River Arts District

Walked through the galleries after grabbing a coffee at summit coffee shop! What a perfect day! I highly recommend!

had a painting commissioned by artist Christopher Peterson. The painting was supposed to portray my home as well as my beloved animals and father. The first image is what he submitted to me originally. Obviously, I was mortified and told him to remove the circles. The second one was the final product. I guess because he could not complete my request he felt that erasing my dead father and my beloved animals was the answer. It was hurtful and insulting and on top of it all I was charging nearly $3000.

Such a cool neighborhood! River Arts District is a neighborhood in Asheville along the river that has plenty of art galleries, murals, shops, eateries and places to wet your whistle. I recommend walking around the neighborhood and exploring. We visited the River Arts District on a Saturday and it was cool to see the variety of artwork here. The neighborhood is in an industrial area along the French Broad River. With that said, there are plenty of places to walk, including a walkway along the river where we saw many people walking their dogs. You can park along the main street or there are plenty of parking lots in the area where you can park for free. Many of the buildings here are art galleries or shops, and some are unmarked, so you won't know it's a gallery or shop until you're walking by it. A lot of the industrial buildings have murals. Some businesses, in addition to art galleries we found here was a brewery, café, consignment stores, restaurants and gift shops. Most of the businesses allow dogs inside. There was also an outdoor skate park in the area. For all things artistic and hip in Asheville, you won't be disappointed in spending a few hours in the River Arts District.

I LOVE that Asheville has invested in a creative space to support local artists and artisans. It is a bit of a hike along the river from Downtown so I wouldn't recommend just walking if you plan on purchasing. When visiting the city this was one of the Hop On Hop Off tour and I only wish we had stayed longer since this was one of the most unique stops. Ironically our bus actually ran behind schedule so we were stuck waiting around at the stop for an extra 25 minutes even the stone slabs around there are artistically decorated. Due to timing we got a ride share to bring us back for a food tour we scheduled in the afternoon. There are a few food and drink options too to visit in between all of the unique galleries. We visited on a weekday so I'm sure not all of the shops were open. There are so many of different sizes that display so many different mediums! They have street art murals all over the sides of many buildings. You can also see for reference what areas are cleared for tagging. One of our favorite galleries involved functional woodworking and we purchased a stylized hand crank pepper grinder! If we weren't limited by our carry on bags we probably would have purchased more. It seems like this space is also great for hosting seasonal events and I saw some holiday artisan market advertised too. It's definitely worth stopping by to appreciate the sights of the talented local artists!

How have I been to Asheville so many times and never been to the arts district. I spent the majority of a three day trip here and I can't wait to go back. There is so much to explore and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. We did some shopping around and Marquee was a favorite. There was a great vintage store I can't recall the name of that had a great mens selection, and the second hand outdoor store was great too. We ate at RosaBees and Baby Bull which were both great. There was a BBQ festival going on the day we left, but the dogs were too amped up by all the activity to check it out. If you're in town visiting, plan to spend at least a day over here if you can.

I would be tossing out 20 stars if I could! What an unexpectedly expansive and cool area of town. I can't believe we were initially undecided about stopping here to explore. I was driving by and on a whim, decided to follow a line of cars turning into the lot leading to the Wedge. We parked in the busy lot and were shocked when the artsy warehouse fun keep going and going. Aside from some local breweries and a taco spot, the walkable area has rows of smaller galleries, thrift shops, an indie movie theater, a large skate park, and a HUGE warehouse (The Marquee) featuring countless art vendors -and booze! And that doesn't even account for the food trucks, endless murals outside the buildings, and a few gardens. This will be the area that I come back to again and again and will recommend to others.

Stroll, skate, bike or board the Wilma Dykeman Greenway. Enjoy a good book by the French Broad River, or launch your paddle craft and explore. Drop into one of the many excellent restaurants for indoor or al fresco dining. Experience the vibrant, burgeoning Asheville art scene up close. The District truly has something for everyone.

