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.

Carolina Mornings is part of a growing list of certified ‘living wage’ businesses, as determined by Just Economics. The Mountain Xpress recently featured the organization and the current list of certified businesses in the article Living wage issue picking up steam.

Here is an excerpt from the article:
Living-wage proponents have long maintained that paying workers enough to meet their basic expenses in the local economy is ultimately good for businesses as well. Now, with the issue gaining traction here, a small but growing number of employers are taking the pledge and getting certified by Just Economics, a local nonprofit, says staffer Sarah Osmer.

Launched in March, the free, voluntary program has certified 38 businesses, nonprofits, churches and other employers (see sidebar, “Certified”). For businesses, says Osmer, the biggest immediate payback is the ability to market themselves as a responsible and sustainable employer in a city filled with discriminating consumers. Employers needing time to reach the appropriate wage levels can get probationary certification that gives them two years, with benchmarks to be met along the way.

According to the article, Just Economics has determined that the living wage in the Asheville area is $22,700 per year ($11.35 per hour) or $19,700/yr ($9.85/hr) for an employer providing health insurance, based on Housing and Urban Development’s annual calculation of Fair Market Rent. Important to note that Osmer adds that this is the bare minimum.

Carolina Mornings is offering two awesome packages for the Biltmore Luxury Condos.

Included is the condo rate, a Corner Kitchen gift certificate, and Biltmore Estate tickets or an in-house massage. Biltmore tickets are $40 through Carolina Mornings ($45-51 through Biltmore) and guests get 2 consecutive days at the Estate, an offer not available through Biltmore!

The Biltmore Bed and Breakfast Package is available until the end of August.
Enjoy the best the Biltmore area has to offer - relax in luxury at your Biltmore Condo, enjoy great, homestyle food at Biltmore Village’s Corner Kitchen, and enjoy all that the Biltmore Estate has to offer with your special two day admission!

Start your morning with a delicious, hot breakfast one short block from your condo. Featured in Southern Living magazine, Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village is recommended by locals and visitors alike. After breakfast, travel across the street to the Biltmore Estate entrance, and spend the day touring America’s largest, private home.

Tip: Use your tickets to spend one day on the house tour, and the next day around the gardens. This way you’ll still have the energy to experience everything else Asheville and WNC has to offer!

Package details: June - $760 + tax, double occupancy (save $80!)
2 night stay at the luxury Biltmore Condos in the heart of Biltmore Village
$40 gift certificate to the Corner Kitchen
2 tickets to Biltmore Estate, valid for 2 consecutive days

July & August - $1352 + tax, double occupancy (save $150!)
4 night stay at the Condos
$80 gift certificate to the Corner Kitchen
2 tickets to Biltmore, valid for 2 consecutive days

The Luxurious Rest and Relaxation Package is available for a limited time only!
Enjoy ultimate relaxation, surrounded by the quiet charm of Biltmore Village, when you stay at the Biltmore Luxury Condos. Add a massage and a warm meal at the Corner Kitchen, and you’re sure to leave Asheville refreshed. Sit back and let Around Town Massage come to you, with their hour-long aromatherapy massage.

Package details:
June - $752 + tax, double occupancy (save $85!)
2 night stay at the Condos
$40 gift certificate to Corner Kitchen
One 60-minute aromatherapy massage in the comfort and privacy of your condo

July & August - $1344 + tax, double occupancy (save $135!)
4 night stay at the Condos
$80 gift certificate to Corner Kitchen
One 60-minute aromatherapy massage in the comfort and privacy of your condo

To book a Condo with package pricing please call to speak with a Vacation Specialist.