Mountain Xpress 12.28.16

2

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

3

C O N T E NT S C ONTAC T US

PAGE 36 IN ONE YEAR AND OUT THE OTHER As 2016 comes to a close, Xpress rounds up the parties where you can see it out in style.

COVER ILLUSTRATION Brent Brown COVER DESIGN Norn Cutson and Scott Southwick

(828) 251-1333 fax (828) 251-1311

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM events can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM

FEATURES

or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS

GREEN

36 Montford Avenue, Downtown Asheville Call Us Today! (828) 407-4263

WELLNESS

Downtown Asheville’s University

NEWS

food news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM

10 BACK TO THE FACTORY How advanced manufacturing is transforming WNC’s economy

wellness-related events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM business-related events/news to BUSINESS@MOUNTAINX.COM venues with upcoming shows CLUBLAND@MOUNTAINX.COM

24 CURING THE WINTER BLUES Asheville practitioners offer advice on natural remedies for SAD

get info on advertising at ADVERTISE@MOUNTAINX.COM place a web ad at WEBADS@MOUNTAINX.COM

5 LETTERS 28 SUSTAINABLE CRAFT Local brewers get high marks for enviro preservation

5 CARTOON: MOLTON 7 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 8 COMMENTARY

question about the website?

WEBMASTER@MOUNTAINX.COM find a copy of xpress JTALLMAN@MOUNTAINX.COM

18 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FOOD

20 CONSCIOUS PARTY 30 POLITE COMPANY Asheville service industry pros offer a primer on dining etiquette

24 WELLNESS 28 GREEN SCENE 30 FOOD 32 SMALL BITES

A&E

34 BEER SCOUT 38 LAST DANCE The Admiral ends its Saturday night DJ parties

36 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 42 SMART BETS 47 CLUBLAND 54 MOVIES

WWW.MOUNTAINX.COM FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTAINX follow us @MXNEWS, @MXARTS, @MXEAT, @MXHEALTH, @MXCALENDAR, @MXENV, @MXCLUBLAND we use these hashtags #AVLNEWS, #AVLENT, #AVLEAT, #AVLOUT, #AVLBEER, #AVLGOV, #AVLHEALTH, #AVLWX

A&E

59 SCREEN SCENE 40 MIDWINTER ATMOSPHERE Fiddler Jamie Laval brings Celtic Christmas to Asheville and Tryon

61 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 62 CLASSIFIEDS 63 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Mountain Xpress is available free throughout Western North Carolina. Limit one copy per person. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 payable at the Xpress office in advance. No person may, without prior written permission of Xpress, take more than one copy of each issue.

To subscribe to Mountain Xpress, send check or money order to: Subscription Department, PO Box 144, Asheville NC 28802. First class delivery.

One year (52 issues) $130 / Six months (26 issues) $70. We accept Mastercard & Visa.

4

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

COPYRIGHT 2016

BY MOUNTAIN XPRESS ADVERTISING COPYRIGHT 2016

BY MOUNTAIN XPRESS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

O PINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.

STA F F PUBLISHER & MANAGING EDITOR: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Virginia Daffron A&E EDITOR/WRITER: Alli Marshall FOOD EDITOR/WRITER: Gina Smith WELLNESS EDITOR/WRITER: Susan Foster OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS/WRITERS: Able Allen, Thomas Calder, Virginia Daffron, Dan Hesse, Max Hunt CALENDAR EDITOR: Abigail Griffin CLUBLAND EDITORS Abigail Griffin, Max Hunt MOVIE REVIEWERS: Scott Douglas, Jonathan Rich, Justin Souther

CARTOO N BY RAN D Y M O LT O N

A high-tech Asheville requires shift in education We tell ourselves — often — that we are a tourist town, maybe hoping to excuse ourselves for the self-harm of supporting businesses that pay starvation wages.

And yet.

Comprehensive plan or no, the systematic destruction of the largest and most prominent of downtown’s tourist landmarks — Beaucatcher Mountain — continues apace. A 180-unit complex finishes construction, and a 100-unit one starts up. Plots on Windswept are clear-cut on Thanksgiving Day (what could possibly have been so urgent?).

Pretty soon, the backdrop to downtown won’t be green, it will be serried ranks of apartment blocks, Californiastyle — along with Californialike traffic and mudslides.

Are these the actions of a town that wants tourists to keep coming back?

No, they are the actions of people caught up in the frenzy of yet another property bubble.

Prosperity Through Property died as an idea at Appomattox a long time ago.

And yet, zombielike, it keeps returning to sweep up another generation in another property bubble. Property

speculation does two things: It divides its participants into “winners” and “losers,” and generates inflation. It certainly does not generate what we need — new wealth.

Reason only rarely prevails against the madness of crowds, but here goes anyway.

The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce is busy promoting Asheville as a center for advanced manufacturing businesses. The return on attempts to bribe them to come to Asheville with tax handouts, loans and grants will always be low — every other city in the country is trying the same thing.

The [city’s] current comprehensive plan mentions “industries of the mind.” We don’t know what they’ll be, but we do know that they will demand a degree of computer literacy far beyond what we teach our kids at the moment.

Twenty years ago, the computer revolution had destroyed the old clerical jobs and created new ones — that got outsourced almost immediately. But just as there was no rule saying that those jobs had to be done in India or the Philippines, there is no rule saying that they can’t come to Asheville — just a lot of defeatist drivel.

A package to attract those jobs would require many moving parts, but the longest lead-time component would be an effort to get all our kids into an Asheville City Schools computer literacy pipeline.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Chris Changery, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak, Margaret Williams EDITORIAL INTERNS: Emma Grace Moon, Clara Murray REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Jonathan Ammons, Edwin Arnaudin, Jacqui Castle, Leslie Boyd, Coogan Brennan, Scott Douglas, Steph Guinan, Corbie Hill, Rachel Ingram, Tony Kiss, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Kate Lundquist, Lea McLellan, Kat McReynolds, Clarke Morrison, Emily Nichols, Kyle Petersen, John Piper Watters

26 Glendale Ave 828.505.1108

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

M-Th 11a - 7p Fri/Sat 10a - 7p Sun 11a - 5p

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Norn Cutson, Jordy Isenhour, Scott Southwick MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Thomas Allison, Sara Brecht, Bryant Cooper, Tim Navaille, Brian Palmieri, Nick Poteat

facebook.com/TheRegenerationStation

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Bowman Kelley BOOKKEEPER: Alyx Perry ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Lisa Watters DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Jeff Tallman

BIKES YOU WANT, PRICES YOU’LL LOVE!

ASSISTANT DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Denise Montgomery DISTRIBUTION: Gary Alston, Frank D’Andrea, Leland Davis, Jemima Cook Fliss, Adrian Hipps, Clyde Hipps, Jennifer Hipps, Robin Hyatt, Joan Jordan, Marsha Mackay, Ryan Seymour, Thomas Young

828.707.3898 • garagetrs.com

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

5

O P I NI O N

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.

Starting with elementary school, they should be exposed to computing as fun — weekly rather than annual Hours of Code, maybe. Then by graduation from the middle school In Real Life [after-school] program, they should be able to design and build their own video games. Finally, by high school graduation, they should be able to use computational thinking in problem-solving.

This pipeline would ensure that kids from Asheville starting work or college stand out from their peers as unafraid of computers, confident in using them creatively and for problem-solving.

There isn’t going to be any federal or state money to help — and with the state of local finances, it would have to be entirely volunteer-based. But the returns to it would be high, with Asheville transforming itself into a center of excellence for our high-tech world. Larger transformations have happened: Within my memory, what is now Silicon Valley was orange groves, yet the area has generated 500,000 new jobs in the last 10 years.

Thanks to the Asheville City Schools Foundation and its volunteers, we’re already underway.

— Geoff Kemmish

Asheville

Hidden writer with not-so-hidden agenda [In response to the letter to the editor, “Allow and Regulate Short-Term Rentals,” Dec. 7, Xpress:] Before I dignify this selfserving [letter] with a response, why the anonymous request, where does the writer reside, and how does he earn his livelihood? Answers to these questions would allow readers access to his or to her fundamental motivation.

To address his notion of what neighbors and neighborhoods comprise, his definition of borrowing a cup of whatever or trading flowers is beyond insulting.

Neighbors affect the quality of one’s life.

A bad neighbor in a desirable area has a devastating negative impact on one’s peace and happiness.

On the other hand, a good neighbor enhances these things and can often help brighten one’s most somber days.

It is an elementary task to refute this “omniscient writer.” Not to belabor the process, however, how many times has a kind and knowledgeable neighbor assisted in an emergency when perhaps 911 might have arrived too late?

Deplorably, the writer supporting short-term rentals is ignorant about what the untold value of a good neighbor is, the immeasurable effect a close neighborhood has on one’s quality of life, and how short-term rentals contribute to

6

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

anxiety, malaise and most likely to lowering home values in the area.

I suggest that Mr. anonymous (no capital for this person) keep hiding, cure him/herself of paranoia regarding city inspectors and selective enforcement, or better still, relocate to an area where his/her definitions of a neighbor and neighborhood are appreciated. A sad letter by an obviously sad person with a sad life outlook!

— Edward Tobias Wolfsohn

Asheville

The importance of this trip for so many of our students cannot be underestimated. This trip is life-changing to some of our students and may be the only opportunity they have to leave Western North Carolina. Please consider supporting our students and our community in making this trip a possibility for all of our students.

Checks can be sent/made out to Asheville Middle School, 211 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, NC 28801. We also have a GoFundMe campaign at http://avl.mx/39i — Dr. Amanda Swartzlander Assistant Principal Asheville Middle School

A reason to hope with Trump

TAKING FLIGHT: AMS eighth-graders experience Jockey’s Ridge State Park during the 2016 field trip. Photo by David Pagel

Students needs support for Outer Banks trip For the past six years, Asheville Middle School has offered a capstone travel experience to our eighth-grade students.

The teachers at Asheville Middle School have chaperoned over 1,200 students on a trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is a huge undertaking, but one that the school community feels is a necessary learning and life experience for so many of our students.

Our students are exposed to a variety of academic and social experiences. They have the opportunity to learn about our state’s history, investigate marine life, experience the ocean and visit historical sites connected with our Essential Standards.

As a school community, we have dedicated ourselves to take all students who are interested in attending the Outer Banks trip with us, regardless of their financial situations. AMS conducts sitebased fundraisers; we are supported by our PTO; and solicit support from our staff. Each year however, the number of students in need of financial assistance outgrows our ability to fulfill our promise to take all of our students.

The all-inclusive cost of the four-day, three-night trip is $450. We travel March 27-30, 2017.

As a trailer dweller, I still have one big reason to be hopeful about Trump, which is that he will use the presidency to leverage zoning variances to build millions of high-rise apartments in liberal elite places like Montford, thus making the neighboring houses affordable to white workers like me; though to do that he will have to resist the blind trust.

Obama did something similar to Yonkers. I also hope he will bomb Mecca, but that hope is looking more dreamy as his nonloyalist cabinet picks are looking more likely to target Tehran or pro-choice Pyongyang. …

— Alan Ditmore

Leicester

Corrections A photo caption for the Nov. 23 commentary, “Asheville’s Best Export: Local Nonprofits Playing Key Roles in Devastated Haiti,” contained incorrect information about the location where the photo was taken. The residents pictured were in the town of Coridon in Commune Anse Rouge in northwest Haiti.

A headline for a letter to the editor in the Dec. 7 issue misstated the writer’s main point. He was suggesting that North Carolinians should support efforts in California to secede from the U.S.

We want to hear from you!

Please send your letters to: Editor, Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St., Asheville, NC 28801 or by email to letters@mountainx.com.

C A RT O O N B Y B R E NT B R O W N

1/09/16

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

7

OPINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com.

Sizzle hot

Create an Internet marketing action plan in just 6 weeks

The JB Media Institute is a comprehensive digital marketing training program offered online or in-person and taught by active industry professionals.

Both programs offer the personal attention your business deserves in order to: • amplify your digital messaging • increase your understanding of Internet marketing • reach audiences who take action Online and in-person cohorts start January 2017.

Learn more at jbmediainstitute.com 8

BY ABIGAIL HICKMAN First you have to understand the science. I happen to know quite a bit about the subject, because I married a sixth-grade science teacher and I tend to pay attention at the dinner table.

He works at Asheville Middle School, in the new $40 million building’s slick, shiny science lab, and he comes home with stories about smartboards and collaborative projects that connect different classes via sophisticated computer programs and color-coded, interactive movie screens. The kids all wear designer safety glasses and aprons that might have come from Walter White’s own private collection. The whole operation makes science scintillate.

It’s not as if they didn’t earn it. Last year, they all endured the dubious charms of a 50-year-old building whose pipes leaked onto heads of students and teachers alike, causing 22 chins to simultaneously shoot up to the ceiling, each wondering if this was when the whole thing would finally collapse — and hoping that if it did, it would happen during the science test.

That wasn’t the worst of it, though.

The sadistic heating system boiled both bodies and tempers. Perhaps the furnace felt ignored when other issues in the tired old building got more attention: the labyrinth of a floor plan, never meant for middle school kids; or the central block of classrooms with no outside windows. Like a 2-year-old having a tantrum — or, more accurately, a 50-year-old ungracefully accepting the limitations of age — the old furnace would kick itself into a whiny high gear, forcing heat into already sweltering classrooms, and no amount of coaxing or tinkering with the controls could persuade it to cool off. Sweating faculty members speculated that the antiquated system was actually some rudimentary form of artificial intelligence, but it wasn’t smart enough to dodge the wrecking ball.

The new building rose in the old one’s backyard: Each day, students and faculty watched — through windows that wouldn’t open, framed by walls that crumbled but stubbornly refused to fall — as their new beautiful new school took shape. Workers in hard hats climbed the tall skeleton, drove trucks through the mud and moved piles of dirt as big as my house from one place to another. Trapped in their inferno classrooms, these observers saw the new school go from sketch pad to

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

ABIGAIL HICKMAN concrete slab to 177,000 square feet of state-of-the-art supercoolness.

Against that backdrop, my husband’s eagerness to recount his daily science experiments makes sense. He gets to work with all sorts of cool new toys and no longer worries about students succumbing to heatstroke during a lesson on plate tectonics. Last night, for example, he worked himself into a froth about thermodynamics. He started out at high frequency. “Oh, you should have been there today: It was so awesome!”

(One of the side effects of working with sixth-graders all day is the unconscious absorption of middle school vernacular like “awesome” and “savage.”)

“Fascinating,” I said noncommittally, knowing that once he gets going, I simply lack the fortitude to dissuade him. Objects in motion and all that.

The problem is, we lack solubility (a lesson from a few weeks ago, about solvents). I could handle that one because I drink hot tea with the conviction of a zealot each morning, pouring beakers’ worth of sugar into every cup. So I understood the general concept that my hot tea is the solvent, the sugar is the solute, and the resulting moderate sugar coma kicks in right around the time I roll into work.

But at night, around our dinner table, it’s my husband who seems to have an artificially stimulated glow.

It’s the science that does it to him,

The thermodynamics of history that and working in a gorgeous modern lab. Last night he zeroed in on thermodynamics.

“Out of all of our test subjects today, guess which one is least effective in containing heat?” he asked, eyes all dreamy. I cut a bite of juicy pork chop and dipped it into the baked apples we buy frozen at Ingles.

“What are my choices?” I asked, seeing no way out of this wormhole.

He explained the lineup of usual suspects, which ranged from a ceramic coffee mug to a wooden bowl to an empty Mountain Dew can. The idea was to pour a boiling liquid into each one and time the heat loss: a kind of scientific track meet. I sneaked a bite of the chocolate cream pie meant for dessert, the perfect ratio of creamy chocolate to thick, flaky crust. “The ceramic mug, duh.”

“Incorrect!” he cried, waving his fork in victory. “The ceramic mug is the least effective heat insulator.

Through the rest of meal he breathlessly explained the laws of thermodynamics. Pointing toward our fireplace, he explained, ”If you put a cold log in there, it will require more energy to heat it than if you put in one that’s already warmed by the fire." Ignoring my yawns, he explained that heat influences coolness, not the other way around. By the time we’d finished the pie and he’d cleaned up the dishes, I thought I had it all sorted out.

The old Asheville Middle School, outdated and undercomputerized, was a holdover from a time when there was no such thing as a car pool line, or drinking fountains designed to accommodate a water bottle, or web portals where parents could track the progress of their child’s daily science experiment. Nonetheless, the sweltering structure had seen Asheville through segregation to integration, from slide rules to electronic calculators, from raising hands to clicking a button in a rousing game of Kahoot!

In other words, the smoldering old building was a conduit to the coolness of its phoenix, which rose up sexy, slick and cool. The wondrous new Asheville Middle School stands as tribute to the old one that fell at its foundational feet. All that history, all those memories, became the energetic building blocks for the new school.

Heat influences cool: It’s the basic law of thermodynamics. Duh. X

Ease into 2017 in an Adjustable Bed

Queen Adjustable Bed for $36 / Month 0% Interest OR

Queen Adjustable Base for $599 *With Compatible Mattress Purchase Limited Quantities Available

Buy Local, Pay Less, Sleep Better LOCAL FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED MATTRESSMANSTORES.COM

Asheville • 85 Tunnel Rd, Suite 10 (Next to Office Depot & Big Lots) • (828) 299-4232 Arden • 303 Airport Rd (Next to Sonic) • (828) 687-2618 Hendersonville • 1900 B Four Seasons Blvd (Next to US Cellular) • (828) 693-9000 DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

9

NEWS

BACK TO THE FACTORY

How advanced manufacturing is transforming WNC’s economy

BY MAX HUNT mhunt@mountainx.com It’s easy to miss the turnoff on Sweeten Creek Road that leads to GE Aviation’s South Asheville operation.

The service road winds through an industrial park, past several mundane structures and parking lots; employees move between GE’s two main buildings — the rotating-parts plant and the newer ceramic matrix composite facility.

But within those nondescript warehouse walls lies a world of robotics, high-tech devices and dynamic innovation, where a legion of highly skilled workers conceptualizes, develops and produces a dizzying array of flight components used by companies across the globe.

GE’s operation is just one example of how the local manufacturing sector is finding new life. With a bevy of companies relocating or expanding operations in Western North Carolina, economic boosters, educators and business representatives are working to prepare the next generation of workers to meet the growing need.

EBB AND FLOW Since the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century, manufacturing has played a vital role in the regional economy. For the next 100 years, the abundant raw materials and cheap, mostly nonunion labor encouraged manufacturers to produce a wide range of products here.

GE, for example, has been in the Asheville area since shortly after World War II, notes plant manager Michael Meguiar. “A lot of people are somewhat misinformed about that,” he says. “People mostly hear about our opening the new plant about two years ago; this site has actually been operating since the late ’40s.”

But while legacy companies like GE have stuck around, regional manufacturing gradually declined beginning in the 1980s. And between 2006 and 2010 alone, Buncombe County lost about 14 percent of its remaining manufacturing jobs, according to data provided by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. During that same period, the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area

10

MANUFACTURING OF TOMORROW: In the past five years, the advanced manufacturing industry has been growing in Western North Carolina, as new companies move to the region, and existing operations expand. Economic development organizations are working with businesses and educational programs like A-B Tech’s mechanical engineering department to train a new generation of technicians to fill these workforce needs. Photo courtesy of A-B Tech (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties) lost nearly 3,000 manufacturing positions.

Since then, however, Buncombe County has seen 16 percent growth in manufacturing jobs, and the Asheville metro added 1,982 of them, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

WAVE OF THE FUTURE This new wave, though, is “not your father’s manufacturing,” stresses Ben Teague, chief operating officer and executive director of the Economic Development Coalition.

“It’s very sophisticated businesses that have great pay rates for careertype opportunities.”

GE’s 2-year-old ceramic matrix composite facility is a shining example of the new face of manufacturing: The plant floor resembles a high-tech lab, with workers milling about in climatecontrolled “clean” rooms, high-tech forges and tooling machines humming

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

in neat rows, and robots ferrying parts from station to station, all under the watchful eye of technicians.

“When we first started this process, it was completely manual,” says aeronautical engineer Nolan Cousineau.

But with growing production quotas on the horizon, Cousineau and his colleagues have worked to implement automated processes throughout the production line, streamlining tedious, repetitive tasks and freeing up employees to focus on more complicated functions.

“The technology is kind of a unique one where you’re having to handcraft something, but you’re taking the stuff that is ergonomically risky to the workforce and automating it,” Cousineau explains. “At first, our workforce was worried we were going to replace them with robots. But we’re not displacing people: We’re enabling them to do more.”

SPREADING THE WORD Educating the public about the changing face of manufacturing, and getting young people interested in and trained for such careers, are keys to its continued local renaissance, says Nathan Ramsey, director of the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board.

An arm of the Land of Sky Regional Council, the board works to create jobs in Buncombe, Madison, Henderson and Transylvania counties.

“Most people say, ‘Oh, those jobs have gone to China,’ but North Carolina is one of the largest manufacturing states in the country,” he points out. “It’s about 20 percent of our state’s economy.”

In the coming years, several manufacturing firms expect to expand their operations here, including GF Linamar (350 new jobs), BorgWarner Turbo Systems (154 jobs), Avadim Technologies (551) and others.

Altogether, Ramsey predicts, 2,404 new positions will be added within

to move back to Raleigh, where I’m

WORKPLACE LEARNING

from,” she reveals. “In Asheville,

Efforts to recruit and support students interested in manufacturing careers extend from the classroom to the floor of the plants themselves.

“One of the systemic ways we’re working on that is the STEM school in Buncombe County,” Teague explains, referring to a curriculum that emphasizes science, technol-

there’s a handful of places that people in my program could end up working, but if I’m going to put down roots somewhere, I want to be reasonably confident that if, for whatever reason, I want to find another job, I can. In Asheville, those choices are fewer.”w

CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

ON THE FLOOR: Unlike stereotypical representations of traditional manufacturing, GE Aviation’s CMC plant (above) features large, bright workspaces and allows workers to determine the scope of their daily activities through GE’s “teaming” initiative. Photo courtesy of GE Aviation the next 10 years through expansions and relocations.

These companies manufacture a wide range of products. “Whether it’s plastic pipe, rocketry components or bottled juices — anything that you use on a daily basis — there’s probably a manufacturer in our region that had some part in making that,” he notes.

This new wave of manufacturing also offers lucrative career opportunities. In the second quarter of 2016, the manufacturing sector had the highest average weekly wage: $1,318, the Workforce Development Board reported in its December Regional Labor Market Snapshot.

Last year, the average weekly manufacturing wage in Buncombe County was $965.53, 26 percent above the county’s overall average weekly wage, according to the Asheville chamber.

In the Asheville metro, the gap was 32 percent, with manufacturing jobs averaging about $976.22 weekly.

PERCEPTION PROBLEM But if WNC’s manufacturing sector is experiencing a resurgence, it will be short-lived, says Ramsey, unless the region can provide a skilled workforce to support continued growth.

“Many parts of the workforce are aging; a lot of younger individuals are not as willing to consider a manufacturing career,” he notes. “If we can’t supply the talent, our local companies aren’t going to be able to grow and thrive here.”

And with so many job openings and the chance to learn transferable skills that pay a decent wage, why aren’t more young people pursuing those careers? Part of the reason is percep-

tion, says Jason Lorenz of Human Technologies Inc., a labor recruiting firm that works with manufacturers in the area.

“When I was growing up, manufacturing was kind of a bad word,” he explains. Many young people entering the workforce have been raised with the idea that obtaining a fouryear degree is better than working in a factory.

Lorenz’s job, he says, is to re-educate students on what modern manufacturing is like. “If you look at a modern BMW plant, all the automation and how bright it is … there’s work cells right there on the floor where people are all on their laptops.” It’s a good fit, he says, for “kids who are into computer stuff.”

HIGH-TECH JOBS This new manufacturing reality, however, requires new skill sets, stresses Ramsey. “Even our entry-level manufacturing jobs, in many cases, require higher levels of skill than jobs did in the past. They’re high-skilled, really high-tech jobs. If they weren’t, they’d probably be someplace else.”

Acquiring those skills can be challenging, notes Rebecca Bruce, interim director of UNC Asheville’s joint engineering program. “It’s a very demanding curriculum that requires a very high credit-hour count to graduate,” she explains; not surprisingly, there’s a high attrition rate.

And while there are some local job opportunities for graduates, they’re still somewhat limited, says Maggie Hall, a senior in the program.

“I’ve looked at a couple of jobs in Asheville, but I’m probably going

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

11

NEWS ogy, engineering and mathermatics. “Those kids are learning about the things that drive our economy.”

And though it’s too soon to provide details, he continues, the Economic Development Coalition’s planned Campus Asheville initiative will be “a groundbreaking way of engaging students with the business community” to train and retain local talent.

Guiding students through the often lengthy processes leading to certification can make a world of difference, notes Lorenz. “You have to show this plan and say, ’Hey, here’s what the whole path looks like: where you’d start, the commitment you’re going to have to make, the pay rate and the career path.’”

Partnerships between educational institutions and employers are also key. A-B Tech, for example, has classes in everything from machining fundamentals to aerospace and structural composites, and it’s considering launching an automation academy and other courses offering advanced workplace skills.

“New class offerings are generally based on industry request and need,” explains Debbie Cromwell, the school’s workplace learning coordinator. “We have increased our opportunity for students to participate in some form of workplace learning such as internships, special projects, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships.”

REVVED UP UNCA’s joint engineering program, a partnership with N.C. State University, offers accreditation from both schools and training across a wide range of specialties, says David Erb, a lecturer in the program.

“They’re getting a very broad-based engineering background,” he reports.

“We’re keeping them very much generalists: The industry loves that.”

That broad scope of learning is part of what attracted Hall. “I felt like, with the way the world works now, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to divide up engineering disciplines the way it’s traditionally been done,” she says. “It would be much more beneficial to me and to my future employers to be able to know about all of the components.”

Thanks to UNCA’s small size and liberal arts orientation, students in the program get more face time with instructors, plus the chance to develop skills most engineering programs don’t emphasize. “Your typical engineering freshman lecture has

12

CLOSING THE GAP: While their numbers within the manufacturing world remain small, women are often the “curve-setters” in UNC Asheville’s Mechatronics program, says lecturer David Erb. “Women are here, generally, very intentionally.” Photo courtesy of UNC Asheville 300 to 500 students in it; here, it’s 25,” notes Erb. “A liberal arts university is also different from a typical land-grant school in that it’s focused on that wellrounded-citizen approach. That’s really valuable to our students.”

Internships, career days and extracurricular projects like the Formula SAE challenge, in which students build an electric car from scratch, give them a chance to show employers that “they’re really revved up and are willing to go beyond just what classes require,” Erb maintains. “That tells those employers that these people care about the business.”

TEAMWORK But the learning doesn’t end when students leave the classroom. Many manufacturers, including GE Aviation, are willing to train new employees on the job. “You don’t need to come in with composite experience; in fact, a majority of our workforce has no composite experience,” Cousineau says. “I actually like starting with blank slates, because you can teach them everything, and you don’t have to unteach bad habits.”

