Hello Friday.
April 19 2024
Ever since we heard about Water Street (68 N. Lexington Ave.) — the new eatery helmed by Rosetta’s Kitchen’s Rosetta Buan — we haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. Yes, it’s guaranteed to be delicious, but even more intriguing to us is the revelation that Lexington Ave. used to be known as Water Street, and carries its own unique Asheville legacy.
The intersection of Walnut St. and N. Lexington Ave. circa 1980. I Photo courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections
What’s in a name?
Although it was officially dubbed Water Street for the springs that ran beneath the road and on the hillside above it, Water Street was colloquially known as “Mule Alley” for the preponderance of farmers who came to the street on Saturdays and tied their horses + mules along it while they did their business.
This 1885 map shows Water Street plus the neighborhood of West Asheville, which was incorporated into a city in 1883. I Photo via Library of Congress.
What do we know about the springs?
Interestingly, the springs were much larger than we might think. Some historians noted that there were times the entire length of the animals’ legs became mired in mud and had to be physically pulled out of it.
As for what became of the springs, there’s not much info. Historical records we reviewed acknowledged that they dried up and that’s about it. One thing we’re really excited to test out? Whether or not you can still hear the water running under the pavement.
Use the buttons below to share this story with all the history buffs in your life.
Dish
- Pranom Pop-Up | Tues., July 27 | 5 p.m. | Bottle Riot, 37 Paynes Way #009 | Free | One night only, Thai street food experience.
Show
- The Return of Tuesday Night Funk Jam | Tues., July 27 | 10 p.m. | Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave. | $5 | Celebrate the return of this funky + iconic local dance night.
- The Goddamn Gallows | Tues., July 27 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $15+ | Twanged-out punk rock.
- Groovin' On Grovemont | Tues., July 27 | 6 p.m. | Grovemont Square, 101 W. Charleston Ave., Swannanoa | Free | Funk, soul and R&B tunes from Unihorn.
TryThis
- Goth Night | Tues., July 27 | 9 p.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St. | Free | An evening of classic + forgotten hits from the golden era of goth.
Active
- Yoga in the Barrel Room | Tues., July 27 | 6-7 p.m. | Highland Brewing Co. Taproom, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy. #200 | $10 | Unwind + stretch with Abbey, Highland's Production Manager and certified yoga instructor. 🧘
Theater
- Magnetic in the Smoky Park | Tues., July 27 | 7 p.m. | Smoky Park Supper Club Outdoor Event Space, 350 Riverside Dr. | $15+ | Join The Magnetic Theater for a variety show full of comedy, theater, music + more. 🎭
PlanAhead
- Expand Your Circle: Roundtable for Women Entrepreneurs | Thurs., July 29 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Focal Point, 125 S. Lexington Ave. | $25 | This roundtable-style networking event is for women making moves. Each table will have 4 women + 1 seasoned entrepreneur, everyone getting a chance to present a problem, issue, or question for collaborative brainstorming. Ⓟ
Find more of the week’s local events in our July PlanAhead.
Cadaqués, Spain is located ~2 hours from Barcelona | Photo provided by Cúrate Trips
Miss traveling? Good news: Cúrate Trips is now booking for 2021 and 2022.
Guests get to travel with incomparable access to the culinary highlights of Spain, Portugal and Morocco, taking part in world-class food and wine experiences curated by Katie Button and Felix Meana of Cúrate Bar de Tapas (13 Biltmore Ave.), with expert guides Paladar y Tomar. (Read: Our dream vacation.) 🍷 Ⓟ
Weather
- 86º | Scattered thunderstorms | 42% chance of rain
Closed
- West Asheville vegan eatery Sunflower Diner (771 Haywood Rd.) has announced it will be closing. The diner cites outgrowing its current location + production service, as well as staffing issues as a primary reason for its closure. Its last day will be Sun., Aug. 1. We hope to see them again in another iteration. 🥗
ComingSoon
- Noble Cider’s downtown taproom (49 Rankin Ave.) launches its newest in-house restaurant on Wed., July 28. The menu will focus on cider pairings and feature charcuterie boards, baked brie, fried green tomatoes, burgers, cider donuts + more. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Civic
- The Buncombe County TDA will have its in-person, monthly meeting on Wed., July 28 from 9-10:45 a.m at 27 College Place Ave. The agenda includes: a welcome to new Chair Kathleen Mosher, a report from the president + CEO, and more. For virtual participation, register here.
Learn
- Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) and A-B Tech are offering short-term credentialing programs for those living in its transitional housing facility for single women, mothers, and female veterans. The courses can help women see hourly rate increases by $2 an hour or more. 💰
List
- Congrats to Little Jumbo (241 Broadway St.). The cocktail bar has been named 1 of Garden & Gun magazine's new Best Cocktail Bars of the South. The bar got props for its creative bartenders and its recently revamped drink menu. Cheers. 🍸
Stat
- 20%. The decline in the amount of fish + shellfish NC’s commercial fisherman sold in 2020 versus the previous year. The reduction in sales is attributed to the pandemic’s stay-at-home order that caused many restaurants to close. 🦀 (WLOS)
Coronavirus
- Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Monday afternoon, 18,538 cases and 327 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info here.
- Following an uptick in COVID-19 cases both regionally + statewide, major hospital systems in North Carolina have announced that all employees will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccination. See where local hospital systems stand here. 💉 (WLOS)
Asked
- We’ve had a few readers ask about fun places to take your kids when it’s raining outside. So we’re turning to you, our resident experts, for pointers. Where do you head with the kids when you gotta get out of the house, even in a downpour? Hit us up and let us know, please + thank you. 🙏
Giveaway
- Enter to win tickets to Bright Eyes with Lucy Dacus at Rabbit Rabbit on Thurs., Aug. 5. The grand prize package also includes $100 for dinner at Capella on 9, a brewery tour package for 2 from Asheville Brewery Tours, and an upgraded VIP experience at the Bright Eyes show. We’ll pick a winner at 5 p.m. on Thurs., July 29.
Edu
Travel
- Meet Campspot, a website (and mobile app) that makes it easy to book your next camping trip. From RV parks to cabins to glamp-sites, users can find + book all in one place while enjoying Campspot’s lowest price guarantee. 🏕️Ⓟ
Finance
- These insanely high paying, no annual fee cash back cards feature offers like $200 bonus, up to 3% cash back or 0% interest for 15 months. Shop your categories — everyday purchases like groceries, travel, dining + more — and make the most of your cash back rewards. Ⓟ
Don’t be a jive turkey. Help out the biologists from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission by reporting wild turkey observations now through Aug. 31. The info you submit will provide insight into turkey population trends and can help improve species management decisions. So if you happen to see a wild turkey, fill out this survey.
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We weren't able to find out much about what happened to the springs that got Water St. its name. Do you have any intel on the subject? If so, we'd love to hear from you.
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