Hot Sheet: Once-in-a-lifetime Biltmore bloom; Bigfoot sighting on Blue Ridge Parkway; more
Also, nearly 200 apartments may be coming to Sardis Road
Note: This story is sponsored by Citizens Fuel Co., a family-owned Asheville company.
Here’s more of what’s going around:
A once-in-a-lifetime event (at least for this plant) is happening now at the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore Conservatory is home to a bromeliad, a member of plant family found in the tropics that blooms only once in its lifetime. (One of the most well-known members of this plant family is the pineapple.) The bromeliad at the conservatory is estimated to be about 10 years old and is currently in bloom. Also, this bromeliad is quite substantial: it measures up to about 3 feet in diameter and can reach 6 feet tall.
These plants normally bloom for about five months, and the Biltmore specimen is about three months along. Once the plant has finished blooming, it will begin to form an offset, called a "pup," according to the Biltmore's horticulture experts. Pups are exact clones of the original plant. Conservatory staff will plant the pup, and the bromeliad's legacy will continue. This recent photo is courtesy of The Biltmore Company.
Bigfoot was spotted along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Haywood County at the end of May, according to a report filed with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. The nationwide group of believers founded in 1995 documents, and then tries to verify, sightings. (The group has counted about a dozen reports in the region so far.) The sighting occurred after sunset May 30 near the Masonic Marker at Balsam Gap Camp, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley, according to the report. (Check out a WNC Magazine feature about the obscure, fascinating marker.) “It was getting very cold so we got into the car, cranked the car up and started to back up and leave when a very dark large figure ran across the road into the woods. It looked man like,” according to the eyewitness. “The hairs on my arm and back of my neck stood up straight I have never in my life been so afraid.”
Amicizia is the name on city construction permits being pulled for the build-out of a new restaurant planned for the old Barbecue Inn spot (most recently the Byrish Haus) at the corner of Patton Avenue and Johnston Boulevard. “Amicizia” is Italian for friendship.
Vinny’s South is coming along in the former Ianucci’s Pizzeria location at 1981 Hendersonville Road. The expansion opens the next chapter of Vinnie’s as the original Merrimon Avenue location marks its first decade in business. Guests will dine on old-school Italian food reminiscent of classic New York and Boston red sauce joints. Owner Eric Sheffer has been an established Asheville restaurateur for two decades. In 2000, he took the helm of the Savoy, and as a founding member, helped establish the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association. Savoy closed in 2010 and was transformed into Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant.
Day to Daily Coffee is offering coffee delivery in downtown Asheville, out of space shared with Blue Ridge Hemp on North Lexington Avenue.
Linamar, the vehicle parts manufacturer in Arden, plans to build a 72,000-square-foot addition to its plant on Hendersonville Road, according to city construction permits.
The site of a former Pizza Hut restaurant at the entrance to the Regent Park shopping center off Patton Avenue will be the site of a new shell building that will be offered up for lease to two retail operations, according to city construction permits. (The long-vacant pizza joint was demolished a couple of years ago.) An earlier Hot Sheet incorrectly reported that the former Denny’s restaurant location across Regent Park Boulevard from the vacant lot would be the spot for new construction.
A Sardis Road spot may be the site of 196 new residential units spread across 6 buildings, according to construction permits. The address is 235 Sardis Road.
At the Asheville Regional Airport, officials have been making changes to parking, and they’ve announced new flights. Regarding parking: the airport’s cell phone lot closed temporarily, and parking rates increased. A new shuttle lot (located directly across the street from the main entrance of the airport) will open soon. Regarding the new flights: Sun Country Airlines announced the addition of new nonstop routes out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Asheville Regional Airport. Service is scheduled to being Oct. 7 and flights will be twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Sun Country Airlines is a small, Minnesota-based airline that transformed into an ultra-low-cost carrier and is now a publicly traded company.
TEDxAsheville organizers have announced that event planning is underway for a return in February 2022. The goal, as always, is to showcase speakers with “ideas worth sharing.” The local event is modeled after TEDx, the California-based conference that features top-notch folks in the fields of technology, entertainment and design. It celebrated its 10th anniversary in Asheville back in 2019. Organizers for the ‘22 version include: executive producer Barrie Barton; lead team coordinator Stephanie Twitty; strategy advisor Vanessa Bell; Amber Victoria as director of speaker’s technology; Laura Wagenknecht as sponsor director; Brian Hennessey as website designer; Aisha Adams as marketing director; Kathy Avery as volunteer coordinator; and Jacob Sutton, videographer.
Solar power to the people: Solarize Asheville-Buncombe, a community-based group-purchasing campaign that makes solar energy and battery storage more affordable to participants, is already awesome. But the organization’s Neighbor to Neighbor program goes one step further by making grant funds available so that solar power is possible for income-qualified households. The group will hold a Pints for A Purpose event and discussion from 5-8 p.m. on July 15 at the Hi-Wire Brewing Big Top to help raise money for the effort. Partners in this effort include Green Built Alliance, Sierra Club WENOCA, Green Opportunities and Hood Huggers International.
Buncombe County Public Libraries is inviting the community to take part in an upcoming feedback session regarding a new master plan for library facilities and their locations.
Greenway and Blueway project manager: The Town of Woodfin is looking to hire an experienced project manager to fill a newly created project and facilities manager position. The primary focus of the position is to guide the town’s greenway and blueway project through completion and into operations. Job listing here.
Asheville sports bars showing the UEFA European Championship on Sunday afternoon are sure to be packed as Italy and England face off for their big match. Who’s your pick to win?
Thanks for reading!
-j
Other recent Hot Sheets
-As city officials eye East Asheville hotel for use as a shelter, nearby property owners object
-Check out the full archive at ashevegashotsheet.substack.com