Local Designers Strut Their Stuff in Unique Fashion Show Benefiting the Asheville Community “Project Runway” Fashion Revival.

Asheville, NC – Back by popular demand, the Asheville Jewish Community Center (JCC) is hosting a Project Runway event on Sunday June 24, 2012 at the Fine Arts Theatre in downtown Asheville to raise funds for its diverse programs serving a large spectrum of the local community.

This JCC event is open to the public. Project Runway is a fashion show with a comical spin, featuring music and the latest couture by Asheville’s creative community. Breakfast is also served!

From those who sew for fun in their spare time to professional designers; some of Asheville’s most innovative fashionistas are gearing up to showcase their original clothing designs.

“You won’t see another fashion show like this one,” says Carol McCollum, event producer. “It is a lighter, fun-filled version of the popular Project Runway TV Show, with lots of laughs and surprises; and it’s all for a good cause.”

Local Celebrity Judges will select the Winners; and prizes will be awarded for the best of show, and best of each of 6 (six) unique categories:

1. Professional Designers Seeking Gig (Self Employed Designers)
2. Available at Local Businesses (Existing products at retail shops)
3. I Sewed It Myself (Amateurs)
4. Only in Asheville Couture (Designers using innovative materials and/or techniques)
5. Up-cycled One-Of-A-Kind Day/Evening Wear (Clothing redesigns)
6. Professional/Semi-Professional, Tasteful (Family Friendly, Comical, Drag Queen Division)

All proceeds go directly to the JCC, a non-profit organization supporting those in need throughout the Greater Asheville area. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is assisting with Project Runway and welcomes donations of pet food and/or pet toys at this event. Bring some!

What: Asheville JCC “Project Runway” Fundraising Event
When: Sunday June 24, 2012 – 10am-Noon
Where: Fine Arts Theatre – 36 Biltmore Ave, Asheville NC 28801 (downtown)
Who: Open to the Community – all ages welcome
Cost: $18 per person (Spectators or Entries) *Includes “Breakfast in a Sack”

Advance purchase 1st come, 1st serve at the Fine Arts Theatre or the JCC Front Desk 236 Charlotte St, Asheville NC 28801. Tickets will also be available online soon on the JCC Project Runway event page on the website: http://su.pr/2WRTVk

For more information about tickets, events or sponsorships: Contact Carol McCollum (828) 626-3777 or by email carolannmc@msn.com

Event Flyer by OX+CO

Double D’s Coffee and Desserts in downtown Asheville is a community landmark. I love going to the upper level, all tight and crunched in, having some coffee, snacks, a meeting or just for fun. I even hired Audrey Goforth to do a photo shoot of my two daughters up there about 2 years ago. And the pictures came out awesome!!

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack is located in West Asheville on Patton Ave. This is one of the places that folks say has the best chicken in the area. The other popular choice being Little Pigs on McDowell St.

Strada Italiano in downtown Asheville has such a delicious Antipasto appetizer that, like me, you will be back for it again. Also see the Arancini recipe posted on their blog recently. Yum!

Brioso Fresh Pasta has recently blessed me with the best Ravioli in the area! This Italian restaurant is located in South Asheville in Biltmore Park Town Square and it is definitely worth stopping by. Read the blog post “Brioso Fresh Pasta in Asheville NC”

Bar of Soap on Merrimon Ave in North Asheville has a few food items on their menu in addition to there beer bar, laundry room and bookstore. I like sitting in the lounge area while many washing machines are going. It feels like I am reading a book on a kids roller coaster. And when you are drinking beer, oh my, the room spins hahaha.

Pho R Us opened recently in South Asheville. When we showed up to eat there, some of the staff from Asiana were leaving at the same time with big smiles on their faces. The food  and service is great. We watched the manager walk from table to table, introducing himself, sometimes sitting down, and making a personal connection with all. The decor definitely needs help, but that may come in time, hopefully sooner than later.

Tallgary’s Cantina in downtown Asheville has some great sliders on pretzel buns! A must try if you like beer or chicken sliders. Also see their blog post on Tacos and Wings.

Frank’s Roman Pizza in East Asheville has a delicious pepperoni pizza waiting for me! And you too. Great restaurant that has been in the area for 35 years now. I love the Calzone they make too!! Also see the Frank’s Roman Pizza Blog.

Nick’s Grill in North Asheville has an awesome cheeseburger pita among many other items that are made on the spot, while you wait, even if you are in the drive-thru.

