OUR 23RD YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 23 NO. 42 MAY 10 - 16, 2017
Can marijuana combat opioidS?
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C O N T E NT S OUR 23RD YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 23 NO. 42 MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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PAGE 12 BLUNT TALK
Can marijuana combat opioidS?
A number of WNC lawmakers have co-sponsored a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana. Is trading plants for pills a prescription for fighting the raging opioid epidemic? And what are the chances of legalization in this state, anyway? Xpress takes a look. COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick
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Like many in Asheville, I support a transition to clean energy. Thus, I joined the Community Engagement Working Group of the Energy Innovation Task Force. The EITF’s’ primary goal is to avoid construction of a new small gasfired “peaker” plant that would cost a lot but only be used during high energy-demand times. The second goal is to transition to a “cleaner, affordable and smarter energy future,” including renewable energy. Duke says we need to reduce peak demand by 17 megawatts on dark, cold winter mornings in order to avoid the peaker plant. According to the EITF, the “low-hanging fruit” to tackle first is increasing energy efficiency in both commercial and residential buildings. Duke has engaged a top marketing firm to build a campaign to get the word out on its existing residential energyefficiency programs. That sounds good. The problem is that, as they exist today, Duke’s EE programs and website are inferior, confusing and not at all userfriendly. Duke’s EE program rated No. 22 out of 32 utility companies in the U.S.
Utilization of the programs is low, and the waiting periods are high. It has been suggested that Duke license and implement the eScore program, which was highly successful for the Tennessee Valley Authority. EScore is attractive to both homeowners and participating contractors for its ease of use and effectiveness. The integrated online program leverages technology, making the system cost-effective and customer-centric. It’s time Duke retired its old EE programs and offered Asheville a viable path to meet the required peak demand reduction. For more information or to get involved with the EITF: http://avl.mx/3p4. — Debbie Resnick Asheville
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economy, with 115 early care and education programs generating significant revenue and employing over 700 people. The industry serves as a critical support for working families, including the 9,378 (or 59 percent) children under age 6 whose sole parent or both parents work. When most people hear the words child care, they think of playtime and fun. And perhaps, when they hear early education, the importance of brain development comes to mind. But child care and early education programs aren’t just about nurturing children — they also nurture our local Buncombe County economy. In addition to providing a vital service to children and families, early care and education is an important industry in its own right, an industry composed of many small businesses that purchase goods and services from local businesses, create jobs and support working parents. Our local businesses rely on quality child care — many can’t do their job without it. Without safe, affordable options to care for their young children, parents may leave their jobs, which costs businesses in recruitment, retraining and the loss of skilled workers. Child care is a critical support service for the current workforce and business community. As a result, employees are more productive and reliable. The child care industry also reduces job absenteeism costs. Nationally, more than one-fifth of all unscheduled absences from work are due to family issues, costing businesses money and productivity. Absences due to family issues cost the North Carolina economy about $2.75 billion annually. So, please, make sure you celebrate and give recognition to the many invaluable small businesses in Asheville and Buncombe County. For more information, visit www. BuncombePFC.org. — Amy Barry Executive Director, Buncombe Partnership for Children Asheville
The butchering of Beaucatcher Mountain The cartoon last week [April 26, Xpress] by Brent Brown was a sad reminder that the so-called “steep slope ordinance” needs to be revisited. For living proof, I invite you to drive up to the top of Alexander Drive. At the corner is Windswept Drive to the left and Reservoir Drive to the right. Go in either direction and look over the edge of the road. You will see where Beaucatcher is being deforested and bulldozed for new home construction, all plans apparently meeting city specifications. Am I the only one who is concerned about this? — Jill Yager Asheville
Toxic chemicals cause harm even if unrecognized Having recently moved away from the Asheville area after a 10-year residence, I have been thinking about some of my observations there. One of these was the habitual use of Roundup to kill weeds in the apparent belief that it is safe. Ironically, I have even witnessed this at a nature center in Michigan, which uses it to kill invasive plants. This belief seems to be based primarily on Monsanto’s own claims. Unfortunately, the company’s track record is hardly one to inspire confidence. Not only have they given us very little reason to trust them; they have given us many excellent reasons to distrust them. Stephanie Seneff et al. at MIT have convincingly linked Roundup to autism,
Alzheimer’s and cancer. I believe that if we recognized the true costs of its use, we would ban it immediately. The harmful consequences of modern technology don’t cease to exist when we choose not to notice them. We can easily create a theoretical world of abstractions in which we don’t have to face uncomfortable realities, but such a world bears little resemblance to the one we actually live in. Too much of what we now call “science” is bought and paid for by corporations with frankly appalling conflicts of interest. And it isn’t sufficiently recognized that the foundations of modern science laid down in the early 17th century, far from being discoveries of what science was for all time, were actually choices regarding what it was to focus on during the ensuing period. Again, the aspects of the world we then chose to ignore didn’t vanish from reality. If we truly understood this, we wouldn’t expend so much effort trying to control what we haven’t first bothered to understand. We do ourselves and the world no great service by granting “scientific” status to the foolish trashing of this world with toxic chemicals. — Andy Shaw Easton, Md.
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The Gospel According to Jerry Cataclysmic change
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Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series of articles offering a virtual tour of the riverfront as it has evolved over time. The previous installments were “The Birth of Asheville’s Industrial Riverfront,” “The Ballad of Old King Coal,” “Insurrection in the Kingdom,” “Ragtime and Ruin” and “Hard Times and Cheap Thrills.” As the trains laboriously churned though the economic canyon of the 1930s, hardly anyone could see the fiscal peaks above. The kingdom was broke, and the only new infrastructure installed in the river basin was an unregulated
JERRY STERNBERG dump on Riverside Drive where the realm disposed of garbage, industrial waste and other rubbish. Extending north from what’s now Hill Street almost to the Pearson Bridge, it was terribly smelly, with loose trash blowing everywhere. It’s hard to conceive that a community could possibly assault the river so destructively. In all fairness, garbage was a serious and growing problem, and this was a cheap and practical solution. In retrospect, this looks like a scandalous act, but in hindsight it’s all too easy to
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condemn actions taken more than three-quarters of a century ago. Back then, we had no substantive knowledge or sense of environmental consequences, and getting rid of these waste products was critical to our day-to-day survival. In those days, many communities burned their garbage in open pits, creating offensive smoke and odor and causing unbelievable air pollution. Big kingdoms like New York loaded trash on barges and dumped millions of tons of it in the ocean. Across Riverside Drive from the dump were a bunch of low-lying structures known as the “pest houses.” Most of you probably don’t know they existed and have no idea what they were for. Pest houses were built to incarcerate people in the community who’d contracted serious contagious diseases. Often forcibly removed from their homes, these poor folks were confined to the squalid, spartan buildings and apparently treated like lepers. I remember, as a boy, going there once with my father, a generous and caring man who was delivering clothes or food to these wretches. I wasn’t allowed to leave the car, but I cannot get the image out of my head of these depressing shacks where people were apparently pretty much left to die. At the time, this was seen as a practical way to prevent the epidemics and plagues that had devastated entire populations for centuries. Even so, treating these people as criminals to be punished was inhumane and unforgivable. Meanwhile, the annual fall pilgrimage to worship at the temples of the evil Tobacco Prince continued, and the auction priests’ haunting chants would resonate through the valley. The pungent odor of the herb, mingled with the smell of money, permeated these houses of Mammon-like idolatry. Little did the parishioners know that Prince Tobacco’s mis-
tress, Nicotine, was carrying on simultaneous torrid affairs with the malevolent knight Sir Can and the heinous Gen. Carcino (names have been changed to protect the guilty, who would lay waste to millions of lives over the ensuing decades). And then it happened: On Dec. 7 in the year of our Lord 1941, a quiet Sunday afternoon, a truly earthshattering event took place that triggered cataclysmic changes to dominions large and small throughout our world — including the river kingdom. As the members of our little realm rested after church and Sunday dinner and worked on preparations for Christmas, word was announced on the amazing, relatively new medium called “radio” that the dastardly emperor of the faraway kingdom of Japan had attacked the western fleet of our great American empire in a place almost no one had ever heard of: Pearl Harbor, on a remote Hawaiian island. The attack struck a serious blow at our vast armada, killing and wounding thousands of American seamen and other military personnel. Soon after, America declared war not only on Japan but also on two other powerful kingdoms, Germany
and Italy, that had been threatening the whole continent known as “Europe.” Immediately, millions of men volunteered or were drafted, becoming warriors in this enormous conflagration. The changes were swift and emotionally devastating. The fear, the demographic shifts triggered by all the men going off to war, and the urgency of supplying our brave soldiers with food, equipment and armaments stressed our quiet little kingdom beyond imagination. The scene at the depot was a depressing beehive as these raw recruits, many no more than young boys, had their last meal with their families at the Atlantic Quick Lunch and then walked across the street to board a train. The engines stood spewing their smoke and steam like impatient stallions, stomping their hooves, waiting for these vibrant and excited young men to kiss their loved ones goodbye and embark for hells unknown — in many cases, never to return. Next time: The river goes to war. Asheville native Jerry Sternberg, a longtime observer of the local scene, can be reached at gospeljerry@aol.com. X
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Medical marijuana takes root
BY DAN HESSE dhesse@mountainx.com Attitudes toward marijuana are in major flux these days, and some local lawmakers say trading plants for pills is a prescription for fighting the raging opioid epidemic. Others worry that medical marijuana spells trouble of a different sort and is really just a smoke screen enabling full-blown recreational marijuana legalization to take root. Either way, the chatter about marijuana is getting louder as more and more states opt for some form of legalization. Evidence of the plant’s potential for treating various medical conditions is growing, and many also see it as an economic windfall that’s ripe for harvest. At their Feb. 17 retreat, the Buncombe County commissioners identified combating opioid abuse and increasing teacher salary supplements as top priorities. But is legal marijuana a viable strategy for achieving those goals, or merely smoke and mirrors? HIGH APPROVAL Even as marijuana research continues to proliferate, public attitudes about its use and potential medical applications have undergone a seismic shift. In a 2017 CBS poll, 88 percent of respondents favored approving medical marijuana and 61 percent thought recreational use should be legal. Another study, conducted this year by Yahoo News and The Marist Poll, found that 83 percent of participants supported legalizing medical marijuana and 49 percent favored ending the ban on recreational use. A majority of respondents in the latter study (67 percent) also said prescription “opioids such as Vicodin or OxyContin” pose a bigger health risk than medical marijuana. And in a 2016 survey of North Carolina voters by Public Policy Polling, a Raleigh-based agency with a decidedly Democratic tilt, 74 percent of respondents said doctors should be able to prescribe marijuana. The poll broke down participants’ political affiliations as follows: 40 percent Democrat, 33 percent Republican and 27 percent unaffiliated or other. According to the state Board of Elections, registered voters in North Carolina were 39 percent Democrat, 30 percent Republican
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DON’T FEAR THE REEFER: Rod Kight was skeptical that marijuana would help ease his pain, nausea and other discomforts stemming from his chemotherapy treatments. However, he says it was vital to rediscovering his appetite and helped him feel like himself. Kight is now trying to raise awareness about marijuana’s efficacy. Photo courtesy of Kight
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and 30 percent unaffiliated or other as of last month. Marijuana is already legal in some form in 29 states plus the District of Columbia; three Southeastern states — Arkansas, Florida and West Virginia — now allow medicinal use. South Carolina’s recent attempt to approve it fell short, but proponents did manage to convert key Republican lawmakers, laying the groundwork for a bipartisan push next year, observers say. ROLLING UP SUPPORT Here in North Carolina, a number of WNC lawmakers, all Democrats, have co-sponsored a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana. “It seems to me to be long overdue, since there is reputable medical evidence to show its effectiveness in treating some illnesses and other medical conditions,” says Rep. Susan Fisher,
whose district covers most of Asheville. She wants the Legislature to approve a referendum and let the people decide. “It is not clear to me why people would be opposed to its medical use,” says Fisher, though she notes that “people associate marijuana with other more dangerously addictive substances.” Rep. John Ager, who’s co-sponsoring the legislation, says, “I had a close friend with colon cancer that had much of her pain mitigated with marijuana before her untimely death. The opioid epidemic is ravaging our state, and this would be a great reason to legalize medical marijuana.” Ager represents northeastern Buncombe County. “One advantage we have in North Carolina is that we already have a system for controlling the sale of alcohol through state-run ABC stores. Perhaps sale of marijuana through that venue would provide some safety, not to mention revenue for the state,” he notes. “Colorado is funding a lot of school construction
with marijuana revenue, and that is a need we have here as well.” Approval, says Ager, isn’t likely to come while Republicans control the General Assembly. One Republican who’s on the fence is Rep. Chuck McGrady, whose district includes northern Henderson County. “I haven’t taken any position on legalizing medicinal marijuana,” says McGrady, adding that while he’s heard some support for legalization from constituents, “to my knowledge, both the Henderson County district attorney and the sheriff oppose the bill.” McGrady expects that at some point the General Assembly will consider the idea, “but I don’t think it has traction now.” And in any case, don’t expect North Carolina to be a leader in this arena, notes Chris Cooper, who heads Western Carolina University’s political science and public affairs department. “Medicinal marijuana is a classic case of ‘morality policy’ — policies that
DEADLY DOSES: As opioid use is on the rise, so, too, are overdoses. Buncombe County EMS reports 150 opioid-related overdose calls and 20 deaths in January and February of 2017. Last year, emergency response personnel administered Narcan (an opioid overdose reversal drug) 159 times, compared with 44 times in 2011. File photo are governed more by values than by rational cost-and-benefit calculations,” he says. And on such issues, “Public opinion is notoriously stubborn. Just like with the lottery, I expect that legislators will wait to see what happens in other Southern states. Heck, we didn’t even allow beer with more than 6 percent [alcohol] until 2005.” Thus, it could be years or even decades before legalization happens here, Cooper predicts. And when medical marijuana has been approved in other states, he points out, “It has been not at the hands of legislative action but through direct vote by the people. If it passes in North Carolina, it’s likely to be through a referendum where legislators can escape accountability.” HIGH STAKES “The aggressive marketing and liberal prescribing of opioids over the past decades have created an epidemic of opioid and heroin addiction,” says Democratic Rep. Brian Turner, another co-sponsor whose district includes the westernmost part of Buncombe County. “Non-narcotic pain management options such as physical therapy, chiropractic care and medical marijuana can help prevent opioid addictions and a downward spiral into heroin addiction.” The shift in attitudes toward marijuana and concurrent explosion of opioid
abuse have left citizens and policymakers alike scratching their heads over an apparent paradox. At the federal level, marijuana remains illegal: The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies it as a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it’s believed to have a high potential for abuse, no accepted medicinal value and is generally considered unsafe. Yet the DEA lists marijuana as a hallucinogen, not a narcotic or “drug of concern,” and the agency’s latest fact sheet states that there are no recorded deaths directly attributed to a marijuana overdose. The increasing disconnect between state and federal laws has created an administrative gray area. Meanwhile, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 33,000 people nationwide died from overdoses of prescription opioids or heroin in 2015, the highest number the CDC has ever recorded. In Buncombe County alone, the first two months of 2017 have seen 150 opioidrelated overdose calls and 20 deaths. And last year, emergency response personnel administered Narcan (an opioid overdose reversal drug) 159 times, compared with 44 times in 2011. Yet as more states approve pro-marijuana measures, a growing number of reports and studies have highlighted both the pros and cons of legalization.
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TAKING A POT SHOT: Perry Parks is advocating for approval of medicinal marijuana in North Carolina. The Vietnam War veteran says it significantly decreases the amount of pills he takes to deal with back pain. Photo courtesy of Parks A 2017 study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence reported a 23 percent decrease in opioid dependence and a 13 percent drop in opioidrelated overdoses in states with legal marijuana. Another study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia this year found that 63 percent of patients suffering from chronic pain chose medicinal marijuana over opioids due to concerns about addiction and potential side effects. “I agree with those studies,” says Kim Hall, an assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences at Western Carolina University. “It can be argued that legalizing marijuana may not curb overall drug addiction rates, but the idea of legal marijuana as a ‘safe’ alternative to opioids is gaining traction.” Nonetheless, she continues, marijuana still carries a stigma. “Opioids are not illegal with a valid prescription, and as a result, they tend to be more acceptable in society. Even if medicinal marijuana were to be legalized in North Carolina, I think it would be challenging to change the historical perceptions of health risks associated with marijuana versus those of opioids. Legalizing medical marijuana is only the first step in combating the
opioid epidemic. Educating patients and the public is essential to ensure that the health risks associated with either treatment are minimized.” And while Hall favors letting patients choose, she’s not convinced that marijuana alone is necessarily the only way to go. “There is some evidence to suggest that a combination of medicinal marijuana and opioid treatment could reduce the risk of opioid abuse as the two treatments would act synergistically, thereby reducing the opioid dose necessary to effectively manage pain.” HIGH TIME In 2009, Asheville attorney Rod Kight was receiving treatment for testicular cancer, which left him “feeling achy, nauseous and all the ways you feel after a chemotherapy treatment.” One day, as friends and family cycled through his home helping with various needs, he smelled marijuana coming from another room. “I had been in bed all day and thought it couldn’t hurt. I didn’t believe in medical marijuana: I thought it was a Trojan horse for recreational marijuana,” he explains.
“The results were fairly immediate and kind of blew me away. I wasn’t expecting any results, but my pain subsided and my nausea went completely away,” Kight reveals, adding that he immediately took advantage of his newfound appetite and raided the fridge. “I wanted Indian food. I ate, felt better and hung out all night. “From that point forward I used [marijuana] throughout my entire chemotherapy, and it enabled me to significantly reduce the amount of prescription medications I was using.” Besides helping him persevere through his battle with cancer, notes Kight, “it also helped change the minds of some people I was around. I think watching the relief I experienced helped people get on board and see it as a medicine.” Rockingham resident Perry Parks had a similar experience. After 29 years of military service, the Vietnam War veteran retired with post-traumatic stress disorder and a herniated disc in his back that left him in pain and on pills. Marijuana, he says, helped with all of those issues. “People told me I could use cannabis for PTSD and pain,” he recalls. “I really didn’t believe it, but I started smoking it and I realized, after a short period of time, I didn’t need all these other medications. I was fed up with the sleeping and pain pills.” Based on his experience, says Parks, he decided to join the fight for legalizing medical marijuana in North Carolina. “If I can treat my PTSD and everything else by smoking a joint instead of a handful of pills that destroy my vital organs, that’s something worth making a fuss over,” he maintains. Parks believes vets are getting “screwed” by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ policy on medicinal marijuana. “If you live in a state with medical marijuana and you go to the VA clinic, there’s a directory that tells you, as long as you comply with state laws, you may use it for various conditions,” he explains. “If you don’t live in a state with medical marijuana, you cannot use it. In fact, if you’re caught using marijuana in North Carolina, you’re denied further care with opioid drugs until you can provide a clean urine sample. They cut the veterans off. It’s outrageous.” Asked about the local VA Medical Center’s marijuana policies, public affairs officer Armenthis Lester explained that since the drug is illegal under federal law, VA physicians can neither prescribe nor conduct research with it. “However, patients who participate in a non-VA marijuana program will not be denied access to
care through VA clinical programs but should be assessed for misuse, adverse effects and withdrawal,” she explained. “Decisions to modify treatment plans in those situations need to be made by individual providers in partnership with their patients.” HIGH RISK? And despite its apparent promise, medical marijuana also carries risks. “I’m not for drugs of any kind,” says Buncombe County Commissioner Mike Fryar. “I’m not interested in marijuana to replace opioids,” he says. “I don’t care about studies: It’s still a drug that’s addictive.” And though Fryar says he doesn’t want to see people suffer, he thinks marijuana will end up like methadone, “a drug to overcome another drug.” And while marijuana proponents are quick to dismiss the drug’s downside, notes Hall, “Concerns associated with cannabis addiction are as well-founded as those for opioid addiction. Recent data suggest that 30 percent of those who use marijuana have some level of marijuana use disorder.” Dependence, she explains, “develops when the brain reduces the
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Become a Teacher. UNC Asheville has a teacher licensure program for professionals who already have a bachelor’s degree. Fall 2017 applications are due by June 2, 2017.
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production of, and sensitivity to, its own endocannabinoid neurotransmitters to adapt to increased drug amounts.” Another issue, continues Hall, “is the increasing average THC content over the past 40 to 50 years, which may raise concern that the addictive consequences of marijuana use could be worse than previously thought.” And addiction aside, Hall also points out that “the long-term health effects of exposure, especially in children and adolescents, is largely unknown.” Until people reach their mid-20s, notes Staci Gruber, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who directs a marijuana research program, the brain “is still under construction,” and some studies have suggested that regular recreational marijuana use, particularly among teens, can negatively affect certain cognitive abilities. But Gruber also stresses that there are significant differences between recreational and medicinal use, and between the apparent effects at different ages. THE HIGH ROAD
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Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan expresses some ambivalence about the drug. “If you are talking specifically do I think marijuana could be helpful for some diseases and be less harmful than some synthetics being used for treatment, absolutely I do,” he says. But Duncan, too, worries about youth marijuana use. Young people, he points out, could become habitual users “while hiding it from family and friends much easier than concealing a drinking problem.” And in addition to the research about brain development, continues Duncan, he’s concerned that early exposure to marijuana could lead to other drug use. “Most substance abuse counselors I talk to got in a bad spot by smoking marijuana very early on; I’m talking about before the age of 16.” Another big issue, says the sheriff, is the prospect of more people driving while impaired — particularly since there’s no reliable way to tell if a driver is stoned. “I don’t think anybody argues that you’re going to have more folks on the road under the influence of THC,” notes Duncan. Early data from Colorado suggests that this might not be an issue, but because legalization is such a recent phenomenon, there’s been no longitudinal research as yet. And since THC can linger in the body for days or even weeks, it’s hard to prove that the person was intoxicated while driving. Hall echoes that concern. “The risk of vehicle crashes significantly increases if the driver is under the influence of marijuana,” she says. “Judgment, motor coordination and reaction time have all
HIGH CONCERNS: Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan says legalization of medicinal marijuana is “inevitable.” While he recognizes its potential to be a stand-in for some synthetic drugs, he also worries about the effects on the developing brains of children and the public safety hazard of people driving while under the influence of THC. File photo by Halima Flynt been shown to be impaired, with the level of impairment directly related to the concentration of THC in the blood.” Despite his reservations, however, Duncan sees the handwriting on the wall. Legalization, he notes, “brings a lot of issues and a lot of trouble. Is it worse than alcohol? I don’t know that I can say that. Is it inevitable? Probably, simply because of the money involved.” CASHED OUT After being surrounded by gamblingfriendly states, economic arguments loomed large in North Carolina’s ultimately approving a lottery. But is marijuana legalization really the economic windfall that proponents predict? Nationwide, the marijuana industry rolled up a total of $5.4 billion in sales in 2015, a 17.4 percent increase from the previous year, according to CNBC. And North Carolina’s proposed legislation estimates that within four years, legalization would generate $250 million in annual tax revenue. According to data from the state Department of Revenue, North Carolina hauled in just over $7.5 billion in total tax revenues during the 2015-16 fiscal year. If the bill’s projections are correct, legalization would boost gross collections by about 3.3 percent.
To put that number in perspective, the state’s furniture industry brought in nearly $209 million in the same period. And while adding a comparable amount of new revenue would certainly be a welcome cash infusion, it might not be a complete game-changer. Of course, that figure doesn’t take into account either the industry’s rapid year-to-year growth or the potential for job creation and secondary economic impacts. One key question is how the money would be divided among the state and municipalities. And even if the proceeds really were dedicated to education, that doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in overall education spending, notes Chris Bell, chair of UNC Asheville’s economics department. “Case in point: Our ‘education’ lottery. Do you really think our state lottery has increased education spending beyond what would have been spent otherwise? Even if the extra revenue is earmarked for a particular spending category, there’s no reason to believe that, in the long run, spending in that category will actually rise by the amount of the extra revenue,” he explains. “Through the political process, the Legislature decides how much to spend in each category. If $250 million is available out of a pot earmarked for education, that means $250 million
less needs to be spent out of general funds to support the legislatively determined amount spent on education. The extra $250 million will be spent somewhere — probably spread around to a lot of other areas, including a little for education — but most of it won’t go to increased spending in the earmarked category.” So, from that standpoint, how much medical marijuana would help pad local teacher supplements is highly debatable. But it’s always a possibility, notes Rep. Turner, depending on the overall level of political support for education in the General Assembly. “Of course, funding for public education would always be at the top of my list for any additional money that the state has,” he says. PIPE DREAMS And regardless of where people stand on the issue, most of the folks Xpress spoke with believe legalizing medical marijuana is really only a question of when, not if. Parks, the Vietnam veteran, isn’t holding his breath, however. “I think it will be legal nationally before here,” he predicts. Even the legislators co-sponsoring the current bill stress that patience is key, voicing the hope that positive data from additional studies will gain converts to the cause. “I understand the idea that people would be personally opposed to its use,” Rep. Fisher acknowledges. “However, if the medical and scientific communities have determined its effective use for disease treatment and control, it would only be prescribed for those purposes, and individuals are free to refuse treatment in the form of medicinal marijuana if they’re morally opposed to it.” Turner, meanwhile, sounds a similar note, saying, “As people gain understanding about the efficacy of marijuana as an alternative medical treatment, I think it becomes more and more clear that the moral difference between prescribing marijuana and prescribing an opioid pain medication is a false equivalency. If we can provide the same health benefits through natural alternatives that have not been shown to have the same addictive properties, we should do that.” But Turner also emphasizes that oversight has to be part of the package. “Like all other pharmaceuticals, it needs to be prescribed by a physician who is overseeing treatment, dispensed by a pharmacist and tracked to ensure that we’re preventing abuse.”
And though Sheriff Duncan believes medical marijuana is inevitable, he also says it’s the “foot in the door” for legalizing recreational use, which he staunchly opposes. Before North Carolina opts for any form of legalization, he maintains, the state “really needs to look at some of the unintended social costs that Colorado is beginning to see and starting to track.” Legalization, adds Duncan, also opens up a can of worms in the workplace. “Just because it becomes legal, you can’t smoke and come to
work,” he points out, and employers might have difficulty adjusting to the new policy. Still, Kight, whose cancer is now in remission, wants more people to know about how helpful marijuana can be for chemotherapy patients. “For people that have used it successfully, I would encourage them to speak out: I think there is a normalizing and educational benefit that comes from that,” he says, adding, “I’d really like to see North Carolina proactive on this.”
But ultimately, whether we’re talking about medical marijuana, opioids or any other drug, patients need to do their own research and ask questions about their treatment regimen, says Hall. “Regardless of the method of pain management, it’s important that the user be educated as to the proper usage,” including such matters as frequency, duration and dosage. “From a public health standpoint, the best option is to provide education and support to prevent addiction.” X
NCDOT TO HOST COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING MAY 23 REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONVERSION OF THE LIBERTY ROAD (S.R. 1228) GRADE SEPARATION OVER I-40 TO AN INTERCHANGE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO LANE ROADWAY BETWEEN U.S. 19 (SMOKEY PARK HIGHWAY) / N.C. 151 AND MONTE VISTA ROAD (S.R. 1224), PART ON NEW LOCATION IN ASHEVILLE
TIP Project No. I-4759 Buncombe County The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold an informal, Combined Public Hearing for the proposed conversion of Liberty Road (S.R. 1228) Grade Separation over I-40 to an interchange, and construction of a new roadway between U.S. 19 (Smokey Park Highway) / N.C. 151 and Monte Vista Road (S.R. 1224) in Asheville. The project addresses the lack of connectivity along I-40 between U.S. 19/23 and Wiggins Road by providing an alternate access point to I-40. The informal style public hearing will be held in the Gymnasium at St. Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, located at 725 Asbury Road, in Candler from 4 to 7 p.m. Interested citizens are encouraged to attend at any time during those hours. NCDOT and Consultant staff will be available to provide information on the project, answer questions and receive comments. Please note there will be no formal presentation. A map of the proposed project is available on the NCDOT Public Meetings Website at: http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/publicmeetings/. Maps of the project alternatives as well as the Environmental Document (an Environmental Assessment) are available for viewing at the following locations: NCDOT Highway Division 13 55 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Land of Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Highway, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 Enka-Candler Library 1404 Sand Hill Road, Candler, NC 28715 Anyone desiring additional information regarding the project may contact Ahmad Al-Sharawneh, NCDOT Project Development Engineer at (919) 707-6010 or by email: aalsharawneh@ncdot.gov. Comments may be submitted until June 23, 2017. NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Ms. Diane Wilson, Senior Public Involvement Officer at (919) 707-6073 or email: pdwilson1@ncdot.gov as early as possible so that arrangements can be made. Aquellas personas que hablan español y no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494. MOUNTAINX.COM
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A roof over his head As a steady rain falls outside, Philip Caruso stands in the bedroom of his new apartment. “I don’t care [that it’s raining],” he says. “For the first time in decades, I’m not outside under a pine tree somewhere.” Caruso is a U.S. Marine veteran who saw combat in Beirut during the 1980s. His life was never the same afterward. For most of his adult life, Caruso, 55, has lived under bridges and in wooded areas. Now, though, he has a place to call home, thanks to Homeward Bound, the YMCA and LenoirRhyne University of Asheville. Homeward Bound, the Ashevillebased nonprofit that offers services to people experiencing homelessness, was one of the earliest local advocates of the housing-first concept, which says people need a roof over their heads before they receive other social services. Ben Fehsenfeld, director of communications and annual giving for Homeward Bound, has found that it’s easier to provide services to people who are housed. Under what’s called the transitional model of caring for people who are homeless, some services are offered or put in place before the person has a place to live, and in about 70 percent of those cases, once housed, the individuals wind up losing their home. “In the housing-first model, there’s a success rate of about 83 percent nationally,” Fehsenfeld says. “Homeward Bound’s success rate is 89 percent.” When people have a place to call home, their self-esteem rises and they begin to believe they deserve to have a roof over their heads, Fehsenfeld says. He has found that they then work harder to maintain their housed status, which tends to make the caseworker’s efforts more effective. “I believe everyone has the right to live inside,” Fehsenfeld says. But there are other challenges to meet, he notes. Like all Homeward Bound housing, Philip’s home is a rental. Most of the organization’s properties are owned by private landlords. “We provide rental assistance and case-management assistance for a period of time,” explains Jim Lowder, director of resource development for Homeward Bound. In the case of veterans with some income, such as for disability, 30
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percent of that income is applied to the rent, with Homeward Bound covering the rest. “We’d anticipate that [arrangement] will be for about nine months, and hope that by then Philip will be independent. That [period] can be extended sometimes,” Lowder says. The goal is for Homeward Bound’s client to become independent and continue living in the same unit —renting directly from landlord. But to offer someone an apartment with no furniture is little better than leaving them outdoors, says Ashley Campbell, program director for Homeward Bound’s Welcome Home program. “We partner with other nonprofits and faith-based groups to furnish these homes,” she says. Looking around at the furnishings in Caruso’s new home, she adds, “Everything here was gathered by the people at Lenoir-Rhyne.” Caruso has little to say about his years as a homeless man; instead, he says he wants to focus on his new life. “I withdrew from society,” he says. “I didn’t want any part of anybody.” But he came to realize that he didn’t want to die alone in the woods, so when he was offered help by an attorney with Asheville’s Homeless Initiative, he took it. Less than three months later, he stands in his new apartment, listening to the rain outside. “I can think about the future now,” he says as a team of volunteers carries in his new furniture and a couple weeks’ worth of food. He jokes about inviting company over to his apartment and graciously serving oolong tea and homemade fish tacos. But until moments before this joke, Caruso had only his backpack and a bottle of hot sauce to his name, he observes. “Wow, I have something to pour my hot sauce on,” he says as volunteers from the YMCA’s nutrition program stock his refrigerator and food cupboard. Michael Dempsey, dean and director of Lenoir-Rhyne’s Center for Graduate Studies in Asheville, helps to carry in a brand-new red recliner for Caruso’s living room. As others help him remove the plastic shrink wrap, Dempsey looks at the color. “That’s a real Lenoir-Rhyne red,” he muses. “I thought about slapping our logo on it, but I guess that would be a bit too much.”
