RiverLink's Riverfront Bus Tour returns

If you haven't checked out what's happening along Asheville's river front, you need to. Press release here:

What: RiverLink's Riverfront Bus Tour

When: Thursday, February 18, 2010 noon-2PM

Where: meet at City Hall in downtown Asheville at noon

Register online at www.riverlink.org 

Come tour the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers with RiverLink and witness their magic first hand.   This is an opportunity to see the improvements that have occurred and hear what is coming over the next several months and years to make our rivers a better place to work, live and play.   You will also learn some local history and visit some streets and neighborhoods you have never seen before.

If you ever wondered about the river development project - this is your opportunity to see and hear about the plans for the future.   The bus will meet you in front of Asheville City Hall and return to City Hall.

This tour is free for RiverLink members.  Non-members cost $15.00 per person.  Lunch is not provided, but you can bring your own.   Reservations required - please go to www.riverlink.org to make your reservation online or call 828-252-8474 ext. 119

Come join the over 500 active volunteers to improve the French Broad River - one of the world's oldest rivers right in our own backyard!  Volunteer Information Sessions are the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10am & 5pm, the next one being February 10th, at RiverLink offices where we discuss volunteer opportunities including being a bus tour guide.  To attend, please RSVP to Kyle Wolff, Communication Outreach Coordinator at kyle@riverlink.org or (828) 252-8474 ext. 119

Sign up for our email newsletter list to keep informed of all of our exciting events and volunteer opportunities by going to our website www.riverlink.org

"RiverLink is a regional organization spearheading the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River watershed as a destination where everyone can work, live and play.  For more information about how you can get involved contact us at www.riverlink.org, or information@riverlink.org, 252-8474."

Beer and Beethoven? Yes! Lexington Avenue Brewery to host classical music ensemble Chiara Quartet

This sounds pretty darn cool. Check it:

An innovative group called the Chiara Quartet will be giving two concerts in Asheville in early March – one at the Unitarian Universalist Church and one at the newly-opened bar and restaurant, Lexington Avenue Brewery (a.k.a. The LAB) – in an effort to present classical music in different settings, appealing to different audiences. The Chiara’s performances have been described as "luminous," "searing," (New York Times) "soulful," "biting," and possessing a "potent collective force" (Strings Magazine).

At 8pm on Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville the Chiara will perform as part of the Asheville Chamber Music Series (1 Edwin Place). Their concert will include Haydn’s Quartet in C Major, Op. 74, No. 1; the North Carolina premiere of composer Robert Sirota’s Triptych; and Beethoven’s Quartet in A minor, Op. 132.  Written to commemorate the victims of September 11, Triptych had an emotional first performance at Trinity Church on Wall Street, one of the churches on the periphery of Ground Zero, by the Chiara Quartet, which has also commercially recorded the work. The composer of the piece is Chiara Quartet violist Jonah Sirota’s father.

In addition, the Asheville Chamber Music Series will sponsor a special appearance by the Chiara Quartet in one of the ensemble’s signature classical-in-a-club concerts at 9:30pm on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the brand new and chic The LAB (39 N. Lexington).  The concert, called “Beethoven in Bars,” will feature excerpts from Beethoven’s string quartets as well as selections from today's hottest young, next-generation composers.  In keeping with their commitment to bring classical music to uncommon places and to new audiences, the Chiara devotes a portion of its performance season to concerts in venues that don’t usually present classical music, like this one at The LAB. They have performed previously at Galapagos Art Space in New York, The Tractor Tavern in Seattle, Avant Garden in Houston, and the Hideout in Chicago, among many others.

