Abbington Green Weblog

Great fun for the holiday season! Each Saturday in November, December and January 2nd, you can experience  the art amd magic of Gingerbread on the Legendary Inns’ Gingerbread Tour . Starting at 5pm, board The Trolley Company trolley, all decorated for this great occasion, and visit 4 Legendary Inns. Each Inn is decorated with glittering lights for the holidays and displays one or two artist-designed Gingerbread Houses. Each Gingerbread House represents a portion of Clement Moore’s beloved  poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Also see demonstrations and fun ‘goings-on’ at the Inns. You’ll learn a lot, see a lot and smile all the way!

Tickets: $30, including the Trolley transportation. Purchase online at http://www.ashevillegingerbread.com. ( The icon titled “Tickets” is on the site) OR phone  828-253-5644.

At Abbington Green, we continue to offer a special Biltmore Estate “2-Consecutive day” daytime pass for the price of a one-day ticket to Biltmore. It’s a great way to see this magnificent part of America’s history surrounded by some of America’s most beautiful scenery. You can take your time, enjoy the many aspects of this impressive estate, but also without the pressure of seeing it all in a single day.Because as a special passholder, you have two days to see it at your own pace.
Don’t forget to let us know if you wish to purchase tickets when you book online. Just email us at info@abbingtongreen and we will set aside tickets for you.

We have Abbington Green Bed and Breakfast Inn Gift Certificates. Run out of ideas for a very special person on your gift list or for an anniversary or birthday? A gift certificate at Abbington Green will be a memorable way to give a loved one some rest and relaxation in Asheville.
To purchase, please call us at 1-800-251-2454.

This is the time of year when, as they say, ‘Summer is winding down’. The days are already shortening enough to notice. And in our bed and breakfast gardens – and probably in yours, too – flowers are still in great abundance. Although it’s hard to compare to Spring’s first burst of life, late Summer and early Fall provide lovely happenings in the garden.

Annuals are still bright, bold staples now and will be until frost. And let’s not forget our roses. The shrub roses bloomed earlier but still are producung lovely blooms of bright red, pink and rose-colored lights until they freeze later in the Fall.

But some perennials are just coming into their own now. My favorite canna lily is called “Bengal Tiger”. The name comes from its fabulous green and bold chartreuse striped foliage. The foliage has been around for a while, providing a showy addition to the garden. At this time of year it produces tall flower spikes with amazing bright orange flowers. It’s hard to imagine that it needed any more to enhance its boldness… but the flowers are more!

Also, this is the time for “Sweet Autumn Clematis”, a viney plant with masses…I do mean masses…of small white blossoms. On a fence or trellis or growing up a tree, this is its best moment of the year.

Crepe myrtles are sometimes left as bushy shrubs while others are trimmed up to produce a more tree-like form. Blooming now, they provide a fairly wide spectrum of color around Asheville, North Carolina. Some are quite red, while others are white, and others a salmony-pink. But my favorite is a dwarf that has bright lavender blooms. We are all pleased to see them recovered and doing well, especially since on April 1st and 2nd, 2007, extreme freeze combined with extreme winds decimated so many crepe myrtles, Japanese maples and boxwoods, and about every tulip and daffodil that had bloomed with vigor in that early warm Spring.

Canna

In and around Asheville are some really wonderful places to ride dirt bikes and road bikes.  There are books and maps and internet sites to look up specific places to go that will suit your skill and stamina…and some that will really test your skill and stamina!

The Dupont Forest has some beautiful places to ride and some great waterfalls, so you can get cooled off part way through your trek. Or for road bikes, just ride the road along the French Broad River from Asheville up toward Marshall.  The road winds and the river edges form a small canyon-like area along the side of the road.

So if you’re thinking of bringing your bicycles to Asheville, doa little checking online to scope out the places that will fit your plan. Whether you just want a little scenery as you take a leisurely ride, or whether it’s flat out, heavy workout that will make your day, Asheville has all that nearby.

And, show-off the cool gear, too…

My sons-in-law Bob and Joe after an Asheville ride

Next time Asheville, NC is on your itinerary, and if you happen to be a ‘chocoholic’, you’ll like this little story.

I have a son-in-law who is definitely a ‘chocholic’, so I told my daughter about a place in Asheville that would be a “must see’… ans also a “must taste”. It’s called The Chocolate Lounge. Well, my daughter told my other daughter about it…and my 4 year old granddaughter Adrianna overheard the conversation about the Chocolate Lounge.

So the next time I talked to Adrianna on the phone, she said,”Is thet a Chocolate Lounge where you live?” “Why, yes,” I replied. Then she said,”Are the tables made of chocolate? Are the chairs made of chocolate? Is the wastebasket made of chocolate?” Ahhh, the mind of a child…so literal and yet so complex! So I said, “I think the things that you eat there are chocolate. And when you come to visit me in Asheville, we’ll go and check it out.”

So we did. And the sipping chocolate and the cakes and the ‘single source’ truffles and everything we tried were wonderful! Perhaps you will put that on your list of unique and fun places to visit in Asheville.