ON THE MOVE: Philip Caruso stands outside his new apartment, ready to put a sign on the front door that reads, “Phil’s Place.” Photo by Leslie Boyd Caruso is too excited to try out the chair, the tan leather love seat or the memory foam mattress on his new bed. “All I know is that I’m not homeless anymore, and right now, that’s all that matters,” he says. “I would tell any veteran who needs the kind of help I’ve gotten that it’s there for them too. There are resources available out there and people who care.” Caruso admitted to having a difficult time describing his emotions. “There’s a little nausea — in a good way,” he says as he puts down a
doormat by his front door. “I’m grateful, I’m optimistic.” His eyes well with tears as Lauren Bradley of Lenoir-Rhyne presents him with a hand-painted sign with the words, “Phil’s place.” After the dozen volunteers pose for the obligatory move-in photo, Caruso walks toward his front door and turns back to face everyone, a smile growing across his face. “I’ve been dying to say this for a long time,” he says. “Hey, you kids! Get off MY grass!” — Leslie Boyd
Budget talks spark old beef, new tax rate discussion The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners heard a trio of budget presentations during its meeting on May 2. A-B Tech and Asheville City Schools pitched their spending requests, but commissioners didn’t take any formal action as those discussions and decisions will start to take shape during a budget workshop later this month.
$2,403,831 $4,561,008 $302,000 $14,387,471
Human services
$18,177,898
To read all of Mountain Xpress’ coverage of city and county news, visit Buncombe Beat online at avl.mx/3b5. There you’ll find detailed recaps of government meetings the day after they happen, along with previews, indepth stories and key information to help you stay on top of the latest city and county news. X
Public safety Education $113,848,404
A PRETTY PENNY “All revenues come from our citizens, and we are very conscious of that,” said County Manager Wanda Greene as she rolled out her proposed budget for fiscal year 2018, which starts July 1. That budget weighs in at $419,289,728, an increase of $5.7 million, or 1.4 percent, over the current spending plan. “Property tax is our primary revenue and by legislative design the source we have the most control over,” said Greene. And the pool of potential revenue grew significantly as earlier this year the property revaluation reported county values increased by $6.8 billion, or 28 percent, over the last assessment in 2013. With that information, Greene is recommending that commissioners adopt a property tax rate of 55.9 cents per $100 of valued property, or $1,118 for a home valued at $200,000. While down from the current rate of 60.4 cents, it’s higher than the revenue-neutral rate of 51.3 cents. “A penny is now worth $3.6 million,” noted Greene. Part of the reason for the proposed budget increase, as cited by Greene, is to make up for $6.8 million dollars spent on a 137-acre lot on Ferry Road that was purchased in a failed attempt to lure Oregeon-based Deschutes Brewery to the county. The fallout from the attempt ended with very public infighting among commissioners and still doesn’t sit well with some commissioners. “I had concern with the purchase. I didn’t support the purchase. Wouldn’t this be a one-time impact on this budget? Let’s not make a multiyear impact to the public in our [property tax] rate,” said Commissioner Joe Belcher. Commissioner Mike Fryar weighed in: “It’s a one-time occurrence, why are we telling taxpayers they are the one that’s going to pick up a tax increase? That’s what we are doing.” Part of the original land deal was for the city of Asheville to pitch in $3.4 million, with the stipulation that money would go toward county public safety
BUNC O MBE BE AT HQ
$75,732,521
Culture/Recreation General government Economic/Phys Dev
$90,666,816
Administration Other/transfers
PIECE OF THE PIE: Buncombe County commissioners will have to consider how much to fund various services and what the property tax rate will need to be in order to do so. The funding levels shown above are from the County Manager’s proposed budget, but commissioners won’t finalize a spending plan until June. projects. The city has paid its amount and in return gets free use of facilities such as the county’s firing range for training and other purposes. But Fryar still thinks the deal is a dud. “That vote, made in 15 minutes, is costing taxpayers. It’s our stupidity for doing it and buying land on an ‘if.’ We made a mistake and we need to live with it,” he said. However, Commission Chair Brownie Newman is defending the move, insisting it will pay off in the long run. “From a budget standpoint, we don’t know when this property will sell. There is every reason to think it will sell,” he said. “At the end of the day, the county will have invested half of funding for that property. And if it sells for $6 [million] or $7 million … in the grand scheme of things we are going to come out ahead to the tune of several million dollars.” No official action on the budget was taken, nor is expected until June. AT THIS RATE Asheville City Schools made its case for funding. Interim Schools Superintendent Bobbie Short asked commissioners for an increase in spending and the Asheville District Supplemental Tax. She cited new classroom size requirements,
she said. The lower rate is actually an increase, due to the aforementioned increase in property values. MAINTAINING COMMUNITY A-B Tech is also looking to grow its budget. President Dennis King started his presentation by touting the school’s enrollment and graduation numbers. Enrollment for the current school year is 22,863 students, according to King, who noted the school will be awarding 1,305 degrees, diplomas and certificates this semester alone. King also stated the school is looking at implementing upward of 11
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mandated by the General Assembly, as a major reason for the extra funding. According to Short, each school’s average classroom size must be 21 students per classroom, with a maximum of 24 kids per class. Next school year, she explained, that number must be an overall average of 20 students per class with a maximum of 23 kids in a class. To that end, some of the ACS requests include: • $288,577 for five new elementary school teachers in order to meet statemandated class size. • $132,623 to hire four teacher assistants. • $385,886 for salary increases. • $302,672 for local salary supplement increases (the current budget calls for a two-year commitment to supplement increases). However, there is a potential, that after class sizes drop, fewer assistants will be needed, potentially evening out expenditures on faculty staffing costs. “Bottom line, our ask is pretty simple. We are asking for 5 percent increase and are hopeful we can have the local salary supplement,” said Short, who is also asking the ADS Tax rate be set at 13 cents. “We now are funded at 15 cents. … We’d like the 15 but would be grateful for 13. We know you will fund us as generously as you can, and we look forward to that,”
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NEWS new programs, such as food service management, avionics and aviation mechanics. He said those potential course tracks will diversify the school’s portfolio while getting people job-ready in new industries. King told commissioners A-B Tech is asking for $7.8 million. That’s an increase of $1.8 million over its current allotment from the county. According to King, the county funding request would put $3.1 million toward salaries, $1.5 million for capital improvement projects and $1.7 million for utilities and preventive maintenance costs. That maintenance is a key concern for some commissioners. “I was horrified at the state of some of those buildings. It was almost like two different worlds,” Commissioner Ellen Frost said of a recent campus tour. She said in comparison to the new Allied Health Building, “the leaking and the smell” of
some other buildings was a shock. “It would be easy to point fingers and say how it got to this state,” she said while noting she is glad the school has presented a plan on how to move forward with maintenance needs. Commissioner Al Whitesides was also impressed with the long-term plan. “I want to commend you. It’s a good, preventive maintenance plan,” he said before lamenting, “Unfortunately, we haven’t had it all along. It’s obvious for some of those buildings … there wasn’t much of a plan.” Commissioners will look to put education and nonprofit funding requests, the property tax rate and other budget issues under the microscope during a budget workshop on May 16. Commissioners have until June 30 to approve a budget. — Dan Hesse
P&Z approves its final big hotel The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of May 3 was a brief affair. Two items on the commission’s agenda — a change to a city ordinance to allow gravel parking lots in the Central Business District and zoning amendments to promote small-scale residential infill development — were pushed back to June’s meeting. What P&Z did consider was a hotel, its last filed under the previous Level II zoning approval thresholds, which were changed by a vote of City Council on Feb. 14. “For the public’s benefit, this is the final Level II project coming before us under the old rules,” Chair Jeremy Goldstein said. “So this is a ministerial review — meaning, if this project meets the technical requirements, then we are obligated to approve it. With the new rules going forward, any hotels over 20 rooms and anything over 100,000 square feet will be a conditional zoning with different rules. ... So, this will stop here tonight and if it meets technical requirements, will be approved.” Planner Jessica Bernstein introduced the 112-room, five-story hotel. The 26 Meadow Road site lies directly across the street from the Habitat for Humanity Home Store and Biltmore Iron & Metal Co. The hotel will sit close to the street, with parking to the sides and rear of the building. Other features
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of the development include a 10-foot sidewalk along Meadow Road and a 34-foot retaining wall along the embankment at the back of the property. Bernstein said a traffic impact study was not required due to the number of rooms in the hotel and the expected number of car trips it would generate. Nowell Henry, who lives on St. Dunstans Circle, said he only learned about the project last week. “There’s a lot of concern of this project. It just kind of slipped in under the radar for us,” Henry said. “No one in my community was aware of this happening.” Henry said the developer’s failure to perform a traffic study demonstrated disregard for the project’s neighbors. He said people use some roads not shown on the hotel plans as shortcuts. Goldstein asked Bernstein to outline notice requirements for the neighborhood. The previous Level II rules (under which this project fell), Bernstein said, require the developer to send letters to every resident and property owner within 200 feet of the site 10 days before the public hearing. The rules also require the developer to post a sign announcing the P&Z meeting date and time on the site. Under the new regulations, she noted, developers will have to meet with neighbors before submitting an application for a project, and they will also be required to adver-
tise the project in advance of the city’s technical review of the project (which precedes P&Z’s review). “The city has heard these exact types of concerns about not having more notification, and that’s why the standards are different now,” Bernstein said. “This project came in before that change.” Denise Henry, St. Dunstans Circle resident, also testified about her concerns about the impact of the hotel on area traffic. Denise Henry said neighborhood residents had tried talking with the Police Department about speeding in the area, but had made no progress. Vice Chair Kristy Carter responded, “The issues that you have are there currently and the hotel itself isn’t going to bring in. It’s going to bring in some, but those issues are there.” After some deliberation among the member of the commission, Goldstein told residents, “We hear your frustra-
tion and understand, it’s just what we’re able to do at this point in time is limited.” The commission approved the hotel unanimously. The Meadow Road Courtyard by Marriott hotel will join several others under construction or approved in the Biltmore Village area. A Holiday Inn & Suites under construction at 190 Hendersonville Road will add 118 rooms, while a Hampton Inn directly across the street at 117 Hendersonville Road will add another 118. The Biltmore Station Hotel at 61 Thompson St. will contain 120 rooms, and the La Quinta Inn & Suites on Sweeten Creek Road approved at P&Z’s April meeting will boost the count by 76 rooms. Altogether, with the Meadow Road hotel, the current hotel boom in the area will add 544 hotel rooms to the city’s total. — Kari Barrows
Student exhibit illustrates options for Haywood Street site For years, people in Asheville have confronted three visions for cityowned property at Haywood Street and Page Avenue. One is the area’s current jumble of cracked asphalt parking lots alongside a fenced pit. Another, an image of a verdant park with mature trees, graces yard signs throughout the city. Finally, park supporters can’t purge from memory the rendering of a tall corporate headquarters building from marketing materials assembled as part of a city effort to sell the property to a developer. Now, after a year of meetings by a city-appointed volunteer committee to develop a community vision for the site, there’s something new to look at — though the visuals weren’t commissioned by the city and don’t represent any official plans. Rather, the 13 design concepts shown April 28 at the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design are the creations of architecture students at Clemson University. MULTIPLE CHOICE “Now I think we finally get to see that it’s not an either/or question,” said Chris Joyell, speaking of the public discussion
surrounding the area that frequently pitted supporters of a park against advocates for development. Speaking at the exhibit, Joyell — who is executive director of the Asheville Design Center and served as facilitator for the community visioning process — expressed relief at moving to the next stage of planning for the site. Asheville City Council voted to issue a request for qualifications for professional design firms, though that process hasn’t yet begun. While he had refrained from expressing his personal hopes for the process during the visioning effort, Joyell said, “I’ve always wanted to see Guastavino expressed in the landscape somehow.” Architect Rafael Guastavino designed the domed Basilica of St. Lawrence at the intersection of Haywood Street and Page Avenue. The structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is believed to contain the largest free-standing vaulted ceiling of its kind in the country. Now, in several of the students’ projects, Joyell sees evidence of Guastavino’s influence: One design includes a domed structure that could be used as a gathering space and for shade, while others repeat the basilica’s elliptical form or its distinctive herringbone tilework pattern in a variety of ways.
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Spring Cleaning Special MOUNTAIN HIGH: Clemson architecture student Lauren Grzibowski explains how her project, “Eskers,” would honor the mountain landscape around Asheville while creating interest and activity on the Haywood Street site through all four seasons of the year. Photo by Virginia Daffron “No matter what, these students are going to show us that there are so many different ways that we can tap into this problem. And to limit ourselves to just one outcome, I think really robs us of the full potential of the site,” Joyell said. But how can Ashevilleans who missed the one-afternoon show of the students’ work see the designs? In addition to a website that will display images from the projects, Joyell said he hopes to arrange a longer exhibition of the students’ presentation materials, ideally on the Haywood Street site. But neither of those initiatives has been finalized, so design fans in Asheville will have to wait to see what shakes out. ON THE SPOT Lauren Grzibowski of Michigan, a candidate for a master’s degree in architecture, presented a design called “Eskers.” An esker, she explained, is a landform of rounded hills created by receding glaciers. In her design, small mounds recall the mountains surrounding the site. Inside some of the mounds are underground spaces with domed ceilings. The undergraduate team of Colin Bland of South Carolina and John Owens of Maryland proposed a “a platform construction that deals with the topography,” said Bland. As pedestrians move from Haywood Street toward the Grove Arcade, he said, “Suddenly you realize, ’Oh, I am 20 feet in the air.’” But don’t worry: Circular openings in the platform are
surrounded by railings, so “they’re safe,” said Bland. A bold feature of Bland’s and Owens’ project is its suggestion to move Haywood Street to the general area of an existing alley that connects Haywood to Battery Park Avenue. That shift, they said, would make the area in front of the basilica “a higher-quality space.” Of their process, Owens said, “We took data along with what people in the community have to say and tried to come up with a design that meets both those things.” This was the first time in his architecture career, Bland said, “that I feel like I haven’t been designing in a vacuum.” Another pair of undergraduates, Diego Bazzani (whose home is in Atlanta) and Eric Bell (who hails from South Carolina), sought to maximize the flexibility of the site in their project, “Textile.” Bazzani explained the duo had aimed to create, “a time-based strategy for weekends and weekdays, where parts could be shut down, rerouted for the possibility of big farmers markets on Saturday mornings. If there’s ever a huge concert at the Civic Center, this could all become spill-out space. Weddings, you could take photos there, while still allowing cars to move through it.” Jess Dancer, a master’s candidate from Cincinatti, said she was inspired by “all the little nooks and crannies of Asheville — like Wall Street.” In her project, she also considered “invisible links in the city, and how the pedestrian can get through the city using routes that aren’t necessarily the main roads of travel.” Dancer proposed that pedestri-
ans travel across the site in the east-west direction, with “points of pause” situated along the area’s north-south axis.
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UP NEXT Joyell says he’s excited about plans for temporary uses on a portion of the site. Where the building that housed Asheville Sister Cities once stood, the Design Center hopes to create a community garden. The installation will also include a water catchment system, which Joyell said may serve as a model for other projects planned through the city’s new Asheville Edibles initiative. That project, which will be run by the city Office of Sustainability, will allow residents to create community gardens on city-owned land. Many of the potential garden sites, Joyell explained, don’t have water lines. Thus, figuring out how to provide a water source will make the land much more usable for growing food. “As we build things,” Joyell said, “we will share the plans with anyone in the public that wants them. We’ll also price them out, so if you’re interested in a seating structure that doubles as a raised bed, we can say, ’Here’s the materials, here’s how to construct it, and here’s the cost.’” Serving the needs of residents of the Battery Park and Vanderbilt apartments — who have long requested support for their interest in establishing and maintaining a community garden on the site — will be a nice change of pace after the arduous visioning process, Joyell said. — Virginia Daffron X
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR MAY 10 - 18, 2017
CALENDAR GUIDELINES In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must benefit or be sponsored by a nonprofit or noncommercial community group. In the spirit of Xpress’ commitment to support the work of grassroots community organizations, we will also list events our staff consider to be of value or interest to the public, including local theater performances and art exhibits even if hosted by a forprofit group or business. All events must cost no more than $40 to attend in order to qualify for free listings, with the one exception of events that benefit nonprofits. Commercial endeavors and promotional events do not qualify for free listings. Free listings will be edited by Xpress staff to conform to our style guidelines and length. Free listings appear in the publication covering the date range in which the event occurs. Events may be submitted via email to calendar@ mountainx.com or through our online submission form at mountainx.com/calendar. The deadline for free listings is the Wednesday one week prior to publication at 5 p.m. For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 251-1333, ext. 320.
TOUR DE FALLS: DuPont State Recreational Forest is hosting family-friendly, guided bus tours of Triple Falls, High Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Lake Julia on Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14. Friends of DuPont Forest volunteers will guide the tours, offering information about the history and natural resources within the 10,400-acre forest. The tour buses leave from the entrance to the forest off Staton Road in Cedar Mountain (outside Hendersonville). The buses run every 30 minutes from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day, and each tour takes at least three hours. Tickets are not required, but donations of $12 for adults and $6 for children are requested. For more information or directions, visit dupontforest.com. Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/pmuellr/
ANIMALS WNC NATURE CENTER 75 Gashes Creek Road, 298-5600, wildwnc.org • SU (5/14), 1:45-3:15pm - "Wild Walk," behind the scenes tour. Registration required. $30.
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of new clothing, toiletries, pre-packaged food, bottled water and money accepted. More information: publichealth.va.gov/va2k/. Free to attend. CRADLE TO GRAVE 30K & 10K RACE cradletograverace.com • SA (5/13), 8am-4pm - Proceeds from this 30K and 10K race benefit the Cradle of Forestry. $80 for the 30K/$50 for the 10K. Held at The Cradle of Forestry, 11250 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest
Conservancy. Registration required: haley@ appalachian.org or 828-253-0095 ext. 205. $30/$20 for SAHC members. Held at Addison Farms Vineyard, 4005 New Leicester Highway, Leicester ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 290 Old Haw Creek Road • TH (5/18), 6-8pm - Proceeds from this storytelling event and supper featuring David Novak benefit St. John's Episcopal Church. Supper at 6pm. Performance at 7pm. $15.
ANATTASATI MAGGA 32 Mineral Dust Drive, Asheville, 242-2405, anattasatimagga.org/ • SU (5/14), 1-5pm - Proceeds from this silent event to sew death shrouds benefit Anattasati Maggi. Registration: goo.gl/ TOIgRX. $60.
ELIADA 2545356, eliada.org, smcdonald@eliada.org • FRIDAY through SUNDAY until (5/14) - Proceeds from the 2017 Grammatico Signature Home of Distinction tour benefit Eliada. Fri. & Sat.: 10am-5pm. Sun.: Noon5pm. $10. Held at Grove Park Cove, 536 North Griffing Blvd.
CARRIER PARK 220 Amboy Road, 251-4024 • SA (5/13), 10am - Proceeds from this 10K run and 1K stroller-push walk benefit Mama Maisha, an Asheville-based non-profit making motherhood safer in Tanzania. $45/Free for 1K walk.
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville, 693-4890, gracelutherannc.com • SA (5/13), 7:30-11am - Proceeds from this outdoor flea market and bake sale benefit the Grace Lutheran Preschool. Free to attend.
A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc • TH (5/11), 3-6pm - "An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Bridging the Digital Divide," seminar. Registration required. Free. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler • TU (5/16), 6-8pm - "Employment Taxes and Business Expenses," seminar. Registration required: Evette.davis@irs.gov. Free. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler
CHARLES GEORGE V.A. MEDICAL CENTER 1100 Tunnel Road • WE (5/17), 10am - Proceeds raised at the 2017 VA2K Walk & Roll event with live music, refreshments and a 2K wheelchair friendly walk benefit homeless veterans. Donations
SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY 253-0095, appalachian.org • SA (5/13), 2:00 PM - Proceeds from "Yoga at the Vineyard," outdoor yoga class with Lillah Schwartz of One Center Yoga benefit Southern Appalachian Highlands
G&W INVESTMENT CLUB klcount@aol.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 11:45am - General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Black Forest Restaurant, 2155 Hendersonville Road, Arden
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
MOUNTAINX.COM
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS A NEW ERA IS DAWNING (PD.) The World Teacher and Masters of Wisdom are in the world. To help us create a civilization where Justice and Truth; Freedom and Peace are the keynotes. What role can you play in the coming time? “…look to the future with hope." – Maitreya. • Saturday, May 13: Asheville Friends Meeting. 227 Edgewood Road. 2pm. Free presentation. 828-398-0609. AERIAL ARTS + POLE DANCE + FLEXIBILITY CLASSES AT EMPYREAN ARTS (PD.) BEGINNING AERIAL ARTS weekly on Tuesdays 11am and Wednesdays 4:15pm * TRAPEZE & LYRA weekly on Tuesdays 6:30pm and Saturdays 1pm * AERIAL ROPE weekly on Tuesdays at 2:15pm and Fridays at 6pm * POLE DANCE weekly on Mondays at 8pm * FLEXIBILITY weekly on Mondays 6:30pm, Tuesdays 8pm, and Thursdays at 1pm. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT EMPYREANARTS.ORG or CALL/TEXT 828.782.3321 COOKING CLASSES AT MOUNTAIN KITCHEN (PD.) Thursday, May 25: Indian cooking class. More information/registration: (917) 566-5238 or visit www.ofrishomecooking.com
THIS SATURDAY • OLIVER PEOPLES TRUNK SHOW (PD.)
HENDERSON COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Saturday, May 13, 12pm-6pm. Stop by the iconic L'optique on Wall Street for some snacks, wine and the most extravagant eyewear! www.loptique.com
lwvhcnc.org • 3rd THURSDAYS, 4-6pm - General meeting. Free. Held at Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, 204 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville
THURSDAY • MAY 18 • HEALTHY COOKING (PD.) Join Denise Barratt, Registered Dietitian/ Nutritionist, with Vine Ripe Nutrition, for a seasonal cooking class and farm-to-table meal. • Franny’s Farm, 6:30pm-8:30pm. Details, menu, tickets: (828) 423-5216. www.vineripenutrition.com
HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville, 697-4725 • 3rd TUESDAYS, 2-4pm - Apple Users Support Group. Free.
WRITERS WORKSHOP • GENIUS CREATIVITY STRATEGIES (PD.) With NY Times best selling author Linda Lowery. Wednesdays, June 7-July 5 • Crammed with professional tips to help your work flow productively and authentically. Information/registration: (828) 250-2353. UNCA.edu/gswp ACLU OF WNC acluwnc.wordpress.com • WE (5/10), 7-9pm - “Defending Your Civil Liberties,” panel discussion regarding individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Free to attend. Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 South Market St. ASHEVILLE CHESS CLUB 779-0319, vincentvanjoe@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm - Sets provided. All ages and skill levels welcome. Beginners lessons available. Free. Held at North Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E. Larchmont Road
HOMINY VALLEY RECREATION PARK 25 Twin Lakes Drive, Candler, 242-8998, hvrpsports.com • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - Hominy Valley board meeting. Free. LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.Center • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - The Leicester History Gathering general meeting. Free. MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA momsdemandaction.org • TH (5/18), 4pm - General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Catawba Brewing South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Suite 105 ONTRACK WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave., 255-5166, ontrackwnc.org • WE (5/10), 5:30-7pm - "Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it." Seminar. Registration required. Free. • WE (5/17), 5:30-7pm - "Surviving the Benefits Cliff. A Personal Story." Seminar. Registration required. Free.
ASHEVILLE ROTARY CLUB rotaryasheville.org • TH (5/11) & TH (5/18), noon-1:30pm General meeting. Free. Held at Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St.
SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE showingupforracialjustice.org • 3rd TUESDAYS, 7pm - Coalition building session. Free. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville
ASHEVILLE TAROT CIRCLE meetup.com/Asheville-Tarot-Circle/ • 2nd SUNDAYS, noon - General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road
TARHEEL PIECEMAKERS QUILT CLUB tarheelpiecemakers.wordpress.com/ • WE (5/10), 9:30am - Meeting and presentation by Marti Sofie. Free. Held at Balfour United Methodist Church, 2567 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville
BIG IVY COMMUNITY CENTER 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville, 626-3438 • MO (5/13), 10am-2pm - Health fair. Free. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library • MO (5/15), 10am-noon - "Itch to Stitch," needlework and knitting group for all skill levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • TU (5/16), 4-6pm - "Knitting 101," knitting and crochet workshop for children and adults. Bring your own supplies. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE cityofhendersonville.org • FR (5/12), 9am-10:30am - Outdoor paper shredding event for Hendersonville city residents. Bring up to 50lbs (two boxes) of paper to be shredded. Free. Held at Patton Park, Asheville Highway, Hendersonville
YWCA OF ASHEVILLE 254-7206, ywcaofasheville.org • TH (5/11), 6-8pm - 110th anniversary celebration with reception and program showcasing the YWCA partnership with UNCAsheville’s History Department and Ramsey Library Special Collections. Free. Held at Lipinsky Auditorium at UNC Asheville, 300 Library Lane
DANCE POLE FITNESS AND DANCE CLASSES AT DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE (PD.) Pole Dance, Burlesque, Jazz/Funk, Flashmobs! Drop in for a class or sign up for a series: • 6 Week Chair Dance Series - Ongoing • 4 Week Beginner Jazz/ Funk to Prince - Begins Apr. 20 • 6 Week Intro to Pole - Begins April 26 • Tues. and Fri. at 12PM - Pole class for $10 • Intro/ Beg. Pole Drop in - Sat. at 1:30PM - $15 •
Memberships available for $108/month Visit the website to find out more about these classes and others. DanceclubAsheville.com 828-275-8628 Right down the street from UNCA - 9 Old Burnsville Hill Rd., #3 STUDIO ZAHIYA DOWNTOWN DANCE CLASSES (PD.) Monday 9am Yoga Wkt 12pm Barre Wkt 4pm Dance and Define Wkt 5pm Bellydance Drills 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 6pm Bellydance Special Topics 7pm Classical Ballet Series 8pm Tribal Bellydance Series 8pm Lyrical Series • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 12pm Sculpt-Beats Wkt 5pm Modern Movement 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 2 8pm Advanced Bellydance • Wednesday 5pm Hip Hop Wkt 5pm Bollywood 6pm Bhangra Series 7pm Tahitian Series 8pm Jazz Series • Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 12pm Sculptbeats Wkt 4pm Girls Hip Hop 5pm Teens Hip Hop 6pm Bellydance Drills 7pm Advanced Contemporary 8pm West Coast Swing Series • Saturday 9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 10:45 Buti Yoga Wkt • Sunday 11am Yoga Wkt • $13 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $6. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595 THE ROOTS OF BELLY DANCE (PD.) With Michelle Dionne. Saturday, May 20, 10am-4pm. No experience needed! Men, women and youth 15 and above. A workshop in self-healing, divine connection and tribal dance. At Earthaven Ecovillage. $75 till May 6; then $95. To register: www.themandorla.com.
FOOD & BEER FAIRVIEW WELCOME TABLE fairviewwelcometable.com • THURSDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Community lunch. Admission by donation. Held at Fairview Christian Fellowship, 596 Old Us Highway 74 Fairview LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 774-3000, facebook.com/Leicester.Community.Center • 3rd TUESDAYS, 2:30-3:30pm - Manna FoodBank distribution, including local produce. Free. • WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Welcome Table meal. Free. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • FR (5/12), 7pm - Ashley English presents her book, A Year of Picnics: Recipes for Dining Well in the Great Outdoors. Free to attend. • TU (5/16), 7pm - Matt Frazier and Stephanie Romine present their book, The No Meat Athlete Cookbook, and Heather Crosby presents her book, Yumuniverse Pantry to Plate. Free to attend. MORRIS HELLENIC CULTURAL CENTER 227 Cumberland Ave. • SU (5/14), 11am-2pm - Mother's Day luncheon featuring Greek gourmet dishes. Prices vary/$1-$16.
