Plus, a $5 million donation from MacKenzie Scott

Hello Sunday.

March 26 2023

Before we called it the River Arts District...

Today, we’re following the sands of time back to the original heyday of the River Arts District. Before this mile and a half section of Asheville became a mecca for artists, outdoor recreation, and craft beer, it was our city’s first industrial hub. And before that, it comprised a town of around 500 people. Ready to go back to the 1880s? The train is leaving now.

Postcard of the French Broad River railroad courtesy of Hunter Library, Western Carolina University

It all begins with the railroad line…

The Western North Carolina railroad began its expansion into Asheville circa 1879, thanks to the labor of railway workers (many of whom were incarcerated African-Americans). Once the railway became operational in 1880, it connected Asheville — through a daunting chain of mountains — to cities across the country, including New York, St. Louis, New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Savannah.

The train service beckoned thousands of newcomers to Asheville, and by 1900, our city’s population rose to 10,000. Naturally, hotels, housing, and other forms of commerce followed this growth, and it wasn’t long before the district became a flourishing industrial hub.

Photo via the Buncombe County Pack Library Special Collections

Then came the factories…

The Cotton Mill building, built in 1888, was one of the first major structures to set up shop. The two-story brick factory produced denim + flannel and at its peak employed more than 300 people. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, by June 1889, the mill was producing 15,000 yards of plaid each day and a network of housing and streets dubbed “Chicken Hill” eventually came to surround the mill site. Some say that name derived from the nearby chicken hatchery, others think it referred to all the country folk running around the area.

Other early factories + buildings to join the party included National Biscuit Company (1907), Armour Meat Packing Plant (1910), and the Farmer’s Federated Ag Co-op (1916).

And then one time in 1916, it rained for three days straight…

AFTER THE FLOOD

Who among us hasn't strolled around the River Arts District, admired the crusty old buildings, and wondered about its history? Use the buttons to share with a pal who's just as intrigued.

What do you find most interesting about the RAD's history?

We'll accept any answer besides nothing.

The railroad
The factories
The flood
The artistic renaissance

LET US KNOW

EVENTS

Today

Excellence in Public Service Job Fair | Wed., March 23 | 1-6 p.m. | WNC Agricultural Center, 761 Boylston Hwy., Fletcher | Free | Check out hundreds of job opportunities from federal, state, and local government employers who pay $18 an hour and up.
Beauty Parlor Comedy featuring Rachel Fogletto | Wed., March 23 | 7-9 p.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St. | $15 | This stand-up comedian + podcast host is a self-described “charming over-sharer and middle-shelf wine enthusiast.” 🎤
Girls Middle School Open House at French Broad River Academy | Wed., March 23 | 10-11 a.m. | French Broad River Academy, 1420 Riverside Dr. | Free | Attend the Girls Program Open House to learn how French Broad River Academy is teaching middle school through a mix of academics, outdoor adventure, service + travel.*

Thursday

Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros Featuring The Wolfpack | Thurs., March 24 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville | $57 | Jam with a founding member of the Grateful Dead and his rock crew.
Mushroom Log Workshop | Thurs., March 24 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Community Farm, Alexander | Free, registration required | Learn how to cultivate shiitake + oyster mushrooms through DIY mushroom logs and the use of power tools.

Friday

Master Workshop: Mat Weaving with Gabriel Crow | Fri., March 25 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Center for Craft | $75 | Register to learn mat weaving from Gabriel Crow, esteemed Eastern Band Cherokee Basket Maker and featured artist in Weaving Across Time: Contemporary Cherokee Basket Making, Land, and Identity. 🧺
Soul Blue Rocks | Fri., March 25 | 8-10:30 p.m. | Weinhaus, 86 Patton Ave. | $8 | This charismatic group specializes in classic soul, blues, and R&B.
Asheville City Schools' Career Fair | Fri., March 25-Sat., March 26 | Times vary | Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave. | Free | Tour up to three schools + attend a BBQ dinner on Friday, and attend a drop-in information session + career fair on Saturday.*

