Mountain Xpress 01.29.20 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 27 JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 27 JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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PAGE 18 SELF-CARE IN 2020 In our first of two special wellnessthemed issues, we explore the buzzy concept of self-care with Asheville-area healing professionals and other community members — and how they put those caring-for-yourself ideas into action. COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

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OPINION

Send your letters to the editor to letters@mountainx.com. STA F F PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron A&E EDITOR: Alli Marshall FOOD EDITOR: Gina Smith GREEN SCENE EDITOR: Daniel Walton OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Laura Hackett, Brooke Randle, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR EDITOR: Deborah Robertson CLUBLAND EDITOR: Lauren Andrews

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A voice for the voiceless My response is prompted by the article featured in the Mountain Xpress regarding dogs being euthanized by Brother Wolf [“Killing With Kindness: Animal Rescue and the Limits of Compassionate Care,” Jan. 15]. Simultaneous with this conflict is that 9 billion animals were slaughtered in the U.S. last year. I have a dog companion whom I value and love. I choose a plant-based diet and practice no harm to animals in the choices of what I eat, wear and products I use. I was a meat eater years ago before I chose to make conscious choices about my life as opposed to continuing to embrace the obsolete practices I was raised with. The data is overwhelming about the impact of animal agriculture on climate change as well as chronic disease. Primary to me, however, is that animals have an emotional life. They have as much right to be here as we do, and all are worthy of our compassion, not just the dogs at Brother Wolf. If one dares to look at the reality of animal agriculture, [a quote attributed to] Mahatma Gandhi expressed it best: “The most violent weapon on Earth is the human fork.” I grieve deeply that our culture behaves from a place of selective empathy and the suffering that is occurring right now because of it. — Farrell Sylvest Asheville

Lee has integrity, financial savvy I write to express my support for Rich Lee for Asheville City Council. I do this in spite of the fact that, as a die-hard libertarian, I usually disagree with Rich’s policy preferences. But as a realist, I accept that that will be so with nearly every viable Council candidate, so I have to look at other factors to make my choices. In Rich’s case, these are the factors that persuade me: • I know him to be a man of integrity, honesty and candor. • He neither spouts BS nor tolerates it from others. • He deals with finances professionally and is a whiz at understanding spreadsheets and budgets. • He is highly intelligent and analytical. • Nobody better combines being a policy wonk with being willing to get his hands dirty in doing the often tedious, nitty-gritty stuff that makes a city work. • He recognizes that everything in governance is a trade-off among competing interests and values, and is therefore pragmatically willing to take the possible instead of hold out for the ideal but impossible. • I believe that he will give opposing ideas, from me or anybody else, a fair hearing and evaluation, even if he ultimately decides to support a different position.

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• He habitually thinks of policy matters for the long run, rather than just the here and now. I wish that Asheville would generate a strong, small-government, maximal-freedom candidate for City Council. But until that happens, I’ll gladly accept these other admirable qualities as all that I can ask. Please join me in supporting Rich Lee for Asheville City Council. — Robert J. Woolley Asheville

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I moved to Buncombe County over 31 years ago, so I have seen many changes in this community. Change is inevitable, but I believe we are at an important crossroad where we need leadership who can speak to where we have been as well as the need to plan carefully for the future. I urge those in District 1 to consider ninth-generation Buncombe County leader Terri Wells for our next county commissioner. This new district includes northwestern Buncombe County — Sandy Mush, Leicester, Alexander, Jupiter, Weaverville, Woodfin and North Asheville. Having worked with Terri on a variety of projects in our Sandy Mush community, I know that she is hardworking, decisive, informed and reflective. She has respect for the past that nurtured her while realizing the need to move forward in a way that does not leave any part of our community behind. Terri has devoted much of her life to education as a teacher, project director for Asheville City Schools Foundation and various volunteer projects, including access to technology and literacy support in our rural community. Terri was educated in Buncombe County schools. While working with Terri on various projects with the Democratic Party and voter registration, I have always been impressed by her concern that all voices within the party as well as those outside of the party, Republican and independent, be considered in any discussion. This ability to work with a variety of points of view is needed in our current political climate. Please take a moment to look at Terri’s website or attend an event to talk with her. Early voting for the March 3 primary begins Feb. 13. [See:] terriwellsforcommissioner.com. — Peggy Baldwin Sandy Mush

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Sloan offers vision, vigor and know-how

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

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mary this year, and Parker Sloan is a standout candidate in District 3. He has proven himself a visionary and vigorous policymaker in his time on the Buncombe County Planning Board. Parker sees what we all see — poorly planned development, increased traffic, underpaid schoolteachers, declining housing options — all in the context of the climate crisis. Parker understands how to get things done. His land-use planning education and his solar energy business experience make him uniquely qualified to show up and do the things we all know need to be addressed. He is also the candidate with the best chance of beating the incumbent Republican tourism advocate, Joe Belcher. I respect and trust Parker Sloan to do what’s right. He’s got my full confidence, and he’s got my vote. You can learn more about Parker at parkersloanforbuncombe.com. — Gordon Smith Asheville

An appreciation of The Bywater I’d like to express my appreciation for what The Bywater has provided Asheville during its 10-year run [see the “Small Bites” column, Jan. 8, Xpress]. It fulfilled its vision of a uniquely Ashevillean space, where friends and family could gather in a laid-back environment with seemingly few rules outside of “behave yourself.” Outdoor fire pits, quality music, grills for “bring your own,” access along the river for pulling in or chilling out. Railroad tracks, for Christ’s sake! (I always wondered who would be liable if someone tripped and knocked out their teeth.) Having had my own 10-year run in “the business,” I can attest that running a bar is an unforgiving game requiring a young man’s energy and an old man’s maturity, a rare combination. Lessons are learned quickly (or not) that often take a lifetime to process. My hat’s off to James and his crew, and for his ability to move on to this new venture on his own terms. Many blessings for rest, peace and success. — Rob Campbell Asheville

Seek out reputable advice on CBD products This is in response to the person (name withheld) who wrote in because of a problematic CBD experience [“A Problematic CBD Experience,” Jan. 1, Xpress]. While I understand the writer’s concern about lack of regulation in the CBD industry,

it is important to know that our community has quite a few reputable sources of products, and information on safety, dosing and other aspects of the proper use of medicinal CBD hemp products. There are many reliable and ethical companies in the U.S., including in our area, growing and extracting hemp and making fine CBD products. We have been in the natural-product business 24 years, including selling and offering advice on the safe use of CBD for the last 4 1/2 years since legalization in North Carolina. My advice is to search out reliable and reputable CBD hemp products as well as people who have experience offering guidance in the use of hemp extracts. The Asheville area is blessed with many practitioners with knowledge and passion who can provide guidance in this arena. Our experience definitely shows that CBD hemp is good medicine, but this is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Seek out good products and reputable advice! — Bill Cheek and Mike Rogers Co-owners, Nature’s Vitamins and Herbs (formerly Nature’s Pharmacy) Asheville

Try eating mor chikin on Merrimon In the humor issue, the article “Chicken Sandwich Smackdown” [Jan. 1, Xpress] pitted the famed chicken sandwiches from Chick-fil-A and Popeyes against each other. But the Xpress food editor, who wrote the article, doesn’t eat meat. Here’s an idea: Give the meat-eating food review task to one who eats meat. She went to a drive-thru-only Chickfil-A, and didn’t like that she had to eat her sandwich in her car with no fixin’s. Here’s another idea: Go to the Chick-fil-A on Merrimon, one of the busiest fast-food restaurants in town. Go on inside and read the menu. You can actually get that sandwich in a deluxe version with lettuce, tomato and some choice for cheese. When you receive your speedy order from a friendly staffer, turn around and visit the condiment table, where you can choose from a variety of condiments, including mayonnaise. No one will ask your sexual preference at the door, nor do they care. All they do is chicken, and they do it very well. Keep a watch out the window and wonder at the speed of delivery for their dual drive-thru system. The sandwich may not change your mind over which is better, but I can guarantee you a much more satisfying experience. — Kirk Martin Burnsville

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NEWS

NEXT ACT

City proposes $100M makeover for Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

BY DANIEL WALTON dwalton@mountainx.com An array of Western North Carolina civic and economic leaders took to the stage of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium on Jan. 15 to drum up support for improving the 80-year-old performance space — literally. Before the official presentation began, percussionists from the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Mars Hill University treated the roughly 500 people in attendance to a lively rendition of thundering West African rhythms. But the real show was the unveiling of a $100 million proposal to dramatically reconfigure the facility. “We are quickly approaching the day where something has to happen,” proclaimed Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer. “We’re reaching a critical stage — some would say we’ve already reached that critical stage — in terms of what this infrastructure can handle. And we need to re-up and make a significant investment in it so that it can continue to contribute to the vitality of this city and to enhance our experience as Ashevilleans here in our own town.” Chris Corl, general manager of the city-owned Harrah’s Cherokee Center — Asheville, which includes the auditorium, called the proposed makeover “not a renovation but a transformation” of the hall. The aging facility, he argued, is long overdue for updates that would make Asheville a major regional destination for the performing arts. “There have been calls for renovations for decades from the media, guests, city staff and event organizers,” noted Corl. “As you compare our

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This concept illustration by architecture firm Earl Swensson Associates shows how Thomas Wolfe Auditorium might host a rock concert after $100 million in upgrades. Graphic courtesy of the city of Asheville guest amenities to cities like Nashville, Greenville, Durham, Charleston or Greensboro, we’re subpar.” A 2016 study commissioned by the city pegged the cost of what Corl called a “moderate renovation” to improve acoustics and seating at $36.69 million in 2018 dollars, an estimated $42.47 million in 2021 dollars. But he said the newer, more ambitious plan would go well beyond those changes, completely revamping the way patrons and performers alike experience the venue. “Other than a new roof, the exterior shell and a few walls here and there, we’re looking at a brand-new facility,” Corl explained as he displayed concepts developed by Nashville-based Earl Swensson Associates. In April, the

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city signed a roughly $339,000 contract with the firm for initial design work. “Especially compared to the current, is this more representative of a northern gateway that we want to see in Asheville?” he queried. REARRANGING THE SPACE To describe how the plan would reshape the auditorium, Corl asked audience members to imagine themselves sitting 20 feet lower. Because the current configuration does not allow for optimal acoustics, he said, the stage would be dropped down to the level where performers currently load in, effectively raising the ceiling.

The back of the hall would also be brought forward, freeing up space for threefold increases in both concession and restroom capacity (currently there are 11 commodes), as well as additional common areas. Signage would be eliminated from the front of the building for a cleaner appearance, said Corl, and guests would enter through a glass facade with a nested design echoing the look of the original 1940 Asheville Auditorium. Behind the scenes, new loading facilities and greenrooms would be constructed for visiting artists. Before Corl’s presentation, Greg Duff, the Civic Center Commission’s vice chair, led a backstage tour, pointing out problems that he said discourage performers from booking shows at the facility.

“There have been calls for renovations for decades from the media, guests, city staff and event organizers.” — Chris Corl, general manager, Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville A 12-foot ramp with a 40-degree slope, the main avenue for moving amplifiers and other equipment onto the stage, poses a major inconvenience for technical crews, said Duff. Meanwhile, artists generally enter the dressing room area by crouching through an “infamous short door” that’s about 4 feet tall, he noted, and they “invariably hit their head.” Although artists do have access to backstage showers — rumored to have been installed by the city at the behest of legendary Russian dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov — the two stalls have no doors between them. “If you shower at the same time, there’s no privacy at all,” said Duff. “So virtually these showers are never used by anyone.” Improvements aimed at performers, argued Corl, would lead to an increase in both overall bookings and the diversity of those offerings. After the renovations, he predicted, the auditorium would probably book 160 or more dates per year — more than twice its current use rate — and those shows would be more evenly distributed among symphony performances, popular music concerts and other performing arts and entertainment events. WHO’S BEHIND THE PUSH? It’s not entirely clear how much grassroots support the idea has at this point, however. Those registering for the Jan. 15 presentation were directed to TransformTheWolfe.com. At that time, the site billed itself as belonging to “a community group that believes [ren-

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ovating] one of Asheville’s most treasured buildings is needed to provide a home for music, arts and entertainment in our community for future generations.” Language on the webpage invited readers to “join our efforts to #TransformTheWolfe,” but no supporters or community partners were listed, and there was no clear indication of the site’s authorship. Matthieu Rodriguez, marketing and box office coordinator for Harrah’s Cherokee Center — Asheville, said the website was entirely conceived and designed by city employees. Asked if, in that case, it was accurate to describe Transform The Wolfe as a community group, Rodriguez replied: “It’s an informational resource. As an entity of the city of Asheville, we cannot lobby one way or another for a public project. So we have to keep it as nonbiased as possible.” But Corey Atkins, chair of the Civic Center Commission and vice president of public policy for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, responded differently when Xpress asked about Transform The Wolfe during the Jan. 15 event. “I think it’s an independently owned website,” he said. “It’s really a citizen-led conglomeration of a bunch of different groups that are interested in seeing the transformation.” Corl, meanwhile, said the city plans to transfer ownership of Transform The Wolfe to a nonprofit group or subcommittee of the Civic Center Commission once community support coalesces behind the renovation plans. He com-

CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

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N EWS pared the process to the creation of the WNC Nature Center in the 1970s: “They kind of got behind it on a staff level, found a few key members of the community and passed it off. It became its own thing.” On Jan. 16, the day after these exchanges, the website had been updated to describe itself as “an informational resource” encouraging visitors to “learn more about the project.” At press time, however, an associated Facebook page had shared a post calling Transform The Wolfe a community group; the page also used that language in its “About” section. Asked about where the city stands in relation to the project, City Manager Debra Campbell wrote in a Jan. 23 email: “You referenced the conceptual design as a proposal. It is important to me that we are clear in all of our communication that what the city now has in hand is a conceptual design and base budget analysis. This valuable information will be used to assist staff as we look for funding opportunities through annual budgets and partnerships.” As for the website itself, she continued, “We know the city does not have all of the funding for a renovation; we also don’t know what funding

PLEASE DUCK: Greg Duff, vice chair of the Civic Center Commission, shows off the “infamous short door” through which many performers enter the backstage areas of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Photo by Daniel Walton opportunities may present themselves to support an iteration of this conceptual design. We are hopeful community partners will step forward. This site is designed so that it could be easily transferred to a partner interested in taking on fundraising efforts.” FINDING THE MONEY Although the Jan. 15 presentation contained a great deal of detail about the benefits of a transformed Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, it included just one slide indicating how the $100 million project might be paid for. The slide listed four potential funding sources: philanthropic donations, corporate sponsorships, Buncombe County’s 6% occupancy tax and local governments. In June 2018, city staff signed a $29,500 contract with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions to conduct a feasibility study about private donations for the project. On Jan. 15, Corl said Convergent was still “out there knocking on doors.” Speaking with Xpress after the meeting, Corl said he couldn’t provide even a ballpark estimate of how much money a fundraising campaign might generate. In a Jan. 22 email, however, Corl said that $3 million of a $5.75 million naming rights deal signed in May 2019 with Harrah’s isn’t earmarked for other purposes and could be used for the Thomas

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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Wolfe project. “From the beginning of the conversations with the team at Harrah’s Cherokee,” he noted, “we were clear that our focus was to start creating seed moneys toward a project at the TWA.” In his Jan. 15 presentation, Corl also cited the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority as a key potential funding source. By law, the agency must allocate 25% of all occupancy tax revenues to support brick-and-mortar projects that generate additional room nights at area hotels; the remaining 75% must be spent on advertising and marketing. “The Tourism Management and Investment Plan process is going to wrap up in a few months,” noted Corl, referencing the TDA’s long-term planning effort for capital spending. “We want to be queued up and ready to be that first transformative project that the TMIP creates.” According to Buncombe County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 2018-19, occupancy tax revenues totaled about $25.3 million. Based on that figure, the portion of the money available for capital projects would have been about $6.3 million. Thus, even allowing for annual revenue increases, it would appear that the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium project could consume all available occupancy tax revenue for a good many years to come. Between 2001 and 2018, the TDA’s Tourism Product Development Fund awarded $44 million to assorted capital projects, the agency reports. That’s less than half the projected cost of the proposed renovation. And if the anticipated funding sources proved insufficient, local governments might well have to use bonds to pay for the capital project — and perhaps increase taxes to repay that debt. Asheville is still in the process of issuing $74 million in general obligation bonds approved by voters in 2016, for which the city raised property tax rates by 3.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. According to a Jan. 14 city staff report, $23 million of those bonds are expected to be issued in March. During his Jan. 15 presentation, Corl conceded that the project is ambitious. But thinking big is necessary, he told the people seated in the auditorium, if Asheville is to take its rightful place among the cities of the Southeast. “Asheville is a city with an amazing amount of cultural diversity focused on the arts,” said Corl. “We need a crown jewel facility that represents our community.” X

BUNCOMBE BEAT

Buncombe employees blast administration over insurance changes critical comments from at least a dozen other Buncombe workers as of Jan. 16. “I feel we are still paying for the sins of others!” wrote Valerie Wright in a comment that received 20 likes. According to the county’s website, employees must submit their medical testing information to Synergy by Sunday, March 15. Pinder said commissioners will vote on the new premium schedule, including penalties for noncompliance with the testing, as part of the fiscal year 2020-21 budget. IN OTHER NEWS

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and this current county administration is taking an approach that would even attempt to skirt past Board of Commissioners oversight,” Putnam said. “Our recent scandals have shown that transparency and oversight should be the touchstones of not only every county employee, but certainly the Board of Commissioners.” Speaking with Xpress after the meeting, Pinder stood by her legal team’s evaluation of the changes and the need for board evaluation. She said the health assessments and risk scores — along with a 6.6% increase in all employee contributions toward premiums — were required to control Buncombe’s rising worker health care expenses. “We responded to that,” Pinder said about the concerns of Putnam and Honeycutt. “They didn’t like the response, so I think that’s why they’re here tonight.” Pinder and Frue also told Xpress that they weren’t aware of any other employees who had raised concerns over the new policy. However, a thread about the health risk assessments on the county’s internal forums contained

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Buncombe County is out for blood, according to Matthew Putnam. Changes to health insurance benefits proposed by high-level county staff, said the Buncombe employee during public comment at the Jan. 21 Board of Commissioners meeting, will require all workers and their spouses to submit to intravenous blood draws and other medical testing or pay double their current premiums. Hanna Honeycutt, who works along with Putnam as a lawyer for the county’s Department of Health and Human Services, noted that the new requirements would penalize employees who did not share their protected health information with a third-party company, Denver, N.C.-based Synergy Healthcare. The firm would use the measurements to create a “risk score” for each insured individual; those deemed high risk would be required to visit the employee clinic and develop a health improvement plan. County Manager Avril Pinder and Senior Staff Attorney Michael Frue, the two lawyers argued, were pushing the changes through without proper oversight from elected officials. Buncombe’s personnel ordinance, Putnam said, requires commissioners to approve any “change in employee benefits structure and options,” but the county’s attorneys had claimed that the modifications were below the level requiring the board’s consideration. “What’s more disturbing than the blood draw is the fact that county legal

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Also during public comment, a contingent of five Black Mountain and Montreat residents asked the commissioners to formally censure county municipalities that moved their elections from 2019 to 2020. This change, they argued, gave many local officials an unelected extra year in office and violated the basic tenets of democracy. “More than 75,000 Buncombe County residents, 40% of county voters, were denied access to the ballot box,” said Montreat resident Mary Standaert. “Such actions undermine confidence in the entire voting process.” And following a three-hour special meeting earlier in the day, commissioners unanimously appointed eight members of the inaugural nine-member Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Board. Representing District 1 are Dusty Allison, Sam Mason and Derek Turno, while representing District 3 are Ally Howell, Lena Richards and Teresa Williams. Because not all applicants from District 2 could attend the interviews, commissioners named only Ann Babcock and Carol Peterson to the board. The final member will be appointed from the remaining District 2 candidates at a later date.