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C O N S C I O U S PA R T Y By Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com
A Taste of the Vineyard
THE MORE, THE MERRIER: Big Brother Big Sister of Henderson County’s outreach coordinator Steve Kirkland, far left, calls the nonprofit’s upcoming fundraiser “a combination of an agency event — where we’re naming the Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year — and a community social event.” Proceeds will support more mentoring for youths, most of whom reside with a single parent or other relative. Photo of Big Brothers Big Sisters WNC staff courtesy of Jordan Foltz WHAT: Dinner and drinks to benefit Big Brother Big Sister of Henderson County WHERE: Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards WHEN: Friday, May 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. WHY: Continuing a partnership that Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards struck up almost two years ago, the winery (and cidery) will host Big Brothers Big Sisters of Henderson County for A Taste of the Vineyard. The second-year fundraiser includes dinner, beverages by Saint Paul, a live auction and award presentation. “We’ll be on the back deck of a newly restored historic barn on the property,” says BBBS outreach coordinator Steve Kirkland. “You’re high up, looking down on the orchard. It’s going to be a fantastic setting.” From there, guests can help themselves to a low country boil, including shrimp, potatoes, corn, sausage, and bread — all made by Great Food for Any
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Mood. “They fix it in big cookers, put brown paper down on the table and pour all that stuff out on the table,” Kirkland explains, “and people come up and fill a bowl. ... It’s fabulous.” BBBS will also recognize top volunteers and its two Big of the Year Award recipients, who Kirkland says were selected for their longevity and involvement with the program as well as the significant impact they’ve had on their “littles.” These particular mentors have been matched with the same youths for about seven to eight years each. “Both this little brother and little sister are graduating from high school and going on to college this year,” he says. “So [these are] just tremendous success stories.” Before the night winds down, several high-ticket items will be up for auction, including Carolina Panther and Charlotte Hornet tickets, passes to the Biltmore, season tickets to the Flat Rock Playhouse and a vibrant,
autumn-inspired painting by local artist Jonas Gerard. Proceeds from the event will support the Henderson County chapter of BBBS, which currently serves 75 matches (a big and little) that meet one-on-one in one of two capacities: The community-based program includes enrichment activities like “walks, hikes, plays and things of that nature,” Kirkland says. “And the other program is a school program. ... [In that, an elementary school] child comes out of class and does 30 minutes of academic work with the big and then 30 minutes of games, walking outside, talking and friendship exchange. Then — high-five — the child goes back to class, and the volunteer says ‘I’ll see you next week!’” Visit bbbswnc.org/a-taste-of-the-vineyard for more information or to purchase tickets ($35). Admission includes dinner, one drink and auction participation. X
C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR
FESTIVALS AFROFEST TRYON facebook.com/afrofesttryon/ • SA (5/13), 11am-8pm Festival of African culture within Tryon, Polk County and surrounding areas. Festival features live music, art and food vendors. Free to attend. Held at Tryon Depot Plaza, Depot St., Tryon WALKABLE WALL STREET dfrankel@ashevillenc.gov • SA (5/13), 2pm-midnight - Car-free event kicks off Strive Not to Drive Week. Wall St. businesses offer special promotions and activities, music and games. Free to attend. Held at Wall St.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS BLUE RIDGE REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB facebook.com/BRRWC • 2nd THURSDAYS, 6pm General meeting. Free to attend. Held at Gondolier Italian Restaurant, 1360 Tunnel Road BUNCOMBE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY buncombedems.org • SA (5/13), 2pm - Senator Terry Van Duyn and Representative John Ager discuss HB2 repeal. Free. Held at Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. BUNCOMBE COUNTY REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S CLUB 243-6590 • TH (5/11), 11:30am1:30pm - Meeting with keynote speech by Cindy Keehn of Damsel in Defense. Free to attend. Held at Olive Garden, 121 Tunnel Road HENDERSONVILLE INDIVISIBLE facebook.com/ groups/249488522174831/ • SA (5/13), 10am - Town hall meeting with questions directed towards Congressman Mark Meadows. Free. Held at Jackson Park, 801 Glover St., Hendersonville
by Abigail Griffin
KIDS ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE 43 Patton Ave., 254-7162, colburnmuseum.org • 2nd & 4th FRIDAYS, 9-9:45am - "Little Explorers Club," guided activities and free play for preschoolers. $3.50 per child/Free for caregivers. BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSELLERS ASHEVILLE MALL 3 S. Tunnel Road, 296-7335 • SA (5/13), 11-11:30am Storytime and activities for kids featuring the book, How to Raise a Mom. Free to attend. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 4-5pm - "After School Art Adventures," guided art making for school age children with the Asheville Art Museum. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester • FR (5/12) - "Great Stuffed Animal Sleepover," event for children to drop off and register their stuffed animal for a sleepover. Pick-up on Saturday, May 13. Children will receive a photograph of stuffed animal at sleepover and a certificate. Free. Held at Oakley/South Asheville Library, 749 Fairview Road • FR (5/12), 4:30pm - "Make a Mother's Day Card," activity for children with the Asheville Art Museum. Free. Held at North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. • SA (5/13), 11am - "Bounce 'n Books," music and movement program for active toddlers 18 months-3 years. Free. Held at Black Mountain Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain • MONDAYS, 10:30am "Mother Goose Time," storytime for 4-18 month olds. Free. Held at Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • MONDAYS, 10:30am Spanish story time for children of all ages. Free. Held at Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road, Candler • MO (5/15) through TH (5/18) - Dollywood’s Penguin Players present "Pretend," musical performances for children ages 4 and up. Free. Held at library branches throughout Buncombe
County. See website for full schedule: buncombecounty. org/governing/depts/library • TUESDAYS (5/2) through (5/30) - Read for 15-minutes with JR the therapy dog for preschool readers through age 10. Registration required: 250-6482. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • WE (5/17), 3:30pm Makers & Shakers: "Farm Focused Fun," activities for ages 5 and up. Sponsored by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. BUNCOMBE COUNTY RECREATION SERVICES buncombecounty.org/ Governing/Depts/Parks/ • SA (5/13), 8:30am-11:30am - Catch and release fishing tournament for children 15 and under. $10. Held at Lake Julian Park Marina, 406 Overlook Extension Arden FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 687-1218, library.hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am Family story time. Free. HANDS ON! A CHILDREN'S GALLERY 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 697-8333 • Through (5/12), 10am-4pm - "National Pet Week," petthemed activities. Admission fees apply. • TU (5/16) through FR (5/19), 10am-4pm "Butterfly Week," butterfly related educational activities for kids. Admission fees apply
Summer Art Camps! Under The Sea • Wizard Academy What’s in your Garden? Interactive 5 Day Art Camps Ages 7-12 • All skill levels welcome • Shy souls encouraged! Check our website for pricing and details.
640 Merrimon Ave • (828) 255-2442 • wineanddesign.com/asheville
Fast reliable service for all your PC and Apple needs! WINNER
info@oneclickavl.com | oneclickavl.com | 828-318-8558 Shop Hours: 9-5 M-F | 438 Montford Ave., Asheville, NC 28801
MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • SA (5/13), 11am - Katie Kath presents the book she illustrated, My Kicks: A Sneaker Story! Free to attend. • WEDNESDAYS, 10am Miss Malaprop's Story Time for ages 3-9. Free to attend.
OUTDOORS BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • SA (5/13), 3pm -
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"Wildflowers of the Parkway," presentation by botanist and author Timothy Spira. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LAND CONSERVACY 697-5777, carolinamountain.org • SA (5/13) - Group family-friendly, 5-mile mountain bike ride at DuPont State Recreational Forest. Registration: bit.ly/ adventuresignup. Free. Register for location, CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE cityofhendersonville.org • SATURDAYS through (5/27), 10am - Guided history walks in Downtown Hendersonville. Registration: 828-5453179 or maryjo@maryjopadgett.com. $10/ Free for children. Meet at the back door lobby of the Hendersonville City Hall, Fifth Avenue East and King Street, Hendersonville MAINSPRING CONSERVATION TRUST mphillips@ mainspringconserves.org • TH (5/18), 10am-noon - Moderate, three-mile, guided Pathertown hike. Registration: 828524-2711 or sburdette@ mainspringconserves.org. $15. PISGAH CENTER FOR WILDLIFE EDUCATION 1401 Fish Hatchery Road, Pisgah Forest, 877-4423 • SA (5/13), 9am-noon - "Backyard Birding by Ear: For Beginners," workshop for ages 10 and up. Free. PISGAH CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED pisgahchaptertu.org/ New-Meetinginformation.html • 2nd THURSDAYS, 7pm - General meeting and presentations. Free to attend. Held at Ecusta Brewery, 36 E Main St., Brevard
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by Abigail Griffin
Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com
PARENTING BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TH (5/11), 7-8pm "Raising Children in a Wireless World. How Wireless Radiation Effects Children’s Health & How to Protect Them," presentation. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview ODYSSEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL 90 Zillicoa St., 259-3653, odysseycommunity.org/ • TU (5/16) 6-8pm "Teaching Kids about Racism and Racial Justice," class for educators and parents. Free. SWANNANOA VALLEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL 101 Carver Ave., Black Mountain, 669-8571, swanmont.org • 3rd THURSDAYS through (5/18), 9:30am - School tour. Registration required. Free to attend.
PUBLIC LECTURES ASHEVILLE SCIENCE TAVERN 404-272-4526, sciencecandance@ gmail.com • SA (5/13), 6-8pm Second Saturdays for Science: "Nature by Design: Introduction to CRISPR-Cas9," presentation by Dr. Melissa Booth. Free/Bring your own refreshments. Held at WCQS, 73 Broadway BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • TU (5/16), 7pm "Creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park," with park historian Wilma Durpo. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville PUBLIC EVENTS AT UNCA unca.edu • TH (5/18), 5-7pm - " If You Do Not Start
MOUNTAINX.COM
STRIVE NOT TO DRIVE: In its 25th year, Strive Not to Drive Week’s name says it all: How often can you make it from point A to point B without driving a car? The weeklong focus on alternative transit options offers plenty of fun commuter and transportation events in Asheville, Hendersonville, Waynesville and Black Mountain. For more information and a full listing of events visit strivenottodrive.org. Photo courtesy of the organizers
Strive Not to Drive Events STRIVENOTTODRIVE.ORG • MONDAY through FRIDAY (5/12) until (5/19), 8-9am Commuter station with coffee, fruit and snacks. Free. FRIDAY, MAY 12 • FR (5/12), 7-10am - “Fuel up at the Coop,” commuter station with free coffee. Free to attend. Held at Hendersonville Community Co-op, 715 S. Grove St., Hendersonville • FR (5/12), 4-6pm - “Bike Skills Rodeo,” event to learn and practice bike skills with Bounty and Soul. Bikes and helmets available. Free. Held at Black Mountain Elementary School, 100 Flat Creek Road, Black Mountain, Black Mountain SATURDAY, MAY 13 • SA (5/13), 9am - “Social Ride with Velo Girl Rides,” easy 11-15 mile group bike ride for beginners. Free. Held at Town Square Park, Black Mountain • SA (5/13), 2pm-midnight “Walkable Wall Street,” car-free
event with businesses offering special promotions and activities, music and games. Free to attend. Held on Wall St. • SA (5/13), noon - “Park It! Greenway Day,” group bike ride exploring Hendersonville’s miles of greenways hosted by Blue Ridge Bicycle Club and Friends of Oklawaha Greenway. Free. Held at Jackson Park, 801 Glover St., Hendersonville • SA (5/13), 8:30pm - “Bright Light Biker,” evening group 3-mile bike ride. Returns to Wall St. for dancing and games. Free to attend. Meets at Wall St. TUESDAY, MAY 16 • TU (5/16), 7-10am - ART transit rider appreciation day with breakfast snacks. Free to attend. Held at ART Transfer Station, 49 Coxe Ave. • TU (5/16), 3-5pm- “Go Haywood! Bicycle and Pedestrian Forum,” commuity discussion to review plans for Waynesville and Haywood greenway and
sidewalk projects and participate in an open discussion with area transportation planners. Free to attend. Held at Panacea Coffee, 66 Commerce St. • TU (5/16), 4:30pm - “Walk the Talk on Coxe Ave,” join elected officials, transportation planners and community leaders to walk and discuss the development of Coxe Avenue. Free. Held at ART Transfer Station, 49 Coxe Ave. WEDNESDAY, MAY 14 • WE (5/17), 7pm - “Ride of Silence,” silent group bike ride to honor bicyclists and pedestrians who have been killed. Free. Meet at 35 Woodfin St. Held at ART Transfer Station, 49 Coxe Ave. • WE (5/17), 4:30-6:30pm - “Bike Mechanics 101,” basic bike mechanics class. Free to attend. Held at Epic Cycles, 102 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain • WE (5/17), 5-8pm - “Brewery or Bust,” bus, bike, carpool or walk to the brewery for conversation about the future of multi-modal
connectivity across Henderson County. See website for information about transportation to the brewery: goo.gl/fRcBjI. Free to attend. Held at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way Mills River THURSDAY, MAY 18 • TH (5/18), 4pm - “Asheville on Foot, A Scavenger Hunt,” downtown Asheville pedestrian scavenger hunt. Registration requested: goo.gl/d28cn. Free to attend. Held at Catawba Brewing South Slope, 32 Banks Ave., Suite 105 • TH (5/18), 5:30pm - “Films on Wheels,” short films on the bicycle lifestyle followed by discussion at Boojum Brewing (50 N. Main St.) to talk about the films and active transportation in Waynesville. Free to attend. Meets at The Strand @ 38 Main, North Main St., Waynesville
Collecting Yesterday Today, There Will Be No Tomorrow," presentation on preserving family history, heirlooms and artifacts with John Capers. Sponsored by the UNC Asheville Family Business Forum. Free. Held at Brunk Auctions, 117 Tunnel Rd.
SKYLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT 9 Miller Road, Skyland, 684-6421 • Through WE (5/17) Asheville-Buncombe Senior Games and Silver Arts Competition for ages 50 and over. For full schedule visit ashevillenc.gov/parks. $12/$10 advance.
Eckankar Center of Asheville, 797 Haywood Rd. (“Hops and Vines” building, lower level), Asheville NC 28806, 828254-6775. (free event). www.
Thank you for voting us #1!
eckankar-nc.org FULL MOON TRANSMISSION MEDITATION (PD.) Want to help the world?
SENIORS SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR SENIORS (PD.)
11am, fellowship follows.
SPIRITUALITY
• Companionship and respite care • Accompaniment to appointments • Monitoring and family liaison • Meal preparation • Nursing home visits • Housesitting • Consultation and Mentoring • Conscious Aging Workshops. Evalina Everidge, RN (828) 577-7841. SeasonedPathways.com
ASTRO-COUNSELING (PD.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also available. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229.
AGUDAS ISRAEL CONGREGATION 505 Glasgow Lane Hendersonville, 693-9838, agudasisraelsynagogue.org • WEDNESDAYS, 11am-2pm - The Hendersonville Elder Club for older adults of all faiths. Free.
EXPERIENCE THE SACRED SOUND OF HU (PD.) In our fast-paced world, are you looking to find more inner peace? Singing HU can lift you into a higher state of consciousness, so that you can discover, in your own way, who you are and why you’re here. • Sunday, May 14, 2017,
Group meditation that 'steps down' energies from the Masters of Wisdom for use by people working for a better world. Combination of karma yoga and laya yoga.
Downtown 95 Cherry Street North 828.258.2435
Non-sectarian. No fees. Free. Wednesday. May 10. 7pm. Crystal Visions. 5426 Asheville Hwy. Information: 828-3980609. OPEN HEART MEDITATION (PD.) Now at 70 Woodfin Place, Suite 212. Tuesdays 7-8pm.
Craft - Service - Value An experienced, friendly staff with the largest selection of in-stock moulding in Asheville
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heart and the Divine within you. Suggested $5 donation. OpenHeartMeditation.com
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MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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COM M U N I TY CA LEN DA R
Experience the Contemporary Tradition Buy art directly from Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian artists. Each purchase helps promote and preserve Cherokee culture and way of life.
www.authenticallycherokee.com 28
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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by Abigail Griffin
ANCIENT TALES & LIVELY TUNES: David Joe Miller’s spoken word series, WORD!, presents Doug Elliott, well-known storyteller, humorist and naturalist. Elliott will introduce his latest CD, Of Ginseng, Golden Apples and The Rainbow Fish and will be joined by Todd Elliott on fiddle and Keith Ward on guitar and Moth Story Slam champion Pete Koschnick. The event takes place at Trade & Lore Coffee on Wednesday, May 17, at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online for $15 online at bit.ly/2qhoz10. Photo courtesy of the organizers (p. 29) SHAMBHALA MEDITATION CENTER (PD.) Wednesdays, 10pm-midnight • Thursdays, 7-8:30pm and Sundays, 10-noon • Meditation and community. By donation. 60 N. Merrimon Ave., #113, (828) 200-5120. asheville.shambhala.org BILTMORE BAPTIST CHURCH 35 Clayton Road, Arden • TH (5/11) until MO (5/15), 11am-6pm - Compassion International hosts “The Compassion Experience,” interactive experience offering visitors a sense of what life is like in extremely povertystricken areas around the world. More information: CompassionExperience.com. Free. CENTER FOR ART & SPIRIT AT ST. GEORGE 1 School Road, 258-0211 • 3rd SATURDAYS, 7:309:30pm - "Dances of
Universal Peace," spiritual group dances that blend chanting, live music and movement. No experience necessary. Admission by donation.
and think about topics such as mindfulness and balance. Free to attend. Held at Hannah Flanagan's Hendersonville, 300 N. Main St., Hendersonville
FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • 2nd SUNDAYS, 2:30pm - Pagans for a Just Asheville, general meeting. Free to attend.
URBAN DHARMA 225-6422, udharmanc.com/ • THURSDAYS, 7:30-9pm Open Sangha night. Free. Held at Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave, Asheville
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 Sixth Ave. W., Hendersonville, 693-4890, gracelutherannc.com • 2nd FRIDAYS, 1-2pm Non-denominational healing prayer group. Free.
SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 693-4890 • 1st & 3rd TUESDAYS through (5/16) - "Think and Drink,” for professionals under 40 to socialize
BARNES AND NOBLE BOOKSELLERS ASHEVILLE MALL 3 S. Tunnel Road, 296-7335 • SA (5/13), 2-4pm - Lin Stepp presents her book, Daddy's Girl. Free to attend. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library
Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com
• TH (5/11), 6pm Swannanoa Book Club: How I Became North Korean by Krys Lee. Free. Held at Swannanoa Library, 101 West Charleston St., Swannanoa • TH (5/11), 7pm - WORD! Storytelling series featuring John Thomas Fowler. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • SA (5/13), 3pm - West Asheville Book Club: The Risen by Ron Rash. Free. Held at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road • TU (5/16), 7pm - Black Mountain Mystery Book Club: The Suspect by Michael Robotham. Free. Held at Black Mountain Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain • TU (5/16), 7pm - Fairview Evening Book Club: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview FIRESTORM CAFE AND BOOKS 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • 3rd THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Queer Women's Book Club. Free to attend. FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 687-1218, library.hendersoncountync.org • 2nd THURSDAYS, 10:30am - Book Club. Free. • 2nd THURSDAYS, 1:30pm Writers' Guild. Free. MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE AND CAFE 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com • WE (5/10), 7pm - Laure Grodstein presents her book, Our Short History. Free to attend. • TH (5/11), 7pm - Samuel Peterson in conversation with Tina Madison White presents their book, Trunky: Transgender Junky. Free to attend. • FR (5/12), 4-5pm- "Poetry on Request," with local poet Tracey Schmidt. Free to attend. • SA (5/13), 4-5pm- "Poetry on Request," with a local poet. Free to attend. • SA (5/13), 7pm - Spoken word open mic night. Free to attend. • SU (5/14), 3pm - Troy Ball presents her book, Pure Heart: A Spirited Tale of Grace, Grit, and Whiskey. Free to attend. • WE (5/17), 6pm - Trio,
concert of art, music and literature. Free to attend. • TH (5/18), 7pm - History Book Club: Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Jody Warrick. Free to attend. SWANNANOA VALLEY MUSEUM 223 W State St., Black Mountain, 669-9566, history. swannanoavalleymuseum.org • FR (5/12), 11:30am Historic Book Club: Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, Frank X. Walker. Registration required. Free. THE WRITER'S WORKSHOP 387 Beaucatcher Road, 254-8111, twwoa.org • Through TU (5/30) Submissions accepted for the "Hard Times Personal Essay Contest." Contact for full guidelines. $25. • Through WE (8/30) Submissions accepted for the "Literary Fiction Contest." Contact for full guidelines. $25. TRADE & LORE COFFEE HOUSE 37 Wall St., 424-7291, tradeandlore.com/ • WE (5/17), 8pm - David Joe Millers spoken WORD! series presents storytellers, Doug Elliott and Pete Koschnick. $15. WILMA DYKEMAN LEGACY 458-5813, wilmadykemanlegacy.org, stokely.jim@gmail.com • 2nd THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - Thomas Wolfe Book Club. Free. Held at Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 North Market St.
VOLUNTEERING TUTOR ADULTS IN NEED WITH THE LITERACY COUNCIL (PD.) Dedicate two hours a week to working with an immigrant who wants to learn English or with a native English-speaking adult who has low literacy skills. Sign up for volunteer orientation on 5/31 (5:30 pm) or 6/1 (9:00 am) by emailing volunteers@litcouncil.com. www.litcouncil.com ABERNATHY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1418 Patton Ave., 450-2196 • TU (5/16), 11am-noon The Baby Equipment and Resource Closet community meeting and volunteer information session.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave. Ste. #213, 253-1470, bbbswnc.org • TH (5/11), noon Information session for those interested in volunteering to share their interests twice a month with a young person from a single-parent home or to mentor one-hour a week in elementary schools and after-school sites. Free. HANDS ON ASHEVILLEBUNCOMBE 2-1-1, handsonasheville.org • WE (5/10), 5-6:30pm Volunteer to help keep up with the maintenance of the Verner Center for Early Learning community garden. Registration required. • SA (5/13), 9:30am-noon - Volunteer to assist with unpacking and pricing in a nonprofit, fair-trade retail store. Registration required. • SA (5/13), 10:30am-noon - Volunteer to help create book packages for people recently placed in new housing by Homeward Bound of Asheville. Registration required. • TH (5/18) 4-6pm Volunteer to assist with unpacking and pricing in a nonprofit, fair-trade retail store. Registration required. HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC 218 Patton Ave., 258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • 3rd THURSDAYS, 11am - "Welcome Home Tour," tours of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required. Free to attend.
Inspiring children to become their best selves The Learning Community School is a private K-8 school 15 minutes from downtown Asheville located on the campus of Camp Rockmont.
MOUNTAINTRUE 258-8737, wnca.org • SA (5/13), 9am-1pm - Volunteer to clear nonnative invasive plant species in the park. Free. Held at Richmond Hill Park, 4641 Law School Road, East Bend UNITED WAY OF HENDERSON COUNTY 692-1636, liveunitedhc.org • Through FR (5/12) Register to volunteer for the annual Day of Caring. Volunteers are needed to work on 35 projects among 24 nonprofits on Friday, May 12. Registration: liveunitedhc.org. For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/volunteering
thelearningcommunity.org
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MOUNTAINX.COM
828.686.3080 MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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WELLNESS
ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER Ashevilleans seek solutions for isolation in the digital era BY MONROE SPIVEY spivey.monroe@gmail.com “The most terrible poverty is loneliness.” — Mother Teresa Wherever you are as you read these words, pause for a moment. Are you in your neighborhood coffeehouse, bar or even passing time with a friend? Take a glance around. How many of those around you are engulfed in their phones, tablets or laptops? According to Google, there are currently 2.8 billion people online — 39 percent of the entire human population. By 2020, the number of people with access to the internet will rise to a staggering 8 billion. In a historically unprecedented hyperconnected age, information, commerce and the promise of intimacy lie at the tip of our fingertips — yet despite the lure of instant connection, many Ashevilleans find themselves feeling more disconnected than ever, seeking to fill a void that the ubiquitous phosphorescent glow simply cannot touch. In the digital era, human connection is only a click away. Yet connection does not necessarily equate with intimacy. Elliot (who prefers not to use his real name) says, “The days of borrowing a cup of sugar from a neighbor are long gone. The world we live in today promotes survival of the fittest. We’re opposed to saying hello in a parking lot, waving at our neighbors or starting a conversation to keep from staring ahead in line at the grocery store.” It was this very sense of isolation that inspired Elliot to try his hand at internet dating, joining the reportedly 15 percent of American adults who have used online dating sites or apps, a threefold increase since 2013. “I truly believe that most people feel a sense of isolation and loneliness,” he says. “We’ve become internet hermits [...] living through social media.” Paradoxically, Elliot says that the very medium that contributed to his isolation has also opened up doors. “It’s allowed me to access a larger portion of the population, tearing down walls that society created [for me].” When used intentionally, Elliot says, technology offers the possibility of bridging the very divide that it so often perpetuates. “[Using online dating],
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MAY 10 - 16, 2017
EMBRACING VULNERABILITY: Snuggle Sanctuary participants take part in a “group spoon.” Photo courtesy of Iona Jones
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you’re drilling down the choices [with] the algorithms,” he says. “It gives you a chance to be more selective and cautious, or to take chances on people you previously wouldn’t have given the time of day.” ALONE IN A (VIRTUAL) CROWD Without intention, however, what is the cost of perpetual virtual connection? Social worker Jackie O’Neil attests to the apparent inability of many young people to develop authentic relationships in an era in which the lure of a screen seems almost hypnotically seductive. A practitioner within the field of addictions recovery, O’Neil regularly counsels young adults who, she says, seem to maintain more intimate relationships with their iPhones than with their peers. As part of O’Neill’s treatment regimen at The Willows at Red Oak Recovery, clients are restricted from using electronic devices, which O’Neil says they find “refreshing.” At the heart of addiction, O’Neil says, is the unfulfilled longing for authentic relationship — a longing her
clients seek to fill through drugs, alcohol, sex, food and even video games. Teaching how to build authentic relationships “is really at the heart of my work,” O’Neil says, “because I feel like that’s at the heart of suffering, and the reason why people turn to substances or unhealthy relationships or eating disorders or whatever it is. It’s a way to numb the loneliness, this feeling of ‘I’m by myself in the world.’ Through connection and intimacy and vulnerability, that’s where the heart of the healing is — through [the realization] ‘I’m not alone — someone else has experienced this.’ It’s the magic of group therapy — someone else sees me, someone else knows how I feel.” In spite of technology’s emergence into virtually every aspect of modern human relationship, many individuals have forgone digital connection for inperson intimacy. Jack, 80, who prefers not to use his last name, says, “What we want, we fear the most.” Single for the past 30 years after two long-term marriages, Jack describes a growing realization that his needs for physical and emotional contact were unmet. Aware of his need for connection, several years ago,
Jack sought community via a Cuddle Party, a gathering of individuals dedicated to sharing the healing power of consensual and platonic touch. Jack’s initial experience, however, further illuminated the internal selfjudgments that he now feels contributed to his sense of isolation. “I stayed for the introduction to the orientation and then I left, because I just felt I won the prize for the oldest in the group. I was projecting that I would not fit in and that I would be unwelcome.” A HEALING TOUCH More recently, Jack became aware of Asheville’s Snuggle Sanctuary, the brainchild of shamanic craniosacral practitioner and Inner Beacon life coach Iona Jones. Welcomed wholeheartedly by the community, Jack now credits his Snuggle Sanctuary experience with an increased sense of well-being and the amelioration of the chronic loneliness he had previously experienced. Integral to this shift in his experience, he says, was the “welcoming warmth” of the community — to put it simply, “the acceptance.”
Jack’s search for deeper and more fulfilling connection is not unique — indeed, it is indicative of an epidemic of isolation that led Jones to create Snuggle Sanctuary. A relative newcomer to Asheville — having most recently resided in Big Sur, Calif., — Jones views loneliness largely within a cultural context. Within American society, Jones says, physical touch has been largely relegated to the realm of sexual interaction, engendering a society of individuals starved for authentic connection yet unsure of how to fulfill that need outside the realm of romantic relationship. “We’re not platonically affectionate with each other past childhood,” Jones says. “Often, once a kid is older than puberty, touch becomes completely isolated from the realm of social interaction, and it’s only within a sexual context [that it is experienced.]” Jones further elaborates on the very real and measurable physical benefits of touch: “Touch is such an important component to feeling connected — even down to a chemical level, the chemistry of oxytocin in your system is essential for your health, your nervous system and your heart,” she says. “It’s the happy hormone, and it’s released by touch.” In line with what Jones says, recent research at the University of Chicago suggests that loneliness is as dangerous to physical health as obesity, increasing the risk of early death (and a plethora of ailments) by up to 45 percent. Daniel Barber, another Snuggle Sanctuary participant, echoes Jones’ sentiments. “Growing up, my home life didn’t include much in the way of physical affection — a noggin rub, a pat on the back, a quick hug — those were about the only options,” he says. Barber credits his experience in Snuggle Sanctuary with an increased sense of connection and confidence in communicating his needs. “We learned about and practiced things like consent, the importance of verbally saying ‘no’ or ‘yes,’ the value of asking for what we want, and that it is always OK to change our minds at any time.” Indeed, consent and the exploration of boundaries are critical components of Jones’ work and a hallmark of the Snuggle Sanctuary experience. Particularly for participants who have previously experienced trauma or a violation of boundaries, the experience of giving and receiving with clear intent can be nothing less than transformative, says Jones. Poignantly, she shares her own experience, the inspiration for her presentday work. “When I went to my first
cuddle party, I was so resistant. I don’t want strangers touching me. We were going over the 11 agreements — one of the agreements is to ask for what you want, and I had so much shame around asking for what I wanted,” says Jones. “I wanted somebody to rub my feet, and I was afraid that I would have to reciprocate or they would feel obligated to oblige. But by simply challenging myself to just ask for it, I found someone who wanted to rub my feet. The fact that it was a man that I was interacting with was really healing for me — to allow myself to surrender to the simple touch of somebody rubbing my feet without having to stay on guard or alert or wonder, ‘Is he going to want to take this further?’ I didn’t have any of that because of the container that was created. I trusted and was able to really relax into the experience of receiving a foot rub — that was profound for me.” Barber also speaks to the transformative experience of simple human contact. “There is something medicinal about these kinds of honest connections,” he says. “When they are too infrequent, the result seems to be loneliness, despair and an increasing level of desperation and anxiety about future interactions.” What, then, is the antidote to loneliness, that pervasive burden of the modern human experience? Recounting a story told to him by a friend who had volunteered with the Peace Corps, Jack says, “The people were asking her about her life here in the States — and these people were in poverty — and she mentioned that she lived 500 miles away from her family. She said that the people just looked at her with compassion mixed with horror; they saw she was impoverished because of that. I remember watching a documentary about Mother Teresa, and the shot was of an elderly woman walking alone down a busy sidewalk.” Visibly touched by the memory, Jack says, “Mother Teresa was saying that you don’t have to do God’s work on her terms — you don’t have to take care of the dying or the destitute. Just recognize that there are people in your life who are bereft of human contact. That stuck with me.” X
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W E L L N E S S CA LEN DA R WELLNESS ABOUT THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHNIQUE • FREE INTRODUCTORY TALK (PD.) The authentic TM technique, rooted in the ancient yoga tradition—for settling mind and body and accessing hidden inner reserves of energy, peace and happiness. Learn how TM is different from mindfulness, watching your breath, common mantra meditation and everything else. Evidence-based: The only meditation technique recommended for heart health by the American Heart Association. NIHsponsored research shows deep revitalizing rest, reduced stress and anxiety, improved brain functioning and heightened well-being. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut. 828-254-4350. TM.org or MeditationAsheville.org OPENING THE ENERGY GATES • QIGONG CLASS (PD.) Saturdays, 11am-12pm, Weaverville, NC. Foundational mind/body practices for creating whole health. Instructor Frank Iborra has over 47 years experience in the internal and Taoist movement arts. 954-721-7252. www.whitecranehealingarts.com ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA CENTER 8 Brookdale Road, ashevillecommunityyoga.com • SATURDAYS (5/13) & (5/27), 12:30-2:30pm - Meditation workshop series. $40/$15 dropin. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library • TU (5/16), 6pm - "Beginner's Meditation," class with Asheville Insight Meditation. Register: buncombecounty.org/library or 828-250-4718. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. HAYWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 262 Leroy George Drive Clyde, 456-7311 • TH (5/18), 5-7pm - "Strong Bones for Life," osteporosis awareness event. Free. • TH (5/18), 5-7pm - Breast Care Center open house. Free. MAHEC EDUCATION CENTER 121 Hendersonville Road, 257-4400, mahec.net • WE (5/17), 5:30-7pm - "Re-Energizing Your Life," & "Heart Attack in Women - Signs You
Chinese Medical Treatment for Injury & Illness
Shouldn’t Chalk Up to Stress," dinner, self care and presentation by Paula Guilfoyle and Ronnie Metcalf. For women only. Dinner and wine provided. Registration: mahec.net/recharge. Free.
