http://frenchbroadchocolates.com http://twitter.com/chocolatelounge We are proud to introduce our handmade, artisanal chocolates. Established in Asheville, NC in 2007, French Broad Chocolates is borne of an endless love of chocolate and a perpetual lust for culinary creativity. We make our chocolates in small batches with ingredients thoughtfully selected for their integrity. The following outlines our food philosophy with a set of criteria that inform our ingredient choices and business practices. small We’re a mom & pop business, which adheres to small batch, artisanal methods, in order to serve you a small luxury, made with love and good stuff. We believe measured indulgence is an important part of nourishing one’s soul. Speaking of small, it bears mentioning that we advocate reasonable but sufficient portion size. You will not find anything gargantuan at French Broad Chocolate Lounge, perhaps other than our selection. You will leave satisfied, not stuffed. We believe decadent desserts can be part of a healthy diet. Small luxuries are part of having a positive relationship with food, and one’s body. local One of our primary company directives is to be a part of the local business community. We are fortunate and proud to be part of a vibrant culture of small food producers here in western North Carolina. Fertile soil and evolved consciousness make this area ripe for the local food movement. Farmers, artisan bakers, cheese makers, chefs, tailgate markets, and nonprofit organizations all work side-by-side to support one another. For our chocolate kitchen and bakery, we buy fruits and berries and free-range eggs from WNC farms, and pick herbs out of our back yard. We pick up our wildflower honey from an honor-system shack on the other side of town, and our milk is processed less than 5 miles from our chocolate kitchen. At French Broad Chocolate Lounge, we sell locally churned ice cream, locally brewed beers, and regionally roasted coffee. The point is: We always have our eyes and ears open to find ingredients from within our regional foodshed. We believe we vote with our dollars, and try to live within our local economy as much possible. But, um, isn’t chocolate grown in the tropics? Indeed. Cacao, an awfully finicky tree, only thrives within a short range from the equator. But even the most die-hard locavores agree that some foods are worth making an exception. Anyone want to live without coffee? Black pepper? Vanilla? Chocolate?! For globally-sourced ingredients, we seek to connect with small producers in a way that values their efforts, as if they were our neighbors. Applying local mentality in a global sphere. Everybody now: It’s a small world after all! fair Historically, commodities trading (whether it’s milk or cocoa beans) has involved power struggles, in which the wealthier buyers typically have the upper hand over the small farmers and producers. We are part of a massive movement to change that, bringing equity to the trade relationship. No single method of trade can achieve this for all players, but with diverse strategies, we can level the field. Across the planet, the lion’s share of cacao is grown on farms smaller than 5 acres. It is inherently the business of small farmers. Furthermore, the nature of the plant makes the mechanization of harvest impossible; every pod must be carefully removed by hand. To ensure that this hard work is valued fairly, we can rely on direct contact, conscientious middlemen, association with like-minded chocolatiers, and fair trade certification. The best way to get farmers the compensation they deserve is by establishing a direct relationship with them. This way, we can encourage farming methods that will improve the value of their products, increasing their profitability while procuring a better ingredient for our operation. Among the ingredients we source directly from the farmer: hazelnuts, pistachios, butter & cream, maple syrup, lavender, fruits and berries. Cacao, the heart and soul of our business, is next. We’re heading to Peru this month on a sourcing expedition. In Costa Rica, we are restoring an abandoned cacao farm, and helping a Costa Rican friend build a fermentary. In establishing these ties, we’ll craft chocolate from direct-sourced beans, and use that housemade chocolate to create our truffles, confections and pastries. We’ll be one of a handful of chocolatiers in the world to be bean-to-bar-to-truffle. organic The organic movement embodies principles of responsible food production and earth stewardship. Since the USDA developed their National Organic Program, the word is laden with controversy and many small farmers and producers feel that the spirit of the movement has been legislated away. We were certified organic under the USDA NOP for the first year of our operation, but our honey had to come from Brazil, because that was the only certified organic honey we could buy. Now, we can procure honey from local beekeepers, and save about 4,000 miles of carbon-intensive travel. By creating local relationships with our food producers, the specter of “food security” loses its ominous underpinnings. We value the third-party organic certification for keeping a watchful eye on producers that we can know nothing about, but all the better if we can visit Alex up at Full Sun Farm and ask if he sprays his berries. His farm may not be “certified organic,” though he does in fact use organic methods. We believe that using organic methods of production is the right thing to do, and we buy organically produced foods most of the time. We take earth stewardship seriously, as evidenced by the growing pile of eggshells and coffee grounds behind our house that will be the soil in next year’s herb garden, or by the compostability of most of our takeout packaging. All of the above factors are considered in selecting our chocolate and other ingredients. There is often a compromise; and when there is, we err on the side of excellent taste. Take milk chocolate. We have in the past used a very good organic milk chocolate made by Dagoba. Then we met Kokoleka, a divine 38 percent single origin, single estate American-grown chocolate from Hawaii made by Guittard, a San Francisco chocolatier. While not organic, it blows our minds. We cannot help but take our food choices personally; our products are a reflection of who we are.