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In the late 1800s, Wine of Cardui and Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound were among national medications advertised in Asheville’s local papers. Initially, the concoctions promised relief from menstrual pain. But as the new century began and as more women continued to enter the workforce, these same medicines broadened their appeal to include benefits like stamina and strength for the working woman. One advertisement for Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, which appeared in The Asheville Daily Citizen in 1900, featured testimonials from across the country. No matter where these women lived or what they suffered, they all claimed the compound allowed them “to work all day.” These advertisements typically portrayed women as frail and weak. Despite the unflattering characterization, the promotions also provide glimpses into the working conditions women faced at the turn of the 20th century. Wine of Cardui, for example, featured the following message in local papers throughout the early part of 1900:

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JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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“Many girls and women find it necessary to earn their own living in various kinds of employment. Their work is often so hard and confining that the health breaks down. Their delicate constitutions are unfitted for tiresome tasks. Weakness nearly always makes its appearance in the peculiarly delicate womanly organs. Constant standing on the feet, and coming and going at the beck of a superintendent or foreman, induces falling of the womb, leucorrhea, headache and backache. The pay of women workers is often so notoriously small that when sickness comes they have no money to engage skillful physicians. To them Wine of Cardui is truly a blessing. It cures them of their ills at a small cost, and they can act as their own physicians. No doctor can do as much for ‘female troubles’ as Wine of Cardui.” By 1912, The Asheville Gazette News reported that an estimated 9 million women had entered the workforce. That same year, local physician Dr. Molly Ameila Fendler spoke with The Sunday Citizen, offering health tips to Asheville’s working women.

Not mincing her words, Fendler lectured female readers about their lack of proper self-care: “The average working woman spends more time in the morning seeing that her hair is done in the latest fashion, that her dress is put on as carefully as though she were going to a reception, and that her face is ‘made up’ just right than she does to the selection of her food and right baths. What can she expect when she gulps down a cup of coffee and something fried and quite indigestible. This woman develops into a nervous, scold, or one suffering from continual ill health and lays it to overwork. It is not overwork, it is ignorance of self care.” Fendler recommended that both men and women take a half-hour lunch break each day, followed by an additional 30-minute walk for exercise and fresh air (“or just as good air as you can get in a city,” she clarified). Unfortunately, Fendler asserted, her recommendations often fell on deaf ears. Though her suggestions were directed at both the sexes, Fendler’s subsequent criticism focused exclusively on women. Instead of a healthy lunch and afternoon stroll, the doctor maintained that the city’s female workers regularly indulged in pie, ice cream and coffee. “This is enough to give the stomach a nervous shock,” the doctor proclaimed. “Then the girl hurries back to the store or office to inhale more bad air.” And once the workday was through, Fendler continued, these same women headed to dance halls, breathing in more bad air. “The ravages done to her complexion by all this make it necessary for her to use powder and paint,” the physician said. Incensed by the scenario, Fendler encouraged women to wash not only their hands but also their faces regularly throughout the day. Dental hygiene was another must. (“A tooth brush and tooth powder can be kept in a desk drawer,” she stated.) She also encouraged women to wear “eyeshades” to avoid damaging their vision. “Office health and hygiene should be taught,” the doctor proclaimed near the end of her discussion with the paper. The benefits, she argued, were self-evident: “Instead of pastey complexions we would have roses, instead of crotchety nerves even dispositions. It is well worth trying and the sooner the girl begins the better.” Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

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JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

COMMUNITY CALENDAR JAN. 29 - FEB. 6, 2020

CALENDAR GUIDELINES For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, ext. 320.

ACTIVISM CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 5pm - Citizens-Police Advisory Committee meeting. Free. Meets in the 1st Floor Conference Room, Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St. PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE OF HENDERSON CO. • FR (1/31), 4:30-6pm - Postcard writing to government representatives as well as Project Dignity information. Free to attend. Held at Sanctuary Brewing Co., 147 1st Ave., Hendersonville SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE • TUESDAYS, 10amnoon - Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road VETERANS FOR PEACE • TUESDAYS, 5pm Weekly peace vigil. Free. Held at Vance Monument, 1 Pack Square WORLD BEYOND WAR • TH (1/30), 6-8pm World BEYOND War

(WBW) is a movement and campaign of education, advocacy and nonviolent direct action to end all wars. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

ANIMALS BUNCOMBE COUNTY BEEKEEPERS CLUB • 1st MONDAYS, 6:30pm - Meet and greet. 7pm - Different topic each month. Membership: $10/year. Held at Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road WHITE SQUIRREL DAY • SU (2/2), 1pm Proceeds from White Squirrel Day with Brevard Mayor Jimmy Harris proclaiming and WSQL officiating the ceremony with a live broadcast benefitting The White Squirrel Institute. Free to attend. Held at Mayberry’s, 30 W. Main St., Brevard

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY DEFCON 828 GROUP • 1st SATURDAYS, 2pm - General meeting for information security

professionals, students and enthusiasts. Free to attend. Held at Earth Fare South, 1856 Hendersonville Road WNC LINUX USER GROUP • 1st SATURDAYS, noon - Users of all experience levels discuss Linux systems. Free to attend. Held at Earth Fare South, 1856 Hendersonville Road

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS BECOME A BROKER IN 2020! (PD.) 5 or 7 Week Prelicense Classes. Weeknights or Weekends. Next sessions begin Feb 4th or 8th. Register for $445 at www.ThomasNC.online or call 828-333-7509 BUILD AND REMODEL EXPO (PD.) Looking to renovate your home or build new? Find everything from builders, landscapers, awnings, cabinets, flooring, windows, and more at the Build and Remodel Expo! February 1 & 2: Saturday 10 am – 6 pm/ Sunday 11 am – 4 pm at WNC Ag Center’s Davis Event Center. Tickets $10. BuildAndRemodelAsheville.com. EMPYREAN ARTS CLASSES (PD.) Intro to Handstands weekly on Thursdays 7:45pm. Aerial Yoga weekly on Mondays 6:15pm and Wednesdays 7:30pm. Intro to Pole Fitness weekly on Tuesdays 7:15pm and Saturdays 11:30am. Intro to Pole Dance weekly on Mondays 7:30pm. Release & Restore weekly on Sundays 5:00pm, Mondays 7:30pm, and Thursdays 5:15pm. EMPYREANARTS.ORG. 828.782.3321 A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 1465 Sand Hill Road, Candler, 828-398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc • SA (2/1), 9am-noon SCORE: How to Value a Business and Increase Its Value, seminar. Registration: avl.mx/5zx. Free. • TH (2/6), 9-11am - Deep Dive Lab: Social Media

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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Dominance on Instagram, seminar. Registration: avl.mx/5zx. Free. • TH (2/6), 2-5pm - How Your Brand Can Benefit from YouTube Marketing, seminar. Registration: avl.mx/5zx. Free. ASHEVILLE ROTARY CLUB • THURSDAYS, noon-1:30pm - General meeting. Free. Held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church St. ASHEVILLE SUBMARINE VETERANS • 1st TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Social meeting for US Navy submarine veterans. Free to attend. Held at Ryan's Steakhouse, 1000 Brevard Road BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (2/5), 6pm - The Rhythmic Arts Project of Asheville offers percussion and music classes for teens and adults with developmental disabilities and their caretakers, parents and family members. Registration required. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • WE (2/5), 11am BINGO for all ages. Prizes from the Friends of the Library. Coffee and morning snacks. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. GETTING READY FOR TAX SEASON • WE (1/29), 11:30am1pm - Getting Ready for Tax Season, get organized, discuss frequently overlooked deductions, accounting systems and more. Registration: conta.cc/2O1XSqv. Free. Held at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 36 Montford Ave. LAUREL CHAPTER OF THE EMBROIDERERS’ GUILD OF AMERICA • TH (1/2), 10am-noon - General meeting and Sharon Richmond teaches flower making with an embroidered center with hooked petals. See the required January handwork. Free. Held at Cummings United Methodist

MOUNTAINEER LEAP YEAR: The Blue Ridge Orchestra celebrates the leap year with a program of musical oddities titled Kickshaws & Quiddities, performed twice on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 and 4:30 p.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in downtown Asheville. The concert features lesser-known works rarely performed, including Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 and Haydn’s Farewell Symphony. This is Music Director Milton Crotts’ last concert with the orchestra. Photo courtesy of Anthony Harden (p. 43) Church, 3 Banner Farm Road, Horse Shoe PFLAG MEETING • MO (2/3), 6pm - Pflag is individuals who want to build a foundation of loving families, united with LGBTQ people and allies, who support one another and speak up as advocates. 7pm - Panel discussion on LGBTQ+ homeless. Free to attend. Held at Providence Baptist Church, 1201 Oakland St., Hendersonville SELF-SUFFICIENCY PROJECT • WE (2/5), 1:30pm - Community Action Opportunities (CAO), an anti-poverty non-profit, hosts public hearings to discuss Self-Sufficiency project. Free. Held at A-B Tech Madison and NCWorks Career Center, 4646 US Highway 25/70, Marshall • TH (2/6), 11am - Community Action Opportunities (CAO), an anti-poverty non-profit, hosts public hearings to discuss Self-Sufficiency project. Free. Held at Transylvania County Library, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard • TH (2/6), noon - Community Action Opportunities (CAO), an anti-poverty non-profit, hosts public hearings to discuss Self-Sufficiency project. Free. Held at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St.

• TH (2/6), 10am - Community Action Opportunities (CAO), an anti-poverty nonprofit, hosts public hearings to discuss Self-Sufficiency project. Free. Held at Henderson County Public Library, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville

Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road

TRIVIA NIGHT • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Trivia night. Free. Held at VFW Post 9157, 165 Cragmont Road, Black Mountain

SIERRA CLUB PRESENTS PRESERVING A PICTURESQUE AMERICA • TH (2/6), 7-9pm - Sierra Club presents Preserving A Picturesque America. Scott Varn updates on the progress of the conservation project and shares stories and images. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, Asheville

ECO C4 SOLUTION TEAMS • TU (2/4), 6-7:30pm Citizens Concerned with the Climate Crisis (C4) volunteer teams working toward solutions for Clean Energy (& Weatherization), Education, Advocacy and Natural solutions. New volunteers are welcome. Free. Held at Donaldson Building, 1216 6th Ave. West, Suite 601 (in back), Hendersonville NATIVE PLANTS, BIRDS AND THE CRISIS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, PART 1 OF A 2-PART SERIES • TU (2/4), 5:30-7pm Cathy Walsh talks about her efforts to change City of Asheville policy to prohibit the use of invasive plants on City property, then about climate change and the decline of birds over the past 50 years. Free. Held at West

RIVERLINK RIVERFRONT BUS TOUR • 1st THURSDAYS, 10am1pm - Proceeds from the Riverfront bus tour benefit RiverLink. Registration: avl.mx/68a. $45.

FARM & GARDEN 27TH ANNUAL ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL SPRING CONFERENCE (PD.) March 6-8, 2020. at Mars Hill University, NC. Pre-conference workshops & Leah Penniman lecture in Buncombe County. 150+ practical, affordable, regionally-appropriate workshops on organic growing, homesteading, farming, permaculture. Organicgrowersschool.org. (828) 214-7833. ADVANCED ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT (PD.) THU. FEB 6TH 3PM-7PM. Advanced Enterprise Development will

dig into enterprise development and help farmers understand the factors that influence farm profitability, assess recordkeeping and farm documentation in order to enhance their farm financial picture. https:// organicgrowersschool. org/farmers/advancedenterprise-development/ FARM DREAMS WORKSHOP BY ORGANIC GROWERS SCHOOL (PD.) SAT. JAN. 18TH & SAT. FEB. 8TH, 10AM-4PM. A day-long workshop designed to help people who are seeking commonsense information on sustainable farming and how to move forward. Learn more at www. organicgrowersschool.org/ farmers/farm-dreams GARDENING WORKSHOP • SA (2/1), 10-11:30am - Buncombe Master Gardeners hold workshops on Starting Seeds Indoors and How to Sharpen Pruning Tools. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEY ON THE FARM • TH (1/30), 1-4pm - How to Make More Money on the Farm. Registration: avl.mx/6tv. Free. Held at Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde

• SA (2/1), 11-am-2pm - How to Make More Money on the Farm. Registration: avl.mx/6tw. Free. Held at Southwestern Community College, 447 College Drive, Sylva

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS CITIZENS-POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 5pm - Citizens-Police Advisory Committee meeting. Free. Meets in the 1st Floor Conference Room, Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FORUM • SA (1/1), 3:30pm Democratic Candidates Forum with all candidates for NC House Districts 113 and 117, NC Senate District 48 and US House District 11. Info and times: avl.mx/6vc. Free. Held at City of Hendersonville Operations Center, 305 Williams St., Hendersonville HENDERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY MONTHLY BREAKFAST • 1st SATURDAYS, 9-11am - Monthly breakfast buffet. $9/$4.50 for children under 10. Held at Henderson County Democratic Party, 1216 6th Ave. W., Suite 600, Hendersonville IMPACTS OF HOTELS: THE ULI FINDINGS • TH (1/30), 5:30-7pm - An Urban Land Institute panel presents their recommendations on best land use practices and other tools and strategies for the City to consider in order to plan for and regulate hotel development. Free to attend. Held at Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville, 87 Haywood St. INDIVISIBLE COMMON GROUND-WNC • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - General meeting. Free. Held at St. David's Episcopal Church, 286 Forest Hills Road, Sylva MEET THE CANDIDATES • TH (1/30), 5:30-7:30pm Meet the democratic candidates running for local, state and congressional offices. Free to attend.

Held at Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Drive VETERANS FOR PEACE • TUESDAYS, 5pm Weekly peace vigil. Free. Held at Vance Monument, 1 Pack Square

KIDS EMPOWERING THE LEADER IN EACH YOUNG MAN (PD.) Journeymen is supporting adolescent boys on their paths to becoming men of integrity. Our cost-free program is now enrolling young men 12-17. Mentees ("J-men") participate in bi-weekly mentoring groups and a semi-annual Rites of Passage Adventure Weekend, where they develop compassion, selfawareness, accountability, resilience and authenticity. Learn more: journeymenasheville.org Contact: journeymenasheville@ gmail.com (828) 771-6344. APPLE VALLEY MODEL RAILROAD & MUSEUM • WEDNESDAYS, 1-3pm & SATURDAYS, 10am-2pm - Open house featuring operating model trains and historic memorabilia. Free. Held at Apple Valley Model Railroad & Museum, 650 Maple St., Hendersonville BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • 2nd SATURDAYS, 1-4pm & LAST WEDNESDAYS, 4-6pm - Teen Dungeons and Dragons for ages 12 and up. Registration required: 828-250-4720. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • FR (1/31), 3:30pm - Art Adventures, a crash course on an artist or technique then create their own work. All materials provided. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • FR (1/31), 4pm - Lego building, ages 5 and up. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester • MONDAYS, 10:30am - Mother Goose Time, storytime for 4-18 month olds. Free. Held at Skyland/South Buncombe

Library, 260 Overlook Road • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 11am-noon - Storytime + Art, project for preschool students. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. • SA (2/1), 10am - Lego building, ages 5 and up. Free. Held at Oakley/ South Asheville Library, 749 Fairview Road • WE (2/5), 10:30am Preschool storytime and Valentine Tea geared towards 3-5 year-olds, includes singing, stretches and creative activities. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester • WE (2/5), 4pm - Dungeons and Dragons for ages 6-12. Registration required. Free. Held at Fairview Public Library, Fairview • 1st WEDNESDAYS, 4-5:30pm - Heroes Unlimited, role playing game for grades 6-12. Registration required. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview MOUNTAINS BRANCH LIBRARY 150 Bill's Creek Road, Lake Lure, 828-287-6392, mountainsbranchlibrary. org • TH (1/30), 4pm - Make your own pinback buttons. Ages 8-18. Free. • TU (2/4), 3:30-5:30pm STEM with Dr. K: Making a barometer. Registration required. Ages: 6-106. Free. PLAYDATES • MONDAYS, 9-10am - Playdates, family fun activities. Free to attend. Held at Whole Foods Market, 4 S. Tunnel Road YOUTH ART CLASS • SATURDAYS, 10:30noon - Youth art class. $10. Held at Appalachian Art Farm, 22 Morris St., Sylva

OUTDOORS BEAVER LAKE BIRD WALK • SA (2/1), 9am - Bird walk. Free. Held at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary, US-25 LOOKOUT STARGAZE • FR (1/31), 5:56pm - A public stargazing party with a weather backup date as Saturday, Feb. 1.

Registration: avl.mx/6ly. Free. Held at Lookout Observatory, 1 University Heights

PARENTING FOSTER PARENT OPEN HOUSE • TH (2/6), 5:30-8pm Drop in to find out about foster care, the agency and requirements to become licensed as foster parents. Light refreshments. Held at Children's Hope Alliance, 60 Livingston St., Suite 100 HENDERSON COUNTY EARLY COLLEGE OPEN HOUSE • TU (2/4), 6pm - Henderson County Early College high school hosts an Open House for prospective students and families. Free to attend. Held at Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Drive, Flat Rock MOTHERS CONNECTION • THURSDAYS, 11:30am1:30pm - Social gathering for mothers and their babies. Registration required. Free to attend. Held at Haywood Regional Medical Center, 262 Leroy George Drive, Clyde

Hospital, 260 Hospital Drive, Brevard CARING FOR MY LOVED ONE WITH DEMENTIA • WE (2/5), 9-11am - Caring for My Loved One with Dementia: Preparing for the Road Ahead, part 1. Registration: avl.mx/6v9. Free. Held at UNC Asheville Reuter Center, 1 University Heights

CHAIR YOGA • THURSDAYS, 2pm Chair Yoga. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville

ANATASATI MAGGA (PD.)

FOCUS ON FLEXIBILITY • TUESDAYS, 2:30pm - Focus on Flexibility, exercise class focused on stiffness, balance and body alignment. Information: 828-299-4844. Free. Held at Haw Creek Commons, 311 Old Haw Creek Road

Sujata Yasa (Nancy Spence). Zen Buddhism. Weekly meditations and services; Daily recitations w/ mala. Urban retreats. 32 Mineral Dust Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. 828-367-7718. info@ anattasatimagga.org.

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ASTRO-COUNSELING (PD.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Stellar Counseling Services. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229.

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PUBLIC LECTURES TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY: LAND OF WATERFALLS AND… BOGS • TH (2/6), 6:30-7:30pm - Ed Schwatzman talks about some of the Southern Appalachia's bogs and Transylvania County as a biodiversity hotspot. Light refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. Free. Held at Transylvania County Library, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard

SENIORS A MATTER OF BALANCE: MANAGING CONCERNS ABOUT FALLS • TH (1/30), 10am-noon - Learn how to reduce your fall risk and feel more confident, 8-session series. Registration: 828251-7438 or stephanie@ landofsky.org. Free. Held at Transylvania Regional

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CONSCIOUS PARTY

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SQUIRREL VS. GROUNDHOG: For the sixth year in a row, Groundhog Day will be celebrated in Brevard as White Squirrel Day. On Sunday, Feb. 2, the festivities begin at noon, when the live radio remote broadcast begins. At 1 p.m. the ceremony begins with Mayor Jimmy Harris’ official proclamation, then Pisgah Pete prognosticates about our weather conditions for the next six weeks with his handler, radio personality Don Debiase wearing a top hat and all. Proceeds from White Squirrel Day benefit the White Squirrel Institute, a local wildlife rehabilitator. The event is hosted at Mayberry’s on West Main Street in Brevard. Free. (p. 14)

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Public Notice: Community Action Opportunities (CAO) is applying for $760,381 to the Office of Economic Opportunity-Community Services Block Grant in order to operate a Self-Sufficiency project in FY 20-21 in Buncombe, McDowell, Madison, Henderson, Transylvania and Polk Counties. CAO currently provides comprehensive case management services to help individuals and families move out of poverty for residents who meet income eligibility criteria and are ready/able to work full-time. CAO will host public hearings to discuss programming: Thursday, February 6, 20 at 12pm at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St. in Asheville, NC and Wednesday, February 5, 20 at 1:30pm at the AB Tech Madison Campus in Marshall. CAO’s Board of Directors-Executive Committee is scheduled to meet to approve this application on Wednesday, Feburary 12, 20 at 1pm at Community Action Opportunities, 25 Gaston St. in Asheville, NC. The public is invited to attend any of these events in person or via webinar. Email kate.singogo@tcqr.org with the webinar info of the event you would like to attend at least 24 hours prior to the event in order to receive the log-in information. Call 828.210.0601 or email for more information.

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ECK LIGHT AND SOUND SERVICE: THE MAHANTA – CONSTANT GUIDANCE, CONSTANT LOVE (PD.) Explore your own direct connection with the Divine within this service, an engaging blend of insightful stories, uplifting creative arts, and contemplative exercises. Experience the Light and Sound of God and the sacred sound of HU, which can open your heart to divine love, healing, and inner guidance. Fellowship follows. Sponsored by ECKANKAR. Date: Sunday, February 2, 2020, 11am, Eckankar Center of Asheville, 797 Haywood Rd. (“Kings and Queens Salon” building, lower level), Asheville NC 28806, 828254-6775 (free event). www.eckankar-nc.org

MEDITATION CLASS • 1st SUNDAYS, 10am - Meditation class sponsored by Science of Spirituality. Information: 828-348-9123 or avlmeditation@gmail. com. Free. Held at Veda Studios, 853 Merrimon Ave. (Upstairs) MOUNTAIN MINDFULNESS SANGHA • TUESDAYS 7-8:30pm - Mountain Mindfulness Sangha. Admission by donation. Held at The Center for Art and Spirit at St. George's Episcopal Church, 1 School Road

VOLUNTEERING 12 BASKETS CAFE VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION • TUESDAYS 10:30am - Volunteer orientation.

