FEATURES SPECIAL INSERT
BEST OF WNC PART ONE
Who’s ready to party? We are! And we hope you’ll join us. Not only is Xpress celebrating its 30-year anniversary, but we’re also raising a toast to all the local people, businesses and events that placed in this year’s Best of WNC. In the first of our two-part series, you’ll find the winners for a number of categories including arts & entertainment, shopping, personal services, kids and much more.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes
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MANAGING EDITOR: Thomas Calder
EDITORS:
Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR: Thomas Calder
OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose
STAFF REPORTERS:
Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Pat Moran, Greg Parlier, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman
COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Braulio Pescador-Martinez
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Jon Elliston, Mindi Friedwald, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak
VGUIDE OTER 2024 E lection
Important dates for the Nov. 5 general election
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Syphilis
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Friday, Oct. 11: The last day to register to vote. You must register by 5 p.m. Note: You also can do same-day registration during early voting, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Nov. 2. For more information, visit avl.mx/e1z.
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Saturday, Nov. 2: The last day for in-person early voting.
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UNCA cuts will damage region, future generations
I am a tenured business professor and UNC Asheville’s entrepreneurship professor of 10 years, as well as a volunteer board member at Hatch Innovation Hub. I am writing as a public citizen to express my concern over recent decisions made at UNCA and by extension, the University of North Carolina System. I hold no animosity toward leaders, as these decisions are driven by pressures from the governing and funding bodies in Raleigh, and the political and economic actors in North Carolina and beyond who have influenced recent decisions to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and trim offerings in philosophy, drama, ancient Mediterranean studies, religious studies, and language and literatures at our public liberal arts university.
As a political economist, feminist political philosopher and published expert on the topic of entrepreneurial ecosystems and inclusive economic development through innovation and entrepreneurship, I find the arguments offered to be narrow and shortsighted, and the decisions made to be potentially detrimental to future generations and the region.
Removing or reducing philosophy offerings from public liberal arts education is a dangerous precedent. Philosophy is the foundation of all business ethics. Philosophy is the foundation of our understanding of the good life, the just society, the meaning of life and how we build the institutions, systems and structures for living and thriving in a free and democratic society. The humanities and the arts inform leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and professionals how to lead, how to make ethical decisions, how to engage in creative problem-solving and how to treat other human beings from all walks of life.
that is unmoored from ethical humanism and philosophical understanding is transactional at best and destructive at worst. Further, UNCA’s most talented entrepreneurship students are often drama majors or minors, as they are seasoned in public speaking, and confident and effective at selling their ideas to a public audience.
UNCA’s front-line workers — the faculty and staff — have been consistently innovative, deeply involved in the community and engaged contributors to the region, given their expertise and willingness to engage with myriad stakeholders. These dedicated professionals have been essential in executing the mission of our state’s public liberal arts university well before the arrival of recent chancellors and vice chancellors who execute the administrative decisions coming from Raleigh.
UNCA’s front-line workers — like other public school teachers in the
Take UNCA concerns to legislature
[Regarding “Ripple Effects: Local Theater Companies Respond to the Loss of UNCA’s Drama Department,” Aug. 7, Xpress:]
The loss of the drama department at UNC Asheville is a genuine loss to the community, one that will be felt throughout the greater Asheville area. As is true with the other cuts, good people are affected, and the university loses depth and character.
But the university was put into an impossible situation, given a requirement to cover multimillion dollar shortfalls in very little time. There were no good options.
Two reactions seem appropriate. First, if you oppose one or more of the cuts, say what cuts you would make in a trade-off. There is not an option to take a pass on the resources required.
—– struggle to make ends meet given the low market rates of pay relative to the high cost of living. They are the vanguard, the innovators, the subject matter experts and the humans interacting with our students day in and day out, year in and year out. The complete disregard of norms of shared governance and the blanket rejection of the letter coming from the faculty leadership (of which I was involved as a collaborator, although I do not serve as chair of the business department) is indeed an unfortunate turn in relations between our faculty and administration.
Please write a letter to your elected leaders and administration to express your support for faculty and to preserve an effective public liberal arts education for our state that includes philosophy, drama, religious studies, ancient Mediterranean studies, and languages and literatures.
— Susan Clark Muntean, Ph.D., MBA Asheville
Second, take your anger where it belongs — to the state legislature that has bled out education at all levels over the past decade.
North Carolina was once the leading Southeastern state in education and a national leader. No more. UNCA is just one more victim of a legislature hostile to excellence in public education at all levels.
— Bill Clontz Asheville
Theater is not a luxury
[Regarding “Ripple Effects: Local Theater Companies Respond to the Loss of UNCA’s Drama Department,” Aug. 7, Xpress:]
I am concerned that students seeking a “liberal arts” environment, experience and education will notice (like spinach between your teeth) that a theater experience is not available. Perhaps they will then choose another university.
Business
state
CARTOON BY RANDY MOLTON
Theater, unlike other disciplines, also forms the students’ character, self-discipline and, most importantly, self-affirmation that they are accepted, valued and also responsible for their actions and decisions. Plus of course, readies students for careers on and off the stage.
Theater is not a luxury. It is a staple in understanding what it means to be human, to connect, to be with others, and it also provides entertainment and enlightenment.
Most all of the local theater companies I think looked to UNC Asheville as a supply chain for their productions. Perhaps we can creatively involve our local community resources to save the theater department.
— Carol Anders Asheville
Support public education this November
North Carolina used to be a state that prided itself on its education system. In 2000, North Carolina ranked in the middle of all U.S. states in education funding. But due to continual budget cuts since 2000, now we are at the bottom of the list of states in terms of teacher salary and per-pupil spending. What a decline!
In the matter of education funding, the N.C. GOP legislative leader-
ship has shown their preference for reverse Robin Hood policies: They take from the poor to give to the rich. For over 20 years, the Republican leadership has blocked the Leandro school funding plan. Republican legislators fought tooth and nail to block court-ordered additional funding to help poorer school districts even when there was sufficient money in the state budget.
That is the “take from the poor” part of their effort. But now Republicans in the state legislature have put additional millions of dollars into their school voucher program. Started in 2013, the Opportunity Scholarship program was initiated to provide private school vouchers for low-income families. The funding for that voucher program has grown dramatically, but income eligibility is now open to all, with the result that more than half the applicants have family budgets over $100,000 and less than 20% are low income. Average taxpayers will be subsidizing upper-income families to send their children to private schools. Here we have the “give to the rich” part of the equation.
Now, some Republican legislators might say that the voucher program is an attempt to improve education in the state by providing more choice and more competition. Then why does their program exempt private
schools of all reasonable accountability measures? Unlike the public schools and unlike nine other states with voucher programs, these N.C. private schools have zero requirements for accreditation, teacher certifications, curriculum standards or required hours for student attendance.
If we are concerned about the quality of public schools, then the answer is to put more money into the schools, not take it out. For every child who leaves the public school system for private school, that district loses the entire amount of that student’s per-pupil fund allocation, approximately $7,400 per child. This results in millions of dollars in reduced funds available for public schools.
Education policy is definitely on the ballot this coming November. In the race for N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction, we have Maurice “Mo” Green running as a Democrat. Mo’s life work has been in public education. On the Republican side, his opponent is Michele Morrow. She has homeschooled her five children and explicitly said she does not support public schools.
In a local Asheville race, incumbent Democratic House Rep. Lindsey Prather is running in a newly drawn Buncombe County District 115. Lindsey is a former
public school teacher. She ran for office the first time because of her concerns about the decline of public education here in our state. In May, she was one of the main sponsors of HB 993, which would freeze the expansion of the private-school voucher program until public schools are fully funded. It would also require private schools to comply with the same testing requirements as public schools. Whether you currently have a school-age child or you simply care about the quality of education in our state, then voting for candidates who promise to support public education should be top of mind this November.
— Diane Finn Candler
Editor’s note: The writer reports being active in the Buncombe County Democratic Party to help to elect local candidates, though not in any specific candidate’s campaign. X
Word of the week overdog
(n.) one that is dominant or victorious Folks, it’s Best of WNC week. We’ve got a lot of overdogs in our latest issue. X
CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN
Road hog
BY BILL BRANYON
Finally! After almost 35 sword-of-Damocles years, the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is actually going to start building the immense Interstate 26 Connector this year.
A John Boyle article in Asheville Watchdog states that as of May 9, the NCDOT has been buying and condemning property for the project.
In response to pressure from horrified citizens, the state agency held countless community meetings during which it considered and ultimately rejected many alternate options. Now, however, the final route has been chosen, and those who aren’t in the line of fire can breathe a deep sigh of relief. But while small portions of the road do appear to be much-needed transformations, will we now turn away in disgust and denial over what we’re doing to the people, animals and environments that will be most dreadfully affected?
There’s still time to at least lessen the damage. The Wikipedia entry titled “Highway Revolts in the United States” tells over 100 inspiring stories about American cities that have stopped or mitigated planned freeways, often after the contracts had been awarded and sometimes even after the projects had been built.
But we almost certainly won’t try to stop or modify our own connector: We’re just too darn sick of worrying about it and fighting traffic jams. Thus, here’s a requiem for all the poor souls in the road’s path.
LIVING LIKE A REFUGEE
According to the NCDOT’s final environmental impact statement, the connector will plow through 114 houses and force 35 businesses and two nonprofits to move. But never fear: The agency’s “Residential Relocation Brochure” cheerily assures us that these affected residents may be eligible to receive a payment whose maximum amount would be “the asking price … of a comparable replacement dwelling.” They’re also “entitled to reimbursement of ... moving costs and certain related expenses.”
Of course, some folks may be happy to get the windfall. But what about the ones who love their current home and neighborhood and really don’t want to move? Besides, for those who want to stay in the city, good luck finding anything “comparable” in Asheville’s notoriously tight and prohibitively pricey housing market.
The I-26 Disconnector
“Those who aren’t in the line of fire can breathe a deep sigh of relief.”
The 7-mile-long, mostly six-lane road seems likely to cleave seven neighborhoods in two, including the historically Black Burton Street community as well as areas around Kentucky and Hanover drives, the Pisgah View area, and Fairfax and Virginia avenues. When the NCDOT finalizes project plans, it will identify any areas that qualify for “noise walls” to contain the freeway’s noxious noise and frenzied motion. The good news is that residents living within hearing or sight distance of those areas will get to vote on whether they want one. If they vote yes, they can imagine they’re living in a walled fortress with dragons roaring 24/7 right outside.
The connector will then cut across Patton Avenue before fracturing the historically low-income Emma community. After crossing over the French Broad on a new bridge, it will execute its coup de grâce, demolishing Salvage Station, an extremely popular outdoor music venue.
The NCDOT also identifies a “direct community impact area” that is “likely to be directly affected in any way during and after project completion.” It encompasses the UNC Asheville campus and the West End-Clingman and
Montford neighborhoods; 650 public housing units; 14 parks, including Aston, Burton Street, Carrier and Montford; eight French Broad River access points; six schools, including Asheville School, Isaac Dickson Elementary and Rainbow Community; at least 25 churches; and Riverside Cemetery.
For these affected entities, the I-26 Connector may turn out to be a massive disconnector.
NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS PICTURE
The environmental impact statement also confidently declares, “The proposed project is not expected to result in adverse impacts on wildlife due to the existing urbanized nature of the project study area.” Tell that to the untold numbers of rabbits, raptors, songbirds, squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks, possums, pollinators, turkeys and other animals — yes, even bears and coyotes — who’ve carved out precarious niches in the highway’s path. They’ll now have to flee from bulldozers trashing their habitats, and their search for other places to live won’t get any assistance from the “Residential Relocation Brochure.”
The impact statement does concede that the highway is “likely to adversely affect” the endangered gray bat and Appalachian elktoe mussel. Let’s just hope they don’t go extinct. It also claims that the connector “is not anticipated to create any adverse effects on the air quality” and “is not expected to result in a noticeable impact to natural resources or downstream water quality.” In addition, “Impacts to floodplains will be minimized to the greatest extent possible.”
A look at the numbers casts doubt on those claims, however. The Wikipedia entry titled “Interstate Highway Standards” details the minimum lane, shoulder and median widths. Using those figures, the sixlane highway will be well over 100 feet wide. That means the roughly 7 miles of planned road will consume somewhere between 93 and 110 acres — as much space as 70-83 football fields.
Won’t that much additional impervious surface inevitably cause massive increases in tainted runoff during downpours, intensifying the devastating floods that are already all too common in Asheville?
Meanwhile, according to a 2023 WLOS report, “NCDOT engineers estimate about 100,000 drivers travel the Asheville area stretch of I-26 every day.” The planned improvements will presumably speed up traffic, so how
BILL BRANYON
can those 100,000 vehicles not add to the pollution of our precious mountain air?
And that doesn’t even factor in the climate change implications of cutting unknown numbers of trees and paving over 114 gardens, yards and other green spaces.
CAR CRUCIFIXIONS OR PROGRESS JURISDICTION?
The impact statement blithely opines, “Mass Transit Alternatives were determined to not be reasonable because they would not meet the Purpose and Need for the project.” But if the need is simply to transport 100,000 vehicles a day more safely and quickly, is all this devastation really necessary?
Couldn’t those goals be achieved simply by widening and rationalizing the dangerous dysfunction junctions of I-26, I-40 and I-240 and reconfiguring the merges from what is currently U.S. 19-23 onto I-240 and the Bowen Bridge blooper? And then, with the resulting hundreds of millions of dollars in savings, we could finance a north-south commuter rail, perhaps using tracks that already exist.
Asheville is home to powerful local organizations such as MountainTrue,
the Sierra Club and the Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County, not to mention a progressive City Council and county Board of Commissioners. Nonetheless, there are no significant efforts underway to promote a rail alternative. Are we so blindly addicted to car culture that we can’t imagine other ways to transport people? If you think so, you might want to call the groups mentioned above.
Or are we merely experiencing the inevitable, brutal growing pains of a booming city? In that case, maybe all we can do is sing along with North Carolina native James Taylor, whose song “Gaia” proclaims:
“Run, run, run, run said the automobile and we ran/ Run for your life, take to your heels/ Foolish school of fish on wheels/ Turn away from your animal kind/ Try to leave your body just to live in your mind/ Leave your cold cruel mother earth behind/ Gaia … Pray for the forest pray to the tree/ Pray for the fish in the deep blue sea/ Pray for yourself and for God’s sake/ Say one for me/ Poor wretched unbeliever/ Someone’s got to stop us now/ Save us from us, Gaia. No one’s gonna stop us now.”
Bill Branyon is a freelance historian. X
Around the region
6 candidates compete for Hendersonville City Council seats
f There is no lack of choices in November’s election, no matter where one lives in Western North Carolina.
In Hendersonville, two incumbents and one challenger are running for two open City Council seats while three newcomers are competing to fill the seat that was vacated last year when Council member Jerry Smith resigned. All are nonpartisan.
Other cities and towns throughout Buncombe, Henderson and Polk counties have council races as well.
Most candidates are focused on similar issues: growth, affordable housing, taxes and public safety.
Xpress reached out to candidates in Hendersonville, population of more than 15,000, to ask them why they are running, what their priorities are and why they are the best person for the job. In next month’s “Around the Region” column, we will focus on the Town Council races in Black Mountain, which has a population of more than 8,000. These municipalities, along with Asheville, comprise the three most populous WNC towns with elections in November.
— Justin McGuire X
SIGN OF DEMOCRACY: Three people are competing in a race for two open Hendersonville City Council seats in the November election. Three others are competing to fill a seat that was vacated last year. Photo by Justin McGuire
Hendersonville City Council
Three people running for two seats.
THE QUESTIONS
What are the top two issues facing Hendersonville, and how would you address them if elected?
DJ HARRINGTON
Website: avl.mx/e1s
Occupation: Business owner, granite countertop company
JENNIFER HENSLEY
No. 1, Public safety. There are many levels of issues here. One that needs to be addressed is the compensation for the men and women of our police and fire departments. They not only need to be paid competitively, I feel they need to be paid above that. While doing this we need to look at the growing vagrant community we have growing here. No. 2, we need long-term solutions for workforce housing. I have a multilayered plan that will take the help from local, state and federal agencies.
What makes you the best-qualified candidate for this position?
What inspired you to run for this office?
I’m willing to do the work, the hard work of listening to not just our business owners, but more importantly, our constituents, my neighbors, my friends and family of Hendersonville. I have years of experience in working with many people from all walks of life. Together we can bring the best out of everyone working together. I’m a true believer in the quote, “We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone.” I will be that elected candidate to bring everyone together.
I’m dedicated to our city. I want to see it as a better place to live, to do business in, to be a business owner in. I would love to see a city where my children want to call home for their children. When I moved here over 20 years ago, I saw that city. Unfortunately I see that city slipping away. I ran for office three years ago and it still stands true today, I love living in WNC, specifically Hendersonville. I’m proud I live here. I want to offer those same family values, the same joyful environment, the same safe area we call home to others that drew me here.
Other municipal elections
BILTMORE FOREST
• Biltmore Forest mayor: George F. Goosmann III (incumbent)
• Biltmore Forest Board of Commissioners (three seats): Michael B. Freeman, Doris P. Loomis (incumbent), Drew Stephens, Allan R. Tarleton
MONTREAT
• Montreat mayor: Timothy (Tim) Helms (incumbent)
• Montreat Board of Commissioners (three seats): Jane Alexander (incumbent), Katheryn (Kitty)
Fouche (incumbent), M. Bryant McEntire
• Montreat Board of Commissioners special election: Grant C. Dasher (incumbent)
FLAT ROCK
• Flat Rock mayor: Anne Guerard Coletta
• Flat Rock Village Council District 1: Thomas F. Carpenter (incumbent)
• Flat Rock Village Council District 2: No candidate
• Flat Rock Village Council District 3: Cheryl Stuller (incumbent)
Website: N/A
Occupation: Chiropractor Incumbent since 2019
Our biggest issues are growth and public safety. With growth brings growing pains. In my five years on Council, I have tried to manage growth by making responsible decisions and encouraging density and affordable housing development. I helped create an Affordable Housing Steering Committee and serve as vice chair of the French Broad MPO so that I can advocate for road improvement in my community. The MPO also allows me to have a seat at discussions that are long-range planning for Western North Carolina. I also chair the Hendersonville Water and Sewer Advisory Board and have actively helped to create partnerships in Henderson County to promote industrial and manufacturing jobs, as well as expansion of our treatment facilities.
I have experience and proven leadership. I serve on seven different boards, and I show up. I spend the time doing the hard work so that my community knows they come first. I know my work ethic and know that my heart and soul are in this position, and I will continue to work every single day for my community.
I ran for office initially because I have never been the type of person who can walk past something that I know is not right and do nothing. I wanted to be an advocate for my community. I know with my skills as a self-employed business owner for 20 years, making payroll and being accountable to my employees and my family have given me the leadership qualities that I personally want in an elected leader. I am caring, compassionate, yet driven and will be the hardest-working city councilwoman I can be.
FLETCHER
• Fletcher Town Council District 3: Jim Player (incumbent)
• Fletcher Town Council District 2: Keith Reed (incumbent)
LAUREL PARK
• Laurel Park mayor: Carey O’Cain (incumbent)
• Laurel Park Town Council (two seats): George W. Banta (incumbent), Travis Bonnema
MILLS RIVER
• Mills River Town Council (two seats): Tiffany Councill, Jim Foster, Brian Kimball, Jeff Moore, Jeff Young (incumbent)
Website: avl.mx/e1ul
Occupation: Graphic designer and toy store owner Incumbent since 2019
Definitely, attainable housing and growth management — both of which are inextricably linked. This is why we’ve established the Strategic Housing Committee, started the Strategic Housing Plan and passed our new comprehensive plan. I plan to see through the completion of the housing plan and ensure that the ideas presented in both plans are enacted so that Hendersonville can retain its small-town charm while expanding to welcome our new neighbors.
Over the last five years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on many projects and policies, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. While difficult at times, this experience has given me the skills and knowledge necessary to continue to guide the city into the future. In my short time on Council, we have established a sustainability manager position, formed the DEI committee, took steps to help protect our tree canopy, completed a sustainability strategic plan, passed paid family leave for employees and many more wonderful things.
I love this city, and while I was not fortunate enough to be born here, I am fully committed to making sure that Hendersonville continues to be a beautiful, thriving city. It is such a wonderful place to live and every resident deserves to feel supported and welcomed by their community. I want to ensure that we are doing just that.
SALUDA
• Saluda Board of Commissioners (two seats): Kevin Burnett, Elecia Pillsbury, Melanie Talbot (incumbent)
TRYON
• Tryon mayor: Doug Arbogast, Chrelle Booker, J. Alan Peoples (incumbent)
• Tryon Board of Commissioners (two seats): Skip Crowe, Ray Fulk, Ian Griggs, Tracie Greenway Morris, Steve Nelson
• Tryon Board of Commissioners special election: Julie Lambakis, Neill Rogers, Nathan Shields X
Hendersonville City Council
Special Election
Three people running for the seat vacated by Jerry Smith, who resigned last year.
THE QUESTIONS
What are the top two issues facing Hendersonville, and how would you address them if reelected?
GINA BAXTER LYNNE WILLIAMS COLBY COREN
Website: avl.mx/e1v
Occupation: Adolescent parenting program coordinator
Website: avl.mx/e1w
Occupation: Public elementary school teacher
Website: N/A
Occupation: Community advocate and agripreneur
What makes you the best-qualified candidate for this position?
The first is growth management. The city has grown by 2.5% in the past four years and is projected to increase 30% over the next 20. We are at a pivotal point, and I want to encourage smart, sustainable development. The second is housing, which is related to growth. Home prices are driven up when supply can’t meet demand, but I want to work toward incentivizing and leveraging developer interest to ensure affordability while maintaining as much of our tree canopy as possible.
Improving infrastructure to support growth and connectivity, and advocating for affordable and workforce housing. If elected, I would prioritize upgrading our roads and public transit to accommodate our growing population and enhance neighborhood safety. Additionally, I would work on policies to increase the availability of affordable housing, ensuring that all residents, especially our workforce, have access to quality, affordable homes in our community.
Community investment and engagement. Empowering youth, families, seniors, veterans, first responders, farmers, businesses, residents and vulnerable populations with resources, quality employment and robust affordable housing. Build public and private partnerships enabling conservation, local business, responsible development, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable ecotourism, art and agrotourism. Sustainable growth with environmental and farmland protections. Protections for clean air, water, wildlife, farmlands, floodplains, rural, cultural and historic communities building to improve public safety, transportation, food security, green infrastructure with parks and open space nurturing our quality of life.
My combined educational, personal and professional background, as well as my personal connection with many of the residents of Hendersonville. Because of my work in the nonprofit and early education fields, I have built a deep understanding of the needs of our community and have prioritized being a part of solution-building. I plan to work hard to ensure that our community is sustainable for future generations.
I am a dedicated advocate for Hendersonville, committed to collaboration and working within our diverse board, including those with differing views. My focus on enhancing public safety, improving infrastructure and advocating for affordable housing ensures a brighter future for our community. My deep roots in Henderson County and active community involvement demonstrate my unwavering commitment to our city’s growth and prosperity.
Continuously showing up, speaking out and organizing residents, I actively work addressing complex challenges collaborating to create nonpartisan solutions for affordable housing, environmental protections, community issues, farmland and sustainable development. Being involved in hundreds of municipal and local meetings advocating for our biodiverse region provides an exceptionally informed ability and understanding of local ordinances, procedures, historical context and opportunities. With diverse networks of support, I prioritize accessibility and representation for all community members.
What inspired you to run for this office?
I rented in Henderson County for 14 years before I was able to buy a house and barely made it before housing prices exploded. Residents are getting priced out of the potential for staying in the community or raising a family here, and I believed that something had to be done about it. That was the first thing that inspired me to run, and it’s grown from there to include representation, Council accessibility and sustainable growth.
As a lifelong, fifth-generation native and former Board of Education member, I am inspired to run for office by my passion for preserving Hendersonville’s charm and ensuring its future for generations to come. Growing up here, I’ve witnessed firsthand the unique character and sense of community that makes Hendersonville special. I am committed to maintaining this heritage while addressing the needs of our evolving city, ensuring a prosperous and vibrant future for all residents.
As an eighth-generation Henderson County resident, it’s my civic duty, right and privilege to protect this sacred, fertile valley that’s nurtured lineages for thousands of years. My grandparents were born here, investing their entire lives in Hendersonville. They taught me so many valuable lessons and led with action as exemplary individuals. I strive daily to honor the legacy of those who have come before us, protecting our collective inheritance beyond the next seven generations.
ACS closes budget gap ahead of new school year
Asheville City Schools (ACS)
Superintendent Maggie Fehrman said the district was able to close its $5.7 million budget deficit just in time for the new school year, largely through cuts in the central office and by consolidating the district’s two middle schools.
One employee’s role was downgraded within the central office, several others had their hours reduced and two part-time receptionist positions at the central office were eliminated, according to a memo Fehrman sent to the Asheville City Board of Education. Both receptionists moved into other jobs within the schools, said Kim Dechant, ACS chief of staff.
“While we have had to make some adjustments in our staffing, everyone who has wanted to continue their employment with Asheville City Schools has been able to continue in a position,” Dechant said.
“We deeply regret that this is on the agenda,” board member Sarah Thornburg said of the reduction in force Aug. 12. “We’re very aware that this affects people’s livelihoods and their families’ resources, and it’s just terrible. With cuts in state funding, we cannot balance our budget and we’ve been through a lot of options, and this was one of them. So I just want to acknowledge, on behalf of the board, with deep regret, that this is on the consent agenda.”
After a $140,000 budget increase from the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners and a $3 million allocation from the district’s reserve fund, ACS still needed to find $2.6 million in savings to balance its budget. That number grew to $3.7 million when Fehrman included about $500,000 for vital student support specialists and about $600,000 to get the former Montford North Star Academy middle school ready to house the district’s alternative programs and student support services department. The Cougar Academy and Education and Career Academy at William Randolph is slated to house 40 students when school starts Thursday, Aug. 29, Fehrman said.
Savings were largely found from consolidating the district’s two middle
SETTING GOALS: Superintendent Maggie Fehrman, center, said Asheville City Schools hopes to raise academic performance for its Black students by 50% in the 2024-25 school year, among other goals. Also pictured are Asheville City Board of Education Chair George Sieburg, left, and board member Liza Kelly, right. Photo by Greg Parlier
schools — $1.3 million — and central office cuts — $1.2 million. Fehrman said each department in the central office found savings in addition to cuts in contracted work, such as landscaping.
The seven members of the district’s executive cabinet, including Fehrman, will forgo a statewide 3% raise this year, saving the district about $26,000, Dechant said.
Budgeting for next school year starts early, as ACS and Buncombe County Schools have a joint meeting scheduled with the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Thursday, Aug. 22, to get on the same page ahead of next year’s budget, said Buncombe County spokesperson Lillian Govus
ACHIEVEMENT GOALS
Fehrman outlined her district work plan for the upcoming year, which included ambitious goals, particularly for Black student achievement.
“We will raise academic performance for our Black students by 50% or more. That is a huge leap, a huge growth, but it’s time that we say we have to make a difference. This is our core focus,” Fehrman told the board.
To help achieve that goal, the district held a “Beyond Diversity” twoday professional development day in
June to “help staff understand the impact of race on student learning and investigate the role that racism plays in institutionalizing academic inquiries,” according to Fehrman’s presentation.
“You may learn a lot about racism in our country, racism in systemic, institutional ways. But how do you talk about it? How do you start breaking down those barriers where you can lean in and have a difficult conversation with someone and help see things from multiple perspectives? So it is a great tool that we are going to be using as we move forward with systemic, equitable transformation,” she said.
ACS has long struggled with gaps in test score achievement between its white and Black students, earning a worst-in-the-state designation in 2017.
Fehrman also said she’s aiming for all schools to meet or exceed growth in all student groups, based on standardized testing scores, in the 2024-25 school year.
Additionally, all staff members will have a strong sense of belonging in their schools, know what is expected of them and have the tools to be able to meet expectations, she said.
SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION UPDATE
As independent contractor,Prismatic Services continues its work on the school district consolidation study, the public will get a say at a slew of community engagement meetings next month.
Buncombe County, in collaboration with ACS and Buncombe County Schools, will host nine drop-in meet-
ings at schools, libraries and community centers throughout September to give residents a chance to chime in on what a potential consolidation could mean for them. There will be an online forum Monday, Sept. 23.
Board Chair George Sieburg expressed frustration at the times Prismatic chose to host the meetings at the two ACS schools on the schedule, Hall Fletcher and Isaac Dickson elementary schools.
Community members are invited to drop by those schools from 3:45 to 6 p.m., which Sieburg said is too late after the school day ends at 2:30 p.m. for parents who are picking up their kids but too early for many working parents to attend.
“Who is going to appear at these public forums, at the times that they’ve chosen?” he asked.
Mark Dickerson, assistant superintendent of human resources and ACS’ liaison to Prismatic, said members of the ACS community could go to any of the nine drop-in meetings, not just the ACS schools, and the times were staggered at locations across the county in order to give as many opportunities as possible to parents and staff to attend.
Board member James Carter worried that some wouldn’t understand the drop-in format, which asks participants to only participate for 15-30 minutes at a time, and therefore not participate if they couldn’t make it to the beginning of the meeting.
Dickerson said he would bring the board’s concerns back to Prismatic and Buncombe County for consideration.
— Greg Parlier X
ASAP’s Farm Tour spotlights local growers
For anyone wanting to learn more about how their food is grown and raised, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) has just the ticket – and it’s only $35-$45 for a car pass.
Twenty-one farms will participate in ASAP’s 2024 Farm Tour on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21–22, noon-5 p.m. Attendees will visit working farms where they’ll have guided and self-guided opportunities to experience vineyards, vegetables, orchards, u-pick fruit, local food and drink tastings and farm animals, says ASAP’s press release.
“The primary goal is to get folks engaged and acquainted with the diversity of local farms and just have some fun,” says Oakley Brewer, ASAP’s communications and engagement coordinator.
This year, the tour, which launched in 2009, features five geographic clusters to help visitors maximize their time at farms. Tourgoers are encouraged to select two to four farms per cluster to visit each day, spending around an hour at each. All farms are within an hour’s drive of Asheville, and each cluster offers diverse farm options.
The Candler/Canton Cluster, for example, is about a 20-minute drive from downtown Asheville and features everything from bees to herbs. “There’s an orchard and apiary called KT’s, where [tourgoers] can pick apples and [buy] local honey,” Brewer says. “There’s Smoking J’s Fiery Foods that makes hot sauce — they’re going to do a pepper-roasting demonstration. Herb Mama will be doing demonstrations around making your own fertilizers and harvesting and drying herbs.”
ASAP’s Appalachian Grown region radiates from the market center of Asheville, comprising 60 North Carolina counties in the foothills and central and western mountains, as well as parts of Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. As of 2023, there are around 800 Appalachian Grown farms.
