The Heat Is On

I was in Sylva, N.C. yesterday working on a magazine article and felt like I was deep in the bowels of Florida. The blistering heat made me feel as if I was in a furnace.

Good FREE news for those suffering from the heat: Eblen-Kimmel Charities in Asheville are giving away fans at its office at 50 Westgate Parkway in Asheville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details of the giveaway, call them at 828-255-3066.

The Buncombe County Council on Aging is also providing free fans to people over the age of 60, or those under 60 who have a disability. Their number: 828-277-8288.

Grove Park Inn’s Horizons Restaurant Offers Discounts to Locals!

I am loving this promotion. For one, the Grove Park Inn is one of my favorite places in Asheville. For two, they have some of the best food and the best people working there.

Now, for the deal. Horizons Dining Room is offering a 20% discount on Mondays and Wednesdays to local WNC residents who live in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Transylvania counties.  The cities and surrounding areas included are Asheville, Hendersonville, Weaverville, Black Mountain, Waynesville, Clyde, Maggie Valley and Brevard.

A valid N.C. driver’s license is required to get the “friends” discount. Holidays are not included.

Biltmore Estate Discounts

Big savings are available to those visiting Biltmore Estate from January 4 to March 18, 2010. Adult admission is only $35 IF you purchase the tickets online. But the savings don’t stop there. Kids ages 16 and younger are admitted FREE with a paying adult!

Buy online tickets HERE

Stretch Your Dining $$ with AIR’s Main Course Dining

The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) has a great plan to help you save money when you dine out at a number of great restaurants. Here’s the deal: you can purchase a dining booklet for $50 at AIR’s Website or pick one up at the Asheville Visitor’s Center. The coupon booklet offers $600 worth of coupons at 18 restaurants:

The participating restaurants in the 2010 Main Course Dining Guide are:
~ Blue Ridge Dining Room
~ Bouchon
~ Burgermeister’s Kitchen & Tap
~ City Bakery
~ Corner Kitchen
~ Ed Boudreaux’s Bayou Bar-B-Que
~ fig
~ Fiores Ristorante Toscana
~ Frankie Bones
~ Grovewood Cafe
~ Horizons
~ Laughing Seed
~ Mela Indian Restaurant
~ Pomodoros Greek and Italian Cafe
~ Savoy
~ Sunset Terrace
~ Vincenzo’s
~ Westville Pub

While ALL of these are great places, I have some personal recommendations: Blue Ridge Dining, Horizons and the Sunset Terrace at the Grove Park Inn offer exceptional food and service. I’ve never had a bad meal here. Always exquisite.

I love Burgermeister’s — food and atmosphere. It’s just a fun place.

Also, I have some great friends who have created stunning restaurants:

High school pal Kevin Westmoreland owns Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village and he always gets rave reviews. Another high school friend, Sandy Waldrop and her husband, Larry, own Grovewood Cafe. And, my former WLOS co-worker, and good friend,  Tommy Tsiros gets great applause for his Pomodoros Cafe. The food is consistently wonderful at all of these places!

National Alpaca Farm Days

Alpacas look similar to llamas, and have thick, luxurious coats. September 26th and 27th are National Alpaca Farm Days, during which Alpaca farms around the country are opening their gates to the public, so that everyone can meet these fascinating creatures. In Asheville, Venezia Dream Farm  is hosting the event. Come to this free event, either day, from 11AM to 3PM, and learn all about alpacas and their fiber.

276 Jones Cove Rd, Asheville, NC 28805. PH # 828-298-9166

Organicfest - September 13th

Organicfest is a free festival celebrating everything organic. Enjoy live music, vendors of organic goods, kids’ activities, crafts, parades, and much more.

Battery Park Avenue, Sunday, September 13th, 10AM to 6PM

Roundup of Places Kids Eat FREE or On The Cheap

I’ve been adding these a few at a time, but I am putting them all together in one post for convenience. Here are some places in WNC where kids eat FREE or for a reduced price.

