Mountain Xpress 03.16.16

OUR 22ND YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 22 NO. 34 MARCH 16 - MARCH 22, 2016

a m o h I? W Kids Issue 2016

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PaGe 20 Kids issue 2016 Prepare to be impressed with the colorful collection of art, poetry and prose submitted by local K-12 students for Xpress’ annual Kids Issue.

This year, students looked inward with the theme, “Who Am I?” Enjoy! cover art Taylor McHone, fourth grade, Sand Hill-Venable Elementary, in the style of artist Minnie Evans cover design Norn Cutson

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12 prepper paradise WNC survivalists prize community, readiness

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52 body of Knowledge Transgender health care program breaks down barriers

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56 40 shades of green An environmentalist’s perspective on a clean energy future

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65 arts & entertainment 70 smart bets 73 clubland 78 movies

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Reverse architectural tide of mediocrity

Mediation Center helps to resolve conflict

I am heartened by the recent outpour of distress concerning the aesthetic character in all manner of new Asheville downtown building projects. Three new hotels, a low-cost housing structure and an increasingly wide range of multistory ground-floor facades speak to a want of any proven talent being in use for bringing such efforts into reality.

I am the retired owner of an architectural and engineering company that designed a full range of private-sector, federal and foreign building projects up and down the U.S. East Coast. I recall the range of times, whether in Washington, D.C., Boston, or in smaller cities, when submissions had to be made to a fine arts council so as to assure a citizenry of outcomes that would carefully satisfy plannedfor design standards. There is no better example to be found of such loving care being taken than in the extraordinary downtown of nearby Greenville, S.C. Asheville has become enviably vibrant and recognized in some ways.

But except for several buildings from earlier periods, I feel that its late architecture represents a tide of mediocrity that needs to be reversed.

— Edward Loewe Asheville

Randy Molton’s cartoon from March 2 highlights how difficult it can be to see the possibilities for resolution, healing and hope in the midst of conflict, and why it’s important for residents to have a local resource to help navigate when there doesn’t seem to be a path to resolution.

Since 1983, the Mediation Center has helped neighbors, co-workers, and families move through difficult and stressful conflict and find common ground.

When people work together to resolve conflict, we have healthier families, safer neighborhoods and a more peaceful community for everyone. We believe that people know what’s best for their own lives. Mediation allows you to sit face to face with the other person, tell your story and express what really matters.

Mediators, who are often volunteers, won’t tell you what to do, make decisions for you or decide who is right or wrong. Instead, mediators walk participants through a process to find a resolution that works for everyone. Eighty-five percent of people who come to mediation walk away with their conflict resolved.

As the July 7, 2015, story by Mountain Xpress [contributor] Lisa Sarasohn pointed out, “conflict is, by definition, nerve-wracking, gut-wrenching and stressful. As a way to resolve disputes, mediation can reduce the stress associated with conflict” ["Sigh of Relief: Mediation Moderates Stress, Resolves Conflict in WNC”].

movie reviewer & coordinator: Ken Hanke contributing editors: Chris Changery, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak, Margaret Williams regular contributors: Able Allen, Jonathan Ammons, Edwin Arnaudin, Pat Barcas, Jacqui Castle, Scott Douglas, George Etheredge, Jesse Farthing, Dorothy Foltz-Gray, Jordan Foltz, Doug Gibson, Steph Guinan, Rachel Ingram, Cindy Kunst, Lea McLellan, Kat McReynolds, Clarke Morrison, Emily Nichols, Josh O’Conner, Thom O’Hearn, Alyx Perry, Kyle Petersen, Rich Rennicks, Tim Robison, Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt, Kyle Sherard, Toni Sherwood, Justin Souther, Krista White advertising, art & design manager: Susan Hutchinson graphic designers: Norn Cutson, Alane Mason, Scott Southwick online sales manager: Jordan Foltz marKeting associates: Thomas, Allison, Megan Archer, Sara Brecht, Bryant Cooper, Jordan Foltz, Tim Navaille, Brian Palmieri

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If we can help you, your family, your neighbors or your organization, call us at 251-6089. Services are free or offered on a sliding scale, and we rely on community support to make this possible. Give online at www.mediatewnc.org/donate.

— Laura Jeffords Executive Director The Mediation Center

Western astrology helps with planetary energies, too Thank you for Emily Nichols’ article on Vedic astrology in your March 2 issue [“Written in the Stars: Local Vedic Astrologers Decipher Map for Healing Inner Cosmos”] . I’m delighted to see this ancient and venerable form of astrology presented in such a positive light.

The article beautifully describes how Vedic astrology provides methods for harmonizing planetary influences.

Unfortunately, in describing this as a “difference” between Western and Vedic astrology, it could give the impression that Western astrology does not do this.

This is simply not true. Helping my clients harmonize their planetary influences lies at the heart of my own Western astrology practice. Western astrologers may not prescribe gemstones and mantras. But we offer many other ways to help our clients improve their lives by influencing and consciously partnering with their planetary energies.

It’s also worth noting that Western astrology, like Vedic, can provide assistance in health matters. In fact, one of the world’s leading experts on Western medical astrology, Lee Lehman, lives right here in Asheville.

None of this is meant to denigrate Vedic astrology. I have personally benefited from its insights as a client, and I’m glad that we have so many excellent local Vedic astrologers helping so many people. But I feel obliged to point out that any competent Western astrologer, like their Vedic counterparts, can assist their clients in harmonizing troublesome planetary influences.

— Benjamin Bernstein AstroShaman.com Asheville

Astrology article needed journalistic skepticism In February 2015, [Xpress] published — without even a hint of incredulity — a story on “medical intuitives” who claimed literal X-ray

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vision [“Medical Intuitives: Seeing the Way to Better Health,” Feb. 11 ]. I submitted a letter calling this out as obvious garbage and criticizing Mountain Xpress for failing to exercise even the most minimal degree of journalistic skepticism. In response, you defended your story ... Many online comments excoriated you for that lame justification and pleaded with you to abjure such shoddy journalism in the future.

This was all repeated the next month with a story on “stone healing” [“Stone Medicine: Healing Power From the Earth,” Feb. 18, 2015, Xpress], a scathing letter by Jim Willmot [“’Stone Medicine’ in Recent Article Isn’t Backed Up With Science,” Letters, March 4, 2015, Xpress] and another outrageous, self-serving defense from you ...

Finally, after yet another similarly themed blast from reader Mark Bloom [“‘Xpress’ Should Practice Responsible Journalism,” March 18, 2015, Xpress], you appeared to relent: “[W]e can do better in terms of providing multiple perspectives and being more skeptical in our approach ... [O]ur reporters can serve readers better by probing and challenging the local practitioner’s or spokesperson’s statements. In response to the feedback we’ve received, we have incorporated these goals into our process.”

Fair enough.

Yet here we are one year later, and Mountain Xpress is at it again. The March 2 issue contains a story about “Vedic astrologers,” who, for a fee, will chart the planets at the time of your birth, and, armed with that information, tell you to do things like wear certain gemstones on certain fingers, or utter mantras of “Sanskrit words for each planet” [“Written in the Stars: Local Vedic Astrologers Decipher Map for Healing Inner Cosmos.”] This, they assert, will bring one back “into balance with the planetary phenomena and energies. … The remedial measures could be thought of as a doctor’s prescription for making planets happy” — whatever the hell that could possibly mean. ...

I read the story carefully, searching for even the faintest hint of journalistic skepticism, for any contrary voice that might explain what complete gibberish and nonsense this is. I found none. ...

You promised a year ago to “do better in terms of being more skeptical in our approach” and to “serve readers better by probing and challenging the local practitioner’s or spokesperson’s statements.” I was encouraged by that response. Now, however, I see that it was complete bullsh*t — just

like the ridiculous claims you continue to publish uncritically. Nothing has changed.

Shame on you.

— Robert J. Woolley Asheville Editor’s response: We don’t believe we erred in covering Vedic astrology in the March 2 issue. The Wellness section is intentionally wide-ranging, covering everything from mainstream to fringe therapies, including both scientific and spiritual approaches. Some modalities are evidence-based, and some are not — especially the spiritual ones. Vedic astrology was described in this article as “a spiritual art,” and the practitioners denied that they were engaging in medical diagnosis. While part of our job is to remain skeptical, it may not be necessary to publish a detailed account of the controversies that can easily be read elsewhere. In the case of astrology, we believe our readers have formed their own views and don’t need us to warn them that it is considered by many to be baseless. We also believe that many of our readers appreciate learning about the variety of approaches to wellness available in the greater Asheville area — some of which are controversial and/or not accepted by mainstream science — and readers seem capable of deciding for themselves what to think about them.

Leave little footprints I love my little place in my little burg of Asheville.

I love my little friends who live on little in Asheville.

I love the little help I get from little people in Asheville.

I have little hopes and dreams that my little life will thrive in Asheville.

May we all think little and leave little footprints in Asheville.

— Rachael Bliss Asheville

Publish election information earlier With early voting now here in Asheville, I wish you would print your election endorsements issue a week earlier [“2016 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Primary Guide,” March 9, Xpress].

I found your roundup of candidate endorsers online, and that was helpful, but I missed your endorsements when I voted [last] week.

— Kip McKay Asheville

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news

PrePPer Paradise

WNC survivalists prize community, readiness

head PrePPer: Emergency Services Director Jerry VeHaun has led Buncombe County’s disaster preparedness and response for 43 years. Photo by Virginia Daffron

BY ViRginia DaFFRon vdaffron@mountainx.com Preppers — those who focus on preparing themselves and their families for disruptions or disasters — are a diverse group. From those who plan for the possibility of a three-day power outage to others who store many years’ worth of food against a global apocalypse, Western North Carolina’s preppers employ a wide range of strategies for hedging their bets against an uncertain future.

Buncombe County’s prepper-inchief is Emergency Services Director jerry vehaun, who’s held the post for 43 years. Over his tenure, the Woodfin resident (who also serves as the town’s mayor) has seen more than his fair share of floods, winter

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storms and power outages. As part of a state disaster-response team, he’s also dealt with the aftermath of hurricanes and tornadoes.

With all that experience under his belt, VeHaun still thinks the best emergency preparations are the most basic ones. “People need to think in terms of 72 hours,” he says. “They need to be able to make it on their own for three days.”

Taking the time to think through an evacuation scenario is also a good exercise. VeHaun suggests planning at least two different routes in case of an emergency requiring a quick getaway.

Store important papers together so you can grab them and go. And consider keeping some cash on hand, since ATMs may not work if the power is down.

Perhaps the greatest impediment to becoming more prepared, according to

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VeHaun, is human nature. “[People] think about it and they’ll know that they need to do it, but they won’t follow through,” he explains. To encourage awareness, VeHaun directed a communitywide PrepareAthon in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Association on March 9, which brought together government agencies, businesses and local schools to practice disaster drills.

PreParing for the worst Ex-Marine conley dale patterson is a genial bard with a seemingly limitless stockpile of doomsday predictions. Over 6 feet tall, the 72-year-old preparedness guru has a booming voice and deep belly laugh that frequently fill his shop, Smoky Mountain Preppers and Surplus on Patton Avenue. These days,

however, Patterson and many of his customers are talking a lot about the planet Nibiru, which Patterson says is seven times the size of the Earth.

When the mini-solar system of which Nibiru is a part passes near Earth’s orbit around March 23, Patterson explains, he and others in the prepper community foresee cataclysmic natural disasters. Enormous chunks of Nibiru’s iron-rich debris tail, they say, will crash into Earth, whose rotation will slow or stop in response to Nibiru’s gravitational pull, creating tidal waves up to 800 feet tall that will devastate every coastline in the world.

“Basically, around the first of April, 150 miles inland of all the coastlines in the world will be gone, and everybody who lives there will be gone, too,” Patterson predicts.

All that planetary disruption, he continues, will trigger earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In a nutshell, planet Earth will be “in deep doo-doo,” and everything to the east of Interstate 85 will be wiped off the map. That, he believes, makes Asheville a very desirable place to be: At 2,400 feet above sea level, it’s safe from the tidal waves yet still low enough to dodge the excessive solar radiation stemming from the degraded state of the atmosphere.

Nibiru, also known as Planet X, has been predicted to be about to crash into the Earth several times in the past; it has been dismissed by mainstream scientists as unfounded.

Meanwhile, Patterson also worries about economic decline. “Those who are awake, who have their eyes open and who listen — they know things aren’t right,” he declares, citing economic concerns in Greece and Europe, as well as precipitous declines in China’s stock market, as issues that he and other preppers are watching closely.

But the economic situation isn’t much better here at home, Patterson maintains. The federal government, he says, “falsifies the unemployment numbers: It’s really around 24 percent.”

Impending global catastrophe isn’t the only thing on Patterson’s mind.

He was arrested on federal weapons charges last October; he posted bail, and the trial is set for April 25. He says he changed the name of his

shop, which was formerly known as the Asheville Combat Zone, two months ago to reflect a shift in the business’s focus. bill sterrett of Carolina Readiness Supply in Waynesville shares some of Patterson’s concerns. He’s also troubled by what he sees as a growing threat of terrorism and insurgency within the U.S. “We have no border security,” Sterrett maintains, and many visitors to the country overstay their visas. At the same time, he criticizes what he feels are intrusive government surveillance tactics and policies concerning the everyday activities of regular Americans. misti mccloud, who moved to the Asheville area after 20 years of working with federal agencies and Exxon Mobil Corp., says her knowledge of “the government’s contingency plans for specific scenarios” makes her skeptical about the effectiveness of our society’s disaster preparations.

“And, trust me, the TSA and Homeland Security can’t protect us. They were put in place to give citizens the illusion of security,” McCloud warns.

Like Patterson and Sterrett, she says our country’s infrastructure is “incredibly vulnerable,” citing risks to the electrical power grid such as a terrorist attack or a naturally occurring solar storm, which could instantly and permanently devastate all electronic components on the planet.

Yet despite these and other threats, many people, she points out, “drive around with not so much as a bottle of water in their car.”

a low cost and are easy to store. Along with cooking oil, multivitamins and spices, these items can form the basis of an emergency food plan.

Patterson carries MREs (an abbreviation of the military designation Meal, Ready to Eat), which provide an average of 1,200 calories per package. Some meals contain a flameless ration heater, which allows the food to be heated without using a stove or fire. One MRE costs about $10. For someone on a tight budget, Patterson advises purchasing two to four MREs along with a few other basic supplies (he recommends a knife, some cord and a good hatchet).

Sterrett agrees that MREs are a great preparedness product, but cautions against depending exclusively on any one type of provision. “Variety, variety, variety,” he counsels. “I once had a customer who wanted 100 cases of MREs. I said, ‘Man, that is not a good idea.’” Though he recommends that everyone keep some MREs on hand, “A steady diet for months of MREs would not be a good thing,” Sterrett says.

Basic supplies such as toilet paper, cleaning products, soap and toothbrushes are also important to stock, Patterson and Sterrett say.

Most people fail to realize exactly how many resources they use on a regular basis, according to McCloud.

Developing an awareness of how much a household consumes over a period of time is the first step in figuring out how much one needs to store, she explains.

master of disaster: Ex-Marine Dale Patterson is part preparedness guru, part apocalyptic prophet as he doles out supplies, gear, advice and disaster predictions from his Patton Avenue store. Photos by Virginia Daffron

Back to Basics Whether the perceived threat is celestial, meteorological, financial or human, all the preppers interviewed for this article urged readers to pull together some survival supplies and plans to help sustain them in the face of disruption or disaster. As McCloud puts it, “It’s not if something will happen — it’s when.”

In winter, notes Patterson, the No. 1 survival priority is avoiding hypothermia. That means wearing the right clothes, staying dry, and finding shelter and a way to make a fire as soon as possible.

Second on the list (or first during the warmer months), he continues, is ensuring an adequate supply of uncontaminated water. Patterson estimates that each person needs at least a gallon of water per day

for drinking and cooking. A customer in Patterson’s shop who doesn’t want to give his name volunteers that he stores over 200 gallons in large foodgrade barrels made of high-density polyethylene. To prevent the growth of algae or bacteria, he adds a splash of chlorine bleach.

“In a crisis or an incident, the last thing you need is to be wondering, ‘Where is my next drink of water coming from?’” says Sterrett. And though he believes people should make their own decision about how much water they should keep on hand, he recommends storing enough to provide at least a gallon per person per day for three months. For a family of four, that adds up to 360 gallons, which should be used strictly for drinking and cooking, says Sterrett. For bathing, laundry,

crops and other needs, people should rely on rainwater.

Many kinds of water filters are readily available; both Sterrett and Patterson stock several types, as does Fifth Season Gardening Co. on Tunnel Road.

Though missing a meal or two wouldn’t hurt most of us, food is an obvious concern during any significant disruption. Conventional wisdom, observes Patterson, holds that area food supplies would be depleted in three days if supplies were interrupted.

He thinks that’s far too optimistic: “It’d be more like three hours than three days,” he says.

For customers just starting out, Sterrett advises establishing a good supply of rice and beans, since those two foods provide a complete protein at

for the long haul donna miller leads the WNC Preparedness Group, which claims about 80 active members within a two-hour drive of Asheville. “We are not survivalists or hoarders but aim to share sustainability and peace in the midst of chaos by preparing and developing skills,” reads the group description on the Meetup website.

“We are not focused on zombies, apocalypse, doomsday, politics or conspiracies. We agree with protection and the right to bear arms but are not focused on this topic, nor do we focus on militant action.”

When people first attend one of the group’s gatherings, says Miller, they invariably remark, “Gosh, you guys are so normal.” People come expecting group members to be decked out in camouflage and face paint,

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group of friends and family with a range of skills. “No one person can have all the skills you would need,” says Sterrett. To that end, his store hosts Heritage Life Skills each year; the multiday gathering features classes on a range of self-sufficiency topics, such as beekeeping, land navigation, hunting, trapping, emergency medicine, fire starting and food preservation. The event is also a chance to meet popular authors and personalities and connect with other preppers. Sterrett expects this year’s edition, slated for May 29-31 at the Haywood County Fairgrounds in Waynesville, to draw people from WNC, Georgia, eastern Tennessee and southern Virginia.

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strength in numBers: Donna Miller leads the WNC Preparedness Group, which emphasizes developing sustainable skills and community ties. Photo courtesy of Miller she says with a laugh, and most are pleasantly surprised to find a diverse gathering of folks with a wide range of interests and knowledge.

Besides leading the group, Miller publishes Prepare magazine, a monthly print and online journal focused on a range of self-sufficiency and survival skills and topics. For the past seven years, she’s hosted a preparedness podcast; she also runs Millers Grain House, an online store that sells whole grains and the tools for grinding them.

Miller traces her interest in preparedness back 27 years, when she and her husband were living in a rural part of Alabama near the Gulf of Mexico.

“We experienced several natural disasters — tornadoes, hurricanes and ice storms. That got us thinking about some of the old skills that we hadn’t learned: canning, putting back food, starting a fire without matches.”

The couple moved to Western North Carolina 12 years ago with their three children, who are now adults. They live west of Asheville on 7 acres at 3,800 feet above sea level. The family strives to be self-sufficient, growing and preserving their own food.

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“We don’t eat a lot of processed foods,” says Miller. “We will not buy the ready-made meals that other people tend to think of as food storage.” Miller’s goal is to have three to six months’ worth of food, so she has enough to share and to make it through a dormant season. Asheville’s Sow True Seed, she notes, is an important resource for her group, since the company sells only open-pollinated, nonhybrid seeds. That means gardeners can save seeds from one year’s crop to grow the next, helping them develop a sustainable food source.

“Everyone has a little prepper in them,” says chris smith of Sow True Seed. “We meet a lot of people who are interested in developing a sustainable food system that they have some sovereignty over. If they aim to be more sustainable, seed saving has to be part of the conversation.”

Community is a big part of Miller’s mindset, too. “Anyone who thinks they can be so prepared that they can go it alone is fooling themselves,” she asserts. “We discourage people from taking that lone wolf approach.”

Patterson and Sterrett, too, stress the importance of developing a core

“Now, when you say prepper, I’m not going to fill up my basement with stuff,” cautions dawn demetrisstucker, the owner of On Target Indoor Shooting Range and Gun Shop just off Sweeten Creek Road in South Asheville. But she does believe in arming herself and her family with what they would need to survive a short-term emergency.

“We all have a bag,” she explains.

“If we need to grab it and go, it’s ready. There’s no thinking about it.”

Demetris-Stucker demonstrates the features of a tactical backpack she says is one of her store’s most popular products for preppers. “What if something happened and you needed to grab a bag and get out of town for three days? Can you imagine your family scurrying around looking for a flashlight and book of matches?” she asks.

“Get a backpack, pack it. Water filter, hatchet, fire starter kit, shovel, what you need: done,” DemetrisStucker advises. Plan for a three- to five-day disruption, she says, adding, “If it’s worse than that, we’re all in trouble.”

Demetris-Stucker, who’s owned the busy gun store and shooting range with her husband, jeff, since 1989, is also passionate about helping women develop the skills and awareness to defend themselves when needed. Every second Saturday morning, she offers special training sessions that teach shooting fundamentals and give participating women a chance to fire every caliber of handgun from a .22 to a .45. Stucker-Demetris also demonstrates nonlethal items such as stun guns and pepper spray.

“It’s a great freedom to be educated, no matter what you do then,”

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straight shooter: Dawn Demetris-Stucker of On Target Shooting Range demonstrates the features of an emergency bag that holds survival gear along with guns and ammunition. Photo by Virginia Daffron she says. “I want women to realize there’s a place I can go to get this training where a woman will hold my hand.” it takes all kinds Asked what kind of people make up the majority of his customers, Patterson says, “Actually, we get just about everybody. Old and young, black and white, men and women.”

He also gets plenty of folks who drive in from outlying rural areas.

“They’re more into the prepping

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mentality than most city slickers,” says Patterson. “There’s too many breweries in Asheville: Everybody’s just drinking beer and not paying attention to what we think’s going to happen.”

Ultimately, however, he believes the city’s current popularity with visitors is an instinctive response to the same things that draw preppers to the area.

“People come to Asheville, and they feel so good. They don’t know why they like it so much: It’s their spirit telling them, ‘This is where you need to be.’ Their spirit and their soul tell them that here, they’ll have a chance of living.” X

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March 22

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Save the date for Lenoir-Rhyne University Asheville’s Career Fest — an exclusive career and graduate school fair for highly qualified local career-seekers and students.

Asheville.LR.EDU 36 Montford Ave, Asheville NC 828.407.4263 16

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news

by Josh O’Conner

Sacred Equinox Yoga

josh.oconner@gmail.com

MoUntain Made

with Meghan Ganser

Get in Gear Fest showcases local manufacturers

Saturday, March 19 3-5pm $30 taking aim: A sling-shot shooting range, adventure races and product demos are among the offerings at the Get in Gear Fest on Saturday, March 19, in the River Arts District. Photo courtesy of Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC

The second annual Get in Gear Fest comes to Asheville’s River Arts District Saturday, March 19. Hosted by the Outdoor Gear Builders of Western North Carolina, a local trade group, the event will give attendees a chance to meet with representatives of over 20 local companies, helping them understand the passion and technology behind the craft.

“Our region is the East Coast’s biggest hub for outdoor gear manufacturing, yet many of our local folks, even the gear junkies, don’t know about all the equipment being made here,” notes facilitator noah wilson.

Besides the various product demos, there’ll also be adventure races, a Rescue Skills Rodeo, a slingshot shooting range, kayak demos on the French Broad River, family and adult adventure races, a silent auction offering guided outdoor experiences with gear makers, and display “villages” featuring ultralight and adventure camping equipment.

In addition, the festival seeks to bring representatives of major gear manufacturers here to experience the locally made products and sample the area’s recreational opportunities.

According to the trade group’s website, “Our goal is to build upon the awesome footprint of outdoor

gear manufacturing we already have here in WNC and grow the region’s outdoor industry together … highlighting the region itself as well as our products and businesses.”

The organization also embraces Asheville’s passion for all things local.

“We should support local gear for much the same reason as we should support local food or buy a microbrew instead of a Budweiser,” says Wilson. “Supporting locally made gear supports local creative industry and manufacturing jobs, and helps grow our region as a hub of innovation and manufacturing excellence.”

There are environmental bragging rights, too. Network members are committed to green manufacturing, maximizing local sourcing and minimizing or eliminating waste from manufacturing operations.

Recover Brands, for example, manufactures clothing (including the event T-shirts) from 100 percent recycled materials, such as polyester made from plastic bottles. Blue Ridge Chair Works produces durable chairs and tables using Americanmade materials — and makes bottle openers out of the wood scraps.

SylvanSport’s tow-behind camper and gear hauler is made from over 80 percent locally sourced parts.

West Asheville Yoga.com 602 Haywood Rd 28806

The free festival enables people to try out gear before they buy. There’ll also be family-friendly entertainment, a beer garden featuring local brews, food trucks and an ice cream cart. Go Local Card holders will be eligible for special offers, and a portion of the proceeds from beer sales and the silent auction will benefit NEW & PRE-OWNED RiverLink, a local nonprofit. AUTOS All in all, the one-day event will help local outdoors lovers gear up for HONDA: 242 Underwood Rd spring and summer adventures. X

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17

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n ews

by Josh O’Conner

josh.oconner@gmail.com

fair share Tool library aims to build community, sustainability The long-awaited Asheville Tool Library will hold its grand opening Saturday, April 9. The collaborative effort has been several years and a couple of false starts in the making, beginning with a crowdfunding campaign and a series of community meetings in the spring of 2013.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have finally found a home on the South Slope, among other locally owned, do-it-yourself, creative startup businesses,” says coordinator Kara sweeney. “The community-driven project aims to empower individuals and the community at large through affordable access to resources that encourage rehabilitation, creativity, entrepreneurship, livability and community development in Western North Carolina.”

Located at 133 Church St. in Asheville, the library will give area residents lowor no-cost access to a wide variety of tools obtained via a series of donation drives.

Annual memberships are offered on a sliding scale of $50 to $100 based on income, with scholarships available to those who qualify. Members can borrow tools for up to a week at no additional charge.

“I look at the tool library as an integral part of transitioning to a more sustainable, equitable future where everyone has access to resources, not just those with a lot of money,” core team member ben harper explains.

In nearly 70 communities around the United States, tool libraries provide a way to share items that would otherwise be sitting idle most of the time. The

NEW & PRE-OWNED AUTOS HONDA: 242 Underwood Rd PRE-OWNED: 195 Underwood Rd Fletcher, NC 828-684-4400 appletreeautos.com

tools for all: The tool library offers low- or no-cost access to a variety of tools.

Photo courtesy of Asheville Tool Library 18

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CECILIA JOHNSON Attorney at Law

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a liBrary of a different striPe: Ben Harper and Kara Sweeney at the Asheville Tool Library. Photo by Leah Shapiro courtesy of Asheville Tool Library Asheville project is operating under the umbrella of Empowerment WORKS, a California-based nonprofit that supports communitybased initiatives worldwide. Local businesses and groups such as the French Broad Food Co-op, Groundswell International and Asheville Business Arts have provided funding or in-kind support, and the library is actively seeking additional local partners.

While working on a community garden project in 2012, co-founders nick letts and julian dominic realized their own need for tools and heard similar stories from others. Launching a tool library here had been in the back of Letts’ mind since 2007, but the community garden experience helped him understand the connection between a community need and an equitable community solution. tom llewellyn and Harper came to the project after co-founding the REAL Cooperative and organizing the Sustainable Living Roadshow, a mobile environmental education project. Llewellyn contributed his extensive knowledge of the sharing economy; Harper helped secure the facility’s current space and took the lead on the design and renovation.

Sweeney’s experience with community organizing and home rehabilitation efforts shores up the library’s ability to coordinate programs and volunteers and engage the community and media. In addition, a growing

team of dedicated volunteers brings diverse skills and knowledge to support the project’s growth.

On Sunday, March 20, the library will host another tool drive (see box).

The organizers urge those considering making tax-deductible tool donations to keep in mind that by becoming a library member they’ll still have access to the donated items, plus hundreds of others. “Not everyone has to own one of everything that they use once a year,” notes Harper.

Ultimately, says Letts, “The biggest tool we’ll ever have is the ability to build community. The Asheville Tool Library is one tool in that toolbox.”

Want to get involved? Contact the Asheville Tool Library at librarian@ ashevilletoollibrary.org. The project can also be found on Facebook (facebook. com/ashevilletoollibrary) and at ashevilletoollibrary.org. X

MoRe iNfo

Give to get On Sunday, March 20, the Asheville Tool Library will host a tool drive in the Open Space AVL building (133 Church St. in downtown Asheville) from noon-6 p.m.

Donations are tax-deductible and may include woodworking tools, camping gear, yard equipment and much more.

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KIDS ISSUE 2016 Welcome to part one of Xpress’ 2016 Kids Issue, a colorful annual feature that offers local K-12 students a chance to express themselves in these pages through art, poetry and prose. This year, we asked kids to focus on themselves with the theme of “Who Am I?” The results were impressive. We received about 300 submissions from local public, private and charter school students that offer a window into the lives of the youngest members of our community.

In this issue, you’ll find a variety of heartfelt poetry and compelling art created by kids from throughout Buncombe County, along with thoughtful essays from students at The Learning Community School in Black Mountain, Odyssey Community School in Asheville and Hall Fletcher Elementary School in Asheville (whose students wrote from the unique perspective of their relative’s hands).

And be sure sure to check back next week for more engaging kids’ contributions for part two of the Kids Issue — along with Xpress’ annual guide to area summer camps. Enjoy! X imagine: Asheville Middle School sixth-grader Dylan Schneider, top, and Vance Elementary fi rst-grader Claire Wallace, below, created self-portraits meant to be half-realistic, half-abstract at the Roots + Wings Community Design Lab at Vance Elementary School

with My own two hands Editor’s note: During the Asheville Writers in the Schools & Community’s Family Voices program at Hall Fletcher Elementary, students and their families told stories from the point of view of a family member’s hands. the hands that clean Mom works, gets ready, cleans up, relaxes, goes to sleep. She has beautiful hands.

Her hands are folding at her work, and they’re getting clean and dry. The clothes smell like clean clothes.

— Jeremy Earls, third grade Big PiZZa My family is a bee because we are always getting hurt.

My brother is a lion because he is just a

20

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little aggressive.

My family is a big and warm pizza because we are always warm and together.

My family is a mall because they’re always shopping.

— Pamely Rueda, third grade seBastian’s Birthday-BalooZa I peek out from the covers and push them away. Then I pick up the sticky, icky doughnuts and shove them in Sebastian’s mouth.

Later that morning, I drag the Slip and Slide and the Bounce House to the yard.

Then I have to turn on the wind generator to blow up the Bounce House.

We make an ice cream cake. Then Sebastian’s friends come over. I get a lot of high-fives.

After that, I get super wet from going

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down the Slip and Slide.

We dry off. We spoon super yummy cake into Sebastian’s mouth.

I move super fast to open all of Sebastian’s presents. They’re all awesome.

— Sebastian Wilson, third grade ugly floor His hands say, “Man, my calluses are hard!”

I go happily downstairs to take the dogs out.

After that, I see the kitchen’s ugly floor and get lunch ready for school.

I say, “Someone needs to scrub that floor, but not me!”

Then I make breakfast.

— Asa Whiteley, third grade

my mom’s hands I’m tired because I do dishes all the time. I’m wrinkly because of all the dish soap. I’m tired of holding the broom all day. I’m tired because I always break my fingernails. I’m tired because the dog pulls on me all day. I’m tired because I have to put on makeup all day. I’m tired because I have to make beds all day. I’m tired because I have to make dinner.

— Manuel Colón Jr., fourth grade my dad’s hands I feel OUCH!! almost every day.

Hammers banging on me. !!*??!!**??

That means “Ouch.” I get thorns stuck in me, I get swelled up. I get things stuck in my hands. I feel sore after driving so much last night. I will eat when I get home, because I ate nothing all day. I sometimes go to sleep after a long day

of work. I also sometimes fix up the house when I get done. If you were wondering, I work: nonstop working.

Then, for a few days, we take care of his kids all the time.

The end!

— Annalise Mitchell, third grade moVing hands My mom’s hands are nice-looking.

Her hands move at work. They move every day. They wave at people to say “Hey” and say “Hello.”

— Jaquell Earls, first grade

the adventures of elijah Hi, I’m Elija’s hands and I’m going to tell you about my life. Yawn.

“Eli, wake up,” said my mom.

“I’m up, I’m up.” I washed my hands and got ready to take Abby and Aaron to the bus stop.

“Aaron, Abby, time to go.”

“OK, we’re ready.”

“Let’s go,” I said.

“Wait! My backpack!”

“Fine, go get it.”

To be continued…

— Aaron Irizarry, third grade

the triPs (my aunt caroline’s hands) What they do: She is a truck driver, and every day except Sundays and Saturdays she goes to work and travels all the way to Wisconsin. First to Tennessee, then Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and I can’t remember. Also she stops a lot at gas station/truck stops and restaurants, and that is how my Aunt Caroline’s days go.

Their story: I’m feeling tired from steering that wheel all day: It makes me dizzy going side to side all day and night.

I feel cold from going outside when I go to truck stops. I open the door and pick my fork up and put my fork down while I eat. Then back on the road I go. And finally, we are back home.

Time to relax!

— Tyshauna Jacobs, fifth grade

Portrait of a child: First-grader

Joselin Pacheco-Echeverria, Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School

Picasso style: Third-grader Alexsander Santana-Delgado of Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School was assigned to create a self-portait in the style of Pablo Picasso

exuBerance: Solomon Hartman,

The Learning Community

saturday disaster Hi, I’m Anita’s hands. And today I’m going to tell you about my worst day on the job ever!!! So, first I woke up, and my hand got stuck in a splinter! Ow! After that I went to wash my hands, and guess what? I put the water on hot and burnt my hands! Ow! Then I went to wake up my children, and I fell and got my hands caught under the bed! Man, so many “ows,” I just thought I’d stay home. When I did Abby’s hair with a flat iron, my hands got stuck and got burnt! Again. Ow!!! Well, that was my day.