Within the region, ASAP’s Appalachian Grown logo identifies local food and farm products to help consumers make informed buying choices. Every year ASAP also publishes a print and online local food guide, a definitive resource for finding local food and farms throughout the Appalachian Grown region, says Brewer.
“We estimated around 1,800 to 2,000 people attended last year’s tour,” Brewer says. “It would be good to
meet a similar goal, but mostly [we] just want a way to engage the community with local farms. We hope folks have experiences that make them feel more connected to where their food comes from and see the value of farmers in our region.”
More information at avl.mx/bt9.
Homecoming
Members of Asheville-based Carolina Mountain Club (CMC), the oldest and largest hiking trail control maintenance organization in the Southeast, has returned from a landmark journey to Japan.
The CMC delegation, composed of President Les Love, Appalachian Trail supervisor Paul Curtin, and councilor for communications David Huff, arrived in Japan on July 18. While Love and Curtain returned to Asheville on July 28, Huff stayed until Aug. 8.
The delegation focused on fostering global collaboration in trail conservation and management, and engaged with the teams managing the ShinEtsu Trail and the Michinoku Coastal Trail. The Shin-Etsu Trail, inspired by the Appalachian Trail, offers a blend of mountain beauty and hiking challenges, while the Michinoku Coastal Trail features stunning coastal landscapes.
“It was wonderful experiencing the Japanese people and the countryside, and we’ll continue furthering this relationship between our trail clubs,” says Huff. “The [Japanese] mountains are similar to ours, but they’re also shaped by volcanoes and by earthquakes. [They’re] different terrains, but very lush, very green and quite the workout.” More information at avl.mx/pryc.
Good to know
• Historic Johnson Farm in Hendersonville is one of only two North Carolina grantees among 154 national applicants selected for a 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture Patrick Leahy Farm to School grant. The $50,000 grant will fund RootEd in Food and Farm, a new training program for Henderson County Public Schools teachers. For the next two years, groups of eighthgrade teachers will spend time at Historic Johnson Farm and other farm sites, redesigning their classroom lesson plans so they can
COUNTRY COMFORTS: A Crow Fly Farms resident greets visitors on the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project Farm Tour. Photo courtesy of ASAP
be taught as hands-on projects. During the yearlong experience, eighth-grade students will also come to Historic Johnson Farm to test-drive the lesson plans their teachers have developed. Historic Johnson Farm, at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, features 15 acres of forest, fields and streams and 10 historic structures. More information at avl.mx/9av.
• In partnership with the N.C. Clean Energy Fund, Sugar Hollow Solar has launched a groundbreaking solar lending program. The program, designed to help homeowners and landlords overcome financial barriers to adopting solar energy, will enable more families and businesses to install solar panels and battery backups, reducing their carbon footprint and utility bills. “Now our customers can lock in fixed monthly payments, stabilize their household expenses against rising utility rates, make a smart financial investment, and do good for the environment,” says Clary Franko, COO of Sugar Hollow Solar. More information at avl.mx/dgd.
• Construction continues on eight new river gauges in Haywood County. The project will enhance Haywood County Emergency Services’ ability to monitor upstream river levels and help with earlier and more accurate river level monitoring. Contractor Distinctive AFWS Designs Inc. is installing the gauges on N.C. Department of Transportation-owned bridges in areas that will provide the earliest possible warning of increasing river levels in critical areas. These new gauges will tie into the N.C. Flood Inundation and Mapping & Alert Network (FIMAN). Residents can use the tools on FIMAN to track flooding in near real time. More information at avl.mx/e1i.
Save the date
• The WNC Sierra Club will host a free and open-to-the-public meeting on balancing the needs of labor unions, lithium mining and electric vehicles at the Mannheimer Auditorium at UNC Asheville’s Reuter Center, 300 Campus View Road, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. Randy Francisco of the United Steelworkers Union will discuss ways that environmentalists and labor can work together to ensure that workers and their communities are protected from harm from lithium mining and that those communities are left with a better place even after the closure of their mine. More information at avl.mx/e1f.
• The West Asheville Garden Stroll, featuring 15 diverse gardens in the Horney Heights neighborhood, is Saturday, Sept.14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The stroll is free with a family-friendly kickoff program at 10:30 a.m. This year’s gardens showcase many alternatives to conventional lawns as well as edibles, ornamentals, medicinal plants, permaculture designs and a wide variety of native plants. Water features, eclectic art, trellises and quirky garden sheds provide focal points. More information at avl.mx/e1g.
• Learn more about the monarch butterfly and how humans can help this species on Monarch Butterfly Day, Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The N.C. Arboretum. The event includes lectures, crafts and special nature play activities celebrating the launch of the arboretum’s new outdoor nature playscape, the Playing Woods. Wild-caught and tagged butterflies will be released into the gardens to continue winging their way to Mexico. More information at avl.mx/e1j.
—
Pat Moran X
Seeds of wisdom
Oral history project focuses on WNC’s Black and Indigenous growers
BY GINA SMITH
gsmith@mountainx.com
After a midsummer morning rain at Southside Community Farm, Synai Ferrell is carefully observing farm manager Chloe Moore climb into the thick, fruiting branches of an apple tree with a trimming tool in hand.
“Follow and watch,” instructs Bonnetta Adeeb, who has left her seat in the shelter of the farm’s covered pavilion to facilitate this impromptu learning experience. “It’s so tricky pruning, because you have to know just which branches to cut.”
Ferrell, a native of Maryland and rising junior at Princeton University, has been visiting Western North Carolina throughout the summer for an internship. But despite appearances, the program isn’t aimed at teaching farming techniques to budding growers. Ferrell — along with fellow Princeton student Charlotte Defriez and Spelman College student Nia Flood — has been traveling to Asheville to gather stories.
The three are among a dozen students from Spelman, Princeton, Tuskegee University and The College of New Jersey who are participating in the Heirloom Gardens Oral History Project (HGOHP), a collaboration of Princeton, Spelman and the Maryland-based Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance, of which Adeeb is founder and co-director. Now in its second and final year funded by Princeton’s Alliance for Collaborative Research and Innovation, the project’s goal is to collect and archive the seed-saving wisdom and foodways of Black and Indigenous residents of the Southeastern U.S. and Appalachia through audio interviews.
This summer and last, HGOHP placed interns in Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Georgia and Eastern North Carolina. The addition of this year’s base in WNC emerged through the program’s partnership with the Asheville-based nonprofit The Utopian Seed Project (TUSP).
SAVING SEEDS
Through its work trialing seed varieties to support crop diversity in the Southeast, TUSP Executive
Director Chris Smith has engaged in various ways with the Ujamaa Cooperative Farming Alliance since 2021 and works with Princeton on okra seed oil studies. These connections led to a request for Smith to help make Asheville a host site for this summer’s HGOHP work.
“Our primary role has been to connect and introduce interns to communities and potential interviews,” Smith explains. “When they first arrived, we helped coordinate a North Carolina road trip that took everyone out to Eastern North Carolina and back again, visiting Cherokee, a community in Farmville, North Carolina, the Lumbee [Indigenous community] in Eastern North Carolina and the Catawba Nation in Rock Hill, South Carolina.”
Smith has also supported the project through shooting video footage at certain sites to complement the audio interviews and transcripts in the archive, he adds. And TUSP farm assistant LuAnna Nesbitt has helped the interns with logistics, transportation and transcribing interviews. While Smith points out that TUSP’s mission doesn’t specifically include oral history gathering, he sees his work with HGOHP as an appropriate collaboration.
“We think a lot about seeds being saved from the past so that we can feed the future,” he says. “Stories are very similar, and like seeds, they need to be [shared].”
The idea for the initiative originated with Ujamaa, which is focused on supporting the preservation and celebration of seeds and foodways that are culturally meaningful for Black, Indigenous and other communities of color, says Hanna Garth, an assistant professor of anthropology at Princeton and one of HGOHP’s three principal investigators.
“They felt like they needed more information about what various communities understood as culturally meaningful foods,” Garth explains.
Adeeb, who was visiting Southside Community Farm from her base in Washington, D.C., to see the HGOHP interns in action, says there’s currently a strong movement among communities of color in the U.S. to engage in agriculture and gardening, “but they don’t know how to do it because they’re two or three generations separated from the land.”
PRESERVING THE PAST: Heirloom Gardens Oral History Project interns, pictured from left, Synai Ferrell, Nia Flood and Charlotte Defriez, have spent several weeks this summer working with and interviewing residents from Asheville’s historically Black neighborhoods as well as other areas of WNC. Photo by Ferrell
She hopes that gathering and archiving the memories of farmers and gardeners of color will not only help resurrect culturally significant heirloom crops but also unearth forgotten old-fashioned growing methods that don’t require expensive machinery and massive tracts of land — assets that are often unavailable to communities of color. This knowledge, she says, can be the key to creating more resilient, food-secure and self-sufficient communities.
“It’s a how-to lesson,” says Adeeb. “[We’re] interviewing elders and asking, ‘What was in your grandmother’s garden? What did they use with this or that?’ And once we identify what those crops are, we can seek to provide those to the communities.”
She mentions collards, introduced to North America by enslaved Africans. “The collards your grandfather or your mother grew in their garden, when they saved the seeds over generations, it wasn’t something people talked about, they just did it,” she says, noting a practice shared by an elderly farmer interviewed in Farmville.
“Sometimes she took the last collard [plants] left in the field, and she just laid them over [on the ground], didn’t harvest them,” Adeeb continues. “And, you know, those seeds will find a way to produce hundreds from one plant, hundreds of new starts you can give away to all your neighbors, and everybody can have collard greens. So we’re uncovering those
stories and making that knowledge available, and making it seem that it’s doable, that the reclaiming of the heritage is not that difficult.”
BOOTS ON THE GROUND
To prepare for the program, the interns met in early summer at Spelman College in Atlanta for an “oral history boot camp” with the historically Black school’s official historian, Gloria Wade Gayles, Garth explains. They also received training on how to use the audio recording equipment, upload files to the archiving platform and other nuts-and-bolts tasks.
From there, the students traveled in teams of at least three to their assigned locations where site coordinators like Smith began introducing them to community members and helping them identify and connect with potential interview subjects.
“Ujamaa’s desire is to work with people who are committed to saving or maintaining Black and Indigenous cultural foodways and seeds, so that might mean interviewing a farmer or it might be a gardener,” says Garth. “It could even be someone that doesn’t actually farm or garden anymore, but they just keep seeds, or they’re really passionate about sharing stories about seeds. It could be people who run farmers markets or people who have stores — just anyone who is related
to this kind of food production and seed-saving work.”
Ferrell, an African American studies and journalism major, was out among the lush, dripping rows and raised beds at Southside Community Farm in the rain that morning pulling weeds and learning how to prune fruit trees because the project employs a boots-on-the-ground, hands-on method of partnering directly with individuals within their own spaces to collect the oral histories. The process, she explains, is aimed at avoiding extractive, transactional approaches to story gathering that have historically been exploitative of vulnerable communities.
The farm’s manager, Moore, was one of the HGOHP’s oral history interviewees, so Ferrell’s workday at Southside Community Farm was an effort to make the story-sharing experience more reciprocal. “We want to be able to build relationships by actually doing the work,” says Ferrell. “We go in and do a lot of field site work by gardening with them and learning different techniques, pulling a lot of weeds and planting plants. And so through that, we’re able to talk to people and learn their stories.”
While Ferrell’s team connected with Black and Indigenous residents from Cherokee and other areas of WNC, their Asheville interviews are primarily with people living and working in the city’s historically Black neighborhoods of Southside and Shiloh, including Moore plus Shiloh natives and community garden caretakers Shaniqua Simuel and Kevin Conley, among others, many of whom are elders.
Depending on the interviewee, says Ferrell, the questions they ask center on everything from childhood memories of family, food and cooking to topics around the interviewees’ chosen career paths and the passions that drive them. Sometimes, the questions lead to spiritual topics,
“We think a lot about seeds being saved from the past so that we can feed the future. Stories are very similar, and like seeds, they need to be [shared].”
— Chris Smith, executive director of The Utopian Seed Project
because many Black and Indigenous growers honor their ancestors and seek to preserve their legacies through their gardens.
“It’s a way of connecting to people who they’ve lost over time,” she says. “And then we’ll ask, ‘How does working with food and herbs create a sense of healing for you?’ Because based on all the things their family has experienced and they’re currently experiencing, you have to kind of find a way to cope, and gardening has been a way to do that.”
‘SENSE OF HEALING’
Often, too, the historical narrative and current issues of an interviewee’s community are central to the conversations. Ferrell’s work in Shiloh, for example, has helped her understand that neighborhood’s complex history of integration and gentrification and the central role its community garden plays in healing and maintaining identity.
Capturing voices from the Southside neighborhood was of particular interest to her team, she says, because its Community Farm — that neighborhood’s sole communal growing space and fresh-food source — has been targeted for closure at the end of this growing season by its property owners, the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville.
“They’re at risk of losing their land, and that space is a place for them to connect and have access to food, but they would also be losing a sense of healing, because of how that
community overall has been gentrified,” says Ferrell. “More and more Black people are losing authority in that area, so it’s important to prioritize their voices.”
Ferrell says that while she’s aware of her inherent privilege in being able to visit then leave WNC to return to school — “a lot of these people don’t have that privilege to come and go,” she notes — spending time working alongside WNC’s Black and Indigenous community members, listening to their stories and seeing the region from their perspectives has made a huge impact.
“For a long time, I felt like you could only have a relationship with land and agriculture if you held [the title of gardener or farmer],” she says. “But I’m learning from the people we interview that land is very ancestral, and understanding my own history doesn’t necessarily negate my personal relationship with claiming that. You don’t necessarily have to own land in order to feel like you can have agency over it.”
As a future journalist, Ferrell also found great value in learning to avoid extractive storytelling by putting in the work to forge strong relationships with community members, literally
from the ground up. “In order to tell someone’s story, especially from an honest perspective, it’s important to integrate steps before asking for an interview in order to really establish trust,” she says.“And I think what I’ve learned from this oral history project is that if both parties don’t have trust, you’re not going to get a very good understanding of what their story is.”
Though the HGOHP’s current grant from Princeton ends this summer, Ujamaa is seeking additional funding sources to continue the project, says Garth, and she and her Princeton colleagues hope to be involved if it carries forward. She estimates that about 45 stories have so far been collected and archived through the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library, and several dozen are still waiting to be processed and uploaded, including those gathered this summer.
The archive is designed as a community resource, and as more stories are added, Garth’s team plans to begin spreading the word. “We know that people will want to do research with it,” she says. “But we also hope that people who are interested in farming or seed-saving or getting back to their agricultural roots will go and access the archive and think about the different kinds of cultural foodways they are a part of and maybe build that stuff out and continue those traditions.”
Visit the Heirloom Gardens Oral History Project archive at avl.mx/e01. For more information about the project, visit avl.mx/e02. X
Community driven
Chair says reparations demonstrate love for Asheville
BY GREG PARLIER
gparlier@mountainx.com
Heartfelt emotion seeps out of Dewana Little when she is asked about her hometown.
The fourth-generation Ashevillean’s deep appreciation for her roots propels her to give the next generation of Black residents — including her three children — something to honor.
Little, a real estate agent and diversity consultant, became chair of the Community Reparations Commission in June after previous chair Dwight Mullen stepped down. Little had served as vice chair of the commission.
She says she got involved in reparations after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 because she recognized that the Black community in Asheville had been “addressing the symptoms of exclusion” for many generations, and she wanted to help her community thrive instead of simply survive.
“I want to be a part of actually fixing the problem instead of just treating the symptoms,” she says.
Little is the founder of Positive Changes Youth Ministries, which works to empower and provide a platform for Black youths to succeed by encouraging them to attend college. She also worked as water quality educator and community engagement coordinator at Asheville GreenWorks, where she oversaw the Youth Environmental Leadership Program, a summer internship program primarily for Black, Indigenous and students of color. From 2018-23, Little served as executive director of the YMI Cultural Center, which works to celebrate the cultural heritage of the Black community through arts and traditions, according to its website.
She is inspired by her 18-year-old son, who wants to be president. She also has another 18-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter, who sipped apple juice during a recent interview with Xpress at an area coffee shop.
“I don’t want her to have to navigate the systems that I had,” she says with a nod to her daughter.
The conversation is the first in a series of interviews with members of Asheville’s Black community
involved in the effort to establish reparations for those who have been affected by generations of systemic racism in Asheville and Buncombe County. The commission wrapped up two years of monthly meetings in July and plans to ask for an extension at an Asheville City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Xpress : It seems as if your existence is wrapped up in advocacy work for Black residents of Asheville. How do you keep up the energy for this work?
Little: I do it for my city because I love my city. I love the people. The good, the bad, all of it. I love my city, and I know it could be better. I know we have the capacity to be an amazing city.
Does it bring you pride that Asheville is working to address reparations?
Of course. Definitely. I think about my grandma and how she helped raise me and her experiences and the challenges she faced. I think about my great-grandma and the experiences and challenges she faced. I think about my family and my friends. I remember it used to be so different here. Yes, there were closed-down buildings downtown. But we were a close-knit community.
I grew up when Blackness was great, when Blackness was very visible here. This is my city. To see it now and how gentrified it is, and how hard it is to find affordable housing and Asheville and Buncombe County caters more to the tourists, [it’s hard].
I grew up seeing Black businesses, seeing Black people. I grew up where anything was possible. I was able to see that it was possible because I grew up seeing people that look like me in those positions doing those things. My kids didn’t have that luxury. I had to become that for them. I had to become their “anything is possible.” If I wasn’t going to show them, who was?
Do you feel like the reparations commission’s work thus far has been a valuable process?
Productivity-wise, everybody has been dedicating their time and energy to this process and really trying to come up with solutions that will have intergenerational impact. We recognize that we’re dealing with intergenerational issues. The oppression, exclusion and marginalization
INSPIRED: Dewana Little, chair of the Community Reparations Commission, says her work encouraging Black youths is inspired by her belief that Asheville can be a great city for all its residents. Photo courtesy of Little
of Black people didn’t start this year when we started this process; it’s been generations. How do we address the systemic issues that perpetuate and maintain the status quo of harm to Black people?
We wanted to hear from the youth because they are going to bring a different perspective to the table, a different way of viewing solutions, as well. And they are our future. So, when we have done everything we can do, then our youths can step up and be able to carry the work forward.
Some more senior members of the commission have said that there is value in hearing the perspectives of those in the older generation. How do you balance those voices with those in the younger generation?
Historically, in Black communities, traditions and culture are passed down. It’s through that transfer of knowledge that bridges the gap because now you can see from the elder’s perspective, based on their experiences, and the things that they had overcome and learned from.
I don’t think one is more important than the other. But I mean, it takes both. So I’ve been looking at approaches with some of the [communities we’ve reached through] community engagement on how we can do that transfer of knowledge. And maybe pairing an elder with a youth and having a day out for the elders and the youth to be able to get together, have those conversations and share experiences.
Do you feel like the messaging from the city and county has changed since the beginning of this process in terms of what can really be done?
I feel like there was a lot of transition in our process. With that transition came new people in positions of management or leadership of this process and oversight. Each shift brings a new perspective to the table and a new vision for the way this process works, even though the people at the table haven’t changed. Our vision, our process and how we have agreed that we want to see this work out hasn’t shifted, but the conversation when it comes to leadership and management as far as city and county oversight … has posed boundaries. It still sets the limitation of what reparations [can be]. … What about the fight, the fight that I felt that they had in the beginning? It feels like the city and county leaders are over this process.
How would you define where the reparations process is right now?
This is not a check-the-box moment. This is not a “we tried’ moment,” this is a “we’ve got to make this happen” moment, for our elders, for our youth, for the generations to come.
So right now, we’re at this crucial point. We have recommendations that we can start implementing, given the resources and support that we already created, and we still have work to do. Now it’s time to shift to focus on the policies and practices and procedures that are in place, the laws that are in place that perpetuate the harm on Black people.
What has been the biggest success so far?
Us coming together and being able to do the work. Even though we don’t agree, we can agree to disagree. At the end of every meeting, everybody is talking to everybody. I don’t care what the conversation was during the meeting, whether people see eye to eye or not; everybody’s talking to everybody with love in community. We really created a community space where we are actually doing this work together.
What’s been the hardest part?
People. In a process that has never been done, you have to manage expectations while also trying to come up with solutions and building the process. We were building this process while we were working on this process. Building and doing at the same time while also addressing the issues that are still happening in the community and being present and showing up. So managing people’s expectations outside of this process [has been difficult.] X
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
AUG. 21 - AUG. 29, 2024
For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.
Online-only events
Feature, page 24
Feature, page 29
More info, page 31
More info, page 32-33
WELLNESS
Tai Chi Fan
This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome. Fans will be provided.
WE (8/21, 28), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Gentle Yoga for Seniors
A yoga class geared to seniors offering gentle stretching and strengthening through accessible yoga poses and modifications.
WE (8/21, 28), 2:30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Kitten Yoga
Bring your yoga mat and recharge your energy while being assaulted by adorable, adoptable kittens.
WE (8/21), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Tai Chi for Balance
A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.
WE (8/21, 28), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Chen Style Tai Chi
The original style of Tai Chi known for its continual spiraling movements and great health benefits.
TH (8/22, 29), MO (8/26), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Nia Dance Fitness
A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.
TH (8/22, 29), 9:30am, TU (8/27), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave
Weekly Zumba Classes
Free in-person Zumba classes. No registration required.
TH (8/22, 29), TU
(8/27), 6:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain
Qigong for Health
A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.
FR (8/23), TU (8/27), 9am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Prana Flow Yohga
Participants will be guided to deeply tune into their bodies and given open ended movement cues that you can express however you like.
FR (8/23), 6:30pm, Haw Creek Commons, 315 Old Haw Creek Rd
Rise & Yoga on The Roof
Hot yoga sessions on the roof of the Radical.
SA (8/24), 9am, The Radical, 95 Roberts St
Yoga for Everyone
A free-in person yoga class for all ages and abilities that is led by alternating teachers. Bring your own mat and water bottle.
SA (8/24), 9:30am, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Yoga in the Park Yoga class alongside the French Broad River, based on Hatha and Vinyasa traditions and led by certified yoga instructors. All experience levels welcome.
SA (8/24), SU (8/25), 11am, 220 Amboy Rd
Barn Yoga w/Mary Beth
She teaches gentle and vinyasa flow, all levels welcome.
SU (8/25), 9am, Hickory Nut Gap Farm, 57 Sugar Hollow Rd, Fairview
Sunday Morning Meditation Group Gathering for a combination of silent sitting and walking meditation, facilitated by Worth Bodie.
The Blue
hosts a free outdoor concert Sunday, Aug. 25, starting at 2 p.m. Popular country rock band Moonshine State will perform original music, plus covers spanning a variety of musical genres. Visitors can bring a chair or blanket for seating. Food and nonalcoholic drinks are allowed on-site. Photo courtesy of Milepost Music
SU (8/25), 10am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Summer Cooling Yoga w/Jamie Knox
Our practice slows down in the summer to focus on stretching, calming, and cooling the body. We still include strength building but more emphasis is placed on internal calm. Walk-ins welcome.
SU (8/25), 10:30am, One World Brewing W 520 Haywood Rd
Power Hour Chair
Exercise
Build power through fun, upbeat, and gentle chair exercises, each Tuesday.
TU (8/27), 10am, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St Yoga & Coffee
An hour long hatha yoga class on the covered deck, with the option to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee, tea or pastry afterwards.
WE (8/28), 9:30am, Cooperative Coffee Shop, 210 Haywood Rd Community Yoga & Mindfulness
Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga. Bring your
own mat.
WE (8/28), 10:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
SUPPORT GROUPS
Innerdance: Altered States of Consciousness w/Soundscapes & Energy Work
A healing journey into altered states of consciousness as we flow through brain wave states with soundscapes & energy work.
WE (8/21), 6pm, The Horse Shoe Farm, 155 Horse Shoe Farm Dr, Hendersonville
Nicotine Anonymous
People share their experience, strength and hope to stop using nicotine. You don’t need to be stopped, just have a desire to attend.
TH (8/22, 29), 4:30pm, Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 1 Kenilworth Knolls Unit 4
Magnetic Minds: Depression & Bipolar Support Group
A free weekly peer-led meeting for those living with depression, bipolar, and related mental health challenges.
StarTribe Dance
An evening of dance with the powerful music of Antennae and the good-hearted people of StarTribe.
FR (8/23), 5:45pm, Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza
Saturday Night Square
Dancing
Led by Frank Brown, relish in the tradition of Scotch-Irish and English music dancing and the celebratory cakewalk.
SA (8/24), 8pm, Geneva Hall, 86 High Ridge Rd, Little Switzerland
Sunday Salsa on the Rooftop Salsa lessons and dancing with music from DJ Mtn Vibez.
SU (8/25), 6pm, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200
Tango Tuesdays
Tango lessons and social with instructors
Mary Morgan and Mike Eblen. No partner required, and no experience needed for the beginners class.
TU (8/27), 6pm, Urban Orchard Cider Co. S Slope, 24 Buxton Ave
Swing Asheville Weekly swing dancing lessons with a live dance social afterwards. TU (8/27), 7pm, Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Rd
ART
Randy Shull: Black & White
For more information contact (828) 367-7660.
SA (8/24), 2pm, 1316 Ste C Parkwood Rd
Wild Souls Authentic Movement
An expressive movement class designed to help you get unstuck, enjoy cardio movement, boost immune health, dissolve anxiety and celebrate community.
SU (8/25), 9:30am, Dunn’s Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard Reconstruct Support Group
Support group for those who have experienced trauma from their religious or spiritual life.
MO (8/26), 6:30pm, Full Circle Community Wellness, 1915 George St, Hendersonville
Asheville Kirtan
These ancient mantras, chanted in Sanskrit, help to connect us to our hearts- invoking feelings of well-being, meditation, and joy.
TU (8/27), 7pm, Weaving Rainbows, 62 Wall St
DANCE
Latin Night Wednesday w/DJ Mtn Vibez
A Latin dance social featuring salsa, bachata,
the perfect summer day in the mountains through the use of mostly acrylic paint, paint markers and spray paint. Gallery open daily, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 1. Marquee Asheville, 36 Foundy St
Shifting Perceptions: Photographs from the Collection
A selection of photographs presented in a trio of sections, each featuring seemingly opposing forces: Natural/Unnatural, Together/Apart, and Inside/ Out. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 23. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Anatolii Tarasiuk: Embrace The Journey Tarasiuk’s art style is abstract expressionism with lots of color. His biggest inspiration is the vision of his art giving feelings of joy and hope to each viewer. See p24 Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through September 22. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St
Honoring Nature: Early Southern Appalachian Landscape
Painting
merengue, cumbia, and reggaeton with dance lessons for all skill levels.
WE (8/21, 28), 8pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd
Line Dancing
Designed to teach the latest line dances step by step, this weekly class inspires community members to put on their dancing shoes and boogie.
TH (8/22, 29), 1:30pm, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
Zumba Gold
Weekly Latin-inspired Zumba exercise party. All levels welcome.
TH (8/22, 29), 11am, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St
Weekly Zumba Classes
Free in-person Zumba classes. No registration required.
TH (8/22, 29), TU (8/27), 6:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain Zumba Gold
A fun dance exercise that concentrates on cardio, flexibility, strength, and balance for older adults.
WE (8/21, 28), FR (8/23), 11am, Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Rd
An exhibition of abstract work by artist
Randy Shull that will feature his unique ability to evoke both gravity and weightlessness within a single artwork, pouring thick layers of paint around the loose weave of handmade hammocks. Gallery open Wednesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 21. Tracey Morgan Gallery, 22 London Rd
Lou Ella Tucker: Story/ Place
Tucker's exhibition showcases her curiosity of how spaces influence us and how we influence them, has led her to record their unique stories of humanity around the world. Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition runs through September 22. Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St
Art Show & Reception Featuring acrylic pouring on glass, ceramic glazing, watercolors, mixed-media collage, and painted bisqueware by elder art students.
FR (8/23), 1pm, Givens Gerber Park, 40 Gerber Rd
Aaron Fields: Hidden Colors
This art exhibition presents a story about
This exhibition explores the sublime natural landscapes of the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through Oct. 21. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection
A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of American glass art can be seen in this selection of works. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday. Exhibition through September 16. Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square
Robert Chapman Turner: Artist, Teacher, Explorer
The exhibition will include work by some of Turner’s students and colleagues as well as work by contemporary ceramic artists whose work fits within the context of the show. Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am. Exhibition through Sept. 7. Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St
Daily Craft Demonstrations
Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public. Open daily,
MILEPOST MUSIC CONCERT:
Ridge Parkway Visitor Center
10am. Demonstrations run through Dec. 31.
Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy
Rachel Clegg: Trees of the Blue Ridge
An exhibition featuring a new series focused on the trees of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Celebrating their timeless majesty as the towering sentinels of the region's landscape. Gallery open Monday through Friday, 10am. Exhibition through Aug. 30. Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
COMMUNITY MUSIC
American Tune: Simon, Croce & Taylor
Award-winning singer and songwriter Tom Glynn, celebrates the timeless music and prolific songwriting of 70's era Paul Simon, Jim Croce and James Taylor.
TH (8/22), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Briar Branch Concert
A homegrown, hometown string band formed by long time Black Mountain residents, Julia Weatherford and Pearl Shirley.
FR (8/23), 7pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain
Concert Series on the Creek: Dashboard Blue Free concert series for the community with five-piece band Dashboard Blue bringing their classic hits. These events are free with donations encouraged. Everyone is welcome. There will be food trucks available on most nights.
FR (8/23), 7pm, Bridge Park Gazebo, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva Yala Cultural Tour An in-house cultural exchange with Adama Dembele. Yala Cultural Tour includes drumming, dancing, and stories from Ivory Coast.
SA (8/24), noon, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St
Life Like Water & Høly River
A focus on hypnotic rhythms, heartfelt lyrics, and melodies that contain flavors of Africa, Ireland and the Middle East.
SA (8/24), 7pm, The Hawk & Hawthorne, 133 N Fork Rd Barnardsville
Milepost Music:
Moonshine State
Milepost Music brings live music to the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center with Moonshine State bringing their blend of country and rock sounds this week.
Visitors should bring a chair or blanket for seating.
SU (8/25), 2pm, Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center, Milepost 384
Mark's House Jam & Sunday Potluck
Bring a potluck dish to share with an a community of local musicians from around the globe. Please note that this isn't an open mic.
SU (8/25), 3pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr
Sundays on the River Series: Jackson Grimm Band
An outdoor concert on the French Broad River with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music from Jackson Grimm. Bring camping chairs.
SU (8/25), 4pm, Olivette Riverside Community and Farm, 1069 Olivette Rd
Beer & Hymns
Bringing people together to raise a glass and a voice while raising funds for organizations that change the world.
MO (8/26), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Italian Night
An evening with Mike Guggino and Barrett Smith, members of the famed Steep Canyon Rangers, playing Italian-folk sounds.
