Marty Weil photographed the images for A Year in Asheville between September 2007 and October 2008.

The photographs capture the unique character and spirit of Asheville in the days leading up to the financial crisis that struck in October 2008. These images are from the height of Asheville's Year of Bliss as chronicled by the author Eric Weiner in his book "Geography of Bliss."

From the neo-hippies of Lexington Avenue to the street performers at Pack Square, Marty captures every aspect of life in what the New York Times described as the "Appalachian Shangri-La."