Product: ASHBrd
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: FeaCov User: velmore
Time: 11-08-2011 17:37 Color: K Y M C
HOME&GARDEN ASHEVILLE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES CITIZEN-TIMES •• CITIZEN-TIMES.com CITIZEN-TIMES.com
D
SATURDAY November 12, 2011
Trina Mullen, left, Mary Ann West and Larry Holt, members of Downtown Asheville Resident Neighbors, tend plants in Pritchard Park recently. EBRETHAU@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
SPECIAL SECTION
LIFE IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE, MONTFORD, THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT AND SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS.
CALLING DOWNTOWN
A
‘HOME’
BY BARBARA BLAKE
BBLAKE@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
SHEVILLE — DARN
is kind of a funny name for a serious organization, but what counts is the impact it has on downtown Asheville. DARN stands for Downtown Asheville Residential Neighbors, and it’s just what it
Residents association is voice for urban neighborhood
says: a group of more than 100 households whose residents inhabit the lofts, condos, apartments and other housing units scattered through the central business district. But they don’t just live there. They get out on the streets of downtown and plant flowers in pots to brighten the sidewalks, keep Pritchard Park overflowing with
bushes and colorful blooms, advocate for cleaner streets and public spaces, monitor community service projects, raise money for local charities and generally act as a voice for the urban neighborhood they all call home. “We think we contribute to making
THE ANSWER MAN TACKLES SANTA, BUSKERS ... well, not literally
S
John Boyle COLUMNIST
ure, downtown Asheville can get a bit funky at times. But honestly, it’s one of the most alive downtowns you’re ever going to get panhandled in. I’m here to help you navigate our fair city, and as the paper’s resident Answer Man, I try to answer all manner of your questions. Here are two downtown-specific ones I’ve gotten, as well as my smart-aleck answers and the real deal. Question: What is the proper etiquette when observing and enjoying local buskers? When should you tip? How much? What are some no-nos? My answer: I don’t know, but I’ve always found they love it when you
scream out, “For the love of god, play ‘Wagon Wheel!’” Real answer: Veteran buskers Drayton Aldridge and Mario Piccolo handled this question for me. The two have played music on the streets for years but just teamed up about two months ago to entertain passersby with swing jazz. Aldridge plays the fiddle (or violin, depending on how high-fallutin’ the music is), while Piccolo plays the guitar and sings. First up: Please don’t ask for “Wagon Wheel.” Requests for this well-worn ditty, which Old Crow Medicine Show made famous, drive them and a lot of other street mu-
SEE HOME, Page D7
Drayton Aldridge and Mario Piccolo play together near Pack Square. They'd rather you not request "Wagon Wheel." ERIN
BRETHAUER/ EBRETHAU@ CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
sicians, nuts. It’s a fine song — Bob Dylan wrote the chorus — but it’s, well, worn out. They welcome other requests, but keep in mind they don’t know everything. And go easy on photos. Piccolo notes how American Indian cultures thought you were stealing someone’s soul by taking their picture. Certain-
ly, don’t take photos and then eschew the tip. “You feel like a zoo animal when they’re taking pictures,” Piccolo said. “They should at least give you a dollar for your soul.” Which brings us to tipping. Piccolo and Aldridge teach some lessons See ANSWER, Page D7
Product: ASHBrd
D2
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-A
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
User: velmore
Time: 11-08-2011 17:34 Color: K Y M C
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
DOWNTOWN ...
