Asheville, North Carolina

==Arts and culture==
[[File:J. Rush Oates Plaza, Asheville, NC IMG 5210.JPG|thumb|J. Rush Oates Plaza]]
[[File:Fountain, downtown Asheville, NC IMG 5204.JPG|thumb|Fountain in Pack Square]]

===Music===
Live music is a significant element in the tourism-based economy of Asheville and the surrounding area. Seasonal festivals and numerous nightclubs and performance venues offer opportunities for visitors and locals to attend a wide variety of live entertainment events.<ref>"Music pumps up economy, enlivens nightlife"; Michael Flynn; Asheville Citizen-Times; August 22, 2003.</ref>

Asheville has a strong tradition of [[street performance]] and outdoor music, including festivals, such as [[Bele Chere]] and the [[Lexington Avenue (Asheville, North Carolina)|Lexington Avenue]] Arts & Fun Festival (LAAFF). One event is "Shindig on the Green," which happens Saturday nights during July and August on City/County Plaza. By tradition, the Shindig starts "along about sundown" and features local bluegrass bands and dance teams on stage, and informal jam sessions under the trees surrounding the County Courthouse. The "Mountain Dance & Folk Festival" started in 1928 by [[Bascom Lamar Lunsford]] is said to be the first event ever labeled a "folk festival". Another popular outdoor music event is "Downtown After 5," a monthly concert series held from 5&nbsp;pm until 9&nbsp;pm that hosts popular touring musicians as well as local acts. A regular [[drum circle]], organized by residents in Pritchard Park, is open to all and has been a popular local activity every Friday evening.

Asheville is also home of the [[Moog Music]] Headquarters<ref>{{cite news |last=Dewan |first=Shaila |title=36 Hours in Asheville |url=http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=684577 |access-date=June 6, 2011 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 24, 2010}}</ref> and the museum of the [[Bob Moog Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://wncmagazine.com/feature/amped |title=Amped Up |date=2019-04-11 |work=WNC Magazine |access-date=2020-02-22 |language=en |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163806/https://wncmagazine.com/feature/amped |url-status=live}}</ref>

Asheville plays host to [[The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam]], an annual charity event which raises money for [[Habitat For Humanity]], and features notable musicians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music star Warren Haynes gives back to community - CNN.com |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/christmas.jam/ |access-date=2020-10-23 |website=edition.cnn.com |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810094456/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/christmas.jam/ |url-status=live}}</ref> DJ music, as well as a small, but active, dance community are also components of the downtown musical landscape. The town is also home to the [[Asheville Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Asheville Lyric Opera]], the Land of the Sky Symphonic Band, the Asheville Jazz Orchestra, the [[Smoky Mountain Brass Band]], and the Asheville Community Band. There are a number of bluegrass, country, and traditional mountain musicians in the Asheville area. A residency at local music establishment the Orange Peel by the [[Smashing Pumpkins]] in 2007, along with the [[Beastie Boys]] in 2009, brought national attention to Asheville.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c%3D217801 |title=Smashing Pumpkins' return puts Asheville on music map |date=June 22, 2007 |website=Ledger Dispatch |access-date=June 23, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927130728/http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/life/lifeview.asp?c=217801}}</ref> The rock band [[Band of Horses]] have recorded two albums at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, as have the [[The Avett Brothers|Avett Brothers]] (who have also traditionally played a New Year's Eve concert in Asheville). Christian vocal group [[The Kingsmen Quartet|the Kingsmen]] originated in Asheville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kingsmen |url=http://www.newhavenrecords.com/team/the-kingsmen/ |access-date=2020-10-23 |website=New Haven Records |url-status=live |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029105554/http://www.newhavenrecords.com/team/the-kingsmen/}}</ref>

===Performing arts===
[[File:Girl-Rain-Spout.jpg|thumb|Sculpture in Downtown Asheville of a girl drinking from a fountain shaped like a horse]]