DIABETES SUPPORT 213-4788, laura.tolle@msj.org • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 3:30pm - In room 3-B. Held at Mission Health, 509 Biltmore Ave.
THE MEDITATION CENTER 894 E. Main St., Sylva, 356-1105, meditate-wnc. org • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm - "Inner Guidance from an Open Heart," class with meditation and discussion. $10.
EATING DISORDERS ANONYMOUS (561) 706-3185, eatingdisordersanonymous.org • FRIDAYS, 4:30pm - Eating disorder support group. Held at 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave # G4, Asheville
SUPPORT GROUPS ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS & DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES adultchildren.org • Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS • For a full list of meetings in WNC, call 2548539 or aancmco.org ASHEVILLE ADOPTION BIRTH MOTHERS SUPPORT GROUP craustin247@gmail.com • SA (5/13), 10am-noon - Peer support group for women who relinquished their children for adoption. Register for location. ASHEVILLE WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY 215-536-8026, womenforsobriety.org • THURSDAYS, 6:30-8pm – Held at YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave. ASPERGER'S TEENS UNITED facebook.com/groups/AspergersTeensUnited • For teens (13-19) and their parents. Meets every 3 weeks. Contact for details. BRAINSTORMER’S COLLECTIVE 254-0507, puffer61@gmail.com • 3rd THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - For brain injury survivors and supporters. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 213-2508 • 3rd THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - For breast cancer survivors, husbands, children and friends. Held at SECU Cancer Center, 21 Hospital Drive CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT 989-1555, deb.casaccia@gmail.com • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 6 pm – Held in a private home. Contact for directions. CODEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS 242-7127 • FRIDAYS, 5:30pm - Held at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 556 S. Haywood Waynesville • SATURDAYS, 11:15am – Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. • TUESDAYS 7:30pm - Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 DEBTORS ANONYMOUS debtorsanonymous.org • MONDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St.
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Acupuncture • Herbal Prescription Therapeutic Massage
Andrew & JulieAnn Nugent-Head
828-398-0667 / www.alternativeclinic.org 23 Broadway Street, Downtown Asheville
learn more from our site walk in or schedule online
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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Bring to Asheville 30+ Years Experience in China
DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE 367-7660, depressionbipolarasheville.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7pm & SATURDAYS, 4pm – Held at 1316-C Parkwood Road.
FOOD ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 423-6191 or 242-2173 • SATURDAYS, 11am- Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4 FOUR SEASONS COMPASSION FOR LIFE 233-0948, fourseasonscfl.org • TUESDAYS, 3:30-4:30pm - Grief support group. Held at Four Seasons - Checkpoint, 373 Biltmore Ave. • THURSDAYS, 12:30pm - Grief support group. Held at SECU Hospice House, 272 Maple St., Franklin G.E.T. R.E.A.L. phoenix69@bellsouth.net • 2nd SATURDAYS, 2pm - Group for people with chronic 'invisible' auto-immune diseases. Held at Fletcher Community Park, 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS gamblersanonymous.org • THURSDAYS, 6:45pm - 12-step meeting. Held at Basillica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. GRIEF PROCESSING SUPPORT GROUP 452-5039, haymed.org/locations/the-homestead • 3rd THURSDAYS, 4-5:30pm - Bereavement education and support group. Held at Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care, 127 Sunset Ridge Road, Clyde HIV/AIDS SUPPORT GROUP 252-7489 • 1st & 3rd TUESDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Sponsored by WNCAP. Held at All Souls Counseling Center, 35 Arlington Street LIFE LIMITING ILLNESS SUPPORT GROUP 386-801-2606 • TUESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - For adults managing the challenges of life limiting illnesses. Held at Secrets of a Duchess, 1439 Merrimon Ave. LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN 776-4809 • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm - Hosted by American Chronic Pain Association. Held at Swannanoa Library, 101 West Charleston St., Swannanoa LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, NC CHAPTER 877-849-8271, lupusnc.org • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm - Lupus support group for those living with lupus, their family and caregivers. Held at All Souls Cathedral, 9 Swan St. MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS network@memorycare.org • 2nd THURSDAYS, 1-3pm – Held at Pisgah Valley Retirement Community, 95 Holcombe Cove Road, Candler • 3rd TUESDAYS 1-3pm – Held at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Road
MEN DOING ALLY duncan2729@yahoo.com • 2nd THURSDAYS, 7pm - Support group for men. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road
OVERCOMERS RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP rchovey@sos-mission.org • MONDAYS, 6pm - Christian 12-step program. Held at SOS Anglican Mission, 1944 Hendersonville Road OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS • Regional number: 277-1975. Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings.
MINDFULNESS AND 12 STEP RECOVERY avl12step@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7:30-8:45pm - Mindfulness meditation practice and 12 step program. Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite G4
RECOVERING COUPLES ANONYMOUS recovering-couples.org • MONDAYS 6pm - For couples where at least one member is recovering from addiction. Held at Foster Seventh Day Adventists Church, 375 Hendersonville Road
MY DADDY TAUGHT ME THAT mydaddytaughtmethat.org • MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm - Men's discussion group. Free. Held in 16-A Pisgah Apartment, Asheville NAMI WC 505-7353, namiwnc.org, info@namiwnc.org • TH (5/11), 6:30-8pm - Support group for adults living with mental illness. Held at First Congregational UCC of Hendersonville, 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS 505-7353, namiwnc.org, namiwc2015@gmail.com • 3rd TUESDAYS, 6pm - Connection group for individuals dealing with mental illness. Held at NAMI Offices, 356 Biltmore Ave. • 3rd TUESDAYS, 6pm - For family members and caregivers of those with mental illness. Held at NAMI Offices, 356 Biltmore Ave. OUR VOICE 35 Woodfin St., 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • Ongoing drop-in group for female identified survivors of sexual violence. OVERCOMERS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 665-9499 • WEDNESDAYS, noon-1pm - Held at First Christian Church of Candler, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler
370 N. Louisiana Ave. • THURSDAYS, 6pm - Held at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. SUNRISE PEER SUPPORT VOLUNTEER SERVICES facebook.com/Sunriseinasheville • TUESDAYS through THURSDAYS, 1-3pm - Peer support services for mental health, substance abuse and wellness. Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville SUPPORTIVE PARENTS OF TRANSKIDS spotasheville@gmail.com • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - For parents to discuss the joys, transitions and challenges of par-
enting a transkid. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. T.H.E. CENTER FOR DISORDERED EATING 337-4685, thecenternc.weebly.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm – Adult support group, ages 18+. Held in the Sherill Center at UNCA. WNC ASPERGER'S ADULTS UNITED facebook.com/WncAspergersAdultsUnited • 2nd SATURDAYS, 2-4pm - Occasionally meets additional Saturdays. Contact for details. Held at Hyphen, 81 Patton Ave.
REFUGE RECOVERY 225-6422, refugerecovery.org • THURSDAYS, 7:30pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness, Unit C4, 370 N. Louisiana • FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 6-7:30pm Held at Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave, Asheville • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Held at Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N Merrimon Ave., #113 SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS saa-recovery.org/Meetings/UnitedStates • SUNDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. • MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 6pm - Held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave. SHIFTING GEARS 683-7195 • MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Group-sharing for those in transition in careers or relationships. Contact for location.
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SMART RECOVERY 407-0460 • FRIDAYS,2pm - Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville • SUNDAYS,6pm - Held at Kairos West Community Center, Haywood Road, Asheville • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Held at Sunrise Community for Recovery & Wellness, Unit C4,
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MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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GREEN SCENE
CONNECTING DOTS
‘Backyard scientists’ aim to fill gaps in weather tracking
UNDER OBSERVATION: Kathleen Godfrey, left, 8, and her sister Eleanor, 6, check the rain gauges their family monitors as observers for the CoCoRaHS program. Photo courtesy of Christopher Godfrey
BY KATIA MARTINEZ kdmartinez1027@gmail.com When Christopher Godfrey purchased a rain gauge as a birthday gift for his wife a few years ago, neither of them knew how important that piece of equipment would become to their research. “I study precipitation and extreme rainfall, so he thought it would just be a fun gift,” Elaine Godfrey says. Now, the Godfreys check that gauge almost every day, and they record the data for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, or CoCoRaHS, a grassroots network of volunteers that records weather patterns in their communities. “We’re essentially a network of backyard scientists,” says
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Christopher. “Some of us are actual scientists, but we’re all invested in the work.” SERIOUS BUSINESS The data CoCoRaHS collects is used by several government agencies, including the National Weather Service, to determine daily rainfall and record local weather events that satellites might not pick up with the same precision. “Models and satellites are precise in their own right, but these are people who are on the ground,” says David Glenn, North Carolina state coordinator for CoCoRaHS. “It’s the hardcore truth of what happened.” There are 85 active observers in Buncombe County, but there are still several unobserved territories
that the Godfreys would like to see filled. There is a particular need for more rural communities outside the city center to get involved. “We still have a lot of gaps in the mountains, and precipitation varies based on the location of the gauge,” Elaine Godfrey says. “We don’t have that many gauges, so the more we can get, the better we can understand what kind of microclimates happen around here.” These microclimates can change from one side of a mountain to the other and are most distinguishable during a storm. Weather patterns vary drastically, especially in the western part of the state, so the more data CoCoRaHS can collect, the better. “There are days when something happens on one side of the mountain that doesn’t happen on the other,” Elaine Godfrey says.
“The elevation, wind patterns and general climate all vary so much.” A SOCIAL NETWORK The network was founded in 1998 by the Colorado Climate Center staff at Colorado State University and has since expanded to every U.S. state and has a growing presence in Canada. Glenn has been part of CoCoRaHS since 2007 and is also the science and operations officer for the National Weather Service. He started working with CoCoRaHS in South Carolina at Midlands Technical College and continued his work with the network when he moved to New Hampshire, where he became the state coordinator. Glenn, who volunteers as an observer in Carteret County, also
started the CoCoRaHS branches in Maine and New Hampshire and has watched the network expand quite quickly. “I’ve really been able to see CoCoRaHS grow through the years,” he says. “It’s really incredible to see how many people are involved now.” NICE AND EASY CoCoRaHS observers are responsible for measuring weather patterns in their backyard, and all they need to get started is a rain gauge and some time. “There’s [extensive] training videos that we have everyone watch,” Glenn says. The videos teach observers how to read a rain gauge, how to measure snowfall and what to do in case of hail. That’s the only training required to become an observer, and as the county co-cirector, it’s Christopher Godfrey’s job to answer any other questions about the process. Glenn says snowfall is one of the most complicated measurements to take, because it requires multiple steps. Observers are asked to bring a sample of the snow inside to measure once it’s melted, which Glenn says is actually one of the most important pieces of data after a major snowstorm. “When you’re measuring that, you can project how much water is going to run after it snows, which could help predict a major flood,” he says. FILLING IN THE GAPS Elaine Godfrey previously worked with the National Climate Extremes Committee, where she used CoCoRaHS data during her research on extreme rainfall.
“I was working on extreme rainfall events, so these were the recordsetting events,” she says. “These were 10, 15, or 20 inches of rain during one event, and that data helped us accurately record it.” She says the data helped to clarify climate variations between major rain gauges, which tend to be in airports and major cities. There aren’t any official gauges set up in those in-between areas. When a historic weather event happens, the observers’ data become especially vital. “Once something major occurs — I’m talking tornadoes, hurricanes, major storms — our data becomes part of the official record,” says Glenn. “We know exactly what happens at a local level, and that is immediately incorporated into the official data.” BROADER APPLICATIONS The data have also been used to help city planners, infrastructure engineers and building managers better anticipate the likely effects of weather on the built environment. That was the premise of a 2015 project Christopher Godfrey did in partnership with the N.C. Department of Transportation. By examining historical hourly data spanning a 34-year period (gathered 41 different observation stations), Christopher contributed to a design model that DOT engineers use to “design roads for various climate, usage and traffic conditions,” he says. By comparing road surface damage against weather data over the expected lifespan of roadways, Christopher helped the DOT refine its expectations for road life in different areas. Elaine Godfrey has also seen the data used to benefit planners; understanding local weather patterns is vital, she says, for design-
1st Quality
ing any kind of infrastructure or building. “When you know how much rain falls in a place and what the rainfall records are, you can incorporate those into the plans,” she says. “Especially in certain ravines and microclimates where rain is a major part of ecosystem.” THE PAIN OF NO RAIN The group also records dry spells, which can be just as extreme as a major storm. “Our name only says rain, hail and snow, but droughts are just as much a part of our data,” Glenn says. “We have to know how dry climates are affecting local communities.” Observers are asked to record more aesthetic and nontraditionally measurable data during times of extreme droughts, much like the one that has been affecting Western North Carolina. The Godfreys both say the drought was a difficult time for them as observers. “It was hard to go out there every day and record zero after zero,” Christopher says. “When we finally got any rain, even one-eighth of an inch, it was a big deal. It made us
really appreciate the rain when it finally came.” PROMOTING COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Several schools also participate in data observations, and Glenn says North Carolina has a large network of student volunteers. In fact, it is second only to Colorado, where the network was started and existed for 10 years before North Carolina’s began. “Students are able to see a realworld application of what they’re learning,” Glenn says. “These are elementary, middle and high school students who are learning how to interact with data.” The Godfreys travel around the state raising awareness and getting volunteers, but primarily focus on observing Buncombe County and partnering with surrounding counties. They say the hyperlocal focus is what keeps them invested. “We are constantly trying to understand the societal implications of meteorological events,” Christopher says. “It’s great because CoCoRaHS is essentially one giant citizen science project.” X
Become an observer Ready to grab a gauge and measure in millimeters? CoCoRaHS is always looking for observers, especially during the rainy months. Signing up is simple: Go to cocorahs.org, click “Join CoCoRaHS” and fill out the application. From there you’ll be connected to the county director, who will walk you through the process. CoCoRaHS has a particular need for observers in more rural communities outside the Asheville city center. — Katia Martinez X
ROSES
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3377 Sweeten Creek Rd. Arden, N.C. 28704 | 828-650-7300 MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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FARM & GARDEN
Become a master of mead than inebriation, she says. “If I grow this amazing medicine, I can then ferment it and bottle it and keep it for years, so I always have that plant available.” While spreading her spirited message, Percoco is also encouraging people to get to know and interact with the natural world and impressive biodiversity in their backyard. The more they learn about plants’ many uses, the more they’ll want to protect them, she believes. In her upcoming beginning mead-making class, she’ll discuss fruit and plant selection and how to capture their essence during the brewing process without destroying any special properties — as well as, of course, how to coax out their flavors for a great-tasting elixir. For more about Percoco and her classes, visit wilderlandia.org. X
Make your own mead WHAT Mead Making 101 With Marissa Percoco, an overview of mead-making,
MEAD TO SUCCEED: Marissa Percoco is an unabashed booster of mead, a fermented beverage that contains honey and water — and sometimes additions such as herbs or spices that contribute flavors and other properties. Photo courtesy of Percoco
BY MAGGIE CRAMER mcramerwrites@gmail.com The gospel according to Marissa Percoco, a self-described “obsessed fermenter,” goes like this: Mead is a magical brew. Teach as many people as possible how to conjure up the magic for themselves — which she’ll do Sunday, May 14 at Villagers in West Asheville. What’s so, ahem, intoxicating about fermented honey water? “There’s this historical coolness that mead has going for it,” she explains,
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including discussion on harvesting ingredients, fermentation, racking, bottling and storing,
citing its prevalence in Viking lore and its possible distinction as the oldest form of alcohol known to man. Vikings believed in its healing powers, and Percoco does, too. Especially since, as an herbalist, she incorporates natural medicinals into her boozy beverages, therapeutic plants from the forest along with healthful fruits and edible flowers from the garden. (Not to mention, honey has its own medicinal qualities.) In fact, the long history of fermenting plants in this way has as much if not more to do with preservation
with tastings from her meadery WHERE Villagers, 278 Haywood Road WHEN Sunday, May 14, 5:30-8:30 p.m. DETAILS Class is offered on a sliding scale of $25-$50 per person; register at forvillagers.com
Flowers for Mom! • Roses
• Hanging Baskets • Annual Flowers • Peonies • Perennials • Gifts • Gift Certificates
70 Monticello Rd. Weaverville, NC I-26/Exit 18 828-645-3937
www.reemscreek.com
FERMENTING REVOLUTION: Living off the grid has inspired Marissa Percoco to pursue “liberation from refrigeration,” examining the relationships between food, preservation and fermentation. Photo courtesy of Percoco
ECO PASSIVE SOLAR GREENHOUSE TOURS (PD.) M R Gardens. Saturdays, 11am, April 8-June 10. One-of-a-kind structure remains ideal growing temperature through the coldest parts of winter and in unseasonably warm weather. $5. • Sustainable plants available for sale. RSVP: (828) 333-4151. megan@mrgardens.net ASHEVILLE GREEN DRINKS ashevillegreendrinks.com • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Ecopresentations, discussions and community connection. Free. Held at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies, 36 Montford Ave. ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS 254-1776, ashevillegreenworks.org • SA (5/13) & SU (5/14), 10am5pm - Event for Buncombe County residents to drop off any type of tire, on or off the rim, to be recycled. Free.
FARM & GARDEN BULLINGTON GARDENS 95 Upper Red Oak Trail Hendersonville, 698-6104, bullingtongardens.org • SA (5/13), 9am-5pm - Mother’s
Day plant sale featuring native and non-native perennials, hanging baskets, tomatoes and other vegetable starts, herbs, unusual annuals, small trees and shrubs. Free to attend. BUNCOMBE COUNTY EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS 255-5522, buncombemastergardener.org, BuncombeMasterGardeners@ gmail.com • SA (5/13), 10am-2pm - Spring plant sale in partnership with the Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society. Sale features roses, perennials, natives, pollinators, and garden implements and Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to help answer questions. Free to attend. Held at American Red Cross Asheville, 100 Edgewood Road CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE cityofhendersonville.org • THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS until (5/13) - Seasonal mulch and composted leaves giveaway. Thurs. & Fri.: 3:30-7pm. Sat.: 8am-noon. Free. Held at the old Waste Water Treatment Plant, 80 Balfour Road, Hendersonville HAIKU BAMBOO BAMBOO NURSERY/FARM 20 Tuttle Rd, Hendersonville • 2nd & 4th SUNDAYS, 1:30-3pm “Bamboo Walking Tours,” through bamboo forest to learn about
bamboo plants. Registration: 6853053. $25/$23 seniors/$15 ages 13-18/Free under 13. JEWEL OF THE BLUE RIDGE VINEYARD 606-3130, chuck@JeweloftheBlueRidge.com • SA (5/13), 10am-2pm - “Planting, Propagation tips, and trellis design/installation,” class. $35 includes lunch. M R GARDENS 441 Onteora Blvd. • SATURDAYS through (6/10), 11am - Tours of passive solar greenhouse. Registration: megan@mrgardens.net or 828333-4151. $5 and up. POLK COUNTY FRIENDS OF AGRICULTURE BREAKFAST polkcountyfarms.org • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7-8am - Monthly breakfast with presentations regarding agriculture. Admission by donation. Held at the 4-H Center, Locust St, Columbus SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY 253-0095, appalachian.org • TH (5/11), 2-4pm - “Two-Wheel ‘Walk-Behind’ Tractor Demo & Maintenance,” workshop. $20. Held at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Community Farm, 180 Mag Sluder Road, Alexander
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BEER WEEK
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FOOD
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Booze is big business in Western North Carolina these days, and everyone seems eager to cash in on the opportunity. There are 34 breweries operating now in the Asheville area, the wine scene is booming in the mountains, and the recent development of four new distilleries brings the area’s total up to seven. But in a sea of clear spirits, sometimes cloudy waters breed the most intrigue. A couple of new Asheville distillers are offering liquor with colorful stories and local roots to boot. “This comes from a recipe I came up with years ago when I was living way out in Fairview,” says Chris Bower, owner of the Double Crown and Lazy Diamond and now one of the founders of Eda Rhyne Distillery. “I got the inspiration and said, ‘I’m going to walk out of the house today, and I’m going to make a fernet.’” WILD HARVEST
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He pours a glass of inky black liquid from a clear, unlabeled bottle — a test recipe of his Appalachian fernet — and pairs it with a pour of the most famous amaro, the beloved hipster sipper Fernet Branca. At the time of his spirit’s creation, Bower lived on 60 acres in Fairview, where he foraged more than 20 wild botanicals, including spices, roots and herbs, to generate his own recipe. Over the course of five years, he has honed that tincture into something that is astoundingly comparable in taste, color and texture to Fernet Branca. “It was all just stuff I harvested that day — roots, flowers, leaves,” he says. “It is straight up Appalachian, old-school fernet.” Originating in Italy as a digestif over 170 years ago, fernet is a form of amaro, or sipping bitter, made from a pungent infusion of botanicals and medicinals native to a region’s interpretation of the spirit. In Italy, that means ingredients from the spice trade — saffron, mint, allspice, clove and gentian root. But for Bower and the folks at Eda Rhyne, that means mountain aromatics like spicebush and nearly 60 other hand-foraged flavors.
FROM THE OLD COUNTRY: Oak & Grist co-owner William Goldberg, second from left, traveled to Scotland to learn whiskey-making from career Scotch distiller Edwin Dodson, far right. Also pictured are co-owner Russell Dodson, second from right, and Goldberg’s father, Robert Goldberg, left. Photo by Jonathan Ammons Beyond Eda Rhyne’s Appalachian Fernet and Forrest Floor Amaro — a much lighter, sweeter offering, similar to Amaro Montenegro — the distillery plans to offer barrel-aged and herbal rye whiskey and gin and a spicebush vodka. Eventually, all of the ingredients, from the grain to the botanicals, will be sourced from coowner and distiller Rett Murphy’s Aardvark Farm in Yancey County as well as Carolina Ground or Riverbend Malt House. The grains to distill, the botanicals to infuse, the barrels for aging — all will be Appalachian-made and regionally produced. “We want hand-harvested medicinals in locally made spirits with local grains,” says Bower. “We want this to be Western North Carolina as f**k.”
ROOTED IN TRADITION In Black Mountain, there’s another shiny new still just starting to warm up at Oak & Grist. William Goldberg and Russell Dodson opened their distillery to produce single-malt whiskey in the style of Scotch whisky. And the product has authentic roots — Goldberg traveled to Scotland to learn the craft from Dodson’s father. “He’s got the basics right, it’s just down to fine-tuning,” says Edwin Dodson, Russell’s father. Edwin is a career veteran Scotch distiller for Glen Moray, Ardbeg and Glenmorangie who also helped design the three-pot still system at Woodford Reserve. “I spent nearly 50 years in this industry,” he says. “And you learn little tricks and things over time, so that is why I am here.”
Tastings of Oak & Grist’s products are available by setting up an appointment with the distiller. But Bower, Murphy and the other Eda Rhyne coowners, Andrew Bertone and Pierce Harmon, are still in the midst of launching the business. The partners are running an Indie GoGo campaign to try to pick up the funding needed to complete the final steps in getting their program off the ground. “The whole concept of terroir is what is driving this whole idea, and
that includes the water, the grains, the heirloom corn. … It’s really why we are doing this in the first place,” Bower says of the homegrown nature of the spirits. “When you talk about terroir, this fernet was started in my backyard. It has a real story; it has a place where it came from.” For details about Oak & Grist, visit
oakandgrist.com. To learn more about Eda Rhyne Distillery, visit edarhyne. com. To support Eda Rhyne’s fundraising efforts, look for “Eda Rhyne Distillery” at indiegogo.com. X
plant scratch food, cocktails, and a patio 165 merrimon avenue | 828.258.7500 | www.plantisfood.com MOUNTAIN SPIRITS: Eda Rhyne Distillery owners Chris Bower, left, and Rett Murphy use foraged herbs and botanicals from Murphy’s Yancey County farm to infuse their Appalachian Fernet and Forrest Floor Amaro products. Photo by Jonathan Ammons “We are a grain-to-bottle distillery,” says Goldberg. “Every spirit that we make will be made from locally grown and malted grains.” These ingredients will be sourced from Riverbend Malt House. Since traditional whiskey requires barrel-aging, Oak & Grist’s first release — Dark Rhythm Gin — will be made from the same base that goes into the company’s single-malt whiskey but will be clear and infused with juniper, coriander, lemon verbena, sumac, carrot and myriad other botanicals. In addition to gin, Goldberg and Dodson intend to produce a vintage single malt, rye whiskey and amaro, releasing them as they mature in the barrel. SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT There are some striking similarities between these two distilleries, but their methods are quite different. Both source from the same grain growers and malt house, both are using entirely local products — both even have custom-built Chinese stills. But Oak & Grist sports a copper column still and a 250-gallon kettle
in which it will make single-malt whiskey for its base. Meanwhile, Eda Rhyne boasts a Willy Wonka-looking copper column/whisky-head hybrid mounted asymmetrically on a massive kettle with a separate chamber for vapor distillation of botanicals. The company plans to make several different mash builds for its gin and whiskey. Basically, the two distilleries are employing two wildly different ways of skinning the same cat. We are still easily a few months out from finding Eda Rhyne and Oak & Grist products on the shelves at local ABC stores. Though both distilleries have completed the federal process of approval for production, the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission is still a hurdle that must be dealt with. And after the brand is approved to create the spirits, the companies still have to sell it to the state and then to each of the 166 regional boards for distribution in their represented counties — an intimidating task for small businesses run by independent craftspeople. Bottle prices for both brands are anticipated to be just above the $30 range.
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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FOOD
by Dana Schlanger
dschlang@unca.edu
CAFÉ AT THE CRADLE An Asheville chef partners with a local farmer to provide sustainability-focused food at the Cradle of Forestry
2017 WNC’s fun way to give!
Now accepting applications from area nonprofits to participate in our annual fundraising effort.
CULTURAL CONNECTION: Café at the Cradle chef Zika Singogo sources locally raised meat, produce and other food products from farmer Kendall Huntley to create a menu that connects to the Cradle of Forestry’s focus on Appalachian heritage and culture. Singogo is pictured on the café’s patio with the pimento cheese burger and green salad. Photo by Cindy Kunst
For more information, go to avl.mx/3g5 40
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Nestled in a valley within Pisgah National Forest, the Cradle of Forestry is a destination with a rich diversity of experiential opportunities. About a 45-minute drive southwest of Asheville, the site, which is known as the birthplace of modern forestry, now also showcases Café at the Cradle, a sustainable eatery headed by Asheville chef Zika Singogo.
Singogo, who grew up in Kansas, says that although he attended culinary school for a time, he is largely self-taught. Having been raised on a farm, he learned many of the local food movement’s basic tenets organically. “We butchered our animals; we grew our own food,” he says. He cites his father, who was an agricultural engineer, as a major source of inspiration for his lifelong culinary pas-
sion and his dedication to using local ingredients — a focus he sees as a selfevident mission of Café at the Cradle. REGIONAL VISION Devin Gentry, the Cradle of Forestry’s director of operations, notes that through its sustainability efforts, the café rounds out the site’s education
mission, which aims to allow “people to connect with personal heritage and Blue Ridge heritage and culture.” He says that his and Singogo’s “shared vision” was critical to the formation of their partnership. Singogo’s commitment to using sustainably raised, locally derived food complemented Gentry’s desire to see the Cradle’s eatery transition away from concession-stand offerings and vending machine items to a real food experience that reflects the history and culture of the region. For example, the café’s veggie melt vegetarian sandwich features melted provolone with roasted red peppers, tomato and spring mix highlighted by a ramps pesto. Ramps, which are a regional wild edible, have longstanding significance in Cherokee and Appalachian cultures. And although some folks are deterred by the vegetable’s pungent reputation, Singogo notes that because most people know what pesto is, they are willing to try ramps in this form. The menu also features other sandwiches, such as pulled pork and burgers made with local beef, all in the $9-$10 range, including chips and a drink. Soups, salads and children’s meals are also available, all priced between $4-$8. And, although the café isn’t open until 11 a.m., there’s a breakfast sandwich for $5. Drinks include local bottled water and sodas from the Waynesville Soda Jerks — sorghum cola, blueberry basil and lavender lemon are just a few of the bubbly flavors on the grab-and-go shelf. “That’s the concept of my retail spaces,” he says: “localcentric grocery.” The café also offers reasonably priced picnic baskets by preorder. A charcuterie basket that feeds two to three people costs $25; a barbecue basket that can feed four to six people is $40, and a build-your-own option is available for up to $12 per person. As Gentry remarks, “People make memories over food.” SINCERE SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is a fashionable and highly marketable catchphrase in the food service industry today. But Singogo reaches for a sincere interpretation of the term. The vast majority of his products, including the meat and produce, are sourced from Yancey Countybased Whispersholler Farms, a local food supplier and network of small farms owned and operated by Kendall Huntley. Huntley also operates a food market at Asheville Food Park, and his business serves numer-
LOCAL HISTORY LUNCH: In the picnic area just outside Café at the Cradle, guests can investigate the historic Cantrell Creek Lodge, one of only two remaining original Black Forest Lodges in the Pisgah National Forest. The lodges were built by forester Carl Alwin Schenck in the late 1800s and early 1900s to house rangers. Photo by Cindy Kunst ous other Asheville-area restaurants, including HomeGrown, TacoBilly and Tiger Bay Café, to name a few. “I’m just not interested in using a major food purveyor,” Singogo says. He doesn’t even use a freezer at the café. “It’s limiting in some ways, but [it means that] everything is fresh and made from scratch. It’s about simplicity, I guess, for me, being able to choose which products I want and incorporate them into the menu.” Although a modest statement, Singogo’s candor underpins the significance of his efforts. “If it’s not sustainable, this isn’t going to be here in 50 years for everyone to enjoy,” he says, motioning to the expanse of forest beyond the café’s patio. HIDDEN GEM Despite the heavily trafficked trails surrounding the site, Gentry says the Cradle and its restaurant are lesserknown destinations. “I still consider it a hidden gem,” he says. He notes that since there are no other restaurants in Pisgah National Forest besides the Pisgah Inn,
the café not only serves visitors at the Cradle of Forestry but also provides an accessible option for famished hikers and campers. The café also offers a catering component that is available to locals and tourists alike, either at the Cradle or for external events. “We’re excited about the partnership,” Gentry says. “We like the fact that he’s emphasizing heritage through the menu.” Gentry also emphasizes Singogo’s passion for the work, noting, “He has a strong commitment to quality. Zika wants things to be done right; he wants people to be happy.” Singogo and Gentry would both like to see more folks come to check out the Cradle of Forestry. “I just hope we can help bring more traffic. I’d love to see more people just come out here and look around. It’s a great place to come hang out on the porch and listen to the birds,” says Singogo. Café at the Cradle is at the Cradle of Forestry, 11250 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest. Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. TuesdaySunday. It will be open daily following Memorial Day. X
Dinner 7 days per week 5:00 p.m. - until Bar opens at 5:00 p.m. Brunch - Saturday & Sunday 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. LIVE MUSIC Tue., Thu., Fri. & Sat. Nights Also during Sunday Brunch
Locally inspired cuisine.