This location has a lot of galleries and other consignment style shops that one can look through. But it's also spread out and often times you'll need to drive from one section to another. We spent time over near the wedge brewing and 12 bones barbecue. Great location that you can walk to several galleries and enjoy

Very neat clean area to get out and about. We really enjoyed walking on the river trail. It was night time and they had it well lit and seems to be kept up nicely.

A wonderful walk! Highly recommend! We parked at Summit Coffee and then walked throughout the parking lot admiring the artwork. We also crossed the street and walked along the river. I would highly recommend a visit here!

As tourists, my family and I have been excited and curious to explore many popular things to do in Ashevile and this place popped up in the search. We were really glad that we came. This place is huge and we had a chance to explore only small part of it. The local artists are so talented. The next time when we spend our vacation in this city again, we'll definitely explore the rest of this amazing place :)

Loved it. The River Arts District is teeming with studios where you can pop in and see work by the artists who created it. There are walking and biking trails near the river here, and the bike lanes are protected. Plenty of parking so you can wander along the river, visit the brewery, the taco shop, or stop in one or more of the studios. You can watch folks float by on their tubes. There are some porch swings set up near one of the lots that were really comfortable and actually a ton of fun to sit in, and they were super heavy duty so you could have packed 20 people onto one of them. This was probably my favorite place to be in Asheville, and I would definitely recommend it.

So much to do, see, experience and taste in such a small area. Endless art studios, bike trails, coffee shops and eateries.

There are so many wonderful art galleries to look at, peruse and to buy! I loved this area so much. You need at least 3 hours to go through this area in and out and looking! The murals on the outside walls are amazing as well! It's a wonderful , wonderful area no matter who you are. Dress very comfortably since you'll be on your feet a lot! Enjoy it all!

Totally cool place. This area is a series of old mill buildings that have been repurposed into artist studios. Large variety of arts including watercolor, oils, sculpture, jewelry. It also looks as though you can sign up for classes and paint or make stacking rings for instance. Check out the ArtsGarden. The manager was really helpful at explaining how to find our way around and there was some great art in that building. Also the ArtsGarden is right beside a great BBQ place - 12 Bones Smokehouse as well as some other places including a coffeehouse I believe. The area is quite spread out. You could spend a day here if you wanted to. Across the street is the French Broad River and a walking trail.

Cool murals found here this morning quite muddy but great food found here. From Rosa Bee's to the nearby bbq restaurant that serves blueberry chipotle ribs. Bring your camera or phone lol

Cool little spot in Asheville that offers a variety of art and wall designs. It is actually a rather large walk around the town. It has its decent spots and it has some not so good looking areas with people walking around looking for money and a lot of graffiti on walls that I guess can be mistaken for art. But this is a one and done for me

Great arts scene in Asheville. The artists are talented and engaging. So many of them are willing to discuss their work and their process. The studios are charming, and the artwork is affordably priced. Wear comfortable walking shoes because there's a lot of ground to cover and several studios to visit. Plan to spend a few hours. The RAD will not disappoint.

I love all the cool bright, bold graffiti art! This part of Asheville use to be home to industrial warehouses, machinery, loading/storage spots, you get the gist. Small area- reminds me of Franklinton area back in Columbus. A lot of defunct warehouses, but I do LOVE the lite whitewashed brick used for many of the small business spots spread around. Unfortunately, the day we drove around RAD it was drizzly/overcast/grey/general yuckness, so we couldn't get the full effect, but meandering around by car, there's plenty of places to pull over, get out , and wonder about. I did come across a cool gentleman artist, whose art studio space is in this district, and I got a super cool screen printed tee shirt for my ever-growing shirt paraphernalia. This area of Asheville is definitely a little slice of "up and coming," for sure!

Nice area to walk around, very friendly locals, plenty to see & great gift-purchasing options for those who need to. Walking along the river, admiring funky art with a nice cup of chai was just the perfect activity on a cool, dreary day!