Held at 12 Baskets Cafe, 610 Haywood Road HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC • THURSDAYS, 11am - See the Hope Tour, find out how Homeward Bound is working to end homelessness and how you can help. Registration required: tours@ homewardboundwnc. org or 828-785-9840. Free. Held at Homeward Bound of WNC, 19 N. Ann St. LITERACY COUNCIL OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION • MO (2/3), 9am - Information session for those interested in volunteering two hours per week with adults who want to improve reading, writing, spelling and English language skills. Free.

Held at The Literacy Council of Buncombe County, 31 College Place, Suite B221 WORKDAY AT SANDHILL TREE NURSERY • SA (2/1), 10amnoon - Join other volunteers in mulching, pruning, and weeding. Wear work clothes, close-toed shoes, hat, bring sunscreen and water. Tools provided. Questions: 828-232-7144 or gabby@ ashevillegreenworks. org. Held at Buncombe County Sports Park, 58 Apac Circle For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/ volunteering

WOMEN IN BUSINESS Coming February 19th advertise@ mountainx.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

SELF-CARE IN 2020

Series

3 Ways to Look and Feel Vibrant & Healthy

Beyond bubble baths

• Develop smart skills and habits that incorporate a healthy lifestyle and set goals to achieve them. • Find a healthcare partner you can trust to guide you in your pursuit of health and wellness. • Take advantage of cutting edge technology to achieve desired results.

Self-care has been one of the buzziest concepts in health and wellness for the past couple of years, but what does it even mean? Xpress talked to a range of community members, many of them healing professionals, for this week’s collection of self-care stories and snapshots to find out just what self-care means to them. And guess what? It’s not all bubble baths, manicures and scented candles — not that there’s anything wrong with those small indulgences. True to form, Ashevilleans have

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some pretty deep thoughts about why the concept of self-care is so hot, as well as a wealth of suggestions about forms of self-care you may not have considered before. With the abundance of health and wellness choices in this region — many of which you’ll see featured in the advertisements supporting this week’s and next week’s special wellness issues — you’re sure to find inspiration for caring for the one who makes it all happen: you. X

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pa l a c hi a p A

Wellness Mold-Related Illness is an unrecognized, huge problem. Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & others are common presentations

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Common symptoms include:         

Fatigue Weakness Aches Muscle Cramps Unusual Pains “Ice Pick” pain Headache Light Sensitivity Red Eyes

Blurred Vision Tearing Sinus Problems Shortness of Breath  Abdominal Pain  Diarrhea  Joint Pain  Morning Stiffness

   

 Memory Issues

 Confusion

 Focus & Concentration

 Disorientation

 WordRecollection

 Mood Swings

 Word-Finding

 Sweats (esp. night)

 Decreased Learning of New Knowledge

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Melissa Bertenthal: The power of discomfort Glossy magazine covers, social media posts and health gurus often encourage us to soothe our mental, physical and even spiritual aches and pains with monthlong retreats, exotic therapies or day trips to luxurious resorts. But what if self-care is more than treating ourselves to a day of pampering and unwinding? What if it means embracing our sometimes messy or unpleasant parts of ourselves? What if self-care challenges us to confront what’s most difficult in our lives? Melissa Bertenthal, owner of Everybody Yoga in East Asheville, rejects stereotypical self-care wisdom. If fact, she says, many conventional selfcare techniques might actually serve as a Band-Aid for discomfort or a way to avoid deep-seated issues and change harmful behaviors. “Self-care is not the easy, or the pretty, or the quick trip to the spa: It is about creating a life that you don’t regularly need to escape from, and that takes some time and work and willingness to go in deep,” she says. “At the end of the day, if you choose a distraction over the discomfort, the discomfort is still going to remain. A distraction just becomes a temporary fix.” As a yoga instructor, Bertenthal also sees her industry as brimming with misconceptions and false assumptions. When some folks think of yoga, they may envision a dimly lit studio full of toned bodies attaining peace and enlightenment by holding gravity-defying poses with seemingly effortless grace. The reality, she says, is much more inclusive. “Yoga comes up all the time when people talk about self-care. It’s kind of the go-to, and it should be, because yoga is an ancient science, and there’s proven results that it reduces stress, chronic pain and can create more ease and con-

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BRAIN GAIN: Patrick Foo, UNC Asheville associate professor of psychology, will set the stage for two lectures by neuroscientist Richard Davidson at UNCA later in the month with a Tuesday, Feb. 4, talk on the neuroscience of meditation. Photo courtesy of UNC Asheville

BY TIMOTHY BURKHARDT burkhardttd@gmail.com In June 2002, renowned neuroscientist Richard Davidson made big waves in both the scientific and Buddhist communities when he was able to objectively demonstrate that long-term meditation practice may have significant impacts on brain structure and function. By attaching the wires of an electroencephalogram device to the heads of Buddhist monks, he was able to measure the brain waves they generated in different states of consciousness. That pioneering work netted Davidson both the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions and UCLA’s Mani Bhaumik Award for advancing the understanding of the brain and conscious mind in healing. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2006. 20

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In February, Asheville residents will have a couple of chances to hear Davidson speak. He’ll give a lecture and lead a class at UNC Asheville; both events will be free and open to the public. The lecture, titled “Well-Being is a Skill,” will cover his research concerning the physical impacts of meditation on the human brain. It’s scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13, in UNCA’s Lipinsky Auditorium. The next day, Davidson will lead a free public master class. To set the stage for those events, Patrick Foo, an associate professor of psychology, will give a preliminary talk on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Highsmith Student Union’s Blue Ridge Room. Foo, the former head of UNCA’s neuroscience department, says his lecture, “The Neuroscience of Meditative Practices,” will present background information about neuroscience and brain function in preparation for Davidson’s lecture. In addition, it will emphasize the many different types of meditation, the idea that meditation is a learnable skill and the objective evidence that meditation can alter human brain function.

“Having the ability to stop and pay attention, and then to ask yourself questions about it, is amazing.” — UNCA professor Ameena Batada “The big breakthrough with Davidson’s studies was on gamma frequency activity,” says Foo. Gamma waves, he explains, are generated when humans experience feelings of epiphany or a sudden realization. “Normal people only exhibit gamma waves for a fraction of a second. Usually it comes with insight, like solving a puzzle. … One thing that has been really striking in these master meditators: They can

show this type of gamma frequency for minutes. There’s some evidence they may even be showing [gamma waves] in their sleep.” Around the year 2000, Foo recalls, “There was an invite from the Society for Neuroscience to bring the Dalai

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Anna Levesque finds freedom through discipline Whitewater paddling guru Anna Levesque has built a company (Mind Body Paddle) and career around a set of skills and interests that span whitewater kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, ayurvedic health coaching, yoga, international travel and, yes, self-care retreats. The impulse that ties all those threads together, Levesque says, is helping women reignite their spark for life. How do you define self-care? For me, self-care is equated with freedom through discipline: having the discipline to value yourself and being able to set boundaries so you can stay vital and pursue your passion for life — that spark. When we do whatever we want whenever we want, that’s actually not living with intention. That is giving in to our desires and our whims and over time that doesn’t really add up to anything meaningful. Whereas when we have a goal, and it’s meaningful to us, we want to have the discipline to take consistent small steps to the goal. Those consistent small steps are what create the result. Freedom through discipline: It’s like a river. The river wouldn’t exist without banks. Within the banks the water flows and dances and has a lot of freedom. Without the banks (boundaries, discipline), that flow and dance wouldn’t exist. What kinds of barriers can make it hard to practice self-care? Sometimes the all-or-nothing attitude can really break down our intentions and our success. Doing two or three yoga poses every day will give you more

benefit over time than doing one yoga class a week. But we get in our all-ornothing mentality, like, “Oh, I only have 10 minutes; it’s not worth it.” But tap into your discipline to do a few poses for five minutes or 10 minutes or whatever you have. Or meditate. Or, “Oh, I only have 20 minutes — I’m going to go take a walk.” Doing that five, six, seven times a week — that’s going to lead to some really big results. Have you set a new self-care intention for 2020? This year I’m trying to create more of a bedtime buffer for myself. Sleep is so important for weight loss, for health, for healing, for vitality, and ayurveda (a holistic healing system that originated in India thousands of years ago) really emphasizes getting in touch with the natural sleep and wake cycles. So for me, that looks like maybe doing a bit more meditation at night and shutting off the screen at least an hour before bed.

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WELLN ESS Lama to their international conference, and there was a huge debate. At that time there was not a lot of objective evidence that there were changes in the brain, so there was a bigger scientific debate about if it was wishful thinking or placebo. Thanks to Dr. Davidson and many collaborators, we are starting to see a foundation of something that is objectively there that we can study. That has been a big change, in a great part due to him.” CAMPUS CONTEMPLATIVES The upcoming events are aligned with a number of current UNCA course offerings.

“We have a foundational course called The Art and Science of Meditation, but that is an interdisciplinary course, not in our department,” says Ameena Batada, associate professor of health and wellness. “In my courses, we talk about the practical applications and implications of meditation.” What Davidson and Foo will be discussing, on the other hand, “is what’s happening internally and how we’re actually able to change our own traits by engaging in these behaviors long term and consistently.” Batada and colleagues from a number of departments teamed up recently to design an interdisciplinary program in contemplative inquiry that teaches various techniques for processing and understanding experiences. Students,

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Lily Whitehawk tunes in to the sound of the soul Black Mountain resident Lily Whitehawk is a sound therapist and co-founder of the HUSO technology, an at-home sound therapy device. How do you define self-care? Being able to listen to yourself and being able to honor what you feel and hear and then having the courage to act on that. People are trying to find a way to give ourselves permission to unplug, to take time out, to totally let go of everything and be in the moment. And how does sound therapy relate to self-care? In sound therapy, we use sound to elicit a response or a change in someone’s physiology, their mental health or their emotional health. People can use different tools: gongs, singing bowls, tuning forks, percussive instruments such as drums or rattles. I use my voice. These are things that have been used for millennia, as long as there have been humans who have lived in communities. It’s an ancient practice, and it runs through most forms of religion as well. What’s a simple practice someone could try? Hum. You can feel that vibration in your body. That’s how cats self-soothe. It’s a natural thing that will relax your body and start to recalibrate your system. You can also create your own chant and your own melody, something that’s short, rhythmic and repeats itself in a loop. When you are stressed or overwhelmed or tired, you can push the

pause button and chant for five minutes. It makes you feel so much better. How about music? Ask yourself, “What kind of music allows me to access my emotional body?” Not just what you like on an intellectual level. Because when that emotional response happens in your body, the energy that comes from your heart, the energy field, is much more powerful and larger than the one that comes from your brain. When you are in church and you hear a choir — they could be singing in Latin and you don’t even understand what they’re saying — but your body responds, and tears come to your eyes. There’s this uplifting feeling. When you can access that, it is going to recalibrate you.

— Virginia Daffron X

she says, “complete 12 credit hours toward the certificate.” Some of those courses are more about reflecting on new experiences and how they can be used to promote health and wellness; in others, such as Stress Management and Optimal Performance, meditation and mindfulness are integral parts of the curriculum. “Mindful awareness doesn’t mean you are meditating,” Batada explains. “Most people think of meditation as some kind of quiet sitting or quiet focus, but mindful awareness could be washing the dishes and just paying attention.”

Throughout her time at UNCA, Batada has taught mindfulness practices as part of her classes. “We have always had at least one course on mental and emotional health, which would include meditation,” she notes. “But our department is increasingly doing work around mind/body interaction, and I think we’re really just one piece of what has been happening around campus. Over the last 8 1/2 years, I have seen a notable difference in how stu-

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Lara Ferguson Diaz: Shhhhh… You’re out enjoying a nice dinner with friends when you feel a vibration in your pocket. Suddenly, you’re drawn out of the conversation and sucked into wondering what your phone might be trying to tell you. Was it a text? Did someone like your new profile photo? Is it your boss sending out next week’s assignment? At its best, the digital age provides new and innovative ways to instantly connect with others. At its worst, the new virtual world order delivers an unending stream of nagging interruptions that lead to overstimulation and an inability to focus on the present moment. “Our world is designed to be one big distraction: YouTube, email, Instagram, deadlines and numbing addictions,” declares Lara Ferguson Diaz, an acupuncturist, herbalist and qi gong instructor at Lutea Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine. “It is vital for our health to turn inward and be still and silent.” For Ferguson Diaz, the constant chatter and hum of a hyperconnected lifestyle and the pressure to always be “on” can cause attention spans to shrink and leave people feeling drained. “I think we have been collectively bullied by consumer culture to work, make a lot of money, produce and create some external value in order to feel like worthy human beings,” she explains. “Self-care is the antidote.” Basic daily practices such as going for a walk, taking a yoga or qi gong class, enjoying a hot bath or just getting some extra sleep can help quiet the mind, she points out. And simply unplugging for a few hours a day can yield similar benefits. Adding a few minutes of medi-

tation, she continues, can relieve stress and improve overall health. And for those who can’t bear the thought of sitting still or being quiet, Ferguson Diaz points out that there are ways to relieve stress and stay connected that don’t rely on a smartphone or tablet. “I just started taking an improv comedy class. It’s completely out of the box for me: It just looked like fun, and it is!” says Ferguson Diaz about her own new self-care routine. “As it turns out, I get to play and be silly for two hours, laughing out loud most of the time. I love it.” But whichever practice you feel drawn to, she emphasizes, the ultimate goal is the same: settling the mind as a way to calm the body. “The key is coaxing the body out of fight-or-flight — the sympathetic nervous system reaction, which most of us live in — and easing it into the parasympathetic, or rest and digest,” Ferguson Diaz explains. “Self-care is sacred. It is extremely important, and no one else can do it for us.”

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dents respond to mindfulness activities in the classroom, to meditation. ... It has really been encouraging.” Thanks to some of those students, there’s now a Mindfulness Club on campus. Another group, notes Batada, “started a co-op housing situation that is founded on a lot of contemplative practice.”

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MINDFUL LEARNING: UNC Asheville associate professor of health and wellness Ameena Batada incorporates meditation practices into the curriculum. Photo courtesy of UNCA

But you don’t have to be a neuroscientist or even a UNCA student to take advantage of what meditation offers, longtime practitioners maintain. Batada says her practice has helped her learn to regulate her own emotions. “As a course facilitator and instructor, every day you go into the classroom and you never know what’s going to happen. So having the ability to stop and pay attention,

SELF-CARE SNAPSHOT

Bryan Robinson wants you to chill For some, self-care means booking a vacation in the tropics or a full day of pampering at the spa. But while the idea of getting away from it all may sound great, it might not be the most practical (or budget-friendly) option for managing everyday stressors. Never fear. In his 2018 book, #Chill: Turn Off Your Job and Turn On Your Life, psychotherapist Bryan Robinson says people don’t need lavish vacations or expensive therapies to practice selfcare. Instead, he recommends what he calls “micro-chillers” that can be performed in just a few minutes a day to help relieve anxiety, enhance mental clarity and soothe physical tensions. Taking a few moments to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, he says, is a simple yet effective way to clear the mind and get the body moving. “We call that nature bathing,” Robinson explains. “Spending 120 minutes per week outside is a game-changer. It can be sitting outside when it’s sunny; it can be walking or hiking, swimming or golf. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. It lifts your mood, gives you more clarity and helps you feel happier and more productive in what you do.” A mere five minutes of meditative breathing — whether it’s at home, at work or anywhere in between — also has the power to relax the body and increase mindfulness, notes Robinson.

“Listen to the sounds around you without trying to remember them. Just notice each sound,” he explains. “What that does is bring you into the present moment. When you start to notice you’re in the present moment, your heart rate slows down, your breathing slows down, your muscles start to loosen and you feel calm.” And while indulging yourself with spa days and long vacations is certainly worthwhile, taking time for even small self-care efforts can make all the difference. “There are 1,440 minutes in a day. You take five minutes and you still have 1,435,” Robinson points out. “Everybody has five minutes, no matter how busy you are or how much you have on your plate.”

— Brooke Randle X

and then to ask yourself questions about it, is amazing to be able to do, rather than going off into a tailspin of unproductive thoughts.” Our minds are too busy, notes Hun Lye, the founder and spiritual director of Urban Dharma NC. “We’re too restless. ... If you think you are really restless and can’t focus, that’s what meditation is designed for.” Urban Dharma, a Buddhist temple in downtown Asheville, offers a range of courses and programs, including meditation instruction for beginners. For Lye, however, the benefits of meditation extend far beyond the physical. Scientists like Davidson, he continues, “have found ways to make Buddhist-based meditation relevant and helpful, so that a whole range of people can manage better. I think that’s great. It’s certainly very interesting, and it helps the greater

Upcoming events The following free events, all first come/first served and open to the public, will take place on the UNCA campus.

public to have an interest in meditation.” Lye is quick to add, however, “While helping us to manage and get relief from stress and pain is a good thing, the Buddha taught meditation for those who want to be free from the problem of suffering in a complete and ultimate way.” As a Buddhist, he explains, “My practice is not reliant on what these studies find or don’t find. What these studies are capable of discovering, proving, by the nature of how such

studies are premised and set up — and, therefore, are able or not able to measure — is only one aspect of what the Buddha was offering to the world.” Foo, meanwhile, emphasizes that even if someone finds it hard to commit to meditation classes or going to a temple, just a little bit of meditative practice can make a big difference in their ability to self-regulate their emotions. “If it’s something you do like brushing your teeth — just a couple

of minutes a day and it helps you deal with the stresses of everyday life — or if it helps you be more compassionate and feel more empathy with others, that is a great thing,” he points out. “You might call it mental hygiene.” Batada agrees. She’s happy to see people engaging with these practices at any level: “You don’t have to be a sitting Buddha to reap the benefits of meditation.” X

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CHANGE MAKER: Philip Cooper, left, was honored with a CoThinkk award in 2018. With him are Tony Shivers, center, and Michael Hayes, right. Photo courtesy of Aisha Adams As they work to create change, activists often struggle to find time and resources to devote to caring for themselves. Laboring between the lines to prevent harm and promote survival for society’s most vulnerable members can be intoxicating and motivating — as well as traumatic and taxing. And when the activists are themselves people of color, transgender or members of other marginalized groups, those challenges are often heaped atop other forms of discrimination and systemic exclusion. Adding to the load many activists bear are the requirements associated with grant-funded work, which include complex organizational policies and extensive reporting requirements. Put it all together, and you have the ingredients for burnout. The late poet and activist Audre Lorde said it this way in 1988: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

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it dedicated to inspiring and equipping activists, burnout is defined as being both emotionally and physically exhausted. It can manifest itself as stress, depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder. Activists often feel called to organize, teach, speak and share; movements seeking social change don’t run on business hours and generally come with little to no pay or benefits. A toxic misconception that self-care is selfish complicates the problem. In truth, the most effective activists experience daily traumas in their work and require ongoing healing. This healing cannot be sustained without adequate selfcare practices. Area organizations CoThinkk and the Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis Fund, which awards the Tzedek Social Justice Fellowships, are leading a radical shift in funding culture to promote and support self-care for activists. In 2018, CoThinkk, a philanthropic group drawn from and serving local communities of color, announced it would add $500 to its grant awards specifically to support wellness, self-

care and professional development. The new funding honors of one of CoThinkk’s founding members, Kelly Goins, who died of cancer in 2018 at the age of 36. And in 2019, the Asheville-based Amy Mandel and Katina Rodis Fund announced the recipients of its inaugural Brilliance Awards, unrestricted $200,000 grants given to honor the social justice contributions and “genius” of local activists. Recipients Sheneika Smith and Nicole Townsend both noted that the awards would bolster their ability to engage in some much-needed self-care. But beyond those two groundbreaking programs, resources for funding self-care are scarce. Some activist groups are looking at low-cost way to encourage wellness, including providing optional self-care hours monthly, ensuring that group meals are healthy and practicing mindfulness at the start of meetings. These local men of color offered their takes on self-care for activists. ESTABLISH A DAILY ROUTINE Robert Thomas Jr., community liaison for Asheville’s Racial Justice Coalition, recommends: “It’s all about finding balance. It’s all about being filled so that I’m able to pour into others. I practice self-care through Kemetic yoga rooted in the very origins of our DNA. I can then quiet my work life by pausing and giving priority to those whom I walk through life with.” ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR TRIGGERS Joseph Fox, owner of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, says: “Many individuals find the practice of self-care difficult to achieve, particularly men of color, because of societal pressures to ‘man up.’ Community and personal trauma compound the issue when coupled with stress created from work and social injustices. One must be able to acknowledge triggers from their past, deal with those issues and realize that most

things are outside of their control. In other words, do not worry about insignificant things in one’s life. Individuals must find self-care practices that work for them, such as physical activities that alleviate stress, making time and space for themselves and finding what really makes them happy in life. The true key is to find a realistic work/life balance.”

