Mountain Xpress 09.16.20

OUR 27TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 27 NO. 7 SEPT. 16-22, 2020

CELEBRATE THE

Buncombe election officials brace for heavy turnout

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Pandemic Arts series documents perseverance MOUNTAINX.COM

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Asheville Greek Festival Bottle Riot / formerly District Wine Bar City of Asheville Sanitation Copper Crown Father and Son Home Improvement Flying Squirrel Cleaning Company

Givens Gerber Park Ingles Markets Inc.

6 CHECKING ALL THE BOXES Buncombe County Election Services gears up for 2020 voting crunch

11 COVID CONVERSATIONS Local church spreads hope

14 HEALTH ROUNDUP Website boosts awareness of opioid impact; men urged to get prostate cancer screening

Don’t we all want something to celebrate right now? Xpress’ annual Best of WNC awards deliver — spotlighting the Western North Carolina people, places and institutions deemed the best, as voted by our readers.

COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

3 CARTOON: MOLTON 5 CARTOON: BRENT BROWN 6 NEWS 11 COVID CONVERSATIONS

16 TALES FROM THE WOOD New book explores DuPont forest history

13 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 14 WELLNESS 16 GREEN SCENE

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18 OPEN-MINDED Delayed but undaunted, new restaurants open for business

21 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 23 CLUBLAND 24 MOVIES

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Mostly Automotive Inc. NCWorks / Mountain Area Workforce New Belgium Brewing Organic Mechanic

26 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

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Lean Times Meat Company

21 HISTORICAL RECORD Pandemic Arts series documents how WNC performers persevere

26 CLASSIFIEDS 27 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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BEST OF WNC, PART 1

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STAFF PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose ASSISTANT EDITOR: Daniel Walton STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Laura Hackett, Molly Horak, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR & CLUBLAND: Madeline Forwerck MOVIE SECTION HOSTS: Edwin Arnaudin, Bruce Steele CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, Leslie Boyd, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Alli Marshall, Brooke Randle, Gina Smith, Luke Van Hine, Kay West ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Olivia Urban MEMBERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Laura Hackett MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, David Furr, Brian Palmieri, Tiffany Wagner OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Bowman Kelley BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Lauren Andrews DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Gary Alston, Russell Badger, Clyde Hipps, Joan Jordan, Angelo Sant Maria, Desiree Davis, Charlotte Rosen, Carl & Debbie Schweiger, David Weiss

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OPINION

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

CARTO ON BY R A ND Y MOL T O N

Development rate isn’t ‘sustainable’ [In response to “Head for the Hills: Climate Migration Could Bring Influx to WNC,” Aug. 26, Xpress:] I have been a resident here in WNC since 1983. I have never found it an easy place to find jobs with a living wage, but 30 years ago, you could find rentals and properties on the cheap. Not so now.

But worse has been the trend of mid- to high-end development that’s ravaging the countryside. And in more recent years, we have developments like Olivette touting themselves as eco-friendly, with their own exclusive organic gardens, if you can afford their 3/4 of a million dollar-plus homes and over $2,000 annual fees.

What’s even more disturbing are people singing its praises.

Taking some 350 acres of forested and/or precious farmland and building 50-100-150-plus homes on it is not sustainable or eco-friendly. Ever. Adding more population, cars and demand on natural resources is only going to bring extreme climate change right here faster. This is greed exploiting natural land or farmland.

Nothing less. All the high-end housing draws outsiders and displaces locals. Who hasn’t seen their property values and taxes go up?

The latest trend these developers are using is tag words to appeal to the active environmentalism here: “eco-friendly,” “natural,” “sustainable.” Building large homes is not environmentally friendly ever, let alone dozens of them. Makes me pretty hot under the collar, especially

toward those who have sold out to profit from exploiting these mountains.

I have lived in a little old house I bought 30 years ago. In the last year, 15 houses have gone up around me. Fifteen! My country living is swiftly turning into suburbia. We can’t keep cutting trees and losing farmland at this rate. It’s going to come back to bite us. Hard.

And at my age, I sure hate to become another statistic forced to move just so I can still live in some woods.

— Troy Amastar Alexander

Cawthorn’s comments raise troubling questions In 2017, then 21-year-old Madison Cawthorn told his Instagram buddies: “The vacation house of the Führer. Seeing the Eagles Nest has been on my bucket list for a while, it did not disappoint.

Strange to hear so many laughs and share such a good time with my brother where only 79 years ago a supreme evil shared laughs and good times with compatriots.”

Now he is congressional candidate Cawthorn. Perhaps his immature enthusiasms and apparent idolatry should not be held against him. Probably there is also no reason to question the name of his SPQR Holdings or some of the other critiques in the Jezebel magazine article about his alleged use of white nationalist tropes.

That may be speculative overreach.

But his visit to Berchtesgaden and his comments there raise troubling questions that he has failed to answer. And now that he has been criticized, he defensively uses the Trumpian projection blame game

to silence critics. The comic book language (“supreme evil”) suggests a teenage misunderstanding of the Holocaust.

The “supreme evil” sharing “laughs and good times with compatriots” suggests an admiration for the perpetrators of the Holocaust and the attempted conquest of Europe, which he should now be very eager to explicitly and vigorously deplore.

On his “bucket list” trip, did Cawthorn visit any concentration camp to try to even minimally comprehend the Nazi industrial project to murder all of the Jews of Europe as well as millions more people they considered inferior? ...

It is good that Cawthorn understands that the Nazi regime might have considered him inferior and worthy of extermination because of his disability or for other reasons. ...

Sadly, Cawthorn clearly has never considered how his white privilege lets him make believe that white America paid its debt to Black America because 600,000 people (Black as well as white) died during the Civil War, a war that the slave states initiated in order to preserve white rights to own Black souls. He somehow has no awareness of the subsequent organized destruction of African Americans’ hard-won freedoms by the KKK and ex-Confederate politicians and mobs when they forced the end of the Reconstruction era.

He must not know the phrase “Jim Crow,” nor the systematic use of lynching to intimidate both African Americans and their white allies (not just in the South).

He must not recognize that lynching as a policy anticipated many Nazi tactics in the lead-up to the Holocaust. He must not know that the civil rights movement was no cakewalk to victory and that the civil rights acts of the 1960s have not automatically removed all remnants of the systematic disenfranchisement — political, economic and sociological — of Black Americans that had endured for four centuries up to and beyond the 1960s.

Reasonable people can argue about a program of reparations, but instead of engaging a very difficult issue, Cawthorn has chosen to vilify the very notion that there is still something to repair in our nation’s four centuries of destructive dealings with people just because of the color of their skin.

I wish Cawthorn well as he grapples with the complexities of life in the United States, for all citizens and residents whether they are like or unlike him. He would do well to drop the sloganeering and whining claims of victimization and focus instead on resolving problems in our community, region, state and nation as a whole.

— Paul Weichselbaum Hendersonville Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx.com. Also,

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OPINION Weichselbaum reports that he is volunteering for Moe Davis’ campaign.

In addition, Xpress contacted Madison Cawthorn’s campaign with a summary of the letter writer’s points and received the following response from spokesman John Hart: “Madison Cawthorn has consistently and unequivocally denounced racism in all its forms. The notion that he would celebrate a regime that would have had him — a man in a wheelchair — exterminated is absurd.

“He understands that millions of Americans still face racial injustice and that the work of making our imperfect union more perfect is far from complete.

The Jim Crow era was largely managed

by Southern Democrats who betrayed our founding principles. Madison wants to undo the Democrats’ legacy of racial injustice and mismanagement by creating a future of opportunity, equality and prosperity for all people. As he said in his convention speech, he wants to help America realize MLK’s dream in which we can be judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin.”

Wells brings people together The attraction of the candidacy of Terri Wells for county commissioner is that of a person who realizes our immediate goals must be the same as our long-view goals: goals for the common good. It starts with a conservative nature born of her farming roots and heritage, intrinsic to every family which has sustained itself while working the soil, reading the weather and interacting with animals, plants, the forest and Mother Nature in order

to produce, survive and sustain. Such livelihood can provide the best lessons for working together, planning progressively, while spending frugally and wisely. Terri has principles, which are ones of ancient goodness. Terri’s Buncombe County rural roots, generations old, have produced in her a quality of wisdom.

I respect her as an educator. She has taught public school. That’s a tough job — even more so now. She has worked with the Asheville City Schools’ parents, teachers and students as a professional. Also forthright in her platform, and reemphasized constantly by her, has been the certain need for broadband accessibility for every family and for every business — homeplace or storefront — in Buncombe County.

I have traveled the world widely and, in doing so, worked for several years in two countries known as ancient civilizations. Every time I come home to Western North Carolina, I proudly see that we still for now retain very much treasure that others have lost. But we must sustain our waters, our forests, our land fertility. Asheville and Buncombe County as one can remain viable and resilient even though much of the rest of the world suffers overpopulation, foolish urbanization and agrarian decline — to everyone’s peril. Terri Wells has worked toward and had results from conservancy of Buncombe County agricultural and other productive lands. We must retain our capacity to support our population.

We must integrate our capacity into wise use — urban and rural.

Vote for Terri Wells in District 1. We need her leadership. She will listen and engage as much as humanly possible with

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any person possessing any little bit of horse sense on any topic they wish to pursue with her as our commissioner. She brings people together.

— Lawrence Williamson Asheville Editor’s note: Williamson reports that he’s volunteering for Wells’ campaign.

We don’t need Cawthorn’s nonsense Madison Cawthorn’s candidacy for the N.C. 11th Congressional District is basically a fluke. Mark Meadows should have stayed out of the fray like he said he would.

Instead, he endorsed the best friend of his and [Rep.] Jim Jordan’s wives, Lynda Bennett. Angry at Meadows, 11th District Republicans backed Cawthorn instead of Bennett.

So now the Republicans are stuck with Cawthorn, a 25-year-old, giggly, hormonal, poorly educated, inexperienced young man. Cawthorn, with no adult responsibilities, seems to be stuck in the “coming of age” part of his life. On Fox News, Cawthorn pledged his allegiance to Donald Trump. … He’s supposed to be running to represent us, not Trump, and has zero knowledge of the needs of the people of Western North Carolina. We don’t need this nonsense.

For all our sake, we need to elect Moe Davis. Moe Davis is a retired Air Force colonel and was director of the Air Force Judiciary and former chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay. He has been a law professor, judge, speaker, writer and national security expert for Congress. Moe Davis is an adult with education and experience, folks. He’s running to represent all the people living in all of the 16½ counties of Western North Carolina. Vote for Moe Davis, Democrat for N.C. 11th Congressional District representative.

— John H. Fisher Hendersonville

Ideas to enhance our movie lives via Xpress I know we all miss Cranky Hanke, but he is gone and we must move on with our movie lives. I know that in these COVID-infested times, movies are scarce, especially at movie theaters. I also know that my wife and I are watching more movies than ever. We are just watching them on TV. Back in the day when I picked up my Xpress paper each week, the first thing I did was turn to the last pages and read the movie reviews. Nowadays I still turn to the movie reviews, but unfortunately there is little there worth reading: documentaries, foreign films, biopics, etc. Not very interesting and nowhere to see them.

I know what we are watching: Netflix, Prime TV, Starz, Showtime — the list goes on depending on what each individual subscribes to, and there is quite a selection out there. Why not let your contributors write reviews of good movies being offered by these outlets? Or even better, why not publish some of old Cranky Hanke’s past reviews of movies he previously reviewed that are offered by these outlets? Or solicit your readers to submit reviews of movies they are watching through these outlets?

I know I would certainly appreciate and enjoy reading those reviews more than the obscure offerings I see each week through your present offerings.

— Joe Mason Fairview Editor’s response: Thank you for your feedback. Since the temporary closure of movie theaters in mid-March, Xpress has reviewed numerous major new releases available to rent at home (Bill & Ted Face the Music, The King of Staten Island, Capone, Trolls World Tour) or stream via Netflix (Da 5 Bloods, Project Power, The Old Guard), HBO Max (An American Pickle), Amazon Prime (My Spy, The Vast of Night), Apple TV+ (Greyhound), Hulu (Palm Springs) and Disney+ (Mulan, Artemis Fowl).

But our commitment remains foremost in covering films playing at local independent theaters, which have turned to digital curations made possible by independent distributors that offer profit splits. These decidedly nonmainstream films, all of which may be viewed at home, offer an avenue to support the Fine Arts Theatre and Grail Moviehouse while they — and the North Carolina multiplexes that would otherwise now be showing Christopher Nolan’s Tenet — await clearance from Gov. Roy Cooper to reopen.

Move needle back to moderate with Davis Madison Cawthorn has chosen to make intolerance and polarization a cornerstone of his campaign. He is apparently embracing Trump’s countless lies and distortions, and like his mentor, he demeans Democrats and the social programs that millions rely on.

This divisiveness is not what the country needs, particularly from an upstart ideologue like Mr. Cawthorn. The country is reeling from four years of extremism — attacks on Social Security, health care, democratic checks and balances, the free press, the right of free speech, environmental protections, public education and now disabling the postal system to sabotage the vote. America is being decimated by a dishonest president with a GOP in lockstep, showing indifference to and mismanagement of the worst pandemic and

C AR T O O N B Y B R E N T B R O W N economic collapse the world has faced in recent times — a pathetic response they claim no responsibility for.