— Abby Irizzary, third grade

thumBs uP: Michaiah Summey,

Valley Springs Middle School

and they danced around in her head ...

Yana Babak, Reynolds High School

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21

Hoop therapy

color wonder: Ian N., Franklin School of Innovation

My sister is someone I can always count on. She is someone I tell my deepest secrets to, because I love her dearly. Johari is my lifelong friend, not to mention my best friend.

I adore my sister: We’ve always looked after each other and had each other’s backs. Growing up, I was very passive, so Johari fought many of my battles for me. Once we were at some day care, and this kid kept shaking me and pushing me around. My sister must have thought enough is enough, and she karate-chopped the kid in the neck. He turned around to find no one there and looked down to see my sister. He punched her in the chest, and then they started to rain blows upon each other until the teachers broke it up.

My sister and I have been close ever since we were about 4 or 5. We’ve impacted each other’s lives in a positive way ever since we met. I taught her how to speak, so she was able to speak at a very young age and faster than average babies. We lived in the same room until I was 9, so we learned that this is someone you’ll live with until around age 18: treat them like you would want to be treated.

Basketball is something I’ve enjoyed since I was very little, when I played with my dad on the Little Tikes basketball hoop. I love basketball so much I got a real hoop for Christmas. My grandfather played basketball and was a great player. He always helped me learn the fundamentals and had me do drills. I always enjoyed his advice and listened to what he had to say. My grandfather has improved me as a player in so many ways I can’t even count, and I want to thank him for that.

Basketball is something I do when I’m upset: It calms me and helps me release my emotions in a positive way. Basketball is something I do every day, if I can. It has given me a work ethic that I use in school. I am Jackson Baschnagel, and this is who I am.

— Jackson Baschnagel, The Learning Community School, seventh grade

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word Portrait: Lan Lin,

Asheville Middle School

Sand above the treasure I was young coming to Montreat, a place I didn’t know. It was unfamiliar: big green forests lunging over, wanting to swallow me into the wild; nights whose blackness was impenetrable. I was only a child then, with my mind thinking like Arnold and his purple crayon that you used to read to me every night. I wanted to use my crayon to draw a door to heaven, so I could visit you and take you back to keep me safe.

But day by day, I learned to live with you being gone. I was adaptable, and I got used to Montreat. I grew and saw that the forests were the sand above the treasure.

I had to explore to know who I am. And through the years, I now know where I come from, even when you weren’t there.

I am from the wonderment of finding family out of friends who ran out in the rain on that hot summer day. Those friends are incomparable. They are a part of me, so to know me, know them.

I am from hikes and trips into the woods, the endless stories by the fire and the connections that make me who I am. The joy of sharing a part of yourself with someone through a story. Trudging in the forest, liberty and hunger in my chest, shoes in the ground ahead of me.

I am from the hard work, pain, suffering, death and sadness, for all that is part of me. Your death is a part of me; I have to live with that. My anger at my God: I have to deal with that. My love for my friends: They have earned that.

You saw me long ago when I was afraid. You watched me each summer, a snapshot in your eyes. You saw me grow, even when I didn’t know you were watching.

And I count on that you’re still watching me, Dad, in the years to come.

— Scott Watson, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

here’s looking at you: Carson Greene, Franklin School of Innovation

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all smiles: Charlie Donnelly,

Odyssey Community School

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23

Finding the light

right side, left side: Third-grader

Atenas Gonzalez of Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School was assigned to create a self-portait in the style of Pablo Picasso

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form and meaning: Frank Gaddy of Valley Springs Middle School used words to create his self-portrait

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I’ve always been a big believer in finding the light. I seek it in the darkest of rooms, and when I can’t find it, I make my own. I’m someone who not only believes in light, but believes in every single monster under the bed, every wave crashing on every grain of sand, every life that every person lives. I’ve always been good at that. I’m not sure if it makes me a better person or just more neurotic, but it’s who I am.

My belief in everyone else has often been misinterpreted as confidence. That’s something I’m not so good at. People used to tell me that I needed to see a little potential in myself and stop concentrating it in others.

I come from people mistaking my stupidity for courage. I’ve jumped off every roof, tree and boulder, but that’s only because I treasure the feeling of flying so much more than my own safety. I come from long walks on the beach and saturated hair. I come from tugging on my sister’s sleeve, trying to drag her away from growing up. I’m the kind of person that wishes on stars and blows dandelion seeds, always seeking something to make me less ordinary. I’ve come to love simple things, like cold, fresh strawberries and holding dogs in my lap. People tell me I’m a mystery when the truth is, I’m so wide open that it’s boring.

I love giving hugs and smelling my best friend’s vanilla mist perfume. I’m the person in the corner with a slightly quirky attitude. I’m a dreamer, a believer, and I know that some of the best days of my life haven’t even happened yet. I treasure the future, I resent the past, and I stress and worry about every little detail. I shut people out because I’m afraid of hurting them, and I crack myself open so I can see the world more clearly. I dream and wish and hope, and I sometimes wish I wouldn’t, but I can’t help believing in tomorrow.

— Ella Carlinnia, The Learning Community School, seventh grade

Texas vibe

Blowing in the wind: Gillian Maurer, SILSA

At times people will ask me, “Who are you? Tell me about yourself.” I often answer the obvious: I’m in the seventh grade, I go to The Learning Community School, and my favorite color is pink. But I never say I’m the girl that can be sensitive, can be caring and kind. I’m the girl who has to be strong, has to get told to try and stand up for herself. I’m the girl who can’t hide behind people her whole life.

I am an empty water bottle, sweaty shin guards, New Jersey, broken noses, smushed fingers, field hockey. It was love at first sight when I had my first field hockey lesson four years ago. I was fascinated by how the ball moved back and forth on the smooth stick.

My coach is from South Africa, and she has a beautiful accent. When my dad got me my first very own hockey stick for my birthday, I was ready to commit myself to my sport. I play forward, and all I want to do is scrimmage. In high school I hope to be the captain of the field hockey team. I’m really glad that I found field hockey, because it is truly my passion.

I am Texas. My dad grew up in Houston. That place has fascinated me from the very beginning. I remember very clearly when I was about 9 years old, my parents, grandparents and I were looking around in a small shop. I was looking at all the Texas flags when I heard a bunch of rowdy people walk in the door. I looked over and saw this big biker gang with different colored bandanas tied over their bald heads. It was just like in a movie: They came in slow motion, popping their collars, while everyone stared in awe and “Back in Black,” an AC/DC song, played in the background. Their big leather cowboy boots made a clicking sound each time they stepped on the creaky floor.

I have this Texas vibe to my personality, and I like it: cowgirl hats, fringe vests and the sweet smell of leather boots. That’s me.

But who am I exactly? I’m the girl who still dosen’t know who she is. That girl doesn’t know what she wants to be; she doesn’t have it all planned out. That’s OK; she’ll know it when she sees it. I don’t want to pretend to be someone that I’m not: I’m my own whuman being.

— Fields Wright, The Learning Community School, seventh grade

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25

me in my imagination: Analise Leonard, Odyssey Community School

self-Portrait: Daphne Calloway,

North Buncombe Middle School

Perfect living Who am I? I am fun summer days spent eating and uniting with family at my grandparents’ house: grilled chicken and cheeseburgers, rolls and salads, macaroni and cheese, and then cakes and frozen treats. The kids would rush through the meal and then head outside to play games. The yard was no boundary as we spilled over into the neighbors’ yards. They didn’t mind.

Who am I? I am winter bonfires and chasing little kids and little animals.

Afternoons spent out in the woods. Climbing high in the mountains with my cousin. Getting up on my roof and just sitting there. Fun, long nights at our house, playing Black Ops and watching movies with my family well into the morning.

Who am I? I am fun days at my uncle’s camp. Riding four-wheelers all over the camp trails. Watching football and laughing at my uncle’s house. Swimming in the pool and the lake, and hiking; walking all over camp, and sitting on his porch and talking.

Who am I? I am my house, my big yard, my biggish house with a big chunk of woods behind it. My animals have their whole section of it, or they used to (my goats now control the whole yard.). My pigs live in what used to be the chicken coop. The roof is the best part of the yard, because you can see the mountains: the rolling curve of the peak illuminated by the setting sun.

Who am I? I am all those things. I am guitar and basketball, soccer and siblings, humor and sadness. My yard and my cousins, my parents and grandparents, my favorite camp and winter afternoons. I am all of those things. I am living this life in the perfect way, in the perfect place.

— Sam Edwards, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

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Chinese and violin Who I am is my house in Montford: Waking up, coming downstairs. Murphy, the dog, greets me at the bottom of the stairs, and we walk into the kitchen together.

I’m the kid who wore rain boots on a perfectly sunny day, a bathing suit and goggles in the bathtub, the kid who stuffed her things into the closet when her mom told her to make her bed. I am made of 10 years of studying Chinese and hating every minute of it, desperately trying to get my parents to let me quit. This is me, the 5-year-old girl who wouldn’t let her parents help her with homework, getting dressed, making food or anything else. As well as all that, I am made of Asheville, of all the people who live here and just the city itself.

In preschool, I was the girl who wanted to be “leader of the day” so badly that I would put my name at the top of the box for the teacher to draw out. I was the kid who was so stubbornly independent that if a teacher or anyone tried to help me or tell me what to do, I would pitch a huge fit. At my preschool, we weren’t allowed to close the door when we went to the bathroom (probably because they didn’t want us to drown in the toilet). Whenever the teacher “reminded” me of that rule, I closed the door in their face and locked it.

Ever since the age of 2, I’ve taken Chinese; ever since the age of 3, I’ve played the violin. The difference was that I actually enjoyed the violin lessons. When I got older and found out that a person is legally an adult at age 18, I became obsessed with turning 18 so I could quit Chinese.

I am all of these things, and together, they make me who I am today.

— Sophia Ewing, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

27

Heart wide open

my Journey is tough But rewarding: Maeve

Kneale, Asheville Middle School

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mountainx.com

My name is Calliope. What makes me who I am isn’t the blood in my body or the pigments that give me color: It’s the people I’ve been with, the things I do and the memories I have.

The way I let my body flow, be free to just let go and leap in a dance, is what makes me “me.” The way I love making lemonade because of the sound it makes as I stir the sweet ingredients together. All those nights that my mom was out of town and my dad would let us eat mac and cheese as we watched our favorite TV show by the fire, and how I would sometimes sit there and put the bowl to my ear just to hear the swishing sound of the noodles and the cheese mixed together.

Who I am is formed by a little fairy tale in the woods or the way we were made of warm honey-cinnamon milk when we played house. I am made up of all those times I let food or drinks sit out to see how they’d look all molded over. Or how I would always go outside and pick the weirdest plants and then boil them all in a pot just to see how they would smell and taste. How I would never tell mom or dad that we’d eaten the chocolates. All those memories of hot summer days of Slip and Slides and apple bobbing, all the snack times that came with dripping watermelon juice across my chin and catching salamanders down at the creek. That’s who I am.

What truly makes me are those connections created out of love, of trust, out of sleepovers and hangouts. They create a stronger, more powerful bond between us, forming a warm feeling in my heart. This feeling is what is me: welcoming, heart wide open, just waiting for another person to come so I can say the simple words “Hello, my friend.”

— Calliope Tomczak, The Learning Community School, seventh grade

Mirror wisdom

for the loVe of dragons: Gary Snipes, Odyssey Community School

I am from I am from feathers and orange peels on the dashboard a room flooded with hand-me-down heels and old sneakers and closets stuffed with big ball gowns and jeans I’m from a beer-guzzling city with bluegrass tattooed bodies and acupuncture for adults, kids, and dogs I am from hot summer days by the neighborhood pool ice cream, farmer tans and scraped legs from trying to skate by the Sonic parking lot I’m from sleepy eyes, chamomile tea, tea-tree and ylang-ylang fumed pillows the bitter smell of coffee and the taste of soft honey and baths of cold creek water

I’m the girl I see staring back at me in the mirror with doubt about the imperfections, trying to seek the beauty in everyone else but somehow not finding the artistry in herself. The self-conscious one who assumes that her life is a mistake and that she’s incapable of succeeding at anything. I am someone who tunes out the world and focuses in my head, unable to conquer dark shadows. I’m a teenager who feels differently than her peers, because I want to redo my past and make new pages in my book.

When I stare hard at myself in the mirror, I see dreams that are transparent.

Fingers are sailing across the piano keys in my living room, and my mind presses everything it has against paper that tells a story of its own, a story that can only be told in song. Something hauls me away to a place where someone else gets my story. Every time that song is played, some different part of my body transforms into something more advanced and peaceful. It brings me back to the times when I played in front of my two grandmothers, who let the music take them to a different place.

In life there’s always longing: longing for change and something immense that’s within your grasp. Longing for love and want, and more than anything, to stare in the mirror and be able to say, “I am beautiful the way I am.” To persevere and to lie on your deathbed feeling pride in your milestones and achievements. And lastly, to feel loved and know that when you die, a part of you will stay within the people who are still alive and guide them on their way. This is who I am.

— Rachel Forehand, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

I’m from my mother’s trust, my father’s warnings my sister’s notes left under my bed when I was little Cody’s kisses and his white hair that I find on my clothes but I don’t mind, it makes me miss him though Nile’s snuggles and forceful motivation to get up in the morning I’m not from one place I wouldn’t call this small mountain town my only home and I wouldn’t say Brady, Tom and Julie are my only teachers I am from everything I see, do and hear Tomorrow I will be a different me from the one I am today — Faye Foley, Francine Delaney New School for Children

Who am I Who am I?

I am the one who has faced the challenges the one who helps people

I am the guy on the field the one in front

I am the one who has lived many places the one who loves playing magic — Cayden Taylor, Odyssey Community School mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

29

Hard question

looking ahead: First-grader Maya

P., Claxton Elementary School

Who I am is a really hard question for anybody to answer.

I love outdoors as much as indoors; I’m the type of person who gets drowsy when staring at a fire and smelling the burning pine. I’m the kid who holds the stories of Mississippi, cousins and injuries. I’m the kid who comes from the old, torn-down building called an orphanage. I love to look at sunsets and have a soft spot for nature.

I’m the kind of person who’s shy at the first soccer practice. I am the person who gets hyped when someone makes a great play, gets an adrenaline rush when I make a good play and who’ll say “Good teamwork” to the TV. I’m the guy who thinks $300 is too much for soccer shoes; I’m willing to give up a goal for an assist.

I am the kid who’s willing to try and fail, and who likes the thrill of schoolwork when I do something right. I’m the type of person who’s motivated but still gets frustrated by a math problem.

I am the guy who says mom always comes first and has a temper around anyone who’s rude. I’m the kind of person who loves comedies and will watch out for his friends. I don’t hold grudges, and I’m willing to give a little piece of me to get to know someone. But overall, I’m the guy who says family always comes first.

— Nick Murphy, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

Panthers fan: Oliver Perez, The

Learning Community School

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Worlds to conquer I am the one who turns to my own imagination when reality fails to amaze me. I am the one who tends to turn people away if they don’t accept who I am. I am the one who believes in others’ potential but fails to see my own.

I am made up of thousands of memories that have sculpted the person I am today: my grandparents’ old house; the pain I feel when someone close to me hurts me intentionally; running down the stairs on Christmas morning with my cousin.

Accepting the fear and humiliation of life and moving forward despite it; appreciating that one smile or word that changes my entire day; feeling happiest knowing I’m surrounded by people who truly care about me; finding happiness within myself when the things around me fail to offer it.

I remember the stunning moments shared with my cousin: staying up till 3 a.m. to talk, the wind whipping through our identical blonde hair at the beach, jumping fearlessly into the icy-cold ocean water, swimming for hours in the indoor pool at our temporary beach house. We never left each other’s side.

I love taking walks alone in the summer and feeling the cool grass beneath my bare feet. I love singing to myself when no one’s around. I love the feeling I get when I’ve found someone who looks past my flaws and sees who I truly am.

This is me: a quirky, unique person filled with huge hopes and dreams for the future. I still have many more experiences to conquer, but I know one thing for sure: This is who I am.

— Toria Hicks, The Learning Community School, eighth grade

PositiVe attitude: Bella, Timbersong Academy

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

31

Dreamcatcher

all smiles: First-grader

Nadya Stewart of Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School painted her self-portrait on squares of colored paper

thoughtful Pose: Antwan

Eddings of Asheville Middle School used words to help create this self-portrait

What do you fear most?

We all have at least one fear: fear of death, fear of getting a bad grade. I’m afraid of spiders (also known as arachnophobia). Spiders scutter, crawl and infest dark, damp cellars and other vulgar places. These eerie creatures spin, making their horrendous homes. They are thinking about where to put the sofa, which will later capture a mosquito.

When I’m hiking through the woods or jogging around the lake, I always run into a web. When you step through their masterpiece, tearing the whole thing apart, the sticky “string” encasing your face, they see you. They peer at you with hatred, saying, “If you’re not afraid of me now, I will make you afraid.” I scream when those gleaming, beady eyes stare at me, scream so hard that my eyes pop out of my head and my brain turns to dust. But even though I’m frightened, the dream of a spider not hurting me can overcome that fear.

Dreams are powerful. Dreams can overcome fears. Dreams of the impossible, a child’s dream of a job, such as being a firefighter or a policewoman. Mine is to be a doctor. I’ve had lots of injuries lately, so I’ve seen many doctors. One of those injuries was a broken bone. Some people think that’s cool, because you can write and draw on your cast. But I’m not even wearing a cast, just a splint, which stinks a lot (my family cringes and scrunches up their faces when I occasionally take it off). I can’t do some sports and other activities because I have to let it heal, and there’s a risk that I could break it again. After a while, a broken bone just gets boring: no basketball, no soccer, no biking, no anything (except for running, but no trail running).

Overall, I think that dreams and fears make up our personality, and without them, we would lose part of who we are.

— Parker Stiles, The Learning Community School, sixth grade

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Where am I from I am from the mountains of North Carolina. made from a beautiful mother and a hard-working father, an amazing little brother, a smart older brother that I look up to the most

I am I

when you’re haPPy and you know it: First-grader Lainey

K., Claxton Elementary School

I am I, an individual of humanity, working hard for my destiny, persevering for better grades hoping for even better days, helping friends in need, besting myself constantly, brother of a healthy sis’, father of future kids, a young man with strong ideals, one who can certainly deal, I am I

I am from the lovers of the outdoors and a strong grandfather and grandmother I am from a family that can really cheer people up when they are feeling down.

— Evelyn Gray Chisholm, Odyssey Community School

Who am I? Am I a reflection to the universe?

A copy or a mess up to the world?

Somebody else made just because?

Or am I a person created by the stars to face the earth?

Yup. —Sara Allen, fifth grade, Vance Elementary School

Quiet confidence: Hannah Snyder, Franklin School of Innovation

— Skyler Wren, eighth grade Evergreen Community Charter School

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

33

Boy and mountain: Leo Argueta,

Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School

faces of clay: Kiran, Sydney and Nikki F., Franklin School of Innovation

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Hard but worth it

eye on you: Vance Elementary School third-grader

Evan Anderson created a self-portrait aimed to be half-realistic, half-abstract at the Roots + Wings Community Design Lab at Vance Elementary School

Mr. K’s USED BOOKS, MUSIC AND MORE

At 1 in the morning I get a call from Erin and Todd. Their precious Jane’s breath is shallow, and she can’t get up. I clamber out of bed, my eyes still half-closed, weary but concerned about the fact that Jane might not live through the night. It’s my job to save her, and two hours later I drive away, my job complete. I’ve saved Jane the thoroughbred horse: Now all I have to do is be patient and wait for the medication to work.

I know that if I become a veterinarian, life will be hard, but it will be worth it, because I want to help people and animals.

First of all, I love animals, especially horses. I ride them often and am crazy about them. Where I ride horses, we only call the vet if we can’t cure the horse ourselves, but all the while the horse is waiting in pain; I hate to see animals in pain.

In my free time, I will train and ride horses. When I ride I feel centered, calm and carefree. The connection between the horse and me is unbreakable: They are loyal and lovable. If I’m away from my favorite horse for a long time, I feel unbalanced and discombobulated. If I didn’t ride, my life would be incomplete and worthless. Nothing can take the place of that love and connection.

Horses are hugely important to me and always will be. They make me happy: Just the thought of them puts a smile on my face. You don’t need words; you communicate by body language. To me, this is important. Every time I think something, it happens, though I don’t even really know I thought it. I am truly mesmerized.

— Johari Baschnagel, The Learning Community School, sixth grade

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

35

Imagine Imagine 30 years in the future. So many questions: Are there new forms of transportation? New kinds of technology? Are the Nazis back? Will I be famous?

You might ask all these things.

First, what do you want to do when you grow up?

I’ve always wanted to work with computers. I always ask myself, do I want to do computer science, computer engineering or software engineering? But I think I’m waaaaaaay too young to decide.

I also LOVE music. I play guitar, violin and piano.

I play music and listen to it. I love classic rock: My favorite artists are Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

I play with my dad, my brother and my friends (the ones who play guitar).

When my friend Jacob comes from Virginia, my brother and I play music with him. We already have a band: We call ourselves The Rolly Pollies. I know you’re probably thinking that’s a weird name, but we like it. In the band, I play guitar and keyboards, my brother plays bass, and Jacob plays lead guitar, but we switch off sometimes. And if I do get a degree in something with computers, recording music will be way easier.

What do you want your job to be? Just imagine it.

And if you keep imagining it, it might even become a reality. Imagining things just makes your life easier.

Follow your dreams.

— Riley Johnson, The Learning Community School, fifth grade

in the mind’s eye: Vance Elementary School kindergartner Evie McLean painted this self-portrait aimed at being half-realistic, half-abstract at the Roots + Wings Community Design Lab at Vance Elementary School

Kindred ribbons

taking flight: Vance Elementary School third-grader Aidan McGahey created this whimsical pencil drawing

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I’m about to introduce you to someone very special to me. I am very proud to call Alma Ruth Hagaman my great-grandmother. My whole family calls her Nanny. On July 14, Alma Ruth will be 90 years old.

She was born in 1926 in Forest Grove, N.C. She married my greatgrandfather, James Marsh, on June 15, 1945. My whole family and I called him De. Sadly, he died about a year and a half ago.

Just like me, Nanny’s favorite color is purple. She also played piano. Nanny had only one brother, who was 12 years older. His name was Rex Hagaman. “He was one of the best brothers: He always took care of me,” she says.

Unlike my great-grandmother, I have two stubborn older brothers, Ethan and Alec. I love them so much, and I hope they love me back.

Ethan, the oldest, plays basketball. Alec is the middle child; he plays soccer. I’m the youngest in my family, and I love to play volleyball, which is similar to pingpong (which Nanny was really good at when she was younger).

Nanny’s only living grandmother was Sarah Louise Moody, who Nanny says was “one of the best things in the world to me.” Sarah Louise lived with her. “She would let me sit in her lap and read to her in a rocking chair. She would do anything for me.”

My grandparents would also do anything for me. They support me in every way. When I was younger and went to their house more often, I would almost always sit in my grandaddy’s lap while watching TV. Being at their house was always a special time for us to bond.

Spending time at Nanny’s house was always special too. Whenever I went there, she would have these orange candies covered in sugar.

My family and I would just talk and have a good time. We may have some differences, but one thing I know is that she’s the most courageous person I will ever know.

— Olivia Stacey, The Learning Community School, sixth grade

the start of a Journey: Sydney Ella, Timbersong Academy

Ethiopia Last summer my grandma, my two moms and I went to Ethiopia for 10 days to see my biological parents. I was born in Ethiopia, but I was adopted when I was 12 months old. Here are some of the things I saw.

It was a 13-hour direct flight from Washington, D.C. On the flight we got our own personal TVs, socks and toothbrushes.

The food there is different: You use a spongy bread called injera to eat with instead of forks. Injera is made from a grain called teff that only grows in Ethiopia. You get to eat the plate, because plates are pretty much injera too! It’s made with so many different varieties of spices you could smell it from a mile away. Don’t get me started on taste, because their food is so good: boiled eggs mixed with beef sauce, and different kinds of lentils soaked with corn in sauces. There’s also a soft drink called Mirinda that tastes like Sunkist.

And the traffic, boy! There are scarcely any traffic lights. Mostly everybody drives motorcycles because they’re the cheapest.

There are also forests and desert areas with acacia trees. In the forest around one of the hotels we stayed in, hyenas howled until 11 o’clock. Now tell me that’s not cool! People in Ethiopia grow their own crops: They work more, and kids also work on farms.

We stayed in a hotel by a lake, and monkeys would come and steal your food if you left it unattended. My grandma was taking a nap, and when she woke up, there were monkeys in her room. When we were eating at another hotel, we got up to see a hyena that was walking by and the monkeys took most of our food from the table while we were gone. Another time while my grandma was talking to my mom at a different restaurant, a monkey took her food while her back was turned.

And there you go: an introduction to Ethiopia …

— Tad Sloan-Westmoreland, The Learning Community School, fifth grade

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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Zoo-mazing In the future, I see myself working with animals at a zoo, because I love animals and I’ve had a bunch of experience with birds, dogs and hamsters. All animals are soul-filling to me, no matter how slimy, how scary or how small. Animals are a decent part of my life, so I hope I can share my affection with them. If I get the opportunity to work with animals, I will be the happiest person in the world.

Sometimes when I’m sad, my dog comes up to me and makes me remember that I am loved.

How I’m going to get there is the part I need to focus on. It’s going to take a lot of work, but I’m willing to take that risk. I know that it’s a competitive field: You have to go to school to become a zookeeper, and it’s going to be hard to find a program.

I’ll probably have to start by hanging out with the easier animals. You need experience to get a full-time job, but you can get part-time experience somewhere first.

You have to clean the cages and the exhibits; you have to hose, shovel and rake.

— Jesse Smith, The Learning Community School, fourth grade

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dance + art = loVe: Olive D., Franklin School of Innovation

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

39

A collection of oddities

i loVe anime and manga:

Layke Concannon, North Buncombe Middle School

insPiration: Third-grader

William Sooey of Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School was inspired by Pablo Picasso to create his self-portrait

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I once read a book called Mosquitoland. The main character, Mary Iris Malone, likes to say she’s “a collection of oddities,” and she is. She goes by Mim, her initials, instead of her name. When she was little, there was a solar eclipse, and everyone said not to look at the sky. Instead, Mim closed one eye and looked at the eclipse with the other, so she’s blind in one eye. Mim knows what she is made of, but who she is and what she will be remains unknown. Like Mim, I don’t know everything about me. But I do know what I’m made of, and that’s what will make me who I become.

I am made of horses: countless hours spent riding them, training them and running alongside of them as small children bounce on their backs. I am made of worn and tattered friendship bracelets and the time spent making them with my closest friends. I am made of standing on the porch with my mother’s arm around me, watching a thunderstorm. I am made of a little red spot on my face, which someone once told me was a ruptured blood vessel: Someone else said I wouldn’t be me without it. I am made of laughing so hard with my cousins that I cry and hurt my stomach. I am made of sitting on my roof, under the overhang, watching the rain fall, watching the car headlights on Route 9, watching the birds in the trees, watching my dogs parade down the road, watching the world go by.

I am made of holding my younger brother in the big red recliner my mother used to rock us in. I am made of standing with my feet far apart and my arms crossed to make myself look bigger and feel less irrelevant. I am made of hot summer mornings spent rehabbing an injured horse. I am made of going to the Mellow Mushroom with my father and grandfather. I am made of an hourglass birthmark on my leg, a scar where I was pierced by a tree limb, a slight Southern drawl that is prominent in some words and nonexistent in others, fangs where dental crowding has caused me not to chew with my canines, and a miniature horse with an underbite that my father doesn’t know about.

Who am I? I don’t quite know yet. Who do I think I am? I could write forever.

But I think Mim says it best: I am a collection of oddities, and I will always be.

— Ella Davis, The Learning Community School, seventh grade

day and night: Vance Elementary

School fourth-grader Caleb Black painted this self-portrait meant to be half-realistic, half-abstract at the Roots + Wings Community Design Lab at Vance Elementary School

sun and shadow: Third-grader Camden Crook of Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School created his self-portrait in the style of Picasso

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The colors of happy I am the painter of Happy Traveling along life’s darkest street Listening for the beat Feeling hidden colors with my hands and feet I see beauty way beyond the dark Levitating within this concrete park Leaving my mark Playing tag with a can of paint My art is vibrant, I won’t settle for faint What you see as ugly, it truly ain’t finger painting or with a brush I make the concrete blush beauty awakened with my touch I love the power of yellow If you are down, or feeling mellow I just might be the right kinda fellow My flavors are sweeter than Jello

Within these hands I build a rainbow My tools, stardust and ultra glow From my bowl I pour happy on your soul Until your own light begins to show Watch me move quick, when others are slow Wrapping amazing with a golden bow Me and you Unconventional, freedom bound Our happy can astound What was lost it’s been refound Time to open these eyes Happy colors Look around — Jordan Levi, Asheville Middle School

I am I am a positive, patient, funny and stubborn 9-year-old big sister.

I like to cook dinner for my family, write poems for my friends, and draw and paint pictures for my grandparents.

I love to sit under a tree with a great book to read.

I hope that I always remember what it feels like to be a kid.

I imagine a world where people are treated with the same respect as others, no matter what they look like.

I believe that this world will one day have peace. �— Kafira Adam, Rainbow Community School

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41

Tackling challenges My best qualities are being optimistic and respectful, a good listener, being considerate, a hard worker, athletic and reasonable.

Being short is what makes me different. I’m also a baseball and soccer fanatic: I have a lot of knowledge about those sports.

One of the challenges I’ve had in life is learning guitar. It’s challenging, and strumming the right strings is sometimes hard for me. Another challenge was being in a commercial: It was hard because it was new for me, and with new things, you don’t know what to expect.

— Mason Eill, Odyssey Community School

I am I am the one who connects to the earth through her feet,

thought of as pretty when I feel sweaty and strong, beautiful on the inside.

Climbing trees before I knew how to speak.

I am the one who is individual, different from the rest,

I am the one who writes, spitting poems and creating worlds on paper, rhyming and alliterating my thoughts, slamming to myself when I’m alone.

I am the athletic muscle, thinner than a beanstalk,

When I am wandering the globe I will be the master of combining the cultures I meet into myself while staying unique.

— Bella Wells-Fried, Odyssey Community School

no rules: Fourth-grader David Rathbone, Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School

Normal/not normal Who am I? The quick answer is Bea Perez, the weirdest person you will ever meet. The long answer is...

I’m a 12-year-old girl who was adopted by two amazing dads and has a brother and a sister. I’m a girl who goes to an amazing school and has a wonderful education. I’m a girl who loves to dance and act, because that’s when I’m the happiest.

Some people say I have a perfect life! But really, I’m a normal girl who does normal things. Well, I am not totally normal. Being in a family with two dads can be hard. Like whenever I join a club outside of school, people say stuff like “Is your mom picking you up?” I just say, “No, my dad is picking me up.” That’s only one of my struggles.

Another thing I struggle with is being adopted. I always wonder who my mother and my father are and which one I look like. I know that I have other brothers and sisters, and I want to know about what they do. I just know that I will meet them someday, just not right now. Don’t get me wrong: I love my family and what I have in my life, but I want to know my real family tree. I just want to know!

I might have two dads; I might be adopted. I am different. All these things make me not normal, but I am normal in some ways, and that’s who I am.

— Bea Perez, The Learning Community School, sixth grade

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Where I am from I am from the Florida beaches I am from the stories that my dad has told The smell of the blowing dirt And the sound of the dolphin call I am from the smell of the kitchen pot the warmth of the living room fire the voice of my mother’s good night

I am from the soft feeling of the pansies’ petals I am from the feeling of the soft thread the warmth of the toasty fire the smell of the red roses the heat of the sun falling on me And that is where I am from

faVorite things: Emily Moss,

North Buncombe Middle School

— Inika Sonigra, Community School

I am I am funny and friendly I wonder how big the universe is I hear the trees I see the power of the ocean I want a baby dragon I am funny and friendly

self-Portrait with scarf: Anabelle Brice of North

I pretend to be a bird I feel the magic of the trees I touch moon beams I worry about the trees

I cry with the trees I am funny and friendly I understand the birds I believe in fairies I dream of dragons I try to be nice I hope dragons are real I am funny and friendly

two sides: First-grader Adelaide

Hume, Vance Elementary School

— Zosia Procyk, Odyssey Community School

Buncombe Middle School used pencil for her drawing

flower Power: Fourth-grader Kylie Davi of Sand Hill-Venable

Elementary School painted this watercolor in the style of North Carolina visionary artist Minnie Evans.

Bright eyes: Third-grader Soyeur Menser, Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School mountainx.com

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a little architect: Joe Hooten, Claxton Elementary School

Personality Portrait: Samantha White of North Buncombe Middle

School depicted some of her favorite — and meaningful — things

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community calendar march 16-24, 2016

Advanced Internet Marketing,” seminar.

• TH (3/17), 6-8pm - “Evaluating the Potential of Your Natural Products,” seminar.

• SA (3/19), 9am-noon - “SCORE: How to Find Your Customers,” seminar.r • SA (3/24), 6-9pm - “Increasing Cash Flow in Your Business,” seminar.

Calendar guidelines In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must benefit or be sponsored by a nonprofit or noncommercial community group. In the spirit of Xpress’ commitment to support the work of grassroots community organizations, we will also list events our staff consider to be of value or interest to the public, including local theater performances and art exhibits even if hosted by a forprofit group or business.

All events must cost no more than $40 to attend in order to qualify for free listings, with the one exception of events that benefit nonprofits. Commercial endeavors and promotional events do not qualify for free listings.

Free listings will be edited by Xpress staff to conform to our style guidelines and length. Free listings appear in the publication covering the date range in which the event occurs.

Events may be submitted via email to calendar@ mountainx.com or through our online submission form at mountainx.com/calendar. The deadline for free listings is the Wednesday one week prior to publication at 5 p.m.

