BOILING SPRINGS, N.C – Chris Stephenson’s tap-in basket with 1.6 seconds left gave UNC Asheville a thrilling 58-56 Big South Conference win over Gardner-Webb Friday night before a stunned crowd of 2,200 at Porter Arena.
The Bulldogs (1-6, 1-0) won their Big South Conference opener for the fifth straight year and are 13-1 in league-opening games under head coach Eddie Biedenbach. Sean Smith led Asheville with a game-high 18 points. Stephenson added 13 points, all in the second half.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs (3-3, 0-1 BSC) were led by Aaron Silver’s 14 points and all of those came in the second half. C.J. Hailey contributed 11 points. The Bulldogs led 55-50 with 1:03 left but Gardner-Webb forced two turnovers and got a bucket and two free throws from Silver to cut the lead to 55-54.
Stephenson was fouled with 20 seconds left. He made the first free throw to pad the lead to 56-54 but missed the second. Hailey hit a 10-footer in the lane to knot the score at 56-56 with 10 seconds remaining. Out of timeouts, Asheville quickly brought the ball down court. Matt Dickey fired a 15-footer that missed with three seconds left but Stephenson was there to tip the ball back in to give Asheville the winning points.
“I’m so proud of our guys to hang in there on the road and find a way to win,” said Biedenbach. “It wasn’t pretty, and we had way too many turnovers to allow them to get back into the game. But when we struggled to score in the second half, we battled on defense to keep us in the game.
“When you start out 0-6, you can’t help to start doubting yourself but our guys have kept plugging and got rewarded with a win,” added Biedenbach. The Bulldogs won despite being out-rebounded 45-30. Gardner-Webb had 23 offensive rebounds. However, Asheville’s defense limited the Runnin’ Bulldogs (17-of-55) to just 31 percent shooting from the field for the game. The home team also made 23 turnovers
Junior forward John Williams had a solid game for the Bulldogs with nine points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and four steals. D.J. Cunningham added eight points. Asheville struggled from the field on the night, too. The Bulldogs shot just 38 percent (20-of-52) from the field and made 19 turnovers. Asheville went eight minutes in the second half without scoring. Smith knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half as the Bulldogs went on a late surge to take a 33-29 halftime lead.
Asheville got a lay-up from Stephenson and a trey from Smith to quickly build the lead to 38-29 early in the second half. Silver entered the game for Gardner-Webb and immediately knocked down two treys. Asheville then went ice cold from the field and allowed the Runnin’ Bulldogs to eventually take the lead at 45-42 on two free throws from Silver at the 9:56 mark.
Trailing 49-48 with four minutes left, the Bulldogs went on a 7-1 run to grab a 55-50 lead with 1:10 left as Smith scored on a lay-up. UNC Asheville plays next on Sunday, Dec. 13 at home against Montreat starting at 4:30 p.m. The Bulldogs have the next week off due to exams.
ASHEVILLE, NC – The Asheville Art Museum, celebrating its 60th anniversary and its extraordinary growth and success since it relocated to Pack Square in 1992 as a founding partner in Pack Place, is pleased to announce plans for a future expansion. These plans were discussed at a meeting with the Asheville City Council and Buncombe County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 14, 2009.
As Pack Place partner The Health Adventure plans to leave downtown, the Asheville Art Museum is taking advantage of this opportunity to expand and create larger, state-of-the-art galleries, public art-filled space and education space to meet the demands of the large and diverse audiences it serves. With the agreement of all Pack Place partners, the Asheville Art Museum determined that it could develop its facility creating a central arts destination and 21st-century museum for the community by expanding in its current location.
“The new design will bring a contemporary feel to the most important corner of downtown. It will also honor our great history of architecture and the sense of place on Pack Square. My dad, Roger McGuire, helped found Pack Place, and he hoped that Pack Place would grow and change. This is exactly the kind of exciting evolution he would have wanted,” said Kim McGuire, a community leader and Museum supporter.
After an exhaustive recruitment process conducted by the Asheville Art Museum staff, board and a building committee of local design professionals including Jim Samsel, John Rogers, Peter Alberice and others, the renowned firm Polshek Partnership Architects of New York has been chosen to design the new Asheville Art Museum and restore the historic Pack Memorial Library building. Polshek is continuing to work with John Rogers, Beverly-Grant and the building committee.