We do not need another extreme-right politician to further these misguided policies. We need to move the needle back from the extreme to the moderate.

Democracy will only function when both parties respect and listen to the other’s view and work with each other. Moe Davis has demonstrated this quality over his years of service. He will represent the people, not just the party.

— Jeff Baker Asheville

Growing pains in Arden There I was with my wife, Marguerite, at an upscale Arden nursery. She and an informed staffer are discussing the poor tomato crop this summer and the absence of monarchs this past spring.

Mizz Staffer has all three varieties of lettuce Marguerite desires: freckles, buttercrunch and allstar. They talk of fungi and how to save flora from natural invasives: Spray leaves, insert chemo plugs when sap is rising, drench roots in chemo soaks.

Systemic solutions.

Thinking systemically myself, I mention the extinctionlike event, starting near Albany, N.Y., in 2007 and now throughout the Northeast, Ohio and Virginia, that wiped out bats (a fungal condition,

“white-nose syndrome”). I recommend Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction to Mizz Staffer.

“We have a closing window to address global warming,” I said. “Maybe 15-25 years. In 50 years, adios most coastal cities.”

“Things have to be solved locally,” she said.

“You cannot solve a pandemic locally.

Fifty states going in multiple directions has been a disaster.”

“Well, I don’t want socialism. AOC and that stuff, I’m opposed.”

“We already have socialism. When your house is on fire, what do you do?”

“Call the fire department.”

“Yes, and that is socialism.”

Silence.

“I’m curious,” I say. “What is the difference between socialism and communism?”

“Not much,” she said.

A retired public education administrator, I patiently become the teacher again, explaining the differences between socialism (see Social Security checks, for example) and communism (see no Social Security checks, for example).

“Well, Biden wants to raise taxes.”

“That’s a good thing. It’s going to cost gazillions to retool the economy, rebuild infrastructure and control COVID-19.

That’s just the icing on the cake. The cake is global warming.”

“Well, Biden wants to defund the police.”

It occurs to me that conversations with others are increasingly like the internet. Always something else popping up, like flipping from climatastrophe to law and order.

I defend Biden. “Defund” is Republican rhetoric, say I. A few KKK-types hide behind badges just like pedophiles hide behind rosary beads. And taxes are not what’s important; net income is, how much you have when the smoke clears at the end of the year (not applicable in California). I try to explain how taxes and net income can increase simultaneously.

“Ever hear of the Norwegian trust fund?”

“I have not.”

But we have arrived at the cashier, and, having increasingly paralyzed my wife with random political engagements since the advent of Individual 1, I see in her glaring brown eyes that my life is in danger.

“Sorry, have to go.”

“I enjoyed talking to you both. Please come again.”

“You have good listening skills. Next time, there will be a quiz.”

“Goodbye,” she said, laughing. “And God bless.”

God, the eternal pop-up.

— Joe Guarisco Arden

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

5

NEWS

Checking all the boxes

BY MOLLY HORAK

mhorak@mountainx.com The 2020 elections were already shaping up to be a beast long before face masks and plexiglass shields entered the conversation.

The Buncombe County Board of Elections was adjusting to new rules, which meant that city contests typically held in odd years would now be on the ballot alongside county and state races and the highly polarized presidential faceoff. Meanwhile, Corinne Duncan, the new director of Buncombe County Election Services, was still settling into her job. Nonetheless, the March 3 primary went off without a hitch, despite North Carolina’s first COVID-19 case being diagnosed that morning in Wake County.

At first, Jake Quinn, who chairs Buncombe’s Board of Elections, felt lucky: North Carolina had dodged the COVID-19 bullet and avoided the fate of other states left to complete their primaries under stay-at-home lockdowns.

But then came the second primary, a June 23 runoff to determine the 11th Congressional District’s Republican nominee. Suddenly, Quinn was “very, very concerned” about trying to conduct an election amid mounting coronavirus cases.

In retrospect, however, the runoff turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened, says Quinn.

It gave his team a chance to execute a pandemic-era election, complete with personal protective equipment and social distancing requirements — essentially, a dress rehearsal for the fall’s full run.

And with less than seven weeks left till Election Day, Duncan says her department is prepared to ensure that every county resident can vote safely and securely. “We anticipated this being the biggest election ever, but we did not anticipate COVID-19,” she says with a chuckle. “So this is extra ‘the biggest election ever.’”

AN ABSENTEE AVALANCHE

In more normal times, says Duncan, there are three main steps voters need

to take to get ready for an election: get registered, check your sample ballot and decide whether to vote absentee, early or on Election Day. But this year, as people formulate their voting plans and decide what they deem safe, that last decision may loom extra large.

Typically, only about 5% of North Carolina’s ballots are cast by mail, Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state Board of Elections, said during a Sept. 3 virtual press conference. This year, between 30% and 40% of voters may choose to do so, she predicted.

In 2016, roughly 7,500 Buncombe County residents requested absentee ballots. But as of Sept. 7, that figure had already been “blown out of the water,” notes Duncan: With a month and a half still to go, more than 35,000 people had submitted such requests.

Statewide, more than 784,000 absentee ballot requests had been submitted by Sept. 13, according to the state Board of Elections website.

In North Carolina, anyone can request an absentee ballot, and the process is easy, said Brinson Bell. Request forms can be submitted by email, mail, fax, in person to each county’s main elections office or through an online portal the state launched this month.

After voters submit a completed absentee ballot request form, which asks for their date of birth and either their Social Security or driver’s license number, the appropriate ballot gets mailed out, Duncan explains. In Buncombe County, a team of 20 volunteers and 10 staff members assigned to process those requests is able to send out approximately 5,000 ballots per day.

Completed absentee ballots can be returned either by mail or in person at the Election Services office, 77 McDowell St. in Asheville. To streamline the process, a designated intake station has been set up in the parking lot, says Duncan.

Voters can also return absentee ballots at early voting sites, but only from Oct. 15-31, and even then, they may have to wait in line, she adds.

Meanwhile, cuts to the U.S. Postal Service, including limits on overtime, reduced hours and the removal of high-speed sorting machines, are fur-

Buncombe County Election Services gears up for 2020 voting crunch

MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT: Volunteers work to process absentee ballot requests and mail out voting materials ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. When fully staffed, the team at Buncombe County’s Election Services can process up to 5,000 ballot requests each day. Photo courtesy of Corinne Duncan ther complicating this year’s absentee voting. After the March primary, local postal workers reached out to the Buncombe Board of Elections to discuss what had gone well and what areas needed improvement, notes Quinn, laying the groundwork for a strong working relationship in the runup to the general election.

“I hadn’t seen that kind of outreach and open lines of communication between Election Services and the Postal Service before,” he says. “That gives me a big boost in confidence, because we want everyone to feel confident in the process and knowing their vote is going to count.”

The official deadline for submitting an absentee ballot request is Tuesday, Oct. 27. However, postal officials are recommending that all such requests be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 20, to ensure that the completed ballots arrive

by Election Day, stresses Duncan. To make sure their votes are counted, however, she’s advising those who plan to submit either ballot requests or completed ballots by mail to do it two weeks ahead of the applicable deadline.

KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE

But even if voters request an absentee ballot, notes Quinn, they’re not obliged to use it. So despite the surge in such requests, Election Services can’t assume that in-person voting will be reduced by that amount.

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Buncombe County plans to operate 16 early voting locations from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Saturday, Oct. 31. At every site, social distancing measures will be in place, and all voting machines will be sanitized after each use. All voters are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, says Duncan, but no one will be turned away for failing to do so.

And with heavy turnout expected and an unusually long ballot, she’s urging all voters to look up their sample ballot ahead of time to expedite the process. “If you come prepared, it will help move the line along and will also minimize the time spent in the voting enclosure,” notes Duncan.

In the past, Election Services has struggled to recruit enough poll workers to staff early voting sites and Election Day precincts. This year, though, folks have been volunteering in droves, Duncan reports. As of Sept.

7, there were only 15 open spots left for early voting staffers, and all but about 90 of the 700 poll workers needed for Election Day and as backups had already signed on. However, the fact that Buncombe County has far more registered Democrats than registered Republicans has made it harder for elections staff to find enough of the latter in filling the remaining spots, she says.

All poll workers will be required to wear face coverings and gloves and use hand sanitizer frequently, Duncan explains. At check-in stations, plexi-

“The earlier you vote, the easier it is for us to keep pace with the electoral process.”

— Jake Quinn, chair, Buncombe County Board of Elections

‘BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER’: As of Sept. 7, more than 35,000 Buncombe voters had requested an absentee ballot, as pictured above. Statewide, more than 618,000 absentee ballots were requested before Labor Day, and the number is expected to rise. Photo courtesy of Corinne Duncan glass shields will separate voters and staff, and during early voting only, a map on the Election Services website, updated every 15 minutes, will show the estimated wait times at all 16 locations, to minimize close contact while standing in long lines.

Quinn, too, is encouraging folks to figure out how they want to vote and then get it done early. “Voting on Election Day is a tradition, but this year, I feel that a lot of people have pretty much made up their minds whom to vote for,” he says. “The earlier you vote, the easier it is for us to keep pace with the electoral process.” Although both absentee and early voting returns will be tracked as they come in, the results won’t be officially tabulated and made public until Election Day or later.

ANTI-HACKING STRATEGIES

Last winter, election officials were most concerned about security issues, notes Quinn. Accordingly, teams from both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the N.C. Board of Elections visited the Buncombe County office early in 2020 to ensure that the correct systems were in place and the equipment was up to date.

Buncombe County uses paper ballots, which makes them less vulnerable to hacking, says Quinn. The county does maintain an electronic poll book to keep track of voter information, but the computers used by volunteers aren’t connected to the internet, so hackers can’t break in and manipulate the information.

The electronic poll book also catches people attempting to vote more than

once, he continues. Intentionally voting more than once or even attempting to do so is illegal, Quinn reminds voters, notwithstanding recent remarks by President Donald Trump encouraging North Carolina voters to try and vote twice to test the integrity of the elections system.

All submitted absentee ballots are reviewed by a bipartisan team of election officials and are checked again by the county Board of Elections during a public meeting before being included in the official vote counts, Duncan explains. Votes cast at early voting sites are tallied daily, she says, and on Election Day, all votes are checked again at the end of the night. If there’s any question about registration status, voters can complete a provisional ballot, which is flagged for later review.

Duncan’s biggest concern, though, is the spread of misinformation, which her office has limited control over. “That’s where people’s fears can

be manipulated,” she points out. “If people have any questions they need answered, they need to come to the source, which is our office and the state Board of Elections office. That’s it.”

Despite the challenges and the fact that there’s still a long way to go before the final count is approved, however, Quinn says he’s heartened by the number of community members who are stressing the importance of this year’s contest and doing all they can to boost public awareness.

“So many people are so passionately interested in making sure that their vote is cast, their vote is counted and that this election goes smoothly,” he says.

“You see it all over the place: There are people helping us recruit poll workers, people using social media, people writing letters to the editor or talking to their friends about how important it is to vote. Because the more people who vote, really and truly, the more legitimate the outcome is.” X

We’re Open Thur-Fri 5-9 Sat-Sun 11:30-9 828-350-0315 SMOKYPARK.COM

Buncombe County’s 2020 Voting Timeline • Sept. 4: The first absentee ballots mailed out.

• Oct. 9: Online or mail-in voter registration ends (eligible voters can still register in person at early voting sites through Oct. 31).

• Oct. 15: Early voting begins at 16 locations across Buncombe County.

Voters can also deliver absentee ballots to these sites.

• Oct. 20: Last day the U.S. Postal Service recommends requesting an absentee ballot.

• Oct. 27: Last day to request an absentee ballot.

• Oct. 31: Last day for early voting in Buncombe County.

• Nov. 3: Election Day. In-person voting will be held in 80 precincts.

All mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by this date, and those hand-delivered must arrive at Election Services by 5 p.m.

• Nov. 6: Mailed absentee ballots must arrive at the Buncombe County Board of Elections by this date in order to be counted.

• Nov. 13: The Buncombe County Board of Elections will conduct its official ballot count and declare the winners. X

fe r i n g f o w o N d i n i ng r o o d t ou out e k a t d an

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM

NEWS

Long night

BY MOLLY HORAK mhorak@mountainx.com Asheville City Council’s meeting of Sept. 8 was jampacked with discussions surrounding hot-button issues.

The city’s hotel moratorium, its response to early June protests over the police killing of Black Minneapolis resident George Floyd and amendments to the city’s development ordinances for tree canopy preservation were all on the docket.

ANTANETTE MOSLEY APPOINTED TO COUNCIL Antanette Mosley is the newest member of Asheville City Council. As decided by Council’s six current members, the attorney for Atlanta-based firm Alston and Bird will fill the seat vacated by Vijay Kapoor until 2022.

