Archive for Asheville activites

Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant to play Asheville

November 19, 2010 at 7:21 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, B&B alternative, Lovers' Loop Retreat, music, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Heads up to Led Zeppelin fans: Robert Plant, singer for the band, will perform at Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Auditorium downtown on Jan. 18, 2011. Tickets are on sale starting today, Friday, Nov. 19 through Ticketmaster outlets and at www.ticketmaster.com. Guests at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable Asheville vacation rental, will be just 10 minutes from the concert.

Robert Plant “Band of Joy” tour

Asheville is the start of Plant’s new tour to promote his latest recording, “Band of Joy.” He’ll appear with his Band of Joy in Asheville before moving to bigger cities around the country. Plant last appeared in Asheville in 2008 with bluegrass star Allison Krauss.

Contact Lovers’ Loop Retreat at (828) 545-2950 or loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Lovers’ Loop Retreat November Muse-letter

November 2, 2010 at 5:32 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, Fall Foliage, free things in Asheville, Holidays, Lovers' Loop Retreat, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

our mountain view

our mountain view

In November, we regain our mountain view at Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our affordable Asheville vacation rental. The oaks, sourwoods and tulip poplars were busy in October shedding their leaves, but there’s still nice foliage color into November here in western North Carolina.

November events in Asheville

In addition to Thanksgiving in Asheville, November offers lots of varied events here. And if you’re thinking about holiday gifts, holiday shopping in Asheville features many galleries and stores with creative artwork, unusual clothing and other wares.

Mast General Store downtown is a fun and popular place to browse. Mast sells clothing, shoes, outdoor gear, books, candy and general merchandise. The famous Biltmore mansion in Asheville begins its annual Christmas candlelight activities in November, and other holiday events take place in November in the city. Entertainment at various venues downtown ranges from Cyndi Lauper and moe to Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” and a musical about menopause.

Make Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our affordable Asheville vacation rental, your place to stay when you explore Asheville, NC recreation, arts, restaurants and festivals. Events are posted and updated through the year on www.loversloopretreat.com. Visit the site to see what’s going on whenever you plan your trip. You can link to our blog, http://loversloopretreat.wordpress.com, on the home page, and we’re also on Twitter! Our website features a link where you can contact us for a list of many FREE things to do in Asheville.

Free things to do in Asheville in November

You can’t go wrong with these FREE things.

  • The Asheville art museum is open to the public for free Nov. 3 from 3-5 p.m.
  • There’s free, public tai chi instruction in Asheville on Saturday morning at Pack Square Park downtown Nov. 6, Nov. 13 and Nov. 20.
  • Nov. 13-14 is the free and popular River Arts District Studio Stroll, in which you can wander among artists’ studios, talk with artists, enjoy refreshments and view and buy artwork.
  • Nov. 15-21 is the Asheville Art Museum’s annual Holiday Market, at which many of the talented artists in the area will have their work for sale — but it’s free to just look.
  • And on Nov. 21, there’s free admission to the art museum all afternoon.
  • The annual Asheville holiday parade will be Nov. 20 downtown. The Steep Canyon Rangers will provide music, and you’ll see results of the window decoration contest at stores downtown.
  • Panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed Nov. 22-Dec. 3 at Pack Place downtown.

Christmas at the Biltmore

Some guests at Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our affordable Asheville bed and breakfast alternative, love to visit the Biltmore estate, an easy 10-minute drive from our vacation rental. The Biltmore is quite a scene at holiday time, with elaborately decorated trees, hundreds of wreaths and poinsettias, mistletoe, evergreens and thousands of ornaments. The holiday decorations are up Nov. 5-Jan. 2, 2011. The Biltmore also offers seminars on creating your own holiday décor. The estate’s Candlelight Christmas Evenings start Nov. 12 and run through Jan. 1, 2011. In addition to interior candlelight, trees outside will be decorated with lights.

All of these events and activities and more are listed on our website. Please pass along our muse-letter to your friends. And join us at Lovers’ Loop Retreat. See you in Asheville!

Reach us at loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com or (828) 545-2950.

