Mountain Xpress 07.23.25

FEATURES PAGE 12 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

Planned improvements to Weaver Park include work on its baseball field. New dugouts, fencing, fan seating, a bullpen and replacing the batting cage are among the items being addressed. But certain issues, including potential ongoing flooding from Glenn’s Creek, remain a concern for the North Asheville Little League, which uses the diamond as its home field.

Tina

news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM

to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM

news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM

can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS

news and ideas to FOOD@MOUNTAINX.COM

events/news to MXHEALTH@MOUNTAINX.COM

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder

EDITORS: Lisa Allen, Gina Smith

OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose

STAFF REPORTERS:

Lisa Allen, Thomas Calder, Brionna Dallara, Justin McGuire, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith Intern: Amrit Brown

COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jon Elliston, Mindi Meltz Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Christopher Arbor, Edwin Arnaudin, Danielle Arostegui, Mark Barrett, Eric Brown, Cayla Clark, Molly Devane, Ashley English, Mindi Meltz Friedwald, Troy Jackson, Carol Kaufman, Bill Kopp, Chloe Leiberman, Morgan L. Sykes, Jessica Wakeman, Kay West, Jamie Zane

PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Caleb Johnson Intern: Chad Truitt

ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson

LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Tina Gaafary, Caleb Johnson, Olivia Urban

MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Emily Baughman, Sara Brecht, Dave Gayler

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES: Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick

WEB: Brandon Tilley

BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler

OFFICE MANAGER: Mark Murphy

FRONT OFFICE: Caitlin Donovan, Lisa Watters

DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Kyle Ramser

DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Cass Kunst, Cindy Kunst, Henry Mitchell, Courtney Israel Nash, Joey Nash, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, Gary Selnick, Noah Tanner, Mark Woodyard

Former skeptic now sold on downtown ADID

[Regarding “Fresh Start: Protests Have Subsided, But Questions Remain About the New Downtown Improvement District,” July 9, Xpress:]

I was a grumpy skeptic about the Asheville Downtown Improvement District (ADID) when I had to pay my share of the cost via my property taxes as an owner of three buildings in the business improvement district. I waited and waited to see what would come from my tithe.

Finally, we met Elias, one of the ambassadors who is assigned to our area. He is a very pleasant and energetic guy who seems to care a lot about the mission of improving downtown Asheville. We have seen results in terms of general cleanliness, but the best thing I’ve experienced is that they have removed the recurring graffiti on the side of our building.

Before the ADID, it was my job to remove it, or I would get threatening letters from the city promising fines

Word of the week

balk (n.) a complex rule in baseball that prohibits the pitcher from an unfair advantage over base runners

Since this week’s cover story is about baseball, we landed on a baseball term. According to to Matt Kelly, a writer for mlb.com, “the balk essentially keeps the pitcher in check by limiting his ability to fake a pitch or a pick-off throw to one of the bases. If an umpire deems the pitcher pretended to do either, without clear intention of following through, the balk is called and each of the runners move up one base.” X

if I didn’t clean it up. As soon as I did (at some expense to buy the right goo to get the paint off and considerable trouble to do it), the “artist” would come right back and tag us again. So aggravating!

As far as I’m concerned, the combination of the charming and energetic Elias, the cleaner streets and the free removal of the graffiti is well worth my annual donation to the ADID.

— Heather Davis UpMarket Gallery Events

Asheville

Frustrated with the Asheville airport

Can someone explain how expanding an operationally dysfunctional airport is beneficial to its patrons?

A flight from Atlanta to Asheville scheduled for an 11:57 p.m. arrival on June 16 had a delayed departure due to weather. When the flight was cleared for takeoff from Atlanta, the updated arrival time in

Asheville would have been shortly past midnight.

Our flight was turned back to the gate in Atlanta because Asheville has a “hard stop” runway closure at midnight.

A full flight of passengers was made to spend the night in Atlanta, as the flight was now “delayed” until 7 a.m.

Questions: Is the Asheville airport not committed to its passengers? Could the airport personnel not have been made to stay until that last scheduled flight arrived shortly after their “closing” time? How can a flight be scheduled for a close-tomidnight arrival and not have the staff necessary for arrival on hand to service the scheduled flight?

— Gwen Messer Leicester

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted the Asheville Regional Airport with the writer’s concerns, and we received the following response from spokesperson Angi Daus: “Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which plays a vital role in our community, only has one runway. To ensure safety while minimizing disruption to passengers, most of the airfield and runway maintenance must take place overnight during minimal flight activity. AVL carefully plans and communicates these runway closures to the Federal Aviation Administration and airlines well in advance to ensure operations can be planned accordingly. The FAA then broadcasts these closures to airlines through their notification system. It then becomes the airlines’ responsibility to make sure all flights arrive prior to the posted closure time. Because of the notification system, AVL does not have the flexibility to adjust those posted times because of the possible impacts to airline

arrivals. AVL is proud to serve the region, appreciates the community’s support and welcomes feedback and questions.”

Dig deeper on costs of Swannanoa comfort station

[ Regarding “Vulnerable Valley: State Auditor Criticizes Swannanoa Relief Spending as Needs Persist,” July 2, Xpress:]

There were and are community needs in Swannanoa, and then there is the budgeted cost of filling those needs.

One hundred forty-five thousand dollars per day for “showers, laundry, bathrooms, access to cell towers and Wi-Fi, potable and nonpotable water, and counseling services” seems an incredibly excessive cost, especially for 189 days of service.

I don’t think your reporting has gone far enough. Someone needs to sit down with those in charge and develop a clear analysis of the contract process, the contract execution and the contract administration on this one.

The victims of Tropical Storm Helene’s damage deserve community support, but not at the price of bankrupting the taxpayers. As an attorney and a certified public accountant, this deal smells bad to me.

I hope Mountain Xpress will dig much deeper. Our community needs your investigative journalism.

— Rob

Dickson Asheville

Editor’s response: Xpress is working on additional reporting about this issue.

Disappointed that Xpress used AI image

Disappointing to see that the Mountain Xpress decided to use an artificial intelligence-generated photo for the May 28 cover, seeing as the area y’all so diligently report on is such an artist hub.

In the future I would hope a more convincing algorithm is used; the odd placement of the hand and ribbon are quite telling.

In equal laziness,

— Ian Kent Woodfin

Editor’s response: We don’t think AI is inherently evil. Our goal is to create covers that grab attention. We think this one did. Typically, the turnaround time for our covers is very short, and the budget is tight. But we can always do better. Thanks for speaking up and challenging us to be more locally focused. X

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

It’s now or never

BY ERIN SINGER MCCOMBS

I’m a water-loving, river-rafting, French Broad-snorkeling biologist. During the warmer months, you can often find me face down in one of the local waterways, monitoring threatened and endangered species of mussels and documenting their myriad unique behaviors as well as the immense benefit they bring to improving our region’s water quality. So, be it underwater or above, I thought I knew our rivers like the back of my hand.

Then came Tropical Storm Helene.

Record-shattering rainfall catalyzed the most catastrophic flooding our region has ever experienced, damaging many sections of our rivers, reshaping them, and leaving behind vast amounts of storm wreckage and pollution. I’ll never forget the sight of the usually friendly river so swollen it looked more like the mighty Mississippi.

Tragically, hundreds of lives were lost in Helene, and both drinking water and wastewater infrastructure failed. Outdated dams, ill-equipped for the 21st century’s extreme weather, were

breached and battered. The structures that remain are now safety hazards for our communities.

But the severity of the damage Helene wrought on our river infrastructure is not being matched by the recovery funding we so desperately need. The megastorm damaged or destroyed dozens of dams across the region. Many of these structures were already in poor condition and are classified by the state Department of Environmental Quality as “high hazard” — meaning if they fail, it will put lives and property in danger. Left alone, these dams threaten downstream communities and must be removed before the next big storm hits. Removing these ticking time bombs will save lives.

REMEMBER OUR MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES

The fate of Southern Appalachia’s storm-damaged rivers and their downstream communities will be determined

by decisions being made right now by our state and federal legislators. Those decisions must prioritize funding for long-term recovery and resilience.

Encouragingly, the N.C. General Assembly, in response to a request by Gov. Josh Stein, recently approved the latest disaster recovery legislation, House Bill 1012, which includes $10 million to help address crumbling, high-hazard dams — a positive down payment on much-needed future investment. Anything less risks lives and property as we face down the next hurricane season.

Mountain communities cannot be forgotten and must have the capacity to address storm-related impacts. Right now, we need robust funding and staffing — both to keep our communities safe during the next storm and to ensure that our region’s economy continues to grow.

At the federal level, our leaders must specifically allocate already appropriated funding to address Helene’s aftermath, so that our natural resource agencies can prioritize restoration and protection of the region’s rivers — ensuring that they are resilient when faced with future storms. The long list of needed projects includes debris cleanup, flood plain restoration and protection, infrastructure improvement, streambank stabilization, stormwater mitigation and, of course, dam removal.

HELPING OUR RIVERS HELP US

When they’re managed correctly, our rivers take care of us. But at this moment, managing them well means addressing Helene’s impacts. This will enable the rivers of Southern Appalachia — the French Broad, Swannanoa, Pigeon and Green,

“Mountain communities cannot be forgotten and must have the capacity to address storm-related impacts.”

among others — to continue contributing $3.8 billion annually to our region’s economy, largely through tourism and recreation.

It will also mean that these rivers can continue to supply clean drinking water to the people of our region while providing habitat for imperiled wildlife like the Southern Appalachian brook trout and the iconic eastern hellbender. Hundreds of them were killed during Helene.

Right now, it’s our turn to take care of our rivers. They are part of our state’s identity and our shared future. But mismanaging them at this juncture will jeopardize our health, safety and economic well-being. Let’s not wait for another storm to remind us of this.

Erin Singer McCombs is the Southeast conservation director for American Rivers. Based in Asheville, she works across the Southeast to make every river clean, free-flowing and healthy for both people and wildlife. X

Unfinished business

BY BRIONNA DALLARA

bdallara@mountainx.com

Karen MacNeil was a tree hugger long before Tropical Storm Helene devastated the region’s tree canopy. As vice chair of the Urban Forestry Commission, MacNeil volunteered time each month to help draft a tree master plan and inform decisions for conserving the urban forest.

But since the storm, the channel through which she once communicated with city staff has gone silent. And she’s not alone: about 110 other residents on 15 advisory boards and commissions that help shape city policy have also been left in limbo since meetings halted in September.

“It feels like the UFC [urban forestry commission] was in the middle of a lot of really important work when Helene hit, so there's a lot of unfinished business,” says MacNeil.

Many of the residents appointed to boards bring expertise in the topics on which they advise — from transportation and public art to sustainability and human relations — and share the sentiment that significant work was underway before Helene hit.

While these groups don’t vote on policy changes — unlike the four quasi-judicial boards that resumed in January — they are key in providing community input on projects, long-term plans and other strategies, says Jack Igelman, chair of the Multimodal Transportation Commission, which is also idled.

“Our transportation department is phenomenal. They're very talented people, really thoughtful people, and they're doing the work — we're just helping provide that connection to other people that live in the city, a range of people that are on the streets, riding bikes, riding buses, or people who are disabled who might

Idled city boards and commissions members clamor for attention

NEW PROPOSAL: Vice chairs and chairs for 15 of the city's advisory boards heard a proposal last month that would temporarily place them in four “supercommittees” aligned with the city’s recovery priorities. Pictured are Realignment Group secretary Patrick Conant, holding the microphone, and member Nina Tovish, holding the sheet of paper.

have a point of view that helps enhance the city’s work,” Igelman says.

The city has been debating the role of boards and commissions since 2019, when it first launched a study into finding a better balance of staff resources and community input. The plan — and boards — were shelved during COVID, but the topic arose again in 2022, when the city proposed a four-board solution.

In reaction, community volunteers formed an ad hoc committee, the Realignment Working Group, to come up with a solution that would still provide broad resident input. The group recommended to City Council in April to retain all of the boards and commissions but reduce staff involvement by centralizing staff support into one coordinating body, among other suggestions.

UNFAVORABLE PROPOSAL

Fast-forward to June 16, when leaders of all boards and commissions were invited to a work session to hear a consultant’s proposal to condense all of the panels into four core groups aligned with Council’s recovery priorities: people, housing, infrastructure/environment and economy.

Photo by Brionna Dallara

The proposal would shelve existing boards and commissions for 24 months, which prompted a sour response from the chairs and vice chairs.

The proposal surprised Patrick Conant, secretary of the realignment group.

“I feel like we wrote out a set of recommendations that are designed to make this system more effective, more streamlined, more efficient and empower residents to participate in the work of local government,” Conant said. “I'm just concerned that this proposal is going to drastically reduce the number of residents who get to weigh in.”

In response to complaints over the consolidation, Beau Mills, a senior consultant for Fountainworks, the Raleighbased consulting firm guiding Council through recovery, said existing boards and commissions are welcome to meet informally, but they would not be official meetings. If considered an official meeting, “then it requires staffing and public notice and a variety of different things, which is a challenge right now in a world of limited resources,” Mills said at the June meeting.

He did include some recommendations from the working group, such as more public input during board meetings, collaboration among advisory boards that have similar goals and a clear pathway to present at Council meetings.

Additional concerns were raised by members.

“I understand [Helene was] major, but there are some things that affected the lives of people in Asheville prior to this that commissions were working on that I don’t want to see be put on the back burner. I want to see how you can incorporate those things in a useful way,” said Alma Atkins, chair of the now-idled Human Relations Commission of Asheville, which made policy recommendations to promote and improve human relations and equity in the city.

Other board leaders emphasized that expertise in specific areas is why they joined the advisory boards in the first place.

“I want to connect with people, people that look like me, and connect with people through transportation,” said Harvey Harold, member of the Human Relations Commission and chair of the transit committee, a subcommittee of the Multimodel Commission that focuses only on public transportation.

Mayor Esther Manheimer stressed during the June meeting that city staff will be focused on recovery for the next two years and won’t have time to assist all the advisory committees. Manheimer said she hoped the proposed “supercommittees” would help determine how recovery funds are spent in a more streamlined and publicly engaging way.

City staff members manage and attend meetings, which can last upward of two hours, in addition to other meeting support, such as recording meeting minutes, responding to information and data requests from boards, and preparing staff reports, among other tasks, says Kim Miller, communication specialist for the city.

