Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
I’m all over the place with intel. Part of this is collecting and posting several newsy tweets I had from last week, just in case you missed ’em. There’s soooo much going on. Here you go:
-Tattoo artist in Asheville: Former Miami Ink tattoo artist has apparently moved to Asheville, according to this post. More photographic evidence here. More on Ami James here.
-Keeping tabs on a Tourist: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson was recently drafted to play baseball with the Texas Rangers. Wilson used to play minor league ball in Asheville with the Asheville Tourists. Check out his stats.
-Pepperoni’s: Pepperoni’s Gourmet Pizza in Black Mountain is planning to open a new location in the Walmart shopping center on Hendersonville Road. (It’s the same shopping center where a new bouldering gym called Iron Palm is planning to open.)
-Asheville Sandwich Company: The awesome sammich shop has plans to open a new eatery at 491 Sardis Road, according to an Ashvegas reader who snapped a photo for me. The ownership group also recently bought the old Digable Pizza building on Haywood Road.
–The Raleigh Digest backlash continues: There are posts today from Heather at speakingforbuncombe.com and Sean at ScrutinyHooligans. First from Heather on her frustration with the Asheville Citizen-Times’ publication of the insert:
The publisher’s response should have been strong and unequivocal. Instead, his tepid apology further marred the ACT’s credibility. I want the paper to succeed. However, with the newsroom lay-offs, this political insert business, and the announcement of more canned news — it all makes me wonder how long we will even have a local daily.
And from Sean on the claim that The Raleigh Digest is a news competitor, not paid political advertising:
This is in no way a comprehensive look at the failings of The Raleigh Digest, but I feel that I’ve adequately shown that Tim Moffitt’s attempt at publishing a bona fide newspaper has fallen woefully short. He cleaves to no accepted journalistic standards and the resulting work can only be seen as an effort to start an early campaign for his re-election. Which is fine, just don’t try to call it journalism.
-Altamont Theatre update: The Altamont Theatre, billed as Asheville’s best listening room, has cut way back on its schedule of music in the space. It may be headed more to use as an event space with catered events. Case in point: the after-party for the Christmas Jam was held there.
-Biltmore Square Mall update: Two Boston developers will remake Biltmore Square Mall into 325,000 square feet of outdoor outlet center. Current tenants have to be out of Biltmore Square Mall by the end of January. Belk and Dillards own their space. As for Cinebarre, which everyone asks me about, there’s no word on them. They may be negotiating a plan to stay.
-Smoky Mountain Adventure Center: Stuart Cowles, owner of ClimbMax, plans to open a new adventure center along Amboy Road next year. It will be a one-stop shop for folks looking for outdoor fun.
-River Arts District building rehab: There’s a plan to rehab small brick building at 14 Riverside Dr. to include public restrooms and serve as an information center for tourists. The space may also serve as an “innovation” center for new businesses starting up.
-The Cardinal Sons to record in Asheville: Gar Ragland, who recently relocated to Asheville and brought his record label, NewSong Music, with him says The Cardinal Sons will record album at Echo Mountain Studios in 2014 on his label. Charlie Sexton, singer-songwriter guitarist who once played with Dylan’s backing band, will come to town to produce it. The Cardinal Sons were the winners of a songwriting contest Ragland’s label hosts.
-Opera update: David Starkey of Asheville Lyric Opera says that in 2014, the opera will go to year-round calendar. That’s a vastly new approach locally, and nationally, for programming and fundraising. Starkey says he’s getting a lot of inquiries about the new approach.
-Asheville Cinema Festival: Next year, just as in years past, the Asheville Cinema Festival will feature Weinstein films. But in 2014, talent that’s worked on films will visit fest, according to organizer Tom Anton.
-Mural update: Three finalists have been chosen for new city of Asheville mural to be painted on the back wall of the public parking deck at Aloft Hotel. There were 152 applicants. Two of three finalists are artists from Asheville area. Announcement of finalist names will be made next month, according to Debbie Ivester of the city of Asheville.
Awesome that my reddit post was used on this!
FYI, Ami just tweeted me that he has indeed moved to Asheville.
For the Biltmore square mall outlet project, the developers are doing a similar project at the old palm beach mall in Florida. It should be similar to that project.