At the ceramic matrix composite facility, workers learn each part of the production process, from the initial cutting of materials to forging, machining and inspections. “To us, they’re all one technician,” says Cousineau. “If you

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

don’t know anything, that’s OK: We’ll teach it all to you.”

Meanwhile, the facility’s team approach enables employees on the plant floor to self-direct daily activities.

“The team is the one leading this — they control their own destiny here,” he explains. “They hold themselves accountable and negotiate who gets to work where.”

Allowing workers a say in daily operations gives the company a competitive edge, stresses Cousineau. “It builds that layer of ‘We can do this,’ versus ‘I’m being told to do this,’” he points out. “What that does is garner buy-in: They feel part of the victory and part of the solution.”

COMMITMENT AND CAMARADERIE For the team approach to work, though, employees must have a sense of shared responsibility and accountability. Often, says Lorenz, employers “are looking for three things: your attendance, your talent and your temperament. If you’ve got those, I can find a good home for you and expose you to that whole new different animal that’s growing in this area, even if you don’t have a background in manufacturing.”

At GE Aviation, notes Meguiar, “We very much run this plant like a family.

Asheville and WNC are not only one of the greatest places in the country to live,

work and play, but we have an awesome support system that respects and desires economic development and wants to grow manufacturing.”

Newer companies here share that sense of excitement. Since 2012, when Outdoor Gear Builders of WNC was formed, that industry has expanded by leaps and bounds, says Noah Wilson, the coalition’s director.

“We’ve seen a lot of growth and positive changes in outdoor products manufacturing in WNC. My inbox stays busy with inquiries from national brands looking to partner with our companies and awesome people reaching out about job opportunities with our members. This makes me confident that outdoor gear is only going to grow in impact as an economic driver.”

Being in a region known for its wide array of outdoor opportunities helps those businesses recruit a talented, engaged workforce, adds Wilson.

“To build a great company, you need great people, and great people want to live in a great place. Asheville and WNC have grown tremendously in popularity in recent years, and that really helps with recruiting top talent.

Equally important, we have an excellent manufacturing base.”

ROSIE THE RIVETER REDUX As educators and industry promoters alike look for new sources of labor to fill manufacturing positions, reaching out to women is a big focus, says Pamela Silvers, principal investigator for an A-B Tech pilot program aimed at improving training and increasing the number of jobs in technical fields. Women, she explains, constitute half the school’s student body but less than 15 percent of those enrolled in manufacturing-related programs.

“Manufacturing is often promoted because you can get well-paying jobs, which is how men often select their career,” says Silvers. “Women select careers because they want to help others, work in teams and make a difference. In order to major in a program, students must be able to picture themselves in a career, so we make sure we have females featured on promo materials,” she says.

Hall, meanwhile, says that of the roughly 30 students in her graduating class, only five are female.

“We have a couple of great female faculty members that are very encouraging, but it’s definitely something that is always kind of present. I’ve had classes where I was the only girl. I don’t know if

my male classmates notice it so much, but I can feel that I’m the only woman in the room.”

Despite their low numbers, though, “Women are always the curve-setters in engineering,” says UNCA’s Erb. “Women are here, generally, very intentionally: They have some reason to be here. That’s a categorically sexist statement, but it seems to hold true.”

LIFE-CHANGING STORIES Job expos and regional events like the Mountain State Fair, says Ramsey, also help recruit workers.

Workforce Development Board representatives, he notes, recently traveled to Raleigh to accept WNC’s certification by the NCWorks Commission as an advanced manufacturing pathway in production, maintenance and engineering. The designation recognizes communities that, with support from the state, are striving to educate their residents about available career paths and provide training and resources to connect workers with companies.

The success of outreach efforts, Teague maintains, can be measured in the turnout for events like the Economic Development Coalition’s annual Homecoming Career Fair.

“When I first got here in 2009, we had a total of 50 companies that would participate,” he recalls. Today, that number has more than doubled.

“Last year, I think we had something like 4,000 job opportunities,” he continues. “I can tell you story after story of people who found their jobs there. It feels good to see lives change through that.”

Lorenz, too, has inspiring tales to tell. “The best story I have is about a kid who was working fast food, going to college; his girlfriend got pregnant right after high school. He told me, ‘I can’t keep doing this fast-food thing.’ I said, ‘I have an opportunity’ and showed him the plan.” Recently graduated, “He’s going from $9.50 to $15.45 an hour, which is life-changing for this guy. I’m pretty excited about that.”

ing to new product lines being launched at the BMW, Daimler and Volvo plants in South Carolina. “It’s really spreading out from Greenville-Spartanburg and making an impact here. The demand for advanced manufacturing is going to keep going up.”

And over at GE Aviation, Cousineau says he’s already seeing a changing of the guard. “A couple of years ago, I would have said we don’t have a lot of young talent,” he reveals. “But almost all the new hires, all the new engineers, are younger than me. It’s been a good thing, and we’ve been growing our talent pool.”

Meguiar agrees. “We feel very good about the future of manufacturing in Asheville,” he says. “If our local community continues to support growth in advanced manufacturing like they have with us, I think the future can be very bright.”

Below is a video outlining the work and projects conducted by N.C. State/ UNC Asheville’s Mechatronics students during the fall 2016 semester. Video courtesy of UNC Asheville. To learn more, visit engineering.unca.edu/joint-bs-engineering-mechatronics-concentration.

Video: youtu.be/fgAZNXnv6Pk X

Manufacturing trends in Buncombe County Fastest-growing manufacturing industries (2001-present): • Beverage product

manufacturing

735 jobs added • Plastics & rubber products manufacturing

361 jobs • Printing & related

support activities

317 jobs • Food manufacturing

89 jobs Company Linamar Corporation (3 separate projects) New Belgium Brewing GE Aviation Nypro Inc. BorgWarner Turbo Systems Jacob Holm Reich GmbH Avadim Technologies Kearfott Corporation AVL Technologies

Slowest-growing manufacturing industries (2001-present): • Machinery manufacturing

1,164 jobs lost • Textile mills

937 jobs • Textile product mills

830 jobs • Computer & electronic product

manufacturing

498 jobs

Announced Capital Investment

Announced new jobs

$315,000,000

800

$175,000,000 $126,000,000 $83,000,000 $55,800,000

154 52 156 154

$45,900,000 $28,000,000 $25,400,000 $11,870,000 $11,500,000

66 56 551 75 90

PASSING THE TORCH The next generation’s willingness to take advantage of such opportunities will be a key factor in sustaining the sector’s current boom, observers say.

“The demand for people who understand manufacturing will continue to rise,” Lorenz predicts, point-

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

13

NEWS

by Able Allen

aallen@mountainx.com

A HOLE IN THE TOW-ZONE? Resident challenges city’s enforcement of towing ordinance

(828) 299-3000

Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

800 Fairview Rd (at River Ridge Marketplace)

AN INCONVENIENT ROOST: When a vehicle is towed, big questions can arise about where you parked and whether the tow company satisfied local laws regarding towing. Knowing the law can help get your car and belongings back faster. And if a tow company is in the wrong, it might be assessed a hefty fine. Photo by Able Allen Dave Mittler says he’s been parking in the little lot at 70 S. Market St. for years. But when he slid in there on the evening of Sept. 30 so he could grab a slice of pizza from Barley’s, he found out the hard way that it isn’t public parking.

He saw the sign that says “No parking … vehicles will be towed away,” and Brian Daniel, the Eagle Market Streets Development Corp. employee who manages the building, even warned him not to park there or he would be towed.

Mittler says he told Daniel he’d be quick but refused to move his car. When he got back, it was nowhere to be found.

Mittler concedes that parking there was inadvisable, but he wasn’t happy when he couldn’t tell how to get his car back: The warning sign lacked the required recovery number. The city has specific rules governing “tres-

14

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

pass towing” (removing a vehicle from private property without the owner’s consent) in the central business district and Biltmore Village. But Mittler takes issue with the way the city enforces those rules.

SCARECROW LOTS More than three-quarters of the over 10,000 parking spaces scattered around downtown Asheville are in surface lots rather than on the street or in garages, and most of those lots are privately owned. The city doesn’t write tickets in them, but they’re often protected by the threat of towing, and lot owners take various approaches to enforcement.

Fed up with unauthorized people using their lots, some owners have posted signs forbidding parking (at least dur-

ing certain hours) under pain of towing.

A city ordinance specifies the height, size and lettering of such signs, their proximity to the street line and the required content: a recovery number, the hours during which towing is enforced and the recovery cost. And many of these lots are regularly patrolled for violators. But the city doesn’t evaluate individual signs unless someone complains about being unfairly towed, says Harry Brown, parking services manager. And whether the property owner or the towing company posts the sign, he explains, if it doesn’t comply with the ordinance, “We fine the tow company, because they’re the ones doing the action.”

Some lots, notes Brown, have “signs up warning they’ll tow, and they probably never do,” relying instead on a scarecrow effect. That may be the case at 70 S.

Market. Mittler says people park there all the time. But it is unclear whether the lot truly depends on the scare factor or if the sign is regularly backed up by towing. Terry Petty of Auto Safe Towing says his company doesn’t have standing permission to tow unauthorized vehicles there but that Daniel specifically asked them to tow Mittler’s car. The vehicle, says Petty, was blocking access to the ramp for people with disabilities; Daniel declined to comment, saying he just wants to put the situation behind him.

It took Mittler hours to get his car back.

He had the police ask Daniel which company had done the towing, and he had to pay a $195 recovery fee. Meanwhile, Brown fined Auto Safe Towing $200 for towing when the required warning hadn’t been given. Petty appealed the fine, but Transportation Director Ken Putnam denied the appeal.

Mittler, however, isn’t satisfied: He wants recovery numbers on all tow signs. He says he asked Brown how people whose cars have been towed from a lot with no recovery number posted are supposed to recover their property, and Brown simply said they shouldn’t park there.

“This is about the ordinance,” Mittler maintains. “This is about the idiot who chooses to park in the tow zone having a constitutional right to recover his car and his belongings. … This is not going to fly.” Mittler says he’s considering suing the city if necessary.

TOW THE LINE By 2008, nonconsensual (or “predatory”) towing had become a hot-button issue here (see “No Parking,” Dec. 10, 2008, Xpress). The city’s 2003 requirement that lots allowing towing post warning signs hadn’t protected the public from frequent bouts of illegal, unethical or simply unreasonable tows, and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as many locals and visitors, kept raising their concerns with City Council and staff. City Attorney Bob Oast and his staff drafted the current ordinance, based mostly on Raleigh’s, and it was adopted in April 2009.

Towing, Oast told Council, had been causing problems “most of the time I’ve been here. ... This is not going to end nonconsensual towing in this town, but you are doing as much as you can.”

A 2014 state Supreme Court ruling prohibited cities from setting prices for towing or boot removal; all of that language was subsequently removed from the ordinance.

Some evidence suggests that the revised ordinance may be working fine.

Brown says he’s issued only about three fines this year for violations, and some

years, he doesn’t issue any. The system, however, is still complaint-based, so there’s no record of illegal tows that Brown never hears about.

WHAT ABOUT ME? As so often happens in matters of law, problems arise when different people’s rights come into conflict. In this case, the squeaky wheel is Mittler. He acknowledges the property owners’ rights, but he also asks, “Where’s my rights? Where’s the tourist from Florida’s rights with their family, that are parking in that spot and they get towed? The city is basically telling me and those people, ‘Screw you!

We want money because when [Petty] tows and Mittler complains, we’re going to get another $300 fine from him.’”

Petty “knows it’s illegal to tow [in these situations] and he’s doing it anyway,” Mittler asserts.

Asked about the allegations, Petty said: “No, sir. We follow the city’s laws and rules. We work with their system.”

Petty maintained that he’s simply trying to run a business, as is his right, and he and his employees do their best to make good decisions about which cars to tow, within the limits spelled out by the regulations. Overall, said Petty, he thinks his company does a good job.

State law gives Asheville the authority to enact a towing ordinance, says Giles Perry, an attorney with the N.C. General Assembly’s Legislative Services Office in Raleigh. But how the city chooses to enforce its ordinance is up to the city manager and his designees.

Xpress asked various city staffers whether the ordinance, as it stands, is sufficient to protect the public from predatory towing, but none were willing to address the question. As communications specialist Polly McDaniel put it, “This is not a legal question per se; rather, it is a matter of policy, which is decided by City Council.”

Nonetheless, Mittler is hellbent on persuading the city to hold property owners who post tow-away warning signs accountable as well. “All they have to do,” he argues, “is just say, ‘We love your business, we love your taxes and having your building here, but because we have an ordinance, if you choose to put that tow-away sign up, you have to put a recovery number there, because the idiots who park here have a right to get their stuff.’”

Buying, Selling or Investing in Real Estate?

(828) 210-1697

www.TheMattAndMollyTeam.com

COME SEE US TODAY!

Free alignment inspection with any service, just ask.

WE REPLACE PRIUS BATTERIES (3 YEAR WARRANTY)

THANK YOU TO OUR ING COMMUNITY & WISHTH Y AL HE Y YOU A HAPP NEW YEAR!

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

BRING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR, AND YOUR ASIAN CAR—TOYOTA, LEXUS, HONDA, ACURA, SUBARU, NO EUROPEAN MODELS MOSTLY AUTOMOTIVE • 253 Biltmore Ave. 828-253-4981

DUDE, WHERE’S MY CAR? Brown, however, says he can’t force a property owner to put up a sign or include a recovery number, and the

CONTINUES ON PAGE 16 DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

15

N EWS city attorney’s office agrees. According to McDaniel, their position is that although the ordinance makes it illegal to tow or immobilize a car unless certain notification conditions are met, it doesn’t prohibit posting a noncomplying sign. But if a company tows a car despite that noncomplying sign or in the absence of any sign at all and someone complains, the business could face a fine of up to $500 for inappropriate towing. In the city’s view, such violations start and end with whoever tows or immobilizes the vehicle.

Petty’s appeal was based mainly on the fact that an agent of the property owner gave his company permission to tow the car and warned Mittler beforehand. According to the city’s legal team, however, the ordinance addresses the owner’s or lessee’s giving permission to park, not permission to tow.

And even though Petty’s appeal was unsuccessful, Mittler can forget about getting his $195 back, the city’s lawyers say. Under state law, the city may impose a civil fine for breaking its ordinance, but it has no authority to make a violator pay another citizen for damages.

In all of this, the most protected party is the property owner. Although owners can be held liable for some things that

might happen to a trespasser or the trespasser’s car while it’s on the owner’s property, they can’t be held at fault if a third party tows or immobilizes a car parked there.

So what should you do if you’ve parked in a private lot, come back and your vehicle is nowhere to be found?

The shortest path is pretty much what Mittler did. The ordinance requires towing companies to notify police when they make a trespass tow, so within 30 minutes, the APD should be able to find out where the missing car was towed.

Companies are required to grant timely access to such vehicles, and if the sign doesn’t seem to meet the ordinance’s requirements, notes Brown, towing victims should report the incident to his office so he can investigate it.

Mittler, however, maintains that the ordinance as written and enforced doesn’t do enough to protect people’s right to recover their car and belongings — or to punish those who tow when the ordinance prohibits it.

“I’m not letting this go,” vows Mittler. “This is not going to disappear, and I’m not going to disappear.” X

Like what you’re reading?

There’s much more online. mountainx.com 16

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

Scoreboard As of Monday, Dec.26

284 Donations $47,910 raised SO FAR!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

LAST WEEK TO GIVE!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Here’s what Give!Local nonprofits have raised at presstime. Giving continues until Dec. 31.

ARTS ANAM CARA THEATRE

$255

ASHEVILLE

HOMEWARD BOUND

$2,530

COMMUNITY

APPALACHIAN BARN ALLIANCE

$265 THE MAGNETIC THEATRE

$235

YOGA

THE LORD’S ACRE

$100

$3,738

LOVING FOOD RESOURCES

ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS

$400

$575

MEMORYCARE

ASHEVILLE MUSIC PROFESSIONALS

BOUNTY & SOUL

$150

$560

ASHEVILLE MUSIC SCHOOL

THE COMMUNITY TABLE

$202

$1,560

MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS

$355

LEAF COMMUNITY ARTS

$115 $280 POP PROJECT

$439 SOUTHERN HIGHLAND CRAFT GUILD

$2,640

OUR VOICE

THE COUNCIL ON AGING OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY

ORISON BOOKS

$1,025

ANIMALS

COMMUNITY

$400

$1,020

PROVISION ASHEVILLE

$170

SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY

HELIOS WARRIORS

$330

$103

THE ANIMAL RESCUE OF WNC

$345

YOUTH

ECOFORESTERS

$810

$461

CHILDREN FIRST

FRIENDS OF THE SMOKIES

ASHEVILLE

$835

HUMANE SOCIETY

ELIADA

$700

$890 FEAST

CHARLIE’S ANGELS

$1,615

ANIMAL RESCUE

$410

ASHEVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

$5,155

FRIENDS OF THE WNC NATURE CENTER

$531 HEART OF HORSE SENSE

$240 WILD FOR LIFE

MY DADDY TAUGHT ME THAT

$620

PROJECT CHALLENGE NORTH CAROLINA INC.

$95

SLEEP TIGHT KIDS

$335

$5,600

Go to Givelocalguide.org for updates and to make your contribution!

ENVIRONMENT

ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE

$357 MOUNTAINTRUE

$1,370 MUDDY SNEAKERS

$424 ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL

$170 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY

$5,825 WNC GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

BOB MOOG FOUNDATION

$140

GIRLS ROCK ASHEVILLE

WILD SOUTH

$680

$2,425

$495

Great endings & fresh starts As Give!Local approaches the finish line, project coordinator Susan Hutchinson is already gearing up for 2017 campaign.

Hutchinson says she expects to keep the number of participating nonprofits at about 50 next year, with a mix of large/small, new and returning groups supporting a variety of causes, some of them well known and some lesser known. Nonprofits must have 501(c)3 standing. Those wanting to be consid-

ered for 2017, should fill out an application form at http://forms.mountainx.com/give-local-2017/ or email Hutchinson at givelocal@mountainx.com with questions.

“We’re also looking for partner businesses, such as restaurants, venues, retailers, etc, to reward donors,” Hutchinson notes. “If your business would like to reach a targeted demographic of buyers, please email me.”:

Businesses or foundations that would like to sponsor monetary prizes for Give!Local categories (e.g., people, environment, kids, arts) are invited to provide matching grants or otherwise support the project. Contact givelocal@mountainx.com for info.

Meanwhile, 2016 isn’t over: “Let’s end the year with a great last week of donations for the 2016 Give!Local nonprofits,” Hutchinson adds. X

Welcome to the New Online Clubland

MORE

In f o r mation

BETTER

Naviga tion

FASTER Lo a d i n g

Local news, events and entertainment for Western North Carolina DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

17

COMMUNITY CALENDAR • Through MO (1/9) - Open registration for the "Industry Day Self-defense Seminar for Women in the Service Industry." The two-part seminar takes place on MO (1/9), 1-3pm and MO (1/23), 1-3pm. Registration required: 250-4718 or buncombecounty. org/governing/depts/library/Calendar.aspx.

Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 JANUARY 5, 2017

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.

FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • WEDNESDAYS, 6pm - "What's Up with Whiteness" discussion group. Free to attend.

LAUREL CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS' GUILD OF AMERICA 686-8298 , egacarolinas.org • TH (1/5), 10am - General meeting and instructional presentation on on bargello needlepoint embroidery. Free. Held at Cummings United Methodist Church, 3 Banner Farm Road, Horse Shoe ONTRACK WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave., 255-5166, ontrackwnc.org • WE (12/28), noon - "Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it."

Seminar. Registration required. Free.

ROTARY CLUBS OF WNC rotariansagainsthunger.org, rawlingswc@gmail.com • TH (1/5), noon-1:30pm - Asheville rotary club general meeting with a presentation

by Kate Waddington and Tom Claybaugh from the Asheville Citizen-Times. Free.

Held at Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE showingupforracialjustice.org • TUESDAYS, 10am-noon - Educating and organizing white people for racial justice.

Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road

=❄ ANIMALS BROTHER WOLF ANIMAL RESCUE 505-3440, bwar.org • WE (12/28), 6pm - Pet adoption event.

Free to attend. Held at Sanctuary Brewing Company, 147 1st Ave., Hendersonville

ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS: This New Year’s Eve, Urban Dharma Buddhist Center is hosting Endings, Beginnings: A Candlelight Vigil of Release & Renewal. The service, which takes place Saturday, Dec. 31, from 8:30-10 p.m., invites participants to write down unresolved issues, emotional upsets, destructive habits, resentments, grudges and any unhappiness that they want to release onto small strips of paper. These paper strips will be offered into a large singing bowl that will be sounded 108 times as part of the singing of the Vajrasattva mantra. At the end of the evening, the strips of paper will be consumed in a fire symbolizing a new beginning heralded by a new year. The event is free, though donations are accepted. For more information visit facebook. com/events/234263100319008/. Photo courtesy of Urban Dharma (p. 22)

BENEFITS

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS

ST. MATTHIAS CHURCH 1 Dundee St., 285-0033, stmatthiasepiscopal. com/ • SU (1/1), 3pm - Donations at “An Afternoon in Vienna,” 30-piece chamber orchestra performance with opera singer Katie Ciluffo and dancers benefit St. Matthias Church restoration fund. Free to attend.

18

POLE DANCE + AERIAL ARTS + FLEXIBILITY CLASSES AT EMPYREAN ARTS (PD.) •Exotic Pole Dance on Mondays 8:00-9:15pm •Beginning Pole on Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm, Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm, Saturdays 11:45am12:45pm, and Sundays 5:45-6:45pm •Flexibility on Tuesdays 8:00-9:15pm and Thursdays 1:002:15pm. •Beginning Aerial Arts on Tuesdays from 11:00am-12:00pm and Wednesdays 4:15-5:15pm.

Sign up at Empyreanarts.org.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

ASHEVILLE SUBMARINE VETERANS ussashevillebase.com, ecipox@charter.net • 1st TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Social meeting for U.S. Navy submarine veterans. Free to attend.

Held at Ryan's Steakhouse, 1000 Brevard Road ASHEVILLE TOASTMASTERS CLUB 914-424-7347, ashevilletoastmasters.com • THURSDAYS, 6:15pm - General meeting.

Free. Held at YMI Cultural Center, 39 South Market St. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library

DANCE POLE FITNESS AND DANCE CLASSES AT DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE (PD.) Pole Dance, Burlesque, Jazz/Funk, Hip Hop, Flashmobs! Drop in for a class or sign up for a series:• 4 Week Beginner Jazz/Funk to Bruno Mars - Begins Jan. 3• 6 Week Intro to Pole - Begins Jan. 10• Tues. and Thurs. at 12PM - Pole class for $10• 21 classes offered every week!• Memberships available for $108/month DanceclubAsheville.com 828-275-8628 Right down the street from UNCA - 9 Old Burnsville Hill Rd., #3 STUDIO ZAHIYA, DOWNTOWN DANCE CLASSES (PD.) Monday 5pm Ballet Wkt 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 7pm Hip Hop Fusion 8pm Tap • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 4:30pm Teen Bellydance 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 2 8pm Bellydance 3 8pm Hip Hop Choreography •Wednesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 5:30pm Hip Hop Wkt 6:30pm Bhangra 7:30pm POUND Wkt 8pm • Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wrkt 4pm Girls Hip Hop 5pm Teen Hip Hop 7pm West African • Saturday 9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 10:45 Electronic Yoga

Wkt • Sunday 3pm Tap 2 6:30pm Vixen • $13 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $5. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595 SWING ASHEVILLE swingasheville.com • TUESDAYS, 8-11pm - Jazz N' Justice: Beginner swing lessons at 8pm. Open swing dance with live jazz at 9pm. $10 beginner lesson/$5 open dance. Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 South Market St.

ECO 24TH ANNUAL SPRING CONFERENCE (PD.) March 10-12, 2017. Keynotes: Gabe Brown

FOOD & BEER 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, 7743000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.

Center • WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Welcome Table meal. Free.

MONTMORENCI UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 89 Old Candler Town Road, Candler, 667-1211 • MONDAYS 6-7:30pm & THURSDAYS noon2pm - Community meal. Free.

& Matthew and Althea Raiford. UNCA. 140+ practical, affordable, regionally-appropriate sessions on organic growing, homesteading, farming. Trade show, seed exchange, kid’s program. Organicgrowersschool.org.

FESTIVALS

❄CHEROKEE TRIBAL FAIRGROUNDS

• 1st WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Eco-presentations,

545 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, (800) 438-1601, visitcherokeenc.com/ • FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS through (12/31), 5-10pm - Holiday light display and legends of the Cherokee. Free to attend.

discussions and community connection. Free.

❄N.C. ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS

ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS ashevillegreendrinks.com

Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

665-2492, ncwinterlights.com • Through SU (1/1), 6-10pm - "Winter Lights,"

Make a resolution to smile more in 2017.

We can help!

828.254.5677 600-B Centrepark Drive, Asheville, NC DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

19

C O N S C I O U S PA R T Y

Magical Offerings

By Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com

Jan. 1-4 - CLOSED for Inventory

Sweet Claudette plays a pro-choice benefit

Jan. 6 - 15°: Astrology Meetup + Workshop Hosted by Cumulus, 5-7pm $5-$55 sliding scale workshop Jan. 8 - Johrei Workshop: 5-6 pm, Suggested Donation $5-$10 Jan. 11 - Women’s Circle: 6-8 pm Jan. 14 - Intro to Sif, AVL Edition: Hosted by Angie Kunschmann 1-2pm, $10

Over 100 Herbs Available!

555 Merrimon Ave. (828) 424-7868 Daily readers including Scrying, Runes, Tarot, & More! Walk-ins welcome!

GETTING VOCAL: “We believe that the government should stay out of intimate reproductive and family planning decisions, and we are very concerned by the religious right’s systematic erosion of our right to a safe and accessible abortion,” says Melissa Hyman, far left, of Sweet Claudette. The band will headline a benefit for NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina. Photo courtesy of the band

Dance and transformational classes for women of all sizes, ages, and backgrounds.

Specials on classes and holiday gift certificates all month long!

828-548-0698 christinegarvin.com 20

WHAT: A fundraiser for NARAL ProChoice North Carolina WHERE: The Mothlight WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7 p.m.

WHY: Pro-choice advocates celebrated a win when, on June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt set a precedent that could be used to limit abortion laws in multiple states.

But in considering North Carolina’s 2017 legislative session, activist Tara Romano says: “We still anticipate there will be folks who will be putting through legislation that’s going to attempt to restrict access to abortion and birth control further. So, that’s one of the things we’re gearing up for.”

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

Romano is the executive director for NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, a nonprofit that focuses on advocacy and education as opposed to providing specific services for constituents. “We advocate for access to the full range of reproductive health options,” she says, including birth control, abortions and affordable child care.