For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 251-1333, ext. 320.

animals Blue ridge humane society 692-2639, blueridgehumane.org • WE (3/16), 6pm - “Pints for Pets night!” pet adoption event.

Free to attend. Held at Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave., Hendersonville • SATURDAYS, 10:30am - Yoga with cats. Proceeds benefit the Blue Ridge Humane society. Free Held at Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave., Hendersonville

Benefits color me goodwill fashion show tickets.colormegoodwill.org • FR (3/18), 6pm - Proceeds from this reception, live music event featuring the Sara Fields Trio and Goodwill Industries fashion show benefit goodwill industries. $15. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 2 S. Pack Square full circle farm sanctuary 367-1620, fcfsanctuary.org, kaylaw@fcfsanctuary.org

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g&w inVestment cluB klcount@aol.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 11:45am General meeting. Free to attend.

Held at Black Forest Restaurant, 2155 Hendersonville Road, Arden

celeBrating women’s history: “Our History Is Our Strength” is the theme of the Women’s History Month celebration at UNC Asheville. Throughout March, the school is hosting a variety of educational events, including a discussion about wage disparities for women, a feminist film festival, public lectures regarding feminist movements, a poetry slam with the theme “Word to Your Mother,” and an exhibition of the paintings of Sahar Fakhoury. For more information visit http://goo.gl/AXVvVq. Photo of Tangled by Sahar Fakhourty courtesy of UNC Asheville

• SU (3/20), 2-5pm - Proceeds from this vegan chili cook-off benefit Full circle Farm sanctuary. $15/$10 children. Held at Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave., Hendersonville morris hellenic cultural center 227 Cumberland Ave. • SU (3/20), 11am-2pm - Proceeds from the “Annual Palm Sunday Luncheon” sponsored by The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society benefit worldwide charities for children, the homeless and the hungry. A la carte pricing. st. Patrick’s day fundraiser celticsoulcraft.com/2016/02/24/ st-patricks-day-fundraiser-yourinvited • TH (3/17), 7-10pm - Proceeds from this silent auction, storytelling and live music event with Jim and Beth Magill benefit writer Jude lally’s pilgrimage & research tour for her upcoming book. $10.

Held at the Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism, 2 Westwood Place southern soul and rock

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and roll Benefit acsf.org • TH (3/17), 7pm - Proceeds from this live music sampler from Muscle Shoals benefit the asheville city schools Foundation music education programs. $8/Free for kids.

Held at Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern, 185 Clingman Ave. Voices in the laurel Bingo night fundraiser voicesinthelaurel.org • FR (3/18), 7pm - Proceeds from this bingo fundraiser benefit Voices in the laurel choir. Purchase tickets: 734-9163. $20 includes 20 games and refreshments. Held at Haywood County Fairgrounds, 758 Crabtree Road, Waynesville

Business & technology a-B tech small Business center 398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc Registration required. Free unless otherwise noted. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler, unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/16), 6-9pm - “SCORE:

lenoir-rhyne center for graduate studies 36 Montford Ave., 778-1874 • TU (3/22), 10am-2pm - Career fair bringing highly educated applicants with companies. Free. one million cuPs of coffee 1millioncups.com/asheville • WEDNESDAYS, 9am Presentations by local high-growth startup businesses for entrepreneurs.

Free. Held at RISC Networks, 81 Broadway Suite C wnc natural health & wellness meetup.com/WNC-Natural-HealthWellness • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 3pm Networking event for natural health & wellness practitioners. Free to attend. Held at Western North Carolina School of Massage, 131 McDowell St. Suite 302

classes, meetings & eVents hands on culinary classes at the farm (pd.) You want to, but you’re not sure how to go about cooking local, organic produce and meats. Chef Ferrari will awaken the Chef within you! The Farm, 215 Justice Ridge Road, Candler, NC 28715. 828-6670666. info@thefarmevents.com www.thefarmevents.com make your own ukrainian easter egg (pd.) Learn to make beautiful Ukrainian Easter eggs: Pysanky workshops in the River Arts District or your location. AshevilleStudioA. com • (828) 423-6459 • AvlStudioA@ gmail.com for signup + more info. sneeZing and wheeZing? (pd.) Got Allergies? Want an AllergyBusting, Hormone-Balancing, GutHealing, Anti-Inflammatory Detox with a side effect of Weight Loss?

Join the Essential Cleanse. 828-6201188, www.WhiteWillowWellness.com

asheVille art museum 2 N. Pack Square, 253-3227, ashevilleart.org • SA (3/19), 10:30-11:30am “More Than Math: Professional Development for Teachers,” seminar.

Registration required. Free. asheVille timeBank 348-0674, ashevilletimebank.org • TUESDAYS, 4-5:30pm Orientation session. Reservations required: help@ashevilletimebank. org or 348-4160. Free to attend.

Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road asheVille tool liBrary 133 Church St., ashevilletoollibrary.org • SU (3/20), noon-5pm - Tool donation drive. Tools in any working condition accepted. Free to attend.

Blue ridge toastmasters cluB blueridgetoastmasters.com/membersarea, fearless@blueridgetoastmasters.org • MONDAYS, 12:15-1:25pm - Public speaking and leadership group. Free.

Held at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies, 36 Montford Ave. BuncomBe county PuBlic liBraries buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library Free unless otherwise noted.

• TU (3/22), 2:30pm - Job Search Workshop with Goodwill Industries.

Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • 4th TUESDAYS, 6-8pm - “Sit-nStitch,” informal, self-guided gathering for knitters and crocheters. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. ethical humanist society of asheVille 687-7759, aeu.org • SU (3/20), 2pm - “Sustainability through Mindfulness” presentation by Sonia Marcus. Free. Held at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse, 227 Edgewood Road firestorm cafe and Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • SA (3/19), 6pm - “LGBT* in the South Party,” for Youth OutRight.

Free to attend.

• MO (3/21), 6pm - “Introduction to Formal Consensus,” workshop. $5-$20. friday staffing career fair Friday-Staffing.com • TH (3/17), 9-3pm - Manufacturing, warehouse and industrial career fair.

Free. Held at Friday Staffing, 1944 Hendersonville Road, Suite A leicester community center 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center

• 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - The Leicester History Gathering general meeting. Free. ontrack wnc Held at 50 S. French Broad Ave., unless otherwise noted.

255-5166, ontrackwnc.org Registration required. Free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/16), 9:30-11am “Understanding Reverse Mortgages,” seminar. Held at First Citizens Bank, 599 N. Main St., Hendersonville • TH (3/17), noon-1:30pm “Preventing Identity Theft,” seminar.

• FR (3/18), noon-1:30pm “Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it.” seminar.

• WE (3/23), 5:30-7pm “Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it.” Seminar.

• TH (3/24), 6-7:30pm “Understanding Credit,” seminar. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. reynolds/fairView scriBBle criBBage cluB • WEDNESDAYS, 12:30pm Scrabble and cribbage club. Free to attend. Held at Mountain Mojo Coffeehouse, 381 Old Charlotte Highway, Fairview showing uP for racial Justice showingupforracialjustice.org • TUESDAYS, noon-2pm - Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road unca Voluntary income tax assistance unca.edu • SATURDAYS until (4/2), 10:30am3pm - Income tax preparation for incomes under $54K. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. wnc Physicians for social resPonsiBility 633-0892, wncpsr.org, info@wncpsr.org • 3rd FRIDAYS, noon-2pm - Monthly meeting. BYO lunch. Free. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St.

dance studio Zahiya, downtown dance classes (pd.) Monday 5pm Ballet Wkt 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 7pm Bellydance Drills 7:30pm Bellydance 8pm Tap • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 8pm Bellydance 8pm Hip Hop Choreo 2 • Wednesday 9am Latin Wkt 5:30pm Hip Hop Wkt 6:30 Bhangra 8pm Contemporary •

Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wrkt 4pm Kid’s Dance 5pm Teens Hip Hop 7pm West African 8pm West African 2 • Saturday 9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 10:45am POUND Wkt • Sunday 3pm Tap 2 • $13 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $5. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595 asheVille moVement collectiVe ashevillemovementcollective.org • FRIDAYS, 7:30-8:30pm - Noninstructional, free-form dance within community. $8-$20. Held at NYS3, 2002 Riverside Drive, Studio 42-O • SUNDAYS, 9am & 11am- Noninstructional, free-form dance within community. $8-$20. Held at Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway Joyful noise 649-2828, joyfulnoisecenter.org Held at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Ave., Weaverville • MONDAYS, 7:30-8:15pm Intermediate/Advanced clogging class. Ages 7 through adult. $10 • MONDAYS, 6:45-7:30pm Beginner clogging class. Ages 7 through adult. $10. southern lights sQuare and round dance cluB 697-7732, southernlights.org • SA (3/19), 6pm - “Spring is in the Air,” themed dance. Free. Held at Whitmire Activity Center, 310 Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville swing asheVille swingasheville.com • THURSDAYS, 7:30pm - Beginner & intermediate swing dance lessons. 8:30-11pm - Open dance.

Live music regularly. $7/$5 members. Held at Club Eleven on Grove, 11 Grove St.

food & Beer downtown welcome taBle haywoodstreet.org/2010/07/ the-welcome-table • SUNDAYS, 4:30pm - Community meal. Free. Held at Haywood Street Congregation, 297 Haywood St. fairView welcome taBle fairviewwelcometable.com • THURSDAYS, 11:30am-1pm Community lunch. Admission by donation. Held at Fairview Christian Fellowship, 596 Old Us Highway 74, Fairview leicester community center 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center • WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm -

Welcome Table meal. Free.liVing weB farms 891-4497, livingwebfarms.org • TH (3/24), 6pm - “Soups and Small Plates for Spring: Cooking Class.” $10. Held at French Broad goVernment & Politics Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. BuncomBe county Parks and recreation • WE (3/16), 5:30-7:30pm - Public informational meeting regarding the Beaucatcher Greenway. Free.

Held at Pack Memorial Library, Lord Auditorium, 67 Haywood St. • TH (3/24), 4-7pm - Public information session regarding sections of the Bent Creek Corridor Greenway.

Free. Held at the WNC Farmers’ Market, 570 Brevard Road city of asheVille 251-1122, ashevillenc.gov • TU (3/22), 5pm - City council meeting. Free. Held at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza henderson county democratic Party 905 S. Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, 692-6424, myhcdp.com • WE (3/16), noon - Senior democrats meeting. Bring your own lunch. Free. senator terry Van duyn votevanduyn.com • SA (3/19), 11am-noon - Coffee shop chat with constituents. Free to attend. Held at Dobra Tea Room Black Mountain, 120 Broadway St., Black Mountain

kids anam cara theatre 545-3861, anamcaratheatre.com • TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 10-noon - Tiny Tots Circus Playtime with aerials, clowning, balance and acrobatics. Children up to 6 years old. $5. Held at Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road Suite B attic salt theatre comPany 505-2926 • SATURDAYS through (3/19), 10am - Tale of the Pig. $5. Held at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St. BuncomBe county PuBlic liBraries buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library Free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/16), 3:30pm - “Makers and Shakers: I Totally Built That,” 3D puzzle making for kids ages 5 and up. Registration required: 250-4720. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • TH (3/17), 4-5pm - “Become an

ecoEXPLORER,” co-sponsored by the NC Arboretum with activities related to botany for kids.

Recommended for ages 8-13. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • FR (3/18), 4-5:30pm - “Teen Awesome Group,” for grades 6 and up. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • FR (3/18), 4pm - Game day for kids of all ages. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain flat rock Playhouse downtown 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville, 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (3/20) - James and the Giant Peach, Jr.. Fri. & Sat.: 7pm. Sat. & Sun.: 7pm. $18/$10 students. fletcher liBrary 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 6871218, library.hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am - Family story time. Free. fletcher Parks and recreation 687-0751, fletcherparks.org • SA (3/19), 10:30am - Easter egg hunt, parade and kid’s activities.

Egg hunt begins at noon. Free.

Held at Fletcher Community Park, 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher free Photos with the easter Bunny www.theportraitstudioasheville. com andwww.facebook.com/ ThePortraitStudioAsheville/ • SU (3/20), 11 am - 2pm The Portrait Studio of Asheville is celebrating its recent grand opening by inviting community members for free professional portraits with the Easter bunny. This event is completely complimentary and guests will receive two free digital portraits. The studio offers highquality portraits and personalized gifts at affordable prices for holidays, maternity, baby, child, family, graduation, wedding and engagement. hands on! a children’s gallery 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 697-8333 • TH (3/17) - St. Patrick’s Day treasure hunt. $5.

• THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS through (3/31), 2-5pm - “Makerspace,” using toys to design and build bridges. $5.

• TU (3/22) through FR (3/25) - Nano Days with science demonstrations and experiments focused on nano sized science. $5 admission/Free for members.

NEW 500 Hour Massage Certification Program 11 Month Weekend Program Discounts available SIGN UP NOW! Check website for info or Call

AshevilleMassageSchool.org • 828-252-7377 mountainx.com

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c o n s c i o u s Pa r t y Staff

world water day celeBration and Benefit

ProViding safe water: “Water resources, and the range of services they provide, underpin poverty reduction, economic growth and environmental sustainability.

From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions,” says SAFE Water Now director Tracy Kahn Hawkins. This girl has access to safe water at the SAFE Water Now factory in Tanzania. Photo courtesy of SAFE Water Now. what: An event celebrating World Water Day and benefitting SAFE Water Now when: Tuesday, March 22, 5-10 p.m. where: Avenue M why: In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as the first World Water Day. It is set aside as a day to celebrate water, to learn about water management and to make a difference for those who suffer from water-related issues.

Avenue M is hosting a World Water Day celebration where patrons will have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to SAFE Water Now — a nonprofit that is dedicated to saving lives through accessible water filtration and education.

Recently awarded the Energy Globe World Award for sustainable development in water, SAFE Water Now has developed a program and a filtration product that is saving lives for $1 per person per year. nicole siegel of Avenue M says, “We are thrilled to host the event for World Water Day, support SAFE Water Now and promote awareness of the international water crisis.” tracy Kahn hawkins, the director of SAFE Water Now, has been working for 10 years to bring safe water to

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the people of East Africa. An Asheville native, she combined her skills as an industrial engineer and as a hobby potter to lead the development and manufacturing of a ceramic pot filter for filtering water. The filter cleans the microbiological pathogens from the water at a rate of 99.99 percent, lasts five years and costs only $40.

“Many people in East Africa can afford to purchase our product and do, but there is a population who needs our help, and it is our responsibility to help our global neighbor achieve the human right and dignity of having access to safe water and sanitation. Our product begins the process of breaking the cycle of poverty,” says tracy.

The organization hopes that the event will offer an opportunity for teachers and families to connect their students and children to water while also raising funds to support the project. Donations at the event will go directly to SAFE Water Now and Avenue M will be donating 5% of all food sales to benefit the group. The goal of the evening is to fund at least 10 filters to supply safe water for a Tanzanian orphanage that cares for 80 children.

For more information visit safewaternow.org or avenuemavl.com. X

c ommu n it y ca l e n d ar

hendersonVille sister cities hendersonvillesistercities.org • Through FR (4/15) - Submissions of artwork, essays, poems, short films, and/or photography inspired by the theme “Peace through People” are accepted from students at Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County and in schools throughout Henderson County.

See website for full guidelines: sistercities.org/YAAS. Free/$25 for film entries.

Jewish community center 236 Charlotte St., 253-0701, jcc-asheville.org • SU (3/20), 10am-2:30pm - Familyfriendly Purim carnival with spin art, games, inflatables and costume contest. Free.

Joyful noise 649-2828, joyfulnoisecenter.org • MONDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Capriccio String Orchestra for intermediate players. $10. Held at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road • MONDAYS, 6:15-6:45pm “Movement and Dance,” class for 5 and 6 year olds. $10. Held at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Ave., Weaverville n.c. arBoretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 665-2492, ncarboretum.org • MONDAYS & TUESDAYS through (5/24), 10-11:30am - Wee Naturalists program for ages 2-5 with crafts, exploration, stories.

Registration recommended. $7 per child/$3 per additional child/ Parking fees apply. sPellBound children’s BookshoP 640 Merrimon Ave. #204, 7087570, spellboundchildrensbookshop.com • FR (3/18), 6pm - Teen Book Club: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. Free to attend.

• SATURDAYS, 11am - Storytime for ages 3-7. Free to attend. wnc historical association wnchistory.org • Through TH (3/17) - Open registration for the Crafty Historian “Spring Celebration,” event taking place on SA (3/19) from 10:30-12:30am. $7. Held at SmithMcDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road

outdoors downtown BreVard tree walk tnaturaly@comporium.net • FR (3/18), 5:30pm - Tree identification walk. Free. Meets at the corner of Main & Caldwell Streets,

by Abigail Griffin

Brevard foothills conserVancy of north carolina 437-9930, foothillsconservancy.org • SU (3/20), 10:30am-1:30pm Guided strenuous hike in the South Mountains. Register for location: 437-9930. Free. holmes educational state forest 1299 Crab Creek Road, Hendersonville, 692-0100 • SA (3/19), 1-3pm - Guided two-hour spring wildflower hike.

Registration required: 692-0100.

Free. lake James state Park 6883 N.C. Highway 126, Nebo, 584-7728. Programs are free unless otherwise noted.

• FR (3/18), 9:45am - “Walking the Wetlands,” ranger led walk and presentation.

• FR (3/18), 9:45am - “Walking the Wetlands,” ranger led walk through wetlands. Registration required.

• SA (3/19), 10am - “Return to Long Arm Cemetery,” ranger led hike in the historic cemetery.

Registration required.

Pisgah astronomical research institute 1 PARI Drive Rosman, 862-5554, pari.edu • FR (3/18), 7:30-9:30pm Observation session of the night sky. $15/Free for children under 11. ymca of wnc 210-2265, ymcawnc.org • WE (3/23), 8:45am - 4 mile easy hike at the Jackson Park Nature Trail and Oklawaha Greenway along the Mud Creek in Hendersonville. Registration: 6580047. Free/$3 optional carpool fee. Held at YMCA - Woodfin, 30 Woodfin St.

Parenting franklin school of innoVation 21 Innovation Drive, 318-8140, franklinschoolofinnovation.org • TH (3/17), 5:30pm - Tour and information meeting. Free.

Verner center for early learning 2586 Riceville Road • Through MO (4/18) - Open registration for parenting workshop for parents and caregivers who are military veterans and/or family members of veterans. Classes take place TUESDAYS (4/19) through (5/10), 5:30-7pm. Free. youth outright 772-1912, youthoutright.org • 3rd SATURDAYS, 11am - Middle school discussion group. Free. Held at First Congregational UCC of

Asheville, 20 Oak St.

PuBlic lectures firestorm cafe and Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 Free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/23), 8pm - “Earth Liberation Not Mass Incarceration,” presentation by Panagiotis Tsolkas of the Prison Ecology Project.

• TH (3/24), 3pm - Presentation by Iyad Burnat, Palestinian activist. historic Johnson farm 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, 891-6585, historicjohnsonfarm.org • TH (3/17), 11:30am-12:30pm Lunch N Learn Series: “A History of Legos,” presentation by local artist Phoebe Blackwell. Bring your own lunch. Reservations required: 891-6585. $5.

PuBlic lectures at unca unca.edu Free unless otherwise noted.

• TH (3/17), 6-7:30pm - “I, Too, Am Feminism: Conversation on Intersectionality in Feminist Movements,” student-led panel discussion. Held in Highsmith Union room 221.

• TU (3/22), 7pm - “Passion,” a talk by philosopher Alphonso Lingis.

Held in the Humanities Lecture Hall.

• WE (3/23), 7:30pm - “Cleopatra: An Archaeological Perspective on Egypt’s Last Pharaoh,” lecture

by John Hale. Held in the Sherrill Center.

• TH (3/24), 7-8pm - “God Is on Our Side: The Sanctification of Civil Rights in the United States,” lecture

by Dr. Jane Dailey. Held in Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum.

PuBlic lectures at warren wilson 800-934-3536, warren-wilson.edu • TH (3/24), 6pm - Public lecture

by Iyad Burnat, Palestinian activist.

Free. Held in the Canon Lounge of Glatfelter Hall.

PuBlic lectures at wcu wcu.edu • WE (3/16), 3pm - Presentations by both the founder and outreach coordinator of BANGS shoes and their support of startups.

Free. Held in the Hinds University Theater.

seniors haywood regional medical center 456-7311, haymed.org • TU (3/22), 1-4pm - Advance directives workshop. Free. Held at Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville

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com m u n i ty ca len da r

leicester community center 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook. com/Leicester.Community.Center • MONDAYS, 4:30pm - Christian based yoga for seniors. Free.

sPirituality asheVille insight meditation (pd.) Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation. Learn how to get a Mindfulness Meditation practice started. 1st & 3rd Mondays. 7pm – 8:30. Asheville Insight Meditation, 29 Ravenscroft Dr, Suite 200, (828) 808-4444, www.ashevillemeditation.com. astro-counseling (pd.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions.

Readings also available. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229. oPen heart meditation (pd.) Experience and deepen the spiritual connection to your heart, the beauty and deep peace of the Divine within you.

Increase your natural joy and gratitude while releasing negative emotions. Love Offering 7-8pm Tuesdays, 5 Covington St. 296-0017 OpenHeartMeditation.com. asheVille center for transcendental meditation 165 E. Chestnut, 254-4350, meditationasheville.org • THURSDAYS, 6:30-7:30pm - Introductory talk on the Transcendental Meditation technique. Online registration. Free to attend. asheVille north seVenthday adVentist church 364 Broadway St., 281-0410 • MO (3/21) through SA (3/26), 6:30pm - “The Last Day of Prophecy: Discover the Rest of the Story,” dinner and broadcast series. Free. asheVille sound healing 776-3786, ashevillesoundhealing. com, info@ashevillesoundhealing.com • SATURDAYS, 11am & SUNDAYS, noon - Healing concert with crystal bowls, gongs and chanting. Free to attend. Held at Skinny Beats Drum Shop and Gallery, 4 Eagle St. center for art & sPirit at st. george 1 School Road, 258-0211 • WEDNESDAYS, 3:30pm & 6:30pm - Sitting meditation and daily mindfulness practice.

Info: kenlenington@gmail.com.

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

mountainx.com

by Abigail Griffin

Admission by donation.

• FR (3/18), 6-9pm & SA (3/19), 9am-noon - Spring Equinox labyrinth walk. $10. central united methodist church 27 Church St., 253-3316, centralumc.org • WEDNESDAYS through (4/27), 6-7pm - Christian yoga and meditation series. Free. cloud cottage community of mindful liVing 219 Old Toll Circle, Black Mountain, 669-6000, cloudcottage.org • 2nd & 4th TUESDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Mindfulness training class.

Admission by donation.first congregational ucc of hendersonVille 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville, 692-8630, fcchendersonville.org • FRIDAYS through (4/1), 10am “Great World Religions,” lectures teaching about Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. Free. grace lutheran church 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville, 693-4890, gracelutherannc.com • WEDNESDAYS through (3/16), 4:45-5:30pm - Lenten supper with soup, salad and desert. Followed by worship service at 6pm. $5/$3 children under 12.

• WE (3/16), 6pm - Taizé Service of Prayer for Healing of the Nations. Free.

• THURSDAYS through (3/17), 10-11:30am - “Hymns for the Season of Lent,” study series. Free. great tree Zen temPle 679 Lower Flat Creek, Alexander, 645-2085, greattreetemple.org • TH (3/17), 5-8pm - Zen lecture by Rev. Shuichi Tom Kurai founder of Taiko Center of LA. Free. mountain Zen Practice center mountainzen.org • TUESDAYS, 7:15-8:45pm - “Zen Awareness Practice,” weekly meditation followed by group discussion focused on selected readings of Cheri Huber. Orientation required, contact for details: mountainzen@ bellsouth.net. Free. nourish & flourish 347 Depot St., 255-2770, nourishflourishnow.com • TUESDAYS, 7:30pm - Kirtan with Sangita Devi. $10-$15. om sanctuary 87 Richmond Hill Drive, 505-2300 • SATURDAYS, 11am-noon Meditation session. Admission by donation.

Prama yoga and meditation 712-9326

• TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm - All levels yoga and meditation class.

Proceeds benefit the Women’s Welfare and Development Foundation. Registration required. $5. Held at Asheville Therapeutic Yoga, 29 Ravenscroft shamBhala meditation center 60 N Merrimon Ave. #113, 2005120, asheville.shambhala.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10-midnight, THURSDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 10-noon - Meditation and community. Admission by donation. st. mark’s lutheran church 10 North Liberty St., 253-0043 • WEDNESDAYS through (3/16), 6pm - Lenten soup and sandwich supper. Followed by service at 7pm. Free. the namaste center Flat Rock Square 2700 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 561-386-5963 • SA (3/19), 3pm - Movie matinee and honey tasting with Roger Bass. $5. ur light center 2196 N.C. Highway 9, Black Mountain, 669-6845, urlight.org • SU (3/20), 3-5pm - Spring Equinox concert and meditation with pianist Richard Schulman. $20/$15 advance.

sPoken & written word asheVille storytelling circle 274-1123, ashevillestorycircle.org • 3rd MONDAYS, 7-9pm - Meets at Asheville Terrace, 200 Tunnel Road.

Free.

Black Box storytelling theater 808-1150, davidjoemiller.com • WE (3/16), 7pm - “Word,” spoken word event with guests Raymond Christian, Steve Shell, and Rhoda Weaver. $12/$10 advance. Held at Buffalo Nickel, 747 Haywood Road Blue ridge Books 152 S. Main St., Waynesville • 1st & 3rd SATURDAYS, 10am Banned Book Club. Free to attend.

BuncomBe county PuBlic liBraries buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library Free unless otherwise noted.

• TH (3/17), 2:30pm - Skyland Book Club: The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. Held at Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • SA (3/19), 10am-3pm - Friends

H u moR Volunteering

of the Library book sale. Free to attend. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

Through War and Peace.

ccc&ti watauga camPus 372 Community College Drive, Boone, 297-3811 • TU (3/22), 5:30pm - Branches, literary arts magazine reception and reading. Free. Held in the Occupational Training Facility.

Gospel, and Erica Wright presents

Big Brothers Big sisters of wnc

her book, The Granite Moth.

253-1470, bbbswnc.org

• FR (3/18), 4-6:30pm - Mike

people from single-parent homes

firestorm cafe and Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 Free unless otherwise noted.

• Third WEDNESDAYS, 7pm ReVisioning History Book Group.

• SU (3/20), 5pm - Nelda Holder presents her new book, The Thirteenth Juror.

Krecioch presents his book Convict

twice a month and for those inter-

Lake: Behind the Badge. Free to

ested in mentoring elementary

attend.

school students 1-hour per week

great tree Zen temPle 679 Lower Flat Creek, Alexander, 645-2085, greattreetemple.org • MO (3/21), 2-4pm - Writing gathering to build insight and generate fresh work led by poet Laura Hope Gill. Free.

Poetry’s Empathic Urge,” poetry

malaProP’s Bookstore and cafe 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com Free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/16), 7pm - Melissa Burch presents her memoir, My Journey

• TH (3/17), 7pm - Dana Carpenter presents her book Bohemian

metro wines 169 Charlotte St., 575-9525, facebook.com/MetroWinesAsheville

PuBlic eVents at unca unca.edu • TH (3/24), noon - “We Are Each Other’s Magnitude and Bond: readings by poet Sharon Strange.

Presentation and workshop at 3:30pm. Held in Karpen Hall Laurel Forum.

sPorts

• TH (3/24), noon - Information session for those interested in volunteering to work with young

after school. Free. Held at United Way of Asheville & Buncombe, 50 S. French Broad Ave. homeward Bound of wnc 218 Patton Ave., 258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • 3rd THURSDAYS, 11am “Welcome Home Tour,” tours of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population.

Registration required. Free to attend.

us cellular center 87 Haywood St.

For more volunteering opportuni-

• WE (3/23), 7pm - The Harlem

ties visit mountainx.com/volun-

Globetrotters. $21.50 and up.

teering

FREE FOOD & BEER ($10 SUGGESTED DONATION FOR OUR VETS)

BIKE GAMES (SLOW RIDE & WEENIE RIDE) LIVE AUCTION & PRIZES

LIVE MUSIC BY WYSE GUYS Wednesday 3/30 6 pm

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

51

wellness

Body of knowledge

Transgender health care program breaks down barriers Against that backdrop, WNCCHS’ transgender health program fits right in — and it evolved naturally from the nonprofit’s core services. Back in 2007, “It started very quietly, partly because it’s Asheville, with a very diverse community,” says Parker. Patients “came to us, looking for culturally competent care.” Word spread, and more patients came. The center now sees about 200 transgender clients a year from an 18-county swath of Western North Carolina, he reports, and the need continues to grow.

A recent $10,000 grant from the Campaign for Southern Equality, another Asheville-based nonprofit, will help provide much-needed support for transgender health services. At last year’s “LGBT in the South” conference, notes the Rev. jasmine beach-ferrara, the campaign’s executive director, some of the best-attended workshops focused on transgender health and legal issues. This year’s event, slated for March 18-20, is sold out, with more than 600 attendees registered.

Beach-Ferrara expects to see a wide variety of people, including representatives of grassroots groups and health care providers.

BY maRgaRet williams mvwilliams@mountainx.com When I was 3 or 4 years old, I stood beside a long table where family members had gathered to eat, talk and share stories.

“I want to be a boy,” I said, to no one in particular.

Everyone laughed, from my grandmother to my uncles. I never repeated the notion, though more than three decades later, I did come out as a lesbian, staking my claim to the first letter in the acronym LGBT. But what if my desire hadn’t stayed quiet? What if the conviction had persisted that my body didn’t match my true gender? And what if I were living in Western North Carolina, perhaps in a city and county where health providers wouldn’t or couldn’t take me as a patient, or where I feared losing my job or worried about my personal safety? What if I were uninsured or between jobs?

Like hundreds of other mountain residents each year, I would make my way to the Minnie Jones Health Center in downtown Asheville, run by Western North Carolina Community Health Services.

The parking lot is almost always overflowing. Founded in the mid1990s, the nonprofit center handles more than 60,000 appointments for some 15,000 patients each year.

Most are low-income and lack adequate (or any) health insurance.

As one of North Carolina’s 38 federally qualified community health centers — a national program launched in the 1960s — WNCCHS specializes in caring for the area’s underserved populations.

In the waiting room, the patients are young, old, Latino, white, African-American, transgender, straight and everything in between.

The staff’s diversity mirrors that of the clients: In fact, it’s not uncommon for former patients to go to work for WNCCHS, which locals pronounce as “winches.”

And despite the prevalence of sick people needing care, the mood is friendly and lighthearted.

Staffers talk to patients as if greet-

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healthy PartnershiPs: “It’s been a long, wonderful journey,” says Zoë Hadley, noting that Dr. Jennifer Abbott, left, and other staff at WNCCHS “really care for people, and you can feel it.” Abbott is director of WNCCHS’ transgender health program.

Photo by Emily Nichols ing old friends. An elderly patient makes happy faces with a toddler who’s resting her head on her mother’s shoulder. When a child runs, giggling, down a side hall, a staffer laughs and calls out, “Got another one on the loose!” The child is gently steered back to her parents.

“It’s about basic respect for people,” says scott parker, the nonprofit’s director of development. “Meet everybody where they are and ask what they need.” Acceptance, inclusivity, accessibility, affordability — “Those are all key to serving any population,” he maintains.

WNCCHS is a one-stop health center where patients can get most of what they need under one roof, says

mountainx.com

niconda garcia, an Asheville native who is WNCCHS’ director of patient support. That includes primary, pediatric and family care; dental services; an in-house pharmacy; HIV-AIDS care; behavioral health services; plus connections to specialists, social workers and other local agencies.

“Being able to do things in one location helps keep patients engaged,” she explains. A single mom with no car might not seek or stay in treatment if the center couldn’t accommodate kids or combine visits to minimize trips to the center. And an integrated approach “helps providers, too, because they can work with a team, with people with different skills and knowledge.”

a long Journey Zoë love hadley and I sit down for coffee at BattleCat in West Asheville. We’re close in age, two women in their mid-50s. She’s tall, her dusky blond hair long, her arms slender and slightly freckled. She’s got 23 tattoos, including one of a mermaid surfing the waves.

“That’s me,” says Hadley, a Florida native who came to the mountains in the late 1990s. Each tattoo tells part of her spiritual journey, she explains, particularly her search for the divine feminine. A wolf tattoo on her back represents such aspects as a strong attachment to, and willingness to defend, friends and family. The wolf “is one of my spirit guides,” says Hadley.

Born male, she always knew she was “different” and, really, female.

“But for a long time, I swallowed who I was,” says Hadley. “I didn’t understand.” She took “masculine”

jobs, such as operating heavy equipment, fighting fires, doing plumbing and construction work. Trying to fill the role of a traditional, heterosexual man, Hadley married, twice.

“But I looked in the mirror and I didn’t know who I was,” she recalls.

Her decadeslong journey included problems with alcohol and other drugs, as well as thoughts of suicide. “Just before I moved up here, I said to myself, ‘I’ve got to change.’

And the first step was learning to love myself.”

In Asheville and sober, Hadley says she felt free to explore her feminine side and to become the woman she had long felt she was. Five years ago, she started hormone treatment.

Three years ago, she made Zoë Love Hadley her legal name and changed the gender marker on her driver’s license. “I could be who I wanted to be, so I gave birth to Zoë Love.” Her adopted first name means “life,” she says.

Hadley feels the language for addressing gender needs to continue evolving. And while she understands that she may make some people uncomfortable, “I honor that, but I’d like their respect.”

Still, she observes, “It’s been a long, wonderful journey,” and WNCCHS has been an integral part of it. “They’re so accepting, down-toearth. They reach out and they care for you — gay, straight, whatever.”