People eat at Fiore's downtown beneath a gallery of colorful local artworks. ERIN BRETHAUER/EBRETHAU@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
... RESTAURANTS, FROM A TO ZAMBRA From staff reports
H
ere’s a sampling of spots to grab dinner in downtown Asheville: » Asheville Pizza & Brewing, 77 Coxe Ave. and 675 Merrimon Ave., pizza, salads and sandwiches. $10-15, 255-4077, www.ashevillebrewing.com. » The Bier Garden, 46 Haywood St., American fusion cuisine. 285-0002, www.ashevillebiergarden. com. » Bistro 1896, 7 Pack Square SW, creative American bistro. 251-1300, www.bistro1896.com. » Bouchon, 62 N. Lexington Ave., French cuisine. 350-1140, www.ashevillebouchon.com. Open since 2005. » Café Ello, 64 Haywood St., breakfast and American cuisine. $10-15, 252-8333, www.cafeello.com. » Carmel’s, 1 Page Ave., American cuisine. $10-$20, www.carmelsofasheville.com. » Chai Pani, 22 Battery Park Ave., Indian street food. 254-4003, www.chaipani.net. Open since 2009. » Cucina 24, 24 Wall St., Italian fine dining. 254-6170, www.cucina24 restaurant.com. Open since 2007. » Doc Chey’s Noodle House, 37 Biltmore Ave., pan-Asian. 252-8220, www.doccheys.com. Open since 2002. » Early Girl Eatery, 8 Wall St. Southern cuisine. 259-9292, www.earlygirl eatery.com. Open since 2001. » Ed Boudreaux’s Bayou BBQ, 48 Biltmore Ave., Cajun and barbecue. 296-0100, www.edbbq.com. Open since 2005. » Circle in the Square
Pizza, 12 Biltmore Ave, pizza and more. $10-15, 225-5552, www.circleinthesquarepizza.com. Open since 2011. » Fiore’s, 122 College St., upscale Italian. 281-0710, www.fioresasheville.com. » The Green Sage , 5 Broadway St, soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches. $10-15, 252-4450 www.thegreensage.net. » Havana Restaurant, 1 Battle Square, Cuban specialties. 252-1611, www.havanaasheville.com. Open since 2006. » Heiwa Shokudo, 87 N. Lexington Ave., Japanese. 254-7761, http://heiwashokudo .com. Open since 1995. » Kanpai, 3 Biltmore Ave., Thai, sushi. 225-8885, www.ichibanwasabi. com. Open since 2005. » Jack of the Wood, 95 Patton Ave., Irish and English pub food. $10-15. 252-5445, http://jackofthewood.com. » Jackson Underground, 22 Pack Square, soups and sandwiches. $10-12. 255-8585 www.jacksonundergroundcafe.com. » Jerusalem Garden Café, 78 Patton Ave. Mediterranean and Moroccan. 254-0255, www.jerusalem gardencafe.com. Open since 1999. » Kathmandu Café, 90 Patton Ave., Nepalese food. 252-1080, http://kathmanducafeasheville.com. Open since 2010. » The Laughing Seed, 40 Wall St., International vegetarian and vegan. 252-3445, http://laughing seed.jackofthewood.com. Open since 1991. » Lexington Avenue Brewery, 39 N. Lexington Ave, American cuisine. $10-15. 252-0212, www.lexavebrew.com. » Limones, 13 Eagle St., Mexican, California cuisine. 252-2327, http://limonesrestaurant .com. Open
since 2004. » The Lobster Trap, 35 Patton Ave., seafood. $15-$25. 3500505, www.thelobstertrap.biz. » Loretta’s, 114 N. Lexington Ave., vegetarian dishes. $8-12. 2533747, www.lorettascafe.com. » Mamacitas, 77A Biltmore Ave., fast Mexican. 255-8080, http:// mamacitasgrill.com. Open since 2004. » The Market Place, 20 Wall St., homegrown cuisine. $12-20, 252-4162, www.market-restaurant.com. » Mayfel’s, 22 College St., Southern cuisine. 252-8840, http:// mayfels.org. Open since 2003. » Modesto Wood Fire Kitchen, 1 Page Ave., Grove Arcade, Italian. Grove Arcade. 225- 4133, http://modestonc.com. Open since 2006. » The Mediterranean, 57 College St., breakfast and lunch standards. $5-10. 258-0476 » Mela, 70 N. Lexington Ave., fine Indian cuisine. 225-8880, www. melaasheville.com. Open since 2005. » Never Blue, Broadway Street, tapas cuisine, $10-$20. www.theneverblue.com Open since 2011. » The Noodle Shop, 3 Pack Square SW, Chinese. 250-9898. Open since 1999. » Olive or Twist, 81 Broadway St., American bistro. 254-0555. Open since 2010. » Posana Café, 1 Biltmore Ave., contemporary American. 5053969, www.posanacafe.com. Open since 2009. » Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge, 7 Rankin Ave., light fare fusing American, Latin and Indian flavors. Open since 2008. » Roman’s, 75 Haywood St., soups, burgers, sandwiches, Boar’s Head deli meats. $10-20, www.romanstakeout.com. » Rosetta’s Kitchen, 111
