Asheville To-Do List--insider's guide
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2013 10:13 pm
Asheville for SoCon Local's Guide
So many things to do, so much Basketball to play, so little time!
App Fans should definitely come to Asheville for the basketball tournament beginning March 8.
In addition to being a tournament that is wide open and available for any team to win (we all know this is sudden death) there is so much more to do in Asheville you need to come.
Temps: temperatures this weekend should be seasonable with Sat and Sunday temps around 60. But cold at night so bring a coat to wear at night--make sure you have your ASU colors showing!!
Let the locals know you're on town! Tell the restaurants hotels and shops know you're in town supporting the Apps in the SoCon.
So when the Apps are not playing and there's no game at the US Cellular Center what to do? Here's a locals guide to Asheville for the tournament.
Parking. Pay particular attention to this Asheville has a bad rap for not having enough parking downtown for the US cellular Center. Absolutely not true. in addition to the city parking garages get your GPS out or your map and look for 35 Woodfin Street which is the street that the Renaissance Hotel is located. directly adjacent to it is a new county garage which is never full and is a short walk. After working hours and weekend you can also park free at the county office building at 35 Woodfin and the first Baptist Church had an inexpensive pay-by-space lot.
Breakfast. Big breakfasts with local food await in Asheville. Try the Early Girl Eatery, Perennial favorite Tupelo Honey with two locations in town, Sunnypoint Café in West Asheville, Clingman café in the river arts District, West End bakery In West Asheville with best cinnamon roll ever.
2. Beer. The two new mega Craft Breweries coming to town, Sierra Nevada and New Belgium/Fat Tire aren't here yet. But there's still more beer and more great places to go then you can possibly do while you're in town. New kid on the block, wicked weed brewery is downtown as is the LAB Lexington Avenue brewery. Pisgah Brewing in Blackmountain is great, the original Highland brewing is in East Asheville. French broad brewing is in Biltmore Village. Asheville pizza and brewing with locations downtown and Merrimon Ave. Oyster House at the lobster trap, and my favorite, the Wedge in the river arts District. And then there are the beer specialty bars. Foremost among them is the Thirsty Monk with locations in downtown, south Asheville and Biltmore Park Townsquare.
Live music. Too many places to name but favorites are the orange peel, Jack of the woods, Grey Eagle in the River Arts District, or Westville Pub on West AVL. Check out the mountain express for a complete listing of all the joints with live music.
West Asheville. So, folks think downtown is funky and Bohemian. you havent been to West Asheville yet. so many great places to go to try the WALK West Asheville lounge and kitchen, the universal joint or the Isis.
Food--all of the ones you're familiar with but some maybe you're not. Try Nona Mia in West Asheville, Storm Rhum bar Downtown, Cucina 24, Rezza in Biltmore Village, Limiones.
Barbecue. Asheville unfortunately is not the barbecue capital of the world. However there are some places that are good. Moes barbecue in Biltmore Village and Luella's barbecue on Merrimon Avenue and North Asheville are the pics.
Close to the US cellular Center. Just a short distance away is Havana Caribbean across from the Grove arcade. In the Grove arcade chorizo and Modesto and BurgerWorx. On Lexington Ave., Mela Indian and Bucheon French Comfort Food. On Battery Park Ave., Chai Pani Indian street food.
Pizza. Barleys downtown, mellow mushroom downtown, standard pizza in West Asheville Nona Mia in West Asheville, Digable pizza in West Asheville. Circle in the Square downtown and Merrimon Avenue, Marco's pizza in North Asheville and South Asheville. Asheville pizza and brewing downtown and North Asheville. Frank's Roman pizza. Hard to go wrong with any of them.
Wings? Of course there is Buffalo wild wings, and Wild wing Café but also Rocky's hot chicken shack in West Asheville.
Mexican. Papa's and Beer, el Que Pasa, Urban Burrito.
Biltmore Park town square. If you're not familiar with Biltmore Park you should visit. It's new a New Urbanist mixed-use development about 8 miles south of downtown directly off of I 26 at Long Shoals Road. Restaurants such as PF Chang Brix pizza 121 Main etc. plus REI sports, Barnes & Noble Orvis etc. make this an interesting outing.
Thai. My two favorites are Doc Chey's and Suwannee's thai Orchid.
both downtown one on Biltmore Avenue the other on Broadway.
Miscellaneous. Hang out at the new aloft Hotel on Biltmore Avenue and the WXYZ bar. Or hang out in the grand Bohemian in Biltmore Village.
The spas. Not something I know about, but lots of choices for your significant other. Grove Park Inn is best known, but Sensibilities Day Spa is downtown just down the street from the USCC.
Lastly--looking to next year we will have completed an additional $2.5 million on renovations to the arena. We're renovating all the restrooms, completely remodeling the main lobby, adding a new exterior entrance to the ExploreAsheville.com Arena, remodeling and expanding the Nox Office, and adding more meeting rooms.
