BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
STEP RIGHT UP,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND BEHOLD THE BEST OF
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA!
YOUR BALLOTS HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED
INTO A GLORIOUS, FULL-COLOR CATALOG OF THE REGION’S FINEST OFFERINGS!
WITNESS THE MAGIC AND MYSTERY THAT HAPPENS WHEN THOUSANDS OF
XPRESS READERS VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE FINDS, THEIR MOST STUPEFYING SHOPS, THEIR MOST FAVE-WORTHY RESTAURANTS
AND MUCH MORE! THE PRIZES ARE YOURS
FOR THE LOW PRICE OF FREE! STEP RIGHT UP AND BEHOLD!
★
= HALL OF FAME (FOUR CONSECUTIVE WINS)
EDITORS JAYE BARTELL, REBECCA SULOCK PRODUCTION MANAGER CARRIE LARE LAYOUT AND DESIGN NATHANAEL RONEY COVER DESIGN DREW FINDLEY INTERIOR ILLUSTRATIONS EMILY BUSEY PHOTOGRAPHERS MAX COOPER, HALIMA FLYNT, BILL RHODES, JONATHAN WELCH WRITERS JAYE BARTELL, MELANIE MCGEE BIANCHI, MILES BRITTON, MAGGIE CRAMER, DAVID FORBES, JAKE FRANKEL, ANNE FITTEN GLENN, MACKENSY LUNSFORD, ALLI MARSHALL, JEN NATHAN ORRIS, DANE SMITH, REBECCA SULOCK, BECKY UPHAM, MARGARET WILLIAMS CARNIVAL BARKER MILES BRITTON
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US #1
1 Beaverdam Road at Merrimon Ave.
828-253-3393
ahna.net • Join us on Facebook
Unsurpassed in Caring State-of-the-Art Affordable, Serving all WNC
Fulltime Board Certified Internal Medicine Specialist Gentle 24 Hour Nursing Care for Hospitalized Patients Advanced Dental Care* Dental suite with Digital Xray Asheville’s First AAHA Certified Hospital * Endoscopy Color Flow Doppler Ultrasound * Eklin Digital Xray Laparoscopic Minimally Invasive Surgery and Biopsies Advanced Ear Diagnostics with MedRx Video Otoscopy Therapeutic K-Laser for Arthritis and Wound Healing Gentle Cat Care and Separate Facilities Decrease Stress Thorough Wellness Exams and Preventative Yearly Care Continuous Pain Control Post Surgery * Extended Hours Lots of Hugs and Treats throughout the Hospital!
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 3
Bakery 1. h City Bakery Café 60 Biltmore Ave. 88 Charlotte St. 252-4426 254-4289 citybakery.net Xpress readers dig City Bakery for their daily bread (see the write-up in the Best Bread category), but it seems that many of you also know that this bakery thinks beyond the loaf. With layer cakes, cupcakes and all manner of sweet things, plus biscuits and bagels for a quick breakfast bite, the City Bakery holds your attention for breakfast, lunch and your wedding and birthday celebrations, too. — M.L.
F O W T S E B wenty-ElevenNC T
Breakfast/ Brunch
Barbecue
1. h Sunny Point Café and Bakery 626 Haywood Road 252-0055 sunnypointcafe.com
1. h 12 Bones Smokehouse 5 Riverside Drive 253-4499 12bones.com What can we say about 12 Bones? If the POTUS is a repeat customer, it’s likely to garner at least some accolades, right? But this humble brick building was on your radar before the Obamas discovered it.
It’s a challenge to write about Sunny Point without ending up ravenously hungry. Take it from me. For the past 10 minutes, I’ve been trying to figure out where to start. Is it the angel biscuits that make Sunny Point so good? Or is it the huevos rancheros, with those black-bean cakes, local chorizo sausage, roasted tomatillo salsa, cilantro crema and herb-roasted potatoes? Or the so-good-it’sstupid multigrain waffles, with the fruit that always lives up to its “fresh” description? Or the chipotle cheese grits that make every Yankee finally understand what all the fuss is about? Or the breakfast sandwich slathered with aioli until it’s so delightfully greasy that every single bite negates another sip of Saturday night booze? Goodness gracious — is it breakfast yet? — M.L.
Because you’re a barbecue-savvy city, you knew that it was worth standing in the rain for 12 Bones ribs long before the tourists figured it out. As a matter of fact, you’ve named 12 Bones the king of smoked meat since its first year of business. Even back then, you already knew that, if you ordered right (and before anything ran out), the sides could be just as good as the meat. As you inched along in that line, you prayed the smoked-mushroom salad would still be listed on the chalkboard when you finally got to the counter to order … oh wait, maybe we’re projecting. But obviously you’re right there with us, because this year 12 Bones celebrates win No. 6. — M.L.
2. Early Girl Eatery 8 Wall St. 259-9292 earlygirleatery.com 3. Over Easy Café 32 Broadway St. 236-3533 overeasycafenc.com
2. Luella’s Bar-B-Que 501 Merrimon Ave. 505-7427 luellasbarbeque.com 3. Okie Dokies Smokehouse 2375 U.S. Highway 70 686-0050 okiedokiesbbq.com
1. City Bakery Café 60 Biltmore Ave. 88 Charlotte St. 252-4426 254-4289 citybakery.net Some of you were not quite sure what to make of us featuring both a bakery and a bread category this year. In fact, more than a few of you said that it was redundant to do so.
BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
It’s a chore and a process — just ask any bread baker. But it’s also a labor of love. And City Bakery breads are made with as little yeast as possible, according to the bakers, which means the breads rise slowly. And what, you ask, does that matter? It adds to a flavor and texture that you, Xpress readers, deem the best. — M.L.
2. Farm and Sparrow Bakery 633-0584 farmandsparrow.com/blog 3. West End Bakery 757 Haywood Road 252-9378 westendbakery.com
2. West End Bakery 757 Haywood Road 252-9378 westendbakery.com 3. Well-Bred Bakery 26 N. Main St., Weaverville 645-9300 well-bredbakery.com
Bread
Asheville, we have to respectfully disagree. With the further rise of artisan bread bakers in this town (any trip to a local farmers market will reveal an impressive selection), it’s quite an achievement to earn the 2011 Best Bread honors. For that matter, there are many bakeries — sweets bakeries, in particular — that don’t trouble with bread at all.
Amazing Culinary Artistry!
Burger 1. h Burgermeister’s 697 Haywood Road 225-2920 burgermeisters.com Burgermeister’s has been slinging your favorite burger in Asheville since 1995, when the joint was located in downtown Asheville. In 2003, owner Chantal Saunders and her husband reopened this favorite meat (and sometimes meatless) patty haunt in West Asheville, right off Haywood Road. And Asheville, five times now, you’ve told us that you can’t get enough of sandwiches like the Meister, with its
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
lBEST
ITALIAN h VINNIE’S neighborhood italianm
half-pound patty of smoky Guinness beef. Or perhaps you favor the rather unique DT burger with horseradish, provolone and banana peppers. “It’s a recipe that one of our friends invented 15 years ago,” says Saunders. “It’s an unusual combination — the acidity of the banana pepper and the heat of the horseradish. It’s an interesting burger, and not for your average bear.” — M.L.
2. Universal Joint 784 Haywood Road 505-7262 ujointbar.com/asheville.html 3. Five Guys Burgers and Fries 1838 Hendersonville Road 277-3894 fiveguys.com
Burrito 1. Mamacita’s 77-A Biltmore Ave. 255-8080 mamacitasgrill.com Mamacita’s burritos have you pretty enamored, Asheville. As you made abundantly
clear with your votes in the Cheap Eats category, it’s partly the price that makes you come to Mama. But we think that part of the allure lies within what’s folded into those warm tortillas. Sure, we love that slowcooked pork too, but we’d be remiss to not mention that the vegetarian options are better than your typical beans-rice-cheese combo. The mashed sweet potatoes with local kale or the citrus-marinated tofu means that the veggie-munching crowd leaves as pleased as the carnivores. — M.L.
2. Neo Burrito 1341 Parkwood Road #107 225-4101 neoburrito.com 3. Urban Burrito 640 Merrimon Ave. 251-1921 urbanburrito.com
Caterer 1. Laurey’s Gourmet Comfort Food 67 Biltmore Ave. 252-1500 laureysyum.com
BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
“Next year is my 25th year,” Laurey Masterton says, right before mock-shrieking rather spiritedly. Honestly, we have to admit that’s worth a holler. And so do you, faithful Xpress readers and Masterton fans, who have voted for the catering company again and again. Masterton credits her success to the same thing than many happy professionals can: taking the right path. Given her choice of occupations? “I would do food! Nothing else,” Masterton says. But keep pressing her for information, and you’ll realize she has other loves, beekeeping chief among them. Her hives are starting to produce honey, she says, and she’s working on a new book about bees. “It’s a cookbook using honey and other things that wouldn’t exist without honeybees,” she says. The book, Every Third Bite, will be released in 2013. The busy Masterton — she works closely with several local nonprofits and was part of last year’s local TEDx talks here in Asheville (just for starters) — is an inspiration to many. One can’t help but ask how she does it all, and Masterton gives a lot of the credit to the staff of Laurey’s Gourmet Comfort Food. “The team here does an
unbelievable job. It really is a team effort — and this is a very good team.” — M.L.
2. Red Radish 404 E. State St. 669-5100 redradish.com 3. Colorful Palate 3871 Sweeten Creek Road 242-3352 colorfulpalate.com
Cheap Lunch 1. h Mamacita’s 77-A Biltmore Ave. 255-8080 mamacitasgrill.com When it comes to your favorite place to eat on a budget, your loyalty is unwavering. This is the sixth year that this Cali-Mexican eatery (and frequent Best Burrito winner) has run away with the Cheap Lunch category. It should really come as no surprise: This penny-pincher’s haunt manages to squeeze plenty of rich flavor into some inexpensive, yet hearty packages. The secret? Lots of effort from a staff that
L6H67> Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
HAL
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE OWNERS OF ICHIBAN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE
THANKS WINNER! ASHEVILLE! BEST
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
2010
2011 WINNER! of F LL AM
E
HA
FAME L of
BEST SUSHI 2005-2009
2011
Open 7 days for Lunch & Dinner 19 BROADWAY • DOWNTOWN • 2 2 5 - 2 5 5 1
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011
H
E
L of FAM AL
Thanks for Voting Us PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
Best Thai Food in WNC!
Thai Basil Authentic Fine Thai Cuisine Asheville – Black Mountain Asheville: 828-258-0036 Black Mountain: 828-664-4322 www.thaibasilnc.com
studio chavarria I want to thank my clients, friends and colleagues for voting me #1 stylist in Asheville. It is truly rewarding to know doing what I love makes others feel and look beautiful! - Guadalupe Chavarria
84 W Walnut Street|Asheville, NC
8 2 8.236.9191
lBEST
DINER/home-style h HOMEGROWNm
turns cuts like pork butt into sumptuous, slow-cooked goodness, for example. Nothing on the menu costs more than $10, and many options cost less than $5. Sadly, there are few places where one can score a blackbean burrito, stuffed with handmade salsas and such, for just five bucks. And listen up, bargain-hunters: Even while the cost of food shifts like the tides, that burrito’s price tag will stay solid for the foreseeable future, manager Michael Vess assures us. That’s what we call comfort food. — M.L.
and inexpensive) done right. The lo mein is healthy, yet somehow manages to retain the rather oily mouth-feel that some days demand. And for a quick and cheap vegetarian treat, it’s hard to beat the Cantonese-style green beans for just $4. With a buffet laden with hundreds of items, we’re tempted to say that when it comes to Chinese food, Xpress readers, you go Great Wall of China big. Even ignoring the mindboggling variety under the sneeze-guard, the menu reads like a veritable who’s who of Chinese food, what with General Tso and all of the usual suspects in Hunan, Mongolian and Szechwan style. — M.L.
2. White Duck Taco Shop 1 Roberts St. whiteducktacoshop.com 3. Chai Pani 22 Battery Park Ave. 2. Oriental Pavilion 254-4003 chaipani.net 48 Westgate Parkway 236-3839 orientalpavilion.com
Chinese
3. The Noodle Shop 3 Pack Square 250-9898
1. Doc Chey’s Noodle House 37 Biltmore Ave. 252-8220 doccheys.com 1. h Asiana Grand Buffet 153 Smokey Park Highway 667-0410 asianagb.com
Diner/ Home-Style
Though we’re certainly not comparing this noodle house to the McGreasy huts of the world, Doc Chey’s is fast food (as in quick
1. HomeGrown 371 Merrimon Ave. 232-4340 slowfoodrightquick.com
BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
We don’t know how she does it. When Xpress spoke to Miki Kilpatrick, she was tending to her two-month-old daughter — and probably signing a few checks while she was at it. The Kilpatricks also have an 18-monthold son, born around the time they signed their restaurant’s lease. “If we can make it through these next two years, I feel like we can do pretty much anything,” she says. Even if their kids are keeping them up at night, at least the Kilpatricks can rest assured knowing that HomeGrown is a hit with Xpress readers who dig their local-beef burgers and fried chicken. “We really follow through with supporting our local farmers, and that’s really important to Asheville,” says Kilpatrick. Are you ready for a scoop? HomeGrown starts serving breakfast this month, featuring the local food you love at the same low prices — and we’re not sure how they do that, either. “Well, we work closely with our farmers and we know that we are never going to make any money,” Kilpatrick says, laughing. — M.L.
2. Moose Café 570 Brevard Road 255-0920 eatatthemoosecafe.com 3. Early Girl Eatery 8 Wall St. 259-9292 earlygirleatery.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011
mountain xpress presents
Thank You, Mountain Xpress Readers for Voting Dr. John Faherty, DC as a Finalist in the Category of Best Chiropractor 2011
I’ve been honored to serve the Asheville community for 26 years. PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
– Dr. John Now also providing Animal Chiropractic Care
Please visit: www.animalmovement.com
828-254-5212
lBEST
Thanks for Voting Us Best Wine Bar!
STREET FOOD h GYPSY QUEEN CUISINEm
European (Other Than Italian) 1. Bouchon 62 N. Lexington Ave. 350-1140 ashevillebouchon.com Introducing this new category befuddled some Xpress readers, but we rather enjoyed some of the answers. “Asheville has that?” one reader asked. Why yes, yes it does.
5WALNUT.COM 828.253.2593
5 Walnut St. Downtown Asheville
mon - thur 2pm - 12am
Take Bouchon, for example. This French bistro makes you feel like you’re dining in a far-off place, and it’s not just owner Michel Baudouin’s accent and dishes like la truite aux amandes. What really makes one feel as though they’re dining in gay Paris has more to do with a fabulous French wine selection and bottomless bowls of moules frites. And you’ve got to love the outdoor seating, tucked away in a quaint, well-lit alley (let’s call it a narrow veranda). On top of all that,
10 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
the welcoming charm of the owners is a breath of fresh, European air. — M.L.
2. Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com 3. Zambra 85-A Walnut St. 232-1060 zambratapas.com
Favorite Restaurant 1. Mela Indian Restaurant 70 Lexington Ave. 225-8880 melaasheville.com Mela is Hindi for “a gathering,” especially in celebration. And since Mela arrived on the scene six years ago, Asheville has turned out in droves to celebrate the Indian eatery’s tandoori lamb, ridiculously good garlic naan and increasingly creative drink menu in a sexy atmosphere.
It’s exciting to see Mela flourish to the degree that it’s become not just a go-to place for Indian food, but a go-to place to eat, period — and being Asheville’s favorite overall restaurant in a city of superlative eateries is no small feat. In celebration of this achievement, I can’t help but trot out part of a review, written by yours truly in 2005, the first year of the Xpress food section (which shares its birth year with Mela). “Mela is an excellent addition to Asheville’s increasingly diverse culinary tapestry, and the staff, especially for a young restaurant, is doing a fabulous job. As with all new restaurants, as this one gets more steady on its feet and more comfortable with age (though it is already strikingly sure-footed), I expect Mela will surpass expectations — beautifully.” Can we call it, or what? — M.L.
2. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com 3. Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com
14th-16th //21st-23rd//28th-30th
TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 11
Thank You for Voting Us #1 Smoke Shop and for 18 Years of Support! WILLY
L of FAM L A
E
OCTOPUS GARDEN
H
THE
SMOKE SHOP ASHEVILLE
1269 TUNNEL RD. SUITE B .........................299-8880 1062 PATTON AVE. ....................................232-6030 660 MERRIMON AVE. .................................253-2883 80 N. LEXINGTON AVE. ..............................254-4980
ARDEN 140 AIRPORT RD. ................. 654-0906 12 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
HENDERSONVILLE 2000 SPARTANBURG HWY. .......... 828-697-1050
Our Second Gear Family Thanks You for Making Us One of the
BEST OF 2011!
