Mountain Xpress 08.27.25

FEATURES

Commission

I BEG TO DIFFER

Can the left and right actually discuss issues in a civil, constructive manner? We think so, and so do our two columnists, both longtime figures on the local political scene. In this debut effort, conservative voice Carl Mumpower and liberal-leaning Bill Branyon take up the question: Where have we gone wrong in our political discourse and how we talk about issues?

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On board with APD on panhandling

[Regarding “Public Safety Committee Advances Restricted Areas for Panhandling,” Aug. 1, Xpress:]

I’ve been here since 1982 and helped rebuild downtown Asheville as a North Carolina licensed general contractor for Roger McGuire, Julian Price, John Cram, the Carrs, etc.

I have seen what has unfolded with panhandlers and, to an extent, the homeless. I totally agree with Asheville Police Department Deputy Chief Sean Aardema’s and Debra Campbell’s statements.

Criminalizing homelessness? How about those folks (and those organizations) being responsible and accountable for their and their clients’ actions?

I remember the mess at Jan Davis Tire Store and other properties. One was mine, in which they set a tenant’s working van on fire one Sunday night while parked in my parking lot. How many homeless campsites have folks had to clean up? If they would/could just clean up after themselves (leave no trace), be respectful of property and others, etc.

Look at the flip side of folks paying property taxes; local businesses trying to survive; needles on sidewalks; stepping in crap; cleaning off graffiti, etc.

I could go on with what I’ve had to experience, clean up and deal with in the homeless and panhandler situations, etc., over the past 40-plus years. Sometimes I had to get pretty tough against them when they accosted others (and I saw this happen).

We found that it was a minority who created the issues for the majority of homeless folks. Most homeless folks mean no harm; some have mental issues, etc. — just wanting to live their lives in peace.

—

Allen Roderick Asheville

Worst of the bad: I-26 bridge design

[Regarding: “Design Matters: Decisions Now Will Affect Next 100 Years,” Aug. 13, Xpress:]

Joe Minicozzi gets it! The Interstate 26 bridge over Patton Avenue is the worst of a bad design. It is a head-scratcher how the low bidder was

Word of the week

able to propose moving the I-26 bridge from under Patton to over Patton, against the wishes of so many who worked so hard for so many years to avoid it. This eyesore will damage the view as we approach our beautiful city from the west.

And the noise, noise, noise, noise from the trucks’ stacks, over 30 feet in the air, cannot be blocked or mitigated. I live eight blocks from where this bridge will be and already the truck braking noise is an incessant background bark even with the windows closed.

And this 175 feet by 1,900 feet elevated deck will form a roof for the unhoused. The ramps and flyovers will make our city look like the concrete jungle of Dallas. Drivers waiting for the light to turn green will suffer from noise and fumes below this massive structure. Patton Avenue may never recover.

Mr. Minicozzi nailed it. I am an engineer who has a deep background in the design/build sector, and I bet you the project team is expert in designing highways. But “livability, beauty and value to Asheville” is not part of their mandate or training.

The project is at the 25% design stage: Now is the best chance we will have to improve it.

— David Dixon Asheville

Editor’s note: Dixon notes that he has extensive experience in site master planning, contracting, design and construction. He participated recently in the meetings of the I-26 Connector Project Aesthetics Committee formed to attempt to make the I-26 bridge over Patton Avenue more visually pleasant.

Roadless rule action threatens WNC’s forests

On June 23, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced plans to rescind the U.S. Forest Service’s 2001 Roadless Rule. As the Forest Service notes, the rule prohibits “road construction, road reconstruction and timber harvesting on 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands.” This includes 152,000 acres, or 15%, of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests in Western North Carolina (an interactive map from the Outdoor Alliance shows all protected areas).

As MountainTrue explains, this includes popular areas such as the Cheoah Bald, South Mills River, Laurel Mountain, the Black Mountains, Tusquitee Bald and Upper Wilson Creek. Without Roadless Rule protections, these sites are at risk of complete decimation.

The Roadless Rule protects pristine wilderness areas from development. These areas provide critical habitat for species across the nation, including over 1,600 threatened or endangered species. Additionally, they serve as drinking watersheds for communities

across the country and popular outdoor recreation sites for hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and more. This decision will also massively increase wildfire risk. Wildfire ignition density in national forests is lowest in designated wilderness areas, followed closely by Roadless Rule protected areas. Land within 50 meters of roads has the highest wildfire ignition density by far (nearly four times higher than in roadless areas).

In summation, this rescission will (1) destroy critical habitat and harm thousands of species, (2) increase wildfires and (3) eliminate outdoor recreation opportunities and their accompanying economic boosts to local communities.

As a former Forest Service employee, I know firsthand how important these areas are to North Carolina’s plants and wildlife, its people and the greater environment. The Sierra Club and other organizations are fighting back to protect these lands. You can help by contacting your legislators and urging them to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act (RACA).

— Robert M. Campbell Asheville

Homelessness problems abound in West Asheville

[Regarding “CoC Board Looks to Address West Asheville Homelessness Concerns,” Aug. 15, Xpress:]

I live in West Asheville. What I see is people lying in groups along Haywood Road. I and others have been stopped on the street for money constantly. Open shooting up of drugs. Needles on the ground; stolen grocery carts full of trash they collected and no longer want, they abandon on the streets. Mentally ill who need help following me down the street ranting.

I don’t feel safe even in the daytime. People’s belongings are stolen from porches, yards, garages, etc. Look on neighborhood websites online. People will write all the scary things that happen, even in their homes. People are being followed while walking. Not to disclose the name of these people, but I know an animal group was wanting to open a shelter in a building on Haywood Road. The inside was great, but while they were inspecting the outside in the back, feces were found smeared all over the wall, and trash and many needles.

I have had them come to my door. Caught one coming to my door at 3 a.m. There is so much to be said, but I’m done.

— Connie French Asheville Editor's note: See Page 8 in this issue for the print version of the article mentioned above. X

CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Editor’s note: In this new column, we aim to highlight contrasting views on local issues from two writers who come from different perspectives — and to encourage thoughtful discussion from our readers from across the political spectrum.

To get the discussion rolling, we asked our columnists for their takes on the following questions: What is the current state of healthy political debate, both generally and in our community? In your mind, where have we gone wrong in our political discourse, and how we talk about issues? How can we all do better? Here are their responses:

ON THE LEFT

Bill Branyon: In these essays, Carl and I hope to exemplify how to have an enlightening — rather than an enraging — conversation between the left and right about local issues. A main barrier to such communication in general is that many of us on the left believe that the right may be imposing autocratic Christian capitalism. Whereas some on the right believe that the left will try to impose an autocratic atheist socialism should they ever regain the levers of power. Both sides need to proceed as if these scenarios aren’t true, even if some misguided people are trying to make them true.

In addition, much of the left will need to curb their opinion that many on the right are baskets of racist, sexist and ecology-destroying “deplorables.” Instead, they should consider that most on the right are just people trying their best, given the way the world looks to them. And much of the right will need to curb their opinion that many on the left are the devil’s spawn who hope to replace all heterosexual white males with women, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Instead, they should consider that most of the left are just people trying their best, given the way the world looks to them.

And both sides could realize that we’re all looking for enough happiness and enough passionate meaning to justify living in a bewildering universe constantly bombarding us with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.

Other barriers to enhanced communication with the right that we on the left could dismantle include:

1. Understanding more completely that the changes that were largely begun in the 1960s encompass some of the greatest transformations in human history. These include efforts to extend human rights to the poor, women, people of color and LBGTQ+ people. That’s an overwhelming majority of humanity. Magnificent! But it’s going to take longer than the 60-plus years since Lyndon B. Johnson and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. declared

BILL’S NOTABLES

Bill Branyon: After earning a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a master’s in history from Western Carolina University, I began working as a reporter, editor and paper boy for what is now Mountain Xpress around 1990. Soon, I switched to being a frequent freelance contributor, a gig I’ve held for over 30 years. I’ve written six books, including Liberating Liberals — which tries to maximize free, independent thinking.

A few of my favorite (and least favorite) things:

“We shall overcome” to transform beliefs whose roots often extend back thousands of years.

2. The left could also recognize that there are many fine things about the right’s traditional values. These include loyalty to sobriety, family and country; dedication to the efficiency and creativity of capitalism; and the worship of the nonviolence, sharing and forgiveness preached by Jesus. Yet, some of the benefits of the left’s vast transformations also involve liberating humanity from the right’s enviable world of certainties to an inspiring but confusing world of uncertainties, contingencies and who-knows-what-will-bes. Hopefully, the left has learned lessons from the catastrophes such freedoms can bring, including rampant drug abuse, excess-sex destructiveness and the murderous socialist rampages of Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Pol Pot. And hopefully, the right has learned the lessons that traditional Western politics resulted in the horrors of World Wars I and II, the mass-destruction threats of the Cold War and our incredibly wasteful and bloody wars in the Middle East.

Those lessons contain an immense hit of humility. Such humbleness will grasp that neither side knows the future and that we can only determine a best guess about the optimum way to try to secure a peaceful, happy and prosperous tomorrow. X

• Favorite political movement: The Green Party and progressive Democrats.

Least favorite: The regressive Republicans.

• Favorite type of person: Tolerant, funny, creative, dependable, passionate, peaceful.

Least favorite: Labor- and ecology-abusing warmongers.

• Favorite recreations: Debate, sports, guitar, the arts, literature, entrepreneurship.

• Favorite declaration: Independence!

• Favorite temptation: Curiosity

Art by Brian Vasilik

The

ON THE RIGHT

Carl Mumpower: I love the theme of this question, and the first part suggests an easy answer: nonexistent.

Thus, my appreciation for this effort by Mountain Xpress in nudging us back to a better place. It’s an important mission.

Without the ability to civilly discuss issues — be they political, social, emotional, economic or spiritual — we lose a crucial piece to our culture’s functional puzzle. Dogma is deadly.

For illumination, consider a coin. Unless it’s flipped, only one side is visible. Most are satisfied with the simplicity of one-sided opinions and are intellectually and otherwise imprisoned by that affection.

It’s been about 10 years since Mountain Xpress reported on a debate series by the Asheville High/ SILSA’s Speech and Debate Team, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the Asheville Citizen Times

I had an opportunity to participate in two of the spirited interchanges and noted the bravery of this effort.

Several years later, the local Republican Party offered to debate any organized group on a political topic of their choice and to contribute to the winner’s charity of choice.

There were a half dozen takers, but only one followed through: current N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson. We had a good time addressing the topic of public education.

Most other community debate exposures, in my experience, have been shams.

WLOS did a well-organized televised debate on legalizing marijuana, but it turned out to be a 3-on-1 deal on the debater side of the table with 100 pro-legalization attendees on the other. Any guesses on the guy in the minority?

One of my favorite pretend debate examples involved UNC Asheville. I forget the topic, but they had a half dozen Ph.D. faculty addressing some political subject. I attended, and it turned out that the voices representing the conservative view were actually

CARL’S NOTABLES

Carl Mumpower: I’m a practicing psychologist and lifelong resident of Western North Carolina. To the angst of many, I’ve retained my attachment to our community’s traditional, conservative and Christian foundation, and value the opportunity to be a voice for such. I’ve done a good bit through the years, but what I do next is what matters most.

A few of my favorite (and least favorite) things:

liberal professors sharing their imagined take on the conservative view.

It was a propaganda event masquerading as a debate.

Renewing our community contract with honest debate can begin with you and me doing three things:

1. Add listening to our practiced skill sets. The average person spends far less of their energy listening than talking and looking for flaws in what they’ve heard and/or thinking about what they want to say next. There’s a lot of missed opportunity there.

2. Stop confusing echoes with intellectual sophistication. Human beings are creatures of habit. Repeating someone else’s thinking or our old thinking is lazy and not remotely up to the challenges of today’s troubled world.

3. Recognize that anger, violence, narcissism, hate and chaos are not effective agents of change. These activities may be a source of distraction, identity or entertainment, but they have no connection to constructive problem-solving. Real change is harder than that.

A tip of the hat to Mountain Xpress for having the journalistic courage to step out of their comfort zone and introduce a chance for all of us to see the other side of the coin.

I am grateful to join with Bill and the Mountain Xpress staff, readers and advertisers as a small part of this big effort.

• Favorite people: Truth seekers. Least favorite people: Comfort seekers.

• Best life experience: Vietnam. Worst life experience: COVID19 ventilator.

• Favorite word: Liberation. Least favorite word: The f-bomb.

• Favorite emotion: love. Least favorite emotion: Anger.

• Favorite responsibility:Psychology. Least favorite responsibility: Politics.

I’ll close with one of my favorite quotes, from Joseph Joubert: “It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.” X

Stay tuned for the next discussion about marijuana and CBD products. Have a comment, question or a local topic you’d like our columnists to debate? Email letters@ mountainx.com with the subject line: Local debate. X

Why I support Xpress: Xpress

“We believe in the importance of civic dialogue.”

“We want to hear community commentary.”

– Eric and Ellen Vontillius

Join them and become a member at SupportMountainX.com

NEW OUTEdition2025 NOW!

Pick up your print copy today in boxes everywhere! We provide tips on the well-known attractions, hidden gems and quirky oddities that make Asheville so beloved. What to do and where to find it!

CARL MUMPOWER

Art by Brian Vasilik

Street strategies

CoC board looks to address

West Asheville homelessness concerns

BY JUSTIN M c GUIRE

The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care (CoC) board will form a working group to address rising concerns around homelessness in West Asheville, following a wide-ranging discussion at its Aug. 14 meeting.

Board members described increasing tensions among residents, businesses and people experiencing homelessness and agreed on the need for a more coordinated, community-based response. CoC is a coalition that coordinates local efforts to prevent and respond to homelessness.

City Manager Debra Campbell, a board member, said the city's intent is not to criminalize homelessness.

“That is far from what we want to do,” she explained. “Our goal is not a battle or a war — them against us. We are trying to problem-solve, and we want to use every tool that we have available to support not just property owners and business owners, but the unhoused as well.”

The city is focusing on behavior that is creating health and safety concerns: open drug use, trespassing, theft, littering and improperly discarded syringes. But the city government can only do so much, Campbell said, and CoC, business owners, property owners and others will have to work together.

“It is happening in our entire community right now, but West Asheville is raising the flag a little higher and saying there’s a sense of urgency,” she said. “And we have the data that

demonstrates that these behaviors, unfortunately, are happening more consistently in that geographic area.”

The issue came to the forefront for some Malvern Hills residents after a July 7 fire at the Goodwill Industries complex on Patton Avenue. The neighbors cite years of safety hazards, trespassing and environmental concerns and want answers from Goodwill and the city.

EVENING OUTREACH

Christian Chambers, a CoC board member and director of Safe Shelter, shared details of a new initiative launching in partnership with Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness. The effort is aimed at building relationships with unhoused people during the hours when few services are available.

Safe Shelter, a partnership of three churches and the nonprofit Counterflow LLC, has been operating out of the former educational building of Trinity United Methodist Church on Haywood Road in West Asheville since October.

“I won’t call it a 'patrol,' but more of like outreach and people creating relationships, deeper relationships, but not just during the daytime — mostly when it gets darker, like that 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. window,” Chambers said. “Because you know West Asheville — we’re there all day until it gets really dark.”

Chambers emphasized that the goal is not to displace or police people, but to connect them with resources and set realistic expectations around

PROBLEM-SOLVING: Asheville City Manager Debra Campbell speaks about homelessness in West Asheville at the Continuum of Care board meeting on Aug.14. Photo by Justin McGuire

behavior. “Honestly, there’s open drug use on the street, and that’s just not an acceptable norm,” he said. “But it’s hard to ask people to go somewhere when there’s nowhere to go. That’s been the biggest issue.”

The new collaboration, which began Aug. 18, will deploy outreach workers in the community with a focus on harm reduction, connection to services and accountability.

Vice Chair April Burgess-Johnson suggested the effort could tap into the CoC’s 400-plus-person membership base to find volunteers.

Board member Mary Brown, who lives in West Asheville, said the idea of having a visible, structured presence in the community was promising. Board member Jonathan Brown, a captain who leads the Asheville Police Department's Community Engagement Division, agreed.

“Having folks proactively meeting people where they are is a tremendous advancement,” he said.

He also cited the Haywood Street Congregation as an example of how community-based accountability can improve safety without displacing people. After experiencing challenges with litter, trespassing and safety concerns near a school walkway, the urban ministry partnered with police to find ways to set and enforce clearer boundaries and expectations while continuing to provide services.

Police receive fewer calls to the area than in the past, he said.

“What it has done is it’s provided a level of accountability,” Brown said. “And interestingly, it’s also given the staff a second wind. They were experiencing burnout. It rejuvenated that staff.”

SHELTER GAPS

While outreach may help, several board members emphasized that without shelter beds and treatment options, the underlying issues won’t go away.

“There’s not enough places for folks to go,” said board member Jerry Kivett-Kimbro. “That’s a big part of the problem.”

Board member Jenny Moffatt added that untreated mental illness is driving many of the behaviors residents are concerned about. She called for behavioral health providers to be part of the planning.

“Sunrise can do a bit of that with peer support,” she said. “But are there other providers in the community that maybe could offer some additional support?”

Board Chair Melina Arrowood ended the meeting by recommending that a small working group of board members continue developing a West Asheville strategy and report back at the Thursday, Sept. 11, board meeting.

She emphasized that this discussion was just the beginning. “We’re not going to get to a solution in 30 minutes. But we needed to get our wheels spinning.”

Board members agreed that whatever is developed for West Asheville should be adaptable across the city if it works.

“We’re trying to come up with methods and tools that are not reactive,” Campbell said. “We want to be proactive in addressing the quality-of-life issues our community is experiencing — everywhere.” X

Seeking input

BY BRIONNA DALLARA

Nearly 11 months after Tropical Storm Helene hit the region, the stretch of U.S. Highway 74 that winds through the Bat Cave community in Henderson County is still plagued with road closure signs, portable traffic signals, excavators and flood-torn properties. The sights serve as reminders of the recovery work still underway in the greater Hickory Nut Gorge, a 14-mile canyon southeast of Asheville.

Now, Henderson County officials, along with other community partners, are seeking input for a long-term Hickory Nut Gorge recovery plan — a guide for rebuilding, recovery and resilience efforts for the gorge communities of Gerton, Bat Cave and a portion of Edneyville.

At an Aug. 19 meeting at Bat Cave Baptist Church, Henderson County staff and Equinox, the Buncombe-based consultant company that is assisting the county in pinpointing needs and preparing the recovery plan, gathered feedback from nearly 100 residents in attendance who had the option to engage with officials at listening stations.

At these stations, residents were encouraged to jot down their ideas for recovery, pinpoint locations on the map where restoration efforts were still needed and take a survey. The survey can be found at avl.mx/f1p.

Xpress spoke with several residents during the event to learn more about ongoing community needs.

WHAT DOES RECOVERY MEAN TO YOU?

Ben Klumpp has been a resident in the Hickory Nut Gorge community for five years, though his family

PLOTTING AND PLANNING: Residents point to places on a Bat Cave map and note the corresponding restoration needs to help guide a long-term Hickory Nut Gorge recovery plan. Photo by Brionna Dallara

lineage in the area dates back eight generations. He doesn’t want to see the region commercialized.

“It’s the Hickory Nut Gorge — it’s rural, it’s isolated,” he said. “We need to keep it [that way] as much as possible, rather than just, you know, bringing all the spread and buildings.”

On the other hand, long-term Bat Cave resident Marjery Sherill, who co-owns the tool manufacturer Mudtools, said she would like to see the gorge as a successful tourist destination. “Recovery, to me, means an opportunity to create something even better,” she said.

Sherill added that recovery should also include improvements to the existing roads.

Meanwhile, Edneyville resident Lynn Staton said she wishes the focus were on the current recovery needs rather than long-term planning. She opted out of the listening session portion of the event.

“There’s a lot of immediate needs,” Staton said. “Maybe if the debris was cleaned up, the bridges were repaired, then I could see talking long term.”

Staton’s antique store HipHen Uniques was inundated by floodwaters during Helene. Despite damage, a portion of the site was transformed into the Bat Cave Relief Distribution Hub after the storm.

From conversations with residents at the hub, Station said, “A lot of them don’t want to see a mini-Chimney Rock; that’s the best way I can explain it.”

Other responses for the big-picture prompt, “Tell us what recovery means to you,” included: “Everyone who wants to be involved is recognized”; “Bridge to Wildcat Rock Trail restored”; “Being able to enjoy the river again”; “Celebrating the land and its endangered species”; and “A sense of hope.”

MAPPING IT OUT

At the gathering, residents also had the opportunity to stick a number on a map and write a note about the needs of the selected location. Each number corresponded with a specific category: environment, economic revitalization, infrastructure, housing, recreation and other miscellaneous community needs. The maps included the U.S. 64 corridor, Bat Cave, Bear Wallow and Gerton communities.

Lidya Gongage placed a dot near Bat Cave Baptist Church. She lives in the area and said the nearby bridge and properties need to be restored. She is also concerned about downed trees catching fire during the dry season.

“My biggest concern is for the future because there’s so many dead trees and branches and everything that is just sitting there because we cannot bring it over to the main road to have it removed because we don’t have a bridge,” Gongage said.

April Bolet said that Bat Cave needs a transfer station to collect and consol-

idate waste because trash services are not currently available to residents.

Other pinned notes touched on issues such as runoff mitigation at Reedy Patch Creek, adding bike paths along Chimney Rock Road and stream restoration from Hog Rock Road to Stoneledge Road, plus landslide and vegetation recovery in various spots.

Stationed at the Bat Cave map, Danvey Wash, environmental scientist for Equinox, said he heard a lot of feedback on recreational opportunities, particularly related to Hickory Creek and the Rocky Broad River.

“I mean, you can see them laid out right along the profile of the river. So fishing, boating, those might be things that they're looking for,” Wash said. “A lot of it is not just about providing the recreational opportunity. It’s providing a safe space in which to conduct that recreational opportunity.”

LOOKING FORWARD

Several organizations and members of county departments were also at the meeting, including staff from MountainTrue, Conserving Carolina, Henderson County Emergency Services and Lindsay Grossman, a volunteer with the Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections. Grossman was col lecting audio from the meeting for the special collections’ “Come Hell or High Water” community memory project.

The feedback from the listening ses sions and survey will help guide all the community partners’ work. Statistics for the study area noted that 1,086 total building structures were impacted by the storm.

“The best results are community driven, they come from you, and they embrace your values as a community,”

David Tuch, president and landscape architect for Equinox, told the crowd. “Flooding events will happen again. So, how do we prepare for that? How do we avoid and minimize impacts? How do we become more resilient?” X

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HOLISTIC CARE FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN:

Commission approves first step for WNC Futures Factory

A-B Tech is seeking to build a 70,000-square-foot educational center and advanced manufacturing hub called WNC Futures Factory on 13 acres of donated land at Biltmore Park West, near Ferry Road.

During their Aug. 19 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved reallocating nearly $5 million for the project. The funds were previously approved for an A-B Tech workforce training center. The Commission also appropriated roughly $45,000 toward the community college project through its Article 46 funds, which are collected from the one-quarter-cent county sales and use tax.

“There will be workforce training, research and development from proof of concept to commercialization, collaboration between education and industry, all under one roof,” John Gossett, president of A-B Tech, told the commission.

According to Gossett’s presentation, WNC Futures Factory will bring together six state universities with engineering programs to work alongside industry partners “to integrate university research, prototyping products [and] pilot production lines to commercialize new processes for regional manufacturers.” Regional partners will include GE Aerospace, New Belgium Brewing Co., AVL Technologies and others. Gossett estimates the hub will train 800 workers annually by 2035 and create 2,747 jobs in the region.

To fund the full project, A-B Tech is seeking a $30 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). During the meeting, Gossett urged Buncombe County to sign on as a co-applicant — as “a sign of support more than anything else,” he explained.

However, County Manager Avril Pinder told the Commission her office is still reviewing the co-applicant documents. She requested that the Commission focus only on the $5 million budget amendment, “which has been fully vetted,” she said.

“Our goal is to get to ‘yes’ [and apply as co-applicants], but we want to make sure we get to it in a methodical manner,” Pinder explained.

Budget amendment approved for EMS base

The Commission approved two budget amendments relating to

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) base projects.

The commission consolidated funds for two projects — the fiscal year 2023 West Asheville EMS Base Design project and the FY25 EMS Local Base Design Project — into the FY25 EMS Regional Base Land and Design Project.

The second budget amendment increased the total project budget for the FY23 EMS East Base Construction project by $3.3 million. Commissioner Terri Wells questioned the increase. General Services Project Manager Robert Brown explained that construction costs have changed since the project was budgeted in 2022.

“The price of materials in our current environment — those costs have gone up,” said Brown. “We also have a large number of competition for the contractors in our area — huge amount of construction.”

Pinder added, “We didn’t have the full cost in that original budget estimate,” calling the initial bid “more of a placeholder.”

Save the Woods

During the briefing before the Commission meeting, commissioners approved a letter to be sent to UNC Asheville Chancellor Kim van Noort, requesting that the university not proceed with any project approval for its Millennial Campus project at this

time. The original proposal called for the development of 45 acres of UNC Asheville’s urban forest into a soccer stadium.