Chiara Quartet online:
 www.chiaraquartet.com                                               
www.myspace.com/chiarastringquartet 
www.facebook.com/chiarastringquartet

Audio:

Brahms: Quartet in A Minor, Op. 51 No.2 
I. Andante Moderato http://www.christinajensenpr.com/index.php?page=songwriter&display=519&from=0

Gabriela Lena Frank: "Coqueteos" from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout
http://www.christinajensenpr.com/index.php?page=songwriter&display=520&from=0

Video:

The Chiara Quartet (with guest violinist Curtis Macomber) performs Jefferson Friedman's String Quartet no. 2 mvt. I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvigLhP2Wxc&feature=player_profilepage

The Chiara Quartet performs Jefferson Friedman's String Quartet no. 3 III. Epilogue-Lullaby             
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWnEipXBJNA&feature=player_profilepage#t=30                   

The Chiara Quartet performs Mestizaje: Harmony of Differences Merkin Concert Hall Act 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dR-9jfLxWk&feature=player_profilepage                 

On the streets of Ashvegas: Questionable church sign

Not quite sure the sentiment is properly expressed here. Such is the limitation of a church sign. From loyal reader Bill. Thanks, Bill!

Valentine's night at MoDaddy's promises variety of music, fun

Press release here:

Hi!

I wanted to touch  base with you about a Valentine's Day event that has newly sprung up at MoDaddy's on Sunday, February 14th.  Affordable couple's dinners will be served at 5pm with music starting at 7pm. The Asheville Skyline Band will be backing up a variety of performers including Amanda Platt, Galen Kipar, Chris O'Neill, and newcomers from Boone- Union County. The performers will also be trading off in a circle for song configuration as well.

Asheville Skyline Presents: Valentine's night at MoDaddy's

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

MoDaddy's

5pm dinner, 7pm music

$10 cover for music only

Special Valentine's dinner menu- LOVEY DOVEY SPECIAL 20.00 for TWO! (dinner rate only- does not include the music)

828-258-1550 

77-B Biltmore Avenue 

Asheville, NC 28801 

www.myspace.com/modaddysbar 

www.AshevilleSkyline.com

Asheville Skyline is bringing a fantastic musical experience and dinner event to MoDaddy's for Valentine's Day! Several regional songwriters will be performing in a rotating cast throughout the evening backed by the Asheville Skyline Band as well as playing in other configurations. An affordable dinner for two will be served at 5pm, followed by music at 7pm. Call to reserve your seating at 828-258-1550.

The Asheville Skyline Band is a collaboration that pulls together many musicians in a revolving cast depending on who is touring and who is around.  Sessions have included members of Velvet Truckstop, members of the Honeycutters, member of the Barrel House Mama's, Shane Pruitt, Tony Black, Tommy Moneymaker, Travis Tritt's drummer, and many more. All in all, about 50 different artists have been involved in these sessions that have taken place at the Garage and the nearby Machiavelli Studio. All the sessions have been recorded, totaling about 1000 hours so far; lookout for releases of some of this music in the near future.

The Asheville Skyline Band recognizes that Asheville, and Western North Carolina, have a unique appeal to many artists and musicians, as many have moved here over the last decade.  The result is a community which actually is creating new cultural collages drawing from the many influences and experiences that the individual artists bring to the "stew".  The Asheville Skyline Band represents this weaving together of many musical influences into a new and exciting musical experience and are excited to be sharing this with you for Valentine's Day. 

The Valentine's Day Event Features music by:

Amanda Platt from the Honeycutters www.thehoneycutters.com

Galen Kipar www.galenkipar.com

Chris O'Neill video 

Union County www.unioncountymusic.com

Asheville Skyline Band-  Valentine's day cast includes: Dorsey Parker and Brad Curtioff of Velvet Truckstop, Ian Harrod (the Honeycutters), Jacob Baumann (Trainwreks, Shannon Whitworth), Bluesman Tommy Moneymaker, and the Skyline Horns.

There will also be a raffle with the following prizes:

1/2 dozen roses

local house concert with Amanda Platt, also with Chris O'Neill

guided flyfishing trip with Galen Kipar

CDs from each band performing that night

growler of beer from local breweries

Asheville Skyline is the concept of Craig Hines. He has been involved in music production with various singer-songwriters mainly in the Asheville Area for about two years. Much of his work has been producing albums and helping to book tours on a national level, including  bring a showcase of six songwriters out to the Folk Alliance Conference in mid-February.  Folk Alliance International exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music and dance and related performing arts that connects musicians on an international level though workshops, talks, and showcases.

