Grace Powers

Asheville

City Editor at AVLtoday

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Articles

Niche WNC museums you might not know about

1 day ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Brook Bolen |Grace Powers

Time to expand your horizons. WNC has some unique + wonderful area museums to enlighten you with some off-the-wall knowledge sure to impress your friends and family. Here are seven spots within an hour drive of Asheville. American Museum of the House Cat | 5063 U.S. 441 South, SylvaThis Jackson County gem is one of only a few of its kind in the country and showcases thousands of pieces of cat art and memorabilia, including toys, pottery, sculptures, figurines + more.
Museum of Costume Jewelry set to open downtown this summer

2 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

By the end of the summer, there will be a new crown jewel of downtown. Longtime collector Sharon Ryback is opening the Museum of Costume Jewelry at 60 Haywood St., across the street from Pack Memorial Library. From bracelets to brooches and over-the-top bejeweled necklaces, the hundreds of pieces behind the cases largely come from Ryback’s personal collections. For the past 10 years, she’s been planning to open the museum, giving the works of art a new home for others to appreciate.
Echoes of the Forest honors fallen trees through art

2 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

Helene felled countless trees across WNC, but local nonprofit Echoes of the Forest is turning them into memorials. In the aftermath of the storm, the group’s founder Liisa Andreassen sought to make lasting tributes to the tragedy, connecting with local woodworkers to create art out of the fallen trees called “echoes.” The group will unveil the first echo on Thursday, June 12, at 5 p.m. at Foundation Woodworks.
Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville's new partnership for long-term recovery

2 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

The Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (RSAA) and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) are partnering to support long-term recovery efforts in WNC while bringing reparative justice to a historic West Asheville church. The former West Asheville Presbyterian Church at 690 Haywood Rd. will become the future headquarters of RSAA, to aid the organization’s mission of advancing reparative justice and community healing.
An inside look at Fitz and the Wolfe, a new downtown bar and music venue

3 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

Fitz and the Wolfe has a story to tell. The new bar and music venue occupying the former Isa’s Bistro nods to two important figures in Asheville’s literary history, encapsulating their styles with two floors of nightlife. But with three distinct rooms, you can choose your own adventure. We got a chance to check it out this week. Here’s what to know before the bar hosts its Grand Ole Opening party this Saturday, May 31, celebrating with hours of honky tonk tunes and late night jazz.
The current State of the Arts in Asheville, according to ArtsAVL

3 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

ArtsAVL’s 2025 State of the Arts Brunch earlier this month provided meaningful insight into the recovery of WNC’s creative sector. Since Helene, the organization has distributed more than $1.4 million in Emergency Relief Grants for artists. Here’s a look at how ArtsAVL is utilizing planning, arts tourism, and case studies in its recovery initiatives.
Major investments are coming to three local sports complexes

3 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority approved $2.65 million in funding to restore and improve two local sports complexes, John B. Lewis Soccer Complex and Bob Lewis Ballpark. Through Tourism Product Development Fund dollars, each area will be able to better support traveling sports, tournaments, and local teams. Of the sum, nearly $2.2 million was awarded to the John B. Lewis Soccer Complex to rehabilitate the fields after damage from Helene.
Celebrate 100 years of wildlife at Nature Center Day

3 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

100 years to the day that the wildlife park opened as Recreation Park Zoo, the WNC Nature Center is hosting a special centennial celebration with Nature Center Day. Here’s what you need to know about this wild time:You might want to get there early.
The French Broad Riverfront parks that have reopened

4 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers

Asheville city staff have announced the partial reopening of some parks and recreation areas on the French Broad Riverfront. Amboy Riverfront ParkCraven Street Trailhead ParkCraven Street Bridge Boating Access AreaJean Webb ParkWilma Dykeman Greenway Carrier Park’s picnic shelter, nearby wetlands educational area, and east parking lot are open while the west side remains closed.
Asheville's history through the eyes of a cicada

4 weeks ago | avltoday.6amcity.com | Grace Powers |Declan Lowthian

Ah, the sounds of summer. Cicada Brood XIV is currently emerging from its subterranean slumber across the Southeast, so don’t be surprised if your afternoon walk is underscored by an endless, ceaseless droning noise. This brood only emerges every 17 years, so let’s take a look back at Asheville’s history through the compound eyes of our cicada neighbors. Rolling Stone named The Orange Peel one of the Top 5 Rock Clubs in the Nation.