Just because I can.

I love food. As long as it doesn't contain pork product, uncooked green peppers or water chestnuts, I'm all about it. And as long as I have been in Asheville, I haven't had a bad meal. Not even a mediocre one, really. It's easy to eat fresh and organic and healthy in this town. The salads are creative and there is an abundance of vegetarian options on most menus. So I just thought I'd randomly share with you a picture of a delicious dining experience I had last weekend. Sunny Point Cafe. Yum. This place is right up the street from me, and there is usually a line out the door. But on the plus side, they serve you hot coffee while you wait outside and it's a fun and friendly joint once you get in. Ok, this wasn't the healthiest of options on the menu, but it sure was tasty!
This was their signature quesadilla with roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, and goat cheese, topped with cilantro crema and chipotle aioli and a side of my fave, sweet potato fries. Sweet potatoes, weird cheese, extra sauce and something fried...I'm in. :o)

Kids, don't try this at home.

We headed to Hookah Joe's Thursday night to hear some acoustic tunes and enjoy some smoke. Now I'm not a cigarette smoker, but I do enjoy a delicious clove or cigar on occasion. And the atmosphere at HJ's is just right-- a little like hanging out in your friend's basement, but with comfy, leather couches, live music and an extensive menu of hookah flavors to chose from. We tried two types that evening: a plum/apricot mix and pumpkin pie.

It was Susan's birthday (on the left) at the stroke of midnight. We rang in the evening with our little rendition of 'The 12 days of birthday'...but I have to leave out the lyrics because of the vulgar content. (Bad enough I am kind of promoting smoking, here). We passed around the camera to take some pics and just have fun with it all. As you can see, Scotty (above, also a non-smoker) mastered the smoke ring. Impressive.

Oh, hey...meet my new roommate, Cheyenne. I know you can tell my this photo alone, but she is a super rad roommate.

Hmmmm.

Lydia: one of favorite people I've had the pleasure of meeting in Asheville.

So in conclusion kids: don't smoke. And don't forget to drink your Ovaltine. :o)

Room redesign.

We're pulling a Trading Spaces in the living room here at 99 Vandalia, but without Page Davis, and I'm pretty sure that we've exceeded the time limit if the show. If Cheyenne and I were on a decorating show, it would be called something like “Room redesigns, beer and chicken wings” or “Let's paint for a while and then go eat some food.” It's all good though, and here is a quick preview before we finally transform the room this weekend.

You can see the wall color is kind of a sage-ish green with a hint of grey. The walls were originally beige. Then we chose a seashore blue tone, but the semi-gloss appearance made it look like a “pediatrician's office” according to our roommate, Greg. So...Cheyenne chose a greener tone with an eggshell finish. I thought the difference was going to be subtle, but in fact it is muuuuch better.

Also, check out this groovy chair that Cheyenne got on Craigslist! And it is sooooo comfortable!It's red leather, which is pretty sweet on it's own, but does not fit with the decorating scheme we are going for. So, she is going to stain the leather this weekend to a dark brown. I did not know you could do this, so I am curious to see how it will turn out and to see how easy it is.

The concept of the room is to make it a peaceful place, with the calming green walls, a new (being picked up today!) khaki colored couch, dark brown and rust curtains, and we're going to tie in the rust and dark brown throughout the room with pillows, wall hangings and a quick refinish of a couple pieces of furniture. It's going to be fabulous!

Check out this supercool, groovy chair!

I think Fred approves of it all.

But unfortunately, Fred has not been able to help with the painting process as much as he would like to-- his tail is too waggy and would stick to the walls!

Sons of Ralph on a sold-out Saturday.

Even in Asheville's off-season, where the locals complain it's cold and businesses are closed on Mondays, there is an abundance of fun options most every night...and too many to choose from on the weekends! It was the Fringe Arts Fest in Asheville this past weekend, a dance/music/fun fest put on by the local Bebe Theatre, where people can shamelessly fly their freak flag. My friend Roy and I waited in line for this one, which was to include a theatrical/musical city tour of Asheville on the famous La Zoom bus. We were among a sea of confusion, a man with green hair, a confused box office attendant, there was someone cawing like a bird and feeding people saltines on the street, and sadly we were a mere five people away from the tour being sold out.
So, as my glass is generally half full, I suggested we simply walk up the street and turn the corner in search of something equally as awesome to do (but next year, I'll be sure to get there sooner, to assure that I get a seat for that show!). Roy and I hoofed it up Congress Street and walked up to Patton Ave. (I'm quite proud of myself for learning how to navigate around this city), where he suggested we check out Jack of the Wood, an Irish Pub known for their live music and delicious, local brews.