The Museum needs to expand in order to better serve Western North Carolina and visitor audiences of all ages and to help Asheville remain competitive with other cities’ as a top arts destination. A study completed by the Asheville Art Museum documented the overall economic impact of the Museum’s current activities and the future increase that will be generated by the expansion. The Museum’s planned expansion project is anticipated to generate as much as $31.7 million in local economic impact with up to 80% of construction funds spent regionally. The new Museum will be a destination and art-filled civic center.
The Pack Place Board and the Asheville Art Museum are planning with all of Pack Place’s partners for a successful transition and even more success in the future. The new building will anchor the new Pack Square Park and continue to be the central arts destination spurring economic and cultural activity in the region and downtown Asheville.
ASHEVILLE, NC – From bangles and bags to classic tops and chic denim, the fashionistas among us understand the thrill of discovering the perfect addition to our closets. The search can oftentimes be exhausting, so when we find a gem of a dress or an inspired pair of shoes, we know how to appreciate them. And if we are the admirers of all things stylish, then Moda, the newest locally-owned boutique to open in Biltmore Park Town Square, is the artist that brings our favorite pieces together in a collage of sophisticated and modern apparel and accessories.
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Moda, located on Town Square Boulevard next to children’s boutique Bon Bébé, opened on Friday, November 20th much to the delight of Asheville’s fashion-forward women. Whether dining downtown or working at the office, anyone can see that the region is brimming with unique styles, and Moda promises to be a great place for discovering your new favorite article of clothing to warm up with during winter.
Of course, we don’t want to leave the men out as there are plenty of options for holiday gifts that the women in your life will love. From jewelry and perfume to elegant outfits that are sure to flatter, Moda ensures that there isn’t room for error when selecting the perfect present. So, consider Town Square for your holiday excursions, and say “Thank You” to Asheville this Thanksgiving by supporting local retailers.
Other gift ideas include gift certificates to Sparrow Spa or Sensibilities, new furnishings for your home from Dwellings, handcrafted art from Echo Gallery, and more. Visit Moda Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
ASHEVILLE, NC – Fiores Restarante Toscana, located at 122 College Street in downtown Asheville, is pleased to announce the creation of their annual Thanksgiving menu.
Open from 11am to 9pm on Thanksgiving day, Fiores will be serving up traditional turkey as well as apple stuffed pork loin, prime rib of beef, pumpkin bisque with devonshire cream, sweet potato casserole and other delectable Thanksgiving delights.
Fiores will also be offering all regular menu items with the exception of saute and grill. As always, vegan and vegetarian options will be available.
To view the full Fiores Thanksgiving menu, click the following link, menu, or visit www.fioresasheville.com.
ASHEVILLE, NC – Another major North Carolina landmark is readying to celebrate a birthday. Just as the 75th anniversary of the Great Smokies National Park is wrapping up, the 75th birthday for the Blue Ridge Parkway is getting started.
A symbolic passing of the torch, from the Smokies Superintendent to the Parkway Superintendent takes place on Friday. “We’ll have elders from the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and youth from the Cherokee Youth Council who will also pass the torch as a way to demonstrate everyone’s obligation to be stewards of this wonderful natural resource,” said Elizabeth Sims spokesperson for the Blue Ridge Parkway 75.
The event will also include Cherokee tribal music and dance. The parkway winds its way through North Carolina and Virginia connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
ASHEVILLE, NC – If you made it to Biltmore Park Town Square for the Fall Fest in October, chances are you’ve been on the edge of your seat waiting for Travinia Italian Kitchen to open. Their crab cakes, pasta, and irresistible tiramisu samples were the perfect way to whet our appetites for what promises to be a major development in the Asheville restaurant scene. And Town Square is happy to let you know that your stomachs don’t have to growl with anticipation any longer.
On November 2nd, Travinia Italian Kitchen opened its doors, and as the temperatures continue to drop, their steaming plates of pasta and seafood could not be more welcome. With a large space that can easily accommodate special events or just daily get-togethers with friends and family, Travinia is an ideal spot for taking a break from the stress of daily routines. After all, it is a European tradition to express your joy over food, so let’s join in on the fun with some Italian cuisine.