Broadway St., vegetarian and vegan. 232-0738 or www.rosettaskitchen .com. Open since 2002. » Salsa’s, 6 Patton Ave., Mexican with Caribbean twist. 2529805, www.salsas-asheville .com. Open since 1994. » Sazerac, 29 Broadway St., Cajun/Creole. 225-2553, http://ashevillesazerac.com. Open since 2009. » Simma Down, 42 S. Market St., Jamaican and Caribbean. 252-8169. Open since 2010. » The Southern, 41 N. Lexington Ave., Southern specialties. $8-12. 251-1777, www.southernkitchen andbar.com. Open since 2010. » Table, 48 College St., seasonal American fine dining. 254-8980, http://tableasheville.com. Open since 2005. » Thai Basil, 1 Page Ave, Suite 151, authentic Thai cuisine. $10-15, www.thaibasilnc.com. » Tupelo Honey, 12 College St., upscale Southern. 255-4863. Open since 2000. » The Twisted Crepe, 62 Haywood St., savory and sweet crepes. 505-3855, www.facebook.com/ pages/twisted-crepe/105033846210084 Open since 2010. » Vincenzo’s Ristorante & Bistro, 10 N. Market St., Italian. 254-4698, www.vincenzos.com. Open since 1990. » Wasabi, 19 Broadway St.; Japanese, sushi. 225-2551, www.ichibanwasabi.com. Open since 2003. » Yacht Club, 87 Patton Ave., American bistro. 255-8454. Open since 2008. » Zambra, 85 W. Walnut St., Spanish-inspired tapas. 232-1060, www.zambratapas.com.
... HOME SALES OUTPACE RURAL AREAS By Mark Barrett mbarrett@citizen-times.com
A
SHEVILLE —
About 15 years ago, a potential homebuyer told local Realtor Ben Mansell, “I’m looking for something walkable.” That was the first time Mansell can remember any client raising the issue of how easy it is to walk in the neighborhood around a house. However, “Now, I hear it more and more and more.” Mansell’s experience is one of several explana-
tions for why the housing market in downtown and near-downtown neighborhoods is showing more strength these days than in most of Buncombe County. The number of homes sold in the 28801 ZIP code — which includes downtown, Montford, several neighborhoods just north of Interstate 240 and areas between downtown and Biltmore Village — was up 16.8 percent during the first nine months of 2011 compared with the same See HOMES, Page D6
Product: ASHBrd
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-B
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES • CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
User: nwilcher
Time: 11-09-2011 09:38 Color: K Y M C
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 D3
Product: ASHBrd
D4
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: FeaHouse User: velmore Time: 11-08-2011 17:25 Color: K Y M C
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
HOME OF THE WEEK
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
HOME AWAY FROM HOME THE 1900 INN ON MONTFORD IS BOTH A COUPLE’S HOME AND AN 8-ROOM B&B
T
TEXT BY BRUCE STEELE ♦ BSTEELE@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM♦ PHOTOS BY JOHN FLETCHER ♦ JFLETCHER@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