Sound the snow sirens! Make preparations now for Friday, Saturday storm

There's a winter storm warning for Buncombe and several other Western North Carolina counties that goes into effect at midnight on Thursday. There's going to be snow, then a potentially damaging ice storm. 

OK, folks. We've got plenty of warning. This means you need to get your bread and milk now. Prepare for a potential power outage. Stay off the roads when it all starts coming down. Be safe.

By the way - how much is too much snow? I'm starting to get a little worn out by all this.

TEDxAsheville returns in 2010, seeks volunteers, videographers

This was a great event for Asheville last year. I'm looking forward to this year's event. From loyal reader Jennifer, a press release first posted at TheMap.org:

Sponsored by the TED conference but independently organized by local people, TEDxAsheville returns in 2010 after rave reviews and a sold-out show last summer at the Orange Peel. And it returns with double the fun: 2010 marks the debut of TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, a new event where young people present visions, passions and ideas for the future to an audience ready to be inspired.

As fan-organized, Asheville-centric events, TEDxAsheville and TEDxNGA bring homegrown great ideas and virtuoso performances to a local stage, sharing Asheville's most exceptional talent (of all ages) with the whole world through digital recordings of the day's performances.

TEDxAVL and TEDxNextGen are taking proposals for videotaping this year's events. A paid videography team will record all talks and performances, edit them, and upload them to the TEDxTalks YouTube channel.

All videos are hosted online indefinitely on the TEDxTalks channel, and all are considered for broadcast as a TED talk on TED.com.

Other than the videography team, TEDxAVL 2010 and TEDxNextGen are largely run on volunteer efforts. Volunteer organizers are needed in the following areas.

If you are interested or know someone who might be, send email to TEDxAVL@gmail.com and indicate which area interests you.

Stay tuned for information on the nomination process for 2010...

Both TEDx groups seeks help in the following areas: 

Stage Direction 

Marketing 

Writing

Publicity

Outreach to 12-18 year-olds

Social Media/Blogging

Overflow Venue Management 

Technical 

Speaker Selection 

Performers/Product Demos/Video 

House 

Hospitality 

Website 

Accounting

New Media/Social Media 

Graphic Design

TEDxAVL 2010 and TEDxNGA

Testimonial: Getting your word out on Ashvegas works

From loyal reader Bob, who recently sent me information about the Land of Sky Chorus and their singing valentine's:

Jason,
 
We are getting a ton of Singing Valentine orders thanks to you. Ashvegas rocks!!!!!!!!!
 
Let us get through the Valentine season and we will make a contribution.
 
Thank you so much!!!
Bob

Bob, you're welcome!

Body image workshop set for Feb. 17

Press release:

My workshop Body Image: No More Shame! has been post-poned until Wednesday, February 17, 7 p.m. a Va Va Voom.  I'd love for you to attend!  Email me to sign up or get more information.  The workshop runs about 60 minutes with time for questions and comments at the end.  It's time to let go of your negative self-talk about your body!  Learn new ways (and perfect known ways) to celebrate your beautiful outer self!

With pleasure,

DiAnna

Authentic Integration

Our Voice program looking for mentors

Press release here:

We are once again seeking adult women mentors for the Climbing Toward Confidence program. Please help spread the word!

Climbing Toward Confidence is a program of Our VOICE that serves low-income girls age 12-14 in Buncombe County.  This innovative after-school program brings rock climbing opportunities to girls who otherwise would not have access to climbing and through that experience, builds confidence and strengthens voice.

Participants are paired with women mentors and together, they face their fears on the rock. Rock climbing benefits both the physical body and the mind; it contributes to fitness, fosters body awareness, and hones problem-solving skills. Through climbing, participants develop their sense of judgment and practice setting boundaries and making decisions. Climbing Toward Confidence equips girls with both the practical skills to recognize and say no to risky or unwanted relationships, and the confidence and conviction that they are worth protecting.