The Asheville Community Theatre was founded in 1946, producing the first amateur production of the Appalachian drama ''[[Dark of the Moon (play)|Dark of the Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre » PRODUCTION HISTORY |url=http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |website=Ashevilletheatre.org |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128110322/http://www.ashevilletheatre.org/about/production-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Soon after, the young actors [[Charlton Heston]] and wife [[Lydia Clarke]] took over the small theatre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre |url=http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |website=Ashevilleguidebook.com |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=September 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912081226/http://www.ashevilleguidebook.com/wnc/cultural-attractions/asheville_community_theatre.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> The current ACT building has two performance spaces – the Mainstage Auditorium (and named the Heston Auditorium), and the more intimate black box performance space 35below.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Community Theatre {{!}} Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site |url=http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |website=Explore Asheville |access-date=January 22, 2016 |archive-date=January 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129204246/http://www.exploreasheville.com/listings/asheville-community-theatre/213/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Asheville Lyric Opera]] celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009 with a concert featuring [[Angela Brown]], David Malis, and [[Tonio Di Paolo]], veterans of the [[Metropolitan Opera]].<ref name="Opera">[http://citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901250315]{{dead link|date=May 2016}}</ref> The ALO has typically performed three fully staged professional operas for the community in addition to its vibrant educational program.

The Fringe Arts Festival features alternative performances.<ref name="AshevilleFringe">{{cite web |url=http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |title=The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival - Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |work=Asheville Fringe Arts Festival |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230105109/http://www.ashevillefringe.org/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Visual arts===
* [[Flood Gallery Fine Arts Center|Flood Fine Arts Center]], a non-profit contemporary art institution formerly in the River Arts District and now in nearby Black Mountain
*[[Asheville Art Museum]], located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville, which reopened on November 14, 2019, after a $24 million renovation<ref>{{cite web |title=Asheville Art Museum re-opens after major three-year expansion project |url=https://artdaily.cc/news/118217/Asheville-Art-Museum-re-opens-after-major-three-year-expansion-project#.XcrDpklzLAx.mailto |website=Art Daily |publisher=Jose Villareal |access-date=2 December 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191220185756/https://artdaily.cc/news/118217/Asheville-Art-Museum-re-opens-after-major-three-year-expansion-project#.XcrDpklzLAx.mailto |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center]], located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville, which presents exhibitions, performances and other public programs related to the history and influence of [[Black Mountain College]]
* The [[Southern Highland Craft Guild]]'s [[Folk Art Center]], dedicated to Appalachian craft traditions<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/folkartcenter/ |title=Folk Center |website=Southern Highland Craft Guild |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-14 |archive-date=February 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217214601/https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/folkartcenter/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
* The [[Young Men's Institute Building|YMI Cultural Center]], exhibiting art related to the heritage of African Americans in the area<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/ymi-cultural-center/ |title=YMI Cultural Center – Blue Ridge National Heritage Area |language=en-US |access-date=2020-02-22 |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163758/https://www.blueridgeheritage.com/destinations/ymi-cultural-center/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Film and television===
The Asheville Film Festival completed its sixth year, but the City of Asheville ceased to fund it, putting its future in doubt. The city is an annual participant in the 48-Hour Film Project.<ref name="Asheville Branch">{{cite web |title=48-Hour Film Festival Asheville |url=http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/asheville/ |website=48hourfilm.com |access-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-date=November 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110095433/http://www.48hourfilm.com/en/asheville/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Twin Rivers Media Festival is an independent [[multi-media]] film festival held annually in downtown Asheville.<ref name="Asheville 1">{{cite news |last1=staff |title=Asheville's River Arts District hosts 19th annual Twin Rivers Media Festival beginning Friday |url=ftp://ftp.ashevillenc.gov/parks/NCAC/Complete_Applications/Twin%20Rivers/examplesashevillepress.pdf |access-date=August 13, 2015 |publisher=ashevillenc.gov |date=May 18, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="Appalachian Getaways">{{cite web |last1=Moe |first1=Jack |title=The Vision of the Twin Rivers Media Festival-Asheville, NC |url=http://www.appalachiangetaways.com/twinriversmediafestival.html |publisher=Appalachian Getaways |access-date=August 13, 2015 |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810180513/http://appalachiangetaways.com/twinriversmediafestival.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The festival held its 20th annual event in May 2013.<ref name="Citizen-Times">{{cite news |last1=Motsinger |first1=Carol |title=20th annual Twin Rivers Media Festival opens May 17 |url=http://blogs2.citizen-times.com/carol/2013/05/09/20th-annual-twin-rivers-media-festival-opens-may-17/ |access-date=August 13, 2015 |publisher=[[Asheville Citizen-Times]] |date=May 9, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

