How to Sound Like a Local When You Move to Asheville

Michelle Detwiler
May 8, 2018
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Asheville natives are notoriously unhappy with the hordes of transplants and visitors who flock to their beloved city. If you’re new to the city, or just in town for a few days, one surefire way to get on a local’s good side is to talk like one.

Authentic Ashevillians know certain terms, pronunciations, and expressions that newcomers aren’t familiar with. Fool them all with this handy lexicon.

Leicester

Leicester is a community to the north of Asheville, as well as the name of a well-traveled road known as Leicester Highway. One of the biggest mistakes newbies of the area make is mispronouncing it. It’s not LYE-Chester, or LEE-ster, or LYE-Ster, or even LYE-See-Chester. It’s LESTER, like the cop on “The Wire”.

Merrimon

Although it looks like it’s pronounced like a description of a happy Jamaican (Merry Mon), the actual pronunciation of Merrimon Avenue is Mare-ih-man. And you’ll need to know it if you’re planning to go pretty much anywhere to eat or drink in North Asheville or near UNCA.

Brevard

About 30 miles south of Asheville is this town, home to Brevard College. Brevard Road is another retail and restaurant destination in South Asheville, so it’s a good idea to know that it’s pronounced Bre-VARD, not Brev-ERD, as common sense might indicate.  

Ashvegas

Ashvegas is an ironic nickname for the city that is decidedly not glitzy or saturated in neon. Locals refer to the “Paris of the South” by many monikers – The ‘Ville, The AVL – but Ashvegas seems to be the one preferred by hipsters and others “in the know”.

ABV

Although a lot of people know what this acronym stands for – Alcohol By Volume, for those of you who don’t – it’s a necessity in Asheville. With about 30 craft breweries in the city, you’ll find ABV with a number next to it on most brewery and restaurant menus. Knowing the ABV can keep you from imbibing too much; an ABV around 3 or 4 is low, but it can be as high as 29. The average for craft beers hovers between 5-8.

IBU

Like ABV, IBU is another handy acronym for beer consumers. It stands for International Bitterness Units, and determines how “hoppy” or bitter the beer will taste. For the hoppiest IBU’s, stick to an IPA (India Pale Ale) like Green Man Brewery’s Rainmaker Double IPA, with an IBU of 158. For a lighter brew, try Hi-Wire Brewing’s Hi-Wire Lager.

Malfunction Junction

As the city has become more popular in the last few years, the number of cars on the roads and highways have increased. Although the main roads through town are often backed up, it’s this notorious expressway junction at I-26/I-40/I-240 that frustrates most commuters. Recent improvements have made it better, but it’s still not much fun to travel during peak times.

“Cesspool of Sin”

Back in 2011, before gay marriage was made legal, a North Carolina state senator proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would ban gay marriage. In his remarks to a crowd about Asheville, he called it a “Cesspool of Sin,” apparently because of the overwhelmingly liberal calibre of its residents. The nickname took off with locals, who proudly wear T-shirts sporting the moniker.

Flatiron

One of Asheville’s quirkiest landmarks is an 8-foot metal flatiron sculpture on the corner of Battery Park and Wall Street. It’s also a great spot to meetup with friends downtown, and a hub for street musicians. When somebody wants to meet “at the flatiron,” all locals know what they mean.

LEAF

Every May and October, residents start talking about LEAF, the festival featuring musical acts, performers, vendors, camping and more on a 200-acre property in neighboring Black Mountain. The LEAF Downtown AVL brings the festival to the city for a weekend every August.

The Drum Circle

In any other place, when someone tells you they’re going to the drum circle, you might ask where that is, but not in Asheville. Everyone knows that Friday nights in the summer mean Pritchard Park is filled with amateur percussionists. The drum circle is open to anyone with something to pound or bang on, as well as spectators and impromptu dancers. It’s also one of the features of this town that makes it truly unique.

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