More specifically, continues Hadley, WNCCHS staffers make every effort to provide “culturally competent” care. Among other things, that means understanding that a woman like her may have a unique mix of health needs: She hasn’t fully transitioned, so in addition to hormone therapy, Hadley might need help with male health problems, such as prostate cancer.

“I’ve got high blood pressure and arthritis,” she reveals. But WNCCHS staffers “really care for people, and you can feel it.” denied care In a 2010 study by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 19 percent of respondents reported having been refused care because they were transgender, and more than 40 percent said they’d attempted suicide, notes Dr. jennifer abbott, the director of WNCCHS’ transgender health program.

Those statistics mirror what she’s heard from patient after patient.

“They’ll tell me, ‘I’ve called around to 15 different practices and been denied care,’” says Abbott. “That’s just completely wrong.”

Part of the problem, she notes, stems from providers’ basic lack of knowledge. Early on in Abbott’s tenure with WNCCHS, a co-worker asked her to see a transgender patient who needed hormone therapy. Abbott had to admit that she lacked the requisite knowledge and experience. “But I couldn’t say no.” Instead she told the patient, “If you’re willing to meet with me and teach me, I’m willing to try.”

The client shared information on standards of care and guidelines for treating transgender patients.

In fact, in the 2010 survey, 50 percent of the respondents said they’d had to teach their providers, says Abbott. “Until recently, there’s been little or no training for doctors or other health providers for medical care for LGBT patients.” And eight years later, she’s still “very grateful to that patient who was willing to teach me.”

More patients followed. “There’s so much demand in WNC for transgender care and other gender-nonconforming patients,” says Abbott.

Facebook, she points out, permits nearly 60 different gender choices.

“Understanding that spectrum is part of cultural competency.”

One of the first guidelines calls for using the patient’s preferred name and gender, even when these differ from the legal names on medical records. “If a patient is called by a name or pronoun that doesn’t match their gender presentation, they may not respond or may leave the office, because that’s effectively outed them. It’s humiliating and makes them not want to be there,” Abbott explains.

Thanks to that same sensitivity, as well as WNCCHS’ underlying social justice mission, the staff is, very intentionally, a diverse one, both culturally and in terms of gender.

A transgender staffer, for example, helps patients navigate medical and community services.

“We have several nongender-specific bathrooms, too, which is especially helpful for someone who’s very early in their transition or nonbinary — those who don’t present as either male or female,” says Abbott.

03/28/16

$6400 Classes Start May 31st– Downtown Asheville April 9th

continues on page 54 mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

53

welln ess all in the family

Andrew & JulieAnn Nugent-Head Bring to Asheville 30+ Years Experience in China “I highly recommend the Alternative Clinic.

The incredible knowledge, sincere dedication, and individualized treatments have been the most effective of any doctor I have worked with” Emily A.

For very practical reasons, Abbott hopes such gender awareness will become more widespread. If a college transcript uses a prior name or gender, for example, a transgender person might have trouble getting a job or getting into graduate school. Or a homeless transgender person could have trouble finding a place to live. “It’s important that we try to get everyone on the same page,” she points out.

Meanwhile, outside Asheville, transgender people still confront a far greater social stigma. And if they have trouble getting care, says Garcia, “Will they be one of those who drop out of care or become one of those 41 percent who attempt suicide?”

Those concerns highlight the need for the services WNCCHS provides, BeachFerrara maintains, noting, “There’s no program like it in the Southeast.”

wellness asheVille too far or crowded for you? (pd.) Reiki Master with 35 years’ experience including four other healing modalities. Release physical and emotional pain. Call 843593-1953 for appointment. Lake Lure area. cancer Patients desired for free healing work (pd.) SA & SU (3/19 - 3/20) 9am3pm both days. Cancer patients needed as clients for advanced hands-on healing students.

Earth-based healing school. Free.

Interested parties contact registrar@wildernessFusion.com. Black Mountain, NC. (828) 785-4311, wildernessFusion.com. asheVille community yoga center 8 Brookdale Road, ashevillecommunityyoga.com • SA (3/19), 12:30-2:30pm “Embracing Motherhood with Amber,” workshop. $20.

• SU (3/20), 12:30-2:30pm - “Yoga for a Healthy Pelvis,” workshop. $20.

BuncomBe county PuBlic liBraries buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library Free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (3/16), 11:30am - “Laughter Yoga,” yoga class for adults. Held at Swannanoa Library, 101 West Charleston St., Swannanoa • WE (3/16), 6pm- “Take Charge of Your Health,” presentation about integrative and functional medicine. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave.

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

mountainx.com

In fact, there are few such programs in the entire United States, particularly in rural areas. “The need is real, and what WNCCHS does is remarkable,” she says. So raising $10,000 for the health center’s transgender program dovetailed nicely with Southern Equality’s overall mission and increased focus on “full equality and dignity and respect for transgender people,” Beach-Ferrara explains, adding, “WNCCHS is a warm and welcoming place, and its transgender program is a model of care.”

Parker acknowledges the compliment but says the health center rarely toots its own horn, preferring to continue quietly serving its community. We all have bodies, he says. “It’s basic biology.”

Abbott agrees. “Transgender health care is not specialty care: It is primary care. And appropriate care should be accessible to all people. That’s what family medicine is all about.” X

council on aging of BuncomBe county 277-8288, coabc.org • WE (3/16), 2-4pm - “Medicare Choices Made Easy,” information session. Registration: 277-8288 ext. 310. Held at Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • FR (3/18), 2-4pm - “Medicare Choices Made Easy,” information session. Registration: 277-8288 ext. 310. Held at Goodwill, 1616 Patton Ave. • TH (3/24), 2-4pm - “Medicare Choices Made Easy,” information session. Registration: 2778288 ext. 310. Held at Pardee Signature Center, 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., Hendersonville firestorm cafe and Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • TH (3/24), 6:30pm Transcendance: Meditation for queer/trans community. Free to attend. focus on flexiBility 299-4844 • TUESDAYS, 2:15-3:15pm - Gentle exercise class with focus on flexibility, balance, body alignment and breathing. Includes standing, floor and chair exercises. Free. Held at Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road haywood regional health and fitness center 75 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, 452-8080, haymed.org • Through MO (3/28) - Open registration for the Freedom from Smoking Group Clinic that runs (3/29) through (5/10).

Registration: myhaywoodregional. com/iquit. $25. haywood regional medical center 262 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, 456-7311 • TH (3/17), 6pm - Dinner with a Doc: “Colon Cancer – Prevention and Screening,” dinner with and presentation by a gastroenterologist. Registration required: 4243627. Free.

• TH (3/24), 4-5pm - Tired leg and varicose vein educational program. Registration required: 452-8346. Free. leicester community center 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook. com/Leicester.Community.Center • MONDAYS, 6pm - Christian based yoga. Free. red cross Blood driVes redcrosswnc.org Appointment and ID required.

• TH (3/17), 10am-2:30pm Appointments & info.: 1-800-REDCROSS. Held at South College, 140 Sweeten Creek Road • SA (3/19), 9am-5pm - Appointments & info: 1-800-RED-CROSS. Held at WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road • MO (3/21), 10am-2:30pm Appointments & info.: 1-800-REDCROSS. Held at Asheville Christian Academy, 74 Riverwood Road, Swannanoa Sherill Center at UNCA.

Transformation Yoga Trainings Advanced Teaching Skills 200/ 300/ 500 Hr RYS

1st Weekend April 22 No Commitment Special $375 • Be Inspired YogaWithLillah.com

Cynthia J. Libert, MD, ABFM joins Great Smokies Medical Center

Dr. Matthew Young DDS, PA BIOLOGIC GENERAL DENTISTRY

Q: Why are you opposed to fluoride in your holistic dental practice?

A: Several studies have shown that fluoride is toxic to the thyroid gland and may adversly effect the levels of iodine available to the immune system. See www.fluoridealert.org for more details.

Dr. Libert is a graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and is Board Certified in Family Medicine. She brings ten years of experience in Family Practice and

728 FIFTH AVENUE WEST • HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28739 For more information call 828.693.8416 • www.matthewyoungdds.net NO LEVEL OF SUPERIOR SERVICE CAN BE IMPLIED FROM THIS AD COMPARED TO OTHER DENTISTS.

Holistic, Integrative Medicine to her position at GSMC. Her

Providing reliable transportation to those on the road to self-sufficiency

areas of interest include optimizing mood and brain function, cardiometabolic health, balancing adrenal, thyroid and sex hormones, medical herbalism, the gut microbiome and food as medicine. She treats men, women and children and is passionate about helping her patients.

Dr. Libert is available to speak about health-related topics to community groups on a limited basis. Submit inquiries by email.

Meet Dr. Libert at the WLOS LiveWell Expo Booth# 226 at the Ag Center in Asheville on March 19, 2016, 9AM to 5PM.

Donate your car...Change a life!

It’s good!

It’s easy!

Recycle your car and help Simply give us a call and we provide transportation to will pick up your car and take somebody in our community. care of the rest.

It’s smart!

When compared to other car donation programs, W4H often provides a much better tax advantage to the donor.

www.Wheels4Hope.org/Asheville

(828) 676-5150

“Donating time and repair labor to Wheels4Hope allows our company to make a direct impact on the lives of comminity members who struggle to hold a job without a reliable way to get there.”

-Charley Wilson, The Organic Mechanic

Call us!

255.2628

organic-mechanic.com • 568 Haywood Rd • West Asheville mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

55

green scene

40 shades of green An environmentalist’s perspective on a clean energy future

BY neD RYan DoYle nedryandoyle@earthlink.net [Editor’s note: Longtime sustainable energy and environmental activist Ned Ryan Doyle coordinated the Southern Energy & Environment Expo from 2001-10, was the producer/host of the “Our Southern Community” radio program, and currently works as an independent energy policy consultant. He’s the educational coordinator for the Home, Garden & Green Living Show.]

Western North Carolina, and particularly Asheville, has been called

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

a “green oasis in the South” for its foresight on environmental and energy issues. From the first Biltmore forestry programs in the 1890s to solar energy and the green building industry today, WNC has been ahead of the national green curve. Now another leadership opportunity presents itself: transitioning from fossil fuels to a modern, affordable, low-carbon energy infrastructure that will protect the environment while helping create a sustainable economy.

Where do we start, as a region, to make this essential transition? Shutting down the coal-fired Lake Julian power plant is only a first step. Truly going

mountainx.com

green in meeting our electrical power needs will require the cooperation and education of both the community at large and Duke Energy. Clearly, this is a complex challenge offering many varying shades of green options.

Proven technologies like emissionsfree power generation, weatherization of existing homes and new net zero housing, energy efficiency, demand management and electric vehicles are just a few examples. Emerging technologies, such as batteries for energy storage, are also big factors in an unfolding and multifaceted investment in a green energy future.

Meanwhile, it’s important to recognize the wide range of shades of green, from the merest hint of hue that’s claimed for natural gas to the deep forest green of solar power and net zero energy homes. The Home, Garden & Green Living Show, happening Friday-Sunday, March 18-20 at the U.S. Cellular Center, provides examples of the range of options that all of us can choose from in working toward a clean energy future.

The 40-plus Southern Energy and Environment Educational Series workshops, free with daily admission to the show over the three days, are each deep green, but even here, there are different hues. And the more than 200 exhibitors will offer products and services that span the full range of shades of green.

Our region’s immediate challenge is reducing peak demand: those infrequent but crucial times when our electrical use skyrockets, such as on very cold winter days. Peak demand is a major factor in the controversy over the size of the new natural gas-powered plant that will replace the current coal-fired unit.

Accordingly, nine different SEE educational workshops will present energy efficiency strategies for homes and businesses that can help reduce peak demand. Professionals experienced in building technologies will also help homeowners discover ways to save on energy costs and invest in their home’s value while lowering peak demand.

Meanwhile, Duke Energy will highlight its existing energy efficiency and demand reduction programs, such as EnergyWise. These are certainly green initiatives, but as long as we’re still burning natural gas, they’re only a pale shade of green.

To reach the deeper green, we need expanded reliance on truly sustainable power generation — primarily solar energy in our region — and a new, modern distribution system.

On Saturday afternoon, the Duke Energy Distributed Energy Resources Forum will discuss the utility’s opportunities and challenges, helping educate the community while providing an opportunity to pose questions to a panel of utility experts. In a Feb. 12 press release, Duke Energy President and CEO lynn good said: “To bring these ideas to life, the industry has to adapt and evolve faster than ever before. It won’t be easy. On the other side of your electrical outlets, there’s a highly complex system of power plants, transformers and other equipment. There’s no

app update that can transform this vast, interconnected system. It takes vision and a long-term, customerfocused strategy.”

Transitioning to deep green energy in a modern grid will require individual homeowners, businesses and our community as a whole — including local governments — to expand their investments in solar energy.

Sundance Power Systems and Sugar Hollow Solar are offering workshops on solar power, design considerations, battery storage and more. As more solar energy comes online, less fossil fuel will be needed to meet everyday as well as peak demand.

But there’s more to clean energy than technology. On Saturday, avram friedman of The Canary Coalition and dave hollister and richard fireman of the Alliance for Energy Democracy will offer workshops on the social implications and emerging opportunities to literally bring “power to the people” in our changing energy and environmental landscape.

In the transportation sector, electric vehicles represent emerging options for energy storage at the homeowner level. Overnight charging helps level nighttime loads, and EVs parked at charging stations can return power to the grid.

Newer models can even be used to supply backup power to homes during outages. Five EV workshops will be offered over Friday and Saturday, and a wide selection of such vehicles will be on display all weekend. There’ll even be a chance to test-drive one. Together, these components will highlight a much deeper green approach to transportation and energy issues, made possible by the efforts of Blue Ridge Electric Vehicle Club members, Black Bear Solar Institute and stan cross of BrightField Transportation Solutions. Yet here again, there are different shades of green: An EV charged directly from a solar array achieves a much deeper green than one charged from a coal- or even natural gas-fired power plant.

The WNC Green Building Council will offer a series of workshops on assessing, remodeling and building much greener homes. For existing homes — the primary challenge for reducing the region’s peak demand — the Green Gauge program helps assess where your home is on this sliding scale of green.

On Friday afternoon, amy musser of VandeMusser Design will offer a workshop on net zero energy homes:

those providing all the energy needed via on-site solar.

Transitioning to a clean energy future with a sustainable, affordable economic framework that protects our environment is a challenge facing all of us, and as a regional community, our first step must be to work together. As new technology ramps up and new services and opportunities emerge, we all need to do our part to help create the necessary infrastructure.

The 40 shades of green represented by the products and services on display at the Home, Garden & Green Living Show, and by the options and approaches explored in the SEE Educational Series workshops, constitute an important start. As robert sipes, general manager of Duke Energy’s western zone, said: “The vision that will be required to ensure the successful transformation of the electric utility industry begins, for both Duke Energy and our customers, with a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding. We’re looking forward to engaging in what promises to be an excellent forum for us to listen and learn, as well as share many of the exciting things we’re working on that are rapidly changing our business.” X

REEMS CREEK

Welcome Spring!

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Nature’s Vitamins & Herbs (formerly Nature’s Pharmacy)

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We now stock CBD oil by Cannavest, Charlotte’s Web, and Palmetto Harmony!

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We carry a variety of hard-to-find specialty products, including:

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752 Biltmore Avenue • 828-251-0094 • www.naturesvitaminsandherbs.com

Thank you for voting us #1!

Supporting Local Farmers, Bringing You Local Food Mushroom Inoculation Workshop: 4/4 & 4/6

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Mon-Sat: 11am - 6pm • Sun: 12pm - 5pm

www.rootsandfruitsmarket.com mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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farm & garden eco

by Abigail Griffin

Upcoming mushroom log-inoculation workshops A mushroom log-inoculation workshop this month will offer participants the opportunity to learn how to grow mushrooms using proven methods. The outdoor workshop at Trout Lily Deli and Market in Fairview will also cover how to select prime growing locations, preferred equipment for mushroom growing and the best strains of mushrooms. At the end of the session, participants can take home their own shiitake mushroom log and an informational packet.

The inoculation workshop will be offered four times: Monday, March 21; Wednesday, March 23; Monday, March 28; and Thursday, March 31. The cost is $30 per person. For more information or to register, call Trout Lily Deli and Market at 682-0402.

Living Web Farms hosts workshops and provides virtual education During March, the Mills River-based nonprofit Living Web Farms will host five workshops — ranging from a “grazier’s intensive” taught by a regenerative ranching expert, to cooking and cheesemaking classes, to classes on how to integrate the use of bats and birds on farms. The offerings don’t stop there: From now until the end of 2016, there are 23 workshops scheduled.

“The workshops, generally speaking, seek to cover cutting-edge education on all levels of sustainable living,” says Outreach Coordinator Meredith Leigh.

“The future of sustainable farming, gardening, homesteading, cooking and alternative energy are the basic topic areas. We do set up an annual schedule, and we try to release the next year’s schedule each November. We have classes slated for at least 12 months all at one time.”

The classes are open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10-15 per workshop; however, no one is turned away for lack of funds, according to Leigh. “The idea is for the education to be truly accessible,” she says.

The organization extends the accessibility of the classes by making them available on its website. Leigh adds, “We video all of our workshops, and then we provide them for free online afterwards. We have a pretty large global community of people that we are educating virtually.”

For more information about Living Web Farms, to see a full schedule of upcoming workshops or to watch videos of past workshops, visit livingwebfarms.org.X

asheVille green drinks ashevillegreendrinks.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 5:30pm - Ecopresentations, discussion and community connection. Free to attend. Held at The Spot, 76 Biltmore Ave. green grannies avl.mx/0gm • 3rd SATURDAYS, 4pm - Sing-a-long for the climate. Information: singfortheclimate.com Free. Held at Pritchard Park, 4 College St. riVerlink 170 Lyman St., 252-8474 ext.11 • FR (3/18), 4pm - Presentation by RiverLink Director of Volunteer Services Dave Russell regarding special events and volunteer work.

Registration required: goo.gl/vMspUV. Free.

farm & garden BuncomBe county master gardeners 255-5522, buncombemastergardener.org • TH (3/17), 11:30am - Gardening in the Mountains Lecture Series: “Planting for Pollinators,” presentation by Meghan Baker.

Free. Held at Buncombe County Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road BuncomBe fruit & nut cluB 614-315-0173, fruitandnutclub.com • SU (3/20), 10am-1pm - Spring celebration and perennial orchard care. Free Held at the West Asheville Community Park, Vermont Ave. green oPPortunities 398-4158 , greenopportunities.org • SATURDAYS through (4/30), 1-5pm – Southside Community Garden volunteer workday. Free. Held at the Edington Center, 133 Livingston St. ikenoBo ikeBana society 696-4103, blueridgeikebana.com • TH (3/17), 10am - Monthly meeting and workshop on Shoka Shimputai using tropical materials. Free. Held at First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville liVing weB farms 176 Kimzey Road, Mills River, 505-1660, livingwebfarms.org • SA (3/19), 1:30pm - “Grazier’s Intensive: Part III,” covering sustainable profitable grass fed animal production. $15. natural Products association tinyurl.com/NCNPATax • WE (3/16), 10am-1pm - Tax preparation session for herb growers, small farmers and manufacturers. $10/Free for members. Held at Buncombe County Extension Office, 49 Mount Carmel Road

mushroom innoculation class: Learn the basics of growing mushrooms on logs with Trout Lily Deli and Market in Fairview. Photo of log being inoculated with shiitake sawdust spawn courtesy of Flickr (flic. kr/p/6UjfdL\

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Polk county friends of agriculture Breakfast polkcountyfarms.org • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7-8am - Monthly breakfast with presentations regarding agriculture.

Admission by donation. Held at the 4-H Center, Locust St., Columbus

food

growing like a (wicked) weed Sour-brew specialists expand with a fourth production facility in Arden

more funk: Wicked Weed’s new 17-acre property in Arden will include an area for cellaring the brewery’s barrel-aged beers, allowing the company to relocate many of its sours from its overcrowded Funkatorium barrel house (pictured). Photo from the Wicked Weed Brewing website

BY scott Douglas jsdouglas22@gmail.com wicked weed brewing is growing yet again. Now in its fourth year and with two major expansions already under its belt, the brewery plans to expand its operations to a newly acquired 57,000-square-foot production facility in Arden, not far from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Mills River brewery.

The new facility will house a 30-barrel brewhouse custom-made for the production of Wicked Weed’s

award-winning sour beers as well as office space and a training campus for distributors, retailers and staff to take part in product education. The 17-acre property will also provide room for future events and further growth.

The Arden operation will be Wicked Weed’s fourth production space, following the original Biltmore Avenue brewpub, the Coxe Avenue Funkatorium and the company’s new Enka-Candler facility, which opened last year to increase production of the brewery’s clean beers. It also creates a third area for cellaring the brewery’s barrelaged beers, allowing Wicked Weed to

relocate many of its sours from the overcrowded Funkatorium barrel house.

Plans for the Funk House, as it is currently being called, have been in development for roughly a year, with the intention of allowing Wicked Weed’s brewing staff the necessary space to perform to its full potential. “The ideal situation is that we are always making better beer,” says head of brewing and co-owner walt dickinson. “And I think the way we do that is by streamlining our process and our ability to kind of breathe and work efficiently.”

The warehouse was already uniquely suited to the task of brewing sour beers with little to no remodeling or construction. “We found a climatecontrolled warehouse with floor drains — it’s pretty much perfect,” Dickinson says. “I don’t think it’s possible to make sour beers here in the Southeast without being able to control the environment the beers are aging in.”

The brewers won’t be the only employees to benefit from the larger headquarters. Administrative staff will be able to take advantage of 13,000 square feet of additional office space.

With close to 200 employees currently working for Wicked Weed in some capacity, staff in departments such as administration, accounting and human resources become increasingly essential. Along with the Wicked Weed sales and marketing teams, all will find new homes when the campus is ready for occupation in early July.

While the Funk House is expected to create a number of jobs in the future, Dickinson says an early wave of new hires similar to the staff-out that immediately followed the opening of the Enka-Candler facility will not be necessary. Prospective applicants are encouraged to check with the brewery later in the year for new positions, as hiring is an ongoing process for Wicked Weed.

Despite the urgent need for offices, production is still the primary driver for the expansion, and the Arden facility will afford the brewery’s output of sour beers a growth rate commensurate with that of its clean beers. Even with the recent addition of distribution to markets such as Atlanta and Boston, roughly 90 percent of Wicked Weed’s sour beers are still consumed

in North Carolina. Traditional sours are inherently more limited than clean beers due to the time- and space-intensive fermentation and aging processes they require. As national demand for the brewery’s offerings continues to grow, maintaining the availability of Wicked Weed’s sours becomes more challenging.

The Funk House was conceived to match the increased production output seen in the clean-beer program that is the focus of the Enka-Candler facility.

“We’re excited about taking our sour beer and being able to put it in more major craft beer markets, but given our current production, there’s literally no way we can do it,” says Dickinson.

“Our goal is that, [since] sour beers and farmhouse beers are such a big piece of the Wicked Weed portfolio, as we grow … we don’t want people to think of it as a small piece that nobody can get their hands on,” he adds. “We need a facility that can grow with us as we grew our clean-beer production.”

The benefits of the Funk House are not limited to production and logistics.

The free space at the Funkatorium will allow for a reallocation of resources to Brettanomyces-fermented farmhouse beers, and some exciting new surprises will be on the horizon from the Coxe Avenue facility. And although there are no plans for a tasting room at the Arden facility, Asheville beer enthusiasts are likely to enjoy future festivals and events on what co-owner rick guthy describes as “17 acres of perfectly flat mowed grass … a rare piece of property” in the mountains.

However, the unique suitability of the location for Wicked Weed’s purposes was overshadowed by a less tangible value for Guthy, whose son, ryan guthy (also co-owner and head of distribution and sales), was raised in Asheville alongside the Dickinson brothers. “We made a very conscientious decision to stay in Buncombe County,” says Guthy. “We could’ve gone some places that were probably less expensive. But these guys grew up here, … so Buncombe County’s a big part of our heritage, and we wanted to make sure we stayed in Buncombe County. It cost us a little bit more money to do that, but that was part of our commitment.” X

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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F ooD

mojokitchen.biz

by Dan Hesse

dhesse@mountainx.com

tacos, tortillas and tortas Taco Temple focuses on house-ground corn, handmade tortillas

Mountain Xpress Presents

WNC 2016

VOTING STARTS APRIL 6

MOUNTAINX.COM/BESTOFWNC

uncommon ground: The tortillas at Taco Temple are crafted by hand from corn ground in-house and sourced from small farms in Mexico. Tacos will also feature pickled vegetables, fresh guacamole and rotisserie-roasted meats. Photo by Dan Hesse

Dinner 7 days per week 5:30 p.m. - until Bar opens at 5:00 p.m.

Brunch - Saturday & Sunday 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC Tue., Thu., Fri. & Sat. Nights Also during Sunday Brunch

Locally inspired cuisine.

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville. marketplace-restaurant.com 20 Wall Street, Asheville 828-252-4162

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It’s been about nine months since john atwater signed the lease at 132 Charlotte St., the former home of Two Guys Hoagies. Atwater, owner of downtown Asheville’s Mamacita’s Taqueria, is excited about his new venture, Taco Temple, and he’s extremely happy with the location.

Six weeks before Two Guys Hoagies closed last summer, Atwater says he was eating there and thought to himself, “Man, if this place ever became available, I’d love to have it.” A few weeks later, he noticed a business for sale in that neighborhood. “There’s not very many restaurants on Charlotte Street, so I deduced it had to be Two Guys,” he recalls. “So

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I brought a check with me and am lucky that the deal went through.”

During the months since that fortunate transaction, Atwater has been busy renovating and decorating the space, while fine-tuning the menu that debuted with the restaurant’s scheduled March 15 opening. He says space limitations made installing a charbroiler nearly impossible. So he got creative with cooking arrangements and decided on dual rotisserie machines, one vertical and one traditional.

Atwater says he decided against just opening a second Mamacita’s location because he wanted to challenge himself to go in a different direction. That direc-

tion led him to Mexico, where he purchased a corn grinder, an integral part of the handmade tortillas that are the cornerstone of Taco Temple’s menu.

The corn he uses in the tortillas is sourced from small farms in Oaxaca, Mexico, ground fresh at the store then made into a dough that is pressed and grilled to order. Atwater says customers will take note of the flavor. “It’s the best corn for tortillas,” he says. “The end result … I love it man; it’s life-changing.”

Those handmade tortillas will be the platform for a variety of tacos, some similar to Mamacita’s favorites, such as the fish tacos. But other types, like the traditional al pastor made with

come Enjoy

EastEr Brunch kicking it old-school: In addition to beer, wine and cocktails, Taco Temple, will offer bottled soft drinks, including Mexican soda brand Jarritos, from a vintage Corona vending machine. Pictured are owner John Atwater, right, and head chef Michael Vess, left. Photo by Dan Hesse spit-grilled pork, will take advantage of Taco Temple’s vertical rotisserie, while whole chickens, sourced from Springer Mountain Farms in north Georgia, will be cooked in the traditional rotisserie oven.

And although Atwater says he doesn’t want to be a drive-through restaurant, he does plan on taking advantage of the building’s existing drive-through window by offering a speedy pickup meal option. “We’re going to have online ordering, so you can get a whole rotisserie chicken dinner for the family,” he says. “You can order online, pull up and grab it from the window.”

Head chef michael vess, who helped Atwater open Mamacita’s in 2004, says the menu reflects what you would find south of the border, “What excites me the most is we’re doing traditional Mexican food,” he says. “We’re keeping as much fusion and American influence out of [the food] as possible.” Offerings including lamb barbacoa and chorizo are representative of flavors Taco Temple will have.

There is a strong emphasis at Taco Temple on using traditional ingredients and keeping everything as fresh as possible. “We have no microwave, we have no freezer, so we have to be very smart about everything we’re doing,” says Vess. The tacos will be paired with various pickled

vegetables, such as onions, carrots and radishes, plus traditional Mexican cheeses, fresh guacamole and assorted salsas.

Vess says he’s excited about another menu mainstay, the Mexican sandwich. “For that big, filling lunch we’re going to have tortas,” he says. “Tacos are great, but sometimes you want something that will really just fill you up.” There will also be daily specials, giving burritos, which are not featured on the regular menu, the occasional chance to make an appearance.

The beverage side of the menu features five taps: two for sangrias, one for Dos Equis and two for rotating beers, likely from Catawba Brewing Co. There’s also a full roster of liquor and wine, and a variety of craft cocktails will be available. And then there’s the old-fashioned, bright yellow Corona vending machine housing bottled soft drinks, including Mexican soda brand Jarritos. Atwater says he loves the sound of bottles being vended and caps being popped. “It’s just cool,” he says, opening a grapefruit soda.

Price points are similar to those at Mamacita’s, with tacos running about $3. But Atwater notes that Taco Temple tacos are slightly smaller than the ones at the sister eatery. Seating will accommodate just under 50 customers, and Taco Temple will employ about 20 people.

Taco Temple is at 132 Charlotte St. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. X

Three Course Fixed Price Menu • $28 Per Person Look at Rezaz.com for the Full Menu Make your Reservation Now!

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

61

FooD

by Jonathan Ammons

jonathanammons@gmail.com

Party for a sweet Potato Slow Food Asheville’s Heritage Food Project promotes and celebrates endangered vegetable and fruit varietals

reViVing the nancy hall: A recent party hosted by Slow Food Asheville invited participants of the organization’s inaugural Heritage Food Project to contribute potluck dishes made with the project’s chosen vegetable for 2015 — the endangered Nancy Hall sweet potato. Photos courtesy of Slow Food Asheville Most folks don’t throw parties for sweet potatoes. But on a recent sunny March day at Franny’s Farm in Leicester, that is precisely what Slow Food Asheville was doing. There were some 30 community members gathered at the event — farmers, hobby gardeners, teachers and others — all of whom had participated in Asheville’s first Heritage Food Project and were on hand to celebrate the Nancy Hall heirloom sweet potato with a potluck at the picturesque farm.

“This was a culmination of the past year of engaging our community

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around this heritage variety of sweet potato that has been a story line for this region and the Slow Food Asheville chapter for a number of years,” says ashley epling, a member of the board of directors of the local Slow Food International chapter, which works to promote and preserve Western North Carolina food culture. The party guests had all contributed to the Heritage Food Project and the revival of the Nancy Hall by growing and donating slips for planting, cultivating and harvesting the variety, educating and demonstrating cooking methods. They then

mountainx.com

honored the vegetable at the event by preparing it in many different forms for a potluck meal.

As part of the project, Slow Food Asheville also nominated the Nancy Hall to Slow Food’s International Ark of Taste, which, Epling explains, is aimed at preserving endangered varietals of vegetables, fruits and other foods. She describes the Ark of Taste as “a living catalog of foods that have culinary value and are potentially facing extinction.”

Foods are nominated and inducted into the Ark under the criteria that they

taste good, are legitimately in danger of becoming extinct, are not engineered and don’t endanger the environment and are not commercial or trademarked. “These are varietals that could blip out of existence in the next generation without the efforts to keep them around and alive in our food systems,” says Epling.

The Nancy Hall “was a potato that wasn’t traditionally commercially successful because of its low yield and the long growing season that it required,” Epling explains. Although it never gained any national clout, the small, white-fleshed tuber stuck around for generations, preserved mainly by farmers to grow for themselves because of its superior and surprisingly complex flavor.

The Rural Advancement Foundation International conducted a study in 1983 that compared U.S. Department of Agriculture listings of seed varieties sold by U.S. commercial seed houses in 1903 with those found in the National Seed Storage Laboratory in 1983. The research showed that 93 percent of the 66 crops surveyed had gone extinct. In 1903, there were more than 497 varietals of lettuce in the U.S., but by 1983, there were only 36. At one time, 307 types of corn were grown in U.S., but by the time the 1983 study was conducted, all but 12 had vanished completely, their flavors lost forever.

For its first Heritage Food Project, Slow Foods Asheville bought 500 slips of the Nancy Hall potato and distributed it among the 20 or so farmers, home gardeners and schools interested in participating in the initiative. “There were growers in Rutherford, Polk, Henderson and Buncombe counties, Black Mountain, Fairview and Barnardsville, which made it really interesting to see the diversity of the different areas, different soil types and microclimates [in which] these potatoes can grow,” says Epling.

The 2016 project will focus on a heritage bean variety. “We are opening it up for the community to help us decide which variety to feature and grow together,” she says. “It’s about sharing the history of these varietals and what makes them important, then sharing that work of keeping them alive and then sharing that food together in the end.”

For more information on Slow Food Asheville and the Heritage Food Project, visit slowfoodasheville. org X

FooD

small Bites

by Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com

expect to find fresh, organic, locally produced vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, mushrooms and dairy products along with handmade baked goods, natural body care products and craft items made by local artisans. The market also plans to bring a selection of local food trucks.”

Oakley Farmers Market is at ScreenDoor, 115 Fairview Road.

Hours are 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 5 to Sept. 29. Early-bird vendor applications are due by Thursday, March 31. Visit oakleyfarmersmarket. com for more information.

hendough does chicken and doughnuts Just weeks after launching, Hendersonville’s new breakfast and lunch spot HenDough has a handful of devout regulars (some dining multiple times per day) plus casual visitors aplenty. “We’re just surprisingly more busy than we ever anticipated,” says sarah Klaassens, who started the business with her husband, paul. The two met, worked and eventually married at Bilmore Estate before dreaming up a playful venture to combine their respective passions: doughnuts and fried chicken.

“We had always been in upscale, fine dining-type restaurants. It was kind of wearing us out,” says Paul, who has worked in the culinary field for 15 years. “We wanted to do something fun.”

Even before opening, the couple were pleasantly surprised to stumble upon an irresistible pun of a business name. In addition to juxtaposing the company’s two main product categories, HenDough is pronounced just like locals’ nickname for Hendersonville. “It couldn’t have worked out better,” Sarah says.