A consignment shop specializing in outdoor gear, clothing & footwear. Kayaks, Bikes, Backpacks, Camping & Climbing Gear, Guidebooks & Maps, Accessories and much more…
Mon. - Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 11-5 444 Haywood Road, West Asheville
secondgearwnc.com • 258-0757
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 13
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
2011
Focused on what we do best – 100% Woodfired BBQ No Fancy Trappings Just Real Pit BBQ Along with Traditional Southern Scratch Made Sides THANKS FOR VOTING US ONE OF THE BEST IN WNC!!! FULL SERVICE: 2375 US Hwy 70 Swannanoa, NC • Mon-Sat 11-8 • 828-686-0050 TAKE OUT: 807 Smokey Park Hwy Candler, NC • Mon-Sat 11-7 • 633-0777 www.okiedookiesbbq.com
14 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
lBEST
CHEF h KATIE BUTTONm
Gluten-Free Options 1. Posana Café 1 Biltmore Ave. 505-3969 posanacafe.com Peter Pollay is a nice guy. When asked how he feels about winning, the owner of Posana is pretty honored that you took the time to name his restaurant the best source for gluten-free fare in WNC. “I think it’s great and really nice that our customer base thinks of us in that manner, and takes the time to vote,” says Pollay. But Posana deserves this honor. You might not immediately notice from looking at the menu — or even tasting what’s on your plate — but the only
gluten that ever crosses the threshold of the restaurant is contained in a handful of beer selections. That’s because Posana doesn’t trumpet its status, it just is; and what Posana turns out defies the notion of how gluten-free food tastes, one plate at a time. “We just happen to have really good food, and happen to offer a lot of gluten-free options,” Pollay says. “I think that people have noticed the time and effort we put into sourcing our food — it shows in the finished product on the plate.” — M.L.
2. Laughing Seed Café 40 Wall St. 252-3445 laughingseed.com 3. Rosetta’s Kitchen 116 N. Lexington Ave. 232-0738 rosettaskitchen.com
Mr. K’s USED BOOKS, MUSIC AND MORE
ASHEVILLE’S LARGEST USED BOOKSTORE
NEW & USED: Books • CDs Video Games • Books on Tape • DVDs BUY • SELL • TRADE
Thank You for Voting Us One of the Best!
`cjYg 5g\Yj]``Y H\Ub_g Zcf %& ZUVi`cig mYUfg UbX Zcf jch]b[ ig CB9 C: MCIF 69GH
2011
Open Mon. - Sat. 9am-9pm • Sun. 12-6pm 800 Fairview Rd. • Asheville, NC River Ridge Shopping Center • Beside A.C. Moore • Hwy 240 exit #8
299-1145 • www.mrksonline.com
THANKS, ASHEVILLE! for voting us ONE OF THE BEST
aUggU[Y ZUW]U`g bU]`g []Zh WYfh]Z]WUhYg 8ckbhckb. Gcih\. )- <UmkccX Gh" H\Y <]`hcb 5g\Yj]``Y 6]`hacfY DUf_ (' Hckb GeiUfY 6`jX" ,&,"&)'"'&&& ,&,"*,+",+*$ gYbg]V]`]h]Yg!gdU"Wca
Voted One of the Best Gift Shops in WNC! “Thanks for Choosing Our Store for Your Fair Trade Gifts!” 2011
Twinkling Stars Candleholder $16 Made in India
A Tribute to Folk Art and Authentic Mexican Food 401 E. State Street, Black Mountain (828) 669-0550 1235 Tunnel Road East, Asheville (828) 298-0733
10 College St., Asheville, NC (828) 254-8374 • asheville.tenthousandvillages.com mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 15
Greek 1. h Apollo Flame Bistro and Pizza 485 Hendersonville Road 274-3582 apolloflamebistro.net The Greek god Apollo sounds like one tough cookie. Out of the womb four days, he petulantly demanded a bow and arrow, which he used to kill a large snake that had bullied his mom. As a musician, his skill was unparalleled — partially because he made a habit of snuffing out any competition (and then doing strange things with their skins). We’re certain that Apollo Flame hasn’t resorted to such tactics to boast Best Greek in Western North Carolina — readers have voted the bistro as such for more than a decade; somebody would have said something by now. Apollo Flame has been serving comfortable Greek food in its Hendersonville Road location for more than 20 years, and the Brevard Road spot enjoys plenty of popularity as well. Which leads us to believe that a strong and talented heritage (some of the recipes that Apollo Flame cooks have been in the family since the ‘30s or before) and consistently good food are likely better choices to gain a strong following than dispatching the competition. But don’t tell Apollo; he seems a bit scary. — M.L.
2. Pomodoros Greek & Italian Café 1070 E. Tunnel Road 299-3032 pomodoroscafe.com 3. Stoney Knob Café 337 Merrimon Ave. 645-3309 stoneyknobcafe.com
Ice Cream Intuitive Healing with Lisa Stendig Lisa reads bodies, to guide people into the parts inside that they’ve disconnected from discover what is hidden in your unconscious and how, specifically, it is affecting what is happening in your body and in your life
if you’ve been looking for an answer to an issue, this session will reveal to you your answer for 15 years Lisa Stendig has had a private practice for Intuitive Healing in NYC
Inner Body Yoga with Lisa Stendig based on the teachings of Angela Farmer Mondays @ 5:30-6:45pm and Saturdays @ 9-10:15am
•
for more information, call
$15 per class -- discount packages available
or visit
(the carriage house behind the Kenilworth Inn Apartments)
•
private instruction also available
828-505-2856
lisastendig.com
60 Caledonia Road #B
Lisa Stendig is an Inner Body Yoga and Embodiment instructor who has been working with yoga legend, Angela Farmer, for almost 20 years.
16 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
1. The Hop Ice Cream Café 640 Merrimon Ave. Suite 103 254-2224 thehopicecreamcafe.com Asheville is full of frozen treats ranging from the rather commonplace to the extreme (think, country ham-chocolate, for example). That’s probably why it was hard to pick a favorite in this category; the numbers tell us that not only was this vote close, but obviously lots of you have opinions about ice cream. Even putting delicious handmade frozen treats aside, it’s hard not to love The Hop. Though they’re not the only generous giver among the ice cream set, it’s a rare community event where you don’t find owners Greg and Ashley Garrison scooping their goods. What’s more, the cafe’s musical guests often whip the diminutive clientele into the cutest frenzy you’ve ever seen. You don’t know adorable until you’ve witnessed a room full of ice cream-mottled tots bopping to Agent 23 Skidoo. But add to all of that The Hop’s screamingly good creative selections using ingredients ranging from goats’ milk from local dairies to handmade salted caramels from the bakery
next door, and you have a winning combination — M.L.
2. Ultimate Ice Cream Co. 1070 Tunnel Road 195 Charlotte St. 296-1234 258-1515 3. Marble Slab Creamery 14 Biltmore Ave. 225-5579 marbleslab.com
Indian 1. h Mela Indian Restaurant 70 Lexington Ave. 225-8880 melaasheville.com Asheville, we’ve come a long way, baby. In 2005, Xpress didn’t even offer a category for Best Indian (and we wonder if you may have voted for Pocahontas back then anyway, you jokesters). But, one year after Mela opened on Lexington Avenue, in the building that used to house “The Body” and its ragtag group of devotees, we gave you the opportunity to tell us where you most liked to eat palak paneer and pakoras. And ever since there has been an opportunity for you to do so, you’ve told us that Mela is tops for tandoori and the champion of chowpatti ragada. And, really, we’d say that’s pretty special. — M.L.
2. Chai Pani 22 Battery Park Ave. 254-4003 chaipani.net 3. India Garden 80 S. Tunnel Road 298-5001 indiagardenonline.com
Italian 1. Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian 641 Merrimon Ave. 253-1077 vinniesitalian.com Some of you said that family-style was one of the most-needed dining concepts in Asheville. You want that classic pass-the-comfortfood-around (but don’t slop any on your nice slacks) Italian experience, you say. We hear you. And hey! Look over here! Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian does that. Don’t get the wrong impression — it’s not all red-sauce at this restaurant (though we do have to admit there is a lot of it, and it’s delicious). Expect classics like linguini and clams, chicken piccata — and fans of the former Savoy will love to see penne alla vodka on the menu, too. Too new to Asheville to remember Savoy? Allow us to explain. Eric Scheffer, the owner of the former upscale restaurant at the same location, is a New York native with a soft spot for old-school Italian. Scheffer made the decision to adapt to the economy with the change from fine-dining to the neighborhood-friendly fare of Vinnie’s. We say the choice has won your affections. And, by the way, we have to love any place with the meatballs to put “Italian garbage” on the menu. — M.L.
2. Nona Mia Italian Kitchen 1050 Haywood Road 505-2028 non-
amia asheville.com 3. Cucina 24 24 Wall St. 254-6170 cucina24restaurant.com 3. Fiore’s Ristorante Toscana 122 College St. 281-0710 fioresasheville.com
Japanese 1. h Wasabi Japanese Restaurant 19 Broadway St. 225-2551 ichibanwasabi.com Why do we love Wasabi so? It’s partially because of the sushi — you voted Wasabi first in that category, too. And what (asked some voters) is the difference, exactly? There’s plenty to Japanese food beyond raw fish, and Wasabi’s got it going on when it comes to the hot side of its offerings. Case in point: the house seafood soup is rich with New Zealand mussels, crab and shiitakes, a wide variety of teriyaki, tempura and hibachi options — and the hamachi kama isn’t too shabby, either. — M.L.
2. Heiwa Shokudo 87 N. Lexington Ave. 254-7761 heiwashokudo.com 3. Green Tea Sushi Restaurant 2 Regent Park Blvd. 252-8300 greenteasushi.com
Late-Night 1. h Rosetta’s Kitchen 116 N. Lexington Ave. 232-0738 rosettaskitchen.com We get it, Asheville. We really do. After a night of punishing your liver, why further flagellate your body with grease and a bunch of unhealthy crap guaranteed to make you wake up with heartburn on top of the inevitable-at-this-point hangover? Why not wrap up a night of tying one on with a healthy plate of food so that you’ll wake up with one less thing to feel bad about in the morning? The Bellyful, for example, with its brown rice, beans, smoky tofu and homemade salsa atop a bed of greens, feels like a bowlful of penance, one that tastes good and sends you off on the right note. And should you insist on riding the spicy grease-train regardless, Rosetta’s can do that, too — just as fast as you can say “chili-cheese fries with diced jalapeños, chipotle ketchup, pico de gallo and extra queso.” — M.L.
2. 51 Grill 51 Merrimon Ave. 258-1670 3. The Southern Kitchen & Bar 41 Lexington Ave. 251-1777 southernkitchenandbar.com mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 17
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
lBEST
Latin American (Other Than Mexican) 1. Tomato Cocina Latina 70 Westgate Parkway 254-5046 tomatocl.com There was substantial nail-biting and handwringing going on among fans of this Salvadoran restaurant when it moved from its (improbably) successful location that could best be identified as “way down Patton, somewhere between that fried seafood joint and the bowling alley.”
SUB SHOP (TIE) h JERSEY MIKE’Sm
trons are hoping not to blow up the spot too much. We can’t say we’re sorry to point out that it looks like Tomato is way too successful to keep secret any longer. — M.L.
2. Salsa’s Mexican Caribbean Restaurant 6 Patton Ave. 252-9805 salsas-asheville.com 3. Chorizo Grove Arcade 350-1332 chorizo-asheville.com 3. Limones Restaurant 13 Eagle St. 252-2327 limonesrestaurant.com
Mexican
That Tomato Cocina Latina was moving was a good thing, in theory. That it was moving into a spot haunted by the ghosts of several failed restaurants past was not so auspicious.
1. Papas and Beer various locations, including 7 Tunnel Road and 1996 Hendersonville Road 255-2204 and 684-4882
But the little restaurant has thrived so in its new location in the Westgate Plaza that pa-
You’re clearly obsessed with Papas and Beer, dear readers. Not that it’s that much
18 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
of a mystery why you like this place — the food is quite good. It’s just that your passion verges on religious fervor. Thousands of you voted for this Tex-Cali-Mex joint that now boasts several locations in the Asheville area. While it’s not generally our policy to reveal those sorts of numbers, it shows the place’s popularity. Is it because it’s like the horn of plenty in there? My heavens, everything is huge; from the giant cheap Tecates to the margaritas, to the nonstop hot chips and homemade salsa bar and tableside guac, plus giant sizzling platters of fajitas. We suspect that in a down economy, you’re especially fond of the fact that, when it comes to Mexican food, Papas and Beer’s cup runneth over. — M.L.
2. La Carreta 1916 Hendersonville Road 651-4462 100 merrimon ave. 225-4006 2. Mamacita’s 77A Biltmore Ave. 255-8080 mamacitasgrill.com 3. Ole’s Guacamoles 1235 Tunnel Road 298-0733 olesguacamoles.com
New Restaurant (Opened In The Last 12 Months) 1. Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com With new restaurants opening seemingly on the daily in this food-obsessed town, it’s sometimes tough to make a big splash. But the Button family (and one Felix Meana) don’t slip quietly into the pool of talent in Asheville — they cannonball. Meana has worked for the likes of José Andrés and Ferran Adrià, as has his fiancée, Katie Button (who managed to nab Best Chef this year, too). Mom Elizabeth Button has years of experience on the food side of things, and dad Ted Button is a former airline pilot with quite the business sense. Put that
Thank you to the good people who grew the food, cooked the food, served the food.
ThAnk you A shevegA s! Gratefully, Greg, Miki, Charlie & Magnolia
371 Merrimon Ave.
slowfoodrightquick.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 19
Thank You Asheville for Voting Us One of the Best Dentists in WNC!
PEELE DENTAL WELLNESS Scott Peele,
DDS
conveniently located just south of downtown
.(.#(-*#*-*828-274-4747
1087 Hendersonville Road • Asheville, NC 28803
www.ashevilledentalwellness.com
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST PIZZA IN ASHEVILLE! Proudly Serving WNC for over 17 years.
946 Merrimon Ave. N. Asheville • 285-0709
1854 Hendersonville Rd. S. Asheville • 277-0004
marcos-pizzeria.com
A Special Congratulations to Asheville Pizza Company! 20 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Thank You for Voting Us #1 Salon in WNC!
Salon, Spa and Gift Shop 210 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801
& BEST BREAD
L of FAM AL
E
H
828-225-5922
BEST BAKERY
88 CHARLOTTE STREET | 254.4289 | Open Ever yday 60 BILTMORE AVE | 252.4426 | Open Ever yday
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 21
Stand up for your 2nd Amendment Rights! Est. 1989
• • • •
Range & Shop Concealed carry classes Gear & Supplies One-on-one Lessons Smith & Wesson • Glock • Ruger Gun Rental Program
Come enjoy our safe, family-friendly atmosphere. Shoot first & try before you buy!
$5 OFF Purchase with this coupon
Corner of Sweeten Creek Rd. & Busbee View Rd. • Just 2.7 miles from Biltmore
828.274.0028 • www.ontargetnc.com
Mon-Fri 11-7 Closed Wed Sat 10-6 • Sun 1-5
all together with a talented staff to help make things run smoothly in an excellent location, and you have a recipe for success. — M.L.
2. Boca Restaurant 68 N. Lexington Ave. 285-8828 bocaasheville.com 2. White Duck Taco Shop 1 Roberts St. whiteducktacoshop.com 3. HomeGrown 371 Merrimon Ave. 232-4340 slowfoodrightquick.com
2. Circle in the Square 12 Biltmore Ave. 254-5442 circleinthesquarepizza.com 1. Universal Joint 784 Haywood Road 3. Mellow Mushroom 50 Broadway 505-7262 ujointbar.com/asheville.html St. 236-9800 mellowmushroom.com
Outdoor Dining
This year, the U-Joint, as it’s popularly known, usurped the Mellow Mushroom for your favorite place to dine al fresco. If a recent late-night visit to the popular West Asheville watering hole is of any indication, many of you are eschewing the dining option for the thorough draft list. Which truly would be a shame, Asheville, as the menu at Universal Joint reads well — and tastes even better.