UNCA announced Aug. 14 it is putting a “pause” on its development to form a commission to solicit community feedback.

Multiple Buncombe residents thanked the commissioners for speaking out. Resident Heather Rayburn, who spoke during public comment, called the pause “welcome, but not a win.” She said Save the Woods, an activist group formed to halt the development, will continue to work to persuade UNCA not to develop the forest.

Mission Level I trauma center

The Commission also approved sending a letter to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) advising caution on HCA Health and Mission Hospital’s plan to become a Level I trauma center.

Currently, Mission Hospital is a Level II trauma center; the designation as a Level I trauma center would require the hospital to provide a higher level of trauma treatment for adults and children.

Citing the community’s criticism of HCA, Commissioner Drew Ball

said, “It’s important that we take this opportunity to outline our values and potential concerns about the new designation. It’s important to note that the hospital’s application has not been made available, and without that, we cannot evaluate what HCA is committed to doing differently.”

Ball continued, “This new designation could ultimately be positive for patients, staff and the region, if done right. But before taking on greater responsibilities, it’s critical Mission ensure that current services are adequate, and it’s important that a new status designation not exacerbate ongoing issues.”

Buncombe County sent the letter to NCDHHS, according to Vice Chair Martin Moore

In other news

• The commission approved the renaming of the community room at the Fairview Library in honor of Annie Clarke Ager. “Annie Ager’s lifelong dedication to Fairview and Buncombe County has profoundly shaped our community and fostered inclusivity, resilience, health and well-being, and a love of lifelong learning,” the nomination reads. “Her commitment to the philosophy and mission of public libraries has created a strong and dynamic library community, one especially dedicated to promoting literacy and a love of reading in children and young adults.”

• The Commission welcomed Daysha Chaney, a 2025 UNCA alumna, as the county’s yearlong AmeriCorps fellow.

— Jessica Wakeman

X

IN THE WORKS: John Gossett, president of A-B Tech, spoke at the Aug. 19 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meeting about the college’s aim to build a 70,000-square-foot manufacturing hub in Buncombe. Screen grab courtesy of Buncombe County

GARDENING WITH XPRESS

Dry and cracked

What’s going on with my tomatoes?

BY CHLOE LIEBERMAN

Wow, what a wet one it’s been! This weather is reminiscent of the summer after I first moved here, 13 years ago. I had thought that the changing climate was erring in the direction of dryness, but it turns out that it’s actually erring more in the direction of unpredictability. Hopefully, y’all have still been able to harvest and enjoy garden bounty in between the raindrops. Don’t forget to send me your questions at gardening@ mountainx.com.

My tomatoes are misshapen and have these dry brown stripes/indentations. What’s going on, and is there anything I can do about it?

Oh, tomatoes in late summer in a warm and wet place like here — they’re not usually happy campers. What you’re describing sounds like either cracking due to overwatering (in this case, from the heavens) or what’s called “catfacing.” The former usually shows up as cracks that start where the stem connects to the fruit and run radially down from there. Sometimes these cracks scab over, leaving grooves that have a rough, weblike, brown skin. The latter (catfacing) usually shows up on the blossom end of the fruit, which is opposite the stem.

Sometimes a tomato will look picture perfect, only to reveal a puckered, lumpy bottom with a rough, weblike brown skin striped along the puckers; this is catfacing. Scientists don’t totally know what causes it, but theories include damage during pollination or incomplete pollination due to insects

such as thrips, extreme temperature fluctuations impacting pollination and growth hormone disruption due to heavy pruning. Tomato fruits (the part we eat) grow from pollinated tomato flowers, and so many of the theories about catfacing have to do with what happened during flowering and, especially pollination.

So, what can be done? In the case of cracking due to overwatering, the only solution I know of in our area is to grow tomatoes under the cover of a high-tunnel hoop house or greenhouse. (When you do this, you can still get cracking if you overwater via irrigation.) Tomatoes can grow very deep roots and are even “dry farmed” in some Western states where summer rains are nonexistent — seriously, they’re grown without rain or irrigation for most of their lives, and they’re superflavorful.

Tomatoes really don’t need to be watered every day, or even every few days once they’re established. In fact, they do much better with less frequent but very deep watering. So, if you notice cracking in a drier year, adjust how you water and see if that does the trick. Also, different varieties are more or less prone to cracking, so it can help to choose a crack-free or crack-resistant variety.

Now, on to the other possible reason for your funny-looking tomatoes: catfacing. Since the specific causes of catfacing aren’t completely understood, preventing and treating it is not an exact science. Generally speaking, larger-fruited and heirloom tomatoes are more prone to catfacing. So, if it’s really bad in your garden and/or it really bothers you, try smaller-fruited varieties, including newer and hybrid choices. The issue is pretty much nonexistent in cherry and grape tomatoes.

SEEING RED: The wet season can create all sorts of problems for tomatoes. In this month’s “Gardening with Xpress,” Chloe Lieberman takes readers through possible remedies. Photo by Lieberman

Since a few of the possible reasons for catfacing have to do with pollination conditions, you may be able to avoid it by planting your tomatoes at just the right time in spring. If temperatures fluctuate widely during pollination, this may cause catfacing and is generally hard on plants. Nailing the timing is tricky here, however, as our spring weather tends to be rather erratic.

Another of the theories behind this tomato distortion is that heavy pruning leads to reduced production of the growth hormones called auxins. Even if this is true, I don’t recommend limiting tomato pruning, since the plants are also very susceptible to fungal pathogens like early and late blight. I prune tomatoes heavily in order to improve airflow and prevent splashing of dirt onto leaves during heavy rains. I also mulch thickly to this effect. Both reduce blights. Perhaps pruning more lightly, but more frequently, could be a way to reap the benefits of pruning while decreasing the chances of hormone-induced catfacing.

Is it time to plant fall crops like broccoli and carrots?

Yes! We already sowed these seeds back in mid-July. Many fall and winter crops need to be started around that time, in midsummer. However, carrot varieties that need 60 or fewer days until maturity could still be planted now. Carrot seed germinates best in warm soil, but carrots become sweeter and more tender if they mature and

form roots in cooler conditions. Get carrot seeds started soon, and you could be harvesting them throughout the winter. For broccoli, at this point, I would suggest buying transplants rather than starting them directly from seed. They may not have enough warm weather left to get all the way from seed to floret if you begin the process now. Similar to carrots and most fall crops, broccoli will germinate and grow well in warm weather. But they taste the sweetest and most tender if it’s cool come harvest time. Be aware that many broccoli pests, most notably cabbage loopers and cabbage worms, are still quite active. You may want to cover your young broccoli plants or spray them with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to prevent little caterpillars from devouring them before you get a chance to. Cabbage and cauliflower are in the same boat as broccoli in terms of timing: At this point, choose transplants if you want to get a fall crop. Cousins of these tasty brassicas, kale and collards, could still be started from seed, either in pots or directly in the ground. Since kale and collards don’t form heads or florets, they don’t need as long between sowing and harvest.

Other fall crops that can be sown now are arugula, tatsoi, cold-tolerant lettuces, chard, turnips, radishes and spinach.

I planted winter squash a little late this year. Will they have time to ripen?

Most types of winter squash and pumpkins can take a long time to grow, set fruit and ripen. There are also earlier-maturing varieties, so my answer really depends on which variety you planted. However, it generally takes a winter squash plant about 50 days to two months to go from flower to mature fruit. Of course, you’ll see plenty of fruits forming from now until first frost, but only fully mature fruits will have the prime flavor for that variety. Plus, fully mature fruits can be cured and kept for several months, while immature fruits are prone to rotting.

One way to maximize your harvest of mature fruits is to do some pruning and thinning about four to six weeks before the first frost, early to mid-September here. This involves removing any very immature fruits and all flowers, plus snipping off the growing tips of all vines. The plant then puts all its energy into maturing the remaining fruits, rather than pumping life force into making more fruits or into ripening those that have no chance of fully maturing. Immature winter squash fruits and flowers are totally edible and, in many cases, quite tasty. Squash blossom soup is a delicious dish from Mesoamerica, and zucchinis are just immature fruits of squash varieties that were bred to be harvested at that stage. X

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUG. 27 - SEPT. 4, 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

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 (8/27, 9/3), 10:15am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Tai Chi Fan

The Fan forms include movements from Yang, Chen and Sun styles of Tai Chi. Fans will be provided for class if you don’t have your own.

WE (8/27, 9/3), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

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 (8/27, 9/3), 11:30am, 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.

TH (8/28), 9:30am, 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 exercises for health.

TH (8/28, 9/4), 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. It is considered a very high level of Tai Chi.

TH (8/28, 9/4), MO (9/1), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Thursday Evening Sound Baths

These sessions focus on nervous system regulation, energetic balance and seasonal, lunar and solar alignment.

TH (8/28), 7pm, Ritual Skin and Wellness, 802 Fairview Rd building 3000 Ste 11

Free Community Zumba Gold

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

FR (8/29), 10am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Intermediate Tai Chi Yang 24

Slow, gentle movements that promote good health.

FR (8/29), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

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

Yoga Hike

Enjoy a moderate one mile hike up to the summit of a scenic mountain top plus an hour of yoga for all levels and opportunities for lots of pictures before heading down.

SA (8/30), 9am, Bearwallow Mountain Trail, 4899 Bearwallow Mountain Rd, Hendersonville

Goat Yoga

Partake in a 45 minute all-levels yoga class and then take all the time you want to snuggle and take

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: Asheville Symphony hosts Symphony in the Park at Pack Square Park on Sunday, Aug. 31, starting at 7 p.m. The free concert features two standout guest artists: Asheville’s own Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo opens the show, and internationally acclaimed soprano Elizabeth Baldwin headlines with opera and Broadway classics. Photo courtesy of Asheville Symphony

selfies with your new goat friends.

SA (8/30), 9:30am, Candler

Free Community Qi

Gong

Qi Gong improves balance and coordination, enhances physical and emotional energy and promotes an experience of well-being.

SA (8/30), 11:30am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Pop-Up

Yoga Class

Toni, a certified Yoga instructor, leads a Hatha style flow, with a focus on building strength and promoting mindfulness.

SA (8/30), 1pm, World Dance Asheville, 1269 Tunnel Rd, Ste F

Yoga in the Park All-level friendly yoga classes based on Hatha & Vinyasa traditions. Classes led by a rotation of certified yoga instructors.

SA (8/30) , SU (8/31), 10am, West Asheville Park, 198 Vermont Ave

Sunday Morning Meditation Group

The Sunday Morning Meditation Group will gather for a

combination of silent sitting and walking meditation.

SU (8/31), 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 (8/31), 5pm, Asheville Happy Body, 25 Reed St, Ste 210

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 (9/1), 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 (9/2), 8:45am, YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave

Qigong for Health & Resilience

This class is an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to learn traditional Qigong exercises.

TU (9/2), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

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 (9/2), 9:30am, Cooperative Coffee Shop, 210 Haywood Rd

Nia Dance

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

TU (9/2), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Baguazhang Level 1 It is considered a very advanced style of Kung Fu with its complex use of geometry and physics.

TU (9/2), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

SUPPORT GROUPS

Virtual Listening Circle

This free virtual listening circle offers a judgement-free, trauma-informed spaced to gather, reset and reflect-together.

Register at avl.mx/f18.

WE (8/27, 9/3), noon Online

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 (8/27, 9/3), 6pm, Online

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 (8/28, 9/4), 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 (8/30), 2pm, First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St Parkinson’s Support Group

Monthly meeting for the Parkinson’s Support Group of Asheville. Relevant educational presentation and time to greet friends and meet new ones.

TU (9/2), 10am, Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd WNC Prostate Support Group

A forum for men, caregivers, family members, partners and supporters to attend no matter their current situation with prostate cancer. This month’s speaker is Dr Eric Kuehn with Mountain Radiation Oncology.

TU (9/2), 6:30pm, First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St

Stroke Support Group w/Stronger Together Wellness Stronger Together Wellness empowers stroke survivors and their caregivers through shared experiences, fostering a vibrant community that inspires healing, resilience and hope on the journey to recovery.

TH (9/4), 3pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

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 (9/4), 6pm, 12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Rd

Maternal Mental Health Support Group for Mommas w/Sistas Caring 4 Sistas Sistas Caring 4 Sistas invites you to an afternoon of mental health support.

TH (9/4), 6pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Av

Mountain Xpress 31st

X Awards 2025

Here’s

the other half

There are a number of ways to stay safe and productive on a construction site. Being aware of your surroundings is key. It’s also recommended to stay hydrated and take breaks.

Similar advice could be applied to mak

Whether you’re in downtown Asheville, Hendersonville, Sylva or Hot Springs (or anywhere in between), you’ll find plenty of local favorites, thanks to the survey’s nearly 600 categories voted on by local residents. Being alert and up to date on these top finishers is essential to a good time.

Of course, considering all your Best Of options is bound to get you thirsty. And hydration (as we’ve already established) is essential to staying healthy, safe and productive.

Lucky for you, dear reader, this week’s Best of WNC, Part II, includes one of the guide’s most popular sections: Drinks.

Whether you’re craving our region’s most popular mocktail, cocktail, coffee roaster’s brew or IPA — the Drinks section includes a detailed list of all the must-haves across multiple categories and counties.

Technically, this week’s issue marks the end of our hard-hat celebration of this year’s winners. But the fun will return in October when our 2025 Best of WNC pocket guide hits the streets. In the meantime, quench your thirst at one of the top vote-getter establishments and don’t forget to congratulate them on their win!

— Thomas Calder X

We have taken great care to ensure the accuracy of the Best of WNC listings, but if you have corrections, questions or suggestions, email us at bestofwnc@mountainx.com, or call 828-251-1333.

and third-place

PUBLISHER Jeff Fobes

• BALLOT OFFICIALS Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Emily Baughman, Thomas Calder, Brionna Dallara, Caitlin Donovan, Jeff Fobes, Susan Hutchinson, Caleb Johnson, Justin McGuire, Mark Murphy, Greg Parlier, Braulio Pescador-Martinez, Brooke Randle, Tracy Rose, Gina Smith, Lisa Watters • BEST OF WNC SUPPLEMENT DESIGN

• DESIGNERS Scott Southwick, Tina Gaafary, Olivia Urban

• LISTINGS EDITORS Caitlin Donovan, Mark Murphy, Lisa Watters

• COPY EDITOR Rob Mikulak • PHOTO COORDINATOR

• WRITERS Lisa Allen, Amrit Brown, Brionna Dallara, Thomas Calder, Caitlin Donovan, Susan Hutchinson, Justin McGuire, Brooke Randle, Tracy Rose, Gina Smith • AD SALES Emily Baughman, Sara Brecht, Dave Gayler • IT & WEB Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick, Brandon Tilley

• FRONT OFFICE/ACCOUNTING Caitlin Donovan, Amie Fowler, Mark Murphy, Lisa Watters

• DISTRIBUTION Susan Hutchinson, Kyle Ramser and a fantastic team of devoted drivers

• Copyright 2025 by Mountain Xpress

• COVER PHOTO RendezVous by Chad Truitt

• COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

EATS

VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN

Best Italian; best Pasta; best Restaurant in North Asheville; best Restaurant in South Asheville; second place Favorite Restaurant; third place Restaurant Comfort Food

FRET not, Best of WNC voters. You have meal options. Voters identified more than 150 restaurants they said represent the spirit of Asheville … plus about 270 comfort-food restaurants … 90 or so bakeries … 50 places to get a doughnut … a whopping 200 food trucks … and a healthy 75 or so establishments to find a veggie burger.

Favorite Restaurant always draws a crowd (of voters), being the ballot’s

most heavily voted category. And those passions run deep, with Nine Mile now riding an 11-year winning streak since it broke through to tie Cúrate for the distinction in 2015 — an honor it has held onto every year since then.

To judge by the turnout, this year’s voters are, by and large, morning people. The second-most heavily voted Eats category was Breakfast. Congratulations are due to Sunny

Point Café, now the matutinal cookshop of choice for 15 years straight. Be sure to check out the winners in this year’s two new Eats categories: Steak and Quiet Restaurant. Now, let us toast this year’s new Hall of Fame members: OWL Bakery/ Old World Levain (Bakery–Bread), Old Europe Pastries (Desserts), Leo’s House of Thirst (Restaurant Wine Selection) and Silverball Subs (Sub Shop).

— Gina Smith X

RESTAURANT THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF ASHEVILLE

1 NINE MILE x ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

w 751 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9903

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 828-676-1807

2 SUNNY POINT CAFÉ sunnypointcafe.com

w 626 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-0055

3 CHAI PANI chaipani.com d 32 Banks Ave., Asheville 828-254-4003

FAVORITE RESTAURANT

1 NINE MILE x ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

w 751 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9903

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 828-676-1807

2 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN vinniesitalian.com

n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

s 1981 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-630-8100

3 CÚRATE

curatetapasbar.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN (INCLUDING SOUTH SLOPE)

1 CHAI PANI chaipani.com

d 32 Banks Ave., Asheville 828-254-4003

2 CHESTNUT chestnutasheville.com

d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

3 CÚRATE

curatetapasbar.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

RESTAURANT IN THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT

1 THE BULL AND BEGGAR thebullandbeggar.com r 37 Paynes Way, Asheville 828-575-9443

2 BABY BULL babybullavl.com r 1 Roberts St., Asheville

3 WHITE DUCK TACO SHOP whiteducktacoshop.com

r 388 Riverside Drive, Asheville [Temporarily closed] 828-254-1398

RESTAURANT IN WEST ASHEVILLE

1 NINE MILE (WEST) x ninemileasheville.com

w 751 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9903

2 SUNNY POINT CAFÉ sunnypointcafe.com w 626 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-0055

3 BOTIWALLA botiwalla.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0163

3 THE ADMIRAL theadmiralasheville.com w 400 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-2541

RESTAURANT IN NORTH

ASHEVILLE

1 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN (NORTH) x vinniesitalian.com

n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

2 NINE MILE ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

3 LITTLE D’S eatatlittleds.com

n 952 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-412-3472

3 TALL JOHN’S talljohns.com n 152 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-782-5514

RESTAURANT IN EAST ASHEVILLE

1 COPPER CROWN x coppercrownavl.com

e 1011 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-505-7531

2 EAST VILLAGE GRILLE eastvillagegrille.com

e 1177 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-3743

3 RENDEZVOUS

ashevillerendezvous.com

e 184 New Haw Creek Road, Asheville 828-348-0909

RESTAURANT IN SOUTH ASHEVILLE

1 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN (SOUTH)

vinniesitalian.com

s 1981 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-630-8100

2 WILD GINGER PHO NOODLE BAR

wildgingernoodle.com

s 1950 Hendersonville Road, Suite 12, Asheville 828-676-1827

3 POST 25 KITCHEN & LOUNGE

post25avl.com

sa 2155 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-676-2577

BREAKFAST

1 SUNNY POINT CAFÉ x sunnypointcafe.com

w 626 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-0055

2 5 POINTS RESTAURANT 5pointsasheville.com

n 258 Broadway, Asheville 828-252-8030

3 BISCUIT HEAD biscuitheads.com

s 417 Biltmore Ave., Suite 4F, Asheville 828-505-3449

BRUNCH

1 SUNNY POINT CAFÉ x sunnypointcafe.com

w 626 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-0055

2 ALL DAY DARLING

alldaydarlingavl.com

n 102 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3701

3 CHESTNUT chestnutasheville.com

d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

LUNCH

1 ALL DAY DARLING alldaydarlingavl.com

n 102 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3701

2 TWISTED LAUREL twistedlaurel.com

d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

na 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

3 BOTIWALLA botiwalla.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0163

QUICK MEAL

1 BOTIWALLA botiwalla.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0163

d 22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville 828-424-7251

2 MAMACITA’S TAQUERIA mamacitastaqueria.com

d 77 Biltmore Ave., Suite 101, Asheville 828-255-8080

3 TACO BILLY tacobilly.com

w 201 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0088

RESTAURANT TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS TO

1 NINE MILE ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

w 751 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9903

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 828-676-1807

2 CÚRATE curatetapasbar.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

3 CHAI PANI chaipani.com d 32 Banks Ave., Asheville 828-254-4003

PEOPLE-WATCHING RESTAURANT

1 TWISTED LAUREL twistedlaurel.com

d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

na 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

2 MELLOW MUSHROOM mellowmushroom.com

d 50 Broadway, Asheville 828-236-9800

3 WICKED WEED BREWING wickedweedbrewing.com

d 91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-9599

RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW

1 SOPRANA ROOFTOP CUCINA sopranarooftop.com

d Embassy Suites, 192 Haywood St., Asheville 828-333-7006

2 HEMINGWAY’S

CUBA RESTAURANT & BAR hemingwayscuba.com d Cambria Hotel, 15 Page Ave., 4th Floor, Asheville 828-417-6866

3 SUNSET TERRACE avl.mx/3k8 n Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800

ALL DAY DARLING

Best Lunch; second place Brunch; second place Outdoor Dining

OUTDOOR DINING

1 TWISTED LAUREL twistedlaurel.com d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

na 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

2 ALL DAY DARLING alldaydarlingavl.com n 102 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3701

3 HAYWOOD COMMON haywoodcommon.com w 507 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-2542

3 LIBERTY HOUSE COFFEE & CAFE libertyhousecafe.com n 221 S. Liberty St., Asheville 828-505-2236

3 UNIVERSAL JOINT ujasheville.com w 784 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-7262

NEW RESTAURANT (OPENED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS)

1 HAIL MARY hailmaryavl.com w 575 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-424-7377

2 LUMINOSA luminosaavl.com

d The Flat Iron Hotel, 20 Battery Park Ave., Floor 1, Asheville 828-271-9808

ROMANTIC DINING

1 ZAMBRA x zambratapas.com d 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville 828-232-1060

2 SUNSET TERRACE avl.mx/3k8 n Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800

3 CÚRATE curatetapasbar.com d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

FINE DINING/UPSCALE

1 CÚRATE x curatetapasbar.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

2 PLANT plantisfood.com n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

3 CHESTNUT chestnutasheville.com

d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

QUIET RESTAURANT

1 ZAMBRA zambratapas.com

d 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville 828-232-1060

RESTAURANT WINE SELECTION

1 LEO’S HOUSE OF THIRST x leosavl.com w 1055 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-8017

2 ZAMBRA zambratapas.com d 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville 828-232-1060

3 CHESTNUT chestnutasheville.com d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

RESTAURANT COCKTAIL SELECTION

1 TALL JOHN’S talljohns.com n 152 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-782-5514

2 JETTIE RAE’S OYSTER HOUSE jettieraes.com n 143 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-505-4499

2 THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE goldenpineapplebar.com w 503 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-4458

3 CHESTNUT chestnutasheville.com

d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

1 SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO. saltfacemule.com

n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

2 ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. ashevillebrewing.com

n 675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-254-1281

d 77 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-255-4077

3 CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE creeksidetaphouse.com

e 8 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-575-2880

DINER/HOMESTYLE

1 5 POINTS RESTAURANT 5pointsasheville.com

n 258 Broadway, Asheville 828-252-8030

2 HOMEGROWN slowfoodrightquick.com

n 371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-4340

3 THE MED themedavl.com

d 57 College St., Asheville 828-258-0476

RESTAURANT COMFORT FOOD

1 HOMEGROWN slowfoodrightquick.com

n 371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-4340

2 ROCKY’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK rockyshotchickenshack.com

w 1455 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2260

sa 3749 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-676-3222

3 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN vinniesitalian.com n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

PUB GRUB

1 FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREW PUB foggymountainavl.com

d 12 Church St., Asheville 828-254-3008

2 WESTVILLE PUB westvillepub.com w 777 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-225-9782

3 JACK OF THE WOOD PUB jackofthewood.com

d 95 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-252-5445

BEST OF EATS

TAKEOUT

1 GAN SHAN WEST ganshanavl.com

w 285 Haywood Road, Suite 20, Asheville 828-417-7402

2 BOTIWALLA botiwalla.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0163

d 22 Battery Park Ave., Asheville 828-424-7251

3 ROCKY’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK rockyshotchickenshack.com

w 1455 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2260

LATE-NIGHT EATS

1 RANKIN VAULT COCKTAIL LOUNGE rankinvault.com

d 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville 828-254-4993

2 PIE.ZAA piezaapizzaasheville.com

d 46 Millard Ave., Asheville 828-440-0400

3 THE BARRELHOUSE avl.mx/4s4

n 1459 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-281-3613

BEST VALUE

1 5 POINTS RESTAURANT 5pointsasheville.com

n 258 Broadway, Asheville 828-252-8030

2 TRAILHEAD CAFE & BAKERY [Closed] trailheadcafebakery.com

a 18 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-6389

3 CORNERSTONE RESTAURANT cornerstonerest.com

e 102 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-236-0201

3 TACO BILLY tacobilly.com

w 201 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0088

BEST SERVICE

1 POTENTIAL NEW BOYFRIEND potentialnewbf.com

w 647 Haywood Road, Asheville

2 CHESTNUT

chestnutasheville.com

d 48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-2667

3 CÚRATE curatetapasbar.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

BARBECUE

1 LUELLA’S BAR-B-QUE luellasbbq.com

n 501 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-7427

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 33 Town Square Blvd., Suite 110, Asheville 828-676-3855