EXISTING RECOMMENDATIONS

Council member Sage Turner was a member of several boards before being elected in 2020. She was the chair of both the Affordable Housing Committee and Downtown Commission. She noted that priorities among the boards were often intertwined.

“If you're trying to advance, let’s say, a housing policy, it may have a planning or [zoning] aspect. And then you’d have a planning board working on something and a housing board working on a different thing, when, really, there was some overlap, and the expertise at both of those tables could have combined and brought more advancement,” Turner says. “[And] when I was not a Council member but on the boards, it was difficult sometimes to get the Council members to participate in the boards. So, then you really felt like an entirely different body working on entirely different subjects than what Council was trying to work on. And it could be frustrating.”

Turner says she thinks reducing the number of boards could have the potential to grow engagement.

“It could turn into a lot more productive and helpful input, because it’s more focused on the task at hand,” Turner says.

But it comes at a cost, says Igelman.

On one hand, he says, more public engagement and citizen involvement should be a priority in the aftermath of Helene, and having fewer commissions, in his opinion, will make it harder to stay engaged.

“On the other hand, there’s an enormous amount of work to do. There’s a lot of money that has to be spent in a relatively short amount of time,” says Igelman, noting the $80 million in voter-approved bonds the city has to spend within seven years. “In my ideal world … whatever path we take around commissions is incredibly thoughtful and engages citizens in a really meaningful way.”

As of now, there is no official date to relaunch boards, according to Miller. “The city is committed to maintaining open lines of communication with boards and commissions and will continue to provide updates as new information is available,” she wrote in an email to Xpress  X

AWARD SEASON: Xpress won several N.C. Press Association awards. The announcement came earlier this month. This year’s contest was judged by members of the Nebraska Press Association. Former reporter Greg Parlier, right, earned second place in the News Feature Writing Editorial category for his article, “Marshall Cleans Up After Helene Against All Odds.” Additionally, reporter Justin McGuire, middle, took home third place in the Sports Feature Writing Editorial category for his story, “Basketball Star Henry Logan Broke Barriers, Conquered Demons in Legendary Life.” And managing editor Thomas Calder, left, earned second place in the Arts and Entertainment Reporting category for his literary feature, “Taylor Brown’s Latest Historical Novel Explores 1921 Trench Warfare on American Soil.” Photo by Brionna Dallara

Commissioners urge legislators to continue Healthy Opportunities Pilot

Buncombe County leaders are urging state lawmakers not to end a program they say has become a lifeline for thousands of residents, especially since Tropical Storm Helene.

During its July 15 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved 6-0 a letter to the N.C. General Assembly urging the continuation of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP) program. Board Chair Amanda Edwards was absent.

The HOP program, which launched in March 2022, addresses social factors that affect health with an emphasis on food security, housing, transportation and interpersonal violence services. The program provided qualified residents with boxes of locally grown food, rides to medical appointments, legal aid for benefits and housing disputes, and home repairs that removed health risks.

Developed by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the pilot program covered 18 WNC counties, the Qualla Boundary and two regions in Eastern North Carolina.

On June 2, the NCDHHS issued a shutdown notice for the program, citing lack of funding in the proposed state budget. HOP ended July 1.

In a letter to Xpress last month, Laurie Stradley, CEO of Impact Health, a nonprofit that ran the program locally, noted that the program served 34,000 residents across the state and that more than $24 million had been invested in more than 400 local farms in Western North Carolina alone. The farms provided fresh products to the program.

“While HOP’s ultimate goal is a healthier North Carolina, HOP’s role in creating a healthier economy is undeniable,” Stradley wrote. “If the proposed state budget remains as is, millions of dollars will be pulled out of rural economies; emergency department and hospital visits will likely go back up; health care costs will continue to surge; and people’s health will be at risk.”

The draft letter, brought by Edwards and Commissioners Jennifer Horton and Terri Wells and approved unanimously by the board, advocates for continued funding of the program through the state budget and reiterates the impact that the program has had on

WNC residents and farmers, particularly in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene.

“Eliminating this program would force these organizations to reduce services at a time when need remains high, particularly following Hurricane Helene,” the commissioners’ letter reads in part. “The disaster significantly increased demand for

HOP services as families lost jobs, housing and stability, making this program even more critical for our community's recovery.”

The N.C. General Assembly missed its July 1 target to finalize its fiscal year 2025-27 budget, meaning budget discussions will continue this summer. A date for a vote on the final budget has not been scheduled.

“This is directly impacting people in our community as we speak,” said Wells, District 2 commissioner,during the meeting. “Our hope is, with this letter of support, to reach out to our state legislators and encourage them that when they come together to work on and approve a state budget, that they will include this Healthy Opportunities program and continue to fund it.”

In other news

Thirteen members of the public spoke out against UNC Asheville’s plan to build a soccer stadium on 45 acres of woods near the Five Points neighborhood. The plan, developed in collaboration with the amateur soccer club Asheville City SC, calls for a 5,000-seat stadium surrounded by retail businesses and market-rate housing.

The commenters pleaded for support from the board in opposition to the development, and expressed concern over the environmental impact of clearing the woods, the loss of green space and a lack of transparency from UNCA regarding the decision-making process.

“While the county [Board of Commissioners] does not have direct jurisdiction over university land-use decisions or Millennial Campus designations, I believe it is our responsibility as public servants to listen, learn and uplift community voices — especially when matters intersect with environmental preservation, equity and public trust,” Horton wrote in a July 14 public statement.

The UNCA board of trustees approved a contract July 11 with a developer to proceed with construction plans.

This story was supported by the Fund for Investigative Reporting and Editing.

— Brooke Randle  X

“I find the open minded

very

and I believe in the importance of

– Daniel Maxham

FOOD FOR ALL: A team member with Caja Solidaria prepares fresh fruit at the group’s mobile market. The nonprofit is one of dozens that took part in the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program to deliver healthy food boxes and support services. Photo courtesy of Caja Solidaria via Facebook

Diamond in the rough

What will renovations to Weaver Park mean for North Asheville Little League's home field?

OFFSEASON: Planned improvements to Weaver Park include work on its baseball field. New dugouts, fencing, fan seating, a bullpen and replacing the batting cage are among the items being addressed. Photo by Caleb Johnson

BY AMRIT BROWN

ambrown1534@gmail.com

The North Asheville Little League (NALL) is no stranger to floods. On several occasions over the previous three years, long before Tropical Storm Helene ravaged Western North Carolina, Glenn's Creek has inundated the organization's central field at Weaver Park, resulting in destroyed equipment and stagnant water. This season alone, the league experienced 15 rainouts at Weaver Park. On other occasions, volunteers and coaches arrived hours early to prepare the fields impacted by heavy rains. Helene's arrival brought additional burdens, including the destruction of the park’s batting cages.

But improvements are underway. On July 1, the City of Asheville announced that renovation plans at Weaver Park will begin this month with an end date projected for early 2026, before the start of the NALL season. Implemented by Asheville Parks and Recreation (APR) in collaboration with the city’s Capital Management Department, the repairs will temporarily close the site’s eastern half, including its baseball field.

The announcement comes at a critical time for NALL’s volunteer-run organization, which has experienced continued growth over the past four years. Its latest spring season saw participation jump from 347 to 375 players, resulting in the formation of a league record 33 teams.

Young stars shine

The North Asheville Little League recently sent teams from the machine pitch, minors, majors and junior league levels to the District 5 all-star tournament.

The all-star teams are selected by coaches after the completion of the league’s regular season in June. This year, due to a large talent pool, the majors level had two all-star teams.

The majors level had the most success in the tournament, with both teams winning one game. X

Planned improvements to the field include new dugouts, fencing, fan seating, a bullpen and replacing the batting cage.

Despite these additions, members of both NALL and the city note that the renovations will not entirely resolve the ongoing flooding concerns. And with a growing player pool, NALL leadership says they are continuing to eye additional field options for future use.

GROWING PAINS

For the majority of NALL’s 57-year run, Weaver Park has been its home base, says Wayne Johnson, president of the league’s board of directors. That history, combined with the field’s central location for many of the league’s participating families, makes it an invaluable asset. And the current upgrades, Johnson adds, are positive on many fronts and will help support the league’s growth.

Last month, NALL drew in an estimated 250 fans to Weaver Park for the league’s annual Championship Saturday. Title games were played all day, with coach pitch in the morning and the 12U majors championship at night.

Beach Hensley, who has been coaching for eight years, says every-

one involved in the league contributes to the unique sense of community NALL creates — from younger siblings running around the field to board members announcing players’ names during games.

David Burdette, who has worked with the league in some capacity since joining the board in 1993, emphasizes the importance of creating great experiences for league participants. “I want every kid I coach to come back the next year,” Burdette says. “We try to create an atmosphere where kids can fail and learn and enjoy being a part of the game.”

While Burdette notes that the aforementioned atmosphere has likely contributed to the league’s growth, NALL’s growth can also be attributed to the collapse of other local Little Leagues in East, South and West Asheville.

Burdette suspects that a lack of participation, potentially due to travel ball and school teams, caused the disintegration of the other Little Leagues. Currently, Burdette estimates that NALL includes 100 players who live in areas previously represented by other leagues.

Growth was also recently boosted by the introduction of a junior league, which just sent its first all-star team to the state tournament this summer. Johnson says that the team’s success has already helped create more interest in the league.

But with more interest comes the potential need to locate additional fields.

JUNIOR LEAGUE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE

In its inaugural 2024 year, NALL’s junior league consisted of one team and played against other junior league teams in surrounding areas. This year, the league has added two more teams. Johnson hopes to eventually establish a fourth team, which would eliminate the league’s need to travel outside its area. According to Kirstin Austin, vice president of marketing for NALL, the junior league fills a void for players who don’t have access to school or travel baseball.

Currently, the three teams share a single field at Oakley Park. It is the only local site that meets the required dimensions for junior league ball. Johnson says he’s reached out to APR about expanding the infield on the diamonds at Montford Park and Martin Luther King Jr. Park to meet the required base path lengths for junior ball.

In an email exchange with Xpress, Kim Miller, a communication specialist for the City of Asheville, writes, “Through a collaborative and transparent annual allocation process each fall, we actively work with all sports organizations to maximize field usage to maximize the benefits of youth sports.”

According to Johnson, city officials have told him they believe Oakley Park can accommodate additional junior league teams.

Burdette speculates that the league may eventually need to find additional sites for its younger teams. Currently, however, NALL remains focused on Weaver Park and its upcoming renovations, aware that these changes still leave the facility vulnerable to flooding.

WEAVER PARK’S IMPACT ON GLENN’S CREEK

According to Meredith Friedheim, a communication specialist for the City of Asheville, issues with flooding from Glenn’s Creek cannot be fully addressed during park renovations because current flood plain restrictions prevent APR from further altering the flow of the creek.

But Christo Bubenik, marketing and communications manager for APR, says ball field improvements such as grading (a process that levels the playing field to ensure proper drainage) will mitigate some of the flooding problems by ensuring quicker field recovery times.

Bubenik adds that the creek was originally rerouted in 1947 to maximize space for the field. Later developments,

however, also affected the flow of the creek.

“When the park expanded with tennis courts on the west side of the park in the 1970s, fill dirt and new parking lots redirected the flow of runoff to the stream, making it wider and deeper,” Bubenik writes in an email to Xpress “Under current limitations to return

the stream to its natural flow, APR has been able to significantly repair Weaver Park’s riparian buffer with grass, trees and shrubs and removal of invasive species over the past 25 years to alleviate periodic flooding.”

The current renovation plans, adds Friedheim, build on the city’s ongoing efforts to improve Weaver Park. She

notes that since 2022, completed projects have included new ball field lighting, resurfacing the basketball court and adding new basketball hoops.

“APR is committed to sustainable and resilient infrastructure planning, ensuring that our efforts to enhance and maintain these fields respect their natural surroundings while providing robust, long-term assets for NALL and other community partners — and generations of athletes,” Miller writes in her email to Xpress

In the meantime, Johnson and Burdette remain focused on the league's capacity for growth. Burdette says that NALL is not in the business of turning players away. A field in West Asheville and two privately owned fields in East Asheville, he adds, could be potential options to accommodate future growth. And despite the challenges with flooding, Johnson notes that NALL and the City of Asheville have a good working relationship and remain committed partners.

“Over the many years that I have worked on the board, we have gotten many more kids who joined our league than ever left it,” says Burdette. “We haven’t had many families leave our league to go play in another.”

JUNIOR LEAGUE: In 2024, North Asheville Little League (NALL) launched its junior league, which contributed to the organization’s continued growth.

Photo courtesy of NALL

Birds of a feather

Cherokee students address environmental issues in youth conservation programs

BY AMRIT BROWN

As rain drizzled down on the morning of July 1, birds mocked the Youth Conservation Club (YCC) and additional elementary school students from the Qualla Boundary joining in on the organization's outing. Hopping from branch to branch and sending their songs into the dense summer air, the feathery creatures seemed aware of the mist nets that members of the National Park Service (NPS) had set up in the grassy lots of the Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in Cherokee.

The cohort of students and researchers was participating in a bird banding event. The activity involves catching birds in nets and documenting relevant information

to learn more about migratory patterns and life cycles. But the process isn’t easy, especially when the nets are placed around buildings and in partially open spaces.

Eventually, Paul Super , a research coordinator for the NPS, relocated one net into an area with higher tree and bush density. The decision paid off. The group caught its first bird — an eastern phoebe.

The exhilarated students tramped through tall grass back to where Super had left his documenting materials. On their way, they spotted another bird, a Carolina wren, trapped in a different net.

Super placed both birds into cloth bags, took out his tools and grabbed a clipboard and a chart. He then showed the students how he measured the wing length of each bird and determined its

BIRD IN HAND: Paul Super, a research coordinator for the National Park Service, recently led a bird banding event with students in Cherokee. “I think it's an incredible experience to get to know a bird up close, know a little bit about him as an individual, and see how science is done,” he says. Also featured is Jada Cruz, a member of the Youth Conservation Club.

approximate age and gender. He also plucked a feather to send off to the University of Colorado for DNA and other testing. After recording the information, Super placed a small band around the eastern phoebe’s leg.

The gathering was the latest outing for the YCC, which launched earlier this year. Other events have included partnerships with different groups in Cherokee dedicated to conservation and the integration of Western science and Indigenous practices.

