If you love the scenicviews and easy driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway — not to mention all the moolah it spreads through surrounding communities — you’ll be happy to hear that nearly $1,000,000 in funding has been secured for the corridor’s future.
The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has received $911,117 in grant money to bolster its economic development planning in the NC + VA communities that make up the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor.
The Parkway is 469 miles of gorgeous views. | Photo by @photofern.wnc
With a $517,924 grant for North Carolina and a $393,193 grant for Virginia, leaders from counties in the corridor will be tasked with strategizing ways to increase the economic impact of tourism, recreation, and however else Blue Ridge travelers like to spend their money.
💰 Fast facts about the corridor
There are 29 counties in the corridor (17 in NC + 12 in VA), mostly rural communities who see economic benefits from Parkway travelers.
In 2020, 14 million people visited the Parkway. How did they spend their money? They spent$468 million on lodging, $227 million on restaurants, and $118 million on gas.
Since 2017, Parkway spending has reached $1 billion or more annually.
Have you ever experienced a more scenic sunrise drive? | Photo by @neal.cornwell
Read more about the foundation’s grant. Want to get involved yourself? Donate or volunteer, or of course, plan a trip along the Parkway’s corridor (and don’t forget to bring your wallet).
Share this story with your camping + road trip pals.
QUESTION
How do you recreate along the Parkway?
Share your go-to activity when you’re traveling the Blue Ridge corridor.
Coffee with Kit | Tues., May 10 | 9-10 a.m. | 36 Montford Ave. | Free | Ask questions + share your perspective about the business community with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kit Cramer. ☕
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Tues., May 10 | 5:30 p.m. | Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave. | $35 | Join for a fiesta with food, drink, and a costume party before watching the classic Paul Newman + Robert Redford film. 📽️
Wednesday
Joy Oladokun |Wed., May 11 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $17 | Black, queer artist + child of Nigerian immigrants Joy Oladokun makes her Grey Eagle debut. 🎤
Lunch & Learn: Building Local Food Systems | Wed., May 11 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Learn how SAHC farmland programs are helping to build local food systems and increase access to farmland. 🌱
Thursday
God is a Scottish Drag Queen | Thurs., May 12 | 8 p.m. | Wortham Center, 18 Biltmore Ave. | $35 | This award-winning comedy tells the story of a floral pantsuit-clad God descending from heaven into the modern world.
Friday
Brews and Bears at the WNC Nature Center | Fri., May 13 | 5:30-8 p.m. | WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd. | $15-$35 | Walk the WNC Nature Center with a beer or cider in hand. 🐻*
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Picnic’s plans combine over-the-counter and prescription meds for maximum effectiveness. |
Photo provided by Picnic
Is allergy season worse this year? Yes, according to the experts — and Asheville is no exception. The good news: You can say peace out to your symptoms with a treatment plan from Picnic. ✌️
Interested? Take Picnic’s allergist-designed quiz to receive a personalized plan that treats your specific symptoms.
Bonus: It’s delivered right to your door,so you have plenty of time to get back to outdoor hangs in the River Arts District allergy-free.*
Ziggy’s Bakery & Delihas announced it will permanently close its doors. The Philly-style deli in the Asheville Commons has been serving up cheesesteaks, hoagies, and schmears to the community for over three years. Stop by for a last bite before the deli closes on Sat., May 14. at 3 p.m.
Biz
Phase 2 of the NC Department of Revenue’s Business Recovery Grant program is now open. The program provides payments to small businesses with significant economic losses due to COVID-19. Eligibility requirements have been revised so businesses like farmers, gyms, hair salons, and tour guides may now receive funding. Apply here.
Development
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission has approved rezoning for a new affordable housing development in East Asheville on Swannanoa River Road. Redwood Commons will have 70 units designed for seniors, with rent prices at 60% of the Area Median Income + Housing Authority vouchers accepted. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Try This
Your new summer plans: touring Oaxaca, Mexico with an Asheville chef as your guide. Tequio Foods’ Luis Martinez is launching a culinary trip series where you can spend five days experiencing the tastes + traditions of Oaxacan culture. Four trips are planned for this summer, all focused on partnering with the indigenous community. 🫔 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Eat
Planning a wedding or big event soon? Make it seafood-centric with The Lobster Trap’s new catering service, starting in early June. The restaurant’s catering will focus around a live oyster shucking station, which can be booked for gatherings from small backyard parties up to a 200-person shindig. Sounds shucking delicious. 🦪 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Listen
Catch the Asheville Symphony’s season finale at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Sat., June 4at 8 p.m.Masterworks 6: Ode to Joy will feature Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with four soloists + the Asheville Symphony Chorus performing. Grab tickets. 🎼
History
The Western North Carolina Historical Association is kicking off its 2022 ReadWNC Series with a discussion of the history behind Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle’s book, “Even As We Breathe.” Annette + historian Dr. Barbara Duncan will dive into mid-20th century Cherokee life in Asheville. Join virtually on Tues., May 24 at 6 p.m. 📚
Shop
Eagles Nest Outfitters’ DoubleNest Hammock — a classic hammock the Asheville-based company relaunched this January — won an REI Co-op Editors’ Choice Award. The hammock went through rigorous field testing by REI staff, with roominess + comfort cited as top-scoring qualities.For those looking for some good hangs,here’s the hammock.
Correction
“Run, Forrest! Run!” We got a little ahead of ourselves Friday when we shared some Grandfather Mountain + Forrest Gump trivia. During the iconic sequence of Gump’s cross-country run, there’s a portion where he’s actually running up Grandfather Mountain — which is located in the High Country of WNC, not Asheville, specifically. 👟*
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If you’ve been wondering about GiGi’s Underground, the new speakeasy-style bar opening in downtown Asheville, we’ve got the tea: not only is its barfully built out, but the grand opening is slated for the weekend of Fri, May 13. These teapot-style cocktails will be on the menu, with cocktails like the Red Queen (last picture).
GiGi’s Underground will feature jazz and blues music, and is in a historic downtown building built in the same 1920s era the bar draws inspiration from.
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Editor’s pick:Hey, Blue Ridge Parkway lovers. 👋I’ve always been a Skyline Drive fan (and have buckets of photos to prove it). In more good news for the Parkway, trails (including the Barnett Branch and sections of the Mountains-to-Sea) have reopened after a recent wildfire was contained. Light those fires responsibly, campers.
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