And we found it. We walked through the door, as we happened upon possibly the two best seats in the house. We enjoyed a few delicious brown ales and porters and danced to Sons of Ralph, a traditional yet alternative bluegrass band. What fun! Check them out: www.sonsofralph.com They were named the best local band in Asheville, 8 out of the last 10 years!

This is Ralph. He's going to be 81 this year and has been playing the mandolin for over 7o years!

It sure was a find...I'll be back to see them again, for sure!

Bamberg, SC

I'd only been in Asheville for a few days when my father called one afternoon.
"I'm at Steve's house," he casually explained.
"Whaaa?" I asked. Steve lives in South Carolina. Apparently, my dad decided to do some traveling for a bit, and stopped at Steve and Dana's for a while, en route to visit his brother in Florida.
So I hopped in Janis for a couple of days to spend some time with my Pops...

It was about a three and a half hour trek to get to Bamburg, SC, just 50 minutes away from Columbia. It's beautiful out there, but it sure is flat and rural! There was an abundance of gorgeous architechture, but a lot of the buildings were vacant. My dad and I went out to lunch and walked around the downtown area, checking out antique shops and stores.

Steve and Dana live on a big piece of property where they raise dogs and horses. This is Dana and her pony, Patriot.

It's difficult to see, but that's my dad out there...cutting down an old oak tree with the horses. I think my dad has really gotten to love life on the farm...horses and all.

Brady, the Tuftan's lovable dog and farm mascot.

Thanks Steve and Dana for having me!

Obama Nation.

What a beautiful thing to look back on an important day in history and recall the details of what you were doing and how you were impacted so profoundly. As a recently transplanted resident to Asheville, I have been thrown in the middle of a flock of Obama Mamas and supporters, who had been waiting for this day for a long time. Don't get me wrong, I was and am 100% Obama. But there is something different in the North Carolina air that rings a bit louder than anywhere I have been since he began his campaign. The fundamental grass roots campaign that helped him win the election is still uniting the community through continued volunteering, faded Obama stickers on the back of car windows, hand painted lawn signs, and even the frequent cheer across a crowd of Yes we can!

I wasn't quite sure I realized the profundity of the situation until I sat and watched the inauguration at noon on Tuesday. When Obama won the election, I kissed and hugged a close friend and went to sleep feeling great about the brink of change our nation stood upon. But when he was inaugurated, I cried. I cried so hard and so unexpectedly as it all hit me at once. Granted we have a ways to go, but all of a sudden I realized I'm not as scared to look to the future. We have a black president. Someone who, amidst the complete chaos our country is in, calmly and confidently expresses that he is certain we can unite to make it strong again. Among so many other great things, we can take pride in our president once again.

All of this said, I don't want to get on a political soapbox, and politics is something that I rarely discuss with others. But Tuesday...this was not a night to be home in a city that comes alive after 10:00 and would be out joining hands in celebration of this amazing change. So while I was tired in the legs from a new dance class I had joined earlier that day (ugh...I am so out of shape!), and I had but a few bucks in my pocket, I went down to the Grey Eagle for the Obama Celebration. It was any other night at the Eagle since I have been there...the $2.50 drink specials...plywood floors...the smell of fried green tomatoes wafting in from the kitchen. But that night offered a certain magic in the air. Between the eclectic mix of a bluegrass and a sweet funk band, amidst the nag-champa filled dance floor, friends seemed to hug longer and smile harder when they greeted each other, chanting and stomping when the bands called out “Obama!” You could feel the change in the room alone, which made me excited for the rest of the world outside of the Grey Eagle, and all that is to come.

The evening's feature was 'Soul Driven Train,' a funky soul jam band, that ended the night in a beautiful drumming session.

Pop Asheville, part deux.

Night 2 of Pop Asheville. Didn't take as many pictures, but spent the night at the Grey Eagle (my official new favorite bar and club in the area), after riding around in the La Zoom bus because...well, because I could. Man that thing is so much fun! I caught 3 of the bands: Holiday Childress, The Champion and His Burning Flame and HeyPenny (shown below).

It was a more laxed evening, but the crowd was building at the Eagle to see the festival feature: StephaniesId. They were the band that started the phenomenom of PopAsheville last year, and played the last set of the evening. You should check them out on You Tube, if you get the chance...they're not going to be playing small venues for long!

The powerhouse lead singer, Stephanie Morgan, rocked the stage and captivated the audience with her amazing voice. And, she is absolutely adorable.

This was the We Are The World-ish ending to the festival. Oh, and look! It's Ami Worthen from Mad Tea Party over there!

So...that was my first weekend in Asheville. :o)