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Philip Cooper, UpSkill WNC coordinator and a 2020 winner of the service award presented by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, reminds us that we can’t give to others if our own resources are depleted. “I pray that God fills me up until I overflow. Empty cups don’t overflow,” Cooper says.

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JOSEPH FOX servant to so many young adults, I have to be right with myself. Self-care for me is so much deeper; it has become soul-care. My thoughts and emotions need to be replenished consistently due to the nature of my job. Working with students and families in need pulls on every essence of my being. People need more than physical resources; they need presence, energy and my time as well.” HAVE FUN Kirby Winner, host of “Asheville View,” says: “Self-care doesn’t have to look like meditation or spa days. It’s about doing what makes you happy and recharged in that moment, no matter what it may be that day. Sometimes it’s eating a tub of ice cream by yourself, sometimes it’s going out for drinks with friends, sometimes it’s taking a mental health day from work and dancing around your apartment. Whatever resets you so you can keep moving forward is self-care.” PAMPER YOURSELF J Hackett, pastor of New Mount Olive Baptist Church, suggests: “We should take our lessons from those who came before us. They have always kept themselves and us together. Whether it is getting your hair or nails done or going to the gym or playing a game: Do what needs to be done in order to face the dangers of this high-speed, highly competitive, cutthroat world.” Editor’s note: Writer Aisha Adams is founder of the Aisha Adams Media Group and creator of the local online talk show “Asheville View.” She is also a community activist who’s currently working on Equity Over Everything, a project to close gaps in social equity, entrepreneurship and land ownership within low-wealth communities. X MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

GREEN SCENE

CLEAN FEELING

Asheville-area body care makers mind sustainability

BY CAMERON DUKE

pany’s Wall Street storefront. “But many of our customers are vegetarian or vegan, and so now most of our soaps are made with coconut and sustainably harvested palm oil.” For Taylor and other Asheville-area makers of self-care products, simple and responsibly sourced ingredients are key to their businesses. They work to meet customer demand for goods that promote not just healthier skin, but also a healthier planet.

cameronbduke@gmail.com Some of Victor Taylor’s earliest memories are of his grandmother making lye soap. Every fall while growing up, he would watch as she combined water, lye and pig fat in a cast-iron pot. “I always had to fetch wood for the fire on soap-making day,” Taylor says, remembering his upbringing on his family’s farm in Candler. While Taylor’s soap making has outgrown its humble beginnings, the skills his grandmother instilled in him are alive and well. For 27 years, he has run Appalachian Naturals, an Asheville-based company that makes soaps according to his family tradition — and the needs of a new generation. “We still do make those old-timey lye soaps,” Taylor says, holding a cream-colored bar of lye soap in one hand and a lavender-scented bar in the other as he stands in his com-

Series

STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE

SUDS BUDS: Appalachian Naturals owner Victor Taylor, right, stands with store manager Katelyn Lassiler at the company’s Wall Street retail location. Photo by Cameron Duke

Sourcing sustainable ingredients can be a challenge, but it’s one that Heidi Vasone relishes. The owner of Bonny Bath, winner of the 2019 Best of WNC award for best local body product maker, says studying what goes into her oils and serums is part of the fun of her work. “Even before the internet, I loved going to the library and learning things,” she explains. “I am a researcher by nature.”

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To Vasone, ethical sourcing means more than simply environmental sustainability, and she is unafraid to shift suppliers in response to what she learns. “For example, I’ve changed shea butters three times,” she says; her current source is a company in rural Ghana called FairTale Ghana. Local women produce the butter using traditional methods, earning fair wages for their work. Christi Apodaca, owner of local skin care maker C&Co., also pays careful attention to where her ingredients come from and how they are grown. “When I founded this company 10 years ago, I intentionally sought out organic ingredients for formulating my product with,” she says. “Organic is so vital for not only making sure the plants are pesticidefree, but also for making sure nutrients are replaced in the soil, which not only helps the next generation of plants, but also the ecosystem.

“From day one, all of our ingredients have been responsibly sourced,” Apodaca continues. “This means they don’t come from regions that must be deforested to supply that ingredient.” According to the World Wildlife Fund, deforestation is a leading cause of species loss worldwide, and agriculture is the primary driver of forest habitat destruction. The organization estimates that agricultural development eliminates 18.7 million acres of forest per year — an area larger than the entire country of Panama. Deforestation is particularly worrisome for Taylor as well. Palm oil is one of the main ingredients in Appalachian Naturals soaps, and according to a 2013 European Union

CONTINUES ON PAGE 32

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SELF-CARE SNAPSHOT

With Bounty & Soul support, Tracy Rhodes feels better than ever Old Fort resident and Bounty & Soul client Tracy Rhodes, 57, says the diet and wellness lessons she’s learned at the nonprofit’s weekly markets have transformed her health — and that of every member of her family. Tell me a little about your self-care story. I’ve been coming to Bounty & Soul on Tuesdays for about a year and a half. I decided to just jump in and do all the things they offer. I do the wellness class and the yoga class and the cooking demo, plus getting fruits and vegetables from the market. I feel better than I’ve felt in my whole life. I’ve lost 27 pounds, and my energy level is amazing. What sorts of things have you tried to improve your health before coming to Bounty & Soul? I’ve always tried to take pretty good care of myself, but this has changed my whole life and my family’s life. You hear about all these diets; I’ve tried everything. They work up your hopes, tell you to buy this and buy that. But now I’ve totally changed my eating habits. I’ve learned what to eat and what not to eat, and what to eat together. For example, turmeric and black pepper. If you want the benefits from turmeric, you have to eat it together with black pepper. And mushrooms: You can put them out in

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Hemp & Art & Much More! the sun, and they absorb the vitamin D. Then you don’t need the supplements. Just so many things. You mentioned that what you’ve learned has changed your family’s life, too. My husband has been taking part for the past nine months. He was almost diabetic, but now he’s fine. He’s lost 47 pounds, and his blood pressure has gone down a lot. And my grandkids, it’s helped them, too. I have a shelf in my refrigerator where I put cut up peppers, carrots, grapes, strawberries — whatever they are giving out that week. I tell the grandkids they can eat as much from that shelf as they want anytime they want. They feel so much better. I’ve got one of the grandkids here volunteering with me at Bounty & Soul today; she’s 8.

— Virginia Daffron X

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report, palm oil production accounts for 8% of all agricultural deforestation. Countries such as Brazil and Indonesia, he points out, are slashing and burning old-growth tropical forest ecosystems to establish plantations of palm trees, which eliminates animal habitats and emits climate-changing greenhouse gases. “It is important for us to go to the extra expense to buy palm oil from environmentally responsible sources,” Taylor says. But sustainable sourcing means buying exclusively from a limited subset of products on the market. Prices are generally higher, and ingredients can become unavailable if a supplier is put out of action. Apodaca shares how two years ago, C&Co. had to change its source for a particular bay leaf oil. Originally, the company had been using a source from the Dominican Republic, but due to hurricane devastation, sustainable Dominican sources of bay completely vanished. OUTSIDE THE BOX Apodaca’s quest for products that preserve environmental welfare doesn’t stop with ingredients. “When it comes to packaging, we make sure to have sustainability in mind. We use a lot of glass, aluminum and a very small amount of plastic,” she says. It can be difficult to move away from plastics entirely, Taylor admits. “There are certain things you have to do to bring a product to market,” he says. “We are required to shrink-wrap our soaps, but we are careful to use food-safe plastics.” Nevertheless, Taylor is careful to keep packaging to a minimum. Aside from shrink-wrap, the remainder of a soap bar’s packaging consists of a small, recyclable paper label. Minimizing plastic is an important step for reducing the carbon and pollution footprints of self-care products, but it is also crucial for maintaining product quality. Endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A and phthalates are common in plastics and can interfere with hormones in the body. By mimicking the effects of estrogen, these chemicals can lead to developmental and reproductive health problems, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. To that end, C&Co. hopes to cut out plastic altogether in favor of more sustainable alternatives, such as compostable polymers derived from sugarcane. And as Apodaca notes, the most sustainable packaging is none at all. “We don’t package unnecessarily,” Apodaca says. “We don’t package in

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SLIPPERY BUSINESS: Appalachian Naturals attempts to keep packaging to a minimum for its soaps and other self-care products. Photo by Cameron Duke

boxes just for the glitz and the glam of it.” For the packaging that must be used, the ability to reuse and recycle ranks as a major plus. “I put everything I make into reusable glass jars,” Vasone says about her Bonny Bath products. “Longtime customers will sometimes bring back old jars with labels from several years ago, which is always fun.” To encourage returning jars for reuse, she buys them back from customers for a dollar each. Sustainable production isn’t the easiest way to make these self-care items, but for these businesses, it is the only way. “Everything we do has an effect on everyone else,” says Apodaca. X

SELF-CARE SNAPSHOT

Maia Toll and forest medicine In days of old, folks would harvest what they could from the earth to treat everything from headaches to constipation. And while modern medicine has evolved tremendously over the centuries, some self-care remedies and techniques, such as the use of herbs and other medicinal plants, continue to stand the test of time. Author and herbalist Maia Toll says incorporating herbs and medicinal plants into self-care routines involves more than just a chemical reaction in the body: It’s a way for people to link their personal health and well-being with ancient traditions and the natural world. “It becomes self-care to me when you have that moment of reconnection with the earth and the larger universe outside yourself,” notes Toll, who co-owns the downtown Asheville shop Herbiary. Her most popular book on the subject, The Illustrated Herbiary, describes how certain herbs, flowers and other medicinal plants benefit what she calls the “whole-being.” For Toll, self-care also involves learning how to treat not only the tangible aspects of our well-being but also those that lie in the metaphysical realm. “It means taking care of yourself on all levels, not just your physical body but also your emotional body, your spiritual being, your mental health,” she explains. “When you are aware of and tuned in to all those things and taking the time to make sure that you’re in balance in all those ways, that to me is self-care.”

But while adding new techniques to our repertoire may help us break out of old habits, Toll believes that managing our expectations of what we can hope to accomplish when caring for ourselves is just as essential as acquiring new knowledge and strategies. Her mantra is do what you can, when you can. “All the time, I hear people saying, ‘I know you’re supposed to do yoga three times a week,’ or ‘I know you’re supposed to put essential oils on your feet before you go to bed,’ and then they have guilt that they didn’t do that thing, and it starts this whole spiral of always feeling behind and always feeling like you can’t do all the things that you’re supposed to do,” she explains. “If you’re ending up with a to-do list for your self-care, then all you’re doing is getting yourself further and further out of kilter and anxious and feeling like you’re not good enough, and that’s not the point.”

— Brooke Randle X

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Super Bowl LIV pits barbecue against ... sourdough?

the Miami Dolphins. No team in the final contest has ever played a Super Bowl game on its home field. The Dolphins have not actually been to the Super Bowl since Jan. 20, 1985, when they were beaten by — oh snap — the San Francisco 49ers, who are playing in the 54th Super Bowl, against AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs. Enough of the field stats. What about the food? According to virtually every Google search on the topic, only Thanksgiving beats Super Bowl Sunday when it comes to America’s capacity to consume ginormous quantities in a single day. In the Super Bowl Food Hall of Fame are sub sandwiches, chili, pizza, pigs in a blanket and a special team of dips — spinach artichoke, seven-layer, queso and guacamole — which collectively require 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, says trade organization SNAC International. But when it comes to noshing through drives, sacks, field goals and touchdowns, Americans prefer to wing it. The National Chicken Council says that in 2019, 1.25 billion chicken wings were devoured while watching Super Bowl LIII. When Chiefs and Niners faithfuls suit up in team gear for the big game and gather together in living rooms from coast to coast, it’s likely that regional specialties will find their way onto plates to help feed team spirit. Here are the starting culinary lineups of the two Super Bowl LIV teams, plus a shoutout to the two who almost made it. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS If arguments over politics and religion have grown stale, make a claim for best regional barbecue and let the fisticuffs fly. Texas, Memphis, Western North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina are smoked by Kansas City barbecue — at least according to Kansas City people. Katie Locke, a Kansas City native now living in Asheville whose father has held Chiefs season tickets since Arrowhead Stadium was finished in time for the 1972 season, understates, “Barbecue is a bit of an obsession in Kansas City.” The Kansas City Visitors Bureau website has a link dedicated to the specialty, which it traces back to Henry Perry, who in 1920 began barbecuing in a pit next to his streetcar barn in an African American neighborhood, selling slabs of meat wrapped in newspaper. Perry employee Charlie Bryant took over the restaurant when Perry died

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BATTLE OF THE BITES: Barbecue is king with many Chiefs fans, but true Kansas City-style ’cue can be hard to find in Asheville. Pictured is thin-sliced brisket on white bread at BB’s Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City. Photo by Neil Burger and was joined by his brother Arthur, who renamed the restaurant Arthur Bryant’s. Arthur died in 1982 of a heart attack in a bed he kept at the restaurant, which still bears his name and a national reputation. KC barbecue is characterized by its inclusive meat policy (pulled pork, pork ribs, brisket, beef ribs, chicken, turkey and the delectable burnt ends) and liberal use of sweet-spicy red sauce. “When I was growing up, it was all beef — brisket, beef ribs and my favorite, burnt ends,” says Locke. “Now there’s more pork, but I still prefer beef.” The sauce is tomato-based. “Every restaurant makes their own, and they’re all different but almost always spicy-sweet,” she says. The brisket is sliced very thin, and the most popular side is baked beans, which, Locke says, “are a meal on their own, cooked for days with pieces of pork and burnt ends so the beans pick up that smoky flavor.” Though Locke says no place outside of Kansas City compares, Asheville’s 12 Bones Smokehouse claims it has “a recipe or two that would make folks

from Kansas City smile,” including thin-sliced brisket. But Locke is not convinced. “It’s hard to duplicate something outside of its home base.” SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS If the Super Bowl was a gamefood culinary contest, San Francisco would barely be able to field a team. A casual online poll of 49ers fans elicited responses that ranged from tepid to uncertain. Garlic fries were frequently named, then qualified by uncertainty as to whether the dish — mandatory ballpark fare at Giant’s games in Oracle Park — is also a thing at Levi’s Stadium, where the 49ers play. Instead, Niner fans can support favorite local Bay Area businesses such as Curwaffles, Starbird Chicken and Konjoe Burger, which all have stands in the stadium. There are also creations by stadium concessionaire Levy Hospitality, like the bulgogi Koreanstyle cheesesteak. (As a Philly cheesesteak fan, I ask, why?) None of those exactly scream San Francisco, nor does the puzzling dish

mentioned most often by Niners fans: clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. While the cream-based clam chowder brings to mind blustery New England, the vessel for the soup makes some regional sense when one discovers that the team mascot is — wait for it — Sourdough Sam. Ashevilleans pulling for the Niners have several local options for round sourdough loaves, including OWL Bakery in West Asheville, The Rhu downtown and Crust Never Sleeps at the Asheville City Market every Saturday morning. As for the chowder filling, Oyster House Brewing Co. and The Lobster Trap are two restaurants known locally for their New England clam chowder. GREEN BAY PACKERS When it comes to game day food in Packer country, it’s all about the brat, baby. “Green Bay, like the rest of Wisconsin, puts the bratwurst on a beer-soaked pedestal,” says Jim Myers, a food writer and avid sports fan who grew up in Milwaukee and regularly traveled to Green Bay for Packers games. Rundi Reem, another Wisconsin native who created a Packer fan Facebook page, has polled members, and topping the list of Packer-endorsed foods are brats simmered in beer and onions, then grilled, topped with sauerkraut and, of course, cheese curds. Wisconsin expatriates in Asheville crying in their Leinenkugel beer over their dismaying loss to the 49ers can

find Packer comfort food at Sawhorse Restaurant, where chef/owner Dan Silo regularly serves some type of sausage sandwich with sauerkraut as well as poutine — hand-cut fries with homemade cheddar curds and gravy. TENNESSEE TITANS The iconic food of Nashville — the town the Titans call home — is, of course, hot chicken. Nashville is where it originated and where thousands of hotheads celebrate the Fourth of July at the annual Music City Hot Chicken Festival. Hot chicken traces its origins back to the 1930s, when philandering ladies man Thornton Prince came home late one night, woke up his woman and demanded she fry him some chicken. Seeking revenge, she spiked it with the hottest spice mix she could concoct, hoping to cause him some pain. Instead, he loved it, and hot chicken was born, segueing into Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, which in 2013 received a James Beard Heritage Award. There are now many other hot chicken places in Nashville, but Prince’s retains the throne of hot chicken supremacy. Titans fans in Asheville wanting to feel the burn can head to Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack for Nashville-style hot chicken, though repeated taste tests by this writer (who served a 10-year tenure on the Music City Hot Chicken Festival committee) indicate that Rocky’s ”hot“ is comparable to Prince’s “mild.” X

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SMALL BITES

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Gan Shan Station’s final countdown

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CHANGING OF THE GUARD: After five years, Patrick O’Cain, right, owner and chef of Gan Shan Station, will close his restaurant on Jan. 31. Friend and local restaurateur Eric Scheffer, left, will take over the space, opening Jettie Rae’s Oyster House this spring. Photo by Thomas Calder

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Patrick O’Cain, chef and owner of Gan Shan Station and Gan Shan West, has a structured approach to business and being. “I’m someone who evaluates life in five-year blocks,” he says. With a new decade underway, O’Cain recently reflected on the state of Gan Shan Station, which he opened in 2015. Ultimately, he determined that the Asian-themed restaurant had run its course on Charlotte Street. “I looked five years out, and I couldn’t really see a way to continue it that wasn’t as taxing or more taxing than the last five years,” he says. “And that wasn’t OK with me.” Interested in both simplifying his life and exploring options outside the culinary world, O’Cain will close Gan Shan Station on Friday, Jan. 31. The decision, notes the chef, brings a welcome sigh of relief. “Over the last few years,” he says, “my passion for it has simply diminished.” Though he does not anticipate missing the daily grind, O’Cain says he will miss his interactions with the commu-

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nity and Charlotte Street neighbors. Since plans for the closure appeared on social media, he adds, “people have been showing up expressing their gratitude and sadness.” But regulars can rest assured: Gan Shan West will continue offering counter service at its West Asheville location. O’Cain says the venue, which he opened in 2017, will also expand its menu to include some of Gan Shan Station’s most popular dishes. Replacing Gan Shan Station will be Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, a fresh seafood concept created by O’Cain’s friend and mentor, Eric Scheffer, owner of Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian. The two men have worked closely together in preparing for the transition. Gan Shan Station’s chef de cuisine, Will Cisa, will stay on as Jettie Rae’s executive chef. With 20 years’ experience in the culinary scene, Scheffer says he’s established strong relationships with several seafood suppliers. He plans to source lobster, fish, oysters, clams and

other fare from the Carolina shores, as well as Maine, Georgia and the Gulf Coast. Scheffer envisions Jettie Rae’s as a neighborhood hangout, with outdoor grilling during the warmer months. He also sees it as a way to bring coastal traditions to the mountains, including crawfish boils and oyster roasts. Above all, Scheffer notes, Jettie Rae’s will adhere to his philosophical approach to the restaurant industry — an approach that has sustained his own passion over the last 20 years. “To be able to deliver food and drink — the two things that sustain us as human beings — in an environment that creates a dining experience that people, hopefully, will remember for the rest of their lives, that is rewarding to me,” he says. Gan Shan Station is at 143 Charlotte St. Its final dinner service is on Friday, Jan. 31. Jettie Rae’s Oyster House is slated to open in the spring.

SLICING THROUGH THE BASICS The French Broad Food Co-op will host a knife skills workshop on Saturday, Feb. 1, when participants will “mince madly, dice with dignity and learn to make gorgeous matchsticks,” says the class description. The course will also cover proper form and technique and types of knives used in a kitchen, and participants will receive a take-home packet and instructions on how to sharpen cutting utensils. The class runs 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. Tickets are $45 for co-op members, $55 for the general public. For tickets, visit avl.mx/6v4.