Champa Thai and Sushi in downtown Asheville already has some great offerings. Here is the lunchbox they served us. So good! Big things planned for this restaurant in the up and coming months. A great twist and addition to the local foodie scene is evolving.

Sisters McMullen in North Asheville is a great breakfast spot and bakery. I have been going here for years. They have moved several times, but I have always been quick to find them!

Storm Rhum Bar is a great spot in downtown Asheville! I was meeting with Amy from OX+CO and she treated me to this delicious burger and beer.

Old Europe has been one of our fave places for years. Coffees and Desserts galore! They were forced out of their old location on Battery Park with a extreme rent increase years ago, had to shut down for awhile, but have since opened on on Broadway in downtown Asheville. Stop by and show your support for this great and delicious place.

White Duck Taco Shop in the Asheville River Arts District is our favorite taco restaurant in the area. We stood in line outside for 15 minutes, and then inside for another 5 minutes before we even got to order. And… it was worth every minute. Yes, it is that good!!!

Oh, and do not forget to read these other Asheville Foodie Posts:

1. A Visit to Early Girl Eatery in downtown Asheville

2. Asheville Restaurants in Biltmore Park Town Square

3. Cate’s Hot Dog Stand in Asheville – Meet Victor

Ok, I am getting hungry. One question: Have you been to these restaurants and foodie spots in Asheville? Please comment and tell us your experience. Thank you!

Blog Post by: Gary – G Social Media

If you have not been up to Biltmore Park Town Square in South Asheville, you are missing a great world of shopping, eating, movies and more. They did a great job building a town out of pretty much nothing. We head up there weekly or at least every two weeks for one thing or another. We have even considered moving there, right in the heart of town. Having many great food options in one spot is more of a luxury instead of a competition. There is a little (or a lot) of something for everyone to eat!

P.F. Changs is located immediately upon entering into Biltmore Park Town Square. We definitely love the Asian food they offer.

131 Main is located to the right of the Biltmore Regal Grande movie theater. We have not eaten here yet, but we have heard great things about this place.

Brioso Fresh Pasta is one of our faves. We have actually eaten there 3 times in the past 7 days. The Ravioli alone is definitely worth the trip. Prices are so very reasonable for the quality of food they offer. Nice looking craft beer and wine bar too!

Travinia is also a nice spot to eat in the area. Our friends have raved about this place many times.

Brixx Pizza is a great spot for pizza and beer, and several other items to eat. We have been there about 5 times.

Hickory Tavern is another nice  spot in the area to eat a great variety of foods and hang out. They also have a big bar. We have been there about 7 times.

Mosiac Cafe is a breakfast and lunch spot in Biltmore Park Town Square. As far as I know, they have the lockdown on breakfast in the whole area. Great food!

Neo Burrito is also in the area, offering Burritos and more. I guess this is the “latin twist” in the community.

And don’t forget the Luscious Roux located in the Hilton Asheville Hotel! The only restaurant that does not “stand alone” and they have delicious food offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Stop by and check these places out! Foodies are sure to find several places they will love.

***Blog post by Gary – G Social Media

Asheville North Carolina definitely does not have a shortage of Attorneys in the area. Attorney Sam Craig of Craig Law Firm is one that we have got to know over the years and that has been a huge part in social media and networking opportunities in the local community. We have ran into Sam at LinkedIn meetings, Business openings, RelyLocal Asheville events, and many others places. He is someone we have found to be sincere, social and extremely business oriented.

We have great relationships with many Attorney firms in the Asheville area. Van Winkle, Ball-Barden & Bell, Leake & Stokes, Lentz & Associates, Eugene Ellison, Johanna Finkelstein, and John Sterritt are just a few that have been there for us personally when we needed them for one thing or another. Then we have our Asheville Attorney friends on Twitter.. Thomas Beckett, Katherine Dare, and Sam Craig of course; who are just a tweet away. We call them the Asheville Social Media Attorneys. Love it!

Asheville Attorney Sam Craig focuses on Business & Commercial Law, Property & Real Estate Law, Construction Law, Civil Litigation, Wills, Estates & Trusts and several other keys areas that enter into every one of our lives at one time or another. We have called Sam Craig frantic at times. He takes a step back, listens attentively, carefully answers questions, and points us in a wise & reasonable direction. He has a website which means he is keeping up with technology and the Internet world; and he even has an “About Sam Craig” more personal page on his site. We are glad that Sam is a part of our hometown community, Asheville North Carolina.

The atmosphere is great, more of a clean, higher end feel; and the prices were definitely not murderous. We started with a spinach and artichoke appetizer that was very tasty.