Community Family Practice, PA is proud to announce the affiliation of a new physician, Sharon Lechner, MD. Dr. Lechner attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her training at the UNC Family Practice Residency Program in Chapel Hill. She loves full spectrum family medicine and also has a special interest in obstetrics. Dr. Lechner is accepting patients of all ages, including new prenatal patients; appointments can be made by calling Community Family Practice at 828-254-2444. Community Family PraCtiCe is located at 260 Merrimon Ave. in North Asheville. www.communityfamilyonline.com
ASANA • PRANAYAMA • MANTRA • MEDITATION • BLISS
Thanks for Voting Us One of the Best Yoga Studio: West Asheville Yoga Yoga Instructor: Cat Matlock
WestAshevilleYoga.com AshevilleYogaTeacherTraining.com 22 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Marco’s pizza is made with an eye toward heritage, with recipes that date back to the ‘30s. With fresh mozzarella and basil on every pie, Marco’s pizzas are like the rest of the items on their menu — fresh and authentically good. Their specialty pizzas occasionally veer in the “we’re rooted in New York but we’re livin’ in North Carolina” direction — chicken-andbarbecue-sauce pie, anyone? But, even if you habitually obliterate the flavor of the pizza with Ranch dressing (you know who you are), there’s no denying that Marco’s truly serves a quality pie. — M.L.
Firecracker sliders topped with jalapeños, and spicy aioli with a side of tater tots make perfect drunk food, to be sure, but more delicate menu items abound. A salad of chili-seared shrimp over baby arugula with olive oil, lemon and Parmesan displays the lighter side of pub grub. A house-smoked trout Reuben with kraut on Jewish rye is a local twist on a classic. And you can have it all on that expansive patio that’s become West Asheville’s front porch. — M.L.
2. Mellow Mushroom 50 Broadway St. 236-9800 mellowmushroom.com 3. The Southern Kitchen & Bar 41 Lexington Ave. 251-1777 southernkitchenandbar.com
Pub Grub 1. Jack of the Wood 95 Patton Ave. 252-5445 jackofthewood.com It’s no surprise that this watering hole, emulating a style of pub common in an often chilly, damp part of the world where people huddle around hearty fare for comfort, would warm your heart. Though there’s plenty for the salad set, and a pretty bangin’ veggie burger to boot, we particularly like the cozier side of the menu. There’s not much better heart-(or body)-warming fare than the shepherd’s pie at Jack’s, filled with a rich stew of local lamb and beef, covered with steaming garlic-scallion-cheese mashers. Put that and a pint of Green Man stout at the end of a hefty fall hike or mountain bike ride, and you’re guaranteed to crush it just to get to your reward. Talk about the perfect Asheville day. — M.L.
Pizza
2. Universal Joint 784 Haywood Road 505-7262 ujointbar.com/asheville.html 3. Lexington Avenue Brewery 39 N. Lexington Ave. 252-0212 lexavebrew.com
1. h Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company 675 Merrimon Ave. and 77 Coxe Ave. 254-1281 and 255-4077 ashevillepizza.com 1. Marco’s Pizzeria 946 Merrimon Ave. 285-0709 marcos-pizzeria.com
Restaurant Still Needed In Asheville
Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company is like a childhood favorite dish. Not in the respect that’s it’s filled with alcoholic beverages (well, we’re hoping your childhood was slightly more wholesome than that), but more in the way that it’s like a bowl full of comfort. No matter how sophisticated our palates become, there’s always a special place in our hearts for what we favored as youngsters.
1. h Ethiopian
APBC, we hope we never outgrow your wild mural-filled walls, your noisy movie theater and your solidly satisfying pizza with the quirkily bizarre toppings you claim to offer (do you really have Spam back there?).
Your answers here were all over the map. Some were rather snarky: “A smoothie joint that doesn’t cost you your first born,” or “None! We have enough!” Some left us scratching our heads: “Haggis stand,” or “insects as protein.” Oh, and more than one of you voted for “naked sushi” (look it up). Some of your answers were pretty cool, too. Afghan? Dim sum? Egyptian? Icelandic? Indonesian? Korean? Mongolian barbecue? Sure, we could get down with all of that. But, once again, at the top of your list is an Ethi-
opian restaurant. And, yet again, we wonder why someone with the cash and wherewithal doesn’t go ahead and do it, because you’re certainly clamoring for it. But let us remind you that, until the stars align and such a place opens in this fair mountain town, DeSoto Lounge, a tie for this year’s Best Dive Bar, turns out Ethiopian suppers every Tuesday. — M.L.
2. Vietnamese 3. Good-quality Chinese food
Restaurant Wine List 1. Zambra 85-A Walnut St. 232-1060 zambratapas.com When Zambra went from serving all Spanish and Portuguese wines to a more global selection several years ago, the list went from unique and highly specialized to just plain excellent. In fact, Wine Spectator magazine has granted Zambra its Award for Excellence for five years running. Craving a Willamette Valley pinot noir? Choose from about two dozen. In the mood for something “full-bodied, rich and sturdy” — or simply feeling rich? The Pingus tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero region might suit you, or the Screaming Eagle cab from Napa. But at $1,000 and $1,700 a bottle, respectively, we might advise you order these for special occasions — unless that’s just how you roll. We have to mention that this list isn’t just for ballers. For the rest of us common folk, there are some outstanding values on the racks, too. That’s why you gave it vino tops. — M.L.
2. Bouchon 62 N. Lexington Ave. 350-1140 ashevillebouchon.com 3. Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com
Romantic Dining 1. Zambra 85-A Walnut St. 232-1060 zambratapas.com What’s so sexy about the dining room of Asheville’s first tapas bar? Let us count the ways. A soundtrack dominated by undulant, downtempo music is a good start. A perennially attractive staff with decent timing doesn’t hurt either. Throw in bench seating strewn with pillows straight out of a Moroccan boudoir, and you have a basic recipe for a good date night. Zambra, with its low lighting, Moorish-grotto feel and darkened, tucked-away alcoves has always offered an atmosphere conducive to canoodling. And sharing small plates is, as original chef Hector Diaz says, muy tapeo. What Diaz meant is that the concept of tapas encourages an intimate dining experience. Several years after the departure of Diaz, current chef/owner Adam Bannasch is infusing the food with his own enthusiasm and ideals,
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 23
PHOTO BY BILL RHODES
lBEST
SUB SHOP (TIE) h VIVA DELIm
which means that the menu, with all its exotic flavors made with ingredients from Asheville’s doorstep, is as sexy as its surroundings. — M.L.
2. Bouchon 62 N. Lexington Ave. 350-1140 ashevillebouchon.com 3. Sunset Terrace Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave. (800) 438-5800 groveparkinn.com 3. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com
Seafood 1. h the lobster Trap 35 Patton Ave. 350-0505 thelobstertrap.biz “Seafood in the mountains?!” the tourists like to knowingly — and shrilly — declare. Why, yes, actually. The Lobster Trap has got you undoubtedly covered in matters of freshness, and you (wonderful locals who
24 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
are savvy enough not to vote for Red Lobster) know this. The Lobster Trap is the king crab of seafood, you say. It never flounders in terms of quality. You might even say that The Lobster Trap is no fluke. We’re really sorry for all of the terrible seafood puns. We’re just proud of the way The Lobster Trap mussels to the top every year. Alright, we’re done now, for reel. — M.L.
2. Blue Water Seafood 94 Charlotte St. 253-2080 bluewaterseafood.net 3. Bonefish Grill 105-C River Hills Road 298-6530 bonefishgrill.com
Splurge Restaurant 1. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road
252-2541 theadmiralnc.com That The Admiral manages to end up on your shortlist for favorite dive bar, as well as best place to splurge on a meal, never fails to amuse us. However, here we are, once again. The Admiral is, perhaps, a little less rough around the edges than it used to be, and reservations are increasingly hard to come by as the word spreads about this evidently not-easy-to categorize Asheville favorite. The Saturday night dance parties are still there, but frequently the line is so long that we may end up waiting in the rain. But the menu remains creative, and chefs Elliott Moss and Drew Maykuth continue to do innovative things with the great local ingredients they source. What’s served in this squat, unassuming cinderblock building is indeed worth forking over your hard-earned cash — if you can score a seat. — M.L.
2. Zambra 85-A Walnut St. 232-1060 zambratapas.com 3. Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com
Thanks for voting Evergreen
Thanks for Voting us
the BeSt SChOOL
2011
and Tony Mele & Chris Weaver
the BeSt teACheRS in WNC!
2011
BEST LATIN AMERICAN RESTAURANT! Please Join us for the Venetian Masquerade Ball October 29th • 10pm at Latin Rhythms Fine Latin Cuisine • Dine In • Take Out • Parties • Catering
Mon-Sun 11-9 • Fri & Sat 11-9:30 • 70 Westgate Parkway (Next to Earthfare) • 828-254-5046 • Tomatocl.com
Thanks for voTing me number one! Come CelebraTe my viCTory and firsT anniversary aT JeTseT sTudio in WesT asheville bring your own t-shirt to screen print at my studio open house
saTurday, oCTober 15 noon To 6 pm
$10/person covers your choice of imagery, supplies and assistance
Bring this ad for
20% off
any regular priCed iTem in my sTudio shop (Through 10/31/11, not valid at art fairs or on custom orders.)
915 haywood road #103 • West asheville 828-275-0305 • www.jennythreads.net mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 25
mountain xpress presents
2011 OFFICIAL GUIDE Publishing October 26th This year, Xpress is proud to partner with AC Entertainment, the festival hosts and organizers. We’ll be printing the official guide, which will be in the hands of thousands of eager festival-goers. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this internationally-significant weekend.
Deadline is October 10th For the Trick or Treat Program
CALL YOUR SALES REP TODAY! 828-251-1333 or advertise@mountainx.com
Street-Food Vendor
697 Haywood Road 989-9809 bandidosburritosasheville.com 3. Avery’s Hot Dogs Downtown Asheville
1. Gypsy Queen Cuisine gypsyqueencusine.com
Sub Shop/Deli/ Sandwiches
Even if you aren’t food-savvy, you’ve likely heard about Suzy Phillips. That’s because Phillips, aka the Gypsy Queen, led the charge to get food trucks allowed in downtown Asheville, making news wherever she went. What’s especially newsworthy is Phillips’ Lebanese street food — think falafel to die for, fantastic kafta panini and chicken shawarma. The secret to Phillips’ success? “I think my food tastes good because it’s made with pure ingredients and love,” she says. Phillips uses local meats in her dishes, but supplements it with ingredients she sources from overseas. For example, she imports sumac from the Middle East to make a tart vinaigrette that dresses a fattoush salad of tomatoes, toasted pita and romaine. Everything that Phillips serves is made from scratch, and she somehow manages to make it all daily. What drives her? Feeding the community. “I’m stoked! It really means a lot to me,” she says. “I’d like to thank everybody for all of their support.” — M.L.
2. Chai Pani 22 Battery Park Ave. 254-4003 chaipani.net 3. Bandidos Burritos
1. Viva Deli 625 Haywood Road 575-2055 vivadeli.biz 1. h Jersey Mike’s Subs Various locations, including: 674 Merrimon Ave., 200 College St. and 104 River Hills Road 298-6453 and 255-5551 jerseymikes.com Oh, Viva Deli, how Asheville has missed you since the days you were located in that tiny former cab stand in Montford. Back then, you were known as Viva Europa, and all the neighborhood residents strolled down to buy beer and ridiculously stacked Italia Diablos on bread so crusty it hurt just as much as it pleased. Now that you finally reopened, West Asheville now knows the charms of being able to buy Muffaletta while on a late-night run for toiletries. The rest of us are a little jealous. Jersey Mike’s serves old-school sub sandwiches in a style that dates back to well be-
FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
26 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
fore Xpress readers started voting the shop the best thing since sliced bread. Heck, the first Mike’s opened in Point Pleasant, N.J., a full 40 years before the Mountain Xpress even existed. What’s the winning formula? Mike’s way — lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil, vinegar and spices — is a sub style for the ages, apparently. — M.L.
2. Two Guys Olde Style Hoagies 132 Charlotte St. 254-9955 twoguyshoagies.com 3. Roman’s 75-A Haywood St. 505-1552 romanstakeout.com 3. Jimmy John’s 5 Biltmore Ave. 505-8020 jimmyjohns.com
Sushi 1. Wasabi Japanese Restaurant 19 Broadway St. 225-2551 ichibanwasabi.com Sure, Wasabi is also your favorite spot for Best Japanese in this fair mountain town where the genre is, paradoxically, rife with options. It seems that when you visit this Broadway mainstay, however, you tend to hone in on the sushi. And who can blame you? At Wasabi it’s always fresh (with so much business, they can barely keep it in the house, as a matter of fact), always creative, and the specials board always features something interesting — and occasionally exotic. We love the fact that Wasabi is a reliable source for fatty, succulent toro. We also think the Perfect Match roll is more than aptly named, what with its sticky sweet and spicy mangoand-lobster goodness. And when the weather’s hot? We’re suckers for your summer roll, all cucumber-cool and stuffed with salmon, tuna and crab. Oh Wasabi, we just can’t quit you — even if our financial planner thinks we probably ought to. — M.L.
2. Green Tea Sushi 2 Regent Park Blvd. 252-8300 greenteasushi.com 3. Zen Sushi 640 Merrimon Ave. # 205 225-6033 zen-sushi-asheville.com
Sweets/ Chocolate 1. French Broad Chocolate Lounge 10 S. Lexington Ave. 252-4181 frenchbroadchocolates.com Dan and Jael Rattigan, the couple behind the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, didn’t embark on their career paths expecting to discover a life of chocolate-making. Jael was working on her business MBA when she met Dan, then a law student. How did they get where they are now? Here’s the short version: A series of epiphanies and
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 27
flashes of inspiration led the couple to Costa Rica, where they found themselves buying an abandoned cacao farm and opening a restaurant with a focus on chocolate and bread-baking. The experience brought them closer to the world of chocolate — literally. “We were in a region of the world where cacao was grown, so we had the opportunity to develop a close, intimate relationship with cacao,” Jael says. “Now we’ve got a history and a relationship with it — and it just keeps getting better.” Indeed it does. Fortunately for us, the duo found Asheville along the way, where you, Xpress readers, overwhelmingly declare their chocolate to be the best of local sweets. — M.L.
2. The Chocolate Fetish 36 Haywood St. 258-2353 chocolatefetish.com 3. Kilwin’s Chocolates, Fudge and Ice Cream 26 Battery Park Ave. 252-2639 kilwins.com
Thai 1. h Thai Basil 1 Page Ave. #151 258-0036 thaibasilnc.com First and foremost, we need to let you know that we have absolutely no power over who wins these polls at Xpress. That being said, we also must admit to a rather healthy ad-
28 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
diction to Thai Basil’s pad thai, especially when lunchtime rolls around (the first step is admitting it, right?). We’re not even going to assert our opinion here (that’s your job), but frequently one can visit our office (located two blocks away from the Thai-food fixture) and catch the scent of peanut, lime, chili and tamarind drifting through the hallways. Our choice to patronize Thai Basil is partially expense- and proximity-based (around these parts, we’re partial to large, healthy plates of food that cost less than $10). We also happen to know that many of you travel much farther than a couple of blocks to sample the gang massaman and the pad king here — so much so that the owners saw fit to open a second location out in Black Mountain that seems to be thriving. — M.L.
2. Suwana’s Thai Orchid 11 Broadway St. 281-8151 suwanathaiorchid.com 2. Noi’s Thai Kitchen 535 Merrimon Ave. 251-1960 3. Doc Chey’s Noodle House 37 Biltmore Ave. 252-8220 doccheys.com
Top Chef 1. Katie Button, Cúrate 11 Biltmore Ave. 239-2946 curatetapasbar.com
Ms. Button has pedigree, people. Still a couple of years shy of her 30s, Button has not rested on her laurels in her youth. Chemical and biomolecular engineering degree from Cornell? Check. Master’s degree in neuroscience from L´École Centrale in Paris, France? Check. Turn down cushy fellowship to follow passions in one of José Andrés’ joints, then go on to apprentice for Ferran-freaking-Adrià at El Bulli in Spain, finally opening own restaurant in Asheville? Check, check and check. Honestly, the craziest part is that not a bit of it seems to have gone to Button’s head, unless she acts as convincingly as she cooks. “I was definitely surprised!” Button says of her Asheville top chef honor. “I’m happy and excited — I mean, we just opened six months ago, so of course I’m surprised.” Seriously? Seriously. “If you want to know my first reaction after I found out, I thought, ‘God, I better start changing the menu!’” While Button may be just joking, we think we may speak for at least some of you when we say this: Dear Katie, we think you’re doing just fine. — M.L.