“Really, what it’s about is getting the kids outside and getting them excited about conservation and caring about the environment,” says Katie Tiger , the program director for the Land and Wellness program at the Center for Native Health (CNH), who co-leads the club.

PLANS TO EXPAND

The YCC began in January and welcomed 10 participants, all from Cherokee High School. But a majority of these students, Tiger notes, have since graduated.

Tiger hopes to expand the YCC to include third to sixth grade students from New Kituwah Academy (NKA) and middle school students from Cherokee Central Schools (CCS). Tiger is recruiting teachers at both schools to volunteer their time as sponsors so these students can participate.

Tiger emphasizes the importance of educating youths about the connection between science and nature and the overlap between traditional and Western science. An event such as the bird banding gathering, she notes, is a perfect example — the process demonstrated modern sci-

donuts, pastries,

and decorated cakes for 94 years!

Photo by Amrit Brown

ence techniques in conjunction with protecting birds that are significant in Cherokee culture.

“When you merge them, they complement one another,” Tiger says.

Avery Guy , who co-leads the group with Tiger, agrees. “If you're not really thinking about it, you could think of our stories as just stories or spiritualities … but when you get down to it, there are scientific truths in our stories,” she says.

In the past, students have worked with community elders to learn about Indigenous practices such as cooking sochan, a tall herbaceous perennial.

In June, the CNH installed community bee boxes, and the YCC painted them with help from the Cherokee chapter of the North American Indian Women Association (NAIWA) Daughters, another group that promotes conservation efforts among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).

TRADITIONAL AND MODERN WAYS

The NAIWA Daughters Cherokee, which held its first event in April 2022, is a youth-run organization created to empower Indigenous women ages 10-17. Conservation is a point of emphasis for the group, which caters to any American Indian, Alaskan Native or Canadian woman who is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe or nation.

The group is working to protect local waterways, which it refers to as the Long Man. Kimberly Smith, who founded the YCC and is the mentor for the NAIWA Daughters, says the group was inspired after noticing trash left by tourists while tubing in the rivers.

In March, the group attended the annual Bioneers Conference in California, where members learned of another Native youth group that had worked in its community to protect the herring. Inspired, the NAIWA Daughters began drafting a resolution demanding greater protections for local waterways. On Thursday, July 24, the group will present and finalize their plans with the CNH and other official entities before presenting them to the EBCI Tribal Council.

Smith says the long-term goal is to reintroduce cultural concepts into the legal system. She says that bringing Indigenous ideology into the Western structure of government will help reconnect traditional techniques with modern ways.

In January, the group hosted an event dedicated to learning more

about and protecting the tsuwa, or hellbender. According to Smith, about 30 kids and 30 adults attended the event. The group brought in both a Western scientist and a tribe elder to speak. They also did breakout sessions and taught the kids how to write public comments.

For both the NAIWA Daughters and the YCC, preservation is imperative. “Essentially, if your environment is healthy, then you as a human being, as an individual, are healthy,” Tiger says.

AS SEEN ON TV

Jada Cruz, a member of the YCC and recent graduate, says she likes the community aspect of conservation and how it connects with Cherokee culture.

Lakota Bone, a fellow member, agrees. “They give us a lot of opportunities to get out into the community and show us what's normal to see and what's not so normal to see, so that way we can help nature,” Bone says.

Both Cruz and Bone attended the bird banding event at the start of July. In fact, it was partially at their urging that the event was held. “Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to band birds because one time I saw them doing it on the Nature Channel,” Cruz says.

Recent cuts to federal funding could impact the future of bird banding initiatives. According to reporting in The New York Times, under President Donald Trump’s 2026 proposed budget, the Bird Banding Laboratory, which falls under the U.S. Geological Survey's Ecosystem Mission Area, could see funding reduced to $29 million from $293 million.

Super is not, however, aware of any funding cuts that are currently affecting his work.

He also notes that while student participation may not result in a child pursuing a career in science, the event is still important. “I think it's an incredible experience to get to know a bird up close, know a little bit about him as an individual and see how science is done,” he says.

On that July 1 morning at the Oconaluftee Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center, the rain eventually ceased as the group finished up documenting the captured birds. Super, however, had one last experience to share with them. Instructing a student to keep his arm still and fist closed, Super placed the Carolina wren on his hand. And, with a gust of wind, the wren took off, sailing out across the grass, over the mist nets and into the sky. X

JULY. 23 - JULY 31, 2025

For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

 Online-only events

 More info, page 26-27

WELLNESS

Free Community

Functional Fitness

Build muscular endurance through exercises that focus on multiple repetitions with lower weights while moving in all planes of motion.

WE (7/23, 30), 10:15am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Gentle Tai Chi for Balance

This class works on improving our balance through exercises that help you to think with your feet while strengthening your balance muscles.

WE (7/23, 30), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi Fan

The Fan forms include movements from Yang, Chen and Sun styles of Tai Chi.

WE (7/2, 30), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Tai Chi for Beginners: Yang 10 & 24

In this Beginner Tai Chi class, the focus is on the Yang 10 and 24 forms as well as Qigong

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Sunset Sound Bath

A deeply relaxing experience that guides you on a journey inward through the healing power of sound.

FR (7/25), 7:30pm, HapBe Valley Equine and Wellness Farm, 1 Noahs Vly, Leicester

The Professor's Tai Chi

This class is a step up from the Beginners Class and is a great class for those who have studied Yang 37.

SA (7/26), 8:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Qigong for Health & Resilience

This class is an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to learn traditional Qigong exercises that stretch and tone the physical body and invite vibrant health into our lives.

TU (7/29), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Vaden Landers

exercises for health.

TH (7/24, 31), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Chen Tai Chi

Chen style is known for its spiral movements and fajin, or issuing power.

TH (7/24, 31), MO (7/28),1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Active Breathwork

A dynamic class designed to awaken your body, release stored emotions, and bring clarity to your mind.

TH (7/24, 31), 7:15pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Community Zumba Gold

The class design introduces easy-to-follow Zumba choreography that focuses on balance, range of motion, and coordination.

FR (7/25), 10am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Intermediate Tai Chi Yang 24

Slow, gentle movements that promote good health.

FR (7/25), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

• Fitz and the Wolfe

1 Battery Park Ave

• Saturday, July 26 | 7 p.m.

An evening of music with a country crooner whose voice sounds straight out of a dusty jukebox.

“I recently caught the tail end of Vaden Landers’ performance at Double Crown on a random Wednesday, and I was blown away by his country crooner sound—I couldn’t help but become a fan. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday than taking in a full set from this unique artist and checking out the new Fitz and the Wolfe venue.”

— Braulio Martinez X

Yoga in the Park

All-level friendly yoga classes based on Hatha & Vinyasa traditions.

SA (7/26), SU (7/27), 10am, W Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Ave

Himalayan Sound Bath Meditation

A guided meditation with the soothing tones of Himalayan singing bowls.

SA (7/26), SU (7/27), 11am, Somatic Sounds, 157 S Lexington Ave B1

Wild Souls Authentic Movement w/Renee

Trudeau

An expressive movement class designed to help you get unstuck, enjoy cardio movement, boost immune health, dissolve anxiety and stress while celebrating community.

SU (7/27), 9:30am, Dunn's Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard

Sunday Morning Meditation Group

The Sunday Morning Meditation Group will gather for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation.

SU (7/27), 10am, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Candlelight Flow Yoga

This breath-centered practice blends gentle movement and mindfulness to release tension, restore balance, and leave you feeling grounded and renewed.

SU (7/27), 5pm, Asheville Happy Body, 25 Reed St, Ste 210

Free Community Athletic Conditioning

Combining strength training, HIIT, plyometrics, kickboxing and step, this class offers a diverse, challenging training experience.

MO (7/28), 8am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Yin Yang Qigong

Yin Yang Qigong offers lineage practices to return to your center, to be strong in your body and to feel relaxed, regulated and energized.

MO (7/28), 10am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Community Yoga (Level 2)

This practice will help you tune in mindfully and wake up your body.

TU (7/29), 8:45am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Yoga & Coffee Practice on the outdoor deck, get the body and mind balanced, and then you can hang out after for some coffee, tea and pastries.

TU (7/29), 9:30am, Cooperative Coffee Shop, 210 Haywood Rd

Qigong Downtown

It is easier to learn since all movements are performed 8 times and you create a flow of Qi, the lifeforce energy.

TU (7/29), 10am, Asia House, 119 Coxe Ave

Baguazhang Level 1

Baguazhang is considered a very advanced style of Kung Fu with its complex use of geometry and physics.

TU (7/29), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance

Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

TU (7/29), 10:30am, TH (7/31), 9:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

SUPPORT GROUPS

Disordered Eating/ Eating Disorders

This support group is peer-led and facilitated by licensed therapists & dietitians specializing in eating disorders. Register at avl.mx/es6.

WE (7/23, 30), 6pm, online

Mad Hatter’s Collective: Hearing Voices Network

A group collective that gathers to talk about encounters with visual, tactile, sensational, or fringe experiences with life and the interaction of energy.

TH (7/24, 31), 6pm, 12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Rd

Marijuana Anonymous

Whether you’re exploring sobriety, new to recovery, or have been on this path for a while, you are welcome here.

TH (7/24, 31), 6:30pm, American Legion Post #2, 851 Haywood Rd Garden Helpline

You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours.

TH (7/24, 31), MO (7/28), TU (7/29), 10am,

ARM WRESTLING CONTEST: Mal’s Bar in Marshall alongside the Yes Mam collective hosts Mama’s Arm Wrestling, an all-out, high-energy “ladies arm wrasslin’” tournament on Saturday, July 26, starting at 6 p.m. The event will feature 26 fierce competitors battling for the MAW championship belt while raising funds for Community Housing Coalition of Madison County. Photo courtesy of Sarah Pike

Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Ste 102

Nicotine Anonymous

People share their experience, strength and hope to stop using nicotine. You don’t need to be stopped, just have a desire to attend.

TH (7/24, 31), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4

Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group

A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges. For more information contact (828) 367-7660.

SA (7/26), 2pm, First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St

Connecting Conversations

Explore conversations built around curiosity, understanding, and openness to develop stronger connections, to be heard, and to empathize with different viewpoints.

MO (7/28), 12:45pm, Peri Social House, 406 W State St, Black Mountain Dementia Support Group

This free community group meets every month on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at the Woodfin YMCA and 1st and 3rd Monday at the Asheville YMCA.

MO (7/28), 6pm, Woodfin YMCA, 40 N. Merrimon Ave, Ste 101

Families Anonymous Meeting

Gain support from others who have had lived experiences with a family member or friends substance abuse and

related behavioral health challenges.

TU (7/29), 6pm, Love and Respect Community for Recovery and Wellness, 350 Chadwick Ave Ste 300, Hendersonville

DANCE

Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez

A Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton with dance lessons for all skill levels.

WE (7/23, 30), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Sassy Hip Hop Workshop (Ages 12+)

Designed for dancers ages 12 and up, this onenight class is all about confidence, self-expression, and seriously fun choreography.

TH (7/24), 5pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Summer Seduction: Burlesque Dance Class

A one-night-only burlesque-inspired dance workshop with Claire— where playful meets powerful, and the vibe is pure summer magic. This class is beginner-friendly and open to all levels.

TH (7/24), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Sunday Salsa on the Rooftop

Salsa lessons at 6 p.m., followed by a dance social curated by DJ MTN Vibes at 7 p.m.

SU (7/27), 6pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Monday Night Contra Dance

Contra dancing is a fun, social dance for

everyone. Follow a lesson at 7 p.m. and then dance to a live band and caller at 7:30 p.m.

MO (7/28), 7:30pm, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd

Free Bellydance Class

This class is meant to give attendees a taste of this beautiful art form in a supportive judgement-free class taught by Melanya Zerpa.

TH (7/31), noon, World Dance Asheville, 1269 Tunnel Rd, Ste F

ART

Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers

The exhibition features the work of celebrated photographer and artist Edward Steichen, whose life-long infatuation with flowers deeply affected his artistic vision.

Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through July 28.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Native America: In Translation

This exhibition, curated by Apsáalooke artist Wendy Red Starr, features the work of seven Indigenous artists who explore themes of community, heritage, and the lasting impact of colonialism in North America. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Nov. 3.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Tina Curry: Into the Wild Into the Wild features a wide variety of animals not often encountered in daily life, originating from various continents. It will primarily showcase ceramic creations.

However, it will also include a unique bronze sculpture and some new experimental pieces. Gallery open Monday through Sunday, 10am. Exhibition through August 10. Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd

Iron & Ink Exhibition

This exhibition focuses on a dynamic era in American history—the Machine Age—when industrialization and advances in technology transformed urban landscapes and redefined the nature of work and leisure nationwide. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 27.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square

Enchanted Garden Art Show

Discover a magical blend of art and nature in this outdoor sculpture invitational featuring works by eight artists from North Carolina and beyond. Gallery open Monday through Sunday, 10am. Exhibition through Sept. 21. Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd

Viewshed Exhibition

The exhibition highlights works that span painting, textile, sound, and performance, inviting viewers to consider the ways in which artistic methodologies evolve and reverberate across time. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through August, 16, 2025. Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St

Olga Michelson & Susan Voorhees: Blooming Connections The exhibition

MAMA’S

showcases the artists' unique perspectives on the natural world, from the vibrant hues of blooming flowers to the serenity of everyday moments. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through July 31. Asheville Gallery of Art, 82 Patton Ave

Our Living Record

This vibrant and deeply personal exhibition features artwork from Southern LGBTQ+ community members and allies who explore preserving queer memory in the face of cultural erasure. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 9:30am. Exhibition through Sept. 1. Revolve Studio, 821 Riverside Dr, Ste 179

James Henkel: On the Nature of Things

James Henkel’s photography shows a commitment to aesthetic pleasures while embracing melancholia and the disruption of the preciousness of still life imagery, allowing space for humor & absurdity. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Aug. 9.

Tracey Morgan Gallery, 22 London Rd

COMMUNITY

MUSIC

Asheville Beer Choir

Enjoy seasonal performances that showcase the talent of our group and the spirit of our community.

TH (7/24), 7pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr Concerts on the Creek: Suns of Stars

Free concert series for the community with Suns of Stars bringing a night of high-energy bluegrass jam this week. There will be food trucks available on most nights.