Each morning, Sarah, a trained pastry chef, churns out roughly a thousand doughnuts from the restaurant’s tiny kitchen, typically selling out by noon. Her evolving menu includes basics such as glazed, powdered sugar and cinnamon sugar doughnuts for a buck a pop; decorated cake doughnuts (which she describes as a dense, moist batter that crisps around the edges) with flavors including espresso caramel, blueberry lemon and strawberry coconut; yeast doughnuts with fillings like crème brûlée, Boston cream or jelly for $2.25; and specialty items like the popular apple bacon bear claw for $3. Beyond that, offerings are “whatever fun flavors we feel like doing,” she says.

By roughly 11 a.m., the chicken fryers get going, and the lunch menu becomes available (though the chicken biscuit is typically sold all day). Savory items include chicken sandwiches, salads (with or without

Black mountain ciderworks release Party

which came first: HenDough owners Sarah and Paul Klaassens’ business name is so ingenious that some folks wonder whether their chicken-and-doughnuts idea was an afterthought. “A small part of that [name] was our cleverness, and then the rest was just luck of the town that we’re in,” Paul says. “We promise we came up with the concept first and the name afterward.” Photo by Kendall Weaver

chicken) and sides of smoked gouda mac and cheese, steak fries, roasted jalapeño grits and more. The kitchen, they say, is “maxed out” and still struggling to meet demand.

Though it’s not on the menu, the combination of Sarah’s sweets and Paul’s poultry is a promising option.

“Anything that would come on a biscuit or bun can come on a doughnut,” Paul says. “We take our glazed yeast doughnut, cut it in half, toast it and build you a sandwich on it.” He recommends HenDough’s Southern sandwich with pimento cheese and slaw for this bit of alchemy.

Local purveyors, including Dynamite Roasting Co., Blue Blaze Soda & Syrup Co., Mills River Creamery, Underground Baking Co., Southern Appalachian Brewery and Naked Apple Hard Cider, provide

many of the eatery’s offerings. And, Paul adds, “Once spring and summer come around, we’ll try and do some local produce.”

HenDough is at 532 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville. Hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Wednesday-Sunday. Visit hendough.com for more information. oakley farmers market relocates After four seasons at its original location behind Oakley United Methodist Church, Oakley Farmers Market is moving to a new spot on Fairview Road.

Organizers expect it to provide greater visibility. “Market days will continue to be lively, kid-friendly community events,” reads a media release from the market. “Each week, customers can

mountainx.com

Black Mountain Ciderworks will celebrate the release of two new brews this weekend with a community party. “Named for the west wind that brings in the spring, Zephyrus offers a velvety, orange-oil caress followed by a spicy, correcting slap of ginger,” says the release party event page. Another new pour, which comes out on St. Patrick’s Day, is Boadecia, a barrel-aged Irish breakfast tea and honey cider. Both ciders will be available at the party alongside nonalcoholic beverage options and a party-sized pot of stew. Pets and youngsters are welcome.

The Zephyrus release party is at the cidery, 150 Eastside Drive, Unit 307, Black Mountain, on Saturday, March 19, 1-8 p.m. Admission is free.

Visit avl.mx/2bn for more details. folkmoot music showcase and sPring BBQ The inaugural Folkmoot Music Showcase and Spring BBQ boasts a tempting lineup of both food and music. Dinner comes from the pit of Haywood Smokehouse, which slow-cooks its pulled pork with native hickory. Sides include baked beans, coleslaw and rolls, all of which patrons who are of legal drinking age can wash down with craft beers from Waynesville’s Bear Waters Brewing Co. The musical feast begins at 7 p.m., offering performances by Weaverville-based youth fiddler Lillian Chase, Garnet Ridge Ramblers, Whitewater Bluegrass Company and Darren Nicholson Band.

The event is at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville, on Saturday, March 19, 5-10 p.m. Information and tickets ($20/$30) are available by calling 4522997 or at folkmootusa.org. X

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Green party

St. Patrick’s Day events in and around Asheville

by Dan Hesse

• If you have wee ones, you can take them on an adventure to discover treasure at the end of the rainbow. Hands On!, the downtown Hendersonville children’s museum, is hosting an all-ages scavenger hunt. Your little leprechauns will have the chance to gather clues while searching for St. Patrick’s Day loot. The treasure hunt is on Thursday, March 17, and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $5/free for members. handsonwnc.org

dhesse@mountainx.com As we teeter between seasons, St. Patrick’s Day arrives just in time to banish the winter blues into a sea of green beer. There’s no need to search for the end of the rainbow if you’re looking to be Dublin’ your pleasure; Mountain Xpress has a road map so you can snake across the long St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

Grab your Erin-go-bros, gather the Gaelic gals and get a group of gingers to rise up and meet the rowdy road (just don’t let the gingers get too much sun upon their faces).

• Barley’s Taproom holds a St. Patrick’s Day party featuring the Boys of Buncombe. The group’s traditional Irish swing music will transport you to the Emerald Isle while you sip a pint of Guinness, or a brew from one of the nearly 30 other taps. Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. Free. barleystaproom.com

• Lex 18 offers the chance to say an Irish blessing for one of Asheville’s most prominent residents at its 1926 Irish Wake For Dr. E.W. Grove. The event features whiskey, a four-course meal and vaudevillian high jinks that promise to replicate a traditional Irish wake along with slapstick, drama, music and dance. Shows are on Thursday, March 17, and Friday, March 18, at 5:45 and 8:15 p.m. $49. stpatsweekend.bpt.me

• Visit the White Horse Black Mountain for traditional Celtic and Appalachian music provided by The Southern Highlanders. The group incorporates a large number of instruments, including dulcimer, fiddle, pennywhistle, jaw harp and a plethora of percussion. Singer Aoife Clancy (daughter of Bobby Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers) is also on the bill, plus there will be Irish poetry, storytelling and a traditional Irish potato roll with prizes for the winners. The event is Saturday, March 19, at 6 p.m. $12 in advance/$15 at the door. whitehorseblackmountain.com

• If you’re in a charitable mood, there’s a St. Patrick’s Day Ceilidh (a traditional Irish folk music and storytelling gathering) at Appalachian School of Holistic Herbalism. There will be traditional Celtic music from The Magills, and proceeds from the event will help Scottish author Jude Lally return to her homeland to conduct research for the upcoming book The Ancient Mothers of Loch Lomond. Thursday, March 17, 7-10 p.m. $10. avl.mx/29y

• If you fancy yourself a lord of the dance, head to DJ Kipper’s St. Party’s Day. The dance blowout takes place at Lexington Avenue Brewery with drink specials to fuel your thirst to boogie down. The music gets going Thursday, March 17, at 10 p.m. Admission is free. lexavebrew.com

• Asheville on Bikes throws its Bike of the Irish event, if you’re looking to pedal before you party. On Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m., the procession will leave City Hall for an 8-mile trek to Kolo Mountain Bike Park followed by festivities at Oskar Blues Brewery — including food trucks and demo bikes from local shops — until 6 p.m. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the ride. The event is free, and organizers are looking for volunteers. avl.mx/29z • Jack Of The Wood hosts a three-day St. Paddy Weekend Celebration. The festivities kick off Thursday, March 17, with a Celtic jam session in the afternoon, culminating with The Red Wellies bringing their twin fiddles and bouzouki onstage at 9 p.m.

For some hair of the dog on Friday, March 18, a fourband lineup begins at 5 p.m., including Don Merkle and The Black Smith, the Jonny Monster Band, The Shady Rest and Carolina Ceili. The Tan and Sober Gentlemen, Durham-based performers of Irish standards with a dose of raucous energy, take the stage Saturday, March 19, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices vary from $7 to $10. jackofthewood.com • Help christen Green Man Brewery’s new 20,000-square-foot Greenmansion, at 27 Buxton Ave., adjacent to its existing brewery, while celebrating an anniversary. On St. Patrick’s Day 2013, Green Man rolled out its first bottles and will be commemorat-

• No need for luck: The St. Patrick’s Day Mega Party at Room Nine promises giveaways, beads, T-shirts and a green costume contest. Music will be provided by DJ Moto. Thursday, March 17, at 9 p.m. Free before 11 p.m./ $5 after. facebook.com/ RoomNineAsheville

ST. PATRICK’S PEDALERS: Asheville on Bikes has its 10th annual Bike of the Irish ride and subsequent party on Sunday, March 20. Photo courtesy of Asheville on Bikes ing both occasions with special beer tappings all day, prizes for the best Green Man costume, food trucks and other festivities. The grand opening is Thursday, March 17, 2-10 p.m. greenmanbrewery.com • The Town Pump in Black Mountain has planned a spirit of a St. Patrick’s Day party with an Americana twist. Chris Jamison’s Ghost — featuring saxophone, lap steel and keyboards — will be playing a show Thursday, March 17, at 9 p.m. Admission is free. facebook.com/TheTownPumpTavern

• Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville hosts live Irish jams and pop from The Stripe Brothers, Dan Ruiz, Kent Rector and Jeff Hinkle. The beer starts to flow Thursday, March 17, at 4 p.m. with music from 7 to 9 p.m. Free. sabrewery.com • Wheel into Riverside Roller Rink in Burnsville wearing your best Irish costume for a chance to win prizes. The rollerskating festivities take place Saturday, March 19, 7-10 p.m. $5. avl.mx/2ad • MG Road gives revelers a magically delicious opportunity to enjoy a free bowl of Lucky Charms during its Pot of Gold Party featuring themed food and drink specials to sweeten up your holiday.

The soiree is Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. Free. facebook.com/mgroadlounge/ For more St. Patrick’s Day events, go to Clubland, Calendar or mountainx.com. X

mountainx.com

MARCH 16 - MARCH 22, 2016

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by Edwin Arnaudin

edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

rooM to MoVe

stephaniesid plays Diana Wortham Theatre

with a little helP from their friends: As evinced in this photo taken at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall in October, stephaniesid knows how to fi ll a stage. The generous square footage of Diana Wortham Theatre allows for plenty of guest musicians and gives frontwoman Stephanie Morgan space to move around. Photo by Nathan Sales Like many touring bands before it, Asheville pop-noir trio stephaniesid has generally played nightclubs and music venues where shows begin late in the evening. “After years of doing that, and loving it, we found ourselves also loving sleep,” says frontwoman stephanie morgan. “We were also developing wonderful morning rituals — walking, journaling, meditating — and these things are much easier to do when your day starts in the actual morning. So, between loving our days and loving the focused environment of theater stages, we have been aiming for doing more performances at performing arts centers.”

In November, stephaniesid was chosen to showcase at the North Carolina Presenters Consortium’s ArtsMarket conference in Durham, which allowed Morgan, chuck lichtenberger (piano) and tim haney (drums) to play for presenters from across the state and beyond. By that point, however, the band had already secured a Saturday, March 19, date at its hometown performing arts center, the Diana Wortham Theatre. The band last played the venue in 2006, re-creating its entire debut album for the dancers from the Asheville Ballet in

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Anna! A Rock Ballet. Ten years later, stephaniesid has the 500-seat space to itself for DWT’s Mainstage Series, for which Morgan is grateful her “quirky independent band” was selected.

“I’d like to think it’s because [the DWT staff] understands the universality of the core message we’re always trying to communicate — that, internally, humans are all more alike than different, that there is great value in exploring emotion and that there is a lot to be learned from a brave exchange of authentic communication,” she says.

Morgan considers the performing arts center circuit and its audience’s diverse ages and backgrounds “a place where you have to bring your most universal self” and “really want to be able to relate your art to everyone there.” Due to those factors, she doesn’t think she was ready for a show at Diana Wortham Theatre until now.

“It has been important that I spend a lot of years exploring who I am as a performer, being very subjective and specific, even quite self-indulgent at times,” Morgan says. “It allowed me to find my audience organically and practice relating to people from that safe ‘me’ place, without the pressure of being accountable to people who might not readily

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take to what I’m doing.”

She continues, “At this point in my development, I’m feeling ready to ‘talk’ to people of all persuasions. I have just come to believe so strongly in the connectedness of all people that I rarely feel threatened by those who are different from me, older or younger than me, don’t like the style of music I sing, or whatever. And I don’t feel like I have to be perfect or know everything. So, onstage, I’m just me, in a room of other me’s, if that makes sense.”

Among Diana Wortham Theatre’s many benefits is the opportunity for Lichtenberger to play the venue’s baby grand piano instead of his usual keyboard’ and for the band to decorate and set the stage visually. Noting her tendency to move around and take up a good deal of space during performances, Morgan is excited to use a larger floor and fill it with plenty of guest performers, including Zack page (upright bass) and caleb mcmahon (trombone).

Also joining stephaniesid are Asheville High seniors luke haaksma (piano) and michelle padron (spoken-word poetry and theater), both recipients of Diana Wortham Theatre’s inaugural Emerging Artist Fund scholarship for graduating high school students pursuing a career

in the performing arts. Through their work as voice and piano teachers, Morgan and Lichtenberger respectively have long incorporated students into their band’s performances when they’ve felt a particular student was a match for their sound. They and other representatives from the arts community were on the committee that reviewed the 14 applications to the Emerging Artist Fund. Proceeds from the stephaniesid performance benefit area children through Diana Wortham Theatre’s Youth Education Scholarship Fund.

“We believe in giving kids access to the arts. Our creative work has been the vehicle for our development as people — I can’t imagine being deprived of the opportunity to engage with it on a regular basis,” Morgan says. “The YES fund is helping to assure that students are exposed to some of the best stuff around, and the [Emerging Artist] program is helping to give a leg up to those kids who show a real dedication to making the arts central in their lives. [They’re] speaking my language.”

Morgan hopes the Diana Wortham Theatre experience will lead to more theater performances, but she doesn’t plan to abandon smaller shows. She finds the latter immensely valuable to her ongoing growth as an artist, namely the forgiving environment they offer for trying out new ideas.

“We just did a little pop-up show at 5 Walnut, which feels crowded with 25 people in the room, and we did all improvisation,” Morgan says. “When you do small shows, sometimes you get to stretch out, experiment. We always record those, because new ideas come out for the first time, and often become the songs that we polish and put on albums and perform in full glory at venues like Diana Wortham. But those seeds have to be germinated somewhere we know we can just get in the zone and make mistakes.” X

who stephaniesid where Diana Wortham Theatre 2 S. Pack Square dwtheatre.com when Saturday, March 19 $35 adults/$30 students $20 children

Salsa & Bachata with 2umbao!!

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Classes every Wednesday Veda Studios

853 Merrimon Ave. Asheville NC, 28801 Beginner Salsa 7:30-8:30pm & Bachata 8:30-9:30pm 828-674-2658 • JenniferWCS@aol.com • facebook.com/2umbao

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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by Steph Guinan

stephguinan@gmail.com

Made to last Exhibition celebrates women’s role in Appalachian craft history

sister act: Not only were women the organizers of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, but they also made up a significant part of its membership. Here, Rowena Bradley makes a doubleweave rivercane basket — a style traditional to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — in a 1991 photo from the Asheville Art Museum collecetion, 2009 Art Nouveaux Purchase. Photo by Tim Barnwell It began with the women — frances goodrich of Allanstand Cottage Industries, olive campbell of the John C. Campbell Folk School and lucy morgan of the Penland Weavers and Potters, to name a few.

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These women were leaders in the regional craft movement and some of the founding members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 1930.

“This sounds really sexist,” says andrew glasgow, “but a bunch

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of men would never have worked cooperatively to found a multistate organization to assist in education, preservation and economic development of craft.”

Glasgow co-curated the exhibition Appalachian Innovators: Women Makers in the Southern Highland Craft Guild, 1930-2000, with lynn poirier-wilson.

The show is on display at the Asheville Art Museum through June and features more than 20 artists who have worked across seven decades. It includes textile pieces, pottery and enameled jewelry, as well block prints, glassworks, cornhusk dolls, carved wooden animal figurines and more.

“I’ve always been interested in how it really was women who were responsible for this entire movement,” Glasgow says of his inspiration for the exhibit.

“Men have certainly gotten involved in the past few decades, but it’s really largely a women-driven organization and field in many ways.”

When the Southern Highland Craft Guild began, more than 85 years ago, the craft revival represented artists working in their home communities while entrepreneurial marketers promoted their wares. Marketing looked much different in the 1930s, before the advent of online platforms like Etsy.

The guild’s wares were being sold by mail order and in a physical storefront.

That business, the Allanstand Craft Shop, is currently operated by the guild and has the distinction of being the oldest continuously run craft shop in the country.

Another marketing innovation of the time was a portable gallery, masterminded by Morgan, who outfitted a tiny log cabin on the back of a pickup truck and traveled to the Chicago World’s Fair. There, she showcased locally made handicrafts in what she called her “Travelog” — a precursor to today’s popular mobile boutiques.

“I think offering an outlet for sales has always been one of the top priorities of the organization,” says Glasgow.

Not only were women the organizers of the guild, but they also made up a significant part of its membership.

The works selected for Appalachian Innovators show a continuity of the female workforce over 70 years and include historical gems alongside contemporary works by cynthia bringle, jane peiser and others.

One piece in the exhibition is a large quilt made by rubynelle counts and designed by her husband, charles counts. The textile, from 1965, boasts free-form stitching and mod windowpane color blocks that combine olive with burgundy and blues. “That design and that aesthetic is just so perfect,” says Glasgow, who purchased several

of the duo’s quilts for the Southern Highland’s collection while he was on staff there. (He was hired as the guild’s curator of education in 1988 and went on to work as the executive director of the American Craft Council until he retired in 2009.)

The Countses, Glasgow says, were forthright about each person’s contributions and strengths to the craft process. Their piece seems to be a kind of midpoint in the historical story of gender and craft.

“I think that we’re much more gender democratic [today] than we were then,” says Glasgow. “So what I see in the arts is much more openmindedness [instead of a] literal interpretation of gender identity, and what you can do if you’re a man versus what you can do if you’re a women.”

Looking at the role of craft going forward, Glasgow is strategic and passionate. “The museum is embarking on a pretty ambitious project, and my goal has always been to make sure that craft and makers are represented in our artistic endeavors,” he says. “I hope it’s the first of several exhibitions at the museum concerning women and their role in WNC in creative industries.”

The guild, having helped birth the area’s craft movement, has continued its efforts and maintained its relevancy. Glasgow sums up the timeline with the quip, “Money is always relevant.” Just as 19th-century women handcrafted objects to bring in extra money for their families, today’s craft artists continue to sell their wares as their livelihood.

As Glasgow sees it, from cornhusk dolls to mobile log cabin shopfronts, “The crafts have always been about economic development.” X

what Appalachian Innovators: Women Makers in the Southern Highland Craft Guild, 1930-2000 where The Asheville Art Museum 2 S. Pack Square ashevilleart.org when On display through June Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sundays, 1-5 p.m.

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by Bill Kopp

bill@musoscribe.com

carniVal of wonders

fun house: The phrase “orchestrated chaos” is an accurate description of the Plankeye Peggy sound. The local band’s debut album, Let’s See What We Have Here, includes elements of Gypsy-jazz, surf-and-spy guitar and even the ambiance of Ennio Morricone’s “spaghetti Western” soundtracks. Photo courtesy of the band “We don’t want people concentrating on how many key changes we go through, the whole prog-rock thing,” says dave gilbert, guitarist in Asheville-based plankeye peggy.

“That’s not really the crowd we’re trying to reach.” Songwriter and keyboardist danny tetrault concurs: “Our music is extremely composed and actually really hard to play. But we want to put on a really fun rock show. We want people to come to our shows a second or third time and still be very surprised.” The audience should expect the unexpected at what Plankeye Peggy is billing not as a party, but rather an “album release carnival” on Friday, March 18, at the Mothlight.

The four-piece band — including bassist brian grasso and drummer john lauterer — recently put the finishing touches on its debut album,

Let’s See What We Have Here, recorded with Matt Williams at the Eagle Room in Weaverville. The album seeks to capture the swirling, circus energy of a Plankeye Peggy live set. Listeners may detect elements of Gypsy-jazz, surf-and-spy guitar and even the ambiance of Ennio Morricone’s “spaghetti Western” soundtracks. Or they might think Plankeye Peggy sounds a bit like Danny Elfman’s old band. “That’s funny,” says Tetrault. “I never listened to Oingo Boingo when I was growing up. I just recently listened to them, and I was shocked at how much we sound like them.”

But one shouldn’t make too much of the similarity. Plankeye Peggy approaches its music from a very different perspective than did the ’80s band that made “Dead Man’s Party” and “Weird Science.” Gilbert describes Tetrault’s compositional

Plankeye Peggy hosts an album release show

approach as “big, long, song forms and really surprising or shocking changes. It’s all thematically linked and moving somewhere.”

Tetrault says, “My background is really in jazz and free jazz. But we don’t want to be pretentious. We don’t want people to be bored with us, sitting there explaining our time signatures.”

That’s not likely to happen, especially at the album release carnival.

Gilbert says the band wants to “break down the separation between band and audience.” To that end, the interactive show promises a wild array of guest performers. In addition to opening act Wasted Wine, the evening will include an appearance by the Discordia Arts dance troupe. “They’ll also be performing with us,” Tetrault says.

Other performers on the roster are burlesque artist catalina mystique from Knoxville, master of ceremonies Keith shubert, a mainstay of Asheville Vaudeville; and juggler clown luke eden. The list goes on, explains Tetrault. “carlos vera will be doing live, improvised painting. dan sinkfowl is a clown belly dancer. And we’ll have [a character called] ‘Power Femme,’ making confusion and putting people in their place.”

Gilbert sums up the evening as “orchestrated chaos.”

That phrase is also an accurate description of the Plankeye Peggy sound. Explaining one of the new album’s 10 songs, Tetrault says, “It goes into a kind of old-school, 12/8 soul section. And then the outro is a kind of spacey, synth thing.”

Let’s See What We Have Here also features an up-front horn section on half of its tracks. Gilbert says, “If we had more time, every song [on the album] would have had horns.” For the carnival, the group will be joined onstage by chaz burchill on sax and trumpeter joseph dowdy.

One might well ask what the audience is supposed to do amid all the planned activity at the carnival. “We try to get ’em dancing,” says Gilbert.

“It’s not always the easiest music to dance to, but we promote the waltzes.”

So carnivalgoers can expect music in 12/8, waltzes, clowns and jugglers, and … cross-dressing musicians. “We crossdress all the time,” Gilbert says. “We like to take the whole male-female thing and smash it together.”

Though they admit they haven’t had much luck so far getting audiences to

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show up in costume, Gilbert and Tetrault heartily encourage anyone who wants to do so. “We’re into the pirate thing; we’re into the carnival and circus thing. But we’re not defining ourselves by those genres,” says Tetrault. “There’s a kind of carnival scene in Asheville, and we love being part of that. But you can tell by our music: We’re a rock band.” X

who Plankeye Peggy with Wasted Wine where The Mothlight 701 Haywood Road themothlight.com when Friday, March 18, 9 p.m. $5

NC Beer Brewed by NC Natives

RELEASE DATE MARCH 18

32 Banks Ave Asheville, NC 28801 63 Brook St Asheville, NC 28803 212 S Green St Morganton, NC 28655 catawbabrewing.com maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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smart Bets

by Kat McReynolds | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Counterparts — Bassoon and Sax

Brian Freeman Brian Freeman’s readers first met detective Jonathan Stride in 2005, when the character appeared in Immoral. Since then, Stride has unraveled gruesome crimes in eight more books, including new release Goodbye to the the Dead. In this high-intensity plot, Stride and current lover and colleague Serena Dial investigate a human trafficking case in Duluth, Minn. But a discovery by Dial links the current case to a trial that unfolded eight years ago — one in which Stride and his first wife disagreed about the guilty party. The new developments undermine Stride’s certainty, leading the widower to question his earlier conclusions. An international best-selling author, Freeman pays his first visit to Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café to celebrate the new release on Saturday, March 19, at 7 p.m.

Free. malaprops.com. Photo courtesy of the author

Hustle Souls Hustle Souls staged its own musical intervention on a recent tour, swapping overconfidence and underpreparation with a concerted intent to connect with listeners. “You can feel the difference between an audience who is passively enjoying the music and an audience who is fully engaged,” says vocalist, trumpeter and keyboard player Billy Litz.

“When we came back to Asheville, the changes came with us.” Since then, Litz has noticed an uptick in enthusiasm for the year-old quartet, which mixes ragtime jazz, neo-soul, rock, alt-country and other eclectic influences. “We sing in four-part harmony on tightly arranged songs and follow it up with pretty wide-open jams. When you hear it, though, it all makes sense.” Local funk band Supatight opens for Hustle Souls at The Altamont Theatre on Thursday, March 17, at 8 p.m. $5/$8. thealtamont.com. Photo of bassist Sean McCann courtesy of the band 70

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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Pan Harmonia’s new Music and Wine Interlude series “pairs beautiful music with delicious food and wine,” beginning with solo, duo and trio performances at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall. Attendees will hear from Rosalind Buda on bassoon, Alan Theisen on saxophone and Ivan Seng on piano, as the local players showcase their instruments in various combinations. According to an event release, the selection of works ranges “from romance to contemporary creativity and music with Latin flair.” That includes Theison’s performance of three naturethemed, world-premiere pieces written

by Clare Shore, Garrett Ian Shatzer and Stephen Dankner — the last of whom has waited 15 years for his composition to be performed. The musicians bring Counterparts — Bassoon and Sax to the Isis on Sunday, March 20, at 5:30 p.m. $15 ($7.50 students), not including food and wine. isisasheville.com. Photo of Buda by Micah MacKenzie

Mike Krecioch Before down shifting into the pace of Western North Carolina, local author Mike Krecioch served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 28 years, including the free-for-all ’60s. His latest work, Convict Lake: Behind the Badge (released by Asheville’s Grateful Steps Publishing) draws upon the many stories amassed during that time. “Journey with five LAPD veteran officers to California’s High Sierra as they discuss the politics, cases and eccentric personalities of the LAPD,” reads a book description that also promises “humor, murder, tenderness, decapitation, fire, sadness, indifference, anger, thievery, family disputes, stabbings, shootings, riots, serial killers and human stupidity.” Krecioch will touch on these topics over light hors d’oeuvres and wine during his free book launch event at MetroWines on Friday, March 18, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. metrowinesasheville.com. Photo courtesy of the author

a &e cal e nD a R

by Abigail Griffin

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com art/craft fairs Bladesmithing show americanbladesmith.com • SA (3/19). 1-5pm - Bladesmithing symposium featuring knife show and “Battle of the Bladesmiths” forging event. Free. Held at Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde magma gem, mineral and fossil show wncrocks.com • FR (3/18) & SA (3/19), 9am-5pm and SU (3/20), 10am-4pm - Mountain Area Gem and Mineral Association event with gems, minerals and fossils for sale and trade. Free to attend. Held at Camp Stephens, 263 Clayton Road, Arden

auditions & call to artists Black mountain college museum & arts center 56 Broadway, 350-8484, blackmountaincollege.org • Through TH (6/30) - Submissions accepted for the 8th Annual ReVIEWING Black Mountain College conference. See website for full guidelines. montford Park Players 254-5146, montfordparkplayers.org • Through WE (3/23) - Applications accepted for directors for The Asheville Shakesperience, opening Friday, May 13. Free. riVerlink 252-8474, riverlink.org • Through (3/25) - Submissions accepted for the “Voices of the River: Music, Art and Poetry Contest.” See website for full guidelines.

orthogonal conVergence: In his first solo exhibition in Asheville since 2004, Steven Mann’s, Orthogonal Convergence: Photographs, 1982-2016, offers an overview of the local photographer’s work — both through the years and through his travels around Asheville and to India, Africa, New Orleans and the American South. The exhibit is curated by photographer Ralph Burns, and will be shown at Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District until Sunday, May 22. The opening reception is Friday, March 18, from 5-8 p.m. Photograph of The Boneman

by Steve Mann courtesy of Pink Dog Creative (p. 72) art asheVille area arts council 1 Page Ave., 258-0710, ashevillearts.com • TH (3/24), 4-7pm - Advanced business class with Jodi Rhoden, exploring startup, overhead, and variable costs, and break even point. Registration required: johanna@ashevillearts.com. Free. asheVille art museum 2 N. Pack Square, 253-3227,

ashevilleart.org • FR (3/18), noon-1pm - “Make It Speak: Stories from the Vault,” presentation from curators. Admission fees apply.

• SA (3/19), 10am-noon - “Make It Last: How to Photograph Your Artwork,” workshop. $20.

PuBlic eVents at wcu 227-7397, wcu.edu • TH (3/17), 10am-3pm - LEAD conference on regional arts.

Registration required: wcu.edu/

engage/community-resources/ profdev/LEAD-Arts.asp. Free. Held in the Health and Human Sciences Building, room 204. tryon fine arts center 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 859-8322, tryonarts.org • 2nd & 4th TUESDAYS through (5/24), 10:30am - The Great Courses, dvd discussion and presentations. Registration: 859-8322.

Free.

the center for craft, creatiVity & design 67 Broadway, 785-1357, craftcreativitydesign.org • Through MO (3/28) - Open call for emerging curators to take part in the Curatorial Fellowship. See website for full guidelines. Free.

comedy 35Below 35 E. Walnut St., 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • WE (3/23), 7:30pm - The SuperHappy Trivia Challenge. Local comics and personalities take part in a 1970’s style panel show. $12.

music asheVille area Piano forum 669-3878, ashevillepiano.org

• SA (3/19), 9:30am-noon - “Jazz Improvisation,” with Furman Professor Keith Davis. Free.

Held at Piano Emporium, 828 Hendersonville Rd. diana wortham theatre 2 S. Pack Square, 257-4530, dwtheatre.com • SA (3/19), 8pm - StephaniesId, rock. $35/$30 student/$20 children. folkmoot friendshiP center 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville, 452-2997 • SA (3/19), 5pm - Barbecue dinner and bluegrass concert and Whitewater Bluegrass Company and fiddler Lillian Chase. Dinner at 5pm. Concert at 7pm. $20. hendersonVille chamBer music series 808-2314, hendersonvillechambermusic.org • SU (3/20), 3pm - “The Lives of the Piano,” Ivory Piano Trio performance. $20. Held at First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville music at unca 251-6432, unca.edu • TH (3/24), 7pm - “Voice of the Tunisian Revolution,” concert

by Emel Mathlouthi. $20/$8 local students/$6 UNC Asheville students. Held in Lipinsky Auditorium.

• TH (3/24), noon - Emel Mathlouthi master class. Free. Held in the Humanities Lecture Hall. music at wcu 227-2479, wcu.edu • WE (3/16), 7:30pm - David Bowie tribute concert with the WCU Guitar Ensemble. Free. Held in the Coulter Recital Hall.

• TH (3/17), 5:30pm - Concert by trombonist Jim Decker. Free. Held in the Coulter Recital Hall.

• FR (3/18), 12:20pm - Master class with trombonist Jim Decker. Free.

Held in the Coulter Recital Hall. transylVania community arts council 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 8842787, tcarts.org • THURSDAYS through (3/24), 2-3pm - Irish song workshop offered by Aoife Clancy.

Not held on Thursday, Mar. 17.

Registration required. $20. unitarian uniVersalist congregation of asheVille 1 Edwin Place, 254-6001, uuasheville.org • SU (3/20), 3pm – Berea College Folk Roots Ensemble performs. $10.

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theater 35Below 35 E. Walnut St., 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS (3/11) through (3/27), 7:30pm - Next to Normal. $20. anam cara theatre 545-3861, anamcaratheatre.com • TH (3/17) and FR (3/18), 8pm - The Government Inspector. $18/$15 advance. Held at Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road Suite B attic salt theatre comPany 505-2926 • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS until (3/20) - All in the Timing, by David Ives. Wed. - Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $14-$28. Held at NC Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane B4Peace b4peace.net, info@b4peace.net • TH (3/24), 7pm - War is a Racket 2016, one person show based on the book “War is a Racket.” Discussion after the show. $10. Held at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse, 227 Edgewood Road different strokes Performing arts collectiVe 275-2093, differentstrokespac.org • THURSDAY through SATURDAY until (3/19), 7:30pm - Glengarry Glen Ross. $18. Held at BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St. hendersonVille community theatre 229 S. Washington St., Hendersonville, 692-1082, hendersonvillelittletheater.org • FRIDAYS and SATURDAYS Through (3/19), 7pm - On the Border of Faerie: Two One-Act Plays presented by Canongate Catholic High School. $7/$10 couple/$25 family. montford Park Players 254-5146, montfordparkplayers.org • TH (3/24), 7:30pm - Dark Lady of the Sonnets and The Upstart Crow. $15. Held at Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway the magnetic theatre 375 Depot St., 279-4155 • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (3/17) until (4/9), 7:30pm - The Improbables (An Unlikely Comedy). $24/$21 advance. theater at wcu 227-2479, bardoartscenter.wcu.edu • TH (3/17), 7:30pm - Blackbeard’s Ghost and the Queen Ann’s Revenge, student production with members of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. $10. Held in the Bardo Fine Arts Center.

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g al l e RY D i Re ctoRY art at asu 262-3017, tcva.org • Through SA (6/4) - The Waterworks, sculptures by Jennifer Hecker. Held in the Turchin Center. art at BreVard college 884-8188, brevard.edu/art • Through (3/24) - Juried student art exhibition. Held in the Spiers Arts Gallery. art at mars hill mhu.edu • Through SA (5/31) - Margaret Morley photography exhibition. Held in the Rural Heritage Museum.

• Through FR (4/15) - Exhibition of the sculptures of Michael Neil Jacobsen and the drawings of Michael Anthony Riesch. Held in Weizenblatt Gallery. art at unca art.unca.edu • FR (3/18) through FR (4/1) - Annual juried student exhibition featuring works by members of Art Front, UNC Asheville’s student art organization. Opening reception: Friday, Mar. 18, 6-8pm. Held in the Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall.

• FR (3/18) through FR (4/1) - Open Hearts Art Center exhibition, curated by an interdisciplinary collective of

72

UNC Asheville students, faculty and other scholars. Held in the Second Floor Gallery of Owen Hall.