So many things to do, so much Basketball to play, so little time!
App Fans should definitely come to Asheville for the basketball tournament beginning March 8.
In addition to being a tournament that is wide open and available for any team to win (we all know this is sudden death) there is so much more to do in Asheville you need to come.
Temps: temperatures this weekend should be seasonable with Sat and Sunday temps around 60. But cold at night so bring a coat to wear at night--make sure you have your ASU colors showing!!
Let the locals know you're on town! Tell the restaurants hotels and shops know you're in town supporting the Apps in the SoCon.
So when the Apps are not playing and there's no game at the US Cellular Center what to do? Here's a locals guide to Asheville for the tournament.
Parking. Pay particular attention to this Asheville has a bad rap for not having enough parking downtown for the US cellular Center. Absolutely not true. in addition to the city parking garages get your GPS out or your map and look for 35 Woodfin Street which is the street that the Renaissance Hotel is located. directly adjacent to it is a new county garage which is never full and is a short walk. After working hours and weekend you can also park free at the county office building at 35 Woodfin and the first Baptist Church had an inexpensive pay-by-space lot.
Breakfast. Big breakfasts with local food await in Asheville. Try the Early Girl Eatery, Perennial favorite Tupelo Honey with two locations in town, Sunnypoint Café in West Asheville, Clingman café in the river arts District, West End bakery In West Asheville with best cinnamon roll ever.
2. Beer. The two new mega Craft Breweries coming to town, Sierra Nevada and New Belgium/Fat Tire aren't here yet. But there's still more beer and more great places to go then you can possibly do while you're in town. New kid on the block, wicked weed brewery is downtown as is the LAB Lexington Avenue brewery. Pisgah Brewing in Blackmountain is great, the original Highland brewing is in East Asheville. French broad brewing is in Biltmore Village. Asheville pizza and brewing with locations downtown and Merrimon Ave. Oyster House at the lobster trap, and my favorite, the Wedge in the river arts District. And then there are the beer specialty bars. Foremost among them is the Thirsty Monk with locations in downtown, south Asheville and Biltmore Park Townsquare.
Live music. Too many places to name but favorites are the orange peel, Jack of the woods, Grey Eagle in the River Arts District, or Westville Pub on West AVL. Check out the mountain express for a complete listing of all the joints with live music.
West Asheville. So, folks think downtown is funky and Bohemian. you havent been to West Asheville yet. so many great places to go to try the WALK West Asheville lounge and kitchen, the universal joint or the Isis.
Food--all of the ones you're familiar with but some maybe you're not. Try Nona Mia in West Asheville, Storm Rhum bar Downtown, Cucina 24, Rezza in Biltmore Village, Limiones.
Barbecue. Asheville unfortunately is not the barbecue capital of the world. However there are some places that are good. Moes barbecue in Biltmore Village and Luella's barbecue on Merrimon Avenue and North Asheville are the pics.
Close to the US cellular Center. Just a short distance away is Havana Caribbean across from the Grove arcade. In the Grove arcade chorizo and Modesto and BurgerWorx. On Lexington Ave., Mela Indian and Bucheon French Comfort Food. On Battery Park Ave., Chai Pani Indian street food.
Pizza. Barleys downtown, mellow mushroom downtown, standard pizza in West Asheville Nona Mia in West Asheville, Digable pizza in West Asheville. Circle in the Square downtown and Merrimon Avenue, Marco's pizza in North Asheville and South Asheville. Asheville pizza and brewing downtown and North Asheville. Frank's Roman pizza. Hard to go wrong with any of them.
Wings? Of course there is Buffalo wild wings, and Wild wing Café but also Rocky's hot chicken shack in West Asheville.
Mexican. Papa's and Beer, el Que Pasa, Urban Burrito.
Biltmore Park town square. If you're not familiar with Biltmore Park you should visit. It's new a New Urbanist mixed-use development about 8 miles south of downtown directly off of I 26 at Long Shoals Road. Restaurants such as PF Chang Brix pizza 121 Main etc. plus REI sports, Barnes & Noble Orvis etc. make this an interesting outing.
Thai. My two favorites are Doc Chey's and Suwannee's thai Orchid.
both downtown one on Biltmore Avenue the other on Broadway.
Miscellaneous. Hang out at the new aloft Hotel on Biltmore Avenue and the WXYZ bar. Or hang out in the grand Bohemian in Biltmore Village.
The spas. Not something I know about, but lots of choices for your significant other. Grove Park Inn is best known, but Sensibilities Day Spa is downtown just down the street from the USCC.
Lastly--looking to next year we will have completed an additional $2.5 million on renovations to the arena. We're renovating all the restrooms, completely remodeling the main lobby, adding a new exterior entrance to the ExploreAsheville.com Arena, remodeling and expanding the Nox Office, and adding more meeting rooms.