Sheneika Smith nominated Mosley for the role, despite her not being a “household name” like several of the other finalists. “I think she’ll bring a lot of valuable perspective to our deliberations, based on her lived experience as a fifth-generation native and her career experience as a successful Black female attorney,” Smith said.

Smith’s nomination was backed by Mayor Esther Manheimer, as well as Council members Gwen Wisler and Julie Mayfield. Brian Haynes and Keith Young both voted for Robert Thomas, the community liaison to Asheville’s Racial Justice Coalition and an outspoken supporter of community reparations for the city’s Black residents.

In her application for Council, Mosley stated that she would “firmly embrace investments” backed by local advocacy group Black AVL Demands, including supporting Black start-ups, eliminating the racial opportunity gap in schools and funding an all-civilian oversight committee to hold the Asheville Police Department accountable.

“Fundamentally stated, Asheville cannot and will not become a truly equitable and diverse society until intentional investment in the Black community occurs,” Mosley wrote.

“Given the long history of oppression, each and every policymaking undertaking must have an eye toward the advancement of the Black community.”

Mosley’s appointment to serve alongside Smith and Young means

Council supports hotel moratorium extension, appoints Antanette Mosley

the seven-person Council will have three Black members for the first time; as of 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Asheville’s population to be 11.7% Black. She will be sworn in at Council’s next meeting of Tuesday, Sept. 22.

HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS MISS THE MARK

Asheville’s hotel critics can breathe easy for a little longer. Council expressed unanimous support for extending the city’s hotel moratorium — previously set to expire later in September — an additional five months, giving Council and city staff more time to fully develop new standards for hotel development.

Todd Okolichany, Asheville’s planning and urban design director, gave Council a detailed update on the status of the Urban Land Institute’s hotel development study during the meeting. Last fall, the city contracted with the nonprofit consultancy to assess how new hotel development could better meet community needs, he said.

ULI recommended an incentive-based approach to review all future hotel proposals. Points would be awarded for public benefits, such as affordable housing options or a living wage for all employees; technical standards, such as maximum height; and an assessment by a design review board. If a hotel met the requirements for all three categories, Okolichany said, it could be approved at the staff level, a shift from the current conditional zoning process that requires Council review.

But Council members were skeptical of the proposed plan, claiming it would do nothing to slow the pace of hotels.

“This system is not designed to limit hotel development; it’s just making a clear path to do so if we pass the recommendations as I’ve seen them,” Haynes argued. “We’re in the midst of a pandemic. We’ve got hotels opening back up that a lot of us didn’t even want to have opening in the first place. And we’re going to talk about building more and returning to the system that was failing us to begin with?”

“If I’m going to take Council out of this role, the requirements have to be really, really high and stringent for me,” added Mayfield.

ON PAUSE: New hotel development is off the table for five more months as Council members and city staff work to develop new standards and regulations for future lodging applications. The 132-room AC Hotel, pictured, opened in 2017.

Photo courtesy of McKibbon Hospitality Instead of going ahead with a twomonth moratorium extension, as had been proposed by staff before the meeting, Council unanimously expressed support for a five-month extension. In that time, members will hold a work session on requirements for future development and send

those recommendations to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission for incorporation.

Two public commenters also backed a five-month extension, urging Council

CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

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N EWS

Stands of mature trees, more than any other greenspace, increase the overall health and well-being of people living or walking nearby.

The RRI and Asheville GreenWorks envision a city in which all residents live within a short walk of a healthy urban forest.

With your generous donation you can helpensure that these trees will continue to invigorate Asheville’s South Slope.

To learn more and donate, visit the Ravenscroft Reserve Initiative at ashevillegreenworks.org/RRI. Donations are tax-deductible and directly support this preservation effort.

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INTERNAL REPORT ON APD PROTEST RESPONSE DRAWS CRITIQUE

All tactical decisions during Asheville’s protests for racial justice in June — including the use of chemical weapons and the destruction of a protester medical station — were made entirely by Asheville Police Department officers, City Attorney Brad Branham told Council as he shared his internal review of the events.

According to Branham’s report, City Manager Debra Campbell directed APD Chief David Zack to “keep people safe” on May 31. With the exception of Manheimer, who requested support from the National Guard, no member of Council provided any direction to Campbell or the APD during the protests. But determining Council’s culpability in the response, argued public commenters at the close of the meeting, was beside the point.

“I did a little Googling after I heard the city attorney’s report,” said David Greenson. “I was curious if the

Why I support Xpress:

Minneapolis City Council had their city attorney put together a report suggesting that none of their members had specifically ordered officers to kill George Floyd. I wondered if they felt it was important to make it superclear that none of these politicians had actually told anyone to put a knee on George Floyd’s neck until he was dead. Because frankly, that’s the only analogy I can think of for the report we heard tonight.”

Haynes disputed that the events detailed in the report were “facts.”

Only Council and APD officers were interviewed; unless Branham’s office reviewed every bit of footage and talked to protesters, Haynes said, calling the presented timeline factual was “less than accurate.”

Earlier on Sept. 8, Zack had informed Council’s Public Safety Committee that he planned to finalize APD’s own internal report, including any resulting disciplinary action, within the next 90 days. That was too long to wait, argued Smith. Instead, she called for frequent updates from Zack while concurrently gathering protesters’ stories.

“We need truth,” Smith said.

“Everything hinges on this moment.

If this goes wrong, then the conversations to reimagine the police doesn’t go right. We have a lot to figure out.”

A WIN FOR ASHEVILLE’S TREES

Council also unanimously approved three amendments to Asheville’s Unified Development Ordinance to require tree preservation in commercial and residential areas.

The amendments outline how much canopy cover sites must include and add measures to incentivize preservation over new growth. Developers will also have the option to pay a fee-in-lieu if they cannot or choose not to comply with the canopy cover requirements. X

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members to consider their recent commitment to reparations for the Black community as they developed new hotel standards.

“It’s really easy to move to Asheville as a young, white professional, and that is at the expense of people who’ve been living here for generations, specifically at the expense of our Black community — that’s the legacy of urban renewal,” said Daniel Ullom, a civil engineer who said his work in the community had been spurred by the city’s growth. “Hotel development was good for my bank account and career, but it is not good for the city in the long run.”

Because of virtual meeting requirements, Council will not officially vote to extend the hotel moratorium until its Sept. 22 meeting.

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Prayer fence Local church spreads hope

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HANG ON: “We hope this prayer fence lightens the worries and concerns of people in our church and community,” says Merri Alexander, interim pastor at Mills River Presbyterian Church. Photo courtesy of Mills River Presbyterian Church Over 100 brightly colored ribbons hang from a chain link fence at Mills River Presbyterian Church. When there’s a breeze, says church elder Kathy Ziprik, the ribbons stir, and the installation looks “absolutely lovely. It flutters.”

But the ribbons aren’t just for decoration. Each streamer bears an individual prayer sent by congregants, neighbors and strangers alike.

“It’s a way for people — even though we are physically separated because of COVID — to be able to put their prayers out there,” says Ziprik, who launched the congregation’s prayer fence project in mid-August New prayers continue to her inbox.

From personal matters (including one young congregant worried about her stuffed animal’s recently lost eye) to national and global concerns. Though

the majority of participants are local, the church elder says she has also received emails from California, Ohio and Florida residents who learned about the project through social media platforms.

“It’s very moving and emotional and gratifying when people send me their prayers,” Ziprik continues. “I always write them back and tell them how honored we are to help bring those prayers out.”

Ziprik notes that anyone interested in participating can send their messages directly to ZiprikPR@gmail.com.

“I have six different spools of colorful ribbon here right now,” she says.

The prayer fence project will conclude on Wednesday, Sept. 30. All prayers are anonymous.

— Thomas Calder X

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

11

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

FEA T U RE S

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘The most outstanding tourist attraction’ Biltmore opens to the public, 1930 On Feb. 16, 1930 — four months after the stock market crashed — the Sunday edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times congratulated the Asheville Chamber of Commerce for a job well done. The organization, the paper wrote, successfully “persuaded [Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil and her husband, John Francis Cecil] to open Biltmore House to the public[.]”

The private mansion, completed in 1895 by Cornelia’s father, George Vanderbilt, would attract “thousands of tourists” upon its March 15 opening, the paper predicted.

Soon, newspapers from across the country carried the announcement, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported on March 2, 1930. Clippings from The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Post and several other publications had been received by the Chamber of Commerce, the article added.

Admission prices were not initially released in the weeks leading up to the big event. Papers, including the Arizona Republic and Michigan’s The Times Herald both casually projected entry would run between 25 and 50 cents (or roughly $4-$8 in today’s dollar). But on March 12, The Asheville Citizen reported the official fee: $2 for adults and $1 for children 12 years old and younger (or roughly $31 for adults and $15.50 for children in today’s dollar). Despite the higher costs, criticism, if any, was seemingly absent in print.

The Chamber of Commerce ran an ad in the following day’s paper, asserting that Biltmore provided Asheville with “the most outstanding tourist attraction of any resort in the country.”

On March 15, 1930, an estimated 300 people attended the grand opening.

However, the paper continued, the former politician also offered words of caution. “Ex-Governor Weeks does not believe that a city should try to gain its full growth and attain its greatest possibilities through the entertainment of tourists alone,” The Asheville Citizen wrote.

In the same article, Weeks provides an optimistic take on the country’s overall economy: “Mr. Weeks said that he has no fear of the future for any portion of the country and that business conditions are already growing healthier, recuperating from the crash, and that the future years will be ones of careful business activity, but nevertheless progressive and prosperous. He believes that Asheville has a double advantage and should carry along both its lines, those of attracting industries and tourists together.”

HUMBLE ABODE: Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil, left, and her husband, John Francis Cecil, address the crowd at Biltmore Estate’s 1930 public opening. Photo courtesy of E. M. Ball Collection, Special Collections, D.H. Ramsey Library, UNCA In the next day’s paper, The Asheville Citizen described “photographers, Pathe sound picture men, newspaper men and visitors” crowding the entry “eager to be the first to gain access to the great manor.” But according to the article, the honor went to Asheville’s mayor, Gallatin Roberts.

Five days later, the paper spoke with Frank B. Weeks, former governor of Connecticut and a visitor to the estate.

“Opening of Biltmore House furnishes one of the greatest attractions Asheville could have added to its list of attractive things,” Weeks declared.

As the year progressed, Weeks’ hopeful outlook proved just that. By November, Central Bank and Trust Co. closed in downtown Asheville. Three months later, Roberts —Biltmore’s first official guest — killed himself with a .38-caliber revolver in the bathroom of his law office inside the Legal Building on Pack Square. At the time, the then-former mayor was facing corruption charges related to mismanagement of city funds. (For more, see “Asheville’s Bond Fears: The Legacy of a Financial Nightmare,” Oct. 20, 2016, Xpress) Despite the growing economic catastrophe, Biltmore welcomed 39,052 guests between its opening day and June 30, 1931. Visitors arrived from every state, as well as 42 countries — among them Australia, Japan, Syria and Sudan.

Editor’s note: Peculiarities of spelling and punctuation are preserved from the original documents. X

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR SEPT. 16-25, 2020 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar.

For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, ext.

137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, ext. 320.

In-Person Events = Shaded

Panel discussion with educators and advocates.

WE (9/16), 4pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84j

Women’s Self-Defense Workshop TU (9/22), 5:30pm, Free, Steps to HOPE, 60 Ward St, Columbus

Spanish Conversation Group For adult language learners.

TH (9/24), 5pm, Free, avl.mx/7c6

Intro to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle How to avoid penalties and save money.

TH (9/24), 2pm, Registration required, Free, coabc.org

All other events are virtual ECO & OUTDOOR ART Third Thursday in Marshall Open studios and galleries.

TH (9/17), 5pm, Free, Downtown Marshall Slow Art Friday: Is It Art? Part 3 Discussion led by touring docent Hank Bovee at Asheville Art Museum.

FR (9/18), 12pm, Registration required, $10, avl.mx/prv1 Haywood Library: DIY Pressed Flower Luminaries Using waxed paper and Washi tape.

TU (9/22), 9am, Free, avl.mx/88q BMC: Ruth Asawa's Radical Universalism Presentation on art as activism by Jason Vartikar.

WE (9/23), 1pm, Free, avl.mx/87z Jackson County Public Library: ARTrageous Virtual art class. Supplies available for pickup at the library.

TH (9/24), 10am, Free, avl.mx/88o Slow Art Friday: Seasons of Change Discussion led by master docent Sarah Reincke at Asheville Art Museum.

FR (9/25), 12pm, Registration required, $10, avl.mx/88a

LITERARY Malaprop's Author Discussion Featuring Julian Winters and Adam Sass.

WE (9/16), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/87j Stay Home & Write(rs) Group Community writing session hosted by Firestorm.

WE (9/16), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/83c UNCA Visiting Writer Series Sharon Harrigan, author of Half and Playing with Dynamite.

WE (9/16), 7:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/89b Firestorm Visionary Readers Group Cindy Milstein's Deciding for Ourselves: The Promise of Direct Democracy, part 2.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Regis-

Asheville GreenWorks: WNC Big Sweep Community river and roadside cleanup effort.

Learn more: avl.mx/85d.