A statewide organization, NARAL is based in the Triangle, which allows for easy access to lawmakers when they’re in session. “But we are also wanting to engage with folks in different parts of the state,” Romano adds, and that prompted a benefit concert in Asheville.

Sweet Claudette, an all-female, allfeminist quartet, which recently celebrated the release of its first full-length

album, Whiskey Drunk on Puppy Love, will headline the show.

Event attendees can browse raffle prizes from Asheville businesses — including a belt buckle with a uterus design from Steeltoe Sunshine — and gather information on activism.

“It’s right after the holidays,” Romano says, noting the slow time of year. “But we hope it will be a fun opportunity for folks to meet others that are interested in this issue, listen to some great music, start to form social networks and get excited to really stand up for reproductive freedom next year.”

Visit themothlight.com for more information. Admission is by a suggested $10 donation at the door. Proceeds benefit NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina. X

C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR

by Abigail Griffin

outdoor holiday lights exhibition. $18/$16 children under 12/Free children under 4. Held at N.C. Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St.

KIDS GOVERNMENT & POLITICS

❄ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM

CITY OF ASHEVILLE 251-1122, ashevillenc.gov • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 5pm - Citizens-Police Advisory Committee meeting. Free. Meets in the 1st Floor Conference Room. Held at

2 N. Pack Square, 253-3227 • Through TH (12/29), 1-4pm - "Annual Holiday Arts Extravaganza Holiday Art Camp," for students in grades 1–4. Registration required. $20 per day/$18 per day for members.

ATTIC SALT THEATRE COMPANY 505-2926

• SATURDAYS through (12/31) - Family theater performances. $5. Held at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St.

• TU (1/3) through FR (1/6), 10am-4pm "World Braille Day," activities for kids of all ages. Admission fees apply.

FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 687-1218, library. hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am - Family story time.

Free.

MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • WEDNESDAYS, 10am - Miss Malaprop's Story Time for ages 3-9. Free to attend.

• TH (1/5), 11am - Storytime reading of Murphy’s Three Homes with Mamie Adams.

Free to attend.

HANDS ON! A CHILDREN'S GALLERY 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 697-8333 • TU (1/3), 11am - "Mad Scientists Lab," science activities for children. Registration required. Admission fees apply.

MILLS RIVER LIBRARY 124 Town Center Drive, Suite 1 Mills River • WE (1/4), 4-5pm - “Mad Scientists Lab,”

For Affordable Quality DWI Treatment

Call 828-350-1000 We accept most insurances, credit cards, and can make payment arrangements.

State Funding based on income for people without insurance may be available.

www.octoberroadinc.net

Do You Have a Child with ADHD?

UNCA & Advanced Psychological Services is currently accepting participants for a study of a neurofeedback treatment of ADHD for children aged 7-10.

Symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) include difficulty concentrating, disorganization, distractibility, forgetting, and trouble completing tasks on time.

The treatment can be added to other treatment (such as medication) the child is receiving. Prior diagnosis is not necessary. Qualified participants receive free evaluation and treatment, and some reimbursement for time and travel.

Risks will be explained before agreeing to participate.

For information without obligation call Dr. Roger deBeus: 828-333-5359 x3,

or email rdebeus@unca.edu, or visit ICANstudy.org DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

21

C O MM UNI TY CA LEN DA R

science activities for children. Registration required. Free.

SPELLBOUND CHILDREN'S BOOKSHOP 640 Merrimon Ave., #204, 708-7570, spellboundchildrensbookshop.com • SATURDAYS, 11am - Storytime for ages 3-7.

Free to attend.

OUTDOORS

by Abigail Griffin

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com

cessfully—every time. Learn how TM is different from mindfulness, watching your breath, common mantra meditation and everything else. NIH-sponsored research shows deep revitalizing rest, reduced stress and anxiety, improved brain functioning and heightened well-being. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut. 828-254-4350.

TM.org or MeditationAsheville.org ASTRO-COUNSELING (PD.)

ASHEVILLE AMBLERS WALKING CLUB ashevilleamblers.com • SU (1/1), 2pm - "Asheville Amblers City Walk," 5K and 10 walk. Registration at 1:30pm.

Meet at the Asheville Visitors Center, 36 Montford Ave. LAKE JAMES STATE PARK 6883 N.C. Highway 126, Nebo, 584-7728 • SA (12/31), 10am - "Last Chance Bird Hike," ranger-led bird hike on Mill's CreekLoop. Free.

SPIRITUALITY ABOUT THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHNIQUE • FREE INTRODUCTORY TALK (PD.) Deep with everyone is a limitless field of peace, energy and happiness, waiting to be discovered and fully lived in daily life. With proper instruction you can access that inner wellspring and meditate effortlessly and suc-

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) 2583229.

METAPHYSICAL COUNSELING AND ENERGY HEALING (PD.) New to Asheville. 33 yrs. experience. Pechet Healing Technique: experience intuitive counseling and energy work directed toward permanent resolution of core issues. Trauma, depression, anxiety + more.

Call today!

Ellie Pechet, M.Ed. 508-237-4929 www.phoenixrisinghealing.com OPEN HEART MEDITATION (PD.) Come experience a relaxing, guided meditation connecting you to the peace and joy of the Divine within you. 7-8pm Tuesday. Suite 212, 70 Woodfin Place. Suggested $5 donation.

SHAMBHALA MEDITATION CENTER (PD.) Wednesdays, 10-midnight, Thursdays, 7-8:30pm and Sundays, 10-noon • Meditation and community. Admission by donation. 60 N. Merrimon Ave., #113, (828) 200-5120. asheville.shambhala.org CENTER FOR ART & SPIRIT AT ST. GEORGE 1 School Road, 258-0211 • 1st & 3rd THURSDAYS, 2pm - Intentional meditation. Admission by donation.

❄URBAN DHARMA 29 Page Ave, 225-6422, udharmanc.com • SA (12/31), 8:30pm - "Endings, Beginnings: A Candlelight Vigil of Release and Renewal," Buddhist candle-light ceremony. Free to attend.

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • First THURSDAYS, 6pm - Political prisoners letter writing. Free to attend.

MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • TH (12/29), 7pm - Works in Translation Book Club: To Each His Own by Leonardo Sciascia and translation by Adrienne Foulke.

Free to attend.

2017

5th Annual Polar Plunge Benefit-t-t-ting Kids in the Creek & Environmental Education

All new customers receive

“Super Bowl” Saturday, February 4, 2017 Lake Junaluska Assembly Beach, (11 Memory Lane, Lake Junaluska, NC) 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

$20 off

Publishes: Jan 25 & Feb 1

Prizes awarded to Best Costumes, Top Individual Fundraisers & Top Team Fundraiser!

Free t-shirt for all Plungers.

Hot chili lunch, bonfire, & door prizes available for all $25 to be a Plunger ($10 students) or FREE by raising sponsorships

any color or cut service!

One coupon valid per person through 12/31/16. Not valid with any other discount or offer. Must present this coupon at time of service.

crowdrise.com/5thannualpolarplunge info@haywoodwaterways.org 828-476-4667.

2 Town Square Blvd., Suite 160 Asheville, NC 28803 828-651-9898

100% of proceeds support youth and environmental education programs.

22

Wellness Issue

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

Contact us today! advertise@mountainx.com

NORTH CAROLINA WRITERS' NETWORK ncwriters.org • Through MO (1/30) - Submissions accepted for the 2017 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize. See website for full guidelines.

• Through SU (1/15) - Submissions accepted for the 2017 Rose Post Creative Nonfiction Competition. Contact for full guidelines.

WNC ASPERGER'S ADULTS UNITED facebook.com/WncAspergersAdultsUnited • Last SATURDAYS, 2pm - Writers' circle.

Free. Held at The Autism Society, 306 Summit St.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY 31 College Pl., Suite B-221 • WE (1/4), 5:30pm & TH (1/5), 9am Information session for those interested in volunteering two hours per week with adults who want to improve reading, writing, spelling, and English language skills. Free.

LOVING FOOD RESOURCES 255-9282, admin@lovingfood.org • Through SA (12/31) - Volunteer with Loving Food Resources. Registration: ngavin@lovingfood.org or 443-655-3074.

MOUNTAINTRUE

VOLUNTEERING HANDS ON ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE 2-1-1, handsonasheville.org • MO (1/2), 6-8:30pm - Volunteer to bake homemade cookies for hospice patients.

Registration required.

• TU (1/3), 5:30-8:30pm - Volunteer for pack and sort food packs for kids. Registration required.

HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC 218 Patton Ave., 258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • 1st THURSDAYS, 11am - "Welcome Home Tour," tours of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required. Free to attend.

258-8737, wnca.org • TH (1/5), 10am-4pm - Volunteer to help plant live-stakes along eroding riverbanks.

Registration: mountaintrue.org/eventscalendar/

❄N.C. ARBORETUM WINTER LIGHTS 665-2492, ncwinterlights.com • Through SU (1/1) - Volunteer to help with the Winter Lights exhibition. ​Individuals, couples and groups are welcome! Must be 18 or over. Registration and training required.

Held at N.C. Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/volunteering

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

23

WELLNESS

CURING THE WINTER BLUES Asheville practitioners offer advice on natural remedies for SAD

BY ELLEN BUTLER butlerem22@gmail.com From vitamin supplements to phototherapy, there’s hope for Western North Carolinians suffering from seasonal affective disorder, say several local experts. As temperatures plummet, mountain roads ice over and daylight hours diminish, SAD affects around 5 percent of Americans annually, according to the American Psychiatric Association. It can produce symptoms such as low energy, irritability, oversleeping, weight gain and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.

Severe cases may require medical options, but there are also many effective alternative treatments — and more importantly, means of prevention. Xpress caught up with some local health and wellness practitioners for advice on natural remedies for SAD. THE VITAMIN D FACTOR Brad Rachman, a Black Mountain-based naturopath, specializes in functional medicine. “Over the last 30 years, I’ve treated over 75,000 patients,” says Rachman, “and in my experience with SAD, the entirety of the disorder is driven by two different but simultaneously occurring events.”

The culprits, he says, are a common vitamin D deficiency coupled with the winter time change, which lessens our exposure to vitamin D-producing sunlight and disrupts circadian rhythms. “More than 50 percent of Americans are vitaminD deficient,” notes Rachman, “and it only gets worse when we have less time in the sunlight. There is extraordinary sensitivity in the nervous system to colors and brightness of light, and, unfortunately, the time change occurs when we’re already getting the least amount of sunlight.”

Rachman concludes, “Put all of that together, and it’s no wonder we have a significant percentage of Americans experiencing some degree of SAD symptoms.”

24

TRAIL THERAPY: The Carolina Mountain Club schedules at least three hikes a week during the winter for all levels. Image courtesy of Carolina Mountain Club He says that vitamin D is a critical regulator for hormones like serotonin, melatonin, dopamine and norepinephrine — hormones that help keep us happy. Moreover, the only way the body can produce this important vitamin is through direct contact with full-spectrum light, which is best supplied by natural sunlight but can also be imitated with fullspectrum light panels or boxes, Rachman continues. Phototherapy, the treatment produced by these light devices, is usually the first suggestion for treating SAD naturally.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

“The way phototherapy works,” says Rachman, “is by triggering the rods and cones in the eyes to create a degree of stimulation. [It’s] best utilized within the first hour of waking.”

These full-spectrum light devices can be found in many clinics but can also be easily purchased for personal use, he notes.

Another critical but easy step to prevent as well as treat vitamin D deficiency in the winter is to take a supplement, Rachman says. “Blood values of vitamin D are not monitored very well in normal check-

ups,” he says. Extreme deficiencies often go unnoticed, Rachman continues. “Supplementation is a simple way to fix this, but the tricky part is that we all absorb vitamin D differently and so require different levels of supplementation.”

He recommends that those with SAD team with a primary care doctor to measure blood levels and find their specific optimal range.

Most importantly, Rachman advocates using lifestyle as medicine.

With SAD, he says, the best approach is developing personal wellness practic-

AYURVEDA, NUTRITION AND DIGESTION Offering an ayurvedic perspective on SAD, Greta Kent-Stoll of Asheville Ayurveda emphasizes nutrition. “Digestion is the physical root of disease,” says KentStoll, “so pay close attention to your digestion and eating routines during physically and emotionally trying times.”

Involvement of the “doshas” is the key to diagnosis and prevention of disease, says Kent-Stoll.

“Ayurveda teaches that everyone is made up of a unique balance of three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha,” she explains. “The doshas are vital energies or humors, and when they become imbalanced or excessive in a person, the result is disease.

OUTDOORS WITH FRIENDS While medication, supplementation, phototherapy, somatic therapy and nutrition are all options for effective treatment of SAD, professionals agree that exercise and community involvement should be priorities for anyone struggling with depressive symptoms. One easily accessible way to engage in the community while getting exercise and crucial sunlight is to join one of the many hiking groups in the area.

Since 1923, the Carolina Mountain Club has been essential in developing hiking trails and fostering a community of outdoor enthusiasts in the Asheville area and beyond.

Hike leader and council member Kathy Kyle speaks from experience on the positive effects on mood that the group has provided: “If I don’t get outside and hike, my mood suffers, especially in the winter. The broad unobstructed views along with the physical exertion of climbing up mountains and down steep trails, breathing in the cold air, can’t be replicated at the gym.”

As for energy levels, Kyle remarks, “We have a man in the club who is 86, and he regularly hikes and leads the most difficult hikes the club offers. He is an example of the power that hiking has to increase your energy levels.”

CMC’s members are no less committed to each other than they are to the trails. “The club is family for my husband and me,” Kyle explains. “We have shared birthdays, countless dinners, deaths of loved ones and everyday life experiences with people in the club. I

WELLNESS NOW All the practitioners Xpress spoke with stressed that taking advantage of the many resources our area has to offer can really help when in need of a winter pick-me-up. As Kent-Stoll advises, “Keep up with

your wellness practices. Don’t postpone wellness! Winter is the perfect time to start, or recommit, to a yoga practice; try a new physical activity; and seek out extra wellness care via ayurvedic consultations, acupuncture, massage and energy work. This is a great time for reflection and inner healing, and passes for wellness services or yoga classes can be great holiday gifts for others and yourself.” X

2017 CE for Massage Therapists BEGINS 1/6/17 Check website for Great Courses AshevilleMassageSchool.org 828-252-7377

HotYogaAsheville.com Real Hot Yoga.

ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.

Somatic psychotherapist and clinical addictions specialist Corey Costanzo, who owns Still Point Wellness with his wife, Robin FannCostanzo, says he takes as a first principle that physical and mental well-being are directly related. And a healthy mind-body connection begins with the nervous system.

“As a somatic psychotherapist, I try to offer road maps for becoming more mindful of the body’s nervous system response,” says Constanzo, “because oftentimes stress results from fighting against the nervous system. With SAD in particular, the nervous system begins to wind down as a response to the change in season and light.”

Costanzo advises mindful attention as a way to work through these changes: “Listen to the body and give it what it wants to reduce stress on the nervous system. As the sun goes down earlier, lights in the house should go down earlier and screens should be shut off earlier. This way you can work with the rhythms that the body is craving and receive a more positive energetic response.”

Costanzo also notes the importance of prevention. “Really, exercise, meditation and general selfcare are the first steps to wellbeing,” he says.

In this spirit, Costanzo and his wife lead a donation-based restorative yoga and didgeridoo meditation class every Friday at Asheville Community Yoga.

have shared and learned more from the club members than any other group I have been involved with.”

828.299.7003

THE SOMATIC APPROACH

Since winter is the season ruled

by Kapha, it is not shocking that people should develop Kapha-type disorders in the winter. These often manifest as lethargy, oversleeping, sluggishness, brain fog and slowed digestion — cornerstones of SAD.” The antidotes she recommends: warmth, movement and light. “Eat foods that are warm, cooked and well-spiced,” she says. But warmth and lightness are brought about in more ways than just through diet, Kent-Stoll explains. “Get as much sunlight as possible,” she advises.

“Take a walk during daytime hours, open the curtains, trim back hanging tree branches and have your living and work spaces be well and pleasantly lit. Find rituals that are nourishing and joyful. Take time to cook and get together with friends and family in person.”

GET UPSIDE DOWN

es that reduce risk factors like anxiety, stress, poor diet and lack of exercise.

Six Month Accredited Certificate Program Next Class March 8, 2017

• COMTA & NC Approved • Federal Financial Aid • Scholarships Available

• 2 1/2 Days Per Week • Weekly Self-Care Immersions • Enhanced Clinic Experience

CenterForMassage.com | 828-658-0814 | At the corner of Biltmore & Eagle

Chinese Medical Treatment for Injury & Illness

Acupuncture • Herbal Prescription Therapeutic Massage

Andrew & JulieAnn Nugent-Head

828-398-0667 / www.alternativeclinic.org 23 Broadway Street, Downtown Asheville

learn more from our site walk in or schedule online

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

Bring to Asheville 30+ Years Experience in China

MOUNTAINX.COM

25

W E L L N E S S CA LEN DA R WELLNESS

“The Coolest Gym in Town!”

Start the new year off right at Biltmore Fitness with No Enrollment Fee! Now through January 31st

Let us help you reach your fitness goals with our superb staff and excellent equipment!

Yoga • Cycling • Group Fitness Personal Training • Smoothie Bar Biltmore Fitness www.biltfit.net • 828-253-5555 711 Biltmore Ave

see website for class schedule and hours

LET YOUR LYMPH SYSTEM WORK FOR YOU (PD.) Clear stuffy heads, heal quicker, reduce stress, detoxify, decrease fluid retention. Discover Manual Lymph Drainage Massage with Jean Coletti, PT. 828273-3950. ColettiPT.com ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER 8 Brookdale Road, ashevillecommunityyoga.com • SU (1/1), 12:30-2:30pm - "Yoga & Acceptance," workshop. $20.

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 Sixth Ave., W. Hendersonville, 693-4890, gracelutherannc.com • TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 9am - Walking exercise class. Free.

LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.Center • MONDAYS, 5:15-6:15pm - Zumba Gold exercise class. $5.

• MONDAYS, 6:15-7pm - Zumba classes. $5.

• MONDAYS, 7:15-8pm - Gentle Flow Yoga. $5.

QIGONG/CHI KUNG COMMUNITY PRACTICE GROUP allen@ashevilleqigong.com • FRIDAYS, 9:30am - Qigong/Chi Kung class. All levels welcome. Free to attend. Held at The Alternative Clinic, 23 Broadway THE MEDITATION CENTER 894 E. Main St., Sylva, 356-1105, meditate-wnc.org • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm - "Reflections Through The Looking Glass," journaling and meditation.

Registration required. $10.

SUPPORT GROUPS ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS & DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES adultchildren.org • Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS • For a full list of meetings in WNC, call 254-8539 or aancmco.org ASHEVILLE WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY 215-536-8026, womenforsobriety.org • THURSDAYS, 6:30-8pm – Held at YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave.

ASPERGER'S TEENS UNITED facebook.com/groups/AspergersTeensUnited • For teens (13-19) and their parents. Meets every 3 weeks. Contact for details.

CARING FOR THE SOUL 581-0080 • 1st MONDAYS, 5:30pm - Support for people with mental illness diagnosis and/or family members and loved ones. Meets in the brick house behind the church. Held at Black Mountain United Methodist Church, 101 Church St., Black Mountain CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS 242-7127 • FRIDAYS, 5:30pm - Held at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 556 S. Haywood Waynesville • TUESDAYS 7:30pm - Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm & SATURDAYS, 11am – Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. DEBTORS ANONYMOUS debtorsanonymous.org • MONDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE 367-7660, depressionbipolarasheville.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7pm & SATURDAYS, 4pm – Held at 1316-C Parkwood Road FOUR SEASONS COMPASSION FOR LIFE 233-0948, fourseasonscfl.org • TUESDAYS, 3:30-4:30pm - Grief support group.

Held at Four Seasons - Checkpoint, 373 Biltmore Ave. • THURSDAYS, 12:30pm - Grief support group. Held at SECU Hospice House, 272 Maple St., Franklin GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS gamblersanonymous.org • THURSDAYS, 6:45pm - 12-step meeting. Held at Basillica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. HAYWOOD COUNTY COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS 400-6480 • 1st THURSDAYS - Support group for families who have lost a child of any age. Held at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church, 175 Old Clyde Road, Waynesville HEART SUPPORT 274-6000 • 1st TUESDAYS, 2-4pm - For individuals living with heart failure. Held at Asheville Cardiology Associates, 5 Vanderbilt Drive

HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP 252-7489 • 1st & 3rd TUESDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Sponsored by WNCAP. Held at All Souls Counseling Center, 35 Arlington Street INFERTILITY SUPPORT GROUP resolveasheville@gmail.com • 1st THURSDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Held at Earth Fare South, 1856 Hendersonville Road LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP 386-801-2606 • TUESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - For adults managing the challenges of life limiting illnesses. Held at Secrets of a Duchess, 1439 Merrimon Ave. MINDFULNESS AND 12 STEP RECOVERY avl12step@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7:30-8:45pm - Mindfulness meditation practice and 12 step program. Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 MISSION CHILDREN'S FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK 213-9787 • 1st TUESDAYS, 5:30-7:30pm - Mission Children's Family Support Network children's group from birth to age ten. Dinner is provided. Held at Mission Reuter Children's Center, 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive MISSION HEALTH FAMILY GROUP NIGHT 213-9787 • 1st TUESDAYS, 5:30pm - For caregivers of children with social health needs or development concerns.

Held at Mission Reuter Children's Center, 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive MY DADDY TAUGHT ME THAT mydaddytaughtmethat.org • MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm - Men's discussion group. Free. Held in 16-A Pisgah Apartment, Asheville OUR VOICE 35 Woodfin St., 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • Ongoing drop-in group for female identified survivors of sexual violence.

OVERCOMERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 665-9499 • WEDNESDAYS, noon-1pm - Held at First Christian Church of Candler, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler OVERCOMERS RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP rchovey@sos-mission.org • MONDAYS, 6pm - Christian 12-step program. Held at SOS Anglican Mission, 1944 Hendersonville Road

Kids Issue Coming soon!

26

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS • Regional number: 277-1975. Visit mountainx.com/ support for full listings.

RECOVERING COUPLES ANONYMOUS recovering-couples.org • MONDAYS 6pm - For couples where at least one member is recovering from addiction. Held at Foster Seventh Day Adventists Church, 375 Hendersonville Road REFUGE RECOVERY 225-6422, refugerecovery.org • THURSDAYS, 7:30pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness, Unit C4, 370 N. Louisiana • FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Held at Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Held at Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N Merrimon Ave., #113 SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS saa-recovery.org/Meetings/UnitedStates • MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 6pm Held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave.

• SUNDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. SHIFTING GEARS 683-7195 • MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Group-sharing for those in transition in careers or relationships. Contact for location.

SMART RECOVERY 407-0460 • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness, Unit C4, 370 N. Louisiana Ave. SUNRISE PEER SUPPORT VOLUNTEER SERVICES facebook.com/Sunriseinasheville • TUESDAYS through THURSDAYS, 1-3pm - Peer support services for mental health, substance abuse and wellness. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville

the joys, transitions and challenges of parenting a transkid. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. T.H.E. CENTER FOR DISORDERED EATING 337-4685, thecenternc.weebly.com • 1st MONDAYS, 5:30pm - Teaches parents, spouses & loved ones how to support individuals during eating disorder treatment. Held in the Sherill Center at UNCA. • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm – Adult support group, ages 18+. Held in the Sherill Center at UNCA. US TOO OF WNC 273-7689, wncprostate@gmail.com

• 1st TUESDAYS, 7pm - Prostate cancer support forum for men, caregivers and family. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. WIDOWS IN NEED OF GRIEF SUPPORT 356-1105, meditate-wnc.org • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Peer support group for anyone who has survived the death of their spouse, partner, child or other closed loved one. Registration required. Held at The Meditation Center, 894 E. Main St., Sylva

SUPPORTIVE PARENTS OF TRANSKIDS spotasheville@gmail.com • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 6pm - For parents to discuss

www.preginfo.org A safe place to find real answers

Introducing Dr. Mark Armistead!

We now offer:

Friday appointments from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Extraction of wisdom teeth, including oral sedation Don’t forget our New Patient Special, just $99!

Emergency appointments available DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

27

GREEN SCENE

SUSTAINABLE CRAFT

Local brewers get high marks for enviro preservation

BY SCOTT DOUGLAS jsdouglas22@gmail.com Craft brewing is a business driven by a strong sense of place, and industry people tend to be passionate about their communities.

Environmental sustainability is a high priority for craft breweries of every scale, and as Asheville’s prominence as an East Coast brewing hub continues to grow, regional breweries’ efforts to protect their environment have similarly expanded in scope.

From restoring old buildings for use as production facilities to repurposing spent grain and yeast as livestock feed, every step in the brewing process provides opportunities for reducing environmental impacts, and Asheville is home to some of the most environmentally responsible breweries in the industry. While these stewardship efforts are predominantly altruistic, they also make good business sense, says Cheri Chastain, sustainability manager at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “Quality will always come first, but sustainability is part of our DNA, so it’s just a natural part of our operations,” Chastain says. “Sustainability is all about balancing the environmental, social and economic impacts of all decisions, and this is something I think Sierra Nevada does incredibly well. It’s hard to attach a dollar figure to environmental and socially beneficial projects, but we know that these things are important if we are to survive as a company, so we give them serious consideration.”

A GOOD BUSINESS CASE “Environmental sustainability has been a focus of ours since before we poured our first beer,” says Wallace, New Belgium’s assistant director of sustainability. Over the course of a couple of decades, she explains, “We learned that this is good for business: We feel like we are more profitable because of our sustainability efforts.

So we know that there’s a good business case for it, and besides, it’s just the right thing to do.”

The two women played a critical role in executing an exhaustive survey that assessed the environ-

28

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN: Sierra Nevada’s Mills River facility attained LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council by incorporating details such as this living wall in the brewery’s reception area. Photo by Scott Douglas mental impact and stewardship practices of nearly 80 breweries across the country. Besides collating data on participants’ consumption of fuel, electricity, water and carbon dioxide, the study analyzed wastewater effluent, greenhouse gas emissions, solid-waste disposal and recycling practices. The idea was to enable craft breweries of all sizes to compare their sustainability behaviors with industry norms to help them manage growth while making environmental best practices a top priority.

New Belgium’s decision to build a production facility in Asheville rather than expanding its Fort Collins, Colo., brewery saves the company roughly 2 million distribution miles per year, substantially reducing carbon emissions. Similar concerns prompted Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues to develop East Coast facilities in the Asheville area.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

New Belgium’s sustainability team is based in Colorado, but in 2017, Sarah Fraser will become the Asheville facility’s sustainability specialist. Fraser, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Appalachian State University and a master’s in environmental studies from the College of Charleston, currently works at the Asheville brewery in another capacity; she’ll transition into her new role next spring after her first child is born.

