More Snow?

Well, I'm sorry to hear about even more snow in Asheville! I know that most of the Wednesday activities at the church had to be canceled but I will continue to pray for warm, sunny weather to arrive soon.

We are now two weeks from our departure date of March 17 and very much looking forward to getting to Asheville. Toward that end, I would like to invite everyone to introduce the Burnham family to the Asheville that you love. Here are some prompts to get you started:

• What are you favorite things to do in Asheville?
  
• Share about a good restaurant or good place to hike.
  
• I love coffee and would like to hear about the best place to get a cup.
• Photography has become a passion for—can you share some good spots?
• And how about shopping and bookstores?

Well, I think you get the idea. Please feel free to write in the comments box or to send and email.

To close, I'll share a photo from an NHL hockey game I attended last night between our local San Jose Sharks and the New Jersey Devils. A hockey reference seemed fitting with the winter you've had in Asheville!

Comments

[The Traylors]

Hi there, Mark and family. Needless to say, First Pres A'ville is excited about the arrival of the Burnhams! Guess by now you have heard that we are a "Purple Church"---quite diverse---so, you're gonna gets lots of different responses to your proposed questions.

With that in mind, here are some favorites of Team Traylor:

Favorite things to do in Asheville----Roller Derby!!!!! The Blue Ridge Roller Girls are starting up their new season next Saturday. This is a must see. No, a must experience. Quite the entertainment for a Saturday night!

Another favorite is Bele Chere. Fun, fun, fun! You'll be here in time to get settled and get ready for this yearly street festival (in the summer). Great place to people watch and again, a "don't wanna miss experience." (Don't forgot that we are a "Purple Church" and city, for that matter. People in the area either LOVE Bele Chere or HATE it. I'm sure you'll hear lots of opinions on this topic, but the Traylor Family can't miss this thing!)

Restaraunts: Wow. So many----Corner Kitchen, Frankie Bones, Table, Tupelo Honey, Early Girl Eatery, Mellow Mushroom and the ultimate....12 Bones!

Coffee: Filo in Oteen/East Asheville. The French Broad Chocolate Lounge (within a block of the church) has always caught the eye. Just haven't made it in there yet.

Bookstores: Downtown Books and News, Mr. K's Used Books and Barnes & Noble.

Shopping: Downtown is really cool. Eclectic and lots to see. A fun place to browse and window shop.

This epistle should probably end. It's longer than your blog. So many more things to tell you and share with you about this wonderful place!

Grace and Peace as you and the family pack, prepare, leave, travel and arrive. We'll see you on the East Coast.

The Traylors---John, Laura, Olivia Belle and Conrad

[The Traylors]

Oh, yeah....The Bistro on the Biltmore Estate has great food. Ichiban has awesome sushi. Amazing Savings has super prices on groceries. Greenlife is a cool, hip grocery store. Biltmore Estate and Blue Ridge Parkway have nice hiking trails and photo ops.

Tell Pat that we're going to have to talk South Carolina. We are natives. OK, well, one quarter of us are natives.

The Traylors

[Brady]

So, I do agree with the Traylors on all eateries but one can not leave out Salsa's which is in close proximity to the church, in fact just around the corner. Eclectic Mexican - kind of a fusion thing that just can't be beat!

One question I know you are going to have is where, oh where do I hike with my dog(s)?? The urban forest at UNC Asheville is a great spot to walk dogs in town, just five minutes from the church. In fact, it would be a great place to go just on your own during a lunch break. A close second to this is to get yourself an invitation to Lucy and Gene Keil's for a good ol' walk in the woods.

Godspeed to you and your family, Mark. We are all eager to meet you!

Jamie and Rob Brady

[Evelyn and Olin Jarrett]

The Jarretts are not very active, but we do love to eat! Nona Mia on Patton Ave. just over the Smoky Park Bridge has awesome Italian food. We love Taquilla's for Mexican. That is located on Smoky Park Hwy. on Rt. 19-23 S. For just all "round good eating there is Pomodora's, Doc Chey's, Barley's, and many more. As for views to photograph, the view from our deck is pretty spectacular. We'll have you out here as soon as is possible. Forgot to say I have eaten at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge and it is great! We're looking forward to your arrival.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=696708318]

Probably the most interesting blog in town is Ashvegas which has all kinds of news about what's happening in the area. http://ashvegas.squarespace.com/
It isn't the whole picture,but it is a slice of life here that is definitely worth knowing. Jason, used to my editor at the Citizen-Times when I wrote for them. Now he is at the Mountain Xpress - http://www.mountainx.com/ - a local weekly that also has it own slant on life in Asheville. Worth reading.

[Jerry Beavers]

Asheville's collection of Bookstores is excellent for its size. Two stand out. Malaprops, http://www.malaprops.com/, is a regionally known independent bookstore and cafe, and has an excellent regional and Southern collection. It is right downtown. The other is Accent on Books, http://www.accentonbooks.com/, in North Asheville. It is a small, independent shop with an unbelievable theology and spiritual life collection. Some of this depth is due to the Episcopal Diocese using them as their book source. Very clergy-friendly!
Montreat Conference Center has a bookstore, heavily concentrated in Bible, theology, spirituality, and Christian Education. It's about the size and breadth of a small Cokesbury. Clergy-friendly, also, of course.
Plus the Traylor's list and more. You'll be happy. Safe travels!

[Cat Williams (almost Kessler)]

Wow, you have some great suggestions already. We cannot wait to have you here. I moved to Asheville about 19 months ago, and my fiancé (husband by the time you get here)has been here for just more than two years. We have had the best time getting to know this amazing city.

Our absolute favorite restaurant is Nine Mile, it's in the Montford neighborhood about two miles north of the church. Jamaican-inspired pasta, and an amazing staff.

Malaprops, the fantastic independent bookstore downtown, also has some of the best coffee downtown. French Broad Chocolate Lounge (already mentioned by several) serves Counter Culture Coffee, which is roasted in Durham and in my opinion is the best stuff you can get. A few local restaurants serve it as well.

As for hiking, you must come out to Montreat. We have about 20 trails of all lengths and difficulties, and some excellent views. If you come out on a weekday, call me, and I'll give you a tour of what some consider the southern Presbyterian Mecca.

But the all-time, number-one, best thing we have done to get to know Asheville is to attend and volunteer at the festivals. Every third Friday from May through September, they close off S. Lexington Avenue for food, music and beer at Downtown After 5. It's a fantastic free even and a great way to see the many faces of the town. And there are SO many more... something's happening all the time during the warmer months.

You're going to love Asheville. We can't wait to share it with you!

[Evelyn and Olin Jarrett]

I hope your moving experience is going well. We are looking forward to meeting you in a little over 2 weeks!

[Mary Moore-Smith]

Robert and I welcome you, Mark, Pat, Eli, and Charlotte, and, of course, your dogs and cats! We feel the pangs you must be experiencing in having to say all the good-byes and, at the same time, the excitement and anticipation in relocating to a wonderful city such as Asheville and in becoming part of an even more wonderful family at First Presbyterian! Looking forward to your ministry with us, we wish you a safe journey to and life within Asheville!
Grace and peace,
Mary-Raine and Robert Smith