2. Stewart Lyon, Boca 68 N. Lexington Ave. 285-8828 bocaasheville.com 3. Elliott Moss, The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com
Vegetarian
Thank You Asheville!
1. h Laughing Seed Café 40 Wall St. 252-3445 laughingseed.com
2nd Year Voted One Of The Best Italian Restaurants!
The new chef of Laughing Seed, Sandy Krebs, has inherited a Super Bowl-winning team, so to speak. Laughing Seed is a perennial favorite for vegetarian cuisine in WNC, even hosting a celebrity or two from time to time (Woody Harrelson being the most recent to dine there). But Krebs says she’s neither in a rush to change things, nor does she plan to rest on her laurels. Why? Because, even after cooking all over the world, Krebs says she most wants to cook for you, Asheville. “It’s really exciting for me to come here to Asheville, and specifically the Laughing Seed,” Krebs says. “I decided that I wanted to be somewhere where the farm-to-table movement was important.” Krebs has to give much of the credit for the Seed’s success to owners Joan and Joe Eckert. “They were doing farmto-table before it was even called that,” she says. “They’ve been supporting local farmers and agriculture and dairies for a long time, and it makes me proud to even be a part of that.” — M.L.
2. Rosetta’s Kitchen 116 N. Lexington Ave. 232-0738 rosettaskitchen.com 3. Plant 165 Merrimon Ave. 258-7500 plantisfood.com
SOUTH “Italian Comfort Food” On-site Bakery (Retail/Wholesale)
60 + Outdoor Seating Bocce Ball fioresasheville.com
828 281-0710
Downtown 122 College Street Asheville, North Carolina
2310 Hendersonville Road Arden, North Carolina
828-651-9991 south.fioresashville.com Serving Lunch & Dinner OPEN for ALL Holidays Book Parties Now mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 29
Bartender
Cocktails
1. Jackson Zoeller, The Bier Garden 46 Haywood St. 285-0002 ashevillebiergarden.com
1. Sazerac 29 Broadway St. 376-0031 ashevillesazerac.com
Jackson Zoeller has been slinging drinks at the Bier Garden for eight years. Often just a halfstep behind Kathy Taylor in the polls, Xpress readers’ favorite bartender of many years, Zoeller dominates this category decisively for the first time.
F O W T S E B ty-Ele NC Twen
ve n
The cocktail menu changes regularly, with new additions to the old favorites, and no lack of colorful names (Satan’s Whiskers, Harvey Wallbanger) to go with the equally interesting concoctions, along with a fair amount of wit in the ingredients. The Melpomene, named after the muse of tragedy, is a spicy tequila drink, and the Calliope (the muse of epic poetry) has a stout dose of Scotch and egg white, an antiquated ingredient that Sazerac has helped revive. The bartenders, too, have enough expertise to mix up new drinks upon request, and that inventive spirit has helped keep Sazerac at the top of WNC’s cocktail scene for another year. — D.F.
“It feels good because Kathy’s so awesome,” says Zoeller. “It’s a very nice feeling, and a nice hat-off to me — those are big shoes to fill.” Being a great bartender, according to Zoeller, has everything to do with attitude. “I try my hardest to make people happy,” he says. “That is my No. 1 goal when I go into work every day, to make everybody happy — or as many as I can, anyway.” And even if he can’t shake your rotten mood, that’s OK by him, because he’s right where he wants to be. “My favorite thing in the world is to be behind the bar,” he says. Sounds like what we have here is a symbiotic relationship, Xpress readers. — M.L.
2. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave. 254-4993 rankinvault.com 3. The Junction 348 Depot St. 337-3932 thejunctionasheville.com 3. The Southern Kitchen & Bar 41 Lexington Ave. 251-1777 southernkitchenandbar.com
2. Sean Bickford, Arcade Asheville 130 College St. 58-1400 arcadeasheville.com 2. Trudy Dunham, Tolliver’s Crossing 733 Haywood Road 505-2129 3. Drew Wallace, The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com
Coffee Shop
favorite Bar
1. Izzy’s Coffee Den 74 N. Lexington Ave. 258-2004 izzyscoffeeden.com Attention people of Asheville: There is only one Izzy’s now. The former West Asheville Izzy’s (familiarly Wizzy’s) is now BattleCat Coffee Bar and is still owned by Amber Arthur and Catie Conroy.
1. The Bywater 796 Riverside Drive 232-6967 bywaterbar.com The Bywater isn’t even a year old, but locals have already dubbed it their favorite overall. Why? “If I had to guess, I would say it’s because we have a great staff with no attitude, the most affordable prices in town, a well-thoughtout beer/wine/cocktail selection and a whole acre on the river to spread out on,” says coowner Chad Battles. That does seem to be a big part of the appeal —you can hang out in a campground-like setting, grill your own food (or hit up one of the many food trucks that park there nightly) and catch great live music around a fire pit. How does it feel to be so young and so popular? “We are so thrilled to have won this ... you have no idea,” Battles says. “We are just a couple of regular guys who put their life savings into a completely far-fetched idea.” — R.S.
2. Arcade Asheville 130 College St. 258-1400 arcadeasheville.com 3. Thirsty Monk 92 Patton Ave. 254-5470 monkpub.com 30 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Boasting a bevy of classics, combined with innovations (nine cocktails based around the Greek muses, for example), Sazerac is WNC’s favorite cocktail joint for the second year in a row. Mixed drinks are a focus of the downtown spot, named, appropriately, after the classic New Orleans cocktail.
Feats of Beverage Finesse!
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get down to the heart of the matter. Ross and Kristin Britton took over Izzy’s Coffee Den at 74 N. Lexington Ave. in Asheville last year. The coffee is good and fast, even when there’s a line snaking to the door. The staff still offers “service with a smirk,” as is now emblazoned on the new bumper stickers that the coffee house has available. The Brittons also put in a lot of hours behind the counter, and their adorable little pig-tailed rugrat, Tenety, ups the cute-factor in a major way. Though, fear not all ye of the tattoos, tight jeans and sunglasses at night — it’s still cool enough for you, cute toddler notwithstanding. — M.L.
2. Dripolator Coffeehouse, Asheville 190 Broadway St. #102 398-0209 dripasheville.com 3. Waking Life Espresso 976 Haywood Road 505-3240
RiverLink is River Centric— with your help and support
JUMP IN! Join Riverlink We would like to thank board members past our donors for
Today! all our 600 volunteers, and present and all voting us the...
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP
–Wilma Dykeman RiverWay and all its many spokes in the wheel are happening!
6 years in a row and one of the Best Non-Profits!
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 31
PHOTO BY MAX COOPER
RESTAURANT • BAR
3rd Place B est Cocktai l s ! Thanks WN C
lBEST
Dive Bar 1. Desoto Lounge 504 Haywood Road 255-1109 desotolounge.com 1. The Get Down 1045 Haywood Road 505-8388 getdownasheville.com Copa Verde Shooter
Come check out our new Fall Menu Tues-Sat 11:30 am-2:30 pm & 4:30pm-11pm
348 DEPOT STREET 828.225.3497 thejunctionasheville.com
Congrats, West Asheville: You are now officially the dive-bar mecca of WNC. And this year, it’s two of your newbies that share the boozy top spot. “I like that we kept it in West Asheville,” says Desoto Lounge co-owner Tim McMurrin about this year’s rankings. “That’s one of the great things about being on this side of town, is how loyal everyone is over here.” The two-year-old bar (and an Xpress A&E staff favorite) has got all the ingredients of a perfect neighborhood dive: cheap, dark and cozy. It’s a place where you can relax over a 40 oz. of High Life or hit the
32 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
BAR h the bYWATERm back room for a few games of ping pong, foosball and darts. But it’s their late-night kitchen, dishing out favorites like meatloaf sandwiches, and the ever popular Ethiopian food Tuesdays, that’s truly put them on the map. “It’s pretty simple comfort food,” says McMurrin, “but when it’s homemade and you do it right, it really hits the spot.” On the other end of Haywood, The Get Down, which celebrated its first anniversary last month, has quickly established itself as the scrappy heir to the late (and beloved) Vincent’s Ear. With drinks served in jelly jars and bands booked almost nightly — playing everything from punk to metal to bluegrass — this charming hole-in-thewall has got that intimate, anything-canhappen vibe of a great house party.
side local rockers like Ryan Sheffield. It’s a point of pride for Fox. “We try to keep as much local music on there as we can,” she says. — M.B.
2. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com 3. Broadway’s 120 N. Lexington Ave. 285-0400
Gay Bar 1. Scandals Nightclub 11 Grove St. 252-2838 thegrovehouse.com
“It’s just keeping the gritty soul of the rock ’n’ roll,” says co-owner Mikki Fox about the dive-y spirit. “We’re just a bunch of music dorks that like to have a good time.”
In Asheville’s LGBT club scene, the reign of Scandals continues undisputed, as the multi-story Grove Street club is once again readers favorite gay bar.
And like any good dive, they’ve also got a killer jukebox. Expect to hear classics like the Buzzcocks and Al Green right along-
One of the oldest gay clubs (along with O’Henry’s) in the city, and one of the largest, Scandals has maintained its status as
Imaging focused on YOU ... At Marquis you will find: • A warm, inviting atmosphere • An attentive staff focused on your comfort and needs • On-site radiologists to interpret results for your doctor • State-of-the-art equipment: - “Open-concept” MRI that is comfortable for all patients, including claustrophobics and those up to 550 lbs. - Next generation CT technology that reduces radation exposure
Ask your doctor about
1000 Centre Park Dr. Asheville, NC 28805 (Conveniently located off Chunns Cove Road, just minutes from Asheville Mall)
Phone: (828) 255-8885 Fax: (828) 255-4595 Accepting all insurance and offering the region’s most-competitve self-pay rates
Lower rates means less out of pocket for you
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 33
PHOTO BY BILL RHODES
lBEST beloved cultural fixture through different decades. Scandals also celebrated another honor this year: its 30th anniversary. Founded by Art Fryar long before Asheville hosted the thriving LGBT scene it does today, current owners Jeff and Sherrie Davis continue the traditions — there’s even a crystal chandelier dedicated to Fryar, whose stage name was, appropriately, Crystal Chandelier. The club still includes the lively all-in-goodfun environment that made it a local landmark in the first place, with drinks, dancing and, in the finest tradition, regular drag shows. — D.F.
DIVE BAR (TIE) h DESOTO LOUNGEm
2. Smokey’s After Dark 18 Broadway St. 253-2155 3. Club Hairspray 38 N. French Broad Ave. 258-2027 clubhairspray.com
Hipster Bar 1. The Admiral 400 Haywood Road 252-2541 theadmiralnc.com
34 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
What is a hipster? The question has long plagued Asheville, home to no lack of people simultaneuously denying hipster-hood and fitting the bill perfectly. However, when people think “hipster congregating place,” apparently the bar that pops first into their mind is The Admiral, the West Asheville fixture that’s part upscale eatery, part, well, hipster bar. Although enough people go to the place to strip the esoteric obscurity on which hipness depends, The Admiral still has cool cachet to spare. Despite its self-proclaimed “dive” status, the Admiral serves un-ironic gourmet eats with a constantly changing menu
“in an atmosphere that lacks the restraints of standard technique,” or so says its website. The Admiral completes the package with an equally earnest Saturday-night dance parties and team T-shirts designed to look old school (ok, perhaps a wee bit of irony there). — D.F.
2. Arcade Asheville 130 College St. 258-1400 arcadeasheville.com 3. Desoto Lounge 504 Haywood Road 255-1109 desotolounge.com
Local Beer Selection
Thank You Asheville For Voting Us One Of The Best!
1. h Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria 42 Biltmore Ave. 255-0504 barleystaproom.com The first taproom to bring a variety of craft beers to Asheville, still reigns supreme. We were intrigued to learn how that delicious beer selection has evolved. When the taproom first opened in 1994, there weren’t many craft beers available, according to owner Jimi Rentz. Highland Brewing came on tap at the end of the first year, but Barley’s opened with only nine taps, most of which decanted imports such as Guinness and Harp. As more regional breweries started to open in the late ‘90s, Rentz picked up brews such as French Broad, SweetWater (Atlanta), Cottonwood (Boone) and Thomas Creek (Greenville, S.C.). “Now there are so many local beers, and so many restaurants and bars carry local beers that, while we still have a huge regional selection, we’re going out and finding the best of the best beers and putting them on tap,” Rentz says. That means lots of Western craft beers and a shift to almost all U.S.-made brews for Barley’s 56 taps. I’ll raise a glass to that. — A.F.G.
2. Thirsty Monk downtown 92 Patton Ave. 254-5470 monkpub.com 3. The Bier Garden 46 Haywood St. 285-0002 ashevillebiergarden.com
270
Depot st. Asheville 828-350-0333 www.thesoapydog.com
2011
Local Brewery 1. Pisgah Brewing Company 150 Eastside Drive 669-0190 pisgahbrewing.com Pisgah Brewing’s back on top, after being knocked out of the No. 1 spot last year by Wedge Brewing. Pisgah, in turn, usurped longtime reigning favorite Highland Brewing four years ago. These three fave breweries have consistently held the top spots in the fierce battle of the WNC breweries. “I love seeing us and the Wedge in the top two spots because we’re local-only breweries,” says Pisgah owner Jason Caughman. “It’s a circle — we’re local and we’re grateful for local support, and we want to give back to the locals who drink our beer. That’s why we only distribute around here and put our money back into the brewery and the music.” This year, Pisgah will produce around 3,000 barrels of beer with its 10-barrel system, almost all of which will be imbibed in WNC. No wonder we love Pisgah. Good beer (Pisgah Pale, Valdez and more) plus the no-frills warehouse taproom and music stage have given Pisgah a loyal follow-
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 35
36 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
828-277-5151 Store Hours Mon. - Thurs. 10am - 7pm Fri. & Sat. 10am - 6pm Closed Sundays 2011
Shoes & Apparel • Accessories On-site Pedorthist • Custom Orthotics Foot Rx Asheville is committed to strong customer service that enables many to take their fitness and wellness to the next level. Our customers enjoy highly trained staff to help with the fit and function of their shoes and orthotics. We practice both the “science and art” of making feet comfortable. Proper shoes and orthotics should not only fit your feet but also your lifestyle.
Brands offered include:
and many more!
www.footrxasheville.com mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 37
PHOTO BY BILL RHODES
lBEST ing. The outside stage features nationally known music acts (Steel Pulse, Ivan Neville, Lyrics Born, Galactic and Lucinda Williams, among others) doesn’t hurt either. “I call the brewers the Oompa-Loompas because they work all the time,” says Simone Seitz, Pisgah’s marketing director. “They make the most out of a really small system. There are no bells and whistles here, just good beer.” — A.F.G.
2. Wedge Brewing Co. 125-B Roberts St. 505-2792 wedgebrewing.com 3. Highland Brewing Company 12 Old Charlotte Highway 299-3370 highlandbrewing.com
DIVE BAR (TIE) h THE GET DOWNm
Smoothies/ Juices 1. Greenlife (Whole Foods) 70 Merrimon Ave. 254-5440 wholefoodsmarket.com No doubt plenty of locals worried when Whole Foods bought Greenlife last year. However, that controversy clearly wasn’t enough to deter thirsty Ashevilleans from hitting the Merrimon Avenue fixture’s deli for their favorite smoothies — as much an essential part of our diet as coffee, tofu and local meats. After placing second last year, Greenlife rises to the top as WNC reader’s pick for smoothies. While the owners have have changed, fresh-
38 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
fruit concoctions like the “Orangu-tang” have not, and the Greenlife staff can still whip one up lickety-split. — D.F.
2. Pineapple Jack’s 643-B Haywood Road 253-8860 3. Green Sage Coffeehouse & Café 5 Broadway St. 252-4450 thegreensage.net 3. Earth Fare 1856 Hendersonville Road and 6 Westgate Parkway 2100100 and 232-9951 earthfare.com
Sports Bar 1. Wild Wing Café 161 Biltmore
Ave. 253-3066 wildwingcafe.com 1. The Bier Garden 46 Haywood St. 285-0002 ashevillebiergarden.com Like a nail-biting game, two downtown canteens fought it out this year to tie for WNC’s Best Sports Bar. In one corner, there’s Wild Wing Café, named after the dish that’s the gold standard of the sports bar: a basket of juicy, saucy chicken wings. In the other, there’s the Bier Garden, named after the beer that’s also the traditional accompaniment to watching sports. For that matter, Bier Garden’s got wings and Wild Wings has beer. Both also have an array of screens with any number of different games, from college football to international soccer. Go to either and you’ll see no lack of the enthusiastic shouting and camaraderie that’s the hallmark of a well-liked sports bar.