Ongoing (thru 9/20)

tration required, Free, avl.mx/88p SIBA: Reader Meet Writer Featuring Margaret Kimberley, author of Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/87l YMI Cultural Center: Black Experience Book Club Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/854 Firestorm Author Event: Beyond Alternatives to the Prison Industrial Complex Featuring Maya Schenwar and Victoria Law, authors of Prison by Any Other Name.

FR (9/18), 6pm, Registraton required, Free, avl.mx/85f Malaprop's: Writers at Home Readings by Great Smokies Writing Program faculty.

SU (9/20), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/88h Malaprop's Book Launch James L. Leloudis and Robert R. Korstad, authors of Fragile Democracy: The Struggle Over Race and Voting Rights in North Carolina.

MO (9/21), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/87m Malaprop's Book Launch Melissa Korn and Jennifer Levitz present Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions Scandal.

TU (9/22), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/87n Firestorm Poetry Reading Arhm Choi Wild presents Cut to Bloom.

TU (9/22), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/897 Malaprop's Author Discussion Deesha Philyaw presents The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.

WE (9/23), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/88i CRAFT: Authors in Conversation Featuring Kate Andersen Brower, author of Team of Five.

WE (9/23), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/88j

MountainTrue University: Faith, Ecology & Race Reverend Tami Forte Logan in conversation with Scott Hardin-Nieri of Creation Care Alliance.

WE (9/23), 12pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/898

REST IN POWER: On Sept. 9, the Weizenblatt Gallery at Mars Hill University launched a faculty exhibit, with gallery director Skip Rodhe’s “Say Their Names” among the featured pieces. The work includes portraits of 13 people killed by police or vigilantes, including George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. The exhibit will remain on display through Friday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Photo courtesy of the Weizenblatt Gallery⁣ UNCA Visiting Writers Series Angela Morales, author of The Girls in My Town.

WE (9/23), 7:30pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/89c

THEATER & FILM Suspense: Ghost Hunt Radio drama performance.

WE (9/16), 8pm, The Paper Mill Lounge, 553 W Main St, Sylva Movies in the Parking Lot: Jumanji, The Next Level Directions: avl.mx/86h.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Free, A-B Tech, 340 Victoria Rd Reel Spirit Movie Project: The Truman Show Discussion with Center for Spiritual Wisdom.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Free, avl.mx/851 The Magnetic Theatre: The Jingler One-act dark comedy.

SA (9/19), 7pm, $15, avl.mx/87t Asheville School of Film Video Village: On Production Featuring director Sherwin Shilati.

SU (9/20), 3pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/85j Willingham Story Slam: The Masks We Wear Hosted by Yadkin Arts Council.

TH (9/24), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/89g They Who Overcame: Stories of Hope & Resilience Center for Cultural

Preservation short film based on oral histories of Southern Appalachia.

TH (9/24), 7:30pm, $5, avl.mx/894 The Magnetic Theatre: Crimes, Missed Demeanings & Videotape Outdoor sketch comedy revue.

FR (9/25), 6:30pm, $30/ carload, Keller Williams parking lot, 86 Asheland Ave Heart & Soul Dance: Flesh & Conflict Interpretive dance presented by Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.

FR (9/25), 7:30pm, avl.mx/886

CIVICS & ACTIVISM Silent Vigil for Immigration Reform FR (9/18), 4pm, Henderson County Courthouse, 200 N Grove St, Hendersonville Rally to Reconcile Sylva With speakers and music.

FR (9/18), 6pm, Jackson County Public Library, 310 Keener St, Sylva Interfaith Vigil for Racial Reconciliation & Justice Service with speakers, music and a vigil.

MO (9/21), 6:30pm, Free, Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Ave, Sylva Asheville Homeless Initiative Advisory Committee General meeting.

TU (9/22), 12pm, avl.mx/88c

Voter Registration Day Free assistance with registration and ballot requests. Forms provided.

TU (9/22), 1pm, Swannanoa Library, 101 W Charleston St, Swannanoa Asheville City Council Formal meeting with public hearings.

TU (9/22), 5pm, avl.mx/83l UNCA: At the Intersection of Racism & Anti-semitism Social justice workshop by Yavilah McCoy. TU (9/22), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/89i

ANIMALS WNC Nature Center: Virtual Brews & Bears Live animal footage, bear safety tips and a raffle.

TU (9/22), 7pm, $10, avl.mx/89k

BENEFITS Swannanoa Valley Museum: AbsenTea Fundraiser Tea talk, quiz competition and a raffle.

TH (9/24), 6:30pm, $35, avl.mx/89p

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY Incredible Towns Business Network General meeting.

WE (9/16), 11am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/7g8 Foundations of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Associaton of Fundraising

Professionals presentation

by Aisha Adams.

WE (9/16), 11:30am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/7xo How to Write a Business Plan HCC webinar with Russ Seagle.

TH (9/17), 4pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/895 UNCA Economics Webinar Series II Featuring Dr. Dietrich Vollrath, economics professor at the University of Houston.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/86b Mountain BizWorks Orientation Info session on resources for new business owners.

FR (9/18), 10am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/88r WNC Nonprofit Pathways: Coffee Hour Talk on the Nonprofit Fundamentals Certificate Program.

TU (9/22), 8:30am, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/887 Find Your Customers Using Social Media Digital marketing seminar.

TH (9/24), 1pm, Registration required, Free, Isothermal Community College Small Business Center, 286 ICC Loop Rd, Spindale

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS OLLI: Educational Equity for Students of Color

Pop up 5k in the Park WE (9/23), 6pm, $10, Fletcher Park, 300 Old Cane Creek Rd, Fletcher

FOOD & BEER Take-home Oktoberfest in a Box Beer, brats and sides from local vendors.

Pre-order: avl.mx/87t.

SA (9/19), 11am-2pm, Catawba Brewing, 32 Banks Ave Drive-Thru Asheville Greek Festival Menu: avl.mx/89e.

FR (9/25), 11am-2pm, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 227 Cumberland Ave

WELLNESS Adult Eating Disorder Support Group Hosted by Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders.

WE (9/16), 6pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/82e Recovery Support Meeting Hosted by First Contact Ministries.

TH (9/17), 6:30pm, Free, avl.mx/7ko Jackson County Public Library: Pirate Yoga All ages.

SA (9/19), 10am, Free, avl.mx/88m

Recovery Support Meeting Hosted by First Contact Ministries.

TH (9/24), 6:30pm, Free, avl.mx/7ko

KIDS Haywood Library: Sail, Skim, Soar All about flight and how to make your own paper glider.

WE (9/16), 9am, Free, avl.mx/86g EcoEXPLORE: Insect Adventure Outdoor science activities.

WE (9/16), 2pm, Registration required, Free, Madison Library, 1335 N Main St, Marshall NC Arboretum: ecoEXPLORE Skills Session How to identify snakes.

TH (9/17), 1pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/899 History Explorers: Quilts Learn about quilt colors, patterns and symbols, and create your own.

Kindergarten thru 2nd grade.

SA (9/19), 10am, $5, Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 W State St, Black Mountain Discovery Station: Monarch Caterpillars Drop-in education program.

SA (9/19), 10am, NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way Jackson County Public Library: Imagination Walk Intro video plus printable outdoor adventure guide.

TU (9/22), 10am, Free, avl.mx/88n Miss Malaprop's Storytime Ages 3-9.

WE (9/23), 10am, Free, avl.mx/73b

SPIRITUALITY

Tranzmission: Transformers Support Meeting For people who are nonbinary, trans and/or exploring their gender identity.

SA (9/19), 2pm, Free, avl.mx/867

Bahá'í Devotional: Creating Inclusive Spaces Prayer and music.

WE (9/16), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/prv0

Steady Collective Syringe Access Outreach Free educational material, naloxone, syringes and supplies.

TU (9/22), 2pm, Firestorm Bookstore Co-op, 610 Haywood Rd

A Spiritual Revolution: The Quest to Experience God Christian Science Asheville webinar by Giulia Nesi Tetreau.

TH (9/17), 7pm, Registration required, Free, avl.mx/84c

MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

13

HEALTH ROUNDUP

by Xpress Staff | news@mountainx.com

Website boosts awareness of opioid impact When a grieving parent approached Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger looking for ways to help raise awareness around opioid-related deaths, she spurred a change in how data and public records intertwine. Using public information from death certificates, the Sheriff’s Office and Buncombe County Emergency Management Services, Reisinger and his team used geographic information systems to help tell the story of the opioid epidemic in Buncombe County.

“We use GIS every day to help us track parcels of land, create street maps and help connect our residents to their parks,” said Reisinger. “By harnessing the same technology, we can tell the story of our friends, neighbors and loved ones who we’ve lost to this cruel and unrelenting epidemic. That story, we hope, will help raise awareness and connect people in need to resources that are available.”

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

The project can be viewed at buncombecounty.org/opioids and is best viewed on a larger screen with an up-to-date web browser.

Mission doctor urges prostate screening

VISUALIZING A CRISIS: A website developed by the Buncombe County Register of Deeds office uses public data to illustrate the rate of fatalities stemming from opioid overdoses over time in Buncombe County, as well as providing other information. Screen capture from website The website pulls publicly available information ­ — such as trends over time and demographics ­ — to show how deaths from opioids have impacted our community and who has been affected. In Buncombe County, the majority of overdoses since 2010 have occurred primarily in white males between the ages of 20 and 39. The website shows the occupations of those who have died: psychologist, electrician, chef, homemaker and more.

Deputy Register of Deeds Miranda Stewart, who pulled this project together, shared more about the process: “Using data specific to Buncombe County helps us better understand where and how our community has been affected. Although

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state data is useful, it can take up to a year or longer to receive, making it difficult to understand if current policies and programs are helping in the community we have the privilege to serve.”

In addition to charting patterns and demographics, the website also provides connections to support.

“One thing we want our community to be able to take away from this is that these were individuals whose lives mattered,” said Buncombe County opioid response coordinator Amy Upham. “And, secondly, that help is available. Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers, MAHEC and Vaya Health all have resources to help if you or someone you love is wanting to enter treatment.”

September is prostate cancer awareness month, and Dr. Quinton V. Cancel of Mission Urology shared some tips with Xpress: • “ After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 191,000 men will be diagnosed and more than 33,000 men will die from prostate cancer in 2020, making it the second-leading cause of cancer-related death behind lung cancer. Even though 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, most of those men will die with prostate cancer rather than from it.

• “ Those at greatest risk include African American men, men older than 60 and men who have a first-degree relative (brother, father, son) with prostate cancer.

• “ The screening for prostate cancer consists of two items: a simple blood test called the prostate-specific antigen and a digital rectal exam. Both tests are required for proper screening.

• “ Strategies for treating prostate cancer range from active surveillance (monitoring only) to definitive treatment with robotic surgery or radiation to other options in between. This is a personal deci-

sion that should be made once you have been thoroughly advised and understand the risks and benefits of each option and have discussed it with your loved ones.”

New on the scene

• A new Henderson County program got underway at the beginning of this month to provide peer support services within 72 hours to people who have experienced an overdose. Peer support specialists from The Free Clinics work with county Emergency Management and local emergency departments to identify and meet with affected individuals, as well as those who have recently been released from detention.

• P ardee UNC Health Care will open three new clinics in Brevard offering urgent care, physical therapy and orthopedic services staffed by providers from Southeastern Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, a department of Pardee Hospital. Located in the former Rite-Aid building at the corner of N.C. Highway 280 and New Hendersonville Highway in Pisgah

Forest, the clinics will begin seeing patients on Wednesday, Sept. 16, after a private ribbon-cutting ceremony that morning.

• With funding from the Highlands Cashiers Health Foundation, Eliada expanded the area in which it provides foster placement services to include Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. Eliada says its goal is to keep children entering the foster system in their home counties and near their natural supports.

Five-star review

The Charles George VA Medical Center joins 265 hospitals in receiving the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ highest rating — five stars. Based on consumers’ assessments of hospital performance on measures such as how well doctors and nurses communicate with patients, how quickly staff responds to call buttons, how well they explain medications and the overall cleanliness of the facility, the ratings reflect

responses collected Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019.

On the market Like many other enterprises, Asheville Yoga Center has shifted much of its programming online, offering over 40 classes every week.

AYC’s two yoga teacher training programs have continued virtually.

In-person programming has also resumed in a limited way, with outdoor classes meeting almost daily.

Although Gov. Roy Cooper’s recent Phase 2.5 order permits fitness facilities like AYC to restart indoor programming at reduced capacity, the company has chosen to watch and wait a bit longer before taking that leap, says Melissa Driver, the company’s general manager.

Now the business — including its brand, two buildings and yoga boutique inventory — is looking for new owners. The transition is the next step in changes brought about by the divorce of the company’s founders, Stephanie and Sunny Keach, which was first announced last year, according to Driver. X

MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

15

GREEN SCENE

Tales from the wood New book explores DuPont forest history

BY DANIEL WALTON dwalton@mountainx.com Like a good walk through the wilderness, DuPont Forest: A History doesn’t take the most straightforward route to its destination. The newest offering from Asheville-based outdoors writer and occasional Xpress contributor Danny Bernstein navigates the proverbial switchbacks through over 200 years of stories about the land that now comprises DuPont State Recreational Forest in Henderson and Transylvania counties.

