By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 22, 2026
At a Glance
Western North Carolina sits at the global center of salamander diversity, with roughly 30 species in Great Smoky Mountains National Park alone. Herping, the hobby of searching for reptiles and amphibians, has a growing following …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 22, 2026
At a Glance
Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 8-9, at the Shelton House in Waynesville, NC, marking the building's 150th anniversary. Admission is free, rain or shine, at 49 Shelton St. The eighth annual …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 22, 2026
At a Glance
Asheville's five top-rated vegan restaurants are Rosetta's Kitchen downtown, plant on Merrimon Avenue, Pulp + Sprout on South Liberty Street, The Smokin' Onion on Haywood Road in West Asheville, and Romeo's Vegan Burgers on Merrimon. …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 22, 2026
At a Glance
Picklepalooza is a Western North Carolina pickleball tournament that raises money and food for regional hunger relief, converting entry fees, sponsorships and pantry donations into groceries for mountain families still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Play …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 22, 2026
At a Glance
Purple Ridge Recording Studio occupies the second floor of a garage Mark Pinkston built beside his home in Bethel, in Haywood County, North Carolina. Originally planned as a gym, it became a studio at his …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 21, 2026
At a Glance
Andaaz is a new Indian restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina, in Buncombe County. It joins a small group of Indian kitchens in a city better known for Southern and New American cooking. Asheville sits roughly …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 21, 2026
At a Glance
Franklin, NC is spending $6.6 million to upgrade its water treatment plant, quadrupling treated water storage from 56,000 to 250,000 gallons and replacing two 50-horsepower pumps with three 125-horsepower high service pumps. The project began …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 21, 2026
At a Glance
Biologists captured five endangered Indiana bats in Graham County's Nantahala National Forest this summer, the first Indiana bats caught in North Carolina mist net surveys since 2015. Radio transmitters led researchers to a maternity roost …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 21, 2026
At a Glance
Brevard's Bracken Preserve opened a 34-acre expansion Friday, adding three new trails: the Mac Morrow Trail, the Bailey Loop and the Bailey Connector. The city purchased the land in 2024 and partnered with Conserving Carolina, …
By Jon Tharp, Broker · July 20, 2026
At a Glance
North Carolina is shifting vehicle registration renewals to electronic delivery, meaning renewal notices arrive by email or text instead of a mailed card for drivers who have contact information on file with the NCDMV. Registration …