The Avett Brothers Come Home To MerleFest

In the midst of a long US-and-Europe tour to support their hit album "I And Love And You", North Carolina's own Avett Brothers will be stopping in familiar territory this weekend when they close the festivities at MerleFest in Wilkesboro.

In an interview with VisitNC.com, Scott Avett says "MerleFest has been very good to us as fans and guest performers. We're looking forward to putting on the show." The band has performed at the world-renowned Americana music festival several times.

But now, thanks to "I And Love And You", the whole world knows about the Avett Brothers. The album was released last October to critical raves and commercial success, reaching #16 on the Billboard sales charts and making several critics' Top Ten lists for the year. The title track from the album (above video shot around Concord and at Charlotte's Neighborhood Theatre) made it to the top tier of many AAA music charts, the band appeared on an episode of Austin City Limits, and music from the album made prime-time appearances on Parenthood and One Tree Hill.

This year's MerleFest promises to be one of the best, with a lineup that includes the Avetts, Elvis Costello, and Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Tickets and showtimes for the festival, which begins Thursday, can be found here.

World's Best Golfers Come To Charlotte

Eleven of the world's top 16 golfers are in North Carolina this week as the Quail Hollow Championship tees off in Charlotte. Included in the field are #1 Tiger Woods (in only his second tournament since his five-month hiatus), #2 Phil Mickelson (winner at the Masters), #4 Lee Westwood and #5 Jim Furyk.

Between Mickelson's emotional win at Augusta and Woods' personal issues, there should be plenty of dramatic media storylines in Charlotte. But make no mistake, it's the course and the tournament presentation that brings the world's best golfers in. On his blog Friday, Tiger Woods wrote: "Quail Hollow Club is one of my favorite courses on tour. It's traditional, right in front of you, difficult and you have to shape shots both ways. I managed to win there in 2007 and look forward to going back."

Six of the tournament's past seven champions - Woods, Furyk, V.J. Singh, Anthony Kim, David Toms, and defending champ Sean O'Hair - are on the roster.

Today is a practice day, when most of the top players are expected to arrive. Wednesday is a pro-am featuring the top-ranked players paired with celebrities such as four-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, and Olympic gold-medalist Dan Jansen. Tournament play begins on Thursday.

I-40 Reopens!

Six months to the day after a rock slide brought traffic at the NC/TN border to a grinding halt, the North Carolina Department of Transportation reopened Interstate 40 in Northern Haywood County. The road opened at 6pm Sunday, two days earlier than previously announced but not a moment too soon for springtime travelers and related businesses.

One westbound lane of the interstate remains closed for about three miles, as workers scrape off loose rock in an area near the slide zone. That lane should reopen sometime this summer. Vehicles wider than 12 feet will still have to take a detour along via Interstate 26 until both westbound lanes are open.

"The tourism industry in Western North Carolina is collectively saying 'Hallelujah!'" said Marla Tambellini, the head of marketing at the Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tambellini told the Asheville Citizen-Times that the road closure, along with the weak economy, had a negative impact on visitation in the area. An NCDOT spokesman said he was already receiving calls Sunday night from motorists hoping to use I-40. Now officials across state and local governments, as well as area CVBs will be working hard to get the word out about the reopening.

For the latest updates on the ongoing work on Interstate 40, please visit the North Carolina Department of Transportation's website.

President & First Lady Take An Asheville Weekend Holiday

Let's say you're the leader of the free world. Where do you go to "get away from it all"?

Well, if you're Barack and Michelle Obama, you head to the Grove Park Inn (pictured) in Asheville. That's where the President and First Lady are spending this weekend (without the kids) away from Washington.

And who can blame them? Asheville has the Blue Ridge Parkway, Biltmore's Festival of Flowers, the Folk Art Center, amazing craft beers, and an amazing array of views and outdoor activities nearby.

Apparently, the secret is out. ABC News says "the city on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains features a funky and eclectic downtown, more than 30 art galleries, a large culinary scene and one of the most spectacular estates ever constructed in this country", and adds that public perception wise, Asheville "has the virtue of being a place where average Americans go on vacation." Meanwhile, the Wall Street Cheat Sheet says "whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or neither, Asheville represents some of the greatest things America has to offer."

So there you have it. If you're looking for some non-partisan fun in the mountains this year, Asheville seems to have the presidential seal of approval.

I-40 Rockslide Area To Reopen April 27!

It is the news that travelers, and many businesses in Western North Carolina have been waiting to hear for six months: the section of Interstate 40 closed by an October rockslide should reopen to traffic on April 27.

NCDOT officials said yesterday that work crews still have several tasks to complete before the road reopens, including drilling ten more holes on the vertical edge of the slope and installing 31 more rock bolts in the mountain to complete the stabilization process.

The section of interstate in the Pigeon River Gorge just three miles from the Tennessee state line was closed after a massive, 150-foot tall rockslide fell on the roadway October 25. About 20,000 vehicles a day had used that section of interstate at the time of the slide.

Even after the Interstate reopens, work will continue in the area through the summer. Both eastbound lanes will reopen, but one westbound lane will be closed for about three miles while crews repair other areas of loose rock.

Billy Graham Library Reopens After Renovations

Charlotte's Billy Graham Library is re-opening to the public tomorrow (April 21) after two months of renovation work. Reverend Billy Graham personally attended a special reopening ceremony today designed to show off the new and improved facility.

