Warren Wilson College (WWC) is creating a unique environment where students can pursue their passion for animals while enjoying the companionship of their own pets. The college recently introduced a new Animal Science major, set to launch in the fall of 2025.
Penland Gallery’s El Puente continues through June 7. The exhibition presents the work of four Puerto Rican artists: mixed media sculptors Ada del Pilar Ortiz and Luis Gabriel Sanabria; ceramic sculptor Jaime Suárez; and ceramic sculptor and Mitchell County resident Cristina Córdova, who curated the show.
When a gallery greets visitors with a handmade dog bowl filled with water at its front door, you know there are animal lovers inside. Mica Gallery, in Bakersville, is one such space. The artists who own and manage the gallery cherish pets and welcome works that reflect that sentiment.
As the story goes, a carnival rolled into Madison, FL, in 1949. A pair of ivory rodents were part of the main act, but escaped their cages and smartly found their way to a nearby pecan orchard. The orchard owner hired H.H. Mull to capture the roving duo, and he brought them to his young niece, Barbara Mull, in Brevard.
The NC Bradford Pear Bounty program has become a key initiative in North Carolina’s fight against the spread of invasive Bradford pear trees, a cultivar of the Callery pear tree. Launched in 2022, the program is a collaboration between NC State Extension, NC Urban Forest Council, NC Forest Service and NC Wildlife Federation.
On Sunday, June 8, join the Blue Ridge Orchestra (BRO) at Souther Williams Vineyard, in Fletcher, for Summer Soirée, its annual fundraiser. A celebration of summer’s arrival and BRO’s 25th anniversary, the event will include an evening of music, fine wine and gourmet catered food.
Brett Suess has joined The Horse Shoe Farm as Chef de Cuisine at The Silo Cookhouse. With a modern take on Appalachian cuisine and a wealth of experience in open-fire cooking, Suess brings a fresh perspective to the restaurant, which is known for its locally inspired menu crafted by executive chef Dan Williams.
After Hurricane Helene and the ensuing destruction, we all found our own ways to cope and to move forward. For Shelley McKechnie, writing was the answer. “It’s what I’ve always done to try to find equilibrium,” she says. “I thought others might be doing that, too."
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.