Xpress writer Thomas Calder’s illinformed Super Bowl prediction is Kansas City, 27, San Fransisco, 24. BEST CLASSIC RESTAURANT Food & Wine magazine recently included The Market Place in its list of best classic restaurants in America. The publication noted the local restaurant’s long-term success in Asheville (41 years), as well as its “local harvest-centric menu.” For a complete list of featured restaurants, visit avl.mx/6v8. CHOW CHOW’S NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SUPER BOWL LIV The Kansas City Chiefs and San Fransisco 49ers will face off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, for this year’s Super Bowl. To celebrate, Eluvium Brewing Co. in Weaverville will host a chili cook-off during the game; judging starts at 5:30 p.m. with a winner announced during halftime. For more details, contact admin@eluviumbrewing.com (avl.mx/6v5). In Biltmore Village, Casablanca Cigar Bar will also host a chili cook-off with a $50 gift card for the winner (avl.mx/6v6). Meanwhile, in East Asheville, Creekside Taphouse will have game day food and drink specials, including a platter that includes four chicken wings, pulled pork, cornbread muffins and beef brisket with collard greens and macaroni and cheese (avl.mx/6v7).

The nonprofit Chow Chow Asheville, which held its inaugural food festival last year, recently hired Rebecca Lynch as its first executive director. Lynch previously held the position of campaign manager at the Asheville Art Museum. In a press release, Chow Chow Asheville board President Katie Button says, “Rebecca brings her deep farming roots in Western North Carolina, along with her considerable expertise as a leader and fund development professional to our organization.” In addition to hiring Lynch, the nonprofit also retained Shay Brown Events of Asheville to oversee the festival operations, design and logistics. The 2020 Chow Chow festival takes place Sept. 10-13. X

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Institute & Wellness Center

ROOM WITH A VIEW

presents

ANDREW HARVEY

Activist, Scholar, Writer, Teacher

Mission Hospital’s new building includes an extensive local art collection BY ALLI MARSHALL amarshall@mountainx.com

TWO MASTERS OF POETRY: RUMI AND KABIR Fri Mar 20th, 7-10pm

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One of the largest collections of locally commissioned art in Western North Carolina isn’t housed in a museum or gallery. Instead, it can be found throughout the public areas, waiting rooms and patient rooms of the new, 12-story Mission Hospital for Advanced Medicine. “A lot of the pieces really speak to the community itself,” says artist and art therapist Becca Allen, whose landscape painting “Calling Me Home” hangs in the intensive care unit waiting room. “One of the things I was thinking of when I was working on my piece was just a reminder that there’s life outside these walls. Especially in critical care, you’re here so long that it becomes normal. It’s nice to have a reminder of what lies beyond the hospital.” More than 150 local artists contributed 659 works to the hospital’s North Tower; the cost of artwork was just over $750,000. The initial call, issued in August 2018, asked for submission of 2D and 3D works “with an emphasis on nature and/or culture-inspired art,” according to the press release. “Art provides a positive diversion, inspires hope and contributes to an atmosphere of healing and restoration. In the hospital setting, art addresses the health of the human body and spirit, reminding us of the human connections, life experiences and memories that can support and comfort us as we confront illness.” Comfort takes on many forms, including encouragement. Among those whose work hangs in the collection is Christy Vonderlack, a legally blind abstract artist who not only had two paintings commissioned by Mission Hospital in 2019 but also had two prints installed in Salon SCK in New York City and is featured in this month’s British Vogue. “I may not be able to drive or read anymore, but I can paint some kick-ass abstract,” she said by email. “I’m lucky that so many people find my story inspirational and it makes them want to do their own art.” Another artist with a heartening story, and a close connection to the hospital, is Lara Nguyen. In July 2018, the maker and Warren Wilson College professor was a patient at Mission with Stage 1 uterine cancer. She had already agreed to collaborate with fellow mural artist Ian Wilkinson on a wall of the Mission

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UPLIFT: Lara Nguyen’s “My-gra-tion” explores themes of immigration and peace, and champions the underdog. Before creating this commission for Mission Hospital’s North Tower, Nguyen contributed to a mural project in the cancer center parking deck. Photo by Cindy Kunst Cancer Center parking deck and redrew the design from her hospital bed. “I told him I was going to do it. I had another mural I needed to do in Grand Rapids, Mich., in August,” she says. “I got my stitches out and I was on a scissor lift 12 days later.” “Five Forward,” the mural Nguyen completed with Wilkinson and other members of Asheville’s Burners and BBQ collective at the cancer center, has five paper cranes for the five years during which Nguyen will be closely scanned for a recurrence of her illness. “My-gra-tion,” Her large-scale piece in the North Tower also incorporates the origami bird imagery. “This piece has to do with her mom’s immigration to the United States,” explains Nancy Lindell, public and media relations manager for Mission Health.

The intentionally misspelled title is in honor of the artist’s mother, My Thi Nguyen, and the piece itself invokes the children’s novel Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. That story, about young girl who sets out to fold the titular number of origami birds in a magical bid to overcome leukemia caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, has come to represent a desire for world peace. “I have always loved / an underdog story,” Nguyen writes in the poem that accompanies her piece. There’s also text in the canvas that’s intentionally hidden in the work, which relates to another installation, called “Murmuration,” that Nguyen created for The Bascom Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands. But because “My-gra-tion” lives in a hospital, its materials needed to be nonporous, so Nguyen dipped the paper birds in resin

“and they’re on dowels, and they’re on a board that’s meant to look a little trompe-l’oeil,” she says. “I wanted to give the illusion of [the birds] being on a folded sheet of paper.” The piece was originally earmarked for an 8-foot wall in another location of the North Tower, but when exhibition planners decided on a space in the entrance, Nguyen’s contribution was renegotiated and grew three times larger. “I was really happy to make it that way,” she says. In thinking about his commission for the hospital, Kenn Kotara knew he wanted to focus on a body of water, “Because water has that healing component. … It fits right in with wellness,” he says. The Nantahala River was suggested by a consultant, and “I looked at the shape, and I liked it — I love the way it wound its way through [the landscape] — and then I began my research.” The piece, which looks like a topographical map at first glance, is copper on wood panels. Patina depicts the river; stippled texture throughout is actually hammered Braille. “You can put your hands on it,” Kotara reveals. “The majority of artwork, when you go into a gallery or museum, you

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER: “If we could send all of our patients there, what a way to recover,” says Kenn Kotara of the Nantahala, which served as inspiration for his work, “Land of the Noonday Sun.” The piece also includes a list poem in Braille. Photo by Cindy Kunst cannot touch it. So this idea is of an other-sensory experience.” Kotara recently completed a 9- by 8-foot, punched Braille piece for the National Federation of the Blind. In the Mission Health installation, the Braille characters, or cells, make up a list poem. “I started looking at the flora, the fauna, the

history and the culture of the river,” he explains. The title of the work, “Land of the Noonday Sun,” is the English translation of the Nantahala’s name; Kotara spent a couple of days at the recreation spot wading in the water, gazing at rock formations and watching fish dart.

“If we could send all of our patients there, what a way to recover,” he muses. For those who can’t get to the river, Kotara brought a representation of it to them. The artist, who is also chair of the art department at Mars Hill University, hopes anyone who interacts with his art — whether seeing it in a gallery or purchasing it for an office — receives some tranquility. Creating work for a hospital, even though the viewers haven’t come for the art, inspires Kotara similarly. “I see that art does have a healing process, if you [take] the time to sit with it, meditate on it and then allow the work to reside within you,” he says. Although in art therapy it’s usually the patient making the art, Allen says one of the most exciting aspects of that wellness modality is the insights that are developed from interacting with a painting. “Even if you’re viewing someone else’s [work], you’re placing your subconscious on it and letting the art tell the story,” she says. “It’s interesting how the mind can speak through art. … When

CONTINUES ON PAGE 40

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LOOK HOMEWARD: “One of the things I was thinking of when I was working on my piece was just a reminder that there’s life outside these walls,” says Becca Allen of her painting, “Calling Me Home.” Photo by Cindy Kunst you’re dealing with something unfamiliar, like making art, which most people stop doing around age 12, the guard is down.” And from that unshielded place arises the opportunity for healing. While the collection at Mission Health is still new, having opened in

early October, “I did have one comment from a person who had their son here for 32 days at that point, and they were in the ICU waiting room,” says Lindell. “They said they felt comforted by [Allen’s] mountain scene. It gave them something to think about besides their troubles.” X

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Sandlin Gaither shares ‘Crazy Things People Say in a Bar’ Sandlin Gaither has been listening to you and your friends. From his position behind the bar at popular local music venues, he’s been witness to some memorable conversations. Without causing a delay in the serving of beer, wine and mixed drinks to thirsty patrons, he’s managed to take notes, preserving thousands of the most memorable, outrageous and simply bizarre things that he’s heard. And he’s compiled the best — or, in some cases, worst — in a pair of selfpublished books, Crazy Things People Say in a Bar and a similarly titled second volume. To celebrate their release, Gaither presents a spoken-word-plusjazz performance at The Crow & Quill on Tuesday, Feb. 4. It’s generally accepted that alcohol reduces drinkers’ inhibitions. In some cases, it can also help make them act unhinged, outrageous and really stupid. If there’s an upside to all that, it lies in the fact that they can sometimes be outrageously quotable. Gaither came to that realization back in 2014. “I was frequently Facebook-posting ‘Top 10 Things People Said’ at whatever show,” reveals the longtime Grey Eagle and Ambrose West bartender. “My goal was to eventually have 100 of those — a thousand quotes — and then to put them into a book.” He reached that figure quickly. “I started to think to myself, ‘People in Asheville think this is pretty funny, but I feel like I might have something bigger here,’” Gaither says. So he eliminated quotes that were overly specific with regard to a place or performer. “And I was still left with a whole bunch of stuff.” Some of the things Gaither heard were said over and over by different people; those became running gags online. But what’s funny on Facebook might not always land when it’s on the printed page. No matter how many times people say it — and evidently they say it a lot, even in Beer City, USA — Gaither believes “you can only include ‘Why don’t y’all have Bud Light?’ one time in a book.”

IT MIGHT GET WEIRD: Drawing on the endless supply of quotes he hears from his place behind the bar, Sandlin Gaither has authored a pair of books. He’ll deliver selections in a spoken-word-plus-jazz format at The Crow & Quill. Photo by Gaither Many of the crazy quotes in Gaither’s two books are decidedly NSFW, but even the comparatively tame ones will raise more than a few eyebrows. One of the most memorable is also a favorite of the author. He witnessed a male bar patron approaching a woman. “You’re a pretty lady. I’d like to buy you a drink of tequila,” the man began. “In fact, I’ll buy you all the tequila you want until my wife gets here.” Some of the quotes Gaither collected are even more amusing when removed from their original context. Reader imagination fills in the blanks for this gem: “It seems that there’s been a rather serious

Wed., 2/5 6-9pm FREE

accident out front. Is there a shop vac we could use?” Others are vivid enough that an indelible mental image presents itself. “C’mon, everybody! There’s a chainsaw fight happening in the parking lot!” Gaither emphasizes that the quote — like all of the vignettes in his books — truly happened. A switchblade fight escalated when one of the combatants retrieved a chainsaw from his truck. (No one was hurt, and all dispersed seconds before police arrived.) Bar patrons provide an endless stream of bizarre quotes, and even after publishing two volumes, Gaither is still collecting them. New material presents itself almost daily. He mentions one quote overheard just a few days ago: “I’ve eaten enough of my dog’s hair to last me for a while.” And another: “Can I lay down on this bar and have you pour tequila all over me?” (The answer was no.) Though he’s a creative — dozens of his evocative photo portraits grace the walls of The Grey Eagle — Gaither is quick to admit that he’s not a comedian. But that hasn’t stopped him from enlisting a jazz combo led by Aaron Price to back him up as he reads selections (likely including ones that can’t be printed here) at The Crow & Quill. “Some of them will get huge laughs,” he predicts, acknowledging that others may not (and aren’t intended to). For performative inspiration, Gaither is drawing on the influence of an unlikely trio. “A little bit of William Shatner, some Tom Waits and a bit of Robert Goulet,” he says with a smile. One thing’s for sure: The quotes will all be crazy. X

WHO Sandlin Gaither presents Crazy Things People Say in a Bar

Keep warm & join us for

HELL NIGHT Featuring an

ALL SPICY

Thurs., Jan. 30th 5-10pm See our menu & make reservations at theblackbirdresturant.com

WHERE The Crow & Quill 106 N. Lexington Ave. thecrowandquill.com WHEN Tuesday, Feb. 4, 8 p.m. Free

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by Edwin Arnaudin

earnaudin@mountainx.com

MANDELKORN MAGIC Rham Squad plays an album release show at The Mothlight

RHYMES WITH TOM: Ram Mandelkorn, left, jams with his core Rahm Squad bandmates E’Lon JD, center, and Jaze Uries. The group will grow threefold for its Jan. 31 show at The Mothlight. Photo by Frank Zipperer Asheville-area music fans know Ram Mandelkorn for his guitar work in the funk/soul ensemble The Digs and the jazz/reggae fusion quartet Below the Bassline, plus various side gigs that crop up with assorted talented collaborators. Audiences on the local front and beyond are also about to become acquainted with his vocals and songwriting via Rham Squad, whose debut LP Sojourn receives an album release show Friday, Jan. 31, at The Mothlight. An Asheville resident since 2000 and an alumnus of Warren Wilson College and Western Carolina University, Mandelkorn calls Rham Squad his “main passion project.” The core trio is rounded out by Jaze Uries (drums) and E’Lon JD (bass), with a rotating cast of pals joining in on the fun. “Basically, it’s a bunch of my close friends who I hired and got to play my music,” Mandelkorn says. “It’s a relatively newer project that I’m just only now taking seriously and really trying to put it out there to be a thing.” The X factor in his heightened focus on Rham Squad is the gradual progression of his singing and songwriting. Fond of such distinct vocalists as Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan and The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, Mandelkorn credits putting in the necessary hours of practice with helping him improve his craft, as well as setting a firm deadline to finish Sojourn. 42

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

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“I’ve been doing the instrumental thing for several years and feel like I’ve developed that part of my voice, but I’ve always wanted to do the songwriting thing — and I’ve been trying in my bedroom for years,” Mandelkorn says. “I’ve been trying to write songs and see if I like them or not and get confident enough to play them. I feel like I’m finally ... finding my voice, figuring out what I want to say and how I want to say it. It’s been a good experience.” Sojourn was recorded in fall 2019 at Asheville’s The Eagle Room under the guidance of Matt Williams. Overdubs, vocals and horns were added later at Mandelkorn’s home studio, and the album was mixed in Los Angeles by his longtime friend, former Asheville-based engineer Jon Ashley (The War on Drugs; Sylvan Esso). Considering his other projects, it’s only natural that Mandelkorn cites plentiful world music influences on the album, plus elements of indie music, soul and R&B. Catchy opening track “Battle Scars” sets the tone for a collection that flows from groove to groove, leaving room for the guitarist to let loose with memorable solos on “Prayer,” “Song for B” and other tracks. CaroMia Tiller’s harmonies add an appealing layer to the vocals, and Simon Thomas George plays bass on half of the songs, though it’s Ben Colvin’s saxophone that nearly steals the show, especially in tandem with Mandelkorn’s guitar on “Earthquake.”

“I have melody lines that I wrote and [Colvin] played them, but then he comes in with harmonies and he’ll adjust them and make them more tasteful and cooler,” Mandelkorn says. “I wrote most of the music, then he refines it. That’s kind of how that process works with the horns.” Regarding Sojourn’s lyrical content, Mandelkorn hesitates to identify particular personal experiences or societal issues that informed his writing — at least on a conscious level. “That’s been a cool part of this experience — seeing what my subconscious and my unconscious wanted to say. I feel like that’s been a learning process,” he says. “The pretty cool thing about writing these songs and recording this album has been learning what type of stuff I want to write about. I feel like there’s a connection with your subconscious and unconscious when you’re doing that. So, a lot of this album is processing life. I feel like it was a healing experience.” All of the above and more will unite at the Mothlight show in what Mandelkorn says is the biggest band he’s ever had. In addition to a full horn section, that night’s edition of Rham Squad loops in several backup singers, percussion and pedal steel player Jackson Dulaney, who contributes his signature guitar licks on the album’s “Blind Suspicion.” “It’s going to be a big, full band — close musical friends and collaborators, and kind of a special event,” Mandelkorn says. “In general, and when I go tour this time around and play it, it’ll very likely be a trio or a four-piece. But it’ll probably be an eight- or nine-piece band for the CD release.” X

WHO Rham Squad with Goldie & The Screamers and DJ Arieh WHERE The Mothlight 701 Haywood Road themothlight.com WHEN Friday, Jan. 31, 9 p.m. $10

A & E CALENDAR ART BODY IMAGE ART SHOW • SA (2/1), 3-6pm Odyssey High School group art project presentation, Body Image, is upcycled clothing decorated with mixed media assemblages promoting diversity, inclusivity and positivity around bodies. Free. Held at Sly Grog Lounge, 271 Haywood St. ITCH TO STITCH • MO (2/3), 10amnoon - Itch to Stitch, a casual knitting and needlework group for all skill levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville LEICESTER COMMUNITY ART NIGHTS • 1st TUESDAYS, 6:30pm - Community art night for children and adults. Free. Held at Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS 7TH ANNUAL SECONDS SALE • SA (2/1) through FR (2/28) - Local artists, seconds sale in a variety of media. Free to attend. Held at Woolworth Walk, 25 Haywood St.

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS CALL TO WNC ARTISTS • Until SA (2/1) - Call to WNC illustrators and narrative artists for the second annual juried show in March. To apply email two jpgs to Lauren@zapow. com. Free. Held at ZaPow!, 150 Coxe Ave., Suite 101

DANCE LEARN HOW TO DANCE! BALLROOM, SWING, TWO-STEP & MORE (PD.) Enjoy learning with a Certified Instructor. Contact Richard: 828-333-0715, naturalrichard@mac. com, www.Danceforlife. dance. FLAMENCO CLASSES • FRIDAYS, 7pm - Flamenco for adults at all levels. Information: 786-327-9548. $14/ class or $50/month. Held at In His Steps Dance Ministry, 159 Church St. SOUTHERN LIGHTS SQUARE AND ROUND DANCE CLUB • SA (2/1), 6pm Chocolate Night Dance. Advanced dance at 6 pm. Early rounds at 7 pm. Free. Held at Whitmire Activity Center,

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

310 Lily Pond Road, Hendersonville

Ministry, 82 Central Drive, Cullowhee

WESTERN STYLE SQUARE DANCE LESSONS • TU (2/4) & (2/11), 7-9pm - Southern Lights Square and Round Dance Club offers Western Style Square dance lessons. $8. Held at Salvation Army Gym, 239 3rd Ave. E., Hendersonville

KICKSHAWS & QUIDDITIES • SA (2/1), 2 & 4:30pm - The Blue Ridge Orchestra celebrates leap year with Kickshaws & Quiddities, a concert of musical oddities. $15/$10 members/$5 students. Held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave.