Gallery hopping galore! We had some time to kill between our Biltmore visit and dinner in the area, so we decided to find some free street parking in the area (easy to do) and explore the District. Gallery after gallery, studio after studio. Art on art on art! Not everything is going to be for everyone, but I love that there are a lot of lovely things to see in various forms all in a concentrated area! Several of the spaces are shared by several different artists, which is really interesting when they focus on different styles or art forms. You are almost sure to find something that tickles your fancy! On top of all the art inside, there are murals galore and the buildings are brightly painted, just beckoning you to slow down, stop in, and have a look!

If you have not been to the River Arts district it is absolutely worth going. The local artist studios are fascinating and the area itself is really cool. l love the street art. There's some really talented artists and this is a pleasure admiring the work. But what other people say is accurate as well. There were a few restaurants in the area but not many and it can be tough to walk around. But it can be even tougher to park which is the issue that we ran into. Also as another reviewer said there are a lot of industrial buildings in the space between studios yes frequent and I know for me by the time we park which took about 20 minutes, and looked at a couple of studios, we were kind of ready to leave. I would recommend going maybe at an off time. You'll have an easier time parking and yes some studios maybe close but there are quite a few so you'll at least be able to see some of the artwork much of which is stunning. It's a great area to see you at least once as it's pretty unique and a lot of talent obviously went into making it what it is.

Great area to walk around and take in the local art scene. Learn about the artist's process as many of them are available to speak with. Some of the studios have classes or workshops. We walked here from downtown- not a bad walk- no major hills to conquer. I did see a few eateries and coffee shops, plus of course there is beer near by.

This area is about 1.5 miles from the center of Asheville. I would not recommend walking here from downtown unless you are really up for a hike, given how much walking you'll do on-site. The district is spread out along either side of the railroad tracks in a former industrial district The galleries are built into former warehouses and small factory-type buildings. Some areas have their own specific parking lots, and there are also common public lots. There was a set of public restrooms adjacent to the lot we parked in also. There will be a fair amount of walking as you visit different galleries up and down a couple of streets. You may also have to wait for a train to go by (we did). The shops are quite varied in terms of what sort of art they do (painting of many styles, pottery, sculpture, and others that I didn't get the term for). Some of the artists may be conducting classes but others were available to answer questions and discuss their art. We liked one enough to buy a print as the main souvenir from our trip. This is a good place to spend an hour or two browsing, depending on how much time you have, how much walking you want to do, and your interest level in art generally. The only real negative I'd cite was that the street/sidewalk was under construction in part of the area when we visited. Hence, you had to walk on a muddy shoulder of the road in between clusters of galleries in some areas. However, this appeared to be progressing so by the time anyone reads this that construction may already have wrapped up.

Wow, if only every city had such a great arts vibe. We were lucky enough to be there on a second Saturday of the month when the majority of the artists were in the studios and there were art demonstrations happening. We visited so many studios that I literally lost count. It was so fun to walk up and down the main street going from place to place and seeing such a variety of different mediums. What struck me was how passionate and willing to talk most of the artists were. We picked up a couple of small items and headed over to Wedge Brewery for a drink. What a great space that is and it was a perfect way to end our afternoon.

I enjoyed exploring the River Arts District in Asheville. Like many places in Asheville, an industrial area, not very sexy looking otherwise, has been taken over by artists and transformed in an art Mecca of the area. Hard to resist for me, so while in Asheville, we visited the River Arts District. It's fun, colorful, street art is everywhere, I wish I would have taken more photos (there's an opportunity at every corner, we couldn't stop the car so many times I'd have liked to, the family would have killed me) and spend more time here (half a day, we barely scratched the surface). Grab the map and explore. No more factories, no more warehouses, just artists studios and lofts everywhere, surrounded by mountains. The place is huge. Unfortunately, is so big, that you have to drive around, park, visit studios, get back in the car, drive, stop again, visit some more, you get the picture. It's not a contained space like the Brewery in LA for example. It goes on and on. Some studios weren't opened for visitors (it was around X-mas, but some were). The art- a bit of everything is represented- painting, from classic portraits and still nature to contemporary, home decor, jewelry, pottery, etc. Some of the merchandise for sale is affordable, we took advantage and did a bit of shopping and got some one of a kind items, for some others, you need a bit more $$$. But it's fun to explore, meet the nice artists who are very welcoming, admire various styles of art, enjoy the creativity that's everywhere. There are places you can stop by for a meal, I'd recommend Fresh Wood Fired Pizza, I wasn't impressed with White Duck Taco Shop. There are local breweries around, so you can make a day out of it. Check for schedules for some of these studios, but as much as you'll look into, you have to get there to figure out how to navigate the place, what's opened and so on. For me, it was just fun to explore, pop in every opened studio that crossed my path. The River Arts District is so unique,one of a kind place. A must see if you visit Asheville.