FR (7/25), 7pm, Bridge Park Gazebo, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva Summer Tracks w/ Ashley Heath & Her Heathens

Summer Tracks, Tryon’s most popular music series continues this week with Americana band Ashley Heath and Her Heathens providing the tunes this week. There will also be new food vendors and alcohol beverages are allowed but will not be sold.

FR (7/25), 7pm, Rogers Park, 55 W Howard St, Tryon Sacred Music in the Mountains

This concert will feature music from Alumni Voices and Instruments of the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir.

SA (7/26), 7pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain

Jurassic Park in Concert

Watch the blockbuster film on the big screen as John Williams’s iconic, heart-pounding score is brought to life by the Brevard Sinfonia, immersing you in every thrilling moment. See p27

SA (7/26), 8:30pm, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard CMS of the Carolinas Presents: Bohemian Rhapsody CMS Carolinas début the nationally acclaimed period instrument ensemble Les Délices, performing an innovative and thoughtful program celebrating Bohemian composers from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

SA (7/26), 7:30pm, Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, 101 Chapel Ln, Swannanoa

Lughnasadh: A Singing & Ritual for the Beginning of Harvest

At this event, members of the WNC Pagan Choir will showcase several songs in celebration of the harvest, Lugh and the grain mothers of mythology.

SU (7/27), 3:30pm, Weaverville Yoga, 7 Florida Ave, Weaverville Artists on the Rise

This local showcase aims to highlight musicians who have made a huge impact on the Appalachian music scene. It will feature Watkins, Billy Presnell, Donnie Bowling, Hinton Edgerton, and Lindsey Wall.

SU (7/27), 6pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

The Legend Lives On: A Gordon Lightfoot Tribute w/Robin Bullock Indie Award-winning guitarist Robin Bullock offers a program of all Gordon Lightfoot's classic hits such as “Sundown,” “Carefree Hwy,” “If You Could Read My Mind" and more.

MO (7/28), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Simply Charmed Jewelry Workshop

This hands on workshop is drop in friendly and for ages 8 and up who are interested in jewelry making. After a quick demo by the instructor you can take up to 45 minutes to complete your masterpiece.

WE (7/23, 30), TU (7/29), 11am, Ignite Jewelry Studios, 191 Lyman St, Ste 262

Access to Capital

Whether you’re a start-up or interested in growing your business, this workshop is here to guide you through the process to secure a business loan. Register at avl.mx/ey8.

TH (7/24), 11am, Online

Couch to 5K Training

Learn techniques, habits, and helpful tips each week to improve pace and form so you can run happy and healthy.

TH (7/24), 5:30pm, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S. French Broad Ave

Fermentation 101 & Let’s Make Kimchi

This hands-on workshop will teach the science behind fermentation and provide information on how to ferment many different foods.

TH (7/24), 5:30pm, Madison County Cooperative Extension Office, 258 Carolina Ln Marshall

Exclusive Love Workshop: Calling in the One

A transformational relationship workshop with relationship counselor Kim Von Berg. Kim has guided thousands to powerful breakthroughs in love, now it’s your turn.

SU (7/27), 1pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Summer Heat Candle

Making Pour your own custom candle in a Devil’s Foot Soda can. Each session features different scents. All ages are welcome.

TH (7/31), 4pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

LITERARY

Poetry Open Mic

This open mic welcomes any form of artistic expression from poetry to improv theatre to music to dance.

WE (7/23, 30), 8:30pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave

Bushwacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods & Write Your Way Out

Bushwhacking draws on Jennifer McGaha’s experiences running, hiking, biking, paddling, and getting lost across the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. FR (7/25), 10am, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain

Back-to-School Books & Ice Cream w/Julia

Considine Pierce & Kristy Johnson

A book signing celebrating the release of My Body is Sacred: Tales of Health and Wellness for Little Girls by Local health educator

Julia Considine Pierce and Magic Everywhere by Local Educator Kristy Price Johnson.

SA (7/26), 2pm, The Hop, 640 Merrimon Ave, Ste 103

Flooded Poetry

Each poet will be able to share 2-3 poems, and occasionally we will have local celebrity poets close out our night with

a featured reading.

MO (7/28), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd, Ste 1200

Sci-Fi Novella & Poetry Collection Launch

Wren Greyson shares their new novella A Summer of Static alongside Shalise Verrie, who will be presenting her poetry collection, The Fat Covering My Elbow.

TU (7/29), 5:30pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Meter & Melody: Poetry Night

Poetry open mic hosted by Dill every last Wednesday of the month.

WE (7/30), 7pm, Static Age Loft, 116 N Lexington Ave

Abolish Rent

To cap off our tenant organizing series with Asheville Democratic Socialists of America, we're hosting Abolish Rent coauthor Tracy Rosenthal for a hybrid conversation.

TH (7/31), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

THEATER & FILM

Community Improv Jam

A jam where everybody gets a chance to play. All are welcome for newbies to vets.

TH (7/24), 7pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Anything Goes

Set aboard an ocean liner bound for London, Anything Goes is a madcap musical comedy filled with mistaken identities, mismatched lovers, and show-stopping songs by Cole Porter.

TH (7/24, 31), FR (7/25), SA (7/26), 7:30pm, SU (7/27), 2pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

Something Rotten!

A hilarious musical comedy that combines Shakespeare with musical theatre in a madcap Renaissance mashup.

TH (7/24), FR (7/25), 7:30pm, SA (7/26), SU (7/27), 3pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville

Appalachian Phoenix: Beauty & Resilience Through Dance

A dance experience that celebrates the resilience and unity of WNC in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. See p26

TH (7/24), FR (7/25), SA (7/26), 8pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

Empathy & Comedy w/ Jay Brown Jay Brown will be pairing music to silent Charlie Chaplin films. He will feature 2 short Charlie Chaplin films and perform a solo set.

TH (7/24), 8pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

A Midsummer Night's Dream

This play takes place in a mystical forest, where a group of fairies interfere with the romantic entanglements of four young lovers and a troupe of actors, creating both chaos and comedy, as they attempt to navigate love’s enchantments and illusions.

FR (7/25), SA (7/26), SU (7/27), 7:30pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St

Pete 'n' Keely Tune in as America's swingin' sweethearts, Pete Bartel and Keely Stevens, reunite for a live television special re-living their illustrious musical career on TV, in Las Vegas showrooms, and at the top of the hit parade.

FR (7/25), SA (7/26), SU (7/27), 7:30pm, Bebe Theater, Asheville, North Carolina

Sonic Shadows

Witness Hobey Ford’s masterful puppetry as his creative figures come to life, moving in perfect harmony with evocative music composed and performed by Min XiaoFen and Zack Page.

SA (7/26), 7pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

Asheville Vaudeville Brunch

Asheville’s largest vaudeville show featuring WNC’s best comedy, juggling, magic, burlesque, acrobatics, aerial arts, short plays, puppetry, sideshow, music, and more.

SU (7/27), noon, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave

Becomyth Night 3: Book of Evocation

The final installment enters the dreamworld of a young child on the edge of understanding.

SU (7/27), 6:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

Beyond Tales w/the Asheville Storytelling Circle

A night where tales unfold through theater, poetry, mantra chanting, puppetry, classic storytelling, and the

delightfully weird world of story-theater.

TH (7/31), 7pm, Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr, Weaverville

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

IBN Biz Lunch

All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts.

WE (7/23), noon, Yao, 153 Smoky Park Hwy Southside Cyber Wednesday

Dive into the exciting world of e-sports and gaming with friends and neighbors with two powerful PlayStation 5 consoles ready for action.

WE (7/23), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Shamanic Journey Circle

Explore your consciousness and meeting your guides in the lower world, upper world, and middle worlds. Traveling in the tradition of Core Shamanism via drum beat.

WE (7/23), 6:30pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave Vino & Vulvas: Two Truths & a Lie

A series of live events that push the conversation of sex past limits of heteronormativity and the gender binary.

TH (7/24), 7pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

IBN Breakfast Club: West Asheville Incredible Business Networking, along with other business people and entrepreneurs like yourself.

FR (7/25), 9am, Regina's Westside, 1400 Patton Ave

Community Connections: Speed Resource Networking

An engaging and interactive event designed to connect community members with vital local resources. Explore the wealth of support and

services available in our area by participating in a speed-dating-style networking session.

FR (7/25), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Summer Scoop Ice Cream Social Beat the heat and gather with friends and neighbors for a delightful selection of ice cream flavors, music, and games.

FR (7/25), 3pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St

Astronomy Club of Asheville: Public Star Gaze

A public star gaze at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County. This event is free and open to everyone, and registration is not necessary to attend. A temporary gate code, required for entry, will be posted on their website by 5:00 pm on the day of the star gaze. Sunset occurs at 8:39 p.m.

FR (7/25), 5pm, Grassland Mountain Observatory, 2890 Grassland Parkway, Marshall

Tantra Speed Date

A speed dating revolution with a 94% connection rate. Meet singles and ignite connections through

fun, chemistry-building games.

FR (7/25), 6:30pm, WellSpring Wellness Center, 966 Tunnel Rd Water Aerobics

This water-based workout is perfect for anyone looking to stay active and socialize in a supportive and enjoyable environment.

SA (7/26), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Swannanoa Valley Museum's Downtown Black Mountain Walking Tour Museum staff will lead attendees through historic State Street, Cherry Street and Black Mountain Ave, relaying the history of several buildings and discussing topics.

SA (7/26), 2pm, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 West State St, Black Mountain

Chinese Wrestling: Shuai Jiao

It is a standing grappling style, meaning that although there are hip throws, leg sweeps and hand techniques, like many other arts, there is no ground grappling.

SA (7/26), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Asheville Singles

Meetup

A rooftop singles event with great views, drinks and good company. This event is free and will also feature live music from Carribean Cowbows.

SA (7/26), 5:30pm, Pillar Rooftop Bar, 309 College St, 6th Floor

Coloring w/Cats

Take 50 minutes for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.

SU (7/27), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Push Hands

A two-person training routine practiced in internal Chinese martial arts such as baguazhang, xingyiquan and tai chi.

SU (7/27), 5:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Impermanence & Non

Self

This session will include meditation emphasizing both tranquility and insight or wisdom, a dharma talk, and discussion.

MO (7/28), 6:30pm, The Lodge at Quietude, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Montford Art Afternoons for Adults

This is the perfect opportunity to unwind, explore your creativity, and create a beautiful piece of art to take home.

TU (7/29), 1pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Embodied Awakening Asheville

Carissa and Eric lead a program that helps navigate people through  burnout, heartbreak, anxiety, and the kind of disconnection that healing work alone couldn’t quite touch.

TU (7/29), 5pm, The Studio Asheville, 34 Wall St

Docent Led Tours

See beautiful and interesting plants, delicious vegetables, native plants for beauty and pollinator interest.

WE (7/30), 10am, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Ste 102

Tarot Community Circle

Each week we will cover different topics, so every class will provide new information. Please bring a deck based on the system of the Rider Waite Smith tarot or a copy of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot.

WE (7/30), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

NSA-WNC Meeting

Professional keynote speakers, coaches, trainers, facilitators, and consultants who cover a broad range of topics, skills, & knowledge.

TH (7/31), 10am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Echoes of the Valley: The History of Swannanoa

A dynamic lecture tracing the sweeping history of Swannanoa from its early days to the present.

TH (7/31), 1pm, Assembly Room of Givens Highlands Farms, 15 North Commons Court, Black Mountain

GAMES & CLUBS

Music Bingo w/DJ Spence

Featuring 3 different themes of upbeat, family friendly music. It’s first come first serve, no tickets required and free to play.

WE (7/23), 5:30pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

Bingo Night w/Britton

A midweek break full of good drinks, loud laughs, and questionable luck, hosted by Britton.

WE (7/23, 30), 7pm, Dssolvr, 63 N Lexington Ave

Level 256 Weekly

Pinball Tournament

This is a weekly group knockout pinball tournament. Food will be provided to players. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

SU (7/27), 5:30pm, Level 256 Classic Arcade Bar, 79 Coxe Ave

Music Bingo: Taylor Tour

DJ Jason takes you on a tour of the Taylor Swift Era’s. Name that title and win Bingo for prizes.

MO (7/28), 6pm, Mills River Brewing Co., 336 Banner Farm Rd, Mills River

Ping Pong Tournament

Come by and shoot your shot against some of the best ping pong players in town. Free to enter and $50 bar tab to the winner.

MO (7/28), 6pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave, Asheville

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Artistic Adventures for Toddlers Ignite the creative spark of children in a safe and engaging environment to explore wonders of art through messy masterpieces and imaginative exploration.

WE (7/23), 2pm, , Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Black Cat Tales: Story Time w/Cats

A special after-school workshop where families with children age 7 and under can relax and foster a love of reading while also socializing with the cats in the lounge.

WE (7/23, 30), TH (7/24, 31), FR (7/25), 4pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Family Story Time

A fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years.

WE (7/23, 30), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Kids & Teens Xing Yi Learn complete systems of Xing Yi, Baguazhang, and Taiji, including weapons and sparring as optional classes.

TH (7/24, 31), MO (7/28), TU (7/29), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Baby Storytime

A lively language enrichment story time designed for children ages 4 to 18 months.

TH (7/24, 31), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Toddler Sip & Splash Dive into fun and exploration with this drop-in program that combines the joy of water play with a social and sensory-rich environment.

TH (7/24), 3:30pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition

An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.

SA (7/26), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

LOCAL MARKETS

Moto Jumble Swap Meet

This is for you if you love motorcycles, ride, or are looking to stock up your gear garage. Browse shop vendors, meet fellow enthusiasts and enjoy a coldie inside.

WE (7/23), 11am, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

RAD Farmers Market Asheville’s only yearround weekly market, featuring 30+ vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, handcrafted items, beverages, grab-and-go meals, and more. EBT and SNAP accepted.

WE (7/23, 30), 3pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

Leicester Farmers Market

A community-led farmers market local produce, cheese, meats, honey, strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, ramps, a variety of plants and more. Every Wednesday through October.

WE (7/23m 30), 3pm, Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester Weaverville Tailgate Market

This market features a selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, eggs, cheese, baked goods, artisan bread, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants. Open year-round.

