Ashvegas Hot Sheet: Big Crafty crushes it in downtown, eyes 2-day event next year

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More of what’s going around:

-In case you missed it, The Big Crafty crushed it this past weekend in the event’s new location at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville. The place was mobbed with shoppers. The annual fall event, which features the work of area artists and craftspeople, moved to the civic center after several years at the Asheville Art Museum/Pack Place. With remodeling work on the art museum, and the event just outgrowing the space, organizers landed at the Cellular Center. Vendors filled the arena floor and the concourse and fans flocked to shop. Word on the street is organizers are considering a two-day event at the Cellular Center next year.

-Eight employees of Everyday Health in Asheville were laid off on Monday as the company was acquired by online info giant Ziff Davis in a deal valued at $465 million. Everyday Health acquired Asheville start-up DoctorDirectory last year for $65 million.

-The Asheville Planning & Zoning Commission meets Wednesday afternoon. Hot agenda items: review of construction plans for an eight-story, 185-room hotel located on 2.05 acres known as 192 Haywood Street; and a site plan review for the development of a four-story, 37,600-square-foot hotel located on 1.65 acres at 509 Tunnel Road.

-The Asheville Downtown Commission meets Friday morning. Hot agenda items: a presentation on downtown infrastructure priorities, and an update on Pritchard Park improvements.

-The Asheville Technical Review Committee on Dec. 19 will get the first look at plans for a new hotel near Biltmore Village called Biltmore Station Hotel. The committee will review plans for a four-story, 120-unit hotel located on parcels known as 29 Garfield Street and 61 Thompson Street. The properties are owned by CFAP Biltmore Sub, LLC.

-Asheville Wordfest is set to return in 2017, likely in April. Stay tuned for details.

-Asheville musician Aaron Woody Wood will celebrate the re-release of two of his albums with a show and fundraiser for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue starting at noon on Sunday at The One Stop.

4 Comments

chad December 9, 2016 - 11:10 pm

I’m disappointed I missed the big crafty this year. I swore two years ago I would never return because the art museum was such a terrible venue for this event. I’m happy to see they’ve moved it to a more reasonably sized venue. I’ll happily returnnow that it is not housed in an undersized crowded hallway.

Big Al December 7, 2016 - 11:18 pm

Please DO make this a 2-day event. Some of us work most Sundays, but when I didn’t I loved going to this event.

luther blissett December 9, 2016 - 5:02 pm

Making it a two-day event might be tougher on some of the vendors if they feel obliged to spend a night in town (with all their inventory) but the venue’s definitely an improvement on the Art Museum and Pack Place: much more room, and more time to linger at each booth. Even then, it was sometimes a squeeze for those on the concourse and not the arena floor. (One complaint: the civic center staff ruthlessly enforcing the “no outside food / drinks” rule, combined with lame concessions inside.)

Big Al December 10, 2016 - 8:06 am

All good points. I still hope they can work it out to have a second day.

Hey local hotels, show some LOVE LOCAL and offer a DISCOUNT!

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