• Through FR (3/25) - The Tragedy of War: Japanese American Internment, exhibition on display from Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History and Holocaust Education. Held in the Karpen Hall lobby.

• Through TH (3/31) - Women’s History Month Art Exhibition: The Struggle of Everyday Living, paintings by Sahar Fakhoury. Held in the Highsmith Building Intercultural Gallery.

• Through FR (4/1) - Stone in Love: Seduction of the Orphan Past, photography and poetry by Oguz Erdur. Opening reception: Thursday, Mar. 17, 5-7pm. Held in Ramsey Library Blowers Gallery. arts council of henderson county 693-8504, acofhc.org • Through FR (3/18) - Artists of Tomorrow, exhibition of the art of Henderson County secondary students. Reception: Friday, Mar. 18, 5:30-7pm. Held at Art House Gallery & Studio, 5 Highland Park Road, East Flat Rock asheVille area arts council 1 Page Ave., 258-0710,

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

mountainx.com

ashevillearts.com • Through SA (4/2) - Thoughts of Home: Cultural Identity and the Evolution of an Artist Exhibition, exhibition of works of Vadim Bora and artists from the Caucasus Mountains of Russia.

• Through SA (4/2) - Meridional Topography: A Painting Exhibition by Perry Houlditch. asheVille art museum 2 N. Pack Square, 253-3227, ashevilleart.org • Through TU (5/31) - Vault Visible, exhibition of photographs from the extensive museum collection. asheVille Bookworks 428 1/2 Haywood Road, 255-8444, ashevillebookworks.com • Through FR (4/15) - The Elegant Statement, exhibition of 27 book artists and letterpress printers from across the US. asheVille gallery of art 82 Patton Ave., 251-5796, ashevillegallery-of-art.com • Through TH (3/31) - New Horizons, paintings of Anne Bonnyman, Cathyann Burgess and Johnnie Stanfield.

Bascom center for the arts 323 Franklin Road, Highlands, 5264949, thebascom.org • Through SU (5/22) - Exhibition of the paintings of Lucien Harris.

Reception: Saturday, April 30, 5-7pm.

Blue sPiral 1 38 Biltmore Ave., 251-0202, bluespiral1.com • Through FR (4/29) - PhotoCRAFT, photography and object exhibition.

• Through FR (4/29) - Kreh Mellick exhibition.

• Through FR (4/29) - Southeast Contemporary Textile exhibit. chestnut 48 Biltmore Ave., 575-2667 • Through TU (5/31) - Pastels in Nature, exhibit of the work of Elise Okrend. firestorm cafe and Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • Through TH (3/31) - Posada: Marigolds & Skulls, exhibition of the prints of Jose Guadalupe Posada.

JuBilee community church 46 Wall St., 252-5335, jubileecommunity.org • Through SU (3/20) - In Plain Sight, a photo journal of homelessness in Asheville benefitting the Haywood

street congregation.

Pink dog creatiVe 342 Depot St., pinkdog-creative.com • FR (3/18) through SU (5/22) - Orthogonal Convergence, exhibition of the photographs of Steve Mann. Opening Reception: Friday, Mar. 18, 5-8pm.

• Through SA (3/19) - 70s Vibe, group painting exhibition. tryon arts and crafts school 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, 859-8323 • Through WE (4/20) - Mixed media show.

Pisgah Brewing comPany 150 East Side Drive, Black Mountain, 669-0190, pisgahbrewing.com • Through TH (4/28) - Exhibition of the concert and festival photography of David Schimcock. A portion of proceeds from sales benefit leaF.

tryon fine arts center

Push skate shoP & gallery 25 Patton Ave., 225-5509, pushtoyproject.com • Through TU (3/29) - First Thoughts, multi medium group exhibition to benefit the Foundation in the River arts District.

uPstairs artsPace

satellite gallery 55 Broadway St., 305-2225, thesatellitegallery.com • Through TH (3/31) - Jeremy Phillips painting exhibition.

ZaPow!

trackside studios & gallery 375 Depot St., 545-2904, facebook. com/TracksideStudios375

34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 859-8322, tryonarts.org • Through FR (4/8) - Showcase of Excellence, juried high school art exhibition.

49 S. Trade St., Tryon, 859-2828, upstairsartspace.org • Through FR (4/22) - Have A Seat: Eight Designers of Contemporary Chairs, exhibition of contemporary chairs.

21 Battery Park Suite 101, 575-2024, zapow.net • Through (5/2) - Girls On The Run of WNC, multimedia art exhibition.

Contact the galleries for admission hours and fees.

cluBland wednesday, march 16 5 walnut wine Bar James Scott (West coast acoustic fingerstyle), 5pm Les Amis (African folk), 8pm

odditorium Plucky Walker w/ Nervous Dupree & Another Detroit is Happening (Hip Hop), 9pm off the wagon Piano show, 9pm

altamont Brewing comPany Zuzu Welsh (blues), 9pm altamont theatre Hustle Souls w/ Supatight (Southern soul), 8pm Barley’s taProom AMC Jazz Jam, 9pm

asheVille music hall Geeks Who Drink Trivia, 7pm

oliVe or twist Intermediate swing dance lessons w/ Bobby Wood, 7pm Beginning swing dance lesson w/ Bobby Wood, 7:30pm 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock), 8pm

Ben’s tune-uP Honky Tonk Wednesdays, 7pm

one world Brewing Billy Litz (multi-instrumentalist), 8pm

Black mountain ale house Play to Win game night, 7:30pm

room ix Fuego: Latin night, 9pm

Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Larry Dolamore (acoustic), 7pm

Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Open mic, 7pm

sanctuary Brewing comPany Jason Merritt (rock, pop, indie), 7pm

550 taVern & grille karaoke, 6pm

dark city deli Pool Tournament, 7:30pm douBle crown Honky-Tonk, Cajun, and Western w/ DJ Brody Hunt, 10pm firestorm cafe and Books Timbre (folk, rock), 9pm foggy mountain BrewPuB Michael Hefner & friends (folk), 9pm funkatorium John Hartford Jam (folk, bluegrass), 6:30pm good stuff Karaoke!, 6pm grey eagle music hall & taVern Mac Sabbath (Black Sabbath food parody), 9pm grind cafe Trivia night, 7pm highland Brewing comPany Woody Wood Wednesdays (rock, soul), 5:30pm iron horse station Ashley Heath (singer-songwriter), 6pm isis restaurant and music hall An Evening with Lauren Sheehan (roots, Americana), 7pm Alan Doyle & The Beautiful Gypsies (folk rock), 8:30pm

scully’s Sons of Ralph (bluegrass), 6pm sly grog lounge Tender mercy, Maya Goldblum, Nate Humphreys & Kinfolk (ambient-folk, indie-country), 8pm sol Bar new mountain ADBC presents Axiom Wednesdays (drum ’n’ bass), 9pm tallgary’s at four college Open mic & jam, 7pm Wu-Wednesdays (’90s hip-hop experience), 9pm the Block off Biltmore QuickChester (indie, folk, blues), 5pm the Joint next door Bluegrass jam, 8pm the millroom Flamenco nights w/ Juan Benavides Group, 9pm the national Simon Porter Project (funk, groove, soul), 9pm the Phoenix Jazz night, 8pm the social lounge Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm the southern Disclaimer Comedy open mic, 9pm tiger mountain Luxury Club & Mandara (rock), 10pm

Jack of the wood PuB Old-time session, 5pm

timo’s house “Spectrum AVL” w/ DamGood & rotating DJs, 9pm

laZy diamond Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10pm

town PumP Open mic w/ Billy Presnell, 10pm

lex 18 Andrew J. Fletcher (barrel house style stride piano), 7pm

trailhead restaurant and Bar Acoustic jam w/ Kevin Scanlon & Andrew Brophy (bluegrass, oldtime, Americana), 6pm

loBster traP Ben Hovey (dub-jazz, trumpet), 6:30pm lookout Brewery James Hammel (guitar, jazz, pop), 5:30pm mountain moJo coffeehouse Open mic, 6:30pm

Black mountain ale house Bluegrass Jam w/ The Big Deal Band & Blue Plate Special, 8pm

catawBa Brewing comPany St. Patrick’s Day Bend and Brew (yoga, beer tasting), 4pm cluB eleVen on groVe Tango lessons & practilonga w/ Tango Gypsies, 7pm Low-Down Sires (jazz), 8:30pm creekside taPhouse Singer-songwriter night w/ Riyen Roots, 8pm crow & Quill Carolina Catskins (gritty ragtime jazz), 10pm dark city deli Irish Session Players, 7pm douBle crown Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10pm elaine’s dueling Piano Bar Dueling Pianos, 9pm foggy mountain BrewPuB St. Patrick’s Day party w/ Flaw & Raw (soul, funk), 9pm french Broad Brewery Bluegrass Sweethearts (bluegrass), 6pm good stuff St. Patrick’s Day celebration, 12pm Momma Molasses (country, folk, indie), 6pm green man Brewery Grand Opening Celebration, 2pm grey eagle music hall & taVern Southern Soul & Rock ’n’ Roll: A Sampler From Muscle Shoals, 7pm highland Brewing comPany St. Patty’s Day w/ The Pipefitters & The Drake School of Irish Dance (Irish, Celtic), 6pm isis restaurant and music hall An evening w/ Quiles & Cloud (Americana, singer-songwriter), 7pm Nora Jane Struthers & the Party Line (Americana, bluegrass, oldtime), 8:30pm

tales from the road: Since forming in 2013, Americana chamber-pop trio Band Of Lovers has toured nonstop across America in its converted 1997 Dodge Van, letting the country’s landscape and legends seep into its music. The band’s road-wise tunes and heartfelt harmonies have earned play on NPR affiliates across the nation and led the Sacramento News & Review to claim “[they’ll] stop the everyday cynic in his or her tracks.” Band Of Lovers rolls into Black Mountain on Friday, March 18 for a 6:30 p.m. set at Lookout Brewing. market Place Ben Hovey (dub jazz, beats), 7pm

Brewery St. Patty’s Day w/ The Stipe Brothers, Dan Ruiz, Kent Rector & Jeff Hinkle (Irish jams, pop), 7pm

o.henry’s/the underground Game Night, 9pm Drag Show, 12:30am

sPring creek taVern Open Mic, 6pm tallgary’s at four college Open jam night w/ Jonathan Santos, 7pm

off the wagon Dueling pianos, 9pm

the Block off Biltmore Open mic night, 7:30pm

oliVe or twist Dance lesson w/ Ian & Karen, 8pm DJ Mike (eclectic mix, requests), 8:30pm

the mothlight The Moth: True Stories Told Live, 7:30pm the national The Jonathan Santos GlocalSoul Revival (open mic, jam), 9pm Soul Power! w/ Nex Millen (hip hop, funk, soul), 11:55pm

orange Peel Donna The Buffalo w/ City Of The Sun (zydeco, folk rock, country), 9pm

the Phoenix Celtic Conspiracy (Celtic, traditional Irish), 7:30pm timo’s house Thursday Request Live w/ Franco Nino, 9pm

oskar Blues Brewery Jason Lane (Americana), 6pm

tressa’s downtown JaZZ and Blues Blues & soul jam w/ Al Coffee & Da Grind, 8:30pm

Jack of the wood PuB Bluegrass jam, 7pm St. Paddy’s Day Celebration w/ The Red Wellies & Celtic jam session (Celtic, jam), 9pm

white horse Black mountain Wednesday Waltz, 7pm

laZy diamond Heavy Night w/ DJ Butch, 10pm

PurPle onion cafe Marshall Ballew & Wanda Lu Paxton (singer-songwriter), 7:30pm

lex 18 St. Patrick’s 1926 Irish Wake for Dr. E.W. Grove (vaudeville, ticketed event), 5:45pm

room ix Throwback Thursdays (all vinyl set), 9pm

noBle kaVa Open mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 9pm

thursday, march 17

o.henry’s/the underground “Take the Cake” Karaoke, 10pm

5 walnut wine Bar Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8pm

loBster traP Hank Bones (“The man of 1,000 songs”), 6:30pm

friday, march 18

odditorium PBR presents: St. Paddy’s Day Massacre (punk), 9pm

one stoP deli & Bar Streaming Thursdays (live concert showings), 6pm

Pisgah Brewing comPany The Screaming J’s (boogie-woogie, swing), 6pm

scandals nightcluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm southern aPPalachian

wxyZ lounge at aloft hotel Russ Wilson & Friends (swing, jazz), 8pm

185 king street Big Daddy Love (Appalachian rock), 9pm 5 walnut wine Bar Empire Strikes Brass Combo (brass funk), 9pm altamont Brewing comPany 5 Year Anniversary Party w/ Raising Caine (classic country), 9pm altamont theatre Soldier’s Heart & Sanctum Sully (folk, roots), 8pm asheVille music hall PitchBlak Brass Band w/ Philo (hiphop, brass band), 10pm

town PumP Chris Jamison’s Ghost (folk), 9pm

athena’s cluB Dave Blair (folk, funk, acoustic), 7pm DJ Shy Guy, 10pm

trailhead restaurant and Bar Open Cajun & swing jam w/ Steve Burnside, 7pm

Ben’s tune-uP Woody Wood & the Asheville Family Band (acoustic, folk, rock), 5pm

tressa’s downtown JaZZ and Blues Jesse Barry & Friends (blues, soul), 9pm

Black mountain ale house Stephen Evans (singer-songwriter), 8pm

twisted laurel Karaoke, 8pm

mountainx.com

Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Acoustic Swing, 7pm

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

73

cl u B l a n D

3/17 thu the moth: true stories told live 3/18 fri

plankeye peggy (album release) w/ wasted wine and more!

& big sound harbor

3/23

emily easterly

gold light (album release!) w/ grace joyner, dear blanca

3/25 fri

mount moriah

3/26 sat

supersuckers

3/27 sun

bongzilla

3/28 mon

onj.

w/ elephant micah

cork & keg Cafe Sho (Cajun, waltz), 8:30pm

elaine’s dueling Piano Bar Dueling Pianos, 9pm

w/ black cobra, kings destroy, lo-pan free!

Details for all shows can be found at

themothlight.com

Downtown on the Park

scully’s DJ, 10pm

highland Brewing comPany The Get Right Band (funk, jam, rock ’n’ roll), 7pm iron horse station Ben Wilson (Americana), 7pm isis restaurant and music hall An evening w/ Searson (Celtic, world), 7:30pm Annie and the Hot Club (swing), 9pm

lookout Brewery Band of Lovers (Americana, chamber, pop), 6:30pm

FRI. 3/18 DJ MoTo

mack kell’s PuB & grill The Marsha Morgan Band (rock, variety), 8pm

(dance, pop hits)

market Place The Sean Mason Trio (groove, jazz, funk), 7pm

SAT. 3/19 The Tailgaters

new mountain theater/ amPhitheater Earthcry, Push/Pull & Nematic (electronic), 10pm

(rock n’ roll)

o.henry’s/the underground Drag Show, 12:30am odditorium Stonecutters w/ Amnesis, Destroy The Facade & More (metal), 9pm

20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 PacksTavern.com 74

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

mountainx.com

Pisgah Brewing comPany Reasonably Priced Babies (improv comedy), 8pm

good stuff Alex Christie (singer-songwriter), 7pm

lex 18 St. Patrick’s 1926 Irish Wake for Dr. E.W. Grove (vaudeville, ticketed event), 5:45pm

ite game a t Pack’s!

Pack’s taVern DJ MoTo (dance, pop hits), 9pm

scandals nightcluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm

laZy diamond Totes Dope Tite Sick Jams w/ (ya boy) DJ Hot Noodle, 10pm

MARCH MA DNESS! a C tch your favor

oskar Blues Brewery Late Night Special (indie folk), 6pm

french Broad Brewery Bluebirds (bluegrass, folk), 6pm

Jerusalem garden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm

Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 13 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night

orange Peel Joe Lasher Jr. w/ Outshyne & Devils in Dust (country, Southern rock), 7:30pm

foggy mountain BrewPuB Big Deal Band (bluegrass), 10pm

Jack of the wood PuB St. Paddy’s Weekend w/ Don Merkle & The Blacksmith, Jonny Monster Band, The Shady Rest & Carolina Ceili (Celtic), 5pm

TAVERN

Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam (jam), 5pm Voodoo Visionary & The Groove Orient (funk, rock), 10pm

sanctuary Brewing comPany Jamison Adams (jam, funk, fusion), 7:30pm

grey eagle music hall & taVern Pretty Little Goat w/ Hogtown Squealers (old-time), 8pm

w/ jesse dayton

w/ gláss, the francis vertigo

catawBa Brewing south sloPe Chalwa (reggae, roots), 5:30pm

douBle crown DJ Greg Cartwright (garage & soul obscurities), 10pm

w/ diving circles, adrienne ammerman

3/24 thu

Boiler room Rebirth 33 w/ DJ Luis Armando (electronic), 10pm

crow & Quill Hearts Gone South (country, honkytonk), 9pm

3/19 sat dulci ellenberger wed

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

off the wagon Dueling pianos, 9pm one stoP deli & Bar

sly grog lounge Jeremy Eubanks, Mike Andersen & FurVer, 9pm sol Bar new mountain SOL Vibes w/ Wilsdorf, Kylo Riley & Citron (electronic), 9pm southern aPPalachian Brewery The Aaron Burdett Band (Americana), 8pm sPring creek taVern Chris Jamison (Americana), 8:30pm the admiral Hip-hop dance party w/ DJ Warf, 11pm the Block off Biltmore Live female art show w/ DJ Morphonic & DJ Snooze (downtempo, world, electronica), 7pm

white horse Black mountain Cabaret Jazz: Tenya Coleman, 8pm wild wing cafe south A Social Function (acoustic), 9:30pm wxyZ lounge at aloft hotel Ben Hovey (soul, jazztronica), 8pm ZamBra Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

saturday, march 19 185 king street Cody Siniard & Dem Boys (country), 9pm 5 walnut wine Bar Lyric (acoustic soul), 6pm Jordan Okrend Band (soul, rock, pop), 9pm american legion Post 47 The High Court Band (country, rock, blues), 7pm asheVille music hall Lights Out: Vol. 1 w/ Truth [B2B], The Widdler & Organik (electronic), 10pm athena’s cluB Michael Kelley Hunter (blues), 6:30pm DJ Shy Guy, 10pm Ben’s tune-uP Gypsy Guitars (acoustic, Gypsyjazz), 2pm Savannah Smith (southern soul), 8pm Black mountain ale house Todd Cecil & Back South (country, blues), 9pm Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Bob Zullo (acoustic), 7pm

the dugout Looking Glass (rock), 9pm

cluB eleVen on groVe R&B Dance Party, 10pm

the mocking crow NC 63 (house band, rock), 8pm

cork & keg 3 Cool Cats (50s & 60s rock tunes), 8:30pm

the mothlight Plankeye Peggy w/ Wasted Wine & more (experimental, pirate rock), 9pm the national Michael Smith & Datrian Johnson (acoustic, soul, r&b), 8pm DJ dance party w/ AJMAKNBEATS and Costardamus, 11pm the Phoenix Todd Cecil & BackSouth (cigar-box, swamp-rock), 9pm the social Steve Moseley (acoustic), 6pm tiger mountain Dark dance rituals w/ DJ Cliffypoo, 10pm timo’s house DJ Deven Balsam (electronic), 9pm town PumP H.R. Gertner & Ashley Heath (Americana, folk rock), 9pm tressa’s downtown JaZZ and Blues Leo & Virgo (strings, singer-songwriter), 7pm Virginia & The Slims (blues, jazz, swing), 10pm twisted laurel Live DJ, 11pm

crow & Quill Emma Berkeley, Stevie Lee Combs & Looking Forward Firewood (folk, singer-songwriter), 9pm diana wortham theatre Stephaniesid (rock), 8pm douBle crown Pitter Platter w/ DJ Big Smidge, 10pm elaine’s dueling Piano Bar Dueling Pianos, 9pm foggy mountain BrewPuB The Digs (soul, jazz), 10pm french Broad Brewery Bird in Hand (folk), 6pm good stuff Screaming J’s (boogie-woogie), 8pm green room cafe & coffeehouse Steve & Norm Duo (classic rock), 5:30pm grey eagle music hall & taVern Andy Wood w/ Southern Experience Band & Red Dirt Revelators (hard rock, country, bluegrass), 8pm

highland Brewing comPany Patrick Dodd (singer-songwriter), 3pm Hank West & The Smokin’ Hots (indie, exotica), 7pm iron horse station Dave Desmelik (Americana, folk, singer-songwriter), 7pm isis restaurant and music hall Lonesome River Band (bluegrass), 9pm Jack of the wood PuB St. Paddy’s Weekend Party w/ Tan & Sober Gentlemen & Lydia Luce (Irish punk-grass), 8pm Jerusalem garden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm

Mon.-Thur. 4pm-2am • Fri.-Sun. 2pm-2am

87 Patton Ave., Asheville

laZy diamond Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10pm lex 18 The Boys of Buncombe (Irish jigs, reels & drinking songs), 7:30pm loBster traP Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30pm market Place DJs (funk, R&B), 7pm

March

new mountain theater/amPhitheater Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead tribute), 10pm odditorium A Plagued Equinox Metal Fest, 9pm off the wagon Dueling pianos, 9pm

SOL BAR

oliVe or twist 42nd Street Band (big band jazz), 8pm Dance party (hip-hop, rap), 11pm

WEDNESDAY

orange Peel Kid Hop Hooray w/ Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (kid’s dance party), 10:30am Joe Hero (Foo Fighters tribute), 8pm

8PM SHOW

oskar Blues Brewery Calvin Get Down (funk), 6pm

9PM SHOW

PUSH/PULL + NUMATIK

FRIDAY

SOL BAR

3.16

3.18 3.18

Pisgah Brewing comPany Forlorn Strangers (Americana), 8pm

SATURDAY

THEATER

room ix Open dance night, 9pm

scandals nightcluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm scully’s DJ, 10pm sly grog lounge Rian Adkinson w/ Sparkle Motion (progressive rock), 9pm sol Bar new mountain Asheville Harry Potter Alliance’s Charity Ball benefitting Our VOICE (wizard rock), 7pm southern aPPalachian Brewery King Possum (Americana, folk), 8pm sPring creek taVern Sasha Gap w/ Fudd McKinney, Mark Schimick & Greg Howell, 8:30pm the admiral Soul night w/ DJ Dr. Filth, 11pm the Block off Biltmore Jeff Thompson (singer-songwriter, jazz, alt-rock), 7pm the dugout Mojomatic (funk, blues), 9pm the mocking crow NC 63 (house band, rock), 8pm

SOL VIBES

FEAT. WILSDORF

3.19

PHUNCLE SAM

SATURDAY

ABSTRACT AVL

9PM SHOW

Featuring

EARTHCRY +

8PM SHOW

PurPle onion cafe Roots and Dore (blues), 8pm

sanctuary Brewing comPany Carolina Bound (Americana, folk, country), 7:30pm

FREE DRUM N BASS THEATER

FRIDAY

Pack’s taVern The Tailgators (rock n’ roll), 9pm

ADBC’S AXIOM

3.19

7PM SHOW

BLUE RIDGE TAPROOM

FEAT. ORGATROID

THURSDAY

THEATER

FRIDAY

THEATER

3.24 SCARFACE ICON TOUR 9PM SHOW

Largest Selection of Craft Beer on Tap • 8 Wines

3.25

FEATURING

YHETI + CONRANK

3/17- St. Patty’s Day Celebration 3/19 - Release Party for Our First

9PM SHOW

MEDISIN + SELECTOR CLEOFUS

WEDNESDAY

THEATER

It’s a Yummy Imperial IPA!

9PM SHOW

3.30

Collaboration with Hi-Wire Brewing!

3/24 - Weyerbacher Pint Night Every Monday - Music Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm

On Tap! $4 Mimosa Sundays!

Serving food from Asheville Sandwich Company!

800 Haywood Road P o u r Ta p R o o m . c o m Monday - Thursday 2-11pm • Friday & Saturday 12-1am • Sunday 12-11pm

FRI - 4.8:

Coming Up:

FRI - 4.15: SAT - 4.16: FRI - 4.22: 5.20 - 5.22

mountainx.com

TWIDDLE

+ UNIVERSAL SIGH

THE MANTRAS + JAHMAN BRAHMAN DOPAPOD + THE FRITZ DOPAPOD + TURKUAZ NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE LEFTOVER SALMON’S BLUE RIDGE JAM

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

75

Wed • March 16 Woody Wood @ 5:30pm

Dinner Menu till 10pm Late Night Menu till

Thur• March 17 St. Patrick’s Day w/ The Pipefitters @ 6pm

Tues-Sun

5pm–12am

Full Bar

12am

COMING SOON

Hank West & the Smokin Hots

WED 3/16 – 7:00 PM AN EVENING WITH LAUREN SHEEHAN

@ 7pm

Sun• March 20 Reggae Sunday

8:30 PM – ALAN DOYLE &

THE BEAUTIFUL GYPSIES

Hosted by Dennis Berndt of Chalwa @ 1pm

THU 3/17

Tues• March 22 Team Trivia

7:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH QUILES & CLOUD 8:30 PM – NORA JANE STRUTHERS

with Dr. Brown @ 6pm

AND THE PARTY LINE FRI 3/18 7:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH SEARSON

9:00 PM – ANNIE AND THE HOT CLUB

“SMOKIN’ HOT SWING” SAT 3/19

8:00 PM – LONESOME RIVER BAND

JACK OF THE

WOOD PUB

#1 Pub Grub #2 Bar for Live Music

7PM $10

ST. PADDYS WEEKEND CONTINUES!

DON MERKLE & THE BLACKSMITHS

w/ JONNY MONSTER BAND, SHADY REST & CAROLINA CEILI

5PM $7

TUE 3.22

CD RELEASE CELEBRATION WED 3/23 7:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH TIM GRIMM 8:30 PM – ITALIAN NIGHT WITH

MIKE GUGGINO AND BARRETT SMITH THU 3/24

ST. PADDYS DAY CELEBRATION w/ THE RED WELLIES (TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC & CELTIC JAM SESSION ALL AFTERNOON)

SAT 3.19

ST. PADDYS STILL GOING STRONG:

w/ LYDIA LUCE

7:00 PM – ANDY FERRELL CD RELEASE PARTY WITH JACKSON EMMER FRI 3/25 – 7:00 PM AN EVENING WITH THE SWEET LILLIES 9:00 PM – FLOOD:

ELECTRIC HERBIE HANCOCK TRUBUTE SAT 3/26 7:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH AMY STEINBERG 9:00 PM – JEFFERY BROUSSARD

TAN & SOBER GENTLEMEN 5PM $7

AND THE CREOLE COWBOYS

Every Tuesday

4TH ANNUAL PISGAH AREA SORBA BENEFIT

7:30pm–midnite

BLUEGRASS SESSIONS

w/ UPSTATE RUBDOWN & THE MATCHSELLERS BLUEGRASS BAND

5PM FREE (Donations Encouraged)

Every Sunday

JAZZ SHOWCASE

OPEN AT NOON DAILY

95 PATTON at COXE • Downtown Asheville

252.5445 • jackofthewood.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

timo’s house Vinyl Revisions 4 w/ Lamorte, Shuka & Quad Z (electronic), 9pm town PumP Ellerbe’s Own (rock, soul, funk), 9pm tressa’s downtown JaZZ and Blues The King Zeros (blues), 7:30pm The Marsha Morgan Blues Band (blues), 10pm twisted laurel Live DJ, 11pm white horse Black mountain Saint Patrick’s Day Party, 5pm wild wing cafe Karaoke, 8pm wxyZ lounge at aloft hotel Hank West and the Smokin’ Hots (jazz exotica), 8pm ZamBra Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

sunday, march 20 5 walnut wine Bar Steelin’ Time (vintage steel guitar), 7pm altamont Brewing comPany School of Rock Concert w/ Patrick Dodd (rock), 3pm Ben’s tune-uP Reggae night w/ Dub Kartel, 8pm Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Patrick Fitzsimons (blues, folk), 7pm Bywater Cornmeal Waltz w/ Robert Greer (classic country, bluegrass), 6pm crow & Quill Beards of Valencia (poetry, music & art), 8pm diana wortham theatre An Evening w/ Travis Tritt (country), 8pm douBle crown Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 9pm grey eagle music hall & taVern Marc Broussard w/ Jenn Grinels & Peter Aristone (soul, rock, “swamp pop”), 8pm iron horse station Mark Shane (R&B), 6pm isis restaurant and music hall Sunday Classical Brunch, 11am Pan Harmonia presents “Counterparts: Bassoon & Sax” (classical), 5:30pm

SATURDAY Parker & Smith (old-fashioned blues), 2-4pm SUNDAY Celtic Irish session 3-9pm MONDAY Quizzo! 7:30-9pm • WEDNESDAY Old-Time 5pm SINGER SONGWRITERS 1st & 3rd Tuesdays THURSDAY Scottie Parker (old-fashioned blues) 2-4pm, Bluegrass Jam 7pm

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the mothlight Dulci Ellenberger & Big Sound Harbor w/ Emma’s Lounge (Americana, folk, pop), 9pm

the Phoenix Get Right Band (rock, funk), 9pm

Sat• March 19 Patrick Dodd @ 3pm/

FRI 3.18

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

the national Naked Scholar (neo soul, R&B), 7pm In Plain Sight (house, dance), 10pm

Fri• March 18 The Get Right Band @ 7pm

WED 3.17

cl u B l a n D

743 HAYWOOD RD 828-575-2737 ISISASHEVILLE.COM

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Jack of the wood PuB Irish session, 5pm

laZy diamond Tiki Night w/ DJ Lance (Hawaiian, surf, exotica), 10pm

5 walnut wine Bar Siamese Jazz Club (soul, R&B, jazz), 8pm

lex 18 Michael John Jazz (jazz for lovers), 7pm

altamont Brewing comPany Old-time jam w/ Mitch McConnell, 6:30pm

loBster traP Hunnilicious (Americana, country, folk), 6:30pm

Bywater Open mic w/ Rick Cooper, 8pm

odditorium A Plagued Equinox Metal Fest (metal), 9pm

courtyard gallery Open mic (music, poetry, comedy, etc.), 8pm

off the wagon Piano show, 9pm

creekside taPhouse Trivia, 7pm

one stoP deli & Bar Bluegrass brunch w/ Woody Wood, 11am Sundays w/ Bill & Friends (Grateful Dead tribute, acoustic), 5pm

dark city deli Trivia Night, 7:30pm

orange Peel The Front Bottoms w/ Thin Lips & Magic Mike [SOLD OUT], 8pm

good stuff Open mic w/ Laura Thurston, 7pm

Pisgah Brewing comPany Sunday Travers Jam (open jam), 5pm sanctuary Brewing comPany Carolina Catskins (ragtime, Appalachian swing), 3pm

douBle crown Country Karaoke, 10pm

grey eagle music hall & taVern Contra dance (lessons, 7:30pm), 8pm Jack of the wood PuB Quizzo, 7pm

scandals nightcluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm

lexington aVe Brewery (laB) Kipper’s “Totally Rad” Trivia night, 8pm

sly grog lounge Sunday Open Mic (open to poets, comedians & musicians), 7:30pm

loBster traP Bobby Miller & Friends (bluegrass), 6:30pm

southern aPPalachian Brewery Spin Sessions w/ DJ Robin Tolleson, 4pm

o.henry’s/the underground Geeks Who Drink trivia, 7pm

tallgary’s at four college Jason Brazzel (acoustic), 6pm the Block off Biltmore William DeHaro (world music), 6:30pm the national Spring patio party w/ live funk band, 12pm the omni groVe Park inn Lou Mowad (classical guitar), 10am Bob Zullo (pop, rock, blues), 7pm the social Get Vocal Karaoke, 9:30pm the social lounge DJ Kyusi on vinyl (old school triphop, deep house, acid jazz), 8pm the southern Yacht Rock Brunch w/ DJ Kipper, 12pm timo’s house Bring Your Own Vinyl (open decks), 8pm town PumP Emme Berkey & Stevie Lee Combs (blues, country, folk-punk), 9pm wedge Brewing co.

Vollie McKenzie & Hank Bones (acoustic jazz-swing), 6pm white horse Black mountain Don Dixon & Marti Jones (rock), 7:30pm

monday, march 21 185 king street Open mic night, 7pm

odditorium A Plagued Equinox Metal Fest (metal), 9pm oliVe or twist 2 Breeze Band (Motown), 6pm orange Peel Tortoise w/ Mind Over Mirrors (rock, experimental, jazz fusion), 9pm oskar Blues Brewery Mountain Music Mondays (open jam), 6pm soVereign remedies Stevie Lee Combs (acoustic), 8pm the national 80s DJ service industry night, 10pm the omni groVe Park inn Bob Zullo (pop, rock, blues), 7pm the Valley music & cookhouse Monday Pickin’ Parlour (open jam, open mic), 8pm tiger mountain Service industry night (rock ’n’ roll), 9pm timo’s house Movie night, 7pm urBan orchard Old-time music, 7pm

tuesday, march 22 5 walnut wine Bar The John Henrys (hot jazz), 8pm altamont Brewing comPany Open mic w/ Kelly Hoppenjans, 8:30pm

asheVille music hall Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 11pm

iron horse station Open mic, 6pm

Back yard Bar Open mic & jam w/ Robert Swain, 8pm

isis restaurant and music hall Tuesday bluegrass sessions, 7:30pm

Black Bear coffee co.

