Contribute to Biltmore Park’s Neighborhood Food Drive

For most of us, going to the grocery store is a chore–one that we usually don’t put a lot of thought into. For many of our neighbors in Western North Carolina, however, grocery shopping is a luxury that often comes second to paying for utilities or rent. Since 1982, MANNA FoodBank has been working to bridge the hunger gap, and there has been a major increase in need over the past year.

The Biltmore Park neighborhood has stepped up to the plate by participating in this year’s community food drive, MANNAfest. While the end of the drive is fast approaching, there is still plenty of time for you to participate. Through Monday, July 27th, you can bring donations to Biltmore Park Town Square and help make an impact on the region’s hunger gap. Stop by RBC Bank (on the first floor of One Town Square), the Biltmore Park Swim Club, or the lobby of the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 to drop off canned items. Of course, if you miss the deadline, you can still help MANNA by simply getting into the habit of picking up a few extra cans of nutritional soup, fruit, juice, or anything else when you do your regular shopping.

It’s often difficult for us to recognize that, even when done individually, our actions can make a difference in the lives of others, and Biltmore Park Town Square is happy to host programs and events that remind us of the opportunities that we have to make a change. From MANNAfest to the Asheville City Market South to tenant participation in community events such as offering affordable shoes to students attending their proms, Biltmore Park is full of people who are dedicated to making Asheville and Western North Carolina stronger communities.

Town Square also represents that same dedication in its design and function. With a focus on environmental stewardship, it includes many green features, and visitors, residents, and tenants can walk to any destination in Town Square within minutes, reducing the need to drive. Come by soon to drop off your canned food donations, and spend some time exploring Biltmore Park Town Square.

Harry Potter Premieres at the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15

This past week, there was one young, bespectacled boy who dominated local, national, and international headlines–Harry Potter, of course! While he may not garner the same relentless media attention as politicians, celebrities, and heroes do in our world, this past week, muggles and wizards joined forces to make box office magic for the release of the sixth installment in the film series–Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Although I gave into the appeal of a restful night’s sleep rather than attend the midnight premiere in the breaking hours of Wednesday morning, I did make it to the recenty-opened Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 later in the afteroon. Harry Potter fan or not, it’s hard to deny that the new theater does wonders for film-goers’ experiences.

I arrived early, expecting a long wait, but I got through the box office line in under a minute. The entrance, which features a welcoming open space that complements the elegant and bright facade, is reminiscent of classic theaters, an aesthetic that seems to have given way to newer but non-descript cement buildings. Adjacent to the theater is 131 Main Restaurant, also a new addition to Biltmore Park Town Square. Even under the heat of a summer evening, restaurant-goers were enjoying the fire pit and comfortable outdoor seating as they sipped on their chilled wine.

I spent a few minutes before the movie to grab a treat from Cold Stone Creamery–Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, which opened last week. The design of Biltmore Park allowed me to get there and back in just a few minutes. Everything there, including national and local retailers, restaurants, a hotel, residences, and offices, are within walking distance of one another, helping visitors and tenants make the most of their time.

The movie was just as good as I had expected, and I don’t think I would have enjoyed it more anywhere else. As the only stadium seat movie theater in Asheville, the Regal Biltmore Grande provided a comfortable experience throughout the lengthy two and a half hour film.

If you have yet to watch Harry Potter, or any of the other much-anticipated blockbusters showing in theaters this summer, visit the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15, or just visit Biltmore Park Town Square to explore the new restaurants and businesses that are opening this summer.