MUSIC ACAPELLA - SINGING VALENTINE (PD.) Help out Cupid this Valentines Day! Quartet brings singing Valentines to your home, business, or restaurant. Order at ashevillebarbershop. com/singing-valentines 866.290.7269 AFRICAN DRUM LESSONS AT SKINNY BEATS SOUND SHOP (PD.) Wednesdays 6pm. Billy Zanski teaches a fun approach to connecting with your inner rhythm. Drop-ins welcome. • Drums provided. $15/class. (828) 768-2826. www. skinnybeatsdrums. com FIRST THURSDAY OLD-TIME AND BLUEGRASS JAM • TH (2/6), 7pm - First Thursday OldTime and Bluegrass Jam presents Frogtown. Free. Held at Homebase College

NICK KENNEY • TH (1/30), 7:30pm - WCU recital by Nick Kenney, horn. Free. Held at Western Carolina University, Coulter Building, Cullowhee ‘SEVEN SINGERS SINGING’ • FRIDAY through SUNDAY, FR (1/31) until SU (2/2) - Seven Singers Singing, a cabaretstyle review by David Bates. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2:30pm. $20. Held at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St. SUN STUDIES • WE (2/5), 8pm Sun Studies includes Reid Johnson, Andy Herod and Joshua Carpenter, acoustic folk-rock. Free. Held at Historic Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Drive . UKE JAM • WE (1/29), noon - Ukulele jam, all levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public

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by Edwin Arnaudin | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Daze Inn II For his inaugural Daze Inn project in 2018, Ashevillebased artist Jeff Kinzel went to a thrift store, purchased more than 30 copies of the same framed hotel-art print and gave them to fellow local artists. The challenge? Transform the intentionally inoffensive image, the likes of which are found on hotel walls across the U.S., into something exciting and with a point of view — however each artist saw fit. Now, Kinzel has recruited a new batch of participants for the series’ second installment, with Cyrus Glance, Julyan Davis, Mark E. Flowers and others putting creative spins on the bland backdrop. There will be an opening reception for Daze Inn II on Friday, Jan. 31, 6-8 p.m., at Wedge Brewing Co.’s Foundation location. The exhibition will be up through Sunday, Feb. 23. Free to attend. wedgebrewing.com. Image courtesy of Kinzel

Jeeves Saves the Day Each year since 2016, a new adaptation by Margaret Raether of P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves stories has delighted audiences at N.C. Stage Company. Now, on the heels of Jeeves Intervenes, Jeeves in Bloom, Jeeves Takes a Bow and Jeeves at Sea, comes Jeeves Saves the Day — which simultaneously has its world premiere in Asheville and at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook, Ill. The new period comedy finds rich, naive Bertie Wooster (Scott Treadway) unsuccessfully attempting to keep his bumbling cousin Egbert Bakewell (Charlie Flynn-McIver) out of trouble, leaving reliable valet Jeeves (Peter Thomasson) to once more set everything right. The play runs Wednesday, Jan. 29, to Sunday, Feb. 23. Showtimes are Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., with additional matinee shows on Saturday, Feb. 15, and Saturday, Feb. 22. $28-$45 general/$10 for students. ncstage.org. Photo by Taylor Beyrer

Sun Studies, Joshua Carpenter & Andy Herod On Wednesday, Feb. 5, precisely halfway between the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, Studio A at the Historic Cotton Mill Studios — home to Daidala Ciders and the Andy Herod Gallery — plays host to a musical reunion. Longtime singer-songwriter friends gathering for the occasion are Durham-based Reid Johnson, who’ll mark the end of an eightday string of gigs down to New Orleans and back under his Sun Studies moniker with tourmate and Asheville resident Joshua Carpenter, who also plays drums in Johnson’s band, Schooner. Completing the trilogy of sets is Herod himself, whose connection to the co-billers goes back to their time in Carrboro. According to Johnson, the three haven’t played together since Herod’s band, Electric Owls, and Schooner opened for Archers of Loaf in 2011. It all starts at 8 p.m. Free to attend. daidalaciders.com. Photo of Carpenter courtesy of the musician

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Jess Klein After spending eight years working in the Austin, Texas, music scene, singer-songwriter Jess Klein headed east in 2016 and settled in Hillsborough, the town next door to Chapel Hill. There, she set to work on new material that became her 11th album, Back to My Green, which was released last spring. The record received support from nearly 200 Kickstarter backers and features songs that explore Klein’s move to the Tar Heel State and her marriage to fellow songwriter Mike June. On Friday, Jan. 31, she’ll play the Isis Music Hall lounge — her first Asheville show since relocating. The tunes start flowing at 7 p.m. $12 advance/$15 day of show. isisasheville.com. Photo courtesy of Klein

A& E CA LEN DA R

Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville WOMANSONG OF ASHEVILLE • MONDAYS, 7-9pm - Community chorus rehearsals open to potential members. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD BANNED BOOK CLUB • 1st & 3rd SATURDAYS, 10am - Banned Book Club. Free to attend. Held at Blue Ridge Books, 428 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville BOOKS & BITES • TH (2/6), 11am - Proceeds from Books & Bites with Diane Chamberlain and her new book, Big Lies in a Small Town, benefits Mountains Branch Library. $25. Held at Lake Lure Inn and Spa, 2771 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty. org/governing/ depts/library • MO (2/3), 3pm - Memoir writing group with specific exercises to access memories. Registration required: at the library or 828-2504750. Free. Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road • TU (2/4), 7pm - Adult Book Discussion: Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Free. Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road • TU (2/4), 7pm Brothers Like These: Short story readings by Vietnam veterans sharing their stories and healing journeys. Refreshments. Free. Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • TU (2/4), 7pm - Evening Book Dis-

cussion: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Free. Held at Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • WE (2/5), 3pm - Weaverville Afternoon Book Club: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly. Free. Held at Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville DARK CITY POETS SOCIETY • WE (1/29), 6pm - Dark City Poets Society group is forming. Join the inaugural meeting to discuss the vision for poetry and set a monthly date for meetings. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain HOLLY KAYS PRESENTS 'TRAILBLAZERS & TRADITIONALISTS' • SA (2/1), 2-4pm Holly Kays presents her book Trailblazers & Traditionalists. Free to attend. Held at City Lights Bookstore, 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 828-254-6734, malaprops.com • TH (1/30), 7pm Works in Translation Book Club reads Slave Old Man by Patrick Chamoiseau, translated by Linda Coverdale. Free to attend. • SU (2/2), 3pm - Poetrio with Elizabeth Jacobson, Dana Wildsmith and Linda Parsons. Free to attend. • MO (2/3), 6pm - Abby Artemisia presents her book, The Herbal Handbook for Homesteaders. Free to attend. • MO (2/3), 7pm LGBTQ Book Club, February is She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan. Free to attend.

• WE (2/5), 6pm Phoebe Kilby and Betty Kilby-Baldwin discuss the collection, Slavery's Descendants: Shared Legacies of Race and Reconciliation. Free to attend. • WE (2/5), 7pm - A discussion of The Leavers by Lisa Ko. Free to attend. • TH (2/6), 6pm Monette Chilson presents Original Resistance: Reclaiming Lilith, Reclaiming Ourselves. Free to attend. • TH (2/6), 7pm Crime and Politics Book Club is reading Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas by Jane Mayer. Free to attend. NC WRITERS’ NETWORK OPEN MIC • TH (2/6), 6-7:30pm - NC Writers’ Network Open Mic: Poetry, Prose, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction. Free. Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 S. Market St. NEW DIMENSIONS TOASTMASTERS • THURSDAYS, noon-1pm - General meeting. Information: 828-329-4190. Free to attend. Held at Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, 33 Meadow Road POLITICAL PRISONERS LETTER WRITING • First SUNDAYS, 5pm - Political prisoners letter writing. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road WOMEN IN LIVELY DISCUSSION BOOK CLUB • TU (2/4), 6:30pm - This month, the club is reading An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Free to attend. Held at Battery Park Book Exchange, 1 Page Ave., #101

THEATER HENRY LABRUN STUDIO AT WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 18 Biltmore Ave., 828-257-4530, worthamarts.org • FR (1/31), 2pm - Aquila Theatre’s General Drama Masterclass. $10. • SA (2/1), 2pm Aquila Theatre’s Physical Theatre Masterclass. $10. 'JEEVES SAVES THE DAY' • WEDNESDAYS through SATURDAYS (1/29) until (2/23) - Jeeves Saves the Day, comedy. Wed.Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2pm with additional matinees (2/15) & (2/22). $28-$45/$10 students. Held at NC Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane ‘VIRTUALLY IN LOVE’ • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS, (1/31) until (2/9) - Virtually in Love, drama. Fri. & Sat.: 7pm, Sun.: 3pm. $18/$12 student/$6 under 12. Held at Brevard Little Theatre, 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 18 Biltmore Ave., 828-257-4530, worthamarts.org • FR (1/31), 8pm - Aquila Theatre presents George Orwell’s 1984. Participate in pre-performance discussions at 7pm in the Tina McGuire Theatre. $20-40. • SA (2/1), 8pm Aquila Theatre presents Homer’s The Odyssey. Participate in pre-performance discussions at 7pm in the Tina McGuire Theatre. $20-40. • TH (2/6) & FR (2/7), 10am & Noon - Warriors, civil rights history. Recommended grates 6-12. $10.

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

CLUBLAND

BABY IT’S COLD: Tinsley Ellis says his latest project was “inspired by all three Kings (B.B., Albert and Freddie),” as well as Carlos Santa and others. His 18th album, Ice Cream in Hell, presents 11 blues-rock tracks of fervent guitar combined with emotional lyrical takes on Ellis’ four decades as an artist. “It’s not always easy, but the payoff is the music,” he says. “That’s the ice cream.” Ellis performs at The Grey Eagle on Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. $17 advance, $20 day of show, $25 premium seating. thegreyeagle.com. Photo by Marilyn Stringer

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM 185 KING STREET NC Songsmiths - Brian Hill, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis (African folk music), 8:00PM

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Live Music Wednesdays, 9:00PM

ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays w/ Cuberow, 6:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic Showcase, 6:30PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest, 8:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING CO. FBVMA Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM

FLEETWOOD'S Bad Taste Cinema at Fleetwood's, 7:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Weird Wednesday Jam, 9:00PM

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Cuban Night w/ Simón Y Las Reglas, 8:00PM

FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk feat. the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM

ISA'S BISTRO Jay DiPaola, 5:30PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Over the Rhine w/ Willy Tea Taylor, 8:00PM

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke w/ Kari Okay, 9:00PM

HUGHES MAIN LIBRARY Bela Flek's Banjo Documentary, 6:00PM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk w/ the Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM

ODDITORIUM Larkin, Dane Page, Circle Verse (indie), 8:00PM

SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 8:00PM STATIC AGE RECORDS Femme Folk Fest, 7:00PM THE CASUAL PINT Disney Trivia, 7:00PM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY Positivity Slam! Growth Mindset for Healthy Living, 6:30PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray and the Space Cooties, 7:00PM BROWN MOUNTAIN BOTTLEWORKS NC Songsmiths - Brian Hill, 7:30PM

CAROLINA MUSIC MUSEUM Keith Davis & Neil Starkey-Jazz Duo, 7:30PM CROW & QUILL Big Dawg Slingshots (western swing), 10:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Gospel Night w/ Rev R.L. Bush & the Revived Sons, 9:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Vinyl Nights, 8:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER True Home Open Mic at the Flood, 12:00AM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Bennett Sullivan, 7:00PM Italian Night w/ Mike Guggino & Barrett Smith, 8:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP Vinyl Night Free tastings, 7:00PM ODDITORIUM Party Foul Drag Circus, 8:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia Night, 6:00PM

OVER THE RHINE

WED

29 ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Lenny Pettinelli, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Lemon City Trio, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Space Jesus: Moon. Landing Tour, 9:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Jeff & Jesse (acoustic rock), 8:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Fwuit!, 7:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Abby Bryant & Friends, 7:00PM POLANCO RESTAURANT Pop Up DJ Dinners w/ DJ Phantome Pantone Collective, 10:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Chris Jamison, 7:30PM SALVAGE STATION Meet the North AVL Candidates, 5:30PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Jamie Gorsuch, 7:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Leeda 'Lyric' Jones & Friends, 9:00PM THE CASUAL PINT Extreme Music Bingo w/ Wicked Weed, 7PM THE GREY EAGLE Tombstone Highway w/ Aisles of Jane Doe & Shrunken Heads, 8:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Spectral Habitat w/ Sarah Louise at The Mothlight, 8:00PM

THIS WEEK AT AVL MUSIC HALL & THE ONE STOP!!!

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Live Music Thursdays, 9:00PM

TOWN PUMP Matt Holloman, 9:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Craft Karaoke, 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Acoustic Karaoke!, 10:00PM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 185 KING STREET Frances Eliza, 9:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The Big EZ's (blues, funk), 9:00PM AMBROSE WEST Fwuit! w/ Southern Pine, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr. Jimmy hosts The Big City Blues Jam, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL AVL All Stars: 'Talking Lizzo Heads', 10:00PM BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 6:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Cran-Apple Cosmo Cocktail & Steal the Pint w/ tunes by The Jamie Wright Band, 11:00AM BREVARD LITTLE THEATRE Virtually in Love, 7:30PM CORK & KEG One Leg Up, 8:30PM

CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE The Lumineers: III The World Tour, 7:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Call The Next Witness, Cool Moon, Past Life, 9:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB J.J Hipps and the Hideaways (blue, soul), 10:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Masseuse, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Jess Klein, 7:00PM Upland Drive & Franklin Turns 40 Celebration, 8:30PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Andrew Orolfo, 8:00PM MAD CO BREW HOUSE Georgia Dish Boys, 6:00PM NEW BELGIUM BREWERY Sam Burchfield, 5:30PM OLE SHAKEY'S Friday After Work Concert Series, 5:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays feat. members of Phuncle Sam (acoustic), 5:00PM Airshow, 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Soldado, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Ton of Hay, 9:00PM

CROW & QUILL Ultrafaux (swing jazz, Balkan, Gypsy Jazz), 9:00PM

ORANGE PEEL Yonder Mountain String Band plus The Travelin' McCourys, 8:00PM

EXPLOREASHEVILLE. COM ARENA AT HARRAH'S

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

AVL ALL-STARS PRESENT

PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Fringe West, 8:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Songwriters in the Round: Michael Flynn, Anya Hinkle, Young Mister, 7:30PM RUSTIC GRAPE WINE BAR Lindsey Meyers, (singer-songwriter), 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Progressive Alliance Postcard Parties, 4:30PM Carver, Carmody, & McIntire, 8:00PM

FRI

31 SAT

1 1

FRI, 1/31 - SHOW: 10 pm (DOORS: 9 pm ) TICKETS: $15.00

SUN

SUPER BOWL EE! BASH, 6PM FR

THE ARCADIAN WILD

WED

EMISUNSHINE

THU

EMISUNSHINE

FRI

TINSLEY ELLIS

W/ ANNA LYNCH

(MATINEE SHOW - 2:30PM)

SAT

(EVENING SHOW - 7PM)

GRACIE LANE W/ JON CHARLES DWYER

AJJ

W/ TACOCAT, EMPEROR X

Asheville’s longest running live music venue • 185 Clingman Ave TICKETS AVAILABLE AT HARVEST RECORDS & THEGREYEAGLE.COM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Bass Planet: Mercury w/Murkury, 8:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Jesse Barry & the Jam, 8:00PM STATIC AGE RECORDS Slow Crush, Grivo, Harsh Realm, Fake Eyes, 9:00PM THE BARRELHOUSE Zach Meadows, 7:00PM THE CASUAL PINT Vinyl Night, 7:00PM

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY MAR

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Seven Singers Singing: A Musical Revue by Dave Bates, 7:30PM THE MOTHLIGHT Rahm Squad Album Release w/ Goldie & The Screamers and DJ Arieh, 8:00PM

WILD WING CAFE SOUTH A Social Function Acoustic, 9:00PM

APR

LEO KOTTKE APR

JIM MESSINA

APR

SEBASTIAN BACH

TOWN PUMP Hunter Begley, 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Rod Abernethy, 8:00PM

MAR

MARK O’CONNOR BAND

THE GREY EAGLE The Arcadian Wild, 9:00PM

31ST ANNIVERSARY TOUR

MAY

BÉLA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES

TICKETS @ PARAMOUNTBRISTOL.ORG OR CALL 423-274-8920

SUPATIGHT & EGGY

Airshow

‘TALKING LIZZO HEADS’

TOMBSTONE HIGHWAY + AISLES OF JANE DOE + THE SHRÜNKEN HEADS

BRUNCH OF JOKERS 2, 12PM

W/ WILLY TEA TAYLOR

THU

SUN

FRI, 1/31 - SHOW: 10 pm COVER = DONATION BASED

SAT, 2/1 - SHOW: 10 pm (DOORS: 9 pm ) TICKETS: $10.00

Zoofunkyou & FUX

SAT, 2/1 - SHOW: 10 pm COVER = DONATION BASED

LOCAL THURSDAY SHUFFLE - 10pm

Free Dead Friday - 5pm

SUN

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia - 6:30pm

FRI

disclaimer comedy - 9:30pm

THU

Tuesday Early Jam - 8PM Tuesday Night Funk Jam - 10PM Electrosoul Session - 11:30PM

WED

TUE

2/6 - Bob Marley Birthday Bash w/ Chalwa • 2/7 - Blockhead, Arms and Sleepers + il:lo • 2/8 - Brown Eyed Women w/ Sparkling Clover • 2/13 - Moon Hooch w/ paris_monster • 2/14 - Official UM afterparty w/ Umphrey’s Strikes Brass • 2/15 - lespecial World Famous Bluegrass Brunch - 10:30am-3pm Shakedown Sundays - 4pm-7pm MOUNTAINX.COM

@AVLMusicHall @OneStopAVL JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

CLU B LA N D

Local 17 Taps & Domestics • Nightly Drink Specials

FULL KITCHEN • TIKI BAR AWARD-WINNING WING SPECIALS Sun., Tue., Wed. & Thur. • 6-8Pm

Mon-Thur 4pm-2am • Fri-Sun 2pm-2am 87 Patton Ave – Downtown Asheville HOT BUTTON: The upcoming Cirque Du Noir Freak SHOWcase features many sassy and eclectic regional and local acts. Expect vendors, character performers and a firespinning circle, as well as a circus freak-show performance by Divine Dance Collective, pictured, and local DJ support at the Thursday, Feb. 13, event. $10. slygrog. wordpress.com. Photo courtesy of the group

185 KING STREET U R U and Wonky Tonk Squalor, 8:00PM

EXPLOREASHEVILLE. COM ARENA AT HARRAH'S CHEROKEE CENTER - ASHEVILLE The Lumineers: III The World Tour, 7:00PM

27 CLUB Black Market Currency w/ special guests Make Contact, 9:30PM

FLEETWOOD'S In the Pines, Bad Ties, Mouth Breathers, 9:00PM

5 WALNUT WINE BAR J.J Hipps (blues), 9:00PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Ethan Heller and Friends (funk, jam), 10:00PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Tired All the Time, Reversals & Bless Your heart 9:00PM ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Dance Party w/ DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM

Downtown Asheville 45 South French Broad Ave Pizza • Wings • Pubfare • 20 Taps

OPEN TUES - SAT 11:00AM - 9:00PM

» Trivia Wednesdays » Drag Show Thursdays » Open Mic 2 nd & 4 th Fridays » Live Music Saturdays Check out our other store in Black Mtn

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JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR the Travelling Pilsburys, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Supatight & Effigy, 10:00PM BREVARD LITTLE THEATRE Virtually in Love, 7:30PM BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY Round the Fire, 9:00PM CONUNDRUM SPEAKEASY & INTRIQUE LOUNGE Laura Thurston, 7:00PM

GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Blue Ridge Orchestra: Kickshaws & Quiddities, 4:30PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Frances Luke Accord, 7:00PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Pedro Gonzalez, 9:00PM LITTLE JUMBO Saturday Night Vinyl Dance Party w/ DJ Otto Maddox, 10:00PM ODDITORIUM Animist, w/ Carbon Bandit, Paradoxum, and Omen Stones, 8:00PM Burlesque Battle: Make Up vs Break Up, 10:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S DJ Lyric Dance Party, 10:00PM

CORK & KEG The Old Chevrolette Set, 8:30PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Zoofunkyou & Fux, 10:00PM

CROW & QUILL The House Hoppers (big swing jazz), 9:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Another Country, 9:00PM

ORANGE PEEL 80s vs 90s Dance Party feat. Molly Parti & DJ Oso Rey, 9:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Blaze the City (dance, rock, funk), 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR The Paper Crowns, 7:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Judaculla Blue, 8:00PM SALVAGE STATION Chinese New Year Reunion Celebration, 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Abbey Elmore Band, 8:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Groundhog’s Day Eve! Hard Rocket, Modern Strangers, Sicman of VA, 7:00PM SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Mr Jimmy Trio, 8:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Kavalactones: Capriquarius Spectacular, 9:00PM  STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE Roarin 20’s Party & Elise’s Birthday, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE CommUNITY Salsa at THE BLOCK off biltmore, 9:00PM THE CASUAL PINT Aileen Paerlman, 7PM THE GREY EAGLE Youth OUTright’s Drag Brunch at The Grey Eagle, 12:00PM EmiSunshine, 2:30PM (matinee) & 7:00PM

THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Seven Singers Singing: A Musical Revue by Dave Bates, 7:30PM THE MOTHLIGHT Que Bonita Bandera: Puerto Rico Benefit Dance Party, 9:00PM TOWN PUMP Dirty Dawg, 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Gary Maverick Band feat. Artimus Pyle, 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE Karaoke, 9:30PM WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Aquila Theatre: Homer’s The Odyssey, 8:00PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 185 KING STREET Super Bowl Potluck Party at 185, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Underhill Rose, (country soul), 7:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Post-Brunch Blues, 4:00PM BREVARD LITTLE THEATRE Virtually in Love, 3:00PM CROW & QUILL Sundays Are A Drag (drag variety show), 10:00PM FLEETWOOD'S Comedy at Fleetwood's: Blaire Erskine, 8:00PM FUNKATORIUM Gary "Macfiddle" Mackey (bluegrass), 1:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 2:00PM Big Game Viewing Party!, 6:00PM ODDITORIUM Odd Trivia Night, 8:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL World Famous Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30AM

ORANGE PEEL Raphael Saadiq, Jimmy Lee, 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Open Mic Night w/ It Takes All Kinds, 7:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Trivia Night w/ Lau, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Ambiguous Roots, 9:00PM

SALVAGE STATION Super Bowl Party, 3:00PM

THE CASUAL PINT Team Trivia Night, 7:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/ Mike Andersen, 6:30PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Local Live w/ host Jay Brown & Guest, 7:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE Bunch of Jokers II, 12:00PM Super Bowl Bash, 6:00PM THE MAGNETIC THEATRE Seven Singers Singing: A Musical Revue by Dave Bates, 2:30PM WILD WING CAFE Win BIG Superbowl Sunday w/ DJ Razor (giveaways, music), 5:00PM

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 27 CLUB Monday Mayhem Karaoke, 9:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR CaroMia, Mary Ellen Davis, Amanda Platt (folk), 7:00PM

7PM– AN EVENING WITH JESS KLEIN

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Open Mic & Live Podcast, 8:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Tango Class & Milonga Dance w/ Mary Morgan, Eric Knoche & Stanley Dankoski, 7:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB BluesDay Tuesday w/ Mr. Jimmy, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar, 8:00PM

ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 12:00AM

BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Tacos & Trivia, 4:00PM

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY Trivia Night at Boojum, 7:00PM

CROW & QUILL Crazy Shit People Say in Bars Book Release Party w/ Live Music, 8:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Nerdy Talk Trivia, 6:00PM

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Turntable Tuesdays hosted by VTT, 10:00PM

ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque hosted By Deb Au Nare, 8:00PM

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions hosted by Serene Green, 7:30PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Jazz Jam, 12:00AM

FRI 1/31

5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys, (hot jazz), 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Open Mic, 8:00PM

7PM– BENNETT SULLIVAN 8:30PM– ITALIAN NIGHT WITH MIKE GUGGINO & BARRETT SMITH

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Monday Movie Night, 8:00PM

OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke From Muskogee, 9:00PM

THU 1/30

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Show the Love Industry Night w/ DJ set by Philo Reitzel, 7:00PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP Ambient Drone Machine Jam, 7:00PM

8:30PM– UPLAND DRIVE :: FRANKLIN TURNS 40

SAT 2/1 7PM– AN EVENING WITH FRANCES LUKE ACCORD

TUE 2/4 7:30PM– TUES. BLUEGRASS SESSIONS HOSTED BY SERENE GREEN

WED 2/5 7PM– AN EVENING WITH LAUREN ANDERSON & MEG WILLIAMS

THU 2/6 7PM– JOSH CHRISTINA BAND

TAVERN Downtown on the Park Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 15 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night LIVE M R A COV USIC , E V NE ER CHARGE!

