1. Tops For Shoes
3. TIE Craft Fair of the Southern
27 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-6721 Highlands Ever heard of a shoe store being a tourist attrac- www.southernhighlandguild.org tion? For locals and out-of-towners alike, Tops 3. TIE Bele Chere For Shoes is, quite simply, a downtown institu- www.belecherefestival.com tion that offers great selection and good prices.
2. Discount Shoes
1266 Brevard Road, Asheville, 667-0085
3. Diamond Brand Outdoors
2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 684-6262
Tailgate/farmers market 1. North Asheville Tailgate Market
tops for shoes best shoe store 2. Karmasonics
19 Biltmore Ave., 259-9949
3. Static Age Records
82 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3232
Musical instrument shop 1. Musician’s Workshop
319 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-1249 Becky Dosier and her husband Frank have owned Musician’s Workshop for 32 years. They sell instruments. They install home theaters. They offer music lessons. And they have not one, but two luthiers on hand for repairs. “We only have one store because we want to do it right,” Dosier says.
2. Smashing Guitars
103 Broadway, Asheville, 259-3600
3. Acoustic Corner
105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain, 6695162
Outdoor-gear shop 1. Diamond Brand Outdoors
BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row
1. Bruisin’ Ales
66 Broadway, Asheville, 252-8999 With more than 800 brews to choose from, Bruisin’ Ales brings the many flavors of world beer to the mountains of North Carolina. Specializing in Belgians and American craft brews, this beer-only boutique is a new champion in the Best of WNC poll.
Held at UNC-Asheville, lower level of parking lot C, 622-3654 This market, run by vendors/farmers, has been 2. Hops and Vines offering fresh, locally grown food for 29 years. 797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275 “We have among the best farmers in the area,” 3. TIE Greenlife Grocery says market co-manager Julie Mansfield, farm- 70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440 ers driven to provide customers with the highest quality food. Add customers “who come 3. TIE Ingles through in thick and thin,” and you’ve got a Various locations (www.ingles-markets.com) formula for success, Mansfield says. Wine store
2. Asheville City Market
161 S. Charlotte St., Asheville, 236-1282 and 31 Schenck Parkway, Asheville, 348-0340
3. West Asheville Tailgate Market
Held in the parking lot between West End Bakery and Café and the Grove Corner Market on Haywood Road, 281-9099
2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 684-6262 Arts/craft fair It’s pretty basic: You don’t go hiking, backpacking, camping or paddling around Western 1. The Big Crafty North Carolina without first checking the gear www.thebigcrafty.com Celebrating homemade art and crafts of all at Diamond Brand. inspirations, The Big Crafty is a juried, inde2. Black Dome Mountain Sports pendent craft fair featuring more than 100 local 140 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 251-2001 artists and crafters. Plus, live demos, DJs, food 3. Frugal Backpacker and a raffle; it’s the art lovers’ social event of 2621 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 209-1530 the year.
Shoe store
Beer store
2. Village Art and Craft Fair
1. Hops and Vines
797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275 “We have killer wines at a great price,” says store owner Alex Buerckholtz, summing up his two-year-old store’s approach to attracting customers. Every wine is hand-selected for inclusion in the store, and customers get treated with respect, Buerckholtz says. “We try to let them think for themselves, and if they want advice or more information, we try to help them.”
2. The Wine Guy
555 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-6500 and 1200 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2771120
3. Asheville Wine Market
65 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-0060 — A.S.B. and J.S.
www.biltmorevillage.com/craft_fair.htm
mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009
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