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Electronic synthesizer festival starts this Friday in Asheville

October 26, 2010 at 5:58 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, B&B alternative, Lovers' Loop Retreat, music, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Move over, Halloween. If you’ve been a fan of popular music any time since the 1960s, you’ve heard the Moog synthesizer in recordings or at concerts. Bob Moog was the electronic music pioneer who invented the Moog synthesizer in the early ‘60s and the Minimoog soon afterward. Moog lived in Asheville, where his company still makes instruments, from 1978 until his death in 2005.

Moogfest in Asheville

The Moog sound has never been silenced.  Moogfest will be this Friday, Oct. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 31 with concerts and other events at the Asheville Civic Center and the Orange Peel, both downtown, and at other venues in Asheville. Visitors at Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our affordable Asheville vacation rental, are only a 10-minute drive from the music.

Performers will include Devo, Big Boi, MGMT, Girl Talk, Panda Bear, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Hot Chip and others. The festival also will feature workshops, exhibits, artwork for sale, film screenings and discussions.

Moog your hearts out.

Contact Lovers’ Loop Retreat, a B&B alternative, at (828) 545-2950 or loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Have a big Boo! time in Asheville

October 25, 2010 at 4:12 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, beer, free things in Asheville, Lovers' Loop Retreat, music, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Yes, Asheville is a scary place this week. If you’re hankering for some Halloween happenings, you’ll find plenty to choose from, especially on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30. Guests at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable Asheville bed and breakfast alternative, are a quick trip from all of the fun frights.

Free Halloween event in Asheville

Hitchcock’s classic, and now standard Halloween fare, “Psycho,” will be screened shortly after dark at the Wedge Brewing Co. near downtown on Saturday, Oct. 30. The film is FREE, and there’s locally-crafted beer for sale inside if you’re interested!

Dracula, vaudeville, a graveyard, haunted comedy

“Dracula” will be performed Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. And Asheville Vaudeville will host its annual Halloween show Friday and Saturday at Asheville Community Theatre downtown.

For a real Halloween scream, check out the LaZoom Haunted Comedy Tour on Friday and Saturday. You’ll learn about murders and other mysteries of Asheville’s past. Pinhead’s Graveyard, an outdoor haunted house in Asheville, will be open through Monday, Nov. 1, featuring movie monsters you may recognize. And the Haunted Gymnasium will be at the Montford Recreation Center just outside downtown Saturday, Oct. 30.

Asheville’s Halloween club scene

If you like spooky spirits, Asheville’s clubs are ready to serve you. The Grove House’s Haunted Inferno downtown runs from Wednesday, Oct. 27 through Oct. 31 with dance parties, a costume contest and more. You’ll also find parties on Oct. 30 at Pack’s Tavern, Tallgary’s and Tressa’s downtown and at Grey Eagle Music Hall and Westville Pub just outside downtown. Green Man Brewery on the edge of downtown will have a party on Friday, Oct. 29.

This Halloween dog knows how to howl

It wouldn’t be Halloween in Asheville without a touch of the funky. Check out the Halloween Dog Festival downtown on Saturday, Oct. 30. Think costume contests, trick-or-treating and general cuteness.

Contact us about our vacation rental Lovers’ Loop Retreat at (828) 545-2950 or loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Laugh with Bill Cosby in Asheville

October 20, 2010 at 5:24 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, B&B, B&B alternative, Lovers' Loop Retreat, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Get your laugh on with Bill Cosby in Asheville on Jan. 23, 2011. Tickets go on sale starting this Friday, Oct. 22 for the show at the Asheville Civic Center.

Stay at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an Asheville B&B alternative, and you’re just 10 funny minutes from the civic center downtown.

Comedy shows in Asheville

A number of internationally-known comedians have brought their humor to Asheville. Bob Hope opened the Asheville Civic Center in the 1970s. Jerry Seinfeld has performed there twice. Cosby last performed at the civic center in 2004.

Kate Clinton has appeared several times at the Diana Wortham Theatre downtown.

Those who loved Cosby’s Fat Albert from way, way back and “The Cosby Show” from way back won’t want to miss his show in Asheville.

Contact Lovers’ Loop Retreat at (828) 545-2950 or loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com for information about our vacation rental.

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See Steve Miller and Gregg Allman in Asheville

October 15, 2010 at 5:49 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, Lovers' Loop Retreat, music, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Tickets are on sale through 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15 for the annual Warren Haynes Christmas Jam at the Asheville Civic Center. Tickets are available at www.xmasjam.tickets.musictoday.com. General ticket sales start Oct. 23 at the civic center box office and through Ticketmaster outlets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Guests at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable vacation rental in Asheville, NC, are an easy 10 minutes from downtown Asheville’s civic center, which will host the Christmas Jam on Dec. 11 this year.