Located in the heart of downtown Asheville. marketplace-restaurant.com 20 Wall Street, Asheville 828-252-4162
MOUNTAINX.COM
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SMALL BITES
FOOD
by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com
Pretzel Fest at Whistle Hop Brewing Co. Locally roasted craft coffee
Geography Cold Brew Now available in growlers and mini-growlers
Roastery + Tasting Room 362 Depot Street
Downtown Cafe
39 S. Market Street Suite D
pennycupcoffeeco.com
DINNER EVERY NIGHT
THE PRETZEL MAN CAN: Steve Michael works around the clock, tackling a full-time job during the day and making pretzels late into the night at his pretzel factory in Black Mountain. Photo by Kat Lyons
Patio Now Open 828.505.7531 1011 Tunnel Rd, Asheville NC 28805 Home Trust Bank Plaza
coppercrownavl.com
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When Steve Michael first arrived to Asheville in 2015, the Pennsylvania native noticed something missing at nearly every bar and brewery he visited: pretzels. “In western Pennsylvania, you can’t get away from them,” he says. “Down
here it seemed odd that we had all these breweries and nobody making hard pretzels.” By January 2016, Michael, who was working as a mechanic at the time, had launched Asheville Pretzel Co. with business partner Bert LeRiche. “My
brainchild was to put the seasoning inside the dough,” he says. “That way you didn’t have to get it on your fingers. But I found out later that yeast doesn’t like anything in there with it.” Eventually, Michael discovered the right balance that allowed the two to coexist.
On Saturday, May 13, the Asheville Pretzel Co. will hold its second Pretzel Fest. This year’s event will take place at the Whistle Hop Brewing Co., which opened its caboose taproom in Fairview in December. All three pretzel flavors — the original, which uses malt for a sweeter taste; a garlic, onion and chive blend; and a srirachabased recipe — will be available for guests to sample. In addition to its pretzels, the company will offer guests its latest creation, which Michael describes as a mashed potato chip. “It’s unlike any potato chip you’ve ever had,” he says. “The flavors [onion, salt and pepper] are inside [the chip], just like with our pretzels. And we bake them in our oven, so they’re not fried.” Along with the free samples, the Asheville Pretzel Bandits will perform. The bluegrass band is made up of part-time Asheville Pretzel Co. employees Shawn Hagan, Mitch McConnell and John Fullam. Beer will also be for sale. Michael says the festival is a chance for people to celebrate the pairing of pretzels and beer. He also considers it an excuse to take a day off. While the Asheville Pretzel Co. has its products in over 30 Ingles grocery stores in the region, as well as a number of local breweries, shops and movie houses throughout Western North Carolina and the Greenville, S.C., area, Michael still works a full-time job on top of
his evenings and weekends spent making pretzels. His dream is to eventually turn Asheville Pretzel Co. into his primary gig, but he compares that process to a freight train. “It takes so much to get it moving, but once you get it rolling, you can’t stop it,” he says. “I think we’ve pulled away from the station, and we’re pushing down the hill.” Pretzel Fest runs 2-6 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Whistle Hop Brewing Co., 1288 Charlotte Highway, Fairview. The event is free and family-friendly. For details, visit avl.mx/3oq. POSANA SUPPORTS ASAP’S GROWING MINDS PROGRAM On Thursday, May 18, Posana will hold its ninth annual benefit dinner in support of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. The restaurant will donate all proceeds from its special one-night-only a la carte menu to the nonprofit’s Growing Minds program, which provides funding to area schools and preschools for school gardens, tastes tests, visits to farms and classroom cooking. Featured dishes will include ingredients from area farms and purveyors, including beets, eggs, local cheeses and greens. “Hosting a benefit for ASAP’s Growing Minds program was one of the very first things that the Pollays [Posana’s owners] did when they opened their restaurant nine years ago,” says Emily Jackson, program director at
ASAP. “That speaks volumes about them and their desire to build a healthy community.” The dinner takes place Thursday, May 18, at Posana, 1 Biltmore Ave. For reservations, call 828-505-3969 or visit posanarestaurant.com.
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION’S CELEBRITY CHEF TOUR AT THE MARKET PLACE Award-winning
chef William
Dissen will host the James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour Dinner at his Wall Street restau-
POSTERO DINNER BENEFITS ST. GERARD HOUSE
rant, The Market Place. Along
Hendersonville’s Postero will host a five-course dinner to support St. Gerard House, a nonprofit based in Hendersonville that serves individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The dinner will feature seared pierogi with goat’s milk ricotta and leeks, Sunburst trout, pan-roasted corvina and she-crab bisque, Border Springs Farm lamb and crispy berry meringue. “My mother, Lani, was a special needs teacher,” says Jason Reasoner, Postero’s owner and chef. “We also have a member of our Postero family that has an autistic child, so the St. Gerard House and its mission are special to us.” The dinner runs 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at Postero, 401 N. Main St. Reservations are required. The dinner is $85 per person with 30 percent of the evening’s sales going to the nonprofit. For more details, visit avl.mx/3on.
chefs Vishwesh Bhatt of Snackbar
with Dissen, the evening will feature a menu crafted by acclaimed Restaurant (Oxford, Miss.), David Bancroft
of
Acre
Restaurant
(Auburn, Ala.), Nina Compton of Compere Lapin Restaurant (New Orleans) and Eric Gabrynowicz of
Asheville’s
Tupelo
Honey.
According to a press release, the six-course dinner will offer guests “the rare opportunity to interact with the participating chefs throughout
the
evening
and
savor specially designed tasting menus complete with wine and beverage pairings.” The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at The Market Place Restaurant & Lounge, 20 Wall St. Tickets are $175 and include tax and gratuity. Visit avl.mx/3or for tickets, or call The Market Place at 828-252-4162. X
Ladies Night
in the Enoteca at Rezaz every Wednesday night for more info: facebook: enotecatrezaz instagram: rezazasheville Make reservations at reserve.com 28 Hendersonville Rd. 828.277.1510 rezaz.com
1987 Hendersonville Rd. Ste A • Asheville, NC • (828) 676-2172 (near the intersection of Longshoals & Hendersonville Rd) • Reservations Available M-F 11am-2:30pm & 5pm-9:30pm • Sat 11am-9:30pm • Sun 12pm-9:30pm MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
43
BEER SCOUT
FOOD
by Scott Douglas | jsdouglas22@gmail.com
Pure and simple With the profusion of new breweries opening in Asheville, it can be difficult to stand out in the crowded scene. One project on the horizon has arrived at a refreshingly basic solution: Keep it simple. Eurisko Beer Co., slated to open on the South Slope in late June or early July, will focus on brewing traditional beer styles flawlessly while maintaining an extremely limited distribution footprint. The idea is to grow smarter rather than faster, with an eye toward serving Asheville first and foremost. “Between all the buyouts and mergers and expansions, in the public’s mind, the bigger craft breweries are becoming almost indistinguishable from the macrobrewers,” says Eurisko owner and brewmaster Zac Harris. “But it’s possible to compete on a national or global level, even if you mostly just sell your beer in your taproom. We want to stay Ashevillespecific as much as possible — we’re never going to be a shelf-staple.” Along with founding partners Zack Mason and Matt Levin, Harris intends to specialize in Old World beer styles brewed to exacting standards. Offerings will run the gamut from dark to light and malty to hoppy in a wide range of gravities, with a particular focus on barley wines and saisons. For the time being, Eurisko won’t produce sour beers in order to reduce the risk of infection inherent to mixed fermentation taking place alongside singleculture brewing. “We want to cover both ends of the spectrum — big, chewy stouts [and] high-gravity barley wines, but also dry, crushable IPAs and very traditional, well-attenuated Belgian-style saisons,”
KEEPING IT LOCAL: Eurisko Beer Co. head brewer Zack Mason, owner and brewmaster Zac Harris and general manager Matt Levin in front of their homebrew equipment. They plan to focus their energy on serving the Asheville market. Photo by Scott Douglas says head brewer Mason, a former employee of Brawley’s Beverage bottle shop in Charlotte who has toured Western Europe’s best breweries with Harris. “We’re not going to brew American wild ales with lactobacillus and a bunch of adjuncts and then call them saisons. We’re going to brew everything to style — we really want to nail barley wines.” Harris was an avid homebrewer who worked at Appalachian Vintner before
Sunday Funday Brunch!
All Your Latin Brunch Favorites! Now Open • 11am - 3pm
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Eurisko Beer Co. lands on the South Slope
MOUNTAINX.COM
earning his World Brewing Academy Master Brewer Certificate from the prestigious Siebel Institute. The rigorous course of study included extensive hands-on training at the Doemens Academy in Munich, Germany, and deepened his love of Old World beers and brewing techniques. He then cut his teeth as a professional brewer at one of North Carolina’s largest craft breweries, NoDa Brewing Co. in Charlotte, where he learned the ropes of operating a successful brewery in the U.S. Taking the front-of-house reins for Eurisko is general manager Levin, a food and beverage service veteran who brings extensive bar experience to the table (or taproom). “I’ve worked in restaurants and bars for at least 30 hours a week since I was 16,” he says. “So out of everybody, I’ve probably got the most service industry experience. I was fortunate enough to be around Zac [Harris], who had the brewing background, and Zack [Mason], who’s such a wealth of knowledge. But four years ago when I said, ‘We should start a brewery,’ it didn’t seem feasible at all.”
That improbable dream is soon to be a reality, with Eurisko’s 15-barrel brewhouse due to be installed before the end of May. Fabricated by Vancouver, Wash.-based Marks Design and Metalworks — which built an identical system on a slightly larger scale for Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp production facility — Eurisko’s system includes heated mash tuns ideally suited to step-mashing grain for lagers according to traditional European methods. Housed in a former barbershop at 257 Short Coxe Ave., Eurisko will be downtown Asheville’s southernmost brewery. The production facility and cellar space are connected to a twostory taproom, with ample outdoor space for a beer garden adjacent to the brewhouse. The upstairs taproom is a bright, open space featuring reclaimed wood and original hardwood floors, while the downstairs space is characterized by a darker, warmer atmosphere consistent with a highend dive bar, according to Mason. The plan is to differentiate draft offerings based on the aesthetic distinction between the spaces, possibly featuring darker, barrelaged beers downstairs. Longtime friends before undertaking their professional venture, the Eurisko team’s exhaustive knowledge of beer is far from the only credential on their nerd curricula vitae — their discussions are often liberally peppered with Tolkien references, a portrait of “Twin Peaks” character Laura Palmer is never far from their brewing equipment, and even the name Eurisko itself is taken from an early episode of The X-Files dealing with artificial intelligence. But the talk always comes back to their passion for brewing and the Asheville beer community. “I like to drink beer,” Mason says. “So being in a position where beer is the focal point of my life, making beer with friends in a place that I love, is pretty ideal.” Eurisko Beer Co. is expected to open at 255 Short Coxe Ave. in June or July. For updates, visit the brewery’s Facebook page. X
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A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T
SELF-DIRECTED
Two local artists follow their passions in the RAD
BY ALLI MARSHALL amarshall@mountainx.com Both artwork and Asheville proved to be landing places for local creatives Viola Spells and Marcos Martinez. Spells, a jewelry artist, and Martinez, a landscape painter, have established themselves in the River Arts District, where they’ll participate in the Spring Studio Stroll Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21. Spells — whose sculptural, crocheted wire designs are sometimes delicately lacy and sometimes fiercely avant-garde — grew up in Asheville. A career as a librarian took her away to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, then to Western Carolina University’s Hunter Library, which houses the school’s audio collections, and finally to Philadelphia, where Spells headed the city’s largest regional library. While in Philadelphia, Spells’ daughter took a jewelry-making class at the private school she attended. On parent day, “I walked in and thought, ‘Oh my God! This is what I want to do with the rest of my life,’” Spells remembers. But it wasn’t until she’d retired from library work that she found time to pursue that interest. After completing a BFA in metals at East Tennessee State University, Spells purchased a house in Asheville — she’d returned to the city to be near her ailing mother — and considered basing her business, Zenobia Studios, in her home. But, “with renovating, I couldn’t do any art!” she says. “So I decided, ‘I’ll just go where all the other artists are, to the River Arts District.’” Spells was the first tenant in the Pink Dog Creative building and — after a few moves — found herself back in the same location. Zenobia Studios is named for Spells’ mother. “We have a lot of Zenobias in my family. It’s a biblical name,” she says. “[My mother] loved the arts. She loved handmade jewelry and earrings.” In fact, even though Spells was forging and casting bronze while in school, “I selected crochet wire
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ON THE WIRE: Asheville native Viola Spells crafts unique crocheted wire jewelry for her business, Zenobia Studios. She will make jewelry on commission for those with specific ideas and, “Most of my statement necklaces are one of a kind,” she says. Photo by Alli Marshall
MOUNTAINX.COM
as my medium [because] I am fascinated with history and liked this choice even more because my grandmother and mother also crocheted,” she says. “Plus, I wanted to express something about women who are the backbone of families. Women adorn themselves with everyday found objects. Since women used this technique early on ... wire translated textures of the fibers they used to adorn themselves and their homes.” HOME AWAY FROM HOME Martinez, meanwhile, grew up in a mountainous area of Mexico that looked a lot like Western North Carolina, he says. His family relocated to Texas, which didn’t appeal to him, and as soon as he was able, he came to to the Asheville area where an uncle was already living.
“When I was a kid, my father used to take me to these towns. … We were above the mountains. After the rain, there was the fog … it looked very cartoonish,” he says of his memories of Mexico. “When I came here, I was inspired. I enjoy the colors nature creates. My favorite saying is, ‘One is happy where one belongs, and one belongs where one is happy.’ I love it here, and I’m happy here.” While his Mexican roots don’t directly inform his work, that love of the mountains and the shapes of clouds he delighted in as a young person were rekindled by WNC’s natural settings. Martinez is a prolific painter of such scenes. “Since the landscape painting movement is big here, I like to go to different towns and participate in different contests,” he says. “I paint to relax. Instead of watching TV, I watch nature. I like observing how the clouds move.”
But, Martinez adds, he also likes to paint his own concept of nature, marrying realistic backdrops with surreal elements — a boat on a lake through which a tree with a compass embedded in its trunk has grown; a deer resting on a beach with a red-leafed tree in place of antlers. Surrealism found him, says Martinez, who didn’t seek out the art form, but was inspired by books about quantum mechanics and astronomy. A self-taught artist, Martinez says he likes to combine spirituality with his work. “It’s more like I do it for myself, for my soul, and the result is secondary,” he says. “But I like to share it with people.” He’ll have the chance to do just that during the biannual studio stroll. Martinez has been located in the RAD for about 2 1/2 years and considers his current space, in Studio 375 Depot, to be the best for its sense of community. “I’ve met a lot of really cool people,” he says.
there’s a future [in the arts],” the artist says. Spells is also a member of Asheville’s African American Heritage Commission and regularly shares information about that organization with visitors to her studio. “It is a problem about interconnecting the communities through what’s going on with the arts,” she says. But the jewelry maker is working both to change that and to find more opportunities for connecting her own work to new audiences. Recently, she designed statement necklaces for a fashion show staged by Ananda West hair studio. She’s also constantly seeking new ideas for her designs, from textures like chain mail to color combinations (black and gold is always a big seller, she says) to shapes like wire balls and flattened discs. “I use Pinterest a lot to get ideas,” she says. “That’s when my library skills come out.” X
WHAT River Arts District Spring Studio Stroll
SURREALITY: Painter Marcos Martinez took some classes with “really cool teachers” but considered himself a self-taught artist. “I love how nature creatures forms, and the forms follow patterns,” he says. “That’s my inspiration — the patterns life creates. It’s an endless paradigm.” Pictured, ‘God Plays Dominoes,’ 11 X 14, oil on canvas, by Martinez A FUTURE IN THE ARTS Spells, too, is interested in the community of the RAD and would like to see it attract more visitors from nearby communities of color. A
member of The Links (a professional organization for black women) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she’s been part of programs that work with local schools to engage children of color in the arts. “This
year we brought the kids in. We had three series — I did a jewelry session” and others in the studio taught ceramics and collage. “I taught them how to wire-wrap a cabochon. … We’re trying to teach them that
WHERE Galleries and studios throughout the River Arts District. Free parking and free trolleys. Find a map at riverartsdistrict.com WHEN Saturday and Sunday May 20 and 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free
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A&E
by Bill Kopp
bill@musoscribe.com
DISRUPTING THE OLD-TIME VIBE Skunk Ruckus celebrates ‘Pearls Before Swine’ with an album-release party
WHEN PIGS FLY: Skunk Ruckus’ punk-fueled take on Appalachian styles might discomfit purists, but the band’s second album, Pearls Before Swine, gets it right for modern, open-minded listeners. Photo courtesy the artists Nearly everything about Asheville -based band Skunk Ruckus is suffused with humor. But the band is very serious about
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its music. The inherent tension between those two realities is part of the group’s recipe for success, as is the band’s musical style: equal
parts punk and mountain music, delivered in cheeky style. Skunk Ruckus celebrates the release of Pearls Before Swine with a show
at The Mothlight on Thursday, May 11. Back in the 1960s, pioneering freak-folk group Pearls Before
M O U N TA I N X P R E S S P R E S E N T S
Swine released a series of oddyet-influential albums with titles like One Nation Underground. But Skunk Ruckus banjo player, vocalist and songwriter Jim McCarthy says that the title of the band’s second and latest album has nothing to do with that group. “Actually, it’s from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount,” he says, quoting the Scripture: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Knowing where the story is headed, guitarist Dave Gilbert cautions, “Not sure that’s too cool to say in print; know what I’m sayin’?” McCarthy chuckles and forges onward, undeterred. “We were playing a show and just kicking the crap out of it,” he says. “And no one was responding. We might as well not have been there. And then Dave leaned over and said, ‘We are giving these guys gems!’ And I said, ’Pearls before swine!’” It was all meant in good-natured fun, but the phrase stuck and ended up as the album title. Currently a four-piece band (McCarthy and Gilbert plus bassist Max Steel and Ween drummer Claude Coleman Jr.), Skunk Ruckus originally came together around the core duo of McCarthy and Steel. Gilbert describes that duo’s sound as “old-time ballads with electric bass.” Once he joined, Gilbert bonded with Steel over a shared appreciation for Fugazi and other Washington D.C.-based hardcore bands. “I figured, why not play a harmonic wall of noise over the banjo melodies?” Gilbert notes that the band’s sound has developed since then but adds with a smile that he sees his role as “thinking how to disrupt Jim’s thing as much as add to it.” Seemingly at odds with McCarthy’s musical mindset — “The more we morph or cross genres, the more, personally, I keep attaching myself to an older and more traditional sound,” McCarthy says — that push-andpull is key to Skunk Ruckus’ overall sonic quality. “The bones are still the bass and banjo,” Steel says. Pearls Before Swine was recorded at the Eagle Room in Weaverville with Matt Williams producing. The band blocked out a solid week for the marathon recording session and mixing. At one point, toward the end, it looked as if the musi-
cians would run out of time without finishing the vocal parts. “But I said, ‘I got this,’” recalls McCarthy. “And then we knocked out six tracks in one day. That about killed me.” He reveals that Irish whiskey was a key to success: “The Jameson really helped with the hoarseness.” The addition of Coleman on drums greatly expanded the group’s sound. Gilbert explains that when Skunk Ruckus was still a trio, McCarthy would “stomp on the kick-drum as he flayed the banjo and gut-sang. It was a great sound, but we wanted to be more of a rock band.” Gilbert says that Coleman’s skills as an arranger also helped sharpen the band’s musical approach. “Plus,” he adds, “he’s fun as hell to play with. He spurs on the jams.” Skunk Ruckus’ musical hybrid style has earned the musicians a solid fan base, but their irreverent take on the old-time musical aesthetic rankles some purists. “Traditionalists get a little antsy with us,” McCarthy admits. “Hell … even when I am playing old-time, they get antsy.” Steel jokes that “they tend to leave quickly,” then turns more serious and adds, “People truly appreciate our blend of genres.” “We do our thing,” says Gilbert. “Appalachian music isn’t frozen in the past, buried in amber in a museum or something. Appalachian music is alive today, and it responds to the living world that we all experience. We tell our stories.” X
Older Americans Week! A SPECIAL ISSUE
C O M I N G M AY 17 T H !
WHO Skunk Ruckus with The Dirty Badgers and Tinderbox Circus Sideshow WHERE The Mothlight 701 Haywood Road themothlight.com WHEN Thursday, May 11, 9 p.m. $5
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49
A&E
by Daniel Walton
danielwwalton@live.com
VARIATIONS ON A THEME On a sunny Monday afternoon at Catawba Brewing Co., the bar is comfortably abuzz with patrons eager for a glass of the brewery’s seasonal Peanut Butter Jelly Time brown ale. But under the ferns and palms in the back corner, tucked beside the gleaming silver tanks that make the springtime favorite, is a group more interested in jam — the Musicians in the Round open mic and jam session, that is. This month, the weekly gathering of Asheville-area artists marks its third year at Catawba’s South Slope location. The event has hosted hundreds of performances (including a harmonica cover of “Wagon Wheel” by vice presidential hopeful Tim Kaine last August) and theme nights ranging from hair metal to cheesy love songs. To celebrate the anniversary, however, organizer Jon Edwards is returning Musicians in the Round to its roots: Every Monday in May is devoted to songs written within 60 miles of Asheville. “I wanted the theme to kick us into high gear and showcase the amazing talent we have in this area,” says Edwards. “From greats like [Aaron] Woody Wood, who have been doing it forever, to newcomers like Ashley Heath and Jordan Okrend, the singer-songwriters around town are just fantastic.” The local theme is also a way for Musicians in the Round to highlight its role in the development of Asheville’s music culture. At least four gigging bands have emerged from the jam, and solo songwriters have also found inspiration in the regular sharing of music. Edwards gives the example of Richard J. Gibson: “A year and a half ago, he wasn’t writing any songs,” Edwards says. “He’s been here every single week since then, and he’s written close to 50 tunes.” Scooter Haywood, who formed the outlaw country group Scooter Haywood and the Repeat Offenders at Musicians in the Round, credits the event’s friendly atmosphere as key to inspiring creativity. “You end up inviting someone to play a song with you — next thing you know, you’re having beers and talking about what you want to do next,” he says. Those spontaneous, low-key performances made it
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Open mic at Catawba Brewing Co. celebrates local songwriting
HOMEMADE HARMONIES: Local singer-songwriter Brie Capone performs at Catawba Brewing Co.’s weekly Musicians in the Round open mic. In celebration of the event’s third year, the month of May is devoted to songs written within 60 miles of Asheville. Photo by Adam McMillan
MOUNTAINX.COM
easy for Haywood to find band members and develop new material. In agreement is Kyley Byrd, whose folk-inspired band Byrdie & The Mutts also arose from the open mic. “I might play the same song with three different people on three different nights here, and each time it sounds completely different,” she says. “It gives you the chance to throw new ingredients in the blender and find these tasty little recipes.” Byrd even learned a new instrument, the ukulele, to jam more easily and sing with other players. With this atmosphere of collaboration, it’s not surprising that many of the regulars at Musicians in the Round plan to perform the songs of their peers during the May theme month. Byrd says she’ll cover a tune by Gibson, while Haywood mentions the works of Logan Mason and Dave Desmelik as possibilities. But including songs within a 60-mile radius allows performers to
explore music beyond the current Asheville singer-songwriter community. Regular attendee Steve Ensley says that many historically important country and bluegrass artists have strong connections to the area. “One person a lot of people don’t know is Billy Edd Wheeler,” says Ensley. “He grew up in Kentucky, but he went to school at Warren Wilson [College], married the college president’s daughter and stayed in Swannanoa ever since.” Wheeler’s credits include the Johnny Cash hit “Jackson,” the Elvis Presley single “It’s Midnight,” and the Kenny Rogers classic “Coward of the County.” Beyond Wheeler and his extensive discography, Ensley mentions Warren Haynes, the Asheville-born guitarist of The Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule, as well as bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs, whose first radio performance was with the Old Fort-based Morris Brothers on WWNC. “I don’t write music — I
can’t write a check,” laughs Ensley. “But my hat’s off to these people and the roots of music here.” Whether old or new, local music brings people together at Musicians in the Round. “The jam gives us an opportunity to play each other’s music and learn from each other,” says Byrd. “It’s the right vibe to keep growing and evolving as musicians.” X
WHAT Musicians in the Round facebook.com/musiciansintheround WHERE Catawba Brewing Co. 32 Banks Ave. WHEN Mondays, 5:30-9 p.m.
A&E
by Timothy Burkhardt
burkhardttd@gmail.com
LOCAL LEGENDS When local businessman Dick Gilbert and folk singer Andy Cohen opened their coffeehouse, Asheville Junction, in 1975, they were looking for talented local musicians to perform for the growing folk music scene. Their search led to Walter Phelps, a then-elderly African-American artist who had been a local celebrity in the 1930s. Phelps and his wife, Ethel, were living in poverty in Asheville’s Valley Street neighborhood. “I had gone down to the corner behind the County Building and asked around about ‘that old guy who used to play blues around here’ and was directed to May’s Place, where you went to play the numbers,” says Cohen. “[Walter and Ethel] were there having a beer. We talked for a bit, and I asked them to come to the Junction, which was up the hill from there.” The Phelps duo, it turns out, was a surprise hit. Ethel sang, while Walter played guitar. “There were about 25 or 30 people the night they first played, and we made some money,” Cohen remembers. “I like to think their existence was a bit of a revelation to the people who frequented the place.” He continues, “Old-time fiddle music is a major export from Asheville, [that although] the town is completely surrounded by blues players in every direction, what few of them lived here didn’t have much of a chance against the fiddles and banjos.” Walter and Ethel’s blend of gospel, Delta blues and 1920s ragtime captured the imagination of the Asheville folk scene. They became regular performers at the Junction. Local musician Dan Lewis, who was there that first night in 1975, says he felt an instant connection with the Phelpses’ music and charismatic personalities. “They were the kind of people who you gravitated to and wanted to hang out with,” says Lewis. “There was something about their music that was spontaneous and energetic — I had to play music with these people. I was a long-haired white kid, and they were old enough to be my grandparents, but we quickly became close friends.” The three began performing together, with Lewis on the bottleneck slide guitar while Walter played rhythm guitar and Ethel sang. Lewis booked them gigs at local coffeehouses and bars, including the Town Pump and McDibb’s in Black Mountain. In 1978, they were the
The life and times of blues artists Walter and Ethel Phelps
TRUE BLUES: “Those times were very segregated,” says Dan Lewis, discussing Asheville in the early 20th century. “And yet Walter, because he was a musician, was able to cross a lot of interesting barriers and be places where there were normally few black faces at all.” Photo of Ethel, left, and Walter Phelps courtesy of Lewis featured performers at the John Henry Festival in Princeton, W.Va., and, in 1980, they performed at Bele Chere. Lewis played and recorded music with Water and Ethel for 10 years, until Walter’s death in 1985. Ethel died the following year. According to Edward Kamara’s Encyclopedia of the Blues, Phelps was born in 1896 in Laurens, S.C., and was both a contemporary and acquaintance of bluesmen Pink Anderson and the Rev. Gary Davis. In the 1920s, Phelps first came to Asheville in the employ of Dr. Nonzetta and Chief Thundercloud, a pair of snake oil salesmen who ran a traveling medicine show. “This was back in the days before the Food and Drug Administration, so [for] these snake oil medicine shows, people would cook up batches of tonic that had sugar and coloring, molasses,
white liquor — God knows what else in there — and sell it as medicine,” says Lewis. Nonzetta and Thundercloud would pull up to Pack Square on the back of a flatbed truck. On a makeshift stage, Phelps would, as he phrased it to Lewis, “play music, cut shines and tell lies.” After the performance, Nonzetta and Thundercloud would sell their tonics, and Phelps would wander through the audience peddling moonshine. Phelps decided to settle in Asheville, and, despite having to contend with systemic racism of the times, he thrived as a performing artist. “Those times were very segregated,” says Lewis. “And yet Walter, because he was a musician, was able to cross a lot of interesting barriers and be places where there were normally few black faces at all. For example, the old Sky Club … a highclass speakeasy. Rich people would come
there for gambling, entertainment and illegal liquor. Despite the ‘whites only’ policy, Walter and his friends would periodically play music there.” In 1940, Walter and a friend were hired by the segregated Imperial Theater on Patton Avenue to sit on a hay bale and play music to draw crowds to the movie Gone With the Wind. According to Cohen, Walter also claimed to have been a part of a jug band that performed at McCormick Field, playing on the top of the dugout during the seventh-inning stretch. The band consisted of several guitars and a banjo, and an instrument that Phelps called a Kazooxaphone, which was made by attaching a length of garden hose to a kazoo on one end and a funnel in the other. “In exchange for the musical entertainment, Walter said he and his band were allowed to watch the games for free,” says Cohen. As time passed and musical styles changed, interest faded in the blues that Phelps played. In the 1940s, too old to fight in World War II and no longer making money as a musician, he took a job working on the construction of the Fontana Dam in Swain County. He worked there for several months until a minor injury convinced him that the job was too dangerous. He returned to Valley Street, where he and Ethel were married. Ethel was 20 years Walter’s junior and a gospel singer in a local church choir. The couple lived in relative obscurity on Valley Street until meeting Cohen in the ’70s. Lewis lives in Weaverville and still performs locally. He continues to play the songs that he learned from Walter and Ethel, and has many recordings of their performances together, including a studio album that has yet to be released. He plans to host a crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter to raise the funds so that he can continue to share the music of Walter and Ethel Phelps in the 21st century. “In a way, it’s about culture,” says Lewis. “It’s when people finally get the chance to experience, to be exposed to [another] culture they realize that there are wonderful things we have to share with each other. And until you do, you don’t know.” Walter and Ethel exposed a lot of people to music that they never would have heard otherwise. “It was like a time machine when you were listening to them,” says Lewis. “You were back in their era.” X
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T H E AT E R R E V I E W
A&E
by Tony Kiss | avlbeerguy@gmail.com
‘The Realistic Joneses’ at 35below
FOR REAL: The Realistic Joneses is now onstage at 35below. Pictured, from left, are Chloe Zeitounian, Badi Mirheli, Kier Klepzig and Christine Eide. Photo courtesy of Ellipsis Theater Company The Realistic Joneses, produced by the locally based Ellipsis Theater Company, is a tale of new neighbors and rocky relationships.