A discussion of Cherokee rock carvings is shortly followed by a guided tour of the forest’s three most popular waterfalls. Praise from the many mountain bikers who use its trails sits close to a mention of how The Hunger Games safely filmed Jennifer Lawrence running across Triple Falls. Archival photos of DuPont’s silicon manufacturing plant, which once dominated the property, rub shoulders with Bernstein’s own shots of modern-day hikers.

Where the book arrives, Bernstein says, is an appreciation of how the forest’s history remains accessible to the present. “In Pisgah [National Forest] or the Smokies, it’s very difficult to know exactly who owned the land before it became public. With DuPont, it’s not,” she explains. “You can trace all of the land to somebody who sold it or gave it away to the state.”

Bernstein will debut DuPont Forest: A History in Asheville through a virtual event hosted by Malaprop’s

INTO THE WOODS: Danny Bernstein’s new book about the DuPont State Recreational Forest offers the first comprehensive survey of the area’s history. Book cover courtesy of Bernstein, author photo by Erin Major Bookstore/Café on Thursday, Sept.

17. The livestreamed conversation will also feature Holly Kays, the Waynesville-based outdoors editor and news reporter for Smoky Mountain News.

LINKS TO THE PAST

While most previous writing on the forest (including Bernstein’s most recent Xpress article; see “Beyond the

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Del., which focuses on corporate history. The Brevard plant published its own magazine, Fotofax, which Bernstein says combined basics such as company policy reminders with jokes and announcements of outdoors fun.

From a representative 1960s newsletter, Bernstein quotes one witticism appropriate to the era: “No wonder today’s teenagers get mixed up. Half the adults are telling him to find himself and the other half to get lost.”

Bernstein emphasizes that the book contains no secrets about the forest or its owners, just the results of diligent research and a genuine interest sparked during hikes with former DuPont employees through the Carolina Mountain Club. “Anything that everybody told me was something that anybody could have found out, had they spent two years on their butt trying to do this,” she says with a laugh.

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Waterfalls,” Sept. 19, 2018) has highlighted what she calls “the drama” of preserving the land around DuPont’s waterfalls, the author wanted to take a deeper approach. Her resulting book represents the first comprehensive survey of the area’s history.

Among her most delightful interviews, Bernstein says, were Western North Carolina residents who had experienced the land’s recreational joy as children in the 1950s and ’60s, decades before the 1996 establishment of the state forest. Some had stayed at Buck Forest Lodge, a fishing and hunting club near High Falls that closed in 1956, while others had swum in the lake established as a DuPont employee recreation area.

“We’d play at High Falls all day, hiking and sliding down a tributary of the falls. After two or three trips down the falls, our jeans were ripped, but so what?” recalls Ellen McCotter, about her visits to Buck Forest Lodge as a teenager. “Maybe we got back to the lodge for a sandwich when we were hungry.”

Those conversations are supplemented with extensive archival material, drawing from both the Transylvania County Library and

HOLE IN THE STORY

At over 200 pages, DuPont Forest: A History feels as if it leaves few questions unanswered. Yet Bernstein says one issue is something no one can currently resolve: the fate of the “doughnut hole,” a 476-acre plot surrounding the former manufacturing plant that sits in the middle of the forest.

Although the doughnut hole is off-limits to the public, Bernstein was able to visit with Chet Meinzer, who oversees DuPont’s cleanup operations at the site. Nearly all of the buildings and chemical contaminants have been removed at this point, she reports, but government regulators still have to sign off on the work; after that, the N.C. Forest Service must develop a plan for the land, which could add years to the process. “Frankly, I don’t think I’m ever going to see it open,” she says.

Whether that last piece of the forest is reserved as a wildlife buffer or developed with trails, Bernstein adds, DuPont will continue to prove a major draw for lovers of the outdoors.

She notes that she’s seen license plates from as far afield as Canada in the parking lot for the forest’s waterfalls, while national bicycling magazines have used its trails to test new equipment.

The forest’s past may be rooted in WNC, but its future will be part of a broader picture. “It is no longer a local forest,” Bernstein says. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but it ain’t.” X

MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

17

FOOD

Open-minded

Delayed but undaunted, new restaurants open for business

BY KAY WEST

dinner bar & patio open wed-sun 4:30 - 9

patio dining by reservation no-contact take out & online ordering delivery via kickbackavl

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kwest@mountainx.com Even in normal times (remember those?), “opening soon” is an ambiguous timeline. Hung on the front of a vacant building or shared via social media, it’s more hopeful than “opening soon-ish.” It’s also fairly safe: Is “soon” next week? Next month? Next year?

More than most new businesses, restaurants are vulnerable to vagaries beyond their control, and COVID-19 has created even more speed bumps on the path from “opening soon” to “now open.” And yet, with the optimism, determination and grit that are prerequisites for restaurant owners, the following entrepreneurs made course changes and kept going, eyes on the prize.

Asheville Proper

Chef Owen McGlynn, who spent eight years as executive chef at Storm Rhum Bar, says he and his wife, Mindi McGlynn, had been working on their concept for a live-fire restaurant for five years. They made the decision last year to just do it, partnering with Mercy and Russell Joseph to find Mindi’s aesthetic vision in a space in the Grove Arcade. Demo and buildout began simultaneously with the custom construction in California of a 9-foot Argentinian-style grill. The first “opening soon” press release about Asheville Proper was sent in December 2019.

“The shutdown actually helped us in some ways,” says chef McGlynn. “We were able to get familiar with that grill, learn the fire, the heat and the coals.

We try to do some sort of char, smoke or burnt something in everything, so there’s a hint of live fire in every dish, including the s’mores. That gets a little messy, but people love them.”

Asheville Proper opened July 6 to outdoor and reduced-capacity indoor dining, with a menu of locally sourced beef, seafood from Charleston and produce from regional farmers. “The grill definitely draws people in,” says McGlynn. “You can see it and smell it from the street. People love fire.” More at avl.mx/87f 18

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FIRED UP: Chef Owen McGlynn uses live fire from his custom-built 9-foot Argentinian grill to cook almost everything, from meat to veggies to dessert, on the Asheville Proper menu. Photo by Lynne Harty

Rye Knot

Bob Byron, principal owner of Rye Knot in North Asheville, is counting on people loving chef Ben Dunbar’s (formerly of Rise ’n’ Shine Café and Farm to Fender food truck) plated pub food, whiskey distilled on-site and nine large-screen TVs. Plans to open a neighborhood joint were seeded two years ago when a friend in the restaurant business in Durham suggested he open a restaurant with a still. “He knew I had attended the brewing, distillation and fermentation program at A-B Tech,” Byron explains.

Byron signed the lease in July 2019 on the space at 868 Merrimon Ave., which had been vacant for five years, applied for a distilling and brewery permit and began construction in October 2019. “In mid-March we were pumping and churning to get open the end of April,” Byron recalls. “COVID slowed that considerably.”

Construction was completed the end of July, and Rye Knot opened its 40 patio seats and 75 indoor distanced seats Aug. 21. In the concept trilogy, the distillery focuses on rye, bourbon and single malt whiskeys, and five house beers are on tap. On the menu, the signature rye knots — rye pretzel knots with house-made pub mustard

— are out-of-the-gate winners, but Bryon says he expects the Cosmic Poutine (an homage to the location’s origin in 1974 as the Cosmic Ballroom), burgers and house-smoked meatloaf to gain a following. More at avl.mx/87g

Rabbit Rabbit

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. and The Orange Peel’s considerable fan bases can now celebrate the partnering of the two businesses at Rabbit Rabbit, which opened with a slightly revised game plan on Aug. 27. “We were running out of summertime,” says Asheville Brewing’s Mike Rangel, who partnered with Orange Peel’s Liz Whelan Tallent in July 2019 to purchase the Wells Fargo bank branch building on Coxe Avenue and convert it to an outdoor entertainment venue.

Rabbit Rabbit will be open daily with events on select dates. For example, Rangel says, they plan to air the BidenTrump and Harris-Pence debates live on their 20-foot outdoor screen. Expect a brisk business in adult beverages for those events — a dozen Asheville Brewing beers are on tap, and the bar menu features specialty cocktails with a house-made lemonade base, like the Thumper, which includes strawberry

purée liqueur. Rangel’s AVL Tacos & Taps food truck is parked on-site for walk-up orders, with pizza next door at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. More at avl.mx/87h

Pie.Zaa You say pizza, Tyler Kotch and Jack Morrissey say Pie.Zaa, the name of their newly opened pizzeria, which boasts whole pies bigger than hubcaps and slices 12 inches wide and 15 inches long. Size matters, says Kotch, a Pennsylvania native (Pirates fan) and Morrissey, a Massachusetts native (Red Sox fan). They are also fans of New York-style pizza and are doing their best to re-create that experience on the South Slope.

The young entrepreneurs with professional backgrounds in the medical field found their location at 46 Millard Ave. last fall, signed the lease in January and began the build-out. They also set about building the perfect pizza, consulting with Sam Grossman of OWL Bakery to create their dough, tested more than 20 cheeses, a dozen sausages, oodles of pepperoni and made batch after batch of sauce. “The delays caused by COVID kind of helped us,” says Morrissey. “Our landlord and bank were good to us, and we had time to get everything right.”

They enlisted friends and random passersby on Millard Avenue to taste test. “Our landlord looked at a slice and said, ‘It’s huge! How do I eat it?’” says Kotch with a laugh. “We’re thinking of printing instructions to hand out with every slice.” As any New Yorker can easily demonstrate, one simply folds the slice in half lengthwise and consumes it from tip to crust, mindful of grease dripping down the forearm.

Pie.Zaa offers five pizzas by the pie or slice, one a rotating special based on collaborations with local breweries and businesses such as Burial Beer

Why I support Xpress:

and Sierra Nevada; drinks include beer, wine and liquor slushies. More at avl.mx/879

10th Muse with DoughP Doughnuts

Christian Watts, owner of 10th Muse Coffee in Biltmore Village until his lease ran out at the end of 2019, worked at warp speed from the moment he added “opening soon” to the sign outside the closed Frostbite Ice Cream space at 1475 Patton Ave. in mid-August right up until he debuted what he describes as a “wonderland of tasty treats” on Labor Day weekend.

“I had originally wanted to get in the ice cream business,” says Watts. “But instead I got into fried dessert and then the coffee business. When I saw the Frostbite location was available, I thought there was room enough for all three.”

A collaboration with chef Jay Medford of Storm Rhum Bar and Bistro and the Underground Café brought Medford’s wildly popular DoughP Doughnuts to the busy fryer.

Watts is keeping Frostbite’s soft-serve machines but has tweaked the formula to create a thicker, almost frozen custard consistency, he says.

For now, Watts is calling the coffee-ice cream-fried dessert-doughnut business 10th Muse with DoughP Doughnuts. Counter service inside and the drive-thru window are operating, with outside seating on the patio set to expand into the parking lot. “Jay and I are having so much fun coming up with these crazy concoctions,” says Watts with the glee of a kid set free in a candy store. “It’s all about spreading sweet love.” More at avl.mx/87o Believe it or not, there’s more. Next week, look for Part 2, field reports from newly opened Asheville restaurants. X

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

19

F OOD

Fast food

Jewish Family Services suggests breaking the Yom Kippur fast with breakfast for dinner

WHAT’S COOKIN’: Chef Rachel Kalin will prepare a kosher meal to break the Yom Kippur fast and benefit Jewish Family Services. Photo by Jasper Delaini Leave it to COVID to break a tradition that dates back thousands of years. While Yom Kippur, Judaism’s holiest day of the year, will still be observed — beginning this year at sundown Sunday, Sept. 27, and ending at sunset Monday, Sept. 28 — services will be held virtually, not in temples or synagogues.

A 25-hour period of fasting will still be observed by many, though the meal that marks the end of the fast will look different this year as well. “We won’t be gathering together to celebrate two nights of Rosh Hashana [the Jewish New Year] or the traditional breakthe-fast meal after Yom Kippur,” says Jessica Whitehill, executive director of Jewish Family Services of Western North Carolina. “I was thinking of how we might offer that meal and raise some funds.”

Specifically, Whitehill was referring to supporting the JFS holiday meal program, which delivers kosher meals to isolated seniors for Rosh Hashana, Hanukkah and Passover. The meals are prepared by chef Rachel Kalin, who 20

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

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pre-COVID also prepared lunch for the JFS’s Elder Club, which normally meets 11 a.m.-2 p.m. three days a week in the organization’s office.

What Whitehill came up with is a Break Your Fast catered meal, prepared by chef Kalin. “Though the fast ends at sunset, most American Jews have a light meal that looks more like brunch,” she explains. The menu for Break Your Fast includes a bagel from Joey’s Bagels in Hendersonville, housesmoked salmon cream cheese, a salad sourced from the River Arts District Farmers Market, and a sweet-savory kugel (noodle pudding). Breakfast for one is $18, for two $32, and must be ordered by Sunday, Sept. 20. Meals can be picked up at the JFS office on Biltmore Avenue, or for an additional $10, will be delivered.