TH (8/29), 6pm, The Farm, 215 Justice Ridge Rd, Candler
Wings & Strings: Carver & Carmody
This music series at at the Sweeten Creek location will feature local bluegrass-style bands every week.
TH (8/29), 6:30pm, Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack S, 3749 Sweeten Creek Rd, Arden
Jazz Jam
Open jam starts after a House Band set guaranteed to fill your soul with groove and joy.
TH (8/29), 7pm, LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St
Bill Mattocks Blues
Performing real deal Blues from the likes of Robert Johnson, Wille Dixon, Son House, BB King and more.
TH (8/29), 7:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS
How to Create Instagram Reels for Your Small Business
Social media expert
Sarah Benoit gives you the foundational skills you need to build a useful content bank, post more impactful Reels, and drive more engagement. Visit avl.mx/e10 to register.
WE (8/21), 2pm, Online
Managing Relationships & Family Lineage
Join this workshop centered on the process of comprehending and addressing unseen wounds within relationships and family history.
TH (8/22), 6pm, The Well, 3 Louisiana Ave
Free Intro to Short Form Improv A laid-back opportunity to tap into your creativity, build confidence, and improve communication skills, all while enjoying a good time. Space is limited so registration is required.
TH (8/22), 7:30pm, Misfit Improv & Acting School, 573 Fairview Rd Unit 21A
Goldenrod Ink Plant Pigment Workshop
Learn the basics of plant ink-making in this 2.5 hour workshop using methods that can be replicated in the home kitchen with a variety of plants. All supplies are provided.
SA (8/24), noon, Canopy Gallery in Art Garden, 191 Lyman St, Ste 316
Intro to Cat Communication
An hour-long workshop to open your mind to your natural intuitive
power and translate those typical cat behaviors into something we can fully understand and respond to.
SU (8/25), 6pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd
Fly Fishing Skills
Learn from an experienced instructor and hone skills for the fishing season. All gear and encouragement provided.
MO (8/26), 5pm, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd
Emotional Resolution
Learn how to use Emotional Resolution to fully experience your challenging emotional patterns or behaviors through sensations and resolve them permanently.
MO (8/26), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Access to Capital Learn why businesses borrow money, what lenders are looking for when reviewing your application, and the importance of having cash flow projections. Register at avl.mx/e1r.
TH (8/29), noon, Online
LITERARY
SVM Regional Author Book Club
Engage in a discussion of McMullen Circle by Heather Newton, followed by a presentation by the author.
FR (8/23), 10am, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain
Juniper Bends Summer
Reading
The theme is Animal Instincts and will explore all aspects of the wild and tame animals in our worlds and in our psyches. Expect readings from Lori Horvitz, Bruce Spang Writing Coach and more.
FR (8/23), 7pm, Story
Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd
Skeletons in the Closet
This month Firestorm's queer horror book club is reading Emmett Nahil's haunting horror at sea, From the Belly. SA (8/24), 11am, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd
Meter & Melody: Poetry Night Poetry night at the Loft, every last Wednesday of the month.
WE (8/28), 8pm, Static Age Loft, 116 N Lexington Ave
THEATER & FILM
Fringe Summer Nights
Featuring pop up performances by Anam Cara Theatre Company, Michael Figueroa, and Bryant Perez. All donations will go to the artists.
WE (8/21), 6pm, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd
Movie Night: The NeverEnding Story
Bring the family or just bring yourself. There will be local craft beer, and there will be popcorn and pizza for sale.
WE (8/21), 6:30pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart
This production provides a glimpse of the renowned athlete's life during an era of separate and unequal locker rooms, of whites only hotels, and of restaurants with a back door for colored athletes. See p33 WE (8/21, 28), TH (8/22, 28), FR (8/23), Sa (8/24), 7:30pm, SU (8/25), 2pm, North Carolina Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln
Into the Woods Jr
A new take on Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s groundbreaking musical fairytale featuring all of your favorite characters: Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and the Witch. See p33 TH (8/22), FR (8/23), 7pm, SA (8/24), 2pm, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave
Paddling Film Festival World Tour Screening
Brought to you by Paddling Magazine, Rapid Media, and Headwaters Outfitters, this showcase of paddling films and will benefit MountainTrue and French Broad Riverkeeper. See p32 TH (8/22), 6:30pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St
Inherit the Wind
A gripping courtroom drama that delves into the historic 1925 Scopes trial with a battle of wits, exploring the clash between tradition and progress in a small-town that will keep you on the edge of your seat. See p29 TH (8/22), FR (8/23), SA (8/24), 7:30pm, SU (8/25), Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville
Screening & Discussion of Genius
A screening of Genius and a short discussion on the real people behind the actors, and the story of Thomas Wolfe's last years. FR (8/23), 5:30pm, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 N Market St
Movie Night: The Boys in the Boat
This inspirational true story follows a group of underdogs at the height of the Great Depression as they are thrust into the spotlight at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. FR (8/23), 7pm, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way Green River Gaggle Summer Improv Series
This event is all about celebrating our region’s creativity and providing a night of unforgettable fun with great food and drink. SA (8/24), 6pm, Green River Plantation, 6333 Coxe Rd, Rutherfordton Reasonably Priced Babies Improv Show RPBs will ask the audience for suggestions and then they make that come to technicolor life. SA (8/24), 7pm, Black
Located in Asheville at Western Carolina Universit y ’s Biltmore Park instructional site, the Master of Public Af fairs program equips leaders in public ser vice. Graduates ser ve in local government and nonprofit sectors, influencing regional management and policy decisions. This accredited MPA program provides professionals with the exper tise needed to leave a lasting impact
Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St, Black Mountain
Blind Date Live: Queer Pool Party
Asheville's favorite live dating show is back with a fun pool party theme. Cayla takes care of all the matchmaking well before the show, pairing three couples that are compatible and have a real shot at romance.
SA (8/24), 8pm, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave
MEETINGS & PROGRAMS
River Snorkeling
Participants receive wetsuits, wetsuit socks, snorkels, and masks.
WE (8/21), 9:30am, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd
Ginger's Revenge Brewery Tours
A tour of the production facility where you will learn about the history of the brewery and the story behind the brand.
WE (8/21), 6:15pm, Ginger's Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr
IBN Biz Lunch –
Woodfin
Featuring a discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment, a time for gratitude and testimonials and more.
TH (8/22), 11:30am, The Village Porch, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 113
Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods
Meeting Neighborhood advocacy for issues facing Asheville neighborhoods.
TH (8/22), 5pm, N Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave
Lifestyle Choices
A monthly group for 14 to 19 year-old men to engage in open discussion regarding behaviors and community involvement.
TH (8/22), 6pm, Dr Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St
Grove Street Fish Fry
This is your chance to savor a taste of summer and support Grove Street Community Center's programs.
FR (8/23), 2pm, Grove
St Community Center, 36 Grove St
Summer Skate Jam
Show your skating skills and jam to the music.
Rent skates for $3 or bring your own.
FR (8/23), 6pm, Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd
Forest Therapy
Learn how to slow down, unwind, and rediscover connections
to nature. All you need is yourself, proper footwear, and time to relax in the woods.
SA (8/24), 10am, Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Rd
Chinese Tea & Tai Chi Foundations
Settle your Qi with Chinese tea while learning the fundementals of Tai Chi to imorive your health. Beginner friendly so all levels are wecome.
SA (8/24), 10:30am, MO (8/26), 9:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
WNC Votes Nonpartisan Voter Outreach
Canvass
There will be a thorough training and then volunteers will go out in pairs into surrounding neighborhoods to engage with voters about their concerns for this year's elections.
SA (8/24), 11am, Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Rd
Digging for Treasure in the OBCGS Website
This program will help find the genealogical gems that might break down your brick walls and add more color to your family history. Registration required at avl.mx/e21.
SA (8/24), 2pm, Online
SVM Walking Tour of Downtown Black Mountain
Learn the history of Black Mountain and the Swannanoa Valley on this walking tour. Museum staff will lead attendees through historic State Street, Cherry Street and Black Mountain Avenue.
SA (8/24), 2pm, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, 223 West State St, Black Mountain
Sunday Celebration
A Sunday celebration for the spiritual community.
SU (8/25), 11am, Center for Spiritual Living Asheville, 2 Science Mind Way
Coloring w/Cats: Teens & Adults
Set time for yourself and cuddle with the panthers, meet other cat-lovers, and color a beautiful picture of a cat from our adult coloring books.
SU (8/25), 2pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd,
Black Men Monday
A local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention. Kids, ages 7 and up, are welcome to join.
MO (8/26), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Youth Mental Health
First Aid Program designed to teach adults how to
help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis.
MO (8/26), TU (8/27), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Kung Fu: Baguazhang
It is the martial arts style that Airbending from the show Avatar: The Last Airbender was based on.
TU (8/27), 1pm and 5L30pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
Sign & Shine
This beginner's ASL class will focus on ASL foundations such as fingerspelling, numbers, conversational signs, and some Deaf Culture.
TU (8/27), 5:30pm, Pack Memorial Library - Lord Auditorium, 67 Haywood St
Blue Ridge Blankets
Project
A volunteer-led non-profit network of more than 500 fiber artists, farmers, smallscale fiber processors, educators, and fiber enthusiasts, dedicated to growing and supporting the fiber economy in WNC.
TU (8/27), 6pm, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain
IBN Biz Lunch: West Asheville
All are invited to attend and promote their business, products, and services, and meet new referral contacts. Bring a big stack of business cards or flyers and invite your business contacts to attend.
WE (8/28), 11:30am, Gemelli by Strada Italiano, 70 Westgate Parkway
Every Black Voice: AVL's Racial Justice Coalition Lunch & Learn
This event will be discussing reparations and the history of black Asheville. Housing, health and wellness along with community building and education will also be hot topics of conversation.
WE (8/28), 12:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave
Backyard Herbalism Summer Series
This class will meet weekly and will cover topics including: the wise woman tradition of healing, summer skin care, herbal support for stress, the medicinal uses of popular garden plants and more.
WE (8/28), 6pm, Art Garden AVL, 191 Lyman St
GAMES & CLUBS
Bridge for Fun Mid-level bridge group—not meant for beginners. Contact Tom Fehsenfeld at tom.
fehsenfeld@gmail.com for more info.
WE (8/21, 28), 2pm, N Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E Larchmont Rd
Grove Street Card
Sharks
Play a variety of card games including bid whist, spades, tunk, and more every Wednesday.
WE (8/21, 28), 2pm, Grove St Community Center, 36 Grove St
Gravestone: A Wild West Murder Mystery
Don your best cowboy hats and sharpen your detective skills for the the wildest murder mystery in the Wild West. Expect a night of intrigue, deception, and good ol’ Western fun.
FR (8/23), 7pm, Ginger’s Revenge Craft Brewery & Tasting Room, 829 Riverside Dr
Weekly Sunday Scrabble
Weekly scrabble play where you’ll be paired with players of your skill level. All scrabble gear provided.
SU (8/25), 1:30pm, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Bid Whist
Make bids, call trumps, and win tricks. Every Saturday for fun competition with the community.
MO (8/26), 5:30pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave
Music Bingo
Test your music knowledge and your luck with Music Bingo by DJ Spence.
TU (8/27), 6:30pm, Asheville Brewing Co., 77 Coxe Ave
KID-FRIENDLY PROGRAMS
LaZoom Kids’ Comedy Bus Tour
This educational and entertaining tour features a perfect blend of Asheville’s history and comedy with jokes for kids of all ages. Open daily, noon. LaZoom Room, 76 Biltmore Ave
Coloring w/Cats: Kiddie Edition
An artistic session with coloring books and markers for children ages 13 and under to relax by coloring as they pet cats to reduce stress and anxiety.
SA (8/24), 1:30pm, House of Black Cat Magic, Co., 841 Haywood Rd Kids & Teens Kung Fu Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.
TH (8/22, 29), MO (8/26), TU (8/27), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109
LOCAL MARKETS
Leicester Farmers Market
A community-led farmers market featuring local produce, cheese, meats and crafts, every Wednesday.
WE (8/21, 28), 3pm, Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Hwy, Leicester
RAD Farmers Market
Providing year-round access to fresh local foods from over 30 local vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, pastured meats, cheeses, raw honey, and more. Located right on the Greenway, the market is safely accessible by bike, foot, or rollerblade.
WE (8/21, 28), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr Etowah Lions Farmers Market
An array of farm-fresh local produce that features lettuce, collards, kale, mushrooms as well as local artisans, herbal products, plant starts, prepackaged meals and more. Every Wednesday through October.
WE (8/21, 28), 3pm, Etowah Lions Club, 447 Etowah School Rd, Hendersonville Weaverville Tailgate Market
A selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, eggs, cheese, sweet and savory baked goods, artisan bread, body care, eclectic handmade goodies, garden and landscaping plants. Open year round.
WE (8/21, 28), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville
Enka-Candler Farmer's Market
A grand selection of local foods and crafts, everything from produce to pickles, baked goods to body care, and even educational resources. Every Thursday through October 31.
TH (8/22, 29), 3:30pm, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler
East Asheville Tailgate Market
Featuring locally grown vegetables, fruits, wild foraged mushrooms, ready made food, handmade body care, bread, pastries, meat, eggs, and more to the East Asheville community since 2007. Every Friday through Nov. 22.
FR (8/23), 3pm, 954 Tunnel Rd
Pack Square Artisan Market
Featuring local handcrafted goods in the heart of downtown Asheville. Browse unique products and
meet the folks that produce them. Every Friday through Oct. 25.
FR (8/23), 3pm, 1 South Pack Square Park
Henderson County Tailgate Market
Featuring Henderson County's finest produce, hand crafts, plant starts, vegetables, Sourwood honey, baked goods, fresh eggs, mushrooms, sausage and more. Every Saturday through Oct.
SA (8/24), 8am, 100 N King St, Hendersonville
Hendersonville Farmers Market
Featuring fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts, live entertainment, food trucks, and more.
SA (8/24), 8am, Hendersonville Farmers Market, 650 Maple St, Hendersonville
North Asheville Tailgate Market
The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC, since 1980. Over 60 rotating vendors providing a full range of local, sustainably produced produce, meats, eggs, cheeses, breads, plants and unique crafts.
SA (8/24), 8am, 3300 University Heights
Asheville City Market
Featuring local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Every Saturday through December 21.
SA (8/24), 9am, 52 N Market St
Black Mountain Saturday Tailgate Market
Featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and locally handcrafted items.
SA (8/24), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain
Community Yard Sale
A giant community yard sale with vintage items, thrift, craft, food and other great bargains.
SA (8/24), 10am, Beech Community Center, 15 Sugar Cove Rd, Weaverville
Mars Hill Farmers & Artisans Market
A producer-only tailgate market located on the campus of Mars Hill University on College Street. Offering fresh local produce, herbs, cheeses, meats, eggs, baked goods, honey, body care and more. Every Saturday through Oct. 26. SA (8/24), 10am, College St, Mars Hill
WNC Farmers Market
High quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and other farm
fresh items. Open daily 8am, year-round.
SU (8/25), 8am, 570 Brevard Rd
Junk-O-Rama
Browse vintage clothing vendors, local crafters, antiques and more.
SU (8/25), 11am, Fleetwood's, 496 Haywood Rd
Meadow Market
Browse goods and gifts from local makers and artisans with different vendors every week, you’ll find specialty items. Shop for handmade jewelry, housewares, vintage goods, and crafts.
SU (8/25), 1pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200 West Asheville Tailgate Market
Featuring an array of goods including fruits, vegetables, baked goods, bread, eggs, cheese, milk, poultry, and fish to locally made specialty items such as natural beauty products, herbal medicine and locally made art and crafts. Every Tuesday through November 26.
TU (8/27), 3:30pm, 718 Haywood Rd
FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Harvest Records Transfigurations IV
Private Launch Party
A celebration for 20 years of Harvest Records with a huge line up or bands and DJs playing music plus special vendors.
TH (8/22), 8pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave
Mythifools Festivities Presents: Through the Looking GIASS Featuring burlesque, fire dancing, belly dancing, live opera, art vendors, carnival games and prizes.
TH (8/22), 9pm, The Odd, 1045 Haywood Rd
Summer Shindig Red Clay Revival will be on stage along with special guest Chris Porter from Empire Strikes Brass. Several local artists and food trucks will be in attendance as well.
FR (8/23), 5pm, The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd
Zillicoah Session Fest 24
A day dedicated to full flavored, full bodied low ABV beers. Picture a backyard hangout showcasing guest breweries to the community in an intimate setting. There will be food vendors as well as music. See p31 SA (8/24), 2pm, Zillicoah Beer Co., 870 Riverside Dr
5th Annual 103.3 Asheville FM Record Fair
Everyone’s favorite music event of the year will feature over 30 vendors spread across 10,000 square feet, offering an extensive selection of records, 45s, CDs, and various collectibles. See p33 SU (8/25), 11am, Harrah's Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St 2024 Blue Ridge Pride Pageant Contestants will compete through performance, costume and questions for the coveted title of Ms/Mr./ Mx. Blue Ridge Pride. SU (8/25), 6:30pm, Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave Mountain Xpress Best of WNC Party
An evening of live music and food trucks in the Meadow to celebrate the best of Asheville. In the event of bad weather, music will be moved into the Taproom. TH (8/29), 5pm, The Meadow at Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200
BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING
Become a R2S Reading Tutor Volunteer as a Read to Succeed tutor with training included. Work one-to-one or in small groups during and after school. Register at avl.mx/bto. WE (8/21, 28), 6pm, Online
Phoenix Festival
A fundraising event and small business pop up expo showcasing local artists, food truck and live music. BYOChair and blanket and enjoy axe throwing, book swap, TTRPGs and more. SA (8/24), 4pm, The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd The Blood Connection: Blood Drive The Blood Connection and Highland Brewing Co. are partnering to host this blood drive. Visit avl.mx/dhx to schedule a donation appointment with sponsor code 1189.
TU (8/27), 8am, Highland Brewing Co., 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Ste 200
Benefit Concert for River Arts District Brew Co. Americana Music Circle and Jenny Bradley presents a benefit show for RAD Brew Co. featuring Melissa McKinney, Whitney Monge, Chilltonic, Moon Water, Eaze Dogg and more.
TU (8/27), 7pm, The River Arts District Brewing Co., 13 Mystery St Benefit Show for Palestine Featuring Tashi & Ember, Shining Abyss, and more.
WE (8/28), 8:30pm, Static Age Records, 110 N Lexington Ave
X Awards 2024
In the 1994 comedy The Mask, Jim Carrey’s character, Stanley Ipkiss, looks himself over in the mirror and declares: “It’s party time. P-A-RT-Why? Because I gotta!”
It’s fitting that the film came out in 1994 — the same year that Xpress debuted. Now entering our 30th year, we, too, are in the mood to party.
Of course, it’s always more fun to celebrate with a group. Which is why we’ve extended the festivities to include this year’s Best of WNC winners. And seeing as how we have nearly 600 categories, there are plenty of folks to boogie down with.
Given such a large number of happy people, we’ll be extending the revelries into a second issue. Be sure to come back next week for Part II.
As always, this year’s winners feature the latest set of Hall of Famers. This honor goes to the
Bust out the confetti
party animals who have kept the celebration going, so to speak, for four or more consecutive years in a given category.
Now, anybody who loves a raucous get-together knows it’s important to pace yourself. So let’s pause for a moment to acknowledge the community effort that goes into making a Best of WNC happening each and every year. A big shout-out to the thousands who cast their ballots. A confetti-filled thanks to the Xpress staff for tallying and judging the seemingly never-ending surge of incoming votes. And a rousing toast to the businesses that purchased thank-you ads in these pages.
OK, now back to the regularly scheduled party. Why? ’Cause we gotta!
— Thomas Calder X
PART ONE
Small Towns
Brevard 68 Hendersonville, Flat Rock & Mills River 70 Sylva & Cullowhee 71 Waynesville, Maggie Valley & Canton
We have taken great care to ensure the accuracy of the Best of WNC listings, but if you have corrections, questions or suggestions, email us at bestofwnc@mountainx.com, or call 828-251-1333.
Some Best of WNC categories received inadequate votes to allow us to declare first-, second- and third-place winners.
•PUBLISHER Jeff Fobes •BALLOT OFFICIALS Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Hinton Edgerton, Jeff Fobes, Tina Gaafary, Susan Hutchinson, Justin McGuire, Mark Murphy, Greg Parlier, Braulio Pescador-Martinez, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith, Scott Southwick, Tracy Rose, Olivia Urban, Jessica Wakeman, Lisa Watters •BEST OF WNC SUPPLEMENT DESIGN Scott Southwick
•DESIGNERS Scott Southwick, Tina Gaafary, Olivia Urban • LISTINGS EDITORS Hinton Edgerton, Mark Murphy, Lisa Watters •PHOTO COORDINATORS Hinton Edgerton, Cindy Kunst, Mark Murphy
•WRITERS Lisa Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Justin McGuire, Pat Moran, Greg Parlier, Tracy Rose, Gina Smith, Jessica Wakeman •AD SALES Sara Brecht, Ralph Day, Scott Mermel, Geoffrey Warren
•IT & WEB, Jeff Fobes, Mark Murphy, Scott Southwick, Brandon Tilley
•FRONT OFFICE/ACCOUNTING Hinton Edgerton, Amie Fowler, Mark Murphy, Lisa Watters
• DISTRIBUTION Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst and a fantastic team of devoted drivers
•COVER PHOTO LazrLuvr by Caleb Johnson •COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick
LAZRLUVR
All-Round Favorite Band; second place Rock
IF a member of WNC’s artistic sphere has consistently been recognized as the best — for multiple years, even — is that something to celebrate?
Absolutely! And when it comes to repeated wins in the Best of WNC poll, a party is most definitely in order — particularly for Echo Mountain Recording Studio (Recording Studio), Blue Spiral 1 (Local Art Gallery) and The Orange Peel (Indoor Music Venue), which have held down the top spot in their respective categories for 14 consecutive years.
On the flip side, 2024 was the year that certain other established entertainers finally broke through to claim the No. 1 spot. That includes Walker Astin (Bass Guitarist) who now joins fellow hardworking bandmates Sam Frame (Percussionist/Drummer) and Brad Curtioff (Keyboardist/ Pianist), who successfully defended their first-place titles this year, as did their Lazrluvr band (AllRound Favorite Band).
The steady rise in author readings and poetry groups prompted this year’s addition of the Local
Literary Event category, won by Punch Bucket Lit. Likewise, Karaoke Night joined the ballot, with the people selecting Burger Bar as the debut champ.
And please make some space on the dance floor for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, winners who’ve reigned for four consecutive years: Firecracker Jazz Band (Jazz) and DanceClub Asheville (Place to Take Dance Classes or Lessons).