WE (7/23, 30), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville

Biltmore Park Farmers Market

This market features fresh seasonal produce, delicious homemade pastries, premium meats and seafood, beautiful vibrant flowers, and more.

TH (7/24, 31), 3pm, Biltmore Park Town Square, Town Square Blvd

Enka-Candler Farmer’s Market

A grand selection of local foods and crafts, everything from produce to pickles, baked goods to body care, and even educational resources. Every Thursday through October 31.

TH (7/24, 31), 3:30pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

East Asheville Tailgate Market

Featuring over 25 vendors selling meat, seafood, produce, flowers, bread, eggs, baked goods, fruit, herbs, sweet treats, tamales, and more. Every Friday through Nov. 21.

FR (7/25), 3pm, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd

Mills River Farm Market

This market offers local food, live music, kids' activities, cooking demos, and a welcoming community. Browse fresh produce and pasture-raised meats to homemade breads, fresh flowers, and artisan goods.

SA (7/26), 8am, Mills River Elementary School, 94 Schoolhouse Rd, Mills River

North Asheville Tailgate Market

Browse from over 70 vendors that will be offering sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, honey, plants, prepared foods, crafts and more.

SA (7/26), 8am, UNC Asheville Lot P28

Asheville City Market

A producer-only market featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December.

SA (7/26), 9am, 52 N Market St

Black Mountain Tailgate Market

A seasonal community event featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, local raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and locally handcrafted items. Every Saturday through Nov. 22.

SA (7/26), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Pop-up Parking Lot Book Market

You'll have fun going through the slews of boxes full of all types of books and filling your bags. This sale benefits public library projects and events.

SA (7/26), 9am, Madison County Library, 1335 N Main St, Marshall Swannanoa Farmers Market

This market will feature farm-fresh produce, local honey, eggs, baked goods, and delicious eats. You'll also find handmade jewelry, artwork, fiber crafts, wooden utensils, yard art, apothecary essentials, and more.

SA (7/26), 9am, 216 Whitson Ave, 216 Whitson Ave, Swannanoa

Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market

A producer-only tailgate market located on the

campus of Mars Hill University on College Street. Offering fresh local produce, herbs, cheeses, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey, body care and more.

Every Saturday through Oct. 26.

SA (7/26), 10am, College St, Mars Hill

WNC Farmers Market

This year-round market features locally grown produce, fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, plants, shops, arts and crafts, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily, 8am. 570 Brevard Rd

Junk-O-Rama Vintage Market

Browse vintage clothing vendors, local crafters, antiques and more.

SU (7/27), 12pm, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd

Meadow Market

This vibrant outdoor market features a curated selection of local makers and artisans.

Browse a delightful array of one-of-a-kind textiles, handcrafted jewelry, beautiful pottery, and more.

SU (7/27), 1pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200 West Asheville Tailgate Market

This market features an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, bread, eggs, cheese, plants, specialty items, locally made art and crafts and more. Every Tuesday through November.

TU (7/29), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Wide Spread Panic

Shady Grove Shakedown Market

A 3-day WSP blowout featuring live music, vendor markets, afterparties, daytime hangs, and all the in-between moments that make Panic weekends in Asheville special.

TH (7/24), FR (7/25), SA (7/26), noon, Dssolvr, 63 N Lexington Ave

Forced Family Fun

Everyone is invited for a day featuring yard games on the lawn, photo booth ops, slushies, airbrush tees, live music and more.

FR (7/25), 5pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

Apple Ridge Relay Run through scenic trails, mowed grass, and forested roads in the heart of apple country, and celebrate your finish with refreshing apple cider slushies. Sign up today to secure your spot.

SA (7/26), 8am, Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, 170 Stepp Orchard Dr, Hendersonville

Local Cloth's Anything Fiber Sale

Browse for yarns, fabrics, tools, and quirky fiber treasures while supporting Western NC’s creative community and ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

SA (7/26), 9am, A-B Tech Mission Health Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Dr

Vivid Amplified Movement

This pop-up event kicks off with a full 75min flow yoga session followed by a dance party with a DJ, giveaways and vendors.

SA (7/26), 10am, The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave

Annual Summer Bash

Backpack Giveaway

The event’s goal is to provide 4,000 students across Asheville and surrounding areas with fully stocked backpacks and essential school supplies.

SA (7/26), 11am, Martin Luther King Jr Park, 50 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr

Moontime Market: Widespread Panic

Pre-Party

Enjoy the last day of the Panic weekend with a vibrant mix of live music vibes, talented artisan vendors, and a community of music lovers.

SA (7/26), noon, Hatch AVL Amphitheater, 45 South French Broad Ave

What's Shaking? Music Presents: Summer Music & Dance Series

An afternoon of music, food and fun for kids and their adults. The full What's Shaking Band will be onstage with poems, songs, and dances for pre-k and kids of all ages.

SA (7/26), 3pm, Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd

The Mule's Family Block Party

This family-friendly block party will feature hot dogs and burgers, live music, yard games, and bouncy house and more. There will also be a tie-dye station this time as well.

SU (7/27), noon, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

Friends of the Black Mountain Library

Annual Gathering

It will feature free music by the Possum Creek Band along with light refreshments provided by the Friends of the Black Mountain Library.

WE (7/30), 5pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING

Cat Trivia: A Fundraiser for Binx's Home for Black Cats

Assemble your team and come out to cat trivia night that will benefit Binx's Home for Black Cats. It will feature a variety of

feline-centric trivia questions to test your knowledge for a chance to win prizes.

FR (7/25), 7:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

MDTMT Family-Friendly Fundraiser

The My Daddy Taught Me That Track Team is heading to the Junior Olympics in Houston, TX. This fun, family-friendly fundraiser that features hot dogs, a bouncy house, free games and more will raise funds for the track team.

SA (7/26), 11am, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 10 North Liberty St Mal’s Bar & Yes Mam

Present MAW: Mamas of Arm Wrestling

An all-out, high-energy ladies arm wrestling tournament in support of the Community Housing Coalition (CHC) of Madison County. It will feature 26 fierce lady competitors battling for the honor of taking home the first-ever MAW Championship Belt.

SA (7/26), 6pm, Mals, 121 S. Main St, Marshall Low-Cost Community Neuter Clinic

Please schedule and pay for your appointment prior to showing up. Appointments and additional services can be scheduled at avl.mx/dlq.

TH (7/31), 9am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Amplify Appalachia w/Couch & Members of The Steep Canyon Rangers Proceeds from this event to benefit Footprint Project and Land of Sky Regional Council of Governments and their efforts to serve WNC. The event will feature short remarks from local leaders, recovery organizations and live music performances.

TH (7/31), 5:30pm, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River

Pageant: A Very Fake Pageant Fundraiser for SeekHealing

An evening of faux drag pageantry where the audience chooses the winner. Proceeds from the evening will benefit SeekHealing.

TH (7/31), 7pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

This is Lit: Trivia Fundraiser

Face off in 5 rounds of book-focused trivia across a variety of literary genres. This award-winning trivia event is guaranteed to be a blast, while raising money to send books to readers behind bars.

TH (7/31), 7pm, Olde London Rd English Pub, 270 Depot St

Magical Offerings

7/24: NEW MOON in Leo Reader: Alondra 1-6

7/25: Reader: Krysta 12-6

7/26: Reader: Ed 12-6

Witch Sound Series 2-4

7/27: Reader: Andrea 12-4

Crystal Bowl Sound Bath 6-7

7/29: Reader: Fen 1-6 July

ARTS & CULTURE

Waters run deep

New photography exhibit chronicles post-Helene community strength

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN

Kai Lendzion no longer lives in Asheville. But in many ways, he’s never felt closer to his hometown than he does now.

The director, cinematographer and photographer relocated to Atlanta roughly three years ago and was there working a gig when Tropical Storm Helene ripped through Western North Carolina. With numerous family members and friends still in Asheville, he felt powerless being four hours away from their suffering.

“I kept feeling like I wasn't doing enough just by being here,” Lendzion says.

A couple of days later, once his work assignment was done, Lendzion headed to Nashville for a supply drive and brought a U-Haul filled with supplies to Asheville. Also in the vehicle was his camera gear, which he packed out of a sense that he could help by documenting what was happening in the flood-ravaged zones and getting personal stories from those in the middle of it all.

The result is Where the Waters Fell, a photography exhibit that opens Friday, Aug. 1, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ’s Oak Street Gallery. And the story behind its creation warrants documentation as well.

LISTEN AND LEARN

Lendzion didn’t set out to create a gallery show. However, once he made it to Asheville in late September, he knew that his instinct to photograph and record the destruction and, more importantly, the response to this generational natural disaster was correct.

“A big part of it was getting this testimonial side of people on the ground — just some of the most incredible stories of community coming together in ways that I had rarely seen in a space where we're so politicized and separated,” he says. “It didn't matter who anybody was. It was all of these people coming together and just helping this community. And that was something that needed to be documented.”

In recording people’s stories, Lendzion strove to be as sympathetic as possible. On the ground in Marshall, Hot Springs, Biltmore Village and the River Arts District — four of the hardest-hit spots in the Asheville area — he

focused on people who were helping but also didn’t push back if his subjects found a particular topic too difficult.

“It was trauma. This horrible thing happened where people lost their businesses. People lost their loved ones. I have close friends that lost their entire home, lost their mom — really rough stuff,” he says. “So I came at it from a point of archiving but respect as well.”

Lendzion stayed in Asheville for three weeks, during which he conducted the bulk of his photography and videography. His original thought was simply to capture as much as possible without a larger structured goal in mind. But after he returned to Atlanta and watched WNC’s core utilities gradually being restored, he sensed that the enormity of the destruction had been lost on folks outside the region.

“It was the idea of showcasing these images and to allow for reflection and healing. But to also showcase to so many people that it's not over,” Lendzion says. “Because it's out of the news cycles and because it's no longer in the headlines, so many people just assume things are hunky dory.”

ORGANIZED NOISE

Lendzion used a variety of equipment to shoot the images for Where

the Waters Fell. For images he wanted to snap quickly, he used a digital camera. But he also had his 35mm film camera in tow, which offered an exciting set of challenges and advantages — namely the added thoughtfulness that comes with a medium that, according to the photographer, now costs around $3-$4 per shot and over $40 per photo once you factor in developing, printing and framing.

“Even if it’s on the fly, you have to almost be more focused and determined with what you're capturing,” Lendzion says. “I think that [intentionality] paired very nicely with just the feel of film, especially for environmental portraits. The grain with some of the contrast and the stock I was using, it accentuates the scale of the destruction, the textures of it and the feeling of the water and the mountains.”

Before knowing what he would do with his photos, Lendzion had the foresight to shoot portraits in a consistent manner. In each instance, he composed shots with the individual surrounded by Helene’s destruction, capturing different members of the community who came together during the crisis. Subjects range from a National Guard member to a cook from the disaster and humanitarian relief organization Mercy Chefs to people in Marshall and Biltmore

THE LONG VIEW: Kai Lendzion pauses on the banks of the French Broad River in Marshall days after floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene subsided.

Photo by Alex Diaz

Village who lost their businesses to flooding.

“My goal is to have a printed [book or pamphlet] that people can take away that has more descriptions of each photo,” Lendzion says. “And then actually next to the photo, it’ll be a simplified version of it.”

Getting to know these individuals and helping share their stories made a profound impact on Lendzion. Despite growing up in Asheville, interacting with the community in this unusual way revealed to him new dimensions of a community he thought he knew well.

“The ability for people to be resilient in the face of losing everything was truly inspirational, heartbreaking and eye-opening,” he says. “So many stories that I heard are just people saying, ‘Yes, I may have lost everything, but the dream is still there. The hope is still there.’”

ONGOING WORK

Lendzion is excited to collaborate again with the Oak Street Gallery, which housed his and acrylic painter Heather Tolbert’s Say Their Names exhibit in 2021. But he’s also being extremely mindful with Where the Waters Fell

“I don’t want this to be a gallery where it’s just showing photos of destruction and giving people reawakening traumas,” Lendzion says. “It’s a place where I want healing as well.”

To that end, he’s making resource sharing a key part of the experience. At 5 p.m. at the opening reception, Lendzion will participate in a panel discussion with community leaders sharing stories of recovery, resilience and care in the wake of Helene. Joining him is BeLoved Asheville founder Amy Cantrell; Adam Smith from Savage Freedoms Relief Operation; Kimberly Self Hundertmark from the River Arts District Artists group; and Resources for Resilience’s Katherine Gutschenritter, who will also offer a guided healing workshop at 7 p.m.

In addition, a closing reception in late September will feature a walking tour that ends at the YMI Cultural Center. Lendzion also plans for the exhibit to travel throughout North Carolina and perhaps other places impacted by flooding since Helene as part of a larger work called Watermark.

“For people that maybe are able to just forget or move along, there’s also those people that can’t and are still struggling,” he says. “There are people that still have trees on their house and people that still have holes in theirs or lost somebody — or lost their house. We can't forget those people.”

To learn more, visit avl.mx/eyi. X

THANKS FOR VOTING!

Results publish August 20 & 27

Reimagining the black bear

BY MATT SALERNO

While out on a hike, Andrew Mack stumbled upon a starving, abandoned hunting dog, wandering through the woods with its tracking collar on.

Mack, a poet and co-founder of Loblolly Press, credits the experience for inspiring his recently published chapbook, Beasts of Chase, a collection of poems that explores the history of bear hunting in North Carolina in all its unflinching grittiness.

The poem “Cowardice” retells that fateful day when Mack came across the dog. After finding the owners' number on its collar, Mack arranged

to meet them at the trailhead. The poem captures that moment in all its visceral detail. The gaunt dog has “ribs sharpened against skin” and “tail bones jut out like small mountains.”

After offering the dog water and a sandwich, Mack felt a strong sense of protectiveness wash over him. The canine perked up and accompanied him down the mountain. But the poem turns when Mack surrenders the dog back to its owners. “We cannot give her back to them / we won’t / but they are waiting in ripped jeans and orange vests / hands fastened to their guns.”

BEYOND ASHEVILLE

ACROSS GENERATIONS: Throughout Andrew Mack's Beasts of Chase, the spirit of the hunt echoes across generations — from Theodore Roosevelt’s appraisal of the black bear to the cruelty inflicted upon animals today. Photo courtesy of the poet

from underrepresented communities whose works expand the understanding of Southern literature.

