Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
-New Belgium Brewery has begun the second phase of construction on its on-site water treatment facility on Craven Street. Construction will last through the end of the year. Initial plans called for a a treatment facility that would allow for the anaerobic digestion of wastewater on a small footprint. Sierra Nevada, at its new brewery in Mills River, is using the technology on a large scale.
-Speaking of New Belgium in Asheville: Susanne Hackett, one of the brewery’s key public relations and communications employees, has announced that she’s leaving New Belgium to serve as human relations generalist at WSM Craft: Fine Homesteading Building. Hackett joined New Belgium in 2013 after the Colorado-based brewery announced plans for its second location to be built in Asheville. Replacing Hackett is Michael Craft, who will be taking the lead on all Asheville communications for New Belgium.
-Doc Chey’s restaurant on Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville is closing after a 15-year run, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports.
–TEDxAsheville returns on Sept. 10 with the theme “Awakening.” Speakers include Michelle Moog-Koussa, executive director of the Bob Moog Foundation, and musicians Jonathan Scales and David LaMotte.
–Advance tickets are on sale now for the annual Mountain State Fair, which will be held from Sept. 8-17 at the WNC Ag Center.
–Asheville Grit has a great interview with artist and yoga teacher Amanda Giacomini, who’s in town for this weekend’s Asheville Yoga Festival.
-Also over at Asheville Grit, this Ask Audrey column is getting some traction. It’s titled “Do What I Love or Move On? Ask Audrey Tackles the Crisis of Underpayment in Asheville.
-Archetype Brewing on Haywood Road in West Asheville will celebrate its official grand opening from noon to 10 p.m. on July 29. The festivities include beer releases, face-painting, a traveling magic show, sack races, corn hole, live music and more. There will also be a sneak preview of the soon-to-open Gan Shan West’s offerings.
-The Montford Park Players of Asheville, North Carolina’s longest running Shakespeare Festival, has announced that N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed John Russell, its executive director and CEO, to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Arts Council. Russell is in his 12th year as executive director of the Montford Park Players. Born and raised in Asheville, he is a 1970 alumnus of the Governor’s School of North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina, and has worked in arts management for most of his career, according to a press release.
-ASAP’s Local Food Experience will celebrate the connections between farmers, chefs, and artisan food producers from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24 at New Belgium Brewing Co., according to a press release. More:
The event is an opportunity for attendees to meet farmers, chefs, and artisans while sampling small bites highlighting seasonal foods grown and raised in the Southern Appalachians. Attendees can expect local food tastings and plates or dishes from Ultimate Ice Cream, Nightbell, The Montford Bar and Lounge, Ingles Markets, Asheville Tea Company, Waynesville Soda Jerks, Intentional Swine, Ambrozia, and more. They will be featuring Appalachian Grown™ farm products from Sunburst Trout Farms, Imladris Farm, Ivy Creek Family Farm, Green Toe Ground Farm, and many more local farms. There will also be an exclusive local food–themed silent auction, raffle, and door prizes. …
Tickets are $25 per person. Complimentary beverages provided by New Belgium Brewing Co. Tickets can be purchased in advance at asapconnections.org. All proceeds will benefit ASAP. The event will be held at New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven Street, Asheville, NC 28806.
Participating Appalachian Grown Farms and Partners
Nightbell featuring Green Toe Ground Farm
Ingles Markets featuring Sunburst Trout Farms
The Montford Bar and Lounge featuring Ivy Creek Family Farm
Ultimate Ice Cream featuring Imladris Farm
Waynesville Soda Jerks
Intentional Swine
Ambrozia Bar and Bistro
Asheville Tea Company
