Most of us have heard the hoot of an owl or maybe their screech, whistle, hiss or whine, especially at night when they are most active. But chances are you have not seen the species in the wild. Though easily recognizable, these nocturnal creatures are well camouflaged in their woody roosting spots.
Fall brings spectacular floral displays to the Blue Ridge. Golden yellow and royal purple abound, with ironweed, goldenrods and asters, and Joe Pye Weed making a show along the Parkway. But there’s more to be seen if you have the time and inclination to stop and walk a bit.
The Western North Carolina Pottery Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The event will bring together 44 exhibiting potters from 15 states on Saturday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Sylva’s Bridge Park.
Community is a lived value at Trackside Studios where 60 local creatives showcase their art. As we approached autumn and the one-year milestone post Hurricane Helene, we wanted to represent that sense of community in our Stairway Gallery.
Asheville artist Babette Reynolds has always been drawn to the mountains. When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, her connection to the region’s landscape took on new urgency.
The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness (SJIW) has opened a new trail system, The Trails of St. John, on its campus in Flat Rock. The trails are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk, offering both recreation and reflection for parishioners and the broader community.
Now in its centennial year, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) has long been considered the great novel of the Jazz Age. The story centers on the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, one of Long Island’s nouveau riche.
Daniel Caton has spent most of his life explaining the night sky. As an astronomy professor at Appalachian State University, he can tell you which dot is Jupiter, which streak is a plane and which flicker is just a satellite catching the sun.
The Laurel of Asheville is available in both print and digital editionsWe are delighted you have chosen us to be your gateway—both through our popular print Asheville lifestyle magazine and our website—to the arts, culture, and communities that comprise the remarkable area that is Western North Carolina. In these pages, you will find behind-the-scenes stories about the region’s concerts, theatre and dance productions, festivals, restaurants, artists, and the multitude of locally-based businesses. We also enjoy bringing you features about the people and organizations who are caring for those in need, protecting our historic heritage, preserving our rich and diverse environment, and nurturing our cultural soul.