Warren Haynes Christmas Jam in Asheville

In addition to the Steve Miller Band and Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers band, the jam will feature John Bell and JoJo Herman of Widespread Panic, the Drive-By Truckers, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and others.

The jam benefits Habitat for Humanity each year.

Warren Haynes grew up in Asheville and is a member of the Allman Brothers Band.

Contact Lovers’ Loop Retreat at (828) 545-2950 or loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Asheville rated as top fall foliage leaf-peeping spot

October 8, 2010 at 5:38 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, Asheville seasons, B&Bs, Fall Foliage, free things in Asheville, Lovers' Loop Retreat, nature, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

It’s official, more or less. The best place in the country to see the really big show of autumn foliage is the Asheville area. That’s according to travelers surveyed by the travel site TripAdvisor.com, part of Expedia.com. Travelers ranked Asheville first in the U.S. among fall foliage destinations, partly for views along roadways including the Blue Ridge Parkway.

That’s perfect for guests at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable Asheville bed and breakfast alternative. We’re located one minute from the parkway, which offers thrills to motorists, hikers, cyclists, photographers and others who use the road to catch autumn’s fever.

Fall foliage in Asheville

There’s a significant elevation difference in the Asheville area. Lovers’ Loop Retreat is at about a 2,000-foot elevation, and if you travel 30 minutes north on the Blue Ridge Parkway, you’ll reach Mount Mitchell, at about 6,700 feet, the highest peak in the U.S. east of the Mississippi River. That means that foliage changes occur at different times around Asheville. No guarantees with Mother Nature, but usually there’s pretty fall color to see as late as mid-November.

And after that, it’s still great at Lovers’ Loop Retreat because when the leaves are off the trees, we regain our mountain views until April.

Free things to do in Asheville

One of the best things about leaf-peeping is that it’s free if you use the Blue Ridge Parkway and other scenic roads around Asheville.

Visit us at Lovers’ Loop Retreat this fall, and enjoy a cheap thrill. Don’t miss the splendor of these beautiful mountains!

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Walk the Yellow Brick Road in Asheville with Elton John

October 3, 2010 at 5:32 pm · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, Lovers' Loop Retreat, music, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

Elton John will perform Nov. 16 at the Asheville Civic Center. If you’re interested, jump on it. Tickets go on sale Monday morning, Oct. 4 through Ticketmaster, and the show surely will sell out.

Our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable Asheville vacation rental, is a great place to stay if you’re seeing a show at the civic center or elsewhere in downtown Asheville. We’re an easy 10-minute drive from downtown, and you’ll appreciate the peace at our Asheville bed and breakfast alternative after the excitement of a fun show.

Rocket Man comes to Asheville

Elton John last performed in Asheville in 1999, so here’s your opportunity to watch the legendary pianist at a smaller venue without some of the headaches you may encounter at a huge arena.

He’s no Candle in the Wind

Elton John is one of the biggest acts to play in Asheville. Elvis Presley played at the civic center in 1975, and Bob Dylan has performed there several times, including an appearance a couple of years ago.

Come to Asheville for a serving of Crocodile Rock, and enjoy the show!

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Lovers’ Loop Retreat October Muse-letter

September 28, 2010 at 10:47 pm · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville art, Asheville B&B, Asheville seasons, B&B, Fall Foliage, free things in Asheville, Lovers' Loop Retreat, nature, newsletters, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s nearly October, and that means the hunt is on in the Asheville, N.C., area. Red leaves, gold leaves, orange and russet leaves. Come see what the oaks, maples, poplars, sourwoods and other trees are serving up for eye candy this autumn as the fall foliage season gets underway in western North Carolina. Guests at our Lovers’ Loop Retreat, an affordable Asheville bed and breakfast alternative, love that we’re located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic road that’s part of the National Park Service. The parkway is the best place to enjoy all that autumn offers in color changes and mountain peaks. The leaf-peeping here usually lasts until around mid-November.

Spending time on the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the popular and FREE things to do in Asheville during autumn and year-round.