— Edwin Arnaudin X
LOCAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
1 AVL FEST avlfest.com Various Locations, Asheville
2 LEAF FESTIVAL theleaf.org
ea 377 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain 828-686-8742
3 DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 ashevilledowntown.org d North Lexington Avenue, Asheville 828-251-9973
INDOOR MUSIC VENUE
1 THE ORANGE PEEL x theorangepeel.net d 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-398-1837
2 THE GREY EAGLE thegreyeagle.com r 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville 828-232-5800
3 SALVAGE STATION salvagestation.com r 466 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-407-0521
OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE
1 SALVAGE STATION x salvagestation.com r 466 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-407-0521
2 RABBIT RABBIT rabbitrabbitavl.com d 75 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-398-1837
3 THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO. highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite 200, Asheville 828-299-3370
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR avl.mx/bra r 122 Riverside Drive, Suite D, Asheville
2 LITTLE JUMBO littlejumbobar.com n 241 Broadway, Asheville 828-417-4783
3 FLEETWOOD’S ROCK-N-ROLL WEDDING CHAPEL fleetwoodschapel.com w 496 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-5525
RECORDING STUDIO
1 ECHO MOUNTAIN
RECORDING STUDIO x echomountain.net
d 14 N. French Broad Ave., Asheville 828-232-4314
2 DROP OF SUN STUDIOS dropofsun.com w 821 Haywood Road, Suite 121, Asheville 828-774-5083
3 CITIZEN VINYL citizenvinyl.com d 14 O. Henry Ave., Asheville
OPEN-MIC-NIGHT VENUE
1 WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN whitehorseblackmountain.com ea 105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain 828-669-0816
2 SOVEREIGN KAVA ashevillekava.com d 268 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-505-8118
3 THE ODD theoddasheville.com w 1045 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9299
LYRICIST (SONGWRITER)
1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES x avl.mx/bv7 • Asheville
2 HOPE GRIFFIN hopegriffinmusic.com • Asheville
3 ANDREW THELSTON BAND andrewthelston.com • Asheville
VOCALIST (SINGER)
1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES x avl.mx/bv7 • Asheville
2 HOPE GRIFFIN hopegriffinmusic.com • Asheville
3 RAPHAEL GRAVES (LAZRLUVR) lazrluvr.com • Asheville GUITARIST
1 ERIC CONGDON ericcongdon.com • Hendersonville
2 ANDREW THELSTON (ANDREW THELSTON BAND) andrewthelston.com • Asheville
3 OLIVER BINNS (KARMA DOGS) Asheville
BASS GUITARIST
WALKER ASTIN (LAZRLUVR) lazrluvr.com s Hendersonville
2 ZACK PAGE avl.mx/xmasjbu
3 ALEX DEUTSCH (THE DEATHBOTS) avl.mx/dyp
PERCUSSIONIST/DRUMMER
1 SAM FRAME (LAZRLUVR) lazrluvr.com • Hendersonville
2 JEFF LOTT avl.mx/e05 sa Music Academy of WNC, 1430 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville 828-693-3726
3 RIVER GUERGUERIAN guerguerian.com n Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St., Asheville 828-301-6605
KEYBOARDIST/PIANIST
1 BRAD CURTIOFF (LAZRLUVR) lazrluvr.com • Asheville
2 ANDREW J. FLETCHER firecrackerjazz.com • Asheville 828-348-4672
3 CARRIE MORRISON carriemorrisonmusic.com • Asheville
ACOUSTIC/FOLK
1 RISING APPALACHIA risingappalachia.com • Asheville
2 HOPE GRIFFIN hopegriffinmusic.com • Asheville
3 BEN BALMER benbalmer.com • Asheville
AMERICANA/COUNTRY
1 ASHLEY HEATH AND HER HEATHENS ashleyleeannheath.com • Asheville
1 STEEP CANYON RANGERS steepcanyon.com
2 FANCY AND THE GENTLEMEN fancyandthegentlemen.com • Asheville 828-222-0757
3 RISING APPALACHIA risingappalachia.com • Asheville
BLUES
1 PEGGY RATUSZ avl.mx/cy8 • Asheville 828-301-6768
2 ASHLEY HEATH AND HER HEATHENS ashleyleeannheath.com • Asheville
3 MR. JIMMY mrjimmymusic.com • Asheville 312-953-2534
FUNK
1 YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND x bootyband.com • Asheville
2 EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS empirestrikesbrass.com • Asheville 828-620-1606
3 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES avl.mx/bv7 • Asheville
3 Biltmore Ave, Asheville (828) 552-3288
630 Haywood Rd, Asheville (828) 505-0860
335 Airport Rd #300, Arden (828) 676-0558
BEST OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
JAZZ
1 FIRECRACKER JAZZ BAND x firecrackerjazz.com • Asheville 828-628-9169
2 ASHEVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA ashevillejazzorchestra.org • Asheville
3 THE CORE avl.mx/e0y • Asheville
OLD-TIME/BLUEGRASS
1 STEEP CANYON RANGERS x steepcanyon.com
2 BALSAM RANGE balsamrange.com w Haywood • 336-909-1921
3 PRETTY LITTLE GOAT prettylittlegoat.com • Brevard
R&B/SOUL
1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES x avl.mx/bv7 • Asheville
2 RYAN RNB BARBER avl.mx/dyx • Asheville 828-691-5256
1 EAZE DOGG avl.mx/dvz • Asheville
2 SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO secretagent23skidoo.com • Asheville
3 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES avl.mx/bv7 • Asheville
ROCK
1 ANDREW THELSTON BAND andrewthelston.com • Asheville
2 LAZRLUVR lazrluvr.com • Hendersonville 828-642-0008
3 KARMA DOGS avl.mx/dxn • Asheville
PUNK/METAL/GARAGE
1 THE DEATHBOTS thedeathbots.com • Asheville
2
DJ (NONRADIO)
1 LIL MEOW MEOW (ANNELISE KOPP) avl.mx/bx4 • Asheville 828-258-2999
828-423-0339
828-785-3794 2
d 108 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-0402
3 ACOUSTIC CORNER acoustic-corner.com
ea 105-F Montreat Road, Black Mountain 828-669-5162
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
BEST OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES
Best Lyricist (Songwriter); best R&B/Soul; best Vocalist (Singer); third place Funk; third place Hip-Hop
MUSIC-RELATED NONPROFIT
1 LEAF GLOBAL ARTS x theleaf.org d 19 Eagle St., Suite 120, Asheville 828-686-8742
2 GIRLS ROCK ASHEVILLE girlsrockasheville.org o Asheville • 919-889-2628
3 103.3 ASHEVILLE FM ashevillefm.org w 864 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-348-0352
ARTS/CRAFTS FAIR OR EVENT
1 THE BIG CRAFTY x thebigcrafty.com d Harrah’s Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville
2 CRAFT FAIR OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS southernhighlandguild.org d Harrah’s Cherokee Center, 87 Haywood St., Asheville 828-523-4110
3 UNCOMMON MARKET ASHEVILLE uncommonmarketasheville.com r 1 Foundy St., Asheville 828-545-0708
STUDIO STROLL/ DRIVING TOUR
1 RIVER ARTS DISTRICT (RAD) STUDIO STROLL x riverartsdistrict.com r Asheville • 828-552-4723
2 WEAVERVILLE ART SAFARI weavervilleartsafari.com na Weaverville
3 TOE RIVER ARTS STUDIO TOUR toeriverarts.org n Yancey and Mitchell Counties 828-765-0520
CRAFT SCHOOL OR PLACE TO LEARN A CRAFT
1 PENLAND SCHOOL OF CRAFT x penland.org ea 67 Doras Trail, Bakersville 828-765-2359
2 JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL folkschool.org wa 1 Folk School Road, Brasstown 828-837-2775
3 A-B TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE abtech.edu s 340 Victoria Road, Asheville 828-398-7900
LOCAL ART GALLERY
1 BLUE SPIRAL 1 x bluespiral1.com d 38 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-251-0202
2 MARQUEE marqueeasheville.com r 36 Foundy St., Asheville 828-989-1069
3 MOMENTUM GALLERY momentumgallery.com d 52 Broadway, Asheville 828-505-8550 CRAFT-ORIENTED GALLERY
1 SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CRAFT GUILD x southernhighlandguild.org e Folk Art Center, Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 382, Asheville 828-298-7928
2 MARQUEE marqueeasheville.com r 36 Foundy St., Asheville 828-989-1069
3 NEW MORNING GALLERY newmorninggallerync.com s 7 Boston Way, Asheville 828-274-2831
PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST
1 JAN WESCOTT (JANI WOVENS)
avl.mx/dx4 • Asheville 828-767-9348
JEWELRY ARTIST/DESIGNER
1 JEFFREY BURROUGHS (THE JEWEL OF ASHEVILLE) jeffreyburroughs.com
r 20 Artful Way, Suite 101, Asheville 646-986-0478
d Gallery Melange, 67 Biltmore Ave., Suite 20, Asheville 828-782-1110 METAL ARTIST OR BLACKSMITH
1 DAVID EARL TOMLINSON (DYNAMIC METAL WORK)
avl.mx/dza • Asheville 828-337-3241
2 THE BEARDED BLACKSMITH (STEVE SCHROEDER)
avl.mx/dzc • Marshall
GLASS ARTIST
1 BILLY GUILFORD & GEOFF KOSLOW (LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS) lexingtonglassworks.com r 81 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-348-8427
2 MICHAEL HATCH (CRUCIBLE GLASSWORKS) Crucibleglassworks.com na 60 Clarks Chapel Road, Weaverville 828-645-5660
3 JENNA ASHCRAFT ashcraftglass.com o Asheville
WOODWORKER
1 KONRAD SANDERS (KGS BUILDING) avl.mx/dxq • Asheville MURAL ARTIST
1 GUS CUTTY x guscutty.com • Asheville
2 KATHRYN CRAWFORD kathryncrawfordart.com • Asheville
3 IAN WILKINSON ianthepainter.com • Asheville
BEST OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAINTER/ILLUSTRATOR
1 CALLIE FERRARO (CALLIE FINE ART) calliefineart.com r Wedge Studios, 129 Roberts St., Studio 2B7, Asheville 239-989-8621
POTTER/CERAMIC ARTIST
1 ROB AND BETH MANGUM (MANGUM POTTERY) mangumpottery.com na 16 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-645-4929
2 AKIRA SATAKE (AKIRA SATAKE CERAMICS) akirasatake.com
r 191 Lyman St., Studio 165, Asheville 828-231-9750
2 MELISSA WEISS melissaweisspottery.com o Asheville
3 ASHLEY LIEB (HONEY CREEK POTTERY) honeycreekpottery.weebly.com • Asheville 816-769-7505
3 SARAH VEKASI (SARAH SUNSHINE POTTERY) sarahsunshinepottery.com ea 105 Cherry St., Black Mountain 828-333-1884
THE BIG CRAFTY
Best Arts/Crafts Fair or Event
PORTRAIT/HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER
1 CAROL SPAGNUOLA (CAROL SPAGS PHOTOGRAPHY) carolspags.com r 109 Roberts St., Asheville 828-713-4485
2 NICOLE MCCONVILLE nicolemcconville.com w 418 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-782-7131
3 SHEILA MRAZ sheilamraz.com • Asheville 828-550-4663
STILL LIFE/NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER
1 BENJAMIN WALLS benjaminwalls.com d 38 Broadway, Asheville 877-989-2557
WEDDING/EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER
1 NATHAN RIVERS CHESKY nathanchesky.com • Asheville 828-776-3629
2 STEPHAN PRUITT stephanpruittphotography.com d 22 S. Pack Square, Suite 302, Asheville 828-712-4669
3 SHEILA MRAZ sheilamraz.com • Asheville 828-550-4663
NONPROFIT (NOT MUSIC) THAT SERVES THE ARTS
1 OPEN HEARTS ART CENTER openheartsartcenter.org d 217 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-8428
2 BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS blackmountainarts.org
ea 225 W. State St., Black Mountain 828-669-0930
MOVIE THEATER
1 GRAIL MOVIEHOUSE x grailmoviehouse.com
r 17 Foundy St., Suite 20, Asheville 828-239-9392
2 THE CAROLINA CINEMARK ASHEVILLE avl.mx/3n9 s 1640 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-8811
3 FINE ARTS THEATRE fineartstheatre.com
d 36 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-232-1536
PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST
THEATER COMPANY
1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE x ashevilletheatre.org
d 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville 828-254-1320
2 MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS montfordparkplayers.org n 92 Gay St., Asheville 828-254-5146
3 NORTH CAROLINA STAGE COMPANY ncstage.org
d 15 Stage Lane, Asheville 828-239-0263
ACTOR (ANY GENDER)
1 SCOTT TREADWAY x avl.mx/dyz a Flat Rock
PERFORMANCE DANCE COMPANY
1 STEWART/OWEN DANCE stewartowendance.org
d 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-581-9285
2 TERPSICORPS THEATRE OF DANCE terpsicorps.org w 69 Cranford Road, Asheville 828-761-1371
3 THE ASHEVILLE BALLET ashevilleballet.com
n 4 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-252-4761
PLACE TO TAKE DANCE CLASSES OR LESSONS
1 DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE x danceclubasheville.com n 9 Old Burnsville Hill Road, Suite 3, Asheville 828-423-0886
2 UPHORA DANCE FITNESS uphoradance.com w 1501 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-417-7171
3 THE ASHEVILLE BALLET ashevilleballet.com n 4 Weaverville Highway, Asheville 828-252-4761
IMPROV GROUP/COMEDY TROUPE OR SERIES
1 REASONABLY PRICED BABIES avl.mx/bxx • Asheville
2 LAZOOM: HEY ASHEVILLE! CITY COMEDY TOUR lazoomtours.com d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932
3 ASHEVILLE IMPROV COLLECTIVE [Closed] n 174 Broadway, Asheville
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
BILLY GUILFORD & GEOFF KOSLOW (LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS)
Best Glass Artist PHOTO COURTESY OF LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS
LOCAL COMEDY SHOW/ NIGHT/EVENT
1 ASHEVILLE COMEDY FESTIVAL ashevillecomedyfestival.com
d Various Locations, Asheville
2 LAZOOM lazoomtours.com
d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932
COMEDIAN
1 PETEY SMITH-MCDOWELL (DISCLAIMER LOUNGE)
avl.mx/9x5
d 31 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-255-7777
2 HILLIARY BEGLEY
avl.mx/a8k • Asheville
KARAOKE NIGHT
1 BURGER BAR
avl.mx/9kq r 1 Craven St., Asheville 828-424-7600
2 THE DOUBLE CROWN
avl.mx/9mu w 375 Haywood Road, Asheville
2 THE SOCIAL thesocialasheville.com
e 1078 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-8780
3 ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY [Closed] d 28 Broadway, Asheville
TRIVIA NIGHT EMCEE
1 ROBERT BENNETT (TOTALLY RAD TRIVIA)
avl.mx/dyw • Asheville 828-280-5437
2 BILLY NESBIT
avl.mx/dz9 • Asheville
3 KIPPER SCHAUER (DJ KIPPER)
avl.mx/a8r • Asheville
3 MITCH FORTUNE (MITCH’S TOTALLY RAD TRIVIA) avl.mx/bxy • Asheville 828-239-9903
DRAG PERFORMER/GROUP
1 DIVINE HOLEBURN (DIVINE THE BEARDED LADY) avl.mx/dvy • Asheville 828-333-7247
2 ASHEVILLE DRAG BRUNCH ashevilledragbrunch.com d Asheville • 828-333-7247
3 GANYMEDE ganym3d3.com • Asheville
LOCAL AUTHOR
1 RON RASH ronrashwriter.com w Cullowhee • 828-227-7264
2 WILEY CASH wileycash.com • Asheville
3 DAVID JOY avl.mx/dvx • Tuckasegee LOCAL POET
1 LEE STOCKDALE leestockdale.com • Asheville
2 ALLAN WOLF allanwolf.com • Asheville 828-772-7474
3 EDDIE CABBAGE avl.mx/dw0 • Asheville LOCAL LITERARY EVENT
1 PUNCH BUCKET LIT punchbucketlit.org
2 ASHEVILLE PRISON BOOKS TRIVIA avl.mx/duo
SHOPPING
REVOLVE MERCANTILE BUY+SELL+TRADE
Best Clothing: Used or Vintage (for-profit store); second place Asheville-Style Clothes
SOME shops so thoroughly reflect the Asheville area’s character — through a certain quirkiness or independent spirit — that it would be surprising not to see them featured among the Best of WNC winners. Take the iconic Malaprop’s Bookstore/ Cafe (Bookstore–New), for example, or the cavernous Antique Tobacco Barn (Antique Store), along with the hip-but-friendly Harvest Records (Record-CD Store), all boasting more than 11 consecutive years in the Hall of Fame. And, of course, the winner of the Store That Best
Represents the Spirit of Asheville, The Regeneration Station, which aims for sustainability in a fun atmosphere — also a Hall of Famer for Used Furniture Store (for-profit store) and winner in Refurbished or Upcycled Goods.
That said, there are other lesser-known but likewise fantastic shops that deserve attention, too.
Like Emote, a queer-owned secondhand shop on Haywood Road that debuted in the No. 1 slot for Asheville-style clothes, and Acoustic Corner, coming in first this year for
Musical Instrument Store. And no gift-shopping foray would be complete without a visit to Whist, voted the best Gift Shop for 10 consecutive years.
And don’t forget to hit up Asheville Area Habitat For Humanity’s ReStore, named best nonprofit place to buy used furniture for 11 straight years.
Please also give a warm welcome to new Hall of Fame honoree YZ Asian Market (International/ Specialty Food Store).
— Jessica Wakeman X
STORE THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF ASHEVILLE
1 THE REGENERATION STATION regenerationstation.com s 26 Glendale Ave., Asheville 828-505-1108
2 MAST GENERAL STORE mastgeneralstore.com d 15 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-232-1883
3 MARQUEE marqueeasheville.com r 36 Foundy St., Asheville 828-989-1069
CLOTHING: DRESSUP/STYLIN’
1 MINX BOUTIQUE x minxasheville.com d 64 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-225-5680
CLOTHING: USED OR VINTAGE (FOR-PROFIT STORE)
1 REVOLVE MERCANTILE BUY+SELL+TRADE revolvemerc.net w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-412-3112
2 EMOTE emoteavl.com w 444 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-318-2078
3 RECIPROCITY reciprocityasheville.com w 732 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-3980
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
BEST OF SHOPPING
1 GOODWILL x goodwillnwnc.org
w 1616 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-771-2179
e 85 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-3595
s 51 Mills Gap Road, Asheville 828-687-0057
2 ASHEVILLE HUMANE THRIFT STORE
avl.mx/e07
e 800 Fairview Road, Suite EE, Asheville 828-761-2002
3 MOUNTAIN HOME THRIFT STORE: CHERYL’S PLACE
mountainhomethriftstore.org
ea 10 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain 828-581-0596
ASHEVILLE-STYLE CLOTHES
1 EMOTE emoteavl.com
w 444 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-318-2078
2 REVOLVE MERCANTILE BUY+SELL+TRADE revolvemerc.net
w 697 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-412-3112
3 ELEMENTALITY
myelementality.com
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 220, Asheville 828-299-4751
ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE
SHOE STORE
1 TOPS FOR SHOES x topsforshoes.com
d 27 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-6721
2 DISCOUNT SHOES OF ASHEVILLE discountshoesofasheville.com
s 1263 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-667-0085
3 GB SHOES housershoes.com
e 83 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-808-2062
Stores in Buncombe County
JEWELRY STORE
1 SPICER GREENE JEWELERS x spicergreene.com
d 121 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-253-1805
2 ELEMENTALITY myelementality.com
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 220, Asheville 828-299-4751
3 MARTHALER JEWELERS marthalerjewelers.com
sa 3578 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher 828-676-1625
MALL-STYLE MARKET
1 MARQUEE marqueeasheville.com
r 36 Foundy St., Asheville 828-989-1069
2 THE REGENERATION STATION regenerationstation.com
s 26 Glendale Ave., Asheville 828-505-1108
3 GROVE ARCADE grovearcade.com
d 1 Page Ave., Asheville 828-252-7799
ALL-ROUND GROCERY STORE
1 INGLES MARKETS x ingles-markets.com
See ad on page 18 for locations
2 PUBLIX SUPER MARKET publix.com
s 1830 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-6287 na 165 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 828-658-1020
3 TRADER JOE’S traderjoes.com n 120 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-5078
LOCAL GROCERY DELIVERY OR CURBSIDE PICKUP
1 INGLES MARKETS ingles-markets.com See ad on page 18 for locations
2 MOTHER EARTH FOOD motherearthfood.com w 29 Hawk Hill Road, Asheville 828-275-3500
3 WALMART walmart.com e 125 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville 828-298-8092
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
BEST OF SHOPPING
BUDGET-FRIENDLY GROCERY STORE
1 ALDI x aldi.com
e 480 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 844-476-1074
w 1344 Patton Ave., Asheville 844-476-1071
na 58 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 844-476-1073
2 HOPEY AND CO. hopeyandcompany.com
828-785-1452
3 PENLAND’S FURNITURE penlandsfurniture.com
e River Ridge Shopping Center, 800 Fairview Road, Suite 111, Asheville 828-255-5228
e 3018 U.S Highway 70, Suite 1, Asheville 828-669-8988
3 TRADER JOE’S traderjoes.com
n 120 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-232-5078
HEALTH FOOD STORE
1 EARTH FARE earthfare.com
w 66 Westgate Parkway, Asheville 828-255-2999
1 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP frenchbroadfood.coop
d 90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-255-7650
2 WHOLE FOODS MARKET wholefoodsmarket.com
n 70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-254-5440
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-239-9604
3 WEST VILLAGE MARKET & DELI westvillagemarket.com. w 771 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-225-4949
INTERNATIONAL/ SPECIALTY FOOD STORE
1 YZ ASIAN MARKET x avl.mx/9sn w 22 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-785-1653
2 ASIANA MARKET avl.mx/duz s 1968 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-585-2362
3 RADHA INDIAN GROCERS avl.mx/prwr w 813 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-505-1991
CONVENIENCE/ CORNER STORE
1 THE HOT SPOT hotspotcstore.com
w 103 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-258-2619
2 WEST VILLAGE MARKET & DELI westvillagemarket.com. w 771 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-225-4949
3 GAS-UP avl.mx/6bv w 405 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-5589
ea 2700 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-686-5561
USED FURNITURE STORE (FOR-PROFIT STORE)
1 THE REGENERATION STATION x regenerationstation.com s 26 Glendale Ave., Asheville 828-505-1108
2 ATOMIC FURNISHING & DESIGN atomicfurnishings.com s 124 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 828-774-5441
3 LULU’S CONSIGNMENT ilovelulus.net sa 3699 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher 828-687-7565
USED FURNITURE STORE (NONPROFIT STORE)
1 ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE x avl.mx/e08
s 31 Meadow Road, Asheville 828-254-6706
na 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 828-484-9432
2 WNC BRIDGE FOUNDATION THRIFT STORE & ESTATE SALES ASHEVILLE wncbridge.org s 75 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-575-2509
3 FOUR SEASONS HOSPICE HOME STORE avl.mx/e09 sa 3811 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher 828-233-0375
BED AND MATTRESS STORE
1 COLTON MATTRESS x coltonmattress.com
s 848 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-299-4445
2 MATTRESS FIRM
mattressfirm.com
e 83 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-296-9955
n 825 Merrimon Ave., Suite D, Asheville 828-253-4256
2 MATTRESS MAN
mattressmanstores.com e 80 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-782-3453
s 229 Airport Road, Suite 2, Arden 828-827-9797
3 ENZA HOME FURNISHINGS & MATTRESS GALLERY ehasheville.com
sa 25 Long Shoals Road, Asheville 828-844-8100
Highland Brewing Thurs Aug 29, 5-9pm
MUSIC: Hope Griffin • Leeda “Lyric” Jones (full band) • DJ Molly Parti
FOOD TRUCKS: Melt Your Heart • The Smokin’ Onion • & more
BEST OF SHOPPING
1 ANTIQUE TOBACCO BARN x atbarn.com
e 75 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 828-252-7291
2 THE REGENERATION STATION regenerationstation.com
s 26 Glendale Ave., Asheville 828-505-1108
3 SWEETEN CREEK ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES sweetencreekantiques.net
s 115 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-277-6100
PAWN SHOP
1 ALAN’S JEWELRY & PAWN x alanspawn.com
w 1186 Patton Ave., Asheville
828-254-8681
e 736 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-4440
wa 510 Paint Town Road, Cherokee 828-554-0431
2 FINKELSTEIN’S finkelsteinspawn.com
d 21 Broadway, Asheville 828-253-7731
THE
REFURBISHED OR UPCYCLED GOODS
1 THE REGENERATION STATION regenerationstation.com
s 26 Glendale Ave., Asheville 828-505-1108
2 ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE avl.mx/e08
s 31 Meadow Road, Asheville 828-254-6706
na 61 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 828-484-9432
PICTURE FRAMER
1 FRUGAL FRAMER x frugalframer.com
d 95 Cherry St., N., Asheville 828-258-2435
sa 200 Julian Shoals Drive, Arden 828-687-8533
2 BLACKBIRD FRAME & ART blackbirdframe.com
d 365 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-225-3117
3 MICHAELS michaels.com
e River Hills Shopping Center, 111A River Hills Road, Asheville 828-299-0183
WYVERN’S
TALE
Best Game Store
FLORIST/PLANT SHOP
1 FLORA & FORAGE x florabotanicalliving.com
w 428B Haywood Road, Asheville 828-252-8888
2 POLLEN COFFEE & FLOWERS pollenavl.com
d 45 S. French Broad Ave., Suite 150, Asheville
3 PALM + PINE palmandpine.com w 178B Westwood Place, Asheville 828-505-2232
BOOKSTORE - NEW
1 MALAPROP’S BOOKSTORE/CAFE x malaprops.com
d 55 Haywood St., Asheville 828-254-6734
2 FIRESTORM BOOKSTORE CO-OP firestorm.coop w 1022 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-255-8115
3 BARNES & NOBLE barnesandnoble.com e Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-296-7335
BOOKSTORE - USED
1 MR. K’S USED BOOKS, MUSIC & MORE x mrksusedbooks.com e River Ridge Market Place, 800 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-299-1145
2 DOWNTOWN BOOKS & NEWS dbnbooks.com d 67 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-253-8654
3 BAGATELLE BOOKS bagatellebooks.com w 428C Haywood Road, Asheville 828-774-5585
RECORD/CD STORE
1 HARVEST RECORDS x harvest-records.com w 415 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-2999
2 STATIC AGE RECORDS avl.mx/69r d 110 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-3232
3 EARTH RIVER RECORDS earthriverproductions.com n 101 Stone Ridge Blvd., Asheville 828-519-9063
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 ACOUSTIC CORNER acoustic-corner.com
ea 105-F Montreat Road, Black Mountain 828-669-5162
2 GUITAR CENTER guitarcenter.com
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 430, Asheville 828-298-0131
2 HEYDAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS & REPAIR heydaymusic.net
d 108 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-254-0402
3 TEMPO MUSIC CENTER
tempomusichendersonville.com
sa 244 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-693-8276 GAME STORE
1 THE WYVERN’S TALE thewyvernstaleavl.com
n 347 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-7887
2 ORBIT DVD orbitdvd.com
w 781 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-251-1337
3 GAMERS HAUNT gamershaunt.com
n 211 Merrimon Ave., Suite 241, Asheville 828-251-1500
COMICS & COLLECTIBLES STORE
1 MORGAN’S COMICS x morganscomics.com
w 600 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-4003
2 COMIC ENVY comicenvy.com n 333 Merrimon Ave., Suite A, Asheville 828-252-7600
3 ORBIT DVD orbitdvd.com w 781 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-251-1337
loftofasheville.com
d 53 Broadway, Asheville 828-259-9303
3 PROVISIONS MERCANTILE provisionsmercantile.com w 728 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-3900 HEAD SHOP
1 OCTOPUS GARDEN SMOKE SHOP x octopusgardensmokeshops.com w 1062 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-232-6030
e 1269 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-8880 n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-2883
ADULT TOYS, LINGERIE & NAUGHTY THINGS STORE
1 VAVAVOOOM BOUDOIR BOUTIQUE x vavavooom.com d 57 Broadway, Asheville 828-254-6329
2 BOUTIQUE ROYALE: LINGERIE & GIFTS boutique-royale.com s 117 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite 30, Asheville 828-560-0036
3 BEDTYME STORIES avl.mx/dv3 sa 2334 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-684-8250
Local Independent Smoke Shop since 1993
BEST OF SHOPPING
BIKE SHOP
1 LIBERTY BICYCLES x libertybikes.com s 1378 Hendersonville Road, Suite G, Asheville 828-274-2453
2 EPIC CYCLES epiccyclesnc.com ea 102 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain 828-669-5969 s 1240 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-665-7744
2 MOTION MAKERS BICYCLE SHOP motionmakers.com s 878 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-633-2227 w 36 Allen St., Asheville 828-586-6925
3 GRAVELO WORKSHOP: BICYCLES & COFFEE gravelo-workshop.com n 793 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-209-8798
AUTOMOBILE TIRE STORE
1 NEWBRIDGE TIRE CENTER x newbridgetirecenter.com n 1475 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-255-8005
2 DISCOUNT TIRE discounttire.com e 105 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville 828-318-0949
sa 54 Airport Road, Arden 828-708-6022
3 JAN DAVIS TIRE STORE jandavistire.com d 209 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-253-5634
AUTO DEALERNEW AND/OR USED
1 PRESTIGE SUBARU x prestigesubaru.com e 585 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-630-7028
2 APPLE TREE HONDA honda.appletreeautomobiles.com sa 242 Underwood Road, Fletcher 828-585-3044
3 FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA OF ASHEVILLE ashevilletoyota.com s 777 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-585-5825
PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST
Attentive
Ivana
Desancic Photography
S E R V I C E S P E R S O N A L
ANANDA HAIR STUDIO
Best Hair Salon
ABOUT 150 years ago, Asheville and Western North Carolina experienced a health-related tourism boom as our region was touted as a restorative retreat from steamier, swampier climes in nearby South Carolina and Georgia. During that Gilded Age, the cool mountain air and hikes in our hardwood forests were praised for promoting fitness and relaxation.
You could say that tradition continues with WNC’s current reputation as a personal services hotspot — except that today, those services extend beyond traditional
spa treatments to include artistic personal adornment, self-expression through hair and nails, local body products and more. In two centuries, modes of travel may have morphed from horseback to stagecoach to railway to Interstate 40, but at the journey’s end, it’s still all about whatever makes you feel good.
This year, like last, the two most hotly contested categories in our Personal Services section are Hair Salon and Hairstylist. Check out the winners. The Esthetician bracket, reintroduced last year due to popular demand, is back for
a second inning. In the Eyebrow Shaping category, new this year, Rosie Brow + Waxing Studio, took the honors.
Five Hall of Famers return, including Zen Ink (Tattoo Parlor/ Studio for five years), American Nails AVL (Nail Salon for five years), Bella Fine Jewelry & Piercing (Piercing Studio for seven years), The Local Barber & Tap (Barbershop for eight years running) and The Spa at Omni Grove Park Inn (Spa for an impressive 14 years).
— Pat Moran X
1 THE SPA AT OMNI GROVE PARK INN x avl.mx/554 n 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800
2 SAUNA HOUSE saunahouse.com d 230 Short Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-6393
3 SHOJI SPA & RETREAT shojispa.com
e 96 Avondale Heights, Asheville 828-299-0999
ESTHETICIAN
1 MAJESTY BOSWELL (HUNNY ESTHETICS) hunnyesthetics.com s 76 Glendale Ave., Suite 302, Asheville 828-573-4842
2 SARAH YOUNG (EVOKE VITALITY) evokevitality.com d 125 S. Lexington Ave., Suite 102A, Asheville 828-222-0281
EYEBROW SHAPING
1 ROSIE BROW + WAXING STUDIO rosiebrows.com n 1 Zillicoah St., Asheville 828-295-2064
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 ANANDA HAIR STUDIO anandahair.com
d 22 Broadway, Asheville 828-232-1017
r 37 Paynes Way, Asheville 828-236-2444
n 308 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-678-2444
2 WINK SALON ilovewink.com
s 18 Brook St., Suite 103, Asheville 828-277-4070
3 WILLOW’S DREAM willowsdream.com
d 64 Broadway, Asheville 828-225-5922
HAIRSTYLIST
1 AMY GROOMS ROSE lovewolfandrose.com • Asheville 828-337-0061
2 SKIP FELLERS (NEON MOON SALON) theneonmoonsalon.com w 880 Haywood Road, Asheville 770-856-1730
3 CAITLIN FRINK (SALON DRAGONFLY) salondragonfly.net
d 115 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-253-3977
BARBERSHOP
THE LOCAL BARBER & TAP x barberandtap.com
d 84 W. Walnut St., Unit B, Asheville 828-232-7005 w 315 Haywood Road, Suite 115 828-412-3285
2 ASHEVILLE BARBER CO. ashevillebarbercompany.com n 839 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-575-9494
3 JONNY’S BARBER SHOP jonnysbarbershop.com
d Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 116A, Asheville 828-367-9780
BARBER
1 JONNY KATZMAREK (JONNY’S BARBER SHOP) jonnysbarbershop.com d Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 116A, Asheville 828-367-9780
2 JEREMY SAVAGE (SAVAGE HAIR STUDIOS) avl.mx/dx5 r 109 Roberts St., Asheville 828-712-9048
3 MARCUS WOODY (THE OUTPOST BARBER) theoutpostbarber.com e 2 Beverly Road, Asheville 828-793-3086
1 AMERICAN NAILS AVL x americannailsavl.com w 1341 Parkwood Road, Suite 104, Asheville 828-255-5525
2 LUCKY DICE NAIL STUDIO luckydiceavl.square.site s 76 Glendale Ave., Suite 203, Asheville 828-505-2645
3 HANDS ON SPA handsonspaashevillenc.com n 640 Merrimon Ave., Suite 105, Asheville 828-255-4540
NAIL TECHNICIAN
1 THANG CHU (AMERICAN NAILS AVL) americannailsavl.com w 1341 Parkwood Road, Suite 104, Asheville 828-255-5525
2 CHANCEY FURNAS (LUCKY DICE NAIL STUDIO) luckydicenailstudio.glossgenius.com
s 76 Glendale Ave., Suite 203, Asheville 828-505-2645
2 PRETTY TONY (CASEY MILLER) avl.mx/dyt w Union Hill Salon, 526 Haywood Road, Asheville
3 VICKY NGUYEN (HANDS ON SPA) handsonspaashevillenc.com n 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-255-4540
w 416 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-251-6040
3 THISTLE AND PEARL TATTOO thistleandpearltattoo.com
n 107 Merrimon Ave., Suite 310, Asheville 828-424-7880
TATTOO ARTIST
1 MARTINA ZAGO (GIRL & GOBLIN) girlandgoblin.com w 610 Haywood Road, Asheville
2 RIVER DAWN (SPIRIT ALCHEMY) spiritalchemytattoo.com n Beaver Lake Office Plaza, 959 Merrimon Ave., Suite 5, Asheville
3 KRIS ROBERTS (GREENHOUSE) avl.mx/dzv n 15 Zillicoa St., Asheville 828-606-9873
PIERCING STUDIO
1 BELLA FINE JEWELRY AND PIERCING x bellapiercing.com d 51 Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-301-1711
2 DIAMOND THIEVES diamondthieves.net w 1060 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-225-3845
3 ZEN INK zeninkasheville.com r 352 Depot St., Suite 110, Asheville 828-505-4456
LOCAL BODYPRODUCTS MAKER
1 CARA MAE SKIN CARE caramaeskincare.com o Asheville • 828-280-5659
HALL OF FAME ICON
DIAMOND THIEVES
BICYCLES
PERHAPS you’re a seasoned local — or one of the more than 6,700 newcomers who the Census Bureau estimates have moved to our eight-county corner of Western North Carolina between 2022 and 2023. Whatever your situation, you’re bound to find the collective wisdom shared by the Best of WNC voters in our Professional & Home Services section well worth a look. From all things home-related — from buying or building one to painting or cleaning one — to other essential services such as
car care, computer repair and accounting work, this section contains a wealth of information about the best people for the job at hand. Now that is something to celebrate!
Be sure to take special note of our Hall of Famers, those winners who’ve captured voters’ loyalty for four years or more in a row — along with another esteemed group, those who have taken top honors for a decade or more. In the latter category, fist bumps go to Henco Reprographics (Print Shop); Austin CPA, PC (Accountant/
CPA Firm); Xpertech Car Care (Car Repair); Charlotte Street Computers (Computer Repair); The Matt & Molly Team from Keller Williams Realty (Real Estate Agent); Liberty Bicycles (Bike Repair); MB Haynes Electrical (Electrical/Electrician Company); Gentry Service Group (Heating/ Cooling Company); Terminix (Pest Control Service); Two Men and a Truck (Moving Company) and Swannanoa Cleaners (Dry Cleaner).