This was a really cool spot to walk around and look at/shop for local art. All of the studios are walkable if you're up for a little hike or you can drive around and park at each one. We had our dog with us and most of the galleries/shops allowed her inside and fed her treats. We got to the area around 10am and there were some things going on but things really started happening from around 11am to early afternoon when we left. We definitely did not see everything in the 4 hours we were there. There is A LOT to see. Wear a good pair of walking shoes and take some water if you plan on spending the day. It is well worth the trip!

Once we figured out the lay of the land, it was an enjoyable day. Found some great buys that was affordable.

Great to visit this place before it gentrifies. All of the artists told us that it would probably be gentrified within five years. Unfortunately that means they will probably be priced out. Parking was easy on the street and there's plenty of our galleries to walk to. Give it a shot!

River Arts District is a fun place with great vibes. So many talented artists to see and experience. Give yourself time as it can get overwhelming. Outdoor murals galore and restaurants and bars to explore! (See what I did there?)

Hard to navigate and much less to do than I thought there would be. Walked around a ton to find closed private studios. But I did enjoy walking around and seeing the landscape.

We drove through and didn't stop as it was all a little depressing. I appreciate the idea of artist living/working in a community space, but the studio/galleries were far apart and the whole thing seemed unwelcoming. Didn't get a sense of what to expect behind the closed doors. Also, didn't seem like you could just browse and enjoy the art... maybe it's my own hang ups but I feel if you step into someone's working studio, it's with a pretense of purchase or a long conversation about motivation. Maybe I just wasn't up for that level of commitment today?

The River Arts District is a tremendous element of Asheville that all cities should aspire to include in their urban planning. In an ostensibly rundown stretch along the river old factories, warehouses and other buildings have been repurposed for working artists to set up studio, office and gallery spaces. Over the course of several hours, we toodled around the area, popping in to galleries and studios, visiting with sculptors, jewelers, painters and other artists. we were impressed by the sheer variety of art on display - everything from encaustic wax paintings to necklaces made from slinkies to gorgeous glazed pottery. A few tips: * Having a car or bikes is recommended. Though it's called a "district", it's definitely on a loooong stretch of road - often with a whole lot of nothing between clusters of galleries. On the day we went it was HOT! Being on foot would have been miserable. * Come hungry! One of the yummiest bbq places in town (12 Bones) is on this stretch - getting a rack of ribs to enjoy as a break between galleries is perfect! * Come thirsty! Some of Asheville's best breweries are in this region! * There's art for all budgets here. You can certainly buy prints and smaller pieces for well under $50, but if you're feeling spendy, bring your checkbook and don't be surprised to be enticed by pieces worth thousands of dollars * Talk to the artists! Learn from them! Get to know what makes them tick! The River Arts District is a terrific way to spend time in Asheville, and it's impossible for the creativity not to rub off on you!

