Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
–Venture Asheville, in its newsletter that quotes beerpulse.com, says that upon news of its plans to start distributing in Colorado this week, Wicked Weed Brewing has become the first Asheville homegrown craft brewery to expand its sales west of the Mississippi River. Serving as the company’s fourth location for its roughly 200 employees, a new sour and wild dedicated brewery and barrel-house in South Asheville is slated to start brewing this fall.
– GEARU, a new outdoor recreation business that uses a gear membership program, has opened on Short McDowell Street. Ryan Lansche says he created GEARU to serve locals. Here’s more from a press release:
GEARU is a gear membership program designed by locals, for locals. The idea is simple: sign up for a weekend, month or year membership, and gain access to top of the line mountain bikes, kayaks, SUP boards and all of the accessories that accompany those activities. GEARU offers different levels of membership passes, depending on how hard you want to play: a $50 day pass; a three-day pass for $60; a monthly membership for $75 and an annual pass for $50 a month. (GEARU on Facebook.)
–Biltmore Village is hosting an outdoor dinner at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8. The event is a fundraiser for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Tables will be set up along a street in Biltmore Village for a five-course gourmet dinner. Here’s more:
The event is sponsored by Mtn. Merch, Saint Paul Mountain Vineyard, Southern Seasons, West Carolina Water Treatment, Wells Fargo, and The Village Group of Oppenheimer and Co. Inc. The meal will feature some amazing dishes provided by The Cantina., Catawba Brewing, Corner Kitchen, Doubletree Catering, Fig, Hi-Wire Brewing, Red Stag Grill, Rezaz and The Village Wayside.
Tickets are limited to the first 100 people and are priced at $100 per person. This includes food, wine and craft beer along with a gift bag for each person.
-The first ever Jam in The Trees music event at Pisgah Brewing later this month recently announced that is Jim Lauderdale and Savannah Smith will be joining a lineup that includes The Wood Brothers, The Del McCoury Band, Junior Brown, Willie Watson, The Burrito Brothers, The Secret Sisters, Patrick Sweany, and Leyla McCalla along with a handful of North Carolina artists including Mipso, Chatham County Line, Tellico, Mark Bumgarner, and Unspoken Tradition. The party is set for on Friday and Saturday, August 26-27, 2016.
-The Brewgrass Festival recently announced that its 20th anniversary event will feature The Travelin’ McCourys with special guest Peter Rowan and additional performances the Jon Stickley Trio and Bobby Miller and the Virginia Daredevils. The festival will return to Memorial Stadium in downtown Asheville, NC on Saturday, September 17th, 2016, and include beer tastings from national and regional breweries as well as members of Western North Carolina prestigious Asheville Brewers Alliance (ABA). Tickets are on sale now.
– New York Times bestselling author Wiley Cash will keynote the Literacy Council of Buncombe County’s 9th Annual Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction on Oct. 14 at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, according to a press release. Cash will be joined by his brother Cliff Cash, a comedian who will emcee the event. More:
Proceeds from the Authors for Literacy Dinner & Silent Auction will benefit the Literacy Council’s programs to help people rise out of poverty and get better-paying jobs to support their families. Currently, the Literacy council supports 350 students and 400 book recipients in Buncombe County. General admission is $75 and VIP passes include a meet and greet with the author. For tickets or to make a gift, visit www.litcouncil.com or call LuAnn Arena at (828) 254-3442 x206.