— Tracy Rose X
1 AUSTIN CPA, PC x austincpapc.com d 301 W. Haywood St., Asheville 828-785-1556
2 ACCOUNTING SPECIALISTS OF ASHEVILLE acctspecialists.com n 394 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-774-5455
3 LEGGAT TAX AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE avl.mx/dxw w 9 Brevard Road, Asheville 828-254-7680 PLACE TO HAVE YOUR TAXES PREPARED
1 AUSTIN CPA, PC x austincpapc.com d 301 W. Haywood St., Asheville 828-785-1556
2 H&R BLOCK hrblock.com w 891 Patton Ave., Suite H, Asheville 828-232-6757 d 204 Executive Park, Asheville 828-254-0321
3 AVL TAX PROFESSIONALS avltaxpros.com s 856 Sweeten Creek Road, Suite C, Asheville 828-277-4177
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA
M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY FRANCES O’CONNOR
(NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO.)
kevinpasarilla.nm.com
n 138 Charlotte St., Suite 200, Asheville 828-253-0712
2 CHRISTINA SIMPSON (OPPENHEIMER & CO.)
avl.mx/wordcap4
s 10 Brook St., Suite 290, Asheville 828-251-7923
LAW FIRM
1 GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER, PA x grcclaw.com
d 77 Central Ave., Suite H, Asheville 828-258-0150
s Biltmore Park Town Square, 2 Town Square Blvd., Suite 350, Asheville 828-258-0150
na 68 N. Main St., Weaverville 828-258-0150
2 MCGUIRE WOOD & BISSETTE LAW FIRM mwblawyers.com
d 48 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-254-8800
3 THE VAN WINKLE LAW FIRM vwlawfirm.com
1 KATHERINE VAN MARTER (VAN MARTER LAW) vanmarterlaw.com
r 183 Bartlett St., Suite 110, Asheville 828-417-3251
2 GEORGE F. “GREG” GOOSMANN (GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER, P.A.) grcclaw.com
d 77 Central Ave., Suite H, Asheville 828-258-0150
d 11 N. Market St., Asheville 828-484-1037 REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY
s Biltmore Park Town Square, 2 Town Square Blvd., Suite 350, Asheville 828-258-0150
3 VERONICA H. COLVARD (GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER, P.A) grcclaw.com n 77 Central Ave., Suite H, Asheville 828-258-0150
REAL ESTATE COMPANY
1 KELLER WILLIAMS PROFESSIONALS kellerwilliamsasheville.com
d 86 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-254-7253
2 MOSAIC COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE REALTY
mymosaicrealty.com
d 60 Biltmore Ave., Suite 210, Asheville 828-202-9821
3 NEST REALTY ASHEVILLE nestrealty.com/asheville n 339 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-318-8313
REAL ESTATE AGENT
1 THE MATT & MOLLY TEAM (KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY) x themattandmollyteam.com
d 86 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-210-1697
2 SONA MERLIN (APPALACHIAN REALTY ASSOCIATES) appalachianrealty.com
n 23 Arlington St., Asheville 828-255-7530
INSURANCE AGENT
1 CHAD MCKINNEY (MCKINNEY INSURANCE) mckinneyagency.com
s 5 Allen Ave., Asheville 828-684-5020
2 REBECCA SANDOVAL (STATE FARM INSURANCE) avl.mx/dyu n 6 Colonial Place, Asheville 828-252-8222
PRINT SHOP
1 HENCO REPROGRAPHICS x hencorepro.com
d 54 Broadway, Asheville 828-253-0449
n 1445 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-552-3671
2 PRINTVILLE printville.net
d Grove Arcade, 9 O. Henry Ave., Suite 116, Asheville 828-225-3777
s 224 Old Airport Road, Fletcher 828-348-5126
3 828 PRINTING & GRAPHICS 828printingandgraphics.com o Asheville • 828-216-0955
CELLPHONE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE WNC MOUNTAINS
1 VERIZON x verizon.com e 242 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-573-1403 e Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Suite B-01, Asheville 828-299-8889 w 159 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville 828-668-5811
2 T-MOBILE t-mobile.com w 771 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-281-3229 e 129 Bleachery Blvd., Suite T, Asheville 828-296-0417
3 AT&T att.com
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 17, Asheville 828-298-1833 COMPUTER REPAIR 1 CHARLOTTE
Charlotte St., Asheville 828-225-6600
2 ONECLICKFIX COMPUTER REPAIR oneclickfix.com n 438 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-318-8558
3 CHRISTOPHER’S COMPUTERS christopherscomputers.com n 549 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-670-9800
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
CAR REPAIR
1 XPERTECH CAR CARE x xpertechcarcare.com e 1295 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-3612
2 MOSTLY IMPORT AUTO REPAIR autorepairasheville.com d 253 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-253-4981
3 MIKE BYER AUTO & TRUCK REPAIR mikebyerauto.com s 1274 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-258-0548
PLACE TO GET YOUR OIL CHANGED
1 VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE vioc.com s 1276 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-274-3085
n 663 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-251-2666 s 1254 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-277-7976
2 XPERTECH CAR CARE xpertechcarcare.com e 1295 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-3612
3 TAKE 5 OIL CHANGE take5.com w 285 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville 828-761-0906
BIKE REPAIR
1 LIBERTY BICYCLES x libertybikes.com s 1378 Hendersonville Road, Suite G, Asheville 828-274-2453
2 FIND YOUR LINE BICYCLE SHOP findyourline.bike w 359 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-585-7289
3 EPIC CYCLES epiccyclesnc.com ea 102 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain 828-669-5969
GREEN BUILDER
1 JAG CONSTRUCTION jaggreen.com
e 33 Mineral Springs Road, Asheville 828-252-4205
PLUMBING COMPANY
1 T.P. HOWARD’S PLUMBING CO. x tphowardsplumbing.com ea 90 Number 9 Road, Fairview 828-628-1369
2 FOUR SEASONS PLUMBING callfourseasons.com s 30 Bella Way, Asheville 828-490-7905
2 MB HAYNES PLUMBING mbhaynes.com w 187 Deaverview Road, Asheville 828-254-6141
1 MB HAYNES ELECTRICAL x mbhaynes.com w 187 Deaverview Road, Asheville 828-254-6141
2 POWER TO THE PEOPLE avlp2p.com M Asheville • 828-551-9843
HEATING/COOLING COMPANY
1 GENTRY SERVICE GROUP x gentryservice.com
ea 100 Buckeye Access Road, Swannanoa 828-581-4045
2 MB HAYNES HEATING & COOLING mbhaynes.com w 187 Deaverview Road, Asheville 828-254-6141
3 HORIZON HEAT & AIR horizonheatac.com sa 1581 N. Allen Road, Hendersonville 828-882-2098
PEST CONTROL SERVICE
1 TERMINIX x trustterminix.com
e 232 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 828-253-3816
w 396 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-820-8659
sa 77 McCall St., Flat Rock 828-786-4878
2 DODSON PEST CONTROL dodsonbros.com wa 1739 Smokey Park Highway, Candler 844-501-5088
3 GIBSON PEST CONTROL gibsonpest.com s 20 Rosscraggon Road, Asheville 888-680-8451
MOVING COMPANY
1 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK x twomenandatruckasheville.com sa 240 Rutledge Road, Fletcher 828-355-6058
2 COLLEGE HUNKS HAULING JUNK & MOVING ASHEVILLE collegehunkshaulingjunk.com
sa 6 Celtic Drive, Unit B1, Arden 828-439-0728
CONSTRUCTION FIRM (DESIGN AND/OR BUILD)
1 MODERN MOUNTAIN BUILDERS modernmountainbuilders.com
r 109 Roberts St., Suite 5D, Asheville 828-484-6213
HOUSE PAINTERS
3 ALL ABOUT PLUMBING & SEPTIC allaboutplumbingnc.com sa 5521 Old Haywood Road, Suite 1, Mills River 828-232-8156 ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICIAN
1 BIONIC MAN PAINTING CO. x bionicmanpainting.com w 57 Salola St., Asheville 828-215-7772
ROOFING COMPANY
1 JOHN MCCLUNG ROOFING johnmcclungroofing.com M Asheville • 828-582-4165
2 BALKEN ROOFING balkenroofing.com ea 101 W. Buckeye Road, Swannanoa 828-628-0390
FLOORING, CARPET OR TILE COMPANY
1 WRIGHT’S CARPET & FLOORING wrightscarpet.com ea 1800 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa 828-414-2792
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SALES AND INSTALLATION
1 SUGAR HOLLOW SOLAR sugarhollowsolar.com e 2 Miller Road, E., Asheville 828-776-9161
HANDYPERSON
1 BEN WEAVER (LEAVE IT TO WEAVER) x leaveittoweaver.net M Weaverville • 828-301-4725
1 AMERICAN EAGLE HOME INSPECTIONS americaneaglehomeinspection.com M Asheville • 828-589-0252
HOME CLEANING SERVICE
1 GREEN HOME CLEANING x greenhomecleaning.com M Asheville • 828-505-7320 JUNK REMOVAL SERVICE
1 COLLEGE HUNKS HAULING JUNK & MOVING ASHEVILLE collegehunkshaulingjunk.com sa 6 Celtic Drive, Unit B1, Arden 828-439-0728
2 JUNK RECYCLERS junkrecyclers.net
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
K I D S
ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL
Best Art Education Program; best School (Precollege)
LIKE kids themselves, a number of winners in this year’s Kids section have jumped around on their way to the top.
Take the hotly contested Preschool category, which sees Rainbow Community School (2022’s winner) recapturing the crown from last year’s champion, Odyssey Community School.
Then there’s Asheville Community Movement (2022’s gold medalist), which retakes top honors for Gymnastics Program from last year’s winner, The Little Gym of Asheville.
Likewise, the N.C. Arboretum snatched Kid-Friendly Hike laurels from Catawba Falls (winner in the previous two years). But since Catawba Falls’ trails reopened in May after a two-year closure for multiple improvements, the category may be up for grabs again next year.
We also applaud our Hall of Famers, those who have clinched their titles for four years or more in a row — along with another elite bunch, those who have reigned supreme for a decade or more. A high five to
Dancing Bear Toys for Toy Store (14 years), WNC Nature Center for Daytrip for Kids (12 years), Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts for Martial Arts Program (12 years) and Parents Night Out Program (10 years), and ABC Pediatrics of Asheville for Pediatric Practice–General Medicine (12 years).
And let’s put our hands together for the newest addition to the Hall of Fame, Launch Trampoline Park (Place for Birthday Parties).
— Tracy Rose X
SCHOOL (PRECOLLEGE)
1 ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL artspacecharter.org ea 2030 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-298-2787
2 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL rainbowcommunityschool.org w 574 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-9264
3 ODYSSEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL odysseycommunity.org w 90 Zillicoa St., Asheville 828-259-3653
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS x martialartsasheville.com e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
2 Y AFTERSCHOOL IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (YMCA OF WNC) ymcawnc.org/childcare n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-251-5910
3 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL rainbowcommunityschool.org w 574 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-9264
PRESCHOOL
1 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL rainbowcommunityschool.org w 574 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-9264
2 ODYSSEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL odysseycommunity.org w 90 Zillicoa St., Asheville 828-259-3653
3 SHALOM CHILDREN’S CENTER (ASHEVILLE JCC) jcc-asheville.org n 236 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-253-0701
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS martialartsasheville.com
e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
2 SHALOM CHILDREN’S CENTER (ASHEVILLE JCC) jcc-asheville.org
n 236 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-253-0701
3 VERNER CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING vernerearlylearning.org
e 2586 Riceville Road, Asheville 828-298-0808
ART EDUCATION PROGRAM
1 ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL x artspacecharter.org
ea 2030 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-298-2787
2 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL rainbowcommunityschool.org w 574 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-9264
MUSIC TEACHER
1 MEG NOVAK (ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL) artspacecharter.org
ea 2030 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-298-2787
2 LAURA BLACKLEY (RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL) rainbowcommunityschool.org
w 574 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-258-9264
3 RIVER GUERGUERIAN guerguerian.com n Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St., Asheville 828-301-6605
DAYTRIP FOR KIDS
1 WNC NATURE CENTER x wildwnc.org e 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville 828-259-8080
KID-FRIENDLY HIKE
THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org
s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492
2 BEARWALLOW MOUNTAIN avl.mx/e03 sa 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Road, Hendersonville
2 CRAGGY PINNACLE TRAIL (CRAGGY GARDENS) avl.mx/bwy
ea Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 364.4-367.6, Black Mountain 828-775-0976
OVERNIGHT CAMP
1 CAMP CEDAR CLIFF x campcedarcliff.org
e 5 Porters Cove Road, Asheville 828-450-3331
2 YMCA CAMP WATIA ymcacampwatia.org wa 5030 Watia Road, Bryson City 828-209-9600
DAY CAMP
1 CAMP CEDAR CLIFF campcedarcliff.org
e 5 Porters Cove Road, Asheville 828-450-3331
2 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS martialartsasheville.com
e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
3 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT ashevillecommunitymovement.com
n 812 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-254-6060
PLACE FOR INDOOR FUN
1 LAUNCH TRAMPOLINE PARK launchtrampolinepark.com
sa 24 Walden Drive, Arden 828-651-0280
2 MOUNTAIN PLAY LODGE mountainplaylodge.com
sa 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-676-2120
3 ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE (AMOS)
ashevillescience.org
d 43 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-254-7162
BEST OF KIDS
1 WNC NATURE CENTER x wildwnc.org
e 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville 828-259-8080
2 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org
s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492
3 CARRIER PARK
avl.mx/dvm
w 220 Amboy Road, Asheville 828-259-5800 PLAYGROUND
1 CARRIER PARK avl.mx/dvm
w 220 Amboy Road, Asheville 828-259-5800
2 LAKE LOUISE PARK avl.mx/e0a
na Lake Louise Drive, Weaverville 828-645-7116
3 THE PARK AT FLAT ROCK flatrockparkfoundation.org
sa 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock 828-697-8100
THANK YOU FOR VOTING
RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Best Preschool; second place Art Education Program; second place School (Precollege); third place After-school Program
MUSEUM
1 ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE (AMOS) ashevillescience.org
d 43 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-254-7162
2 ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM ashevilleart.org
d 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville 828-253-3227
3 HANDS ON! CHILDREN’S MUSEUM handsonwnc.org
sa 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-697-8333
PLACE FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES
1 LAUNCH TRAMPOLINE PARK x launchtrampolinepark.com
sa 24 Walden Drive, Arden 828-651-0280
2 MOUNTAIN PLAY LODGE mountainplaylodge.com
sa 3389 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden 828-676-2120
3 CHUCK E CHEESE chuckecheese.com e River Hills Shopping Center, 104 River Hills Road, Asheville 828-299-3750
PARENTS NIGHT OUT PROGRAM
1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS x martialartsasheville.com e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
2 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT ashevillecommunitymovement.com n 812 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-254-6060
3 YMCA OF WNC ymcawnc.org/programs n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-3990
DANCE STUDIO
1 CENTER STAGE DANCE STUDIO x centerstageavl.com s 38L Rosscraggon Road, Asheville 828-654-7010
2 ASHEVILLE DANCE THEATER ashevilledancetheater.com e 802 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-298-0258
3 BALLET CONSERVATORY OF ASHEVILLE balletconservatoryofasheville.wordpress.com n 6 E. Chestnut St., Asheville 828-255-5777
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT ashevillecommunitymovement.com
n 812 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-254-6060
2 THE LITTLE GYM OF ASHEVILLE tlgashevillenc.com
s 10 Crispin Court, Suite 104, Asheville 828-747-2239
3 HAHN’S GYMNASTICS hahnsgymnastics.com
sa 18 Legend Drive, Arden 828-684-8832
MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM
1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS x martialartsasheville.com
e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
2 DRAGON PHOENIX dragonphoenix.org
n 51 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 109, Asheville 828-423-2868
TEAM-SPORTS PROGRAM
1 ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION (ABYSA) x abysa.org
e 593 Azalea Road E., Asheville 828-299-7277
2 HIGHLANDS FOOTBALL CLUB (HFC) abysa.org
e 593 Azalea Road E., Asheville 828-299-7277
KIDS CLOTHES
1 THE LITTLEST BIRDS x thelittlestbirds.com
e Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Suite G-08, Asheville 828-253-4747
2 WEE TRADE weetradecarolinas.com
sa Davis Event Center, 761 Boylston Highway, Fletcher
3 ONCE UPON A CHILD onceuponachild.com
e 104 River Hills Road, Unit D&E, Asheville 828-707-8097
1 DANCING BEAR TOYS x dancingbeartoys.com
e 518 Kenilworth Road, Asheville 828-255-8697
2 O.P. TAYLOR’S optaylors.com
sa 16 S. Broad St., Brevard
828-883-2309
sa 418 N. Main St., Hendersonville
828-384-4958
2 SPARKY’S TOYS & GIFTS
sparkystoyshop.com
w 726 Haywood Road, Asheville
828-505-2711
3 SASSAFRAS ON SUTTON sassafrasonsutton.com
ea 108 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain 828-419-0677
3 THE LITTLEST BIRDS thelittlestbirds.com
e Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Road, Suite G-08, Asheville 828-253-4747
BAKERY FOR BIRTHDAY CAKES
1 PUBLIX SUPER MARKET
publix.com
s 1830 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-6287
na 165 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville 828-658-1020
sa 635 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville 828-694-4440
2 SHORT STREET CAKES shortstreetcakes.com
w 225 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-4822
3 MCFARLAN BAKERY mcfarlanbakery.com
sa 309 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-693-4256
ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT
PEDIATRIC PRACTICEGENERAL MEDICINE
1 ABC PEDIATRICS OF ASHEVILLE x abcasheville.com
s 64 Peachtree Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-277-3000
2 FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS frenchbroadpeds.com n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 117, Asheville 828-348-8232
3 MOUNTAIN AREA PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES, PA mountainareapeds.com e 500 Centrepark Drive, Asheville 828-254-4337
PEDIATRIC PRACTICE - DENTISTRY
1 GREAT SMILES PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS greatsmiles.com
s 10B Yorkshire St., Asheville 828-274-9220
n 94 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 102, Asheville 828-274-9220
ea 50 Bowman Drive, Waynesville 828-274-9220
2 ASHEVILLE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY ashevillepediatricdentistry.com
s 70 Peachtree Road, Suite 130, Asheville 828-277-6788
3 DR. DENNIS R. CAMPBELL babytoothdoc.com
s 430 McDowell St., Asheville 828-417-3828
ORTHODONTIST
1 TIMOTHY SCANLAN (TS ORTHODONTICS) tsorthodontics.com
s 76 Peachtree Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-270-7638
2 KEITH BLACK (BLACK ORTHODONTICS) kblacksmiles.com
s 5 Yorkshire St., Suite A, Asheville 828-532-5922
3 JEFFREY ROEDER (ROEDER ORTHODONTICS) roederorthodontics.com
s 22 Medical Park Drive, Asheville 828-274-2500
PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST
WESTERN North Carolina pretty much started health-driven tourism with the country’s first sanatorium in 1875 (or 1871, depending on your sources). The mountain air was just what the doctor ordered — and still does.
We’ve been celebrating good health ever since.
In fact, we’ve absolutely run with it, spawning wellness businesses that tend to everything from aches and pains (massage) to what we eat (health-food stores) to peace (yoga).
And they do it well (pardon the pun). There are six diverse businesses that have notched at least 10 years of “best-ness.” In fact, you’ll notice that some of the best local practitioners have us covered from birth to death, spanning Asheville Women’s Medical Center to Groce Funeral Home, both taking up residence on the best-est lists. In between, there is Asheville Community Yoga, voted the best spot for yoga for 14 years running, and the YMCA as the best gym or
place to work out, also for 14 years running, and many others.
Be sure to check out the inaugural winners in our new categories for the section this year: Emergency Room, Membership Health Care Provider and Nutritionist.
And let’s give a warm round of applause for the newest entrants into the Hall of Fame: AdventHealth Hendersonville (Hospital) and Sona Pharmacy + Clinic (Pharmacy/Drugstore).
— Lisa Allen X
1 RUSTAN ADCOCK (THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS) fhconline.com d 206 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-8681
2 JASON F. GOLDIE (THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS) fhconline.com d 206 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-8681
2 MARK LENDERMAN (THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS) fhconline.com d 206 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-8681
3 EMILY DIZNOFF (OUR FAMILY DOCTOR) ourfamilydoctorasheville.com s 43 Oakland Road, Asheville 828-252-2511 PEDIATRICIAN
1 LAUREN KEELY CARLISLE (FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS) x frenchbroadpeds.com n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 117, Asheville 828-348-8232
2 JOHN D. TEMPLETON (FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS) frenchbroadpeds.com n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 117, Asheville 828-348-8232
3 JOHN S. PASCHALL (ABC PEDIATRICS) abcasheville.com s 64 Peachtree Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-277-3000
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS
fhconline.com
d 206 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-8681
wa 1219 Smokey Park Highway, Candler 828-258-8681
sa 2161 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-258-8681
2 MOUNTAIN AREA
HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (MAHEC)
mahec.net
s 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-257-4400
n 218 Elkwood Ave., Asheville 828-257-4747
3 OUR FAMILY DOCTOR
ourfamilydoctorasheville.com
d 43 Oakland Road, Asheville 828-252-2511
MEMBERSHIP HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
1 LANTERN HEALTH
lanterndpc.com
d 84 Coxe Ave., Suite 240, Asheville
828-552-5757
s 11 Crispin Court, Suite E106, Asheville 828-348-6917
NUTRITIONIST
1 ERIN HEATH (NUTRITIOUS THOUGHTS)
nutritious-thoughts.com
sa 1612 Asheville Highway, Suite 1, Hendersonville 828-333-0096
2 LEIGH HIERONYMI (NO BULLSHIT FIT) nobullshitfit.com o Asheville • 828-276-2353
WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER
1 ASHEVILLE WOMEN’S MEDICAL CENTER x ashevillewomens.com
d 143 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-9191
sa 310 Long Shoals Road, Suite 202, Arden 828-687-2955
2 LAUREL OB/GYN laurelobgyn.com
s 41 Oakland Road, Suite 200, Asheville 828-253-5381
3 MAHEC OB/GYN SPECIALISTS mahec.net
s 119 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-771-5500
MATERNITY CARE/SERVICE
1 ASHEVILLE WOMEN’S MEDICAL CENTER ashevillewomens.com
d 143 Asheland Ave., Asheville 828-258-9191
sa 310 Long Shoals Road, Suite 202, Arden 828-687-2955
2 MAHEC OB/GYN SPECIALISTS mahec.net
s 119 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-771-5500
3 LAUREL OB/GYN laurelobgyn.com
s 41 Oakland Road, Suite 200, Asheville 828-253-5381
HOSPITAL
1 ADVENTHEALTH HENDERSONVILLE x adventhealth.com
sa 100 Hospital Drive, Hendersonville 855-774-5433
2 PARDEE HOSPITAL pardeehospital.org
sa 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville 828-696-1000
3 MISSION HOSPITAL (HCA) missionhealth.org
s 509 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-213-1111
EMERGENCY ROOM
1 ADVENTHEALTH HENDERSONVILLE
adventhealth.com
sa 100 Hospital Drive, Hendersonville 855-774-5433
2 PARDEE HOSPITAL
pardeehospital.org
sa 800 N. Justice St., Hendersonville 828-696-1000
3 MISSION HOSPITAL (HCA)
missionhealth.org
n 828-255-8447
3 ZOE DENTAL zoedental.com
s 509 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-213-1111
URGENT CARE/ WALK-IN CLINIC
1 MERCY URGENT CARE
mercyurgentcare.org
w 1201 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-252-4878
e 1272 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-210-8325
s 1833 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-1462
2 NOVANT HEALTH-GOHEALTH URGENT CARE
gohealthuc.com
n 674 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-348-7418
w 349 New Leicester Highway, Asheville 828-463-3238
3 PARDEE URGENT CARE
pardeehospital.org
sa 2695 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-694-2350
PLACE TO GET MEDICAL CARE WHEN UNDEROR UNINSURED
1 WNC COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES (MINNIE JONES HEALTH CENTER) x wncchs.org
d 257 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-285-0622
2 MOUNTAIN AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (MAHEC) mahec.net
s 121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-257-4400
n 218 Elkwood Ave., Asheville 828-257-4747
THERAPIST OR COUNSELING CENTER
1 ALL SOULS COUNSELING CENTER allsoulscounseling.org
n 35 Arlington St., Asheville 828-259-3369
2 JAMES COLVIN MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST jamesccolvin.com
e 2524 Riceville Road, Asheville 828-424-7941
s 10-A Yorkshire St., Suite 110, Asheville 828-348-1275
DENTIST
1 MARK A. KNOLLMAN (KNOLLMAN DENTAL) x drknollman.com
e 600B Centrepark Drive, Asheville 828-254-5677
2 M. SCOTT PEELE (ASHEVILLE DENTAL WELLNESS) ashevilledentalwellness.com
sa 1825 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville 828-274-4747
3 TIM GILLESPIE (GILLESPIE DENTAL ASSOCIATES) drtimgillespie.com n 36 Orange St., Asheville 828-252-9351
EYE CARE SPECIALIST/ SERVICE
1 ASHEVILLE EYE ASSOCIATES x ashevilleeye.com s 8 Medical Park Drive, Asheville 828-623-0186 s 2001 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-623-0186 sa 2311 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville 828-623-0186
2 ENVISION EYECARE myenvisioneyecare.com n 181 Charlotte St., Asheville 828-254-6757
3 TUNNEL VISION tunnelvisionasheville.com e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-298-6500
CHIROPRACTOR
1 DAN MARTIN (RADIUS CHIROPRACTIC) x radiuschiropractic.com e 1011 Tunnel Road, Suite 110, Asheville 828-333-4447
2 DEREK KASTEN (ONE LOVE CHIROPRACTIC) onelovechiropractic.com n 959 Merrimon Ave., Suite 201, Asheville 828-505-1584
3 J. ANYA HARRIS (CRYSTALIGN CHIROPRACTIC) crystalignchiro.com d 218 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-552-3111
Thank You Asheville
LIZ ROSEMAN (SUSTAINABLE HEALTH ACUPUNCTURE)
ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC
1 EAST ACUPUNCTURE WELLNESS BOUTIQUE eastacupuncturewb.com ea 2296 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-458-4139
2 ALCHEMY ASHEVILLE alchemyasheville.com n 62 Clayton St., Asheville 828-575-9419
3 SUSTAINABLE HEALTH ACUPUNCTURE acupuncture-in-asheville.com
n 36 Clayton St., Asheville 828-333-4614
ACUPUNCTURIST
1 LIZ ROSEMAN (SUSTAINABLE HEALTH ACUPUNCTURE) acupuncture-in-asheville.com n 36 Clayton St., Asheville 828-333-4614
2 ASHLEY KUPER (EAST ACUPUNCTURE WELLNESS BOUTIQUE) eastacupuncturewb.com ea 2296 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa 828-458-4139
3 LEX KEKLAK (LEX ACUPUNCTURE) lexacupuncture.com
s 25 Reed St., Suite 210, Asheville 828-575-8988
ASSISTED-LIVING COMMUNITY
1 GIVENS ESTATES x givensestates.org
s 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-274-4800
2 DEERFIELD EPISCOPAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY deerfieldwnc.org s 1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville 828-274-1531
3 GIVENS HIGHLAND FARMS givenshighlandfarms.org ea 200 Tabernacle Road, Black Mountain 828-669-6473
HOSPICE
1 FOUR SEASONS fourseasonscare.org
sa 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock 828-692-6178
2 CAREPARTNERS (MISSION HEALTH) avl.mx/bwv s 68 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-277-4800
3 JOHN F. KEEVER JR SOLACE CENTER (CAREPARTNERS) avl.mx/dxm
s 21 Belvedere Road, Asheville 828-210-3150
PHOTO BY FRANCES O’CONNOR
BEST OF HEALTH & WELLNESS
1 GROCE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE x grocefuneralhome.com
w 1401 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-252-3535
e 856 Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-299-4416
sa 72 Long Shoals Road, Arden 828-687-3530
2 ASHEVILLE AREA ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES
ashevilleareaalternative.com
n 702 Riverside Drive, Asheville 828-258-8274
3 ANDERS-RICE FUNERAL HOME andersrice.com
w 1428 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-254-3511
PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC
1 PHYSIO PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS
physiownc.com
n 660 Merrimon Ave., Suite C, Asheville 828-348-1780
w 1308 Patton Ave., Suite B, Asheville 828-348-1780
2 MOVEMENT FOR LIFE
PHYSICAL THERAPY
movementforlife.com
n 858 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-552-4217
s 20 Gala Drive, Suite G104, Asheville 828-484-4200
3 FYZICAL ASHEVILLE fyzical.com
e 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 440, Asheville 828-785-4700
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
1 GRACIE GARRETT (PHYSIO PHYSICAL THERAPY AND WELLNESS) physiownc.com
n 660 Merrimon Ave., Suite C, Asheville 828-348-1780
w 1308 Patton Ave., Suite B, Asheville 828-348-1780
2 DAN CARMACK (BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE)
breakthroughperformanceavl.com
d 752 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-407-0368
sa 12 Glenn Willow Drive, Suite 67, Arden 828-338-3974
3 CLARA STROUD (THE EVERYDAY ATHLETE)
theeverydayathletephysicaltherapy.com
d 150 Coxe Ave., Suite 102, Asheville 828-248-0566
3 CODY KENLY (THE PT CODE) avl.mx/dvr
w 70 Westside Drive, Asheville 240-812-2708
FRANNY’S FARMACY
Best Place to Buy CBD Products; best Locally Made CBD Treats, in Eats section; third place CBD Drinks/Health Elixirs, in Drinks section
FITNESS STUDIO WITH CLASSES
1 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
2 SCORCH FITNESS scorchfitavl.com r 408 Depot St., Suite 160, Asheville 828-575-9010
3 BEER CITY CROSSFIT beercitycrossfit.com w 70 Westside Drive, Asheville 828-275-8100
PHYSICAL TRAINER
1 GRIFFIN WHITE (MIND MUSCLE FITNESS) mindmusclefitness.com w 11 Ridgeway Ave., Asheville 310-487-7886
2 PRESTON JEFFERSON (ASHEVILLE FIT TRIBE) ashevillefittribe.com w Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road, Asheville 984-204-0591
3 ALEX LEMBECK (BEER CITY CROSSFIT) beercitycrossfit.com w 70 Westside Drive, Asheville 828-275-8100
MASSAGE THERAPIST
1 MICAH HAINES (URBAN EXHALE MASSAGE) urbanexhalemassage.com
d 68 N. Lexington Ave., Suite 207, Asheville 828-301-2113
2 CASSIE BUTLER (ASHEVILLE PERFORMANCE BODYWORK) sadhanamassage.org
s 25 Reed St., Suite 203A, Asheville 828-771-6261
3 SHELBY FRANKLIN avl.mx/cwx d Asheville • 904-624-4419
GYM OR PLACE TO WORK OUT
1 YMCA OF WNC x ymcawnc.org/programs n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-3990
d 30 Woodfin St., Asheville 818-210-9622
s 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville 828-651-9622
2 PLANET FITNESS planetfitness.com
w 153 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville 828-633-6492
sa 2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden 828-676-2116
3 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
YOGA STUDIO
1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA x ashevillecommunityyoga.org n 8 Brookdale Road, Asheville 828-255-5575
2 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
3 ASHEVILLE YOGA CENTER youryoga.com n 211 S. Liberty St., Asheville 828-254-0380
YOGA TEACHER
1 HEATHER NEWMAN (HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE) hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
2 MICHAEL GREENFIELD (ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA) ashevillecommunityyoga.com
n 8 Brookdale Road, Asheville 828-255-5575
3 BRITTANY KLACH (HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE) hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO
1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS x martialartsasheville.com
e 800 Fairview Road, Suite D2, Asheville 828-505-4309
2 DRAGON PHOENIX dragonphoenix.org
n 51 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 109, Asheville 828-423-2868
PHARMACY/DRUGSTORE
1 SONA PHARMACY + CLINIC x sonapharmacy.com
e 805 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-298-3636
2 CVS PHARMACY cvs.com
n 612 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-253-4350
w Westgate Shopping Center, 24 Westgate Parkway, Asheville 828-253-2872
HEALTH & WELLNESSFOCUSED NONPROFIT
1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA ashevillecommunityyoga.org
n 8 Brookdale Road, Asheville 828-255-5575
2 YMCA OF WNC ymcawnc.org/programs
n 40 N. Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-3990
d 30 Woodfin St., Asheville 818-210-9622
PLACE TO CENTER YOURSELF
1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA x ashevillecommunityyoga.org
n 8 Brookdale Road, Asheville 828-255-5575
2 URBAN EXHALE MASSAGE urbanexhalemassage.com
d 68 N. Lexington Ave., Suite 207, Asheville 828-301-2113
3 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE hotyogaasheville.com
e 802 Fairview Road, Suite 100, Asheville 828-299-7003
3 SAUNA HOUSE saunahouse.com
d 230 Short Coxe Ave., Asheville 828-505-6393
3 WALGREENS walgreens.com e 91 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville 828-232-4042
PLACE TO BUY SUPPLEMENTS, VITAMINS & HERBS
1 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP x frenchbroadfood.coop d 90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-255-7650
2 SONA PHARMACY + CLINIC sonapharmacy.com e 805 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-298-3636
3 EARTH FARE earthfare.com w 66 Westgate Parkway, Asheville 828-255-2999
PLACE TO BUY CBD PRODUCTS
1 FRANNY’S FARMACY x frannysfarmacy.com n 211 Merrimon Ave., Asheville 828-505-7105 sa 128 Henderson Crossing Plaza, Hendersonville 828-697-7300
2 APOTHECA apotheca.org d 85 Patton Ave., Asheville 980-759-3534 w 1078 Patton Ave., Asheville 980-759-3534
3 ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY avldispensary.com w 919 Haywood Road, Suite 111, Asheville 828-335-2696
PHOTO BY FRANCES O’CONNOR
A S H E V I L L E U N I Q U E L Y
FLEETWOOD’S ROCK-N-ROLL WEDDING CHAPEL
Best Place to Get Married; third place Intimate Music Venue/Listening Room, in Arts & Entertainment section; third place Bar for Live Music, in Drinks section
MY, oh my, how you’ve changed in 30 years, Asheville. What once was a sleepy little mountain town in the early ’90s (when Xpress first launched) now draws millions visitors from around the country and beyond — reaching 12.5 million in 2021 alone.
