hours at the Phil Mechanic Studios’ public darkroom. Beginning this month, individualized instruction will also be available. The studio provides “a comfortable learning environment for whoever wishes to gain experience in traditional and digital photography.” $20 per month includes chemicals and equipment. RiverLink Events RiverLink, WNC’s organization working to improve life along the French Broad, sponsors a variety of riverfriendly events. Info: 2528474 or www.riverlink.org. • Through TH (3/31) RiverLink invites the community to share their thoughts on a potential outdoor arts festival of handmade goods, to be held in the fall of 2011 on Riverside Drive. The survey can be completed at http://conta.cc/gAA2Xf. Stecoah Valley Center Events Located at 121 Schoolhouse Road, Robbinsville. Info: 479-3364 or www.stecoahvalleycenter.com. • SA (3/26), 1-4pm - “A Taste of Weaving (Floor Loom).” Diane Kelly’s beginner’s class is perfect for those seeking a hands-on weaving experience with a simple project.Learn the basics of using a floor loom and using the shuttle to weave a mug rug with good, even tension. $35 includes materials. Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League Classes are held at the studio, 999 W. Old Rt. 70, Black Mountain. Info: svfal.info@ gmail.com or www.svfal.org. • THURSDAYS, noon-3pm - Try something new every week at the Experimental Art Group. Learn and share collage and water/mixed media techniques in a playful setting. All levels welcome. $6 per session. Info: svfal.info@ gmail.com or 357-8129. • FRIDAYS, 10am-1pm - A figure drawing/open studio session will be held with a live model in various poses. No instruction provided. “Working with a live model strengthens your drawing and painting abilities.” $10 fee for model. Info: greenbergfrances@yahoo.com. The Conn-Artist Studios & Art Gallery Located at 611 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville. Info: 329-2918. • TUESDAYS, 10am-1pm - Hendersonville artist Ruth Goldsborough offers portrait classes with a live model for pastel, oil or charcoal artists. Goldsborough demonstrates with a sketch portrait of the subject, then works
with each student on color, composition, lighting and facial structure. $25. Info: 890-3929 or www.conn-artist.com.
Art/Craft Fairs Events at the Turchin Center Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is located at 423 West King St., in Boone. Info: 262-3017 or www.tcva.org. • SU (3/27), 1-5pm - Spring handmade market.
Spoken & Written Word Asheville BookWorks presents the Edible Book Festival (pd.) 4/1/11 Friday. 5:30 – 8:30 PM . We are seeking participants for this annual world-wide event celebrating books, food and the people who love them. Visit ashevillebookworks.com for info. Biltmore Farms Communities Present the Asheville Poetry Review Reading Series (pd.) On Friday, March 25th, at 7 pm Biltmore Farms Communities invites guests to the Asheville Poetry Review Reading Series at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park. This free event celebrates the work of famed poets, Pamela Uschuk, Marilyn Kallet and William Pitt Root. Guests are invited to hear these three poets speak and purchase autographed copies of the 2011 Asheville Poetry Review. Biltmore Farms Communities, one of the four divisions of Biltmore Farms, LLC, strives to promote arts and culture in Western North Carolina. Finding the Stoyteller in You (pd.) Nationally acclaimed storyteller, Connie ReganBlake, offers her one-day workshop “Finding the Storyteller in You” on Sat. April 2. All levels welcomed. Early bird discount. www. storywindow.com 828-2581113 Asheville Poetry Review Reading Series • FR (3/25), 7pm - Poets William Pitt Root, Marilyn Kallet and Pamela Uschuk will read from and discuss their work as part of the first annual Poetry Review Reading Series, held at the Hilton Hotel in Biltmore Park. Info: 209-2000. Blue Ridge Books Located at 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. Info: www. brbooks-news.com or 4566000. • TH (3/24), 6:30-8pm Game Night. All are welcome to attend. • SA (3/26), 3pm - Leanna Sain will read from and