2 12 BONES SMOKEHOUSE 12bones.com

sa 2350 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-687-1395

3 BEAR’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ bearsbbq.com/asheville

d 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-7088

BURGER

1 BABY BULL babybullavl.com r 1 Roberts St., Asheville

2 FARM BURGER farmburger.com

d 10 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-348-8540

s 1831 Hendersonville Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-575-2393

3 JUICY LUCY’S BURGER BAR AND GRILL avl.mx/e0f s 620 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-277-0355

CÚRATE

Best Fine Dining/Upscale; second place Restaurant to Take Out-of-Towners to; third place Best Service; third place Favorite Restaurant; third place Restaurant in Downtown (including South Slope); third place Romantic Dining

BURRITO

1 MAMACITA’S TAQUERIA x mamacitastaqueria.com

d 77 Biltmore Ave., Suite 101, Asheville 828-255-8080

2 TACO TEMPLE mamacitastacotemple.com n 132 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-255-8098

3 NEO BURRITO neoburrito.com w 1341 Parkwood Road, Suite 106, Asheville 828-772-9602

FRENCH FRIES

1 RENDEZVOUS ashevillerendezvous.com

e 184 New Haw Creek Road, Asheville 828-348-0909

2 BABY BULL babybullavl.com

r 1 Roberts St., Asheville

3 BOUCHON [Closed] ashevillebouchon.com

d 62 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-350-1140

3 FARM BURGER farmburger.com

d 10 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-348-8540

FRIED CHICKEN

1 ROCKY’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK x rockyshotchickenshack.com

w 1455 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2260

sa 3749 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-676-3222

2 HOMEGROWN slowfoodrightquick.com n 371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-4340

3 TWISTED LAUREL (DOWNTOWN) twistedlaurel.com d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

HOT BAR/BUFFET

1 CHAI PANI chaipani.com d 32 Banks Ave., Asheville 828-254-4003

2 MELA INDIAN RESTAURANT melaasheville.com d 70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-225-8880

3 BLUE RIDGE ARTISANAL BUFFET avl.mx/4uw n Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

HOT DOGS

1 CELEBRITY’S HOTDOGS

avl.mx/4uz

s 1409 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-670-5954

2 HOT DOG WORLD hotdogworld.net

sa 226 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville 828-697-0374

3 THE HOT DOG KING thehotdogkings.com

sa 2603 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-676-2690

PASTA

1 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN x vinniesitalian.com

n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

s 1981 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-630-8100

2 STRADA ITALIANO stradaasheville.com

d 27 Broadway, Asheville 828-348-8448

3 NINE MILE ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

PIZZA

1 828 FAMILY PIZZERIA x 828pizzeria.com

n 946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-285-0709

2 ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.

ashevillebrewing.com

n 675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-254-1281

d 77 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-255-4077

3 PIZZA MIND

pizzamindavl.com w 285 Haywood Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-575-9181

RAMEN

1 ITTO RAMEN BAR & TAPAS x ittoramen.com

d 3 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-552-3288

sa 335 Airport Road, Suite 300, Arden 828-676-0558

w 630 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0860

2 GAN SHAN WEST ganshanavl.com w 285 Haywood Road, Suite 20, Asheville 828-417-7402

3 MIZU NOODLE mizuasheville.com

w 22 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-785-1818

3 Biltmore Ave, Asheville (828) 552-3288

630 Haywood Rd, Asheville (828) 505-0860

335 Airport Rd #300, Arden (828) 676-0558

Thank You for consistently voting for us in Best of WNC for 16 years!!! bring in this ad & get $10 off any tattoo or piercing

RIBS

1 12 BONES SMOKEHOUSE x 12bones.com

sa 2350 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-687-1395

2 BEAR’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ bearsbbq.com/asheville

d 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-7088

s Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-412-3453

3 LUELLA’S BAR-B-QUE luellasbbq.com

n 501 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-7427

SALAD

1 NINE MILE ninemileasheville.com

n 233 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-505-3121

w 751 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9903

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 828-676-1807

2 LAUGHING SEED CAFÉ [Closed] laughingseed.com

d 40 Wall St., Asheville 828-252-3445

3 APOLLO FLAME BISTRO apolloflamebistro.net

s 485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-3582

SANDWICH SHOP

1 ASHEVILLE SANDWICH CO. ashevillesandwichcompany.com

sa 330 Rockwood Road, Suite 103, Arden 828-676-0374

2 SILVERBALL SUBS silverballsubs.com

w 347 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-412-5281

3 ROMAN’S DELI & CATERING ieatlocal.com

d 75 Haywood St., Asheville 828-505-1552

SEAFOOD

1 JETTIE RAE’S OYSTER HOUSE x jettieraes.com

n 143 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-505-4499

2 THE LOBSTER TRAP thelobstertrap.biz

d 35 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-350-0505

3 MOTHER OCEAN SEAFOOD MARKET momavl.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-231-5607

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

STEAK

1 RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

ruths-chris.com/asheville

s 26 All Souls Crescent, Asheville 828-398-6200

2 ASHEVILLE PROPER ashevilleproper.com

d Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 151, Asheville 828-505-0909

3 LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE avl.mx/f1d

e 3 Restaurant Court, Asheville 828-225-2838

SOUTHERN

1 TUPELO HONEY x tupelohoneycafe.com

d 12 College St., Asheville 828-255-4863

s 1829 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-505-7676

2 HOMEGROWN slowfoodrightquick.com

n 371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-4340

3 ROCKY’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK rockyshotchickenshack.com

w 1455 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2260

SUSHI

1 ZEN SUSHI zen-sushi-asheville.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-225-6033

2 GREEN TEA SUSHI RESTAURANT greenteajapanese.com

w 2 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville 828-252-8300

3 WASABI JAPANESE RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR wasabiavl.com d 19 Broadway, Asheville 828-225-2551

TACO

1 TACO BILLY tacobilly.com

w 201 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0088

ea 117 Cherry St., Black Mountain 828-419-6336

2 TACO TEMPLE mamacitastacotemple.com n 132 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-255-8098

3 WHITE DUCK TACO SHOP whiteducktacoshop.com

d 12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-232-9191

Best Vegan Restaurant

1st Place (Hall

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

2nd

BABY BULL

Best Burger; second place French Fries; second place Restaurant in the River Arts District

SUB SHOP

1 SILVERBALL SUBS x silverballsubs.com w 347 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-412-5281

2 JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS jerseymikes.com

w 1341 Parkwood Road, Suite 103, Asheville 828-271-4612

e 104A River Hills Road, Asheville 828-298-6453

3 OLD SCHOOL SUBS & DELI oldschoolsubsavl.com

s 55 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 131, Asheville 828-277-7750

VEGAN

1 PLANT x plantisfood.com n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

2 THE SMOKIN’ ONION thesmokinonion.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Suite E, Asheville

3 LAUGHING SEED CAFÉ [Closed] laughingseed.com

d 40 Wall St., Asheville 828-252-3445

VEGETARIAN

1 LAUGHING SEED CAFÉ [Closed] laughingseed.com d 40 Wall St., Asheville 828-252-3445

2 PLANT plantisfood.com n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

3 ROSETTA’S KITCHEN rosettaskitchen.com d 68 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-232-0738

WINGS

1 HAYWOOD LOUNGE avl.mx/pry3 w 590 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-232-4938

2 EAST VILLAGE GRILLE eastvillagegrille.com e 1177 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-3743

3 WILD WING CAFÉ wildwingcafe.com sa 65 Long Shoals Road, Arden 828-691-9464 CHINESE

1 RED GINGER DIMSUM & TAPAS x redgingerasheville.com d 82 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-505-8688

2 GAN SHAN WEST ganshanavl.com w 285 Haywood Road, Suite 20, Asheville 828-417-7402

3 ORIENTAL PAVILION orientalpavilionnc.com n 50 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 101, Asheville 828-236-3839

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

LUELLA’S BAR-B-QUE

Best Barbecue; third place Ribs

FRENCH

1 RENDEZVOUS ashevillerendezvous.com

e 184 New Haw Creek Road, Asheville

828-348-0909

2 BOUCHON [Closed] ashevillebouchon.com

d 62 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-350-1140

3 ISA’S FRENCH BISTRO [Closed] isasbistro.com

d 1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville 828-575-9636

GREEK

1 APOLLO FLAME BISTRO x apolloflamebistro.net

s 485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-3582

s 1025 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-665-0080

2 STONEY KNOB CAFÉ stoneyknobcafe.com

na 337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-645-3309

3 GYPSY QUEEN CUISINE gypsyqueencuisine.com

w 807 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2758

ITALIAN

1 VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN x vinniesitalian.com

n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

s 1981 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-630-8100

2 STRADA ITALIANO stradaasheville.com

d 27 Broadway, Asheville 828-348-8448

3 CUCINA 24 [Closed]

d 24 Wall St., Asheville 828-254-6170

LATIN AMERICAN

1 LA RUMBA larumbaavl.com

e River Hills Shopping Center, 105 River Hills Road, Suite C, Asheville 828-505-2128

2 LITTLE CHANGO littlechango.com

d 134 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-2758

3 COUSINS CUBAN CAFE cousinscubancafe.com

ea 108 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain 828-357-5513

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

BEST OF EATS

PLANT

Best Vegan; second place Fine Dining/Upscale; second place Green/Sustainability-Friendly Restaurant; second place Healthiest Food; second place Special Diet Options (Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, etc.); second place Vegetarian

MEXICAN

1 EL QUE PASA elquepasa.net w 891 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-255-2227

2 LA RUMBA larumbaavl.com

e River Hills Shopping Center, 105 River Hills Road, Suite C, Asheville 828-505-2128

2 TAQUERIA MUÑOZ taqueriamunoz.com w 1438 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-412-3331

s 400 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-505-0202

MIDDLE EASTERN

1 GYPSY QUEEN CUISINE x gypsyqueencuisine.com w 807 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-575-2758

2 JERUSALEM GARDEN CAFÉ jerusalemgardencafe.com

d 78 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-254-0255

3 MR. KABAB mrkababgrill.com

e 801 Fairview Road, Suite 4, Asheville 828-505-3113

INDIAN

1 CHAI PANI chaipani.com

d 32 Banks Ave., Asheville 828-254-4003

2 MELA INDIAN RESTAURANT melaasheville.com

d 70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-225-8880

3 BOTIWALLA botiwalla.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0163

JAPANESE

1 GREEN TEA SUSHI RESTAURANT greenteajapanese.com

w 2 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville 828-252-8300

1 UKIAH JAPANESE SMOKEHOUSE ukiahrestaurant.com

d 121 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-470-7480

2 HEIWA SHOKUDO heiwashokudo.net

d 87 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-7761

3 WASABI JAPANESE RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR wasabiavl.com

d 19 Broadway, Asheville 828-225-2551

3 ZEN SUSHI zen-sushi-asheville.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-225-6033

THAI

1 THAI PEARL RESTAURANT thaipearlasheville.com

w 747 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-412-5905

2 PAD THAI padthaiasheville.com w 18 Sardis Road, Asheville 828-667-8505

3 BEE THAI KITCHEN beethaikitchen.com d 45 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville 828-573-5328

3 SIAM THAI RESTAURANT avl.mx/3l4

n 100 Stone Ridge Blvd., Asheville 828-645-0155

RESTAURANT STILL NEEDED IN ASHEVILLE

1 A GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANT

2 AUTHENTIC JEWISH DELI

3 VIETNAMESE

SPECIAL DIET OPTIONS (GLUTEN-FREE, LACTOSE-FREE, ETC.)

1 POSANA x posanarestaurant.com d 1 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-505-3969

2 PLANT plantisfood.com n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

3 THE SMOKIN’ ONION thesmokinonion.com w 697 Haywood Road, Suite E, Asheville

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

We serve authentic Thai food that tastes just like you’re eating in Thailand – what we proudly call Thai street food.

Specialties Include:

Khao Kha Moo

Hainan chicken rice

Khao Soi

Crying tiger with papaya salad

Padthai Jumbo shrimp

Mango sticky rice now in season - a must try!

BEST OF EATS

Fish Seller

VEGGIE BURGER

1 FARM BURGER

farmburger.com

d 10 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-348-8540

s 1831 Hendersonville Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-575-2393

2 THE SMOKIN’ ONION thesmokinonion.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Suite E, Asheville

3 ROSETTA’S KITCHEN rosettaskitchen.com

d 68 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-232-0738

1 GREEN SAGE CAFE x greensagecafe.com

d 5 Broadway, Asheville 828-252-4450

s 1800 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-4450

n 633 Merrimon Ave., Suite A, Asheville 828-417-7859

2 PLANT plantisfood.com

n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

3 PULP + SPROUT JUICE BAR AND VEGAN CAFE pulpandsprout.com

n 233 S. Liberty St., Asheville 828-412-5701

LOCAL-FOOD EMPHASIS

1 HOMEGROWN x slowfoodrightquick.com

n 371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-4340

2 THE MARKET PLACE marketplace-restaurant.com

d 20 Wall St., Asheville 828-252-4162

3 TABLE tableasheville.com

d 18 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-8980

HEALTHIEST FOOD

1 GREEN SAGE CAFE greensagecafe.com

d 5 Broadway, Asheville 828-252-4450

s 1800 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-4450

n 633 Merrimon Ave., Suite A, Asheville 828-417-7859

2 LAUGHING SEED CAFÉ [Closed] laughingseed.com

d 40 Wall St., Asheville 828-252-3445

2 PLANT plantisfood.com

n 165 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-7500

3 PULP + SPROUT JUICE BAR AND VEGAN CAFE pulpandsprout.com

n 233 S. Liberty St., Asheville 828-412-5701

DESSERTS

1 OLD EUROPE PASTRIES x oldeuropepastries.com d 18 Broadway, Asheville 828-255-5999

2 CRAVE DESSERT BAR cravedessertbar.com

d 41 N. Lexington Ave., Suite 100, Asheville 828-254-1974

3 FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATES frenchbroadchocolates.com

d 10 S. Pack Square, Asheville 828-252-4181

LOCAL COOKIE MAKER

1 BACK PORCH BAKING CO. backporchbaking.com • Asheville 828-767-2189

1 WELL-BRED BAKERY & CAFÉ wellbredbakery.com

na 26 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-9300

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

ICE CREAM

1 THE HOP ICE CREAM CAFE x hopicecreamnc.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Suite 103, Asheville 828-254-2224

ea 114 Cherry St., Black Mountain 828-357-5461

w 721 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-5155

2 SUNSHINE SAMMIES

sunshinesammies.com

d 99 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-505-2852

2 THE FREEZE OF ASHEVILLE avl.mx/be9

w 1091 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-252-4234

3 HILLTOP ICE CREAM SHOP avl.mx/9ks ea 520 Old U.S. Highway 74, Fairview 828-470-8083 FROZEN TREATS OTHER THAN ICE CREAM

1 WHIT’S FROZEN CUSTARD x whitscustard.com

n 565 Merrimon Ave., Asheville

828-412-3038

s 1840 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-412-3042

sa 602 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville 828-595-2118

2 JEREMIAH’S ITALIAN ICE jeremiahsice.com n 705 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-4400

3 PELICAN’S SNOBALLS pelicanssnoballs.com s 2601 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-925-0092

1141 Tunnel Road  E

828-298-3514 • Asheville

225 Charlotte Highway E 828-298-2160 • Asheville 29 Tunnel Road  E

828-253-1528 • Asheville

550 Highway 9  E

828-669-6700 • Black Mountain

915 Merrimon Ave.  N

828-253-1326 • Asheville

499 Weaverville Road  N 828-645-4521

CHOCOLATE

1 FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATES x frenchbroadchocolates.com

d 10 S. Pack Square, Asheville 828-252-4181

n 821 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-348-5187

2 THE CHOCOLATE FETISH

chocolatefetish.com

d 36 Haywood St., Asheville 828-258-2353

3 ASHEVILLE CHOCOLATE avlchocolate.com

d 25 Broadway, Asheville 828-505-6609

DOUGHNUTS

1 HOLE DOUGHNUTS x hole-doughnuts.com

w 168 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-774-5667

2 VORTEX DOUGHNUTS

avl.mx/eol

d 32 Banks Ave., Suite 106, Asheville 828-552-3010

3 AVA’S DONUTS

avl.mx/ez7

s 26 Carl Alwin Place, Unit 20, Asheville 828-676-1884

Stores in Buncombe County

BEST OF EATS

THE SMOKIN’ ONION

Best Food Truck; second place Vegan; second place Veggie Burger; third place Special Diet Options (Gluten-Free, Lactose-Free, etc.)

BISCUITS

1 BISCUIT HEAD x biscuitheads.com

s 417 Biltmore Ave., Suite 4F, Asheville 828-505-3449

w 733 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-333-5145

s 1994 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-585-2055

2 FLOUR

swmarketavl.com

d The S&W Market, 56 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-333-4432

3 BLUE RIDGE BISCUIT CO. blueridgebiscuitcompany.com

ea 601 W. State St., Suite 4, Black Mountain 828-357-8501

BAGELS

1 JOEY’S NEW YORK BAGELS

joeysnybagels.com

n 707 Merrimon Ave., Suite B, Asheville 828-505-0264

sa 1500 Haywood Road, Hendersonville 828-692-1220

sa 5829 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville 828-376-3692

2 BRUEGGER’S BAGELS brueggers.com

n 671 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-254-1560

s 160 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-277-1070

3 HONEYBADGER BAKES avl.mx/f1c

Various farmers markets, Asheville

BAKERY (SWEETS/DESSERTS)

1 OLD EUROPE PASTRIES oldeuropepastries.com

d 18 Broadway, Asheville 828-255-5999

2 OLD WORLD LEVAIN (OWL) BAKERY owlbakery.com

w 295 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-283-0813

n 197 Charotte St., Asheville

3 WELL-BRED BAKERY & CAFÉ wellbredbakery.com

na 26 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-9300

BAKERY (BREAD)

1 OLD WORLD LEVAIN (OWL) BAKERY x owlbakery.com

w 295 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-283-0813

n 197 Charotte St., Asheville

2 CITY BAKERY CAFÉ citybakery.net

n 88 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-254-4289

3 MOTHER motheravl.com

d 244 Short Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-1003

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

FRESH FISH SELLER

1 MOTHER OCEAN SEAFOOD MARKET momavl.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-231-5607

2 THE CHOP SHOP BUTCHERY chopshopbutchery.com

n 100 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-505-3777

3 LOCALS SEAFOOD localsseafood.com

w WNC Farmers Market, Asheville 919-675-2722

FRESH MEAT SELLER

1 THE CHOP SHOP BUTCHERY x chopshopbutchery.com

n 100 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-505-3777

2 HICKORY NUT GAP FARM hickorynutgap.com

ea 57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview 828-628-1027

3 M&M MEATLOCKER mandmmeats.com

sa 1825 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville 828-692-3558

FOOD TRUCK

1 THE SMOKIN’ ONION thesmokinonion.com

w 697 Haywood Road, Suite E, Asheville

2 GUAJIRO CUBAN COMFORT FOOD guajiroasheville.com

s Hi-Wire Brewing, Biltmore Village Taproom, 2A Huntsman Place, Asheville 786-202-8961

3 EL KIMCHI avl.mx/4v3 M Asheville • 828-551-6775

CATERING COMPANY

1 THE RED RADISH redradish.com

ea 404 E. State St., Suite B, Black Mountain 828-301-5999

2 DAPHNE’S CATERING CO. daphnescatering.com

na 285 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-423-0716

3 67 BILTMORE DOWNTOWN EATERY & CATERING 67biltmore.com

d 67 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-252-1500

LOCAL MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE

1 TAKEOUT CENTRAL AVL takeoutcentral.com M Asheville • 828-252-1221

2 KICKBACK AVL kickbackavl.com

d 20 Battery Park Ave., Suite 807, Asheville 828-585-6903

BEST OF EATS

CHEESEMAKER/ CHEESE DAIRY

1 DARË VEGAN CHEESE darevegancheese.com

a 12 Locust Cove Road, Weaverville 828-484-8345

2 THREE GRACES DAIRY

3gracesdairy.com

na 335 Milky Way, Marshall 828-656-2195

3 LOOKING GLASS CREAMERY

lookingglasscreamery.com

sa 115 Harmons Dairy Lane, Columbus 828-222-0751

LOCALLY MADE CBD TREATS

1 FRANNY’S FARMACY x frannysfarmacy.com

n 211 Merrimon Ave., Suite 111, Asheville 828-505-7105

w 645 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-0446

sa 128 Henderson Crossing Plaza, Hendersonville 828-697-7300

2 APOTHECA apotheca.org

d 85 Patton Ave., Asheville 980-759-3534

d 21 Battery Park Ave., Suite 103, Asheville 980-759-3534

2 ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY avldispensary.com

w 919 Haywood Road, Suite 111, Asheville 828-335-2696

MANNA FOODBANK

Best Nonprofit Helping With Hunger Issues; second place Nonprofit That Improves Asheville; second place Nonprofit That Serves the Underprivileged

LOCAL

FOOD PRODUCT

1 LUSTY MONK MUSTARD lustymonk.com o Asheville • 828-645-5056

2 POPPY HANDCRAFTED POPCORN poppyhandcraftedpopcorn.com o Asheville • 828-552-3149

CHEF

1 KATIE BUTTON (CÚRATE) x katiebutton.com

d 13 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-239-2946

2 BRIAN CANIPELLI (CUCINA 24) Sadly, Brian Canipelli passed away.

d 24 Wall St., Asheville 828-254-6170

2 TOM LAFAUCI (TWISTED LAUREL) twistedlaureldowntownasheville.com d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

3 SILVER IOCOVOZZI (NENG JR.’S) nengjrs.com w 701 Haywood Road, Suite 102, Asheville 828-552-3880

LOCAL FOOD FESTIVAL OR EVENT

1 ASHEVILLE VEGAN FEST ashevilleveganfest.com d Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville 984-233-6313

2 ASHEVILLE GREEK FESTIVAL (HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH) avlgreekfest.com n 227 Cumberland Ave., Asheville 828-253-3754

3 AIR TASTE OF ASHEVILLE airasheville.org • Asheville 828-575-9220

NONPROFIT HELPING WITH HUNGER ISSUES

1 MANNA FOODBANK x mannafoodbank.org sa 99 Broadpointe Drive, Mills River 828-299-3663

2 BOUNTY & SOUL bountyandsoul.org ea 999 Old U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-419-0533

3 BELOVED ASHEVILLE belovedasheville.com

e 32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-571-0766

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

DRINKS

CAPELLA ON 9

Best Hotel Bar; second place Bar With a View

THERE’S no disputing that Asheville is a beer town. But the 2025 Best of WNC results indicate that it’s also a coffee capital. Nearly the same number of readers cast ballots in the coffee-related categories as in the top vote-getting beer categories this year! Other nonalcoholic libations also seem to have impressive local fan bases. Tipplers may be surprised to learn that there were more votes cast for favorite Place to Drink Tea

— won again this year by Hall of Fame member Dobra Tea — than in the Cocktails category, which was won by Antidote. Of course, now that Antidote also has a daytime coffee and tea bar, it can compete in both categories! Smoothies/Juices also garnered more voter attention than many alcoholic drinks categories, as did the newbie category Bubble Tea. And Mocktails or Nonalcoholic Options, won by The Mule at Devil’s Foot

Beverage Co., drew exactly the same number of votes as Distillery, won by Chemist. It could be that Devil’s Foot somehow attracts tie votes — the soda maker’s Sparkling Cherry Limeade and Ginger Beer flavors tied for the top slot in the Local Nonalcoholic Drink or Soda category.

Cheers to the newest Drinks Hall of Fame member: Olde London Road English Pub (Sports Bar).