Coupled with that growth has been a veritable explosion in the area’s hotel sector, with hotel rooms nearly doubling from 4,874 in 1992 to 9,034 in 2022, according to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority.
While out-of-towners help support the restaurants, art galleries,
boutiques and music venues that residents love, many Ashevilleans seem to have a love-hate relationship with the tourism industry.
This year, voters said the Biggest Threat to Asheville’s Uniqueness lies in becoming strictly a tourist town. And short-term rentals and tourists, as a pair, snagged third place in the category. According to voters, the Worst Thing to Happen to Asheville in The Last 12 Months was … you guessed it, more hotels. Meanwhile, affordable housing was named the No. 1 need for every part of the city (and a new Hall of Famer for West Asheville).
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Asheville-based nonprofit BeLoved Asheville again earned Hall of Fame honors as Nonprofit That Improves Asheville and Nonprofit That Serves the Underprivileged. “Keep Asheville Weird” also snagged Bumper Sticker or Slogan accolades for the 14th consecutive year. And let’s whoop it up for new Hall of Famers Kim Roney (Local Politician), West Asheville (Neighborhood), Biltmore Estate (Place to Pretend You’re a Tourist) and Highland Brewing Co.’s Event Center (Venue to Book a Party or Event).
— Brooke Randle X
1 BILTMORE ESTATE x biltmore.com s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812 2 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492 3 LAZOOM lazoomtours.com d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932
CITY TOUR
LAZOOM: HEY ASHEVILLE! CITY COMEDY TOUR x lazoomtours.com d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932 2 GHOSTED: HAUNTED COMEDY TOUR (LAZOOM) lazoomtours.com d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932 3 GRAY LINE TROLLEY TOURS graylineasheville.com n 36 Montford Ave., Asheville 828-251-8687
n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA M OBILE-ONLY o NLINE-ONLY x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
1 THE ODD x theoddasheville.com w 1045 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-575-9299
2 RIVER ARTS DISTRICT (THE RAD) riverartsdistrict.com r Asheville
3 DRUM CIRCLE AT PRITCHARD PARK avl.mx/a3n
d 67 Patton Ave., Asheville
PLACE TO PRETEND YOU’RE A TOURIST
1 BILTMORE ESTATE x biltmore.com
s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812
2 ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN
3 LAZOOM lazoomtours.com
d 76 Biltmore Ave., Asheville 828-225-6932
PLACE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE WITHIN ASHEVILLE CITY LIMITS
1 BOTANICAL GARDENS x ashevillebotanicalgardens.org
n 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville 828-252-5190
2 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM ncarboretum.org
s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492
3 WNC NATURE CENTER wildwnc.org
e 75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville 828-259-8080
HISTORIC/ INTERESTING BUILDING
1 BILTMORE HOUSE x biltmore.com
s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812
2 GROVE ARCADE grovearcade.com
d 1 Page Ave., Asheville 828-252-7799
3 OMNI GROVE PARK INN avl.mx/3te
n 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800
VENUE TO BOOK FOR A PARTY OR EVENT
1 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. EVENT CENTER x highlandbrewing.com e 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-299-3370
PLACE TO GET MARRIED
1 FLEETWOOD’S ROCK-N-ROLL WEDDING CHAPEL fleetwoodschapel.com w 496 Haywood Road, Asheville 828-505-5525
2 BILTMORE ESTATE biltmore.com
s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812
3 HAIKU I DO haikuido.com
s 26 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville 828-412-3939
HOTEL
1 OMNI GROVE PARK INN x avl.mx/3te n 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800
2 THE RADICAL theradicalavl.com
r 95 Roberts St., Asheville 828-412-0200
3 THE RESTORATION therestorationhotel.com
d 68 Patton Ave., Asheville 828-220-0368
Wow! We are so grateful for this surprise win; we’ve been working hard since our celebration started in Scandals parking lot decades ago to take our festival to the next level year after year, and you noticed!
We’re proud to celebrate our local, diverse queer and allied community each year. blueridgepride.org
BEST OF UNIQUELY ASHEVILLE
B&B OR SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTEL
1 ZELDA DEAREST zeldadearest.com
d 150 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville 828-514-2489
HOLIDAY EVENTWINTER/SPRING
1 WINTER LIGHTS AT THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM x ncarboretum.org
s 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville 828-665-2492
2 NATIONAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION
avl.mx/a8y
n Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave., Asheville 800-438-5800
3 CHRISTMAS AT BILTMORE biltmore.com
s Biltmore Estate, 1 Lodge St., Asheville 800-411-3812
HOLIDAY EVENTSUMMER/FALL
1 BLUE RIDGE PRIDE FESTIVAL
avl.mx/e0d
d Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville 828-820-3993
2 SHINDIG ON THE GREEN
avl.mx/dz7
d Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville 828-258-6101
3 NC APPLE FESTIVAL ncapplefestival.org
sa 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-697-4557
LOCAL HERO
1 KIM RONEY kimroney4asheville.com
w 30 Westgate Parkway, Suite 341, Asheville 828-771-6265
LOCAL VILLAIN
1 CHAD NESBITT
avl.mx/dvo • Asheville 828-515-0445
2 ESTHER MANHEIMER avl.mx/cvb
d 70 Court Plaza, Asheville 828-259-5600
3 CHUCK EDWARDS edwards.house.gov sa Hendersonville • 828-435-7310
LOCAL POLITICIAN
1 KIM RONEY x kimroney4asheville.com
w 30 Westgate Parkway, Suite 341, Asheville 828-771-6265
WEST
ASHEVILLE
Best Neighborhood
NONPROFIT THAT IMPROVES ASHEVILLE
1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE x belovedasheville.com
e 32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-571-0766
2 MANNA FOODBANK mannafoodbank.org
e 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 828-299-3663
3 ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ashevillehabitat.org
s 33 Meadow Road, Asheville 828-251-5702
NONPROFIT THAT SERVES THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE x belovedasheville.com
e 32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-571-0766
2 MANNA FOODBANK mannafoodbank.org e 627 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville 828-299-3663
3 ABCCM (ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY) abccm.org w 20 Twentieth St., Asheville 828-259-5300
ACTIVIST GROUP FOR CIVIC/POLITICAL ACTION
1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE belovedasheville.com
e 32 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville 828-571-0766
LOCAL FUNDRAISING EVENT
1 DINING OUT FOR LIFE (WNCAP) avl.mx/dk8 s 554 Fairview Road, Asheville 828-252-7489
2 DINE TO BE KIND (ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY) avl.mx/prx5
w 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville 828-761-2001
2 KELLER WILLIAMS FASHION VICTIMS BALL avl.mx/dxp • Asheville
BUMPER STICKER OR SLOGAN ABOUT ASHEVILLE
1 KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD x
2 ASHEVILLE CAT WEIRDOS ashevillecatweirdos.org
3 ASHEVILLE: CESSPOOL OF SIN
THING DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE NEEDS
1 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
2 PUBLIC BATHROOMS
3 MORE POLICE OR POLICE PRESENCE
PHOTO BY CINDY KUNST
PHOTO BY CALEB JOHNSON
T O W N S S M A L L BREVARD
BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN
185 KING STREET
Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town; best Music/Entertainment Venue; third place Local Bar/Brewery/Watering Hole
I’VE seen it all in a small town
Had myself a ball in a small town.
— John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp may be from Indiana, but his classic paean to small-town life could easily be about Western North Carolina.
Take Hendersonville, which has hosted the N.C. Apple Festival each Labor Day weekend for more than seven decades, a celebration voted as best Cultural or Arts Event for the eighth straight year.
Or Brevard, where voters picked the White Squirrel Festival as the
top Cultural or Arts Event, also for the eighth straight year.
Beyond festivals, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the smalltown experience. Consider a stop at the best Breakfast Restaurant in the Waynesville/Maggie Valley/ Canton area (Beach Mountain Diner) or a midday meal at Lucy in the Rye (best Lunch Restaurant in Sylva or Cullowhee). You could visit the Carl Sandburg Home in Flat Rock (Local Place to Enjoy the Outdoors and Cultural or Historic Landmark) or enjoy some beer and music at Oklawaha Brewing
Co. in Hendersonville (Music/ Entertainment Venue, Local Bar/ Brewery/Watering Hole and Business that Bests Represents the Spirit of Your Town).
Be sure to welcome our new Hall of Famers: 185 King Street (Music/Entertainment Venue–Brevard); Arabella Breakfast & Brunch (Breakfast Restaurant–Hendersonville, Flat Rock & Mills River); and White Moon Cafe (Coffee & Sweets–Sylva & Cullowhee). And don’t forget to have yourself a ball.
— Justin McGuire X
1 185 KING STREET 185kingst.com 185 King St., Brevard 828-877-1850
2 THE HUB AND PISGAH TAVERN thehubpisgah.com 11 Mama’s Place, Pisgah Forest 828-884-8670
3 O.P. TAYLOR’S optaylors.com 16 S. Broad St., Brevard 828-883-2309
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
1 MORNING SOCIAL morningsocialbrevard.com 170 King St., Brevard 828-877-3773
2 THE SUNRISE CAFE thesunrisecafebrevard.com 273 N. Broad St., Brevard 828-884-3331
3 BREVARD DINER brevarddiner.com 42 Asheville Highway, Brevard 828-966-3552
LUNCH RESTAURANT
1 THE SQUARE ROOT squarerootrestaurant.com 33 Times Arcade Alley, Brevard 828-884-6171
2 THE SUNRISE CAFE thesunrisecafebrevard.com 273 N. Broad St., Brevard 828-884-3331
3 PESCADOS BURRITOS pescadosburrito.com 265 N. Broad St., Brevard 828-884-5559
DINNER RESTAURANT
1 THE SQUARE ROOT x squarerootrestaurant.com 33 Times Arcade Alley, Brevard 828-884-6171
2 THE FALLS LANDING EATERY thefallslanding.com 18 E. Main St., Brevard 828-884-2835
3 VESCOVO vescovobrevard.com 175 King St., Brevard 828-885-7630
PHOTO COURTESY OF 185 KING STREET
cupandsaucernc.com
36 E. Main St., Brevard 828-884-2877
2 BRACKEN MOUNTAIN BAKERY brackenmountainbakery.weebly.com 42 S. Broad St., Brevard 828-883-4034
3 THE VELVET CUP COFFEE TRUCK thevelvetcupcoffeetruck.com 11 Mama’s Place, Pisgah Forest 828-565-1252
LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/
WATERING
HOLE
1 OSKAR BLUES BREWERY oskarblues.com 342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard 828-883-2337
2 ECUSTA BREWING ecustabrewing.com 451 Ecusta Road, Brevard 828-966-2337
3 185 KING STREET 185kingst.com 185 King St., Brevard 828-877-1850
MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
1 185 KING STREET x 185kingst.com 185 King St., Brevard 828-877-1850
2 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER brevardmusic.org 349 Andante Lane, Brevard 828-862-2100
3 OSKAR BLUES BREWERY oskarblues.com 342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard 828-883-2337
RETAIL STORE
1 D.D. BULLWINKEL’S OUTDOORS x ddbullwinkels.com 60 E. Main St., Brevard 828-862-4700
2 O.P. TAYLOR’S optaylors.com 16 S. Broad St., Brevard 828-883-2309
2 THE HUB AND PISGAH TAVERN thehubpisgah.com 11 Mama’s Place, Pisgah Forest 828-884-8670
ART GALLERY
1 NUMBER 7 ARTS number7arts.org
2 W. Main St., Brevard 828-883-2294
2 LUCY CLARK GALLERY & STUDIO (BREVARD) lucyclarkgallery.com 51 W. Main St., Brevard 828-884-5151
3 RED WOLF GALLERY redwolfgallerync.com
8 E. Main St., Brevard 828-862-8620
CULTURAL OR ARTS
EVENT
1 WHITE SQUIRREL FESTIVAL x avl.mx/dwt
Downtown Brevard, Brevard 828-884-3278
2 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL brevardmusic.org • Brevard 828-862-2105
3 WHITE SQUIRREL ARTISANS MARKET avl.mx/dwu
Various Locations, Brevard
LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS
1 PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST x avl.mx/6aw Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest 828-257-4200
2 DUPONT STATE FOREST dupontstaterecreationalforest.com Staton Road, Cedar Mountain 828-713-2368
3 LOOKING GLASS FALLS avl.mx/wordcaop U.S. Highway 276, Brevard 828-877-3265
CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK
1 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER
brevardmusic.org 349 Andante Lane, Brevard 828-862-2100
2 SILVERMONT MANSION silvermont.org
364 E. Main St., Brevard 828-884-3166
LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT
1 SAFE, INC. OF TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY safetransylvania.org 515 N. Broad St., Suite 1, Brevard 828-885-7233
2 ECUSTA TRAIL (BETWEEN HENDERSONVILLE & BREVARD)
ecustatrail.org • Brevard 828-490-1854
BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
1 ECUSTA TRAIL (BETWEEN HENDERSONVILLE & BREVARD)
ecustatrail.org • Brevard 828-490-1854
2 IMPROVE DOWNTOWN STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Highland Brewing Thurs Aug 29, 5-9pm FREE
BEST OF SMALL TOWNS
MILLS RIVER FLAT ROCK & HENDERSONVILLE,
BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN
1 OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. oklawahabrewing.com 147 First Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-595-9956
2 MILLS RIVER BREWING CO. millsriverbrewingco.com 336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River 828-483-0480
3 MAST GENERAL STORE (HENDERSONVILLE) mastgeneralstore.com 527 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-696-1883
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
1 ARABELLA BREAKFAST & BRUNCH x arabellabreakfastandbrunch.com 536 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-595-2449
2 HENDOUGH CHICKEN & DONUTS hendough.com 532 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville 828-595-2885
3 POP’S DINER (HENDERSONVILLE)
avl.mx/dys 860 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-693-1035
LUNCH RESTAURANT
1 MOUNTAIN DELI mountaindelinc.com 343 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-693-0093
2 FLAT ROCK VILLAGE BAKERY avl.mx/dgk 2710 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-693-1313
3 THE ORIGINAL HANNAH FLANAGAN’S PUB AND EATERY theoriginalhannahflanagans.com 300 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-696-1665
DINNER RESTAURANT
1 SHINE shinehvl.com 202 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-692-0062
2 POSTERO postero-hvl.com 401 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-595-9676
3 WEST FIRST WOOD-FIRED westfirstwoodfired.com 101B 1st Ave. W., Hendersonville 828-693-1080
COFFEE & SWEETS
1 BLACK BEAR COFFEE CO. x blackbear.coffee 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-692-6333
2 MCFARLAN BAKERY mcfarlanbakery.com 309 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-693-4256
3 FLAT ROCK VILLAGE BAKERY
avl.mx/dgk 2710 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-693-1313
LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE
1 OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. oklawahabrewing.com 147 First Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-595-9956
2 MILLS RIVER BREWING CO. millsriverbrewingco.com 336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River 828-483-0480
3 BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER boldrock.com 72 School House Road, Mills River 828-595-9940
MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
1 OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. oklawahabrewing.com 147 First Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-595-9956
2 FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE flatrockplayhouse.org 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-693-0403
3 MILLS RIVER BREWING CO. millsriverbrewingco.com 336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River 828-483-0480
RETAIL STORE
1 MAST GENERAL STORE (HENDERSONVILLE) x mastgeneralstore.com 527 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-696-1883
ART GALLERY
1 ART MOB STUDIOS & MARKETPLACE artmobstudios.com 124 Fourth Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-693-4545
2 THE GALLERY AT FLAT ROCK galleryflatrock.com 2702A Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-698-7000
3 CONTINUUM ART COLLECTIVE continuumartnc.com 147 First Ave. E., Hendersonville 828-435-3300
CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT
1 NC APPLE FESTIVAL x ncapplefestival.org 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville 828-697-4557
2 ART ON MAIN acofhc.org Main Street, Hendersonville 828-693-8504
3 RHYTHM & BREWS avl.mx/9pu South Main St., Hendersonville 828-233-3216
2 DUPONT STATE FOREST dupontstaterecreationalforest.com Staton Road, Cedar Mountain 828-713-2368
3 THE PARK AT FLAT ROCK flatrockparkfoundation.org 55 Highland Golf Drive, Flat Rock 828-697-8100
CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK
1 CARL SANDBURG HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE x nps.gov/carl 1800 Little River Road, Flat Rock 828-693-4178
2 JUMP OFF ROCK (JUMPOFF) laurelpark.org/parks 4501 Laurel Park Highway, Laurel Park 828-693-4840
2 OLD HENDERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE hendersoncountymuseum.com 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville 828-694-1619
3 FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE flatrockplayhouse.org 2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock 828-693-0403
LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT
1 BLUE RIDGE HUMANE SOCIETY x blueridgehumane.org 88 Centipede Lane, Hendersonville 828-692-2639
2 SAFELIGHT safelightfamily.org 317 N. Washington St., Hendersonville 828-693-3840
3 HENDERSONVILLE PRIDE hendersonvillepride.org • Hendersonville
3 HOPE COALITION elementsofhope.org 101 S. Grove St., Hendersonville 828-388-7979
BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
1 ECUSTA TRAIL (BETWEEN HENDERSONVILLE & BREVARD) ecustatrail.org • Brevard 828-490-1854
2 ASTROSAUCE avl.mx/dv1
PHOTO COURTESY OF SHINE
BEST OF SMALL TOWNS
SYLVA & CULLOWHEE
INNOVATION BREWING
Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town; best Local Bar/Brewery/Watering Hole
BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN
1 INNOVATION BREWING innovation-brewing.com 414 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-9678
2 CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE citylightsnc.com
3 E. Jackson St., Sylva 828-586-9499
3 MAD BATTER KITCHEN madbatterkitchen.net
617 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-3555
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
1 LUCY IN THE RYE (SYLVA) lucyintherye.com 612 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-4601
2 CITY LIGHTS CAFÉ citylightscafe.com
3 E. Jackson St., Sylva 828-587-2233
3 THE COFFEE SHOPPE
avl.mx/dxl
385 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-2013
3 WHITE MOON CAFE whitemoonnc.com
545 Mill St., Sylva 828-331-0111
76 Railroad Ave., Sylva 828-586-2719
RETAIL STORE
1 CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE citylightsnc.com 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva 828-586-9499
2 SNAKE SONG avl.mx/dz4 610 W. Main St., Sylva 828-631-1802
CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT
1 GREENING UP THE MOUNTAINS greeningupthemountains.com West Main Street, Sylva 828-554-1035
2 MOUNTAIN HERITAGE DAY avl.mx/dy7 Western Carolina University, 1 University Way, Cullowhee 828-227-7211
OF
LUNCH RESTAURANT
1 MAD BATTER KITCHEN madbatterkitchen.net 617 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-3555
2 LULU’S ON MAIN lulusonmain.com 678 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-8989
3 LUCY IN THE RYE (SYLVA) lucyintherye.com 612 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-4601
DINNER RESTAURANT
1 DALAYA THAI CUISINE dalayathai.com 1084 W. Main St., Sylva 828-477-4945
2 LULU’S ON MAIN lulusonmain.com 678 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-8989
3 ILDA ildainsylva.com
462 W. Main St., Sylva 828-307-2036
COFFEE & SWEETS
1 WHITE MOON CAFE x whitemoonnc.com 545 Mill St., Sylva 828-331-0111
2 CITY LIGHTS CAFÉ citylightscafe.com
3 E. Jackson St., Sylva 828-587-2233
3 BAXLEY’S CHOCOLATES baxleyschocolates.com 546 W. Main St., Sylva 828-631-3379
LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE
1 INNOVATION BREWING x innovation-brewing.com 414 W. Main St., Sylva 828-586-9678
2 LAZY HIKER BREWING CO. lazyhikerbrewing.com 617 W. Main St., Sylva 828-349-2337
3 INNOVATION STATION innovation-brewing.com 40 Depot St., Dillsboro 828-226-0262
LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS
1 CULLOWHEE GREENWAY (JACKSON COUNTY GREENWAY, TUCKASEGEE GREENWAY) avl.mx/cv9 342 Old Cullowhee Road, Cullowhee 828-293-3053
2 PINNACLE PARK avl.mx/a99 2110 Fisher Creek Road, Sylva
3 BRIDGE PARK PROJECT avl.mx/e0c 76 Railroad Ave., Sylva 828-586-2719
CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK
1 JACKSON COUNTY HISTORIC COURTHOUSE / PUBLIC LIBRARY avl.mx/a8l 310 Keener St., Sylva 828-586-4055
2 JUDACULLA ROCK judacullarock.com 552 Judaculla Rock Road, Cullowhee 828-293-3053
LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT
1 CORNBREAD & ROSES COMMUNITY COUNSELING cbrcounseling.org 1294 Savannah Drive, Sylva 828-283-0235
1 SYLVA PRIDE sylvancpride.org • Sylva
PHOTO COURTESY
INNOVATION BREWING
WAYNESVILLE, MAGGIE VALLE
& CANTON
BEARWATERS BREWING CO.
BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN
1 MAST GENERAL STORE (WAYNESVILLE) mastgeneralstore.com
63 N. Main St., Waynesville
828-452-2101
2 BOOJUM BREWING CO. boojumbrewing.com
50 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-0350
3 BEARWATERS BREWING CO. bearwatersbrewing.com 339 Park St., Canton 828-492-0220
4352 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828-944-0009
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
1 BEACH MOUNTAIN DINER beachmountaindiner.com 429 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville 828-246-6800
1 JOEY’S PANCAKE HOUSE joeyspancake.com
4309 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828-926-0212
2 THE BUTTERED BISCUIT butteredbiscuitnc.com
1226 Dellwood Road, Waynesville 828-246-6446
sassafrasonmain.com 196 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-6222 ART GALLERY
1 TWIGS & LEAVES GALLERY twigsandleaves.com 98 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-456-1940
CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT
LUNCH RESTAURANT
1 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM x boojumbrewing.com 50 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-0350
2 J-RO’S BURGERS AND SUBS jrosburgers.com 384 Main St., Canton 828-492-0015
2 THE PATIO BISTRO patio-nc.com 26 Church St., Waynesville 828-454-0070
3 BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL blueroostersoutherngrill.com 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde 828-456-1997
DINNER RESTAURANT
1 THE SWEET ONION RESTAURANT sweetonionrestaurant.com 39 Miller St., Waynesville 828-456-5559
2 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM boojumbrewing.com 50 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-0350
3 SOUTHERN PORCH southern-porch.com 449 Main St., Canton 828-492-8006
COFFEE & SWEETS
1 ORCHARD COFFEE orchardcoffeeroasters.com 39 Depot St., Waynesville 828-246-9264
2 PAPERTOWN COFFEE papertown.coffee 119 Main St., Canton 828-492-0993
3 PANACEA COFFEE CO. panaceacoffee.com 66 Commerce St., Waynesville 828-452-6200
PHOTO COURTESY OF
LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE
1 BEARWATERS BREWING CO. bearwatersbrewing.com 339 Park St., Canton 828-492-0220
4352 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828-944-0009
2 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM boojumbrewing.com 50 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-0350
3 FROG LEVEL BREWING CO. froglevelbrewing.com 56 Commerce St., Waynesville 828-454-5664
MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
1 FROG LEVEL BREWING CO. froglevelbrewing.com 56 Commerce St., Waynesville 828-454-5664
2 HAYWOOD ARTS REGIONAL THEATRE (HART) harttheatre.org 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828-456-6322
2 THE GEM BAR AT BOOJUM BREWING boojumbrewing.com 50 N. Main St., Waynesville 828-246-0350
3 THE SCOTSMAN PUBLIC HOUSE scotsmanpublic.com 37 Church St., Waynesville 828-246-6292
1 FOLKMOOT USA x folkmoot.org 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville 828-452-2997
2 HAYWOOD ARTS REGIONAL THEATRE (HART) harttheatre.org 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828-456-6322
LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS
1 LAKE JUNALUSKA x avl.mx/dxr 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska
2 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org 828-670-1924
2 CHESTNUT MOUNTAIN PARK chestnutmountainnaturepark.com 2153 Asheville Highway, Canton 828-648-2363
3 CATALOOCHEE SKI AREA cataloochee.com
1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley 828-926-0285
LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT
1 SARGE’S ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION sarges.org
256B Industrial Park Drive, Waynesville 828-246-9050
BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR TOWN IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
1 CANTON MILL CLOSING Canton
RALLY: On Aug. 14, thousands of supporters lined the streets of downtown Asheville to attend former President Donald Trump‘s campaign rally at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Xpress captured the scene outside the event, including those who protested the Republican presidential nominee’s latest run for office. All photos by Caleb Johnson
Rising threat
BY GINA SMITH
gsmith@mountainx.com
Most adults have at least a passing understanding of the dangers of common modern sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as AIDS, human papillomavirus and herpes. But for many, syphilis has never been on the radar.
A sexually spread bacterial infection notoriously suffered by famous people from the past — Ivan the Terrible, Oscar Wilde, Al Capone and Christopher Columbus were all known or presumed to have been afflicted — the disease has not vanished during modern times. In fact, a 2024 report from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the number of new syphilis cases in the U.S. rose nearly 80% between 2018 and 2022.
And Western North Carolina has not escaped the escalation. According to Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for Buncombe County Department of
Green thumbs & aspiring gardeners alike!
Summer is here, and Xpress’ monthly gardening feature is fl ourishing based on reader questions. Please send all gardening inquiries to gardening@mountainx.com
WELLNESS
Syphilis cases have nearly tripled in Buncombe County since 2015
Health & Human Services, the rate of new cases in Buncombe County has nearly tripled since 2015.
Mullendore, who oversees all county clinical programs, including its sexually transmitted infection clinic on Coxe Avenue, recently sat down with Xpress to shed some light on what syphilis is, how to prevent and treat it, and why its prevalence is increasing in WNC.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Xpress: Since many folks may not be familiar with syphilis, can you explain what it is?
Mullendore: Syphilis is a treatable and curable infection caused by a type of bacteria. It is transmitted mainly through direct contact with a sore, typically during vaginal, anal or oral sex. It can also be spread during pregnancy from a pregnant person to their fetus. It’s a pretty complex infection and very ancient. It has four different stages that it can progress through, and each of those has different signs and symptoms. Some of the stages have different recommended treatments, so the earlier it’s detected and treated, the better. The first stage, primary syphilis, typically shows up as one or more sores at the site where the syphilis bacteria entered the body. If you’re having vaginal penile sex, then it’s going to probably be on the vagina or the penis. Those sores don’t usually show up until two to six weeks after the infection.
Are the sores painful?
This is the tricky part — typically, they’re painless. So if you have a lesion in your vagina or your anus, and it doesn’t cause pain, how do you know it’s there? Some can be painful, but if you don’t notice it, you don’t get it checked. They can last for three to six weeks and are typically firm and round. They’ll go away on their own because the body’s immune system is able to easily get rid of them. But you’re still infected.
What are the next stages?
The second stage is called secondary syphilis. At that point, the bacteria has moved beyond the site of initial infection, and it’s replicating quickly and infecting many parts of the body. We often see a pretty nonspecific skin rash that is typically darker, like red or reddish brown, and slightly raised. It can be on the torso, and we can see it on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. During that stage, people can also have lesions on their mucous membranes, in their mouth or again in
SEX ED: “Syphilis is a treatable and curable infection caused by a type of bacteria,” says Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for Buncombe County Department of Health & Human Services. Photo courtesy of BCDHHS
their vagina or in their anus. They can have nonspecific symptoms like fever and swollen lymph nodes and can get patchy hair loss. And again, those symptoms will go away, even without treatment, but you’re still infected.
The big thing is that during the primary and secondary stages is really when syphilis can be spread sexually. After that, we move into what’s called latent syphilis — latent meaning it’s dormant: The infection is in you, but you don’t actually have any visible signs or symptoms.
Then there is a tertiary stage of syphilis that, thankfully in this day and age, is not that common. It definitely was more common before we had treatment options. This one is very serious. This is where you can get significant damage to things like the heart and the brain. This occurs 10-30 years after infection. And it can be fatal, because of the damage it’s doing to your heart and your blood vessels and things. I read a stat that 10% of people with syphilis who are not treated are going to die from it.
Something that we have been seeing more in the past several years is that at any of those stages of syphilis, if it’s untreated, it can spread to the brain, to other parts of the nervous system, to the eyes and the ears. So people get symptoms like severe headaches, confusion, redness of the eyes, tinnitus or ringing in the ears or dizziness. If somebody has those symptoms and we suspect or know they have
syphilis, that’s an emergency situation, because you can permanently lose your eyesight or hearing.
The other thing is that at any stage, it can be spread to the fetus and cause congenital syphilis, which is a big issue that has been in the news recently across the country.
What individuals or groups are most at risk for contracting syphilis or experiencing severe symptoms?
The most severe outcomes are seen in the babies of pregnant people who have syphilis. Congenital syphilis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight and death of the baby shortly after it’s born. Up to 40% of babies born to people with untreated syphilis die from the infection. And those babies who do survive can still have significant health problems. They can have issues like brittle or deformed bones; their livers and spleens can be enlarged; they can have severe anemia, developmental delays, issues with blindness, deafness and seizures. It’s entirely preventable, yet it’s on the rise in North Carolina and across the U.S.