he 1900 Inn on Montford did indeed turn 111 years old this year, but under the guidance of owners Lynn and Ron Carlson, the bed and breakfast remains fresh and ever evolving. Whether it’s a major addition, such as the two-story Griffin Cottage carriage house built five years ago behind the main building, or just Lynn’s need to replace the floral draperies in the Edith Wharton room, there’s always a project in the works. “We are now watching the transition into that cleaner look” for bed and breakfast accommodations, Lynn said. “You know — clear the clutter in your life, clear the clutter in your room.” The three suites in the Griffin Cottage, designed by Asheville architect Robert Griffin, fit that aesthetic. Each is dog-friendly, with stone floors, elegant decor with Arts & Crafts touches, comfortable but not overwhelming furnishings, spa tubs and private gardens, where pups can be unleashed. Most of a spa room in the upper floor’s 1,300-square-foot suite is devoted to a luxurious tub, with windows on three sides — and, of course, an original sculpture of a griffin, commissioned from local artist Cleo Wolfe. The main house, built by legendary architect Richard Sharp Smith, became a bed and breakfast sometime in the 1930s (“Two weeks ago we had the daughter of the family that owned us in the 1940s,” Lynn related). It experienced some hard times before being rescued and renovated in the early 1990s by Ripley Hotch, author of “How to Start & Run Your Own Bed & Breakfast.” The Carlsons took over in 1997, moving here from Philadelphia, where they had tried out running a one-room B&B in their home and loved it. “We had traveled and had a lot of interesting stories and things, and it was fun to share them,” Lynn said. When the Carlsons moved in, the house had just four rooms to rent, on its second floor, as well as the guest areas on the first floor — three sitting rooms and the dining room — plus the big kitchen. The owners now live in renovated maid’s quarters below the main floor, freeing up the third floor to be “the first large suite in a B&B in
The Carriage House at the 1900 Inn on Montford offers a 1,300-square-foot suite on the second floor.
NUTS & BOLTS The house: Built in 1900 by Richard Sharp Smith, now with four guest rooms with baths, one full-floor suite, owners quarters below main floor. The carriage house: Designed by Robert Griffin, two ground-floor guest suites (one handcap accessible), one 1,300-square-foot suite on the second floor. Learn more: Visit www.innonmontford.com.
Ron and Lynn Carlson own and operate the 1900 Inn on Montford. Ron does most of the cooking at the bed and breakfast.
Asheville,” Lynn said, with several rooms, a big tub and steam shower. One weekend in October, that
suite was occupied by a honeymooning couple — who came down, barefoot, on Saturday night to enjoy the B&B’s weekly live music.
Local musicians perform by the foyer fireplace in cooler weather, on the spacious porch when it’s warmer. It’s just one more way the Carlsons try to make guests’ stay at the inn more memorable. These days, “people seem to have everything,” Lynn said. “It’s really hard to get to something special.”
Product: ASHBrd
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-C
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES • CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
User: velmore
Time: 11-08-2011 17:25 Color: K Y M C
HOME OF THE WEEK
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 D5
The spa room in the Carriage House suite offers windows on three sides and a griffin statue by artist Cleo Wolfe, who trained in Haywood County.
The inn's sun room is one of three inside sitting areas guests may enjoy, along with a library and front parlor, both of which have gas fireplaces.
TO VIEW A VIDEO AND PHOTO GALLERY OF THE HOUSE VISIT CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
Zelda's retreat is one of four rooms and one suite available in the main house at the inn.