WATERWORKS Environmental factors, including the region’s outstanding water quality, also figured into these breweries’ decisions to locate facilities here. But the water used for brewing wasn’t their only concern. Sierra Nevada, for example, built a complex network of cisterns and water collection mechanisms throughout

its property that gradually release rainwater back into the river system to avoid excessive erosion.

New Belgium’s West Asheville property, formerly the home of the WNC Livestock Market, was a brownfield site that the brewery remediated. The site had been used as a dump for many years, and Penland Creek, which runs through it, had been forced underground.

The city, which retains ownership of the waterway, partnered with New Belgium, Equinox Environmental and others to restore it.

For many other local breweries, repurposing existing structures to house their brewing operations is a way to reduce the environmental impact of their growth. Fonta Flora in Morganton is renovating historic structures on an 8-acre former dairy farm as it develops a second location.

Burial Beer Co.’s restoration of the

and a movie studio. By renovating it, Highland was able to preserve the surrounding green space. The brewery also used steel and cinder blocks from demolished on-site structures when building the adjacent event space.

Concrete from the recently renovated packaging area was used as subgrade for a new parking area behind the brewery and retaining walls around the event center’s entrance.

ELECTRIC BEER

KEEPING IT LOCAL: New Belgium’s decision to build its East Coast production facility on a remediated brownfield site in Asheville saves the brewery approximately 2 million distribution miles each year, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Photo courtesy of New Belgium Civilian Conservation Corps barracks off London Road in Biltmore Village is nearly complete. And Wedge Brewing Co. continues to grow into the former Hans Rees Tannery in the River Arts District.

WASTE NOT Even buildings that can’t be restored can be repurposed, however, and sustainable construction practices can substantially reduce waste.

With the help of The Old Town Salvage Co., New Belgium was able to reuse much of the material from the structures dismantled to make

way for the new brewery. In addition, 97 percent of its construction waste was diverted from the landfill. Sierra Nevada, meanwhile, was able to keep 88 percent of its construction waste out of the landfill, which contributed to that facility’s LEED platinum certification. Fonta Flora, too, is reusing materials in the painstaking restoration of its expansion site.

Asheville’s oldest brewery, Highland Brewing Co., took a similar approach when it moved to its current East Asheville location in 2006. The existing building, which was in an advanced state of disrepair, had previously served as a ball bearing factory, a textile manufacturing facility

DECK THE HALLS...

Christmas Decor

bbbarns.com

Brewing is energy-intensive, and breweries large and small have turned to solar power to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. In 2015, the Sylvabased Innovation Brewing installed a 100-panel solar array that’s capable of generating 28.5 kilowatts of electricity.

“We would have installed more, but we ran out of space to put them on our roof,” notes co-owner/brewer Chip Owen. Innovation also heavily insulated its brewhouse with spray foam to reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling.

Both Highland and Sierra Nevada, meanwhile, are industry leaders in clean energy production. Highland’s 1,045 solar panels — the third-largest solar array of any craft brewery in the country and 13th-largest of any brewery in the world — produce 324 kW of electricity, says marketing coordinator Molly McQuillan. And Sierra Nevada’s 2,200 panels produce roughly 600 kW, augmented by another 400 kW generated by using methane harvested from its wastewater treatment plant.

Many local breweries are finding creative ways to reduce their consumption of key resources. New Belgium, for example, employs a medium-temperature brew kettle that uses pressure rather than steam to boil the wort. This energy-efficient device, says Wallace, is the only one of its kind in the U.S. Glycol

draws off heat to chill the wort, and the hot glycol is then used to vaporize liquid CO2 for use in the brewing process. Others, including Highland and Innovation, recapture cooling water for use in cleaning or brewing.

RAISING THE BAR But once the more obvious best practices have been implemented, meeting these companies’ lofty sustainability goals for the future becomes increasingly difficult.

Highland plans to catch rainwater from its roof for bathrooms and washing operations, and to repurpose hot wastewater to heat its offices and production area. New Belgium aims to make its facility carbon-neutral by the year 2100, and Sierra Nevada has pages of future plans designed to optimize its processes.

“The environment should be important to everyone,” says Owen of Innovation Brewing. “We’re altering the climate, affecting the growing conditions of the very ingredients we put into our beer. And that’s just the small scale.

Global climate change is affecting our entire planet, and we’re trying to do our part to not leave such a mess for future generations to clean up. We’ll continue to pursue sustainability in regard to every aspect of our lives.”

Chastain agrees. “Things like droughts and late rains impact the cost of hops and barley and, thus, our operating expenses. Water is the other major ingredient that can drastically change with our environment. If we don’t have abundant, quality water, we don’t have beer.” X

Thu. Dec. 29 50% off Fri. Dec. 30 60% off Sat. Dec. 31 75% off

3377 Sweeten Creek Rd., Arden, NC 28704 (828) 650-7300 • Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm

Exclusions Apply

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

29

FOOD

POLITE COMPANY Asheville service industry professionals offer a beginner’s guide to restaurant etiquette

BY JONATHAN AMMONS jonathanammons@gmail.com Restaurant staff are required to be courteous: It’s just part of the job. When they’re not, customers complain on sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. Restaurateurs, however, can’t rate their patrons.

And while most of the customers a typical server sees daily are wellbehaved, some are anything but.

Despite increasing informality, there’s still an etiquette to dining out, but those rules can be complicated. Emily Post dedicated 43 pages to various aspects of dining out in her classic Etiquette, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few simple rules, including a few concerning things she would never have imagined.

• Make a reservation, be on time or cancel it. Not all restaurants take reservations, but always call to check. And as the Copper Crown’s Kate Bannasch observes, “If you can’t make your reservation, call and cancel. So simple to do, yet so often overlooked.” Failing to do this means someone has to wait for a table while one sits empty in the midst of a crowded dining room, because they were told it was reserved.

• Acceptable tipping is 20 percent.

Reservoir Dogs should have settled this once and for all: We all wished Mr. Pink an untimely demise after that scene. Why not 15 percent?

Because the minimum wage for servers ($2.13) hasn’t exactly kept up with the cost of living. Besides, it’s so much easier to calculate a 20 percent tip: Just take the total, divide by 10 and multiply by two.

• No touching. The most common response to our social media query about restaurant etiquette concerned sexual harassment.

As eight-year industry veteran Candyce Collard put it, “I’ve had my ass grabbed many a time, and I’ve never even worked at a bar and really only one place that was open late. ... So yeah, Don’t f**king touch people.” Claire Winkler, a bartender at Post 25, added, “Your bartender is not your girlfriend for hire. If we’re nice to you,

30

POETIC JUSTICE: Post 25 bartender Claire Winkler expresses her feelings about bar patrons’ less-than-courteous behavior with this haiku: “Put your phone away/Savor sensual delights/Except the barkeep.” Photo by Jack Sorokin

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

it’s because we’re professional. Do not mistake kindness for an invitation. If we’re interested in you, we’ll let you know.”

• Hang up your phone. A 2014 Slate article cited cellphone use as one of the causes of longer wait times in restaurants. While you’re finishing that call to Uncle Steve, the waitress is standing over you, tapping her pencil on her order pad — and someone at another table is waiting to order dessert or get another drink. “Just go outside if you have to take a phone call,” says Strada co-owner Anthony Cerrato. Winkler, meanwhile, gave us a brilliant haiku that covers rules 3 and 4: “Put your phone away/Savor sensual delights/Except the barkeep.”

• There are rules, man! Like it or not, every social setting has its rules — some spoken, some not.

Observe what others are doing and act accordingly. Is there only limited staff? Are people ordering at the bar? Maybe you should, too.

And if you want to attract a server, don’t wave your hand in the air.

It’s also good to know how things like wine service work in fancier restaurants. “A guest ordered a bottle of Beringer white zinfandel,” remembers Robert Johnson, a 20-year veteran of local fine dining service. “I present the bottle and pour a taste to make sure it’s good. The gentleman swishes the wine around the glass, takes a long, deep sniff to get the bouquet, takes a sip and says, ‘It’s not what I expected, nor nearly as good as I hoped. Do you have another one that’s better?’

“No, I don’t! It’s white zinfandel!”

Traditionally, if you order off the bottle menu, when the waiter pours a taste, it’s to find out if the wine is corked or has oxidized. If it doesn’t smell like wet cardboard or taste like cheap vinegar, then it’s probably still good, and you should drink it. It’s generally fine to ask for a taste of something you can order by the glass, since those bottles are usually already open.

• Obey the law. Health laws protect us from horrible diseases caused by food-borne bacteria; alcohol laws limit booze-related fatalities. Kyle Beach of Buxton Hall Barbecue has a cautionary tale about a table of well-dressed 30-somethings: “I noticed empty mini-bottles in their section, removed them, and told them consumption of alcohol from outside of the establishment was illegal. I came back, noticed more, and informed them they’d have to leave. A lady in the group flipped out, spat at me and used very bad language.” Note: Spitting at or cursing your server is also taboo.

• Be civil. Don’t shout things like “I pay your salary” at the waiter (which, apparently, is common), and don’t smash the toilet basin, as has happened to several local bars.

And before you remove your prosthetic limb and leave it sticking out in the aisle, maybe you should ask if that’s OK. This actually happened to former Magnetic Field bartender Ken Klehm. “My grandmother was an amputee since her early 20s, so that wasn’t what threw me,” he explains. “It was just treating that

kind of dining place like it was your own home.”

Another sore point, says longtime local server Michael Parker, is “changing a baby’s dirty diapers in front of diners. I have seen this

→ RIGHTWARDS ARROW mojokitchen.biz and changed it. Two couples at Unicode: U+2192, UTF-8: E2 separate tables had 86 front-row seats 92 twice. She put her baby on the

vacant table next to her and cleaned

melaasheville.com 70 N. LexiNgtoN aveNue 828.225.8880

to this. Let’s just say the guacamole

NAMASTE 90 CHALLENGE

was no longer appealing after that.”

In another such incident, says Cerrato, “The customer after them sat down and got it on their jacket! That was really hard to explain,” because the staff hadn’t seen it happen. But

BE THE SPA RK .

3 MONTHS FOR $150 JAN. – MARCH MORE DETAILS

←

Biltmore Park, 2 Town Square Blvd., #180 • www.inspiredchangeyoga.com • 230.0624

they subsequently found the diaper in the bathroom — which was equipped with a changing table. “Fortunately for us, the woman was very understanding and supernice.” X

Ring in 2016 with Some Sweetness from Geraldine’s!

Rezaz Wine Bar Wine Flights, Local Draft Beer, & Snacks Join us for dinner featuring NYE menu 5-11 pm.

Party the night away & ring in the New Year with us!

CHAMPAGNE

DJ RA MAK

CELEBRATE

Come Sample Our New Wine Bar Menu First Come, First Served 28 Hendersonville Rd | 828.277.1510 DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

31

SMALL BITES

FOOD

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

New Year’s Eve dinner happenings There will be buffets. There will be multicourse meals. There will be dancing and drinks. When it comes to ringing in the new year with good food and fine tipples, Asheville always has plenty of options. This week’s “Small Bites” rounds up just a few of the area’s tasty New Year’s Eve events for those looking to dine their way into 2017.

A number of restaurants will offer prix fixe meals. In West Asheville, Buffalo Nickel’s fourcourse experience runs $60 with options including duck liver parfait, Sunburst trout, roasted beets, fennel-crusted wild boar tenderloin and ricotta cheesecake (avl.mx/398).

Downtown at Posana, guests will find foie gras ravioli, kale caesar, lamb and mimosa creamsicles among its four-course offerings — and, as always, all dishes are completely gluten-free. The event is $75 per person, with a winepairing option available for an additional $35 (avl.mx/399).

Over at Nightbell, chef Katie Button is preparing a five-course meal. For $75, guests will be offered such dishes as scallop and pine-needle ceviche, butterpoached flounder, smoked lamb belly roulade and caramelized white chocolate (avl.mx/397).

Sovereign Remedies owner Charlie Hodge says his downtown restaurant and bar will “say goodbye and good riddance to 2016” with New Year’s Eve punch and drink specials as well as oysters, caviar and late-night ramen. The festivities will also feature a musical homage to Prince, David Bowie and other great musicians who died in 2016. No cover charge is required (avl.mx/39b).

On the east side in Biltmore Village, Red Stag Grill’s chef Scott Ostrander is putting together a five-course dinner that will include wild boar belly, lobster bisque, pan-roasted duck breast, grilled jumbo sea scallops and a raspberry merengue. Tickets are $115 (avl.mx/396).

In the River Arts District, the Smoky Park Supper Club will offer a New Year’s Eve menu featuring steak tartare, chargrilled

32

SAVOR THE NEW YEAR: Restaurants all over Western North Carolina will say goodbye to 2016 with New Year’s Eve dinners. Pictured is the Sunburst trout with fingerling potato salad and Belgian endive that will be among the items featured on the evening’s prix fixe menu at Buffalo Nickel. Photo by East Branch Photography North Carolina oysters and a burger topped with smoked marrow aiolo, wood-roasted mushrooms, caramelized onions and Asher blue cheese.

Prices range from $9-$32 per plate.

Reservations are available between 5-9:30 p.m. (avl.mx/394).

Avenue M will welcome 2017 in North Asheville with dinner specials and a dance party. Early seatings start at 5 p.m., but those who make reservations for 8:30 p.m. and later can keep their table for the whole evening. (avl.mx/39A) For those looking for a buffet, Blue Ridge at the Omni Grove Park Inn will offer a varied and festive smorgasbord. Leg of lamb and grilled salmon will be at the carving station, and entrées will include

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

braised beef short ribs and honeyglazed airline chicken. The dessert table will boast red velvet cupcakes, Key lime pie and crunchy chocolate truffle tarts among other treats.

Adults pay $70, children ages 6-12 eat for $25, while ages 5 and younger are free (avl.mx/38y).

At some Asheville restaurants, dancing and cocktails are the main event. On the South Slope, Buxton Hall Barbecue will host the MODern Midnight Masquerade starting at 10:15 p.m. The 1960s mod-themed gathering will include free photo booth prints, a Champagne toast, a VIP lounge and more. The musical lineup includes Devyn Marzuola followed by Mary Kelly and Alex Cartwright with go-go and disco

grooves, while chef Sarah Cousler will close the party in the DJ booth making “booty music dreams come true,” says the event’s Facebook page. Admission is $5 at the door (avl.mx/38z).

In a similar vein, Lexington Avenue’s recently opened Calypso will host two dinner parties and an after-party, all of which are ticketed events. The $20 admission fee includes a choice of one Caribbean cocktail. According to the event’s Facebook page, music spun by DJ Disc-oh! “will bring the taste, sound and movement of Carnivale in the islands to Asheville” (avl.mx/38x).

There will be plenty of ways to bid farewell to 2016 with a fine meal in other parts of Western North

Carolina as well. For those celebrating the new year in Saluda, The Orchard Inn will host a New Year’s Eve gala. The seven-course meal begins at 8 p.m. and includes poached lobster, braised rabbit, grilled New York strip, chocolate truffle sponge and more. It concludes with a complimentary glass of Champagne at midnight. Tickets are $110 per person (avl.mx/391).

In Marshall, the Sweet Monkey Bakery will ring in the new year with its four-course All-Asian Reservation Dinner. According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, the $60 meal includes fresh Thai spring rolls, miso soup, Shanghai pork, haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) and more, all made from scratch by award-winning chef Hollie West. There will be seatings at 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m., and each dinner seats 20 (avl.mx/392).

The New Year’s Eve bash at Postero in Hendersonville will feature a five-course meal of caviar and oysters, lowcountry lobster and grits, chopped salad and chicken confit followed by coffee and doughnuts (avl.mx/393). X

What’s WOWING Me Now Food writer Jonathan Ammons lets us in on his favorite dish du jour.

Szechuan wonton at Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas: Four sizable shrimp-and-pork dumplings are dusted with ground peppers and those wonderful, tingly and tonguenumbing Szechuan peppercorns before being drenched in chili oil.

Though the bright orange contrast of the peppery heat against the pale dumpling may seem threatening, there’s a complexity to the spice that is nice. It’s not just one big burn; it’s like a dozen tiny fires, each contributing its own unique flavor.

Red Ginger is at 82 Patton Ave.

greenteasushi.com

Happy New Year!

Gift Cards make a great New Year!

2 Regent Park Blvd. | 828-252-8300 Like us on facebook.com/greenteasushi

Coming Soon!

2017

specialty shops issue

Contact us today!

828-251-1333 x 320 advertise@mountainx.com DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

33

BEER SCOUT

FOOD

by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

Brewmasters’ choice Asheville beer industry notables reflect on 2016 Beer Scout asked representatives from Western North Carolina breweries to reflect on 2016 and look ahead to the new year. Here’s what they said:

out when I am in their area.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: I’m really looking forward to the Asheville Beer Expo this year. The Asheville Brewers Alliance did a great job with the inaugural incarnation last year, and they will really step up their game for year two. It’ll be a great mix of beer showmanship, education and fun on a cold winter’s day. I’m also excited about this spring’s Brewers Association Craft Brewers Conference in Washington, D.C. East Coast locations seem to draw a totally different energy for this industrywide event. Plus, we will take a crew there since we can drive up.

PETE LANGHEINRICH, ASHEVILLE BREWING CO., HEAD BREWER/OWNER Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: I’m really digging the woodaged beers coming out of Hi-Wire [Brewing] lately. Wild Rye IPA was great. I also can’t wait to check out Upcountry [Brewing Co.]’s new stuff and am excited to see new stuff coming from Burial [Beer Co.]’s expansion. I kind of answered that question, right?

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: Damn, that’s tough. I have to say the 30 or 50 fresh hop beers I had out in Portland [Ore.] this year were my favorite. Does that count? If I had to say just one beer, The Commons [Brewery’s] Myrtle [tart farmhouse ale] was unreal.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: Asheville Beer Expo is a really cool event. Beer City Fest is always a favorite of everyone at Asheville Brewing.

JESSICA REISER, BURIAL BEER CO., CO-OWNER Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: This is tough, of course, but I loved the Twin Leaf [Brewery]/ Zebulon [Artisan Ales] collab, Drifter’s Escape Lager — clean, easy-drinking, crisp, yet interesting.

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: Also tough, but I’ll go with Allagash [Brewing Co.] Goulship, their Coolship pumpkin beer — so balanced and refreshing. You can tell the amount of time and dedication they give to their beers.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: I always look forward to the Asheville Brewers Alliance Beer Expo on Feb. 18 at The Venue, which really showcases all this craft beer community has to offer, from brewers to vendors who are a huge part of contributing to the success of our local industry.

34

HOLLIE STEPHENSON, HIGHLAND BREWING, BREWMASTER

BEST OF 2016: Chris Frosaker, co-owner of Hi-Wire Brewing, says his favorite local brew of 2016 was the Fire Roasted Citrus Saison from Zebulon Artisan Ales.

“This was the best use of citrus in a beer I have ever seen,” he says. Photo courtesy of Zebulon Artisan Ales BILLY PYATT, CATAWBA BREWING CO., OWNER Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: We have new offerings every day — it’s hard to keep track. I’m on the South Slope and visit our neighbors often. Bhramari [Brewhouse] is doing some very creative things, as is Burial.

You can find a new “best” every day, but a beer that stuck with me this year was from one of our giants, Sierra Nevada [Brewing Co.]. Their Kettle Hop and Sour small-batch was nearly perfect.

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: When looking at the Birmingham, Ala., market this past summer, we stumbled upon Trim Tab Brewing and their Raspberry Berliner Weisse. It was a great, refreshing, crisp beer for a hot evening. Sure, it may not be the biggest, sourest, weirdest new beer out there, but I find myself searching it

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: Asheville is putting out so many great beers right now that I can’t pick just one.

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: Firestone Walker [Brewing Co.] Barrelworks Bretta Rosé.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: The second year of the Asheville Beer Expo and the Beer City Festival, as usual. And, shamelessly, the release parties for the five new production beers Highland will release this year.

CHRIS FROSAKER, HI-WIRE BREWING, CO-OWNER Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: Zebulon Fire Roasted Citrus Saison. This was the best use of citrus in a beer I have ever seen.

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: De Proefbrouwerij/ Trillium Brewmaster’s Collaboration Bouket Farmhouse Ale. This is a beer I can drink every day. There is a perfect amount of funk from the Belgian yeast and an incredible aroma from the intense dry-hopping.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: I am excited that all of the Asheville breweries are continuing to mature, and this will continue in 2017. We are all investing in better equipment, sales infrastructure and people, and with this comes bet-

ter beer. Everyone wins — especially drinkers of Asheville beer — when there is strong competition.

BENTON WHARTON, PISGAH BREWING CO., TALENT BUYER/EVENTS DIRECTOR Favorite new Asheville-area beer from 2016: Burial’s Shadowclock Pilsner — just a solid beer for the style, not something you always see from the big beer breweries. We would consider Burial one of these heavy innovators.

Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: Imperial Mexican Biscotti Cake Break imperial stout collaboration between Evil Twin [Brewing] and Westbrook [Brewing].

The big stouts are a popular item in the world of beer trading, and this beer is top-notch for the category. Also, we are partial to Charleston, S.C., connections of Pisgah’s past and love what Westbrook is doing down there.

Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: Asheville Beer Expo. We feel this is a fantastic representation of the brewing community of Asheville as it runs a much deeper underbelly of educational opportunities for all beer lovers as opposed to an all-day drink/ tasting fest.

MIKE KARNOWSKI AND GABE PICKARD KARNOWSKI, ZEBULON ARTISAN ALES, CO-OWNERS Favorite new Asheville area beer from 2016: Hi-Wire Brett Rye IPA — well-brewed, drinkable with a nice layer of funk. (Karnowski) Favorite new beer from 2016 not made in Asheville: Korrigane Brasserie Artisinale in Quebec City. I typically do not like brown ales, however, this brown ale was drinkable with a hint of chocolate malt and a clean crisp finish. Nice balance of malt and wellattenuation. Perfect for the day walking through Quebec City in September 2016. (Pickard, Karnowski) Local beer industry happenings you’re looking forward to in 2017: Zebulon plans to bring [beer historian] Ron Pattinson into town for Asheville Beer Week as a collaborative event including a lecture by Ron accompanied by a tasting of lost and forgotten beer styles made by Mike [Karnowski]. This lecture and tasting will be held at Zebulon Artisan Ales, and we plan to release bottles of each forgotten beer style at this time.

Exciting! (Pickard, Karnowski) X

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

35

A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

THE FUTURE IS NOW

Where to ring out the old and welcome the new year ebrate the new year with performances of this towering musical work, which celebrates hope and brotherhood,” says a press release. The concert features the Asheville Symphony Chorus with soloists Danielle Pastin, soprano; Kirstin Chavez, mezzo-soprano; Rolando Sanz, tenor; and Steven Condy, bass. Music starts at 8 p.m. at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St. $22-74. ashevillesymphony.org

BY ALLI MARSHALL amarshall@mountainx.com For many people, 2016 was a bit of a horror show. Relationships tanked, beloved stars passed away, and then there was the election. If none of these events touched you negatively, you might not even need a New Year’s Eve roundup. But for those of us who want to kick this year to the curb and see in — albeit with some trepidation — 2017, here’s where to sip some bubbly, wear a wacky hat, dance like no one’s watching and party like it’s 1999 (there’s no shame if you secretly wish it was).

And, for what it’s worth, let’s hug the ones we love, be kind to our fellow New Year’s Eve revelers and begin the next year as we mean to continue. Happy New Year to you, readers. May it be happy, healthy and sweet.

All events listed take place on Saturday, Dec. 31. For more New Year’s Eve ideas, visit Clubland, Calendar and mountainx.com • Everyone’s invited to The BLOCK off Biltmore’s all-ages One Love New Year’s Eve Party.

Dance to ReggaeInfinity from 8-11 p.m. followed by a salsa band, and Wadadli Dessert Oasis will serve up vegan food. $10. 39 S. Market St., theblockoffbiltmore.com • Dress in ’60s-era glamour wear for NYE Midnight Masquerade at Buxton Hall Barbecue. “Our beloved [seasonal] space gets a heavy hit of glitz, glam, velvet and luxury,” says a press release. “Enjoy a secluded Champagne room, DJ sets, retro tunes, ’60s getup, cocktails and bubbly.” The party begins at 10:30 p.m. (the kitchen will be closed). $5. 32 Banks Ave. buxtonhall.com • Bluegrass fans and Grateful Dead fans can have the best of both worlds at the Grass Is Dead show at Asheville Music Hall. The band formed in South Florida nearly 20 years ago but only recently started touring outside its home state. The group opened for Leftover Salmon in Asheville last year and returns to town to ring in the new year. 10 p.m. $12 advance/$15 day of show. 31 Patton Ave., ashevillemusichall.com • “Because when it’s 7 p.m. here, it’s Midnight in London!” is the tagline for MetroWines’ early-evening

36

• A threesome of local roots music awesomeness — Jon Stickley Trio, The Honeycutters and Taylor Martin — play in the new year at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road.

Come early for dinner, starting at 5 p.m. (reservations required) or drop by later for the show, which begins at 8:30 p.m. $20. isisasheville.com • The Time Machine Dance Party returns to The LAB, 39 N. Lexington Ave. Here’s how it works: Music from a different decade is played each hour, starting with the ’60s and ’70s at 10 p.m., moving to the ’80s at 11 p.m., the ’90s at midnight and wrapping up with the 2000s and 2010s in the first hour of the new year. Free. lexavebrew.com

SOON THE NEW DAY: Talib Kweli headlines New Year’s Eve at The Orange Peel. The social activist and hip-hop artist comes to Asheville on a break between two tours. Local artists RBTS WIN and Mike L!VE open the show. Photo by Dorothy Hong event. Midnight in London includes bangers, chips and cheddar cheese with Bordeaux and sparkling French wine in time for New Year’s Eve fireworks in the U.K. 6-7:30 p.m. $30, reservations required. 169 Charlotte St., metrowinesasheville.com • Empire Strikes Brass is finishing work on its debut album, Theme for a Celebration, at Echo Mountain Studios, and will launch a release tour in February. First, the band will take time out for a little celebrating with a New Year’s Eve show at New Mountain, 38 N. French Broad Ave. The show includes one set by Empire Strikes Brass, “with surprises honoring some of the fallen musical heroes of 2016,” says guitarist Kelly Hannah; and a late-night set billed as “Push Pull Strikes Brass,” which is DJ Push Pull with a horn section.

9 p.m. $20 advance, $25 day of show. newmountainavl.com • “We will be doing what we do best — music, food and fun — all night

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

long,” says The Salvage Station, 466 Riverside Drive, of its end-of-the-year party. The music part of that equation includes performances by Santos Glocal Soul and Laura Reed, plus a late-night DJ dance party with Dr. Get Right. A Champagne toast will take place at midnight. 7 p.m. $8 advance/$10 day of show. salvagestation.com • The Hustle Souls put in regular appearances on area stages and draw from sounds coming from New Orleans and Memphis. As The Musoscribe writes, “Hotshot guitarist Chris Everett — a master in most every musical genre — spins out endlessly creative licks, and he does so in a manner that makes it look easy.” Everett and company perform at Foggy Mountain Brew Pub, 12 Church St., starting at 10 p.m. Free. foggymountainavl.com • Fittingly, Asheville Symphony Orchestra will welcome 2017 with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. “Each year orchestras around the world cel-

• “Nothing rings in the new year like the sound of firecrackers and Champagne bottles popping off,” points out The Crow and Quill. The venue, at 106 N. Lexington Ave., heats up the wintry night with the high-energy, New Orleans-style Firecracker Jazz Band.