discuss Magnolia Blossoms, the third book in the Gate to Nowheremystery series. • TU (3/29), 10am - Book Babies. Story time for children ages 3 and younger. Buncombe County Public Libraries LIBRARY ABBREVIATIONS Each Library event is marked by the following location abbreviations: n BM = Black Mountain Library (105 N. Dougherty St., 250-4756) n SW = Swannanoa Library (101 West Charleston Street, 250-6486) n Library storyline: 250KIDS. • MO (3/28), 6:30pm - Mary Anne Thomas, Black Mountain news columnist, will give a presentation on “How to Write a Good Essay.” The event will also feature an award presentation for the winner of the March Short Story Contest. Info: Literary2010@AOL. Com. BM. • TH (3/31), 7pm - Book Club: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. SW. Carl Sandburg Home Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located three miles south of Hendersonville off U.S. 25 on Little River Road. Info: 693-4178 or www.nps.gov/carl. • FR (3/25), 7pm - The “Carl Sandburg Student Poetry Contest Celebration” will be held at the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, at the corner of Kanuga and Church Street in Hendersonville. Jane Sadusky, the 2011 Carl Sandburg Writer-inResidence, will give a short reading at the event. • SA (3/26), 2-4pm - Jane Sadusky, the 2011 Carl Sandburg Writer-inResidence, will lead a writing workshop. Register: 6934178. Cipher Circle Mondays • MONDAYS beginning (3/14), 10pm - Join emcee/ producer CAMPAIGN for this jazz-infused open mic catered toward spoken word artists, freestylers, improv singers and rhyme artists of all natures. Bass and drum accompaniment provided by the LikeMind Trio’s Mike Holstein and Justin Watt. Sit-in musicians welcome. Held at Hole ‘n’ Da Wall, 44 Market St., in downtown Asheville. Donations encouraged. Info: PureSavageEnt@ gmail.com. Events at Big Ivy Community Center Located at 540 Dillingham Rd. in Barnardsville. Info: 626-3438.
54 MARCH 23 - MARCH 29, 2011 • mountainx.com
• 4th SATURDAYS, 10am - Book club. Info: nandilly@ earthlink.net. Events at City Lights City Lights Bookstore is at 3 E. Jackson St., in downtown Sylva. Info: 586-9499 or more@citylightsnc.com. • SA (3/26), 4pm & 7pm Poetry workshop and reading with Tracey Schmidt, author of I Have Fallen in Love with the World. Events at Malaprop’s The bookstore and cafe at 55 Haywood St. hosts visiting authors for talks and book signings. Info: 254-6734 or www.malaprops.com. • TH (3/24), 7pm - Bring a current project, settle down with a hot cup of tea and talk shop with fiber artist and “Urban GypZ,” Stacey Budge-Kamison. • FR (3/25), 7pm - Sara Henry will read from and sign copies of her debut novel, Learning to Swim. • SA (3/26), 7pm - Gloria Houston will read from and sign copies of her novel Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, the story of a woman determined to be a librarian, even where there aren’t any libraries. • SU (3/17), 3pm Husband-and-wife team Clay and Susan Griffith will read from and sign copies of The Greyfriar, the first in their new Vampire Empire series. • TU (3/29), 7pm - In celebration of Women’s History Month, all are welcome to come meet “amazing women business owners in Asheville.” Malaprop’s, Early Girl Eatery, Bruisin’ Ales and Bloomin’ Art are among the many women owned (and co-owned) featured at this event. • TH (3/31), 7pm - Charlotte native Anna Jean Mayhew will read from and sign copies of her debut novel, The Dry Grass of August, a story about the intimate consequences of segregation on a family and young girl on the verge of adulthood. Events at Montford Books & More The bookstore at 31 Montford Ave. hosts author readings and writing groups. Info: 285-8805. • FR (3/25), 7pm - Bill Branyon will read from his thought-provoking book Liberating Liberals: A political synthesis of Nietzsche & Jesus, Vonnegut & Marx (Groucho, not Karl), Gandhi & Machiavelli. Firestorm Cafe & Books Located at 48 Commerce St., Asheville. Info: 255-8115 or www.firestormcafe.com.