Mack, who was raised in South Carolina, is no stranger to the outdoors. He grew up hiking, hunting, fishing and camping. But, the poet notes, “Being a queer person in the South, I really feel like I don't belong here. … I don’t get to see myself often in the woods the way that every other man gets to see themselves.”

By piercing the veil of outdoorsmen stereotypes in his poetry, Mack creates a place for himself.

He's also created a space for himself within the local literary community, launching Loblolly Press in 2023 with co-founder Earl J. Wilcox. The organization's mission is to amplify writers

“I’ve always wanted to have some sort of press,” Mack says, noting he is a fan of Hub City Press, an independent publisher based out of Spartanburg, S.C., with a similar focus and mission.

What started off as a desire to publish a collection of poems by Wilcox — Mack’s literary and life mentor — blossomed into the formation of the press. To date, Loblolly has published North Carolina writers from across the state. Meanwhile, forthcoming books of poetry, fiction and nonfiction include authors from Asheville to Mississippi.

“We just try to make it human,” he says, referencing his desire to keep the author involved in the entire process, from cover design to marketing plan.

'A SLIGHT SPICE OF DANGER'

That tenderness is also clear in the attention Mack gives the subjects of his writing, lending voice to the bears and dogs of hunting season, inviting readers to see their humanity.

Additionally, the collection raises questions about outdoor practices. Conquest is a major focus. An epigraph from Theodore Roosevelt’s Hunting the Grisly and Other Sketches opens the collection with Roosevelt's statement that the black bear’s “meat is good and its fur often valuable; and in its chase there is much excitement, and occasionally a slight spice of danger.”

The collection goes on to challenge what it means for someone like

Roosevelt to be glorified for the work he did in expanding the National Park System. Mack's poems question “From whom? By whom?” were theses lands preserved. And once protected, “Who got trapped within and who got put out?”

This sense of conquest is epitomized in the poem “Craven County, 1998.” In it, a group of hunters breaks a world’s record with the bear they kill, reducing the animal's entire existence to its prized weight of 880 pounds. The piece explores how bears aren’t seen as living beings but are reduced to monsters “known only in myth and tall tales” — monsters whose lives are reduced to a story told around the campfire and local haunts.

Throughout Beasts of Chase, the spirit of the hunt echoes across generations — from Roosevelt’s appraisal of the black bear to the cruelty inflicted upon animals today. In this liminal space between hunter and hunted, Mack’s poems question both the subjugation of nature and hunting purely for sport.

Mack’s images of animals pushed to their limits pull at the heartstrings, but his language is a feast for the senses. Beasts of Chase not only evokes sounds, smells and tastes, but the language itself has a texture that curates the mood of each poem. Whether it’s a bear’s “paws dragging silt, tearing the roots loose” or “blackberries and blueberries and raspberries/ stuck in the corners of their mouths and all along their face, an eternal syrup,” Mack paints with soft consonants and alliteration. X

A west side story

It's all good at All Sevens Brewing

BY CHRISTOPHER ARBOR

yearinbeerasheville@gmail.com

On Jan. 1, Christopher Arbor and his friends pledged to visit one Asheville brewery each week for all of 2025 in the order that they opened, then share the experience with Mountain Xpress readers. To read about their recent quest to Turgua Brewing, visit avl.mx/eyh.

Strolling into All Sevens Brewing at Westville Pub for our latest meetup, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much the neighborhood has changed.

When I moved to West Asheville back in 2000 (yes, I’m old), there were three kinds of shops along Haywood Road: gun shops, pawn shops and, notably, a gun and pawn shop. Things started to transform almost immediately. In the Bledsoe Building alone, West End Bakery opened in 2001, followed the next year by Westville Pub and West Village Market.

Why all the Wests? It was all about rebranding that side of town. Believe it or not, back then West Asheville was known by some as “Washeville” because of some unfortunate signage on Interstate 240’s Exit 2 and the fact that every surface in the entire neighborhood could’ve used a good scrubbing.

One of the neighborhood’s few claims to fame was that it was a filming location for the classic 1989 movie Trapper County War — a knockoff of Deliverance starring Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters fame. You know who else it featured? Ever heard of Patrick friggin' Swayze, the guy from such hits as Dirty Dancing, Ghost, The Outsiders and, the best movie of all time, Point Break? You have? Well, get this: His brother, Don Swayze, is in it.

You can probably find that gem of a bad movie at Orbit DVD, which is also in the Bledsoe Building and part of that early 2000s revival.

In the last couple of decades, West Asheville businesses have continued to flourish. So many great local establishments have popped up along the strip, while the landmark Model Barbershop (established in 1926, it claims to be Asheville’s oldest) is still going strong.

By my count, Haywood Road alone is now home to six breweries. From west to east, we’ve got Diatribe Brewing Co., All Sevens, Nine Mile Brewing, Oyster House Brewing Co., One World Brewing West, Cellarest Beer Project and Archetype Brewing.

The rest of the gang ambled in and quickly filled the brewery side of the establishment. Handshakes and hugs abounded. People took pictures and offered pitchers. My goodness, I hadn’t laughed so long in a hard time.

Westville Pub was a restaurant and bar for 16 years before it added All Sevens Brewing in 2018, so its food menu is time-tested. The gang seemed to agree that the menu winners for the night were the barbecue rib sandwich (served with coleslaw and baked beans) and the seasonal beer, a potent Tropical IPA that tasted like the love child of a grapefruit and a jug of moonshine.

Conversation turned to a book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson — two liberal authors who argue that their

fellow liberals tend to overregulate and operate from a scarcity mindset, leading to skyrocketing housing and energy costs.

Opinions at the table diverged on how to chart our city’s best path forward as we recover from Tropical Storm Helene. But, as always, it was mighty fine arguing with good friends over good beer.

Cheers to moving forward — in whatever direction that might be.

Come join us on another adventure. We gather at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. You can email me at yearinbeerasheville@ gmail.com or just show up.

• July 23: 12 Bones Brewing on Hendersonville Road

• July 30: Burning Blush Brewery in Mills River X

MAN IN BLACK: Who made the fashion faux pas — Luke Heller, left, and Wes Miller, right, for wearing the same shirt or Brad Herling, center, for doing his own thing? Photo by Christopher Arbor

Finch Grocery was one of the many Biltmore Village businesses lost to floodwaters during Tropical Storm Helene. This month, it announced plans to reopen in mid- to late-September — and it will be bigger and better than before. Previously housed in a historic carriage house behind the now-closed Scout Boutique at 10 All Souls Crescent, Finch will occupy both buildings, now fully renovated, says co-owner Abigail Riley

Seating will still be outdoors only due to lease constraints, but there will be more than pre-Helene, she says. The old carriage house is becoming a commercial kitchen, available for other businesses to rent. Rooms in the new building can also be rented for events and retail use.

Finch will be open early with grab-and-go breakfast items and an expanded menu of coffees and other drinks. Lunchboxes, desserts and a wider selection of catering and snack options will also be available.

“We are hoping to make this new iteration of Finch Grocery more of a third space where people can meet and hang out, formally and informally,” says Riley. For updates, visit avl.mx/eym. X

by Gina Smith | gsmith@mountainx.com

Getting the Munch-ies

Britton Frost was general manager at Boy Howdy, the burger shop that opened last August with DayTrip bar at 219 Amboy Road. One month later, both were destroyed by flooding from Tropical Storm Helene. With Boy Howdy owner to Atlanta after the storm, Frost and business partner Mitchell Angove are planning for an August launch of their own smashburger concept, Munch, inside DSSOLVR brewery on North Lexington Avenue.

“I learned from [Myers] the best smashburger technique,” says Frost. “I can’t steal

Christian’s thunder, but I would love to try to create something a little similar.”

The signature Munch Burger features pico de gallo, poblano crema, pickled red onions and a tostada shell. Munch also offers a cheeseburger, tacos and loaded tots. Vegan and

gluten-free options are available.

Munch will be open evenings and late nights Tuesday-Sunday plus Sunday for brunch. Until the launch, Frost and Angove are hosting occasional pop-ups at DSSOLVR.

For updates, follow Munch at avl.mx/eyj. X

Spirits of giving

The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association is collaborating with local restaurants to raise money through the Benevolent Spirits campaign to support Texas communities impacted earlier this month by flooding. Through Sunday, July 27, participating restaurants are offering featured drinks — cocktails, beer, wine and nonalcoholic options — with $1 from each sale going to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Benevolent Spirits is a recurring fundraising effort founded by Asheville’s independent restaurant community. For more information and a list of participating restaurants, visit avl.mx/eyn. X

Cr u s co is c o m i n g

Many still mourn the February death of Asheville chef Brian Canipelli along with the resulting closure of his beloved downtown restaurant, Cucina 24. This summer, there will be cause to rejoice with the opening of Crusco, a restaurant from Canipelli’s life partner, Kat Kearney, and several folks formerly associated with Cucina 24. Kearney says Crusco will open in late July or early August at 346 Depot St., the former home of Vivian restaurant in the River Arts District. Partnering in the business are Lauren Macellaro, Alex Harris and Allen Clark, Cucina 24’s former chef, chef de cuisine and front-

of-house/beverage manager, respectively, plus Cucina 24 farm partner Evan Chender of Culinary Gardener.

“Crusco will be a different concept from Cucina. We are all eager to take what we learned working together with Brian and make it our own thing,” says Kearney. “Crusco is a new restaurant guided by the seasons, farms and ingredients. We’re committed to thoughtful cooking, honest hospitality and a constantly evolving menu that reflects curiosity, restraint and place.”

For updates on Crusco, visit avl.mx/eyl. Read more about Canipelli and Cucina 24 at avl.mx/eyk. X

Photo courtesyofFrost

Birdie’s takes off

BY KAY WEST

kswest55@comcast.net

When you claim New York-style pizza as your brand, you’d best be prepared for some skepticism, particularly from New Yorkers. And when you take over a beloved, locally owned business, you’d best be prepared for some hurt feelings, particularly from customers who have been devoted to that business for nearly a decade.

Christine Costa Balzer — who with her husband, Justin Balzer, took possession of Manicomio Pizza on Biltmore Avenue on June 30, and on July 13, threw the doors open to Birdie’s New York-style pizzeria — says they’re eager to win over skeptics and loyalists alike.

“My grandparents came from Italy, my family is Sicilian, I was born in New York and raised in Jersey,” she says. “Justin and I have spent five years working on our dough and recipes to where I feel comfortable calling it New York-style. This is my culture. I promise you, I know a good pizza.”

The couple know the restaurant business too; before staking their claim on a piece of downtown Asheville, they spent 10 years at Postero restaurant in Hendersonville. Justin was chef de cuisine, Christine balanced pastry and assistant managing until she had their first and second daughters, took some time off, then came back part time, focusing on pastry.

“We loved it there, but we always wanted to do our own thing, and we really wanted to do pizza,” says Justin. They spent 2 1/2 years looking for a downtown space and initially passed on the Manicomio spot. But after “hitting our heads against a wall several more times,” the couple decided to make it work.

“This is pretty much the setup and location we’ve always wanted for a slice shop,” Justin says. “All the equipment we needed was there.”

After Manicomio shuttered at the end of June, the Balzers took a couple of weeks to paint, do tile work, freshen the space and rebrand.

The restaurant is named after the couple’s 6-year-old daughter, Wren, whose nickname is Birdie. To prevent their 2-year-old daughter, River, from crying, “Not fair!” they named one of their eight curated pizzas The River. (To prevent FOMO from their dog, Duke, another pie is named for him.)

Good pizza starts with good dough. “It is a multistep process using an 8-year-old sourdough starter,” Christine

New York-style pizzeria opens downtown

explains. “It’s completely different for people working with the dough.”

(Those people are the Manicomio staff, all of whom were retained.)

Birdie’s sources locally as much as possible and makes many things in house, including dressings, sauces and all the breads. The team even stretches its own fresh mozzarella.

The menu features six starters, including meatballs, arancini and cacio e pepe fries. Whipped ricotta is studded with a hot pepper and olive salad (Christine’s grandmother’s recipe) and served with fat slices of freshbaked focaccia.

The eight pizzas come as 20-inch rounds or 13- by 17-inch Sicilian pies on a sheet pan. “People see the Sicilian and think that’s a lot of bread, but it’s 80% water,” Christine explains. “It is superairy and light.”

Both types can be ordered by the slice. “We cut the slices from a whole pie,” Justin emphasizes. “If we’re out of the pie for the slice you want, we make a fresh one.”

Customers can also build their own pizza, selecting from toppings like

basil honey, hot peppers and caramelized onions. (Don’t even think of asking for pineapple.)

Salads, sandwiches and some sweets by Christine round out the repertoire for now, but at Birdie’s, it’s all about the pizza.

“This is our love letter to our family and that culture,” says Christine. Justin

adds, “Everyone has a pizza memory, specific to a place or time or occasion or person. We want to create those nostalgic touchstones at Birdie’s.” Birdie’s Pizza is at 27 Biltmore Ave. Hours are Thursday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday-Monday, 11:308 p.m. For more information, visit avl.mx/eyf. X

HELLO, BIRDIE'S: At recently opened Birdie’s Pizza, owners Justin Balzar, left, and Christine Costa Balzar, right, offer round and Sicilian pies and pizza by the slice. Photo by Gina Smith

by Edwin Arnaudin

Smoke on the Mountain

If you’re in search of some high-quality humor, Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART) in Mars Hill has you covered. The penultimate production of its 51st season, Smoke on the Mountain wrings copious laughs out of lampooning gospel performers yet simultaneously presents a respectful portrait of small-town Christian life. Set in 1938 in a Baptist church in Mount Pleasant, N.C., the show follows the newly reformed Sanders Family Band as it works out various kinks on the performance circuit. The musical comedy is written by North Carolina native Connie Ray, who will participate in a postshow Q&A on Sunday, July 27. The show runs Fridays-Sundays, July 25-Aug. 3. Tickets are $20-$25. To learn more, visit avl.mx/eya  X

Appalachian Phoenix

A true capital “E” Event each summer, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance returns to the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts for another enticing program. This year’s centerpiece component, titled “Appalachian Phoenix,” includes original choreography from founder and artistic director Heather Maloy that draws inspiration from the numerous local heroes who risked their lives to help others during and in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. (Those in attendance will be recognized during the shows.)