9 p.m., $5-$10 suggested donation. thecrowandquill.com • The Countdown to 2017 party at Pack’s Tavern, 20 S. Spruce St., starts at 6:30 p.m. with a ticketed buffet dinner ($50 per person), followed by the separately ticketed show at 9:30 p.m.

The Big Deal Band takes the stage in the Century Room, and DJ Moto will spin dance hits in the South Bar. Doors open at 8 p.m.. $10. packstavern.com • First, it was sad news when rapper GZA canceled his New Year’s Eve show at The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., after Wu-Tang Clan — his longtime group — announced a performance the same night in Las Vegas. But then it was happy news when hip-hop artist Talib Kweli filled in the slot. The Mos Def and Kanye collaborator has played LEAF (where he replaced De La Soul).

Local artists RBTS WIN and Mike L!VE open. 9 p.m. $30 advance/$30 day of show. theorangepeel.net

Here’s to a

Happy

New Year!

Beautiful Unique Party Dresses Vintage and New Modern 46 Commerce St, Asheville

www.rockdollvintage.com

BRASS IN POCKET: The end-of-year show at New Mountain includes one set by Empire Strikes Brass and a late-night set billed as “Push Pull Strikes Brass,” pictured, which is DJ Push Pull with a horn section. Photo courtesy of the band

• Newly opened Calypso Restaurant, 18 N. Lexington Ave., holds two New Year’s Eve parties. The Early Bird Gala boasts a four-course dinner with a Carnivale dance show, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $75. The Ball Drop Gala includes a five-course feast, a Champagne toast following the ball drop in Miami, and an island-vibe disco party with DJ Disc-Oh, 9 p.m.-midnight, $130. Then, an after-party takes place at the venue’s disco street tent, with costumed dancers, Caribbean music and cocktails, for a $20 ticket. calypsoasheville.com

SAT & SUN

BRUNCH!

HALF PRICE

• Izzi Hughes, a junior at Hendersonville High School and an up-and-coming singer-songwriter, performs an early show at The Greenhouse Moto Cafe, 4021 Haywood Road, Mills River. Hughes says her set “contains an eclectic mix of covers from old to extremely current [and] I have arranged most of the songs in a slightly different way than the original with my own unique twist.” 7-10 p.m. avl.mx/383

MIMOSAS ALL WEEKEND Starts at 9am Saturday & Sunday Crepes.

Farm Fresh Salads.

Sandwiches.

Eggs Benedict.

• Looking for a local powerhouse New Year’s Eve? The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., has you covered: Funk collective Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band shares the bill with soul rockers The Broadcast. Both bands pretty much owned 2016; maybe starting 2017 in their presence is a good move. 9 p.m., $20 advance/$25 day of show. thegreyeagle.com • If local music fans used to shun cover bands, the well-chosen tribute song has come back into favor, thanks in part to The Mothlight’s themed shows. For New Year’s Eve it’s “The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 2” and Tom Petty. No word at press time about

CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

KITCHEN HOURS

Lunch: Mon-Sat 11:30-2:30 Sat & Sun Brunch: 9-2:30 Dinner: Sun-Thur 5-10, Fri-Sat 5-11 CROW BAR HOURS Sun-Thur: Noon-10:30 Fri-Sat: Noon-11:30 Bar Snacks Daily: 2:30-5 & 10-Close SWING IN THE NEW YEAR: Though singer-songwriter/musician Vollie McKenzie, left, with Kari Sickenberger, is versed in honky-tonk, old-time and gospel, its his swing skills he’ll be bringing to the stage at White Horse Black Mountain. Photo courtesy of the musicians

47 Biltmore Ave. Downtown Asheville

828.254.2502 theblackbirdresturant.com

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

37

A&E

New Beer Thursdays

Dec. 29 DOPPELBOCK

TASTING ROOM LOCATIONS

32 Banks Ave Asheville, NC 28801 63 Brook St Asheville, NC 28803 212 S Green St Morganton, NC 28655 catawbabrewing.com M O U N TA I N

X P R E S S

P R E S E N T S :

2017

Wellness Issues

BRINGING THE HEAT: Firecracker Jazz Band promises to warm up the chilly night — and The Crow and Quill — on New Year’s Eve. The local jazz collective has played everywhere from The Kennedy Center to the street corner. Photo by Seth Jacobson Photography show in Scandals at midnight. 8 p.m.-3 a.m., $25 advance/$30 day of show ages 21 and older/$35 ages 18-20. 11 Grove St., thegrovehouse.com • This year, the annual New Year’s Eve bash at Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues features two local acts: blues artist Ruby Mayfield and R&B outfit Jesse Barry and the Jam. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. 28 Broadway, tressas.com

Coming Soon!

Jan. 25th & Feb. 1st

Contact us today!

828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com 38

and a co-creative altar and art space. The reflective celebration is held at Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillioca St. Doors open at 7 p.m. $30 advance/$35-$50 sliding scale at the door. SangitaDevi.com

• Local Dead-centric jam-band Phuncle Sam returns to Pisgah Brewing, 150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, for its annual New Year’s Eve show. “As usual, this is a free event to the public, complete with balloon drop and Champagne toast,” says the website.

Root Down food truck vends. 9:30 p.m. pisgahbrewing.com

• The New Year’s Eve Hootenanny at Oskar Blues Brewery, 342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard, comes complete with shuttle transportation from Brevard hotels. But the real star of the evening is headliner Southern Culture on the Skids. That band shares the bill with Jonny Fritz and Pretty Little Goat.

There will also be food from the Oskar Blues CHUBwagons, a free photo booth and specialty beers. Doors open at 7 p.m. $25 local tickets at the Tasty Weasel Taproom/$35 advance/$45 day of event. oskarblues.com

• “This year’s ritual will include a reflective journey on the past year and a chance to set intentions for 2017,” says a press release for Kirtan with Sangita Devi & Friends. The evening begins with chanting and “a meditative sound healing bath led by Billy Zanski woven into the kirtan.” There will also be an ecstatic dance DJed live by Robert Kochka, a tea room, ceremonial cache

• “You asked for another ’90s party, well here it is,” says a Facebook invite from The Burger Bar, 1 Craven St. Come dressed in ’90s apparel — prizes will be awarded to the best-dressed.

There will be a Champagne toast at midnight, burgers made by Rick Hukill, and “Ben Herring will be blasting all the hits. … To give 2016 a proper send-off, he will be playing nothing but the best from

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

all the loved musicians we lost [in 2016] during the last hour of the year.” 9 p.m. avl.mx/38p • “F**k 2016, it’s the NYE Freak Out” reads the poster for the annual party — now in its 11th year. The sights and sounds include a diverse range of styles, with DJ Abu Disarray, DJ Malinalli, DJ Kent Scott, Jason Scott Furr, Nina Ruffini, and Passion Faction making up the lineup. The celebration take place at Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. $8 advance/$10 day of show. toyboatcommunityartspace.com • Local swing bands Vollie & Kari and the Western Wild Cats (Western) and Virginia and the Slims (vintage) heat up the dance floor at White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Road, Black Mountain. The show includes a Champagne toast at midnight.

9 p.m., $20 advance/$25 at the door. whitehorseblackmountain.com X

A&E

by Alli Marshall

EMPYREAN ARTS

amarshall@mountainx.com

LAST DANCE “All splendid things must come to an end,” says Whitney Shroyer, who — as Dr. Filth — has DJed the latenight Admiral Dance Parties for nearly a decade. But the West Asheville bar and restaurant will bid farewell to the Saturday events after New Year’s Eve. “The dance parties are left over from when The Admiral first opened. They have always been an appendage to that,” explains Shroyer. The restaurant’s owners reached out to him and Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound, and the two began spinning records. They “always focused on playing vinyl — particularly obscure soul, rhythm and blues, and rock ’n’ roll 45s,” Shroyer said in a news release.

“The first night that The Admiral was opened as a late-night venue, it was the night [of] a Black Lips show at The Orange Peel, [and] there was an afterparty there. That was the thing that Greg and I did to inaugurate The Admiral,” Shroyer explains. “It kind of established us as the house DJs, and that was kind of the house sound for the dance party, so we rolled with that ever since.”

Though Cartwright left the DJ post four years ago due to his busy touring schedule, Shroyer continued the labor of love. It takes him a couple of hours each week to go through his stacks, selecting records that he thinks might be interesting to play. “I make a box of 45s based on what I haven’t played in a while, [or what relates to] what’s been going on in rock ’n’ roll history or what’s been in the news during the week. Then I play whatever seems relevant in the room that night.”

Admiral Dance Parties have a strong local following but also attract tourists who are looking for an “authentically unusual Asheville experience,” as Shroyer puts it. “I don’t feel like there’s anything like The Admiral.”

Despite never campaigning for votes, the Saturday night event routinely wins Best Dance Party in Xpress’ annual Best of WNC readers’ poll.

The Admiral ends its Saturday night DJ parties

THIS IS THE PLACE: Admiral Dance Parties have a strong local following but also attract tourists who are looking for an “authentically unusual Asheville experience,” as Whitney Shroyer puts it. “I don’t feel like there’s anything like The Admiral.” Photo by Adam McMillan “It’s one of the great treasures of Asheville. Young, old, black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight — none of it mattered. What mattered was the infectious groove of the most incredible, soulful, funkalious 45s ever played, creating a momentum that is unlike any dance floor I’ve ever experienced,” says Cathryn Davis Zommer.

The native Ashevillean, now based in Charleston, was a regular dancer. She calls Shroyer a DJ hero, his energy and joy palpable in each song selection.

“The Saturday night dance party is one of the most wildly liberating experiences I ever had,” Zommer says. “I always tried to [get on] the dance floor right when the music started because the beginning of the night was the only time you would have any real space to dance — as the night progressed, the dance floor got packed like gyrating sardines.

We danced on the banquettes, on the floor, on tables — nothing was off limits.”

And it’s gained attention beyond the region, too. The event is aired each

week by “Rock ’n’ Soul Ichiban,” part of the programming on New Jersey independent radio station WFMU. Debbie Daughtry, also a 45 DJ, maintains that station, which is “devoted to playing the oddball ’50s and ’60s and ’70s rock ’n’ roll, and soul, and rhythm and blues music that Greg and I have such a passion for,” says Shroyer.

Though based in New York, Daughtry is a native Southerner, and during a visit to the area, she discovered Admiral Dance Parties. “She asked us if we’d mind streaming The Admiral every week on the station,” Shroyer explains. He does so with a program he runs through his computer that broadcasts his show to the Ichiban server.

The future of that broadcast depends on “whether or not I find another local residency that is exciting and interesting,” Shroyer says. He’s looking into some possibilities but is not yet ready to make an announcement. For now, Cartwright and Shroyer host “In the Box,” a show about 45s, on Asheville FM every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And Admiral Dance Parties will bring in the new year — it’s an apt if bittersweet farewell to the long-running event. “Working every Saturday night at The Admiral for the last nine years has been one of the joys of my life,” Shroyer said in a news release. “I have played that gig hundreds of times, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Almost every night has been the most fun dance party ever.”

As Zommer puts it, “All that mattered was the music, the momentum, the joy, the release.

It is simply irreplaceable.” X

Beginning Pole Sundays 5:45-6:45pm Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm Fridays 7:15-8:15pm Saturdays 11:45am-12:45pm Intermediate Pole Wednesdays 6:45-7:45pm Exotic Pole Dance Mondays 8:00-9:15pm Pole Spins & Combos Mondays 6:45-7:45pm 32 Banks Ave #108 • Downtown Asheville

Info@EmpyreanArts.org 782.3321

WHAT Admiral Dance Party WHERE The Admiral, 400 Haywood Road WHEN Saturday, Dec. 31, 11 p.m. facebook.com/admiraldanceparies

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

39

A&E

by Bill Kopp

bill@musoscribe.com

MIDWINTER ATMOSPHERE Fiddler Jamie Laval brings Celtic Christmas to Asheville and Tryon

LORD OF DANCE, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING: Perennial favorite Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval continues his annual tradition of holiday season performances built upon ancient Celtic traditions. This year’s show is titled “Celtic Christmas: Music and Stories for the Deep Midwinter.” Photo by Jeff Finkelstein

THE GEEK THE COLLECTOR THE ENTHUSIAST THE FANatic THE connoisseur THE aficionado GET YOUR FIX. VINYL RECORDS, CDS, DVDS 40

Mr. K’s

BUY • SELL • TRADE

Used Books, CD’s DVD’s & more Over 10,000 SQ FT of used books, CDs, DVDs, collectibles, video games, audio books, vinyl records, comic books & more!

800 Fairview Road Asheville (River Ridge Shopping Center)

299-1145 • www.mrksusedbooks.com

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

For several years now, Celtic fiddler Jamie Laval has crafted a special December program for audiences. He presents “Celtic Christmas,” a familyfriendly performance that showcases not only Christmas traditions, but observances of older Pagan rituals centered around the winter solstice. Laval will play a show at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Thursday, Dec. 29, and another at the Tryon Fine Arts Center in Tryon on Friday, Dec. 30.

Laval won the U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Championship in 2002; that same year, he performed for Queen Elizabeth II and presented the TED Talk “How a Fiddle Tune Can Change the World.” Murmurs and Drones — his third album, released in 2012 —

won the popular vote for the Best World Traditional Album at that year’s Independent Music Awards.

Each year, Laval builds his winter program around a theme — for 2016, it’s “Music and Stories for the Deep Midwinter” — and every presentation balances music, dance and storytelling. Laval promises “some really early, almost prehistory legends from the far-out reaches of the British Isles. They have that dark, midwinter atmosphere.”

Laval makes sure that every year’s show is different from those he’s done before. Describing the 2016 concerts as “the culmination of several years of labor of love,” he says that the cast for Celtic Christmas is the largest he’s

ever assembled. Rosalind Buda, from Asheville, is featured on bassoon, bagpipes and bombarde (a double-reed instrument closely associated with the Breton peninsula in France). “She’s a sublime poetry reader as well,” says Laval. “Rosalind doesn’t just [recite] the words and the rhymes; she brings a Druidic element” to the poems.

Celtic Christmas musicians also include Laval on violin, harp, bagpipes and storytelling, plus Haley Hewitt — a Boston-based graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland — on Celtic harp. The instrumental quartet is rounded out by 17-year-old classically trained soprano Claire Griffin, who made her professional debut at the Flat Rock Playhouse in the 2015 staging of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz. Laval’s 2016 production will feature an Irish step dancer and four traditional Scottish Highland dancers. In addition to those, Laval’s performers will also put on displays of Breton dancing.

The fiddle player explains that Breton dancing requires more participants to execute the movements. Unlike Irish dancing, “it’s not percussive; it’s more of a display type dance,” he says.

And unlike Scottish dance, with its colorful tartans, Breton dancers wear

“traditional garb, sort of black-andwhite, really puritanical type of outfits,” Laval says with a laugh. “I’m kind of on a Breton kick right now. I just visited Brittany this summer, and I thought that would be a really nice thing to feature.”

There’s a close relationship between Celtic traditions and Appalachian oldtime music, one that helps explain the former’s popularity in America. The music’s “modality and tonality are a direct lineage,” Laval says. “So if a person is exposed to old-time Appalachian music, they’re automatically going to find in the Celtic music a familiar sound, one that resonates with them.”

And, on a wider level, the popularity of national touring companies like Celtic Woman, Riverdance and Lord of the Dance have all done much to increase the profile and popularity of Celtic music, dance and storytelling traditions.

“When people aren’t ever exposed to something, it seems foreign,” Laval says. “And then they’re not as apt to respond to it immediately. So exposure is essential.” He says that as more and more people become familiar with roots

CONTINUES ON PAGE 42

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

41

A&E

BE

ST OF

14

20 WNC

42

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

music in general, so will the appeal of — and interest in — Celtic traditions.

“There are some superstars touring now who have brought Celtic music and old-time music into the more public eye,” Laval says, mentioning Asheville-based Rising Appalachia as one of his favorites. “They’re just tearing it up,” Laval says. “They’re bringing this type of music to a whole new, wider audience.”

Laval believes he also understands why Celtic music and stories have become closely associated with the Christmas season: “I think it’s in response to a lot of people’s frustration about the overcommercialization of modern holiday time.” Reacting to the product orientation of the season and the associated glitz, people find Celtic traditions “an antidote to that. They enjoy a more traditional atmosphere, one harking back to days of old.”

That valuing of traditions also explains the enduring popularity of sledding, caroling, baking and the exchanging of Christmas cards, Laval believes. Reaching all the way back to pre-Christian traditions in France and the British Isles, “the early Celtic holidays are rooted in nature and a very simple lifestyle,” Laval says. He

notes the popularity of Pagan ideas about being in touch with the forest, the seasons, with the movement of the sun and moon. “I think these are simple values that people enjoy getting back to for a little while during the holidays,” he says. X

WHAT Jamie Laval’s Celtic Christmas: Music and Stories for the Deep Midwinter WHERE Isis Restaurant & Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road, isisasheville.com WHEN Thursday, Dec. 29, 8 p.m. $24 advance/$20 day of show/$12 students with ID WHERE Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, tryonarts.org WHEN Friday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. $24 advance/$20 day of show/$12 students with ID

SMART BETS

A&E

by Emily Glaser | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

United Through Music United Through Music will celebrate all the types of tunes our town has to offer. From the quick rap and slow beats of Mook, to Siren Xo’s ’90s-era R&B, to the fleet guitar picking of Rad & James, the diverse lineup has something for everyone — and that’s the point. In the midst of a country divided, these disparate artists are coming together to prove we’re all united through music. “This show not only sheds light on local artistry but is unbiased in its approach to represent a diverse population,” says Mook.

“I am excited to share the same space with creative minds who appreciate the importance of cultivating unity within our community.” Mic Savvy, Blaze III, Marley P and DJ Bionik from New York City will also perform at the showcase at UpCountry Brewing on Friday, Dec. 30, at 9 p.m. $5. upcountrybrewing.com. Photo of Mook by Ty Mo Photography

Futurebirds Futurebirds claim the Southern music capital of Athens, Ga., as their hometown. It was a century-old, repurposed Baptist church, just 20 minutes outside the city, that inspired their latest EP series. The two records, The Portico I and II (the second will be released in the new year), were recorded in the church and named in honor of it. The lead single, “Only Here for Your Love,” embodies the Southern gothic tradition present in both the chapel and Futurebirds’ music. With haunting harmonies, ghostly melodies on synthesized guitars, and the gentle timpani beat, their sound is indie-rock with country soul. Futurebirds will perform at The Grey Eagle on Friday, Dec. 30, at 9 p.m. $12/$15. thegreyeagle.com. Photo by David McClister

The Nth Power

Stuart Ross and the Temp Agency

From a spontaneous jam session during New Orleans’ Jazz Fest in 2012, The Nth Power was formed. Drummer Nikki Glaspie is a renowned pop percussionist who toured with Beyonce for five years (she also recently offered her talents through an IAMAVL tutorial), while the other band members bring years of experience in the funk, soul and blues traditions. The result is an upbeat blend of bass, drums and guitar that captures the epicness of gospel and the soulfulness of funk.

The band’s latest release, To Be Free: Live, applies the inherent optimism of The Nth Power to our current political climate and encourages the healing powers of music. The Nth Power brings its soulful sound to The Asheville Music Hall, along with Dynamo, on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 9 p.m. $10/$15. ashevillemusichall.com. Photo courtesy of The Nth Power

Stuart Ross and the Temp Agency’s new album, Wandering in the Wild, is a product of equal parts talent and tenacity. “What’s special about this album is that it has been a do-it-yourself project. We did all of the recording and production ourselves with the help of a Kickstarter campaign,” says frontman and lyricist Ross. The album, which opens with experimental vocals and ringing horns reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel, explores Ross’ personal experience of finding himself. It’s a coming-of-age tale told through lyrics to which many listeners can relate. His performance at the Burnsville Town Center is a homecoming show for Ross, who grew up in the Western North Carolina locale. Jake Silver and Ships at a Distance will open the show on Friday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. $10/$12. burnsvilletowncenter.com. Photo courtesy of Stuart Ross

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

43

A &E CA LEN DA R

by Abigail Griffin

Giving ends December 31st!

The fun way to give! givelocalguide.org 44

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

UNIQUELY ASHEVILLE ART: The Green Sage Café on Hendersonville Road is hosting the Uniquely Asheville Art Collection, which features works by professional artist John Haldane. The exhibition highlights the people, places and activities of Asheville while showcasing Haldane’s unique intermingling of photography and digital manipulation. The exhibition opens Tuesday, Jan. 3, and runs until the end of March.

For more information, visit haldanecreativeart.com (p. 46)

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS

ANAM CARA THEATRE 545-3861, anamcaratheatre.com • Through FR (12/30) - Submissions accepted for play proposals for the 20172018 season. Visit the website for full guidelines.

• TH (1/5), 6-9pm & SA (1/7), noon-3pm - Open auditions for Pulse, an ensemblecreated musical performance. Contact for full guidelines. Held at Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road, Suite B ART LEAGUE OF HENDERSON COUNTY 692-9441, artleague.net • Through FR (1/6) - S ​ ubmissions accepted for the annual "Mini Challenge" art show.

Contact for full guidelines and fees.

ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 258-0710, ashevillearts.com • Through WE (2/15) - Submissions accepted for the Asheville Art in the Park Arts & Community Grant application. Contact for full guidelines. Information session: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 5pm. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. BURGER BAR 1 Craven St. • Through SA (12/31) - Open call for artists and teachers who wish to offer free classes to the community on Saturday's from 4-7pm at the Burger Bar. Contact: burgerbar.asheville@gmail.com.

CALDWELL ARTS COUNCIL 601 College Ave., SW Lenoir, 754-2486 • Through TU (1/31) - Portfolio submissions accepted for 2018 exhibitions. Information: caldwellarts.com/157-guidelines/CALDWELL.

A& E CA L E N DA R

by Abigail Griffin

TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.org • Through TU (2/7) - Open call for submissions for the Folk Art exhibition taking place Friday, Feb. 10 through Tuesday, Feb. 28. Submission accepted Monday, Feb. 6 and Tuesday, Feb. 7. Contact for full guidelines.

• SA (12/31), 10:30pm - Camerata Antiqua holiday concert. Free.

❄ TRYON

FINE ARTS CENTER

34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 859-8322, tryonarts.org • FR (12/30), 7pm - "Celtic Christmas," music, dance, poetry, and stories of the winter solstice with violinist and storyteller Jamie Laval. $26-$30.

MUSIC

❄ UR

LIGHT CENTER

VILLAGE MARIMBA CLASSES • ALL AGES (PD.)

2196 N.C. Highway 9, Black Mountain,

New session of classes beginning January.

Sue Ford, voted Best Music Teacher in WNC, Mountain Xpress, 3 years in a row.

Registration/information: (828) 776-7918 or suef444@gmail.com

• FR (12/30), 7-9pm - Richard Shulman

❄ ASHEVILLE

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

254-7046, ashevillesymphony.org • SA (12/31), 8pm - "Joyous New Year," concert featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony featuring the Asheville Symphony Chorus and guest soloists. $22 and up. Held at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St.

❄ ST.

669-6845, urlight.org piano concert. $15.

THEATER THE MAGNETIC THEATRE 375 Depot St., 279-4155 • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (1/5) until (1/21), 9pm - "The Great American Strip-Off," burlesque improvisation. $24/$21 advance.

PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

1659 St. Pauls Road, Hendersonville

MOUNTAIN XPRESS PRESENTS:

2017

Wellness Wellness Issue Issues 2017

Publishes Jan. 25 & Feb. 1 Coming Soon!

Contact us today!

828-251-1333 x 320 Jan. 25th & Feb. 4th advertise@mountainx.com DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

45

GALLERY DIRECTORY ❄ AMERICAN FOLK ART AND FRAMING

HICKORY MUSEUM OF ART

64 Biltmore Ave., 281-2134, amerifolk.com

243 3rd Ave., NE Hickory, 327-8576

• Through FR (12/30) - The Wish List

• Through SU (3/5) - Innocent & Ethereal: The

Celebration, group exhibition.

Visionary Work of Paul Lancaster, exhibition.

ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL

• SA (12/17) through SU (4/23) - Woman

258-0710, ashevillearts.com • Through SA (1/7) - Beauty + Function: Ceramic Artists in Western North Carolina, exhibition. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. ASHEVILLE BOOKWORKS 428 1/2 Haywood Road, 255-8444, ashevillebookworks.com • Through TU (2/28) - Let the Good TImes Roll, printmaking exhibition.

Made, exhibition of the works of over 80 women artists.

MAHEC EDUCATION CENTER 121 Hendersonville Road, 257-4400, mahec. net • Through TU (1/31) - Painting exhibition by Rich Elwyn and Valerie McGaughey.

MORA CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY 9 Walnut St., 575-2294, moracollection.com

ASHEVILLE GALLERY OF ART

• Through SA (12/31) - Exhibition of the jew-

82 Patton Ave., 251-5796, ashevillegallery-of-

elry of Stacey Lane.

art.com • Through SA (12/31) - All Squared Away,

ODYSSEY COOPERATIVE ART GALLERY

exhibition featuring small works by gallery

238 Clingman Ave., 285-9700, facebook.com/

artists.

odysseycoopgallery

BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0930, blackmountainarts.org • Through FR (2/17) - Clay Studio exhibit and pottery market featuring the work of 12 local potters.

• Through SA (12/31) - Exhibition of the ceramic art of Anna Koloseike and BlueFire MacMahon.

PUSH SKATE SHOP & GALLERY 25 Patton Ave., 225-5509, pushtoyproject.com • Through MO (1/23) - Running From

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Madness, a group show curated by Maxx

buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library

Feist.

• Through FR (12/30) - Exhibition of the watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings of Barbara

RAMP STUDIO GALLERY

Frohmader. Held at West Asheville Library,

821 Riverside Drive

942 Haywood Road

• Through SA (12/31) - We're not who we

CARLTON GALLERY

thought we were, exhibition of the multimedia

10360 Highway 105 S. Banner Elk, 963-4288,

sculpture by Jameid Ferrin.

carltonartgallery.com • Through TU (1/17) - Winter Group and Small Works Exhibition.

CRUCIBLE GLASSWORKS 60 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville, 645-5660, crucibleglassworks.com • Ongoing - Exhibition of the glass work of Michael Hatch.

