Lurphy DePalma Larry Halstead is a tech nerd with an affinity for arts & sports. Reppin' the hard streets of South Asheville for almost 15 years. He's made this city home and has vowed to never stop fighting to keep it as weird & unique as possible.







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Asheville, we got some talkin to do. The Carolina Panthers return to action this week and I for one am notably turnt about it, and you should be too.

It’s been tough being a Panther fan all these years, there’s just been so much disappointment. Even now, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance it feels like we’re trying to prove to everyone that we belong. I get it, we’re a small market, we have a super weird quarterback who’s real easy to hate (because you wish you had him), and being only 22 years old, we’re still just a little brother franchise in the NFL. Yet here we are, the best football team in the world, which nobody will admit to.

Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly lead our beloved Black & Blue back into battle this Thursday, September 8th @ 8:45 pm EST. And appropriately the season kicks off with a rematch against defending Super Bowl champs, the Denver Broncos. Cam Newton said it’s not a rematch, but it is.

I’m personally going to set up shop on my favorite couch, surround myself with my favorite people, consume my absolute favorite food & beer, and really find my happy place. All while I violently scream blood curdling battle cries in hopes of glorious victory & honor – it’s all very Klingon. You see, my Panther crew keeps it real, and we’ve been hanging in there all these years waiting for a winner, and that time is now. So I say enjoy it Asheville, enjoy it with your homies. Win or lose, the best part of the whole experience is the brother/sisterhood that comes along with rooting for our home team. It truly is a common thread that’s kept me in touch with some my best friends over the years.

That said, if your level of involvement is more appropriate for public, then Asheville also offers some great places to catch the action and revel in the merriment of Panther football. Here’s my cheat sheet of some legit local options:

Moe’s BBQ : They are all about football, the smoked wings are on point, and they might hook up the sides when you come in rocking Panther gear.

Rocky’s Chicken Shack : Family friendly and seriously good food, you gotta try the mac poppers.

East Village Grille : A variety of game time food to choose from. A local vibe for sure.

Universal Joint : Tasty burgers, and they have a nice patio area.

The Bier Garden : Downtown location, tons of TVs, huge beer list. The also have pool.

Also, I’ll give a shout out to the Roaring Riot. You can join for $25 and you get all kinds of swag plus access to their tailgating events (full of food and beer) at all home games and some select away games.

So there you have it. The basics for being a Panther fan in Asheville. Here’s to another great Cardiac Cat season! Just remember that football is a dish best enjoyed with others. Keep Pounding!