“JFS programs are open to people of all faiths,” Whitehill clarifies. “And so is the Break-the-Fast meal.” More at avl.mx/87w.

— Kay West X

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Historical record

Pandemic Arts series documents how WNC performers persevere

BY JAMES ROSARIO jamesrosario1977@gmail.com Hendersonville-based documentary filmmakers Deni and Will McIntyre are no strangers to traditional music or television production. Their PBS series, “David Holt’s State of Music” — which they produce through their nonprofit, the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation — has been on the air since 2015.

Featuring the revered Fairview-based musician interviewing fellow performers from across North Carolina, the award-winning program was gearing up to shoot its fifth season when the COVID-19 lockdown began in March.

Their production plans for the new season went from being temporarily rescheduled to canceled until further notice, and, like many creative types, the McIntyres found themselves at a loss for what to do next.

With venues shuttered and festivals on hold, it didn’t take long for the longtime professional partners to realize they’d have to adapt. More importantly, they understood that the musicians and performers they love were likely being hit harder than they were.

“Back in April, when we were all pretty much staying at home, we came up with an idea for doing something that would be much more timely and that we could do as streaming only,” Deni says.

With these goals in mind, the pair decided to use the many contacts they’d made over the years to make a new show — one focusing on how local performers and venues have been coping with a near-complete loss of audiences and income. Thus was born “Pandemic Arts.”

“People were starting to do a lot of streaming concerts — performing online with [digital] tip jars and Patreon accounts and things like that,” says Deni, who serves as the show’s director and editor. “But what we weren’t seeing was a sense of community where the performers were talking about how they were actually being affected.”

Through a combination of performances and interviews, “Pandemic Arts” steps inside the day-to-day routines of regional artists and business owners who make up a small but significant slice of the local tourist economy.

Featured artists such as Zoe & Cloyd, Jennifer and Darren Nicholson, and

HOME STYLE: Director Deni McIntyre, left, prepares to film Natalya Zoe Weinstein of Zoe & Cloyd for an episode of “Pandemic Arts.” Photo courtesy of the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation their old friend Holt, plus representatives from such venues as Isis Music Hall and, most recently, Flat Rock Playhouse, provide firsthand accounts of how they’re coping with the pandemic, both personally and creatively.

“What’s really been interesting is it’s not just the same tale of woe from everybody,” Deni says. “It’s not necessarily what you’d expect.”

Will, who serves as the show’s producer, concurs: “What we’re seeing is a lot of performers looking to online things. They’re trying to figure out

how to make an online delivery system work for them. It’s tougher for some than others.”

Forced to adjust their production procedures to match pandemic-recommended distancing practices, the McIntyres have cut their crew to less than half of what they usually use on “David Holt’s State of Music.” In the new setup, Will takes on occasional cinematography and audio duties while Deni acts as grip — aka camera tripod and dolly technician.

“We had to do some modifications, because when we go out and do ‘David Holt’s State of Music,’ we have basically a crew of 10,” Will says. “With ‘Pandemic Arts,’ it’s a lot more intimate. We’re going into people’s homes ...” — which, Deni interjects, might be something that some of their interviewees haven’t experienced in six months — “... so we really had to consolidate jobs.”

In addition to providing a spotlight for struggling artists and venues, “Pandemic Arts” also serves as a historical record: The entirety of the series will be archived at the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Appalachian Studies at Mars Hill University.

“They’re going to be the repository of everything that we gather,” Will says.

“We’re aware that we’re going through this now, and I hope in five years we’re going to look back at this and go, ‘Wow, man! That was a strange time.’”

With financial support courtesy of the Community Foundation of Henderson County and the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund, and with help from Blue Ridge Music Trails — whose sound engineers edit a condensed audio-only podcast version of the episodes that air periodically during “Morning Edition” on WNCW — the McIntyres hope to keep the show streaming for as long as it remains relevant.

“This series is topical and timely,” Deni says. “Of course, you don’t get the eyeballs you do with a network broadcast show. For now, this is just streaming, but I think more and more people are streaming, so it’s not the little cul-de-sac that it used to be.” But, she adds, “performers need audiences,” and until live music and theater return to their pre-COVID states, outlets like “Pandemic Arts” provide artists and venues the exposure they may need to weather the storm. avl.mx/88s X

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

21

A& E

Hunger speaks

Allan Wolf explores the Donner Party in his latest novel-in-verse Allan Wolf loves a good tragedy. After chronicling passengers on the Titanic in The Watch That Ends the Night and the hardships of the Lewis and Clark expedition in New Found Land, the Ashevillebased author turns his attention to the Donner Party in The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep.

“Disasters are fascinating,” Wolf says.

“You know what’s going to happen, and you know it’s going to be bad, but the characters don’t. And so, anything they do is laced with irony and foreboding and foreshadowing, and it’s obvious to you but not to them. I kind of like that. It may be cheap, but I kind of dig it.”

Staying busy during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which he describes his state of mind as being on “a roller coaster ride down a rabbit hole,” Wolf spoke with Xpress about his newest book (published on Sept. 8), which charts the tale of the ill-fated pioneers who found themselves snowbound in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846-47.

On choosing his latest subject: A lot of times, I’m looking for an event in history that includes multiple people, multiple generations, multiple genders, multiple everything — many voices from different classes and different parts of the world or whatever. And if I can find something that happened in history that we think we know about — it’s sort of on our radar but we don’t really know what happened — that, to me, is worth looking at.

On separating fact from legend: As a rule, the more recent things that are written about something in history are usually the most accurate. But a lot of times, the things that are more recent have just been repeating something that’s wrong over the course of many years, and it becomes fact, but you can go backwards and find out exactly where the myths arose. What happened in history is like a big, tangled knot … and if you think about all those strings, those are the different people telling their version of the story.

And what you have to do is go through and untangle that knot and separate out every strand and follow that strand back to the source.

On going “method” in his pre-writing investigations: I did some ancillary research, too, into starvation — the stages of starvation — which is fascinating. And also into cannibalism, of course. I interviewed some people who had actually felt what it was 22

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MOUNTAINX.COM

SALT OF THE EARTH: Asheville-based author Allan Wolf says he’s drawn to write about real-life tragedies largely because “they star normal people.” Author photo

by Charley Akers like to begin to starve to death. And I spent a lot of time in the cold. I tried to get through the winters without a coat, just so I could kind of feel miserable.

On choosing Hunger as the book’s narrator: You always kind of audition people.

You’re like the movie producer — you don’t even have a script sometimes. You know you want to do a movie about X, Y, Z, and you sort of have a concept of what the thing will look like and what the style will be. And I knew that because this is the Donner Party and because the thing that is dangling in front of people’s minds is cannibalism, that has a sort of dark and grisly and fascinating, “you can’t turn away from the train wreck/ carnage” kind of fascination that we have as humans. Because of that darkness, it seemed to me that some sort of a dark and creepy, foreboding character like … you know, Charon, the boatman of the River Styx [should narrate]. Death has been a narrator in many different books over the course of time, and Hunger just seemed to pop out.

Hunger doesn’t really have a body, though Hunger is definitely a thing that we all can relate to. Hunger has been with us forever, and there’s a timelessness to this entity, just like if I have the iceberg talk [in The Watch That Ends the Night], the iceberg is made of 10,000-year-old ice. The iceberg’s been around and seen

a lot, and so has Hunger. And so I can use Hunger to talk about, “Well, here are the different stages of starvation,” and it makes sense that Hunger would know that because he’s Hunger, but also he can tell you what happens in the future, if he wants. He can do and say anything.

He can talk about what happened on the other side of the world. He can talk about what happened to Jesus, if he wants to.

That’s the kind of narrator I like. You can really make some comments.

Why a novel about the Donner Party is “the perfect thing to read during the pandemic”: [The characters are] full of courage and very resourceful, and they’re more skilled than we are today. They could do so many more things. But they’re just normal people, and I think we can all relate to them, especially when they’re supposed to be taking care of their children and they can’t. How do you keep your humanity in a situation like that?

So I guess this book, like COVID, it’s just a bunch of average, normal people who have something thrust upon them. And in one way, we’ve walked into it voluntarily, but at the same time it’s not the way that we planned it. And, also, nobody wants to die, but so often we really find out what it means to be alive when we’re confronted with death. allanwolf.com

— Edwin Arnaudin X

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TRISKELION BREWERY Jason’s Technicolor Cabaret: Music & Comedy, 7pm BALSAM FALLS BREWING CO. Open Mic Night, 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Gunslinging Parrots (Phish tribute), 8pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Friday (Grateful Dead tribute), 5:30pm IAMAVL q Downtown After 5 w/ The Fritz & Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, 5:30pm, avl.mx/86n MAD CO. BREW HOUSE Hope Griffin (solo acoustic), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ The Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass), 6:30pm THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ 5j Barrow (rock, folk), 7pm DRY FALLS BREWING CO. Swing Step (jazz, swing), 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Sumsun (electronic), 8pm

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 BURNTSHIRT VINEYARDS Ben Phantom (bluegrass, jazz), 2pm

& Empire Strikes Brass, 7pm, avl.mx/88x THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ The Mid Majors (alternative, soul), 7pm GUIDON BREWING Comedy Night, 7pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Folkadelic 3, 8pm WILD WING CAFE Karaoke Night, 9:30pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke Show w/ Billy Masters, 10pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 2pm SAINT PAUL MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS Hummingtree Band (folk), 2:30pm RIVERSIDE RHAPSODY BEER COMPANY Drinkin’ & Thinkin’ Trivia, 5pm TRISKELION BREWERY JC & the Boomerang Band (Irish trad, folk), 6pm 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam, 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert: A Return to Peter Paul & Mary, 6:30pm MOUNTAIN SPIRIT q Terry Klein (folk), 7pm, avl.mx/87p ICONIC KITCHEN & DRINKS UniHorn (funk), 7pm MAGGIE VALLEY FESTIVAL GROUNDS The Grey Eagle: Drive-In Concert w/ Sam Bush Band (new grass), 7:30pm

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Buddhagraph Spaceship (rock, jam), 5pm

ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam w/ Banjo Mitch McConnell, 6pm

BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah’s Daydream (jazz), 6pm

HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6:30pm

ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ Black Sea Beat Society (Balkan, world), 6:30pm

OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Night, 7pm

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Team Trivia Tuesday, 6pm

THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Chris McGinnis & Mamaw's Angels, 6pm HOMEPLACE BEER CO. Nick Gonnering (solo acoustic), 7pm

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. French Broad Valley Mountain Music Jam, 6pm 185 KING STREET Team Trivia & Games, 7pm MOUNTAIN SPIRIT q A Tale of Two (Americana), 7pm, avl.mx/87q TRISKELION BREWERY InterActive TriskaTrivia, 7pm TWIN LEAF BREWERY Open Mic w/ Thomas Yon, 7pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL The Lasso Twins (rock, psychedelic), 8pm SOVEREIGN KAVA q Poetry Open Mic, 8:30pm, avl.mx/76w THE PAPER MILL LOUNGE Karaoke X, 9pm THE SOCIAL Karaoke w/ Lyric, 10pm

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 LAZY HIKER BREWING Open Jam, 5pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Collin Cheek (solo acoustic), 6pm ISIS MUSIC HALL Lawn Concert w/ Alien Music Club Jazz Quartet, 6:30pm MOUNTAIN SPIRIT q Roger Street Friedman (folk, Americana), 7pm, avl.mx/884 THE GREY EAGLE Patio Show w/ Graham Sharp (bluegrass, folk), 7pm TRISKELION BREWERY Jason's Technicolor Cabaret: Music & Comedy, 7pm

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SEPT. 16-22, 2020

23

MOVIE REVIEWS THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS

Hosted by the Asheville Movie Guys EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com HHHHH

BRUCE STEELE bcsteele@gmail.com

H PICK OF THE WEEK H

revealing whether the prison Veronica finds herself in is mental, physical or both.

Overall, Monáe proves a superb vessel for this exploration of creeping dread with her steady, commanding presence, though a handful of clunky line readings suggest she might not quite be ready for leading roles — but more likely point to the filmmakers having room to improve in the dialogue department.

Nevertheless, as the truth comes to light and wholly earned revenge is doled out, Antebellum makes good on its paranoia-inducing potential and joins the ranks of its fellow genre greats.

Available to rent starting Sept. 18 via Amazon Video, iTunes and other streaming services REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

Antebellum HHHHS DIRECTORS: Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz PLAYERS: Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, Jena Malone THRILLER RATED R Consistent with the best social thrillers, Antebellum is so terrifying because it seems so plausible.

The impressive feature film debut by music video directors Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz (Jay-Z; Khalid) starts on a plantation during the Civil War, featuring the familiar dynamic between oppressive white overseers and Black slaves who are forced to pick cotton and aren’t allowed to speak without permission.

Similar to 12 Years a Slave, what separates this material from uninspired depictions like that of, say, Harriet is a visual and technical acumen, which the writers/directors showcase from the film’s opening frame. The long, complex Steadicam shot confidently tracks through the sprawling, pristine Confederate property, establishing the setting and the atrocities that take place within it via one magnificent yet horrible stretch — a stunning juxtaposition of human brutality and natural beauty that persists throughout the film.