SOUTHERN HIGHLAND CRAFT GUILD 298-7928, craftguild.org • Through SU (2/12) - Legacy of Makers and Mentors, exhibition from the University of Georgia members. Held at Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS

FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER

COUNCIL

2160 US Hwy 70, Swannanoa, 273-3332, flood-

349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.

gallery.org/

org

• Through MO (1/30) - Outsider painting exhi-

• TU (1/3) through FR (1/13) - Transylvania

bition featuring works by Scarlett Swann.

GREEN SAGE CAFE SOUTH

Vocational Services art exhibition. Opening reception: Friday, Jan. 6, noon.

1800 Hendersonville Road, Hendersonville

46

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

• TU (1/3) through FR (3/31) - Exhibition of

Contact the galleries for admission hours and

photography by John Haldane.

fees

CLUBLAND

Winter Hours: 2pm-1pm 7 Days a Week ASHEVILLEFOODPARK.COM

HAPPY 2017!

THANK YOU ASHEVILLE FOR MAKING OUR 1ST YEAR A SUCCESS! COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

daily updates @AshevilleFoodPark

MOUNTAIN-BORN METAL: Spawned from the ridges and hollows of Western North Carolina, heavy metal outfit Mindshapefist blends everything from country to classical music into a melodic hodgepodge you can bang your head to. Through the years, they’ve shared the stage with national acts like Five Finger Death Punch and Down. Ahead of the release of their new album, Mindshapefist joins fellow local rockers Amnesis and Telic for a Dec. 29 show at the Orange Peel, beginning at 8 p.m. Photo courtesy of Mindshapefis songwriter), 7:00PM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 8:30PM

185 KING STREET Vinyl Night, 6:00PM

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open Mic w/ Mark Bumgarner, 7:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Patrick Fitzsimons & Priscilla Hunt (folk), 5:00PM Les Amis (African folk), 8:00PM

BONFIRE BARBECUE Trivia Funtime w/ Kelsey, 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Brad Hodge & friends (singer-

What It Is

FREE!

FT. Members of Snarky Puppy, ESB & The Digs

THE NTH POWER w/ DYNAMO

The Goodies!

12.28 10PM

BURGER BAR Karaoke, 9:00PM BYWATER The Woodshed, 9:00PM CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Open mic w/ Roots & friends, 7:00PM CROW & QUILL The Old Rose Duo (ambient rock), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Classic Country w/ DJ David

Wayne Gay, 10:00PM FUNKATORIUM Staves & Strings (bluegrass), 6:30PM GOOD STUFF Jim Hampton & friends perform "Eclectic Country" (jam), 7:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Cary Cooper w/ Chris Rosser & Michael Lille (singer-songwriter), 8:00PM

ONE STOP

(Jazz/Funk)

12.29 8PM

AMH

(Soul/Jazz/Funk) adv. $10

12.30 9 PM

AMH

(Rock n Roll) adv. $12

12.31 9 PM AMH Ring in 2017 (Bluegrass/Dead) adv. $12 w/ Grass is Dead Vinyl Time Travelers FREE! 12.31 10PM New Years Eve Party ONE STOP

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

47

CLU B LA N D GRIND CAFE Trivia night, 7:00PM

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Alien Music Club (jazz), 9:00PM

HIGH COUNTRY FAIRGROUNDS Woody Wood Wednesdays, 5:30PM

BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Bluegrass Jam w/ The Big Deal Band, 8:00PM

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Rhoda Weaver, 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old-time session, 5:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Ben Hovey (dub, jazz), 6:30PM NOBLE KAVA Open mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 9:00PM O.HENRY'S/THE UNDERGROUND "Take the Cake" Karaoke, 10:00PM OFF THE WAGON Piano show, 9:00PM OLIVE OR TWIST 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock), 8:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL What It Is w/ Justin Stanton of Snarky Puppy (funk, jazz), 8:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING John The, 8:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Campfire Reverends w/ Company News & Fox Medicine, 6:00PM ROOM IX Fuego: Latin night, 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Pop Up Kitchen w/ Afternoon Delight, 5:00PM Adoptable Pet Night w/ Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, 6:00PM Karaoke Night, 7:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Sound Station open mic (musicians of all backgrounds & skills), 7:30PM THE MOCKING CROW Open Mic w/ Jeremy Indelicato & Susan Bargar, 8:00PM

195 HILLIARD AVE.

THE PHOENIX Jazz night w/ Jason DeCristofaro, 8:00PM

JANUARY LINEUP

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE DJ Phantom Pantone (international soul, R&B), 8:00PM TOWN PUMP Open mic w/ Billy Presnell, 9:00PM

MONDAY: 7-10 Open Mic Jam Session

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Blues & Soul Jam (blues, soul), 9:00PM

Tuesday: 7-10 Eleanor Underhill Americana/Roots/Fusion

WILD WING CAFE Ashley Heath (acoustic), 7:00PM

Wednesday: 7-10 Soul Magnetics Soul/R&B/Funk

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Jordan Okrend, 7:00PM

Thursday: 8-11 Brews N’ Blues w/ The Cris Coleman Blues Experience

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29

Friday: 10-1 Vinyl Night w/ DJ Kilby Saturday: 3-6 Gypsy Guitar Trio Instrumental Jazz Saturday: 9:30-12:30 The WildCard Feel-Good Funky Dance Party

48

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

BURGER BAR Garage/surf rock w/ DJ PAPA Wheelie, 9:00PM CLADDAGH RESTAURANT & PUB Irish Music Thursdays, 7:00PM CROW & QUILL Carolina Catskins (gritty ragtime jazz), 10:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Sonic Satan Stew w/DJ Alien Brain , 10:00PM ELAINE'S DUELING PIANO BAR Dueling Pianos, 9:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Sean Mason and friends (funk, jam), 10:00PM GOOD STUFF An English Place (rock), 6:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN CBDB (prog rock, jam), 9:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Jamie Laval's Celtic Christmas, 2:30PM An evening w/ Hannah Telle, 6:30PM Jamie Laval's Scottish Solstice Holiday Celebration, 8:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass jam, 7:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Heavy Night w/DJ Butch, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones ("man of 1,000 songs"), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Goth night, 9:00PM OFF THE WAGON Dueling pianos, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S O.S.O.M. Open Mic, 10:00PM OLIVE OR TWIST Michael Filippone's Guest Artist Night, 7:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia Night, 7:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Berlyn Trio, 8:00PM ORANGE PEEL Mindshapefist w/ Amnesis & Telic (metal, rock), 8:00PM PULP Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Jeff Anders & Jason Whitaker (acoustic rock), 8:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Phish live webcast, 8:00PM

ALTAMONT THEATRE Honey Be Nice w/ Better Twin, 7:00PM

PURPLE ONION CAFE David Childers & The Serpents (singersongwriter), 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Nth Power w/ Dynamo (soul, jazz, funk), 9:00PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

BONFIRE BARBECUE Social Function, 8:30PM

185 KING STREET LeMasterpiece Music (indie, folk, rock), 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray & The Space Cooties, 7:00PM

Good Vibe Sundays 6-10 w/ the Dub Kartel Roots/Rock/Reggae

BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Billy Litz (soul, roots), 7:00PM

ROOM IX Throwback Thursdays (all vinyl set), 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Ben Phan (singer-songwriter), 7:00PM

Wed•Dec 28

TOWN PUMP The Paper Crowns, 9:00PM TRAILHEAD RESTAURANT AND BAR Open Cajun & swing jam w/ Steve Burnside, 7:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Jesse Barry & The Jam (live music, dance), 9:00PM TWISTED LAUREL Karaoke, 8:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Hope Griffin w/ Melissa Hyman & Dave Desmelik Songwriter Showcase , 7:00PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30

MARKET PLACE The Sean Mason Trio (groove, jazz, funk), 7:00PM

OFF THE WAGON Dueling pianos, 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam (jam), 5:00PM Whiskey Dixie (rock), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Copernicus, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Papadosio w/ Midnight Snack (prog rock), 9:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Juan Benavides Trio (Latin, Flamenco), 9:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Phish live webcast, 8:00PM

BEN'S TUNE-UP Woody Wood & the Asheville Family Band (acoustic, folk, rock), 7:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Acoustic Swing, 7:00PM BURGER BAR Bike Night, 9:00PM BYWATER Calvin Get Down (funk, groove, brass), 9:00PM CORK & KEG One Leg Up (Gypsy jazz, Latin, swing), 8:30PM CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Spanky Twang, 7:00PM CROW & QUILL Maggie Valley Band (indie folk), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN DJ Greg Cartwright (garage & soul obscurities), 10:00PM ELAINE'S DUELING PIANO BAR Dueling Pianos, 9:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Murmuration (funk, jam), 10:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Futurebirds w/ The High Divers & Alarm Clock Conspiracy (psychedelic, country, rock), 9:00PM

Team Trivia 6-8pm

ODDITORIUM Variety hip hop/rock show, 9:00PM

PACK'S TAVERN DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop), 9:30PM

ATHENA'S CLUB Dave Blair (folk, funk, acoustic), 7:00PM

Tue•Jan 3

O.HENRY'S/THE UNDERGROUND Drag Show, 12:30AM

185 KING STREET DJ DOGG Dance Party, 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL The Goodies! (rock 'n' roll), 9:00PM

Closed for Holiday

LOBSTER TRAP Calico Moon (Americana), 6:30PM

SALVAGE STATION Freeway Revival, 8:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY King Possum (Americana), 8:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB DJ dance party & drag show, 10:00PM SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB Open Mic night w/ Sam Warner, 8:00PM STONE ROAD RESTAURANT & BAR 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock 'n' roll), 7:30PM THE ADMIRAL Hip-hop dance party w/ DJ Warf, 11:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Jazzy Happy Hours w/ Marilyn Seits Duo, 5:00PM Jordan Okrend, 7:30PM LOOK Fridays Dance Party w/ DJ Audio, 10:00PM THE DUGOUT Landers Effect, 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Laura Blackley (folk), 7:00PM THE MOCKING CROW Trivia and karoke night!, 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT The Nude Party w/ Ron Gallo & The All Arounders (rock 'n' roll, rockabilly), 9:30PM THE SOCIAL Steve Moseley (acoustic), 6:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Ultra Lounge w/ Phantom Pantone, 10:00PM

And

BREWS East Asheville’s Craft Beer Destination

BEST DEALS IN TOWN

MON: Burgers & Trivia 7-9pm TUE: Tacos + Blues w/ Matt Walsh WED: Wings & Open Mic Jam - 7pm THU: Benito Rose Plaza 8pm (60’s Rock ‘n Roll) FRI: Spanky Twang- 8pm (The Dirty Badgers Cross-eyed Cousin) SAT: NYE PARTY! SUN: Football Nachos & FOOTBALL!

All the

NFL, NHL & SEC

action on our 10 TV’s Call us to book your next party!

Parties of 10+, please call ahead

12/28 12/30 12/31 1/1

1/4 1/5 1/6 1/7

cary cooper

W/ CHRIS ROSSER AND MICHAEL LILLIE

FUTUREBIRDS

7PM DOORS

TIMO'S HOUSE TRL Request Night w/ DJ Franco Nino, 7:00PM

Sun•Jan 1

LAZY DIAMOND Rotating Rock 'n' Oldies DJs, 10:00PM

8PM DOORS

THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL Summit Jam, 6:00PM

Murmuration 7- 9pm

W/ THE HIGH DIVERS AND ALARM CLOCK CONSPIRACY

NYE 2016

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band + THE BROADCAST

Alexa

Rose

ALBUM RELEASE SHOW W/ THE MAGGIE VALLEY BAND AND ASHLEY HEATH

8PM DOORS

THE MOCKING CROW Acoustic night w/ Steve Moseley & Heath Lewis, 8:00PM

Sat•Dec 31

K LOUNGE DJ Phantom Pantone (Korean pop, trap, dance), 10:00PM

7PM DOORS

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Tricky Trivia w/ Sue, 8:00PM

Live Music 7- 9pm

JERUSALEM GARDEN Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7:00PM

WED

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Unite! Open Mic Night w/ Highland (sign up @ 7 p.m.), 7:30PM

Fri•Dec 30

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Matt Townsend & The Wonder of the World (folk, indie, pop rock), 9:00PM

FRI

STONE ROAD RESTAURANT & BAR Open Mic w/ Tony the Pony, 8:00PM

SAT

SPRING CREEK TAVERN Open Mic, 6:00PM

Woody Wood 5:30 -7:30pm

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An Evening w/ Lyric, 7:00PM New Year's Eve Eve CD release party w/ Philo, members of Empire Strikes Brass & Natural Born Leaders, 10:00PM

SUN

SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB DJ dance party & drag show, 10:00PM

TYLER CHILDERS DARREN BRAND AND BDAHT FROM “WILD N OUT” RUNAWAY GIN: A TRIBUTE TO PHISH JANE KRAMER

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

49

CLU B LA N D

NYE w/ ReggaeInfinity & Salsa

theblockoffbiltmore.com • 8p-2a!

39 S. Market St., Downtown Asheville

Bywater

Where The Blue Ridge Mountains Meet the Celtic Isles

MONDAYS Quizzo – Brainy Trivia • 7:30pm Open Mic Night • 9pm CAJUN TWO STEPPIN’ TUESDAYS Every Tuesday in Nov. • 7pm Gumbo, Po Boys and more!

UPCOMING MUSIC DEC

23

FRI

DEC

30

FRI

DEC

31

SAT

SONGS FROM THE ROAD BAND ft.

MEMBERS OF LEFTOVER SALMON, STEEP CANYON RANGERS, AND MORE

THURSDAYS Mountain Feist • 7pm Bluegrass Jam • 9:30pm Bourbon Specials

CALVIN GET DOWN (LOCAL FUNK) 9pm

WINDOW CAT NYE CELEBRATION 9pm - 11:30pm

WEEKLY EVENTS MON

WEDNESDAYS Asheville’s Original Old Time Mountain Music Jam • 5pm

OPEN MIC

ft. ROOSTER 8pm

TOWNSEND & THE FRI MATT WONDER 12/30 9PM / $5 OF THE WORLD NYE CELEBRATION SAT w/ WOODY WOOD & 12/31 THE FAMILY BAND 9PM / $10

OPEN DRUM CIRCLE TUE

6pm

SPIN JAM 9pm

WED

COCKTAIL NIGHT ft. DJ KYURI 9pm

THU

18

SUN

ft. Local Brewery & Band

GRATEFUL SUNDAY ft. DIRTY DEAD 8pm

796 RIVERSIDE DR. ASHEVILLE, NC BYWATER.BAR 50

9PM / $5

SAT 1/7

9PM / $5

THE ALL AROUNDERS THE GYPSY SWINGERS

IRISH SUNDAYS Irish Food and Drink Specials Traditional Irish Music Session • 3-9pm

TAP TAKEOVER 7:30pm

DEC

FRI 1/6

OPEN MON-THURS AT 3 • FRI-SUN AT NOON CRAFT BEER, SPIRITS & QUALITY PUB FARE SINCE 1996

95 PATTON at COXE • Downtown Asheville

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

252.5445 • jackofthewood.com MOUNTAINX.COM

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

THE SOUTHERN Dave Stone (comedy), 8:00PM

ELAINE'S DUELING PIANO BAR Dueling Pianos, 9:00PM

TIGER MOUNTAIN Friday Nite Mash Up w/ B-Boy Evan & Nex Millen, 10:00PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB New Years Eve Party w/ Hustle Souls (roots, rock), 10:00PM

TOWN PUMP Jimmy & the Jawbones, 9:00PM

GREEN ROOM CAFE & COFFEEHOUSE Deb Bridges & The Groove (jazz, blues, funk), 6:00PM

TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Company Swing (swing, dance), 7:00PM Asheville Blues & Soul All Stars (blues, soul), 10:00PM TWISTED LAUREL Request-powered dance party w/ Phantom Pantone, 10:30PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Hip Hop "Rock the City" Showcase, 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Sam Burchfield (folk), 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE A Social Function (acoustic), 9:00PM ZAMBRA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8:00PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 6:00PM Shake It Like A Caveman (rock 'n' roll), 10:00PM 550 TAVERN & GRILLE New Year's Eve Party w/ Flashback (Motown, R&B, dance), 9:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Asheville Guitar Bar New Year's Eve Jam, 4:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Ring in 2017 w/ Grass is Dead, 9:00PM ATHENA'S CLUB Michael Kelley Hunter (blues), 6:30PM AVENUE M New Year's Eve Dance Party, 5:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE New Year's Eve w/ The Get Right Band (funk, rock, reggae), 10:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Mark Bumgarner (Americana, bluegrass), 7:00PM BOILER ROOM New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Three Dance Floors, DJ & Drag Show, 8:00PM BURGER BAR Asheville FM 103.3 DJ Night, 9:00PM BUXTON HALL BBQ NYE '17 Modern Masquerade w/ DJ Chef Sarah Cousler, 10:15PM BYWATER NYE Masquerade w/ Window Cat (funk, soul, jazz), 9:00PM CLUB ELEVEN ON GROVE New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Three Dance Floors, DJ & Drag Show, 8:00PM CORK & KEG New Year's Eve w/ Cafe Sho, 8:30PM CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Island Bob, 6:00PM Hunter Grigg (singer-songwriter, folk, Americana), 8:00PM The Paper Crowns (indie, folk), 10:00PM CROW & QUILL Firecracker Jazz Band, 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Pitter Platter w/ DJ Big Smidge, 10:00PM

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band & The Broadcast (rock, funk, soul), 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Murmuration (groove, rock), 7:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL New Years Eve w/ The Honeycutters & Jon Stickley Trio, 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB New Year's Eve celebration w/ Woody Wood & The Family Band (rock, Appalachian soul), 9:00PM JERUSALEM GARDEN Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7:00PM K LOUNGE Phantom Pantone DJ Collective, 10:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30PM MG ROAD DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM MARKET PLACE DJs (funk, R&B), 7:00PM NEW MOUNTAIN THEATER/ AMPHITHEATER New Year's Masquerade w/ Push/Pull, Empire Strikes Brass & more, 9:00PM ODDITORIUM NYE Celebration w/ Zin Vetro, Morbids & Fasion Bath (rock, punk), 9:00PM OFF THE WAGON Dueling pianos, 9:00PM OLIVE OR TWIST New Year's Eve Gala w/ 3 Cool Cats, Paula Hanke and DJ, 8:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Vinyl Time Travelers New Years Eve Party, 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING 3rd Annual NYE 1920s Prohibition Party w/ DJ Coach K, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL GZA [CANCELLED], 9:00PM New year's Eve w/ Talib Kweli, RBTS WIN & Mike L!VE (hip hop), 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Oskar Blues New Years Hootenanny w/ Southern Culture on the Skids, Jonny Fritz & Pretty Little Goat, 7:00PM PACK'S TAVERN New Year's Eve Celebration w/ The Big Deal Band (bluegrass/covers) & DJ MOTO (dance hits, pop), 9:30PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Phuncle Sam's Free NYE, 9:30PM PURPLE ONION CAFE The Shana Blake Band (funk, R&B, rock), 8:00PM ROOM IX Open dance night, 9:00PM SALVAGE STATION New Year's Eve Bash w/ Laura Reed, Santos Glocal Soul & more, 7:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Yoga w/ Cats with Blue Ridge Humane Society, 10:00AM New Year's Eve w/ The Stipe Brothers, 8:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB New Year’s Eve Bash w/ Three Dance Floors, DJ & Drag Show, 8:00PM SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB New year's Eve Red Carpet Gala w/ The Dixie Devils Band (Southern rock, country), 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE One Love NYE Party! w/ ReggaeInfinity, 8:00PM Salsa w/ DJ Malinalli & DJ Audio, 11:00PM THE DUGOUT New Years Dance Party, 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR NYE w/ Laura Thurston, Brother West and Upland Drive., 8:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT New Year's Eve Party: "The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 2" & Tom Petty (Traveling Wilburys, Tom Petty tribute), 9:00PM THE RIDGE AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL New Year's Masquerade w/ Push/Pull, Empire Strikes Brass & more, 9:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE DJ Ryan G, 9:00PM THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL New Year's Masquerade w/ Push/Pull, Empire Strikes Brass & more, 9:00PM THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Asheville Symphony: Joyous New Year, 8:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES The King Zeros (delta blues), 7:30PM Tressa's Annual New Year's Eve Bash featuring Jesse Barry & The Jam (blues, dance), 8:00PM TWISTED LAUREL DJ Phantom Pantone, 11:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY SupaTight's Funky New Years Show, 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN New year's Eve Party w/ The Virginia Slims, Vollie Mckenzie & His Western Wildcats, 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE Karaoke, 9:00PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL DJ Phantom Pantone, 8:00PM ZAMBRA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8:00PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Guitar Bar Jam Sunday, 3:30PM BEN'S TUNE-UP Dub Kartel (reggae, dub), 6:00PM FLOOD GALLERY True home open mic (sign-up @ 7 p.m.), 7:30PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Alexa Rose w/ The Maggie Valley Band & Ashley Heath (folk, Americana, singer-songwriter), 8:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bluegrass Bunch w/ Aaron Woody Wood, 11:00AM

12/29 - Hope Griffin, Melissa Hyman, Dave Desmelik, 7pm 12/30 - Hip Hop Showcase, 9pm (7 acts)

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Phuncle Sam's 2017 Hangover Party, 4:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Phantom Pantone (french pop, disco house), 9:30PM

MONDAY, JANUARY 2 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar Mondays, 7:00PM GOOD STUFF Songwriter's Open mic, 7:30PM

w/ SupaTight 9:30 e v E s r a e Y New A night of dance music pm with high energy funk.

Complimentary champagne toast!

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo, 7:00PM Open Mic Night, 9:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller & Friends (bluegrass), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque, 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Trivial trivia w/ Geoffrey & Brody, 8:00PM

2-28-17

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Rooftop movies w/ Phantom Pantone DJ Collective, 8:00PM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Gypsy Jazz Jam Tuesdays, 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Thunder karaoke w/ Jason Tarr, 8:00PM CORK & KEG Old Time Jam, 5:00PM GOOD STUFF Old time-y night, 6:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Jay Brown (folk, singer-songwriter), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Odd Comedy Night, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 11:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR The Remedy (blues), 7:30PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Taco and Trivia Tuesday, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Jazz-n-Justice Benefit Tuesday w/ Swing Asheville, 8:00PM Blues dance, 11:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Open jam w/ Rob Parks & Chuck Knott, 7:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish sessions & open mic, 6:30PM

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4 185 KING STREET Vinyl Night, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Brad Hodge & friends (singer-songwriter), 7:00PM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Irish session, 5:00PM

BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 8:30PM

ODDITORIUM 90s Dance Party (Free), 9:00PM

BONFIRE BARBECUE Trivia Funtime w/ Kelsey, 8:00PM

Winter packages available! • advertise@mountainx.com DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

51

CLU B LA N D

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

GOOD STUFF Jim Hampton & friends (eclectic country jam), 7:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Tyler Childers w/ Truckstop Waterfall (folk, Americana), 8:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old-time session, 5:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Ben Hovey (dub, jazz), 6:30PM

COMING SOON wed 12/28 7:00PM – RHODA WEAVER thu 12/29 6:30PM – HANNAH TELLE

8:00PM – JAMIE LAVAL’S

CELTIC CHRISTMAS fri 12/30

1/5 1/6

the traveling wilburys vol. 2 & tom petty

thu ""rock for roe 2017!""

sweet claudette

fri

' galen holland s birthday ' party w/ 40-20-10 s!

w/ the nightshirts

1/7

sat

yours truly

w/ vietnam jerry, the volt per octaves

JIM ARRENDELL

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray & The Space Cooties, 7:00PM BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Alien Music Club (jazz), 9:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Social Function, 8:30PM CLADDAGH RESTAURANT & PUB Irish Music Thursdays, 7:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Darren Band & DBAHT (comedy), 9:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Jay Brown & friends, 6:00PM Italian Night w/ Mike Guggino & Barrett Smith, 8:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass jam, 7:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones ("man of 1,000 songs"), 6:30PM OLE SHAKEY'S O.S.O.M. Open Mic, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bella's Bartok (folk, punk), 10:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Bean Tree Remedy (acoustic, folk, eclectic), 8:00PM

MOUNTAIN SOUL PARTY

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Emily Bodley (singer-songwriter), 7:00PM

9:00PM – 2ND ANNUAL

Yoga at the Mothlight

DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

ALTAMONT THEATRE Modern Strangers w/ Story Daniels, 8:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Residency w/ Hustle Souls, 6:00PM

ISISASHEVILLE.COM

themothlight.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

SANTOS GLOCAL SOUL

Savory and Sweet Hand Pies!

Details for all shows can be found at

52

sat 1/7

7:00PM –MIDNIGHT PLOWBOYS 9:00PM –THE WOBBLERS sun 1/8 5:30PM – PAGE BROS FT. GEOFF CLAPP 7:30PM –BILL STAINES tue 1/10 7:00PM – TUESDAY BLUEGRASS SESSIONS thu 1/12 7:00PM –SISTER IVY fri 1/13 7:00PM – STEPHANIE MORGAN W/

Tues., Thurs., and Sat. 11:30am

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Runaway Gin (Phish tribute), 9:00PM

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE DJ Phantom Pantone (international soul, R&B), 8:00PM

7:00PM – KEN AND BRAD KOLODNER 9:00PM – DANCE PARTY WITH

5pm to last call

GOOD STUFF Mama Molasses (alt-country, Americana, folk), 7:00PM

EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS) AND NATURAL BORN LEADERS: CD RELEASE PARTY sat 12/31

MIKE GUGGINO AND BARRETT SMITH fri 1/6

Woodpecker Pie

FRENCH BROAD BREWERY You Knew Me When (indie, folk), 6:00PM

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Ken and Brad Kolodner, 7:00PM Friday Night Dance Party w/ Jim Arrendell, 9:00PM

6:00PM – JAY BROWN & FRIENDS 8:00PM – ITALIAN NIGHT WITH

sat big nye party w/ cover bands!