— Gina Smith X

BAR THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF ASHEVILLE

1 THE ODD x theoddasheville.com w 1045 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9299

2 THE CROW & QUILL thecrowandquill.com d 106 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville

3 THE DOUBLE CROWN avl.mx/9mu w 375 Haywood Road, Asheville

NEIGHBORHOOD BARDOWNTOWN (INCLUDING SOUTH SLOPE)

1 RANKIN VAULT COCKTAIL LOUNGE rankinvault.com d 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville 828-254-4993

2 BURIAL BEER CO. burialbeer.com d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville 828-475-2739

3 ANTIDOTE antidote.bar d 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-2882

NEIGHBORHOOD BARRIVER ARTS DISTRICT

1 CRUCIBLE avl.mx/9ww r 140 Roberts St., Suite A, Asheville 828-575-9995

2 WEDGE BREWING CO. wedgebrewing.com r 37 Paynes Way, Suite 001, Asheville 828-505-2792

3 ANOCHE avl.mx/pry9 r 176 Clingman Ave., Asheville

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

BEST OF DRINKS

NEIGHBORHOOD BAR -

SOUTH

SHILOH & GAINES

shilohandgaines.com

700 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-412-5836

HILLMAN BEER

hillmanbeer.com

25 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-505-1312

THIRSTY MONK BREWERY

avl.mx/bwb

Biltmore Park Town Square, 2 Town Square Blvd., Suite 170, Asheville 828-687-3873

POST 25 KITCHEN & LOUNGE

post25avl.com

2155 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-676-2577

NEIGHBORHOOD BARWEST

WESTVILLE PUB x westvillepub.com

777 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-225-9782

CHARACTER STUDY

characterstudybar.com

797 Haywood Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-579-1008

THE DOUBLE CROWN

avl.mx/9mu

375 Haywood Road, Asheville

NEIGHBORHOOD BARNORTH

LITTLE JUMBO x littlejumbobar.com

241 Broadway, Asheville 828-417-4783

SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO.

saltfacemule.com

450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

FRAZIER’S TAVERN avl.mx/4wd

389 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-258-9828

THE SOCIAL

Best Neighborhood Bar - East

NEIGHBORHOOD BAREAST

1 THE SOCIAL x thesocialasheville.com

e 1078 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-367-9062

2 CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE

creeksidetaphouse.com

e 8 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-575-2880

3 THE WHALE OUTPOST thewhaleavl.com

e 2 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-505-1701

BARTENDER

1 JENNIE LOU NELSON x

2 JOSH MARCH (VINNIE’S NEIGHBORHOOD ITALIAN) vinniesitalian.com n 641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-1077

3 CATHERINE MERIWETHER (27 CLUB AND ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL & THE ONE STOP) avl.mx/ezf d Asheville

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC

1 THE GREY EAGLE

thegreyeagle.com

r 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville 828-232-5800

2 JACK OF THE WOOD PUB jackofthewood.com

d 95 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-252-5445

3 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

BAR WITH A VIEW

1 THE MONTFORD ROOFTOP BAR x themontford.com

d DoubleTree by Hilton, 199 Haywood St., Asheville 828-505-8750

2 CAPELLA ON 9 capellaon9.com

d AC Hotel, 10 Broadway, 9th Floor, Asheville 828-258-2522

3 HEMINGWAY’S CUBA RESTAURANT & BAR hemingwayscuba.com

d Cambria Hotel, 15 Page Ave., 4th Floor, Asheville 828-417-6866

BAR WITH GAMES

1 WELL PLAYED BOARD GAME CAFÉ wellplayedasheville.com

d 162 Coxe Ave., Suite 101, Asheville 828-412-5788

2 ASHEVILLE RETROCADE ashevilleretrocade.com

w 800 Haywood Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-575-9488

3 THE DRAFTSMAN thedraftsmanasheville.com

d The Restoration Hotel, 68 Patton Ave., Asheville 855-568-6800

LGBTQ+ FRIENDLY BAR

1 THE ODD x theoddasheville.com

w 1045 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9299

2 BANKS AVE. avl.mx/a82

d 32 Banks Ave., Suite 101, Asheville 828-785-1458

3 O.HENRY’S ohenrysofasheville.com

d 237 Haywood St., Asheville 828-254-1891

3 SHAKEY’S II avl.mx/f1w

d 38 N. French Broad Ave., Asheville 828-782-5282

BEST OF DRINKS

HOTEL BAR

1 CAPELLA ON 9 x capellaon9.com

d AC Hotel, 10 Broadway, 9th Floor, Asheville 828-258-2522

2 THE MONTFORD ROOFTOP BAR themontford.com

d DoubleTree by Hilton, 199 Haywood St., Asheville 828-505-8750

3 THE ROOF theradicalavl.com

r The Radical, 95 Roberts St., Asheville 828-412-0200

DIVE BAR

1 BURGER BAR x

avl.mx/9kq

r 1 Craven St., Asheville 828-424-7600

2 THE DOUBLE CROWN avl.mx/9mu

w 375 Haywood Road, Asheville

3 THE LAZY DIAMOND avl.mx/dgp

d 98 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 866-289-5977

WELL PLAYED BOARD GAME CAFÉ

SPORTS BAR

1 OLDE LONDON ROAD PUB x olrpub.com

r 270 Depot St., Asheville

2 ASHEVILLE SPORTS CLUB ashevillesportsclub.com

d 137 Coxe Ave., Asheville

3 THE BIER GARDEN ashevillebiergarden.com

d 46 Haywood St., Asheville 828-285-0002

UPSCALE BAR

1 ANTIDOTE antidote.bar

d 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-2882

2 LITTLE JUMBO littlejumbobar.com

n 241 Broadway, Asheville 828-417-4783

3 THE TIMES BAR thetimesbarasheville.com

d The S&W Market, 56 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-774-5028

BAR OR BREWERY THAT GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

1 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. x highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO. newbelgium.com

r 21 Craven St., Asheville 828-333-6900

3 SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO. saltfacemule.com

n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

WINE BAR

1 5 WALNUT WINE BAR x 5walnut.com

d 5 Walnut St., Asheville 828-253-2593

2 LEO’S HOUSE OF THIRST leosavl.com

w 1055 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-8017

3 PINK MOON BAR avl.mx/f1x w 375 Haywood Road, Asheville

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

BEST OF DRINKS

LOCAL WINERY

1 BILTMORE WINERY

avl.mx/9je

s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812

2 MARKED TREE

markedtreevineyard.com

s Aloft Asheville Downtown, 14 Aston St., Asheville 828-424-7131

sa 623 Deep Gap Road, Flat Rock 828-513-3773

3 PLĒB URBAN WINERY [Closed] pleburbanwinery.com r 289 Lyman St., Asheville 828-774-5062

WINE STORE

1 METRO WINES x metrowinesasheville.com

n 169 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-575-9525

2 APPALACHIAN VINTNER appalachianvintner.com s 745 Biltmore Ave., Suite 121, Asheville 828-505-7500

3 TABLE WINE

tablewineasheville.com

s 1550 Hendersonville Road, Suite 102, Asheville 828-505-8588

5 WALNUT WINE BAR

Best Wine Bar

COCKTAILS

1 ANTIDOTE antidote.bar d 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-2882

2 LITTLE JUMBO littlejumbobar.com n 241 Broadway, Asheville 828-417-4783

3 CULTIVATED COCKTAILS cultivated-cocktails.com

e 161 Charlotte Highway, Suite A, Asheville 828-338-9759

DISTILLERY

1 CHEMIST SPIRITS x chemistspirits.com d 151 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-263-6943

2 EDA RHYNE DISTILLING CO. edarhyne.com s 101 Fairview Road, Suite A, Asheville 828-412-5441

3 CULTIVATED COCKTAILS cultivated-cocktails.com e 161 Charlotte Highway, Suite A, Asheville 828-338-9759

BLOODY MARY

1 SUNNY POINT CAFÉ sunnypointcafe.com w 626 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-0055

2 RANKIN VAULT COCKTAIL LOUNGE rankinvault.com d 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville 828-254-4993

MARGARITA

1 ANOCHE avl.mx/pry9 r 176 Clingman Ave., Asheville

2 MOUNTAIN MADRE mountainmadreavl.com

d 13 W. Walnut St., Asheville 828-251-8879

3 LIMONES limonesrestaurant.com

d 15 Eagle St., Asheville 828-252-2327

CIDERY

1 BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER x boldrock.com

sa 72 School House Road, Mills River 828-595-9940

2 NOBLE CIDER noblecider.com

w 356 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-575-9622

3 URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. urbanorchardcider.com

d 24 Buxton Ave., Asheville 828-505-7243

LOCAL CIDER

1 THE VILLAGE TART CHERRY CIDER (NOBLE CIDER) x noblecider.com w 356 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-575-9622

2 THE SPICE MERCHANT HARD CIDER WITH CHAI (NOBLE CIDER) noblecider.com w 356 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-575-9622

3 BLACKBERRY (BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER) boldrock.com

sa 72 School House Road, Mills River 828-595-9940

BAR: LOCAL BEER SELECTION (EXCLUDING BREWERIES)

1 THE WHALE ::

A CRAFT BEER COLLECTIVE x thewhaleavl.com

w 507 Haywood Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-575-9888

e 2 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-505-1701

d 21 Buxton Ave., Asheville 828-412-3072

2 TWISTED LAUREL twistedlaurel.com

d 130 College St., Asheville 828-552-3240

na 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

3 THE BIER GARDEN ashevillebiergarden.com

d 46 Haywood St., Asheville 828-285-0002

BAR: UNUSUAL BEER SELECTION (EXCLUDING BREWERIES)

1 THE WHALE :: A CRAFT BEER COLLECTIVE x thewhaleavl.com w 507 Haywood Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-575-9888

e 2 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-505-1701

d 21 Buxton Ave., Asheville 828-412-3072

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

LOCAL ALL-ROUND BREWERY (FOR ITS BEERS)

1 BURIAL BEER CO.

burialbeer.com

d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville

828-475-2739

s 10 Shady Oak Drive, Asheville

1 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 HI-WIRE BREWING (SOUTH SLOPE) hiwirebrewing.com

d 197 Hilliard Ave., Asheville 828-738-2452

s 2A Huntsman Place, Asheville 828-738-2451

3 HILLMAN BEER hillmanbeer.com

s 25 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-505-1312

BREWERY (FOR ITS TAPROOM & ATMOSPHERE)

1 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. x highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. sierranevada.com

sa 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River 828-708-6242

3 BURIAL BEER CO. burialbeer.com

d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville 828-475-2739

FAMILY-FRIENDLY BAR OR BREWERY

1 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. x highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO. newbelgium.com

r 21 Craven St., Asheville 828-333-6900

3 SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. sierranevada.com

sa 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River 828-708-6242

CREATIVE, EXPERIMENTAL BREWERY

1 BURIAL BEER CO. x burialbeer.com

d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville 828-475-2739

s 10 Shady Oak Drive, Asheville

2 DSSOLVR dssolvr.com

d 63 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville

3 GINGER’S REVENGE gingersrevenge.com

n 829 Riverside Drive, Suite 100, Asheville 828-505-2462

LOCAL BEER (ANY STYLE)

1 GAELIC ALE (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) x highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 MOSEY ON OVER (SALT FACE MULE BREWING) saltfacemule.com n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

3 PERNICIOUS IPA (WICKED WEED BREWING) wickedweedbrewing.com d 91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-9599

3 SURF WAX IPA (BURIAL BEER CO.) burialbeer.com d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville 828-475-2739 LOCAL DARK BEER 1 GREEN MAN PORTER (GREEN MAN BREWERY) greenmanbrewery.com d 27 Buxton Ave., Asheville 828-989-7453

2 OATMEAL PORTER (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

3 BED OF NAILS BROWN ALE (HI-WIRE BREWING) hiwirebrewing.com s 2A Huntsman Place, Asheville 828-738-2451

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

BEST OF DRINKS

1 MAIZE RUNNER (SALT FACE MULE BREWING) saltfacemule.com

n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

2 LEISURE TIME LAGER (HI-WIRE BREWING) hiwirebrewing.com

s 2A Huntsman Place, Asheville 828-738-2451

3 MOUNTAIN TIME (NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.) newbelgium.com

w 21 Craven St., Asheville 828-333-6900 LOCAL SOUR BEER

1 BLACK ANGEL (WICKED WEED BREWING) x wickedweedbrewing.com d 91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-9599

LOCAL IPA

1 SURF WAX IPA (BURIAL BEER CO.) burialbeer.com d 40 Collier Ave., Asheville 828-475-2739

2 AVL IPA (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

3 PERNICIOUS IPA (WICKED WEED BREWING) wickedweedbrewing.com d 91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-575-9599

SEASONAL BEER

1 COLD MOUNTAIN (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) x highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 CASH CROP SWEET POTATO BROWN ALE (SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO.) saltfacemule.com n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

3 CLAWHAMMER OKTOBERFEST (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

One of the Best in four categories:

Brewery That Gives Back to the Community

Family-Friendly Brewery

Pet-Friendly Bar or Brewery

Local Lager, Mountain Time

Shift gears, get weird

World's greatest costumed bike parade

Supporting Reserve your spot on our newly relaunched tour route!

BREWERY TOURS ARE BACK!

Rentable spaces for gatherings large and small.

LOCAL NONALCOHOLIC DRINK OR SODA

1 DEVIL’S FOOT CLASSIC GINGER BEER devilsfootbrew.com

s 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-357-7601

1 DEVIL’S FOOT SPARKLING CHERRY LIMEADE devilsfootbrew.com

s 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-357-7601

2 DEVIL’S FOOT FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT SPARKLING LEMONADE devilsfootbrew.com

s 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-357-7601

BREWMASTER

1 DAVE BYER (DIATRIBE BREWING CO.)

diatribebrewing.com

w 1042 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-424-7296

2 RAY DOBENS (SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO.)

saltfacemule.com

n 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

3 BRAD HILLMAN (HILLMAN BEER) hillmanbeer.com

s 25 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-505-1312

SOVEREIGN KAVA

Best Kava Bar; third place CBD Drinks/Health Elixirs; best Open-Mic-Night Venue, in Arts & Entertainment section

FAVORITE LOCAL BEER EVENT

1 COLD MOUNTAIN RELEASE (HIGHLAND BREWING CO.) x highlandbrewing.com

e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

2 AVL BEER WEEK (ASHEVILLE BEER WEEK) avlbeerweek.com Various Locations, Asheville

3 BURNPILE AT BURIAL BEER CO. burialbeer.com

s Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp Facility, 10 Shady Oak Drive, Asheville

BEER STORE

1 APPALACHIAN VINTNER x appalachianvintner.com

s 745 Biltmore Ave., Suite 121, Asheville 828-505-7500

2 LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP local604avl.com w 604 Haywood Road, Suite 2, Asheville 828-417-7002

3 THE BLUE DOOR BOTTLESHOP & BEER HALL thebluedoorhvl.com sa 146 Third Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-290-4191

COFFEEHOUSE FOR ITS VIBE

1 ROWAN COFFEE rowancoffee.com d 66 Broadway, Asheville 828-552-3151

2 THE DRIPOLATOR COFFEEHOUSE avl.mx/3w7 ea 221 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0999

s Gerber Village, 20 Gala Drive, Asheville 828-505-0961

3 BATTLECAT COFFEE BAR avl.mx/9ix w 373 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-713-3885

7 Years in a Row!

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

ESTABLISHMENT WITH THE BEST COFFEE

1 THE DRIPOLATOR COFFEEHOUSE

avl.mx/3w7

ea 221 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0999

s Gerber Village, 20 Gala Drive, Asheville 828-505-0961

wa 909 Smokey Park Highway, Candler 828-670-5595

2 HIGH FIVE COFFEE highfivecoffee.com

d 13 Rankin Ave., Asheville 828-713-5291

n 190 Broadway, Asheville 828-398-0209

2 ROWAN COFFEE rowancoffee.com

d 66 Broadway, Asheville 828-552-3151

3 PENNYCUP COFFEE CO.

pennycupcoffeeco.com

r 362 Depot St., Asheville 828-575-9495

BARISTA

1 BRITTONY MILLER (PEABERRY PRESS) peaberry-press.weebly.com

e River Ridge Business Center, 802 Fairview Road, Suite 800, Asheville 828-772-0438

2 ASHLYN SHOLAR (BAD MANNERS COFFEE) avl.mx/dfp w 697 Haywood Road, Suite G, Asheville

3 CHUCK GIEZENTANNER (THE DAILY GRIND) dailygrindavl.com

s 100 District Drive, Suite 216, Asheville 828-776-8996

COFFEE ROASTER

1 DYNAMITE ROASTING CO. x dynamiteroasting.com

ea 3198 U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-357-8555

2 PENNYCUP COFFEE CO. pennycupcoffeeco.com

r 362 Depot St., Asheville 828-575-9495

d 39 S. Market St., Asheville 828-505-3609

3 COOPERATIVE COFFEE ROASTERS cooperativecoffeeroasters.com w 210 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-424-7428

PLACE TO DRINK TEA

1 DOBRA TEA dobrateanc.com

d 78 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-575-2424

e 1011 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-774-5088

w 707 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-4307

2 HIGH CLIMATE TEA CO. highclimatetea.com

d 12 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-505-4771

BUBBLE TEA

1 POP BUBBLE TEA popbubbleteanc.com

n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville

2 BLUEBIRD BUBBLE TEA bluebirdbubbletea.com M Asheville

3 DOBRA TEA dobrateanc.com

d 78 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-575-2424

SMOOTHIES/JUICES

1 PULP + SPROUT JUICE BAR AND VEGAN CAFE pulpandsprout.com

n 233 S. Liberty St., Asheville 828-412-5701

2 SIMPLE CAFE & JUICE BAR simpleasheville.com w 643 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-774-5410

3 PEABERRY PRESS

peaberry-press.weebly.com e River Ridge Business Center, 802 Fairview Road, Suite 800, Asheville 828-772-0438

MOCKTAILS OR NONALCOHOLIC OPTIONS

1 THE MULE AT DEVIL’S FOOT BEVERAGE CO. devilsfootbrew.com s 131 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 10, Asheville 828-357-7601

2 THE BUZZ thebuzzhendo.com

sa 225 S. Grove St., Hendersonville 828-730-0790

3 LITTLE JUMBO littlejumbobar.com n 241 Broadway, Asheville 828-417-4783

CBD DRINKS/ HEALTH ELIXIRS

1 ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY x avldispensary.com w 919 Haywood Road, Suite 111, Asheville 828-335-2696

2 PLANT BAR visitplantbar.com w 919 Haywood Road, Suite 110, Asheville 828-333-2724

3 SOVEREIGN KAVA ashevillekava.com

d 268 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-505-8118

KAVA BAR

1 SOVEREIGN KAVA x ashevillekava.com

d 268 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-505-8118

2 ELEVATED KAVA LOUNGE elevatedkava.com w 747 Haywood Road, Suite 200 (upstairs), Asheville 828-412-3548

d 122 College St., Asheville 828-412-3350

3 VINTAGE KAVA vintagekava.com

na 141 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville 828-484-8186

OUTDOORS

TPHOTO COURTESY OF NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER

NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER

O build on the beloved painter Bob Ross’ words, “Go out and talk to a tree, and make friends with it.” But make it a tree in WNC. The ones around here are just as picturesque as the ones on Ross’ canvasses, and they need the love even more since Tropical Storm Helene’s wind and rain upended landscapes. But nature is healing, and with volunteers from organizations like Asheville GreenWorks (Environmental or Conservation Nonprofit), who had hands in the soil replanting native trees and cleaning waterways, the ecosystem is on the mend.

Our mountain vistas and cascading streams offer serenity for visitors and locals alike. Voters crowned the waters of Catawba Falls this year’s top waterfall. There are 580 steps to the upper falls, and if you aren’t out of breath from the hike, the view will surely take away what’s left of it. For those who want to enjoy water with less uphill effort, Sliding Rock (Swimming Hole) made a splash — though Lake James (Place to Relax on the Water) floated to the top, so bring the tubes for this one.

Footsloggers chose the hike to Black Balsam Knob (Day Hike Trail) for a seventh year and the Natural Garden Trail at The N.C. Arboretum the best Easy Hike Trail for Kids,

Elders, Limited Mobility. More advanced hikers recommended the lengthy Art Loeb Trail (Backpacking Trail/Overnight Hike), with some pitching a tent at Davidson River Campground (Camping Spot).

While we’re lauding all things outdoors, welcome these hardy new entrants to this year’s Hall of Fame: Davidson River Campground (Camping Spot); Natural Garden Trail at The N.C. Arboretum (Easy Hike Trail for Kids, Elders, Limited Mobility); Second Gear (Outdoor Gear and Apparel Shop); and (though currently closed due to Helene), the Carrier Park Velodrome (Place to Roller Skate or Skateboard).

— Brionna Dallara X

r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA

M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

EASY HIKE TRAIL (FOR KIDS, ELDERS, LIMITED MOBILITY)

1 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org

s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492

2 BEAVER LAKE thelakeviewpark.org

n 1292 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-225-6648

2 BOTANICAL GARDENS ashevillebotanicalgardens.org

n 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville 828-252-5190

3 BILTMORE ESTATE biltmore.com

s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812

WALK - IN OR NEAR ASHEVILLE

1 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org

s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492

2 BOTANICAL GARDENS

ashevillebotanicalgardens.org

n 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville 828-252-5190

3 BEAVER LAKE thelakeviewpark.org n 1292 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-225-6648

OUTDOOR GEAR AND APPAREL SHOP

1 SECOND GEAR x secondgearwnc.com

w 52 Westgate Parkway, Asheville 828-258-0757

2 REI CO-OP rei.com

s Biltmore Park Town Square, 31 Schenck Parkway, Asheville 828-687-0918

3 BLACK DOME MOUNTAIN SPORTS blackdome.com

e 140 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-251-2001

MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL

1 RIDGELINE TRAIL dupontforest.com

sa DuPont State Forest, Cedar Mountain 828-713-2368

CANOPY

TOUR/ZIP

LINE

1 NAVITAT CANOPY ADVENTURES x navitat.com

na 242 Poverty Branch Road, Barnardsville 828-626-3700

2 ASHEVILLE TREETOPS ADVENTURE PARK (ADVENTURE CENTER OF ASHEVILLE)

ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com

w 85 Expo Drive, Asheville 828-225-2921

3 THE GORGE ZIPLINE

thegorgezipline.com

sa 166 Honey Bee Drive, Saluda 828-373-2580

PICNIC SPOT

1 CRAGGY GARDENS x

avl.mx/6cf

ea Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 364.4-367.6, Black Mountain 828-298-0398

2 BILTMORE ESTATE

biltmore.com

s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812

3 MAX PATCH

avl.mx/7uw

na Max Patch Road, Pisgah National Forest, Hot Springs

CAMPING SPOT

1 DAVIDSON RIVER CAMPGROUND x

avl.mx/6df

sa 1 Davidson River Circle, Pisgah Forest 828-885-7557

BEST OF OUTDOORS

Best Ski Resort; third place Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors, in Regional: Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton PHOTO COURTESY OF CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA

CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA

SKI RESORT

1 CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA x cataloochee.com

wa 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley 828-926-0285

2 HATLEY POINTE

hatleypointe.com a 578 Valley View Circle, Mars Hill 828-689-4111

3 BEECH MOUNTAIN RESORT

beechmountainresort.com

na 1007 Beech Mountain Parkway, Beech Mountain 828-387-2011

PLACE TO

RELAX

ON THE WATER

1 LAKE JAMES

avl.mx/8by ea 2229 Lake James State Park Road, Nebo 828-544-6800

2 FRENCH BROAD RIVER

avl.mx/e06

SWIMMING HOLE

1 SLIDING ROCK

avl.mx/f1v

sa Pisgah National Forest, 7851 Pisgah Highway, Brevard

2 MIDNIGHT HOLE

avl.mx/f1z

wa Big Creek Trail, Mouse Creek Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cataloochee

3 SKINNY DIP FALLS

avl.mx/7uy

sa Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 417, Canton 828-348-3400

WATERFALL

1 CATAWBA FALLS

avl.mx/7uz ea 3074 Catawba River Road, Old Fort 828-257-4200

2 LOOKING GLASS FALLS avl.mx/wordcaop sa U.S. Highway 276, Brevard 828-877-3265

3 TRIPLE FALLS avl.mx/7v0

sa DuPont State Forest, Cedar Mountain 828-877-6527

RAFTING COMPANY

1 NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER noc.com

wa 13077 U.S. 19,, Bryson City 866-336-1037

na 9825 U.S. Highway 25, Marshall 828-785-4850

2 ZEN TUBING zentubing.com

sa 1648 Brevard Road, Asheville 855-936-8823

3 FRENCH BROAD ADVENTURES frenchbroadrafting.com na 12 Good Adventures Lane, Marshall 828-649-0486

3 FRENCH BROAD OUTFITTERS [Closed] frenchbroadoutfitters.com n 704 Riverside Drive, Asheville

PLACE TO ROLLER SKATE OR SKATEBOARD

1 CARRIER PARK x avl.mx/dvm

w 220 Amboy Road, Asheville 828-259-5800

2 RIVER ARTS DISTRICT (THE RAD GREENWAY) riverartsdistrict.com r Asheville

3 FOUNDATION ASHEVILLE SKATEPARK (FOUNDY)

foundationasheville.com

r 47 Foundy St., Asheville 828-225-5509

3 SMOKY MOUNTAIN SK8WAY & FUN ZONE smokymountainsk8way.com wa 19025 Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, Waynesville 828-246-9124

ENVIRONMENTAL OR CONSERVATION NONPROFIT

1 ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS ashevillegreenworks.org

w 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville 828-254-1776

2 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY appalachian.org n 372 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-0095

s 26 Lodge St., Asheville 828-277-6222

3 MOUNTAINTRUE mountaintrue.org d 29 N. Market St., Suite 610, Asheville 828-258-8737

I support

FARM, YARD & GA RDEN

FLYING CLOUD FARM

Best Roadside Farm Stand; second place Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm; second place Farm to Visit

mystical appeal. Almost everyone, it seems, at some point in their life, wants to own a small farm and live off the land. Predictably, as a young adult, that was my aspiration, too. Now after 30 years of herding wandering goats, eliminating marauding groundhogs and caring for untold generations of feral cats, I have a much greater respect for those who

jures up nostalgic visions for you, then this year’s roster of winners is a shoutout to the granddaddies of local agriculture: Hickory Nut Gap Farm (founded in 1916), Reems Creek Nursery (1979), North Asheville Tailgate Market (1980), Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such (1994), Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (2002), Flying Cloud Farm (1999), Fifth Season Gardening Co.

Let’s doff our hats and caps as we usher Grandad’s Apples ‘N Such (Orchard) into this year’s Hall of Fame.

Agriculture is a long game. We salute the chutzpah and grit of our local agricultural community. Our lives are richer and tummies happier, thanks to you!

