Ashvegas Hot Sheet: Pritchard Park renovations continue this spring

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Some of what’s going around:

–Renovations to Pritchard Park in downtown Asheville will continue this spring, with the installation of new irrigation and new lighting. A city spokeswoman said the work will also include new fencing around some planting beds, as well as some new signage. (Tree trimming and a fountain repair were done late last year.) The work may require some “rolling closures” of the park, but the park will remain open and none of the programming, which includes the popular downtown drum circle, will move, says spokeswoman Polly McDaniel. During a Friday morning meeting of the Asheville Downtown Commission, member Byron Greiner told the group that the park would be closed for the renovations. McDaniel said there had been some discussions about how the work would be handled, and she apologized for any confusion, but stressed that Pritchard Park would remain open.

–Wicked Weed is going to start brewing beer at another location in south Asheville, reports the Mountain Xpress. The 57,000-square-f00t existing facility in Arden is dubbed The Funk House.The popular craft brewer already makes beer at its Biltmore Avenue location, as well as a new manufacturing facility in a business park in western Buncombe County. It also stores/cellars brew at its Funkatorium location on Coxe Avenue.

–The Collider, a new downtown meeting space and location for entrepreneurs in the Wells Fargo bank building on Patton Avenue, held its official grand opening Friday. The “next-generation innovation hub” brings “business and science together to find climate change solutions,” according to The Collider’s website. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, founding philanthropist Mack Pearsall, and The Collider CEO Bill Dean spoke to over 230 business leaders, elected officials, climate scientists, researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs at the event, according to a press release.

-There’s a new small business in Asheville that will tour visitors through Asheville’s African-American neighborhoods, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. Hood Tours is the brainchild of Asheville native DeWayne Barton.

-Fans of UNC Asheville men’s basketball can watch with the team on Sunday as it finds out who it will face in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. “Fans can show up to Overlook Hall at 2175 University Heights at 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening. Food and drinks will be served,” according to a press release.