Menu items include pappardelle with vodka sauce, small plates of seared scallops and lobster ravioli, and, of course, everyone’s favorite Italian dish–pizza. But don’t forget to complement your meal with an Italian wine or one of their specialty martinis. The choices are endless, but you simply can’t go wrong, so take some time out of your day, enjoy a culinary journey around the world, and experience Asheville’s newest restaurant in Biltmore Park.
ASHEVILLE, NC – The newest Hotel Indigo opened its doors today in downtown Asheville, N.C. Nestled near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the 100-room new-build boutique hotel is the second of five properties planned for the state; additional deals are signed in Charlotte, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Located at 151 Haywood Street, Hotel Indigo Asheville is within walking distance of locally owned-shops and art galleries, distinctive restaurants and exciting entertainment venues. Nearby attractions include Historic Downtown Asheville, Biltmore Estates, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
“Asheville’s historic and architecturally diverse downtown has been beautifully preserved and is a perfect location for Hotel Indigo,” said Barbara Kulweic, general manager of the Hotel Indigo Asheville. “Through the brand’s interpret indigo design platform, we’ve been able to truly embrace the neighborhood by incorporating the work of local artists and vendors into every corner of the hotel.”
Working with a talented team of local artists, photographers and designers, Hotel Indigo Asheville has captured the essence of the Asheville region by using locally-inspired artwork and regionally-sourced materials throughout the hotel. For example, the lobby features a Gabion wall stacked using native stones of various shapes and sizes, and locally-inspired photographic murals of outdoor scenes taken by Asheville artist Zen Southerland are featured in the hotel lobby and guest rooms. This small, yet urban town encompassed by the Blue Ridge Mountains is reflected in the hotel design with a juxtaposition of urban concrete and steel versus the warmth of materials, texture and colors found in nature. The hotel aesthetic is light and open, featuring glass tiles, stained concrete, quartz-like countertops, decorative pendants, and large graphic wall coverings.
The Hotel Indigo Asheville is owned and managed by Hospitality and Lodging Investors II, LP, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group. Meeting the desires of today’s traveler, Hotel Indigo is an upscale boutique brand that delivers a refreshing and inviting guest experience that is truly reflective of the local community. From the locally-inspired murals to the renewal program where the images, music, scent, and menu items change throughout the year, Hotel Indigo gives guests a vibrant, engaging and genuine boutique experience.
“With the fall foliage season upon us and the holiday season ahead, we are thrilled to be able to offer guests a memorable and engaging experience that’s reflective of the downtown Asheville neighbourhood,” said Mary Dogan, director, Brand Delivery, Hotel Indigo, the Americas, IHG. “Keeping the guest in mind at all touch-points within the hotel experience, the Hotel Indigo model strikes a great balance by providing guests the refreshing design and intimate service synonymous with a boutique along with the consistency, reliability, and accessibility of a branded hotel.”
The Hotel Indigo Asheville features inviting guest rooms with oversized beds, plush bedding, hard-surface flooring for a fresh residential feel, and spa-inspired showers with Aveda products. Each guest room includes a 32-inch high-definition flat screen TV with 150 channels and iHome/MP3 alarm clock radio. The hotel also offers gourmet menu items and a full service-bar at Phi Bar and Bistro, complimentary parking, complimentary wired and wireless high speed internet access, a 24-hour business center and meeting space for business functions or special events. The hotel also features a pet-friendly policy.
With the addition of Hotel Indigo Asheville, there are 34 Hotel Indigo properties open worldwide and more than 60 hotels under development, either in the pipeline or in final negotiation. By the end of 2009, Hotel Indigo is forecasted to almost double its footprint in the Americas. The brand’s global roll-out is also going strong with the recent announcements of new deals in Liverpool, England, Glasgow, Scotland and Hong Kong.
ASHEVILLE, NC – A leaky Asheville Civic Center roof will soon be replaced by a better looking and better insulated roof, as the city’s capital improvement program will give the center energy-efficiency investments over the next five years.