— Susan Hutchinson X

TAILGATE/FARMERS MARKET

NORTH ASHEVILLE

TAILGATE MARKET x northashevilletailgatemarket.com

UNCA, Parking Lot P34, 275 Edgewood Road, Asheville 828-484-6296

WNC FARMERS MARKET

avl.mx/a7o

570 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-253-1691

WEST ASHEVILLE

TAILGATE MARKET

westashevilletailgatemarket.com

718 Haywood Road, Asheville ROADSIDE FARM STAND

FLYING CLOUD FARM x flyingcloudfarm.net

1860 Charlotte Highway, Fairview 828-768-3348

HONEY MAN Asheville

BLUE RIDGE MARKET avl.mx/ezb

83 Weaverville Road, Woodfin 828-645-2506

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) FARM

HICKORY NUT GAP FARM x hickorynutgap.com

57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview 828-628-1027

FLYING CLOUD FARM flyingcloudfarm.net

1860 Charlotte Highway, Fairview 828-768-3348

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

FARM TO VISIT

1 HICKORY NUT GAP FARM x hickorynutgap.com

ea 57 Sugar Hollow Road, Fairview 828-628-1027

2 FLYING CLOUD FARM flyingcloudfarm.net

ea 1860 Charlotte Highway, Fairview 828-768-3348

3 ROSS FARM ross.farm

wa 91 Holbrook Road, Candler 828-667-5555

ORCHARD

1 GRANDAD’S APPLES ‘N SUCH x grandadsapples.com

sa 2951 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville 828-685-1685

2 SKY TOP ORCHARD skytoporchard.com

sa 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road, Zirconia 828-692-7930

3 BARBER ORCHARD barberorchardsfruitstand.com

wa 2855 Old Balsam Road, Waynesville 828-456-3598

COMMUNITY GARDEN

1 SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY GARDEN southsidecommunitygarden.org

s 133 Livingston St., Asheville 828-280-0575

2 PEACE GARDENS & MARKET peacegardensmarket.com w 47 Bryant St., Asheville 828-301-0166

3 DR. JOHN WILSON COMMUNITY GARDEN avl.mx/adq

ea 99 White Pine Drive, Black Mountain 828-419-9300

GARDEN SUPPLY STORE

1 FIFTH SEASON GARDENING CO. x fifthseasongardening.com

e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-412-3200

2 B.B. BARNS bbbarns.com

sa 3377 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-650-7300

3 REEMS CREEK NURSERY reemscreek.com

na 76 Monticello Road, Weaverville 828-645-3937

NURSERY (TREES, SHRUBS)

1 REEMS CREEK NURSERY x reemscreek.com

na 76 Monticello Road, Weaverville 828-645-3937

2 B.B. BARNS bbbarns.com

sa 3377 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-650-7300

3 PAINTER’S GREENHOUSE paintersgreenhouse.com

ea 734 Roy Moore Road, Old Fort 828-668-7225

MULCH SUPPLIER

1 ASHEVILLE MULCH YARD x ashevillemulchyard.com

sa 1230 Glen Bridge Road, SE, Arden 828-273-1417

ea 2425 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-707-1615

na 326 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-484-8131

2 THE MULCH LADY/ RIVERSIDE STUMP DUMP themulchlady.com

n 620 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-251-5777

sa 5055 Old Haywood Road, Mills River 828-712-4758

3 LOWE’S lowes.com

e 89 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-3788

Pick

TREE SERVICE

1 SMART FELLER TREE WORKS x smartfellertreeworks.com M Asheville • 828-545-5503

2 HEARTWOOD TREE heartwoodtree.com e 98 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-231-6008

3 CAROLINA TREE MONKEYS carolinatreemonkeys.com M 828-329-1371

3 NEWCOMB TREE SERVICE newcombtreeservice.com ea 2585 U.S. Highway 70, Swannaona 828-777-1226

3 ROYCE’S TREE SERVICE roycestreeservice.com M Asheville • 828-768-2747

1 APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT (ASAP) x asapconnections.org d 306 W. Haywood St., Asheville 828-236-1282

2 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY appalachian.org n 372 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-0095 s 26 Lodge St., Asheville 828-277-6222

3 BOUNTY & SOUL bountyandsoul.org ea 999 Old U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-419-0533

WORK & BUSINESS

OF all the Best of WNC sections in our yearly ballot, Work & Business can come across as the stodgiest and least sexy. It doesn’t seem to promise the thrill of discovery found in Arts & Entertainment, Shopping or Uniquely Asheville.

But when you think about it, work — and all the jobs our business community provides — is the very thing that allows us to live in these beautiful mountains and enjoy much of what the other sections offer (albeit, for some folks, that would be despite

low wages and a shortage of affordable housing).

This was never more apparent than in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. Before, the unemployment rate in Buncombe County, for example, was one of the lowest in the state at around 2.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Afterward, the rate shot up to almost 11% (this doesn’t even take into account the unknown number of people who left the area due to a job that disappeared or a destroyed home).

It’s been heartbreaking to witness so many businesses gone, but there have been increasing glimmers of hope: businesses that have rebuilt and reopened, new ventures opening up in empty storefronts and an unemployment rate that has slowly decreased to 4.5% in Buncombe County and dropped below 4% in many other WNC counties.

So, this year, when you peruse the Work & Business categories, I invite you to do so with renewed appreciation!

— Lisa Watters X

2

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

CO-OP/EMPLOYEEOWNED BUSINESS

1 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP x frenchbroadfood.coop

d 90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-255-7650

2 MB HAYNES CORP. mbhaynes.com w 187 Deaverview Road, Asheville 828-254-6141

3 FIRESTORM BOOKSTORE CO-OP firestorm.coop w 1022 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-255-8115

BANK

1 FIRST BANK x localfirstbank.com

d 162 College St., Asheville

828-250-8430

e 10 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-8193

n 778 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-5402

2 FIRST CITIZENS BANK firstcitizens.com

d 108 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-257-5700

w 1375 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-257-5870

3 HOMETRUST BANK htb.com

d 10 Woodfin St., Asheville 828-254-8144

1 STATE EMPLOYEES CREDIT UNION x ncsecu.org

d 1 Oak Plaza, Suite 101, Asheville 828-225-2900

s 20 All Souls Crescent, Asheville 828-274-4200

n 701 Broadway, Asheville 828-253-8009

2 TELCO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION telcoccu.org

e 36 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-252-6458

w 710 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-252-6458

3 SELF-HELP CREDIT UNION self-help.org s 391 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville

BANK/FINANCIAL SERVICES FOR SMALL BUSINESS

1 FIRST BANK x localfirstbank.com

d 162 College St., Asheville 828-250-8430

e 10 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-8193

n 778 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-5402

2 HOMETRUST BANK htb.com

d 10 Woodfin St., Asheville 828-254-8144

s 1825 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-277-4300

SUPPORT ORGANIZATION FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND NEW BUSINESSES

1 MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS x mountainbizworks.org d 153 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville

MEDIA

BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO

Best Local Radio Station (noncommercial); second place Local News Source; third place Local News Website

WITH Tropical Storm

Helene’s massive impact on WNC, it’s little wonder that voters picked the storm as Most Important Local News Story in the past year. Though in time-honored Best of WNC fashion, the natural disaster also managed to rank as both Most Overreported Story and Most Underreported Story (though not necessarily by the same voters). Similarly in 2023, balloters split on crime as the most overreported and underreported story.

Perhaps influenced by Blue Ridge Public Radio’s dedicated coverage of Helene, voters named it best Local Radio Station (Noncommercial) and host Helen Chickering the best Local Radio Personality/Announcer. Meanwhile, 99.9 Kiss Country toppled 98.1 The River from its 2024 perch for Local Radio Station (Commercial). In the Media section’s most heavily voted category — Local News Source — Hall of Fame winner News 13 WLOS again emerged the victor, as well as picking up Local News Website honors again. Kudos also go

to another journalistic beacon, John Boyle at Asheville Watchdog, who grabbed best Local Reporter (Print and/or Online) for the 14th year in a row.

And a thumbs-up to the ever-engaging New York Times Crossword Puzzle, a winner for Favorite Feature in Xpress for five years running. As the media landscape evolves, so do Best of WNC categories. So let’s hear it for the inaugural winner of the best Local E-Newsletter category: AVLtoday

— Tracy Rose X

3

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON

LOCAL

RADIO PERSONALITY/ANNOUNCER

1 HELEN CHICKERING (BPR) bpr.org d 73 Broadway, Asheville 828-210-4800

2 AMANDA FOXX AND EDDIE FOXX 99kisscountry.com

w 99.9 Kiss Country, 13 Summerlin Road, Asheville 828-257-2700

3 MARK STARLING (570 AM WWNC) wwnc.iheart.com

w 13 Summerlin Road, Asheville 828-240-9962

LOCAL TV PERSONALITY/ ANNOUNCER

1 JASON BOYER (WLOS) wlos.com

s 110 Technology Drive, Asheville 828-684-1340

LOCAL PRINT PUBLICATION OTHER THAN XPRESS

1 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES x citizen-times.com • Asheville 800-672-2472

2 THE LAUREL OF ASHEVILLE thelaurelofasheville.com

sa 323 N. Main St., Suite 1, Hendersonville 828-670-7503

LOCAL REPORTER (PRINT AND/OR ONLINE)

1 JOHN BOYLE (AVL WATCHDOG) x avlwatchdog.org n 825 Merrimon Ave. C-175, Asheville 828-423-0534

2 LAURA HACKETT (BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO) bpr.org d 73 Broadway, Asheville 828-210-4800

3 JASON SANFORD (ASHVEGAS) ashvegas.com o Asheville

LOCAL NEWS SOURCE

1 WLOS NEWS 13 x wlos.com

s 110 Technology Drive, Asheville 828-684-1340

2 ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG (AVL WATCHDOG) avlwatchdog.org

n 825 Merrimon Ave., Suite C-175, Asheville 828-423-0534

2 BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO (BPR NEWS AND BPR CLASSIC) bpr.org d 73 Broadway, Asheville 828-210-4800

3 MOUNTAIN XPRESS mountainx.com

d 2 Wall St., Asheville 828-251-1333

LOCAL EVENTS INFORMATION SOURCE

1 MOUNTAIN XPRESS mountainx.com

d 2 Wall St., Asheville 828-251-1333

2 AVLTODAY avltoday.6amcity.com o Asheville

3 EXPLORE ASHEVILLE exploreasheville.com

d 27 College Place, Asheville 828-258-6109

LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE TO FOLLOW FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS AND LOCAL HAPPENINGS

1 WAX - WEST ASHEVILLE EXCHANGE (FACEBOOK) o avl.mx/1bk

2 AVLTODAY avltoday.6amcity.com o Asheville

LOCAL

E-NEWSLETTER

1 AVLTODAY avltoday.6amcity.com o Asheville

2 ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG (AVL WATCHDOG) avlwatchdog.org n 825 Merrimon Ave., Suite C-175, Asheville 828-423-0534

3 MOUNTAIN XPRESS mountainx.com

d 2 Wall St., Asheville 828-251-1333

– Anne Craig

2 ASHEVILLE WATCHDOG (AVL WATCHDOG)

avlwatchdog.org

825

C-175, Asheville

3 BLUE RIDGE PUBLIC RADIO (BPR NEWS AND BPR CLASSIC) bpr.org d 73 Broadway, Asheville 828-210-4800

Dear Loyal Readers, thank you so much for all your support.

PE TS

HAPPY TAILS COUNTRY CLUB

Best Pet Kennel; best Pet Day Care Facility

THE love and devotion of WNC’s pet lovers shone particularly brightly after Tropical Storm Helene, when they struggled heroically to protect their furry and feathered companions. WNC residents and nonprofits created Facebook groups to locate missing pets, fostered displaced animals and shared supplies. Brother Wolf Animal Shelter (best Animal Shelter/Rescue Organization, 15 years running) not only successfully evacuated all of its animals before Helene, they also rescued 1,200 other animals in the seven

weeks following the storm, according to the group’s website. The nonprofit, which lost its facilities during Helene, plans to build a new shelter on higher ground and has thus far raised $1.5 million for the first phase.

But Brother Wolf isn’t the only shelter that deserves accolades. The Blue Ridge Humane Society in the Hendersonville, Flat Rock & Mills River area and the Yancey County Humane Society were both voted No. 1 Local Cause to Support in their respective regions. Both shelters did a fantastic job of supporting their

animals during Helene and in resuming services soon after.

Other big winners this year are Wagbar (Outdoor Place to Take Your Pet and Pet-Friendly Bar or Brewery) and Tim McMullan of Pinnacle Animal Hospital (Veterinarian), both of whom maintained first place for five years running. Happy Tails Country Club (Pet Kennel) achieved No. 1 for the eighth year in a row, and Patton Avenue Pet Co. (Pet Supply Store) held onto the top spot for its 12th year.

— Caitlin Donovan X

2 ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF NORTH ASHEVILLE

ahna.net

3

1 TIM MCMULLAN (PINNACLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL) x pinnacleanimalhospital.com sa 200 Julian Lane, Suite 240, Arden 828-676-2332

2 CATE COWAN (CHARLOTTE STREET ANIMAL HOSPITAL) charlottestreetanimalhospital.com n 208 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-900-8876

3 SUSAN WOOTTEN (ANIMAL HOSPITAL OF NORTH ASHEVILLE) ahna.net n 1 Beaverdam Road, Asheville 828-253-3393

r IVER ARTS

a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

PET SUPPLY STORE

1 PATTON AVENUE PET CO. x pattonavenuepet.com d 109 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-255-7737

w 1388 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-505-8299

s 582 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-575-9282

2 ASHEVILLE PET SUPPLY

ashevillepetsupply.com

n 1451 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-252-2054

3 PETSMART petsmart.com

e 150 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville 828-298-5670 PET KENNEL

1 HAPPY TAILS COUNTRY CLUB x happytailscc.com

ea 1984 Cane Creek Road, Fletcher 828-628-8510

wa 2040 Sand Hill Ext., Candler 828-628-8510

2 BUCKEYE KENNELS

ashevillekennels.com

ea 790 Buckeye Access Road, Swannanoa 828-299-9500

3 CAMP BOW WOW campbowwow.com

sa 5 Airport Road, Arden 828-624-2780

3 CENTRAL BARK ASHEVILLE avl.mx/f1t w 4 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville 828-214-7611

PET DAY CARE FACILITY

1 HAPPY TAILS COUNTRY CLUB happytailscc.com

ea 1984 Cane Creek Road, Fletcher 828-628-8510

wa 2040 Sand Hill Ext., Candler 828-628-8510

2 CENTRAL BARK ASHEVILLE avl.mx/f1t

w 4 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville 828-214-7611

2 RUFF LIFE DOG TRAINING SERVICES rufflifeavl.com s 803 Fairview St., Asheville 828-365-8244

3 CAMP BOW WOW campbowwow.com

sa 5 Airport Road, Arden 828-624-2780

1 PAWSITIVITY PET SPA pawsitivitypetspa.com w 1388 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-505-8278

2 WONDERDOG PET GROOMING avl.mx/f1r

na 232 Reems Creek Road, Suite 2, Weaverville 828-519-9000

3 HAIR OF THE DOG PET SALON hotdavl.com

s 1451 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-274-4155

828-230-6389

PET SITTING/ DOG WALKING SERVICE

1 AUNTIE M PET CARE auntiem-petcare.com M Asheville • 828-793-0565

2 WNC PET CARE LLC wncpetcare.com M Asheville • 828-333-2992

ANIMAL SHELTER/ RESCUE ORGANIZATION

1 BROTHER WOLF ANIMAL RESCUE x bwar.org w 23 Heritage Drive, Asheville 828-505-3440

2 ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY ashevillehumane.org w 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville 828-761-2001

3 MOUNTAIN PET RESCUE mountainpetrescueavl.org wa 7 Old Pisgah Highway, Suite 200, Candler

OUTDOOR PLACE TO TAKE YOUR PET

1 WAGBAR x wagbar.com na 320 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-333-9765

2 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492

3 BILTMORE ESTATE biltmore.com s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812

PET-FRIENDLY BAR OR BREWERY

1 WAGBAR x wagbar.com na 320 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-333-9765

2 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370

3 NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO. newbelgium.com r 21 Craven St., Asheville 828-333-6900

SM A LL TO W NS

SWANNANOA & BLACK MOUNTAIN

TROPICAL Storm Helene was not an equal opportunity offender.

Towns like Marshall, Hot Springs, Swannanoa and Burnsville were particularly hard-hit as floodwaters turned streets into rivers and shuttered storefronts. But throughout the lengthy rebuilding process, these communities have been steadfast. And some local businesses did more than weather the storm — they came back to dominate the Best of WNC ballot box.

LOUISE’S KITCHEN

Best Breakfast Restaurant

Smoky Mountain Diner in Hot Springs held steady, providing meals when the town needed them most. Weaverville favorite Twisted Laurel reopened less than two weeks after the storm. Homeplace Beer Co. in Burnsville reopened quickly, bringing back the buzz with food and music. Zuma Coffee in Marshall kept the caffeine flowing, a daily constant for a town laboring to haul out the mud and debris.

Their multiple wins in this year’s Best of WNC make one thing clear:

These places aren’t just businesses — they’re lifelines. Bring out the band for this year’s new Hall of Famers: Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair (Cultural or Arts Event–Burnsville); Homeplace Beer Co. (Music/Entertainment Venue–Burnsville); Big Pillow Brewing (Music/Entertainment Venue–Hot Springs); Cousins Cuban Cafe (Lunch Restaurant–Swannanoa & Black Mountain); and Stoney Knob Cafe (Dinner Restaurant–Weaverville & Woodfin).

— Justin McGuire X

1 BLUNT PRETZELS bluntpretzels.com 120 Alexander Place, Swannanoa 828-619-0734

2 TOWN HARDWARE & GENERAL STORE townhardware.com 103 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-7723

3 SEVEN SISTERS CRAFT GALLERY sevensistersgallery.com 119 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain 828-669-5107

3 WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN whitehorseblackmountain.com 105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain 828-669-0816

1 LOUISE’S KITCHEN x louisesblackmtn.com 115 Black Mountain Ave., Black Mountain 828-357-5446

2 BLUE RIDGE BISCUIT CO. blueridgebiscuitcompany.com 601 W. State St., Suite 4, Black Mountain 828-357-8501

3 OPEN OVEN BRUNCH & BAKERY openovenblkmtn.com 102 Church St., Black Mountain 828-357-8553

PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST

LUNCH RESTAURANT

1 COUSINS CUBAN CAFE x cousinscubancafe.com 108 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain 828-357-5513

2 VERANDA CAFÉ & GIFT verandacafeandgifts.com

119 Cherry St., Black Mountain 828-669-8864

3 THE TRAILHEAD

thetrailheadrestaurant.com

207 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-357-5656

DINNER RESTAURANT

1 THE PURE & PROPER thepureandproper.com

114 E. State St., Black Mountain 828-357-8539

2 THE TRAILHEAD thetrailheadrestaurant.com

207 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-357-5656

3 THE BUSH FARMHOUSE bushfarmhouse.com

151 S. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain 828-357-5367

COFFEE

& SWEETS

1 THE DRIPOLATOR COFFEEHOUSE x avl.mx/3w7

221 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0999

2 RECESS COFFEE & BAKED GOODS recesscoffeenc.com

107 Black Mountain Ave., Black Mountain 828-222-4619

3 DYNAMITE ROASTING CO. dynamiteroasting.com

3198 U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-357-8555 LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE

1 LOOKOUT BREWING CO. lookoutbrewing.com

103 S. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain 828-357-5169

2 PISGAH BREWING CO. pisgahbrewing.com

2948 U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-669-0190

3 THE TRAILHEAD thetrailheadrestaurant.com

207 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-357-5656 MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

1 WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN whitehorseblackmountain.com

105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain 828-669-0816

2 PISGAH BREWING CO. pisgahbrewing.com

2948 U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-669-0190

3 SILVERADOS silveradoswnc.com

2898 U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-357-5195

RETAIL STORE

1 TOWN HARDWARE & GENERAL STORE x townhardware.com

103 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-7723

2 SASSAFRAS ON SUTTON sassafrasonsutton.com

108 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain 828-419-0677

3 SEVEN SISTERS CRAFT GALLERY sevensistersgallery.com

119 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain 828-669-5107

ART GALLERY

1 SEVEN SISTERS CRAFT GALLERY x sevensistersgallery.com 119 Broadway Ave., Black Mountain 828-669-5107

2 BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS blackmountainarts.org

225 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0930

3 RED HOUSE STUDIO AND GALLERY svfalarts.org

101 Cherry St., Black Mountain 828-669-0351

BEST OF SMALL TOWNS

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT

1 SOURWOOD FESTIVAL

avl.mx/bw2

201 E. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-2300

2 LEAF FESTIVAL theleaf.org

377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain 828-686-8742

3 ART IN BLOOM

avl.mx/9nw

Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0930

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

1 MONTREAT TRAILS & PARK x

avl.mx/f1y • Montreat 828-669-2911

2 LAKE TOMAHAWK avl.mx/bx6

401 Laurel Circle Drive, Black Mountain 828-669-2052

3 WARREN WILSON COLLEGE CAMPUS TRAILS

avl.mx/f1s

701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa 828-771-2000

CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK

1 SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUM & HISTORY CENTER avl.mx/ea0

223 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-9566

2 CAMP ROCKMONT (BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE)

375 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain

3 BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS blackmountainarts.org

225 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0930

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT

1 BOUNTY & SOUL x bountyandsoul.org

999 Old U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain 828-419-0533

2 BELOVED ASHEVILLE belovedasheville.com

32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-571-0766

3 REBUILDING (AFTER TROPICAL STORM HELENE)

BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

1 COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AFTER TROPICAL STORM HELENE

2 REBUILDING (AFTER TROPICAL STORM HELENE)

MARSHALL & MARS HILL

CO. BREW HOUSE

BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN

1 ZUMA COFFEE zumascoffee.com

7 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1617

2 OLD MARSHALL JAIL HOTEL oldmarshalljail.com

33 Bailey’s Branch Road, Marshall 828-649-5259

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

1 THE WAGON WHEEL avl.mx/a7c 390 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill 828-689-4755

1 ZUMA COFFEE zumascoffee.com

7 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1617

2 CAMDEN’S COFFEE HOUSE camdenscoffeehouse.com 40 N. Main St., Mars Hill 828-680-1246

DINNER RESTAURANT

1 STAR DINER [Closed] x stardinerwnc.com 115 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-9900

2 THE ORIGINAL PAPA NICK’S theoriginalpapanicks.com 15 College St., Mars Hill 828-689-8566

3 TACO FIESTA avl.mx/f1u 611 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill 828-680-1187

3 ZADIE’S MARKET zadiesmarket.com 33 Baileys Branch Road, Marshall 828-575-7605

COFFEE & SWEETS

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

1 MARS THEATRE BREWING CO. marstheatrebrewingco.com

70 N. Main St., Mars Hill 828-680-1284

2 MAL’S BAR malsbarmarshall.com 121 S. Main St., Marshall

3 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN REPERTORY THEATRE (SART) sartplays.com 44 College St., Mars Hill 828-689-1232

RETAIL STORE

1 THE QUILL + HONEY thequillandhoney.com

18 S. Main St., Mars Hill 828-778-8821

2 FLOW GALLERY flowmarshall.com 14 S. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1686

3 PENLAND & SON’S DEPARTMENT STORE avl.mx/7zj 50 S. Main St., Marshall 828-649-2811

ART GALLERY

1 FLOW GALLERY flowmarshall.com

14 S. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1686

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT

1 MERMAID PARADE AND FESTIVAL x avl.mx/cwt Main Street, Marshall 828-649-7889

2 MARSHALL HANDMADE MARKET marshallhandmade.com Odonata Farm, 5640 Paint Fork Road, Mars Hill

3 FIRST FRIDAYS MARS HILL avl.mx/dww Downtown, Mars Hill

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

1 BLANNAHASSETT ISLAND x avl.mx/a80 • Marshall 828-680-9031

2 BAILEY MOUNTAIN PRESERVE avl.mx/cl9 889 Forest St., Mars Hill 828-689-1381

2 MY SISTER’S PLACE mysisters.place 3477 U.S. Highway 213, Marshall 828-649-2582 MAD

3 ON YOUR BIKE oyb-nc.com

133 S. Main St., Unit 104, Marshall 828-649-7964

LUNCH RESTAURANT

1 ZUMA COFFEE zumascoffee.com

7 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1617

2 STACKHOUSE AMERICAN EATERY & PUB stackhouserestaurant.com 37 S. Main St., Mars Hill 828-680-1213

2 TACO FIESTA avl.mx/f1u 611 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill 828-680-1187

3 ZADIE’S MARKET zadiesmarket.com 33 Baileys Branch Road, Marshall 828-575-7605

1 ZUMA COFFEE zumascoffee.com 7 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-1617

2 CAMDEN’S COFFEE HOUSE camdenscoffeehouse.com 40 N. Main St., Mars Hill 828-680-1246

3 MEADOWSWEET CREAMERY meadowsweetcreamery.com 180 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill 828-680-0085

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE

1 MAD CO. BREW HOUSE x madisoncountybrewing.com 45 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-8600

2 MAL’S BAR malsbarmarshall.com 121 S. Main St., Marshall

3 MARS THEATRE BREWING CO. marstheatrebrewingco.com

70 N. Main St., Mars Hill 828-680-1284

2 MARS LANDING GALLERIES marslandinggalleries.com 37 Library St., Mars Hill 828-747-7267

CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK

1 OLD MARSHALL JAIL oldmarshalljail.com 33 Bailey’s Branch Road, Marshall 828-649-5259

2 MADISON COUNTY COURTHOUSE avl.mx/a8v

2 N. Main St., Marshall 828-649-2200

BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

1 COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AFTER TROPICAL STORM HELENE

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT

1 MARSHALL RELIEF ALLIANCE (FORMERLY REBUILDING MARSHALL) marshallrelief.org 806 Walnut Creek Road, Marshall

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAD

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

WEAVERVILLE & WOODFIN

SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO.