Zambra is the shared vision of partners Peter Slamp and Adam Bannasch. Our dynamic menu is the passion of Executive Chef Adam. Adam has attained many influences through his training in Europe and New Orleans. Zambra is his modern, local vision of the tastes and flavors of the western Mediterranean: Spain, Portugal, Gypsy, and North Africa. We are a tapas restaurant and like tapas restaurants in Spain, the menu selections are based on locally available ingredients. Because of this philosophy, our menu differs from what you would have in Spain but our inspiration is Spanish. As an appropriate accompaniment, we have assembled one of the region's finest selection of Spanish and New World wines. We have been awarded the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence and our winelist has been voted the best in Asheville. The Zambra experience has been featured in Southern Living, on the Food Network and been recognized across the country in publications as diverse as: The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, and the Charlotte News and Observer.
Opened 31 Dec 13! Off the Wagon is a dueling piano bar that will rock the downtown music scene! Get ready for great music, great drinks, great fun - and most of all - get ready to fall... Off the Wagon!
Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues is a beautiful and historic landmark known through out the region for its romantic ambience and impeccable service. Now in our 16th year, we still pride ourselves on providing Asheville with the ultimate nightclub experience. The people who frequent Tresssa’s, relax into an ambience not found elsewhere in our city. The softly lit, old New Orleans elegance, combined with beautiful music, expert service, fine spirits, fresh lite fare menu served till 2 am, and our famous Martinis, create an unparalleled oasis for Asheville’s famous and infamous! Downstairs, we continue to showcase the best Live Jazz, Blues, Funk, Soul, R&B, Latin and DJ Dance artists in the region, five nights a week! Upstairs you will enjoy our plush beautifully decorated Special Event Venue, featuring a full service bar, plush leopard velvet chaise lounges; along with a beautiful roaring fireplace .We can help you design an evening to fit your vision and budget. We have hosted many memorable rehearsal dinners, receptions, ceremonies, birthdays, fundraisers, weddings and celebrations during our 16 year history in downtown Asheville. Both levels of the club are available for private or semi-private events. Both levels offer elegant yet comfortable décor, ambient lighting, great sound systems, bathroom access, and gorgeous full bars. The main bar (capacity of 150 pp) on the ground level provides a full stage with a baby grand piano and the upstairs has a capacity of 100 pp. .We have our own in house caterer, Food Experience, to accommodate any menu needs you may have, or we allow you the option to choose your caterer .We possess all ABC permits and are known for our fine spirits and delicious martinis! Please check our website at www.tressas.com, or www.facebook.com/tressasjazzandblues for more information and pictures of the club
TIMO'S HOUSE is THE Underground PARTY BAR and Music Venue. We serve behind a full liquor bar backed by a variety of ASHEVILLE'S FINEST LOCAL BEERS on tap. Our range of musical accompaniments keep our stage fresh with a variety of Local, National, and Global acts passing through the most intimate venue in Asheville. Check our Monthly calendar for new events and weeklies, or add us on our social networky things if you want us to keep YOU informed. UNCHAIN ASHEVILLE. THIS BUSINESS IS LOCALLY OWNED/OPERATED
“Bele Chere” means beautiful living. That’s what you’ll find in Asheville at the largest FREE arts and music street festival in the Southeast. Great art, music, food, and beer come to the streets of downtown Asheville each summer. Discover a cool new band, find the perfect piece of art, sample some local cuisine, enjoy a microbrew – find your own way to celebrate Bele Chere.