The library closed in January to allow crews to make the improvements. Among the additions are a 15 x 31 foot mural by Thomas Kinkade, new video presentations, and exhibits featuring Ruth Graham's wedding dress and thousands of Billy Graham's favorite books.

Organizers also worked to make upgrades on the technical side, allowing visitors to hear audio components of the exhibits more clearly.

The library will be open to the public from 9:30am - 5pm beginning Wednesday.

NC's "Triple Crown" Sports Week

It's been a great week to be an NC sports fan.

On Monday, of course, the Duke Blue Devils beat the Butler Bulldogs in the NCAA Championship, becoming the second North Carolina school in a row to take top honors in college basketball (The University of North Carolina won it in 2009).

Wednesday night, the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats beat the New Orleans Hornets 104-103, clinching the six-year-old franchise's first appearance in the NBA Playoffs. The playoff opponent and schedule are yet to be determined, but we do know the playoffs as a whole are scheduled to begin April 17.

Today, it was announced that the Carolina Hurricanes will host next season's NHL All-Star game on Sunday, January 30, 2011. It will be the team's fourth time hosting a major NHL event after hosting Stanley Cup Finals in 2002 & 2006 and the league's entry draft in 2004. “The fact that this event has been awarded to the Hurricanes is a testimony to the strength of the market, the strength of the franchise and, above all, the enthusiastic support the ‘Caniacs’ show for their team,” said Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner. “The Hurricanes will provide the perfect showcase as the eyes of the hockey world focus on the Triangle, its fantastic arena and its truly outstanding hockey fans.”

And while the week has already provided sports fans with three big victories, there's more celebrating to come: next week, the minor-league Winston-Salem Dash will open it's brand new downtown ballpark when it plays its home opener against Potomac on April 13. Game on!

One Last Run At Winter

Trees and flowers are bustin' out all over North Carolina, and most of us are dealing with temperatures in the 80's this week. However, two NC ski areas remain open through April 11th, the latest that anyone can remember open ski areas in the state.

In Maggie Valley, the Cataloochee Ski Area is closed this week, but will reopen Saturday and Sunday (April 10-11) to close the season. “We have decided to remain open these additional days because of the amount of snow base we continue to have as well as our continued skier interest,” said Chris Bates, Cataloochee Vice President and General Manager. “We feel there is a level of enthusiasm to ski and ride as we move into spring and we will remain open to help folks enjoy the last days of the season. Current reports put the depth of base at Cataloochee between 24 and 96 inches.

Meanwhile, up in the High Country, Blowing Rock's Appalachian Ski Resort is open for spring breakers all week, and will conclude its 2009-2010 season this weekend with the latest ever Meltdown Games, which Appalachian bills as a "full weekend of crazy events you won't see any other time of the year." General manager Brad Moretz reports that the area still has a 2-4 foot base remaining from what was once 125 inches. "It's a good time to bring your kids out on a beautiful day and not have to deal with the cold." Before this, the latest that Appalachian had ever stayed open was April 1.

So, if you want to bid the winter goodbye one last time... this is the weekend to do it in NC.

Ghost Hunters To Return to Battleship

Call it Halloween in April.

On April 9 (during Wilmington's Azalea Festival), Dustin Pari of the Syfy Channel's Ghost Hunters and Angela Alderman of Ghost Hunters International will be returning to the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA to investigate the ship's paranormal activity. And this time, they're inviting the public to come along for the ghostly ride.

The World War II battleship, now a memorial visitors attraction moored in the Cape Fear River, has a reputation for things that go bump in the night. Local ghost detective Mike Roberts says his crew has detected an electronic voice phenomena that says "Patterson". On a subsequent visit to the ship's brig, they found the words "Patterson was here" written on the wall with what looked like blood and fecal matter. Research has found ten men with the last name of Patterson who served on the ship at some point.

Ticket holders to the April 9 event will get a meet-and-greet with Pari, Alderman and Roberts, as well as a history and overview of the ship and its paranormal investigations.

Then, between 9pm and 2am, the trio of ghost hunters will lead small groups through the inside of the battleship for possible encounters. Guests are encouraged to bring their own cameras and sound recorders to capture whatever it is they run into.

Tickets to the event are $100 and can be purchased here. For more information, call the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA at 910-251-5797.

Carowinds Unveils New Thrills For 2010

The Carowinds theme park in Charlotte is now open for the season, and this year, it has a brand new roller coaster to keep the adrenaline flowing for the thrillseekers.

It's called the Intimidator, and it was built as a lasting tribute to the late NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. It is the longest, fastest, and tallest roller coaster in the U.S. Southeast, and Carowinds officials say it puts the park on the map as a destination for thrill ride aficionados.

Here are some of the stats: as Carowinds' 13th roller coaster, the Intimidator is 5,316 feet long, 232 feet long, and takes 3:33 to ride from start to finish. The initial drop plunges riders 211 feet at a 74-degree angle, but it's only the first of seven drops (one for each of Earnhardt's NASCAR championships) along the ride.

But numbers can't tell the story as well as the video above. So take a peek at the brand new Intimidator, and as they say... "Gentlemen, START YOUR ENGINES!!!!"