Inside the Chocolate Lounge

Looking for a special treat while you visit Downtown Asheville? Make your reservation for this special package: stay at Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast for 2-nghts or 3-nights, including June 26th and get 2 passes for this unique and fun Event on Saturday afternoon, June 27th( a $40. value)….only available to guests of Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast Inn  and guests of Asheville Legendary Inns.

Enjoy an exclusive afternoon presentation of  some of the finest artisan chocolates paired together with coffees roasted to perfection… You’ll get to test your own taste buds to see if you can discern how local climate, soil and preparation affects these natural products.

Our local Chocolatier will briefly explain the origin and creation of these luscious chocolates utilizing cocoa from around the world. Then, listen to a “coffee sommelier”  describing the background of each of the select coffees and why these have been chosen…an amazing treat of tastes and fragrances!

Reserve your stay at Abbington Green by booking online  or by phoning us at 1-800-251-2454. Tell us you want “Coffee and Chocolate” to sign up for this package. You’ll automatically be included in this exclusive Coffee and Chocolate Pairings event. Two-night and Three-Night Coffee and Chocolate Packages range from $390-$900 plus tax.

AHoliday Welcome to You!

Living Room dressed for the Holidays

A dusting of Christmas snow is just like magic!

On Tuesdays and Saturdays in December, experience the holiday wonder of the Asheville Legendary Inns. These Tour dates are exclusively for Asheville Legendary Inns and not open to the general public.
Feel the warmth of festive displays, holiday lights, beautifully decorated mansions and gracious southern hospitality. As a guest of Abbington Green you can tour the main floor of all of the seven Legendary Inns that includes the splendor of Christmas display, and the hospitality of a holiday treat, or a glass of holiday cheer!
As a guest of Abbington Green your Tour tickets will be a Special Holiday Gift from us to you ! (a $30. value, per couple)
Tour times: 4-7pm., each Tuesday and Saturday this December.

Foodtopia  and a Taste of Forbidden Fruit

As legend would have it, tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, in a small but intimate city, there is a remarkable variety and an abundance of local culinary delights, and a magical Chef who has taken a Bite of the Forbidden Fruit.

This is Asheville… this is Foodtopia.

On the weekend of September 19th, you are invited to join Mark Rosenstein, magical chef and author of “In Praise of Apples” for an entire weekend of Forbidden Fruit.

Saturday at break of day you will be escorted by Mark through the UNCA Tailgate Market, where mark buys fresh produce and local products to serve at his fabulous restaurant The Market Place or his  newest addition, Bar 100, where all the food is grown or produced within 100 miles of Asheville. This is Asheville… this is Foodtopia.

Sunday morning well after sunrise and just before noon you are invited to the personal kitchen of Mark Rosenstein for a demonstration and tasting of recipes from “In Praise of Apples” This is a gathering of the Foodtopia Society…a Legendary Experience.

Saturday, September 20th at 7:30 am

-Meet Mark Rosenstein at the UNCA Tailgate Market

-Cost: $15.00

Saturday Night, September 20th

-We recommend Dinner at Market Place or Bar 100

-Cost: At your discretion

Sunday, September 21st at 11:00am

-Meet Mark Rosenstein at his home.

-Enjoy a two hour demonstration and tasting

-Receive an Autographed copy of “In Praise of Apples”

-Cost: $100.00 for two or single for $65.00

About our magical Chef: Mark Rosenstein is the founder of the Market Place and has operated it since 1979. The restaurant has been committed to local , seasonal preparation since its inception.

Mark wrote “In Praise of Apples” and is currently working on a revision of that book as well as working on another. Mark studied with Simone Beck (partner to Julia Child), Madeline Kamman at the Beringer School for American Chefs and he completed a stage at the 3-star Michelin restaurant Le Moulin de Mougins under Roger Verge, located in the south of France. He has been certified by the American Culinary Federation as ‘Certified Executive Chef’.

Working with Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, he has been a part-time culinary instructor and guest lectuer. Mark wrote “In Praise of Apples” and is currently working on a revision of that book as well as working on another. Recently, he was inducted into the Chavalier de Tastevin, a Burgundian wine society and is a member of the “Trois Glorieuses” chapter, in Vougeot, France. He is also a Chavalier in the Confrerie de Pochouse, based in Meursault, a society celebrating traditions of the “good life.”

Email or phone us at 1-800-251-2454 to receive your place at these very special events.

You can see a 95mph fast ball from just behind the dugout. Or maybe an inside-the-ballpark-home run

Feel the excitement. Cheer for the Asheville Tourists as they bid for the league baseball championship.

“Last Sounds of Summer, Part II” offering includes:

• 2 Box Seat baseball tickets for Friday night, Sept. 5th Asheville Tourists Baseball Play-off Game vs. Augusta Greenjackets
• $24.00 for 2 reserved seats. ( Space is limited.)

“…Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks. I don’t care if I never get back…” You’ll be humming the tune and remembering great moments from your early September weekend in Asheville. Legends are made from moments like these…

Important Information/How to Book:

– Call or email us at info@abbingtongreen.com to book your accommodations and your “Last Sounds of Summer, Part II” ball game seats.

– Baseball event bookings are non-refundable. – The Asheville Tourists Baseball Club is affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. – Augusta Greenjackets are an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.