD Rendezvous | Free | Watch the ribbon be cut on the new art studio and retail space, then celebrate on The Radical’s rooftop.
Panda Bear | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $38 | The founding member of Animal Collective has a stellar solo career — Editor Grace loves his latest album, “Sinister Gift.”
Golden Hour at New Morning Gallery | 4-6 p.m. | New Morning Gallery | Free | Connect with the artists behind the gallery’s impressive works at this relaxed gathering.
Blockbuster Bash: Champions for Children for 30 Years | 6-9 p.m. | The Venue | $25+ | Come in your best retro ‘fit and party like it’s 1995 to support our community’s littlest learners with Buncombe Partnership for Children.
Friday, Sept. 19
Foodees Food and Culture Festival | 1 p.m. | Tanger Outlets Asheville | Free+ | The touring food truck fest is bringing three days of good eats.
“Grease” | Friday, Sept. 19-Sunday, Oct. 12 | 7:30 p.m. | Asheville Community Theatre | $37 | See the auto-matic, system-matic, and hyyyydro-matic rendition of the movie musical, backed by a live six-piece band.
Fitness franchise Burn Bootcamp is opening a North Asheville location on Merrimon Avenue this fall. If you want to go ahead and try the 45-minute strength training and cardio class, there’s also an Arden location. If that’s not your speed, find the perfect gym for you with our guide.
Film
Grab the popcorn for a local movie marathon. Check out a list of flicks filmed in WNC — watch Grace Kelly roam the Biltmore Estate in “The Swan,” Kevin Costner on the diamond at McCormick Stadium in “Bull Durham,” and Zach Galifinakis toil through Harrah’s Cherokee Center in “Masterminds.” (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Sports
If you’re looking for some friendly competition this fall, registration is open for Asheville Sports and Social Club adult leagues. Sign up as part of a team or as a free agent in sports like volleyball, pickleball, bowling, and softball.
Cause
The Trauma Intervention Program of WNC is seeking new volunteers to aid its mission of providing emotional + practical support to families, friends, witnesses, and survivors of traumatic events. TIP volunteers work with first responders through the 911 system. Learn more about the role and see the schedule for training, starting Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Learn
If you made your way to the Fine Arts Theatre this weekend for “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” you’ll enjoy this look back at the Biltmore’s 2020 “Downton Abbey” exhibition.
The venue used projection mapping to make FaceMaze come alive. | Photo by AVLtoday
Arts
After nine months on display, downtown music venue Third Room is selling FaceMaze, the large face sculpture and commanding centerpiece of the stage. As FaceMaze finds a new home, the venue says it makes room for new sculptures.
Seasonal
Got something big happening this fall? From new menus to limited-time promos, make sure your message lands in front of our 55,000+ highly engaged local subscribers. Get started on our business promo portal with zero long-term contract.
Job
Ready to kickstart your career in digital media sales remotely? We’re looking for a Sales Coordinator to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
You insure your phone… but not your pet? One accident could cost $10,000. Pet insurance can help cover the unexpected, with plans starting at $10/month and offering up to 90% coverage. Learn more.*
Correction
We accidentally mixed up our numbers last week when telling you about tickets to the Asheville Greek Festival on Friday, Sept. 26 and Saturday, Sept. 27. Admission to the festival is $5, and kids 12 and under get in free.
Your go-to shoe for early fall: Birkenstock’s Buckley Suede Clog. These comfortable clogs are easy to slip off and on and are built on Birkenstock’s classic cork footbed for arch support and security.
Bonus: New HSN shoppers can use code WELCOME2025 for $15 off $35+ purchases.
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.
Sewing is cool again, according to the New York Times. Classes in New York City have seen a recent surge in popularity, a trend that sewing experts say is happening across the country. Start the first thread in your journey with supplies from Purl’s Yarn Emporium.
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