The $1.5 million dollar-roof project began at the end of September and is scheduled to be completed in early January, with contractors taking breaks for heavy rains and to make way for upcoming entertainment acts, such as the Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam, an annual arena sell out.
“The economic impact the center has on the city of Asheville is significant. Ninety percent of tickets for the Christmas Jam will be purchased from outside of North Carolina,” said interim Civic Center Director Dan Dover. “This past year alone we had more than a quarter of a million attendees, and that figure is on the low side considering the constant exchange of people we have for events such as Bele Chere.”
The center is the largest facility in Western North Carolina with the 7,200-person capacity Arena, the 2,431-person capacity Thomas Wolf Auditorium, the 450-person capacity Banquet Hall and 25,000 square-feet Exhibit Hall.
“The roof project is one of the largest capital investments the facility has seen since 1975 when the civic center was built and the auditorium remodeled,” said Dover, who has worked for the Civic Center for nearly 11 years.
Thus far, workers have removed most of the old roof and put down a temporary one so the upper concrete columns can be power washed and cracks sealed against further weather damage. After the structural repairs are made, insulation will be laid that is nearly double the previous amount, and the new roof will be installed over it. The fading brown cornish trim on the roof will also be removed and replaced.
These new improvements will remove mold growth, increase the facility’s energy efficiency and allow staff to remove the tarps that have been hanging from the arena ceiling and catching drips for the past three years.
In addition to the roof project, $250,000 in capital funds budgeted for the Civic Center this year will be spread out over various projects according to the most pressing facility needs. Other smaller capital projects recently completed include an upgraded fire alarm system and new smoke hatches in the stage area of the auditorium. The portable-basketball court flooring is currently being refinished and painted so it is ready for the annual Globetrotter visit and the Crossfire Ministries.
The arena is also getting an upgraded electrical system to meet the changing requirements for incoming acts. The installment of three 400-amp three-phase 208 disc connects for additional electrical power will be necessary to accommodate Disney on Ice’s Thanksgiving week show, where they will need the power to run their ice plant.
“The city is investing resources to address deferred maintenance and improve the facility so that the condition of the building matches the quality of the entertainment it attracts,” said Asheville’s Vice Mayor Jan Davis, who serves as the City Council liaison to the Civic Center Commission. “We want to enhance the patrons’ experience at the Civic Center while managing its operations within our financial means.”
While the roof replacement is the facility’s largest immediate project, the Civic Center has mapped out a five-year capital plan to help sustain the quality of services it has been offering. Meeting basic codes, improving energy efficiencies, and improving sound and lighting to meet the changing needs of entertainment acts are all part of this plan.
Once the roof is complete, work will begin on the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium fire exit, to improve egress from the building. The stage lighting controls and fixtures with 1970’s technology also need to be replaced with more efficient ones that will have an anticipated two to three year payback on energy savings.
While the Asheville Civic Center is continually making improvements, it is still very much in high demand, turning down as many acts as it books because dates requested are already booked. It offers a special service to the Asheville area, bringing groups from the community together and groups from outside the area in, positively impacting the economy of the area.
The Asheville Civic Center is a regional destination for outstanding entertainment, trade shows and events. The Civic Center offers Western North Carolina diverse entertainment from rock concerts and sporting events to family shows and performing arts. The facility is the heart of downtown Asheville’s arts and entertainment scene. For more information on facilities and events, please visit www.AshevilleCivicCenter.com
ASHEVILLE, NC – City of Asheville Parking Services will conduct repairs and restorative maintenance work on the Wall Street and Rankin Avenue parking garages beginning Nov. 3 and continuing through the end of the year. Work will include concrete repairs, water sealing, replacement or repair of joints, and repainting the stripes and directional arrows in the garages. These actions are necessary to maintain the facility for years to come.
Work will start with the Wall Street Garage and then Rankin Avenue Garage. Weather permitting, work will be conducted from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily, except Sundays, and will be conducted in phases to minimize the disruption to normal activities. Parking patrons should, however, expect differing traffic patterns, some delays, and closed-off spaces during repairs.
During repairs, the remaining two City garages, Civic Center, and either Rankin Avenue or Wall Street, will be open for parkers’ use.