24

Kevin Evans

= MAX RATING

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

Further separating Antebellum from its peers, however, is the inescapable sense that something isn’t quite right — beyond the basic awfulness of people owning people. The manner with which new arrival Julia (Kiersey Clemons, Hearts Beat Loud) speaks to fellow captive Eden (Janelle Monáe) is too modern for the 1860s, and authentic as the period dress and buildings appear, it also seems as if everyone might be playing dress-up.

The possibility of the situation being a sadistic twist on the social-experiment compound in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village becomes more plausible when Eden wakes from this apparent nightmare in contemporary Washington, D.C., where she is acclaimed author Veronica Henley — married with a loving husband and an adorable daughter.

This brilliant structure of jumping to the present after an extended stay in wherever it is that Eden and Julia reside keeps suspense high and our guessing rampant regarding precisely what’s happening. Drawing on such varied (yet connected) influences as “The Prisoner” and Get Out, Bush and Renz forge their own cinematic path by tapping into the fears inherent in current elevated race tensions and an increasingly divided nation, gradually

MOUNTAINX.COM

Blackbird HHHS DIRECTOR: Roger Michell PLAYERS: Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Sam Neill DRAMA RATED R Set in a sprawling modern masterpiece of a beach house on the East Coast, Blackbird unfolds like a play but in fact is based on a 2014 Danish film with an equally impenetrable title, Silent Heart.

Susan Sarandon plays Lily, who is fighting a losing battle against ALS, over the course of one weekend in New England. Her husband is warm, supportive physician Paul (the stalwart Sam Neill), and the two of them are expecting three carloads of guests: the couple’s two adult daughters and the latters’ partners, plus Lily’s best friend since college, Liz (the wonderful Lindsay Duncan, Birdman).

The film’s director is the rightly respected Roger Michell (Notting Hill; My Cousin Rachel), which accounts for the A-list cast. Kate Winslet has the thankless role of older daughter Jennifer, who seems grossly insensitive to everyone else’s feelings, including those of her husband, Michael (Rainn Wilson). Mia Wasikowska has the meatier part as younger sister Anna, a lesbian with an on-again, off-again lover (Bex Taylor-Klaus, Dumplin’)

and a deep well of anxieties. Common sense seems to have skipped a generation, as teenage grandson Jonathan (Anson Boon, 1917), is more stable and self-aware than either his parents or his aunt.

The various confessions and explosions are not especially original, but neither are they overplayed, so the story unfolds with a palpable humanity.

It’s the kind of movie that earns respect and engagement without ever bowling you over with its emotional power.

Since the screenplay could easily have collapsed into weepy melodrama, it’s a credit to Michell that it builds credibly to its bittersweet conclusion with a sympathetic realism that’s greater than the sum of its recycled parts.

In troubled times, pending death may not be the easiest sell, but Sarandon and most of her co-stars give such well-crafted, unshowy performances that the film is oddly comforting. It suggests even tragedy can impose some order on our personal connections — and that’s a message worth contemplating.

Available to rent starting Sept. 18 via Amazon Video, iTunes and other streaming services REVIEWED BY BRUCE STEELE BCSTEELE@GMAIL.COM

Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock ’n’ Roll HHHHS

DIRECTOR: Jon Brewer PLAYERS: Nile Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr., Joe Bonamassa DOCUMENTARY NOT RATED Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock ‘n’ Roll begins in unorthodox fashion for a documentary, opening on a couple of actors reenacting actual high and low points from the musician’s storied life. These short, predominantly B&W segments are utilized throughout the film as smartly placed segues, and though lovers of traditional documentaries may find them annoying, I found them revelatory.

However, the traditionalists shouldn’t fret, for there’s plenty of hardy, nitty-gritty roots. Director Jon

Brewer successfully captures all of the moods, twists, answers, mysteries and lessons one would expect of such a notable subject of 20th century U.S. history — brilliantly and tragically presenting Charles Edward Anderson Berry as a man who not only broke the law at times but breached color codes and lines as well.

Throughout the film, viewers are expertly schooled on the fundamentals of survival, both inside and outside of the music business. The ever-present duality of man is notably represented — especially the difference between Chuck Berry the rock star and Charles the family man.

The list of interviewees ranges from Keith Richards, Gary Clark Jr. and Berry’s wife and children to record-industry executives and plenty of other figures. Berry’s childhood is also explored and alluded to lightly, in contrast to his teenage and influential early adult years. All told, the film is an interesting undertaking that has great potential to engage many generations, and certainly not merely Berry’s fans.

REVIEWED BY KEVIN EVANS K.A.E.0082@GMAIL.COM

The Devil All the Time H DIRECTOR: Antonio Campos PLAYERS: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Mia Wasikowska DRAMA RATED R Everyone in The Devil All the Time cast needs to hire new agents.

Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, Mia Wasikowska, Bill Skarsgård, Riley Keough, Eliza Scanlen, Jason Clarke and others embarrass themselves in this unimaginative adaptation of Donald Ray Pollock’s novel, a pointless exercise in depicting multigenerational Appalachian strife and a colossal waste of time and talent.

Co-writer/director Antonio Campos’ hapless follow-up to his marvelous Christine recycles a drab collection of post-World War II hillbilly clichés and prioritizes character-building over storytelling, yet only keeps a few players around long enough to make an impact.

The film’s assortment of hard-luck Ohioans and West Virginians, hypocritical preachers and crooked cops engage in and/or fall victim to predictable bad behavior, which is almost always followed up with sneak-attack, fistfight retaliation that’s apparently meant to offer some sort of sage com-

mentary on the inescapable nature of violence. (Or maybe this is Campos’ and/or Pollock’s idea of a good time?)

If that repetitive nonsense wasn’t sufficiently mind-numbing, the filmmaker also squeezes in one of the least interesting serial killer narratives possible to tie together otherwise disparate arcs, part of a doomed effort to compensate for the lack of engaging material with an eye-rolling “small world” convergence of these dull characters.

All of what happens on a physical and psychological level can be comprehended by a toddler, but Campos nonetheless recruits Pollock to spell out precisely what these cardboard cutouts have done and are thinking via some of the most overbearing voiceover narration in recent memory.

Toss in suspect accents from non-American actors and a bloated, 140-minute run time, and there’s no reason to add this dud to your Netflix queue.

Available to stream starting Sept. 16 REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

AVAILABLE VIA FINEARTSTHEATRE.COM (FA) GRAILMOVIEHOUSE.COM (GM)

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At the Video Store (NR) HHHHS (GM) Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint (NR) HHHS (FA) Chuck Berry: The Original King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (NR) HHHHS (GM) Coup 53 (NR) HHHHH (GM) Creem: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine (NR) HHHH (GM) Critical Thinking (NR) HHHH (GM) Desert One (NR) HHHH (FA, GM) Driven to Abstraction (PG) HHS(FA) Epicentro (NR) HHHH (GM) F11 and Be There (NR) HHHH (FA) Fantastic Fungi (NR) HHHH (FA) Flannery (NR) HHHH (FA) Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful (NR) HHH (FA) I, Claude Monet (NR) HH (FA) I Used to Go Here (NR) HHHHS (GM) Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (NR) HHHHH (FA, GM) John Lewis: Good Trouble (PG) HHHH (FA) Made in Bangladesh (NR) HS(GM) Meeting the Beatles in India (NR) HHS (FA) The Mole Agent (NR) HHHH (GM) Mr. Soul! (NR) HHHHS (GM) My Dog Stupid (NR) HHHH (FA) Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin (NR) HHHH (GM) Out Stealing Horses (NR) HHHHS (FA) Papicha (NR) HHH (FA) Proud (NR) HHH (FA) Represent (NR) HHH (GM) River City Drumbeat (NR) HHHHS (GM) Someone, Somewhere (NR) HHHH (FA) Starting at Zero (NR) H (FA) The Surrogate (NR) HHHHS (FA) The Tobacconist (NR) HHHS (FA) Vinyl Nation (NR) HHHS (GM) You Never Had It: An Evening with Bukowski (NR) HHHS (FA) MOUNTAINX.COM

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): In one of your past lives, maybe you were a Neanderthal midwife in what’s now southern France. In another incarnation, you may have been a 17th century Guarani shaman who shared your knowledge about local plants with an Italian Jesuit missionary in what’s now Uruguay. All the powers and aptitudes you perfected in those and other previous ages could prove helpful as you cultivate your genius in the coming weeks. JUST KIDDING! Cancel my previous speculations. For you Aries folks, past achievements are often of secondary importance as you create your future. In fact, your mandate is usually to transcend the old days and old ways. It may be better not to imitate or rely on old stories, no matter how dazzling.

This will be especially true in the coming weeks.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “There are no ordinary feelings,” says poet Dean Young. “Just as there are no ordinary spring days or kicked over cans of paint.” That’s always true, but it will be especially true for you in the coming weeks. I suspect you will be host to a wealth of interesting, unique and profound feelings. They might be a bit overwhelming at times, but I think they will mostly provide rich opportunities for your soul to grow deeper and stronger and more resilient.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “There should be a science of discontent,” said novelist Frank Herbert.

“People need hard times and oppression to develop psychic muscles.” I partially agree with that observation but I also think it’s a gratuitous cliché that’s not at all absolute. In fact, our culture is under the spell of a mass delusion that tempts us to believe “no pain, no gain” is the supreme learning principle. I’d like to see the development of a robust science of contentment: how fascination and freedom and generosity can build psychic muscles. You’ll be a good candidate to study that subject in the coming weeks.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian songwriter Mathangi Arulpragasam is better known by her stage name M.I.A. She has accomplished a lot in her 45 years on the planet, having been nominated for three Grammy Awards and an Academy Award.

Esquire magazine named her the 75th most influential person of the 21st century. One key to her success is the fact that she formulated a clear master plan many years ago and has used it to guide her decisions. In her song “Matangi,” she refers to it: “If you’re gonna be me, you need a manifesto / If you ain’t got one, you better get one presto.” I bring this to your attention, Cancerian, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to formulate (or re-formulate) your life manifesto and master plan.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran playwright Wendy Wasserstein wrote, “Every year I resolve to be a little less the me I know and leave a little room for the me I could be. Every year I make a note not to feel left behind by my friends and family who have managed to change far more than I.” I recommend Wasserstein’s practice to you, dear Libra. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to launch this ritual as an annual tradition. For best results, write it out as a vow. I mean take a pen and paper and compose a solemn pledge, then sign it on the bottom to seal your determination.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I may not lead the most dramatic life,” confesses singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, “but in my brain it’s War and Peace every day.” He was referencing Leo Tolstoy’s sprawling, exuberant 1,200-page novel War and Peace, which features stories about five families who lived through Napoléon’s invasion of Russia in the 19th century. I’m guessing that these days your fantasy life may also be filled with epic fairy tales and heroic sagas and tear-jerking myths. Is there a problem with that?

Not necessarily. It could be quite entertaining and educational. I do recommend that you keep your actual life a little calmer and saner, however.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!” said author Helen Keller (1880–1968). She was a smart activist who worked hard in behalf of women’s equality, labor rights, antimilitarism and socialism. Was she being sarcastic in saying she loved being alive during a time of upheaval? Not at all. She derived excitement and vigor from critiquing injustice. Her lust for life soared as she lent her considerable energy to making life on earth more enjoyable for more people. I invite you to consider adopting her attitude in the coming weeks.

It’s a good time to experiment with generating the personal power that becomes available by taking practical action in behalf of your high ideals.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You know what perfectionists are: people who obsessively strive to finesse every last detail, polishing and honing so compulsively that they risk sucking all the soul out of the finished product. In contrast to them, I propose that we identify a different class of humans known as imperfectionists. They understand that a ferocious drive for utter purity can make things sterile and ugly. They resolve to cultivate excellence while at the same time they understand that irregularities and eccentricities may infuse their work with beauty. I hope you’ll act like an imperfectionist in the coming weeks, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “If you’re not invited to the party, throw your own,” declares singer and actress Diahann Carroll. In the coming weeks, I urge you Leos to use that advice as a metaphor in every way you can imagine. For example, if you’re not getting the love you want from a certain someone, give it to yourself. If no one hands you the opportunity you need, hand it to yourself. If you wish people would tell you what you want to hear, but they’re not saying it, tell yourself what you want to hear. It’s a time when you need to go beyond mere self-sufficiency.

Be self-gratifying, self-rewarding, self-acknowledging.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Everything good I’ve ever gotten in life, I only got because I gave something else up,” writes author Elizabeth Gilbert.

To that melodramatic declaration, I say, “Really?