CORK & KEG The Gypsy Swingers (jazz), 8:30PM

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Laura Thurston (folk, bluegrass), 7:00PM

thu 1/5

12/31

ALTAMONT THEATRE An Evening w/ Robin & Linda Williams (bluegrass, folk), 8:00PM

7:00PM – LYRIC

THE HONEYCUTTERS, JON STICKLEY TRIO, AND TAYLOR MARTIN’S ENGINE

w/ ron gallo, the all arounders

SALVAGE STATION Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Holiday Tour, 8:00PM

550 TAVERN & GRILLE Fine Line Band, 9:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Lyric (pop, funk, soul), 7:00PM

8:30PM – NEW YEARS EVE WITH

the nude party

PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR 3 Cool Cats (50s & 60s vintage rock, swing), 7:00PM

185 KING STREET Mitch Hayes Trio (singer-songwriter), 8:30PM

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Reggae Vibes w/ Ashanti Selassi, 8:30PM

10:00PM – PHILO (W/ MEMBERS OF

12/30 fri

ODDITORIUM Tongues of Fire, Depression Surfers (rock), 9:00PM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

TUES-SUN 5PM-until 743 HAYWOOD RD 828-575-2737

MOUNTAINX.COM

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB The All Arounders (blues), 9:00PM K LOUNGE DJ Phantom Pantone (Korean pop, trap, dance), 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Rob Parks & friends (swing, bluegrass), 6:30PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam, 5:00PM PACK'S TAVERN DJ OCelate (pop, dance hits), 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Gypsy Guitars (jazz), 7:00PM SALVAGE STATION Caz-Ma-Taz: Hurricane Matthew Victims Benefit w/ Artimus Pyle & Friends, 6:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Asheville Mardi Gras 12th Night Gala!, 7:00PM SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB Open Mic night w/ Sam Warner, 8:00PM THE DUGOUT Boogy Children, 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Quick Heater, 7:00PM THE MOCKING CROW Trivia and karoke night!, 9:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Ultra Lounge w/ Phantom Pantone, 10:00PM TIGER MOUNTAIN Friday Nite Mash Up w/ B-Boy Evan & Nex Millen, 10:00PM TWISTED LAUREL Request-powered dance party w/ Phantom Pantone, 10:30PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Tricky Trivia w/ Sue, 8:00PM

185 KING STREET The Remarks w/ The Halves & Barrett Davis (indie), 8:30PM

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE The Great American Strip-Off, (burlesque), 9:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Lose Yourself to Dance w/ DJ Marley Carroll (dance), 9:00PM

SALVAGE STATION

CORK & KEG 3 Cool Cats (50s rock), 8:30PM

Illiterate Light, 8:00PM

GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Jane Kramer w/ Old Man Luedecke (folk, singer-songwriter), 8:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Yoga with Cats with Blue Ridge Humane

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Franklin's Kite (rock), 7:00PM

Society, 10:00AM

ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ The Midnight Plowboys, 7:00PM An evening w/ The Wobblers (blues, jazz, ragtime), 9:00PM

The Low Counts (blues, rock), 8:00PM SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB Chad Farmer Band (outlaw country),

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Gypsy Swingers (swing, jazz, blues), 9:00PM

8:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30PM

Kathryn proctor & Dan Falkenstein (folk,

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Of Good Nature w/ Lovely Budz (reggae, rock), 10:00PM

Americana), 7:00PM THE MOCKING CROW

ORANGE PEEL Kid Hop Hooray! (children's show, dance party), 10:00AM Donna The Buffalo (zydeco, rock, folk), 9:00PM

Karaoke w/ Josie, 9:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Ultra Lounge w/ Phantom Pantone,

OSKAR BLUES BREWERY You Knew Me When (indie, folk), 6:00PM

10:00PM

PACK'S TAVERN Grand Theft Audio (classic rock), 9:30PM

TWISTED LAUREL

PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR The Crown Jewels Band w/ Paula Hanke (oldies, rock, jazz), 7:00PM

Dance Party w/ Phantom Pantone, 10:30PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Alex Krug Combo, 8:00PM

ZuZu Welsh Band (rock), 8:00PM

Downtown on the Park

Coming Soon!

TAVERN 2017

specialty shops issue

Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 13 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night

Buffet and e v E s ’ r a e N ew Y to 2017!

C o u n t d ow n

Buffet: 6:30 PM – 9 PM Countdown to 2017: 9 pm – 1 am $50 per person – call for reservations 828-225-6944 Buffet limited to 100 tickets and includes reserved table seating for Countdown to 2017 Includes pre-celebration & buffet, hats & toppers, Countdown to 2016 ticket (does NOT include additional beverages, tax & gratuity)

Contact us today!

828-251-1333 x 320 advertise@mountainx.com

$10 cover starting at 8:00pm Big Deal Band in the Century Room and DJ MoTo in the South Bar Drink Specials, $17 Bottles of Bubbly, Three bars!

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

53

MOVIES

REVIEWS & LISTINGS

BY JUSTIN SOUTHER & SCOTT DOUGLAS

HHHHH = H PICK OF THE WEEK H

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis knock it out of the park in Washington’s adaptation of August Wilson’s Fences.

Fences

HHHH DIRECTOR: Denzel Washington PLAYERS: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Mykelti Williamson, Saniyya Sidney DRAMA RATED PG-13 THE STORY: A bitter man tortured by thwarted ambitions and crushing responsibilities slowly alienates

54

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

everyone he loves against a backdrop of the African-American experience in 1950s Pittsburgh.

THE LOWDOWN: A distinctly theatrical adaptation of the classic August Wilson play showcases Denzel Washington and Viola Davis’ remarkable talents as thespians while adhering just a little too closely to its source material’s staging.

MOUNTAINX.COM

Based on the August Wilson stage play of the same name as well as a screenplay penned by Wilson before his death, what works about Denzel Washington’s filmic adaptation of Fences is essentially what worked on the stage. This is to be expected, as the play is an uncontested classic, and Washington starred in more than 100 performances during its 2010 revival. So, if it ain’t broke, why

M A X R AT I N G fix it? Washington’s production is theatrical to a fault, taking place within the confines of a small handful of sets that constrain the action and provide a distinctly limited proscenium within which it establishes a collection of staggeringly well-rounded characterizations.

Fences is a moving work that prioritizes people over plot, generating conflict on a very human scale that belies the story’s scope and significance.

Wilson’s work is focused on both place and race, with most of his noteworthy plays exploring the AfricanAmerican experience in his native Pittsburgh throughout the decades.

Fences is a high-water mark within the context of an illustrious career, garnering critical praise, multiple Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize during its original 1987 stage run.

This success was achieved largely on the basis of Fences’ belligerent protagonist Troy Maxson, an illiterate garbage man and former Negro League baseball star pining for long-lost glory days while slowly self-destructing in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson is a study in contradictions, a meaty role that won James Earl Jones a Tony in the play’s run in the ’80s and gives Washington ample opportunity to showcase his skill at dominating a scene. Maxson is a profoundly flawed human being who still manages to maintain relatability even in his worst moments, a saving grace in a film that can often feel frustratingly claustrophobic.

Maxson’s bad moments do indeed get pretty awful, particularly the mistreatment of his long suffering wife Rose (Viola Davis) and struggling sons Cory (Jovan Adepo) and Lyons (Russell Hornsby).

Davis steals a number of scenes from Washington — no easy feat in this film — inducing the audience to empathize with Rose as she, against her better judgement (as well as our own), stands by Maxson though years of instability, philandering and abuse. It’s a delicately nuanced role that requires a deft touch, and Davis delivers at every turn. Less noteworthy are Adepo

and Hornsby, who play their roles with competence but never transcend the source material’s inherent attachment to its staged antecedents.

This is a story rooted in character first and foremost, and plot summary does it little justice. The shadow of Washington’s Maxson looms large over the proceedings, but it’s in the climactic moments of quiet reflection capping the third act that the characters who have felt the impact of the play’s antihero attest to his influence by virtue of its absence. The level of staginess that Washington’s direction evokes is both a strength and a shortcoming, foregrounding its cast’s performances and giving them ample real estate within which to render their characters. While this very sense of artifice hinders the film at times, it also allows Washington and Davis the time and space necessary to deliver two of the year’s most impressive turns.

The emotional affectiveness of Fences is rooted in Maxson’s tragic fallibility, and Washington renders this character’s deficiencies with such depth and believability that it’s difficult to avoid a visceral reaction to his behavior. This capacity to inspire understanding for an often detestable character is possibly the greatest virtue of both the source play and its cinematic adaptation, and Washington, to his credit, has chosen to emphasize the emotional development of his characters overindulging in any flashy filmic flourishes. Some may be turned off by the film’s oppressively defined stylistic borders, but few will be able to avoid the story’s very personal portrayal of events, suggesting much larger societal currents, and its stars’ magnetically engaging performances. Many of us have a Troy Maxson in our respective families or know someone very much like him, but it takes a true work of art to peel back the layers of resentment and display the all-too-human heart beating within. Washington, by way of Wilson, has crafted an admirably humanist statement that does justice to a meaningful and important story. Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some suggestive references.

Now Playing at Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beacatcher, Epic of Hendersonville.

REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

THEAT ER IN FORMAT IO N ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. (254-1281) ASHEVILLEBREWING.COM/MOVIES CARMIKE CINEMA 10 (298-4452) CARMIKE.COM CAROLINA CINEMAS (274-9500) CAROLINACINEMAS.COM CO-ED CINEMA BREVARD (883-2200) COEDCINEMA.COM EPIC OF HENDERSONVILLE (693-1146) EPICTHEATRES.COM FINE ARTS THEATRE (232-1536) FINEARTSTHEATRE.COM FLATROCK CINEMA (697-2463) FLATROCKCINEMA.COM GRAIL MOVIEHOUSE (239-9392) GRAILMOVIEHOUSE.COM REGAL BILTMORE GRANDE STADIUM 15 (684-1298) REGMOVIES.COM UNITED ARTISTS BEAUCATCHER (298-1234) REGMOVIES.COM

Assassin’s Creed HHS

DIRECTOR: Justin Kurzel PLAYERS: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Charlotte Rampling, Michael K. Williams ACTION ADVENTURE RATED PG-13 THE STORY: A death row convict becomes ensnared in an ancient conflict between two warring factions when he is revealed to be the genetic heir to a long line of assassins whose actions over the centuries have preserved humanity’s capacity for free will.

THE LOWDOWN: Not a great film by any stretch, but far better than most video game adaptations by virtue of its stellar cast and its engaging — if thoroughly convoluted —

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

55

FIND MOUNTAIN

XPRESS AT OVER

ADVERTISE YOUR TAX SERVICES

Tell 75,000 weekly print readers to use your service this tax season!

Accountants, tax preparers, and other financial institutions are invited to take advantage of our great advertising discounts until April 15th.

800 LOCATIONS

XPRESS IS ALL OVER ASHEVILLE & HENDERSONVILLE PLUS YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS IN: Arden

Horse Shoe

Balsam

Hot Springs

Black Mountain

Lake Lure

Brevard

Leicester

Burnsville

Maggie Valley

Candler

Marshall

Canton

Mars Hill

Chimney Rock

Mills River

Clyde

Naples

Cullowhee

Pisgah Forest

Edneyville

Saluda

Enka

Sylva

Etowah

Swannanoa

Fairview

Waynesville

Fletcher

Weaverville

DISTRIBUTION AUDITED BY Contact us today!

828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com 56

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

®

MOUNTAINX.COM

M OVI ES

mythology.

Video game adaptations are tricky prospects, which is why so few of them are any good. Taking the volitional aspect out of an interactive experience essentially strips the enterprise of its stated purpose, and the vast majority of films based on games are starting off at a significant disadvantage in comparison to the original (or even literary adaptations). It’s difficult for any filmmaker to craft a compelling story from a narrative world that was intended to be more or less open-ended, and it’s even more complicated to develop engaging characters on the basis of avatars that were designed to be little more than objects of psychological projection for individual gamers. One need go no further back than this summer’s dismal Warcraft for a case in point of the myriad deficiencies inherent to the form, but the history of the subgenre is replete with abject failures. So ... it’s with a considerable degree of disbelief that I’m able to say Assassin’s Creed isn’t completely awful. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s a pretty watchable film when taken on its own terms.

2016 was a particularly difficult year for Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, the former having disappointed egregiously with The Light Between Oceans and the latter having fallen similarly short of my expectations in last month’s Allied.

I certainly didn’t expect Assassin’s Creed to do them any favors — and it doesn’t. However, they both seem to take the enterprise more seriously than the source material should warrant and manage to deliver admirable performances even though they may not have much to work with in terms of character.

They are ably supported by such talented performers as Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Michael Kenneth Williams and Charlotte Rampling.

(For those taken in by the recent hoax regarding Irons’ alleged death, rest assured the actor is very much alive and has avoided the dubious fate of Raúl Juliá, whose last role was the unfortunate 1994 video game adaptation Street Fighter.) What drew such a competent cast to a film of this ilk we may never know, but they manage to make the film significantly more interesting than it has any right to be.

Director Justin Kurzel, having previously directed Cotillard and Fassbender in last year’s Macbeth, was never in any danger of dragging Shakespeare into the world of video game blockbusters. He has, however,

mastered the questionable craft of the 3D spectacle. Yes, it comes across a bit like watching someone else play a video game, the dialogue strains credulity, character arcs are practically nonexistent and the entire premise is poorly conceived. But the byzantine mythology of the game franchise contributes an air of depth typically absent from such films, even if that depth seems largely illusory when probed too deeply. While the ending comes across as something of an anti-climax and the structure bears some distinct and largely avoidable problems, the set pieces are visually interesting enough to maintain audience engagement.

It’s a mess, but it’s certainly not boring.

So what if the basis of the conflict is some poorly defined quest — on the part of a shadowy pseudo-Masonic organization with a laughably ahistorical connection to the Knights Templar — to strip humanity of its capacity for free will? Who cares if the MacGuffin is some sort of antediluvian genetic material ostensibly guarded since the distant past by people who should rationally have had no concept of genetics in the first place?

Audiences harboring some interest in this film probably aren’t looking for a great epic of historical fiction — or even a coherent narrative.

They’re looking for a fast-paced action extravaganza with a touch more significance than the average video game movie. On that level, Assassin’s Creed kills it. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, thematic elements and brief strong language.

Now Playing at Carmike 10, Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beaucatcher, Epic of Hendersonville.

REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

La La Land

HHHH DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash) PLAYERS: Emma Stone, Ryan

As a simple drama, La La Land works well. The biggest problem with the film is really its main draw: the musical aspect.

Gosling, Rosemarie Dewitt, John Legend, J.K. Simmons MUSICAL RATED PG-13 THE STORY: Two dreamers with goals of making it in LA become entangled, struggling to make their dreams come true on their own terms.

THE LOWDOWN: With engaging leads, the film mostly works, faltering when its main selling point (the musical numbers) are a bit of a letdown.

It’s time for the semi-annual holiday musical extravaganza, which is how Damien Chazelle’s La La Land is being pitched to the world. A supposed throwback to old jazz and ’50s musicals (complete with an old-fashioned Warner Brothers logo), La La Land wears these influences proudly, at least for a bit. For a movie with a trailer that purports it to be a modernday all-singing, all-dancing spectacle, the film forgets its pedigree — or perhaps its vision — for long stints.

There’s a stretch over the last half to third of the movie where I (and the movie) forgot this was supposed to be a musical. This was quickly followed by a sense of relief as I started to real-

ize how much stronger the film is on its own merits as a character drama shorn of musical bits that unfortunately feel gimmicky.

Chazelle’s film is a story not only of Los Angeles, but of the people who end up there chasing their dreams. On one end is Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), an unhealthily obsessed jazz fan who can’t keep a job but wants nothing more than to open an old-fashioned jazz club. At the same time, there’s Mia (Emma Stone), a barista toiling away while she tries to become an actress. The two — after some difficulties mostly due to Sebastian’s offputting nature — become entangled, and the film becomes a story of them not only supporting the purity of each other’s visions but the price chasing these ideals can cost. Chazelle is able to look at these two people in a fully formed manner, even if he gets stuck in the trap of Hollywood insider in-jokes, something that eventually (and thankfully) fades away. It helps that Gosling and Stone have enough charm to make you care (or at least pay attention).

As a simple drama, La La Land works well. The biggest problem with the film is really its main draw:

the musical aspect. I should mention that the specific type of musical La La Land is peddling isn’t one I normally warm up to. It’s a little too show-tune for my tastes, and La La Land doesn’t help its case by being pure pastiche.

It’s all stylish enough, with Chazelle whipping the camera around, but there’s nothing here that really pushes past simple nostalgia. Also not helping things are the foundational issues within the movie. As soon as it ended, I couldn’t remember a single song — the greatest sin any musical can commit. On top of that, Gosling doesn’t have the skill set for this kind of movie. His singing is weirdly muted and his dancing is stiff, careful and not very natural. Stone fares better, but she doesn’t exactly blow the doors off the thing, and there’s not a scene or a dance number that stands out in my mind. Luckily, the rest of the film and its characters are engaging enough to make the film work. Just don’t expect the rebirth of the musical. Rated PG-13 for some language.

Now Playing at The Fine Arts and Regal Biltmore Grande.

REVIEWED BY JUSTIN SOUTHER JSOUTHER@MOUNTAINX.COM

Giving ends December 31st!

The fun way to give! givelocalguide.org

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

57

M OVIES

Passengers HS

DIRECTOR: Morten Tyldum PLAYERS: Chris Pratt, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne DRAMA RATED PG-13 THE STORY: A space vessel bound for a colony planet malfunctions, waking one of its passengers from suspended animation too early. He then proceeds to make decisions that are both heroic and reprehensible.

THE LOWDOWN: Even the appeal of two generally charismatic lead actors can’t redeem the tedious snoozefest and highly questionable moral compass.

There’s a certain irony to the fact that a film about unexpected failures falls prey to unexpected failures itself. I suppose I should’ve realized, given the studio’s relentless marketing push in the weeks leading up to the release of Passengers, that somebody knew they had a turkey on their hands.

But, all foresight aside, I’m a sucker for high-concept sci-fi and find Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt relatively unobjectionable, so I went into this one with reasonably high hopes. Those hopes were unequivocally dashed almost immediately. It may be true that, in space, nobody can hear you scream. But, in a sparsely populated space movie, everyone can see just how bad you suck.

A great deal can be said about the psychological implications of Passengers’ stripped-down setup — none of it good. When a meteor strike disrupts the functions of what amounts to an intergalactic cruise liner, Pratt is awakened from suspended animation 90 years too soon, meaning he’ll die long before the ship ever reaches its destination. Rather than endure his isolation or take his own life, he decides to awaken a companion, settling on Lawrence after some extensive stalking of his slumbering shipmates.

The moral implications of his act — forcing an innocent woman to share his fate without her consent — are indeed addressed in the

58

script. Unfortunately, the film comes down on the side of the “I couldn’t help it” rationalization, almost as if Fritz Lang’s M had decided Peter Lorre’s child murderer wasn’t such a bad guy, he just couldn’t control his creepier impulses. This is a logical fallacy that is almost impossible to overlook, and the ways in which the film makes excuses for its purported protagonist are staggeringly tone deaf.

Pratt wakes up Lawrence and proceeds to seduce her — a “Reverse Cosby,” if you will — while the two try to figure out how to re-enter hibernation or wake up the ship’s crew since the technical systems keeping everyone alive are starting to fail. Even if you were to overlook the incomprehensibly odious actions taken by Pratt’s character, you’re left with two glaring logistical problems.

First of all, the plot doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense. Secondly, Pratt and Lawrence are essentially tasked with carrying a two-hour movie on their own, a challenge they’re not quite up to pulling off.

Weak performances aside, director Morten Tyldum has delivered a particularly tepid and derivative piece of work. It’s as though he was trying to rip off both 2001 and Alien, but only managed to steal from 2010 and Alien: Resurrection. When Laurence Fishburne shows up near the end of the second act, I found myself thinking the only way this movie might still prove enjoyable would be if it turned into an unofficial Event Horizon sequel and Sam Neal was hiding around the corner waiting to drag Pratt and Lawrence to astronaut hell. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Audiences in the market for a intelligent space-related scifi would be better-served catching the exemplary Arrival, which should still be hanging around theaters at this point. All others would be welladvised to pass on Passengers. Rated PG-13 for sexuality, nudity and action/peril.

Now Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemark, Regal Biltmore Grande, Epic of Hendersonville.

REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

Sing

HHS

ent here other than perhaps the oddity of McConaughey singing a few lines of “Call Me Maybe.” Nick Kroll’s gregarious German dancing pig stands out due to his charismatic dance skills, while Seth

DIRECTOR: Garth Jennings

MacFarlane’s version of “My Way”

PLAYERS: Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Seth MacFarlane, Tori Kelly, Taron Edgerton, Nick Kroll, John. C. Reilly

is a pretty straightforward interpretation of the Sinatra standard.

Anyone

looking

for

some-

thing inspirational or entertain-

ANIMATED MUSICAL RATED PG

ing along the lines of more orig-

THE STORY: Anthropomorphic animals voiced by various Hollywood talent compete for fortune and fame during an attempt to save a failing theater from foreclosure.

align their expectations more to

THE LOWDOWN: Bits of 45 popular songs from the 1940s to the present may make audiences smile, but there is little new or notable here.

Early in Sing, a minor anthropomorphic character voiced by John C. Riley asks, “A singing competition?

Who wants that?” If the answer is you, the film is an adequate — yet ultimately forgettable — animated family-friendly product that is not as annoying as the trailer would have you believe.

The story follows a koala, Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey, thankfully not attempting an Australian accent), attempting to save his beloved theater from foreclosure by hosting a singing contest which will net the winner $100,000. Various species belt out popular songs before five finalists are selected, each with their own reasons for wanting to achieve fame and fortune. Housewife Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) craves recognition beyond devotion to her oblivious piggy family. Porcupine rocker Ash (Scarlett Johansson) wants to impress her incredulous boyfriend. Pipsqueak mouse Mike (Seth MacFarlane) needs to pay off mounting gambling debts. Sensitive gorilla Johnny (Taron Egerton) hopes to escape his criminal past, and shy teenage elephant Meena (Tori Kelly) yearns to make her family proud through her vocal gifts.

Snippets of 45 radio-friendly hits from the 1940s to today are belted out before it’s all over, but none are particularly impressive in terms of how they are presented. Music legend Stevie Wonder and newcomer Ariana Grande contribute one shared tune over the credits, but there is not much else new or differ-

inal output from Disney should the animation and kid-friendly humor of the Despicable Me movies, also produced by Illumination Entertainment. Those taking that advice might tap their toes to the music (as the family sitting behind me did), but ultimately Sing is little more than a truncated animal karaoke version of “American Idol” or “The X Factor” — minus any mean-spirited analysis of the talent.

There is no a great moral or important lesson to be gleaned from the proceedings other than the generic be-true-to-your-voice sentiment, but there are some catchy tunes from the voice actors attempting the songs. Preteens may enjoy the music; any adults along for the ride will not be insulted; and both groups will probably giggle at the inoffensive sight gags and singular fart joke.

Beyond that, Sing is pretty much singing animals blandly interpreting radio-friendly songs. If you like that sort of thing, you will get what you pay for. If you want anything more original, go see Disney’s Moana instead. Rated PG for some rude humor and mild peril.

Now Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemark, Epic Theaters of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande

and

UA

Beaucatcher

Cinemas 7.

REVIEWED BY JONATHAN RICH JONATHANWLRICH@GMAIL.COM

SCREEN SCENE

by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com

LEARN BY DOING: Students from Asheville School of Film’s most recent Intro to Filmmaking class prepare a shot for their short film. Photo by Amanda Bates • Swannanoa Studios hosts a screening of Heima on Friday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. The documentary is the Icelandic band Sigur Rós’ first film, culled from footage taken over two weeks in 2006 when the group embarked upon a series of free, unannounced concerts in their home country. Venues from the tour include ghost towns, outsider art shrines, national parks, small community halls, the highland wilderness and a Reykjavik show that became the largest gig in Iceland’s history. A $2 suggested donation includes free popcorn. Please bring your own beverages. facebook.com/swannanoastudios • Local film historian Frank Thompson brings back his monthly Directors’ Appreciation Night series on Sunday, Jan. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Asheville School of Film. The work of Sam Peckinpah will be the afternoon’s focal point. The seminar costs $20, and spots may be reserved online. ashevilleschooloffilm.com • Registration is open for Asheville School of Film’s first courses of 2017.

The semesterlong After School Film Class for teens meets Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. starting Jan. 4, and covers a range of filmmaking topics.

The cost is $175 per month. The eightweek Introduction to Filmmaking program meets Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 5. The crash course teaches students the basic principles of filmmaking as they

work together to shoot a short, highquality HD digital film, which will be screened in a local theater for family and friends. Full course tuition is $595.

Intermediate Filmmaking: PreProduction and Production runs eight weeks, meeting each Wednesday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting Jan. 4. The course will focus on pre-production, including story pitches, screenwriting, location scouting, actor casting, storyboard creation and shot lists, as well as production of two short films up to the completion of principal photography. Prior completion of Intro to Filmmaking or comparable experience is required. The cost is $595, but returning students receive a 20 percent discount.

The eight-week Introduction to Screenwriting course convenes Tuesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting Jan. 10. Instructor and awardwinning screenwriter Andrew Shearer will guide students through the basics of screenwriting while they work to complete an original short script. The cost is $525. Intermediate Screenwriting also runs eight weeks, meeting Mondays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. starting Jan. 9. The more detailed class allows students to develop a feature screenplay and/or continue to refine techniques and skills used in screenwriting. Tuition is $525, with returning students qualifying for a 20 percent discount. Register for all classes online. ashevilleschooloffilm.com X

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

59

M O VI E S

by Scott Douglas

Why Him? HHH

DIRECTOR: John Hamburg PLAYERS: James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullally, Griffin Gluck, Keegan-Michael Key, Adam Devine, Zack Pearlman, Casey Wilson, Cedric the Entertainer.

COMEDY RATED R THE STORY: A man with a failing printing company is appalled to learn his daughter has begun dating an oafish internet mogul while at college in California.

60

S PEC IA L SCR E E N IN GS

Fahrenheit 451 HHHS DIRECTOR: François Truffaut PLAYERS: Oskar Werner, Julie Christie, Cyril Cusack, Anton Diffring, Jeremy Spenser, Bee Duffell DRAMA Rated NR François Truffaut stepped significantly outside his comfort zone when he undertook this adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel in 1966. It was Truffaut’s first film shot in color and in a studio, first English language film and first shot outside of his native France. It was also the first of the Nouvelle Vague auteur’s films to meet with critical derision, having been famously panned on its release by Pauline Kael. While I don’t quite share Ms. Kael’s sense of entitled disappointment in Truffaut, or even the filmmaker’s own disdain for the film, I will say that it’s possibly his most uneven work and certainly could have been better. Still, it’s an interesting film if only for the novelty of watching Truffaut attempt to make something at once commercial and transgressive, yet falling short of the mark on both counts. Perhaps he intended to make some sort of subtextual statement by directing a film about the importance of books that’s so clearly inferior to the book on which it’s based. Whatever the motivation behind the film or the reasons for its self-evident deficiencies, bad Truffaut’s still better than what passes for good from most filmmakers, and Fahrenheit 451 is no exception. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present Fahrenheit 451 on Friday, Dec. 30, at 8 p.m. at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 2160 Hwy 70, Swannanoa.

THE LOWDOWN: Better than it has any right to be due to the strong comedic performances from a talented cast that elevates the material it was given.

S TARTIN G F R ID AY

I walked into Why Him? asking myself,“Why me?” I like Bryan Cranston and James Franco as much as the next guy, and I’m always looking for a good dose of Christmas counterprogramming to balance out the saccharinity of the season. But the prospect of nearly two hours of scatological bro-humor with a weak premise that functions something like Father of the Bride or Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner meets a less literate “Silicon Valley” inspired precipitously low expectations. So imagine my surprise when I left the theater voicing a resounding, “Why not?”