Your Pet Deserves The Best! Mobile Pet Grooming: We Come to You! $10.00
OFF
TWO FOR TUESDAY
NEW CUSTOMER DISCOUNT With paid 15-Step Grooming Process. Applies To First Appointment Only.
buy one, get one free on Tuesdays
828-333-5088
Offer valid Tuesdays only at Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Biltmore Park only. One per check. Not valid with other offers or special discounts. Dine-in only. Item of lesser value is free. Expires 10/31/11.
More convenient for you, and a stress-free experience for your pet!
Asheville Location 5 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District Mon-Fri 11am-4pm 253-4499
Arden Location
3578 Sweeten Creek Rd. Near BB Barns Nursery Tues-Sat 11am-4pm Carry Out Till 6pm 687-1395
OVER 200 BEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD VOTED ONE OF THE BEST LOCAL BEER SELECTIONS
THANK YOU WNC!
of F AM L L A
E
#1 Sports Bar
H
For voting Bier Garden #1 Bartender Jackson Zoeller
Best BBQ in WNC 2006 • 2007 2008 • 2009 2010 • 2011
WOW!
Come in and meet Jackson and enjoy all the big screen tvs and great sports packages. 46 Haywood St. • (828) 285-0002
Thanks again Asheville & Western North Carolina... We couldn’t have done it without YOU!
www.ashevillebiergarden.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 39
H
Why buy from J G Marcus Homes?
E
L of FAM L A
• Team of Professionals who listen to our customers • Modular/Site Built - You Choose • Custom Design Center • Licensed General Contractor • Member Asheville Home Builders Association • We deliver Affordable, Quality built homes with Attention to the details
Thank You
Please accept our appreciation & sincere thanks for letting us serve you. Sometimes in the rush of business we fail to say “Thanks” loud enough. But be sure your patronage is never taken for granted, our aim is to Please & Satisfy you. “To Serve You Is A Real Privilege.” Thanks, John & Susan Poulos 2011
Ask About our Price Protection GuArAntee
6080 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, NC 28791
(828) 687-1200
jgmarcushomes@gmail.com • JGMarcusHomes.com 40 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 41
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
lBEST Clearly, WNC sports lovers remain divided in their loyalties, and both venues are no doubt raring for a rematch next year. There’s nothing like a good rivalry, in sports or food and drink. — D.F.
2. Hickory Tavern 30 Town Square Blvd. 684-0975 thehickorytavern.com
BARTENDER h JACKSON ZOELLERm
Upscale Bar 1. Sazerac 29 Broadway St. 376-0031 ashevillesazerac.com
2. Pack’s Tavern 20 S. Spruce St. 225-6944 packstavern.com
Sazerac is so swanky, it almost doesn’t feel like Asheville — we’re more craft-brew-and-jeans than martinis-and-heels. But when it’s time to sparkle a bit, it’s the place to go. It’s shiny, classy and cosmopolitan, with a decidedly friendly and helpful staff. And that confluence feels very Asheville. (Read more in the Cocktails category.) — R.S.
3. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 4 Tunnel Road 251-7384 buffalowildwings.com
2. Sky Bar 18 Battery Park Ave. 225-6998 3. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
42 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
7 Rankin Ave. 254-4993 rankinvault.com
Wine Bar 1. 5 Walnut Wine Bar 5 Walnut St. 253-2593 5walnut.com Over the past few months, residents and visitors to downtown have no doubt noticed the bustling bar, facing the open air and filling the street with the buzz of lively conversation, along with occasional music drifting out. It’s the sort of spot that compels passersby to see what’s going on. WNC wine lovers did exactly that, because 5 Walnut, a newcomer to Asheville’s bar scene, vaulted past more established outposts to win
top Wine Bar honors this year. The cozy space, replete with wood and brick, has made quite the impression, especially as there’s often live music inside. But a solid wine selection, a daily $5-a-glass special and a wide array of local cheeses and assorted munchies to go along with the drinks no doubt play an important role in 5 Walnut’s rising popularity. Oh yes, and there’s the not-small matter of the delicious boiled peanuts. — D.F.
2. Santé Wine Bar 1 Page Ave. # 152 254-8188 santewinebar.com 3. Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar 1 Page Ave. Grove Arcade 252-0020batteryparkbookexchange.com
Thanks!!! 828-252-1500
local farmers providing
grassfed beef pastured pork & chicken
We feel honored to be voted
BEST LOCAL FARM
three years in a row.
Thank you to ALL of our customers. You make farming sustainable! FARM STORE HOURS: 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU OCTOBER 31 WED. – SAT. YEAR-ROUND 57 Sugar Hollow Road • Fairview, NC 28730
828.628.1027 HICKORYNUTGAPFARM.COM mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 43
Antiques Store/ Flea Market 1. h Antique Tobacco Barn 75 Swannanoa River Road 252-7291 atbarn.com
F O W T S E B ty-Ele NC Twen
ve n
With more than 75 stalls in a 77,000-squarefoot repurposed auction house, the Antique Tobacco Barn keeps yesterday alive (and up for sale).
For many longtime Asheville residents, True Blue is a venerable Haywood Street standby, sharing ranks with Malaprop’s, Kim’s Wigs and a few others. Such places impart more than products. The presence of landmarks such as True Blue heartens locals: Your town is still your town, come tourism or high water. Less sentimentally, True Blue is a great supply store for artists of many media — and even for those less decisively artistic. The shop’s window displays are always relevant to the season — whether it’s the bright yellow of summer, the brindle of fall, the sooted gauze of winter or the verdant spring. To speak personally, I’m so bad at drawing I have to trace stick-figure people (and even then they look like a Chinese character for “inept”). But one time I walked into True Blue for a work errand and bought a small notepad and some grease pencils and spent the day drawing clouds and, less successfully, a seagull (or was it a wool sock?).
Gone are the tethered bunches of nicotine fronds draped on the curing lines, but present are the assorted curios and antique furnishings, mirrors backed with silver, clocks that have passed lifetimes of noons and midnights and more. The Antique Tobacco Barn has been a hit since before your mother was born — if your mother was born when we started the Best of WNC poll a little more than a decade ago. — J.B.
Walking in the store seems to move one to make art because it’s not only possible, but fun, inexpensive and natural. — J.B.
2. Michael’s 299 Swannanoa River Road 299-0183 michaels.com 3. A.C. Moore 800 Fairview Road 299-0777 acmoore.com
2. The Screen Door 115 Fairview Road 277-3667 screendoorasheville.com 3. Smiley’s Flea MarkeT 5360 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher 684-3532 smileysfleamarkets.com
Beer Store
Arts/Craft Fair
1. Bruisin’ Ales 66 Broadway St. 252-8999 bruisin-ales.com
1. The Big Crafty Pack Place thebigcrafty.com Oh, Big Crafty, why are you so adorable? Even your logo makes us happy, that sweet paperdoll a throwback to a simpler time, when scissors and felt were about all we needed for hours of contentment.
With more than 1,000 different beers, varying by season from all over the country and the world, Bruisin’ Ales is the best candy store ever for beer lovers. In addition to winning locally, the cozy shop was voted the No. 3 beer retailer in the world by RateBeer, making it a tourist destination (one loyal customer drives from Tennessee almost weekly).
We love your handmade wares, your friendly atmosphere, your colorful aesthetic and maybe the free beer, if it hasn’t run out by the time we get there. We love that you guys have heart and business savvy, and that you just keep getting bigger and better (oh yes, we loved the Big Love festival you co-founded, too — please, another!). — R.S.
Co-owner Julie Atallah’s social-media savvy and sparkly personality also contribute to the beer-only store’s popularity (@bruisinales has almost 5,000 Twitter followers). Regular free beer tastings have become a must-do for area beer connoisseurs. Bruisin’ Ales’ website offers up-to-the-minute beautiful beer lists and event details.
2. LAAFF N. Lexington Avenue lexfestasheville.com 3. Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands Asheville Civic Center southernhighlandguild.org
And remember, the name Bruisin’ Ales isn’t a boxing reference — it’s a play on words, (”brews and ales,” get it?) — A.F.G.
Arts/Craft Supply Store 1. h True Blue Art Supply 30 Haywood St. 251-0028 trueblueartsupply.com 44 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Marvels of modern Industry!
2. Hops & Vines 797 Haywood Road # 100 252-5275 hopsandvines.net 3. Ingles (Various locations) 669-3678 ingles-markets.com
Bike Shop 1. h Liberty Bicycles 1378 Hendersonville Road 800-96BIKES / 274-2453 libertybikes.com/
Now opeN
100 Charlotte Street Visit Us at
www.ChopShopButchery.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 45
PHOTO BY HALIMA FLYNT
lBEST Liberty Bicycles is more than just a shop. Owners Mike and Claudia Nix are ardent and dedicated cycling advocates who work to ensure that riders have safe areas to enjoy the sport, while encouraging newcomers to take up cycling. Their work with state, local and national governments, along with nonprofit organizations and community outreach programs, earned the shop a nod as the National Bicycle Advocate of 2007 from the National Bicycle Dealers’ Association. The couple began selling bike parts out of their house, and for the past 30 years have served the WNC area as Liberty Bicycles, which boasts a staff of 20 cycling professionals. In addition to selling bicycles, the shop offers fitting services, accessories, safety courses, maintenance instruction, community rides and bike-repair services. And if that weren’t enough, Liberty Bicycles’ website is a treasure trove of resources and tips. This is the shop’s fifth consecutive
JEWELRY DESIGNER (TIE) h SUSAN WESTm win and seventh in the past decade. — D.S.
2. Pro Bikes 610-B Haywood Road 253-2800 pro-bikes.com 3. Motion Makers Bicycle Shop 552 W. Main St., Sylva 586-6925 motionmakersbikes.com
Bookstore 1. h Malaprop’s Bookstore and Café 55 Haywood St. 254-6734 malaprops.com In 1982, amid the now-mythical urban blight of that period, poet and book-lover Emoke B’Racz opened Malaprop’s Bookstore to serve words and the people who read, write and speak them.
46 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
According to her “History of Malaprop’s Bookstore and Café” at malaprops.com, B’Racz envisioned “a place where poetry matters, where women’s words are as important as men’s, where one is surprised by excellence, where good writing has a home, where I could nurture my addiction to literature, and play, enjoy and entertain people drawn to quality books.”
67 N. Lexington Ave. 253-8654 myspace.com/downtownbooksandnews
Clothing: Consignment Or Vintage
Considering the thousands of votes this perennial favorite inspires every year in our poll, the regular visits from nationally renowned authors, the impeccably stocked shelves and, of course, the coffee, B’Racz and the equally committed and passionate staff at Malaprop’s have made good on that vow. — J.B.
1. h Goodwill (Various locations) goodwillwnc.org
2. Mr. K’s Used Books, Music and More 800 Fairview Road 299-1145 mrksonline.com 3. Downtown Books and News
Used clothes provide the soundest evidence for the implicit oneness of humankind. If “clothes make the man” or woman, as Mark Twain claimed, then the interchangeability of attire proves that compatibility of human nature.
From all of us at Blue Mountain we are deeply appreciative of your vote of confidence in our restaurant.
2nd Place Best Restaurant 2nd Place Best Neighborhood Gathering Place 2011
(for Weaverville / Woodfin)
Blue Mountain Pizza • 55 N Main Street • Weaverville NC 28787 828.658.8778 • www.bluemountainpizza.com
For a beautiful, healthy smile. Kani Louise Nicolls DDS, PA Thank You to Our Wonderful Patients for Voting Us Best in WNC! • Now offering Cerec™ all-ceramic crowns in a single appointment. • Enjoy our garden views and personalized music selections. • Call today to experience the next level of dental care!
167 East Chestnut Street • Asheville, NC 28801 • www.ashevillesmiles.com •
828-251-2426
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 47
At least this is what I try to tell myself when I’m looking for pants at Goodwill and every waist-cut I find measures size 46 or wider.
THANKS!
But congratulations to the many, many rest of you who have better luck when combing the racks. At this point, though, it’s not about luck. Goodwill’s inventory, although it necessarily consists of variables, is constantly satisfying. I think it’s time to gain some weight. — J.B.
Mountain Xpress Readers for voting us
#1 Dive BAR October 6 • George Terry Paintings Art Opening pinball, foosball, ping-pong & a kickass jukebox • kitchen open until late
504 Haywood Rd. West Asheville • 828-255-1109
N at u ra l H
Clothing: Men’s 1. Goodwill (Various locations) goodwillwnc.org
St ore
Thank You!
for making us tops 4 years in a row! Bring in this ad for 15% OFF any 1 item October 14th or 15th. 647 Haywood Rd. ~ West Asheville ~ 253-4747
November - December • Grey Eagle Arena Black Mountain LEAGUE SCHEDULE Men’s - Tuesday Nights
Co-Ed - Friday Nights
Women’s - Wednesday Nights
High School Boys & Girls - Saturdays
Over 30 Men’s - Thursday Nights
Under 14 - Saturdays
League Begins Nov. 8 • Cost: $495/Team For more info call the Black Mountain Recreation & Parks office at 828-669-2052 or www.bmrecreation.com 48 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Convenience Store
2. Hip Replacements 72 N. Lexington Ave. 255-7573 hipreplacementsclothing.blogspot.com 1. Gas-Up (West Asheville) 405 Haywood Road 252-5589 thegasup.com 3. Honeypot Tammy Wilson, manager of the Gas-Up on 86 N. Lexington Ave. 225-0304 Haywood Road in West Asheville, was ex-
E
Ba by
L of FAM L A
2. Goodwill (Various locations) goodwillwnc.org 3. Virtue 58 N. Lexington Ave. 254-4200 1virtue.com
While local gents may not have an overwhelming array of boutiques from which to cull their nattiest looks, there are certainly some fine options available. And yet Goodwill wins out as their favorite clothier. Options galore can’t hurt, and neither do the prices (if you really want to go easy on the wallet, try the buy-by-the-pound section of the store at 1616 Patton Ave., Asheville). Plus, bonus points for recycling (Goodwill’s merchandise is pre-owned) and for supporting Goodwill’s programs. According to its website, Goodwill “transforms donations into jobs and job training for thousands of people in northwest North Carolina each year.” And that, folks, is smart shopping. — A.M.
cited by the distinction of Best Convenience Store, but she was quick to defer the credit to you, Asheville. “I think we have the best customers,” Wilson says. When asked to speculate on why the independently owned Gas-Up stands out from the manifold other such quick-stop outlets, Wilson spilled the Boston baked beans (twofor-a-dollar at Gas-Up). “If someone asks for a specific product, if we can get it, we do,” she says. But the real draw? “We feed their dogs. That’s the top secret.” Gas-Up’s win completes the trinity at the intersection of Haywood Road and Westwood Place, which includes Harvest Records (“They’re wonderful neighbors!”) and The Admiral. Before you assume that there’s something auspicious about that location (and there may be), Wilson says it’s just another Asheville neighborhood, albeit a great one, that she is happy to serve. “We’re part of a neighborhood,” she says. “We’re not part of a strip. We try to cater to the neighborhood.” — J.B.
2. West Village Market and Deli 771 Haywood Road 225-4949 westvillagemarket.com 3. Hip Replacements 3. BJs foodmart 72 N. Lexington Ave. 255-7573 hipreplacementsclothing.blogspot.com 10 Michigan Ave. 258-3132 2. Union 18 Haywood St. 259-3300 unionasheville.com
Clothing: Women’s
Garden Supply/ Nursery
1. h Minx 64 N. Lexington Ave. 225-5680 minxasheville.com
1. h B.B. Barnes 3377 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 650-7300 bbbarns.com
To be a minx is to be all coquettishly comehither and, indeed, Minx Boutique is a bit of a flirt. The downtown Asheville shop has the cozy feel of walking into one’s own closet (only bigger and nicer, and with a couch); racks of clothes seem hand-chosen. Floaty dresses nod to vintage silhouettes, bold stripes and modern denim are rocker chic, the shoe collection (Seychelles! Gidigio!) is well-edited and the handbag assortment includes vegan options. So it’s already a treat to shop at Minx (especially when one of the boutique’s many sales is on) and then, bonus (and this might be the most important thing): The mirrors are flattering. — A.M.