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It remains onstage at Asheville Community Theatre’s 35below performance space through Sunday, May 21.
Written by Will Eno, The Realistic Joneses appears, at first, to be a quirky comedy. The lives of two couples, both named Jones, col-
lide with furious force. But it soon becomes clear that the neighbors won’t just be sharing chitchats or stopping by to borrow a cup of sugar. There is some of that, but the problems that haunt this bunch are common in some ways and unique in others. Communication, or the lack of it, is central to the story and its outcome. The play opens on the back porch of Bob and Jennifer Jones (Kier Klepzig and Christine Eide), who seem settled into life in their small mountain town. But the scene is transformed by the arrival of new neighbors John and Pony Jones (Badi Mirheli and Chloe Zeitounian). From the start, it’s obvious that these two Jones families share nothing beyond a last name. Bob is quiet and unable to do much for himself. Jennifer provides the strength and direction in their relationship. John is quirky, to say the least, and Pony — young, naive and insecure — is a bit of a puzzle. There are some comic moments, initially, as the four try to get to know each other. But lurking below the surface is a secret. There is something terribly wrong, and only poor Pony is left in the dark, struggling with her own emotional issues. But perhaps she is not as out of the loop as it seems. The secret takes its toll on all involved. A range of emotions is explored — frustration, fear, anger, loneliness, uncertainty and even love, or what is left of it. This cast brings great depth to the story. Klepzig, who plays Bob, creates a character who is teetering on the edge but remains likable while wrestling with some serious issues. Playing supportive wife Jennifer, Eide must provide the strength to maintain the home
2017 WNC’s fun way to give!
— handling the household duties and much more. At the other Jones household, it’s clear that John (Mirheli) is disturbed. Mirheli — who is riveting in the role — delivers some of the most fascinating dialogue. As Pony, Zeitounian is caught up in an overwhelming situation without realizing just what is going on. It’s a sensitive performance, and perhaps this is the character the viewer will care the most about. Director Ellisa Peragine guides a quartet with enormous talent. The performances are powerful, profound and leave a lasting impact. The energy is amplified by the confines of 35below’s black box theater space. Those seated on the front row are just inches from the action, and even the back of the house is close enough to feel the heat. Combined with the sharp skills in this cast, it makes for an often intense night of theater. X
WHAT The Realistic Joneses by Ellipsis Theater Company WHERE 35below at Asheville Community Theatre 35 E. Walnut St.
Strauss Attorneys, PLLC would like to invite you to join us for our free seminar: LGBT Rights in North Carolina Two Years After Obergefell: What Marriage Equality Means for Family and Finances Attendees will receive a copy of our new book:
ashevilletheatre.org WHEN Through Sunday, May 21 Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 2:30 p.m. $18
Now accepting applications from area nonprofits to participate in our annual fundraising effort.
For more information, go to avl.mx/3g5
May 20, 2017, 12 pm at the Renaissance Hotel in Downtown Asheville. Attendees who RSVP will be provided a light lunch and a free copy of our new book.
Topics to be discussed include: Estate Planning • Taxes • Financial Planning • Adoption • Divorce Plus, a quick update about the state of LGBT Legal Affairs in the Trump Administration.
To reserve your seat, please RSVP: 1-828-696-1811 or lisak@strausslaw.com MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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SMART BETS
A&E
by Emily Glaser | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com
The Muses of Terpsicorps
Jarrod Harris and Lace Larrabee Funny Business at The Grey Eagle regularly brings nationally recognized comedians, like Jarrod Harris and Lace Larrabee, to Asheville. Onstage Harris, who formerly lent his voice to the comedy web series “Action Figure Therapy,” embraces his moody, irreverent side. Meanwhile, former beauty queen and bartender Larrabee makes light of her varied history. “I love performing here because Asheville has some of the best comedy audiences in the country,” says Larrabee of the duo’s upcoming return to the city. “They are always smart, open and down to party — even if my definition of partying involves tasting 250 local beers in a night and theirs involves making artisanal tambourines out of their own hair.” The comedians will perform Saturday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at The Grey Eagle. $12/$14. thegreyeagle.com. Photos courtesy of the comedians
The life of one of Asheville’s famed visitors, Zelda Fitzgerald, will find new interpretation through the work of the preprofessional wing of the Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. Talented young performers, ages 10 through high school, study at The Academy at Terpsicorps in Asheville. The repertoire of the Muses of Terpsicorps, as they’re known, will include a new work on Fitzgerald (herself a dancer), as well as pieces from classical ballets Napoli and The Nutcracker and contemporary excerpts from The Turn of the Screw and Run Ragged. This is the last chance to see four dancers who will be moving onto sought-after positions in nationally acclaimed programs (including 17-year-old Erin Corliss, pictured, who will be attending the professional division at the Alvin Ailey School). The show takes place Sunday, May 14, at 7:30 p.m. at Diana Wortham Theatre. $18/$10 children. dwtheatre.com. Photo by Zaire Kacz
Aaron Burdett Award-winning Appalachian musician Aaron Burdett will celebrate the release of his new album, Refuge, at Isis Music Hall on Friday, May 12. Refuge takes the rich history of mountain storytelling and refits it with modern-day quandaries and questions. “I tried to tell a compelling story with each [song] that is somehow personal to me, but still relatable to others. We also stripped down the production to make sure the writing and emotional content came through strongly,” Burdett says. Though many of the album’s tunes feature his full band, Burdett also took the opportunity to exhibit his strength on his own. “I think we did a good job of capturing the essence of the songs, and what I do solo on the numbers that were left more sparse.” The album release party begins at 9 p.m. $10/$12. isisasheville.com. Photo by Sandlin Gaither
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Con Brio Soulful pop-rock group Con Brio will stop in Asheville while on tour for last summer’s release of Paradise, the band’s first full-length album. Inspired by a vision frontman Ziek McCarter received of his father, on the eve of recording, Paradise — with a mix of catchy melodies, impassioned R&B and occasional ska-inspired horn solos — is an invitation to listeners to find paradise here on Earth. The album was well-received, but Con Brio’s highest praise comes in regard to its live performances. When asked what fans can expect at the upcoming Asheville show, the band replied, “Dance, sweat and to leave a little freer than when they arrived.” Con Brio headlines Asheville Music Hall on Saturday, May 13, at 9 p.m. $9/$13. ashevillemusichall.com. Photo courtesy of the band
A& E CA L E N DA R
by Abigail Griffin
FIBER WEEKEND: On Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, May 14, from 1-4 p.m., the fiber community of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will gather to sharing knowledge and skills at Fiber Weekend, an annual free event at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On both days, more than two dozen members will be demonstrating their craft processes, with an invitation for visitors to get hands-on with all sorts of fiber. Sunday’s activities will include the 18th annual Fashion Show of Wearable Art. For more information, visit craftguild.org. Photo of master dyer Dede Styles by Laurie O’Neill courtesy of the Southern Highland Craft Guild (p. 55) ART APPALACHIAN BARN ALLIANCE appalachianbarns.org • SU (5/14), 1-3pm - "Barn Journals: Color Drawing Workshop," with artist Susan McChesney. Registration: mcc@mcchesneyart.com or 207-2327759. Admission by donation. Held at Beech Glen Community Center, 2936 Beech Glen Road, Mars Hill APPALACHIAN PASTEL SOCIETY appalachianpastelsociety.org • SA (5/13), 10am-noon - General meeting and “Thinking Abstractly," presentation by artist Cathyann Burgess. Free. Held at Grace Community Church, 495 Cardinal Road, Mills River GROVEWOOD GALLERY 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • Through SA (5/13) - Biltmore Industries history tour. Schedule: grovewood.com/history-tours. Free to attend. ODYSSEY COOPERATIVE ART GALLERY 238 Clingman Ave., 285-9700, facebook.com/odysseycoopgallery • 2nd SATURDAYS, 11am-5pm "Second Saturday Celebration," event with food, music and artist demonstrations. Free to attend.
THE ASHEVILLE DARKROOM 207 Coxe Ave., Suite 16, Asheville, .572.3275, theashevilledarkroom.com • 3rd MONDAYS 6-8pm "Darkroom basics," workshop. $10. THE BASCOM 323 Franklin Rd. Highlands, 526-4949, thebascom.org • FR (5/12), 1-7pm & SA (5/13), 10am-9pm - Weekend of events in conjunction with North Carolina: A Sense of Home, Selections from the Do Good Fund, exhibition. Gallery talks, tutorials, reception and live music. See website for full schedule: thebascom.org. TRYON ARTS AND CRAFTS SCHOOL 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, 859-8323 • TH (5/11), 6-7pm - Crossroads, exhibit artists panel discussion. Free.
ART/CRAFT FAIRS BLACK MOUNTAIN OLD DEPOT 207 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain, 669-6583, olddepot.org • SA (5/13), 10am-6pm - "Art by the Tracks," 20th annual juried art and craft show. Free to attend.
SOUTHERN HIGHLAND CRAFT GUILD 298-7928, craftguild.org • SA (5/13), 10am-4pm & SU (5/14), 1-4pm - Fiber Weekend, event featuring fiber arts demonstrations, vendors and hands-on activities. Fashion show of wearable art on SU (5/14), 1-4pm. Free to attend. Held at Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Parkway WESTSIDE ARTIST CO-OP 726 Haywood Rd, Asheville • SA (5/13), 10am-8pm - "Mother's Day Extravanganza," group art and craft fair. Free to attend. WNC YARN CRAWL wncyarncrawl.com • TH (5/11) through SU (5/14) - Selfguided tour of WNC yarn stores. Visit the website for locations and events. Free to attend.
AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM & ARTS CENTER 56 Broadway, 350-8484, blackmountaincollege.org • Through WE (7/12) - Papers and proposals accepted for the annual ReVIEWING Black Mountain College conference. Contact for full guidelines.
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FOOTHILLS FOLK ART FESTIVAL facebook.com/ FoothillsFolkArtFestival • Through FR (9/1) - Applications accepted for vendors for The Foothills Folk Art Festival. See website for full guidelines. PUSH SKATE SHOP & GALLERY 25 Patton Ave., 225-5509, pushtoyproject.com • Through SU (5/14) - Submissions accepted for Debut, exhibition running from TH (6/15) until MO (8/14). August 14. Submit 1-3 images to antifascistunit@gmail.com. TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.org • Through MO (5/15) - Photograph submissions accepted for the annual White Squirrel Photo Contest. Contact for full guidelines.
MUSIC ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 254-7046, ashevillesymphony.org • SA (5/13), 8pm - Masterworks Series: "Mahler’s 'Titan'," featuring guest violinist Yevgeny Kutik and works by Mendelssohn and Mahler. $22 and up. Held at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 87 Haywood St. ASHEVILLE SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA 257-4530, dwtheatre.com • TU (5/16), 7pm - Spring concert. $10/$8 students. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave. BLUE RIDGE RINGERS HANDBELL ENSEMBLE blueridgeringers.tripod.com, blueridgeringers@gmail.com • FR (5/12), 7pm - Blue Ridge Ringers handbell concert. Admission by donation. Held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 22 Fisher Road, Brevard BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library • FR (5/12), 6pm - Concert by musician and storyteller Johnny Thomas Fowler. Free. Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE 2661 Highway 225, Flat Rock, 6930731, flatrockplayhouse.org • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/13) - "Smokey Joe’s Cafe," musical revue featuring the songs of Leiber & Stoller. Wed. & Thurs.: 7:30pm. Fri. & Sat.: 8pm. Wed., Thurs., Sat. & Sun.: 2pm. $15 and up.
by Abigail Griffin FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE DOWNTOWN 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville, 6930731, flatrockplayhouse.org • THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/14) - Music on the Rock presents "The Music of Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison." Thurs.-Sat.: 8pm. Sun.: 2pm. $15-$30. FLETCHER COMMUNITY CHORUS 651-9436, fletchercommunitychorus.com • TH (5/18), 7pm - “Celebrate With Jubilant Song," Fletcher Community Chorus tenth anniversary concert. Free. Held at Feed & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville, 697-4725 • TH (5/11), 3pm - Shaped-note singing presentation by Dan Huger. Free. HONEYRUN PRODUCTIONS 100 Hanlon Mountain Rd. Leicester, 989-6263 • TH (5/11), 7pm - Steve Cormier singing and storytelling concert. Registration: 828-989-6263. $15. LAND OF THE SKY CHORUS 866-290-7269, ashevillebarbershop.com • SA (5/13), 7:30pm - "A Cappella Fest," concert. $20/$15 students. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave. PUBSING 254-1114 • 2nd SUNDAYS, 6-8pm - Gospel jam and sing-along. Optional snack time at 5:30pm. Free to attend. Held at French Broad Brewery, 101 Fairview Road RHYTHM & BREWS CONCERT SERIES 233-3216, facebook.com/ rhythmandbrewshendersonville • TH (5/18), 5-9pm - Outdoor concert featuring The Get Right Band, funk/rock n' roll. Free. Held at South Main Street, 301 S. Main St., Hendersonville ST. MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH 10 North Liberty St., 253 0043 • TU (5/11), 7pm - Stephen Lynerd Group, sacred jazz concert. Free.
THEATER 35BELOW 35 E. Walnut St., 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/21) - The Realistic Joneses, produced by Ellipsis Theater Company. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2:30pm. $18.
BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0930, blackmountainarts.org • FRIDAY through SUNDAY (5/12) until (5/20) - The Queen of Bingo, comedy. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $15. CHRIST SCHOOL 500 Christ School Road, Arden • TH (5/11) through SU (5/14) - Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, 30 plays in 60 minutes. Free. HENDERSONVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE 229 S. Washington St., Hendersonville, 692-1082, hendersonvillelittletheater.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS until (5/14) - Man of La Mancha. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. Fridays and Saturday 7:30 p.m. Sundays 2 p.m. $26/$20 student/$15 youth. MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS 254-5146, montfordparkplayers.org • FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (5/12) until (5/27), 7:30pm - Timon of Athens, Shakespearian tragedy. Free to attend. Held at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St. NC STAGE COMPANY 15 Stage Lane, 239-0263 • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS (5/17) until (6/11) - Matt & Ben, comedy. Wed.-Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm. $16 and up. TERPSICORPS THEATRE OF DANCE terpsicorps.org • SU (5/14), 7:30pm - The Muses of Terpsicorps, dance performance. $18/$10 children under 12. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave. THE ASHEVILLE SCHOOL 360 Asheville School Road, 254-6345, ashevilleschool.org • TH (5/11) & FR (5/12), 7pm & 8:30pm & SU (5/13), 2pm & 3:30pm - Fragments of Frankenstein, original multimedia dance, music, poetry, film, and large-scale art installation. Registration: goo.gl/6hRq3b. Free to attend. THE MAGNETIC THEATRE 375 Depot St., 279-4155 • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (5/11) until (6/3), 7:30pm - Malverse. $16/$12 preview shows. • FR (5/12) & SA (5/13), 10pm - "The Great American Strip-off," burlesque competition. $20. TOY BOAT COMMUNITY ART SPACE 101 Fairview Road, Suite B, 505-8659, toyboatcommunityartspace.com • FR (5/12), 7pm - Proceeds from this live music and aerial dance event featuring Brian and Bridget Felix, Mike Barnes, Bill Berg and Ben Bjorlie, benefit the New Classical Academy. $10.
GALLERY DIRECTORY HENDERSON COUNTY LIBRARY 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville, 697-4725, henderson.lib.nc.us • Through FR (5/19) - Why I March, traveling exhibition of art from people who marched in the Women's March in January. LONDON DISTRICT STUDIOS 8 London Road • FR (5/12) through TU (6/6) - A Community of Artists, exhibition of works by ArtSpace Charter School staff and parents. Reception: Friday, May 12, 5-10pm. MADISON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL 90 S. Main St., Marshall, 649-1301, madisoncountyarts.com • Through WE (5/31) - The Barns of Madison County, photography exhibition. MOUNTAIN MADRE 13 Walnut St. • Through MO (7/31) - Octopus Art Exhibition, works by Tessa Lang. PINK DOG CREATIVE 348 Depot St., pinkdog-creative.com • Through SA (5/27) - Modern American Photographs, exhibition of photography by Kora Manheimer. POSANA CAFE 1 Biltmore Ave., 505-3969 • Through SA (7/15) - Hats, group exhibition of 18 artists. RURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM AT MARS HILL 100 Athletic St., Mars Hill, 689-1304 • Through WE (5/31) - Shelter on the Mountain: Barns and Building Traditions of the Southern Highlands, exhibit.
A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS: London District Studios and Asheville Jack CoffeeHouse are hosting A Community of Artists, an art exhibition featuring works created by ArtSpace Charter School staff and parents. The show celebrates the love for the arts that the staff, educators and families share at the public charter school, which integrates art into all of the classrooms and values the arts as a way of life. The exhibition runs until Tuesday, June 6, and the opening reception takes place Friday, May 12, from 5-10 p.m. For more information, visit goo.gl/gH8jFB. Untitled painting by Nick Rogowski courtesy of ArtSpace Charter School APPALACHIAN PASTEL SOCIETY appalachianpastelsociety.org • Through SA (6/17) - Big Little Paintings, exhibtion of works by the Appalachian Pastel Society. Reception: Thrusday, May 11, 6:30-8:30pm. Held at BlackBird Frame & Art, 365 Merrimon Ave. ART AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY mhu.edu • Through SA (5/13) - MHU senior student art exhibition. led in Weizenblatt Gallery • Through SU (5/28) - Shelter on the Mountain: Barns and Building Traditions of the Southern Highlands, exhibition of photographs by Taylor Barnhill. Held in the Rural Heritage Museum ART AT UNCA art.unca.edu • Through SU (5/28) - Study Abroad Photo Contest, winning photographs exhibition. Held in the Blowers Gallery in Ramsey Library
ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 258-0710, ashevillearts.com • Through FR (5/12) - Plein Air: Magic and Mystery, exhibition of works by Lisa Blackshear. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. • Through FR (5/12) - The Art of Portraiture: An Exploration of Modern Photography. Held at The Refinery, 207 Coxe Ave. ASHEVILLE GALLERY OF ART 82 Patton Ave., 251-5796, ashevillegallery-of-art.com • Through WE (5/31) - Light + Line, paintings by Sandra Brugh Moore. BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 225 W. State St., Black Mountain, 6690930, blackmountainarts.org • Through FR (5/12) - Orchestration, installation by Julia C. Burr.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
buncombecounty.org/governing/ depts/library • Through WE (5/25) - Exhibition of paintings by PK Barratt. Held at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road • Through WE (5/31) - Storybook Characters on Parade, exhibit of original, mixed media art dolls created by Go Figure. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview
27 Church St., 253-3316, centralumc.org • SUNDAYS through (7/15), 9am-12:30pm - Nature’s Apothecary, exhibition of textile art by Mountain Art Quilters.
CANVAS ARTSPACE 212 S. Church St., Hendersonville, 577-4590, canvaswnc.com • TH (5/11) until SA (6/3) Meditations, solo exhibition of new paintings by Ani Magai. Reception: Thursday, May 11, 5-7pm.
GROVEWOOD GALLERY 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • Through SU (5/21) - Visions of Nature, paintings by Brad Stroman. HENDERSON COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM 1 Historic Courthouse Square Hendersonville, 694-1619, hendersoncountymuseum.org • Through SA (12/16) - The Vagabond Players, exhibition of Flat Rock Playhouse Vagabond Players memorabilia. Free to attend.
THE GALLERY AT FLAT ROCK 702-A Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 698-7000, galleryflatrock.com/ • Through SU (5/14) - Temporal Witness: Tracing Nature's Path, exhibition featuring works by Alice Ballard, Christina Laurel and Rosamond Purcell. TRANSYLVANIA COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.org • Through FR (5/26) - The Other Side, group art exhibition. UPSTAIRS ARTSPACE 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, 859-2828, upstairsartspace.org • Through FR (6/16) - Altered Realism: Seven from the Upstate, group exhibition. WHITESPACE 129 Roberts St. (upstairs at Wedge Studios) • Through WE (5/31) - Thallo: Four Artists Welcome Spring, group exhibition. WNC HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION wnchistory.org • Through WE (10/25) - The Luthier's Craft: Instrument Making Traditions of the Blue Ridge, exhibition. Held at Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road Contact the galleries for admission hours and fees
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
57
CLUBLAND
Female Artist Spotlight Night HOSTED BY PEGGY RATUSZ May 17th @ 7pm ● $3
39 S. Market St.
●
theblockoffbiltmore.com
THIS WEEK ONLY Wednesday • May 10th
PALM TREE PUNK: Hailing from the southern reaches of sunny Florida, punk quintet Everymen draws its inspiration from the world around and within its members’ minds. Combining a punk rock mentality with old-time instruments, the band makes melodies worthy of any swamp funeral dirge. Fresh of the release of its latest album in April, Everymen journeys to the mountains for a May 17 show at the Odditorium, beginning at 9 p.m. Photo courtesy of event promoters WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Clutch with Lucero & The Sword Doors: 5:00pm, Show: 6:30-10pm $27 Advance - $32 day of show Tickets still available ! $30
Thursday • May 11th
East Asheville’s Craft Beer Destination • 29 Taps
Patio Now Open with Skee Ball!
THIS WEEK at THE CREEK MON Monday Burger + Trivia w/ Ol’ Gilley - 7pm TUE
Taco Tuesday all day!
WED Wings + Open Mic Jam w/ Roots & Friends - 8pm FRI
Catfish Po’ Boy all day!
SAT
Pulled Pork Sandwich/Plate all day!
We Cater On & Off Site!
8 Beverly Rd. Asheville, NC
Parties of 10+, please call ahead
Vortex + Highland Mini-doughnut and beer pairing 4 doughnuts and a flight of beer $12 • 3-9pm
EVERY WEEK Mondays: $3 year-round and seasonal beers, and game night! Thursdays: East Side Social Ride- 6pm
EXTENDED HOURS Monday-Thursday 3-9pm Friday-Saturday 12-10pm Sunday 12-6pm
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
MOUNTAINX.COM
5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis (African folk), 8:00PM 550 TAVERN & GRILLE Karaoke, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Brad Hodge & friends (singersongwriter), 7:00PM BARLEY'S TAPROOM & PIZZERIA Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 8:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Open Mic w/ Billy Owens, 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Trivia Funtime w/ Kelsey, 8:00PM BROADWAY'S Broadway HumpDay Variety w/ DJ NexMillen, 9:00PM BYWATER Well Lit Strangers (bluegrass), 8:00PM CORK & KEG 3 Cool Cats (50s & 60s rock), 7:30PM CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Open mic jam w/ Riyen Roots & friends, 7:00PM
12 Old Charlotte Hwy. Suite 200 Asheville, NC 28803 828-299-3370
highlandbrewing.com 58
185 KING STREET Vinyl Night, 6:00PM
CROW & QUILL Sparrow & Her Wingmen (hot swing jazz), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Classic Country Vinyl w/ DJ David Wayne Gay, 10:00PM
FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Circus Mutt (folk, Americana), 9:00PM FUNKATORIUM John Hartford Jam w/ the Saylor Brothers (bluegrass), 6:30PM
ONE WORLD BREWING Bradley Carter, 9:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Campfire Reverends (Americana), 6:00PM
GOOD STUFF Jim Hampton & friends perform "Eclectic Country" (jam), 7:00PM
SALVAGE STATION RnB Wednesday Jam Night! w/ Ryan "RnB" Barber & friends, 8:00PM
GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Open mic night (music & comedy), 6:00PM
SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Karaoke w/ Paul Schiro, 7:00PM
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Clutch w/ Lucero & The Sword (hard rock, funk, metal), 6:30PM After party w/ Bask (rock, psychedelic, Americana), 10:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL The Colleen Raney Band (Celtic, folk, Americana), 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old-time session, 5:00PM JUICY LUCY'S BURGER BAR AND GRILL Acoustic Jam, 7:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Ben Hovey (dub, jazz), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Synergy Story Slam, 7:00PM Illegal Drugs & Isaacson (rock), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Salsa Night, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Evil Note Lab, 10:00PM
STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Lazybirds (benefit for WNC ACLU), 9:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 8:00PM TOWN PUMP Open Mic w/ Billy Presnell, 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Invitational Blue & Soul Performance (blues, soul), 9:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Wide Screen Wednesday's, 7:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Take Two Jazz, 7:00PM
THURSDAY, MAY 11 185 KING STREET The Danberrys (Americana, country, old-time), 8:00PM
5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8:00PM ALTAMONT THEATRE Farewell Angelina w/ Ray Scott (folk), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray & The Space Cooties, 7:00PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Patrick Fitzsimons (roots music), 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Social Function, 8:30PM CORK & KEG Jenny & the Hog Drovers (oldtime), 7:30PM CROW & QUILL Carolina Catskins (rowdy ragtime jazz), 10:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM
FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Purple (funk, soul), 9:00PM FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Momma Molasses (indie, folk), 6:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy, 8:00PM HABITAT TAVERN & COMMONS Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY East Side Social Ride, 6:00PM HONEYRUNPRODUCTIONS Steve Cormier, 7:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Low Lilly, 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Open Jam Session, 7:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Heavy Night w/ DJ Butch, 10:00PM
LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones ("The man of 1,000 songs"), 6:30PM NATIVE KITCHEN & SOCIAL PUB Adrian & Meredith, 6:00PM NEW MOUNTAIN THEATER/ AMPHITHEATER Gipsy Moon (folk, jazz, world music), 9:30PM ODDITORIUM Benefit For Hawthorn Herb Collective (punk), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Shakey's Karaoke, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia, 6:30PM Ajeva (funk), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Nathan Storey, 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 6:00PM
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
59
C LUBLAND
COMING SOON wed 5/10
7PM–THE COLLEEN RANEY BAND
5-9PM–ALL YOU CAN EAT SNOW CRAB LEGS
6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) thu 5/11 7PM–LOW LILY 6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) fri 5/12 6:30–ISIS LAWN CONCERT SERIES:
PURPLE (FREE)
7PM–AMY STEINBERG
FAREWELL SHOW
9PM–AARON BURDETT “REFUGE” ALBUM RELEASE sat 5/13
7PM–BRAD COLE
9PM–HAAS KOWERT TICE sun 5/14 5:30PM–DAVE CURLEY, JOANNA HYDE, AND TADGH Ó’ MEACHAIR
7:30PM–GRACE PETTIS, THE MOON &YOU, AND THE DYRTY BYRDS tue 5/16
7:30PM–TUESDAY BLUEGRASS SESSIONS wed 5/17 7PM–SULTANS OF STRING
5-9PM–ALL YOU CAN EAT SNOW CRAB LEGS
6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) thu 5/18 7PM–MISS TESS AND THE TALKBACKS 8:30PM–WNC GREEN PARTY PRESENTS:
“THE SOUL OF THE CITY”
6:30-9PM–MUSIC ON THE PATIO (FREE) fri 5/19 – 6:30 ISIS LAWN CONCERT SERIES:
TON OF HAY (FREE)
8:30PM–JOHN MCCUTCHEON sun 5/21 7:30PM–ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL ISISASHEVILLE.COM DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM
TUES-SUN 5PM-until 743 HAYWOOD RD 828-575-2737
60
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
MOUNTAINX.COM
PULP Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic w/ Justin Blackburn & Artie P, 9:00PM
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Joe McMurrian (acoustic deep roots, blues), 7:30PM
PACK'S TAVERN Mark Keller (acoustic rock, folk), 8:00PM
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Trap God Dance Party w/ DJ Phantom Pantone, 9:00PM
PISGAH BREWING COMPANY The Appalucians (family show, Americana), 4:00PM The Hot At Nights, 8:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE One Leg Up, 7:30PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Ellen Trnka, 7:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM SWEETEN CREEK BREWING Vinyl Night, 6:30PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Midnight Willow & friends (folk, jazz, experimental), 8:00PM
BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Acoustic Swing, 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Combo Libro (AfroCuban fusion), 8:00PM BYWATER FriDaze, 5:30PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Turpentine Shine, 7:00PM CORK & KEG James Posedel Quartet (jazz), 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Krekel & Whoa (rock n' roll), 9:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Garage & Soul Obscurities w/ DJ Greg Cartwright, 10:00PM
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Tricky Trivia w/ Sue, 8:00PM
FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER Classic World Cinema, 8:00PM
THE MOTHLIGHT Skunk Ruckus w/ The Dirty Badgers & Tinderbox Circus Sideshow (rock, country, punk), 9:00PM
FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB LaGoons (funk, jam), 10:00PM
TOWN PUMP Kingdoms & Classes (rock, soul), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Jesse Barry & The Jam (live music, dance), 9:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Mark Shimmick, 6:30PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Unplugged w/ Stevie Lee Combs, 8:00PM
FRIDAY, MAY 12 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Drayton & The Dreamboats (vintage jazz), 9:00PM
GOOD STUFF Viva (blues, indie, rock), 8:30PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Carbon Leaf w/ Me & My Brother (Americana, indie, rock), 8:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Farewell Show for Amy Steinberg, 7:00PM Aaron Burdett album release (Americana, country, folk), 9:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Whiskey Bent Valley (old-time), 9:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Rock 'n' Soul DJ, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Gypsy Jazz Trio of Asheville, 6:30PM LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE Matt Walsh (blues), 8:00PM
550 TAVERN & GRILLE Stepp Mill Gang, 9:00PM
LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE BILTMORE PARK Chris Flanders & friends, 8:00PM
ALTAMONT THEATRE Reasonably Priced Babies (comedy), 8:00PM
NATIVE KITCHEN & SOCIAL PUB James Hammel Trio, 7:30PM
NEW MOUNTAIN THEATER/ AMPHITHEATER Zebbler Encanti Experience & Sixis w/ Medisin & Spokes (experimental, electronic), 9:00PM ODDITORIUM Drunk In A Dumpster, No Anger Control, Snake Launcher & Cloud City Caskets (punk), 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam, 5:00PM The Dirty Badgers (rock, blues), 10:00PM
THE MAGNETIC THEATRE The Great American StripOff!, 10:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT onj. album release w/ Ellipser & Mere Fever (rock, instrumental), 9:30PM
ALTAMONT THEATRE Gurf Morlix & Ed Snodderly (folk), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Con Brio w/ Window Cat, 9:00PM
THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL SOL Vibes, 9:00PM
BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Jason Moore & Trust Trio (jazz, funk), 7:30PM
TOWN PUMP 7 Mile Mushroom (rock, blues), 9:00PM
OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Soul Magnetics (soul, R&B, funk), 6:00PM PULP Alex Travers w/ Carly Taich (multi-genre), 9:00PM
UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Alarm Clock Conspiracy w/ Lo Trio, 8:00PM
PACK'S TAVERN DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop), 9:30PM
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Ian Ridenhour, 7:30PM
SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY The Berlyn Trio (jazz, funk, soul), 8:00PM
WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Electric w/ Ben Hovey, 8:00PM
SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM
550 TAVERN & GRILLE Mojomatic (rock, blues), 9:00PM
THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 10:00PM
TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Gracie Lane (americana), 7:00PM The Jordan Okrend Experiernce (dance), 10:00PM
ONE WORLD BREWING Crystal Fountains, 9:00PM
Jesse Barry & The Jam (blues, funk), 9:00PM
SATURDAY, MAY 13
BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Banjo Saylor (banjo, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM BOILER ROOM Dance Party & Drag Show, 10:00PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Scooter Haywood & The Repeat Offenders, 7:00PM CLUB ELEVEN ON GROVE Old School Dance Party (hip-hop, funk), 10:00PM CORK & KEG Carolina Gator Gumbo (Cajun & Creole), 8:30PM CROW & QUILL Tom Waits for No Man (Tom Waits covers), 9:00PM
SCARLET'S COUNTRY DANCE CLUB Open Mic night w/ Sam Warner, 8:00PM
185 KING STREET Vince Junior Band (soulful blues), 8:00PM
DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE A Cappella Fest w/ Land of the Sky Chorus, 7:30PM
THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE OUT AVL Dance Party w/ DJ Bobbi, 10:00PM
5 WALNUT WINE BAR Riyen Roots & Kenny Dore (blues, roots), 6:00PM
DOUBLE CROWN Pitter Platter w/ DJ Big Smidge (50's/60's R&B, rock 'n' roll), 10:00PM
FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Ram Mandlekorn Trio (jazz, funk), 10:00PM FRENCH BROAD BREWERY Radiator King (folk, punk), 2:00PM FROG LEVEL BREWERY Bend & Brew, 11:00AM GOOD STUFF Radiator King (punk, blues), 8:00PM Big Thunder & the Rumblefish (blues, rock), 9:30PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Jarrod Harris w/ Lace Larrabee (comedy), 7:00PM Joe Purdy (singer-songwriter, folk, rock), 9:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY The Berlyn Trio (jazz, funk, soul), 7:00PM
TAVERN Downtown on the Park Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 14 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night
USIC! LIVNEEVM E
R A CO VER CHARGE!