Asheville has long been a very artist friendly town, but as with many cities, they are evolving into an even better version of themselves. Prime example of this is the River Arts District. It seems like poetic justice that artists have taken command of the dilapidated warehouse district and have began its metamorphosis. Once abandoned factories and forgotten lands are being awaken both outside and in. Colorful murals have burst onto rusting metal or aging cinderblock sidewalls. Structures that have lost their original functionality are seeing a second birth. Some of these buildings were on the brink of being condemned, and now they are hot properties! Take for example 12 Bones Smokehouse, who some say pioneered the resurgence of this area by cleaning up a small cinderblock building and becoming insanely popular with their BBQ! So popular in fact that the Obama's have eaten there three times! Their popularity also seemed to kick off a multimillion dollar riverfront project which ironically caused their building to be slated for demolition. Fortunately 12 Bones was relocated to its current Foundry Street location where it is surrounded by old warehouses also seeing new life with fresh new businesses. These businesses include coffee & cycle shops, artist studios, dog training facilities, antiques, cafe's, places to buy home décor goods and even a winery. I had the good fortune to happen across one of the muralist at the beginning of her project. Jacqueline Oliver was unloading paint from her car in front of her husbands studio gallery near 12 Bones Smokehouse. I didn't know she was an artist or that she was preparing to create a new mural. My only question to her was if she knew of any other areas in the city with murals like the River Arts District. That lead to a conversation about the mural she was just about to begin on the wall directly in front of where we were standing. She also told of their frequent visit to our city, Atlanta, to deliver art. I managed to get two pics of the wall, before she began as well as the day after even though it was not complete (see pics). I hope to return to follow-up on her project once completed. Here is a google street view of the property prior to its new life and tenants: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5773054,-82.5657747,3a,75y,128.78h,94.21t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipN08YUZKEKnXKX80yoPlOmudN3snm12AqPKsfuE!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipN08YUZKEKnXKX80yoPlOmudN3snm12AqPKsfuE%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya163.50679-ro0-fo100!7i8704!8i4352 * Jacqueline - https://www.jacquelineoliver.com/ * Mark - https://www.markjosepholiver.com/ FINAL THOUGHTS It is an exciting time in Asheville as the groundwork is being laid for a spectacular showcase of talents. Asheville is so known for its artistry that you can actually search artists by medium desired, such as paintings, basketry, glass/metal, photography, illustrations, furniture building, pottery, jewelry makers and sculptors: https://www.riverartsdistrict.com/ While it is early in its beginnings and still quite raw in its appearance, I have no doubt the River Arts District will be the epicenter for an artistic explosion in the coming decade. Without question it will draw international talent wanting to make this district their home and all of us in the south will be much richer to have such talent within our reach. Art is life, and this may just be the new Garden of Eden. 2018/91

What a wonderful place!!! It looks so colorful and full with good vibes (just like the graffiti), this area is so industrial and yet hippy, kinda reminded me of Austin TX. If you are into the arts, the industrial era and history in general, you definitely cannot miss this place, plus the scenery with the mountains, the trees and all the beautiful buildings is just breath taking. You can see the art work everywhere, on the walls, on people, in the shops, is just so amazing, this place needs more advertising. Whenever you visit in here you cannot miss the area, it's completely worth it

I felt a bit intimidated when I first got there since I don't know that much about art but that feeling went away after going into our first gallery. Everyone was so inviting, helpful and nice. Many studios had the artists there working and we got to speak to them too. It was a great experience and I will be going back soon.

Okay, it's weird to review an entire area but if you like art and perusing art galleries, you will really enjoy the River Arts District. We spent pretty much an entire day walking around the area after parking near the Wedge building. Some of the galleries were a little hike away, but we got in our steps! My understanding is that the area has gotten more promotion and attention recently, maybe it was run-down prior to that. We looked in a lot of shops, made a few purchases, and had coffee at a coffee shop. If you don't want to do all that walking, you can drive around (we had a map with us). There's everything from glass blowing and ceramics to painting, photography, jewelry and mixed media. Many of the buildings also have exterior murals. There are a few restaurants plus a brewery that hosts food trucks. Keep in mind in some of the buildings you'll need to do stairs (they didn't all look handicap accessible). If the artists are in their spaces, a lot of them will be happy to discuss their art and chat with you. A great way to spend a few hours, or a lot of hours if you're like us.

