Studio Stroll

On Saturday, my friend and I visited the River Arts District for the semi-annual Studio Stroll.  During the two-day event, artists opened their studios to the public, displaying their art and giving demonstrations of their respective crafts.  We got to see artists work with glass, wax, and clay, among many other mediums.  The weather was beautiful Saturday--perfect for enjoying fall, friendship, and of course, art.  Asheville is a great place for artists; we have a thriving artistic community here.  There were a ton of people in the River Arts District today, and their energy was palpable!!  It was such fun to get a look at artists and their studios, and I cannot wait to go back again in 2012!  I hope you had a chance to visit, also.  If not, then you can enjoy my pictures!    


























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Go Bulldogs!!

As many of you may know, Sunday afternoon was the UNC Asheville, UNC Chapel Hill men's basketball game.  This has definitely been one of the most anticipated athletic events this semester.  UNC Asheville students picked up our free tickets about a month ago, and then waited until Sunday afternoon to show our school spirit.  
Parking on campus was pretty congested, and by the time the game started, the Sherill Center was full to the brim!  The energy in the new Bulldog "doghouse" was tangible. 
 I think I've mentioned before that I am not the biggest fan of basketball, but on Sunday, I was proud to call myself a Bulldog.  Although we lost in the end, everyone had a really fun time supporting our school and just enjoying time together on a Sunday evening.  Best of luck to the Bulldogs for the remainder of the season!  Go Bulldogs! 
 
 
PS: I'm sorry I don't have any action shots!  I was having too much fun enjoying the game! 

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Pumpkin Chunkin'

What did you do this weekend?  I can guarantee you that my weekend was weirder.  Every year, my roommate and her family hold an event that has come to be known as the "Pumpkin Chunkin."  On the day of this event, we gather at my friend's house for food, friendship, and throwing pumpkins.  What do I mean by "throwing pumpkins?"  Well, several years ago, my roommate's father built a huge trebuchet.  They use this trebuchet to launch things (mostly vegetables, I think) into their field, trying to hit a specific target.  Since they have a lot of land and a general spirit of fun and adventure, any time they decide to break out the trebuchet, there is bound to be a small crowd of onlookers.  


The Pumpkin Chunkin' was on Saturday after the men's soccer game.  We carpooled to my roommate's house in Brevard just in time to begin feasting on the smoked pig her father had prepared, as well as other delectable dishes, including a variety of veggies, salads, and desserts.  While we were eating, our hosts brought out their potato gun.  Can you imagine that the family who built a trebuchet in their back yard would have a normal potato gun?  Exactly.  This potato gun is a huge, vacuum powered machine that has a pretty powerful kickback.  It's taller than I am, and it's a pretty interesting experience just seeing someone shoot it.  However, because it was not the highlight of the evening, we soon abandoned the gun for the trebuchet.  


While it was still light, we sent a few pumpkins flying from the trebuchet into the field where, upon impact, they exploded in orange chunks.  When evening fell, we set the pumpkins on fire and launched them.  Because I was so awed by the sight of the orange ball of fire against the night sky (and even more so by the subsequent fiery explosion in the field), I did not much pay attention to how they were able to safely light the pumpkin and throw it.  Needless to say, this was a pretty spectacular experience.  Although I've seen my friend's family throw pumpkins before, the flaming pumpkins were entirely new to me, and quite amazing to witness.  it's too bad that my post-graduation plans will take me far from Asheville because this is something I wouldn't mind seeing over and over again.  I took some pictures of the event, not that they can even begin to come close to what the experience was really like.  Enjoy!   










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Everybody Can-Can!

When my friends told me about the "Everybody Can-Can" dance event this past Friday night, I abandoned my rather lame thoughts of homework immediately and joined them.  Who does homework on a Friday night, right?   We simply had to bring four canned goods to be donated to MANNA Food Bank (or pay the admission fee of four dollars), then were free to enter Lapinsky Hall and enjoy the show.  What a great show!  We got to see performances from all of the beginning dance classes, witnessing an array of dance styles from stomp to belly-dancing.  The music and costumes were fun, and the environment was positive and relaxed.  I really enjoyed the stomp number and the tap dance from a group of older students.  There were also a number of individual performances that were quite well-choreographed and fun to watch.   Next time, I hope you all can make it out to campus to support our dance students.  A great cause and a fun time! 










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