THU. 1/30 Jeff Anders & Jesse Barry (acoustic rock)

FRI. 1/31 DJ RexxStep

(dance hits, pop)

8:30PM– THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT RISE & FLY TOUR

SAT. 2/1 Blaze the City

FRI 2/7

(dance, rock, funk)

7PM– AN EVENING WITH GOLDENOAK

ISISASHEVILLE.COM DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM BRUNCH 10-2 SUNDAY ONLY

TUES-SUN 5PM-until

743 HAYWOOD RD | 828-575-2737

20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 packStavern.com

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

CLU B LA N D ODDITORIUM Free Open Mic Comedy, 8:00PM

UPCOMING SHOWS: DOORS 7PM

JAN 31

OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 10:00PM

49 WINCHESTER

SHOW 8PM

WITH BROTHERS GILLESPIE

FEB 6

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Early Jam, 8:00PM

CHARLIE TRAVELER PRESENTS:

SHOW 8PM

JAN 31

WITH SOUTHERN PINE

DOORS 7PM

FEB 6

DOORS 7PM

FEB 8

DOORS 7PM

FEB 14

DOORS 7PM

FEB 15

FWUIT!

SHOW 8PM

TREEHOUSE!

WITH AUDIC EMPIRE AND BUBBA LOVE

FEB 8

STARDUST MINE PRESENTS

SHOW 8PM

GEORGE AND TAMMY'S FOREVER VALENTINE

FEB 14

TALL TALL TREES

SHOW 8PM

FEB 15

(ALBUM RELEASE)

WITH SLOW PACKER

TICKETS SOLD HERE: W W W. A M B R O S E W E S T. C O M BOX OFFICES: T H E H O N E Y P O T & T H E C I RC L E

BOOK YOUR WEDDING OR EVENT NOW: 828.332.3090 312 HAYWOOD ROAD

ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Jack Pearson's Comedy Cosmos (stand-up), 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: FLOW, 8:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Rhoda & The Risers, 7:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Team Trivia Tuesdays, 7:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Jam w/ Chris Cooper & Friends (sign up at 6:30pm), 8:00PM THE MARKET PLACE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Rat Alley Cats, 6:30PM

THE SOCIAL LOUNGE The Trivia Factory, 7:30PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 6:45PM Open Mic, 8:45PM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 185 KING STREET NC Songsmiths - John Trufant, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis, (African folk music), 8:00PM ALLEY CAT SOCIAL CLUB Karaoke w/ Kari Okay, 9:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic Showcase, 6:30PM FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk featuring the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM

ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Lauren Anderson & Meg Williams, 7:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, 9:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays, 6:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. FBVMA Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Monthly Monster Maker // Exquisite Corpse, 6:30PM Weird Wednesday Jam, 9:00PM

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE HempYEAH'S Hempy Valentine's Celebration, (speakers, music, treats), 6:00PM THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk with the Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM THE GREY EAGLE Tinsley Ellis, 8:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Live Music Wednesdays, 9:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN The Black Mountain Jazz Collective (trio edition), 7:30PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Ryan Perry Acoustic Set, 8:00PM

celebrating 25 Years!

PRESIDENTS' DAY POETRY Tomb of the Unknown Father A READING BY LEE STOCKDALE Lee’s father, Grant Stockdale, was JFK’s close friend and Ambassador to Ireland. He committed suicide 10 days after President Kennedy’s assassination.

Join Lee as he reads from his active poetry cycle. Q&A follows.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 8:00-9:30

The BLOCK off Biltmore 39 S. Market St., Asheville

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

MOVIE REVIEWS

Hosted by the Asheville Movie Guys HHHHH

= MAX RATING

EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com

H PICK OF THE WEEK H

2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Animation HHHH RATED PG-13 “Hair Love” (7 minutes) The story: An African American child wants to style her hair, which is beyond her and her father’s skills. In short: Originating as a Kickstarter project, this charming film is effervescent in its energy and bright colors. The story of Zuri and her hair is told almost entirely through body movements and facial expressions. No words are necessary to convey the characters’ feelings, and the already touching relationship between daughter and father becomes poignant when it’s revealed why styling her hair is so important to Zuri. It’s an experience we don’t often see in animation, which makes it feel refreshing. HHHHS “Dcera (Daughter)” (15 minutes) The story: A young girl realizes the fragility of life far earlier than any child should. In short: From the Czech Republic, the rough appearance of the papier-mâché figures in this film might be initially off-putting for some viewers. Yet the movement of the characters and the scenery they occupy look incredibly lifelike for a stop-motion animation project. Especially vital to the story is the film’s audio design, which vividly establishes the setting of each scene despite the

characters speaking no words. Writer and director Daria Kashcheeva makes everything on screen feel alive in her beautiful film — the best of this collection. HHHHH “Memorable” (12 minutes) The story: A painter slowly loses his memory and sense of surroundings as his Alzheimer’s disease worsens. In short: Bruno Collet’s film often looks like a painting, a work by Monet or Van Gogh come to life. Perhaps it’s intended to resemble how the main character, Louis, sees the world. Collet’s portrayal of Louis’ mental state is heartbreaking, as solid objects lose their form and become liquid, or the real becomes abstract. Yet what Louis’ wife, Michelle, faces with her husband’s deterioration feels all too real. The combination of stop-motion and digital animation creatively and powerfully depicts a world that’s slowly becoming incoherent. HHHHH “Sister” (8 minutes) The story: A child adapts to sharing life with a newborn sister, fighting over toys, TV shows and attention. In short: The shortest film of this collection packs an emotional punch with a sharp twist in its story. Siqi Song’s film is an intriguing companion to the 2019 docu-

BRUCE STEELE bcsteele@gmail.com

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS

Ian Casselberry

mentary One Child Nation, portraying the impact of the one-child policy that China enforced from 1979 to 2015. Song’s use of felt puppets makes the story feel lighter than it is, yet also reinforces a child’s point of view. The movement of the felt’s wool fibers also adds an ethereal quality to the film’s haunting animation. HHHS “Kitbull” (9 minutes) The story: A stray kitten and abused pit bull form a friendship, attempting to escape to better surroundings. In short: Emerging from Pixar’s SparkShorts program, Rosana Sullivan’s film has the look of conventional animation, as if it were taken from a children’s storybook. What initially look like natural rivals becoming friends — reminiscent of Looney Tunes’ Marc Antony and Pussyfoot in “Feed the Kitty” — carries darker undertones in how these animals are treated. This is the lightest of the five nominated animated shorts, but it acts as a much-needed palate cleanser amid its more serious, solemn peers. HHH Starts Jan. 31 at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY IAN CASSELBERRY IANCASS@GMAIL.COM

2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Documentary HHHH RATED R “In the Absence” (29 minutes) The story: Families and rescue divers recount the sinking of the MV Sewol, a South Korean vehicle-passenger ferry, and demand justice for the hundreds of children who died aboard. In short: A tough look at the corrupt South Korean government, with disturbing footage and audio from the tragedy. The film has a lot to cover in a short amount of time and suffers through quick transitions from one subject to the next, resulting in a loosely connected but scattered approach. HHH “Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)” (40 minutes) The story: Girls in Afghanistan learn to read, write and skateboard in a society opposed to them receiving an education. In short: An inspiring look at how education is becoming a priority in Afghanistan. The film is focused on its narrative and shows

Cameron Allison

James Rosario

Ali McGhee

the girls as they learn and gain confidence to face the world despite the terrifying reality of them possibly dying or being pulled from school at any time. HHHHS “Life Overtakes Me” (40 minutes) The story: Three families face deportation while their children develop resignation syndrome — a stress-induced disorder that causes them to enter a comalike state. In short: This documentary brings attention to the harsh life of immigrants in Sweden and a very peculiar way it can affect children. While staying on topic for the most part, by the halfway mark it unfortunately starts to drag. While still interesting, a disconnect starts to form, and some viewers may find themselves mentally checked out by the end. HHHS “St. Louis Superman” (28 minutes) The story: Battle rapper, activist and Missouri House of Representatives member Bruce Franks Jr. walks viewers through his day-to-day life, explaining what he’s done, what he’s doing and what he plans to do for the people of St. Louis. In short: Franks earns his title of Superman, giving a lot of attention to youth violence and what he feels his constituents need. Watching him work is inspiring and powerful, even if it becomes emotionally taxing and heavy by the end. While he’s interesting, it doesn’t feel like the right amount of time was spent on his position as a state representative — but seeing him work as a community leader more than makes up for it. HHHH Walk, Run, Cha-Cha (20 minutes) The story: Millie and Chipaul Cao recount their lives in Vietnam and the U.S., and how dancing brought — and keeps — them together. In short: This documentary succeeds best as an adorable love story. Seeing the Caos dance and hearing their story are enough to leave anyone happy. However, it doesn’t have any real depth beyond its sweet nature, but something this cute can survive without much else. HHHS Starts Jan. 31 at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY CAMERON ALLISON CAMERONRTALLISON@GMAIL.COM

MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

M OVIE RE V I EW S

2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Live-action HHH

RATED R “A Sister” (16 minutes) The story: A young woman trapped in a car with a dangerous man pretends to call her sister but is, in fact, on the phone with emergency services. In short: Belgian director Delphine Girard packs a decent amount of tension into this thriller that, unfortunately — in brief spurts — borders on exploitive. These momentary lapses sour an otherwise compelling story of women instinctively knowing when another is in trouble and doing all they can to help without question. The trap “A Sister” nearly falls into is relying on glimpses of violence to help viewers understand the gravity of the

STARTING FRIDAY 2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Animation (PG-13) HHHH (Pick of the Week) 2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Documentary (R) HHHH 2020 Oscar-nominated Short Films: Live-action (R) HHH JUST ANNOUNCED Gretel & Hansel (PG-13) A horror-centric reimagining of the Grimm fairy tale, starring Sophia Lillis (It). The Rhythm Section (R) A woman (Blake Lively) seeks vengence on the parties who killed her family. Jude Law and Sterling K. Brown co-star.

CURRENTLY IN THEATERS 1917 (R) HHHHS Bad Boys For Life (R) HH Color Out of Space (NR) HHS Dolittle (PG) HHHS Ford v Ferrari (PG-13) HHHHS Frozen II (PG) HHS The Gentlemen (R) HHHH A Hidden Life (PG-13) HHHHS Jojo Rabbit (PG-13) HHHHH Joker (R) HHHS Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13) HHHS Just Mercy (PG-13) HHHHS Knives Out (PG-13) HHHHH The Last Full Measure (PG-13) HHHH Like a Boss (R) HHH Little Women (PG) HHHHHS Pain and Glory (R) HHHH Parasite (R) HHHHH The Song of Names (PG-13) HHHS Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (PG-13) HHHHS The Turning (PG-13) HH Uncut Gems (R) HHHHH Underwater (PG-13) HHS 52

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

situation when the dialogue and acting are doing just fine on their own. But, after last year’s total downers in this category, it’s nice to finally see an ending with some justice handed out. HHH “The Neighbor’s Window” (20 minutes) The story: A husband and wife become obsessed with a young couple whose apartment they can see into from across the street. In short: What I was certain would be an annoying tale of an affluent white couple struggling with jealousy and obsession turned out to be a surprisingly touching story about greener grass. Director Marshall Curry (who made my favorite documentary short from last year, “A Night at the Garden”), tips the Rear Window-ish story on its head, offering a glimpse into the things humans take for granted. Sure, it’s contrived and melodramatic, but the humanity behind it resonates plenty. HHHS “Nefta Football Club” (17 minutes) The story: Two Tunisian boys stumble across a literal drug mule while riding a motorbike through the desert. In short: The bulk of “Nefta Football Club” is the setup for a joke that falls flat. It’s an amusing enough story, but even at a brief 17 minutes, there are too many superfluous elements that don’t pan out. Oddly enough, the concept has the potential for a Guy Ritchie-styled feature-length crime comedy full of bumbling crooks, cartel bosses and lovable bottom-rung ne’er-do-wells (which I suspect is the reason it was made). But as is, its one-liner nature is mostly a bust. HHS “Saria” (23 minutes) The story: Sisters in a Guatemalan orphanage orchestrate a daring escape. In short: Based on real events, “Saria” has the potential for a stirring exploration of human rights violations and a triumph of the human spirit, but misses the mark on the outrage it tries to stir up. Like “Nefta Football Club,” it feels like a proof-of-concept film instead of a self-contained and fully formed narrative. It meticulously hits all the beats for an Oscar-bait “ripped from the headlines” feature, giving viewers just enough to make them want a more fleshedout presentation — but it isn’t much more than a trailer. HH “Brotherhood” (25 minutes) The story: A young man returns to his family home in Tunisia with his Syrian wife in tow. In short: More than any of this year’s nominees, “Brotherhood” embodies the short film form. It’s a tightly packed, self-contained narrative that tells a compelling, emotional and relatable story. At its core, “Brotherhood” is about the complexities of family dynamics and the ideological disconnect between generations, but with some unexpected twists.

MOUNTAINX.COM

It’s my clear pick to win the Oscar, but its raw honesty and messy emotions may prove too much for an Academy that likes things in neat little packages. HHHH Starts Jan. 31 at Grail Moviehouse and Pisgah Film House REVIEWED BY JAMES ROSARIO JAMESROSARIO1977@GMAIL.COM

The Gentlemen HHHH DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie PLAYERS: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant, Eddie Marsan CRIME/COMEDY RATED R Following an extended vacation from London crime comedies — which generated results ranging from the underrated King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) to the wretched Aladdin (2019) — writer/director Guy Ritchie (Snatch; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) makes a triumphant return to that world with The Gentlemen, a film that nearly atones for his Disney sins from last year. Framed as a hypothetical parable told by greasy blackmailer Fletcher (Hugh Grant, having a ball) to enforcer Ray (Charlie Hunnam), the film presents a twisty tale involving slighted newspaper editor Big Dave (Eddie Marsan, Vice) seeking revenge on Ray’s boss, marijuana kingpin Mickey (Matthew McConaughey), whose efforts to exit the drug game quickly become compromised. Though it’s a pleasure to be back in Ritchie’s distinct gangster milieu, The Gentlemen trips over its narrative cleverness for much of its initial half-hour, establishing Mickey’s rise to prominence and the range of characters vying to inherit his empire. With the film still building its case and dangerously noncommittal on the quality front, Colin Farrell blessedly swoops in to save the day and steal the show. Essentially playing a cooler, more relaxed version of his In Bruges assassin, his role as Coach is engaging from his first lines of dialogue and only grows more appealing by the minute as his importance to the proceedings intensifies. Read the full review at ashevillemovies.com REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

The Last Full Measure HHHH

DIRECTOR: Todd Robinson PLAYERS: Jeremy Irvine, Samuel L. Jackson, Sebastian Stan, Ed Harris,

Christopher Plummer, Diane Ladd DRAMA/WAR RATED PG-13 The Last Full Measure takes place largely in 1999, as a (fictional) Department of Defense staffer, Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), reluctantly takes on the effort to upgrade an Air Force enlisted man’s posthumous honor from the lesser Air Force Cross to the Medal of Honor, the military’s highest award. The case is real: William H. Pitsenbarger, called Pits, died in 1966 after dropping into an ambush to help evacuate wounded soldiers from the Army’s 1st Infantry Division. After attending to casualties, Pits (played in flashbacks by Jeremy Irvine, War Horse) elected to stay and fight and reportedly helped save the lives of dozens of men before he was killed. He was 21 years old. In 1999, Scott travels the country and even visits Vietnam in order to interview survivors of the battle, and the movie trots out a Who’s Who of top-notch character actors: William Hurt, Samuel L. Jackson, John Savage, Ed Harris and the late Peter Fonda in his final role. Each one delivers a Best Supporting Actor-worthy performance, along with fine “presentday” turns by Christopher Plummer and Diane Ladd (as Pits’ parents) and others. Dale Dye, a Vietnam vet who has served as military adviser on countless features beginning with Platoon (1986), even gets a substantial on-screen role, holding his own among the stars. Indeed, the steady stream of set pieces giving this remarkable cast moments to shine is among the chief reasons to see the movie. Read the full review at ashevillemovies.com REVIEWED BY BRUCE STEELE BCSTEELE@GMAIL.COM

The Turning HH DIRECTOR: Floria Sigismondi PLAYERS: Mackenzie Davis, Finn Wolfhard, Brooklynn Prince, Barbara Marten HORROR RATED PG-13 The Turning, the latest adaptation of Henry James’ riveting and still disturbing 1898 novella, The Turn of the Screw, luxuriates in an atmosphere of gothic gloom. For a time, director Floria Sigismondi (The Runaways) and writers Carey and Chad Haynes (of horror projects like The Conjuring) stay faithful to their venerable source material, but ultimately veer off course, leaving viewers perplexed and frustrated. In telling the story of Kate (Mackenzie Davis, Blade Runner 2049), a young woman who becomes governess to two troubled, orphaned children — Flora (Brooklynn Prince, The Florida Project) and Miles (Finn

Wolfhard, “Stranger Things”) — the film explores torment and trauma as the themes play out in a wealthy but supremely isolated household. Soon after her arrival, Kate starts having unsettling experiences, not least of which is the strangeness of her wards. Eventually, things escalate into a full-blown experience of haunting, and Kate becomes afraid for her life and those of the children she’s trying to protect. As a fan of the novella and the most famous of its film adaptations, 1961’s The Innocents — please, go watch that one instead — I was happy enough with the first two-thirds of The Turning, and I enjoyed the updates to the original story. This version is set in 1994, just after Kurt Cobain’s suicide, an event we’re reminded of several times as a way to explain both why there are no cellphones and how isolation can breed demons. Fresh-faced Kate is more quirky than grungy — a likable, responsible 20-something who feels pulled to leave her teaching job and “make a difference” by working one-on-one with Flora in a remote corner of Maine. Prince and Wolfhard steal the show as the strange, pampered children, particularly Wolfhard, who brings an intensity to

Miles, making him seem alternately like a deeply traumatized kid and a darkly sexual young man twisted by terrible role models, tons of money and maybe even possession. Their prideful housekeeper, Mrs. Grose (Barbara Marten, of British TV’s “EastEnders”), impedes Kate’s attempts to cozy up to the children with fabulous, icy contempt. And the estate itself is the stuff of gothic dreams, replete with abandoned wings, weird basements, dark forest ponds, creepy dolls, hungry crows and even hedge mazes, all used to spectacular effect. The Turning goes off the rails when it, um, turns away from the original text, which artfully keeps readers questioning to the very end whether this is a real haunting or the governess’ emerging insanity. These filmmakers unfortunately toss ambiguity aside and do it in the strangest, most hamfisted way possible. The ending left everyone in the audience I saw it with scratching their heads, and not in an “I-can’t-wait-to-talk-about-thismovie-later” kind of way. Read the full review at mountainx.com/movies/reviews

BUBBLE & OYSTER THURSDAYS

828-350-0315

REVIEWED BY ALI MCGHEE ALIMCGHEE@GMAIL.COM

SMOKYPARK .COM

SCREEN SCENE by Edwin Arnaudin | earnaudin@mountainx.com

POWER TO THE PEOPLE: A still from the documentary We Cried Power, which will screen Jan. 29 at THE BLOCK off Biltmore. Photo by Steve Pavey

FILM KAREN KARNES: DON’T KNOW WE’LL SEE • TH (2/6), 7pm - Don’t Know, We’ll See: The Work of Karen Karnes, documentary. $8/free for members. Held at Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St.

