Warm weather in Asheville means there’s tons to do this weekend…

Gemfest 2008
10am-6pm Friday & Saturday; 11am-5pm Sunday. Colburn Earth Science Museum, Pack Place. Tons of dealers, free admission to the museum, silent auction.

Lighten Up Yoga: Free Yoga Day
Classes from 9am-4pm. Door prizes every hour. Open to new students, current students can play free if they bring a friend or family member.

Naked Bike Ride(please beware of naked photos on this Web site, click only at your own discretion).
Why? To make an impactful statement about world dependency on oil and petrochemicals. To protest the war in Iraq and the Middle East; to make a statement for Peace, civil rights and personal sovereignty. -From the Web site.
11am at the French Broad Co-op at 11am for a ride through downtown. Organizers work with the Asheville Police Department, and nearly everyone covers the ‘important bits’ - so while you might see scantily-clad people biking downtown on Saturday, you probably won’t see complete nudity.

Knit in Public Day
11am at Charlotte Street Park/EW Grove Park.

Urban Block Party
Food, beer, and music. On Eagle Street from 4-9pm.

Ferral Chihuahuas
Sketch comic hilarity at 35Below, show times are 8 pm & 9:30 pm.

Twice a year the Rivers Arts District studios open up to the public for a 2-day festival. The studio stroll is a fun way to see local artists in action, and to discover the art that lies inside the warehouses and old factories next to the French Broad river. You can walk between studios and eat at several restaurants in the district. It’s a time to meet the artists, see their newest projects, and watch demonstrations. Download this weekend’s map and list of artists.

Details: Friday and Saturday (June 14-15), 10-6. FREE and open to the public.

Grab food at…
Twelve bones
Clingman Cafe
Twin Cousins Kitchen

Next Thursday, June 19, Cafe on the Square is hosting an event to raising awareness of childhood obesity, which affects 25 million children nationwide. Table Talk, City Walk will also highlight the importance of family time at the dinner table as a way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Throughout the day and evening, Cafe on the Square will serve all meals on its signature 9 Plates, which are healthier portions of its dishes presented on a 9-inch plate. All desserts will be served in the Cafe’s popular Yum Yum Dishes, which diners can take with them to use at home for encouraging moderation while snacking.

Table Talk At each table, cards will feature ideas for family meal fun as well as a short survey to test patrons’ knowledge of food. Completed surveys will be entered in a drawing for prizes including restaurant gift certificates, a session with a personal trainer and tickets the Diana Wortham Theatre.

City Walk portion of the day will encompass after-meal strolls throughout downtown, where participants can pick up cards from participating businesses. By collecting all of the cards, participants will receive a $15 gift certificate to Grove Arcade Corner Market.

Ten percent of all proceeds from the day will go to Louie’s Kids, a non-profit organization providing treatment for pediatric and adolescent obesity. Funds will be earmarked to help children in Western North Carolina.

Mayor Terry Bellamy will join diners for lunch at the Cafe at noon, then lead one of the downtown walks afterward.

For more information or to make reservations, call Cafe on the Square at 828.251.5565 or visit the restaurant online. If you can’t join the event next Thursday, you can still make a donation to Louie’s Kids anytime you visit Cafe on the Square.

About Cafe on the Square: Located at One Biltmore Ave. in Downtown Asheville, Cafe on the Square presents contemporary American cuisine in a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere. The menu includes choice-cut meats, pasta, seafood and vegetarian dishes, while the full bar features fine liquors, craft beers and an extensive wine list. Cafe on the Square offers daily food and drink specials as well as live jazz on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

About Louie’s Kids: Louie’s Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child, finding the fix that fits, one kid at a time. Founded in 2001 in Alexandria, Va. and operated today out of Charleston, S.C., Louie’s Kids places a particular focus on economically disadvantaged kids.

Visiting Asheville or a local who just likes Biltmore? Here is the weekend line-up at the Estate:

Winery Activities
Live Music
* Wine Bar Soloist: 3:30p.m., 4:30p.m. 5:30p.m., 6:30p.m. (30-minute sets)
* Arbor Grill music: 4:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Friday & Sunday
* Winery Stage: 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Saturday (located in the Winery parking area)

Complimentary Wine Programs - guests sign up at Winery Welcome Center. Space is limited.
* Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar: 2:00p.m. & 4:00p.m.
* Winery Behind-the-Scenes Tour: 3:00p.m. & 6:00p.m.
* Sparkling Wine Seminar: 5:00p.m.
* Cooking Demonstration: 3:00p.m.
* Grape Stomp: 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

Barbecue & Fish Fry
Guests can enjoy a sampling of the best pulled-pork served with Biltmore’s famous regional sauces - Western Carolina red, Eastern Carolina vinegar, and South Carolina Mustard - or dig into a plate of Southern-fried fish. Menu includes varieties of BBQ, fried mountain trout and catfish, steamed shrimp, coleslaw, baked beans, hushpuppies, banana pudding, and more. Dinner offered from a chef-operated food cart located in the Winery parking.
* Dinner served from 1:00p.m.-7:00p.m.
* Price: $10.00 - $14.00

River Bend Farm Activities
* Live Music: 12:00p.m., 1:00p.m., 2:00p.m., 3:00p.m., 4:00p.m.
* Dance Demonstrations: 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m., 2:30p.m., 3:30p.m. (May 26-27 ONLY)
* Traditional Farm Life Demonstrations: 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

Enjoy what should be a beautiful weekend! (Local weather report.)

Today I came across this Around Asheville post about the Green Sage coffee shop, located downtown at the corner of Broadway and College Street.

I did know the Green Sage was open, and am glad to have another coffeehouse where the beloved Bean Streets used to reside. But until coming across this post, I had no idea the Green Sage’s hook is all fair trade coffee, local organic food, and ecologically minded business practices. This post also brought to my attention their roof-top solar panels, which I hadn’t noticed when driving through town (too busy trying not to run over pedestrians or rear-end other vehicles!).

Tonight the Green Sage hosts a talk about what makes a model green business, at 6:30pm.

I probably won’t make it to the talk, but after viewing the list of goals (see them also to the left) on their Web site, I’m definitely checking it out - hopefully for brunch tomorrow!

They also have great hours:
Coffeehouse
Mon-Wed 7:30am - 9pm
Thursday 7:30am - 10pm
Friday 7:30am - 11pm
Saturday 8am - 11pm
Sunday 8am - 9pm

Café (Seasonal Hours)
Breakfast until 4pm Daily
Lunch & Dinner 11am-8pm (Sun-Thurs), 9pm (Fri,Sat)

Who doesn’t love a late brunch on a Saturday!?