THU. 5/11 Marc Keller
(acoustic rock, folk)
FRI. 5/12 DJ MoTo
( dance hits, pop)
SAT. 5/13 The House Band ( classic rock)
ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL An evening w/ Brad Cole (folk, singer-songwriter), 7:00PM Haas Kowert Tice, 9:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Laney Jones & The Spirits (rock, folk, pop), 9:00PM
20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 packStavern.com
LAZY DIAMOND Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10:00PM
Free Live Music
LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30PM
THU - 5/11 • 6:30PM
MOE'S ORIGINAL BBQ WOODFIN Bald Mountain Boys, 7:00PM
MARK SCHIMICK (AMERICANA)
Of Jethro Tull
FRI - 5/12 • 8:30PM
OPEN MIC
IO TRIO
NIGHT EVERY MONDAY 6PM
W/ ALARM CLOCK CONSPIRACY
(AMERICANA/INDIE)
Historic Live Music Venue Located At
5/10 OPEN MIC NIGHT 5/11 CARL PALMER’S ELP LEGACY TAQUERIA OPEN AT 11AM DAILY CARBON LEAF 5/12 COMEDIAN JARROD HARRIS 5/13 COMING SOON 5/13 JOE PURDY 5/14 HOLY F*CK 5/17 TONY FURTADO RANDOLPH 5/18 ROBERT AND THE FAMILY BAND
THU WED SUN SAT SAT FRI THU WED
SAT - 5/13 • 8 PM
185 CLINGMAN AVE • ASHEVILLE
“EMERSON LAKE & PALMER LIVES ON TOUR!”
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT
w/ Me and My Brother
Funny Business Presents: w/ Lace Larrabee
Show: 7:00pm
Show: 9:30pm
w/ Battery Powered Hooker Boots
w/ Dave Desmelik w/ Luke Wade
HARVEST RECORDS + THEGREYEAGLE.COM
5/19: Chris Pureka w/ The Harmaleighs
5/20: Dead Man Winter (Feat. Dave Simonett From Trampled By Turtles) w/ War Machine 5/21: The David Mayfield Parade + The Railsplitters
COMEDY SHOWCASE
Daily Specials
#headupcountry
SUNDAY FUNDAY
OPEN DAILY 11:30AM UNTIL MIDNIGHT 1042 HAYWOOD RD. ASHEVILLE, NC 28806 828.575.2400 • UPCOUNTRYBREWING.COM
ENJOY
5 OFF
$
Signature & Sandwiches Coupon Not Valid With Any Other Offer. Expires 05-31-17
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TUESDAY TACOS & TAPS
ON TACOS & SELECT HOUSE PINTS
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THURSDAY FOOD & FRETS
EARLY DINNER SHOW & KIDS EAT FREE (WITH PURCHASE OF EACH REGULAR MEAL)
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MAY 10 - 16, 2017
61
CLU B LA N D NEW MOUNTAIN THEATER/ AMPHITHEATER Cool Ghouls w/ Thelma & the Sleaze (alternative, indie), 11:00PM ODDITORIUM Strange Avenues, Paper Dolls, Tongues of Fire & Slumber Drones (rock), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Twin Leaf Putt Putt, 2:00PM Saturday Night Fever, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Plankeye Peggy & Metaphonia (pirate rock, art rock, prog funk), 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING Purple, 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL The Growlers w/ The Nude Party (rock, surf, psychedelic), 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY B.R. Lively (cowboy folk), 6:00PM PACK'S TAVERN The House Band (classic rock), 9:30PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Blue Cactus, 8:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Yoga w/ Cats with Blue Ridge Humane Society, 10:00AM Ross Osteen & Crossroads (rock, soul), 8:00PM SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Studs of Steel Live, 7:00PM Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Sierra Nevada AfterNooner Series , 2:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE "About Asheville's Government" w/ The Asheville Blade, 2:00PM Latin Rhythms & Salsa w/ DJ Malinalli (dance lessons @ 9 p.m.), 10:00PM THE MAGNETIC THEATRE The Great American StripOff!, 10:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Sir Richard Bishop w/ Robert Millis (experimental, multi-genre), 9:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Phantom Pantone Rooftop DJ, 10:00PM THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL 30 & Up Night, 10:00PM THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM Asheville Symphony: Mahler's "Titan" (classical), 7:00PM
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Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com TOWN PUMP Brooks Dixon (country), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES The King Zeros (blues, delta blues), 7:30PM Virginia & The Slims (swing, blues), 10:00PM TWISTED LAUREL Indoor/Outdoor Dance Party, 11:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Talk About Funny w/ Jason Scholder & friends (comedy), 8:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Bob Hinkle, 8:00PM WXYZ LOUNGE AT ALOFT HOTEL WXYZ Live w/ The Caribbean Cowboys, 8:00PM
SUNDAY, MAY 14 185 KING STREET Sunday Sessions Open Jam, 4:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Kevin Williams (retro soul), 7:00PM ALTAMONT THEATRE Whetherman CD release w/ Ben Phan & Alexa Rose, 7:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Guitar Bar Jam, 3:30PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11:00AM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Larry Dolamore (acoustic), 7:00PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Jody Caroll, 6:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER True Home Open-Mic (music, poetry, comedy), 5:00PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Holy F*ck w/ Battery Powered Hooker Boots (punk, electronic), 9:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Dennis "Chalwa" Berndt, 1:00PM ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Dave Curley w/ Joanna Hyde & Tadhg Ó’Meachair , 5:30PM Grace Pettis w/ The Moon & You and The Dyrty Byrds , 7:30PM
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Traditional Celtic Jam Session, 3:00PM LAZY DIAMOND Punk Night w/ DJ Chubberbird & Hard Mike, 10:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Hot Club of Asheville, 6:30PM LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE BILTMORE PARK Gypsy Jazz Brunch w/ Leo Johnson, 12:00PM MG ROAD Nice Guys Comedy w/ Grayson Morris, Justin Blackburn, James Harrod & Tom Scheve, 8:00PM ODDITORIUM Invoker w/ Fractured Frames, Built on the Ruins & Exiles (metal), 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bluegrass brunch w/ Aaron "Woody" Wood, 11:00AM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Circus Mutt (indie, bluegrass), 1:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Sunday Paper Crowns Jam, 6:00PM
ZUMA COFFEE Brad Cole (folk, singersongwriter), 6:00PM
MONDAY, MAY 15 185 KING STREET Open Mic Night w/ Chris Whitmire, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Eleanor Underhill & Friends (Americana, soul), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar Mondays, 8:00PM BYWATER Open mic, 7:15PM Spin Jam (local DJs and fire-spinning), 10:00PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Musicians in the Round Jam, 5:30PM CREEKSIDE TAPHOUSE Trivia night, 7:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Country karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10:00PM GOOD STUFF Songwriter's "open mic", 7:30PM GREY EAGLE MUSIC HALL & TAVERN Open mic night (music & comedy), 6:00PM
SALVAGE STATION Open Mic Night w/ The Wet Doorknobs, 7:00PM
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Game Night, 4:00PM
SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Hope Griffin Duo, 2:00PM
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo Trivia Night, 7:00PM
SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB Dance Club w/ DJ & drag show, 10:00PM
LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller and friends, 6:30PM
SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 2:00PM
ODDITORIUM Steel City Kitty Burlesque and Variety Show, 9:00PM
THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Honoring the Sacred Mother's (women's only event), 6:00PM
OLE SHAKEY'S Honky Tonk Karaoke, 9:00PM
THE IMPERIAL LIFE Dj Lounge Set, 7:00PM
ORANGE PEEL LEAF presents: "Legends of Africa" w/ Masankho Banda, 11:00AM
THE MOTHLIGHT Frankie Cosmos w/ Uni Ika Ai (indie, rock, folk), 9:00PM
OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Mountain Music Mondays (open jam), 6:00PM
THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (rock, jazz, pop), 7:00PM
THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE The Rhythm & Blues Social Club w/ Joshua Singleton & Peggy Ratusz, 8:00PM
THE SUMMIT AT NEW MOUNTAIN AVL Darkside Party w/ Scarlett Hallxween, ManuKaru, Hunter Bennett, Herb Da Wizard, King of Babylon & Filthy the Philosopher (hip hop, trap music), 9:00PM WICKED WEED Summer Concert Series w/ The Good Fellers, 4:00PM
THE IMPERIAL LIFE Ghost Pipe Trio (jazz), 9:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Trivial trivia w/ Geoffrey & Brody, 8:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Trophy Dad w/ Minorcan & Fashion Bath (rock, alternative, psychedelic),
9:00PM THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Bob Zullo (rock, jazz, pop), 7:00PM THE SOCIAL LOUNGE Free Pizza Karaoke, 8:00PM TOWN PUMP Lemon Sky (psych, indie, rock), 9:00PM UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Old Time Music Open Jam, 6:30PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Jay Brown and Billy Presnell, 7:00PM
TUESDAY, MAY 16
ISIS RESTAURANT AND MUSIC HALL Tuesday bluegrass sessions w/ Mark Schimick & friends, 7:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Cajun Jam, 7:00PM JUICY LUCY'S BURGER BAR AND GRILL Trivia w/ DJ Cliff, 8:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Jay Brown, 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Open Mic Comedy Night w/ Tom Peters, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 11:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Turntable Tuesdays, 10:00PM
5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys (hot jazz), 8:00PM
ONE WORLD BREWING TRIVIA! w/ Ol' Gilly, 9:00PM
550 TAVERN & GRILLE Shag night, 6:00PM
ORANGE PEEL Warpaint (indie, rock), 8:00PM
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Gypsy Jazz Jam Tuesdays, 7:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday night funk jam, 11:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN ALE HOUSE Trivia, 7:30PM BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA & BREW PUB Gene Holdway (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 7:00PM BONFIRE BARBECUE Thunder karaoke w/ Jason Tarr, 8:00PM CORK & KEG Old Time Jam, 5:00PM CROW & QUILL Boogie Woogie Burger Night (burgers & rock n' roll), 9:00PM DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert, 7:00PM DOUBLE CROWN Honky-tonk, Western & Cajun night w/ DJ Brody Douglas Hunt, 10:00PM
SALVAGE STATION Fire Jam, 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING COMPANY Taco and Trivia Tuesday, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Swing Asheville & Jazz-n-Justice Benefit Tuesday w/ The Low Down Sires (lessons at 7 & 8 p.m.), 9:00PM Swing Asheville's Latenight Vintage Blues Dance, 11:00PM THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Open jam w/ Rob Parks & Chuck Knott, 7:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT Curved Light w/ Mushigo Palm, Alec Sturgis & Walker (dance, electronic), 9:00PM THE SOCIAL Redleg Husky (country, bluegrass), 9:00PM TRESSA'S DOWNTOWN JAZZ AND BLUES Early Jazz & Funk Jam (funk, jazz), 9:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Twin Leaf Trivia Night, 8:00PM
GOOD STUFF Old time-y night, 6:30PM
UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Open Mic w/ Chris O'Neill , 6:30PM
HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Dr. Brown's Team Trivia, 6:00PM
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish sessions & open mic, 6:30PM
skunk ruckus
5/11 thu
(album release!)
w/ the dirty badgers, tinderbox circus sideshow
Where The Blue Ridge Mountains Meet the Celtic Isles
5/12 fri onj. (album release show!)
5/13
sat
MONDAYS Quizzo – Brainy Trivia • 7:30pm Open Mic Night • 9pm
5/14
sun
w/ ellipser, mere fever
w/ robert millis
frankie cosmos
w/ uni ika ai
TUESDAYS Cajun/Creole Jam led by Trent Van Blaricom & Joy Moser • 7pm Dancing Encouraged!
5/15 mon
WEDNESDAYS Asheville’s Original Old Time Mountain Music Jam • 5pm
5/16 tue
THURSDAYS Mountain Feist • 7pm Bluegrass Jam • 9:30pm Bourbon Specials
sir richard bishop
free monday!
trophy dad
free!
w/ minorcan fashion bath
curved light
w/ mushigo palm, alec sturgis, walker
Yoga at the Mothlight
Tues., Thurs., and Sat. 11:30am Details for all shows can be found at
themothlight.com
WHISKEY BENT FRI VALLEY
5/12
HARD-DRIVING TRADITIONAL TUNES 9PM / $5
SAT LANEY JONES & SPIRITS 5/13 9THE PM / $5 DARLINGTYN FRI OLD COUNTRY, BLUES & 5/19 BLUEGRASS 9PM / $5
SAT 5/20
SUFI BROTHERS
FEATURING AARON WOODY WOOD
AMERICANA, COUNTRY & BLUES
9PM / $5
IRISH SUNDAYS Irish Food and Drink Specials Traditional Irish Music Session • 3-9pm OPEN MON-THURS AT 3 • FRI-SUN AT NOON CRAFT BEER, SPIRITS & QUALITY PUB FARE SINCE 1996
95 PATTON at COXE • Downtown Asheville
252.5445 • jackofthewood.com
North Carolina’s First Cider Bar Family Owned & Operated
Celebrate mother’s day
at urban orchard bring in mom and we’ll give her a flower!
210 Haywood Road, West Asheville, NC 28806
(828)744-5151
www.urbanorchardcider.com MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
63
MOVIES
REVIEWS & LISTINGS BY SCOTT DOUGLAS & JUSTIN SOUTHER
HHHHH =
M A X R AT I N G
H PICK OF THE WEEK H
Lone Scherfig directs Gemma Arterton as a strong female protagonist against a WWII backdrop in the lightly likable Their Finest
Their Finest HHHH PLAYERS: Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, Bill Nighy, Helen McCrory, Jack Huston, Richard E. Grant, Rachael Stirling, Henry Goodman, Jeremy Irons, Paul Ritter, Jake Lacy
THE STORY: A novice writer is tasked with contributing to a script that becomes a major part of the British government’s propaganda efforts at the height of World War II, but unexpected romantic entanglements emerge in the process.
HISTORICAL ROMANTIC COMEDY/DRAMA RATED R
THE LOWDOWN: A thoroughly inoffensive — and occasionally alluring — story that sneaks in a powerful message of feminine empowerment.
DIRECTOR: Lone Scherfig
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When I reference World War II and the Dunkirk evacuation in the same review, most readers are likely to assume that I’m taking about Christopher Nolan’s upcoming summer blockbuster bait rather than an understated rom-com about a plucky female screenwriter. And that’s a shame because Their Finest is a genuine crowd-pleaser with plenty of heart that had managed to fly completely
under my radar before I screened it this weekend. While technically a war film, Finest is a picture with a distinctly feminist sensibility that distinguishes it from what I can only imagine will be a gritty exercise in machismo from Mr. Nolan come July. Taken from a novel with an unquestionably superior title to that of its film adaptation (Their Finest Hour and a Half, written by British
sitcom director Lissa Evans), Their Finest follows a young woman (Gemma Arterton) whose career in screenwriting begins somewhat unexpectedly when she’s brought on by the British government to polish women’s dialogue for propaganda films in London during the height of the Blitz. She’s guided in this new job by prickly lead writer Tom Buckley (Sam Claflin), who chauvinistically refers to the female dialogue Arterton’s Catrin Cole has been tasked with scripting as “the slop.” The expected personality clashes ensue, as does a fairly predictable love triangle involving Buckley and Cole’s marginally employed artist husband (Jack Huston), relegating the war itself to little more than a lens through which ideas of female empowerment and autonomy are examined. At its core, Their Finest is a film about cinematic storytelling, in both practice and purpose — and movies about writing can be tricky propositions, as the act itself tends to be an endeavor characterized primarily by sedentary isolation and, therefore, an inherently challenging pursuit to depict with and visual interest. Their Finest manages to avoid the obvious pitfalls of its subject matter through some creative staging and tactfully executed montage, leaving most of the film’s dramatic conflict to the will-they-won’t-they exchanges between Buckley and Cole with the threat of the Blitz looming large over the proceedings. While many of the plot points are unquestionably dark, the film never descends into maudlin self-pity (and it helps significantly that the incomparable Bill Nighy is on hand to supply the comic relief). Danish director Lone Scherfig seems to have abandoned the stylistic constraints of her Dogme 95 background in favor of a more classical mode, but the grasp of subtlety she displayed in films like Italian for Beginners and An Education is still fully on display here. Her evocation of the period setting is masterfully conceived on an obviously modest budget — the film never looks cheap, but Scherfig limits her sets largely to interiors that reduce the need for expensive location dressing or costly combat sequences. This is not to say that the war takes a back seat — in fact, most of the script’s major story beats are contingent on the war as a sort of deus ex machina narrative device, propelling what would have been an otherwise unremarkable and relatively shallow love story. What Scherfig and screenwriter Gaby Chiappe accomplish is all the more noteworthy because it forgoes the broader and more self-evident conflicts available given its setting in favor
of a drama on a more intimate, human scale — and in so doing, they drive home the ramifications of the war more effectively than they ever could have with massive explosions or scores of extras covered in fake blood and carrying severed limbs. Their Finest is not just a love story, but a love letter to a specific chapter in film history that bore an indelible impact on the collective psychology of a society consumed by conflict. Rather than fixating on the grand spectacle of the war, Scherfig focuses on the role of women, not only in the war effort but also in the film industry of the period. This reductive scope results in a resonant feminist message just as timely and relevant today as it would have been eight decades ago, if not more so. By refusing to allow their female characters to be defined by their relationships to men, both in the film itself and the mise en abyme production within it, Scherfig and Chiappe have accomplished a feat many filmmakers set out to achieve but few actually attain. It may not be the best film about World War II ever made, but it’s certainly the finest feminist statement on the significance of storytelling that I’ve come across in recent memory. Rated R for some language and a scene of sexuality. Now Playing at Carolina Cinemark and Fine Arts Theatre. REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM
Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 HHH DIRECTOR: James Gunn PLAYERS: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell COMIC BOOK SPACE OPERA RATED PG-13
THE STORY: Star Lord runs into his long-lost father while he and the Guardians are on the run from a group of gold-skinned aristocrats, but the family reunion doesn’t go according to plan when the cosmic pater familias is revealed to have a hidden agenda. THE LOWDOWN: A sequel to a highly original film that, while suitably diverting, misses the mark by retreading its predecessor beat for beat. Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, is essentially the same film as its predecessor, only more so. The title sequence, in which baby Groot dances to ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky while a massive battle with a tentacled CGI monstrosity rages in the margins of the background, functions as an apt metaphor for the film’s approach to its storytelling and character development — narrative cohesion has taken a back seat to the gimmicks found to work the first time around. So you have another throwback soundtrack composed of ’70s pop hits, another snarky script filled with quippy banter, and reiterated themes of adoptive familial ties that are bluntly stated with impressive frequency, if not commensurate depth. It’s everything you loved about the first film turned up to 11, so your reception of this one will depend entirely on whether or not you did, in fact, love the first Guardians. As a fan of the first film, I have to admit that I felt a little let down by the follow-up. Writer/director James Gunn prudently plays to his strong suits, but expanding his color palette to equal the psychedelic saturation of Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange and doubling down on the action sequences result in a film that feels less personal (and personable) than the last installment. Even the music cues seem less inspired, with early 70’s one-hit-wonder Looking Glass’ Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) being erroneously referred to as the greatest song in the history of the Earth, an error in judgment for both the character that makes the statement and Gunn himself. The character that makes that spurious claim is Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell), an immortal Celestial – or god with a small “g,” as he puts it — that also happens to be the estranged father of our protagonist Peter Quill, aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt). Russell is a fine addition to the returning cast, and his chemistry with Pratt feels natural and engaging. While the majority of the cast acquit themselves admirably, the script relegates Dave Bautista’s Drax to almost exclusively comic relief, underutilizes Karen Gillan’s Nebula, and spends way, way too much time and attention on Baby Groot. Sylvester
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MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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by Scott Douglas
Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Stallone pops up with a passable performance in a cameo that will likely prove important in later films (and David Hasselhoff shows up in a role that most decidedly will not), the real standout turn comes from Michael Rooker, who’s been given a room here to build a much fuller character than the one-note role he was handed the first time around. Part of what was so effective about the first Guardians movie was that it was so thoroughly unexpected, a breath of fresh air in a stagnating genre. That, however, was in 2014, and the cinematic superhero landscape has changed drastically in the intervening years. After Logan raised the bar for what comic book adaptations can accomplish from a dramatic standpoint, the extent to which Guardians 2 rehashes what was novel about its antecedent feels like a major step backward. The five (!) post- and inter-credit sequences seem hastily amended to tie this film to the continuity mechanics of the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which gives the impression of a slapdash effort that’s uncharacteristic of the typically polished Marvel movies. Still, the movie is a hell of a lot of fun when taken on its own terms, and for the casual viewer, that will most likely suffice. Rated PG-13 for
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sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive content. Now Playing at AMC Classic River Hills 10, Carolina Cinemark, Grail Moviehouse, Regal Biltmore Grande, Epic of Hendersonville, Co-ed Brevard, Strand Waynesville REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM
The Dinner HS DIRECTOR: Oren Moverman PLAYERS: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Hall, Chloë Sevigny FAMILY CRIME MELODRAMA RATED R THE STORY: Two warring brothers and their respective wives meet over an extravagant dinner to discuss a horrific incident involving their sons. THE LOWDOWN: The Dinner is imbued by all of the pomposity and
self-importance of fine dining with none of the taste or sustenance. If writer/director Oren Moverman was trying to comment on the selfindulgence of wealthy elites in his adaptation of Dutch author Herman Koch’s best-selling novel, he only succeeded in displaying his own lack of restraint. The Dinner is a ponderously paced piece of pompous pedantry posing as a psychological thriller, a film with a pronounced tendency to favor style over substance that fails to commit sufficiently to either. The basic premise is rooted in the deep-seated familial conflict between two brothers, a prominent politician played by Richard Gere and a washedup history teacher with a screw loose played by Steve Coogan. The two meet at a ridiculously upscale restaurant, along with their respective wives (Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall), to address a heinous crime in which their sons were involved. Based on a limited plot description alone, The Dinner would appear to be a tightly wound psychodrama with high emotional stakes and a claustrophobic setting — but don’t get your hopes up, the tension implied by the premise is utterly squandered. Moverman’s script ill-advisedly plays with story structure at every
turn, jumping back and forth in linear time through a series of increasingly ineffective flashbacks. While Coogan and Gere perform admirably, and Linney borders on masterful in her turn as a “tiger mom” in sheep’s clothing, even a cast this talented can’t make up for the lengthy and meandering asides Moverman drags their characters through. In some ways, this movie is an inversion of Bunuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie; in that film, wealthy aristocrats talk endlessly and never manage to eat, while in The Dinner the characters eat constantly but avoid the relevant discussion for the first 90 minutes of screen time. With a cast this good, a director with the art house bona fides of Moverman and rich source material, there’s simply no excuse for The Dinner to be this tedious. It’s a particularly unattractive film, both visually and narratively. Cinematographer Bobby Bukowski occasionally flirts with interesting framing and lighting cues that call to mind a midperiod Argento, but with none of the visual interest that comparison implies — and when he gets to the flashback sequences, the film becomes almost unbearably ugly. It’s as though Moverman came to the table with a laundry list of boundary-
M O U N TA I N X P R E S S P R E S E N T S
SCREEN SCENE pushing ideas but no guiding principle under which to organize them. Inconsistency abounds in both style and tone, as Moverman seems incapable of deciding whether this story is a nihilistic satire or a politically charged social commentary, and in the process, he deprives himself of options to achieve a suitable catharsis in the third act. The ending is so abrupt, so narratively arbitrary, that I had to check my notes to make sure I hadn’t missed something. Indeed I hadn’t, but by that point, I found it difficult to care what happened to these four fundamentally unlikable characters and their sociopathic offspring. The Dinner is the cinematic equivalent of waiting too long for fast food at a drive-thru window — an unfulfilling waste of time that leads to nothing worthwhile. Rated R for disturbing violent content, and language throughout. Now Playing at Carolina Cinemark, Grail Moviehouse.
Older Americans Week!
by Edwin Arnaudin | edwinarnaudin@gmail.com
A Special Issue Coming May 17th • Active Aging • Oral Histories • Staying Connected • Chronic Disease • Lifelong Learning • Post-Retirement Careers
REVIEWED BY SCOTT DOUGLAS JSDOUGLAS22@GMAIL.COM
FILM FILM AT UNCA 251-6585, unca.edu • TH (5/11), 10pm - UNC Asheville students screen their original film, Mountebank. Free to attend. Held at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co., 675 Merrimon Ave. ISRAEL/PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL • TH (5/11), 7pm - Israel/Palestine Film Festival. Disturbing the Peace, film screening. Free to attend. Held at UNC-Asheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road • TH (5/18), 7pm - Israel/Palestine Film Festival. The Occupation of the American Mind, film screening. Free to attend. Held at UNCAsheville Reuter Center, 1 Campus View Road NAMI WC 505-7353, namiwnc.org, info@namiwnc.org • FR (5/12), 2pm - What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, film screening. Held as part of Mental Health Month. Free. Held at Henderson County Public Library, 301 N. Washington St., Hendersonville TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 884-5137, tchistoricalsociety.com, tchsociety@yahoo.com • TH (5/18), 5:30pm - The Land Still Speaks to Us, documentary film screening. Barbecue dinner at 5pm. Registration: tchsociety@yahoo.com or 828-884-5137. $20. Held at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 22 Fisher Road, Brevard UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF ASHEVILLE 1 Edwin Place, 254-6001, uuasheville.org • FR (5/12), 7pm - Environmental & Social Justice Films: How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can't Change. Free.
FLAG DAY: Protesters take to the street in this still from Disturbing the Peace. The documentary, about former combatants on both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, will screen May 11. Photo courtesy of Abramorama • In honor of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s new book, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, and his Tuesday, June 13, presentation at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, Pack Memorial Library has begun hosting a lunch-hour event every Thursday through Aug. 31. Starting each week at 12:30 p.m., an episode of one of Tyson’s television shows, such as “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” and “StarTalk,” will be screened. Attendees of all ages are invited to bring a lunch. Free. avl.mx/ff • Just Peace for Israel/Palestine’s Stories of Struggle, Conscience and Spirit: A Film Festival on Israel/ Palestine continues Thursday, May 11, at 7 p.m. in the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville with a screening of Disturbing the Peace. Directed by Stephen Apkon and Andrew Young, the 2016 documentary highlights the universality of suffering by juxtaposing the stories of former combatants on both sides of the Middle Eastern conflict. The UNCA political science department and the Palestinian and Jewish Egalitarian Team are co-sponsoring the event. Free. olliasheville.com/reuter-center • UNCA mass communication and drama students present their orig-
inal film Mountebank on Thursday, May 11, at 10 p.m. at Asheville Pizza & Brewing. Written by UNCA alumnus Clint Owens and directed by mass communication lecturer Anne Slatton, the film follows two con artist brothers who hustle to support their family. It was shot on location at numerous Asheville businesses, including Habitat Brewing Co., Mike’s Auto Service and Barley’s Taproom, and filmed with cooperation from the Screen Actors Talent Casting Agency. Free. ashevillebrewing.com • Grail Moviehouse’s and the Asheville Jewish Community Center’s monthly Israeli Film Series — designed to allow viewers to use film as their window into the minds and culture of Israel — continues Sunday, May 14, at 3 p.m. with The Farewell Party. The 2014 dramedy centers on a closeknit group of residents at a Jerusalem retirement home who build a machine for self-euthanasia to help their terminally ill friend. When rumors of their creation begin to spread, more people ask for their assistance, forcing the friends to reconsider their work. Tickets are $7 and available online or at the Grail box office. avl.mx/3ou X
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
67
M OVIES
by Scott Douglas
SP E CI AL SCREENI NGS
Hendersonville Film Society The Hendersonville Film Society will not host a screening on Sunday, May 14 due to the Mother’s Day holiday.