The SPOT AVL Is A Mindful Community Hub Offering Delectable Nutrition, Empowering Education & An Array of Arts, Under One Roof, In the Prime Location in Downtown Asheville. The SPOT Is An Abbreviation For The Synchronistic Portal Of Transportation. Our Organization Is Uniquely Qualified To Mold This Into A Successful Endeavor, Due To Diverse Experience In Both Our Professional As Well As Personal Lives, While Birthing It All Within The Ripe Town Of Asheville. The over 1,900 square ft interior houses exotic furniture, which will be both used by patrons and sold. The walls will be home to paintings which will alternate from time-to-time. We will utilize easy to move furniture or solutions to then use open space from lecture style to movement and concert based events. The bamboo flooring and wide open space are well suited for just these sorts of occasions. The Spot AVL is unique for many reasons. We feature signature products/services from the best known local health conscious businesses; such as Buchi, Rosetta’ Kitchen, Farmacy Juice & Tonics, Roots Hummus, produce from the French Broad Food Co-Op and much, much more.
Tickets are on sale through the Diana Wortham Theatre box office, 828-257-4530.
Asheville Music School is a nonprofit community school for anyone who wishes to study music. We’ve been making music since 1996, and now have over 400 students with 35 instructors teaching music lessons and classes every week. We are currently enrolling students from beginner to advanced skill levels for private music lessons. Our students range from age four to young adult and those well into retirement. We teach all styles and levels and have at least two optional recitals a year in our own in-house performance space. Daytime music lessons are conveniently offered for homeschoolers and adults. In 2012 we started our first summer camp series, wherein students learn to make music with one another in fun and supportive ensemble settings. Once our students have some experience on their respective instruments, they have the ability to join one of our student performing ensembles in our Sound Education Outreach program. These ensembles perform outreach concerts to people in need at such places like the ABCCM Veteran’s Restoration Quarters, Chunn’s Cove Assisted Living Center, and more. They also perform concerts at venues such as The Orange Peel, and festivals such as Downtown After 5 and Barnaroo Music Festival. Our instructors are brought on board not only because they are gifted performers, but because they have demonstrated quality teaching and superior knowledge in music. These are professional teachers who want to teach. No matter what you want to play, from Bach to bebop to Bob Dylan, we have instructors who can teach you how to play like the pros. We offer private music lessons, convenient hours and the best instructors in the area. Instruments include piano, guitar, violin, cello, bass, voice, saxophone, flute, trumpet, trombone, drums, percussion, and much more!
Last year over 300 walker gathered in Pack Square Park to celebrate survivors, and raise over $30,000. The route begins at Pack Square meadering through Asheville neighborhoods in a fairly easy walk. Runners are welcome to start the walk but this is not a timed event.
AIR is an association of local, independent restaurants dedicated to keeping Asheville’s food scene eclectic, authentic, interesting, fresh and flavorful. In our vibrant mountain city you will find the flavors of Spain and the Caribbean, India and France around the corner from Southern Appalachian Mountain favorites. When the sun dips below Asheville’s ancient mountains, the city’s live music venues, bars and nightclubs come alive. AIR chefs create imaginative cocktail cuisine while mixologists work their magic using locally-made moonshine, sake, hard cider, wine and beers. The result is sensational. It’s not unusual to find AIR chefs featured in The New York Times, Garden & Gun, Southern Living or earning national recognition for their food and hospitality. Perhaps this is why Asheville consistently ranks as one of the nation’s finest foodie cities. We call it Foodtopia™ . Just one visit to an AIR-member restaurant and you’ll call it delicious.
Open Path is a collective of therapists who have generously agreed to provide in-office treatment for $30 to $50 a session. Open Path clients pay a one-time membership fee to work with an Open Path therapist at a significantly reduced rate. Because the rate is so low, clients gain back their membership fee after just two sessions. Open Path is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocating for affordable psychotherapy. Many of our therapists also provide sessions online.
MountainTrue champions resilient forests, clean waters and healthy communities in Western North Carolina.
