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City Guide
🍳 Egging you on
The upscale Mexican restaurant recently began serving brunch. | Photo via Xico
No yolk, folks — Easter is just around the corner, and you know what that means. Peeps are on the shelves, pastel is everywhere, and it’s time to grab brunch with your loved ones.
Here are a few local establishments taking reservations.
Finest Deli | In addition to its regular brunch menu, the West Asheville spot will offer a $49 Italian prix fixe meal that ends in a fresh, Cara Cara orange creamsicle tiramisu.
Xico | Just for the holiday, the wood-fired kitchen is cooking up pomegranate-glazed lamb, served with a jicama, cucumber, pineapple, and radish salad tossed in chipotle citrus vinaigrette and tajin.
Montgomery Sky Farm | James Beard-nominated chef Taylor Montgomery is serving up a family-style brunch inside the farm’s beautifully decorated barn on Saturday and Sunday — act fast, the meal is capped at 40 guests per day.
Spring has sprung at Biltmore and the blooms will flourish over the coming months. | Photos by AVLtoday
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a Passholder at Biltmore, now’s the time: The Biltmore Annual Pass Sale has arrived.
When you buy an Annual Pass now for a limited time, you’ll save $90. That’s only $209 for a year of unlimited visits to the iconic Asheville estate, plus exclusive Passholder benefits + discounts.
Our team spent a day at Biltmore recently, andwe can’t imagine a more perfect spring afternoon.
An Annual Pass is the key to making the most of your Biltmore visit in every season. Passholder perks include members-only events, free entry for your children (age 16 and under), discounted tickets for your guests, and discounts on Biltmore holiday favorites.
Asheville City Council approved increases to water, stormwater, and solid waste fees in an effort to close the projected $26 million FY27 budget gap. According to the city’s data, the typical household will see a $67 annual increase. Council discussed more cost-cutting measures like parking fee increases, although no more decisions were approved.
Transit
The city will enter into a $55 million, four-year contract with RATP Dev to operate ART buses. New terms tighten on-time performance standards with added enforcement software, and fund three hires, including a crisis counselor for the downtown transit center.
Arts
Asheville City Council unanimously approved a two-year hold on a 2.43-acre “Parkside” site for a proposed 2,500-seat performing arts center near City Hall and The Block. Residents cited the area’s history of urban renewal, prompting new requirements for formal partnerships with East End and Block stakeholders, including potential investment and shared ownership. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Open
The Asheville Police Department has officially opened an additional West Asheville resource center at Tanger Outlets Asheville, open to residents to file reports, request copies, or receive assistance from department staff. The existing Haywood Road Resource Center also remains open. (Mountain Xpress)
Environment
Money doesn’t grow on trees. Luckily, Asheville GreenWorks is giving out free native trees on Saturday, April 11, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Hendersonville Road Texas Roadhouse. Rise early, because it’s first come, first served.
Outdoors
The 25th annual Asheville Orchid Festival is this weekend, Friday, March 27-Sunday, March 29, at The North Carolina Arboretum. Admission is $5 (free for Western North Carolina Orchid Society members) to one of our state’s greatest plant shows. See what to expect.*
Featured Home
This three-bedroom home is minutes from Lake James State Park and sits on a sprawling 1.16-acre lot. Take a look around to discover thoughtful design elements and a backyard oasis with mountain views, a pool + hot tub.*
Health
Your health deserves a plan, not a guess. ReadyRX’s GLP-1 program is designed to support steady progress through expert-led care. If your BMI is 27+, you may qualify for 24/7 medical access and program support. Check your eligibility and save $100 as a new patient with code HEALTH100.*
Category
Business
The music industry changes its tune
The industry has grown since 2016, but a shift to freelance work raises questions of stability. | Photo via Asheville Symphony
Local nonprofit ArtsAVL has composed a snapshot of the economic impact of Asheville’s music industry — and when you face the music, you’ll find that although the music industry is generating more economic impact than it did a decade ago, the way it operates has fundamentally changed.
By the numbers
Data from three studies commissioned by ArtsAVL shows that in 2023, the local music industry:
Generated $436 million in total economic activity, including nearly $199 million to local GDP
Supported roughly 2,190 jobs
Produced $39+ million in tax revenue
Brought in $121 million in labor income
The stats could be conservative at that, excluding tourism spending and informal gigs. But while economic impact has grown since 2016, the industry now supports fewer full-time jobs, reflecting a structural shift.
What’s changed?
While it’s true that more people are involved in Asheville’s music scene and hourly wages are up, rather than traditional payroll employees, most workers are “extended proprietors,” making secondary — and often unstable or unsustainable — income in the industry.
New deals on best-selling apparel, top-rated home appliances, beauty must-haves, and more drop every day until Tuesday, March 31, thanks to Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. These are our top five for today:
🫧 Stock up on Olaplex’s weightless dry shampoo while it’s on sale for the lowest price yet this year.
🍚 Make the perfect rice every time thanks to the discount on this top-rated rice cooker.
👠 Hurry — the deal on these date night-ready heeled sandals is only available until this afternoon.
🏓 Also only available until this afternoon is the deal on this 4.7-star rated pickleball set that features lightweight paddles, balls, and a case.
🧴 Take 50% off Neutrogena’s rapid wrinkle repair moisturizer that boosts skin elasticity + reduces fine lines.
If you’re feeling inspired to support Asheville’s scene, I suggest heading over to our events calendar and picking a show from a local band you’ve never seen before. You never know, discovering your favorite new artist could be just a few clicks away.
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