Category: Businesses and Dining

Gone are the days of internet cafes, where burgeoning screenwriters would sit for hours deliberating over their craft. While the tradition of typing lazily over a mocha latte on a Tuesday afternoon has endured for many at local coffee shops, this year, those days seem doomed to the past, as well. Instead, serious microenterprise owners… Read more »

Stepping into the large two-story building that is Village Antiques at Biltmore, the curious and familiar alike are always in for a surprise. The showcase floors are filled wall-to-wall with wondrous items that tell the stories of both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, from the southeast United States to the south of France. “It’s really… Read more »

In today’s fast-paced world, shopping can be as quick as the speed of light through fiber optic internet cables. But while online shopping is designed for convenience, “offline shopping” is still your best bet for discovering quality, one-of-a-kind gifts.  From ceramics to foodstuffs to that necklace you noticed caught her eye, artisans across Western North… Read more »

Ten years ago, the downtown corridor of Canton was relatively desolate: Abandoned building after abandoned building. Empty parking lots. Folks only passing through town in search of a gas station on the way to somewhere else. But, in an effort to save the downtown district, a handful of businesses have recently popped up. Two of… Read more »

Is there ever a bad time for pizza?  Cheesy, melty, sometimes greasy, and always satisfying. Rich and complex or breathtakingly simple. Pizza can cover all the categories on the food pyramid—making it the perfect balanced meal, don’t you think? There are times when all you need is a quick slice, and other times where it… Read more »

Every year, local alt-news weekly Mountain Xpress holds a massive online poll. Western North Carolina residents collectively take to their digital devices to vote on all their local faves, from fitness studios to pet kennels. While in no way scientific, and certainly not without controversy among those with strong local loyalties, the Best of WNC… Read more »

We are still a few days away from fall equinox and the official end of summer. But our office is already buzzing about literal changes in the air. Evenings are starting to cool a little faster, leaves are beginning to crunch underfoot. And we’re ready to start our countdown to one of the most treasured… Read more »

A little over five years ago, Megan Brown and Chris Allen saw a need in the gigantic craft beer industry that dominates Asheville and greater Western North Carolina: an alternative. “There’s a lot of people that can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol, but they do want to consume a locally made craft beverage,” Brown… Read more »

What does luxury look like to you?  If you ask the rich kids of Instagram, luxury is epitomized in wasted champagne, massive shopping sprees, cars worth more than the average home, and literal gold bricks. But in today’s fast-paced world, we’d argue that true luxury is the power to escape. Escape the long lines, escape… Read more »

Bryson City-based Nantahala Brewing recently launched outposts in both Sylva and West Asheville. “Our recent retail expansion to Sylva and this expansion into Asheville are a direct result of refocusing on what got us to where we are today,” said Nantahala Brewing co-owner Joe Rowland. “We see our outposts as a way to share the… Read more »