One of my favorite parts of this city. I'll list favs... Wedge brewery, grey eagle music venue, taqueria con quida (in Grey eagle), the Junction, many many art galleries, Clingman Cafe, All Souls Pizza...white duck taco....uh...the River. Oh yeah....and and and and and and and discover Crap 12 Bones...President Obamas fav BBQ!

We spent part of all three days in Asheville touring the River Arts District. There are many galleries and studios to visit over a sizable area and, as many of the galleries have relatively restricted hours, it is best to do it over many days if you can. There are many old factories and warehouses and other small industrial buildings that have been repurposed into a thriving art scene with potters, painters, sculptors, metal and glass artists. I am often intimidated by walking into galleries or studios in New York City but the authentic Southern hospitality in evidence here disperses any such feelings. Even the artists actively at work (and there are quite a few) seem happy to chat. We love this unique and surprisingly rich view into Asheville's art scene.

Oh my goodness, where to even begin?! The River Arts District is one of my favorite spots in Asheville, hands down. Whether you're a lover of fine arts, old repurposed buildings or just appreciate watching someone passionate about their craft, this is your stop! Just a short drive from downtown, all the galleries are within walking distance of themselves, as well as walking distance to a brewery, restaurants, crossfit [go figure!] and of course the beautiful French Broad River. With 180+ artists as of the beginning of 2015, this area is expanding and growing quickly each year. It is very Asheville-esk still though, eclectic, friendly, hippy and repurposed. Make sure to pick-up a studio guide from any of the galleries as you begin your trip. I usually start with lunch at White Duck Taco and work my way in a square, starting at The Hatchery (located within the same plaza as White Duck), then onto Riverside Studios and Cotton Mill Studios (note, there are no sidewalks along this path on Riverside Drive!). Make sure to pick up a tea or coffee at Yuzu Patisserie & Cafe in Cotton Mill Studios. From there, you move onto Curve Studios [another lunch option is 12 Bones, across from Curve Studios, and beginning the tour here!] stopping by the French Broad River and making sure to take in the murals that surround you on your walk. Head over to Wedge Studios next (don't miss Splurge!) and grab a beer at Wedge Brewery. Here you'll have to decide if you want to venture on down to Depot Street, but I usually stick to Robert's and hit Jonas Gerard Fine Art, The rest of Wedge Studios, Roberts Street Studio (don't miss the Asheville Glass Center!) Heading back up Robert's Street to my White Duck Taco for my car, making the full loop. I'd say you must plan at LEAST two hours for this hike, but I can easily spend a full afternoon gallery hopping. There's plenty of free parking, if you don't like to walk but just make sure to keep your eyes open as you pass grassy fields and silos, because art truly does surround you on all objects in the River Arts District.

Asheville has a lot of beautiful, fun-to-visit places that have historical value matched with an artsy atmosphere. Sadly, this wasn't the vibe I got from the River Arts District. When we first arrived (followed the signs to get there), we parallel parked where we thought this area began, so we could walk throughout. We encountered several cute art shops (and a few small breweries), but the stores here are so spread out, and there isn't much in the way of casual dining or mainstream shopping. I don't mean chains, I would prefer local stores, but if you aren't looking to drop a ton of cash on some pricey art (excluding the glass shop, which was incredible, and has glass-blowing classes, score!) this really isn't the type of place that you can spend an afternoon milling around. The restaurant selection was also lacking here, and we settled on a coffee shop that obviously wasn't designed for full-service lunches. If you're looking for atmosphere and a fun day-trip, I highly recommend you look elsewhere as this was too industrial, spread out, and lacking in choices to really garner a 5-star rating. We will give it a try next year, maybe there will be some changes.

We drove through the area and were confused and disappointed. I guess I expected it to be larger with sidewalks? There was so much construction everywhere, and very little signage. So you need to go inside somewhere to see the different artists? I guess we missed it completely. Maybe because of the covid, but the whole area looked completely deserted.

A beautiful and inspiring area that is such a unique gem to this town. Lots of local businesses are in this area and all fantastic. A must see if you visit Asheville!

