Asheville's Street Performers

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA is an enclave for artists of all kinds, and that is on display on just about every street corner downtown. Even up close I had no idea how the performance artist (above) pulled off these illusions. I'm not sure how a stuffed teddy bear can keep this very tall man balanced on two wheels. He's been photographed a thousand times, but I have yet to find out anything about him or his act... and perhaps that is how he wants to keep it, a secret!

Musicians are all over the place, and most of them are pretty good. They don't need a permit to play on the street, but there are a lot of rules in place they must abide by, including: allowing enough room for pedestrians to get to where they are going; playing only certain times of the day; and performing no less than forty feet from another performer. Although I don't plan on moving to the city or becoming a street performer myself, I did run across the brochure put out by the city for those who are. It's pretty interesting to read about all the rules artists and panhandlers must follow. Click here and read for yourself.

Asheville Grove Arcade

Anyone who makes their way to downtown will certainly find themselves at the Grove Arcade. It's an obvious choice for my first blog post about the city of Asheville, so apologies for the predictability. The building is a beautiful piece of architecture to be appreciated, especially from the inside looking out. It takes on a different mood depending on the time of day. Inside the mall you'll find offices, high-end galleries, makeup studios and shops selling artisan crafts, decor and designer clothing. On the permitter of the building there are several cafes and restaurants that spill out onto the sidewalks adding to the charm of this section of town.

Just outside the south entrance of the grove, seven days a week, you'll find a dozen or so artisans selling their wares in the portico. Side-by-side you'll find booths with finely crafted jewelry, t-shirts, hand-sewn stuffed animals, fine art and photography. I've been to the city twice now and each time their was a different group of sellers. If you'd like to learn more about the Grove Arcade, the Portico Market, or to take a video tour of them both, click here.