True, the film’s tech industry satire is nowhere near as prescient as what Mike Judge has been putting out these days — but realistically, what is? This is a film that favors farce over facsimile, with Franco’s lovable-loser persona often straining credulity as an utterly unrestrained id playing off Cranston’s thoroughly repressed superego. This setup predates cinema significantly, tracing its roots back to vaudeville and beyond, so don’t expect a work of groundbreaking originality here. Where Why Him? succeeds is in the exemplary performances from its two leads, the strong supporting turns and a script that’s funnier than it has any right to be.

Cranston plays his role, the beleaguered owner of a printing company, straight for the most part, imbuing his interactions with Franco’s tech sector millionaire with pathos and relatability as they clash over the latter’s marital intentions toward the former’s daughter. Zoey Deutch functions as the object of this conflict (and not much else), but she makes the most of an underwrit-

No bookings have been confirmed as of press time, due to the upcoming holiday weekend. Please contact local theaters for up-to-date information on this week’s showings.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

ten ingenue role with a bit of help from Megan Mullally. It’s a strong ensemble squeezing every last drop of comedy out of a trite setup, and the results are passably diverting if not overwhelmingly noteworthy.

Writer-director John Hamburg is thankfully veering closer to his work on Zoolander and Meet the Parents than Zoolander 2 or Little Fockers, turning in a comedy that makes up for its distinct lack of novelty with some effective sight gags as well as pacing that masks the jokes which don’t work by following them up with ones that do. While the Marx Brothers perfected that particular technique, Him bears broader influences that also do it justice — including the best Pink Panther reference I’ve seen in contemporary cinema. It’s an uneven film in no uncertain terms, but I can safely say it definitely has its moments.

There are some genuinely chuckleworthy aspects of Why Him?, although its appeal will be limited by demographic demarcations and your respective acceptance of Franco’s comedic persona, which more or less drives the film.

It’s certainly not awards bait, but that’s a quality I genuinely appreciate around this time of year. Yes, better films have been made, but I can’t think of a funnier one playing in theaters currently.

If you’ve had enough of your family and

want to pass a couple of hours in the company of some characters who are only fictitiously terrible, Why Him? might be the ticket. Rated R for strong language and sexual material throughout .

Now Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemark, Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beaucatcher, Epic of Hendersonville.

REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM

FILM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER 2160 US Hwy 70, Swannanoa, 273-3332, floodgallery.org/ • FR (12/30), 8-10pm - Fahrenheit 451, foreign film viewing. Free.

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE 39 South Market St., 254-9277, theblockoffbiltmore.com • WE (12/28), 7pm - Hell’s Hot Breath: Galway Kinnell at Black Mountain College, movie screening and discussion with Laura Hope Gill. Free to attend.

TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon, 859-8322, tryonarts.org • TU (1/3), 7pm - TFAC Film Series: Eat Drink Man Woman. $6.

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Donatello was a renowned Italian sculptor. His favorite piece was “Lo Zuccone,” a marble statue of the Biblical prophet Habakkuk. As Donatello carved his work-in-progress, he addressed it. “Speak, damn you! Talk to me,” he was heard to say on more than a few occasions. Did the stone respond?

Judging from the beauty of the final product, I’d have to say yes. One art critic testified that “Lo Zuccone” is a “sublimely harrowing” tour de force, a triumph of “forceful expression,” and “one of the most important marble sculptures of the 15th century.” I suspect you will have Donatello-like powers of conversation in 2017, Aries. If anyone can communicate creatively with stones — and rivers and trees and animals and spirits and complicated humans, for that matter — it’ll be you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): According to Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, “A certain type of perfection can only be realized through a limitless accumulation of the imperfect.” Let’s amend that thought so it’s exactly suitable for your use in 2017. Here’s the new, Taurus-specific version: “A messy, practical, beautiful type of perfection can be realized through a patient, faithful, dogged accumulation of the imperfect.” To live up to the promise of this motto, make damn good use of every partial success.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini gymnast Marisa Dick has created a signature move that has never been used by any other gymnast. To start her routine, she leaps up off a springboard and lands on the balance beam doing a full split.

The technical term for this bold maneuver is “a change-leg leap to free-cross split sit,” although its informal name is “The Dick Move.” The International Federation of Gymnastics has certified it in its Code of Points, so it’s official. During the coming months, I expect that you will also produce one-of-a-kind innovations in your own sphere.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I hope you will be as well-grounded in 2017 as you have ever been — maybe even since your past life as a farmer. I trust you will go a long way toward mastering the arts of being earthy, practical, and stable. To do this right, however, you should also work on a seemingly paradoxical task: cultivating a vigorous and daring imagination — as perhaps you did in one of your other past lives as an artist. In other words, your ability to succeed in the material world will thrive as you nurture your relationship with fantasy realms — and vice versa. If you want to be the boss of reality, dream big and wild — and vice versa.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Even if you don’t think of yourself as an artist, you are always working on a major art project: yourself. You may underestimate the creativity you call on as you shape the raw material of your experience into an epic story.

Luckily, I’m here to impress upon you the power and the glory of this heroic effort. Is there anything more important? Not for you Leos. And I trust that in 2017 you will take your craftsmanship to the highest level ever. Keep this advice from author Nathan W. Morris in mind: “Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece, after all.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): French painter Henri Matisse (1869-1954) turned out to be one of the supremely influential artists of the 20th century.

But he was still struggling to make a living well into his thirties. The public’s apathy toward his work demoralized him. At one point, he visited his dealer to reclaim one of his unsold paintings.

It was time to give up on it, he felt, to take it off the market. But when he arrived at the gallery, his dealer informed him that it had finally been bought — and not by just any art collector, either. Its new owner was Pablo Picasso, an artist whom Matisse revered. I think it’s quite possible you will have comparable experiences in 2017, Virgo. Therefore: Don’t give up on yourself!

BY ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The self in exile remains the self, as a bell unstruck for years is still a bell,” writes poet Jane Hirshfield. I suspect that these words are important for you to hear as you prepare for 2017. My sense is that in the past few months, your true self has been making its way back to the heart of life after a time of wandering on the outskirts. Any day now, a long-silent bell will start ringing to herald your full return. Welcome home!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In accordance with your astrological omens for 2017, I’ve taken a poem that Shel Silverstein wrote for kids and made it into your horoscope. It’ll serve as a light-hearted emblem of a challenging but fun task you should attend to in the coming months. Here it is: “I’ve never washed my shadow out in all the time I’ve had it. It was absolutely filthy I supposed, so I peeled it off the wall where it was leaning and stuck it in the washtub with the clothes. I put in soap and bleach and stuff. I let it soak for hours. I wrung it out and hung it out to dry. And whoever would have thunk that it would have gone and shrunk, for now it’s so much littler than I.” SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Walk your wisdom walk in 2017, Sagittarius. Excite us with your wisdom songs and gaze out at our broken reality with your wisdom eyes. Play your wisdom tricks and crack your wisdom jokes and erupt with your wisdom cures. The world needs you to be a radiant swarm of lovable, unpredictable wisdom! Your future needs you to conjure up a steady stream of wisdom dreams and wisdom exploits! And please note: You don’t have to wait until the wisdom is perfect. You shouldn’t worry about whether it’s supremely practical. Your job is to trust your wisdom gut, to unleash your wisdom cry, to revel in your wisdom magic.

Giving ends December 31st!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): As I was ruminating on your astrological omens for 2017, I came across a wildly relevant passage written by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. It conveys a message I encourage you to memorize and repeat at least once a day for the next 365 days. Here it is: “Nothing can hold you back -- not your childhood, not the history of a lifetime, not even the very last moment before now.

In a moment you can abandon your past. And once abandoned, you can redefine it. If the past was a ring of futility, let it become a wheel of yearning that drives you forward. If the past was a brick wall, let it become a dam to unleash your power.”

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Naturalist John Muir regarded nature as his church. For weeks at a time he lived outdoors, communing with the wilderness. Of course he noticed that not many others shared his passion. “Most people are on the world, not in it,” he wrote, “having no conscious sympathy or relationship to anything about them — undiffused, separate, and rigidly alone like marbles of polished stone, touching but separate.” Is there anything about you that even partially fits that description, Aquarius? If so, I’m pleased to inform you that 2017 will be an excellent year to address the problem. You will have immense potential to become more intimate and tender with all of the component parts of the Great Mystery. What’s the opposite of loneliness?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Seven Chilean poets were frustrated by their fellow citizens’ apathy toward the art of poetry. They sarcastically dramatized their chagrin by doing a performance for baboons. Authorities at the Santiago Zoo arranged for the poets’ safety, enclosing them in a protective cage within the baboons’ habitat.

The audience seemed to be entertained, at times listening in rapt silence and at other times shrieking raucously. I’m sure you can empathize with the poets’ drastic action, Pisces. How many times have you felt you don’t get the appreciation you deserve? But I bet that will change in 2017. You won’t have to resort to performing for baboons.

The fun way to give! givelocalguide.org DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

MOUNTAINX.COM

61

MARKETPLACE REA L E S TAT E | R E N TA L S

|

R OOM M ATES

CLAS S E S & W OR K S HOP S

|

|

SERV ICES

M U S IC IA N S’ SERV ICES

| |

JOB S PETS

| |

A N N OU N CEMENTS A U TOMOTIV E

|

|

M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T

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 HOMES FOR RENT BEAUTIFUL FURNISHED HOUSE IN WEST ASHEVILLE 4 bedroom house-3 bedrooms on main floor, 2 full baths, in-law suite in basement (bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette) Front & back decks, backyard, fire pit, garage & driveway. Rent negotiable. senta_fiona@ yahoo.com

ROOMMATES ROOMMATES ALL AREAS ROOMMATES. COM Lonely? Bored? Broke?

Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates.com! (AAN CAN) ASHEVILLE • SHORT TERM AVAILABLE Shared housing. Vegetarian, no smoking/ animals. On busline. Sliding scale. Peace. Call (828) 3489183.

EAST ASHEVILLE Mature female wanted for furnished room and bath. $425/month.

First and last months rent required. Must pass criminal background check. Safe, peaceful environment. (828) 707-6470.

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL 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! FULL-TIME and seasonal part-time positions now available. Training provided. Contact us today! www.GrayLineAsheville. com; Info@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-251-8687.

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE ASHEVILLE PROGRAM MANAGER The Asheville Program Manager will assist in the creation, sales, marketing, recruitment, coordination, and implementation of the Asheville Homestay Camp Program. Full job description on xploreusa. org-contact-Work for Xplore.

816-589-6462 emily.terry@ xploreusa.org

CURRENT POSITIONS A-B Tech is currently taking applications for: • Veteran

62

Services Coordinator • Student Life Advisor • Purchasing Card and Compliance • Event Facilities Attendant positions. For more details and to apply: www.abtech. edu/jobs

SALES/ MARKETING LOCAL COMMUNITY COORDINATOR XPLORE USA Local Community Coordinators assist with community outreach, and finding host families for our international students that are here for 3 weeks during the summer. Paid by commission per family recruited, starting at $150; Bonuses offered up to $600. 816-589-6462 emily. terry@xploreusa.org www. xploreusa.org

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress has an entry-level sales position open. Necessary attributes are: gregarious personality, problem solving skills, confident presentation, and the ability to digest and explain complex information. The ideal candidate is organized, well spoken, has good computer skills, can work well within an organization and within in a team environment, can self-monitor and set (and meet) personal goals. Graphic design skills are a plus. The job largely entails account development (including cold calling); and also detailed record keeping, management of client advertising campaigns, and some collections. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person who wants a stable team environment with predictable income and meaningful work, send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) about why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@ mountainx.com

DRIVERS/ DELIVERY LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss.

Flexible hours. Unlimited earning potential. Must be 21 with valid U.S. driver’s license, insurance and reliable vehicle. 866-329-2672.

(AAN CAN)

MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE OVERNIGHT PSYCH RNBEHAVIORAL HEALTH URGENT CARE Overnight PSYCH RNs needed for 24/7 Behavioral Health Urgent Care UNIT MANAGER ADULT CARE HOME We are seeking applicants for a Unit Manager position with our care home. Your duties will include assistance with activities of daily living for our residents, personal care and medication administration.

HUMAN SERVICES

CLINICIANS Meridian Behavioral Health Services is seeking NC licensed or Associate licensed clinicians to join our recovery oriented organization in the beautiful North Carolina mountains including the counties of Transylvania, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Cherokee. Clinical positions are available in a variety of adult service programs such as the Assertive Community Treatment Team, Recovery Education Center, as well as child and family service programs such as Day Treatment, Intensive In-Home, and Outpatient. Clinicians provide recovery oriented comprehensive clinical assessments, support, skill building, education, and team consultation both in the office and the community. To be considered, an applicant should be familiar with the recovery paradigm of mental health and substance abuse services, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, flexibility, and moderate computer skills. • For further details about each position, please visit the employment section of our website, www.meridianbhs. org, then apply by completing the short online application and uploading your resume.

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE POSITION Helpmate, a domestic violence organization in Asheville, NC, seeks part-time Development Associate. Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 3 years’ experience in nonprofit fundraising. Resume and cover letter to HelpmateAsheville@gmail.com by 12/21/16 with “Development Associate” in the subject line. No phone or email inquiries – please.

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

Behavioral Health Urgent Care. 24 hour walk in crisis center for mental health, substance use, IDD HIRING FULL-TIME THIRD SHIFT Eliada Homes is hiring Night Residential Counselors! Make an impact in the lives of children in our community by providing overnight awake care to our students that are ages 12-17 and in need of mental health treatment. All direct care staff at Eliada help our children develop the skills necessary to be successful members of society. This is an excellent opportunity for those with an interest in social work and related fields to gain experience and training. This position comes with excellent benefits including paid leave time, amazing insurance plans and discounts at various businesses!

Eliada offers a team focused environment that fosters learning and growth while you make an impact in the lives of North Carolina's youth. Applicants must be able to stay awake and alert overnight; a minimum of a high school diploma/GED required; must be at least 21; must be able to work in high pressure, high stress environments. For more information or to apply, visit www.eliada.org/employment/current-openings.

NURSE • HAYWOOD COUNTY Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) Meridian is seeking a RN or LPN to join our Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) in Haywood County, which is located in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. The ACTT nurse is responsible for assessing physical needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist; providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation and support services; and sharing shift-management responsibility with the ACTT Coordinator. Employee must have a valid driver's license without violations or restrictions which could prevent completing all required job functions. For more information and to apply, visit the employment section of our website: www.meridianbhs. org OVERNIGHT PSYCH RNBEHAVIORAL HEALTH URGENT CARE Overnight PSYCH RN needed.

MOUNTAINX.COM

PARAPROFESSIONAL STAFF NEEDED Paraprofessional staff needed to provide services to individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities all over the county in their home, in the community, and at their job. Call for info 8283501111 michelle.kozma@eastersealsucp.com http://eastersealsucp.com/NCVA/ RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER PROGRAM COORDINATOR Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness is a peer-run community center. Seeking Certified Peer Support Specialist to be program coordinator. $16 to $20/hour DOE. 32 hours/week. Call 828-5523858 for info.

YOUTH MEDIATION COORDINATOR The Mediation Center is hiring a fulltime Youth Mediation Coordinator for the Henderson County office. www.mediatewnc.org/jobs

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT

HAYWOOD COUNTY • STAFF ACCOUNTANT Meridian is seeking a Staff Accountant to join our team in Waynesville. Meridian Behavioral Health is a growing not-for-profit agency providing services in 9 counties in Western North Carolina. This is a new position with duties in payroll, accounts payable, financial reporting, budgeting and contracts. Full-time at 40 hours per week, with benefits including paid time off and health insurance. • Fouryear degree in Accounting or Business required. Health care experience a plus. If interested, apply and submit your resume by visiting the employment section of our website at www.meridianbhs.org

TEACHING/ EDUCATION CANOPY GUIDE-NAVITAT CANOPY ADVENTURES Now hiring for spring/summer 2017. If you are looking for a thrilling, educational and inspiring seasonal opportunity check us out at www.navitat.com.

EQUINOX TEACHING POSITIONS Part-time and Full-time teachers needed, licensed in one or more of the following areas: • Special Education • Secondary

English • Math • Science or • Social Studies. Licensure required. These positions are for a year-round school with small class sizes, high school curriculum. Experience with alternative settings and/or learning disabilities a plus.

Our beautiful 150-acre campus provides a safe setting for our students to transform their lives. Timbersong is the onsite academy that serves boys attending Equinox, a private therapeutic environment for boys ages 14-18.

Check out our websites for more information: http:// www.equinoxrtc.com http://www.timbersongacademy.com Benefits are offered to full-time employees and include health, dental, vision and life insurance as well as holiday pay, vacation and sick leave. Please send a resume and cover letter to the link below. Equinox is an Equal Opportunity Employers. No phone calls or walk-ins please. humanresources@ashevilleacademy.com GO JOB OPPORTUNITY: GO BUILD PROGRAM MANAGER Green Opportunities is currently accepting resumes for a full-time GO Build Program Manager.

Compensation for this position is $27,000 to $34,000, please visit www.greenopportunities.org for more information.

GO JOB OPPORTUNITY: TEACHING CHEF Green Opportunities is currently accepting resumes for a part-time Teaching Chef.

Compensation for this position is $14.00 to $16.00 per hour, please visit www.greenopportunities.org for more information.

TEACHER WANTED Trails Carolina Wilderness, a yearround experiential and adventure based therapeutic wilderness program for boys and girls ages 10-17 based in Transylvania County North Carolina, is seeking a Licensed Teacher to join its staff. Interested applicants should email copies of their resume, teaching license, 3 letters of reference, and any pertinent wilderness certifications (WFR, CPR, etc.) to jwhitworth@trailscarolina. com www.trailscarolina. com www.trailscarolina. com

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000/week mailing brochures from home! No experience required. Helping home workers since 2001! Genuine opportunity.

Start immediately! www.

IncomeStation.net (AAN CAN)

NEW ORGANIC/SUSTAINABLE FARM APPRENTICESHIP LISTING FREE! Hiring Farm Labor? Looking for Farm Work? Apprentice link connects folks who are interested in learning the farming business with those who are willing to teach them. Check our WNC-based apprenticeship listing at www.organicgrowersschool.org/apprentice-link

ARTS/MEDIA

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 project management, can thrive in a fast-paced environment, is exceptionally organized and deadlinedriven, 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, and webad design experience a plus.

This is a part time time position with opportunity to become full-time. Other skills such as admin or writing ability are a plus. 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.

RETAIL

RETAIL MANAGER FOR FRIENDS OF THE WNC NATURE CENTER Friends of the WNC Nature Center seeking experienced retail manager to oversee gift shop & retail services. Contact the Friends at 828-2980182 or submit resume & cover to friends@wildwnc. org. friends@wildwnc.org www.wildwnc.org

XCHANGE FURNITURE OUTDOOR FURNITURE 8 piece. Restoration Hardware. $650. Call 712-5815.

SERVICES BEAUTY/SALON

HAIR BY IRINA GRINDSTAFF 828-989-2463 www. hairbyirinagrindstaff.com hairbyirinagrindstaff@ gmail.com Walk-ins welcome (wait time may vary).

HOME IMPROVEMENT

CAREER TRAINING

HANDY MAN

AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN)

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.

T H E N E W Y OR K TI M ES CR OSSWOR D PU ZZLE ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS CASH FOR CARS Any Car/ Truck 2000-2015, Running or Not! Top Dollar For Used/ Damaged. Free Nationwide Towing! Call Now: 1-888-4203808 (AAN CAN) MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment.

Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855732-4139. (AAN CAN) MOUNTAIN XPRESS READERS If you've been a long term reader of Mountain Xpress, we'd like to hear from you. talk-to-us@mountainx. com PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 877-3622401. (AAN CAN)

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS CLAY CLASSES AT ODYSSEY CLAYWORKS Scratching The Surface with Laura Peery, Put A Lid On It with Cayce Kolstad, Beginner Wheel with Julia Weber, Garden Planters with Cynthia Lee, Online Marketing with Raina Lee Scott, Narrative Sculpture with Mac McCusker, Bottles and Plates with Becca Floyd, Valentine's Day Pottery For Couples

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK

Deep Tissue,Integrative,Prena tal,Couples,Reflexology.Complimentary tea room.Beautifully renovated space.Convenient West AVL location. Free parking in lot. (828)552-3003 ebbandflowavl@charter.net ebbandflowavl.com

COUNSELING SERVICES

DEEP FEELING EMOTIONAL RELEASE THERAPY GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM Nell Corry, LCSW, NCGCll, Certified Primal Therapist | 828-747-1813 | http:// www.nellcorrytherapy.com | ncc.therapy@gmail.com | Emotional Release Therapy uncovers the source, allows healing of depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma, PTSD. Call for free half-hour chat.

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

PETS JULIE KING: LICENSED MINISTER, TEACHER, INTUITIVE HEALER Www.AcuPsychic.com. 828-884-4169. If you can see the Future You can Change it! For 35 years, she has helped thousands with relationships, finances, spiritual transformation & business. Mentoring & Courses available.

FOR MUSICIANS #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, 697-0103. 24 Sardis Rd. Ste B, 828-633-6789 • $33/ hour. • Integrated Therapeutic Massage: Deep Tissue, Swedish, Trigger Point, Reflexology. Energy, Pure Therapeutic Essential Oils. 30 therapists. Call now! www. thecosmicgroove.com

LOCAL INDEPENDENT MASSAGE CENTER OFFERING BEST BODYWORK IN ASHEVILLE December Special- 60 minute Deep Tissue for $65!All massage therapists are skilled and dedicated.

ACROSS

1 Fast-food chain known for its root beer 6 Edit menu option 10 Iridescent stone 14 Princess Peach’s savior in video games 15 Musical instrument with a flared end 16 Like N.F.L. games ending in a tie 17 Standard feature of an action film 19 Lakeside Ohio county 20 Something carried surreptitiously into an alt-rock concert?

22 Financing initials 25 The sun 26 ___ Park, Colo.

27 Perfect truck driver for the job?

32 Company that makes Valium 33 Family man 34 Some E.R. cases 37 Race in an H. G. Wells book 38 Suspicious 40 Palindromic blast 41 ___ cent

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE GUITAR SPEAKERS AMP 2 Bang and Olufson speakers, 1 Beomaster amp $585.

Gibson 1995 USA Nighthawk Fireburst electric guitar.

Great condition. $950. Call 712-5815.

MUSICAL SERVICES NOW ACCEPTING STUDENTS IN JAZZ PIANO, COMPOSITION, AND IMPROVISATION (ALL INSTRUMENTS).

Michael Jefry Stevens, “WNC Best Composer 2016” and “Steinway Artist”, now accepting students in jazz piano, composition, and improvisation (all instruments). 35 years experience. M.A. from Queens College (NYC). Over 90 cds released. 9179161363. michaeljefrystevens.com WHITEWATER RECORDING Mixing • Mastering • Recording. (828) 684-8284 www. whitewaterrecording.com

42 Two twos, for one 43 Overly sentimental 44 Female streetracing champion?

48 Tip on a sweatshirt string 50 Note to a creditor 51 Bagel variety 52 Ostentatious member of the Mafia?

57 Piercing place 58 Prime hunting time 62 Filmmaker Ferrara 63 Allocate, with “out” 64 Full of oomph 65 Sentence structure?

66 ___ for life 67 Delight

edited by Will Shortz

8 Amount left in Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard 9 Animal in “Home on the Range” 10 Ultimatum ending 11 High military figure?

12 Occur 13 Vichyssoise vegetables 18 Help at the gym, say 21 Salty salad topping 22 Noneditorial magazine worker, informally 23 “1984” worker 24 RCA, for one 28 Sushi tuna 29 Separate 30 “What, me worry?”

DOWN magazine 1 “The Walking Dead” 31 Nathan Hale, for network the Colonies 2 “That feels so-o-o 35 One of a Disney good!” septet 3 Org. for piece 36 Composer Jule keepers?

38 Furniture concern 4 Gossip 39 ___ and hers 5 Quaint lament 40 T, on a fraternity house 6 Ship part spelled with two 42 Something hikers apostrophes take 7 “Uh-huh, of course” 43 Tight hug

1

2

3

4

WE'LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE

Dependable, loving care while

• Honda and Acura repair. Half

you're away. Reasonable rates.

price repair and service. ASE

PET

Call Sandy (828) 215-7232.

17

the Weaverville area, off exit

ABLE PET CARE IN YOUR

15. Please call (828) 275-6063

HOME! Mountain Pet Valet is an experienced pet sitting service with commitment to your pet's needs! Daily dog walks, pet visits and overnight stays.

ADULT

22

23

24

ADULT

valet.com

48 PILLS + 4 FREE! VIAGRA 100MG/ CIALIS 20MG Free

AUTOMOTIVE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOR SALE

Pills! No hassle, Discreet Shipping. Save Now. Call Today 1-877-621-7013 (AAN CAN)

MOBILE

LIVELINKS CHAT LINES Flirt,

HOME 14 x 70 ft. 3BR, 1.5BA.

chat and date! Talk to sexy real

Fair condition. Needs to be

singles in your area. Call now!

moved from property. $6,000,

(877) 609-2935. (AAN CAN)

1981

SHULTZ

price negotiable. (828) 7475002.

9

27

13

34

35

36

60

61

26 29

30

31

33

37

38

39

40

42 44

12

21

28

41

11

19

32

48

10 16

25

43

45

46

49

47

50 54

51

52

53

57

58

62

63

64

65

66

67

55

56 59

PUZZLE BY JIM PEREDO

45 Scalp, say 46 Longtime Disney C.E.O. 47 Becomes compost 48 Company whose spokesduck is on Twitter 49 Boston daily 53 “Choosy ___ choose Jif” (ad slogan)

54 Crude letters?

55 Testing stage 56 Skatepark fixture 59 Massage place 60 ___-out clause 61 Former PBS host with a bow tie

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

Xpress readers are

Mention ad for 10% off! (828)490-6374 www.mountainpet-

8

20

for appointment. www.wellfixitautomotive.com

7

18

and factory trained. Located in

PROFESSIONAL AND RELI-

6 15

SERVICES SITTERS

ASHEVILLE

5

14

AUTOMOTIVE

PET SERVICES

No. 1123

creative they make great employees

C N B C

H E A L

A C N E

A B E A R

F A V R E

I M I N D

W N B A

H A U L

A N N E

S T A R R

T A N K I N B I L A Z C O K O M M A S S

E R A P A N S A N Y O N E

N I T B A E G A S N A P T A B A L D A E S S

A D O N I S G O F A R

M B O O A R N L E G A L O O N A L E D D G E E S E A W E R N A N E B C S A N N G R O O A T R A B A T M

N E A R

A S H E

O N T A P

G A S P S

A V I A

L Y N N

Paul Caron

Furniture Magician • Cabinet Refacing • Furniture Repair • Seat Caning

Mountain Xpress classifieds work.

• Antique Restoration • Custom Furniture & Cabinetry (828) 669-4625

DECEMBER 28, 2016 - JANUARY 3, 2017

• Black Mountain

MOUNTAINX.COM

63