Best Local Bar/Brewery/Watering Hole; best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, in Eats section; second place Neighborhood Bar - North, third place Bar or Brewery That Gives Back to the Community, in Drinks section

BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN

1 TWISTED LAUREL (WEAVERVILLE) twistedlaurel.com 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

2 BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA bluemountainpizza.com 55 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-658-8778

3 MANGUM POTTERY mangumpottery.com 16 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-4929

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

1 YELLOW MUG COFFEE LOUNGE yellowmugcoffeelounge.com 113 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-484-8844

2 WELL-BRED BAKERY & CAFÉ wellbredbakery.com

26 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-9300

3 STONEY KNOB CAFÉ stoneyknobcafe.com 337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-645-3309

LUNCH RESTAURANT

1 TWISTED LAUREL (WEAVERVILLE) twistedlaurel.com 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

2 STONEY KNOB CAFÉ stoneyknobcafe.com 337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-645-3309

3 WELL-BRED BAKERY & CAFÉ wellbredbakery.com 26 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-9300

DINNER RESTAURANT

1 STONEY KNOB CAFÉ x stoneyknobcafe.com 337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville 828-645-3309

2 TWISTED LAUREL (WEAVERVILLE) twistedlaurel.com 10A S. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-2700

3 BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA bluemountainpizza.com

55 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-658-8778

COFFEE & SWEETS

1 WELL-BRED BAKERY & CAFÉ x wellbredbakery.com

26 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-9300

2 YELLOW MUG COFFEE LOUNGE yellowmugcoffeelounge.com 113 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-484-8844

3 ALLGOOD COFFEE allgood.coffee 10 S. Main St., Weaverville 828-484-8663

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE

1 SALT FACE MULE BREWING CO. saltfacemule.com 450 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-484-7474

2 LEVELLER BREWING CO. levellerbrewing.com 25 N. Main St., Weaverville

3 ELUVIUM BREWING CO. eluviumbrewing.com 11 Florida Ave., Weaverville 828-382-8110

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

1 BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA x bluemountainpizza.com 55 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-658-8778

2 EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY edashideaway.com 1098 New Stock Road, Weaverville 828-713-2831

3 RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER CO. riversiderhapsody.com 995 Riverside Drive, Woodfin 828-575-2370

RETAIL STORE

1 PRESCRIPTION PAD avl.mx/f0y 3 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-484-7800 na 730 E. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-3914

2 5 LITTLE MONKEYS QUILT & SEW fivemonkeyquilts.com 32 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-484-7200

3 EARTH RIVER RECORDS earthriveravl.com 101 Stone Ridge Blvd., Asheville 828-519-9063

ART GALLERY

1 ARTISANS ON MAIN avl.mx/7yu 14 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-658-9617

2 MIYA GALLERY miyagallery.com 20 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-658-9655

3 MANGUM POTTERY mangumpottery.com 16 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-4929

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT

1 ART IN AUTUMN avl.mx/7zg Main Street, Weaverville

2 WEAVERVILLE ART SAFARI weavervilleartsafari.com • Weaverville

3 MUSIC ON MAIN WEAVERVILLE visitweaverville.com South Main Street, Weaverville 828-645-7116

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

1 LAKE LOUISE PARK x avl.mx/dmj Lake Louise Drive, Weaverville 828-645-7116

2 MAIN STREET NATURE PARK avl.mx/6cc

25 U.S. 19 Business, Weaverville 828-645-7116

3 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org 828-670-1924

CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK

1 MILL WHEEL AT LAKE LOUISE avl.mx/dy3 Across from Lake Louise, Weaverville

1 VANCE BIRTHPLACE x avl.mx/7zi 911 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville 828-645-6706

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT

1 ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE (WEAVERVILLE) avl.mx/e08 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 828-484-9432

BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

1 REBUILDING (AFTER TROPICAL STORM HELENE)

2 ADVENTHEALTH / WEAVERVILLE avl.mx/eyz • Weaverville

PHOTO BY CHAD TRUITT

To build community and strengthen democracy by serving an engaged, thoughtful constituency at the local level –where the impact of citizen action is greatest. We report on local events, regional issues and the area’s vibrant arts-and-culture scene –independently, fairly and in-depth.

We partner with the community to create an ongoing civic dialogue. We offer exceptional and affordable media opportunities for local businesses, professionals and nonprofit groups to promote their offerings to the community.

HOT SPRINGS

1 SMOKY MOUNTAIN DINER

avl.mx/dz3

70 Lance Ave., Hot Springs 828-622-7571

315 Bridge St., Hot Springs

828-622-7676

2 BIG PILLOW BREWING bigpillowbrewing.com 25 Andrews Ave. N., Hot Springs

828-539-1939

828-622-7162

1 SMOKY MOUNTAIN DINER

avl.mx/dz3

70 Lance Ave., Hot Springs

1 THE GREY EAGLE TAQUERIA AT BIG PILLOW BREWING greyeagletaqueria.com/hot-springs 25 Andrews Ave. S., Hot Springs 828-539-1939

2 IRON HORSE STATION RESTAURANT avl.mx/enz 24 S. Andrews Ave., Hot Springs 828-622-0022

DINNER RESTAURANT

1 IRON HORSE STATION RESTAURANT x avl.mx/enz

24 S. Andrews Ave., Hot Springs

828-622-0022

2 THE GREY EAGLE TAQUERIA AT BIG PILLOW BREWING greyeagletaqueria.com/hot-springs 25 Andrews Ave. S., Hot Springs 828-539-1939

3 SMOKY MOUNTAIN DINER avl.mx/dz3

828-622-7571 LUNCH RESTAURANT

70 Lance Ave., Hot Springs 828-622-7571 LOCAL

1 BIG PILLOW BREWING x bigpillowbrewing.com 25 Andrews Ave. N., Hot Springs 828-539-1939

2 SPRING CREEK TAVERN thespringcreektavern.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF COLBY RABON / CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS

BURNSVILLE

BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN

1 HOMEPLACE BEER CO. homeplacebeer.com

321 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-9068

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

1 PIG & GRITS

pigandgrits.com

620 W. Main St., Burnsville

828-536-0010

2 CARRIAGE HOUSE SUNDRIES

carriagehousesundries.com

7 S. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-7071

LUNCH RESTAURANT

1 PIG & GRITS pigandgrits.com

620 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-0010

2 GARDEN DELI garden-deli.com 107 Town Square, Burnsville 828-682-3946

3 CARRIAGE HOUSE SUNDRIES carriagehousesundries.com 7 S. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-7071

3 HOMEPLACE BEER CO. homeplacebeer.com 321 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-9068

DINNER RESTAURANT

1 HOMEPLACE BEER CO. homeplacebeer.com

321 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-9068

2 CARRIAGE HOUSE SUNDRIES carriagehousesundries.com 7 S. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-7071

2 PIG & GRITS pigandgrits.com

620 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-0010

COFFEE

& SWEETS

1 APPALACHIAN JAVA & CAFÉ x appalachianjavaburnsville.com

8 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-682-0120

2 CARRIAGE HOUSE SUNDRIES carriagehousesundries.com

7 S. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-7071

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE

1 HOMEPLACE BEER CO. x homeplacebeer.com

321 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-9068

2 BIRDFOOT birdfootllc.com 10 Orchard Drive, Burnsville

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

1 HOMEPLACE BEER CO. x homeplacebeer.com

321 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-536-9068 RETAIL STORE

1 PRESCRIPTION PAD OF BURNSVILLE avl.mx/f0y

730 E. Main St., Burnsville 828-678-3914

2 SOMETHING SPECIAL GIFT SHOP avl.mx/55a

12 W. Main St., Burnsville 828-682-9101

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT

1 MOUNT MITCHELL CRAFTS FAIR x yanceychamber.com

106 W. Main St. and Town Square, Burnsville 828-682-7413

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT

1 YANCEY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY x yanceyhumanesociety.org 211 Kind Hearts Way, Burnsville 828-682-9510

Marijuana Anonymous

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

TH (9/4), 6:30pm, American Legion Post #2, 851 Haywood Rd

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 (8/27, 9/3), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood 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 (8/28), noon, World Dance Asheville, 1269 Tunnel Rd, Ste F

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 (9/1), 7:30pm, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd

Open-Level Adult Contemporary Dance (Ages 16+)

Rediscover your love of movement in this drop-in Adult Contemporary class. Blend modern, lyrical and jazz elements in a supportive, body-positive environment.

WE (9/3), 5:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

Open-Level Adult Ballet Class (Ages 16+)

Whether you’re a first-timer or returning to the barre, this class offers physical and emotional benefits through timeless

technique.

WE (9/3), 6:30pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

BMCA Dance: Kids in Motion 2

This class focuses on growing the foundations needed for many dance techniques, including contemporary, ballet, jazz and lyrical.

TH (9/4), 3:45pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

BMCA Dance: Contemporary 3 (Ages 13 - 16)

This class fuses contemporary, modern, lyrical and jazz styles for diverse dance knowledge. Designed for experienced teens to refine artistry, technique and performance.

TH (9/4), 6:45pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain

ART

Artist in Residence

The show features a variety of artists working in a diverse range of mediums, including painting, pottery, sculpture and fiber arts.

WE (8/27), 10am, Lake Junaluska, 759 N Lakeshore Dr, Lake Junaluska

Janice Geller: Inner Worlds

An intimate glimpse into artist Janice Geller’s inner life of vivid dreams, inner figures, imaginary portals, hidden recesses of the body and the sumptuous allure of nature. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through Sept. 21. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Randy Siegel: Bindings

Art Exhibit

This exhibition features scraps of fabric, rope, wire and thread, along with obsessive stitching and often beading, obscure and obstruct hidden aspects of self often too painful to acknowledge and to beautiful to ignore. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am. Exhibition through Aug. 30. N Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave

Elizabeth Alexander: From the Book of Time

Alexander recontextualizes objects traditionally associated with domesticity such as wallpaper, upholstered furniture and porcelain ware, probing at the societal, historical and personal meanings embedded within. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 27.

Tracey Morgan Gallery, 22 London Rd

Modern Bestiary: Creatures from the Collection

This exhibition explores the artistic legacy of the medieval bestiary through a selection of animals and fantastic beasts from the Museum’s Collection. Gallery open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am. Exhibition through March 15, 2026.

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

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

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 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

COMMUNITY MUSIC

Fall Concert Series: The Andrew Thelston Band

Originally scheduled last year to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the release of the iconic Beatles album Abbey Rd, The Andrew Thelston Band will begin the series by performing the album in its entirety. FR (8/29), 7pm, Transylvania County Library, 212 S. Gaston St, Brevard

Jeff Thompson’s What Four

JThe night will feature one full set of original music and one set playing through Jeff

Buckley’s Grace.

FR (8/29), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Sparrow Smith Album Release Show w/Sweet Megg & Resound

Community Choir

Sparrow Smith celebrates her new record, a love letter to Madison County, with a concert and songwriting workshop.

SA (8/30), 6pm, Rare Bird Farm, 91 Duckett Top Tower Rd, Hot Springs

The Return Of The King: An Unrivaled Tribute To Elvis

The Return Of The King is an internationally acclaimed Elvis tribute show, starring multi award-winning Elvis Tribute artist Tyler Christopher and The Roustabout Showband.

SA (8/30), 7pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

John McCutcheon

John is a respected archivist of Appalachian music and was in the forefront of popularizing the hammer dulcimer and is considered a world master on the instrument.

SU (8/31), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS

Fundamental HR Management Principles & Best Practices for the Small Business Owner Introduce new

business owners and support experienced business owners with understanding foundational HR management principles and best practices.

WE (8/27), 1pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

Summer Heat Candle

Making

Pour your own custom candle in a Devil’s Foot Soda can. Each session features different scents.

TH (8/28), 4pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

Ferment On!

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

TH (8/28), 5:30pm, Madison County Cooperative Extension Office, 258 Carolina Ln Marshall

Y12SR: Yoga & 12 Step Recovery

Learn to deal with life’s stressors, substance free. Open to anyone, especially those impacted by substance use and behavioral health concerns.

TU (9/2), 8:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Simply Charmed: Drop In Workshop

Choose from more than 60 styles of metal stamps and a variety of jewelers hammers to complete your charm. After a quick demo by the instructor you will have time to complete

your masterpiece.

TU (9/2), 11am, Ignite Jewelry Studios, 84 Walnut St Unit A

Dealing with Debt

Demystify debt in a shame-free, nonjudgmental space. It’s never too late to face your money and make a plan to manage, pay down, or resolve personal debt. Register at avl.mx/eyv.

WE (9/3), 11:30am, Online

Intro to Golf

Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your swing, this is a great opportunity for all ages to learn the game at the most beautiful golf courses in the area.

WE (9/3), 1pm, various locations

Change Your Palate Cooking Demo

This free lunchtime food demonstration is open to all but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/or their caretakers.

TH (9/4), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

LITERARY

Meter & Melody: Poetry Night Poetry open mic hosted by Dill every last Wednesday of the month.

WE (8/27), 7pm, Static Age Loft, 116 N Lexington Ave

Art Above Everything

Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest introduces us to legendary writers, visual artists, dancers and musicians

across the globe through her book.

SA (8/30), 3pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd 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 (9/1), 6:30pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200 Poetry Open Mic This open mic welcomes any form of artistic expression from poetry to improv theatre to music to dance.

WE (8/27, 9/3), 8:30pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave

THEATER & FILM

Community Improv Jam Misfit Improv group leads a jam where everybody gets a chance to play. All are welcome from newbies to vets.

TH (8/28), 7pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Tired Souls: King & the Montgomery Bus Boycott Tired Souls introduces audiences to Jo Ann Robinson, Claudette Colvin and others so instrumental in lighting a fire under the Civil Rights movement and changing the course of U.S. history forever.

WE (8/27), TH (8/28), 7:30pm, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St

We Will Rock You: The Musical

A high-octane, adrenaline-fueled musical featuring more than 20 iconic Queen hits, including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Are the Champions, Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now and, of course, We Will Rock You.

TH (8/28), FR (8/29) , 7:30pm, Bebe Theater

Foreign Film Fridays

Every Friday visitors can enjoy a cozy movie night in the gallery featuring some amazing foreign films curated by film-buff Carlos Steward.

FR (8/29), 7pm, Flood Gallery, 802 Fairview Rd Ste 1200,

Movie Night: Hidden Figures

Featuring an inspiring film that celebrates brilliance, courage and the triumph of the human spirit.

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase.

FR (8/29), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Scuttlebutt! Scuttlebutt is a quarterly improv comedy show which prides itself on dishing out the hot goss and shakin’ up that grapevine.

FR (8/29), 9:30pm, $20, LaZoom Room, 76 Biltmore Ave

Cyrano De Bergerac Cyrano, a man with a large nose and an even larger heart, is secretly in love with Roxane. Yet, he helps the handsome but inarticulate Christian win her affection, all while concealing his own feelings and sacrificing his chance at love.

SA (8/30), 7:30pm, Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St

XPRESS EVENT PICK

North Carolina Apple Festival

•

•

A four-day celebration to recognize the importance of the apple industry to Henderson County and North Carolina.

“Like many Hendersonville residents, I already know what I’ll be doing over Labor Day weekend: heading to Main Street for the North Carolina Apple Festival, the city’s most popular annual event. Henderson County is the largest apple-producing county in the state, so visitors can enjoy a wide variety of apple-based products, live entertainment, delicious food, children’s activities and more.”

— Justin McGuire X

Thurs., 9/18 & 10/23

11:00 - 1:00 PM

Reimagining retirement has never been easier. Come enjoy a presentation about 60 Givens Gerber Park: a more affordable rental retirement option (55+) and enjoy lunch on us. Monthly fees are all-inclusive based on income. RSVP required.

The Cake A tender, thought-provoking comedy about a small-town baker whose beliefs are tested when she’s asked to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.

SA (8/30), 7:30pm, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville Bike-In Cinema

A bike-in movie on the lawn, presented by Asheville on Bikes and New Belgium Brewing. Featuring free bike valet from Asheville on Bikes.

TH (9/4), 7pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS

Docent Led Tours

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

WE (8/27), 10am, Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Ste 102

Conscious Aging: Finding Enjoyment in Senior Living Learn to love where you are in life and embrace the journey with purpose and positivity.

WE (8/27), 10:45am, Reuter YMCA, 3 Town Center Blvd.

IBN Biz Lunch: West Asheville

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

WE (8/27), noon, Yao, 153 Smoky Park Hwy

We Are The Ones

An open discussion group about the power of love that explores and draws from powerful teachings of Science of Mind and the heartfelt message of Karen Drucker’s song, Are the Ones .

WE (8/27), 3pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Southside Cyber Wednesday Dive into the exciting world of e-sports and gaming with friends and neighbors with two powerful PlayStation 5 consoles loaded with a variety of thrilling games to fuel your competitive spirit.

WE (8/27), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

Raise Your Vibration w/Serenity Sound Bath

This restorative Sound Bath is designed to clear energetic blocks, uplift your spirit and elevate your vibration.

WE (8/27), 6:30pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

Shamanic Journey Circle

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

River Snorkeling River snorkeling is a growing hobby that makes you feel like a fish while exploring a world just under the surface of the water that you won’t believe until you see it.

FR (8/29, 9/3), 10:30am, Murphy-Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

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 various topics.

SA (8/30), 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 (8/30), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Coloring w/Cats Take 50 minutes for

might know by heart, we’ll explore how our words, sayings and everyday speech create our reality.

WE (9/3), 6:30pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way

First Wednesday w/ Big Asheville Science Salon

Each month, a bona fide expert takes attendees on a thrill ride of science awesomeness with a lively Q&A afterwards.

WE (9/3), 7pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

WNC Sierra Club

Presents: Electric Vehicles & Sustainable Transportation

Automotive engineer

Dave Erb will lead a discussion on sustainable transportation, with a particular focus on electric vehicles. Ample time will be provided for audience questions and discussion.

WE (9/3), 7pm, Reuter Center, OLLI, UNC-A campus

GAMES & CLUBS

Pool School

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play pool and not just knock around balls and cross your fingers, Ms. Hannah’s got you. 4pm, Mals, 121 S. Main St, Asheville Crokinole

tab to the winner. MO (9/1), 6pm, Sovereign Kava, 268 Biltmore Ave

Music Bingo w/ Spencer

Bring your friends to Taproom Tuesdays featuring Music Bingo with Spencer and rotating food trucks. TU (9/2), 6pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte

KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS

Family Story Time

A fun and interactive story time designed for children ages 18 months to 3 years. WE (8/27, 9/3), 10:30am, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain

Little Kids Kung Fu (Ages 5-7)

This class builds a solid foundation through playing Kung Fu games while building Hand-Eye-Foot coordination as well as listening skills. WE (8/27), 3pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Av

Baby Storytime

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 (8/30), 1pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd Kids & Teens Xing Yi Learn complete systems of Xing Yi, Baguazhang and Taiji, including weapons and sparring as optional classes.

MO (9/1), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Memory Vault: Time Capsules for Kids Kids make their own time capsules with items that represent their interests and hopes for the future to take home until they are ready to be opened.

The Crokinole Club meets every other week for friendly competition, good drinks and great company. 6pm, Well Played, 162 Coxe Ave,

Make bids, call trumps and win the tricks every Saturday with your community. 1pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston

Dungeons & Drafts

Join old friends and new for a 3-4 hour campaign with games for players of all experience levels. 1pm, The Mule, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd Ste 10

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.

5:30pm, Level 256 Classic Arcade Bar, 79 Coxe

Ping Pong Tourna-

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

A lively language enrichment story time designed for children ages 4 to 18 months. TH (8/28, 9/4), 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 (8/28), 3:30pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St

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. TH (8/28), 4pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

Dart Side of the Moon Teen Nerf Battle

Dart Side of the Moon is here for troopers ages 13–16. Get ready for a high-energy, cosmic battleground where you team up, strategize and conquer.

FR (8/29), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

Parents Night Out

Would you like to go to dinner, see a movie, or just have some time to yourself? Drop the kids off to enjoy goofy games, crafts, snacks and science projects. FR (8/29), 6pm, Dr

TU (9/2), 11am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave Toddler Takeover Bring your toddler out to local parks on Thursday mornings in September for fun themed activities to stimulate creativity and motor skills.

TH (9/4), 10:30am, Jake Rusher Park, 160 Sycamore Dr

LOCAL MARKETS

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 (8/27, 9/3), 3pm, Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester RAD Farmers Market Asheville’s only year-round weekly market, featuring 30+ vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, handcrafted items, beverages, grab-and-go meals and more. EBT and SNAP accepted.

WE (8/27, 9/3), 3pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St 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 (8/27, 9/3), 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 (8/28, 9/4), 3pm, 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 (8/28, 9/4), 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 (8/29), 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 (8/30), 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 (8/30), 8am, 275 Edgewood Rd

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 (8/30), 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 (8/30), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

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 (8/30), 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 (8/31), noon, 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 (8/31), 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 (9/2), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd

Flower Market

Pick up freshly cut farm flower bunches and seasonal goodies directly from the farm. This is a self-serve flower stand at Bloom WNC.

TH (9/4), 9am, Bloom WNC Flower Farm, 806 North Fork Rd, Black Mountain

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Best of WNC Party

The Mountain Xpress Best of WNC Party returns to the Meadow

for another fun celebration in honor of all the Best of WNC winners. It will feature music, food trucks and a variety of beers.

TH (8/28), 6pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Highland Haze Labor Day Weekend

Celebrate the new release of Highland Haze with five days of free live music, local flavor and festive vibes at Highland Brewing. A variety of local food trucks will be serving up delicious eats all weekend long.

TH (8/28) , FR (8/29) , SA (8/30) , SU (8/31) , MO (9/1), The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200

Boomtown Arts & Heritage FestAVL

A three-day, family-friendly festival that offers a dynamic lineup of musical performances, heritage trail tours, wellness activities, interactive workshops and local artisans, all aimed at highlighting and preserving Asheville’s unique cultural tapestry. Visit avl.mx/e3b for the full

schedule of events.

FR (8/29) , SA( (8/30) , SU (8/31), 10am, Pack Square Park

North Carolina Hellbender Festival

This family-friendly event features live music, art, food trucks, local vendors and environmental workshops. Attendees can also explore the significance of the Hellbender salamander, a species of special concern native to the region.

SA (8/30), 10am, Downtwon Spruce Pine, 165 Locust St, Spruce Pine

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 (8/30), 10am, The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave

Worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day

On this special day, people in 70 countries and over 2,000 locations will be playing music right from their porches — and Downtown Marshall restaurants will be joining the celebration

in style. SA (8/30), 2pm, Downtown Marshall, Marshall

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 (8/30), 3pm, Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd

1st Annual Jimmy Buffett Tribute

This Jimmy Buffett tribute celebration will feature an acoustic Jimmy Jam open mic, followed by 3 sets of live music with Asheville’s own Chordal Reefers and special guests.

SU (8/31), 5pm, Eda’s Hide-a-Way, 1098 New Stock Rd, Weaverville

2025 Blue Ridge Pride Pageant Contestants will compete, through performance, costume and questions for the coveted title of Ms/ Mr./Mx. Blue Ridge Pride.

SU (8/31), 6:30pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave

Symphony in the Park

This year’s concert features two standout guest artists. Internationally acclaimed soprano Elizabeth Baldwin headlines the evening with a breathtaking performance of opera and Broadway classics.

SU (8/31), 7pm, Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza

BENEFITS

&

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteer Reading Tutor Training w/Read 2 Succeed

This program recruits volunteer reading tutors to commit to one student, meeting with them twice a week during or after school. Tutors are trained, supported and committed to literacy justice. Register at avl.mx/bto.

WE (8/27), 6pm, Online

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 (8/28), 9am, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd

ARTS & CULTURE

WITH ERIC BROWN

BY ERIC BROWN

I was recently in Improvised Star Trek, a show put on by Adesto Theatre Company, and now I can’t stop thinking about, well, Star Trek. In fact, I was so deep into character during the show's run that when a Bojangles employee asked me for my order, I requested that they beam me up.

Being in theatrical outer space also meant I barely noticed what was going on in my own backyard, much less the national news. (In hindsight, maybe I should’ve stayed in space, even if it was all pretend.) But, alas, I'm back on Earth, and I’m joined by two fellow officers (by which I mean former cast members) Nora Tramm and Jade Fernandez to accompany me on this latest comedy mission to discuss all things WNC, including the dreaded Interstate 26 Connector project.