We were the first ones at there, so by the time Dana delivered our meal, Asheville folks and visitors started piling in for lunch. The meals consisted of Lasagna, Ravioli 2 different ways out of their many selections, and the Gnocchi.

See the Brioso Fresh Pasta Lasagna below:

See the Brioso Fresh Pasta Ravioli with Pomodoro Sauce below: (I ordered it with “light sauce” – the way I like it)

See the Brioso Fresh Pasta Ravioli with Cream of Mushroom Sauce below:

See the Brioso Fresh Pasta Gnocchi below:

When I got ready to leave, I picked up a gift card, so I will be back to South Asheville to dine here again! Great looking bar with craft beer on tap as well. Loved that I was able to look in the Italian Kitchen, see some pasta being made from scratch, and meals being prepared. Thank you for a great meal Brioso!

Early Girl Eatery in downtown Asheville is nothing new to us. I remember years ago when several of us had offices on Wall Street and this new restaurant opened up. Souper Sandwich was the place to be (it has since closed) and then suddenly this new place called Early Girl Eatery took over the spot where Possum Trot Grill used to be.

Of course all of us had our favorites at Early Girl since day one. I remember one of the staff loved the biscuits and gravy, another was all about the traditional breakfast, and another always got the latest and greatest creative dish that they had to offer.

A great breakfast was born in downtown Asheville NC. Julie and John planted a seed in the community that has yet to be duplicated and that could never be replaced. Today that landmark stands strong, and has since their opening in October 2001. We were one of the 1st to try them out and have been back repeatedly ever since.

Plenty of breakfast spots have opened since then in the downtown area, but as far as homegrown, Asheville grown… we look to Early Girl Eatery at 8 Wall Street. The fresh, organic yum simply does not end. This was the beginning of us appreciating great food, where it came from, and how it is delivered & cooked.

When you walk into the eatery, you are greeted by a hostess stand with a chalk board behind that shows all of the super fresh local ingredients they incorporate in their recipes and from what farm or company they come from. You are escorted down a corridor to a dining hall walled with windows that face College Street and Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville. The seating is a cozy environment with some tables closer to each other than others; so it is not uncommon to have a short chat with the “guests next door” at the table nearby.

The staff. Well they are extremely Ashevilly; from your average hipster to hippie, or a mix of both, that you will find in the downtown dynamic. They are focused on work, but always willing to talk for a few if they are not packed out, as it usually is.

The breakfast and lunch: It is simply delicious and a favorite of many who live in the Asheville area as well as tourists, which says a whole lot. (Inside joke. Many locals know what I mean) So if you are looking for a great meal in downtown Asheville, Early Girl Eatery is the place to be and sure to please.

If you have eaten at Early Girl Eatery in downtown Asheville, leave a comment below and share your experience with all of us. Thank you.

Almost Complete!!! The Aloft Hotel is estimated to be about 63,521 square feet and it will feature 115 loft-style rooms and that is including four beautiful suites, with a contemporary atmosphere, along with lots of unique amenities, including the W xyz® bar, dining area with an outdoor deck that overlooks Biltmore Avenue, a Starbucks® coffee bar and breakfast shop, a gorgeous 3rd floor outdoor pool deck, cabanas and a full bar that overlooks the surrounding Western North Carolina mountains. There will also be a huge art collection featuring local artists from the Asheville area. The Aloft Hotel will also feature a restaurant and 6000 square feet of retail space facing Biltmore Avenue. A new City of Asheville parking garage will also be included. WOW!

According to the Starwood Hotels website, Aloft opens August 23, and taking reservations September 27.

Some questions people are asking on Facebook:

My wife and I love the Aloft hotels. We are going to be in Asheville mid July, any chance you will be open??

Hi Michael, right now we are shooting for early August, but we will keep you posted if that date changes! Thanks! via http://www.facebook.com/aloftasheville

Hi Aloft! Will your pool be accessible to people that are not staying with you? Maybe offering a pool membership to purchase?

No answer as of yet from http://www.facebook.com/aloftasheville

So a recap: 115 Rooms, including 4 Suites, 6,000 square feet Retail, Mixed-Use Urban Project, Hotel, Retail, Residential & City Parking Deck.
via http://www.mckibbon.com/hotels/67/aloft-hotel-asheville-downtown

New website is looking great (screenshot of the website above, top photo) and I cannot wait to stay there, take a swim and experience everything this place has to offer. This will be the closest thing to a contemporary, luxury beach resort in downtown Asheville! Somebody say YEAH!!! Ok, I just did.

Flyer Design by OX+CO of Asheville NC