We Love This Place – May 2013

GeekOut Convention

WNC’s popular arts convention will celebrate all aspects of pop culture; from film, television, and animation to costuming, comics, and stage performance. Celebrity guest appearances and panels, two full days of tabletop and card gaming, a film and animation track, and workshops on independent filmmaking and writing for science fiction.

Activities for young and old will include live-action role playing, and a “Photo FX Studio. Two performance stages will showcase theatrical and musical acts. GeekOut, Saturday, May 4 at UNCA’s Sherrill Center and Kimmel Arena. Register on the website, www.geekoutavl.org.

Asheville Beer Week

Begins Saturday, May 25 and culminates with the Beer City Festival on Saturday, June 1 in downtown Asheville. Organized by a beer-loving committee of regional beer industry people, the eight day event will include keynote speakers, educational workshops, tastings, dinners, and other beer-centric events.

More than 40 breweries are slated to appear at Beer City Festival, with many other national brands at events throughout the week. www.ashevillebeerweek.com

Help the Nature Center!

The City of Asheville has proposed to close the WNC Nature Center, along with a number of other city resources and programs, to balance the city budget. The Nature Center needs your help to to protect one of our region’s most important assets. Make a tax-deductible donation today, www.wildwnc.org

Crazy LaZoom Fun!

Sin fighting nuns terrorize the streets of Asheville! With spring comes a full seven-days-a-week tour schedule. City Tours run daily, and Haunted Tours run Tuesday through Saturday nights. Sunday Beer Run tours with local comedian troupe The Feral Chihuahuas on Sunday, May 26.

Lazoom Tour Booth located at 1 1/2 Battery Park Ave. New Headquarters at 14 Battery Park Ave. in downtown Asheville. Call (828) 225-6932 or visit www.lazoomtours.com

Pizza Pura Opens

Pizza Pura, Neapolitan-style pizza and gelato by Ben Mixson and Laura Reuss of White Duck Taco fame, opened last month!

Instead of making decadent, cheesy meltdowns, Reuss creates scaled-down pies that showcase quality ingredients. “I like the thin crust, the chewiness, the richness of the ingredients, kind of unspoiled, just add a little salt here and there or fresh herbs,” she says. “It’s really about the preparation.”

Read more about Neapolitan pizza and Pizza Pura’s mission at www.pizzapura.com. Pizza Pura is located at 342 Depot Street in the Pink Dog Studios building.