As for who’s most at risk, anyone who’s having sex is potentially at risk. It can be any age, sexual orientation, gender identity, race or ethnicity, income level — it doesn’t matter. Just like with other sexually transmitted infections, if you have multiple sex partners, you’re at higher risk. With dating apps and online [dating], a lot of people now don’t know the name of the person or the people they’ve had sex with, so that makes it hard for us to do contact tracing, informing and getting the partners treated.
Can you talk about the syphilis situation in Buncombe County?
Newly diagnosed early syphilis infections — meaning primary, secondary and what’s called early latent syphilis, when people can still spread it through sexual contact — have been increasing over the last decade in Buncombe County. In 2015, we had 25 early syphilis infections reported. And by 2022, it was all the way up to 74. … In 2023, it was fairly stable at 71. So, still significant numbers. When I do the math, that’s a 184% increase in newly diagnosed early syphilis infections from 2015 to 2023.
Why does it seem to be suddenly reemerging as a health issue?
The increase is definitely more dramatic recently, but it actually started in the early 2000s. In the 1990s, the U.S. had the lowest documented rates of syphilis, coming out of the time when we didn’t have effective treatments for HIV. So there was a lot of money being poured into sexual health, and sexual behaviors were different because people were scared about HIV. Then in the early 2000s,
we got down to the lowest documented rates of syphilis, and syphilis prevention was no longer prioritized. The funding dried up, as it is apt to do in public health when we fix a problem or get it under control.
In the 2000s, the initial increase was mainly in men who have sex with men. And that has to do with them having closer, smaller social networks. More recently, the increase has been seen in the heterosexual population, and substance use has been associated with driving some of that. So now we have this larger population at risk, so we’re going to see more cases.
The increase in women being infected has been pretty dramatic across the U.S., and that’s led to a dramatic increase in congenital syphilis — that’s the case in North Carolina and across the country. Thankfully, though we’ve had some concerning situations, we’re not seeing that significant impact in Buncombe County for congenital syphilis.
In North Carolina, it’s the law that health care providers who take care of pregnant people do three syphilis tests throughout pregnancy, with the goal of detecting it early and getting treatment for defects in the fetus.
“Something
If people aren’t accessing prenatal care, they’re not getting tested and not getting diagnosed and treated. What treatments are available for syphilis?
If a nonpregnant person is diagnosed with primary or secondary syphilis, it’s just one shot, and then they’re good. If you’re pregnant, it’s one shot a week for three weeks, and if you miss a week, we’ve got to start over. So the goal is to get that treatment done at least 30 days before delivery to increase your chance of the baby not being affected. But if you’re not showing up for your visits, if you have transportation issues, it’s a huge thing. And that’s what’s making congenital syphilis increase. … There’s also a pill, doxycycline, that’s an option for some people, but it can’t be used in pregnancy.
— Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, medical director for BCDHHS
Other than abstinence, what are the best ways of protecting yourself against syphilis?
Limiting the number of sexual partners you have, knowing their history, knowing their names, and getting regular testing. The recommendation is that people who have multiple sex partners or change their sex partners get tested every three months for sexually transmitted infections. Then also making sure that if you’ve tested positive for something, you get treated, making sure your partners or former partners get treated, and then completing the treatment. And then condoms. If there’s a lesion on something that’s covered by a condom, that will be successful at preventing infection.
Can folks get syphilis testing and treatment through Buncombe County Health & Human Services?
We have a sexually transmitted infection clinic, and our services are confidential and free. We do robust testing for syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia and other infections, and we offer the treatments for free.
We also have a mobile team that has been a great benefit when we have individuals in the community who can’t come in for care. Our mobile team takes treatment out to the individuals at their homes and ensures that they complete their treatment.
They’re also getting ready, hopefully, in a month or so, to roll out rapid syphilis testing out in the community, so people will know within 20 minutes if they have syphilis. They’ll have a calendar online at avl.mx/e0h.
I really want people to know that we have these free and confidential services, and I think we do a great job of educating people and providing the care they need in a respectful and compassionate way.
Buncombe County’s free STI Testing and Treatment Clinic is at 40 Coxe Ave. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. To make an appointment, call 828-250-5109. For details on Buncombe County’s Public Health Mobile Team services, visit avl.mx/e0h. X
ARTS & CULTURE
Stroke of luck An artist’s journey from Ukraine to Asheville
BY ARNOLD WENGROW
a.wengrow@yahoo.com
When local artist Andrea Kulish, a first-generation Ukrainian American, was introduced to Anatolii Tarasiuk, a Ukrainian refugee and artist living in the Triangle area, there was an immediate connection.
Seeing his work and hearing his compelling story, Kulish knew she had to arrange an exhibition in Asheville. The show, Embrace the Journey, opens with a reception on Friday, Aug. 23, 5-8 p.m., at Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St. The work will remain on display through Sunday, Sept. 22.
When it came to titling the exhibit, “Anatolii gave me the names of two of his paintings and asked me which I liked best,” Kulish says. “Embrace the Journey resonated with me more, and he said, ‘Let’s go with that.’”
The title work, Tarasiuk recalls, began with a layer of purple paint that was swiftly covered with sweeping vertical lines. Near the end of the process, a streak of purple revealed itself at the center of the canvas.
“It looks like a crack with the light coming through,” he says.
For Jeremy Phillips, an artist whose studio is located in Pink Dog, Tarasiuk’s abstract-expressionist works are compelling and complex. “It’s about the paint and the color and the forms and the shapes and the quality of the brushstrokes,” he says. Within all this, he continues, “There’s often a kind of a story.”
ROCKY AND REWARDING
Since leaving his home in Kyiv, Tarasiuk’s personal journey has been both rocky and rewarding. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, restrictions were placed on travel for most of the country’s men, ages 18-60. But because Tarasiuk and his wife had two young children with a third on the way, they were eligible to apply to the U.S. program Uniting for Ukraine.
Tarasiuk and his young family initially lived on a church property in the Raleigh-Durham area, before they found permanent housing.
In addition to acclimating to their new surroundings, Tarasiuk was dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis, which he received two weeks before his family’s flight to the U.S. “Actually was a big shock, because I was told it’s going to be hard to treat it in the United States because of not having insurance. So the first couple months for us was quite rough.”
Ultimately, a friend recommended Duke Cancer Center in Durham, where he underwent treatment.
It was during this time, Tarasiuk says, that he found his artistic footing. Self-taught, Tarasiuk began painting when he was 15 and went on to exhibit his work in Ukraine while working as a video and sound engineer.
Among the items he brought stateside were 45 original pieces. His biggest fear was getting the box through customs.
“It was a miracle,” he says. “No customs agent ever asked me to open it and show it to them. Oh, that would [have been] a disaster, because it was so tightly rolled.”
KEY CONNECTIONS
Tarasiuk credits Becky Woodruff, co-owner of the Frame & Print Shop in Chapel Hill, as the “key person in my artistic journey here.” When he took some of his paintings to her to have them restretched, she was intrigued by his work and his story and offered him space to host his first exhibition in North Carolina, New Beginnings
Hillsborough managed by the Orange County Arts Commission.
While there, Tarasiuk made another key connection with fellow artist Onicas Gaddis, who knew Kulish.
“When Anatolii told me he was from Ukraine and recently had to flee the country because of the war,” says Gaddis, who now lives in Asheville, “I thought he should meet Andrea [Kulish] to see if she could help him get into the Asheville art scene. His story touched me in such a way that I wanted to try and help him get connected in the RAD to sell some of his paintings so he could continue to provide for his family.”
FROM NATURE SCENES TO ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM
In discussing his work, Tarasiuk identifies as an abstract expressionist, the nonrepresentational style developed by American painters in the 1940s and ’50s. The style uses big, gestural brushstrokes and expansive markings to give the impression of the artist working spontaneously.
“It started with me trying to copy some nature scenes that my mom used to collect,” he says. “And then one day, somehow I let myself put some abstract detail on the scenery. I was like, ‘Oh, my God, what is it?’ It was so strange. But since that painting, everything was abstract. I never, ever did the natural scenery anymore.”
Spontaneity is key to Tarasiuk’s method. “I never have in mind what I’m about to do,” he says. “I just start with a kind of a palette, whatever colors I feel drawn to today.”
Only when the work is finished does the artist begin to see what his painting is about. The title, he says, comes last. And in the case of his upcoming exhibit, the title captures Tarasuik’s indomitable spirit. X
GO WITH THE FLOW: Spontaneity is key to artist Anatolii Tarasiuk’s approach. “I never have in mind what I’m about to do,” he says. “I just start with a kind of a palette, whatever colors I feel drawn to.” Artwork and artist image courtesy of Tarasiuk WHAT Embrace the Journey WHERE Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St., free WHEN Friday, Aug. 23-Sunday, Sept. 22, avl.mx/bux
The show’s exposure resulted in Tarasiuk securing a free studio space at Eno Arts Mill, an arts center in West
Some of his earliest experiments with the form occurred when he was a teenager after he found a stash of oil paints that belonged to his father.
BY THOMAS CALDER
Asheville City Council candidate
Tod Leaven talks a lot with his hands — clapping for emphasis or snapping his fingers when he’s trying to recall a specific detail. He’s also prone to dropping an impassioned f-bomb from time to time.
I met Leaven, who placed fifth in the March primary, at his home in Montford. He is the first of the six candidates to partake in Xpress’ new limited feature “On the Record.”
The premise is simple: I meet with each candidate at their preferred location, and we listen to an album or artist of their choice as we discuss the local arts scene and how, if at all, the creative sector factors into their platform.
For the inaugural session, Leaven, a founding partner at Leaven Law Firm, selected Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit/Fine and Mellow.
“I picked this one because it is the album that Columbia [Records] would not let her do,” he says, as he fixes himself a gin-based cocktail at his home bar. (He had offered to make me one as well, though I declined, accepting a Virgin Midnight mocktail instead.) “It was 1939, and they did not want to piss off their base. … They did not want to do any anti-lynching songs.”
Ultimately, Columbia granted Holiday a one-session release to record with the label Commodore, which produced the album.
The singer’s open defiance and courage are what inspired Leaven to choose Strange Fruit/Fine and Mellow for our discussion. But in no way, he notes, does he draw
ON HOLIDAY: “I don’t think there are any similarities between me trying to branch into politics and Billie Holiday, a Black female in the 1930s, confronting American lynchings. … She fought the system from the outside, whereas I am trying to change it from the inside,” says Asheville City Council candidate Tod Leaven. Photo by Thomas Calder
parallels between his campaign and Holiday’s struggles.
“I am a cis, straight, white, middle-aged, affluent male attorney
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
To my surprise, Leaven is no stranger to the stage.
Early in the conversation, he mentions that he’ll be heading to Asheville Community Theatre (ACT) shortly after our talk. He previously auditioned for the role of Capt. von Trapp for the company’s fall production of The Sound of Music, which runs Friday, Sept. 20-Sunday, Oct. 13 He’s been called back for another round of auditions.
“Later tonight, I’m going to dance, and I’m going to sing, and I’m going to fight Nazis,” Leaven says. “That is a really cool thing for locals to do.”
The candidate’s introduction to the acting world arrived by happenstance. Several years ago, his then-10-year-old daughter, Eleanor, landed a role as a Munchkin in ACT’s 2019 production of The Wizard of Oz “I got the same seat for all 16 shows,” Leaven says. “So as soon as she was out on the stage, she could look and see — there’s daddy.”
Despite the show’s success, Eleanor announced her plans to retire from acting shortly thereafter. “Her 10-year-old logic was: ‘If I quit now, I know I made it. But if I audition for anything else and I don’t get a part, then I’ll know I was only lucky to get this part and that I’m not that good,’” Leaven recalls. “Kind of tragic.”
Leaven, a veteran of the U.S. Army, ultimately made a deal with his daughter: If she continued to audition, he’d also try out for roles in each production. “My wife was like, ‘What the hell, Tod? You can’t act,’” he recalls
in America,” Leaven points out. “I don’t think there are any similarities between me trying to branch into politics and Billie Holiday, a Black female in the 1930s, confronting American lynchings. … She fought the system from the outside, whereas I am trying to change it from the inside.”
Leaven, who worked as a bartender at The Omni Grove Park Inn while an undergrad at UNC Asheville, adds some garnishes to his cocktail and walks toward the dining table where I sit. Maybe it’s the room’s floral wallpaper and navy blue trim, or perhaps it’s the fact that Holiday’s vocals continue to float out of the home’s sound system — but for a moment it feels as if I’ve traveled back in time. But the moment passes. Leaven joins me at the table. We toast, and the conversation turns to the local arts scene.
Since that time, the father-daughter duo has performed side by side in a number of plays produced by Montford Park Players, where Leaven serves as the chair of the board of directors. The two have also acted with Shakespeare & Friends in Tryon and ACT. More recently, Leaven’s also taken the stage alongside his other two daughters, Abigail and Hannah
’PRO-DEVELOPMENT GUY’
Despite Leaven’s affinity for local theater, he is quick to note that “the fundamental job of the city is not the arts.” Instead, he stresses, it is basic services. “The reason why there is a city government is for your sidewalks and your public
safety,” he says. “It’s making sure your water supply won’t freeze up again. … It’s fiscal responsibility and due diligence before you build a toilet.”
Leaven is also an unapologetic advocate for development. “You’ve got to build,” he reiterates throughout our conversation. “And not just suburban sprawl. That’s terrible for the environment and the tree canopy; it overtaxes our public transit. You have to build downtown, and you’ve got to build up.”
Multifamily housing, he continues, is essential. He looks out his window and points down the street, stating that one of the adjacent properties is an apartment building with five families living inside. And next door to that are apartments with 12 families. “And two doors down is an apartment [complex] for, like, 20,” he stresses. “It’s neighborly. It’s walkable. It works.”
And it ties in with the arts, he adds. If there isn’t affordable housing for those in the creative sector, artists will leave town.
“If I could get onto City Council and walk away after four years and say, ‘Wow, I put 11,000 units on the market, and now Asheville has
affordable housing’ — I would feel like Superman,” Leaven says.
In assessing his chances of winning and serving, Leaven is clear-eyed. “I wouldn’t be popular,” he says. “If I got elected, I probably would get elected once. I’d be the pro-development guy. But I could do some good.”
SETTING AN EXAMPLE
Similar to his entry into acting, Leaven points to family as his reason for running for City Council. His twin sister, Tami, who struggled for years with issues related to addiction and homelessness, died in Asheville in 2010.
This experience, he says, has shaped his views on the role local government should play in supporting community members. Leaven believes housing alone is not the solution. He also opposes the criminalization of the unhoused. “I’m not anti-housing the unhoused,” he clarifies. “But if you’re going to house them, you have to give them the wraparound services.”
His sister’s memory is a constant presence. “Every time I see someone on the streets, I think — they may not have kids themselves, they may not
have a brother or a sister, but they have parents. And they have parents that f*cking love them,” he says, pausing to apologize for his profanity. “They absolutely love them.”
After his sister’s death, Leaven and his wife adopted their niece, Hannah, who is now 25. His three daughters, continues Leaven, are motivation for his campaign. “It’s great to show my kids, ‘Hey, if you think there’s something off, you need to sacrifice time — even if it doesn’t help you, even if it costs you,’” he says. “This is what a citizen does to make his community better.”
CALLBACK
A few days after we met inside his Montford home listening to Billie Holiday and discussing his connection to the local arts scene, Leaven sent me a follow-up email.
“I made it through multiple auditions for the role of Capt. von Trapp, singing, dancing and fighting Nazis, but was not ultimately cast in the role,” he wrote.
Come Tuesday, Nov. 5, Asheville voters will decide if he moves forward in his ongoing audition for City Council. X
Magical Offerings
8/22: SUN enters VIRGO Reader: Alondra 3-7
8/23: Reader: Krysta 12-6:30 Beginners Tarot, Pt. 2 4-5 Merry Meet & Greet 5-7
8/24: Reader: Edward 12-6
Local Vendor Pop-Up, Julie Coyote 10-8
8/27: Reader: Byron 1-5
Inherit the Wind
BY KAI ELIJAH HAMILTON
Rarely does a production transcend the level of great expectation so far that it might as well take to the sky. But Haywood Arts Regional Theatre’s staging of Inherit the Wind does just that.
Written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, the play is loosely based on the 1925 court case known as the Scopes “Monkey” Trial, which took place in Dayton, Tenn. Accounts say the town was motivated by the spectacle — that it would ultimately be its claim to fame. And they were right. The vintage courtroom potboiler is showing at HART for its 40th anniversary season through Sunday, Aug. 25.
Although considerable liberties were taken with the historical record, the town’s conviction to get on the map is reflected throughout Inherit the Wind. Imagine for a moment giving up life as you know it for the sake of awareness. Southern schoolteacher Bertram Cates (played by Charlie Wilson) makes that sacrifice when he submits himself to a trial he could have truncated. Cates is accused of violating a recent state law that was passed forbidding teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution in public schools. In come two flagship attorneys to grandstand the case. The prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady (Pasquale LaCorte) is a three-time U.S. presidential candidate and has a following that precedes him. The majority of the town is on his side by the guidance of the fire and brimstone Rev. Jeremiah Brown (realistically portrayed by Troy Sheets). Fueling his flames is the fact that Brown’s own daughter Rachel (Mary Weisgerber) is dating Cates. Whose side should she stand on?
Meanwhile, with the start of the trial hanging in the balance, the well-known defense attorney Henry Drummond (Andrew Beachum) arrives on the late train and is immediately dubbed “the devil” by townsfolk. Does he have a fighting chance at opening the minds of those ignorant residents looking for a rush to judgment? The “catch” is both Brady and Drummond are old friends with viewpoints that now oppose. So, is this trial really about justice or egotistical opposition?
To this day, the very mention of Darwin and evolution crosses a threshold of controversy and conjures up searing thoughts of humans being derived from monkeys. In turn, the playwrights had a bit of trouble getting their work staged on Broadway. Had they given in
courtroom potboiler
to the initial rejection, it may never have seen the light of day. However, after its successful 1955 run in Dallas, it gained momentum, and eventually opened on Broadway, becoming a major hit. The 1960 film version, starring Spencer Tracy, went on to receive multiple Academy Award nominations.
Inherit the Wind leans mostly one-sided in its viewpoint. The play wants us to see the fault in those not open to difficult discussions. Therefore, in the wrong hands, this material could have resulted in political showboating of the highest order. Yet the temptation for Southern stereotypes is kept at bay, and what we find is a more respectful interpretation.
When you enter the Belle and Daniel Fangmeyer Theatre, you immediately feel as if you have stepped into an old-fashioned courthouse. Some guests were even lucky enough to sit in the jury seats and become part of the play. Clever nuances like this detail make the rawness of director and set designer Terry Martin’s passion distinct. And while there were a few very minor flaws — mostly in the transition of shorter scenes and distracting music that feels like TV theme tunes — this production is truly outstanding. Martin’s dedication to wrangling such powerhouse performances from many of the actors is paramount to the success.
On this particular night, the part of Brady was played by LaCorte, though
some performances include David Spivey. It is inconceivable that it could be played in better hands than LaCorte’s. However, seeing both performances would be intriguing as it may be a different show entirely. The character’s gnawing subterfuge is brilliantly depicted by LaCorte, and this performance should be considered a feather in the cap of his long career on stage.
Yet, words seem to fail when describing the utter satisfaction of watching the tour de force performance given by Beachum. He mounts the climactic scene with such rapid-fire intensity that you’re awestruck by the density of his emotions. It sends shivers just recalling it. His quieter moments are just as compelling — without him, this production would have still been excellent but not astounding. Beachum’s performance here is a study in great theatrical acting that won’t be whisked away from memory anytime soon.
Other players follow suit with remarkable portrayals such as Kathy O’Connor as the slithery, omnipresent reporter E.K. Hornbeck. Weisgerber nails the mousey, indecisive, smalltown Rachel, who’s stuck by her own devices, and a revelation occurs when Vicki Mangieri’s Mrs. Brady steals a well-deserved moment with Rachel by letting out an unexpected fury.
Elsewhere, Garek Carpenter shows promise as Howard Blair, the little
boy whose mind is forever awakened by his teacher’s ideas of evolution. And the fiery-locked Emmy-Mae Speakman proves entrancing in a small role as Sillers — one of the witless jury members.
It’s unlikely that you are going to see another play as enthralling as Inherit the Wind anytime soon. To say it is “not to be missed” is an understatement. Unfortunately, other theaters have recently seemed to veer away from dramas in favor of an overabundance of frothy escapism, so bravo to HART for producing a moving play rarely staged these days. Bold moves like these keep the theatrical art form alive and thriving.
We all have memories of those plays we regret not seeing — don’t make this one of them. Inherit the Wind has the power to stir a storm within oneself. X
WHAT Inherit the Wind WHERE
HART’s Fangmeyer Theater, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville, harttheatre.org
WHEN Through Sunday, Aug. 25. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. $18-38.
WON’T BACK DOWN: Tensions run high in Haywood Arts Regional Theatre’s stunning production of Inherit the Wind
Photo by Candice Dickinson
What’s new in food
Quench! Wine Bistro opens in Woodfin
The inspiration for Quench! Wine Bistro and Provisions, which opened Aug. 21 in Woodfin, began with a conversation about soup.
Earlier this year, Gina Trippi, co-owner with John Kerr of Metro Wines, and chef Sam Etheridge were winding down after one of the wine dinners they frequently partner on.
“We have a fantasy football league at Metro, and the season had ended,” Trippi recalls. “We were looking for something simple to do, and the idea of soup to go came up. Sam said soups were easy. But really, it started as a joke!”
Etheridge owned Ambrozia Bar and Bistro on Merrimon Avenue from 2013 until he sold it in 2019 intending to trade life as a restaurateur for the private chef and events business. The soup joke, he says, gradually became more serious and the concept more complex.
“It kept expanding,” he says with a laugh. “It was like, well, if we do soup, we need bread. If we have bread, we should have cheese. If we have bread and cheese, we can do grilled cheese. And we need wine for all that.”
Conveniently, Trippi and Kerr — who have operated their busy but
compact retail store on Charlotte Street since 2013 — had an underutilized storefront in Reynolds Village. They had been using the space in the commercial section of the mixedused development for storage and to meet with wedding clients.
“It was big for just those two things,” Trippi explains. “At first, we thought we’d just do takeout. Then we thought, maybe four tables, then it was eight tables, then 12 tables and two bars.”
They built a wall to separate front of house from back and added a simple but efficient kitchen. A large bar with a half-dozen stools faces a chalkboard built into the wall to list daily wines by the glass and other specials. A smaller bar set against the window looks out on the sidewalk; between the two are about a half-dozen tables for four.
Free-standing shelving on one wall stocks specialty food items and bottles of wine. A cold case will hold cheeses and other perishables.
Quench’s menu leads with snacks, such as smoked olives, Sam’s deviled eggs, pimento beer cheese with Blunt pretzels, fresh burrata and beef tartare. There are also five types of grilled cheese sandwiches;
several boards featuring cheeses, charcuterie, seafood and crudit és; a couple of salads and, of course, soups — seasonal options as well as entrée soups like gumbo. A quartet of sweets compose the dessert menu, and there is a large selection of wines by the glass and bottle plus some beer and nonalcoholic drink options.
“We really feel like we’re filling a need here,” Trippi says. “Between Asheville and Weaverville, it’s kind of a restaurant desert, and John has been working with the Woodfin [Town] Council and mayor to support business in this area while also being thoughtful about growth.”
Etheridge shakes his head when asked about his return to the restaurant industry. “When I closed Ambrozia, I said I was done with the restaurant business,” he says. “I have kids and needed the independence to make my own schedule with private events. But this was the right opportunity with the right schedule, and I don’t have to haul around my own kitchen anymore.”
Quench! is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday at 60 N. Merrimon Ave., Suite 105. For more information, visit avl.mx/wordcapk.
WINE AND DINE: Chef Sam Etheridge, left, has joined forces with Metro Wines co-owners Gina Trippi, center, and John Kerr, right, to launch Quench! Wine Bistro and Provisions in Woodfin. Photo courtesy of Quench!
Closing time for Mayfel’s
Sherrye and Anthony Coggiola were not newbies to the restaurant business when they bought Mayfel’s in September 2022 from Loretta Woolley, who opened the downtown Cajun and Creole spot in 2003. The couple had successfully owned and operated The Cantina in Biltmore Village since 2009. “We were like parents who thought, ‘One kid wasn’t that hard; we should have another,’” says Anthony. But the couple made the hard decision to permanently close the eatery in July.
After buying Mayfel’s, the Coggiolas kept the status quo through the end of 2022, then closed in January 2023 for a refurbishment and refresh. They reopened at the end of February 2023 fully committed to serving the Louisiana cuisine Anthony grew up with.
The menu was well-received, Anthony says, but the industry as a whole was still struggling to regain its footing post-COVID-19, and costs for food, labor and products continued to rise. Even so, he began to see an upswing this spring, thanks in part to special events like crawfish boils and Mayfel’s Mini Jazz Fest held in April.
Ultimately though, it was a summer heat wave and simultaneous catastrophic failure of Mayfel’s HVAC system that led the Coggiolas to shutter permanently in July. “The cost of replacing it and length of time we would have to be closed to do that was not something we could recover from,” Anthony explains. “It was a very tough decision, and we’ve done our best to help our staff to a soft landing.”
The Coggiolas, who own the building, say they plan to eventually lease out the space, which includes a large
prep kitchen and bakery one level below the dining room.
Sweet treats at La Bodega by Cúrate
“Can I interest you in dessert?” asks the server as you swallow the last forkful of steak at dinner. You shake your head and sadly admit that you can’t eat another bite.
Cúrate pastry chef Andrew Buie feels your pain and has an idea — prioritize the sweet stuff. Buie and Katie Button, the restaurant’s founder and chef, have created Summer of Sweets, a four-course dessert prix fixe pop-up concept with optional wine pairings by wine director Jessica Salyer, taking place Wednesday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Aug. 25 at La Bodega by Cúrate.
Buie will be in the caf é ’s kitchen during the event and invites guests for a behind-the-curtain look. Button will join him on Friday and Saturday. The menu wasn’t available at press time, but Buie expects to offer something chocolatey, something fruity and something frozen.
Reservations are required for the four-course tasting experience, which costs $35 per person with an additional $25 for wine pairings. Desserts will also be available a la carte and to go.
Summer of Sweets happens 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, Aug. 21, 22 and 25, and 5-9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23-24. For tasting reservations, visit avl.mx/e1k. La Bodega by Cúrate is at 32 S. Lexington Ave.
Dripolator expands to East Asheville
Dripolator, which debuted on the local java scene 25 years ago in a
little stone cottage on State Street in Black Mountain, is four for four with the opening of its newest shop on Tunnel Road in East Asheville. Amy Vermillion launched the original shop — fondly referred to as The Mothership — in 1999. The Candler location opened in 2022 followed by the South Asheville Gerber Village store in 2023. Vermillion now has two partners, Josh Valdez and Chris Bolick.
Dripolator has been roasting its own coffee since 2008. It’s also known for its stylish, artsy interiors and seasonal beverage menus that supplement hall of famers like the Cubano, the Hazed & Confused Mocha and Golden Milk Latte. Among the summer sippers are three iced specials and a Dirty Earl hot tea with dark chocolate.
The beverage menus are the same at all stores with fall seasonal offerings landing Sunday, Sept. 1.
All Dripolator locations are open daily 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. The East Asheville store is at 811 Tunnel Road. Suite B. For more information, visit avl.mx/e19.
Session Fest at Zillicoah Beer Co.
Go down to the river on Saturday, Aug. 24, for Zillicoah Beer Co.’s Session Fest 2024, a venture dedicated to showcasing full-flavored, full-bodied, low-ABV beers. More than 20 breweries will participate, including Human Robot of Philadelphia, Living Haus of Portland, Ore., TRVE Brewing of Denver, and from closer to home, Fonta Flora, Whaley Farm, Burning Blush and Zillicoah.
Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $48.49. Quantities are limited, so advance purchase is recommended. Beer-friendly fare, including Filipino barbecue, hot dogs and burgers, will be available
from Master BBQ, Bigfoot Long’s and Smashville.
Session Fest runs 2-8 p.m. at 870 Riverside Drive, Woodfin. For more information and tickets, visit avl.mx/e1a.
Omni Grove Park Inn gingerbread contest
Gingerbread house builders, it’s time to enroll for the 32nd annual National Gingerbread House Competition, presented by the Omni Grove Park Inn. Through Monday, Nov. 11, registration is open for opportunities to showcase gingerbread design talent and win a piece of over $40,000 in cash and prizes. This year, the Omni Grove Park Inn — where the display, judging and awards ceremony will take place — has revised and reorganized the competition’s rules to make it more accessible to more participants. Returning category favorites for the 2024 season are the Chef Nicholas Lodge Awards for Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star and Most Innovative Structure. New this year are Community Spirit and the Rising Star awards.
Judges include celebrity cake artist Yolanda Gampp, Mark Seaman of Barry Callebaut Chocolate and Good Hot Fish chef and owner Ashleigh Shanti
This year’s competition judging (not open to the public) will be held Monday, Nov. 18, followed by an invitation-only awards ceremony. The hotel’s official gingerbread house display kicks off Tuesday, Nov. 19, and continues through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.
For rules and information on how to enter, visit avl.mx/dzk.
— Kay West X
Around Town
MountainTrue, a local nonprofit whose mission is to support healthy waters, forests and communities, will host the Paddling Film Festival World Tour at New Belgium Brewing Co. on Thursday, Aug. 22, 6:30-9 p.m.
Organized by Paddling Magazine and Rapid Media, the film festival is a fundraiser for MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper program, including its Swim Guide and the French Broad Paddle Trail.
The Paddling Film Festival, one of the largest in the world, was launched by Rapid Media in 2006 and has since screened 959 times to more than 282,864 audience members, according to a press release. Rapid Media has awarded $71,000 to paddling filmmakers and helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for charitable causes.
Doors to the event open at 6 p.m. Several short films will be followed by an intermission with a brief presentation about MountainTrue’s French Broad Riverkeeper program and the event sponsor, Headwaters Outfitters. The show will conclude with one longer film and a few short clips.
“Proceeds from this event will support our French Broad Riverkeeper program … meaning that ticket sales go right back into local stewardship and advocacy,” says French Broad Paddle Trail manager Jack Henderson. “We’re stoked to share these awesome movies with our community, many of which echo the same issues and opportunities that we face here on our local rivers in Western North Carolina.”
There will also be a raffle for a variety of outdoor gear and swag. New Belgium Brewing will have a food truck outside, and MountainTrue will offer free popcorn. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $5 for children younger than 12.
New Belgium Brewing Co. is at 21 Craven St. For more information, visit avl.mx/e1n.
Arts for Schools grant recipients announced
ArtsAVL has announced the 14 artists and organizations that have been awarded the 2024-25 Arts for Schools grant.