You get a good feel of the vibe by walking around and seeing the artists. They have a trolley that will take you to the different areas. Pick up a map (in shops or in newspaper stands) to see all the artists and where to find them. Various materials (painting, pottery, jewelery, antiques, etc). Most of it is on the pricy side. Places to rest with a good drink and a meal too. Great graffiti areas for fun pictures. We went around with a travel wheelchair and it was difficult. Sidewalks were not always smooth, lots of hills and stairs.

My mom and I recently visited. We were very excited as we have heard such great things. Unfortunately we were left feeling extremely underwhelmed. The first shop we visited was not at all concerned about us and the jewelry artist even insulted my engagement ring. It was not as intricate as hers. I love my engagement ring and have done so for over 20 years. I will say the last shop we stopped at was amazing. They made up for the other artists along the route.

The River Arts District in AVL has truly transformed in the last 10+ yrs. It is now a destination. Some of the best eateries i.e White Duck Taco Shop, The Junction, All Souls Pizza and 12 Bones to name a few. Not to mention the breweries and coffee shops. Plus the lovely French Broad River running through the middle if it all. One of the highlights are the galleries and artists who abound here. From glass blowers, painters, sculptors, potters and more there is a lot of creative talent whizzing around RAD! You can do a walking tour of the galleries and enjoy a cold brew along the way as well as a superb bite to eat. RAD is a gem, a destination and an unexpected delight down by the railroad tracks. Come check it out.

Wonderful and enchanting place to visit with a significant other or with the whole family. The River Arts District consists of a vast array of artists and working studios in 22 former factories and historical buildings nestled along the French Broad River. More than 180 working studios, many with showrooms and galleries, are open every day, all year round. Artists work in paint, pencil, pottery, metal, fiber, glass, wax, paper and more. Check their website for special events. Especially open gallery days (Studio Strolls) when all the artists are in their studios to meet and chat with. Hard to visit this area without taking home a treasure. There is also a cool brewery called Wedge Brewing Co. You can hit that up after a fun day of art going, and there's parking and a shuttle bus making rounds during those special event days.

Yesterday I was sitting in my car at a railway intersection for an hour or so as a freight train rolled by at a pace somewhere between a snail and molasses. Seeking amusement during the wait, I spied an artist by the river. "Ahoy ahoy!" I called out. "Why yes, ahoy! Well met stranger" the artist replied. "Tell me good lady, what occupies you so, bringing you here beside the river on such a brisk winter day" I questioned. "I wanted to catch the ripples on the water while the branches of the trees were bare. The leaves are beautiful during the spring, but I love to see the branches that support them during the cold season" "Truly" I yelled. Curious as to her medium, I queried her again, "How are you capturing this moment. With pigments suspended in oil?" "Eventually, indeed. But It's too cold for the paints to set out here, I'm using charcoal to draft the scene, I'll finish the piece in my studio" "What???" I yelled, lost in confusion. "No! That can't be!" I got out of my car and ran towards her. "And why is that?" The baffled artist asked me. "Because the River Arts District isn't sketchy any more!" ------ Barum pum pum The River Arts District may not be sketchy anymore, but it is a fantastic little area of Asheville that deserves a visit. It's just a minute or two drive outside of downtown. One can easily walk the highlights, White Duck Taco Shop, The Wedge Brewery, Bull and Beggar, Pizza Pura, and the Junction among others, while popping into the various art galleries and studios that are peppered between. On weekends most studios are open for pop ins, where you can take a moment to meet the artists in residence and perhaps even catch them in their craft.

About ten years ago, I had a job interview in Asheville and drove through the River Arts District. Back then I would have used one word to describe it: sketchy. Fast forward to today and my description would be: culture explosion with a large side order of cool!! Wow! My how things have changed, grown and blossomed. White Duck Taco Shop. Blue Kudzu Sake Co. Wedge Brewing Co.Clingman Café. Tons of old buildings and factories that have been transformed into working artists studios, most of which are open to the public. All within walking distance of each other. Can't wait to go back and explore some more!!