• SA (3/26), 6pm - “Women and Music,” a Tom Tom Magazine concert and workshop. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest Poetry Contest Open to children in grades K12 and to adults and professional writers. Poems must be about trees or forests. The contest commemorates the 75thanniversary of the dedication of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. All poems will be received by Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center and are judged by a panel of teachers, writers and the general public.Info: www. stecoahvalleycenter.com. • Through TU (5/31) Submissions will be received. Literary Events at UNCA Events are free unless noted. Tickets & info: 232-5000. • TH (3/24), 12:30pm Book talk with Laurel Taylor, UNCA classics lecturer and author of The 100 Roman Farms Project, in the special collections room at Ramsey Library. Macon County Public Library Located at 149 Siler Farm Road in Franklin. Open Mon.Thurs., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: www.fontanalib.org/franklin/ or 524-3600. • TH (3/24), 6pm - James Costa, WCU biology professor and director of the Highlands Biological Station, will lead a discussion of The World Without Us by WCU Literary Festival author Alan Weisman. The New York Times bestseller explores the fate of natural and manmade environments should humans suddenly disappear. • SU (3/27), 2pm - Former N.C. poet laureate Kathryn Stripling Byer will speak about her collection Coming to Rest. Madison County Library • ONGOING - Donate books, movies and music to the Friends of the Madison County Library for the upcoming book sale held in June. Drop off donations at Books and Breadboard, 30 All Souls Crescent near the entrance to Biltmore Estate. For pick-up service call: 333-3882. All donations benefit the Children’s Reading Programs at all three branched of Madison County’s Public Libraries. Writers’ Workshop Events WW offers a variety of classes and events for beginning and experienced writers. Info: 254-8111 or www. twwoa.org. • SA (3/26), 10am-4pm “Writing Your Memoirs,” with Anne Barnhill.
Festivals & Gatherings Carl Sandburg Home Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site is located three miles south of Hendersonville off U.S. 25 on Little River Road. Info: 693-4178 or www.nps.gov/carl. • WE (4/23), 10am-4am - “Spring Into the Park: A Family Fun Day.”
Music Analog To Digital • Vinyl/ Tape To CD • VHS To DVD (pd.) Convert classic vinyl and tape to digital or CD and old VHS to DVD. Great quality! Very affordable. Call (828) 442-6211. www.vinylrecordstocd.com Asheville Chamber Music Series Concerts are held at the Unitarian Universalist Church on the corner of Charlotte Street and Edwin Place, unless otherwise noted. Tickets at the door/Free for students. Info: 259-3626 or www.ashevillechambermusic.org. • TH (3/24), 4:15pm - Asheville Chamber Music presents a pre-concert talk at the Reuter Center, on the campus of UNCA. Free. • FR (3/25), 8pm - The Miro Quartet will perform works by Schubert, Brahms and Philip Glass. $35. Asheville Lyric Opera All performances take place at Diana Wortham Theater. Tickets: 257-4530. Info: 236-0670 or www.ashevillelyric.org. • WE (3/30), 7pm - Preview dress rehearsal of La Boheme. FENCE Events The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located at 3381 Hunting Country Road in Tryon. Info: 859-9021 or www.fence.org. • SU (3/27), 4pm - FENCE Family Concerts presents Joseph and Kathleen Erwin for piano and violin performance. Free. Freeskool Events & Classes A teaching and learning network by and for the community. Community members offer free classes to other community members. Info: www.freeskoolasheville.org. • MONDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm - “Community Sing,” open to singers, experienced and new, to share traditional tunes at 41 Balsam Ave. Facilitated by Sara Frances. Madison County Arts Council Events Located at 90 S. Main St., in Marshall. Info: 649-1301