The grant supports nonprofit arts organizations and qualified teachers in Buncombe County who provide
arts-focused educational opportunities for K-12 students, such as performances, workshops, residencies and field trips. This year’s awards include five in-school programs and nine out-of-school programs:
Anna Kimmell, a theater artist and educator, will offer an immersive residency to fourth-grade students at Johnson Elementary as part of its English/language arts module. Funds will be used for artist fees and theater supplies.
Asheville Chamber Music Inc. will engage the Isidore String Quartet as part of the Asheville Amadeus Festival and will help with transport and admission costs to enable over 600 students to attend an interactive concert experience featuring professional performers of color.
The Asheville City Schools Foundation will expand the Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools program to serve Hall Fletcher, Lucy S. Herring and Claxton Elementary after-school programs.
Asheville Symphony Orchestra will host the Young People’s Concerts program, introducing about 2,000 Asheville City fifth graders to classical music.
Asheville Creative Arts will use grant funds to support its new extracurricular series Authentically Me, a theater and movement-based workshop series for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.
The Buncombe County Schools Foundation will use the funds to provide artist fees for the Global Grooves program, exposing seventhgrade students to a 45-minute musical performance with a supporting curriculum and opportunity to interact with the performers.
Colaborativa La Milpa’s Ra íces Emma Erwin, an after-school program for Latine middle school students that focuses on traditional Mexican Folklorico dance and history, will use the grant to pay teaching artists and purchase clothing for eight annual performances.
Dancing Drum will give students at W.D. Williams and Pisgah elementary schools the opportunity to learn about percussion instruments and rhythms from West Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil through its interactive School Drum Day program.
Journeymen, a mentorship organization for teenage boys, will use the grant to cover mentor fees and
RIVER KEEPERS: Amy Finkler and Jack Henderson of MountainTrue help clean the French Broad River — efforts to be supported by the Paddling Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Henderson
more student fees for its Afterschool Multicultural Music Program.
LEAF Global Arts will use the grant to support its Songs for Peace project in an after-school environment. LEAF will also collaborate with the YMCA of Western North Carolina and Owen Middle School to facilitate choral music experiences with messages of multicultural inclusion.
Local Cloth will launch a new pilot program called Farm to Fiberarts in the Blue Ridge, including a textile summer camp for teens led by teaching artist Emolyn Liden
Nica Rabinowitz will use the grant to offer 12 middle and high school scholarships to her Connecting Through Cloth after-school garment-weaving program.
Playground Stage Children’s Theatre will offer scholarships for its after-school musical theater and production classes for elementary school students.
Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective, a Black-led youth leadership and substance use recovery group, will use the grant to support the John R. Hayes Hillcrest High Steppin’ Majorette and Drum Corp, an after-school program founded by John Hayes in 1977.
For more information, visit avl.mx/cvl.
NC Stage presents Wiley one-man show
Mike Wiley will perform Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart, the story of the first Black baseball player to play for the major leagues, at N.C. Stage from Wednesday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Sept. 1.
The one-man show provides a glimpse into Robinson’s life and his experience of both fame and second-class citizenship during an era of segregation. This will be N.C. Stage’s fifth performance by Wiley, a nationally known, Raleigh-based playwright whose work focuses on expanding awareness about the experiences of Black Americans for student and adult audiences. “I felt the need to tell the story of Negro League baseball using Jackie’s story as the linchpin,” says Wiley. “The play is still current, given the pushback on diversity and equity nationally in the workplace and our campuses.”
Wiley’s previous performances have included the stories of Emmett Till and Henry Box Brown, a oneman play based on Timothy Tyson’s memoir Blood Done Sign My Name, and an ensemble performance about
the Freedom Riders called The Parchman Hour. Jackie Robinson lasts roughly two hours and will be followed by a postperformance discusstion.
N.C. Stage is at 15 Stage Lane. For more information, visit avl.mx/e1o.
Asheville FM to host record fair
Asheville FM will host its fifth annual record fair at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville on Sunday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
The fair will feature vendors from the Southeast, live DJs from the station, and food and beverage concessions. Proceeds from the event will go toward the station’s fundraising goals for the year. The event will include over 30 vendors selling records, 45s, CDs and various collectibles.
Last year’s event brought in over 700 people, and the station hopes to have over 1,000 this year to build on its success. “Community radio offers a special platform for local voices and perspectives from diverse viewpoints,” says KP Whaley, executive director of Asheville FM. “That empowers and strengthens the com-
munity. At Asheville FM, we strive to keep Asheville thriving by producing diverse and eclectic programming that inspires our listeners to build connections across our communities and to discover new music and ideas.”
Early bird tickets to the event are $20. In addition to early admission at 10 a.m., early bird ticket holders will receive a tote bag and swag from the event sponsors. (Outside bags are not allowed in Harrah’s Cherokee Asheville unless they are clear). Regular tickets are a suggested donation of $5-$10.
Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville is at 87 Haywood St. For more information, visit avl.mx/e1p.
Family-friendly theater
Asheville Junior Theater will present Into the Woods JR. at the Tina McGuire Theater from Thursday, Aug. 22-Sunday, Aug. 25.
The performance is a family-friendly adaptation of the Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The comedic production follows the intertwining stories of fairy tale characters as they venture into the woods to fulfill their wishes and face unexpected challenges. This Junior Theater performance is described as being stripped down to focus on acting, singing, movement and deeper meaning, and is best suited for adults and children 8 and older. In the Tina McGuire Theater, the Wortham Center’s black box performance space, actors perform close to the audience.
Showtimes will be 7 p.m. ThursdaySaturday, with matinees Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $20.
The Wortham Center for the Performing Arts is at 18 Biltmore Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/e1q.
— Oby Arnold X
MOVIE REVIEWS
ALIEN: ROMULUS: All hail the summer’s best mindless blockbuster! Grade: B-plus — Edwin Arnaudin
CLUBLAND
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21
12 BONES
BREWERY
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm
ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO.
Trivia Trivia!, 6:30pm
DSSOLVR
Blowin' Smoke Comedy Showcase, 9pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm
EULOGY Wolves in the Taproom: Black Metal Night, 7pm
FLEETWOOD'S PSK Karaoke, 9pm
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Otto Maddox (soul, funk), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Old Time Jam, 5pm
OKLAWAHA
BREWING CO.
Bluegrass Jam w/ Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Anon Trio (jass, electronic), 10pm
SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm
SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Dogs on Shady Lane, State Park Ranger, Hemlock, & trust blinks. (indie rock, indie folk), 8:30pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
Rod Sphere (soul, rock), 7pm
THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
Sarah Squirm: Live & in the Flesh (comedy), 8pm
THE OUTPOST
Bluegrass Jam w/Sam Wharton, 6pm
THE RAILYARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm
URBAN ORCHARD
CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE
Trivia Wednesday, 6:30pm
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
ASHEVILLE GUITAR
BAR
Virginia Rabbit Trio (blues, swing), 8pm
BATTERY PARK
BOOK EXCHANGE
Mike Kenton & Jim Tanner (jazz), 5:30pm
CROW & QUILL
Russ Wilson & The Kings of Jazz, 8pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Karaoke Night w/KJ Marcula, 8pm
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Roselle (multigenre), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7pm
LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA
Buffoonery: A Super Silly Comedy Showcase, 8:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
The Loverfaces (multigenre), 7pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
The Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Eli Kahn (lo-fi), 8pm
ONE WORLD
BREWING WEST
Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm
OUTSIDER BREWING
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
PULP
The Hit Dogs w/Lost Torpedo (alt-rock), 8pm
PISGAH BREWING CO.
Shedhouse Trio w/ Darren Nicholson (bluegrass), 6:30pm
SHAKEY'S Comedy Showcase, 8pm
SHILOH & GAINES
Karaoke Night, 8pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Stand Up Comedy for Your Health, 8pm
STATIC AGE LOFT
Auto-Tune Karaoke Night, 10pm
THE BURGER BAR
Mike Jones & Andrew Broschart (acoustic), 9:30pm
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR
Karaoke w/Terraoke, 7pm
THE GREY EAGLE
• Patio: Doc Robinson (pop-rock, alt-rock, soul), 5:30pm
• Next Women of Country: Kimberly Perry & Jenna Paulette (country), 8pm
THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN
Smoky Mountain Rhythm (bluegrass), 7pm
WICKED WEED
BREWING Beer & Loathing (rock), 6pm
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
ASHEVILLE GUITAR
BAR
Mr Jimmy (blues), 8pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Taylor vs. Emo Night Party, 9pm
BERADU--SPECIALTY MARKET, KITCHEN & BAR
The Candleers (country), 6pm
CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE
ASHEVILLE
• Comedy at Catawba: Gus Tate, 7pm
• Hot & Horny Comedy Showcase, 9pm CROW & QUILL Black Sea
Society (Balkan,
8pm
EULOGY
Somatoast w/Charles Nimbus, Relativity Lounge & Wij (electronic, bass), 8pm
FLEETWOOD'S 77
Beat
Turkish, folk),
Lies, The Half that Matters & Skewer Rat (punk, pop), 9pm
RMR IN AVL: On Saturday, Aug. 24, FOMO Collective brings popular mainstream artist RMR to Eulogy. The show starts at 9 p.m. and will also feature Brooklyn-based LUCI, Asheville-based Yahzay and the versatile DJ Grimmjoi. Photo courtesy of Brighton Kilgore
opt. 4.
HIGHLAND BREWING
DOWNTOWN
TAPROOM
Peggy Ratusz (blues), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Gene Got Da Juice (hip-hop, R&B), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Vaden Landers (country), 9pm
MAD CO. BREW
HOUSE
Chris Jamison (Americana, folk), 6pm
OKLAWAHA
BREWING CO.
Ten Toe Turbo (rock'n'roll), 8pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Ranford Almond (soul, Appalachian), 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Synder Taylor Duo (acoustic), 8pm
ONE WORLD
BREWING WEST
St. Owsley (Grateful Dead tribute), 8pm
RABBIT RABBIT
Silent Disco, 9pm
SALVAGE STATION
Infected Mushroom w/ Sri Kamadhi & Spice Rapture (electronic), 8pm
SHAKEY'S
• Shelby Lore Band (Appalachian, rock), 9pm
• DJ Nex Millen (hiphop, R&B), 10pm
SHILOH & GAINES
Commander Voodoo (R&B, funk), 9pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Realm of None (hardcore, power-violence), 8:30pm
SWEETEN CREEK
BREWING
East Coast Dirt (psychrock), 6pm
THE GREY EAGLE
• Patio. Moon Bride & Jason Scavone (indiepop), 5:30pm
• The Vandoliers w/ Curtis McMurtry & Mya Byrne (country), 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
The Project (rock, R&B), 7pm
THE MEADOW AT
HIGHLAND BREWING
CO.
Ben Balmer (multigenre), 7pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
The Emo Night Tour, 7pm
THE OUTPOST
Red Clay Revival (bluegrass, Americana), 5pm
THE RAILYARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Bobby Frith (folk, bluegrass, electronica), 7pm
WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT
Jay Dipaola (funk, blues, jazz), 7pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN
Company Swing w/ Rock Academy Jazz (swing, jazz, blues), 8pm
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
27 CLUB
Peach Candy Nut Boys, Nevada Rock & Digital Dolls (punk, rock), 9pm
ASHEVILLE CLUB
Mr Jimmy (blues), 6pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR
BAR
Krave Amiko (indie, alt-pop), 8pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Foo 4 You (Foo Fighters tribute), 9pm
BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE
Dinah's Daydream (jazz), 6pm
CORK & KEG
Zydeco Ya Ya (Cajun, Zydeco), 8pm
CROW & QUILL
Drayton & The Dreamboats (jazz, rock'n'roll), 8pm EULOGY
FOMO Collective Presents: RMR w/Luci, Yahzay & DJ Grimmjoi (hip-hop, R&B, electronic), 9pm
FLEETWOOD'S Third Seven, Polly Panic & Lo Wolf (acoustic), 7pm
FUNKATORIUM
Don't Tell Comedy: South Slope Asheville, 7pm
GINGER'S REVENGE
CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM
Jody Carroll (Americana, folk, blues), 6pm
HIGHLAND BREWING
DOWNTOWN
TAPROOM
Brown Mountain Lighting Bugs (Appalachian, folk), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Nex Millen (hiphop, funk, R&B), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
• Saturday Music
Matinee w/The Bear Creek String Bandits (bluegrass, country, rock), 12pm
• Nobody’s Darling String Band, 4pm Meschiya Lake & The Moodswingers (jazz, funk), 9pm
LAZOOM ROOM
Karaoke w/ KJ Beanspice, 8:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
• Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp (roots, Americanan, country), 2pm
• The Paper Crowns Electric Band (Southern-rock, folk, funk), 8pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
• City Dirt Band (rock), 4pm
• Craze, Electron-C, Chillum & Cotton Day (electronic), 9pm
SALVAGE STATION
Jon Stickley Trio w/Big Daddy of Acoustic Syndicate (Americana), 8pm
SHAKEY'S Partyland Sessions w/DJ Grimmjoi, 10pm
SHILOH & GAINES
Raphael Graves Trio (Americana, folk), 9pm
SIERRA NEVADA
BREWING CO.
Naomie & the Moments (Appalachian, jazz, power-pop), 2pm
SILVERADOS
The Steel Woods (country, rock), 7pm
SOVEREIGN REMEDIES
Bougie & Boozy Brunch w/Trevor Darden & Friends, 10am
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Thra, Urine Hell, Weight Shift (death-metal, sludge, alt-metal), 9pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
Virginia & The Slims (blues, swing), 7pm
THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
Sal Landers (rock'n'roll), 6pm
THE ODD Party Foul Drag, 8pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
Helado Negro w/Carlos Ni ñ o & Friends & Zenizen (electro pop, jazz, experimental pop), 8pm
THE RAILYARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Vintage (multi-genre), 7pm
WXYZ BAR AT ALOFT
DJ Rab!d Ron!e, 7pm
WHITE HORSE
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Whitney Mong é (Americana, soul), 8pm
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
R.A The Rugged Man w/Snowgoons, Benny Holiday & Savage Brothers (hip-hop), 8pm
BURIAL BEER CO.
Latinx Brunch w/M A R & The Marmeladies, 1pm
CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE
ASHEVILLE
Monster Comedy Jam, 6:30pm
FLEETWOOD'S Yawni, Rich Inner Life Love You So Much & Little Champion (indie, punk), 11am
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm
FUNKATORIUM
Sunday Funk w/Andy Ferrell, 1pm
GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM
Jazz Sunday's, 2pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Mad Mike (hiphop, indie, electronic), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
• Bluegrass Brunch w/Bluegrass Brunch Boys, 12pm
• Traditional Irish Music Session, 3:30pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Bearded Bards (Americana, rock, blues), 3pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
Midway to Mardi Gras w/Joe Known
Trio + 1 & Papa Mali (jazz, blues, funk), 2pm
PISGAH BREWING CO.
Pisgah Sunday Jam, 6pm
S&W MARKET
Mr Jimmy (blues), 1pm
SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO.
Jamie Hendrickson Trio (jazz, funk), 2pm
SLY GROG LOUNGE
Open Mic w/Mike Andersen, 6:30pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA
Cosmic Appalachian Soul Sundays, 7pm
SOVEREIGN REMEDIES
Bougie & Boozy Brunch w/Trevor Darden & Friends, 10am
THE GREY EAGLE
Country Brunch w/ Conrad Moore & Southern Cities, 11am
THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
The Big Deal Band (old-time), 2pm
SUN
Cosmic Appalachian
Soul Sundays, 7pm MON
Ping-Pong Tournament, 6pm TUE
Open Jam w/ house band the Lactones, 8pm WED
Poetry Open Mic AVL, 8:30pm/8pm signup
Highland Brewing Thurs Aug 29, 5-9pm MUSIC: Hope Griffin • Leeda “Lyric” Jones (full band) • DJ Molly Parti
TRUCKS: Melt Your Heart • The Smokin’ Onion • & more
THE ODD
Puppy Chain, Human Urgency & Acid Jo (psych-rock, alternative), 9pm
WHITE HORSE
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Laura Blackley & Ashley Chambliss Duo, 7:30pm
WICKED WEED
BREWING
Sunday Sounds w/ Mike Hollon, 3pm
PL Ē B URBAN WIN -
ERY
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 4pm
MONDAY, AUGUST 26
27 CLUB
Monday Karaoke, 9pm
CATAWBA BREWING
CO. SOUTH SLOPE
ASHEVILLE
Musicians in the Round: Monday Open Mic, 5:45pm
DSSOLVR
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
FLEETWOOD'S
Best Ever Karaoke w/ KJ Chelsea, 9pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Dayowulf (electronic), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD
PUB
Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm
OKLAWAHA
BREWING CO.
Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm
ONE WORLD BREWING Open Mic Night, 7:30pm
ONE WORLD
BREWING WEST
Mashup Mondays w/ JLloyd, 8pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
J.R.C.G. w/Black Button & Free Doom (experimental pop, free jazz, punk), 9pm
THE BIER GARDEN Standup Comedy w/ Cody Hughes, 8pm
THE RIVER ARTS
DISTRICT BREWING CO. Trivia w/Billy, 7pm
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
ARCHETYPE
BREWING
Trivia Tuesday, 6:30pm
FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Mad Mike (hip-hop, indie, electronic), 9pm
LOOKOUT BREWING CO.
Team Trivia Tuesday's, 6:30pm
MAD CO. BREW HOUSE
Team Trivia Tuesday's, 6pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Team Trivia, 7pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm
SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday w/ Grimmjoi, 10pm
SHILOH & GAINES Open Mic, 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA
Tuesday Night Open Jam, 8pm
SOVEREIGN REMEDIES
Karaoke Tuesdays w/ KJ Jason, 9pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Decyve (experimental, hyper-pop, electronic), 9pm
THE GREY EAGLE PAKT: Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, & Tim Motzer (prog-rock, jazz), 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
The Lads (rock, blues), 6pm
THE ORANGE PEEL
The Linda Lindas w/ Secret Shame (poppunk, indie rock), 7pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Open Mic, 7pm
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
12 BONES BREWERY
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR
BAR
Ben Balmer w/special guest Ed Jurdi, 8pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Bless Your Heart Trivia w/Harmon, 7pm
EULOGY
Street Fever (hardcore, dark-wave, industrial), 8pm
FLEETWOOD'S PSK Karaoke, 9pm
FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY
Saylor Brothers & Friends (jamgrass), 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Otto Maddox (soul, funk), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Old Time Jam, 5pm
LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA
Everybody But You Bro Comedy Open Mic, 6pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Bluegrass Jam w/ Derek McCoy & Friends, 6pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC
HALL
Mr. V (multi-genre), 10pm
SHAKEY'S Sexy Service Industry Night, 10pm
SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Wednesdays, 7pm
SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
Bill Altman (blues), 7pm THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING CO.
Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm
THE OUTPOST
Bluegrass Jam w/Sam Wharton, 6pm
THE RAILYARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm
URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE
Trivia Wednesday, 6:30pm
WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Session, 7pm
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29
27 CLUB
Chatterton, Trust Blinks & My Body With Blood (alt-indie, experimental, hardcore), 9pm
ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR
O.Vad.Ya (neo-psychedelic, electronic), 8pm
ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
Matisyahu w/Distant Cousins (alt-rock, reggae), 8pm
CROW & QUILL
Sparrow & Her Wingmen (jazz, swing), 8pm
CULTURA
Vinyl Night w/DJ Lil Meow Meow, 8pm
EDA'S HIDE-A-WAY
Karaoke Night w/KJ Marcula, 8pm
EULOGY
Roamck w/Auroras Hope (rock), 8pm
FRENCH BROAD
RIVER BREWERY
Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm
GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM
Queer Open Mic, 6pm
IMPERIÁL
DJ Nex Millen (hiphop, funk, R&B), 9pm
JACK OF THE WOOD PUB
Bluegrass Jam w/ Drew Matulich, 7pm
LAZOOM ROOM BAR & GORILLA
Modelface Comedy Presents: Laugh, 8:30pm
LEVELLER BREWING CO.
Frank Cassel's Bluegrass Band, 7pm
OKLAWAHA BREWING CO.
Felonious Monks (multi-genre), 7pm
ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL
The Lumpy Heads (Phish tribute), 10pm
ONE WORLD BREWING
Eternally Grateful (Americana), 8pm
ONE WORLD BREWING WEST
Fee Fi Phaux Fish (Phish tribute), 8pm
OUTSIDER BREWING
Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm
PULP
The Jesus Casino w/ Paprika (alt-metal, prog-rock, indie rock), 8pm
PISGAH BREWING CO.
JLloyd MashUp (jazz, funk, reggae), 6:30pm
SHILOH & GAINES
Karaoke Night, 8pm
STATIC AGE RECORDS
Colin Miller, H.Pruz, & Good Trauma (indierock), 9pm
THE GREY EAGLE
Magenta Sunshine (funk, soul, rock), 8pm
THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 7pm
THE JOINT NEXT DOOR
The Loudes (multigenre), 7pm
THE ODD Platitudes, Minorcan & Places (rock), 8pm
THE OUTPOST
Ash Taylor w/Fancy & The Gentlemen & Andrew Wooten (country, Americana), 7pm
THE RAILYARD
BLACK MOUNTAIN
Sugar Bomb (jazz, indie), 7pm
WICKED WEED
BREWING
Stephen Evans (folk, rock), 6pm
FREEWILL ASTROLOGY BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Some centenarians testify they have lived more than a century because they smoked many cigarettes, drank a lot of booze and ate a steady diet of junk food. Should the rest of us adapt their habits? Of course not. The likelihood of remaining healthy while following such an unsound regimen is infinitesimal. Just because a few lucky people miraculously thrived like that is not a sound argument for imitating them. I bring this to your attention, Aries, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to upgrade your commitment to healthy habits. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to love your body better, this is it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus stage magician Doug Henning had lavish ambitions. They served him well as he became a star performer in theater and on TV. “If I produce a 450-pound Bengal tiger,” he said, “it’s going to create a lot more wonder than if I produce a rabbit.” That’s the spirit I invite you to embrace in the coming weeks, Taurus. The cosmos is authorizing you to expand your understanding of what you can accomplish — and then accomplish it. Dream bigger dreams than you have previously dared.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The color of planet Earth is predominantly blue with green, brown and white mixed in. And for people all over the world, blue is more often their favorite color than any other. Why? In part because blue typically evokes peace, tranquility, security, and stability. It’s often used in therapeutic environments, since it makes us feel more at ease about expressing our feelings. I bring these thoughts to your attention, Gemini, because you are entering a blue phase of your cycle. It will be a favorable time to harvest the benefits of relaxing and slowing down. You are more likely to feel at home with yourself and accept yourself just as you are.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Harvard Business School professor Gerald Zaltman, born under the sign of Cancer, says that 95 percent of our buying choices originate in our subconscious minds. Behavioral psychologist Susan Weinschenk believes 90% of all our decision-making is unconscious. But I propose that in the coming weeks, you increase the amount of conscious awareness you bring to sorting out your options. Cosmic energies will conspire in your favor if you do. You will receive unexpected boosts and generate creative enhancements if you resolve to rouse more lucid analysis and careful thoughtfulness.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A wealthy hedge fund manager named Raj Rajaratnam paid Leo singer Kenny Rogers $4 million to perform at his epic birthday party. But the night turned nightmarish for Rogers when Rajaratnam insisted that he sing his hit song “The Gambler” over and over again. Finally, after 12 repetitions, Rogers refused to do more. I wonder if you, too, might soon have to deal with a situation that’s too much of a good thing. My advice: Make sure all agreements between you and others are clear and firm. Get a guarantee that you will receive exactly what you want, and don’t do more than you have promised.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now and then, zoologists decide that their classifications of species need to be revised and refined. For example, three subspecies of soft-furred, teardrop-shaped hedgehogs in Southeast Asia were recently elevated to distinct species of their own. They are no longer considered to be subspecies of Hylomys suillusbut, but are now named H. dorsalis, H. maxi, and H. peguensis. I bring this to your attention, Virgo, because I suspect that you, too, are ready for an upgrade to a new category all your own. It’s time for you to claim greater sovereignty. You will be wise to define how distinctive and unique you are, to distinguish yourself from influences that are superficially like you.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): When mega-famous artist Pablo Picasso was asked how he felt about NASA landing people on the moon in 1969, he said, “It means nothing to me. I have no opinion about it, and I don’t care.” I invite you to use his statement as one of your power mottoes in the coming weeks. Now is an excellent time to identify the experiences, influences, events, and people about which you have absolutely zero interest. Once you do that, I predict you will have a rush of clear revelations about the most interesting experiences, influences, events, and people you want in your future.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu made an observation that could serve as your watchword in the coming months. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,” he wrote, “while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” In my astrological opinion, Scorpio, you are now primed to embody and express these states with unique intensity. If you embrace the inspiring challenge of loving deeply and being loved deeply, you will reach new heights of strength and courage.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many musical instruments must be constantly adjusted to ensure they stay in tune. This usually means that the note A above middle C vibrates at 440 cycles per second — with all other notes tuned in relation to it. Having sung in bands for years, I have seen how guitarists, bass players, violinists and even drummers have to continually attend to their tuning during performances. Imagine the diligent finesse it takes to keep an entire orchestra of many instruments in tune with each other. I suspect that one of your jobs in the coming weeks, Sagittarius, will have similarities to this kind of management and coordination.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Dancing is always good for you, but it will be extra healthy and energizing in the next four weeks. I hope you will be inspired to dance as often as possible, even if you just do it alone in your kitchen or bedroom while listening to music that moves you. Do you need rational explanations for why this is a good idea? OK, here are the hard facts: Dancing reduces stress, raises serotonin levels, enhances well-being, and is excellent physical exercise. Here’s another motivational reason: Dancing literally makes you smarter. Scientific research clearly says so (https://tinyurl.com/SmartDancing). Furthermore: In the near future, you will be in a playful, sexy, exuberant phase of your astrological cycle.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Quo signo nata es?” is the Latin expression for “What’s your sign?” Did anyone in ancient Rome ever say that? Probably not, since it’s a modern idiom. However, astrology was very popular in that society and era. According to scholar Rhianna Padman in her essay “Astrology in Ancient Rome,” Romans “believed that the specific positions of celestial bodies at the moment of a person’s birth could greatly impact their life and character.” Back then, Thrasyllus of Mendes was a prominent astrologer who became a key advisor to Emperor Tiberius. Anyway, Aquarius, I bring “Quo signo nata es?” to your attention so as to inspire the following assignment: Update all your old favorite things. Put new spins on symbols and ideas that have served you for a long time. Take the best parts of your traditions and transplant them into the future.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to declare amnesty about all matters affecting your close alliances. Dissolve grudges, please. Tussle less, play more. Relax your demands and expectations — and nicely ask your companions to relax their demands and expectations. If possible, forgive others and yourself for everything; failing that, forgive as much of everything as feels right. You might even convene a ritual in which you and your intimate collaborators chant the following affirmation: “We are gleefully free to reimagine and reinvent the ways we fit together!”
MARKETPLACE
Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds
RENTALS
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
APARTMENT FOR RENT
Lower level 1 bed 1 bath apartment East of Asheville near Warren Wilson College. Owner shares laundry room. $1050/month, plus $150 for utilities. Includes heat, A/C, and Wi-Fi. 828-545-0043
EMPLOYMENT
GENERAL
READY FOR AN OFF-ROADING ADVENTURE? New Bronco Off-Roadeo location opening in Maryville, TN. We are building a team of Trail Guides, Guest Services, and Vehicle Detailers! Text BRONCO to (313) 585-7123 to APPLY.
HUMAN SERVICES
ONTRACK WNC IS HIRING A BILINGUAL EDUCATOR We will review applications and schedule candidate interviews on a rolling basis beginning Thursday, August 8th until the position is filled. Job description & application instructions: ontrackwnc. org/were-hiring
COMPUTER/
TECHNICAL
TECH/MEDIA SPECIALIST AT ST. PAUL'S UMC Part-time (5-8 hr/wk) Tech/ Media Specialist at St. Paul’s UMC, 223 Hillside St., Asheville: Responsible for developing and maintaining electronic media /audio visual; help us engage/ communicate with the community. iahill72@msn.com stpaulsumcasheville.org
HOME IMPROVEMENT
HANDY MAN
HANDY MAN Ex Professional Brewer has 25+ years experience in the trades, with every skill/tool imaginable for all trades with the exception of HVAC. $35 an hour. Carl (828) 551-6000 electricblustudio@ gmail.com
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-402-6997. (AAN CAN)
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TOP CASH PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D'Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 1-855402-7208. (AAN CAN)
WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. We do complete repairs to protect your family and your home's value! For a free estimate, call 24/7: 1-888-290-2264 (AAN CAN)
YOU MAY QUALIFY For disability benefits if you have are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. Call now! 1-877-2476750. (AAN CAN)
FOR MUSICIANS
MUSICIANS’ BULLETIN
WANTED: BANDMATES FOR ROCK/METAL Possible limited practice space. Bass, drums, other. Equipment necessary. Chevelle, Tool, Måneskin, Clutch, Paramore, Pantera, not Ghost. Text Lee W. (828) 335-0930
1 Over 3,500 feet, for the George Washington Bridge
5 Takes care of 11 “As if!”
Change 16 Secure, as to a pole
17 Nail polish brand with colors like “Berry Fairy Fun” and “Aurora Berry-alis”
20 Start to “starter”
21 Caribbean country whose capital is Castries
22 With it, in old slang
23 Waited for a customer service representative, say
30 Unwritten code?
31 “___ told …”
32 Representative’s affirmative
33 “Shogun,” e.g.
35 Major undertaking?
39 Diana of Motown
41 Melancholy
43 Portent
44 What “down” means in diner lingo
46 Future D.A.’s exam
48 Multivolume ref.
49 “It’s c-c-c-cold!”
50 Divide, as a deck of cards
52
54 With 65-Across, source of this puzzle’s pictorial clues
57 Rival of Chanel
58 “Finding ___” (Pixar sequel)
59 “Razor-billed” bird
60 Knock around, say 64 Company that purchased Time Warner in 2001
65 See 54-Across
67 Greek consonant hidden in the names of two Greek vowels
68 Prepare to release, as a fish
69 “___ Kitchen” (cooking show)
70 Largest of the three-letter numbers
71 Stinging plant
72 Feature of some dresses DOWN 1 Displays, as the time 2 It might thicken or be full of holes
3 ___ Gawande, author of the 2014 best seller “Being Mortal”
4 Poet Pablo
5 For which you might tell a chef “Well done!”
6 Caterpillar roll ingredient
7 Engrave
8 They often take bows
9 Allegro or adagio 10 Prospector’s find
Kilmer of “Top Gun: Maverick”
Burning man?
R&B singer Bridges
Pop star Grande, to fans 47 Nevertheless
Take apart, as 8-Down 53 Contends
Sandwich whose “California” version contains