Product: ASHBrd
D6
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-D
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
User: velmore
Time: 11-08-2011 17:38 Color: K Y M C
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M
RIVER ARTS DISTRICT OPEN FOR SHOPPERS STUDIO STROLL OFFERS DIVERSE SELECTION OF COLLECTIBLES, GIFTS By Carol Motsinger cmotsinger@citizen-times.com
ASHEVILLE — The River Arts District’s revitalized warehouse buildings don’t look anything like a traditional shopping center. But today and Sunday, the biannual studio stroll will transform the district west of downtown into a shopper’s paradise. Almost 20 historic buildings will have wide open doors and host demonstrations throughout the weekend. At Constance Williams Gallery, which is part of Curve Studios, artists will be demonstrating encaustic painting, coilbuilding, hand-building and clay glazing. They also debut a new exhibit, “Port-a-gift-ability,” a group show celebrating small, less expensive art works designed for gift giving. “The gallery, with its 11 artists, is what I would describe as a high art experience in a friendly environment,” said Greg Vineyard, whose meditation bowls, communication animals and tiles are part of the show. Here’s a closer look at studios and galleries that make up the River Arts District: » Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Drive. This building, built in 1896, houses a dozen artists ranging from Eileen Black’s pottery to Ed Bauer’s stained glass work. Moore notes the Cotton Mill Studios is known for its professional atmosphere and experience. “They’ve been there for a long time and they have learned that if they are open there every day, people will come,” said Jenny Moore, River Arts District Studio Stroll Coordinator. “Their regular sales are better than their stroll.” » Curve Studios and Garden, 6-12 Riverside Drive. Built in 1917, these studios have three buildings featuring 15 artists offering creations ranging from quilts and dresses to paintings and pottery. “There are some really good artists in that building and so much diversity,” Moore said. “They are really sharp business people. If they are in those
Jenny Mastin is a clay artist who works and displays in Constance Williams Gallery at 9 Riverside Drive. ERIN BRETHAUER/EBRETHAU@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
IF YOU GO The River Arts District Studio Stroll is today and Sunday, including drop-in sales at many artist studios otherwise open only by appointment. Check individual studios for exact hours.
buildings, they are committed to being there seven days a week. The energy there is to be the best artist you can be.” » David C. Stewart Studio, 347 Depot St. Stewart creates oils on linen, specializing in still-life, portraits and figurative work, such as nudes, landscapes and interiors. His work follows the tradition of masters Rembrandt and Velazquez. A well-trained oil painter, Stewart has just returned from a four-year stay in Italy. His studio is normally only open by ap-
pointment. » Galaxy Studios, 161 W. Haywood St. Features one artist, Krista Skrede, mixed media. Her studio is usually only open by appointment. From the RAD website: “I use a variety of materials in my work such as recycled surfaces and found objects in order to create interesting textures and convey my ideas. I am inspired by my travels, community and relationships.” » Hatchery Studios, 1 Roberts St. One of the new kids on the block, opening this past
spring. It features four artists, as well as White Duck Taco Shop that will serve up tacos, chips and beer during the stroll. “They are a great group of people,” Moore said, “who do have a culture. They know each other well, and fit in with White Duck Taco.” » Jonas Gerard Fine Art, 240 Clingman Ave. This popular abstract/representational painter is known for his colorful live performance painting. “He’s going to have his normal performance” for the stroll, Moore said. “It was packed
HOMES: PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN IS A SELLING POINT Continued from Page D2
period a year ago. The average sale price rose 3.4 percent, according to figures from local real estate analyst Don Davies. Sales in and around downtown are still far below levels seen at the height of the real estate market in 2006 and 2007. But the number of sales so far this year in Buncombe County as a whole has been essentially flat, and prices have suffered, making 28801 a relative bright spot. People in the industry say the downtown scene of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and boutique retailers is a big attraction for buyers. “All kinds of cities are revitalizing their downtowns, and people are moving back,” said Bonnie Gilbert, a Realtor at Trillium Properties of
Asheville. “Asheville ... is experiencing that.” Sales of condominiums have not recovered from the days when it seemed someone was announcing a new condo building every other week, said Scott Carter, owner/broker at The Real Estate Center. There were 63 residential condo sales in 28801 in 2006 and 81 in 2007, Carter said. Last year saw only 42, and Carter said this year’s total will probably end up at about the same point. “I think it’s going to be a long time before you see the 81 sales again,” he said. Prices for homes in neighborhoods near downtown have dropped significantly, people in the industry said, and buyers can be pickier than they were a few years ago. The degree of decline “kind of depends on the
price bracket,” said Mansell, a Realtor at Town and Mountain Realty. “Things over $1 million have been hit the hardest. A house that was $180,000 might be $160,000 now.” The days in which almost anything in Montford would sell quickly are gone, but “anything that’s close to downtown is still selling,” said Nona Armour, a Realtor at Keller Williams Realty in Asheville.