TFAC FILM SERIES: ‘TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN’ • TU (12/3), 7pm - TFAC Film Series: Take the Money and Run, mockumentary. $6. Held at Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon UNC ASHEVILLE HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights

The North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign hosts a screening of the new documentary We Cried Power on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m., at THE BLOCK off Biltmore, 39 S. Market St. The 40-minute film chronicles the efforts of the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis to launch a national movement to end poverty in the U.S. Doors open at 5 p.m., and there will be a post-screening discussion about the film and the campaign. Additional Western North Carolina screenings will be offered in the weeks leading up to the Moral March and Assembly on June 20 in Washington, D.C. Free to attend, but donations are encouraged. theblockoffbiltmore.com X

• MO (2/3), 7pm - Human Flow, documentary by Ai Weiwei. Free. • TU (2/4), 7pm - The True Cost, documentary. Free. • WE (2/5), 7pm - One Child Nation, documentary. Free. • TH (2/6), 7pm - A Suitable Girl, documentary. Free.

WORLD CINEMA FILM • FR (1/31), 8pm - The End of Summer, drama, Kyoto sake-brewer and widower tries to marry off all his daughters. Free to attend. Held at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Road, Unit A-13, Black Mountain

heville M Join tfhorethAesnext Movie Noivghiet! Guys The evening includes a brief introduction by the Asheville Movie Guys, Bruce C. Steele and Edwin Arnaudin of AshevilleMovies.com, as well as a lively discussion with the audience after the credits.

FANTASTIC FUNGI Mon., 2/3, 7:20pm • Fine Arts Theatre 36 Biltmore Ave., Asheville

Do you want an email reminder prior to each Asheville Movie Guys night? Send an email with ‘Asheville Movie Guys’ in the subject line to ashevillemovies@gmail.com Xpress readers who say “Mushroom” at the box office receive a discounted ticket price of $6.50 per person. MOUNTAINX.COM

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): My favorite ancient Greek philosopher was the rascal Diogenes. As a joke, he carried around a lantern during the daytime, proclaiming, “I am just looking for an honest man.” When Alexander the Great, the most powerful man in the world, came to meet Diogenes while he was relaxing outside and asked him if he needed any favors done, he replied, “Yeah, stop blocking my sunlight.” As for Plato, Diogenes complained that the famous philosopher talked too damn much and misinterpreted the teachings of Socrates. I encourage you to borrow some of Diogenes’ attitude in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’ll be healing for you to experiment with being brassy, saucy and sassy. Emphasize what makes you most unique, independent and self-expressive. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) published his first novel at age 30. During the next 37 years, he completed 48 additional novels and 18 works of nonfiction. Critics liked his work well enough but were suspicious of his prodigious productivity. When they discovered that one of Trollope’s motivations for writing was to make money, they disapproved. Then they found out that Trollope kept a watch nearby as he worked, determined to generate 250 words every 15 minutes. The critics hated that even worse. Creative artists are supposed to court inspiration, not adhere to a schedule — at least according to the critics. But I approve of and recommend Trollope-like behavior for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Cosmic forces will be on your side if you do. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In accordance with the astrological indicators, I invite you to rise and soar and glide during the coming weeks. I encourage you to expand and enlarge and amplify. Don’t wait around hoping to be asked to explore and experiment and improvise — just do those things. It’s high time for you to enjoy stirring quests and research projects and missions dedicated to discovery. Be a fun-loving pioneer. Sample the joys of being a maverick and outlier. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I love living in the material world. Its crazy-making demands and exhilarating rewards are endlessly entertaining. Despite having been born as a fantasy-prone, overly sensitive Cancerian, I’ve become fairly earthy and well-grounded. I have a good job, a nice house, a smart wife and an interesting daughter. On the other hand, I also love living in the soul’s realm. I have remembered and recorded an average of three dreams per night for many years. Although I don’t take drugs, I cultivate alternate states of consciousness through meditation, prayer and ritual. I’ve long been a student of depth psychology, which has trained me to be as focused on my soul as my ego. In accordance with current astrological omens, my fellow Cancerian, I urge you to hang out more than usual in the soul’s realm during the coming weeks. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Can I talk you into being more tender and open-hearted toward the people who care for you? I don’t mean to imply that you are currently too hard and closed. But all of us can benefit from enhancing our receptivity, and the coming weeks will be prime time for you Leos to do just that. I think you’ll find it easier than usual to deepen your listening skills and intensify your sensitivity. You’ll have an acute intuitive grasp of the fact that you can earn yourself huge blessings by expressing love and compassion in very practical ways. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): All of us are in service to someone or something — to certain people or ideas or situations. We provide them with help or energy or mirroring or love. We are dutiful in attending to their needs and wants. For some of us, our service feels like a burden. It’s grating or humbling or inconvenient, or all of the above. For others of us, being of service is fulfilling, even joyful. We find a rich sense of purpose in our devotion to a higher cause or deeper calling beyond our selfish concerns. Among the 12 signs of the zodiac, you Virgos are more likely than most to carry out the latter kind of service. I bring these thoughts to your attention because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to re-evaluate, reconfigure and reinvigorate your own service.

JAN. 29 - FEB. 4, 2020

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author David Markson imagined what it would be like to write a novel that lacked conflicts or confrontations — in other words, a novel unlike any ever created. Libran author Ursula Le Guin also fantasized about stories with plots that weren’t driven by strife and struggle. Since many of us are addicted to entertainment that depends on discord to be interesting, we might find it hard to believe Markson’s and Le Guin’s dream would ever happen. But I’m pleased to inform you, Libra, that your life in the coming weeks may be exactly like that: a fascinating adventure with few hassles and wrangles. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to Scorpio painter Georgia O’Keeffe, success is irrelevant. The most crucial life-long effort that anyone can be devoted to is “making your unknown known.” Did she mean making your unknown known to yourself? Or making your unknown known to other people? Or both? According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to do both. So I hope you will tease out your best and biggest mysteries from their hiding places. Give them expression. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You Sagittarians have a talent for burning bridges that really do need to be burned. Your intuition often guides you to assess when the time is ripe to withdraw from connections that no longer benefit you. On the other hand, you sometimes burn bridges prematurely. You decide that they are in such disrepair that they’re of no use to you, even though it might serve your ultimate interests to fix them. I offer these thoughts as a preface for my advice: 1. Refurbish rather than burn a certain bridge you’re a bit disenchanted with. 2. Build at least one new bridge that will be valuable in the future. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The shape of the planets’ orbits around the sun is elliptical, not circular. Capricorn astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) was the first person to figure this out. He didn’t like it. He really wanted the orbits to be circular. That would have been more satisfying to his aesthetic and spiritual sensibilities. Explaining the arduous labor he did to arrive at his conclusion, he wrote, “Take pity on me, for I have repeated these calculations 70 times.” In the big picture of our understanding of the universe, of course, his discovery was felicitous. It’s not a problem that the orbits are elliptical, merely the truth. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I foresee you engaging in a process that’s metaphorically comparable to Kepler’s. Hard work will yield useful, if unexpected results. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Please don’t imitate or repeat yourself in the coming weeks. Refrain from relying on formulas that have worked for you before. Resolve to either ignore or rebel against your past as you dream up fresh gambits and adventures. Treat your whole life like an improvisatory game that has just one purpose: to attract and stir up useful novelty. If you do these things, Aquarius, I can practically guarantee that you will win the game. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Poet Robert Bly believes that each of us has a special genius, and the key to understanding and fully activating that genius is in our core wound. In other words, the part of us that got hurt the worst is potentially the generative source of the best gifts we have to give. Do you know where that is in yourself: the wound that could be the source of your blessing? Now is a great time to investigate this tantalizing mystery.

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MARKETPLACE

BY ROB BREZSNY

REA L ESTATE | REN TA L S | R O O M M ATES | SER VI C ES JOB S | A N N OU N CEM ENTS | M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T CL A SSES & WORKSHO PS | M USI C I ANS’ SER VI C ES PETS | A U TOMOTI VE | X C HANG E | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 landrews@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com RENTALS ROOMS FOR RENT ROOM FOR RENT ON THE RIVER IN NORTH ASHEVILLE Home on the riverbeautiful settinggardens- shared bath- $600 month- utilities included -drug free - 1 person- references- 8282065811

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL JOB OPPORTUNITY Job Opportunity for Section 3, Low-Income Persons Minority Participating Commercial Contractor seeking to offer Section 3, Low-Income and VeryLow Income eligible Businesses, Vendors, Subcontractors, or individuals economic opportunities of job training, employment, and contracting work to promote local economic development and individual self-sufficiency. We will provide economical units to allow for minority participation as well as provide assistance for bonding and insurance for Section 3 businesses. Also, quick payment policies to help minority suppliers and contractors participate will be available. We are committed to satisfy Section 3 obligations and our goal is to provide opportunities for Section 3 Businesses throughout this entire housing project. If you are a Section 3 Business or resident in the County area and seeking work, please contact us at 828-548-3675, email to ad938@bidsec3.com, or via fax at 828-548-3682 to become part of our HUDassisted project and help promote quality housing and community development in this area. Plans are available at: https:// parker.box.com/v/ Amaranth-Section-3. NAVITAT CANOPY ADVENTURESHIRING ADVENTURE & SALES GUIDE One of the nation's leading outdoor adventure companies is seeking hard-working, customer service-oriented team members. Spend 2020 working with a group of talented and passionate outdoor enthusiasts! Visit www.navitat.com/ asheville-nc/jobs TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great Tour Guide. Full-time and seasonal

part-time positions available. Training provided. Contact us today! 828 251-8687. Info@ GrayLineAsheville.com www.GrayLineAsheville. com

ADMINISTRATIVE/ OFFICE ACCOUNTING/ ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE Helpmate, Inc., a domestic violence agency in Asheville, seeks a full-time Accounting/Administrative Associate. Primary responsibilities include accounts payable, payroll, grant invoices, bank statement reconciliations, G/L entries, and G/L reconciliations, maintaining filing systems, interacting with outside parties, and generating correspondence. The qualified candidate must hold at least an Associate’s degree in accounting or 2 years’ experience in a related position. Experience with Excel, Quickbooks or a comparable accounting system is required. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. Email resume and cover letter to helpmateasheville@ gmail.com. Please specify the title of the position you are seeking in the subject line of your email. Bookkeeping Services Bookkeeping Small Business Solutions. Organizing income/expenses, payroll, banking, tax preparation. Quickbooks/MS Office. Customized services. Only pay for the time you need. Flexible/reasonable, your office or remote. FortuneNetBooks@gmail. com.

account management, assisting clients with marketing and branding strategies, and working to meet or exceed sales goals. If you are a high energy, positive, cooperative person looking to join an independent, community-minded organization, please send a resume and cover letter (no walk-ins, please) explaining why you are a good fit for Mountain Xpress to: xpressjob@ mountainx.com

TEACHING/ EDUCATION ADJUNCT POSITION A-B Tech is currently taking applications for an Adjunct Instructor, Skill Trades position. For more details and to apply: https:// abtcc.peopleadmin.com/ postings/5318

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 HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. Insured. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SALES/ MARKETING

LEGAL NOTICES

SALES PROFESSIONAL Mountain Xpress is looking to add a new member to our sales team. Ideal candidates are personable, organized, motivated, and can present confidently, while working within a structure. Necessary skills include clear and professional communications (via phone, email, and in-person meetings), detailed record-keeping, and working well in a team environment. While no outside sales experience is required, experience dealing with varied and challenging situations is helpful. The position largely entails account development and lead generation (including cold-calling),

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, MADISON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Edward A. Wilson and M. Patricia Wilson dated June 11, 2015, recorded on June 18, 2015 in Book 591, Page 456 of the Madison County Public Registry conveying certain real property in Madison County to FNC Title Services, LLC, Trustee, for the benefit of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc., as nominee for American Advisors Group. Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and

the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on February 6, 2020 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Madison County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE CENTER OF SUGAR CAMP ROAD (S.R. 1164), SAID POINT BEING THE NORTHERNMOST CORNER OF THE EDWIN E. JOHNSON PROPERTY AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 58, PAGE 413 AND A COMMON CORNER OF ERIC AND SUSAN LANE AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 169, PAGE 618, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY, THENCE FROM SAID BEGINNING POINT THUS ESTABLISHED AND WITH THE CENTER OF STATE ROAD THE FOLLOWING SIX COURSES AND DISTANCES: NORTH 29 DEG. 23 MIN. 20 SEC. EAST 24.72 FEET, NORTH 14 DEG. 8 MIN. 18 SEC. EAST 134.12 FEET, NORTH 28 DEG. 5 MIN. 28 SEC. EAST 73.62 FEET, NORTH 41 DEG. 1 MIN. 33 SEC. EAST 47.44 FEET, NORTH 50 DEG. 37 MIN. 48 SEC. EAST 244.0 FEET AND NORTH 68 DEG. 40 MIN. 8 SEC. EAST 58.31 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE LEAVING SAID ROAD SOUTH 28 DEG. 25 MIN. 33 SEC. EAST 158.94 FEET TO AN IRON PIN AT A 4 INCH WALNUT; THENCE SOUTH 37 DEG. 14 MIN. 30 SEC. EAST 322.17 FEET TO AN 8 INCH BUCKEYE: THENCE SOUTH 50 DEG. 59 MIN. 56 SEC. EAST 1133.82 FEET TO AN IRON PIN ON A RIDGE; THENCE WITH SAID RIDGE THE FOLLOWING THREE COURSES AND DISTANCES: SOUTH 42 DEG. 22 MIN. 37 SEC. WEST 130.27 FEET TO AN IRON PIN, THENCE SOUTH 42 DEG. 22 MIN. 37 SEC. WEST 282.48 FEET TO AN IRON PIN END SOUTH 37 DEG. 5 MIN. 11 SEC. WEST 255.97 FEET TO A LOCUST POST AND FENCE CORNER, COMMON CORNER OF JAMES C. PRICE AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 167, PAGE 675 AND EDWIN E. JOHNSON AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 111. PAGE 505, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY; THENCE WITH A RIDGE LINE AND FENCE THE FOLLOWING

T H E NEW Y O R K T IM E S C R O S S W O R D P UZ Z L E

5 Laze in the rays

14 Subject taught in a madrasa

16 Endmost compartment in a till 17 What Santa said when his sleigh touched down?

TWO COURSES: NORTH 31 DEG. 37 MIN. 22 SEC. WEST 277.15 FEET TO AN IRON PIN AND NORTH 26 DEG. 5 MIN. 51 SEC. WEST 412.53 FEET TO A NAIL SET IN A LOCUST FENCE CORNER; THENCE PARTIALLY WITH THE RIDGE LINE AND A FENCE LINE NORTH 51 DEG. 59 MIN. 18 SEC. WEST 947.7 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 18.082 ACRES. MORE OR LESS, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY J. RANDY HERRON, RLS AND BEING A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 132, PAGE 96, MADISON COUNTY REGISTRY. BEING the same property conveyed unto Edward A. Wilson and Wife, M. Patricia Wilson. by Warranty Deed from D. Wayne Griffith and Wife, Wanda E. Griffith, dated October 19, 1993, recorded October 20, 1993, as/in Book 208, Page 721. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 887 Rock House Road, Hot Springs, NC 28743; tax parcel 18244 A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, payable to Bell Carrington Price & Gregg, PLLC, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.30, if

the highest bidder at the sale, resale, or any upset bidder fails to comply with its bid upon the tender of a deed for the real property, or after a bona fide attempt to tender such a deed, the clerk of superior court may, upon motion, enter an order authorizing a resale of the real property. The defaulting bidder at any sale or resale or any defaulting upset bidder is liable for the bid made, and in case a resale is had because of such default, shall remain liable to the extent that the final sale price is less than the bid plus all the costs of any resale. Any deposit or compliance bond made by the defaulting bidder shall secure payment of the amount, if any, for which the defaulting bidder remains liable under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.30. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to any and all superior liens, including taxes and special assessments. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are the

heirs of Edward A. Wilson and M. Patricia Wilson. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.29, in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. The notice shall also state that upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.16(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a

ACROSS 1 “Yo — check this out!”

9 ___ colada 13 Kind of palm

edited by Will Shortz 19 Singer Redding 20 “Jingle Bells” or “White Christmas” 21 Special treatment, for short 22 “Damn Yankees” vamp 23 What Santa might say on his North Pole hotline? 27 It’s an affront 28 Slightly 29 Latin gods 32 Lasting mark 35 Kind of fatty acid 38 What Santa said when the reindeer went on strike on Christmas Eve? 42 Get a hurry on 43 Norse god with a hammer 44 ___ Beta Kappa 45 Sporty car roof 47 ___ soup 50 What Santa said when going down a chimney that had a lit fireplace? 56 State firmly bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Cape Fear Trustee Services, LLC, Substitute Trustee _____________ _____________________, Attorney Aaron Seagroves, NCSB No. 50979 W. Harris, NCSB No. 48633 5550 77 Center Drive, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28217 PHONE: 980-201-3840 File No.: 19-41297

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT

puzzle by Bruce Haight 57 Tidbit in vegetable soup 58 Reason for hoarseness 60 Zig or zag 61 What Santa says around dawn on Christmas Day? 64 Red Muppet 65 Loop with a slipknot 66 Menu bar heading 67 “God ___ Ye Merry, Gentlemen” 68 What you may call it 69 Lawman Eliot

DOWN

1 ___ verde (desert tree) 2 Where shampoo is applied 3 Place to get a C.D. or an I.R.A. 4 Spruces (up) 5 Part of a dating profile, for short 6 All the dirt on Santa? 7 A deadly sin 8 Mexican artist Frida

ADULT ADULT

9 Place where one might hear “That’s my cue!” 10 Past the point of no return 11 Sam of “Jurassic Park” 12 Syria’s Bashar al-___ 15 Coffee shop order 18 Mend 24 Part of a window thrown up in “A Visit From St. Nicholas” 25 Florida theme park 26 Nebraska county named for an indigenous people 29 Talk trash about 30 “Blah, blah, blah …”: Abbr. 31 Weather map lines relating to temperature 33 Something to say to a doctor 34 Parts of guesses in Clue 36 Kinda sorta 37 Onetime CBS forensic drama

39 Rhyming question of attractiveness 40 “However …,” in texts 41 Partner of proper 46 Drop by unexpectedly 48 C-worthy 49 “Sure, if that’s how you feel …” 50 Sharp critic

51 Undeveloped egg cell 52 Air freshener scent 53 Country bumpkin 54 Get washed away 55 Round of four 59 Favorites 62 Buckeyes’ sch. 63 French ___ (bird in “The 12 Days of Christmas”)

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

Three seats. 9 candidates. Asheville City Council Primary Forum presented by Mountain Xpress.

SPIRITUAL Messages from Beyond by James Anthony James Anthony is a gifted psychic and medium, with over 30 years experience. Local In Person and phone appointments. 30,45, and 60 minute readings. 727-457-7768 or Revjamesanthony3@ yahoo.com.

No. 1225

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; forum begins at 6 p.m. A-B Tech Ferguson Auditorium, 19 Tech Drive, Asheville Our nonpartisan forum is free and open to all. Parking available at the A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center deck. Produced in partnership with:

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