The performance features the company’s usual top-tier dancers, selected from across the U.S. There's

also a new score by local musicians Jeff “Firewalker” Schmitt, River Guerguerian and Chris Rosser ; symbolically rich stage design that incorporates 20,000 used water bottles; and lighting that emulates Appalachian sunrises, waterfalls and mountain scenery. Additional works include “AYT? (Are You There?),” a humorous technological love story about cellphone codependency, and the high-energy “Le Suil Go... (In the Hope That…),” which will be accompanied by live Celtic music.

Performances run ThursdaySaturday, July 24-26, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$65. To learn more, visit avl.mx/eyc  X

Photo of "Appalachian Phoenix" rehearsals by Irwin Faye

Photo from Flat Rock Playhouse's 2019 production of "Smoke on the Mountain" by Scott Treadway

Kingfisher Folk Fest

AVLFest may be on hiatus this year, but that doesn’t mean the first weekend in August is bereft of well-curated live music offerings. Helping fill that void is the second yearly Kingfisher Folk Fest, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 2, noon-8 p.m., at The Oaks at Daniel Ridge in Candler.

The all-ages folk music festival features six bands, plus jam sessions, called dances, local storytellers, arts and crafts

vendors and food trucks. Longtime Asheville-area favorite Joe Pug headlines, and additional performers include Kelly Hunt, Dylan Walshe, and Cyr and the Cosmonauts. Tickets range from the $45 Bring Your Own Chair (BYOC) level to a $120 family ticket that admits parents with children ages 6-17. Children ages 5 and younger get in free with a BYOC purchase. To learn more, visit avl.mx/eye. X

‘Jurassic Park’ in Concert

A welcome addition to the Brevard Music Center’s summer festival schedule for the past few years, the “… in Concert” series has brought such beloved films as The Empire Strikes Back and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to the spacious, open-air WhittingtonPfohl Auditorium — complete with a live performance of the respective movie’s original score. As with those classic adventures, John Williams composed the music for Jurassic Park. And with

the dinosaur-centric saga’s latest installment, Jurassic World: Rebirth, currently in theaters, it’s as good a time as ever to experience “Jurassic Park” in Concert

On Saturday, July 26, at 8:30 p.m., the Brevard Sinfonia performs Williams’ iconic work under the direction of ShihHung Young. Tickets range from $41 for a lawn seat to $88 for premium seating. Discounts are available for children and students. To learn more, visit avl.mx/eyg X

SATURDAY, 26TH JULY

MUSIC 11-2 | RAFFLE GIVEAWAYS GAMES | VENDORS | FUN!

COME CELEBRATE H I G H F I V E R I V E R S I D E

REOPENING AND OUR COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS WHO STUCK TOGETHER THROUGH HIGH WATERS!

2000 Riverside Dr, Woodfin

Photo of Kingfisher Folk Fest headliner Joe Pug by Ryan Nolan

Photo from ‘Jurassic Park’ courtesy of Universal Pictures

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23

12 BONES

SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Trivia w/King Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Badd Wolf (blues, dark-country, rap), 10pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE

HOUSE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Open Mic Wednesday, 7pm

ELUVIUM BREWERY

The Candleers (country), 5pm

EULOGY

Future Crib w/Charlie Boss & I-26 Connector (rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Old Lady, Nordmoe & The Rodeo (country, punk), 9pm

FOOTHILLS GRANGE Trivia Night, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Bluegrass Jam Wednesdays, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

PULP

Bourbon & Beats w/ Davie G (hip-hop), 9pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

Bear Creek String Bandits (bluegrass), 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Cube, Corpse Dust, FKA Ice & Relay for Death (electronic, industrial, noise), 8:45pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Circus Mutt (folk, Americana), 7pm

4.

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING

CO.

Well-crafted Music Series w/Life Like Water (multi-genre), 6pm

THE MULE

Wednesday Jazz Trio, 3pm

THE ODD Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THIRD ROOM

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY

Open Mic Night, 6pm

URBAN ORCHARD Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

• Irish Session, 5pm

• Melissa McKinney's Bad Ass Blues Jam, 7:30pm

THURSDAY, JULY 24

12 BONES SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Lillie Syracuse (country, folk), 5:30pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Josh Blake's Jukebox & Punkadelic w/Nikki Glaspie, B. Haas, Abby Bryant, Datrian Johnson, Elise Testone & More (multi-genre), 10pm

DSSOLVR

Hot Couch Karaoke w/ DJ BridalPartiBurcardi, 9pm

EDA RHYNE

DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

The Gilded Palace of Metamodern Sounds, 6pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY

Ampevene w/Lower Peaks & The Welcoming (prog-rock, indie, metal), 8pm

CLUBLAND

CHANNELING A WESTERN DESPERADO: On Wednesday, July 23, Asheville Music Hall hosts Los Angeles-based artist Badd Wolf, starting at 10 p.m. His music combines sounds ranging from blues and dark-country to trap-influenced rap and soul. Photo courtesy of Badd Wolf

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Hope Griffin (folk, Appalachian), 6pm FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead Thursdays (Grateful Dead & JGB tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

J. Dunks (Americana, folk, rock), 7pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Kenny George Band (rock'n'roll, country, folk), 7:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Reign of Z, Drown the Deep & Odd Squad (metal, rock), 7pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Stand Up Comedy For Your Health, 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Kinship, Badvril, Tanner York & Sophia Corinne (alt-folk, pop), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Curious Strange (folk), 5:30pm

• Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (jazz, progrock, Latin), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Angela Perley (alt-rock, psych, Americana), 6pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Photon Night One (house, dance), 10pm

THIRD ROOM

Captain Midnight Band (rock'n'roll), 11pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY

Trivia Night, 6:30pm

TWIN WILLOWS

The Candleers (country), 6pm

WICKED WEED BREWING

Owen Walsh (acoustic), 5pm

FRIDAY, JULY 25

ALL DAY DARLING

Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 6pm

ARTBEAT GALLERY AND LOUNGE

Mr Jimmy (blues), 2pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Sneezy (reggae, hiphop, rock), 11pm

COFFEE, ART, MUSIC TYPE PLACE

Open Mic, 6pm

CORK & KEG

Miss Tess (rock'n'roll, country, jazz), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Firecracker Jazz Band (swing, jazz), 8:30pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Cliff B. Worsham & Khandroma (Appalachian, folk, ambient), 8pm

EULOGY

DJ Lil Meow Meow's Dance Floor Rapture (pop, electronic, R&B), 10pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Pleasure Chest (blues, psych, rock), 7pm

GINGER'S REVENGE

The Realtorz (multigenre), 6pm

HATCH AVL

AMPHITHEATER

Supernatural – The Music of Vic Chestnutt Panic Pre Party w/ Jason Crawford & Save the Bones, 4pm

HEMINGWAY'S CUBA

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Clean-Up Crew (funk, rock), 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Asheville Junction (bluegrass, Americana), 8:30pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE

Dave Desmelik (alt-country, folk, Americana), 6pm

MILLS RIVER BREWING CO.

Y2K 2000's Dance Party, 7pm

NEW BELGIUM

BREWING CO.

Hot Bread Selectors (yacht-rock, dad-rock), 5:30pm

NOBLE CIDER & MEAD TAPROOM AND PRODUCTION FACILITY

Crisp Comedy w/Ben Jennings, 7pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

Rich Nelson Band (rock'n'roll), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Keith Allen Circus (psych, dark-rock, electro-pop), 11pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Alex Krug Combo: Album Release Party (psych, roots), 6pm

SHAKEY'S 6 Speed Band (rock), 9pm

SHILOH & GAINES

Lyric (pop, rock, funk), 9pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Arriithmya Deux (techno, trance, electro), 9pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Powers Ensemble, Libby Rodenbough & Lemon Balm (folk, experimental, noise), 8:45pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• LadyCouch (rock, soul, folk), 4:30pm

• Nick Gerlach's Cutlet (hip-hop, jazz), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Shrek Rave (edm, dance), 9pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

THIRD ROOM

• Hannah Ramsey's House Blend (multigenre), 4pm

• Psycodelics w/Kanika Moore (funk, R&B, electro-pop), 11pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Jen Chapin (jazz, folk), 8pm

WICKED WEED WEST Stephen Evans (folk, rock), 5pm

SATURDAY, JULY 26

27 CLUB

Halloween in July w/ Bruschetta Delorean, Tokyo Teen, Black Diamon Empress & Necroft (rock'n'roll, metal), 8pm

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Bloodkin (rock, alt-country), 11pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE

Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 5:30pm

BURIAL BEER CO. FORESTRY CAMP

TAPROOM

Washed Out w/ Neon Indian, AVL.XLR, and Phantom Pantone, 6pm

CORK & KEG

Daniel Ullom & Friends (old-time, bluegrass), 8pm

CROW & QUILL Sparrow & Her Wingmen (jazz, swing), 8:30pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY Ladybird & Hearts Gone South (country), 8pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

• Vaden Landers (country), 7pm • Meschiya Lake & the Speakeasy Three (jazz, swing), 9pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In Hindu cosmology, the Sanskrit term “Lila” refers to divine play. It’s the idea that all of creation is a sacred and artful amusement that’s performed by the gods with joy, sorrow, artfulness and flair. I hereby proclaim Lila to be your theme of power, Aries. You have been so deep lately, so honest, so drenched in feeling. Now, life is giving you a big wink and saying, “It’s playtime!” You can start this fresh phase by making a list of all the experiences that bring you fun, recreation and entertainment. I hope you emphasize these pursuits in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the high desert of Chile, astronomers work at observatories on mountaintops where the air is dry and the sky is clear. There, away from light pollution, the universe reveals itself with astonishing intimacy. But even the most powerful telescopes can’t function during the day. I suspect you will be like those observatories in the coming weeks, Taurus: capable of seeing vast truths, but only if you pause, quiet the ambient noise, and look during the dark. This approach should embolden you to use your intelligence in new ways. Stillness and silence will be conducive to your deep explorations. Night will be your ally.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Are you courageous enough to let go of sparkly clean but unfruitful fantasies so as to clear space for reality’s disorderly richness? Are you wild enough to relinquish naïve fears and hopes so you can see the raw truths blooming right in front of you? Are you cagey enough to discard the part of your innocence that's rooted in delusion even as you bolster the part of your innocence that's fueled by your love of life? Here's my response to those questions, Gemini: Maybe you weren't mature or bold or crafty enough to accomplish these heroic feats before, but you are now.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied creatures. Over centuries, they assemble massive reef systems, turning their fragile exoskeletons into monumental architecture. These creatures can be a symbolic reminder that your sensitivity is not a weakness; it’s your building material. Keep that in mind during the coming weeks when tender care and your nurturing ability can be primal sources of power. I invite you to start creating an enduring sanctuary. Generate a quiet miracle. Construct an elegant masterpiece. For best results, allow your emotional intelligence to guide you. You have the precise blend of aptitudes necessary to coax beauty to grow from vulnerability.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I predict that your imminent future will be a ticklish and tricky but ultimately uplifting masterpiece. It will feature guest appearances by members of your private hall of fame, including one future luminary you have not yet fully appreciated. This epic series of adventures may begin when you are nudged to transform your bond with a key resource. Soon, you will be encouraged to explore frontier territory that offers unexpected help. Next, you will demonstrate your understanding that freedom is never permanent but must constantly be reinvented.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Sci-fi author Octavia Butler wrote, “All that you touch, you change. All that you change changes you.” The coming weeks will be prime time for you to honor and celebrate that prayer, Virgo. You won’t be a passive dreamer, gentle traveler or contemplative wanderer. Rather, I predict you will be a tidal force of metamorphosis. Parts of your world are pliable and ready for reshaping and you will undertake that reshaping. But it’s important to know that the shift will go both ways. As you sculpt, you will be sculpted. As you bless, you will be blessed. Don’t be shy about riding along on this feedback loop. Do it with reverence and glee. Let the art you make remake you. Let the magic you give become the magic you are.

ROB BREZSNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In certain Hindu traditions, the deity Ardhanarishvara is depicted as half-male, half-female — a divine fusion of opposites. They are not torn, but whole in their duality. I invite you to be inspired by their symbolism in the coming weeks, Libra. For you, balance will not be about making compromises or pushing to find middle ground. It will be about embracing the full range of possibilities. Energies that some people may imagine are contradictory may in fact be complementary and mutual. Benevolence will coordinate well with fierceness and vice versa. Your craving for beauty will not just coexist with but synergize an affinity for messy fertility. This is a time for sacred synthesis. Don’t dilute. Integrate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The medieval mystic Meister Eckhart wrote, “God is not found in the soul by adding anything, but by a process of subtraction.” Subtracting what? He wasn’t referring to losing something valuable, but rather to letting go of obstacles that obscure our direct experience of the divine. I invite you to make abundant use of this principle, Scorpio. Slough off layers of illusion, outmoded fantasies, and self-images soaked in others’ longings. As you let go, do so not in bitterness but in a joyous quest for freedom.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’m hoping that the Season of a Thousand Feelings hasn't confused you. I’m praying that you have maintained a measure of composure and aplomb while navigating through the richest emotional flow you’ve experienced in many moons. It’s true that in some ways this barrage has been draining. But I’m certain you will ultimately regard it as being highly educational and entertaining. You will look back at this bustling interlude as a gift that will take a while to harvest completely.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Greek myth tells us that Persephone didn’t just return from the underworld each spring; she ruled there half the year. Yes, she was taken there against her will, but she adapted, transformed and ultimately wielded great power in the depths. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, you will have the chance to navigate realms that other souls may not be brave enough to enter: taboos, unusual yearnings, ancestral memories. My advice is to go gently but with intense resolve. Don’t act like a tourist. Be a sovereign explorer, even a maestro of mystery. Claim your throne in the underworld. Use it to create healing maps for others. When your work is done and the right moment comes, you will rise again into the light.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In my astrological opinion, you are ready to graduate from the University of Senseless Suffering. It’s time to get your diploma and treat yourself to a vacation. I’m not saying you will never again experience pain, of course. Rather, I’m telling you the good news that your dilemmas in the coming months will be more fully useful and redemptive. They will feel more like satisfying work than unpleasant ordeals. Congrats on the upgrade, Aquarius! You are forever finished with at least one of your arduous lessons.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said you can’t step in the same river twice. Like everything else in nature, the river is in constant flux. It may appear to be the same, but the water is always flowing. What Heraclitus didn’t say is that you are never the same, either. Eternal change is your destiny.