[[File:Thomas Wolfe House, Asheville, NC IMG 5170.JPG|thumb|[[Thomas Wolfe House]] in downtown Asheville]]
[[File:5-14-14 Biltmore Estate NHL-66000586.jpg|thumb|The Biltmore House on [[Biltmore Estate]], the largest private residence in the United States]]
[[File:Old BB&T Building, Asheville, NC (45829077065).jpg|upright|thumb|[[The Arras]], formerly the BB&T Building]]

===Places of worship===
Places of worship in Asheville include the Roman Catholic [[Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville|Basilica of St. Lawrence]], the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]] [[Cathedral of All Souls]] and [[St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Asheville, North Carolina)|St. Luke's Church]], and the Jewish [[Congregation Beth Israel (Asheville, North Carolina)|Congregation Beth Israel]].

===Restaurants===
Asheville was the first U.S. city recognized by the [[Green Restaurant Association]] as a Green Dining Destination (significant density of green restaurants).<ref name="Archived copy"/>

Notable local restaurants include [[Plant (restaurant)|Plant]], an upscale vegan restaurant, and [[Tupelo Honey Cafe]].

In 2022, two Asheville restaurants were given the [[James Beard Foundation Award|James Beard Award]]. [[Chai Pani]] received Outstanding Restaurant and [[Cúrate Bar De Tapas|Cúrate]] received the award for Outstanding Hospitality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 2022 James Beard Award Winners {{!}} James Beard Foundation |url=https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-winners |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.jamesbeard.org |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218155428/https://www.jamesbeard.org/blog/the-2022-james-beard-award-winners |url-status=live }}</ref> Asheville is also home to Cantonese chef J Chong who was a finalist on the HBO cooking competition, [[The Big Brunch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title='The Big Brunch' Chef J Chong Talks Dan Levy, Diversity, & Great Food |url=https://www.out.com/television/2022/11/10/big-brunch-chef-j-chong-talks-dan-levy-diversity-great-food |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.out.com |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218233939/https://www.out.com/television/2022/11/10/big-brunch-chef-j-chong-talks-dan-levy-diversity-great-food |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Points of interest===
* [[The Arras]], tallest structure in Asheville
* [[Biltmore Estate]], largest privately owned house in the United States, and listed as U.S. National Historic Landmark
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]], a national parkway noted for its scenic beauty, known as "America's Favorite Drive"
* [[Botanical Gardens at Asheville]], non-profit botanical gardens initially designed by Doan Ogden
* [[Demens-Rumbough-Crawley House]], "Hanger Hall", built by [[Peter A. Demens]], listed on the National Register of Historic Places
* [[Grove Park Inn]], hotel listed on U.S. National Register of Historic Places
* [[Jackson Building (Asheville, North Carolina)|Jackson Building]], first [[skyscraper]] in western North Carolina
* [[McCormick Field]], one of the oldest minor-league stadiums still in regular use
* [[North Carolina Arboretum]], arboretum and botanical garden located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest
* [[Smith-McDowell House]], the city's first mansion and oldest surviving house, and the oldest brick structure in Buncombe County
* [[Thomas Wolfe House]], boyhood home of American author Thomas Wolfe, and a U.S. National Historic Landmark