Western North Carolina is home to gardeners big and small. It seems that everyone is getting their hands dirty, whether in a tiny backyard box or a half-acre of vegetables and trees. A good gardener requires an outstanding nursery, and growers throughout the region have declared that B.B. Barnes is the one. In addition to roses and evergreens, the nursery offers classes, too. B.B. Barnes also offers landscaping services, perfect for those who don’t have the time or inclination to build a stone path or pick shrubs for the lawn. And if gardening seems a little daunting, or building walkways isn’t your thing, B.B Barnes has
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 49
PHOTO BY HALIMA FLYNT
lBEST
JEWELRY DESIGNER (TIE) h PAULA DAWKINSm
advice for the, shall we say, horticulturallychallenged among us as well. — J.N.O.
2. Jesse Israel and Sons 570 Brevard Road 254-2671 jesseisraelandsonsnursery.com 3. Reems Creek Nursery 70 Monticello Road, Weaverville 645-3937 reemscreek.com
Gift Shop 1. L.O.F.T. 53 Broadway St. 259-9303 loftofasheville.com I didn’t know what robosexual was until I visited L.O.F.T. recently. Not to be confused with the organization L.E.M.U.R., which actively searches for UFOs, this Broadway establishment for “Lost Objects, Found
Treasures” offers an eclectic mix of items for your home or cubicle: odd books, such as the two-volume Urban Dictionary (a “robosexual” is someone whose, umm, sexual orientation leans toward robots, as inspired by the character Bender on Futurama). There’s also one of the largest selections of Savon de Marseille (a well-known French soap) you’ll find in Asheville. And yo-yo’s (real yo-yo’s). There’s no mistaking the curious collection of wall art — palm-reader signs, scads of blue-dog paintings, some colorful chicken-inspired decorations (I think I saw a dancing red chicken on the wall) and a 3-foot-by-5-foot work of art that staff have dubbed an “awesome painting.” I’m no art critic, but it looked to me like someone’s bride was being viewed through a kaleidoscope. Very colorful. While pondering the meaning of that piece, I checked all the drawers on a big, old-fashioned office desk painted blue. They call it “blue desk.” I call it my kind of found treasure. — M.W.
50 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
2. Willow’s Dream 210 Merrimon Ave. 225-5922 willowsdream.com 3. Foundry 92 Charlotte St. 255-2533 digfoundry.com 3. Ten Thousand Villages 10 College St. 254-8374 asheville.tenthousandvillages.com
Grocery
they do, and that’s why the grocery went from the one-store Dinner for the Earth in 1975 to multiple locations in multiple Southern states. It’s why Earth Fare often wins either Best Grocery or Best Environmentally Friendly Store each year. But here’s why my 71-year-old mother shops there: “They carry a lot of the yogurts I can’t get everywhere else; they hire old people; they have that good charcoal you like; and they have lots of those little shopping carts, so I don’t have to lean over and hurt my back to get stuff in and out of them.” She pauses a moment and adds, “That’s a good thing, giving old people a chance.” — M.W.
1. Earth Fare 1856 Hendersonville Road and 6 Westgate Parkway 2102. Ingles (Various locations) 0100 and 232-9951 earthfare.com 669-3678 ingles-markets.com Yogurt, charcoal and little carts.
Sure, Earth Fare sells a host of environmentally friendly products and lots of local stuff like cheeses, produce and meats. It’s what
3. Greenlife (Whole Foods) 70 Merrimon Ave. 254-5440 wholefoodsmarket.com
H
E
L of FAM L A
Thank You Asheville for 8 Wonderful Years!
Please join us for
HARVEST RECORDS PRESENTING
BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY IN MARSHALL ON OCTOBER 5TH! ALSO WELCOMING BONNIE’S NEW ALBUM “WOLFROY GOES TO TOWN” OUT NOW ON CD & LP 415 HAYWOOD ROAD WEST ASHEVILLE 828.258.2999 WWW.HARVEST-RECORDS.COM BUY SELL TRADE CDS & VINYL
SELL TIX TO ALL ORANGE PEEL & GREY EAGLE EVENTS
25% Off ALL Merchandise! 2 for 1 Disc Repair FREE Kids’ Rental! All Movies Are for Sale Over 40,000 Titles in All
ORBIT DVD
West Asheville 783½ Haywood Rd. • 251-1337
TV EYE Video Emporium
Downtown 108 N. Lexington Avenue • 254-2123
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 51
PHOTO BY BILL RHODES
lBEST
ARTS/CRAFT FAIR h THE big craftym
Head Shop 1. Octopus Garden 80 N. Lexington Ave. and 1062 Patton Ave. 254-4980 and 232-6030 octopusgardensmokeshop.com The variety of ways in which tobacco can be used seems to increase by the day. At the inverse rate, the options to pursue those innovations becomes more limited. Nearly two years since Asheville’s indoorsmoking ban took effect, and a bit less than that since smoking was banned on city property, Octopus Garden remains steadfast in its support for its customers. And customers support the Garden. It’s a match not seen since J met B. (Any hand-rollers out there?) According to the company’s website, the accessories emporium offers “a wide variety of products in several shapes, sizes and colors so that you can enjoy smoking tobacco in an authentic way.” Even though the smoke is clearing in tobacco country, there’s always a groovy invertebrate (or two) on Lexington or Patton to put a spark to your stogie. Who knows,
52 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
maybe one day someone will invent a way to smoke underwater. Interested customers will know just where to look for that element-defying device. — J.B.
2. Wonderland 33 Patton Ave. 225-5035
2. Blue 1 Swan St. Biltmore Village 277-2583 bluegoldsmiths.com 3. Elementality 3 S. Tunnel Road 299-4751 elementalityonline.com
3. The Circle 426 Haywood Road 254-3332 thecircleasheville.com
Local Farm
Jewelry Store
1. Hickory Nut Gap Farm 57 Sugar Hollow Lane, Fairview 628-1027 hickorynutgapfarm.com
1. h Jewels That Dance 63 Haywood St. 254-5088 jewelsthatdance.com Diamonds may (or may not) be a girl’s (or boy’s) best friend, but jewelry-design gallery Jewels That Dance is a best friend to jewelry fans. In business since 1983, the downtown Asheville studio and showroom specializes in unique pieces — custom designs, Asheville charms, trendy right-hand rings and romantic keepsakes. Oh yeah, if diamonds are your best friend, Jewels That Dance has an exclusive collection of conflict-free South African sparklers. — A.M.
Hickory Nut Gap isn’t your grandma’s dairy farm. In fact, it’s not the owners’ grandma’s farm either. The fourth generation has vastly expanded the family operation — with a history beginning in 1916 — from dairy production to grassfed beef, pastured pork and pastured poultry. They also offer agritourism opportunities, including a farm store, U-pick pumpkins and, starting next summer, U-pick blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. “Our mission is to connect people to agriculture,” says part-owner Jamie Ager. “We have fun things for kids to do, but we also strive to tie that to an educational aspect based on our idea of good agriculture.”
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 53
We would like to thank everyone for voting Good Stuff in this year’s Best-Of. AND Invite you to a celebration party for our fifth year in business [and fun]. Saturday, October 22nd Starting at 3pm Sample tastings, music, reindeer games... ...and now Good Stuff Grocery is styling with “YUM!” Our new restaurant serves up some of the finest this side of the French Broad.
828-649-9711 • www.goodstuffgrocery.com
Their idea of sustainable production goes back with the generations, but the terminology is new: the farm is now certified organic. “Production matters,” Ager says, acknowledging it matters not only to his family but those in Western North Carolina who buy and enjoy their products. Visit the farm seven days a week through the end of October. — M.C.
2. Flying Cloud Farm 628-3348 flyingcloudfarm.net 3. Warren Wilson College Farm 298-3325 warren-wilson.edu/~farm
Local Fashion Designer 1. R. Brooke Priddy, Ship to Shore shiptoshoreshop.com “I always feel the most affection for the task at hand, and at the moment I am building my most ambitious project to date,” reports fashion designer R. Brooke Priddy, the creative mind behind Ship To Shore. That ambitious project is a 16-foot-long gown for an outdoor installation at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem (on display Nov. 3-March 4, 2012). Placed in the property’s lake, it’s “a floating ball-gown with hand-printed fabrics featuring a camouflage of cotton and tobacco leaves.” — A.M.
2. Moe Erin Donnelly, Sew Moe sewmoe.com 3. Sarahbeth Larrimore, Unabashed Apparel unabashedapparel.com
Local Food/ Drink Product 1. Buchi drinkbuchi.com Think Woody Harrelson would have opted for a beer while strolling this year’s Lexington Avenue Arts Festival? Don’t be so quick to typecast! With his Cheers days long gone, he headed straight for Asheville’s locally produced kombucha, sporting a Buchi shirt and all. Harrelson knows what others have known for ages: that the fermented tea is full of probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and organic acids purported to have many health benefits. That’s why self-described “earthy mamas” Jeannine Buscher and Sarah Schomber started handcrafting their kombucha commercially three years ago. Resonating with local restaurateurs, natural grocery stores, and all of you, they use organic tea, organic sugar and fresh mountain water to create Buchi. They let the ingredients ferment naturally by the kombucha culture. Keep drinking the famed “tea of immortality,” Woody. Asheville looks forward to seeing you
54 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
at LAAFF and in movies for years to come. — M.C.
2. Lusty Monk Mustard lustymonk.com 3. Beer 3. Spinning Spider Creamery goat cheese southerncheese.com/ Pages/spinningspider.html
Local Jewelry Designer 1. Blue, Susan West 1 Swan St. Biltmore Village 277-2583 bluegoldsmiths.com 1. Paula Dawkins, Jewels That Dance 63 Haywood St. 254-5088 jewelsthatdance.com Jewelry designer Paul Dawkins of Jewels That Dance has been having such a fabulous season that she barely had time to answer our question about one of the recent additions to her line, the right-hand ring. “I designed the freeform ring as a way to set diamonds and other gemstones in not quite so formal a presentation,” she says. “After all, Asheville is a very casual town. It seems to me as people move into Asheville, they shed their old lives and embrace the Asheville way.” Dawkins wants her jewelry to complement that kind of personal transformation. blue is the studio of Susan West, whose passion is for goldsmithing and jewelry design, but who, according to her bio, “spent a fair amount of time making furniture for the movie industry.” That might explain why West’s work has a certain cinematic flair. Some of her pieces include a wide white gold ring set with a cluster of lavender and natural diamonds that seem to orbit a large purple sapphire, and her “soul” chainlinks, a funky and whimsical bracelet. The description reads, “appropriately named ‘the soul’ because it reminded us of the torso of a woman that was moving to a beat.” — A.M.
2. Amber Hatchett, Vintage Vanity etsy.com/shop/thevintagevanity 2. Susan Marie Phipps, Susan Marie Designs 4 Biltmore Ave. 277-1272 susanmphippsdesigns.com 3. Chris Van Dyke, Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft 29 Biltmore Ave. 281-4044 vandykejewelry.com/index.php 3. Joanna Gollberg, Joanna Gollberg Jewelry 216-8369 joannagollberg.com 3. Hush, Jordana Thompson elementalityonline.com/hushjordana.html
SECOND SATURDAY SHAKEDOWN ART SHOW 10/8 - 11/11
â&#x20AC;&#x153; 2011
heady glass, local art & funky fashion
â&#x20AC;?
426 Haywood, West Avl Reception on 10/8/11 from 6 - 9pm
thecircleasheville.com 254-3332
MIDDLE
!
mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ VOLUME ONE â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC 2011 55
Black Mountain Restaurant
Voted one of the Best Mountain Xpress 2011
PHOTO BY BILL RHODES
2011
lBEST
CONVENIENCE STORE h GAS-UPm
Musical
Instrument Shop 1. h Musician’s Workshop 319 Merrimon Ave. 252-1249 musiciansworkshop.com While the trajectory of instrumental music may seem bleak to traditionalists faced with virtual guitars and iPhone pianos, Musician’s Workshop, founded in 1967, is sticking by hand-played instruments. This is not to say that the Merrimon Avenue retailer is averse to technology. Much of the store’s inventory is suited to shredding and feelin’ the noise.
An Event by Aaron Karcher www.collapseband.com
But with a diverse selection that includes percussion sets, microphones, recording equipment and keyboards, Musician’s Workshop seems to want you to start a band. The store will even help you learn how to do that — your part, anyway —
56 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
with its extensive music-instruction programs. — J.B.
2. Acoustic Corner 105-F Montreat Road, Black Mountain 669-5162 acoustic-corner.com 3. Guitar Mama 610-A Haywood Road 505-1717 theguitarmama.com
OutdoorGear Shop 1. h Diamond Brand 2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden 684-6262 diamondbrand.com The folks at Diamond Brand must be having too much fun. There are all these happy-smiling people on their website, and they’re all out there on the rivers and in
the woods doing stuff. Camping, hiking, kayaking, running, backpacking, exploring, sledding in the snow. And when you talk to the owners, they’re excited about Diamond Brand’s work in the community (the company has been here in Western North Carolina for 45 years; the original, manufacturing side of Diamond Brand goes back even further, to 1881 in Philadelphia). You’d think a company that old would be slowing down some. But not Diamond Brand. It’s too much fun out there. — M.W.
2. Second Gear 444 Haywood Road 258-0757 3. REI 31 Schenck Parkway 687-0918 rei.com/stores/117 3. Black Dome Mountain Sports 140 Tunnel Road 251-2001 / (800)-678-2367 blackdome.com
THANK YOU ASHEVILLE FROM
A warm thank you Asheville for voting us as one of the best in the artisan jeweler category! We are delighted to be a part of this community and look forward to many more years serving you. Chris Van Dyke, GG Jeweler, Proprietor
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 57
Compassionate People Providing the Best Animal Emergency Care
Animal Emergency Hospital
Continuous overnight monitoring by veterinarians Advanced imaging including digital radiography and ultrasonography Transfusion medicine (whole blood, packed RBC’s and plasma) Specialty medicine consultation including radiology, cardiology, pathology, toxicology and internal medicine Feeding tube placement and nutritional support Rabbit, avian, guinea pig, reptile, goat and pig emergency care
www.reachvet.com 828-665-4399
Emergency surgical procedures including gastric torsion, splenectomy, nephrectomies, chest tube placement, etc Oxygen and nebulizer therapy Full scope of toxicity treatment; including testing and treatment for antifreeze ingestion. Snake envenomation with antivenin kept in stock Autoimmune disorders Working with primary care veterinarians to provide continuous veterinary care. Doppler and ocillometric blood pressure reading FULL SERVICE EMERGENCY CARE
Thank You WNC!
Mon. - Fri. 5pm - 8am Sat. - Sun. & Holidays 24 Hours
677 Brevard Road Asheville, NC
For Voting Us One Of The
BEST SWEETS / CHOCOLATES
Record Shop Tailgate/ Farmers Market 1. h Harvest Records 415 Haywood Road 258-2999 harvest-records.com
2011 was another big year for recurrent WNC favorite Harvest Records, the West Asheville tune-monger that continues to defy the industry trends that have put CDs and records on the “endangered formats” list in many other cities. The unique concert programming at local venues such as the Grey Eagle has continued (Group Doueh from the Western Sahara, for example). The monthly local-art exhibits remained, as did the storewide sales and the ever-teeming selection of used and new recorded music. But 2011 was also literally a big year, as Harvest doubled its square-footage with an expansion and renovation in the early spring. There is now an entire other room for the store’s augmented vinyl inventory, record players and related accessories and a small stage for in-store performances. What could be next? Will the store constitute a new part of town all of its own? The Harvest District. It could be a bus stop. Or at least the title of the documentary we all know will be made someday. — J.B.
Locally owned and operated! Open 7 days a week!
26 Battery Park, Asheville • (828) 252-2639 • 116 W. State St., Black Mountain (828) 669-6119
At North Asheville Tailgate Market on a Saturday morning, you can pick up fresh local veggies, meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, producer-made crafts and birthday cake. OK, it’s not a cake-forbreakfast Saturday every week, but it happens at least once a year on Luther Bailey’s birthday. Earlier this month, the longtime perennial plant vendor turned 92. Market members Cathie Osada and Susan Mallard whipped up homemade cakes and a colorful sign announcing the celebration. “There’s a great sense of community at our market,” says Director Janice Sitton. “The positive energy and camaraderie is almost tangible.” The market’s long history is no doubt a reason; 2011 marks its 31st year. But even though such vendors as Bailey (as well as many shoppers) have been there since the beginning, Sitton assures, “There’s always something new to see.” Keep your eyes peeled for new farmers, new produce and, if you’re lucky, a big slice of free cake. The market is open 8 a.m. until noon, April through November. — M.C.