The Passion of Joan of Arc HHHHS DIRECTOR: Carl Theodor Dreyer PLAYERS: René Maria Falconetti, Eugene Silvain, Andre Berley, Maurice Schutz, Michel Simon HISTORICAL DRAMA Rated NR Carl Theodor Dreyer’s silent film about the trial and execution of Joan of Arc is often cited as “one of the best films ever made” — something that too often means you’re about to get cinematic cauliflower (it’s good for you, but you may not much like it). Yet Dreyer’s film remains among the most strikingly unusual cinema you’re ever likely to see. The Passion is certainly austere, but it differs from the bulk of Dreyer’s work in that it’s much faster-paced (albeit hardly actionpacked), and resultantly more accessible. Mesmerizing and powerful, The Passion of Joan of Arc is a masterpiece of filmmaking. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke, published on July 13, 2005. The Asheville Film Society will screen The Passion of Joan of Arc on Tuesday, May 16, at 7:30 p.m. at The Grail Moviehouse, hosted by Xpress movie critic Scott Douglas.
S TARTIN G F R ID AY
Alive and Kicking Feature length documentary exploring the culture of swing dancing. According to the studio: “Alive and Kicking is a feature-length documentary that takes an inside look into the culture of swing dancing and the characters who make it special. We explore the culture surrounding Swing dance from the emergence of the Lindy Hop to the modern day international phenomenon. The film follows the growth of Swing dance from its purely American roots as an art form, to countries all over the world. Alive and Kicking looks at the lives of the Swing dancers themselves to find their personal stories and why this dance fills them with joy.” Early reviews are positive.(NR)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword Fantasy action-adventure directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), starring Charlie Hunnam and Jude Law. According to the studio: “An iconoclastic take on the classic Excalibur myth, tracing Arthur’s journey from the streets to the throne. When the child Arthur’s father is murdered, Vortigern (Jude Law), Arthur’s uncle, seizes the crown. Robbed of his birthright and with no idea who he truly is, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, his life is turned upside down and he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy ... whether he likes it or not.” No early reviews.(PG-13)
The Quiller Memorandum HHHH DIRECTOR: Michael Anderson PLAYERS: George Segal, Alec Guinness, Senta Berger, Max von Sydow, George Sanders SPY DRAMA Rated NR As soon as there were James Bond movies, there was a response with more seriously intended spy films. The Quiller Memorandum (1966) is one such film, and though it’s one of the more obscure ones, it is also one of the better ones. Oh, there are some problems, and Michael Anderson’s direction is never more than workmanlike, but Harold Pinter’s screenplay — with its repetitions and odd cadences — is absolutely mesmerizing. As a spy movie, it may rarely be more than adequate, but the compensations make up for that — though one might wish there was more for Alec Guinness and George Sanders to do. This excerpt was taken from a review by Ken Hanke, published on Jan. 14, 2014. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Quiller Memorandum on Friday, May 12, at 8 p.m. at Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 2160 Hwy 70, Swannanoa.
2017 WNC’s fun way to give!
Now accepting applications from area nonprofits to participate in our annual fundraising effort.
For more information, go to avl.mx/3g5 68
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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Snatched Adventure comedy directed by Guy Ritchie (50/50, The Night Before), starring Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn, Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack. According to the studio: “After her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation, impetuous dreamer Emily Middleton (Amy Schumer) persuades her ultra-cautious mother, Linda (Goldie Hawn) to travel with her to paradise. Polar opposites, Emily and Linda realize that working through their differences as mother and daughter - in unpredictable, hilarious fashion - is the only way to escape the wildly outrageous jungle adventure they have fallen into. ” No early reviews.(R)
The Wall Iraq War action thriller directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow), starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena. According to the studio: “The Wall is a deadly psychological thriller that follows two soldiers pinned down by an Iraqi sniper, with nothing but a crumbling wall between them. Their fight becomes as much a battle of will and wits as it is of lethally accurate marksmanship.” No early reviews.(R)
MARKETPLACE REA L E S TAT E | R E N TA L S | R O O M M ATES | SERV ICES | JOB S | A N N OU N CEMENTS | M I ND, BO DY, SPI R I T CL AS S E S & WOR K S HOP S | M U S ICIA N S’ SERV ICES | PETS | A U TOMOTIV E | X C HANG E | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 x111 tnavaille@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com
RENTALS ROOMS FOR RENT WORK TRADE FOR HOUSING ON ORGANIC HOMESTEAD Work-trade on Organic Homestead in East Asheville. Positive, intelligent, hardworking community in harmony with the land. 11 hours of work a week for room. 8 month min commitment. Email: ashevillehomestead@gmail.com
ROOMMATES ROOMMATES ALL AREAS Free Roommate Service @ RentMates.com. Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at RentMates.com! (AAN CAN)
EMPLOYMENT GENERAL CHILDCARE WORKER NEEDED Loving and friendly childcare worker needed for Sunday mornings, and other events, in the nursery of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church located in North Asheville. 1-3 years childcare experience preferred. Paid a minimum of 3 hours for any shift with $12.00 an hour to start for experienced worker. Please send letter of interest and resume to smeehan@gcpcusa. org. DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY MUDDY SNEAKERS: THE JOY OF LEARNING OUTSIDE Muddy Sneakers seeks a candidate experienced in fund development with strong communication and independent work skills to join our team as Director of Philanthropy. Email resume, cover letter, and salary history to Carolyn Ashworth: carolynlinds@gmail. com. Position open until filled. 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! www.GrayLineAsheville.com; Info@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-251-8687.
EDITOR: Mountain Xpress is seeking an experienced editor with a commitment to the values of fair, balanced and multi-sourced news reporting, a passion for local journalism and a love of good writing. Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to handle tight deadlines and be comfortable working with both inexperienced and nonprofessional writers as well as staff reporters. Ideally, applicants will bring a deep knowledge of the local community and its history to the position; otherwise, they must be willing to educate themselves in ways that will strengthen their ability to place current events in perspective. A solid grounding in AP style, or a willingness to learn it, is essential. Freelance or possible staff position. Email cover letter, resume to editor@mountainx.com
RESTAURANT/ FOOD COMMUNITY CO-OP SEEKING BARISTAS Firestorm Books & Coffee is seeking a community-oriented, selfdirected barista with an interest in radical social change to join our co-operative in West Asheville. For more, see www.firestorm.coop/jobs.html
DRIVERS/ DELIVERY LOCAL DRIVERS WANTED! Be your own boss. Flexible hours. Unlimited earning potential. Must be 21 with valid U.S. driver’s license, insurance & reliable vehicle. 866-329-2672 (AAN CAN)
MEDICAL/ HEALTH CARE CURRENTLY SEEKING LPNS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AS CARE MANAGERS -Willing to drive within a 30-40mile radius of home -Case Management experience helpful -LPN need 3 years’ experience - 1 year being in home health. -SW need to be licensed or Bachelor’s Degree and home health experience. Send Resume to Tina at: extrahandhealthcare@yahoo.com 4786546770
NURSES NEEDED! Eliada Homes is seeking full-time Registered Nurses to work with children and adolescents. This is a unique opportunity to work in a beautiful setting supporting six residential cottages to ensure a healthy therapeutic environment that promotes learning and growth for the students in our care. Guided by excellence, integrity, teamwork and compassion, our nursing staff works closely with the entire treatment team. Enjoy some of the best views in town as you walk between the cottages (rain or shine) providing care. All RN positions require valid NC RN licensure. Experience working with children preferred. Both day and night shifts available. For more information or to apply, visit www.eliada.org/employment/ current-openings.
HUMAN SERVICES
necessary for successful adulthood. Collaborate with team to implement programming designed to support young adults in reaching their goals. Work one-on-one and in the group setting to model and develop independent living skills. Foundations is a residential program, requiring overnights while on shift. The standard shift is a fulltime live-in position in the heart of Asheville, with excellent accommodations and expenses paid. Daily tasks of transportation, cleanliness, community involvement, and maintaining a timely schedule are key job responsibilities. In addition, consistent role modeling of healthy habits, problemsolving, emotional maturity, and executive function is critical to our students' success. Seasonal opportunities exist for travel, community service, and projectbased-learning. Work with a skilled clinical team to implement real growth for the young men in our care. The ideal applicant would have: •Excellent communication skills, creativity, and desire to work in a tight-knit community. •Skills to teach successful habits of academic success. •Skills to support others find jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities in the community of Asheville. •Professional experience with guidance, teaching, experiential education. •Experience with direct care in a therapeutic environment. •A clean driving record. •Unique strengths they bring to our community. •A desire to learn and grow in the field. •This is not an entrylevel position, and requires a high degree of autonomy and collaboration. We are currently interviewing qualified applicants for Full-time and PRN positions. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Promptly email cover letter, resume, references, and any pertinent certifications to foundationshiring@gmail.com. Learn more at foundationsasheville.com. WILDERNESS THERAPY PROGRAM • Field Staff: Hiring for year round and summer only positions. Following training, facilitate safety and implement treatment plan designed by group therapist for teens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. Staff work week on/week off in the woods of North Georgia. • CPR and First Aid certified required, experience with backpacking, primitive skills, therapeutic environments and adolescents all appreciated • Benefits: Health/Dental, Bonus, Salary increases with Level. • Two upcoming training sessions: May 11-17 or June 1-7. • Contact: Abi or Brant at careers@blueridgewilderness.com (706) 212-2037 or http://blueridgewilderness. com/careers/
PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT ELIADA HOMES JOB FAIR MAY 18TH! On the spot interviews for Residential Counselor 2nd and 3rd shift positions with offers made within a week! Applicants must be patient, have a strong desire to work with children and able work in a high pressure, high stress environment. No experience required. Extensive training provided to new hires. Must have a High School diploma or GED. Job Fair details: Plan to attend a two hour session including program overview and interview. Two time slots available 10:00a-12:00p and 4:00p-6:00p. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP REQUIRED. Interested? Call 828.254.5356 x375 or email aminot@eliada.org for more information. LIFE SKILLS TRAINER Foundations Asheville, a young adult transitional program working with college-age adults in Asheville, North Carolina seeks qualified life skills trainer to create and maintain a consistent, emotionally safe and supportive environment needed to foster the strengths and overcome hurdles
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR The Asheville City Schools Foundation seeks a Development Director to lead our fundraising team to ensure our organization has adequate funding to achieve our mission. Full description at www.acsf.org HR MANAGER Community Action Opportunities, Asheville, NC. We are an anti-poverty agency looking for a seasoned, HR professional to be our HR Manager. Along with a personnel analyst, this hands-on position supports the HR needs of 130 FTEs. • Our HR Manager ensures that we comply with relevant employment law is responsible for HR-related policies, programs and systems including but not limited to job analysis, pay and classification, recruitment, screening and selection, employee benefits and electronic and hardcopy HR records. • The HR Manager must also know and apply federal and state HR laws and regulations, be able to communicate clearly, exercise sound judgment, meet repeated deadlines, work on teams, facilitate small groups,
demonstrate best-practice supervision and counsel others on lawful employment and behaviorally-based discipline practices. Requires a Master’s degree in HR Management, Public Administration or Business Administration with an emphasis in HR, or a related field and, at least, eight (8) years as an assistant or HR Manager/Director in a small public or medium-sized non-profit organization. SHRM-SCP also required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be acceptable. • Prefer bi-lingual in Spanish. This position is exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime pay Compensation: $60,770 to $85,079 (DOQ) plus competitive benefits including 401(k) • CAO shall exclude applicants who fail to comply with the following submittal requirements: Send resume, cover letter and three (3) professional work references with complete contact information to: Ms. Vicki Heidinger, Executive Director, 25 Gaston Street, Asheville NC, 28801 • Or Email to: admin@ communityactionopportunities.org • Or (828) 253-6319 (Fax) EOE & DFWP. Open until filled. Interviews begin in late May. See the full job description at: communityactionopportunities.org
TEACHING/ EDUCATION
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROGRAMS INSTRUCTOR A-B Tech is currently taking applications for an Advanced Manufacturing Programs Instructor position. For more details and to apply: abtcc.peopleadmin.com/postings/4219 INTERIM SCHOOL COUNSELOR ArtSpace Charter School is accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year for the position of Interim School Counselor. • This is a full-time, one year position. • Applicants must have a current North Carolina Professional Educator’s License in the area of School Counselor (K-12). Applicants must be willing to work in a collaborative, integrated, experiential environment. Knowledge of the arts and arts integration strategies is preferred but not required. • Please send resume and cover letter to: resumes@ artspacecharter.org with the subject heading: “School Counselor”. LEAD COUNSELOR AT NATURE ADVENTURES SUMMER CAMP Asheville's twist on traditional summer camp. Through imaginative, hands-on outdoor education, kids improve in self-confidence and inner discipline while learning valuable lessons about the natural world. Please email resume.
COMPUTER/ TECHNICAL
IT/DATABASE/WEB ASSISTANT Mountain Xpress seeks a part-time person to assist with administration, development and day-to-day support of the company’s (1) IT systems (Macintosh workstations and servers; printers, phones, internetconnection, email and internal network hardware/software); (2) database systems (Filemaker-based, requiring scripting and some development) and (3) website (WordPress CMS, requiring skills in mySql, PHP, HTML, CSS and Javascript). Send cover letter, resume and references to: employment@mountainx.com
CAREGIVERS/ NANNY
NOW HIRING CNA, IHA / PCA IN HENDERSONVILLE AND WAYNESVILLE Advantage Care Services is seeking qualified CNA and IHA / PCA in Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson counties. Competitive pay with a sign on bonus. Call or apply online. jobs@advantagehcc.com 888-350-5397 extension 702
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
SEEKING DBE SUBCONTRACTORS CERTIFIED WITH NCDOT Project: Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance - MV Transportation, Inc. is proposing on the above referenced projects as a prime consultant and would appreciate letter of interest from DBE firms who are currently certified with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for the following services: Office janitorial & supplies, Computer and technology supplies, towing, landscaping, security, alarm systems. MV Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as a matter of policy, encourages the participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. If you are interested in participating in this project, please submit a copy of your DBE certificate and a brief company bio to Kathlyn Conway, Administrative & Marketing Assistant at 440-815-2294 (fax) or Kathlyn.Conway@mvtransit.com.
SALON/ SPA FRONT DESK/SPA ASSISTANT Sensibilities Day Spa is now hiring for a Front Desk/Spa Assistant position at our location in the Hilton Hotel at Biltmore Park. If interested, please take resume to that location. HIRING FULL-TIME LMT Sensibilities Day Spa is now hiring full-time LMTs (2527 hrs/wk) for our Downtown and South locations. Availability to work both locations and weekends are required. We offer a set schedule, in-house training and a commission-based income with great earning potential. Bring resume to either location.
SERVICES
HOME IMPROVEMENT GENERAL SERVICES DRIVEWAY SEAL COATING By Mark DeLude. • Protects and preserves. • Over 30+ years experience. Hand applied commercial grade sealer. • Free estimates. • Also interior/exterior painting services. Call Mark: (828) 299-0447.
HANDY MAN HANDY MAN Handy Man specializing in property maintenance and small repairs , Honest dependable service with references available , Quality work at a reasonable price Pete 828-989-6646 or 281- 546 -3594 auto1865@gmail.com HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. $1 million liability insurance. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.
ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS KILL ROACHES - GUARANTEED! Buy Harris Roach Tablets. Odorless, Long Lasting. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) KILL SCORPIONS! Buy Harris Odorless Scorpion Spray. Effective Results Begin After Spray Dries. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot.com (AAN CAN) MAKE THE CALL TO START GETTING CLEAN TODAY Free 24/7 Helpline for alcohol & drug addiction treatment. Get help! It is time to take your life back! Call Now: 855-7324139. (AAN CAN) PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 877362-2401. (AAN CAN)
LOST & FOUND FOUND • SET OF 4 KEYS In the middle of Haw Creek Road, East Asheville. Monday April 10. Call (828) 7133183 to claim.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
BEAUTY/SALON
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
STYLIST POSITION AVAILABLE Downtown salon looking for experienced and education focused stylist. Commission and booth rental both available. mmennone@yahoo.com mmennone@yahoo. com
CLAY CLASSES AT ODYSSEY CLAYWORKS 5-Week classes: Beginner Handbuilding and Surface Decoration, Beginner Wheel Throwing, Narrative Surface: Drawing On Ceramics, Breaking (Down) The Mold. One Night Pottery Classes: Ready, Set, Throw. 5-Day Workshops: Pristine Porcelain Pros, Historical Forms: Contemporary Myths, Demystifying Form: Clay Play And the Teapot, Raku Magic, Cob Construction. Kids Summer Clay Camp!
HOME KILL BED BUGS AND THEIR EGGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores, The Home Depot, homedepot. com (AAN CAN)
MOUNTAINX.COM
MAY 10 - 16, 2017
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$100,000 IN FUNDS AVAIL ABLE FOR TENANT IMPROVEMENTS
WANTED
Experienced Restaurant Operator For A First Class Restaurant • • • •
7,500 Square Foot End Cap Parking For 800 Cars Includes All FF & E Great Visibility And Large Pylon Signage Available • $8,750 Per Month
In the Walmart Supercenter At 1636 Hendersonville Rd. Asheville, NC Call Shawndra Smialek At 954-429-9000 X 11 for details — Ssmialek@Samcoproperties.Com —
FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): The process by which Zoo Jeans are manufactured is unusual. First, workers wrap and secure sheets of denim around car tires or big rubber balls, and take their raw creations to the Kamine Zoo in Hitachi City, Japan. There the denim-swaddled objects are thrown into pits where tigers or lions live. As the beasts roughhouse with their toys, they rip holes in the cloth. Later, the material is retrieved and used to sew the jeans. Might this story prove inspirational for you in the coming weeks? I suspect it will. Here’s one possibility: You could arrange for something wild to play a role in shaping an influence you will have an intimate connection with. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Kiss the flame and it is yours,” teased the poet Thomas Lux. What do you think he was hinting at? It’s a metaphorical statement, of course. You wouldn’t want to literally thrust your lips and tongue into a fire. But according to my reading of the astrological omens, you might benefit from exploring its meanings. Where to begin? May I suggest you visualize making out with the steady burn at the top of a candle? My sources tell me that doing so at this particular moment in your evolution will help kindle a new source of heat and light in your deep self — a fresh fount of glowing power that will burn sweet and strong like a miniature sun. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your symbol of power during the next three weeks is a key. Visualize it. What picture pops into your imagination? Is it a bejeweled golden key like what might be used to access an old treasure chest? Is it a rustic key for a garden gate or an oversized key for an ornate door? Is it a more modern thing that locks and unlocks car doors with radio waves? Whatever you choose, Gemini, I suggest you enshrine it in as an inspirational image in the back of your mind. Just assume that it will subtly inspire and empower you to find the metaphorical “door” that leads to the next chapter of your life story. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You are free to reveal yourself in your full glory. For once in your life, you have cosmic clearance to ask for everything you want without apology. This is the LATER you have been saving yourself for. Here comes the reward for the hard work you’ve been doing that no one has completely appreciated. If the universe has any prohibitions or inhibitions to impose, I don’t know what they are. If old karma has been preventing the influx of special dispensations and helpful X-factors, I suspect that old karma has at least temporarily been neutralized. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions,” said Irish writer Oscar Wilde. “I want to use them, to enjoy them and to dominate them.” In my opinion, that may be one of the most radical vows ever formulated. Is it even possible for us human beings to gracefully manage our unruly flow of feelings? What you do in the coming weeks could provide evidence that the answer to that question might be yes. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are now in a position to learn more about this high art than ever before. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Africa’s highest mountain is Mount Kilimanjaro. Though it’s near the equator, its peak is covered year-round with glaciers. In 2001, scientists predicted that global warming would melt them all by 2015. But that hasn’t happened. The ice cap is still receding slowly. It could endure for a while, even though it will eventually disappear. Let’s borrow this scenario as a metaphor for your use, Virgo. First, consider the possibility that a certain thaw in your personal sphere isn’t unfolding as quickly as you anticipated. Second, ruminate on the likelihood that it will, however, ultimately come to pass. Third, adjust your plans accordingly.
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BY ROB BREZSNY
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Will sex be humdrum and predictable in the coming weeks? No! On the contrary. Your interest in wandering out to the frontiers of erotic play could rise quite high. You may be animated and experimental in your approach to intimate communion, whether it’s with another person or with yourself. Need any suggestions? Check out the “butterflies-in-flight” position or the “spinning wheel of roses” maneuver. Try the “hum-and-chuckle kissing dare” or the “churning radiance while riding the rain cloud” move. Or just invent your own variations and give them funny names that add to the adventure. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Right now the word “simplicity” is irrelevant. You’ve got silky profundities to play with, slippery complications to relish, and lyrical labyrinths to wander around in. I hope you use these opportunities to tap into more of your subterranean powers. From what I can discern, your deep dark intelligence is ready to provide you with a host of fresh clues about who you really are and where you need to go. P.S.: You can become better friends with the shadows without compromising your relationship to the light. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You can bake your shoes in the oven at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, but that won’t turn them into loaves of bread. Know what I’m saying, Sagittarius? Just because a chicken has wings doesn’t mean it can fly over the rainbow. Catch my drift? You’ll never create a silk purse out of dental floss and dead leaves. That’s why I offer you the following advice: In the next two weeks, do your best to avoid paper tigers, red herrings, fool’s gold, fake news, Trojan horses, straw men, pink elephants, convincing pretenders and invisible bridges. There’ll be a reward if you do: close encounters with shockingly beautiful honesty and authenticity that will be among your most useful blessings of 2017. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Of all the signs of the zodiac, you Capricorns are the least likely to believe in mythical utopias like Camelot or El Dorado or Shambhala. You tend to be uber-skeptical about the existence of legendary vanished riches like the last Russian czar’s Fabergé eggs or King John’s crown jewels. And yet if wonderlands and treasures like those really do exist, I’m betting that some may soon be discovered by Capricorn explorers. Are there unaccounted-for masterpieces by Georgia O’Keeffe buried in a basement somewhere? Is the score of a lost Mozart symphony tucked away in a seedy antique store? I predict that your tribe will specialize in unearthing forgotten valuables, homing in on secret miracles, and locating missing mother lodes. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my lyrical analysis of the astrological omens, here are examples of the kinds of experiences you might encounter in the next 21 days: 1. interludes that reawaken memories of the first time you fell in love; 2. people who act like helpful, moon-drunk angels just in the nick of time; 3. healing music or provocative art that stirs a secret part of you — a sweet spot you had barely been aware of; 4. an urge arising in your curious heart to speak the words, “I invite lost and exiled beauty back into my life.” PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Ex-baseball player Eric DuBose was pulled over by Florida cops who spotted him driving his car erratically. They required him to submit to a few tests, hoping to determine whether he had consumed too much alcohol. “Can you recite the alphabet?” they asked. “I’m from the great state of Alabama,” DuBose replied, “and they have a different alphabet there.” I suggest, Pisces, that you try similar gambits whenever you find yourself in odd interludes or tricky transitions during the coming days — which I suspect will happen more than usual. Answer the questions you want to answer rather than the ones you’re asked, for example. Make jokes that change the subject. Use the powers of distraction and postponement. You’ll need extra slack, so seize it!
FOR MUSICIANS MUSICAL SERVICES
INTUITIVE PAINTING 1 DAY WORKSHOP! SATURDAY, MAY 27TH, 10 TO 4PM Come Experience the Aliveness and Vitality of your own Creative Spirit! Free your Soul through Painting! Weekly ongoing classes: Tuesday evenings and Wednesday nights. 828-252-4828 SacredSpacePainting.com NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! QIGONG CLASSES Weekly, Tuesdays and Saturdays, 10:30-11:30am. At Habitat Tavern and Commons, 174 Broadway, Asheville. Free parking available across the street. Email for information allen@ashevilleqigong.com
MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK
NOW ACCEPTING STUDENTS IN JAZZ PIANO, COMPOSITION, AND IMPROVISATION (ALL INSTRUMENTS). Michael Jefry Stevens, “WNC Best Composer 2016” and “Steinway Artist”, now accepting students in jazz piano, composition, and improvisation (all instruments). 35 years experience. M.A. from Queens College (NYC). Over 90 cds released. 9179161363. michaeljefrystevens.com WHITEWATER RECORDING Mixing • Mastering • Recording. (828) 684-8284 www. whitewaterrecording.com
PETS PET SERVICES ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you're away. Reasonable rates. Call Sandy (828) 215-7232.
AUTOMOTIVE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FOR SALE MAY SPECIAL -15% OFF ANY SERVICE for Mom from our team of highly skilled massage therapists! Gift Certificates included. Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Couples, Reflexology, Aromatherapy. $60/hour. Complimentary tea room. Beautifully appointed facility. 947 Haywood Road, West Asheville. Free parking in lot, handicap accessible. (828)552-3003 ebbandflowavl@charter.net ebbandflowavl.com
COUNSELING SERVICES
2007 WILDCAT 5TH WHEEL CAMPER 30LSBS. 3 slides. On seasonal site, Lake Hartwell RV park. Boat and dock access. Too many extras to list! Reduced: $13,000 or best offer. 802-892-6658. hydel27@gmail.com
TRUCKS/VANS/ SUVS FOR SALE
T H E N E W Y OR K TI M ES CR OSSWOR D PU ZZLE
ACROSS
1 Rod at a pig roast 5 Vehicles with medallions 9 Partner of circumstance 13 Result of a sock in the eye 15 Colorful, warmblooded fish 16 Cowboy boot accessory 17 Tomorrow, in 43-Down 18 Mexican president Enrique 20 Pavlov with a Nobel 21 Biceps and hamstrings 23 “Buy It ___” (eBay option) 24 Word after motion or lie 26 “Puh-lease!” 28 Persona ___ (welcome guest) 29 1987-94 “Star Trek” series, briefly 31 Eyes, to bards 32 Pothook shape 33 Count in music 35 Lowest-voiced choir members 37 Drink often served with a miniature umbrella 39 Vehement rejection
edited by Will Shortz
No. 0405
42 Prefix with violet or violent 43 Mo. when the N.F.L. season starts 46 Gave the go-ahead 47 Outfield-patching need 48 Cola wars competitor 50 Naps south of the border 54 Devices that prevent fumes from escaping 56 Many an eligible receiver 57 Drink made from frozen grapes 59 ___ the finish (having potential to win) 60 Peppers milder than habaneros 62 Warm Pacific current 64 Is in the hole 65 Ill-gotten goods 66 Attaches, as a carnation 67 Soak up the sun 68 Theater, dance, etc. 69 Roald who wrote “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
4 Highest point value for a Scrabble tile 5 He placed the sun at the center of the universe 6 Tiptop 7 Bathrooms, in 43-Down 8 Tuned too high 9 Air pump fig. 10 Beer drinkers’ utensils 11 Basketball Hall-ofFamer Dikembe ___ 12 Exceptional ability 13 Tiny bit 14 Log craft 19 “Crypto City” at Ft. Meade 22 “___ luck!” 25 Log construction 27 Parks of the civil rights movement 30 Rock scientists 34 Year, in 43-Down 35 “Cheers” setting 36 Change with the times 37 Okra units 38 Forrest Gump’s C.O. PUZZLE BY ALEX EATON-SALNERS 39 Profile-altering plastic DOWN surgery 44 43-Down, in 51 Message left on a 55 Ooze 1 Bic or Gillette offerings 40 Pacific battle site of 43-Down hotline, perhaps 58 “Wow!,” in Internet1945 2 They’re broken at 45 One of eight in a speak 52 Northeast Corridor parties V-8 41 Parts of hypodermics express train 61 Set, as a price 3 How butterflies might 43 Language that utilizes 49 Greek poet who be caught the letter “ñ” wrote “The Distaff” 53 Mister, in 43-Down 63 Tupperware topper
CHEVY FIBERGLASS CAMPER COVER Chevy fiberglass camper cover (red) fits 61/2 foot short wheelbase truck. Sliding Windows ,good condition. $300. Call 828-645-5698 or 828-776-5698.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES Owned & operated by:
HYPNOSIS | EFT | NLP Michelle Payton, M.A., D.C.H., Author | 828-681-1728 | www. MichellePayton.com | Dr. Payton’s mind over matter solutions include: Hypnosis, SelfHypnosis, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Acupressure Hypnosis, Past Life Regression, Mindful Writing Coaching. Find Michelle’s books, audio and video, sessions and workshops on her website.
HEALTH & FITNESS DIRECTOR OF YOGA STUDIO Seeking to lease the yoga studio to a well qualified yoga instructor. $1,200.00 per month, includes all utilities. Willing to negotiate and help you build the practice. 828-280-2488 haydn@ helpingyougrow.com wellspringasheville.com
RETREATS SHOJI SPA & LODGE * 7 DAYS A WEEK Day & Night passes, cold plunge, sauna, hot tubs, lodging, 8 minutes from town, bring a friend or two, stay the day or all evening, escape & renew! Best massages in Asheville 828299-0999.
CAR DR A FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP CAR DR is a full service automotive shop capable of servicing and maintaining Import and Domestic vehicles. Located on Sweeten Creek Rd. Call 828277-6599 for your appointment today. cardrasheville@gmail.com WE'LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE • Honda and Acura repair. Half price repair and service. ASE and factory trained. Located in the Weaverville area, off exit 15. Please call (828) 275-6063 for appointment. www.wellfixitautomotive.com
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Assistant Executive Housekeeper Front Office Manager GuestRoom Services Representative Attendant Night Auditor Laundry Attendant Room Room Attendant (Housekeeper) Inspector Sales Coordinator Overnight Security
Paul Caron
Furniture Magician • Cabinet Refacing • Furniture Repair • Seat Caning • Antique Restoration • Custom Furniture & Cabinetry (828) 669-4625
• Black Mountain
CAN).
MOUNTAINX.COM
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