Round Robin acoustic open mic, 7pm Black mountain ale house Trivia, 7pm Blue mountain PiZZa & Brew PuB Mark Bumgarner (Americana), 7pm Buffalo nickel Trivia, 7pm cork & keg WNC Humanists present Roy Zimmerman (singersongwriter, leftist comedy), 7pm

Jack of the wood PuB 4th annual Pisgah Area Sorba benefit w/ Upstate Rubdown & The Matchsellers Bluegrass Band (Appalachian soul), 5pm laZy diamond Classic Rock ’n Roll Karaoke, 10pm lex 18 Bob Strain & Bill Fouty (jazz ballads & standards), 7pm

loBster traP Jay Brown (acoustic-folk, singer-songwriter), 6:30pm

orange Peel Post Malone [POSTPONED TO 4/30], 9pm

the Phoenix Singer-songwriter Night, 8pm

sanctuary Brewing comPany Team trivia & tacos, 7pm

the social lounge Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm

sly grog lounge Enigmatic Foe (70s & 80s rock), 8pm

town PumP Drew Gibson (singer-songwriter), 9pm

off the wagon Rock ’n’ roll bingo, 8pm

tallgary’s at four college Jam night, 9pm

oliVe or twist Tuesday Night Blues Dance w/ The Remedy (dance lesson at 8), 8:30pm

the Block off Biltmore Jazz-n-Justice w/ Q Day & Alina Quu (benefit for House of Balance), 7:30pm

tressa’s downtown JaZZ and Blues Funk & jazz jam w/ Pauly Juhl, 8:30pm

one stoP deli & Bar Turntable Tuesdays (DJs & vinyl), 10pm

the national Live Jazz, 9pm

market Place Bob Zullo (pop, rock, blues), 7pm odditorium Odd comedy night, 9pm

urBan orchard Billy Litz (Americana, singer-songwriter), 7pm white horse Black mountain Irish sessions & open mic, 6:30pm

creekside taPhouse Old School Low Down Blues Tues. w/ Matt Walsh, 6pm crow & Quill Champagne Wilson & the Corkscrews (rowdy hot jazz), 10pm dark city deli Ping Pong Tournament, 6pm douBle crown Honky-Tonk, Cajun, and Western w/ DJ Brody Hunt, 10pm good stuff Old time-y night, 6:30pm grey eagle music hall & taVern Ointment Appointment w/ Egg Eaters & Quickchester (rock ’n’ roll), 8pm highland Brewing comPany Dr. Brown’s Team Trivia, 6pm

mountainx.com

maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

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moVies

CrankY Hanke reVieWs & listings

BY KEN HANKE, JUSTIN SOUTHER & SCOTT DOUGLAS

HHHHH = PicK of the weeK

A scene from Isao Takahata’s glorious Only Yesterday.

Only Yesterday HHHHH

DiRectoR: Isao Takahata plaYeRs: (Voices) Daisy Ridley, Dev Patel. Alison Ferandez, Hope Levy, Mona Marshall DRama Rated PG tHe stoRY: Past and present collide when a 27-year-old office worker goes to the country for a vacation and remembers her childhood. tHe lowDown: An absolutely magnificent animated romantic drama that captures the essence of how our past informs our present.

Touching, funny, realistic and quite wonderful.

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maRcH 16 - maRcH 22, 2016

That the best movie out there right now is 25 years old is no great surprise, considering the time of year.

Regardless, for reasons unknown to me, Isao Takahata’s magnificent Only Yesterday (1991) is only now getting a proper release in this country — and outfitted with a brand new (and very good) English-language soundtrack.

When I settled in to watch this, I had no idea what to expect, and, in all honesty, it took a while for it to take hold of me.

Frankly, this is one of those films that’s hard to judge — especially to judge the impact — until you’ve seen it all the way through once. Those of you who read the “Weekly Reeler” or listen to Jeff Messer’s radio show at 5 p.m. on

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|

C O N TA C T AT P R E S S M O V I E S @ A O L . C O M

m a x r at i n g

Fridays know that I’ve been singing the praises of Only Yesterday already — and regretting not being able to get my review in print for its opening weekend. This is a very special film that deserves all the support it can get.

I tend to think that review aggregation sites are one of the worst things ever to come down the pike, but this fully deserves its 100 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Put in the simplest possible terms, this is nothing like your usual animated film — even your usual Studio Ghibli offering. There are no talking animals, no outrageous flights of fantasy. (The closest the film gets to this is a scene where our main character floats off in the blush of first love, or something like it.) Instead we get a drama of no little style and substance that moves back and forth between our main character, 27-year-old Taeko (Daisy Ridley), in the present (1982) and her memories of her childhood in 1966 and her “fifth grade self.” There are no great adventures.

No kingdoms are at stake.

This is “merely” about real life. More specifically, it’s about how our past informs our present — the cross-references made clear by the shifting time frame — and about how the shared enthusiasms and experiences of that past serve to connect us to new people, e.g., the immediate bond over a shared favorite childhood TV show. It also touches on the regrets we carry with us and things that we wish we had handled better, or at least differently. (A 1966 sequence involving an impoverished boy is especially poignant in this regard.)

The film touches on everything from Beatlemania to Taeko’s incipient childhood romances, her desire to be an actress — and even getting her first period. Walt Disney would have keeled over at the idea of this being discussed in an animated film. But this is not really a film for children — at least not younger children. I say this not because I think anyone is likely to take offense at anything in Only Yesterday, merely because it requires a certain amount of life-experience for it to work.

Only Yesterday is structured around its 1982 framing story where Taeko is

taking her vacation in the country on a farm owned by relatives. This is a place she has been in the past, and, in fact, the attentive young organic farmer Toshio (Dev Patel) remembers her, even though he’s the younger of the two. While their story — which is, yes, a love story — takes center stage in the latter portions of the film, what’s happening is a lot deeper with Taeko trying to find her place in the world — something she hasn’t really done in Tokyo.

The big thing to remember about Only Yesterday is that it is not a film in a hurry. I don’t mean it’s slow, but it’s perfectly content to move at a measured pace where even a digression about harvesting and drying safflowers to make rouge doesn’t disturb the flow. There’s something strangely soothing about the film that I find impossible to explain, except perhaps to note that its rural landscape is so beautifully achieved that it almost seems you can feel the summer breeze and smell the odors of nature.

Even that doesn’t explain it, but I suspect you will understand if you see the film. And if you do, and you certainly should, go to Only Yesterday — you have to sit through the credits to see the actual end of the story. Rated PG for thematic elements, some rude behavior and smoking.

Playing at Carolina Cinemas. reViewed By ken hanke khanke@mountainx.com

10 Cloverfield Lane HHH

DiRectoR: Dan Trachtenberg

Players: John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin, Suzanne Cryer sci-fi horror Rated PG-13 The Story: A young woman awakes from an accident to find herself in an underground bunker where she’s told the world above has fallen prey to some kind of cataclysm that makes it uninhabitable.

The Lowdown: This sort-of, kissing-cousin, pseudo-sequel to Cloverfield is really two movies joined together with very visible seams. It’s not awful, but it’s not really something to recommend either.

There’s no denying that Dan Trachtenberg’s 10 Cloverfield Lane is better than its sort-of ancestor Cloverfield (2008), but then I’ve seen home movies that were better than Cloverfield. What we have here is basically an artificially enlarged Twilight Zone episode — from an “original” and unrelated script that has been retrofitted to tie in with the Cloverfield story in the final reel. And it’s all served up with a lacquer coating of J.J. Abrams’ particular brand of “secrecy,” which is to say that none of the promos supposedly tell you what the film is about. Banana oil. The truth is that, if you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve got a pretty good handle on the story and the kind of movie this is. The tackedon Cloverfield-iana is little more than the sort of twist you might expect from M. Night Shyamalan — except, of course, that you’ve been primed to expect a link to the earlier movie, so it’s not really a twist.

With or without the Cloverfield business, 10 Cloverfield Lane isn’t a bad movie, merely a predictable and largely mediocre one. It’s a little like Jeff Nichols’ Take Shelter (2011) minus any pretense to artsiness. The setup is pretty basic: Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is in a nicely staged car accident and wakes up on a mattress in a bare room, with a brace on her leg and a chain holding her to the wall. This is not the sort of thing to engender a feeling of safety or good fellowship. As a result, she’s naturally wary of the motives of her benefactor-captor, Howard (John Goodman), who explains he rescued her from the wreck and brought her here. “Here” is a survivalist’s dream bunker — scads of food, electricity, running water, creature comforts, diversions — where they are holed up following some cataclysmic event in the world above. Howard vaguely postulates that it’s some kind

chemical or nuclear war, but maintains that they — and a third, self-invited companion, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr., Short Term 12) — are quite safe and can wait out however long it takes for the world to become habitable again.

This aspect of the film is serviceable enough, assuming you have a taste for rather claustrophobic games of cat and mouse. It’s clear from the onset that Howard — right or wrong about the outside world — is, at the very least, mildly deranged. He’s obviously not entirely truthful, and his slightly puritanical view of things — a demented Norman Rockwell-like vision — tends to make him prone to strange outbursts.

But then, knowing what kind of thriller we’ve come to see, we already know his outward bonhomie is a deception. And if we don’t, the fact that John Goodman plays Howard much the way he played Karl “Madman” Mundt in Barton Fink (1991) might provide a clue. The major questions are: how long it will be before mayhem ensues; and, of course, what really lies outside. How you’ll feel about the latter is open to question.

The truth is that it’s massively OK, despite the fact that its biggest “scares” are courtesy of the musical stings in Bear McCreary’s score. Sure, they work in passing, but it’s not that hard to startle a viewer in this manner. The fact that McCreary’s score is otherwise intensely creepy makes it all seem a little more fair.

The acting of the three main (and virtually only) characters is solid throughout. If nothing else, the fact that this completely eschews the found-footage, shaky-cam, conniption-fit format of its predecessor earns it a higher place at the table of cinematic glory. But, really, 10 Cloverfield Lane isn’t that much better than the sort of sci-fi horror offering you can find by browsing Netflix. Rated PG-13 for thematic material, including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language.

Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemas, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande. reviewed by Ken Hanke khanke@mountainx.com

Creative Control

HHHS

Director: Benjamin Dickinson Players: Benjamin Dickinson, Nora Zehetner, Dan Gill, Alexia Rasmussen, Reggie Watts drama satire Rated R The Story: A pill-popping advertising executive gets involved with a new form of “virtual reality” in the course of his work.

The Lowdown: You’d be hard pressed to find a better looking movie and a more interesting premise. But, dramatically, the film suffers from unlikable characters and a certain smugness.

Whatever else co-writer, director and star Benjamin Dickinson’s Creative Control is, it is one of the most gorgeouslooking films out there — shot in gleaming black and white, with occasional touches of color in moments of fantasy (not unlike Coppola’s 2009 Tetro). It has a coolly classical, formal filmmaking style that is seductive, to say the least, though it’s not really enhanced by the overly familiar doses of Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart on the soundtrack. (This may be a comment on the superficial nature of the characters.) It is more than a little indebted to Kubrick on many levels, especially in its visuals.

(There is a direct, if thematically vague, reference to The Shining at one point.)

OK, at this point, I seem pretty sold on the film — and, in one sense, I am — but its vaguely sci-fi premise (set in “nearfuture Brooklyn”) becomes off-putting pretty fast.

Worse, the film doesn’t provide a single likable character, making the whole thing as hard to care about as it is easy to admire. What we end up with is a kind of Scenes from the Lives of Upscale Brooklyn Hipsters, with all the substance that suggests. That it attempts to satirize these barely futuristic hipsters would be more convincing if the satire had any teeth. But it’s too dispassionate for that, while seemingly too much a part of the very thing it purports to find, at best, ridiculous and, at worst, one huge void. It doesn’t help that Dickinson wears so many hats in the making of the movie that it feels a little like a vanity project, though that may be peculiarly apt in a film that devotes a great deal of its time to high-tech masturbation.

Dickinson plays David, an excessively groomed, pill-popping advertising man who is coping with a demanding client over the ad campaign for something called Phalinex — an inhalable (read: vapable) anti-anxiety drug with a laundry list of side effects. The scenes where

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T HEATE R LISTINGS Friday, january 8 Thursday, january 14 Due to possible scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. (254-1281) The Good Dinosaur (PG) 1:00, 4:00 Point Break (PG-13) 10:00 Spotlight (R) 7:00

Carmike Cinema 10 (298-4452) Carolina Cinemas (274-9500) 10 Cloverfield Lane (PG-13) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 The Bronze (R) 12:05, 2:35, 4:50, 7:05, 9:30 The Brothers Grimsby (R) 10:30 Creative Control (R) 2:55, 7:45 Deadpool (R) 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 The Divergent Series: Allegiant (PG-13) 11:05, 12:05, 1:50, 3:00, 4:35, 5:45, 7:20, 8:30, 10:05, 11:15 Eddie the Eagle (PG-13) 10:55, 3:30 Hail, Caesar! (PG-13) 12:20, 7:00 The Lady in the Van (PG-13) 11:35, 1:55, 4:25, 6:55, 9:35 London Has Fallen (R) 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:50, 10:20 Miracles from Heaven (PG) Starts Wed. 11:25, 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45 The Revenant (R) 3:15, 9:25 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (R) 11:50, 2:20, 4:55, 7:25, 10:10 The Witch (R) 1:20, 5:55, 8:05, 10:15 Zootopia 2D (PG) 11:30, 12:50, 2:05, 3:25, 4:40, 6:00, 7:35, 8:35

Co-ed Cinema Brevard (883-2200) The Young Messiah (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00

Epic of Hendersonville (6931146) Fine Arts Theatre (232-1536) Embrace of the Serpent (NR) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late Show Fri-Sat 9:40 The Lady in the Van (PG-13) 4:20 Where to Invade Next (R) 1:20, 7:20, Late Show Fri-Sat 9:45

Flatrock Cinema (697-2463) (R) Eddie the Eagle (PG-13) 4:00, 7:00 (Closed Monday) The Lady in the Van (PG-13) 1:00 (Sat-Sun only)

Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 (684-1298) United Artists Beaucatcher (298-1234)

MARCH 16 - MARCH 22, 2016

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movies they shoot and reshoot the commercial — accentuating more and more keywords with each take — actually are pretty funny. (It’s no surprise that Dickinson’s background is in TV commercials.) But this is almost a side issue, since the film is mostly about Reggie Watts’ (played by Reggie Watts as a wigged-out, latterday Steve Jobs — 1960s burnout variety) new invention, Augmenta. This is the latest word in virtual reality, rebranded as “augmented reality.”

Naturally, David falls prey to the device’s temptations to live vicariously, which here never amounts to much more than wanking fantasy dalliances with his rather repellent best friend’s (Dan Gill) much-cheated-on girlfriend Sophie (Alexia Rasmussen).

Unsurprisingly, David quickly — too quickly — neglects his yoga instructor girlfriend (Nora Zehetner) and starts having trouble separating his augmented fantasy sex life from reality. How well this will work for you is going to depend a great deal, I suspect, on how much you can identify with the characters.

On the one hand, it feels a little like Alex Garland’s Ex Machina (2015) and a little like Spike Jonze’ Her (2013).

On the other hand, it has a lot in common with such 1960s advertising satires as David Swift’s Good Neighbor Sam (1964) and Michael Winner’s I’ll Never Forget What’s’isname (1967) — being neither as funny as either, nor as truly corrosive as the latter. At best, it’s a beautiful-looking mixed bag that is more interesting than successful, but it is interesting and beautiful, and worth seeing on that basis. Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and drug use.

Starts Friday at Carolina Cinemas. reviewed by Ken Hanke khanke@mountainx.com

Embrace of the Serpent

HHHHS

Director: Ciro Guerra (The Wind Journeys) Players: Nilbio Torres, Jan Bijvoet,

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MARCH 16 - MARCH 22, 2016

Antonio Bolivar, Brionne Davis, Yauenkü Migue fact-based mystical adventure drama Rated NR The Story: Intercut parallel journeys through the Amazon by two ethnographers in different eras.

The Lowdown: Rich and strange mystical film that is filled to the bursting point with dream images and bizarre characters. It’s always a pleasure to look at and is endlessly intriguing, but it can’t quite pull off its ending.

Colombian filmmaker Ciro Guerra’s Oscar-nominated Embrace of the Serpent hits town this week, and it is something to behold. Filled with dream imagery, never-quite-explained symbolism, and a collection of weird (and inhospitable) characters that might have emerged from Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust or the more feverish fever dreams of Werner Herzog — with more than a little of Mr. Coppola’s Apocalypse Now around the edges.

(There’s also something of Kubrick’s 2001 and Ken Russell’s Altered States in the mix.) Fascinating? You bet. But some may find it a bit much of a muchness, as they say. While I have a few minor — and one pretty major — quibbles with the film, I didn’t mind its somewhat overstuffed nature.

Photographed (primarily) in glistening black and white (with an outburst of color near the end), Guerra’s film is drawn from the journals of two 20th century ethnographers, German Theodore Koch-Grunberg (Jan Bivet) and American Richard Evans Schultes (Brionne Davis) who traveled the Amazon in 1909 and the 1940s respectively. As Guerra has it, the intercut, parallel stories are connected by a common search for a healing plant called the yakruna — and both use the same not entirely trusting shaman guide, Karamakate (played as a young man

by Nilbio Torres and as an old man by Antonio Bolivar). The two stories play off each other, and both more or less take the point of view of Karamakate.

The young Karamakate initially wants nothing to do with Theo, and the pleas of Theo’s westernized guide, Manduca (Yauenkü Miguee), that without the plant the white man will die have no impact. However, Theo’s claim to be able to help Karamakate find what’s left of his tribe turns the trick, and the shaman doses Theo with some weird inhalant to get the ailing man through the trip. On the other side of the story, the older Karamakate is reluctant to help Evan — claiming to have forgotten everything he once knew and to no

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longer be able to speak with nature. But he, too, proves malleable in the end.

Essentially, we make the same journey twice — only completely learning the truth of the first journey near the end. We encounter the same landmarks — most notably a Catholic mission, where during the first trip we encounter indigenous orphans (thanks to the rubber barons) being force-fed Christianity by the priests. Karamakate cautions the children not to believe the priests’ “crazy tales about eating the body of their gods” — not quite the sort of thing to endear him to the Catholics.

What we encounter on the later journey is perhaps even more disturbing, with its cult built around a self-proclaimed and clearly deranged messiah.

Both are strange journeys into a strange land in a strange movie — one that is much more curious than the usual anti-colonialism base of such undertakings. Oh, that’s in here, but it’s only part of what Embrace of the Serpent is about, and by no means the most important part. No, this film has something far more mystical at bottom.

This is both its strength and its weak spot. Finally, the film aims for something transcendent, but it either lacks the budget or Guerra lacks the vision to pull off what’s required. It’s frankly a letdown, but it can’t quite dispel the compelling strangeness that precedes it.

I’m not sure anything could. Not Rated.

Starts Friday at Fine Arts Theatre. reviewed by Ken Hanke khanke@mountainx.com

The Bronze HHHS

Director: Bryan Buckley Players: Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Haley Lu Richardson, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan raunch rom com Rated R The Story: A bronze medalist Olympic gymnast — and longtime local celebrity — is forced by circumstances to train a more-promising young contender.

The Lowdown: When the film gets past its often noxious first 40 minutes and becomes a more appealing story, this raunchy rom-com comes into its own. But those first 40 minutes can be tough.

If you’ve seen the trailer for Bryan Buckley’s The Bronze, you have probably have decided against this film. While I can’t exactly encourage you to rethink matters, I will say that the film is considerably better than the trailer — at least eventually. The first 40 minutes is pretty much in the key established by the trailer, which is to say, fitfully amusing and with no hint of a character to much care about in sight. It milks the concept of presenting Melissa Rauch (from TV’s The Big Bang Theory) as former Olympic bronze medalist gymnast Hope Gregory, a self-absorbed, foulmouthed, downright mean creature living on the fumes of her past thirdplace glory for far more than it’s worth. Yes, some of it is funny — like Hope stealing birthday card money out of her mailman dad’s (Gary Cole) truck and her ability to retain local celebrity status (mostly limited to a parking space, free milkshakes and apparent shoplifting privileges). But it’s also unpleasant, shrill and forced, and 40 minutes of that tone is more than enough.

However, if you stick with The Bronze, it morphs into something more palatable in its second half — more ordinary perhaps, but definitely more likable. I suspect that Rauch and her co-writer husband Winston think they have crafted something fresher and more surprising than they have. (If you can’t guess the secondact twist, I will be mightily surprised.)

But, ultimately, they’ve come up with a pretty standard personal-redemption romantic comedy that’s only moderately different thanks to a high-gloss coat of raunchiness. Frankly, considering the tone of the earlier sections, that’s probably in the film’s favor.

The basic notion is that Hope’s standing as the local celebrity is challenged by up-and-coming young gymnast Maggie Townsend (TV actress Haley Lu Richardson) — a perpetually sunny Mary Lou Retton type who, of course, dotes on Hope. When her coach (who was also Hope’s coach) dies, Hope gets sucked into training Maggie on the strength of a promise of a $500,000 inheritance from her old coach if she does. Since the bequest makes it clear that results don’t matter, only that Hope see the job through, she opts to be endlessly offensive and sabotage her trusting young charge. Events prevent this when Hope’s old nemesis, gold medal gymnast Lance Tucker (Sebastian Stan), threatens to take over the training. Hope cleans up her act and, with the aid of nerdy Ben Lowfort (Thomas Middleditch) — whom Hope

calls “Twitchy” because of his facial tic — manages the job, creating her own worst nightmare in the process.

Chances are you can guess how all this will play out (including the second twist previously noted, though you might miss the other twist), but that doesn’t keep The Bronze from being a fairly appealing film in the final analysis. It’s even pretty shrewd in managing the inevitable transformation of Hope, although it does fall prey to the standard rom-com penultimate reel of gloom. I may be overrating the film a little, since it turned out so much better than it appeared it was going to. And it is by no means flawless. That first 40 minutes weighs heavily over it, and first-time feature helmer Bryan Buckley (best known for Super Bowl ads) isn’t able to sustain the feeling of a consistent tone. (In fairness, he has made a nicelooking film that captures small-town America, and is clearly sympathetic to his characters.) But the simple truth is that I enjoyed The Bronze far more than I didn’t. Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and some drug use.

Starts Friday at Carolina Cinemas. reViewed By ken hanke khanke@mountainx.com

The Brothers Grimsby HHHS

DiRectoR: Louis Leterrier plaYeRs: Sacha Baron Cohen, Mark Strong, Isla Fisher, Rebel Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane RauncHY comeDY spY spooF Rated R tHe lowDown: A collection of raunchy, vile, gross, disgusting, offensive gags — many of which are actually offensive and funny at the same time — packed into a spyspoof that is not recommended for the easily outraged or offended, or those with delicate sensibilities.

Before getting into the merits, or lack thereof, of the film, I want readers to distinctly understand that The Brothers Grimsby does everything it can to shock, offend, outrage, appall and even disgust the viewer. Know this before even considering going into the theater. This is a hard-R affront to the sensibilities.

This is a movie that gets a great of mileage out of Sacha Baron Cohen and, especially, Mark Strong being doused in elephant semen while hiding inside a female elephant’s vagina. (Hey, if DiCaprio can get an Oscar for sleeping inside a dead horse ...) And, no, this is not suggested, but is presented in startlingly graphic — if obviously faked — detail. Unbelievable as it may be, this is actually worked into the movie’s plot, so it transcends a random gross-out gag. See (or better yet don’t) Rip Torn in Tom Green’s Freddy Got Fingered (2001) for that. The point here is simply that if a scene like that is going to offend you, do not go to see this movie. There.

That’s all you need to know.

Now, assuming you haven’t already decided to give The Brothers Grimsby a very wide berth, I’ll continue. This marks Sacha Baron Cohen’s fourth starring vehicle, and it’s shaping up to be his least successful. The reason why is something that people who dissect such things on the internet are already working on.

(Face it, though, his last two movies didn’t get anywhere near the hit status of his first, so this is partially just diminishing returns.) One might note that it’s the first of his movies not directed

by Larry Charles, but this film logically needed a director who understands action pictures. While Louis Leterrier may not be an inspired choice, the first two Transporter movies are sufficient cred for the purposes here.

My own take is that The Brothers Grimsby is too much like a “real movie” in terms of having something that actually resembles a plot — and that it’s too British for U.S. consumption. Grimsby, for example, is an apparently low-rent English seaside resort (though I doubt it’s the twin city of Chernobyl as the movie claims) that might ring a bell with American viewers as the title and subject of a song on Elton John’s Caribou album. (It should be noted that the song paints a much nicer picture of the city.)

Beyond that, the whole tone of the film is very Britcentric. Imagine if the whole of 2004’s Eurotrip had been about Vinnie Jones and his soccer hooligan pals.

The story itself is a basic spy-spoof that Cohen and company have configured around the star’s latest screen persona, Carl “Nobby” Butcher — a loutish, drunken, drug-infused soccer hooligan with 11 kids (having names like Skeletor and Django Unchained)

and a wife (Rebel Wilson). The one thing lacking (he thinks) in his life is younger brother Sebastian (Mark Strong), whom he’s spent 28 years looking for. Finding Sebastian results in discovering that his little brother is a top spy, and then destroying Sebastian’s career and making him a man-on-the-run rogue agent.

Much of the plot is interchangeable with ... well, the general run of spy movies, but with a terminally idiotic brother (who, of course, ends up partnering with Sebastian) added to the mix. Bear in mind, while I say this is more like a normal movie than its predecessors, that’s a very relative claim, meaning little more than it has a plot. It is unconcerned about this plot in every capacity, apart from giving the movie a shape, however rumpled and badly tailored. The Brothers Grimsby proudly wears its sloppiness like a misspelled badge of honor.

The question — crashingly crude bad taste to one side — is, “is it funny?” and, for the most part, it is. Oh, maybe no more than 75 percent of the jokes hit at all, but it’s so ridiculous, fast, crammed with jokes (mostly tasteless) and ludicrous that I didn’t mind very much. The fact that it only runs 83 minutes is certainly a plus, as is the fact that, every so often, you can’t help but realize this is a stupid movie made by clever people with a little something on their minds. Am I recommending it? Only to people who are pretty hard to offend and who can appreciate gross-out absurdity. So, if you go and you’re offended, you can’t say you weren’t warned. Rated R for strong, crude sexual content, graphic nudity, violence, language and some drug use.

Playing at Carolina Cinemas, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beaucatcher.

tHe stoRY: A playboy is coerced into overcoming his fear of romantic entanglement through the incessant nagging of his family and friends, and with the help of that special someone who seems to be his perfect match: A woman who is just as sociopathic, bland and narcissistic as he is. tHe stoRY: The only perfect match for this film would be the one used to burn all the prints.

Romantic comedies seem to exist in a parallel universe in which implausibly successful and attractive people grapple with imaginary problems aided by the support of unrealistically attentive friends until arriving at predictable results. If you saw 2014’s rom-com parody They Came Together, you will be familiar with the general outline of The Perfect Match and should content yourself with whatever enjoyment you may have derived from that film rather than braving the tripe currently in question. The sole trait distinguishing Match from every other entry in the history of the genre would seem to be its protagonist’s employment as some nebulous sort of talent agent rather than as an architect or doctor. Those who would point out that Match might be further distinguished by its intent to cater to African-American audiences with a taste for saccharine dreck will be unceremoniously slapped in the face with a copy of Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song until they stop spouting nonsense.

The cast here seems ill-equipped to carry a feature, with the first act playing as though someone gave the actors 20 minutes with the script and then decided to shoot the table read.

Terrence Jenkins seems to be carving out a niche for himself in projects of this ilk, which is to say he should fire his agent, with the most significant

reViewed By ken hanke khanke@mountainx.com

The Perfect Match S DiRectoR: Billie Woodruff plaYeRs: Terrence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, Donald Faison, Robert Christopher Riley

All Glasses $150!

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by Edwin Arnaudin

credit to his name thus far being 2012’s abysmal Kevin Hart vehicle Think Like a Man. When your leading man’s career highlight consists of a supporting role in a terrible film based on a terrible book penned by the host of Family Feud, you should have some indication of the level of thespianism you can expect. Donald Faison makes the most of his limited screen time, but must owe someone a particularly significant favor because I can’t imagine he’s burned through his Scrubs money quickly enough to warrant signing on for a film this awful without ancillary motivation. Joe Pantoliano elevates the handful of scenes he’s given with his usual gleeful sleaze, but is severely underutilized and finishes the film as though he’s trying to get to the bank before 5 to cash his check.

Apparently this film also featured a rapper named French Montana, who I assumed was a fictional celebrity until the credits rolled and I saw him billed “as himself.” My life is somewhat bleaker for having learned of this person’s existence.

Director Billie Woodruff is probably best known for helming a couple of R. Kelly videos in the early aughts, and by “best known” I mean I had to scour a decade back into his (limited) IMDB curriculum vitae before anything rang a bell. If you’ve ever wondered what a toothless R&B video would look like given a modest budget and stretched to 90 minutes, look upon The Perfect Match, ye mighty, and despair. Tepid and uninspired in its direction, favoring style over substance yet achieving neither, The Perfect Match careens aimlessly between the occasional gimmicky composition and amateurishly rote coverage, pausing only for a few incomprehensible editing choices along the way. In one of the biggest wastes of an R rating in recent memory, Woodruff’s “sex” scenes called to mind the pre-Internet days of my adolescence, in which one might stay up late watching Skinemax soft-core in the hopes of seeing a nipple or two, only to find that the previous hour-and-a-half had been wasted on a film that featured neither a compelling story nor compelling cleavage.

Match makes those early cinematic disappointments look like Fellini or Welles.

If the wave of blaxploitation films that followed Sweetback might be somewhat reprehensible for their blatant intention to capitalize on African-American audiences, at least many of them were entertaining; The Perfect Match may be noted in posterity as an exemplar of ‘lack-

edwinarnaudin@gmail.com sploitation,’ a new sub-genre designation characterized by a complete and total lack of any redeeming value.

Rated R for sexuality, some nudity and language throughout Playing at Regal Biltmore Grande reViewed By scott douglas Jsdouglas22@gmail.com

The Young Messiah H DiRectoR: Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M.) plaYeRs: Adam Greaves-Neal, Sara Lazzaro, Sean Bean, Vincent Walsh, Jonathan Bailey FaitH-BaseD DRama Rated PG-13 tHe stoRY: he story of Jesus’ childhood. tHe lowDown: Slow, long, plodding, self-serious, humorless religious tale that adds little to the story of Jesus and less to cinema as a whole.

The problem, yet again, with so many Christian-focused films is the amount of reverence that must be placed at the feet of its subjects. This reverence usually takes the form of a dramatic flatness and an emotional sincerity that sucks the mere idea of entertainment from the film. A very serious subject matter means a very serious film — the unfortunate side effect being that anyone who’s not already a believer is unlikely to get much from what’s onscreen. Cyrus Nowrasteh’s The Young Messiah — the latest tale of Jesus to hit your local multiplex — is no different, a solemn story of 7-year-old Jesus Christ (Adam Greaves-Neal), full of beards, robes and furrowed brows.

This is Jesus, after all, and even if The Young Messiah is building on the source material of an Anne Rice novel and a lot of speculation that’s definitely not found in the Bible, Nowrasteh and company aren’t going to do anything to frighten the horses and ruin their chance at a payday. The film, in essence and like so many superhero films, is an origin story, an attempt at filling in some blanks around Jesus’ childhood, framed around the flight from Egypt illustrated in The Gospel of Matthew. There are problems with this approach. Read some Spider-

Man comics and then watch another reboot, and you know where it’s all headed. Watch a film about young Jesus and the same issue pops up.

There’s only so much that can be done with the subject and only so much tension and drama to be squeezed from it, especially within the constraints of its sober Christian message.

For instance, the film’s narrative arc, involving Jesus returning from Egypt after years hiding from Herod (Jonathan Bailey), has nowhere to go. In theory, the push and pull of the plot lies within the possibility of Jesus being captured and slaughtered as Herod protects his throne. Spoiler alert: This isn’t how Jesus dies. So there’s only so far The Young Messiah can go, only so much it’s able, naturally, to do. Then you add on the selfseriousness, the humorlessness that the story of kid Jesus unfortunately demands, plus a near two-hour running time, and The Young Messiah is a long, tough test of endurance.

Director Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M.) seems indifferent to actually doing anything about this problem. Yes, it’s professionally photographed and often handsome looking, but The Young Messiah is pretty inert when it comes to the actual cinematic craft. It looks more like a TV show than a film and this no-frills approach does nothing to actually stir up interest, something The Young Messiah desperately needs. Rated PG - 13 for some violence and thematic elements.

Playing at Carolina Cinemas, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beaucatcher. reViewed By Justin souther Jsouther@mountainx.com

film BuncomBe county PuBlic liBraries buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/ library • FR (3/18), 4:30pm - Alien Invasion Film Series: Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Free. Held at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road film at unca 251-6585, unca.edu • MO (3/21) & TU (3/22), 7pm - F*-Word Film Festival (*F for Feminist). See full schedule: msp.unca.edu. Held in Karpen Hall, Laurel Forum. mechanical eye microcinema mechanicaleyecinema.org • TH (3/17), 7pm - “Bloodlust of the American Dream,” a night of cinema performances. $5. Held at The Art Incubator, 207 Coxe Ave.

