Asheville, North Carolina, has transformed in recent decades from an economically depressed backwater into a bohemian arts haven, and this resurgence is most palpable in the River Arts District (RAD). The area, which received a $35 million face-lift this year, is home to 23 old industrial buildings that are now brimming with artists. Here are six spots that show just how rad Asheville can be.
Gallery Mugen
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Riverview Station, a converted tannery, houses more than 60 artist workshops, including this gallery, where Akira Satake showcases the textured ceramic tableware he makes using the Japanese Kohiki technique. “My version involves brushing white slip on the clay and stretching it to create cracked and distorted surfaces,” Satake says. “I also wood-fire, often without glaze, allowing the wood ash to color and texture my pieces.”
Plēb Urban Winery
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This mural-covered spot, which opened in 2018, is the antithesis of a stuffy tasting room. Stop by for a flight, where you can swirl some low-intervention wine made with Carolina-grown grapes (using any of 20-plus varietals) in a relaxed space with river views. “Our aesthetic is one of openness,” says co-owner Lauren Turpin, who adds that a winery makes a perfect addition to the neighborhood “because wine is art.”
Hi-Wire Brewing
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Asheville has more breweries per capita than anywhere in America, and circus-themed Hi-Wire is among the best. Thirsty visitors can try the dozens of brews it releases each year at its RAD Beer Garden, which opened this fall. Co-owner Chris Frosaker says the space, which is made from upcycled shipping containers and splashed with Ian Wilkinson’s kaleidoscopic murals, is meant to “transport you to a different world.”
North Carolina Glass Center
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“Western North Carolina’s place in the art glass movement goes back to the 1970s,” says Janice Gouldthorpe, executive director of this public space, which opened in 2016 and carries the torch (literally) with its classes, workshops, and free glassblowing demos. The attached gallery displays bulbous light fixtures, color-swirled vases, and tumblers you’ll be happy to show off at your next cocktail party.
Vivian
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Josiah and Shannon McGaughey opened this restaurant in late 2017, after stints running a pop-up and a food truck. Here, they meld European techniques with local ingredients—braised venison osso bucco, pan- seared Carolina tilefish—to reveal the potential of Appalachian cuisine. “It’s such a bountiful region—we have all our ingredients at our fingertips,” explains Shannon. “Plates are never overcomplicated, but always beautiful and big in flavor.”
Grail Moviehouse
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“In a world of multiplexes, the role of the small art house cinema is more important than ever,” says Grail Moviehouse owner Davida Horwitz, who moved her single-screen theater into the neighborhood last year. The programming, which includes documentaries and foreign films, is a perfect match for the setting, Horwitz says: “It reflects the variety of personality and spirit found throughout the River Arts District.”
Next Up: Get to Know Birmingham’s Five Points South Neighborhood