2. Asheville City Market asapconnections.org/citymarket.html
2. Karma Sonics 19 Biltmore Ave # 102 259-9949 3. West Asheville Tailgate Market buyappalachian.org/listing/west-ashe3. Static Age Records 82-A N. Lexington Ave. 254-3232 ville-tailgate-market staticagerecords.com
Shoe Store 1. h Tops for Shoes 27 N. Lexington Ave. 254-6721 topsforshoes.com While Tops for Shoes isn’t exactly overrun with competition — especially in downtown Asheville — when it comes to footwear, the much-loved local store operates as if the stakes were extremely high. Separate men’s, women’s and children’s sections are stocked with styles that range from casual to high fashion and classic to trendy. And then there’s the sale section — racks upon racks of must-haves, enhanced by (be still our fluttering hearts) penny sales. — A.M.
2. Discount Shoes 1266 Brevard Road 667-0085 3. Foot RX Running 63 Turtle Creek Drive 277-5151 footrxasheville.com 58 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
1. h North Asheville Tailgate Market UNCA campus northashevilletailgatemarket.org
Wine Store
1. The Wine Studio of Asheville 169 Charlotte St. 255-5955 winestudioasheville.com Asheville is stacked with yoga studios dedicated to the practice of that act and art studios where paint and clay and other materials are turned into images and objects. The Wine Studio of Asheville has become such an outlet for the vinous types. The shop does have a formidable selection of vintages from around the world, displayed on wall units that accentuate the shop’s open-floor layout, but the salable bottles are somewhat ancillary to the outstanding wine-education activities regularly hosted at the Studio. Of note: Winesday Wednesdays, a tasting of five wines for $5, the proceeds of which go to a different area organization each month. — J.B.
2. Asheville Wine Market 65 Biltmore Ave. 253-0060 ashevillewine.com 3. Hops & Vines 797 Haywood Road #100 252-5275 hopsandvines.net
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US... An Extraordinary Experience in Eye Care
ASHEVILLE’S #1 YACHT CLUB 4 YEARS IN A ROW & 1ST PLACE PEOPLE’S CHOICE FOR SPECIALTY WINGS!
The Envision Team would like to thank our fantastic
Tiki Bar & Killer Food Emporium
patients for voting us #1 BEST EYE HEALTH CARE
Nightly Food & Drink Specials - 7 Days a Week! Half-Priced Appetizers Sun. - Thurs. - 4pm - 7pm 65 Local Micro & Domestic Beers
in WNC!
Our Team of experts pledges to deliver the finest in eye health care and client service.
www.myenvisioneyecare.com 180 Charlotte St | Asheville, NC | 828-254-6757
Daily 4pm - 2am • Late Night Kitchen
87 Patton Ave. 828-255-TIKI Locally Owned & Operated! Catering Available
Thank you Western NC for voting us
Best Chiropractor for 2011!!!!
2011
Focusing on patient specific care, Dr. Myers utilizes Active Release Techniques® (ART®), Chiropractic care, Graston technique, patient specific rehabilitation, and nutritional supplements to improve the functional health of every patient. “ART® is simply the fastest and most effective way to get back after an injury. I use ART® regularly to prevent injury in the first place!!” -Kelly
3106-E Sweeten Creek Rd. • Asheville, NC 28803
828-676-0963 www.bmyerschiro.com “Be
good to yourself. If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?” –Kobi Yamada
Thank You
Mountain Xpress Readers for Voting Us
#1
Local Beer Selection
42 Biltmore Avenue • (828) 255-0504 barleystaproom.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 59
60 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
$5 Off
2-Topping Large Pie at Both locations,1 Per Customer. Valid thru October 2011.
2011 Serving you since 2004
Big Thanks to all our customers for voting us #2 BEST PIZZA in WNC!
New York Pizza & Signature Sandwiches Slices & Whole Pies • Featuring Boar’s Head Meats & Cheeses 640 Merrimon Avenue Asheville 28804 254-5442
12 Biltmore Avenue Asheville 28801 225-5552 • 225-5554 mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 61
School (Pre-College) 1. Evergreen Community Charter School 50 Bell Road 298-2173 evergreenccs.com It’s easy to “speak green” without following through, but at Evergreen Community Charter School, environmental education is “woven throughout everything we do,” says Executive Director Susan Gottfried. The east Asheville kindergarten through eighth-grade institution was recognized in 2008 as one of the Top 10 green-grade schools in the country. Its long list of environmental initiatives includes waste-free lunches, biodiesel-fueled buses and a cold-water aquaculture program.
creative and try new things,” he says. And joy equals longevity. Mele’s got one student whose three older siblings also came through his class. (His own two sons attend Evergreen, as well.)
F O W T S E B wenty-ElevenNC T
“I have my entire heart invested in my students and their families, and I know this is where I’m supposed to be.” Humor intact despite a long field-trip day, he adds: “I want to be that old, old teacher, bent over with white hair, who’s been there so long they’re whispering behind his back, secretly wondering how they can get rid of him.” — M.M.B.
2. Chris Weaver, Evergreen Community Charter School 50 Bell Road 298-217 evergreenccs.com 3. Tom Williams, Asheville High School 419 McDowell St. 350-2500 ashevillecityschools.net/schools/AHS/ Pages/default.aspx
Small class size does its part in the scholastic realm. Last year, Evergreen earned an Honor School of Excellence award when 94 percent of its students scored proficient or above on statemandated end-of-year tests.
Clothing: Kids’
Parents are nuts about the school because “we have maintained our focus,” is Gottfried’s thoughtful assessment. Service learning and “a culture of community” is part of the vision, too. Even kindergarteners put in time at MANNA FoodBank and at Animal Haven of Asheville. “They help clean out the chicken coops, comb the pigs,” she says. “And they love it.” — M.M.B.
1. h The Littlest birds 647 Haywood Road 253-4747 thelittlestbirds.com Although quaint and low-profile from the outside, this West Asheville shop harbors a lucrative tri-fold concept within: Littlest Birds sells high-quality consignment clothes along with national lines in new organic kids’ wear and locally crafted kids’ clothing and accessories.
2. Asheville High School 419 McDowell St. 350-2500 ashevillecityschools.net/schools/AHS/Pages/ default.aspx 3. Isaac Dickson Elementary 125 Hill St. 350-6800 ashevillecityschools.net/schools/ide/Pages/ default.aspx
Lyndsi Devito, who makes baby-teething necklaces out of Baltic amber, was a featured vendor until August, when she and her husband, Justin, also became the store’s new owners. Justin says there will be “a lot of continuity” in the freshly hatched Littlest Birds. Besides new and pre-worn clothes, specialty toys, baby-wearing wraps and cloth diapers will remain features.
Teacher
But the Devitos plan to increase their offerings of the latter item, as hip parents increasingly use them. “We’ll definitely be expanding some of the product lines, including diapers,” says Justin. Another addition will be a line of essential oils meant for babies and children.
1. Tony Mele, Evergreen Community Charter School 50 Bell Road 298-2173 evergreenccs.com
The store was named (with permission) after a song by beloved Americana trio the Be Good Tanyas. That band may be gone, but their bohemian DIY spirit lives on in their signature tune’s retail namesake. — M.M.B.
It’s perfectly logical that WNC’s favorite instructor would work at WNC’s favorite school. But then again, Tony Mele doesn’t follow dry formulas. That’s why the seventh- through eighth-grade social-studies teacher is such a natural fit at Evergreen Community Charter School, where he’s taught world and American history for 10 years. Evergreen emphasizes environmental education, service projects and a holistic approach to learning. Academics are important — charter schools have to meet standardized testing requirements. “But we also engage a kid’s heart, mind, body and spirit,” says Mele. “We give them the freedom to find their strength, discover what they’re good at, and work toward that.” Having the trust and respect of the administration has “given me the incredible freedom to be
62 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Small-human Wonders!
2. Goodwill (Various locations) goodwillwnc.org 3. Mountain Play Lodge 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 676-2120 mountainplaylodge.com
Daycare 1. Asheville Jewish Community Center 236 Charlotte St. 253-0701 jcc-asheville.org It may be the case that parents of young children are the most fastidious voters in the Best
2011
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 63
PHOTO BY HALIMA FLYNT
lBEST
SCHOOLh EVERGREEN community charter schoolm
of WNC poll when it comes to where to place the little rascals during the day. That makes the resounding choice for Asheville Jewish Community Center doubly decisive. The JCC has earned top honors every year since we began polling for the best in area kids’ resources in 2009. According to the organization’s website, kids are more than looked after when they spend the day at 236 Charlotte St. The host of activities includes “field trips, arts and crafts activities, cooking projects and community service work [to] offer children a chance to expand their knowledge through hands-on experience.” Check the “JCC Stories” link on the center’s website for an array of parental testimonials about the school-year programs and the popular Camp Ruach summer sessions. — J.B.
2. YWCA Asheville 185 S. French Broad Ave. 254-7206 ywcaofasheville.org 3. Mountain Area Child and Family Center 2586 Riceville Road 298-0808 macfc.org
Entertainer 1. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
secretagent23skidoo.com Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, with help from his daughter, the charming and talented Miss Saki (aka MC Fireworks), makes music that kids love and that doesn’t drive adults crazy. Skidoo’s blend of affirming lyrics, danceable beats and catchy melodies is more than just kid-friendly entertainment — it’s positive hip-hop with a powerful message. “I gotta be me!” resonates with the old, young and young at heart. — R.S.
2. Billy Jonas billyjonas.com 3. Par-T-Perfect par-t-perfect.com/locations/usa/ asheville-north-carolina
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
less-adventurous child) and a liberal helping of cheer from the staff. Oh yes, and a selection of stellar ABC beer for the parents just makes the whole experience that much more delicious. Where else can you have this much fun as a family? It’s no wonder Asheville Pizza has earned the honor eight years in a row. The Pizza Co. is a wonderland for kids and adults alike. (Read more in the Pizza category.) — R.S.
2. The Hop Ice Cream Café 640 Merrimon Ave. Suite 103 254-2224 thehopicecreamcafe.com 3. Mellow Mushroom 50 Broadway St. 236-9800 mellowmushroom.com
Place To Entertain Kids
1. h Asheville Pizza & Brewing 1. Splashville 1 W. Pack Square Co. 675 Merrimon Ave. 254-1281 # 513 packsquarepark.org ashevillebrewing.com Ingredients for a successful restaurant outing with the minis: one vibrant and upbeat atmosphere, dozens of games (both board and video), one big menu with options ranging from the wild to the plain (for the
64 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
It’s downtown, it’s free, and in the heat of Asheville’s ever-hotter summers, it’s a welcome oasis. Opened as part of the newly revamped Pack Square Park, Splashville is a large dais-style fountain that shoots up
water in alternating plumes. Besides getting doused, the fun part is guessing when the geysers are timed to go off — it’s a headscratcher that absorbs everyone from toddlers to teens. Parents can keep an eye on the proceedings from nearby benches, although trees farther around the perimeter offer some relief from the sun. (These include a grand magnolia rescued from the chainsaw after much dramatic intervention.) Splashville faces Pack Square Park’s openair stage, topped with Hoss Haley’s sculptural latticework pergola. It’s the venue for the outdoor mountain-music series Shindig on the Green — like Splashville, a summer diversion only. In colder months, the area’s open amphitheater style is a visual respite from the close bustle of downtown, and a natural epicenter for major events. (Bill Clinton spoke there, tardily, last year; hundreds of fans seemed content to wait out the former president’s hours-late appearance while enjoying the park’s scenic fall tableau, a view of Sunset Mountain.) — M.M.B.
2. Mountain Play Lodge 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 676-2120 mountainplaylodge.com 3. Western North Carolina Nature Center P.O. Box 19151 298-5600 ext. 319 wildwnc.org
Protect your overall health by maintaining a healthy mouth! Research has shown a direct link between poor oral health and heart disease, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT NOW! ★ Same Day Emergency Care! ★ General Dentistry ★ Exclusively Mercury-Free Fillings ★ Dental Implants ★ Cosmetic Dentistry
★ Laser Dentistry ★ Braces for Adults and Children ★ Headache & TMJ Treatment ★ Sleep Apnea
& Snoring Treatment
Excellence in DENTISTRY
Dr. K. Donald Jackson, DDS ) “Creating bright smiles through quality ) care in a friendly atmosphere!”
“Every dentist office should be like Dr. Jackson’s. I get courteous, professional service with great follow-up. They have gone to great lengths to keep me scheduled and rescheduled for appointments. Exceptional!” – Satisfied Patient
N E W PAT I E N T O F F E R
BRACES FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN
(you save $121) Expires in 30 days • One offer per person
(you save $475) Expires in 30 days • One offer per person
Initial Exam & X-Rays $59
FREE Workup & Consultation
900 Hendersonville Road, Suite 107, Asheville (1 Mile South of I-40)
CALL US TODAY! 828-277-6800
2009 2010 2011 mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 65
ng Center Offces & Traini d! NewRd., Mills River, NC 28759 e v o M rnpike ’ve 828-891-8800 We 5 Old Tu 23
Call Today for a FREE Quote!
Awarded ‘GREEN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR’ by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Winner of Blue Ridge Growth Award for Largest Growing Business in Henderson Co.
www.cleanstreakinc.net Apply online to Join Our Winning Team
PHOTO BY HALIMA FLYNT
FRANK’S NY DELI ★★★★“Simply the best!” ★★★★“I just ate the best sandwich I ever had…” ★★★★“Frank’s is the best sandwich in town.” See what our customers say: menupix.com & urbanspoon.com
ViSit OuR New LOCAtiON - Mid OCtObeR 2145 Hendersonville Rd. ¼ mile South of Long Shoals Road Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm, Sat: 10am-5pm • 3732 Sweeten Creek Rd., Arden
828-687-7474
lBEST
TEACHER h TONY MELEm
Toy Store 1. h Dancing Bear Toys 418 N. Main St. Hendersonville 693-4500 dancingbeartoys.com If you run in Asheville parental circles, you’ve likely heard the sniffing designation of mainstream, made-in-China toys as “Cheap Plastic Crap” (by now, it should be CPC for short). But one needn’t bow to the Amazon God for artisan alternatives.
66 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
In WNC, we’re spoiled with numerous independent specialty-toy stores. Offerings include classic sets (Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Legos), newfangled building tools (e.g., Zoob or Brio blocks), cuttingedge science- and nature-theme toys, rustic wooden vehicles, dolls with character and, generally, any fun object that’s durable, attractive and well-crafted in America or Europe. (Germany is a major exporter of quality toys.)
movement. The staff always has time for parents’ questions — even during holiday-shopping mayhem. And the store’s well-maintained website sorts inventory by category: action figures, construction, musical toys, etc. Looks like CPC might be DOA. — M.M.B.
Dating back to 1989, with current prominent locations on Asheville’s Tunnel Road and on Main Street in Hendersonville, winner Dancing Bear Toys has been on the forefront of the good-toy
3. O.P. Taylor’s 2 Town Square Blvd #130 and S. Broad St., Brevard 681-1865 and 883-2309 optaylors.com
2. The Toy Box 793 Merrimon Ave. 254-8697 toyboxasheville.com
L of FAM AL
E
H
Thanks for Voting Us Best Antique Shop in WNC!
Authentic Chinese Cuisine Dine In & Take Out
Thank you for voTing us 2nd besT Chinese resTauranT! HOurs: Sun - Thurs: 11am - 10pm • Fri - Sat: 11am - 10:30pm
48 Westgate Parkway Asheville, NC 28806
828-236-3839 • www.orientalpavilion.com Westgate Pkwy
Westgate Shopping Center
We DelIver
so
Re rt
MsG Free
Dr 240
828-252-7291 • www.atbarn.com
ton Pat
Ave
Exit 3B
the original
asheville SPEED DATING
sophisticated scratch-made food from the earth
contacts
GET CONNECTED …FAST
Thanks for voTing us one of The besT afTer only 10 days in business!
friendship
romance 2011
165 merrimon avenue • (828) 258-7500 • www.plantisfood.com
and in person Events are held monthly for different age grounps! For more information go to:
www.avlspeeddating.com
828-242-2555
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 67
2011
Aw Phuket, Order me a Bangkok Shrimp!