Mentor applications are due by Monday, February 1. For more information, please see the attached letter. For more information and an application, call 252-0562. Mentor interviews and selections will take place during February.

Echo Gallery to hold Feb. 5 reception

Press release here:

Echo Gallery at Biltmore Park will host a reception on Friday, February 5th from 5 to 8pm. The first art gallery to open in Town Square, the gallery is a co-op run by its members.  

The show will include works by Member Artists as well as Guest Artists. Members include painters Genie Maples, Barbara Fisher, Susan Finer and Cindy Walton; ceramic artist Lori Theriault, textile artist Susan Webb Lee, photo artist Laurie McCarriar and ceramic sculptor Anna Koloseike. There will also be work by guest artists including clay artists Dawn Dalto and Jenny Mastin, furniture maker Brian Fireman and blacksmith/metal artist Tekla. The show will run through March 21.

Founded on goals that include the support of local art as well as connection to community, Echo donates 5% of all sales to MANNA Food Bank. 

Echo Gallery is located twelve miles south of Asheville in Biltmore Park.  Address: 8 Town Square Blvd, Suite 160, Ashevillle NC 28803. Regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday noon to 6pm. 

For more information: www.echoasheville.com or 828.687-7761.

Top Floor Studio to unveil YuDeal on Wednesday

Asheville web design company Top Floor Studio, which has been quietly working on a big new project for months, is now prepared to launch it. It's called YuDeal, and it promises a new kind of marketing for businesses and a new playing field for consumers.

From YuDeal's Facebook page:

Wouldn't it be amazing if we were able to turn all this traditional advertising on it's head by creating truly win-win relationships between businesses and consumers? Permission based advertising is one thing....but what about "desired advertising"? Why should businesses have all the control?

I haven't seen it, so I don't have detail. Here's what I'm getting from looking around the web; from digitaldevelopmentpartners.com:

Yudeal.com changes the game for marketing brick & mortar businesses. Our innovative precision marketing platform uses the latest web and mobile technologies to deliver electronic coupons to the right consumers, at the right time and the right place. Consumers get great deals from their favorite merchants, and businesses get measurable Return on Investment (ROI) for all of their marketing spend.

The platform is designed from the ground up to integrate with leading social media for viral expansion of the customer base.

Yudeal connects consumers and businesses with

• the intimacy and immediacy of mobile technology
• the network effect provided by social media, and
• the dynamic content and precision-targeting afforded by web technologies.

From YuDeal.com:

Business the way it was meant to be. Making deals one buyer, one seller, one offer at a time. 

Sellers want your business, you want a great deal. 

So make a deal! A YuDeal: a discount that makes sense for Yu! 

When Yu and your friends ask for the deals Yu want, everyone wins. 

Here's YuDeal on Twitter. 

Here's YuDeal on Facebook.

I'll post more as I get it. Meantime, if you've got details, I'd love to hear them. The project sounds interesting. The launch party is Wednesday. Can't wait to see more.

Land of the Sky Chorus will deliver singing valentines

Note from loyal reader Bob:

What will be hotter in Asheville on Valentine's Day getting a Singing Valentine??? Nothing...
 
For only $40, a snappily-dressed quartet will deliver 2 love songs, a fresh red rose, and a personalized card almost anywhere within 60 miles of Asheville Feb. 12, 13, and 14.
 
Call in your order at 866-290-7269, or visit www.ashevillebarbershop.com for more information.
 
The Land of the Sky Chorus is a non-profit. A portion of the proceeds go to support music education in local schools.

David Bourne: Consider Haiti

Highland Brewing on UNC-TV's North Carolina Now

B-boys in Asheville

The Breakfast Club, updated, at the Asheville School

Carolina Stompers' take on Asheville airport board members' Hawaiian conference trip

Justin Townes Earle @ the Grey Eagle

Video restaurant review: Over Easy in downtown Asheville

Are you tough enough? Arm wrestling at the Asheville Ale House

Dudes and gals tangle. Looks like fun.