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she said, she said: A still from the film Voices of Muslim Women from the U.S. South. Director Maha Marouan will screen her work and participate in a post-fi lm discussion Tuesday, March 22, as part of the F (feminist)-Word Film Festival at UNC Asheville. Photo courtesy of Women Make Movies, wmm.com • Mechanical Eye Microcinema presents Bloodlust of the American Dream, expanded cinema performances by simon tarr and charlotte taylor on Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. The event will be held at the Asheville Area Arts Council Art Incubator at 207 Coxe Ave. Tarr’s Blood Lust of the Wolf is a new live-cinema performance that remixes robert flaherty’s 1922 film Nanook of the North into a fugue state about race, ethnicity and exploitation. Taylor’s and robert edmondson’s Relieving the American Dream is a multiprojector film and sound-performance shot on a crosscountry road trip. In it, 16mm and Super 8 film loops are layered with sounds of the spaces on the road to inspect, re-evaluate and relive the “American dream.” Tickets are $5, but no one will be turned away. mechanicaleyecinema.org • The West Asheville Library’s free after-school Alien Invasion Film Series continues Friday, March 18, at 4:30 p.m. with Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. The G-rated animated feature from Nickelodeon follows the titular 10-year-old as he and his friends lead kids from around the globe to save their parents, who’ve been kidnapped by gooey, green aliens known as Yokians. avl.mx/1z5

• UNC Asheville’s Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program hosts the F (feminist)-Word Film Festival, at 7 p.m., Monday, March 21, and Tuesday, March 22, at the Laurel Forum in Karpen Hall. The Monday event is a screening and panel discussion of Three to Infinity, the first feature documentary on people who are neither male nor female. On Tuesday, filmmaker maha marouan will screen her 30-minute short documentary, Voices of Muslim Women from the U.S. South, and will participate in a post-screening Q&A discussion. Free and open to the public. wgss.unca.edu • Teams of cinephiles are encouraged to start organizing for the sixth iteration of Ten Minute Movies at Toy Boat Community Art Space on Saturday, April 9. The popular event features groups performing their favorite films, live, in fewer than 10 minutes, with assistance from homemade props and plenty of imagination. Interested parties may sign up through the event’s Facebook page and arrange for tech times with sound and lights the day of the show. All proceeds benefit Toy Boat. avl.mx/2c8 X

Mountain Xpress Presents

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STARTING w edne s day Miracles from Heaven Faith-based — and fact-based — drama starring Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah and “From the producers who brought you Heaven Is for Real. The folks at Sony say, “When Christy discovers her 10-year-old daughter Anna has a rare, incurable disease, she becomes a ferocious advocate for her daughter’s healing as she searches for a solution. After Anna has a freak accident, an extraordinary miracle unfolds in the wake of her dramatic rescue that leaves medical specialists mystified, her family restored and their community inspired.” (PG)

STARTING friday

Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ HHHHS Director: Fred Niblo Players: Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy, Betty Bronson, Claire McDowell EPIC DRAMA Rated NR I first saw Fred Niblo’s 1925 silent version of Ben-Hur 44 years ago — a battered, 16 mm bootleg print courtesy of film professor “Knocky” Parker at the University of South Florida. The film was projected at silent speed (an error that made it last for what seemed like three days), looking very scratchy, with obviously missing footage, and accompanied by the professor himself on the piano. Yet, I was still aware that this version had merits not found in William Wyler’s Oscar-laden 1959 remake. Seeing it in a fully restored print, complete with the Technicolor sequences — at the proper speed and

Ran HHHHH Director: Akira Kurosawa Players: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akiro Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Masayuki Yui ACTION WAR DRAMA Rated R Having tackled Macbeth in 1957 with Throne of Blood, the great Akira Kurosawa took on King Lear toward the end of his life with Ran (1985) — and the results were astonishing. Though his eyesight was failing, he managed to create one of his most visually stunning films with the help of his friend and assistant director Inoshiro Honda (yeah, the same Honda who made the Godzilla movies). While the film offers a reasonable approximation of Shakespeare’s play — in Japanese terms, of course — it’s hard not to get the sense that the

The Bronze See review in “Cranky Hanke”

Creative Control See review in “Cranky Hanke”

Embrace of the Serpent See review in “Cranky Hanke”

The Divergent Series: Allegiant Here’s the next installment in that Divergent series, which seems to have gone the cash-cow route and turned the final book into two movies, meaning this only part one of the last tome. So what else is new? Well, it has early reviews (apparently, it’s already out in the UK) and they are brutal.(PG-13)

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with Carl Davis’ musical score — I’m even more aware of the superiority of the silent version. There are many reasons it’s better, I think.

They range from Ramon Novarro’s portrayal of the title character (far more appealing and charismatic than the stone-faced Charlton Heston) to the tighter running time and less special-effects-reliant scope of the production. However, a central reason is that the story is both old-fashioned and a bit naive, which works better in this lessrealistic form. The Hendersonville Film Society will show Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ Sunday, March 20, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

film is as much about the aging and embattled director as it is about Lear. (Unable to get funding at home, he managed to find it via French producer Serge Silberman.) And though it qualifies as an epic in every capacity, it more sits back and observes the battles rather than participate in them. One of the most grisly and striking battles comes at about the one-hour mark and is presented almost completely in silence while somber music floods the soundtrack. Remarkable. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Ran Friday, Mar. 18 at 8 p.m. at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

Son of Dracula HHHH Director: Robert Siodmak Players: Lon Chaney Jr., Robert Paige, Louise Allbritton, Evelyn Ankers, J. Edward Bromberg, Frank Craven HORROR Rated NR Robert Siodmak’s Son of Dracula (1943) is a film that, but for one thing, would be one of the great horror pictures. Unfortunately, that one thing is a badly miscast lead, Lon Chaney Jr., as Dracula (or, if you prefer, his son) — and that’s a pretty big problem. (For kicks, you can always start a rip-roaring horror-fan fight by asking which one he is, the father or the son.)

The fact is that, even at 61, Bela Lugosi would have pushed the film into greatness. Instead, we get uber-American, corn-fed Lon, who has trouble with the stylized (or stilted) dialogue (“I, too, thought I heard something in the cellar”), mispronounces words and generally has no presence. It’s obvious that Siodmak knew this, because

he shoots him from the back whenever possible. Even so, this moody, atmospheric film — a morbid fairy tale, actually — is probably the best of all the second-wave Universal horrors. It’s all about a spooky, death-and-occult-fixated woman (Louise Allbritton) who brings Count Alucard (spell it backwards) to her plantation home in the Deep South for the express purpose of obtaining immortality, vampire style. Something her jilted fiance (Robert Paige) and practical-minded sister (Evelyn Ankers) find peculiar, to say the least.

The supporting cast, the direction and the musical score help, but Chaney is a serious stumbling block. The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Son of Dracula Thursday, March 17, at 8 p.m. in Theater Six at The Carolina Asheville, hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Scott Douglas.

The Dreamers HHHHH Director: Bernardo Bertolucci Players: Michael Pitt, Louis Garrel, Eva Green, Anna Chancellor, Robin Renucci DRAMA Rated NC-17 One of the most controversial and sexually frank movies of its decade, Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers (2003) is a classic example of a film that’s not for everyone. Fully earning its NC-17 rating, its themes are adult and the use of sex and nudity is pretty unflinching, and should be borne in mind. The story concerns a movie-obsessed American student (Michael Pitt) in Paris who becomes involved with a pair of equally film-crazed French siblings (Eva Green and Louis Garrel). He moves in with them, becoming part of mountainx.com

their world — and a possible means for them to explore their own feelings for each other. It most certainly will have greater resonance if you came of age as a movie fanatic in the late 1960s and early 1970s. (And if you did, I only hope that you will have the same feeling as I do about the choice of the song on the soundtrack when the credits start at the end.)

However, I suspect that anyone who grew up living vicariously through movies — or really any art form — will find something to relate to. The Asheville Film Society will screen The Dreamers Tuesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in Theater Six at The Carolina Asheville, hosted by Xpress movie critic Ken Hanke.

MARKETPLACE REAL E S TAT E | R E N TA L S | R OOM M ATES | SERV ICES | JOB S | A N N OU N CEMENTS | M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T CL AS S E S & WOR K S HOP S | M U S IC IA N S’ SERV ICES | PETS | A U TOMOTIV E | X C HANG E | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 x111 tnavaille@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com RENTALS COMMERCIAL/ BUSINESS RENTALS UNIQUE WAYNESVILLE DOWNTOWN SPACE Above Beverly-Hanks Realtors at 74 N Main. Impressive open 3rd floor of 4000+ sqft., high ceiling, wonderful natural light, separate HVAC, elevator from entrance on Wall St. Many uses: storage/office/showroom but ideal for loft apartment.

Available soon, but view now to see if it fits your needs. Bill: 828216-6066.

SMOOTHIE/ JUICE/ COFFEE BAR SPACE FOR RENT 325 SQ FT inside existing Nature’s Vitamins and Herbs at 752 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville. Excellent start up opportunity. Call Bill or Mike at 828-251-0094

ROOMMATES ROOMMATES ALL AREAS ROOMMATES. COM Lonely? Bored? Broke?

Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates.com!

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EMPLOYMENT GENERAL CLEANING SERVICE HIRING IMMEDIATELY Locally owned cleaning service hiring. Part & full time. We service vacation homes in and around the Asheville area.

Flexible hours & great pay. Send reply to ecocleanofasheville@ gmail.com.

GHOST TOUR GUIDE- Seeking paranormal enthusiast, with excellent storytelling and customer service skills; Non-Driving Position; Seasonal Part-Time; Evenings; 1-3 days a week; www.GrayLineAsheville.com; Jonathan@GrayLineAsheville.com JUST A QUICK NOTE... ...to say thank you for your help from Mountain Xpress. I had a dozen calls about my ad and it is only Friday. I now know the best route is through your paper. I will definitely place another ad... Mountain Xpress is an excellent paper. Keep up the excellent work. Libby W. OUTDOOR MARKETER NEEDED, LIBERTY TAX SERVICE Seeking energetic enthusiastic Miss Liberty to attract clients to our North Asheville location. Listen/dance to your own music and wave to travelers along Merrimon Ave. Four hour shifts available through 4/18/16. 828-505-2002 PROFESSIONAL HOUSE CLEANER WANTED Friendly and energetic employees wanted for growing local natural cleaning company. Hours Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Email resume to: purplecarrotcleaning@gmail.com

SECURITY OFFICERS AND VALET ATTENDANTS NEEDED American Services seeking applicants on behalf of Mission Hospital. $10.50/hr and up. Background check and drug screening required. Applicants must be at least 25 years of age. Call today!

(864) 599-0014.

SKILLED LABOR/ TRADES ACCESS CONTROLS SUPERVISOR Warren Wilson College is recruiting for an Access Controls Supervisor. This position oversees the master key system matrix, provides locksmith services for the campus, oversees the card key access program and maintenance of door hardware and locks (electronic and manual) for buildings and structures on campus.

Additionally, the supervisor provides guidance and leadership to work crews. Requirements include an Associate’s degree of Science in Integrated Technologies or related degree, Bachelor’s degree preferred. Candidate must have a minimum of seven years of directly related experience and hold a current NC Locksmith License.

Electronic Access Control Certification is also preferred. To learn more, visit http://www.warrenwilson.edu/about/hr/employment-opportunities . To apply, submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to hr@warren-wilson.edu.

ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEEKS FT CONSTRUCTION MANAGER Must have experience in construction management, land acquisition and development, and be a Licensed NC General Contractor or a current qualifier. Competitive salary and benefits. Complete details at ashevillehabitat.org/ about/employment. EOE AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN For auto dealership. Applicant must have a background in auto mechanics, be reliable, a selfstarter and multi-tasker. Position is part-time, Monday-Friday, with the possibility for advancement to full time. Applicant must have their own tools, a valid NC Driver’s License, be 19 years or older and provide references. A background check will be done on all applicants. Call 828-707-0513 for more information or apply in person at 1473 Patton Avenue.

ELECTRICAL CREW SUPERVISOR Warren Wilson College is recruiting for an Assistant Supervisor of Electrical Services. This position is responsible for planning, supervising, and coordinating repairs and installation of telephone, fire alarm, direct digital control, card access controls and VOIP systems, and appliances. This position is second in command for electrical services on campus, including supervision and training of a student work crew. Candidates must have at least three years’ electrical experience, a valid NC Driver's license, previous supervision experience, and hold or obtain an NC Electrical Contractor’s License within

one year. Bachelor’s degree preferred. To learn more, visit http:// www.warren-wilson.edu/about/ hr/employment-opportunities.

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter and three professional references to hr@warren-wilson.edu MANNA FOODBANK IS SEEKING A FT VOLUNTEER PROJECT ASSOCIATE The Volunteer Project Associate will train and oversee individuals and groups in the inspection, sorting, repacking and boxing of products to be distributed to our partner agencies in Western North Carolina.

This position is responsible for safe product movement within the warehouse and other outside special projects and events. This position is responsible for adhering to AIB standards as well as standards set by Feeding America and MANNA FoodBank. This is a very hands-on, physical position working alongside our volunteers.

Qualified candidates should possess - • High school diploma or equivalent • Valid Driver's License • Prior experience or proven ability to direct others in achieving the goals of the day-to-day operations.

• Outstanding customer service abilities and a positive attitude. • Comfortable in speaking in front of large groups and enjoys working with people. • Prior experience working in a warehouse or with warehouse equipment is preferred. • Knowledge of food bank operations is a plus. Visit www. mannafoodbank.org/careers/ to view full job description and application process.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Full-time, telecommute, flexible hours. Description: Oversee content development (articles, videos, etc.), research/acquire effective inbound links. Help us develop strategies for digital marketing, generate reports. Qualifications: good PC skills, superb grammar, creative, ability to follow directions.

Net Site Marketing – Since 1996.

Resume to: careers@netsitemarketing.com - - www.netsitemarketing.com OFFICE ASSISTANT/BOOKKEEPER IMMEDIATE OPENING; Responsibilities include general office duties, telephone, bookkeeping; Proficiency in MS Word, Excel & Outlook and QuickBooks required; Customer Service/Hospitality experience desirable; 2-4 days a week; Please send resume to jonathan@GrayLineAsheville.com

SALES/ MARKETING AUTO SALES PROFESSIONAL Sales person needed for auto dealership. No experience is required for this full-time position, we will provide training. Candidate should enjoy interacting with clients, be motivated as well as a self-starter, have a positive attitude as well as being a team player. Position requires attention to detail, willingness to learn, problem solving and the ability to multi-task. Must be able to work Saturdays, possess a valid NC Driver’s License, be 19 years or older and provide references. A back ground check

will be done on all applicants. Call 828-707-0513 for more information or apply in person at 1473 Patton Avenue.

RESTAURANT/ FOOD APOLLO FLAME • WAITSTAFF Full-time. Fast, friendly, fun atmosphere. • Experience required. • Must be 18 years old. • Apply in person between 2pm-4pm, 485 Hendersonville Road. 274-3582.

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE SEEKS FULL-TIME TRUCK DRIVER Some Saturdays required. Competitive pay and benefits. Complete job description at ashevillehabitat. org/about/employment. Email cover letter and resume to jobs@ ashevillehabitat.org. No phone calls or walk-ins. EOE. TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great TOUR GUIDE! FULLTIME and seasonal part-time positions now available. Training provided. Contact us today! www.GrayLineAsheville.com; Info@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-251-8687.

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE A NEW HOPE HOME CARE CNAS, LPNS, RNS A New Hope Home Care is hiring CNAs, LPNs, and RNs to work with our growing family of pediatric and adult clients. If you are a CNA, LPN, or RN looking for rewarding work that makes a daily impact on another's life, please contact us today. 828-255-4446 or info@ anewhopehomecare.com www.anewhopehomecare.com RHA HEALTH SERVICES Is seeking qualified applicants for its new Behavioral Health Urgent Care in Asheville. Resumes are accepted for the following positions: Registered Nurses to work shifts from 8am-8pm on Saturdays and 8pm-8am Thursdays through Sundays; LCSWs or LCASs to work shifts 12pm12am Fridays and Saturdays and flexible Sundays. • Please send your resume to candace.burton@rhanet.org and kengels@ rhanet.org

HUMAN SERVICES $2000 SIGN ON BONUS RHA Health Services is accepting applications for its Intensive InHome Team Leader opening in its Madison County location. Eligible candidates must be at least an Associate level Licensed Professional. Send resumes to kurt. wilder@rhanet.org and sfeutz@ rhanet.org

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT IRL PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS FOUNDATION ACSF is seeking a program director to lead In Real

Life (IRL), the largest after-school program for middle schoolers in Asheville. Visit http://acsf.org/ media/IRL/JobOpening-IRLProgramDirector 2016.pdf or email virginia.demoss@acsgmail.net for full description.

TECHNICAL LAB MANAGER AND LAB TECHS NEEDED Technical Lab Manager needed for ISO 17025 level testing facility in Brevard, NC. Several lab tech/ production assistant positions are also available. Visit www.earthrenewable.com/jobs for more information.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION ELEMENTARY TEACHER ArtSpace Charter School, a K-8 public school located in Asheville, North Carolina is seeking a fulltime Elementary Teacher beginning August, 2016. • Applicants must have a current North Carolina teaching license in Elementary Education. Previous experience as a lead teacher is highly preferred. Candidate must be willing to work in a collaborative, integrated, experiential environment. Knowledge of the arts and arts integration strategies is preferred, but not required. • Please

send resumes and cover letters to: resumes@artspacecharter. org with the subject heading “Elementary Teacher”.

ENGINEERING FOR KIDS - HIRING LEAD AND ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS Engineering for Kids - Currently recruiting lead and assistant instructors to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curriculum to elementary age students after school. 4-12 hours/week. 828279-2553 asheville@engineeringforkids.com asheville@engineeringforkids.com https://engineeringforkids.com/location/asheville EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S TEACHER ArtSpace Charter School, a K-8 public school located in Asheville, North Carolina is seeking a full-time Exceptional Children’s Teacher beginning August 2016. Candidates must have current NC licensure in Special Education and at least one year’s experience teaching special education. Candidate must be willing to work in a collaborative learning environment and experience with collaborative planning and curriculum integration strategies is preferred. • Please

email cover letters and resumes to: resumes@artspacecharter. org email subject heading “EC TEACHER".

INTERESTED IN WORKING AT A-B TECH? Full-Time, Part-Time and Adjunct Positions available.

Come help people achieve their dreams! Apply for open positions at https://abtcc.peopleadmin. com

Licensed Mathematics Teacher to join its faculty. Interested applicants should email copies of their resume, NC teaching license, 3 letters of reference, and any pertinent wilderness certifications (WFR, CPR, etc.) to nduncan@ trailsacademy.com www.trailsacademy.com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000/week mailing brochures from home! No experience required. Helping home workers since 2001! Genuine opportunity.

Start immediately! www.TheIncomeHub.com (AAN CAN).

ARTS/MEDIA

MATHEMATICS TEACHER WANTED The Academy at Trails Carolina, a year-round experiential and adventure based therapeutic boarding school for boys grades 9-12 based in Henderson County North Carolina, is seeking a

GRAPHIC DESIGNER NEEDED Highly skilled designer needed for page layout and creating compelling advertising, The ideal candidate has excellent graphic design and layout skills for print publication, has experience working with style guides and adhering to brand structures, understands

Xpress readers are

local

and they make great employees

Mountain Xpress classifieds work.

ATTENTION

Fully-licensed North Carolina Clinical Social Workers MBHS is partnering with Mission Hospital in Macon County to provide brief MH assessments, interventions and services in a family practice setting.

This unique opportunity will place the LCSW in a traditional primary care setting with regular business hours.

Meridian offers a wide array of benefits: Health • Life • Dental • Vision • Retirement • Paid Time Off Cell Phone Stipend • Paid Holidays Salary range starts at $42K

Please visit our website www.meridianbhs.org to apply and see all the other opportunities Meridian has to offer.

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fReewiLL astRoLoGY aries (march 21-april 19): Artist Steven Spasuk works exclusively with an unusual medium: soot from candles and torches.

He spreads the stuff across a blank canvas, then uses various instruments to sculpt the accidental blobs into definitive forms. I’ve seen the results, and they’re both well-done and intriguing.

What would be the metaphorical equivalent, in your world, of using soot to make beautiful and interesting things? I think you’re primed to turn waste into building blocks, rot into splendor, and lead into gold. (See Spazuk’s work at spazuk.com.) taurus (april 20-may 20): Carl Sagan said that science thrives on “two seemingly contradictory attitudes: an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthless skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new.” Whether or not you are a scientist, Taurus, I recommend that you practice this approach in the coming weeks. It’s the tool that’s most likely to keep you centered and free of both rigidity and illusion. As Sagan concluded, this is “how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense.” gemini (may 21-June 20): “Excess on occasion is exhilarating,” said British author W. Somerset Maugham. “It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of a habit.” Now would be an excellent time to take that advice to heart, Gemini. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you not only have a license to engage in rowdy fun and extravagant pleasures; it’s your sacred duty. So get out there and treat yourself to an orgy of naughty adventures -- or at least a celebration of meaningful thrills. You can return to the rigors of discipline and order once you have harvested the healthy benefits that will come from escaping them. cancer (June 21-July 22): At one point in Friedrich Nietzsche’s book Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the hero is having a conversation with himself. “You have wanted to pet every monster,” he says. “A whiff of warm breath, a little soft tuft on the paw -- and at once you were ready to love and to lure it.” If I were you, Cancerian, I would regard that type of behavior as forbidden in the coming weeks. In fact, I will ask you not to pet any monsters at all -- not even the cute ones; not even the beasties and rascals and imps that have slight resemblances to monsters. It’s time for maximum discernment and caution.

(P.S.: One of the monsters may ultimately become a non-monstrous ally if you are wary toward it now.) leo (July 23-aug. 22): On a social media site, I posted the following quote from self-help teacher Byron Katie: “Our job is unconditional love. The job of everyone else in our life is to push our buttons.” One commenter took

issue with this. “’Pushing buttons’ is a metaphor that’s long past its expiration date,” she wrote. “Can’t you come up with something fresher?” So I did. Here are a few potential substitutes for “push our buttons”: “tweak our manias” . . . “prank our obsessions” . . . “glitter-bomb our biases” . . . “squeeze our phobias” . . . “badger our compulsions” . . . “seduce our repressions” . . . “prick our dogmas.”

Whichever expression you prefer, Leo, find a graceful way to embrace your fate: Your current job is unconditional love.

The job of everyone else in your life is to tweak your manias and prick your dogmas.

Virgo (aug. 23-sept. 22): In the coming weeks, you will have maximum power to revise and reinvigorate your approach to cultivating intimate relationships. To aid your quest, I offer this paraphrased advice from Andrew Boyd: Almost every one of us seeks a special partner who is just right. But there is no right person, just different flavors of wrong. Why? Because you yourself are “wrong” in some ways -- you have demons and flaws and problems. In fact, these “wrongs” are essential components of who you are.

When you ripen into this understanding, you’re ready to find and be with your special counterpart. He or she has the precise set of problems you need -- is the person who is wrong for you in just the right ways. (See Boyd’s original quote: tinyurl.com/boydquote.) liBra (sept. 23-oct. 22): In her book The Winter Vault, Anne Michaels says, “We become ourselves when things are given to us or when things are taken away.” If she’s right, does it mean we should be grateful for those times when things are taken away? Should we regard moments of loss as therapeutic prods that compel us to understand ourselves better and to create ourselves with a fiercer determination? Meditate on these possibilities, Libra. In the meantime, I’m pleased to announce that the thingsgetting-taken-away period of your cycle is winding down. Soon you’ll begin a new phase, when you can become a deeper, stronger version of yourself because of the things that are given to you. scorPio (oct. 23-nov. 21): “I’ll make love when the lust subsides,” sings Denitia, one-half of the electro-pop band Denitia and Sene. That would be a good motto for you to play around with in the coming days, Scorpio -- in both literal and metaphorical ways. I’ll enjoy seeing how your emotional intelligence ripens as the white-hot passion of recent weeks evolves into a more manageable warmth. As fun as the intensity has been, it has blinded you to some of the possibilities for collaborative growth

maRcH 16 10 - maRcH 22, 2016 mountainx.com 286 FEBRUARY - FEBRUARY 16, 2016 moUntAinx.com

- By roB BreZny that have been emerging. You may now be ready to explore and appreciate sweeter, subtler pleasures. sagittarius (nov. 22-dec. 21): “The poems I have loved the most are those I have understood the least,” said T. S. Eliot. I’m going to steal and expand upon his idea for the purpose of giving you an accurate horoscope. In the coming days, Sagittarius, I suspect that the experiences you love most will be those that you understand the least. Indeed, the experiences you NEED the most will be those that surprise and mystify and intrigue you. Luckily, life will be ingenious in bypassing your analytical intelligence so as to provide you with rich emotional stimuli for your soul. caPricorn (dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn painter Henri Matisse made the following testimony about his creative process: “At each stage I reach a balance, a conclusion. At the next sitting, if I find that there is a weakness in the whole, I make my way back into the picture by means of the weakness -- I re-enter through the breach -- and I reconceive the whole.

Thus everything becomes fluid again.” I recommend this approach to you in the coming days, Capricorn. You’ve been making decent progress on your key project. To keep up the good work, you should now find where the cracks are, and let them teach you how to proceed from here. aQuarius (Jan. 20-feb. 18): “We all lead three lives,” said Austrian novelist Thomas Bernhard, “an actual one, an imaginary one, and the one we are not aware of.” I suspect you’ll get big glimpses of your third life in the coming weeks, Aquarius: the one you’re normally not aware of. It might freak you out a bit, maybe unleash a few blasts of laughter and surges of tears.

But if you approach these revelations with reverent curiosity, I bet they will be cleansing and catalytic. They are also likely to make you less entranced by your imaginary life and better grounded in your actual life.

project management, can thrive in a fast-paced environment, is exceptionally organized and deadline-driven, and has excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, an exceptional creative eye and a desire to ensure high quality output.

You must have the proven ability to create original, effective advertising and marketing materials, and to assist in the layout of our weekly print publication and guides.

Candidates must: • Be able to simultaneously handle multiple projects • Be proficient in Adobe CSC programs (inducing, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat) • Be able to prepress and troubleshoot a variety of file types and to work interdepartmentally to organize, schedule and maintain workflows.

• Be fluent in the Mac OSX platform • Be able to interface with other departments in the company.

• Have a minimum of 2-3 years graphic design experience Newspaper, web-ad design and management experience a plus.

This is a full time seasonal position with potential for permanent employment.

Email cover letter explaining why you believe you are a good fit, your resume, and either a URL or PDF of your design portfolio to: design@mountainx.com No applications or portfolios by mail, and no phone calls or walk-ins, please.

EDITOR AND SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION The Editor and Social Media Specialist will be responsible for the production of TACF’s primary outreach publication, producing a monthly electronic newsletter, and maintaining TACF’s social media presence. The complete job description can be viewed at www.acf. org/jobs.php. To apply, send a resume, references, and portfolio examples to ruth.goodridge@ acf.org.

CAREER TRAININg AIRLINE CAREERS BEgIN HERE Get started by training as a FAA certified Aviation Technician.

Financial aid for qualified students.

Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN)

Xchange BUILDINg SUPPLIES CABINETS! Quality wood cabinets, bookshelves, desks, base and wall cabinets, countertops. Proceeds benefit the WNC Birth Center. wncbirthcenter.com Saturday, March 19, 8-12. 390 South French Broad Ave. Asheville. 828-515-1609. wncbirthcenter@gmail.com

Pisces (feb. 19-march 20): “The greatest illusion is not religion,” says aphorist Michael Lipsey. “It’s waking up in the morning imagining how much you’re going to get done today.” But even if that’s often true, Pisces, I suspect that you have the power to refute it in the coming weeks. Your ability to accomplish small wonders will be at a peak. Your knack for mastering details and acting with practical acumen may be unprecedented. For the immediate future, then, I predict that you’ll largely be able to get done what you imagine you can get done.

gENERAL DISCOVER YOUR ROOTS! At Carolina Heritage Research genealogy is our passion. Let a professional genealogist help you uncover your family’s unique history. Packages from $99. FREE CONSULTATIONS 828-423-4797 http://carolinaheritageresearch. com

home improvement HANDY MAN HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993.

Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. $1 million liability insurance. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

announcementS ANNOUNCEMENTS PREgNANT? THINKINg OF ADOPTION? Talk with caring agency specializing in matching Birthmothers with Families Nationwide. Living Expenses Paid. Call 24/7 Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions. 866-413-6293.

Void in Illinois/New Mexico/Indiana (AAN CAN) STRUggLINg WITH DRUgS OR ALCOHOL? Addicted to Pills?

Talk to someone who cares. Call The Addiction Hope & Help Line for a free assessment. 800-9786674 (AAN CAN)

LOST & FOUND FOUND • PURPLE BICYCLE Small, light purple bicycle, one speed, possibly kid's bike, by the train tracks in the Asheville River Arts district. Please call 828-3370700 to claim it.

claSSeS & WorkShopS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS CLAY CLASSES AT ODYSSEY CLAYWORKS Classes Begin March 21. The Masters Of The Mountains Series, Introduction To The Potter's Wheel, Intermediate Wheel Throwing, Ready, Set, Throw One Night Pottery Class, K-12 Educators Workshop. 828-285-0210, www.odysseyceramicarts. com.

mind, Body, Spirit BODYWORK

YARD SALES SATURDAY MARCH 19 Quality wood cabinets, bookshelves, desks, base and wall cabinets, countertops. Proceeds benefit the WNC Birth Center. wncbirthcenter.com Saturday, March 19, 8am-12. 390 South French Broad Ave. Asheville. 828-515-1609. wncbirthcenter@gmail.com

ServiceS FINANCIAL ARE YOU IN BIg TROUBLE WITH THE IRS? Stop wage and bank levies, liens and audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, and resolve tax debt Fast. Call 844-753-1317 (AAN CAN)

#1 AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS MASSAgE AND ESSENTIAL OIL CLINIC 4 locations: 1224 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 505-7088, 959 Merrimon Ave, Suite 101, 785-1385 and 2021 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville, 6970103. 24 Sardis Rd. Ste B, 828633-6789 • $33/hour. • Integrated Therapeutic Massage: Deep Tissue, Swedish, Trigger Point, Reflexology. Energy, Pure Therapeutic Essential Oils. 30 therapists. Call now! www.thecosmicgroove.com

book study. For additional offerings, see www.cloudcottage.org or call 828-6696000.

FOR MUSICIANS EXCELLENT BODYWORK OFFERED AT LOCAL INDEPENDENT MASSAGE THERAPY CENTER 947 Haywood Road,West Asheville.

(828)552-3003.ebbandflowavl.com.

Integrative, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Prenatal, & Couples Massage.

Reflexology & Aromatherapy. Beautiful newly renovated space. Organic massage lotion. Complimentary Tea Lounge to relax in after your massage. $50/hour. Free parking in lot.

COUNSELING SERVICES

MUSICAL SERVICES ASHEVILLE'S WHITEWATER RECORDING Mastering • Mixing • Recording. • CD/DVDs. (828) 684-8284 • www.whitewaterrecording. com

MUSICIANS’ BULLETIN ROCK DRUMMER NEEDED Local high energy original hard rock band seeking energetic, seasoned, motivated drummer willing to travel regionally on occasion. Must have well-kept kit, transportation, and willing to practice weekly. Must be able to double kick. Gigs already booked. Call 828 242-8415.

PETS LOST PETS HYPNOSIS | EFT | NLP Michelle Payton, D.C.H., Author | 828-681-1728 | www.

MichellePayton.com | Dr. Payton’s mind over matter solutions include: Hypnosis, Self-Hypnosis, Emotional Freedom Technique, NeuroLinguistic Programming, Acupressure Hypnosis, Past Life Regression, Sensory-based Writing Coaching.

Find Michelle’s books, audio and video, sessions and workshops on her website.

HEALTH & FITNESS ELIMINATE CELLULITE And Inches in weeks! All natural.

Odor free. Works for men or women. Free month supply on select packages. Order now! 844-244-7149 (M-F 9am-8pm central) (AAN CAN)

RETREATS SHOJI SPA & LODGE • 7 DAYS A WEEK Day & Night passes, cold plunge, sauna, hot tubs, lodging, 8 minutes from town, bring a friend or two, stay the day or all evening, escape & renew! Best massages in Asheville 828299-0999

SPIRITUAL

A LOST OR FOUND PET? Free service. If you have lost or found a pet in WNC, post your listing here: www.lostpetswnc.org

PET SERVICES ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you're away. Reasonable rates. Call Sandy (828) 215-7232.

AUTOMOTIVE

T HE N E W Y ORK TIMES CROSSWORD PU ZZL E ACROSS 1 Many Latin ones end in -are

6 Some jazz sessions 10 Doorstep item 13 Right-leaning 15 The munchies, e.g.

16 Homage in verse 17 Tsunami, for one 20 Bone-chilling 21 Hobos’

conveyances 22 Grinder input 27 Caucus locale 28 Mansard overhang 29 Regatta teams 31 Attack from a blind, say 33 Airer of Super Bowl 50 36 “This is ___” (TV slogan) 37 The first parts of 17and 22-Across are always this, the first part of 46-Across is sometimes this, and the first part of 55-Across is never this 39 Back talk 40 ___-backwards 41 Doggy 42 Problem for a comb

44 Pronoun in letter

greetings 45 Relative of contra46 Sound judgment 53 Hatch of Utah 54 Blow one’s top 55 Hobbes, in “Calvin and Hobbes” 61 ___ Pérignon 62 Scrubbed, as a mission 63 Leno’s late-night successor 64 ’16 people in ’16, e.g.

65 ___ Goose vodka 66 Broom-___ of the comics

DOWN 1 Car registration fig.

2 H, on a fraternity house

3 Mob hit victim, sometimes

4 Sunday shopping ban

5 “No ___, Bob!” 6 Herod’s realm 7 “Exodus” hero ___ Ben Canaan 8 Classic British sports cars 9 Pirates, or their ships

edited by Will Shortz

10 Dominant theme 11 Singer with the 2015 album “25”

12 Hardly long-winded 14 Potato or pasta, informally

18 It’s not true 19 Something behind a painting, maybe

22 Pagan belief 23 Most big band instruments

24 Jesse of the 1936 Olympics

25 Sound from a stable 26 Superhero accessory

30 Stealing, as gasoline 31 Leaf pore 32 Japanese PC maker 33 Trolley sound 34 Blessed event 35 The 7-10 is a nasty one

38 It comes before one 43 Spiral-shelled mollusks

44 Kristen of

“Bridesmaids”

46 Bodybuilder’s dirty secret, informally

47 Hard wear?

48 J.F.K.’s AirTrain and others

Mountain Xpress Presents

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

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CLOUD COTTAGE COMMUNITY OF MINDFUL LIVING: Mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, 219 Old Toll Circle, Black Mountain. Freedom, Simplicity, Harmony. Weds. 6-7:30 PM; Sundays 8-9:00 AM, followed by tea/

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