Eric: A thing I really love about Star Trek is how optimistic it is for the future of the human race. I also love how many technological advancements and social changes they predicted. What is one thing from Star Trek that you wish you we could bring to Asheville?

Jade: I think the obvious answer would be a replicator. There are some meals I’d love to eat without

Asheville needs to channel its inner Star Trek

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER: Comedians, from left, Nora Tramm, Eric Brown and Jade Fernandez discuss teleportation as an alternative to the Interstate 26 Connector project, and other Star Trek-inspired innovations that could improve Asheville. Photos by Greg Benge; courtesy of Brown

having to get in my car and drive, find parking, fight a tourist, etc. Or maybe the restaurant sadly doesn’t exist anymore. God, I would love some gazpacho from La Bodega. However, one of my favorite things about Star Trek is that despite all that technology, they still relied on collaboration and each other to solve their dilemmas. No one was threatened by being replaced by AI. I mean, I guess Data was a form of AI, but he had his limitations, and they all knew that. As computer scientist Margaret Boden said, “A computer’s ‘goals’

are empty of feeling.” OK, admittedly I am feeling sensitive about a job position I hold being eliminated due to AI. It doesn’t have to be this way!!!

Nora: I’d like to get my hands on some of that gay-space communism please — and the sooner, the better. I’m talking about the egalitarian, money-free society that Star Trek portrays human civilization to be in the 24th century. Now, I know that some may argue that the post-scarcity society depicted in Star Trek is not really communism. To them, I say: Fine, technically in an environment of

6 Week Course

absolute abundance, the very concept of a system of wealth distribution would be obsolete. Some may also say that throughout most of its history, Star Trek has not been particularly homosexual. To them, all I can say is: You and I have been reading very different fan fiction. But surely at least we can agree that one thing Asheville needs is more space. (And the communist wisdom to build something other than a wretched hive of $2.8 million luxury condos in that space.

[And more gays, just as a treat.])

Eric: Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy would be perfect. He’s the chief physician in the original show, so health would be a priority. Plus, he’s surly, no-nonsense, and he loves to party. So he’d fit in with the vibe here, but he’d also get things done. Most importantly, he’s a Southern gentleman. There’s no doubt in my mind he would be down to line dance, get rowdy at a Tourists game and “Raise Hell, Praise Dale.”

Eric: From Bernie Sanders to Billy Strings, we’ve had our fair share of national figures visit Asheville this year. Who do you hope to see next?

Jade: Dr. Bronner, so we could hear him yell everything that’s written on the bottle at us. He must be yelling, right? I can only imagine him yelling. And everything he's yelling is stuff we pretty much agree with, anyway. So

Beginning Watercolor

» Guided Introduction to materials

» Fundamental techniques

» Color theory & mixing effectively

» Build confidence with classical methods

» Materials provided

Tuesdays 10am - 12pm, Beginning Sept 9th

*Limited spots available

“I am so excited to have finally found a teacher who makes learning the basics both enjoyable and fun” - Molly, adult student

that feels good. Plus, folks could use some of the soap to, say, wash their pits before a concert at The Orange Peel.

Nora: A few months ago, I was walking past Pritchard Park, and there was a guy barking for an Asheville Museum of Science table. But at first all I knew was that he was standing there asking passersby, “Who wants to touch a bug?”

I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn’t have time for the type of soul-searching required to answer this question. But ever since I cannot stop thinking about it. And you know what? It’s me. I want to touch a bug. Life is short, and novelty is how we remind ourselves we are not machines suited only for labor and rest, and then more labor.

Thinking back, basically every time I’ve touched an animal that people don’t usually touch it’s been a peak experience. I’ve touched an octopus under proper supervision and a manatee that I probably shouldn’t have. I held a hawk and got body checked by a manta ray. As a child, I once handed a peanut to a monkey, although the monkey turned out to have rather aggressive opinions about portion size.

Point being, in this moment, I guess I just want a rogue wildlife ambassador to sweep into town and let me touch the weirdest f***ing bug you’ve ever seen.

Eric: George Carlin. He was my comedy idol, my hero, and he played the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in 2006, shortly before he died. I couldn’t go, mostly because I was in high school and my parents were never going to spring for that. Being young and stupid, I just assumed he’d come back to town someday and I’d see him then. I mean, your hero comes to town all the time, right? George Carlin was a man who knew exactly where we were going as a culture, and he knew exactly how big business and the powers that be were never going to be on our side. If he wasn’t so busy being funny, he probably would’ve made a great philosopher or prophet or cult leader. In a time when everything in this country seems to be falling apart, I’d love to see what he had to say. I still wish I would have made it to that show.

Eric: If you’ve ever read anything I’ve written in this column, chances are you've seen me take shot after shot at my sworn nemesis, the scourge of WNC: Interstate 26. The current plan for the long-promised connector is a giant overpass over Patton Avenue rather than the original underpass plan. Public opinion for this seems to range from pretty unpopular to deeply unfavorable. What do you propose we do to fix the I-26 Connector?

Jade: After living and working in Atlanta for many years, driving in Asheville is so pleasant. That current interchange would NEVER work in Atlanta. Every single time I can easily merge left, I’m amazed. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve developed this weird phobia of overpasses. It’s completely irrational. So, I propose a completely irrational multilane roundabout, which from above should look like a sun tattoo on someone’s lower back. I don’t know, I think it would look sick. Also, roundabouts are very European.

Nora: Life-size Hot Wheels ramp. Next. ...

OK, OK — there’s some details to work out. In particular, with any big jump, there’s going to be the question of where the cars would land. Luckily, there’s some acreage available on the other side of the river. You see, UNCA recently announced that they are pausing the development of their urban forest. While this has been celebrated as a victory for the Save the Woods movement, UNCA’s statement implied that, while they don’t really know what they plan to put in that space, they definitely want to do something with it. So, why not clear-cut the entire thing and put in a big bull's-eye for the cars that the I-26 stunt ramp sends sailing over West Asheville to land on? Listen up, NIMBYs, the LZ has gotta go somewhere; we can’t just not hurl vehicles in a parabolic arch across the French Broad.

Eric: I got three words for you: Teleporters, my dog! Let’s eliminate the need for any of this by eliminating the need for cars. We can just teleport wherever we need to go, and if we ever miss the sensation of I-26, we can just line up in front of the teleporter for no reason at all.

Now, I know what you're thinking: How do we get these teleporters? I say we just make them. If Helene taught me anything, it's that if you give a bunch of mountain folk a backhoe, a chain saw and some rope, they can do anything. Hell, I bet the people of Marshall will have it figured out before they even get to the end of this column.

Now, what these teleporters are made of or how they work is none of my business. I’m just the idea man, and I do expect my cut of the profits. Unfortunately, this ain’t Star Trek, where they’ve progressed beyond capitalism and have no need for money, so I’m going to need that sweet green cash, which the actual builder of my million-dollar idea can simply teleport to my bank account upon the completion of the project, thank you very much.  X

‘Showing yourself to yourself’

Local poet’s debut collection wins the Iowa Poetry Prize

BY MATT SALERNO

Mackenzie Kozak wrote all but one of the poems in her debut collection, no swaddle, over the course of a weeklong residency at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities in Southern Pine. The local poet says her time at the home of the N.C. Literary Hall of Fame provided her the necessary space to compose the collection, which won the 2024 Iowa Poetry Prize. Drawing from her personal life, experiences as a counselor and her time as an associate editor of Orison Books, no swaddle takes readers through the uncertainty and grief of questioning the role of motherhood and balancing the weight of expectations against desire.

Below is an untitled piece from the collection, as well as a conversation with the poet.

Throughout the book, there were themes of grief, loss and motherhood. I felt the dissonance between the expectation of being a mother and the desire to not be a mother. Were there certain questions you were asking yourself while writing this collection?

In writing the book, it mirrors a lot of my own experience with this question, which has been constantly trying to imagine two potential futures without really knowing what either of those

would be like. And so the poems shift back and forth a little bit, and that feels very true to what it’s been in my own head. It’s caused me to think a lot about my childhood, about what it was to be a daughter around a religious upbringing and the certainty of religious beliefs and ways of viewing the world. Even in writing this book, it felt like a rejection of the binary and the black and white, the good and bad, the way that we view things when we’re in a more rigid structure. The world feels like it wants us to be on one side or the other.

Has working as associate editor for Orison Books influenced your writing at all?

I think just reading so much language related to spirituality and a higher power created a spaciousness inside of me to think about my own experiences. I grew up very religious and have shifted in that a lot. I think it’s helped me in my personal journey and also as a writer. These are topics we can focus on, and there’s such a variety of ways to see things.

And you work as a counselor. How has that affected your writing?

I see all kinds of clients, but grief is sort of my favorite way to be there with people and support them. I think that grief is interesting because it's not something that we come to a therapist for and

(untitled)

mother, this is not the garden you spoke of, or i have not tended it, as its weeds have grown waist-high and difficult to wade through. the man i love grows peonies and does not blame me for the weather, though he builds cages to protect the peach trees’ faint budding. when the garlic shriveled and tomatoes bleached with sunspots, i grew hardened toward the earth. mother, what’s the cost of growing something, or in choosing not to plant, feeling the wind for an aim. when i was born there, or you were, when i was a small plot of soil, pressing myself to your knee. did you wonder what i would become, or what hours would shape me, what weather, haunt me. did you move steady through the world, trusting the sky?

GRAY SPACES: Mackenzie Kozak’s poems live in what she calls “gray spaces,” where nothing is black and white, and uncertainty abounds. The poet believes that learning to be comfortable in that uncertainty is crucial. Photo by Anna

say, “I want you to fix this.” Whereas a lot of other symptoms, that’s the kind of language that people might use. They want their anxiety to go away or depression to go away, but with grief, we’re really just sitting in spaces of suffering. That’s the focus with this book; it’s a lot about sitting in a space of grief where you don’t have a lot of answers. Being a grief therapist, I’m sitting in the gray with people all the time and having to get really comfortable with sadness and all the things that grief brings up inside of us. It stretches my capacity for holding space for my own emotions as well.

In the book itself, poems aren’t titled. The first poem just floats into the next one. There aren’t clear-cut barriers, and they swim together. Even the cover is watercolor and not hyperrealistic. Could you talk about the motivations behind that?

Like you said, they do swim together, and I wanted it to read as this uninterrupted wash of feelings and all the thoughts that have come up in this question. I also don't like writing titles. It feels like this rejection of naming, which is sort of part of the book as well — rejecting what society says we’re supposed to do in some way. It’s impressionistic. It feels abstract in some ways, and it also feels like the most narrative book I’ve ever written. So, it’s funny. I was getting worried that it’s too clear and too narrative. And then a lot of my friends said, “No, there’s still a lot of vagueness, you don't need to be too worried.”

Does sitting in those feelings and writing from that gray space serve as catharsis? Or did you find you need-

ed to step away once you completed a poem?

There was catharsis in the process. I don’t know how people process things without art. I’m so grateful to have poetry as a way of processing because there are times where you don’t really know what you’re feeling. You write something and you read it, and it’s kind of like you’re showing yourself to yourself. But sometimes reading it for me is hard. I have to be thoughtful about the poems I’m reading at certain places because sometimes it brings up emotions that I am not expecting. It feels really vulnerable in a good way, but it’s bizarre.

And then it won the Iowa Poetry Prize. What was that like?

Oh man, I’m still in shock a little bit. Brenda Shaughnessy selected it, and I’ve been reading her work since early high school. That was really just meaningful and kind of full circle for me. I feel a lot of gratitude and luck because I know it’s not given. I’ve been in the publishing industry; it’s kind of a nightmare. It’s nice to have a book at readings instead of like a bunch of pieces of paper, which is what I’ve had for so long.

Is there anything specific you hope readers take away from the collection?

I guess my hope for the book is that it creates more openness for people in their minds about what they believe life can look like. I hope it creates more spaciousness inside of people so there’s not as much rigidity around what women should or shouldn’t be. X

White

Mind-bending brews

One dream too many at DSSOLVR

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 trip to Burning Blush Brewing, visit avl.mx/eyh.

DSSOLVR is not your grandfather’s brewery. That is, unless your grandfather took the brown acid at Woodstock, was abducted by freaky extraterrestrials from the ninth dimension, then eluded his otherworldly captors … (deep breath) ... through transcendence of the space-time continuum by means of astral projection vis-a-vis yogic meditation, and eventually reincarnated as a building in downtown Asheville.

If that’s the case, then, no, this still isn’t your grandfather’s brewery. It’s your grandfather. Geez. Stick with me, folks.

While many local breweries lean into the pastoral with barn wood, brick and firepits, DSSOLVR goes in the opposite direction with a decidedly urban psychedelic atmosphere. As our crew mosied in, a few of us were a little wide-eyed, while others felt right at home. My buddy Alan West, with his effervescent smile and Jack Skellington-covered coachman’s hat, could’ve passed for either a regular patron or part of the decor.

We sidled up to the bar and looked over the expansive tap list with names almost as trippy as their descriptions.

Tell you what, let’s play a game. Try to guess which of the following are actual beverages that have been brewed at DSSOLVER and which were made up by yours truly:

• Sticky Tiger Fuzz honey West Coast pilsner

• Extra Bootleg Lizard Wizard double dry-hopped West Coast-style IPA

• Dankies XXL THC Seltzer – Blah Blah Blaze

• Cold Caprese Pizza (Italian pilsner)

• Crab Rangoon (gluten-free, smoothie-style fruited cheesecake sour)

How many of them do you think are real? One or two? Three of four? Well, folks, they are, in fact, all actual drinks that have been brewed by the trippiest brewery in town.

I should note that the Cold Caprese Pizza has no actual pizza in it. It’s a collaboration with Hoof Hearted Brewing.

ory of relativity, and they brewed this masterpiece to settle their argument. As it turns out, it simultaneously proved them both right and both wrong.”

“Mine’s like a quick dip crayon earthquake jet pack on a bun,” said the grinning donkey mask resting on the table. “Locomotive supernova Spanish Harlem sun.” (The donkey mask is clearly a fan of this Key & Peele skit: avl.mx/f1i.)

Whoa. Maybe I had one dream too many.

Before I peace out, let me be serious for a moment. Like all Asheville businesses, DSSOLVR was hit hard by Tropical Storm Helene. Co-owner Vince Tursi filled me in on the challenges and opportunities that arose in the aftermath.

While DSSOLVR somehow didn’t lose power after the storm, it did lose water — an essential ingredient for beer. So for a few weeks, the brewery turned its downtown location into a distribution center.

8/27: Reader: Jessica 12-5

8/28: Reader: Violet 1:20-6

8/29: Reader: Krysta 12-7

8/30: Reader: Melissa 11-3 Reader: Ed 12-6 Witch Wound Series 2-4

8/31: Reader: Andrea 12-4 Tarot Collage 6-8

I highly recommend that you pause in your reading of this to yell “Hoof Hearted” at the top of your lungs.

We got our brews and settled in, each of us sipping on something different. “Mine’s a drinkable art installation,” Brad said. “As if Salvador Dali described the most delicious dream he’d ever had and Marcel Duchamp brought it to life via interpretive dance.”

“Mine’s more like a lava lamp love potion,” Alex said. “Or maybe a strawberry alarm clock.”

“Mine … ,” Wes said wistfully. “Mine’s like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking had irreconcilable differences concerning the special the-

Truckloads of donations arrived, which the staff sorted and shared with the community, handing out bottled water, food and other supplies to anyone in need. “[We did] our best to keep the local community fed, clothed, hydrated and cared for,” Tursi says.

Cheers to everyone who held us together after Helene and aided in our recovery. What a long, strange trip it’s been.

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.

• Aug. 27: Zillicoah Beer Co. (It’s back, baby!)

• Sept. 3: Leveller Brewing Co., Weaverville X

Fowl play

BY KAY WEST

Cole Parry was born in Raleigh and Arlan Parry in Colorado, but their family roots are in Brevard, where they visited often growing up.

When it was time to make a reality of their long-held dream to open a restaurant together, Brevard called them home to roost, and on Aug. 22, Mountain Bird Chicken took flight. The poultry-focused, fast-casual restaurant reclaimed a closed Sonic restaurant on College Station Drive, making it new with a fresh coat of Carolina blue paint, a dining room with tables and booths, seating on the patio and cheerful branding created by Cole’s fiancée and third partner in the business, Molly Austad

Cole is the first to admit that they are not reinventing the wheel with fried chicken, a fast-food staple. But he promises Mountain Bird will distinguish itself in Brevard.

“For one thing, we’re local, and we think that goes a long way here,” he says. “Our menu is short, but everything is fresh, from the chicken to the sauces to the biscuits we make the dough for and bake multiple times a day. Nothing is coming into the kitchen frozen, and there is cooking involved in every step.”

Both brothers had after-school and summer jobs in restaurants. Cole learned to cook at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., but his focus was always on management and front of house, which took him to New York City and later to Houston. Arlan went to Brevard College, cooked at several local restaurants and then began working in technology.

It was in Texas that Cole developed Mountain Bird’s method for frying chicken. “Me and some friends were always playing around with pop-up ideas and recipes, and we got locked in on this chicken breading method to make the bird supercrispy with a lot of crunch,” he says. “I cooked so much chicken over the last five years and ate so much chicken.”

That research and development period also included perfecting the biscuit, creating sauces and testing sandwiches in to-go containers to see how they would hold up and taste. Once Cole felt ready, he called his brother and said, “Let’s do this.”

right before Tropical Storm Helene hit Western North Carolina in September 2024. The storm did not impact the building, but it did delay the build-out.

He also persuaded Austad, an award-winning sommelier from San Antonio, Texas, to give the idea a whirl with them.

Arlan spent several months looking at possible locations before the Sonic building became available. The partners signed the lease

Cole and Austad moved to Brevard in February and, with Arlan, devoted themselves to getting Mountain Bird Chicken up and running before the one-year anniversary of signing the lease.

The menu is succinct — chicken tenders, chicken on a biscuit, a standard chicken sandwich, two specialty chicken sandwiches, a chopped wedge salad and eight house-made dipping sauces.

The Mountain Bird method begins with a breading technique using a flour and buttermilk dredge that results in a golden jacket evocative of Japanese tempura. “It creates all these ridges and valleys within the breading, so when the chicken goes in the fryer, it gets really flaky and crispy, and the chicken stays moist and juicy,” Cole explains.

The two specialty sandwiches are the Fire Bird, which adds a Buffalo sauce toss to the boneless chicken and tops it with ranch slaw and pickles, and the Full Stack with lettuce, pickles, cheese and their mayonnaise- and ketchup-based house “Sunday Sauce.”

Sides are crinkle-cut fries — because they’re the best for dipping, says Cole — and coleslaw, made with a unique recipe from employee Mike Pradella , who formerly worked at Gaia Herbs in Asheville.

“Fried chicken isn’t changing the world, but it’s comforting and delicious and almost everyone enjoys it,” Cole says. “We have no greater ambition than to serve the best food we can to the people we love in the place we call home. To us, that is everything.”

Mountain Bird Chicken is at 143 College Station Drive, Brevard. For more information, follow Mountain Bird on Instagram at avl.mx/f1k. X

PLAYING CHICKEN: From left, brothers Cole and Arlan Parry have partnered with Molly Austad to open Mountain Bird Chicken in Brevard. Courtesy of Mountain Bird Chicken

SMART BETS

by Edwin Arnaudin

David Sheldon Miss Julie

Attic Salt Theatre Company has been quiet in recent years but returns this month with a production of Miss Julie. August Strindberg’s play about the titular countess of a large estate and her dangerous flirtation with her father’s valet debuted in its original Swedish in 1888 and has been translated into dozens of languages and performed thousands of times around the world. This new adaptation by director Jeff Catanese aims to modernize the language while maintaining its original setting and intent. The cast includes Lauren Otis, Jon Robinson and Gabby Bailey “Miss Julie has long been a favorite of mine for its intense content and strong characters, but I couldn’t find a translation and adaptation that speaks directly to a modern audience,” Catanese says in a press release. “I hope with this version I can create the kind of shock in the audience that was first felt over a hundred years ago. There’s certainly never a dull moment.”

Performances run Fridays-Saturdays, Sept. 5-20, at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, Sept. 7-21, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/f1m. X

John McCutcheon

Who couldn’t use a little more hammer dulcimer in their lives? While John McCutcheon brings more than just his impressive skills with the world and folk music staple instrument to each performance — we’re talking banjo, piano, harmonica, guitar, storytelling and more — the hammer dulcimer remains a central component of the Grammy-nominated artist’s shows. And yet he continues to find inspiration via various creative sources.

Not one to be tied to a single art form, Asheville-based artist David Sheldon has built a reputation as a talented sculptor and painter. Alongside pieces from sculptor Mark Connelley, Sheldon’s works are part of an exhibition at Brevard College’s Spiers Gallery, Thursday, Aug. 28-Friday, Sept. 26. Selections from Sheldon’s portfolio include “Orion,” part of his Skyworks series of sculptures, plus his large, figurative abstract paintings, expressive landscapes and works from his Paintings of Paintings series. The show will also mark the first time he will be displaying an installation of Field Guide to the Birds of North America, an ongoing painting project that currently consists of over 200 pieces.

“I use each bird depicted in the original Field Guide to the Birds of North America— a book I adored as a kid — as a starting reference,” Sheldon says in a press release. “But my aim in each painting is to move beyond the traditional, scientific thought system and bird description and allow another ‘system’ to take its place … allowing what I would call my 'emotional intelligence' to take over

Pan Harmonia

and express the birds in a nonverbal, more directly expressive way, allowing the paint, itself, to have a say in the process.”

Free to attend. To learn more, visit avl.mx/f1n. X

Just after the master’s visit to White Horse Black Mountain on Sunday, Aug. 31, McCutcheon's new album, Long Journey Home: A Century After the Mountain City Fiddlers Convention, will be released on Friday, Sep. 5. An ode to the 1925 Tennessee competition that brought together some of the most prominent country musicians of the time — and which McCutcheon calls “the Woodstock of early country music” — the record features such fellow Americana stars as Molly Tuttle and Old Crow Medicine Show.

After Tropical Storm Helene pushed Pan Harmonia’s silver anniversary season into spring 2025, the Ashevillebased, artist-directed chamber music company gets right back to business with its 26th season. The first set of performances features Alec Wilder’s Piece for Alto Flute and Drums, Alice Gomez’s Concertino Indio for Piccolo and Percussion and Claude Bolling’s Suite for Flute and Jazz Trio. Performers include Kate Steinbeck (flute), María Luisa de la Cerda Rohde (flute; piccolo), John Crawley (piano), Byron Hedgepeth (percussion) and Kevin Kehrberg (bass).

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. The suggested ticket price is $30, but per White Horse’s donation-based model, any amount will be accepted for admission. To learn more, visit avl.mx/f1o  X

The concerts take place Friday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, and Sunday, Sept. 7, at 3 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Bolling’s selected piece winning a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance, attendees at the Sept. 7 performance are invited to dress like it’s 1975 and enjoy complimentary postshow cake and tea. All Pan Harmonia shows are donation-based, pay-as-you-can events. To learn more, visit avl.mx/e5b  X

"Orion" by David Shelton. Photo courtesy of the artist

From left, Lauren Otis and Jon Robinson star in Attic Salt Theatre Company's production of Miss Julie. Photo courtesy of Attic Salt

From left, Kate Steinbeck and John Crawley. Photo by Warner Photography

Photo of John McCutcheon by Irene Young

RAISING SKETOE’S GHOST: On Friday, Aug. 29, Western North Carolina-based band Sketoe’s Ghost visits Oklawaha Brewing Co., starting at 8 p.m. Sketoe’s Ghost delivers a blend of Southern rock, jam, Americana, funk and danceable grooves.