Applebees offers kid’s meals for 99 cents after 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. The good part: you can get TWO discount kid’s meals per paying adult! Choices include mini burgers, mac ‘n cheese, pizza, and chicken tenders. Served up with choice of side and beverage.

Locations in WNC:

115  Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805   828-251-9194

275 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, NC 28806 828-670-9101

1655 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803 828-274-5300

1635 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-692-3006

Atlanta Bread Company offers free meals for kids ages 12 and under after 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and all day on Sundays. Sandwich, chips, drink and cookie. One FREE kid’s meal per paying adult. There are three locations in WNC:

633 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804   828-259-3675

484 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803    828-274-2323

147 Highlands Square Drive, Hendersonville, NC 28792     828-692-7553

Deerpark at Biltmore Estate - Kids under the age of 9 always eat FREE.

Fuddruckers, 130 Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 828-254-2161. Kids ages 12 and under EAT free after 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. One free kid’s meal per paying adult. Choices include a burger (you will pay 75 cents if you order cheese even on the free nights), hot dog, chicken tenders or grilled cheese. Served up with a drink (free refills), fries, and choice of a cookie from the bakery.

IHOP provides FREE meals for kids ages 12 and younger after 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. One free meal per paying adult.

Locations:

275-B Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, NC 28806  828-665-9390

245 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805  828-255-8601

229 Airport Road, Suite 1, Arden, NC 28704  828-684-2828

Lonestar Steak House - According to the corporate website, Kids ages 12 and under eat FREE all day on Tuesdays! Two free meals per paying adult! I don’t know if every Lonestar participates in this promotion, so it’s good to check ahead. Dine-in only. Choices for kids include hot dog, grilled cheese, macaroni & cheese, grilled chicken sandwich, chicken tenders and steak medallions. Includes choice of a side item and a beverage.

341 Rockwood Road, Arden, NC 28704 828-684-5506

Moe’s  Southwest Grill — The offerings are different at the one in Biltmore (1 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803, 828-225-6637) and the one at 300 Airport Road in Arden (828-684-4452).

In Biltmore, kids ages 12 and under eat for 99 cents on Thursdays and Saturdays. Three discounted meals for each paying adult.

At the Arden location, kids eat FREE on Tuesdays after 5 p.m.

Ryan’s Steak Houses are currently offering kid’s mega bar buffet dinners for 99 cents each after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Includes all-you-can-eat hot bar, salad bar, fruit bar, dessert bar, and unlimited beverage. Two discounted kid’s meals per paying adult.

1053 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806 828-258-3761

1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806  828-665-9963

Shoney’s offers 99 cent meals on Tuesdays after 4 p.m. for kids ages 10 and younger. Two discounted meals per paying adult. Kids younger than four eat FREE every night.

425 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, NC 28806 828-667-0108

379 Long Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704 828-684-5097

**NOTE: As with everything in life, these special deals are at the discretion of the participating restaurants and always subject to change. It’s wise to call ahead and find out if the deals are still available.

Kids Get in FREE at Southern Highland Handicraft Guild Fair

This is a personal favorite - the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild Fair. The 62nd season of this bi-annual fair takes place at the Asheville Civic Center on  July 16 - 19 and October 15 - 18.

I promise you will NOT be disappointed as you wind your way among a myriad of booths offering quality hand crafted goods. It’s also a great way to see some of the artisans doing demos and to actually talk with them about their craft. Here’s a list of July exhibitors.

Price of admission is $7, and it’s FREE for kids under the age of 12!

Also, to keep up with fair information follow @folkartcenter on Twitter!

FREE day at the WNC Nature Center

Asheville City residents will be admitted FREE of charge (with ID) to the WNC Nature Center on Saturday, July 25, 2009. For directions and other info, check the Nature Center’s website.

Dads Visit Biltmore Estate FREE on June 21

Biltmore Estate has a special Father’s Day treat. When dads visit on Sunday, June 21, they get in free if they are accompanied by one other paying adult. Pick up dad’s free ticket at Biltmore’s Welcome Center.