G&G Party Pics

Spirit of Asheville

Garden & Gun and Explore Asheville hosted a multi-day celebration of Asheville’s creative spirit. With two days of insider access and unique programming in Asheville alongside G&G editors and staff, attendees toured local galleries, studios, and creative spaces, and experienced the city’s innovative food and drink scene. In addition, a special Made in the South Awards Dinner celebrated the 2022 category and overall winners hosted by G&G editor in chief David DiBenedetto, followed by a Bollywood-themed after-party hosted by chef Meherwan Irani, owner of Chai Pani and Spicewalla.

Special thanks to:
Explore Asheville
Wicked Weed Brewing
Biltmore Wines
Oak & Grist
Eda Rhyne
The Chemist
Pleb Urban Winery
The Village Potters Clay Center
Asheville Print Studio
North Carolina Glass Center
Cucina 24
Citizen Vinyl
Chai Pani

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Guests are welcomed to Asheville with a reception at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium featuring four Asheville chefs and eleven local makers. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Anneliesse Gormley of Spoon + hook, a 2021 MITSA crafts runner-up, speaks with a guest. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Explore Asheville CEO Victoria Isley welcomes guests to the Spirit of Asheville.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Spirit of Asheville guests attend a glass blowing workshop at the North Carolina Glass Center.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

An artist gives a glass blowing demonstration at the North Carolina Glass Center.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

G&G executive editor Amanda Heckert tries her hand on the potter’s wheel during a workshop at the Village Potter’s Clay Center.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Asheville Print Studio’s Denise Markbreit leads a printmaking class as part of the Creative Arts workshop experience. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Guests of the Creative Arts experience end their workshops with a wine tasting and lunch at Plēb Urban Winery, followed by a panel discussion led by G&G executive editor Amanda Heckert featuring Shelton Steele, owner of the new Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins, Justin James of Opie Way, the 2020 MITSA overall winner, and Alex Matisse, a 2022 MITSA Crafts category judge. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

The Chemist’s Debbie Word leads guests through her laboratory as part of the Perfectly Paired workshop, a guided Asheville distillery tour including additional stops at Oak & Grist Distillery and Eda Rhyne Distilling Company. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

A curated food pairing of South Slope Cheese and the Chemist gin awaits guests on the Perfectly Paired workshop.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Appetizers at the 2022 Made in the South Awards dinner, including Cantabrian anchovy crostini.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Chef Brian Canipelli of Cucina 24 discusses his inspiration for the Made in the South Awards dinner. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Guests taste Cucina 24’s antipasti first course served family style featuring focaccia, castelvetrano olives, sprouting broccoli agrodolce, radicchio misto, and carrot arrabbiata.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Editor in chief David DiBenedetto along with the the 2022 Made in the South Awards winners Caroline Cockerham and Laura Tripp of Cicil, Gary Lacey of Gary Lacey Rod Company, Elijah Leed of Elijah Leed Studio, and Carolyn Roy and Walt Hill of Biscuithead

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Attendees gather for a Bollywood-themed after-party at the historic Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Host chef Meherwan Irani of Asheville’s Chai Pani and Spicewalla welcomes guests to the after-party.

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Bollywood dancers from the Moksha Dance Academy entertain guests with choreographed dances. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

DJ Rang provides the music for the Bollywood-themed after-party. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

Guests Courtney Prickett and Stewart Trimble join the Bollywood dancers to learn a choreographed routine. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell

From left: Publisher Christian Bryant, 2022 Made in the South Awards judge Mignonne Gavigan, editor in chief David DiBenedetto, and chef Meherwan Irani. 

Photo: Darrell Cassell