Category: Businesses and Dining

Driving around downtown Canton on a recent weekend, it was weird to have a hard time finding a parking space. In most Western North Carolina communities during the busy summer tourist season, this is the norm. But, for the blue-collar paper mill town of Canton, finding a parking spot has never been an issue. That… Read more »

“In jewelry, customers want someone they can trust, someone that’s fair and provides a good product.” —Tonya Marthaler   Entering its eighth year of operation, Marthaler Jewelers is looking to switch it up a bit. “We’ve experienced growth every year we’ve been open. And we started changing a lot of the things typical jewelry stores… Read more »

Zuma Coffee is more than Marshall, North Carolina’s unofficial meeting place and one of the most charming and delicious small businesses in the area. Zuma Coffee draws people from all over Western North Carolina in search of gold—Zuma Gold. “When we opened, we had our Zuma Gold cookie, we had chocolate chip, oatmeal raisins. Well,… Read more »

When you live in Asheville, NC, there’s rarely a reason to leave. After all, we have everything you could possibly want right here! From local produce and world-class cuisine to luxury shopping and amenities, the perfect holiday gift is literally right around the corner. But how can you possibly choose just one thing to purchase… Read more »

Sweet, savory, pureed, or pressed—there are so many ways to enjoy fresh apples in the fall! Today, we’re going to focus on a microcosm of menus featuring the fresh fruit: West Asheville along Haywood Road. Though not specifically in the heart of apple country, this mile-and-a-half stretch demonstrates a good cross section of how apples… Read more »

Tiny homes come true. That’s the motto of Teal Brown, co-owner and builder at Wishbone Tiny Homes in West Asheville. “A lot of people dream about having a tiny home,” he said. “And we’re making these dreams possible.” And in recent years, the small structures have become popular in the city and greater Western North… Read more »

It all started with 12 lunches. “I was painting trim underneath this desk in this office building,” Jeremiah Jackson said. “And the secretary was complaining about how they couldn’t get 12 meals made and delivered there. So, I popped my head up and said, ‘I can do it.’” And it was this simple interaction in… Read more »

When Shane Benedict hits the river with his kayak, it’s all about a smooth ride. “There are so many different approaches to the river, but what I like about it is the smoothness of running a line in a rapid,” he said. “My favorite way is to make a line really smooth, with the fewest… Read more »

It’s all about that Zen moment. “For me, it’s the peace and quiet of it,” said Jeff Curtis. “It’s so consuming. When I’m fly fishing, I’m not thinking about anything else. You become so absorbed with it that you forget about everything else—work, daily life, stress.” A lifelong fly fisherman, Curtis is the founder/owner of… Read more »

Within an earshot of Patton Avenue—a main artery of hustle and bustle into downtown Asheville—stands an old church. On the outside, one might mistake it to be abandoned or forgotten. But, upon entering the nondescript side door, the sounds of string instruments and poignant vocals ricochet around Echo Mountain Recording Studios. “I love the sound… Read more »