or www.madisoncountyarts. com. • FR (3/25), 8-11pm WNC’s own Pierce Edens and Pennsylvania’s The Great Unknown perform at The Art Center. Two great bands in one intimate setting. $5. Music at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church • SU (3/27), 6pm - The American Quartet from Forest City, N.C., will perform a worship service. The Church is located at 130 Pleasant Grove Road, in Rutherfordton. Info: 2870085. Music at Poppies Market • TH (3/31), 6pm - Blues harmonica player Mark Hummel will perform at the Garden Stage of Poppies Market, 1 Market St., in Brevard, weather permitting. $10. Music at UNCA Concerts are held in Lipinsky Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Tickets & info: 2325000. • SU (3/27), 4pm - The University Singers will perform under the direction of Melodie Galloway. $5. Performances at Diana Wortham Theatre For ticket information or more details: 257-4530 or www. dwtheatre.com. • TH (3/24), 8pm - Dervish. At the forefront of Celtic music for over two decades, Dervish is one of the all-time great Irish traditional bands. $30. • SA (3/26), 7:30pm - The Blue Ridge Orchestra and Dr. Hwa-Jin Kim will perform Gershwin’s beautiful “Rhapsody in Blue.” $25 adult/$10 students/Free for children ages 5 and under. Song O’ Sky Chorus (Sweet Adelines International) The chorus is always looking for women 18+ who want to learn how to sing barbershop harmony. Please visit a rehearsal. Info: 1-866-8249547 or www.songosky.org. • TUESDAYS,6:45pm Rehearsals in the Fellowship Hall at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St. St. Matthias Episcopal Church Located at 1 Dundee Street (off South Charlotte). Info: 252-0643. • SU (3/27), 3pm - Dave Wendelin and Mari Jo Finsterwalder present a concert of original songs. Free will offering. Sunday Jam • SUNDAYS, 5pm Musicians, no matter their skill level, instrument or style, are welcome to attend this community jam. Bring a dish to share for a potluck meal.
Details and weekly locations: 317-1861. Transylvania Community Arts Council Located at 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard. Hours: Mon.Fri., 10am-4pm. Info: 8842787 or www.artsofbrevard. org. • SA (3/26), 7:30pm - U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Jamie Laval will present a solo concert featuring selections from his new album. $15/$8 students. Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/156299 or at the door.
Theater A-B Tech Drama Club The club sponsors and produces a variety of productions, performances, workshops and lectures. Reservations & info: 2541921 or pcarver@abtech. edu. • THURSDAYS (3/24) through SATURDAYS (4/2), 7:30pm - The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail will be performed at the Carriage House Theatre (behind the Fernihurst Mansion), at A-B Tech’s Asheville campus. A strong activist, abolitionist and transcendentalist, Thoreau spent time in jail for refusing to pay taxes to a government conducting a war of aggression in Mexico.$3/A-B Tech students and staff/$5 area students/$10. Reservations required: 254-1921, ext. 890. Asheville Community Theatre Celebrate joyful, mindful living in a church with heart. Contemporary music by Lytingale and The Unitic Band. Located at 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Info: 684-3798, 8918700 or www.unitync.net. • FR (3/25) through SU (3/27), 7:30pm - Awardwinning playwright Murphy Funkhouser presents her one-woman show, Crazy Bag!, a humorous take on her own life. Recommended for mature audiences. Asheville Playback Theatre An improvisational theatre experience building a community of neighbors and honoring personal stories. $10/$5 students (but no one turned away). Info: www. ashevilleplayback.org. • FR (3/25), 8pm Performance at the Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St. Brevard Little Theatre Located in the American Legion Hall, 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard. Info: www. brevardlittletheatre.com. Reservations: 884-2587.