But owners of homes needing work have to be sure their price is reasonable, she said. Some people are still looking for homes they can fix up, but more are interested in homes that buyers have kept in good condition, she said. “If the bones are still really good and they’ve updated (a home) and they’ve taken care of the place, it makes all the difference,” Armour said.
last time. Stroll attendees enjoy the music and the festiveness that Jonas puts on for the stroll.” » Northlight Studios, 357 Depot St. Founded by painter and Northlight resident Wendy Whitson, this new studio is one of the group’s developing Depot Street. The studios housed four artists, including a painter, photographer, fiber artist and jeweler. “They were just open for the June stroll,” said Moore. » Odyssey Center, 236-238 Clingman Ave. With almost 40 artists, this pottery hub demonstrates how many ideas can be expressed in clay. “Odyssey is going to have all the cubicles open and have a sales area,” Moore said. “For them, the stroll is a big time.” » Old Wood Co., 99 Riverside Drive. This is Darren Green’s studio, and he specializes in reclaimed wood furniture. » Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St. “There are definitely some cool people there,” Moore said, including Celia Barbieri, also known as The Button Florist. “They have their own culture.” It’s one of irreverence and unbridled creativity. » Pink Dog Creative, 342 Depot St. This candy-colored standout along Depot Street is another pioneer in that section of RAD. It houses 14 artists, as well as the Asheville Area Arts Council and the eatery, The Junction. “It’s totally loaded with people there,” Moore said. “The gallery space is also showing people who may or may not be from the River Arts District. They are all serious about making a
living as artists. They are relatively new to the district and are trying to make a splash and be visible.” » Riverside Studios, 174 W. Haywood St. This yellow building next to Roots Studio houses eight artists. It’s also a gallery and workshop space, include an upcoming still-life painting workshop. » Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St. Built 1896, this large studio space is one to watch, Moore said. Its physical building keeps getting improved, Moore said, and more people keep moving into the space. “For a while, it was kind of dark and dreary over there,” she said. “There are 26 artists over there now and I think there is a lot of new energy there.” It’s also a great place to park during the stroll and trolleys are available to take people over to the heart of the district. » Roberts Street Studios, 140 Roberts St. Home to nine studios, Roberts Street Studios is also home to the Asheville Glass Studio. It’s right across from the Wedge. » Roots Studios, 166 W. Haywood St. This young studio features a photographer and two painters. It used to be the home of the Roots restaurant, which is now a part of the Grey Eagle concert venue on Clingman. » Studio 375 Depot, 375 Depot St. Fifteen artists present in this space, ranging from sculpture to a photography teacher. It’s also a great place to find jewelry from several artists, Moore said. » The Wedge, 111-129 Roberts St. Built in 1916, the revitalization of this building, now housing 20 diverse artists ranging from painters to fashion designers, helped kick off the development of the district as an arts hub. It’s also home to the popular Wedge Brewery. » Warehouse Studios, 170 Lyman St. Home to six artists ranging from a woodworker to a textile artist, the studios showcase a range of experienced and new RAD artists.
