There is such diversity in people, interests, activities, and cultures in Asheville.  Asheville, with 70,000 residents, is the smallest city in America with its own Jewish Community Center.  This is another installment of my blog Kellam Real Estate Today, with postings on things to do here in Asheville.  If you would like information on buying and selling real estate here, feel free to visit my website. My search function includes every house listed for sale in the 4- county area around Asheville.  Or give me a call at 828-505-7019.

We were invited (by our son Seth, Youth Director) to help out at the annual Chanukah play at the Jewish Community Center in Asheville.  There must have been 100 kids -- and the gym was filled with their parents.

Visit the JCC website for information on all they offer.

The JCC offers a wide range of activities for adults and for children up to high school age.  There is a day care program every day and an after school program.  There are two teen programs -- Gesher for middle school students, and BBYO for high schoolers.  One of the most popular programs is Camp Ruach, the only Jewish summer day camp in Western North Carolina.

The adult social and cultural programs include quarterly newcomers receptions, monthly social activities, summer outdoor swim club, weekly folk dancing, Weight Watchers, Yoga and others.  The JCC also provides Jewish family services, including Elder Day Club, senior transportation, kosher meal delivery, and volunteer opportunities.

To read more of my blog postings on life in Asheville, scroll down or click on the Archive links on the left.

The theater, art and music never seem to stop in Asheville.  Check out my other blogs on things to do in Asheville, below, or in the Archive on the right.

This time, on November 12, 2009,  it was the great Jackson Browne, solo, at the Civic Center (go here for schedule).  He looked like he was about 30 (even from our fairly-close orchestra seats), but he's probably 30 years older than that.  In the audience of 2500 there was plenty of grey and white hair, but plenty of younger people as well, who didn't know him "back then," but are fans now.

He sang all (or most) of his favorites, and had a running conversation about what would come next.  It was like sitting in your living room listening to a friend sing. 

Asheville is a unique, beautiful city of 70,000.  If you would like to learn about real estate here, give me a call at 828-505-7019, email me at akellam@c21allseasons.com, or visit my website www.akellam.c21allseasons.com.  My site includes all homes listed for sale in the entire area, plus useful community information.

Here we were, newcomers to the South completely enthralled with 200 others by an icon of the civil rights movement, a member of the Little Rock Nine -- Minniejean Brown Trickey!

What another great introduction to Asheville.  Last week, we attended the weekly Fab Friday Luncheon at the North Carolina Center For Creative Retirement.  (I'll write more about the Center, part of the University of North Carolina Asheville, in a future blog).  Most of us remember the black and white TV images of Minniejean and her 8 friends, being walked through the jeering crowds of students and adults, guarded by Arkansas National Guard, and then by the 101st Airborne Division brought in by President Eisenhower. 

If you found this blog of interest, check my other blogs on Asheville in the Archive on the left.  If you are thinking of moving here, I am a REALTOR and would be happy to help you find a home. Feel free to contact me with any questions at 828-505-7019, email me at akellam@c21allseasons.com, or visit my website,(my search function contains all homes listed for sale in the western North Carolina area.

Ms Trickey is one of the famous "Little Rock Nine" who integrated Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957 and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Freedom, and someone who played a major role in the expansion of civil rights in America.  She is one of our genuine heroes, especially for what she endured in a very hostile school environment when she was but a young girl.

The Performing Arts Opportunities in Asheville seem to be limitless.

I recently wrote about our first visit to the Asheville Lyric Opera, and soon I'll tell you about some of the rock venues here in Asheville, like the fabulous Orange Peel, ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 5 best rock venues in America.

Last week, we attended our first performance at the Asheville Community Theater and saw a performance of Return of an Angel, a drama about Thomas Wolf, the world famous author who was born in Asheville and left town after using local characters in his fiction.  The acting was first rate, using professional talent known throughout the U.S.  And besides the great performances, it was kind of exciting to see the playwright in the row in front of us.  Haven't seen that on Broadway.

Act has its own theater in downtown Asheville.  Unlike our many years of experiences of theater going in NYC, we were home within 15 minutes of the final curtain.

I hope that you'll check in to see my other blogs, and scroll below or see my recent archives on the left.  I am a Realtor here, and would be happy to answer any questions about homes for sale or help you find one. You can reach me at 828-505-7019, akellam@c21allseasons.com, or view all homes for sale in Asheville at my site, www.akellam.c21allseasons.com.

There are so many things to do and places to go in and around Asheville.  Last week, we drove a short distance up the Blue Ridge Parkway (that's at least one other blog on my list) to the Folk Art Center.  It's only about 10 miles from downtown Asheville, and, if anything, we would have been happy to see more of the about-to-change-colors scenery. 

The Folk Art Center is the home of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.  It exhibits traditional and contemporary crafts of the Appalachian region.  The center houses the Allanstand Craft Shop, which was originally founded over 100 years ago.  In the 1930's, when construction began on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a relationship was established between the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the National Park Service.  The two groups embarked on an ambitious project in the 1970's that would develop into the Folk Art Center.  It opened in 1980 and now houses galleries, a library, the Guild archives, Allanstand Craft Shop, and an information center/bookstore.

You can learn about it at www.craftguild.org.  You can learn about Asheville real estate by contacting me anytime at 828-505-7019, akellam@c21allseasons.com, or search all listed properties in the area on my website, www.akellam.c21allseasons.com. 

I hope you find my blog interesting.  Take a look at other Asheville activitiies by scrolling down, or in my blog archives on the left.

We have yet to stop being impressed by the quantity and quality of music, theater, entertainment and culture of all kinds here in Asheville.  When we first moved here, we decided to jump into the Asheville scene, and bought tickets to all kinds of events.  One was the Asheville Lyric Opera, that features local, regional, and national professional singers.  We are taking a class on operal appreciation at the University's NC Center for Creative Retirement, and one of the perks was complimentary tickets to the final dress rehearsal of this month's performance of The Marriage of Figaro.

The performance was fantastic, from Baritone to Soprano; staging excellent; set design innovative; orchestra (and Mozart's wonderful overture) was great.  And, the venue, The new Diana Wortham Theater, located in the middle of town on Pack Square, was modern, yet intimate.

Can't wait to see Don Pasquale in January and Carmen in April.  I'll let you know how they are. Watch for my regular blogs on Asheville. If you'd like more info about Asheville or homes in the area, give me a call or shoot me an email at 828-505-7019 or akellam@c21allseasons.com.  Or visit my website, www.akellam.c21allseasons.com to see every listed home for sale in Asheville and surrounding area. 

I'll be sharing more of our experiences about living and moving to Asheville -- and the many things to do here...check out the Archives section on the left hand column of this page.