68 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 69
Backcountry Hike 1. Shining Rock Wilderness hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/ pisgah/shining.html 2. Art Loeb Trail hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/ longdistance/artloeb.html 3. DuPont State Forest dupontforest.com
Biking Trail
F O W T S E B wenty-ElevenNC T
You know you’re on a tough race course when the guy in front of you with a “Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body” T-shirt starts walking. The 13.1 mile course hits a few of the biggest hills in town, including up Sunset Mountain via Cherokee Road, climbing Alclare Drive in north Asheville, and then scaling switchback after switchback on Lookout Mountain. And what do runners get for all their trouble? Finishing up the Walnut Street hill. After you’ve already logged 12.5 miles. What made this test of endurance displace last year ’s winner, the Bele Chere 5K? Race Director Greg Duff mentions several factors: Asheville’s popularity as a destination, the growing numbers of runners who want to take on the 13.1 mile distance and the race’s willingness to incorporate runner feedback to make improvements each year. It’s now the biggest road race in WNC by almost 1,000 runners, with more than 2,300 registered participants. The after-party is one of Asheville’s biggest, too, and includes a nice cold Highland beer for all the over-21 runners. — B.U.
Bike Race 1. ORAMM (Off-Road Assault on Mt. Mitchell) blueridgeadventures.net/oramm A 102-mile bike ride with more than 11,000 feet of climbing up Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rocky Mountains, is our readers’ favorite?! What makes a laidback, life-is-good kind of town vote for this brutal gear-grinder of a ride, one that takes experienced cyclists anywhere from five to 12 hours to complete? As any resident in this drum-banging beer city can tell you, we take our recreation very seriously.
70 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
3. Green’s Lick
1. Asheville Citizen-Times half-marathon
1. Pisgah National Forest hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah 2. Hot Springs hotspringsnc.org 3. Davidson River hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/ pisgah/davidson.html
2. PMBAR (Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race) pisgahproductions.com 3. French Broad Cycling Classic frenchbroadcyclingclassic.com
2. DuPont State Forest dupontforest.com
Foot Race
Place To Camp
The Freewheelers Bike Club of Spartanburg puts this event on every May. Due to National Park Service and Mt. Mitchell State Park rules, the ride is held on a Monday and is limited to 750 riders. The field is composed of club members, weekend bikers with a high pain threshold, even a couple of pro teams and a few top-tier male and female riders. As if 28 miles of up, up and more up wasn’t enough to contend with, last year there was light rain and 40-degree temperatures on top of the mountain, adding what many described as “Insult to Assault.” — B.U.
1. Bent Creek hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/bentcreek.html
2. Bele Chere 5K ashevilletrackclub.org 3. Shut-In Ridge Run shutinridgerun.com
Sensational spots for recreation!
Hike With A View 1. Max Patch localhikes.com/ Hikes/maxpatch_0480.asp 2. Black Balsam hikewnc.info/ trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/black.html 3. Craggy Pinnacle hikewnc. info/trailheads/parkway/guidedhikes/craggypinnacle.html
ASHEVILLE’S BEST KEPT SECRET We Have NFL Ticket - All Games
*FREE*
*FREE*
Smoked or Fried
Pork, Beef, Chicken
JumBO WINGS
BBQ SANDWICH
From 4-7pm, mon-Fri With purchase of a beverage. Limit one per customer. Expires 9/28/11
HAVE YOuR NEXT PARTY HERE!
From 11am-3pm, mon-Fri
IT
AL
IAN
SMOKE
VERY KID FRIENDLY
U HO
SE
(828) 299-8183
With purchase of a beverage. Limit one per customer. Expires 10/31/11
ORDER YOuR NEXT SmOKED TuRKEY HERE!
8 B E V E R LY ROA D • D OW N TOW N H AW C R E E K • E . A S H E V I L L E
Thanks for VoTing smokey’s one of The BesT gay Bars in WnC!
2011
Monday: Beers & Balls night - Free Pool & $2 domestics oPen 7 nights-a-Week 4 pm-2am • 18 Broadway • downtown 253-2155
Thank you Mountain Xpress readers for voting us one of the Best Jewelers in WNC
4 B I L T M O R E AV E • D O W N T O W N A S H E V I L L E • 2 7 7 - 1 2 7 2
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 71
PHOTO BY MAX COOPER
lBEST
foot RACEh CITIZEN-TIMES HALF MARATHONm
Hiking Trail
1. Nantahala Outdoor Center 888-905-7238 noc.com
1. Mountains-To-Sea Trail ncmst. org 2. Graveyard Fields hikewnc. info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/graveyard.html 3. Bent Creek hikewnc.info/trailheads/pisgah/pisgah/bentcreek.html
It’s only an hour’s drive to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, but it feels like another world. A world where everyone’s energetic, enthusiastic and having a whole lot of fun. Rafters, kayakers, swimmers and observers, campers, hikers … everyone’s hanging out on the Nantahala. The NOC has been at it since 1972, and it shows: they run a seamless, pro operation out there. The friendly staff will hook you up with gear, training, guides and expertise — everything you need to enjoy that world of adventure. — R.S.
Paddle/Kayak/ Rafting Company
2. French Broad Rafting Expeditions 9800 U.S. Highway 25/70, Marshall (800) 570-7238 frenchbroadrafting.com 3. Green River Adventures 111 E. Main St., Saluda 749-2800 greenriveradventures.com
72 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Swimming Hole 1. Skinny Dip Falls hikewnc.info/ trailheads/parkway/guidedhikes/skinnydipfalls.html 2. Sliding Rock ashevillenc.com/ area_info/swimming_holes 3. Hooker Falls, DuPont State Forest dupontforest.com/explore. asp?location=hookerfalls
Tubing
There’s really no better way to spend a hot summer day than floating down a cool mountain river. And there’s really no better river to float down than the Green, which takes tubers through a deep gorge about a 45-minute drive southeast of town in Polk County. It’s a relaxing float trip, with just enough whitewater to keep it interesting and remind you to keep a tight hold of your beverage (nonalcoholic beverages only, however, as county authorities made the controversial decision to ban alcohol on the river in 2007). Several outfitters supply tubes and shuttle service along the river. Among the best is Green River Tubing, which offers tubes and rides up and down the stream for $5 a person. The river relies on dam releases by Duke Power, however, so it’s best to call ahead and make sure there’s enough water to ride. — J.F.
1. Green River Green River Cove Tub- 2. French Broad River ing, 5200 Green River Cove Road, Saluda 3. Deep Creek 828-749-3781 greenrivertubing.com
VOTED #1 PIZZERIA AND DELIVERY IN WNC by Asheville Citizen Times
Frankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roman Pizza New York StYle Pizzeria Serving the Asheville Area Since 1977
NY StYle Pizza GeNer o loaded wit uSlY h FreSh iNGredieN tS & Baked iN r eal Brick oVeN S
L of FAM AL
Thanks, Asheville, for voting us â&#x20AC;?Best Art Supply Storeâ&#x20AC;? Seven Years Running! E
H
$4 OFF Any Size PizzA
trueblueartsupply.com |
/
,+ *+ / - . /,+ .* - 1 0 / *+ .-
Introducing Dr. Pamela Putman ! $# " # % ! # # ! # ! # ! # ( ! # ! ! " " ! $# "# !# ( !" " # ( "# # # "# & ! & ! # ! ! $# ! $" % % # # $ # " # " # ( % % & # # $ #$! # ! ! $# ! % ! &" ! # ( ! # "#!( ) " " " # % ( ( # ! ! # # "#" # ( # "#!( " ! "" ! ! " ! # " ! "$! !( #" ' " " # # # $# ! "#!$ # ! $# " ! # American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Society, and Florida Dental Association
Now welcoming New Patients. Call for appointment 828-645-3797
Dr. Pamela Putman DMD, FAGD 200 Newstock Rd. Asheville, NC 28804
645-3797
I-26 exit 21, then 1/2 mile west
35¢ Wings Every Tues.
Dine-in Only
Dine in only. Can not be combined with any other offer. Exp. 10/31/11
Open 7 Days a week â&#x20AC;˘ Visa, MastercarD & aMerican express accepteD DeliVery charge $1.39/1.89 â&#x20AC;˘ Min. $10 OrDer fOr DeliVery
Visit us at www.franksromanpizza.com
asheville 298-5855
90 south tunnel rd. (Across from Walgreens)
west asheville 667-0225 339 sardis rd. (Near Biltmore Lake)
J>7DAI \eh Lej_d] Ki ' <?L; O;7HI ?D 7 HEM @E?D KI
E9J$ '&#', <EH EKH
7DDK7B EF;D >EKI; I7B;
DANCiNg BeAR ToyS
144 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, NC â&#x20AC;˘ 255-8697 418 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC â&#x20AC;˘ 693-4500 mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ VOLUME ONE â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC 2011 73
HOLY CRAP, ASHEVILLE! YOU REALLY LIKE US!!! #1 Best Place to Dance
all weekend, every weekend
#1 Best Local Karaoke Night every Wednesday at 10pm
# 1 Local DJ, Kipper Schauer
2011
shaking your rump every Saturday
#1 Photographer, Micah MacKenzie our resident shutterbug since opening day
#2 Best Local Trivia Night
every Thursday at 9pm with Michael McMurtrey
#2 Best Bar
not bad for a toddler!!
#2 Best Hipster Bar
ummmmmm...at least on Sundays & Tuesdays?
We’ll keep getting better. You keep voting. In the meantime, we want to thank you with a TREAT... And maybe a few TRICKS. October 31st. Be here. Xoxo,
828-258-1400 • 130 COLLEGE ST., PACK SQUARE • facebook.com/arcadeasheville 74 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 75
Animal Shelter
Pet Kennel
1. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue 31 Glendale Ave. 505-3440 bwar.org
1. You Work, I’ll Play Dog Daycare 677-A Brevard Road 665-1010 ywipdogdaycare.com
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue has only been a licensed shelter for two years, but a dizzying schedule of promotional events and fundraisers has catapulted the no-kill organization to the forefront of local animal advocacy (it’s won Best Shelter both years).
F O W T S E B wenty-ElevenNC T
Its beginnings were modest. A “small group of volunteers” began fostering needy animals in their own homes, but passion and ambition lead the group to incorporate within a year. It now boards more than 80 dogs and 30 cats in its professional facility, in addition to maintaining nearly 100 animals in foster homes. Brother Wolf is also highly involved in the Animal Coalition of Buncombe County, working closely with the Asheville Humane Society and operating a transport program that relocates adoptable animals from overcrowded shelters to lesscrowded, no-kill facilities in the Northeast. — D.S.
You Work, I’ll Play manages up to three dozen dogs daily, and pooches have access to indoor and outdoor play enclosures and relaxation areas with beds, television and radio to make them feel at home. For owners who suffer separation anxiety, the kennel provides a number of live webcams so nothing is left to the imagination. “I’m sure most people won’t be surprised to hear that the best part of the job is the unconditional love we receive from the dogs,” Lydic says, adding, “the worst part is probably having to spend freezing cold winter days outside cleaning up dog poop.” — D.S.
2. Asheville Humane Society 14 Forever Friend Lane 761-2001 ashevillehumane.org 3. Animal Compassion Network 803 Fairview St. 274-3647 animalcompassionnetwork.org
2. Bed and Biscuit 1420 N. Fork Road, Black Mountain 669-6578 bedandbiscuitpetspa.com 3. Pet Vet On Patton 2 Hansel Ave. 232-9990 petvetonpatton.com
Groomer
Pet-Supply Store
1. Waggers Dog Depot 1020 Merrimon Ave. 271-4741 waggersdogdepot.com Keeping dogs clean is a constant battle. Aside from matted hair and seasonal shedding, the old best friend has a knack for finding less-than-sanitary places to roll around, walk through or rest upon. Luckily, Waggers Dog Depot offers a variety of pooch-pampering options, from a Deluxe Spa Package that includes facial scrub, ear cleaning, nail trimming and a haircut to an a la carte menu and a convenient self-serve wash. “We definitely have clients that want a unique twist on the groom that represents their own personal style,” says owner Debbie Freitas. “That keeps the fun in it.” But is it fun for the dogs? “One of the most rewarding things we do is to take in a scared dog that has never been to the groomer, and after a few visits they run ahead of their owners to come in the shop,” Freitas says. “Once the grooming is finished we bring them out to their owner and they spin to show off their new cut and newfound confidence. It’s good stuff!” — D.S.
2. The Soapy Dog 270 Depot St. 350-0333 thesoapydog.com 3. Hair of the Dog Pet Salon 1210 Hendersonville Road 274-4150 76 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
“Dogs are masters of entertaining each other,” says Jill Lydic, who, along with her husband, Jason, founded You Work, I’ll Play Dog Daycare as a labor of love five years ago. “We are usually the referees in their made-up games.” Along with day sitting, the kennel offers customized training and overnight boarding to keep Rex well behaved and socialized on those occasions when canine discrimination rears its ugly head.
1. h PetSmart 150 Bleachery Blvd. and 3 McKenna Road, Arden 298-5670 and 681-5343 petsmart.com One-stop shopping hardly does PetSmart justice. The warehouse-like retail outlet offers everything from toys, food, medications, bedding and collars to Halloween costumes, “fall apparel” and DNA test kits to identify your furry friend’s breed.
Phenomena of the animal kingdom!
In addition to goods, the company provides a host of services such as overnight boarding, day care, grooming and training with accredited instructors. For those with more exotic tastes (or allergies), PetSmart sells a variety of fish and reptiles, along with all the accessories their cold-blooded hearts could desire. And what pet store would be complete without a chorus of chirping birds and spinning rodent wheels? PetSmart carries more than 20 varieties of flying friends, from parakeets and finches to conures and doves, along with a dozen “small pets,” ranging from the hairless fancy rat to the chinchilla, undoubtedly the cutest animal on the menu. Not a pet owner yet? Check out the “adop-
mountainx.com • VOLUME ONE • BEST OF WNC 2011 77
PHOTO BY HALIMA FLYNT
lBEST
DOG KENNELh YOU WORK, I’LL PLAY dog daycarem
tions” section of the company’s website for resources to find homeless rescues in the area. This diversity has earned PetSmart a place in the Best of WNC Hall of Fame and six consecutive titles as Asheville’s Best Local Pet Supply Store. — D.S.
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is best known for its animal shelter, but the organization does far more than board the homeless pets in its own facilities. In addition to maintaining a large network of fosters, Brother Wolf created a cooperative program with other local shelters that transports adoptable animals to less-crowded, no-kill facilities in the Northeast, no doubt saving the lives of thousands of happy, friendly animals. (Read more in the Animal Shelter category.) — D.S.
2. Asheville Pet Supply 1451 Merrimon Ave. 252-2054 3. Pet Harmony 803 Fairview St. 274-3647 animalcompassionnetwork. org / pet-harmony 2. Animal Compassion Network 803 Fairview St. 274-3647 animalcompassionnetwork.org
Rescue Organization
1. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue 31 Glendale Ave. 505-3440 bwar.org
3. Asheville Humane Society 14 Forever Friend Lane 761-2001 ashevillehumane.org
78 BEST OF WNC 2011 • VOLUME ONE • mountainx.com
Veterinarian 1. Animal Hospital of North Asheville 1 Beaverdam Road 2533393 ahna.net Having a sick or injured pet is like having a sick family member: For many, it’s one of the most stressful and frightening experiences imaginable. The Animal Hospital of North Asheville understands this dilemma and has dedicated more than 30 years to providing our community’s four-legged friends with care to have them chewing, purring and playing again in no time. It was the first animal hospital in Asheville to receive AAHA certification, and its staff of eight certified specialists regularly attends continuing education courses to ensure their patients receive the most cutting-edge treatments available.
In addition to surgeries, X-Rays, dental services, emergency treatment and overnight care, the hospital provides more common services, such as general wellness exams and a full-service pharmacy. The hospital’s dedicated and caring staff also donate their time to community outreach and volunteer work, fundraising for animal welfare organizations, providing assistance to local animal shelters and serving on directory boards for numerous organizations. This is the hospital’s second consecutive victory. — D.S.
2. Charlotte Street Animal Hospital 208 Charlotte St. 232-0440 charlottestreetanimalhospital.com 3. Pet Vet on Patton 2 Hansel Ave. 232-9990 petvetonpatton.com