Product: ASHBrd
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-E User: velmore
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES • CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
Time: 11-08-2011 17:37 Color: K Y M C
SPECIAL HOME & GARDEN
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 D7
HOME: IMPACT SEEN IN DOWNTOWN’S PRITCHARD PARK CONTINUED FROM PAGE D1
The black-trimmed Santa costume that appeared in last year's Asheville Holiday Parade will be retired for 2011, according to the parade's organizers. ERIN BRETHAUER/EBRETHAU@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
ANSWER: SANTA SILLINESS Continued from Page D1
on the side and may occasionally have a band gig, but they’re on the streets to make a living. “You should just drop some money,” Aldridge said with a laugh when asked how long a bystander can linger before tipping. Seriously, if you listen for a bit, cough up some change. They’re not offended by change, by the way, although $1 is nice. “I think it’s awesome when a person drops a dollar,” Aldridge said. “This guy here will fight with me over a dime,” Piccolo chimed in. And please, don’t interrupt them midsong to ask directions. On second thought, Aldridge offered one allowable interruption. “If a real pretty girl interrupts me and asks for a date, that’s OK,” he said. Their goal is to net about $25 each a day, and they can only play for two hours at any given spot before moving along. Keep in mind, this is their job. “If you’re going to be a musician, the only way to do it is to immerse yourself in it,” Piccolo said. Question: Is the black-trimmed, Victorian-style Santa Claus going to make a return for the Christmas parade again this year? My answer: For fun, I posed this question to the Biltmore Estate PR folks this way: “Are you guys going to ruin Christmas again this year?” Trust me, they love this kind of jocularity. Real answer: You may recall that last year some citizens were horrified by the blacktrimmed Santa who graced the parade, including our reporter, who objectively noted that “Santa Claus was just wrong.” The Biltmore Estate provided the Santa, who quite accurately depicted the Victorian age, by the way. Estate spokeswoman Kathleen Mosher said they will again provide the parade’s Santa, and they’ll offer up whatever the Asheville Downtown Association, which sponsors the parade, asks for. So, I asked the Downtown Association folks what we can look for in this year’s parade, which is at 11 a.m. on Nov. 19. It looks like the black trim is being retired. “It seems that Santa may have packed on a bit of weight this past year and he needs a new coat!” said Byron Greiner, president of the Asheville Downtown Association. “Biltmore is having a new one made for jolly ole Saint Nick, and while he will still have a nostalgic look, since the coat is being made for him the trim will be done in white. “Hopefully all of the attendees to the 2011 Asheville Holiday Parade will see Santa and know exactly who he is.” I speak for all of Asheville’s children when I say, “Whew! Our long ordeal is over.” The parade’s theme,
IF YOU GO What: Asheville Holiday Parade 2011, presented by the Asheville Downtown Association. When: 11 a.m. Nov. 19. Where: Up Biltmore Avenue, from Charlotte Street to Patton Avenue, then down Patton to French Broad Avenue. Learn more: www.ashevilleparade.org.
by the way, is “Days Gone By.” “There will be a procession preceding Santa to set the tone: A group of turn-of-the-century carolers will be singing oldfashioned carols announcing everyone is about to ‘Step Back in Time,’” Greiner said. “Next the Montford Park Players in Dickens-era costume will be walking and interacting with the audience. And finally, Santa will arrive on an old-fashioned surrey pulled by two horses.” Let’s hope the crowd keeps it together this year. This is the opinion of John Boyle. Contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com.
downtown a better place for residents, but also for visitors and people who work downtown,” said Trina Mullen, who is co-chair of DARN this year along with Larry Holt. “And one of the things we do all the time is see people with those downtown maps, turning them upside down and all around, and we always stop and say, ‘Hi, I live downtown, can I help?’” Mullen said. DARN is more than just a group of neighbors who share a ZIP code. Much of the quality of life enjoyed by all comers to downtown is a result of the members’ efforts that extend beyond the pretty flowers and birdhouses that grace Pritchard Park and into the halls of justice and government. If you’re grateful that you can take your kids to Pritchard Park or any other park in the city and know that they won’t be exposed to cigarette smoke, you can thank DARN for helping push that city ordinance through. If you see trash and cigarette butts being picked up on downtown streets or in the park, it’s likely being done by downtown panhandlers or misbehavers who were sentenced in the city’s monthly Nuisance Court, another initiative pushed by DARN members to make downtown more beautiful while giving offenders an opportunity to provide a service instead of paying a fine or going to jail. Maybe you dropped in on a fascinating presentation last year at Diana Wortham Theater focusing on the visionaries who helped shape downtown into the vibrant urban hub it is today — part of a series co-sponsored by DARN called “Better Know Downtown.”
