Travel a block or two away from the bustle and noise of Merrimon Avenue or Charlotte Street and you’d think something major was happening - construction, machinery, even a hovering space ship are three ways I’ve heard this incessant noise described.
But the distinctive sound is actually the 17-year emergence of cicadas, when they invade to mate, lay eggs - and they do it in very large numbers in pockets across the Southeast. This time around they’ve invaded Asheville, but I’ve heard that they hit the middle of the state last time. It’s a pretty cool natural phenomenon, even if they do look a little gross when thousands of them cover the yard, trees, bushes, and plants. It’s been fun for the kids to see them for the first time, and it’s been interesting to find out how many people don’t really know what a cicada is, especially those in their 20s who don’t remember - or haven’t ever seen - an emergence like this! The colloquial tendency is to call them locusts, although they are not actually locusts at all. The wikipedia link above explains a little more about these insects and has a really cool time lapse of a cicada emerging from its shell.
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.
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
The Grove Park Inn gingerbread competition. Biltmore Estate. Downtown Asheville.
These are all aspects of Asheville that have been featured on various television networks and shows. On Wednesday night, Asheville (and Carolina Mornings!) gets another opportunity to show our stuff. The Fine Living Network (channel 116 in Asheville on Charter digital cable) show All-Girl Getaways will air the episode ‘Blue Ridge Retreat’ Wednesday, May 21 at 9pm.
Here’s the synopsis, from All-Girl Getaways:
Blue Ridge Retreat - Four women on the go who met at the same Sweet 16 birthday party 30 years ago have managed to remain close friends and have stuck through everything together. They want to celebrate their 30 years of friendship by going to Asheville, N.C., for the weekend. They have many activities lined up, including visits to the Rivers Art District and the Biltmore Estate; and they end the weekend at a spa resort.
One of those ladies-on-the-go happens to be the President of Carolina Mornings, Shari Goldstein. After hearing about the show over a year ago, one of her friends sent in an application - and they were picked to film an episode! Fortunately, Asheville was the place they chose for their getaway.
From the FLN Web site, “All-Girl Getaways shows you how women plan their all-girl escapes. From weeks of detailed planning and careful execution to finally enjoying the well-deserved weekend, you’re invited into the inner circle to find out what it takes to have an organized, successful and exhilarating mini-vacation.” See the promo:
Excuse the political entry, but this is a big ‘thing’ in North Carolina right now! We’re certainly not used to being an important part of primary season (in fact, we’re used to primary ’season’ being over around February). Here are two outdoor events going on tomorrow, a chance for lots of people in the Asheville area (locals and visitors) to see some political history in action.
Friday, May 1st is apparently a big campaign rally day in WNC:
Get Out the Vote Rally
Hosted by UNC Asheville organizations - Students for Obama and the College Democrats
Featuring Michelle Obama & Grammy winner Gladys Knight
Free and open to the public, outside on the UNCA quad
Seating available at 4:30pm, event starts at 5:30pm
Hillary in Hendersonville
Hillary Clinton Rally
Free and open to the public Downtown Hendersonville, sometime around noon
It’s been fun for the kids to see them for the first time, and it’s been interesting to find out how many people don’t really know what a cicada is, especially those in their 20s who don’t remember - or haven’t ever seen - an emergence like this! The colloquial tendency is to call them locusts, although they are not actually locusts at all. The wikipedia link above explains a little more about these insects and has a really cool time lapse of a cicada emerging from its shell.