Saturday

Western Carolina University Open House | Sat., Mar. 26 | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1 University Way, Cullowhee | Free | Explore campus, meet students + professors, and learn more about what the NC Promise university has to offer.*
In Conversation with Victoria Browning Wyeth | Sat., March 26 | 6-7 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square | $95 | Join Victoria Browning Wyeth for an insider's look at the work of her grandfather, renowned artist Andrew Wyeth + explore The Wyeths: Three Generations.*

Plan Ahead

Date Night: Make a Disco Ball Planter | Fri., April 1 | 6-8 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St. | $15 | Assemble 6-inch disco ball hanging planters with disco tunes playing to transport you to the 1970s — all materials provided.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MAKE MORE MOVES THIS MARCH

Help us put together a local guide for Asheville newcomers. | Photo by AVLtoday

We know you love Asheville just as much as we do here at AVLtoday.

We’re looking at putting together a local guide for newcomers + those interested in moving to Asheville — so, we’re asking the experts for help. Enter: You.

You can help us out by answering a few questions in our quick survey. Just let us know why this is the very best place to live (and how you convince others of that) so we can help spread the word.

Thanks in advance for your help.

ANSWER OUR SURVEY

NEWS NOTES

Weather

68º | Showers | 100% chance of rain

Civic

At its annual retreat, Asheville City Council named four new strategic priorities: equitable affordable housing and stability, houselessness strategies, the improvement + expansion of core services, and neighborhood resilience. These priorities join last year’s ongoing goals of reparations and reimagining public safety. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Coming Soon

A speakeasy jazz bar named Gigi’s Underground is preparing to open in downtown Asheville at 122 College St. The basement venue has been undergoing extensive renovations since around August of 2021. Follow the bar’s Instagram page for updates. 🍸
There's a new record shop set to open in the River Arts District's Wedge Studios on April 1. Records in the RAD is a project from longtime Asheville residents Brian, Susan, and Dillon Haynes.

Cause

Strictly Wings, a locally-owned soul food and chicken joint in Arden, caught fire early Monday morning and the building has suffered extensive damage. The restaurant has launched a GoFundMe page to cover operation costs + rebuild the establishment.

Number

$5 million. That’s how much the Asheville Area Habitat of Humanity has received from author + philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Habitat plans to use the funds for: home repair + construction programs, expansion of services to Madison County, and to purchase land to build future Habitat neighborhoods. 💰

Eat

Strada Italiano and Social Lounge is celebrating its 10th anniversary. To honor the milestone, the restaurant will offer a special menu of 10 classic dishes (think: Tuscan duck + figs, pasta Portofino, and grilled Florentine ravioli) paired with 10 vintage cocktails from prior menus. Mangia on these meals now through Sun., March 27. 🤌 (Mountain Xpress)
Got a need for greens? Root Cause Farm will host “Wild Spring Greens Foraging and Cooking Class” on Sun., March 27, 1-5 p.m. The workshop will cover: herb gardening, how to identify wild spring greens, and a cooking demonstration for chickweed-based pesto and violet syrup. Bonus: The event ends with a potluck.

Health

Oncologist Larry Gluck, MD, and LeAnn Perkins — a family nurse practitioner in oncology, survivorship and cancer — discuss what we can do to prevent cancer, as well as some breakthroughs that may be on the horizon.*

Featured Job

Enza Home Furnishings & Bedding is hiring a Furniture Sales + Design Consultant to sell furniture, art, mattresses, bedding, and accessories while earning $40,000-70,000 a year. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to info@ehasheville.com.*

*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.

📸 AVLtoday

Things are heating up in Beer City. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack + Sand Hill Kitchen are going head to head to be crowned the champion maker of the fried chicken sandwich.

See your pick to the finish by voting in our final poll now through Thurs., March 24.

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THE WRAP

Editor's pick: If y'all are looking for a new spot for happy hour fun, you may want to visit Jettie Rae's Oyster House's new expanded patio. Brook and I scoped it out after work yesterday, and here's what we experienced.

Missed yesterday's newsletter? This informative piece on stink bugs is nothing to thumb your nose at (though you may wrinkle it a bit).

Today's edition by:

Laura

AVLtoday Team

Editorial: Brook Bolen, Laura Hackett,

Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Camille Nevarez-Hernandez

Sales: Helen Purnell

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