I invite you to ruminate eagerly on this truth, Pisces. Hopefully, it will help you let go of any hyper-perfectionist urges you might have. It will inspire you to see that the plan you made a while ago may need revision — not because you were wrong, but because you have grown. So yes: It’s time to reassess and recalculate. The goal isn’t to stick to the blueprint, but to build something that breathes with your becoming. Let the ever-new version of you draw a fresh map. It will be wiser than the last.

FLEETWOOD'S Crystal Spiders, Killiad & Hempire (doom, metal), 9pm

FUNKATORIUM

Funk DJ Series w/ Grimmjoi, 6pm

HEMINGWAY'S CUBA

Saturday Night Live, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• Front Porch (bluegrass, 8:30pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

The Abbey Elmore Band (indie-rock, soul, pop), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

• Pre-Panic Pre-Party w/Josh Daniel & Keith Allen (bluegrass, funk, reggae), 3pm

• Hype Machine & Friends (funk, rock, electronic), 11pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Peggy Ratusz & the Daddy Long Legs (blues), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

TVBOO, Sully & Universe (dance, edm, dubstep), 6pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Time Lapse (house), 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Blood Handsome, Healng, Cold Choir & Rodent (electro, darkwave, indie), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Blue Country Line

Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch (country, hiphop), 11am

• Erick Baker (folk, rock), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Congdon Griffin Band (rock'n'roll, Americana, folk), 8pm

THE MULE

Loud Environment

Productions Presents: The Leo Show, 8pm

THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Photon Night Two (house, dance), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Big Something (altrock), 11pm

THIRD ROOM

• Doug Mcelvy & Friends (Americana, soul, rock), 4pm

• Airshow (rock, bluegrass), 11pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Cliff Eberhardt, Ellis Paul, Don Henry & David Wilcox (folk, country), 2pm

SUNDAY, JULY 27

DSSOLVR

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm

EULOGY

Weedeater w/King Parrot & Bonginator (doom metal, grindcore, death metal), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm

GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM

Sunday Jazz Jam, 2:30pm

HEMINGWAY'S CUBA

Sunset Sunday's w/ Para Gozar (Appalachian, Latin), 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

• Bluegrass Brunch w/ The Bluegrass Brunch Boys, 12pm

• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

• Suns of Stars Sunday Residency (bluegrass), 2pm

• One Love Sundays w/ Petah Iah & The Mind Renewing Mind (rock, reggae), 7pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Pisgah Sunday Jam, 6:30pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

The Outriders (rock'n'roll, country), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

• The World of Drum & Bass, 6pm

• Open Mic w/Mike Andersen, 6:30pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Hot Seat Comedy w/C.J. Green, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Sooflay, Sean O' Hara, Krekel & Woah (rock'n'roll, power-pop, shoegaze), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Sugar Lime

Blue Duo (Americana, folk), 3pm

• John R. Miller w/ Miss Tess (honky-tonk, folk), 8:30pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Fancy & The Gentleman (honky-tonk, blues, Americana), 2pm

THE ODD

Bombay Gasoline, Arkn, Gods., & Ever After (rock, post-doom, indie-rock), 8pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

American Aquarium w/Kristina Murray (country-rock), 8pm

VOWL

Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm

MONDAY, JULY 28

27 CLUB

27 Club Karaoke, 10pm

EULOGY

Eulogy Movie Night, 8pm

FLEETWOOD'S

Best Ever Karaoke, 9pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Trivia Night w/Two Bald Guys & A Mic, 6pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

The Abbey Elmore Band (indie-rock, soul, pop), 9:30pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Open Mic Downtown, 6:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr. Jimmy & Friends (Blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, JULY 29

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

LOOKOUT BREWING CO.

Team Trivia, 6:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Open Jam, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Flowers for the Dead, Powder Horns & Soured (alt-rock, death, metal), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE Jules! w/Catho (acoustic), 12:30pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

The Lads AVL (rock, blues), 6pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Silversun Pickups w/ Hannah Cole (alt-rock, indie), 8pm

THIRD ROOM

Open Decks, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

White Horse's Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

12 BONES

SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING Trivia w/King Trivia, 7pm

27 CLUB

The Ruff'tons, Board of Directors, Rockabilly Roy & the Kopy Kats (pop, punk, rock), 9pm

CAMDEN'S COFFEE

HOUSE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Open Mic Wednesday, 7pm

ELUVIUM BREWERY

The Candleers (country), 5pm

EULOGY

20 Watt Tombstone w/The Slow Attack & Rhinestone Pickup Truck (death-blues, metal), 8:30pm

FOOTHILLS GRANGE Trivia Night, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Bluegrass Jam

Wednesdays, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

PULP

Bourbon & Beats w/ NateR, Mikey Rizz, Peter The Poet & Colston (hip-hop), 9pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

The Everydays (folk), 6pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Propolis, Walkhome, Soleil & Rhinestone Pickup Truck (anorcho-folk, rock), 8:45pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Lefty Carmean & Friends (Americana, folk), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-crafted Music Series w/Pierce Edens (multi-genre), 6pm THE MULE

Wednesday Jazz Trio, 3pm

THE ODD Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THIRD ROOM

Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic Night, 6pm URBAN ORCHARD Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Dasher (bluegrass), 7:30pm

THURSDAY, JULY 31

12 BONES SMOKEBOUSE & BREWING

Jackie Kelsh (bluegrass), 5:30pm

27 CLUB

Bad of Babydoll Heads, Hopeless Otis, On the Block & Bad Fidelity (punk, rock), 9pm

CROW & QUILL

Queen Bee & the Honeylovers (jazz, blues, Latin), 8pm

DSSOLVR Hot Couch Karaoke w/ DJ BridalPartiBurcardi, 9pm

EDA RHYNE

DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM

The Gilded Palace of Metamodern Sounds, 6pm

EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

EULOGY Nick & Brew (bluegrass, Americana), 7pm FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Julia Sanders (folk, country, Americana), 6pm

FLEETWOOD'S The Dolltones, My Gal Monday & Karma Kat (rock, indie, punk), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Jerry's Dead Thursdays (Grateful Dead & JGB tribute), 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PULP

Standup Comedy Picture Show w/Jordan Julius, 7:30pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Tuxedo Junction (multigenre), 7:30pm

SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE Cookie Tongue, Sweet Oddity & The Deviled Eggs (multi-genre), 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Auto-Tune Karaoke w/ Who Gave This B*tch A Mic, 10pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Lone Quail, Oil Derek, Liliana Hudgens & Mechanical River (experimental, country, post-punk), 8:30pm THE GREY EAGLE • Patio: The Pinkerton Raid (folk), 5:30pm

• Greg Ruby, Sam Farthing, Gary Rodberg, & Kevin Kehrberg (swing, jazz), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Nordmoe & The Rodeo (country, honky-tonk), 6pm

THIRD ROOM

Local Brand w/Claire Whall (alt-indie, alt-country), 9pm

TWIN LEAF BREWERY Trivia Night, 6:30pm TWIN WILLOWS The Candleers (country), 6pm

WICKED WEED BREWING Beer & Loathing (rock, funk, country), 5pm

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

REAL ESTATE BUSINESS

BROKER Just sold: child care center. South Asheville area. Financed by an SBA loan. Under contract: Kitchen & bath construction company. Financed by an SBA loan. WANT TO BUY OR SELL A BUSINESS?

Please contact me Rick Maerkle 30 years selling small businesses. Asheville Business Brokers 828-989-1858 Rickmaerkle21@aol.com

WESLEY FINANCIAL

GROUP, LLC TIMESHARE CANCELLATION EXPERTS

Over $50,000,000 in timeshare debt and fees canceled in 2019. Get free informational package and learn how to get rid of your timeshare! Free consultations. Over 450 positive reviews. Call 844-213-6711 (NC Press)

EMPLOYMENT

ARTS/MEDIA

FIGURE MODEL NEEDED

No experience necessary. $$$ paid. 843-606-0195

HOME IMPROVEMENT

ELECTRICIAN

ELECTRICAL SERVICE

Power to the People!

Serving Asheville and abroad. Troubleshooting, fixture hanging, can lights, generators, car chargers, remodels, new construction, we do it all! Licensed and insured.  Free Estimates. 828-551-9843

HANDY MAN

HANDY MAN 40 years experience in the trades, with every skill/tool imaginable for all trades with the exception of HVAC. No job too small. $35 an hour. Carl (828) 5516000 electricblustudio@ gmail.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

AFFORDABLE TV & INTER-

NET If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833423-2924. (AAN CAN)

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE?

You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-889-1843. (AAN CAN)

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as one day. Superior quality bath and shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-540-4699. (AAN CAN)

DENIED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? APPEAL! If you're 50+, filed SSD and denied, our attorneys can help. Win or Pay Nothing! Strong, recent work history needed. 877-553-0252 [Steppacher Law Offices LLC Principal Office: 224 Adams Ave Scranton PA 18503] (NC Press)

DO YOU OWE OVER $10,000 to the IRS or State in back taxes? Get tax relief now! We'll fight for you! 1-833-441-4783 (AAN CAN)

GET A BREAK ON YOUR TAXES! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, no-cost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind today at 1-855869-7055 today! (NC Press)

GET DISH SATELLITE TV + INTERNET! Free install, free HD-DVR upgrade, 80,000 on-demand movies, plus limited time up to $600 in gift cards. Call today! 1-877920-7405. (NC Press)

GOT AN UNWANTED CAR?

Donate it to Patriotic Hearts. Fast free pick up. All 50 states. Patriotic Hearts’ programs help veterans find work or start their own business. Call 24/7: 1-833-426-0086. (AAN CAN)

HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors.

Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee. 888-970-4637. (NC Press)

HOME BREAK-INS Take less than 60 seconds. Don't wait! Protect your family, your home, your assets now for as little as 70¢ a day! Call 1-833-881-2713. (AAN CAN)

NEED NEW WINDOWS?

Drafty rooms? Chipped or damaged frames? Need outside noise reduction? New, energy efficient windows may be the answer! Call for a consultation & FREE quote today.

1-833-890-1293. (AAN CAN)

PEST CONTROL Protect your home from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today!

1-833-406-6971. (AAN CAN)

REPLACE YOUR ROOF With the best looking and longest lasting material – steel from Erie Metal Roofs! Three styles and multiple colors available. Guaranteed to last a lifetime!

Limited time offer – up to 50% off installation + additional 10% off install (for military, health workers & 1st responders). Call Erie Metal Roofs: 1-855-585-1815 (NC Press)

STOP OVERPAYING FOR

AUTO INSURANCE A recent survey says that most Americans are overpaying for their car insurance. Let us show you how much you can save. Call now for a no obligation quote: 1-833-399-1539. (AAN CAN)

WANTED ANTIQUES Estate collections, old tools, pottery, glass,farm, primitives, advertising signs, cast iron, rifles, military, folk art, stoneware, decoys, license plates, canes, carvings, toys, books. Call/ Text Steve 828 582-6097

WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP

& RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. We do complete repairs to protect

your family and your home's value! For a free estimate, call 24/7: 1-833-880-7762 (AAN CAN)

WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP

& RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! Call 24/7: 1-833-9281861. Have zip code of service location ready when you call! (NC Press)

WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-247-1189. (NC Press)

WE BUY VINTAGE GUITARS

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-833-641-6624 (AAN CAN)

WE BUY VINTAGE GUITARS!

Looking for 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. These brands only! Call for a quote: 1-833-641-6577 (NC Press)

YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now! 1-833-6413892. (AAN CAN)

NO MORE CLEANING OUT GUTTERS. GUARANTEED!

LeafFilter is the most advanced gutter protection for your home, backed by a no-clog guarantee and lifetime transferable warranty. Call today 1-877-649-1190 to schedule a FREE inspection and no obligation estimate. Plus get 20% off! Seniors and military save an additional 10%. Restrictions apply, see representative for warranty and offer details

ACROSS

1 Near

5 Fashion’s Jimmy whose surname aptly rhymes with “shoe”

9 Squeak remover

13 Look bad?

14 Not his

15 “By Jove!”

16 Offset, as an item on a scale

19 It might be swiped for cash

20 Org. that was a frequent James Bond foe

21 Mo. setting

23 M.L.B.’er in a blue-andorange uniform

24 Gad about at a banquet

26 John or Jane of anonymity

27 Bite at a bar

30 Job security, for some

31 Not just my

32 Mind-boggling designs

34 Like hand-me-downs

35 Rely on the hospitality of friends for lodging

38 “Star Wars” species on Tatooine

41 Sentiment on el Día de San Valentín

42 Card

45 Brewer Coors

48 Once, once

49 Perfect serve

50 Hit the pubs

52 Had

54 Bygone initials at JFK

55 “Mr. Blue Sky” band, in brief

56 Be afraid to

58 Rainy-day game for children, whose play is punnily suggested by 16-, 24-, 35and 50-Across

61 Capital on the Baltic Sea

62 Went through channels?

63 Medicinal name in the shampoo aisle

64 Short first step

65 Takes up, as some new pants

66 Pennsylvania city or its county

DOWN

1 “Impossible!”

2 “Ha ha ha!,” on April Fools’ Day

3 Not so happy

4 Therefore

5 Acting Oscar winner inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

6 What’s rounded up in a roundup

7 Earth or sun, for example

8 Home to the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan (built in A.D. 593)

9 Likely (to)

10 SEAL’s org.

11 Wine god of myth

12 House with a long-unmowed lawn, e.g. 17 Anchor or heart, maybe

18 Letters before Q, sometimes 22 “Decorated,” as a house for Halloween 24 North Carolina athlete

25 Broadway’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is ___”

28 “The Simpsons” shopkeeper

29 What a handshake may lead to

33 Ruling title that dates back to the Byzantine Empire

35 Course that may follow trig

36 Verbal hesitations

37 Chopper parts

38 Pokes in the ring

39 2019 Brad Pitt sci-fi thriller

40 “I don’t care what that cost!” 42 “You in?”

43 Freeze up

44 The first one was delivered in 1984

46 Like a house built in a day, say

47 Long way to go?

51 “Sound” of a point sailing over someone’s head

53 Eudora ___, Pulitzer winner for “The Optimist’s Daughter”

Small amount of whiskey

Goals

It’s not you, it’s me

“You ___ me!”