Photo courtesy of Edward Carrasquillo

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

PISGAH BREWING CO.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27

12 BONES SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia w/King Trivia, 7pm

CAMDEN’S COFFEE

HOUSE

Open Mic Night, 7pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY

Open Mic Wednesday, 7pm

ELUVIUM BREWERY

The Candleers (country), 5:30pm

EULOGY

Pentagram String Band w/Yes Ma’am & Gipsy Rufina (bluegrass, gothic-folk, punk), 8pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Meschiya Lake & the Moodswingers (jazz, swing), 8pm

FOOTHILLS GRANGE Trivia Night, 7pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Bluegrass Jam Wednesdays, 6:30pm

GALACTIC PIZZA

Fast Eddie’s Trivia, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm

PULP

Lurky Skunk (folk, punk), 8pm

81 Drifters (jazz, Americana, bluegrass), 6pm

SHAKEY’S

SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

New Dawn Starkestra (multi-genre), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT

DOOR

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

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music

Series: Jon Stickley, Lyndsey Pruett & Christian Ferri (multigenre), 6pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Katrina Unplugged (altR&B, soul-pop), 10pm

THIRD ROOM

Disclaimer Stand-Up

Lounge: Comedy Open Mic, 9pm

URBAN ORCHARD Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK

MOUNTAIN

• Irish Session, 5pm

• White Horse Bad Ass Blues Jam, 7:30pm

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28

12 BONES

SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Leather Britches (Appalachian, old-time), 5:30pm

ASHEVILLE YARDS

Caamp w/Fruition & Ona (indie-folk, alt-rock, Americana), 6pm

CROW & QUILL

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

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 Bully (alt-rock), 8pm

FLEETWOOD’S Pull Chainis & Designer (garage-rock, glampunk), 9pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

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

GREEN MAN

BREWERY Thursday Night Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/ Drew Matulich, 7pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO. Felonious Monks (funk), 7pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Old Sap (folk, rock, Americana), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Dirk Quinn Band (jazz, funk), 7:30pm

SHAKEY’S Karaoke w/Franco Nino, 9pm

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

Night Hawk, Claire Whall, Chrysalis & Wild Roots (indie-rock, country, folk), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Kim Smith (acoustic), 5:30pm

• The Dave Matthews Tribute Band, 8pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

Ethan Stallings Group (pop, soft-rock, jazz), 9pm

Clubland Listings

THIRD ROOM

Passengers Unknown (rock), 9pm

TWIN WILLOWS

The Candleers (country), 6:30pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

The Walker Family Band (Irish, old-time), 7:30pm

WICKED WEED

BREWING

Owen Walsh (acoustic), 5pm

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

The JLloyd Boomtown Mashup (acid-jazz, funk, reggae), 11pm

BRIDGE PARK, SYLVA Boukou Groove (New Orleans funk, soul), 7-9pm

COFFEE, ART, MUSIC

TYPE PLACE

Open Mic, 6pm

CORK & KEG

Old Time Jam, 7pm

CROW & QUILL

Firecracker Jazz Band (jazz), 8pm

DSSOLVR

Golden Grooves w/ Chris Felinski (dance, house), 6pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY

Roots & Dore (Americana, blues, rock), 8pm

EULOGY

• Smells Like Nirvana: MTV Unplugged Tribute, 7pm

• DJ Lil Meow Meow’s Dance Floor Rapture (edm), 10pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

80’s Night w/Carolina Tumbleweed Band & DJ Payne, 7:30pm

FRENCH BROAD

RIVER BREWERY

Clouds of Delusion (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

GINGER’S REVENGE

Modelface Comedy Presents: Gilbert Lawand, 8pm

HEMINGWAY’S CUBA

Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Ben Balmer (Americana, folk, blues), 8:30pm

LOBSTER TRAP

Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 6:30pm

MAD CO. BREW

HOUSE

Patty M (acoustic), 6pm

NEW BELGIUM

BREWING CO.

Hannah Ramsey’s House Blend (rock), 5:30pm

NOBLE CIDER & MEAD TAPROOM AND PRODUCTION

FACILITY

Crisp Comedy w/Ryan Gordon, 7pm

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

Sketoe’s Ghost (rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING

Red Rock Hill (Americana, indie-rock), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

St. Owsley (Jerry Garcia & Grateful Dead Tribute), 9pm

SHAKEY’S

2000s Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Chaos Among Cattle, Blackwater Drowning, Haymaker, Saw Gang & Gang Beef (metal, hardcore, hip-hop), 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE

• Patio: Scout Speer (country), 5:30pm

• Drivin N Cryin w/Laid Back Country Picker (rock, country, punk), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

King Garbage (R&B, pop, hip-hop), 7pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

• Josh Sewell (funk, blues, reggae), 6pm

• Jeremy Short (Appalachian, funk), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Gramatik, SuperNicer & Cobrayama (hip-hop, funk, electronic), 9:30pm

THE STATION BLACK MOUNTAIN

Mr Jimmy (blues), 5pm

WICKED WEED WEST

Paul Koptak & Kevin Dolan (folk, Americana), 5pm

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30

ASHEVILLE CLUB

Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

SubDocta w/Common Creation & Shakes (edm, dubstep), 10pm

ASHEVILLE YARDS

Ethel Cain w/9Million (indie-rock, folk, altrock), 7pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK

EXCHANGE

Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 5:30pm

CORK & KEG

Sebastien Bordeaux’s Hillbilly Royale (country, folk, old-time), 8pm

CROW & QUILL

Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (jazz), 8pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY

Adrian Bundy & His Honky Tonk Hearts (country), 8pm

EULOGY

• Brunch Is Dead w/ Phantom Pantone & Mmmezzzzzz, 1pm

• Teathyme Takeover

Labor Day Weekend Party (house, disco, jazz), 9pm

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

• Alex Eubanks (country, Southern-rock), 4pm

• Fancy & the Gentlemen (goth-tonk, Southern), 7:30pm Adrianne Blanks & the Oracles (surf-rock, jazz, swing), 9pm

FUNKATORIUM

Funk DJ Series w/Mitch Offe, 6pm

HEMINGWAY’S CUBA Saturday Night Live, 6pm

JACK OF THE WOOD

PUB

• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm

• Holler & Crow (folk, alt-Celtic, new-grass), 8:30pm

MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Play Music on the Porch Day w/Two Fontaines Rock Duo (alt-rock, blues, jazz), 4pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.

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

ONE WORLD BREWING Beer & Loathing (rock’n’roll, funk, honky tonk), 8pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

• Doss Church & The Unholy Noise Album Release Show w/The Feels Trio (Americana), 5pm

• Dirty Bird (rock), 9:30pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Underhill Rose (Americana, folk), 2pm

STATIC AGE LOFT Idle County, i26connector & Tanner York (rock, country, pop), 9am

THE GREY EAGLE

• Blue Country Line Dance’s Giddy-Up Brunch (country, hiphop), 11am

• Patio: Chris Wilhelm (Americana, folk rock), 3pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Clouds of Delusion (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm

THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL

• Jesse Valcich (jazz, rock’n’roll, experimental), 6pm

• Saylor Brothers (bluegrass), 10pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Dirtwire, Will Evans & DJ Bowie (dance, electronic, alt-country), 9:30pm

URBAN ORCHARD

Asheville Nightlife: Rafasan & Local DJs (techno, edm), 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN

Big Deal Band (bluegrass, rock), 7:30pm

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31

FITZ AND THE WOLFE

Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue, 1pm

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

OKLAWAHA

BREWING CO.

The BRUE (rock, pop, blues), 3pm

ONE WORLD

BREWING WEST

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

• One Love Sundays w/ Dub Kartel (reggae), 7pm

PISGAH BREWING

CO.

Pisgah Sunday Super Jam, 6:30pm

SHAKEY’S Stand Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA

BREWING CO.

Sidecar Honey (indierock, Americana, soul), 2pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Most Open Mic, 6:30pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

Next 2 Jimmy, Cloutchaser, Star Anise & DJ

Tommy M (pop, rock, indie), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE MaMuse (folk, soul), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Woman to the Front Blues Band (blues), 2pm

THE ORANGE PEEL Bop to the Top Summer (Disney Music tribute), 8pm

THE RAD BREW CO. JORTS! Standup Comedy Showcase, 7pm

THIRD ROOM

Comedian Joe Zimmerman, 8pm VOWL Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic, 7pm

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

27 CLUB

27 Club Karaoke, 10pm FLEETWOOD’S Best Ever Karaoke, 9pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Alex Bazemore & Friends (bluegrass), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

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

ONE WORLD BREWING

Open Mic Downtown, 6:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.

The Feels (indie-soul, R&B, funk), 2pm

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

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Asheville Jazz Orchestra Labor Day Show (jazz), 2pm

THIRD ROOM

Grateful Dead Mondaze w/Clouds of Delusion, 7pm

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

ARCHETYPE BREWING

Trivia Tuesdays w/Party Grampa, 6:30pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Robert’s Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

LOOKOUT BREWING COMPANY

Team Trivia, 6:30pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

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

SHAKEY’S Booty Tuesday w/DJ Mad Mike, 10pm

SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam, 8pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS Blisspoint, Sweat FM, Pool Holograph & ArawrA (punk, rock, rap), 10pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

The Lads AVL (rock, blues), 6pm

THIRD ROOM

Open Decks, 8pm

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN White Horse’s Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

12 BONES

SMOKEHOUSE & BREWING

Trivia w/King Trivia, 7pm

CAMDEN’S COFFEE HOUSE Open Mic Night, 7pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY Open Mic Wednesday, 7pm

EULOGY

Conan w/Mares of Thrace & Sunbearer (doom metal, hardcore), 8pm

FLEETWOOD’S

Jayke Orvis & the Bullshit Brothers, Coleman Williams & Scarecrow Jenkins (country, punk), 9pm

FOOTHILLS GRANGE Trivia Night, 7pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

Bluegrass Jam Wednesdays, 6:30pm

GALACTIC PIZZA

Fast Eddie’s Trivia, 6:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Old Time Jam, 5pm PULP

Gabrielknowseverything w/Lo Wolf, Claire Whall & Austin Sebak (hip hop, folk, pop), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Paper Crowns Duo (Southern-rock, Americana, folk), 6pm

SHAKEY’S

SSIN w/DJ Ragga Massive, 10pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Weird Wednesday Open Jam, 7pm

STATIC AGE RECORDS

Simon Joyner & the Nervous Stars, Leah Senior & Jackie Kelsh (folk, country), 8:45pm

THE GREY EAGLE

Lucero: Celebrating 20 years of Nobody’s Darlings (rock, soul, punk), 8pm

THE JOINT NEXT DOOR

Rod Sphere (soul, rock), 6pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Well-Crafted Music Series: Whitney Mongé (multi-genre), 6pm

THE ODD

Terraoke Karaoke Takeover, 9pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

In Flight Duo (multigenre), 10pm

THIRD ROOM

Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge: Comedy Open Mic, 9pm

URBAN ORCHARD

Wayward Trivia, 6:30pm

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

185 KING STREET

Dawn Landes (folk), 7pm

CROW & QUILL

The Deltaz (Americana, blues-rock), 8pm

EDA’S HIDE-A-WAY

Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm

FLOOD GALLERY

True Home Open Mic, 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY

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

GREEN MAN BREWERY

Thursday Night Trivia, 7pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB

Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Phibian (folk-indie), 7pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST

Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm

PISGAH BREWING CO.

Congdon Griffin Band (rock’n’roll, Americana, folk), 7:30pm

SHAKEY’S Karaoke w/DJ Franco Nino, 9pm

SLY GROG LOUNGE

Mr. Gnome, Powderhorns & Mellowfield (experimetal, alt-rock, psych), 8pm

STATIC AGE LOFT

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

THE GREY EAGLE

An Evening With Boot Scootin’ Boogie Nights (country), 8pm

THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.

Gold Rose (Americana, alt-country), 6pm

THE ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC

HALL

Alex Bradley Unhinged (multi-genre), 9pm

THE ORANGE PEEL

Jim Norton: Now You Know, 8pm

WICKED WEED

BREWING

Andy Ferrell (folk, country, Appalachian), 5pm

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In some Buddhist mandalas, the outer circle depicts a wall of fire. It marks the boundary between the chaotic external world and the sacred space within. For seekers and devotees, it’s a symbol of the transformation they must undergo to commune with deeper truths. I think you’re ready to create or bolster your own flame wall, Aries. What is non-negotiable for your peace, your creativity, your worth? Who or what belongs in your inner circle? And what must stay outside? Be clear about the boundaries you need to be your authentic self.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Centuries ago, builders in Venice, Italy, drove countless wooden pilings deep into the waterlogged mud of the lagoon to create a stable base for future structures. These timber foundations were essential because the soil was too weak to support stone buildings directly. Eventually, the wood absorbed minerals from the surrounding muddy water and became exceptionally hard and durable: capable of supporting heavy buildings. Taurus, you may soon glimpse how something you've built your life upon—a value, a relationship, or a daily ritual—is more enduring than you imagined. Its power is in its rootedness, its long conversation with the invisible. My advice: Trust what once seemed soft but has become solid. Thank life for blessing you with its secret alchemy.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Inuit myth, Sedna is the goddess who lives at the bottom of the sea and oversees all marine life. If humans harm nature or neglect spiritual truths, Sedna may stop allowing them to catch sea creatures for food, leading to starvation. Then shamans from the world above must swim down to sing her songs and comb her long black hair. If they win her favor, she restores balance. I propose that you take direction from this myth, Gemini. Some neglected beauty and wisdom in your emotional depths is asking for your attention. What part of you needs reverence, tenderness, and ceremonial care?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In ancient Rome, the lararium was a home altar. It wasn’t used for momentous appeals to the heavyweight deities like Jupiter, Venus, Apollo, Juno, and Mars. Instead, it was there that people performed daily rituals, seeking prosperity, protection, and health from their ancestors and minor household gods. I think now is a fine time to create your own version of a lararium, Cancerian. How could you fortify your home base to make it more nurturing and uplifting? What rituals and playful ceremonies might you do to generate everyday blessings?

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In Persian miniature painting, entire epics are compressed into exquisite images the size of a hand. Each creation contains worlds within worlds, myths tucked into detail. I suggest you draw inspiration from this approach, Leo. Rather than imagining your life as a grand performance, play with the theme of sacred compression. Be alert for seemingly transitory moments that carry enormous weight. Proceed on the assumption that a brief phrase or lucky accident may spark sweet changes. What might it look like to condense your full glory into small gifts that people can readily use?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In Andean cosmology, the condor and the hummingbird are both sacred messengers. One soars majestically at high altitudes, a symbolic bridge between the earth and heaven. The other moves with supple efficiency and detailed precision, an icon of resilience and high energy. Let’s make these birds your spirit creatures for the coming months. Your challenging but feasible assignment is to both see the big picture and attend skillfully to the intimate details.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the ancient Greek myth of Psyche, one of her trials is to gather golden wool from violent rams. She succeeds by waiting until the torrid heat of midday passes, and the rams are resting in the cool shade. She

safely collects the wool from bushes and branches without confronting the rams directly. Let this be a lesson, Libra. To succeed at your challenges, rely on strategy rather than confrontation. It’s true that what you want may feel blocked by difficult energies, like chaotic schedules, reactive people, or tangled decisions. But don’t act impulsively. Wait. Listen. Watch. Openings will happen when the noise settles and others tire themselves out. You don’t need to overpower. You just need to time your grace. Golden wool is waiting, but it can’t be taken by force.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1911, two teams tried to become the first humans to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen’s group succeeded, but Robert Falcon Scott’s did not. Why? Amundsen had studied with Indigenous people who were familiar with frigid environments. He adopted their clothing choices (fur and layering), their travel techniques (dogsledding), and their measured, deliberate pacing, including lots of rest. Scott exhausted himself and his people with inconsistent bursts of intense effort and stubbornly inept British strategies. Take your cues from Amundsen, dear Scorpio. Get advice from real experts. Pace yourself; don't sprint. Be consistent rather than melodramatic. Opt for discipline instead of heroics.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A lighthouse isn’t concerned with whether ships are watching it from a distance. It simply shines forth its strong beams, no questions asked. It rotates, pulses, and moves through its cycles because that’s its natural task. Its purpose is steady illumination, not recognition. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I ask you and encourage you to be like a lighthouse. Be loyal to your own gleam. Do what you do best because it pleases you. The ones who need your signal will find you. You don’t have to chase them across the waves.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the fourth African American woman to be granted a U.S. patent. Her invention was ingenious: a folding cabinet bed that could be transformed into a roll-top desk. It appealed to people who lived in small apartments and needed to save space. I believe you’re primed and ready for a similar advance in practical resourcefulness, Capricorn. You may be able to combine two seemingly unrelated needs into one brilliant solution— turning space, time, or resources into something more graceful and useful. Let your mind play with hybrid inventions and unlikely pairings.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I expect you will be knowledgeable and smart during the coming weeks, Aquarius. But I hope you will also be wise and savvy. I hope you will wrestle vigorously with the truth so you can express it in practical and timely ways. You must be ingenious as you figure out the precise ways to translate your intelligence into specifically right actions. So for example: You may feel compelled to be authentic in a situation where you have been reticent, or to share a vision that has been growing quietly. Don’t stay silent, but also: Don’t blurt. Articulate your reality checks with elegance and discernment. The right message delivered at the wrong moment could make a mess, whereas that same message will be a blessing if offered at the exact turning point.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): *Liubai* is a Chinese term that means “to leave blank.” In traditional ink painting, it referred to the portions of the canvas the artist chose not to fill in. Those unpainted areas were not considered empty. They carried emotional weight, inviting the eye to rest and the mind to wander. I believe your near future could benefit from this idea, Pisces. Don’t feel you have to spell everything out or tie up each thread. It may be important *not* to explain and reveal some things. What’s left unsaid, incomplete, or open-ended may bring you more gifts than constant effort. Let a little stillness accompany whatever you’re creating.

MARKETPLACE

Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds

REAL ESTATE LAND FOR SALE

BUILDING LOT IN LEICESTER 1/2 acre on pond. 10 minutes to downtown. Rural setting - has small 200 yearold cabin. Very liveable. No co. $130,000. 828-593-9417

AUCTIONS

ESTATE AUCTION with REAL ESTATE Saturday, September 6th @10am 209 Fostoria Place Albemarle, NC. ESTATE (dec). 3Br Brick Home with Antiques, Furniture, 2023 Buick with 3,000 miles. www.ClassicAuctions.com 704-791-8825 NCAF5479/ NCREL168339/C19000

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

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)

RENTALS

APARTMENTS

FOR RENT

2 BEDROOM 1 BATH APARTMENT In Black Mountain. $995 per month. With new laminate hardwood floors. Heating and cooling. Washer dryer connections. Great neighborhood! 828252-4334

CONDOS/ TOWNHOMES FOR RENT

2 BED 1 BATH TOWHOUSE FOR RENT 1 mile from downtown. $895 per month. Hardwood floors, very nice neighborhood. Pets allowed. 828-252-4334

HOMES FOR RENT

CABIN FOR RENT 1/2 acre on pond. 10 minutes to downtown. Furnished. Small 200 year-old cabin. $1300 includes all. No lease. 828-593-9417

MOBILE HOMES FOR RENT

2 BEDROOM 2 BATH

MOBILE Accepting Section

8. $1595 per month. New laminate hardwood floors. 2-3 miles from town. On the bus line.Very quiet neighborhood. 828-252-4334

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

Sept. 24: Songwriter ADAM WHIPPLE RENEWAL OF BEAUTIFUL BELONGING

Celebrating Regional Artists • 6pm

Sept. 3: RAD artist CINDY WALTON

Sept. 10: STEWART/OWEN Dance

Sept. 17: Storyteller JANNA BARBER

the exception of HVAC. No job too small. $35 an hour. Carl (828) 551-6000 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! 1-833-423-2924. (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)

ARE YOU A SURVIVOR survivor of domestic violence, verbal, emotional, psychological, physical or sexual abuse? NEW GRANT FUNDING can help you with online counseling and education. Text Ava Hopkins at (307-223-2317) to schedule a call.

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as one day. Superior quality bath and shower systems at affordable prices. Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833540-4699. (AAN CAN)

COLLECTIBLES FOR SALE

Glasssware, pottery, tools, a 30s Silvertone radio, turntable, table saw, NASCAR collectibles, lawnmower and parts, and lots of smalls. Michael 828-222-0192

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 1-855-869-7055 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: 1-833426-0086. (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)

UNCLAIMED / RECEIVED FIREARMS The following is a list of Unclaimed / Received firearms currently in possession of the Asheville Police Department.

BLK/TAN, S&W, M&P, 9MM; BLK/BRO, F.LLIPETTA, REVOLVER, UNK; BLK, FMJ, D.D, 0.45; TRQ, GLOCK, 43,

9MM; BLK, S&S, 7.65, 0.22; TAN, FN, 510, 10MM; RG, RGREVOLVER, 38SPECIAL, 0.38; BLK, HI-POINT, 45ACP, 0.45; SIL/BLK, RUGER, SR40, .40CAL; BLK, RUGER, LCP2, 0.38; BLK, IBERIA, S&W, .40CAL; BLK, GLOCK, 17, 9MM; BLK, SPRINGFIELD, SA-XD, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 23, .40CAL; GRN/BLK, TAURUS, G2C, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 43, 9MM; BLK, S&W, .38SPECIAL, 0.38; BLK, CZ, P-10F, 9MM; BLK, S&W, M&P, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 19, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 43X, 9MM; BLK/ SILV, SCCY, CPX-2, 9MM; BLK, KELTEC, P11, 9MM; BLK, H&R, UNK, 0.32; BLK/SILV, F.I.E., TITAN, 0.25; BLK/BRO, ARMINUS, HW5, 0.22; SILV/BLK, S&W, GOVERNOR, 0.45; SILV/ BRO, N.AMERICANARMS, UNK, 0.22; SIL, 5SHOTBREAKFRONT, UNK, UNK; BLK, RUGER, 9E, 9MM; BLU/ BLK, RUGER, LITE, 0.22; BRO/RUST, S&W, UNK, 0.38; BLK, S&W, SPRINGFIELD, 9MM; BLK/TAN, TAURUS, PT140G2, 0.4; BLK, SIGSAUER, UNK, 0.22; BLK, WALTHER, PPX, 9MM; BLK, S&W, M&P, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 43X, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 19, 9MM; BLK, TAURUS, 709SLIM, 9MM; BLK/BRO, ROCKISLANDARMS, M1911-A1, 0.45; BLK, S&W, CTG, 0.38; SIL/ BLK, BERETTA, TOMCAT, 0.32; SILV/RUST, ARMITANFOGLIO, GT380, 0.38; SIL/BLK, AMT, BACKUP, .40CAL; BLK, RUGER, UNK, 9MM; BLK, RG, 66, 0.22; BLK, HERITAGE, UNK, 0.22; SILV, NORTHAMERICANARMS, UNK, .22MAG; BLK, GLOCK, 26, 9MM; BRO/BLK, SAVAGEARMS, 69RXL, 12GA; BRO, SAVAGE, MOD95, 12GA; BRO/ BLK, CHAINGKAI-SHEKRIFLE, UNK, 8.57MM; BLK, MARLIN/GLENFIELD, MOD70, 0.22; CAMO, TRISTAR, VIPER, 12GA; BLK/ BRO, REMINGTON, 511-P, 0.22; BLK, MOSSBERG,

MAVERICK, 12GA; BRO/ BLK, WINCHESTER, 22LR, 0.22; BLK, STEVENS, 12GA, 12GA; BRO/BLK, RUSSIANMADE, BAIKAL18M-M, 0.41; BRO, NORINKO, SKS, 7.62; UNK, SEARS, SHOTGUN, 12GA; BLK/ BRO, REMINGTON, 870, 12GA; BLK, MOSSBERG, UNK, 12GA; TAN, KELTEC, SUB-200, 9MM; BLK, HIGHPOINT, 4595, 0.45; BLK, MARLIN, 336W, 30-30; GRY, STEN, MKII, 9MM; BLK, REMINGTON, UNK, 12GA; BRO, BROWNING, UNK, 0.22; BLK, MOSSBURG, MAVERICK88, 12GA; BLK, EAAREVOLVER, EA/R, 38; BLK, BERETTA, APX, 9MM; BLK, S&W, M&P, 9MM. Anyone with a legitimate claim or interest in this property must contact the Asheville Police Department within 30 days from the date of this publication. Any items not claimed within 30 days will be disposed of in accordance with all applicable laws. For further information, or to file a claim, contact the Asheville Police Department Property & Evidence Section at 828-232-45

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: 1-833-928-1861 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! 1-833-641-3892. (AAN CAN)

ACROSS

1 Hogwarts headmaster ___ Dumbledore

6 Province 10 Followed movefor-move 14 Japanese automaker named for a river 15 Ground transportation option

16 Ripped

17 A, B and C, but not X, Y and Z

19 Where Bengali and Burmese are spoken

20 Barely scrapes the surface

21 Bore up

23 Persistently bother, with “at”

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26 Actress Wong of the Netflix series “Beef”

27 James of jazz

28 Ham-handed

30 Onetime CBS forensic drama

33 “I don’t mind ___ / Except as meals. / And the way they feels”: Ogden Nash

35 Sicilian landmark

36 Seyfried of “Mean Girls”

38 Tragic ending?

40 He and I, but not she and you

43 Suffix with rocket

44 Highlands cryptid, affectionately

45 Praiseful verses

46 Fast-swimming shark

48 Disappointing

49 Villainous animal in “The Lion King”

50 Add color to

52 She’s a woolly one

54 “What ___ you?”

55 “Beats me!”

57 Toss from the game

59 “That’s my cue!”

60 A+ and B-, but not F

65 Forgetful actor’s request

66 Part of a chain

67 ___ coffee (whiskey drink)

68 Crafty website

69 “We will make amends ere long; / ___ the Puck a liar call”: Shak.

70 Day’s harvest, for a fisher

DOWN

1 Objective

2 Sch. on the banks of the Mississippi

3 Ground transportation option

4 Commando weapons

5 Perform dreadfully, so to speak

6 Figure that roughly equals protons plus neutrons

7 “Aw, phooey!”

8 PC file extension

9 Congressional divide, literally as well as metaphorically

10 Just the slightest bit

11 MA and MS, but not BA and BS

12 Canal with a “low bridge” (“Everybody down!”)

Zilch

Starting squad

Many a godchild

Something to stand for 25 X, Y and Z, but not A, B and C 29 “The Office” role 31 Taco topper 32 Something only some of us will get

34 Pop star Gomez 36 Top gun

Word aptly hidden in “turned yellow”

Writing assignment

Hole-___ (singular feat) 42 “Whew!” 47 Organ with a distinctive shape 49 Overwhelmingly busy 51 Postpone for now 53 Exchanged rings with 55 River through Khartoum