We founded The Animal Rescue of Western North Carolina (TARWNC) to be an outlet and networking resource for all humane organizations in WNC. It doesn't matter if the organization is public or private. Our goal is to save adoptable cats and dogs from euthanasia. Sadly, there are healthy and friendly pets not finding homes primarily because the shelters get full and there isn't enough room to house them long enough to be placed. The shelters are doing the best they can to save these animals. Unfortunately, they don't have the resources to do what needs to be done. To save these pets they need outside help. This is where we come in. We are not in competition with anyone and we do not have a shelter. So, what do we do? We will accept immediate ownership of the pet in need from the shelter freeing up their kennel space and cages to accept more intake. Once the pet enters our system we take complete responsibility (financial, medical, fostering him/her and finding him/her a forever home.) The pet will receive any needed medical care or treatment from our vet and be spayed or neutered. Using our network of weekly adoption events and other sources, attempts to find a permanent home will begin immediately. The pet's profile will be listed on TARWNC.com, TARWNC Facebook page, Petfinder, Rescue Me and numerous other online websites. Until a permanent home is found, the pet will attend special adoption events with our team of dedicated caregivers and volunteers. We can't stress this enough: Our success will depend on cultivating a large and extensive network of quality foster homes. We are building this network as fast as possible, but it is going to be a challenge. We know it can be done! These dogs and cats need our help. Please consider opening your home and your heart to an animal in need by becoming a foster. We will be there every step of the way to provide advice, support, food and anything else a TARWNC pet or foster family needs! How can you help if you can't foster a pet? VOLUNTEER WITH US. There are many opportunities available, especially helping when we go to adoption events. The events are fun and effective ways of finding forever homes for our pets. If you can't foster or volunteer then please consider making a FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION to us. We are a fully recognized IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your donation is tax-deductible. We will use all contributions wisely. Donations equal saved lives. KEEP IN MIND! DONATIONS ARE NOT JUST MONEY! We also crates, portable kennels and carriers, towels and blankets, good dog and cat beds, collars, leashes, harnesses, food and water bowels, dog and cat toys, food and treats and most any other dog or cat item. These types of donations are tax-deductible as well! We also have Secondary Mission! 1. We will educate the public about and support all groups seeking to educate the community about the humane and property treatment of animals. We will support all efforts to prevent cruelty to animals. 2. We will strive to educate our community about the importance of spaying and neutering pets to reduce the pet population. Spaying and neutering of pets is the best way to dramatically reduce the number of animals entering area shelters. 3. We will assist rescue groups and shelters with grant writing, social media marketing, fundraising, social enterprise development for nonprofit funding and in any other way possible.
Meetings are held weekly on Thursdays at 12:30 (arrive at noon to mingle) at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Asheville. Meetings will end promptly at 1:30. Meal cost is $17 per person - full buffet lunch. Dress - business casual.
The Diana Wortham Theatre is an intimate, 500 seat live performance venue offering the best in music, theatre and dance by tourings artists and companies as well as local performing arts groups - from the avocational to the professional. The theatre is the home of the Asheville Lyric Opera, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, Asheville Ballet, Asheville Puppetry Alliance, WNC Jazz Society and many more.
OPEN is a local community forum pursuing Tactical Urbanism in Asheville, NC. Through the means of Creative Placemaking, Asheville's evolving contemporary culture can develop a more livable and connected city experience and foster sustainable community. Tactical Urbanist initiatives focus on short-term interventions to inspire permanent projects that arrive from community consensus and public engagement.
over 40 local wild edibles, many not available anywhere else over 30 wild medicines staffed by experts including Alan Muskat free samples of everything free accidentification prevention service™ free edible park tour all proceeds go to fund The Afikomen Project
Global Youth + Life Skills + Social Entrepreneurship = The Next Generation of Social & Environmental Leaders
Programs: * BLOCK Academy is a six-week entrepreneurism/job creation-training program that provides the following: Customized Training, Personal Coaching, Practical Experience, Self-sufficiency and Community Wealth. PROGRAM DISCONTIUNED JULY 31st, 2013. Contact EMSDC Offices, Stephanie Swepson-Twitty for information on EMSDC business development assistance. * IDA Program: "IDAs help low-income families build assets and create wealth. IDA's( Individual Development Account) matching savings deposits that allow the participant to save up to a maximum of a $1,000 which may be matched in a 4:1 (becoming $5,000) for business start up, business expansion or higher education) IDA's are investments in people who are willing to save to invest in their future. * Block-by-Block Industries provides the following: Business Creation, Job Creation and Development of New Job Skills * Business Incubators
Wild South’s efforts are rooted in the science and practice of conservation biology blending knowledge and advocacy to sustain ecosystems and the health of our communities. There are a lot of good environmental groups in the South but Wild South is the only regional grassroots organization that engages the public in the protection of the South’s public lands – preserving half a million acres and counting