DARN still growing
DARN began in 2005 when downtown resident Mary Ann West put a tiny ad in a local newspaper saying, “Do you live downtown? Want to meet your neighbors?” and inviting anyone interested to attend a morning coffee in the condo she shares with her husband, Steve West. Six years later, after that first meeting with a couple of dozen curious urbanites, DARN has members from every condo and apartment building downtown, and the numbers keep growing as more residents seek out new addresses in
LEARN MORE Visit www.darnonline.org or email info@darnonline.org.
the heart of the city. Holt, retired deputy director of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville and a longtime devotee of urban living, said there are 429 residential housing units downtown — not including the Battery Park, Vanderbilt and Altamont nonprofit housing developments. Of those 429, he said, 394 are owner-occupied or owned by individuals or families, not corporations. “And the total tax value of those residential units — and this is hot off the press — is $157,310,900,” Holt said. Holt said one of the DARN initiatives he’s most proud of is the Nuisance Court, which “has given the police some recourse to inappropriate behaviors downtown” with those charged with panhandling, vagrancy, drunk and disorderly behavior or other more minor infractions. Since the monthly court session began 18 months ago, the value of the community service work mandated by the court is more than $40,000 in savings in terms of what would have been paid to city employees to do the same work, Holt said. And the knowledge that minor infractions will — unlike in the past — be punished through Nuisance Court has significantly reduced misbehaviors in the center city, Holt said, noting a drastic reduction in panhandling as one example.
‘Silent, powerful force’
Mullen said DARN holds two business meetings each year, puts out a quarterly newsletter and keeps members informed about topics relating to downtown, including political forums and the recent debate over downtown food trucks, for example. The organization also holds quarterly social events — but each has a charitable component. “We’ve had parties where we bought home goods for homeless women who have just gotten housing; this summer we brought gifts for MANNA FoodBank’s backpack program,” Mullen said. “At one party we brought hats
and gloves and warm outerwear for the people at the Haywood Street Congregation, and at another we brought art supplies for middle school kids who wanted to take art classes but couldn’t afford the supplies,” she said. “We try to always pick something where we can have a little bit of impact.” One of the most visible impacts DARN has had is in Pritchard Park. Aside from the benches, funded by the city, everything in the park has been donated by DARN members and downtown business owners, from the flowers in planters to the colorful birdhouses to the bushes and other foliage that casts a colorful glow throughout the urban park. Most mornings in warm weather, you’ll find Mary Ann West deadheading petunias or watering pots of pansies in the park. While Mullen, Holt and others help raise money for the plantings in cooperation with Asheville GreenWorks, West is the hard-core laborer, often spreading mulch or picking weeds as dawn breaks. “This is my first garden — I’ve never had a garden before,” West said recently, gazing around the park filled with people enjoying the serenity of the park and the changing of the leaves. She taught herself about gardening, largely through the Keep America Beautiful organization, and a saying from that group stuck with her: “Beauty is a silent but powerful force.” “When a place is beautiful,” she said, “it raises the behavior level of the people within it. And now random people come up and help — people are invested now. I’ll be in the park sometimes, and somebody will walk past me and say, ‘I planted that bush,’ and it makes me smile.” The DARN members aren’t elitist about their special neighborhood, including Pritchard Park. “There are several homeless people who help us on a regular basis — they help water, plant, pick up trash. They’re volunteers just like we are,” Mullen said. “There are some unsavory groups, but mostly they’re transients just passing through. The locals are invested in downtown, just like we are,” she said. “We don’t have any homeless issues in the park — this park is just as much theirs as anybody else’s.”
Product: ASHBrd
D8
PubDate: 11-12-2011 Zone: ACT Edition: 1 Page: Features-F User: bellege
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
Time: 11-07-2011 13:35 Color: K Y M C
A S H E V I L L E C I T I Z E N - T I M E S • C I T I Z E N - T I M E S. C O M