After Buncombe County lost its lone roller skating rink circa 2016, it seemed like the sport was all but done. But that’s changed dramatically in the past few years, with Asheville (and the rest of the country) now seeing a major roller skate resurgence.
And while Asheville still doesn’t have an official indoor rink — for now — there are plenty of parks + greenways around town that are perfect for taking a spin or testing out new tricks. Check ’em out below. 👇
Photo by @gracefulopenletters
Members of Asheville Roller Skate show off their swag | Photo by @kristenmariegreene
🛤️ Parks
- Carrier Park Velodrome, 220 Amboy Rd. | Nicknamed the “MellowDrome,” this track (which used to house the motor speedway) features sweet, smooth + steeply banked oval tracks with straightaways and 180-degree circular bends.
- Foundation Skatepark, 47 Foundy St. | A communal spot where skaters of all persuasions come to practice + master new tricks.
- Asheville Skatepark, 50 Cherry St. N. | This unique, 17,000 sqft facility has a beginner bowl, intermediate street course + advanced vertical bowl.
- French Broad River Park, 508 Riverview Drive | Loop around this riverfront park + connect to the French Broad River Greenway West for a longer ride.
- Weaver Park, 200 Murdock Ave. | This ¼ mile, small-but-fun loop circles the playgrounds, baseball fields + basketball courts.
- RAD Skatepark, 37 Foundy St. | $10+ for non-members | This indoor skate park is perfect for a rainy day.
Want to connect with the greater roller skate community? Meet up with Asheville Roller Skate, who hosts “Skateville,” a weekly skate jam meetup for skaters of all levels that runs on Sunday from 3-5 p.m.
Share with anyone who *wheely* likes to roller skate.
Show
Trivia
- Socially Distanced Trivia Night | Wed., June 2 | 7– p.m. | Hi-Wire Brewing - Big Top, 2A Huntsman Pl. | Free | First, second, and third place winners win Hi-Wire gift cards.
- Trivia Night at Bold Rock | Wed., June 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Bold Rock Hard Cider, 72 School House Rd., Mills River | Enjoy half-price wings while facing off in trivia with friends.
Active
Arts
- A Life in the Wild | Wed., June 2 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way | Free with parking | This exhibit features 40+ images from award-winning nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen.
Find more of the week’s local events in our June PlanAhead.
Catch original compositions from local musician Ben Hovey on the Oprah Winfrey Network this month, as part of the network’s two-part special “The Legacy of Black Wall Street.” The series, which debuted its first part on June 1, tracks the rise of Black Wall Street in Oklahoma's Greenwood District and honors the pioneers of both the past and present.
The second part of the series will stream on Tues., June 8 on discovery+ and will also broadcast on the OWN channel. Congrats on helping share this important story, Ben.
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Weather
- 76º | Cloudy | 23% chance of rain
ComingSoon
- Well-Bred Bakery & Café is set to open its fourth location in the form of a 420 sqft, bite-sized cafe in the Grove Arcade. The bakery will offer counter-service, all-day breakfast foods, plus pastries, lunch, coffee, and other beverages. It’s anticipated to open sometime this week. 🍪 (Mountain Xpress)
Civic
- The City of Asheville is launching the Information Sharing and Truth Telling Speaker Series as its first phase of delivering community reparations for Black Asheville. The community discussion features local + national speakers and will take place June 3, 10th, and 17th from 6-8 p.m.
Dish
Number
- 7. The number of new principals for Buncombe County Schools for the 2021-22 school year after 7 retired earlier this year. See the full list of new administrators here. 🏫
Community
- Great news, bookworms. Beginning Tues., June 15, Buncombe County Public Libraries will expand hours at all locations. All locations will be closed Sunday + Monday, and be open from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday. 📚
- The WNC Returned Peace Corps Volunteers will celebrate the Peace Corps’ 60th Anniversary on Sun., June 6th at 4 p.m. in Carrier Park. All returned volunteers and their families are invited, as well as anyone interested in the program. There will also be a donation drive for MANNA FoodBank and Literacy Together.
Coronavirus
- Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Tuesday afternoon, 17,965 cases and 322 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info here.
- The South Carolina + North Carolina Institutes of Medicine announced the creation of the Carolinas Pandemic Preparedness Task Force, which will develop responses for future disease outbreaks. Final reports for each state are expected to be published in June 2022.
ForKids
- Swift App School and HatchAVL are joining forces to offer a week-long Summer App Camp to teach teens to become future app developers. The school is offering over 10 scholarships to both its in-person + virtual camps. The deadline to apply is June 15. 💻
DYK
- The City of Asheville is offering to lease 10 acres of cultivated farmland in East Asheville for a grower who will commit to using organic growing methods. Check out the posted opportunity to learn more. 🌽
Asked
- Happy Pride Month, Asheville. We’re on the lookout for local LGBTQ-owned businesses to highlight in our newsletter. Did a business you love just pop into your head, or are you a local LGBTQ+ business owner? Let us know.
Job
Finance
- These cash back cards might break the internet. They offer no annual fee, $200 bonus offers, up to 3% cash back, and 0% interest for 15 months. (Read: If you’re looking for a new cash back card, there’s a lot to love.) Ⓟ
FeaturedDig
Visitors can paddle their way through the cypress trees at Cypress Gardens, where part of Nicholas Sparks’ “The Notebook” was filmed | Photo provided by Explore Charleston
Ready to get away? Charleston, SC — a ~4 hour drive from Asheville — offers tons of outdoor adventure in a beautiful setting, from kayaking and surfing to ecotours and farmers markets.
More ways to explore Charleston’s outdoors:
⛵ Go sailing aboard a catamaran
⛳ Golf at one of Charleston’s award-winning terrain ranges
🚲 Explore the city via rental bike or walking tour
🎶 Check out the County Parks’ events (think: starlight yoga, concerts + night swims) Ⓟ
For today’s #AVLcurrent, we’re highlighting what we’re watching. In honor of Pride Month, Editor Laura has been watching The Bisexual. Editor Brook has recently become obsessed with Game of Thrones (late to the game, yes, but that’s how it goes a lot of the time when you’re a parent).
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
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📖 Check out our Editorial Ethics Policy here.
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