Make Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our affordable Asheville vacation rental, your place to stay when you explore Asheville, NC recreation, arts, restaurants and festivals. Events are posted and updated through the year on www.loversloopretreat.com. Visit the site to see what’s going on whenever you plan your trip. Contact us for a list of many FREE things to do in Asheville.

Free things to do in Asheville in October

In October, you’ll find a fun and wide-ranging mix of freebies in Asheville. Oct. 1 is the Asheville gallery walk, when the many downtown galleries stay open later so visitors may check out the art and enjoy refreshments. Asheville’s pride festival is Oct. 2.

There’s also the Asheville Scarecrow Festival on Oct. 2, and Fiesta Latina, the vibrant and colorful annual Latino heritage event, also is Oct. 2.

The North Carolina Arboretum’s regularly scheduled free day is the first Tuesday of each month, Oct. 5. The Asheville Art Museum offers free admission in the afternoon on the first Wednesday of each month, Oct. 6.

If you’re ready to walk the walk, participate in the Asheville Zombie Walk on Oct. 10. It’s an annual gig downtown: fake blood, funky costumes, scary stares. To lighten up, attend the Asheville Ukulele Jam on Oct. 12 at Laurey’s Catering downtown. This new event will be the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

On Oct. 17, the annual HardLox Jewish Festival will fill your tummy with yummy food and please your ears with klezmer tunes, along with Israeli folk dancing.

Asheville arts events

Two of the most-anticipated arts events in the Asheville area are in October. The Lake Eden Arts Festival, or LEAF, will be Oct. 14-17 in Black Mountain just minutes from Lovers’ Loop Retreat. LEAF features multicultural dancing, poetry, healing and culinary arts and handcrafts. The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands will be Oct. 21-24 in downtown Asheville.

Halloween in Asheville

Asheville is a happening place to spread your Halloween wings. LaZoom, the comedy tour bus that roams downtown, offers lively Halloween tours. Asheville Trolley Tours and other companies offer ghost tours by foot and bus. And the play “Dracula” will be performed Oct. 22-23 and Oct. 29-30 at the recently restored Masonic Temple downtown. We’ll update our website as we learn of other Halloween gigs.

It’s not scary, but the Asheville MoogFest will be Oct. 29-31 and celebrates the vision and music of the late Robert Moog (based in Asheville), who invented the Moog synthesizer that revolutionized rock music starting in the 1960s.

All of these events and activities and more are listed on our website. Please pass along our muse-letter to your friends. And join us at Lovers’ Loop Retreat. See you in Asheville!

Call or email us – 828.545.2950, loversloop(at)gmail(dot)com.

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Explore some frightful findings in Asheville

September 19, 2010 at 5:52 am · Filed under Asheville, Asheville activites, Asheville B&B, B&B, B&B alternative, Lovers' Loop Retreat, vacation rental ·Tagged , , , , ,

Visitors to Asheville will find a number of walking, motor and Segway tours available. Among these are several haunted tours that give a peek into the mysterious, scary and unsavory side of Asheville history.

We haven’t encountered ghosts at Lovers’ Loop Retreat, our Asheville vacation rental, but our guest suite is a great place to prepare yourself for the scary stuff on the tours. The various tours leave from the downtown area, just 10 minutes from our Asheville bed and breakfast alternative.

Asheville ghost tours

We recently took Asheville Trolley Tours’ ghost tour, a popular ride that informs passengers about some of the city’s spirits. The tour, which operates March through November, tells visitors about the Lady in Pink at the upscale Grove Park Inn and about the ghost that paces on the roof of the Jackson building downtown.

Asheville history

On the tour, you’ll hear about spirits at the Whitegate Inn and the murder of a young woman at the Battery Park hotel, now an apartment building. Another piece of phantom history shared on the Asheville ghost tour regards a minister of the Methodist church on Church Street who is alleged to have killed a nun with whom he had an affair in the 1890s. The trolley also makes its way along a narrow, steep, curvy road to Helen’s Bridge, where a girl is said to have hung herself in 1889. She reportedly appears in a purple mist from time to time.

Halloween in Asheville

There’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than taking a ghost tour. The tour guide told our group that passengers who’ve taken photos of tour sites have reported capturing orbs, faces, auras and streaks in their images. Grab your camera, and get on the bus. Enjoy a good boo in Asheville when you stay at Lovers’ Loop Retreat!

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