Everything? I don’t believe you.” And yet I do think she has a point. On some occasions, the most effective strategy for bringing good new influences into our lives is to sacrifice an influence or habit or pattern we’re attached to. And often the thing that needs to be sacrificed is comfortable or consoling or mildly pleasurable. I suspect that the coming weeks will offer you one of these opportunities, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “At the necessary moment, going naked will be your most convincing disguise,” writes poet Dobby Gibson. As I apply his witty statement to your life, I’ll interpret it metaphorically. My sense is that you could really use the kind of “disguise” he’s talking about. What I mean is that you would benefit by appearing to be different from what people expect of you. You can gain key advantages by shifting the image you present to the world — by expressing a part of your identity that is not usually obvious. And I think the best way to do that is to “go naked” — i.e. be candid and transparent and vulnerable about your core truths.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “I and me are always too deeply in conversation,” confessed philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. I wonder why he said “too deeply” and not just “deeply.” Did he mean his dialogs with himself distracted him from important matters in the world outside of his imagination?

Was he implying that he got so consumed while conducting his self-interviews that he lost his bearings and forgot what his goals were? With these cautions in mind, Pisces, I invite you to dive into an intense but spacious communion with yourself.

Make this a delightful and illuminating conference, not a raging debate or a debilitating argument.

SEPT. 16-22, 2020

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MIND, BODY, SPIRIT COUNSELING SERVICES ASTRO-COUNSELING Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself,

POSITIVE HYPNOSIS | EFT | NLP Michelle Payton, M.A., D.C.H., Author | 828-681-1728 | www.MichellePayton.com | Mind Over Matter Solutions books, online and face-2-face education, workshops and sessions for all learners--audio, visual, and tactile. Learn to use Positive Hypnosis—science of re-learning thru positive reinforcement, Emotional Freedom Technique, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Birth Mix Personality Assessment, Past Life Regression.

SPIRITUAL HE'S NOT COMING BACK! Who is responsible for this world, good and bad? God gave man the capacity for evil and man has suffered terribly. godaccused.com

AUTOMOTIVE AUTOS FOR SALE 2010 PRIUS II $7900 Rated very high and valued much higher in Carfax report. Well maintained. Red with light grey custom leather seats.

Looks great. Hendersonville.

828-890-3209.

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! Newer models too! Call 1-866-5359689 (AAN CAN)

ADULT ADULT FEELING WHACKED? Let Kaye's revive you back! Incall/ Outcall 280-8182

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? Literacy Council volunteers tutor adults working on their GED; immigrants eager to learn English; and children who struggle to read.

Training and tutoring sessions all online. Email volunteers@ litcouncil.com 828-254-3442 volunteers@litcouncil.com.

edited by Will Shortz

T H E NEW Y O R K T IM E S C R O S S W O R D P UZ Z L E 1

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16 Stolen 17 Animal accompanying Pi in “Life of Pi” 19 Give it ___

20 Basketball Hall-ofFamer Baylor 21 Basis of a negotiation 23 Auto safety feature preventing skidding, for short 26 Cousin of an apple cobbler 29 Advanced photocopier instruction 32 Stiletto, e.g.

33 ___ Heep, “David Copperfield” antagonist 34 Overly 35 Job to do 39 Old Glory, with “the” 43 Summer drink endings 44 Rome’s ___ Appia 45 Peter, Paul or Mary 46 The Thunderbirds are in it, for short 48 “Dr.” of 1960s TV 50 Biryani or vindaloo 54 Pizzeria owner in “Do the Right Thing” 55 Medicare section that covers X-rays

No. 0812 56 “Mr.” of 1960s TV 59 Tiptop 60 Chart-topping 1970s R&B/funk band suggested by the starts of 17-, 26-, 39- and 50-Across 66 ___ Na Na 67 Something typically found on a spine 68 Opening shot in billiards 69 Golf course purchase 70 Gird (oneself) 71 Full of curses, say

DOWN 1 Catch in the act 2 Pub order 3 Mafia big 4 “Picnic” dramatist William 5 Unimagined?

6 Genre for David and Amy Sedaris 7 ___ acid 8 Word with sleeping or punching 9 Don’t believe it!

puzzle by Adesina O. Koiki 10 Dress in vestments 11 Iconic 1971 blaxploitation film 12 Reference book next to Webster 13 Tale 18 Pride Month initials 22 Had regrets 23 Competitor of Lexus and Infiniti 24 Doodling away, maybe 25 Electric ___ (dance) 27 “What just happened here …?!”

28 Like some lights 30 What might help right a wrong 31 “That feels so-o-o good!”

34 China is its largest exporter 36 Nom de plume 37 Jazz great with an Egyptian-sounding name 38 ___ One (vodka brand) 40 The fourth one was “terrible”

41 Petty quarrel 42 Certain internet option, for short 47 Wooden shoes 48 Longtime “Nightline” anchor Ted 49 Teen ___ 50 “Not for me, thanks” 51 “What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? ___ cheese!” (dad joke)

52 Horrible fear 53 “___ Mio” 57 Metered vehicles 58 Actress Sedgwick 61 Super success 62 Suffix with Manhattan or Brooklyn 63 Twisty fish 64 Chinese zodiac animal of 2020 65 The limit, they say

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

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M O UN TA I N X P R E S S P R E S E N T S

BEST OF WNC 2020 X AWARDS - PART ONE

CONTENTS

6 Arts & Entertainment 14 Shopping 22 Personal Services 28 Professional Services 34 Kids 40 Health & Wellness

The results in and now it’s time to celebrate what makes our region great — the people, places and institutions most acclaimed by voters in this year’s Best of WNC balloting. You’ll find not only whom and what we as a people consider the best, but also learn something about our biggest problems and causes for celebration.

The winners, published this week and next in Xpress, constitute the findings of WNC’s largest and most in-depth poll. Thousands of locally focused folks voted, mostly from their homes this year, as they were learning to cope with the then-new COVID-19 lockdown.

The published results (covering 400plus categories) are the culmination of months of effort — and require two issues to present. So be sure to pick up

50 Uniquely Asheville 54 Small Towns 54 Brevard 55 Hendersonville & Flat Rock 56 Sylva & Cullowhee 57 Waynesville, Maggie Valley & Canton

Part 2 next week to find out who’s the best in Eats, Drinks, Pets, Outdoors and other sections.

Who are we, the voters? About 98% live in WNC, with half having lived here 12 years or more. Just over half see themselves as liberal; 15% consider themselves to be moderate; and 29% declare they’re conservative.

The remaining 14% maintain they are “beyond labeling.” As in years past, voters’ No. 1 wish is for a less contentious world. Our No. 2 desire continues to be better health, but new to third place is a yearning for more gratitude.

Each year’s Best of WNC survey ushers in its share of new winners, but it also honors others with Hall of Fame status for winning four or more years in a row.

Many thanks to each of you who voted, to the Xpress staff who tallied and judged hundreds of thousands of category votes and to the businesses who purchased thank-you ads in these pages. Their ads not only showcase the winners, they support WNC’s most widely read free media outlet, Mountain Xpress.

Consider holding on to your copies of both weeks’ listings to use as references: If you need a plumber, a new place to dance or a pet trainer, the Best of WNC listings offer a compendium of savvy recommendations.

If you have comments or suggestions about this year’s or next year’s Best of WNC survey — drop us a line at bestofwnc@mountainx.com.

— Jeff Fobes X

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

Some Best of WNC categories received inadequate votes to allow us to declare first-, second- and third-place winners.

PUBLISHER Jeff Fobes • BALLOT OFFICIALS Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Jeff Fobes, Madeline Forwerck, David Furr, Molly Horak, Susan Hutchinson, Tracy Rose, Daniel Walton • BEST OF WNC SUPPLEMENT DESIGN Scott Southwick • DESIGNERS Scott Southwick, Olivia Urban • LISTINGS EDITORS Able Allen, Madeline Forwerck • PHOTO COORDINATOR Able Allen • WRITERS Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Virginia Daffron, Jeff Fobes, Laura Hackett, Molly Horak, Susan Hutchinson, Tracy Rose, Daniel Walton • AD SALES Sara Brecht, David Furr, Brian Palmieri, Tiffany Wagner • IT & WEB Bowman Kelley • FRONT OFFICE/ ACCOUNTING Able Allen, Amie Fowler-Tanner • DISTRIBUTION Susan Hutchinson, Cindy Kunst and a fantastic team of devoted drivers • Copyright 2020 by Mountain Xpress • COVER PHOTO Queen Bee and the Honeylovers by Joe Bruno • COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

5

Arts & Entertainment LOCAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 1 LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL (LEAF) e ax theleaf.org

2 LEAF DOWNTOWN d theleaf.org

3 DOWNTOWN AFTER 5 d ashevilledowntown.org

PLACE TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC 1 THE ORANGE PEEL d x theorangepeel.net

2 THE GREY EAGLE r thegreyeagle.com

3 ISIS MUSIC HALL w isisasheville.com

OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE 1 SALVAGE STATION r salvagestation.com

2 PISGAH BREWING CO. e a pisgahbrewing.com

3 THE MEADOW AT HIGHLAND BREWING e highlandbrewing.com

PHOTO BY HEATHER HAMBOR PHOTOGRAPHY

DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE

Best Place to Dance, second place for Place to Take Dance Classes or Lessons

A

MID an unprecedented sea-

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

metalworker David Earl Tomlinson) that give WNC its distinct look and feel.

Readers additionally recognized artists who have since embraced digital opportunities to keep their audiences engaged. From livestream concerts (Ashley Heath, Andrew Scotchie, Steep Canyon Rangers) to new online humor offerings (LaZoom Comedy Tours) to brand-new business models (Grail Moviehouse, Studio Zahiya), many of this year’s honorees could also place high in categories honoring top innovators.

Congratulations are due to Hilliary Begley, the people’s choice in the inaugural Comedian category, and welcome to new Hall of Fame inductees Leeda “Lyric” Jones (Lyricist and R&B/Soul) and Gus Cutty (Mural Artist).

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

— Edwin Arnaudin X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

1 ASHLEY HEATH

speakeasyartists.com

2 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES reverbnation.com/lyricfans

3 JANE KRAMER

janekramermusic.com

VOCALIST 1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES reverbnation.com/lyricfans

2 ASHLEY HEATH

speakeasyartists.com

3 AMANDA ANNE PLATT honeycutters.com

LYRICIST 1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES x reverbnation.com/lyricfans

2 DAVID ROGERS (MODERN STRANGERS) modernstrangers.com

3 AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS honeycutters.com

ACOUSTIC/FOLK

1 THE GREY EAGLE r

1 ASHLEY HEATH AND HER HEATHENS

2 ISIS MUSIC HALL w

2 STEEP CANYON RANGERS

thegreyeagle.com isisasheville.com

son in which creators have been unable to share their work in the time-honored fashion — en masse and in person — the results of this year’s Best of WNC survey offer a pleasant reminder of the region’s vibrant and ever-changing arts scene.

Well represented are the music venues (The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Salvage Station), arts nonprofits (LEAF Global Arts, Penland School of Craft, Asheville Community Theatre) and galleries (Blue Spiral 1, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville Area Arts Council) that appeal to locals and tourists alike. But there are also the trivia night hosts (Kipper Schauer, Mitch Fortune), movement-oriented groups (Asheville Aerial Arts, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance) and craftspeople (fiber artist Ashton Zager, 6

LISTENING ROOM

SINGER-SONGWRITER

3 THE ORANGE PEEL d theorangepeel.net

RECORDING STUDIO 1 ECHO MOUNTAIN RECORDING STUDIO d x echomountain.net

2 ASHETOWN SOUND STUDIO (THE MUSIC ACADEMY ASHEVILLE) w musicacademyasheville.com

3 THE EAGLE ROOM n a

speakeasyartists.com steepcanyon.com

3 RISING APPALACHIA risingappalachia.com

AMERICANA/COUNTRY 1 AMANDA ANNE PLATT & THE HONEYCUTTERS x honeycutters.com

2 ASHLEY HEATH AND HER HEATHENS speakeasyartists.com

3 STEEP CANYON RANGERS steepcanyon.com

theeagleroom.com

OPEN-MIC NIGHT VENUE 1 SOVEREIGN KAVA (FORMERLY NOBLE KAVA) d ashevillekava.com

2 THE SOCIAL e

thesocialasheville.com

3 ONE STOP @ ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL d ashevillemusichall.com

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA

x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

Continued BLUES

OLD-TIME/BLUEGRASS

1 PEGGY RATUSZ x

1 STEEP CANYON RANGERS

2 AARON WOODY WOOD

2 BALSAM RANGE

3 ASHLEY HEATH AND HER HEATHENS

3 TOWN MOUNTAIN

reverbnation.com/peggyratusz aaronwoodywood.com speakeasyartists.com

steepcanyon.com

balsamrange.com

townmountain.net

R&B/SOUL

FUNK 1 YO MAMA’S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND bootyband.com

2 EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS empirestrikesbrass.com

1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES x reverbnation.com/lyricfans

2 RYAN RNB BARBER ryanrnbbarber.com

2 THE FRITZ

HIP-HOP

thefritzmusic.com

3 TUESDAY NIGHT FUNK JAM (ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL) ashevillemusichall.com

JAZZ 1 QUEEN BEE AND THE HONEYLOVERS

1 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES reverbnation.com/lyricfans

2 NATURAL BORN LEADERS naturalbornleadersband.com

3 SPACEMAN JONES & THE MOTHERSHIPS avl.mx/7uu

Thanks Thanks for for voting voting us us

queenbeeswing.com

ROCK

2 FIRECRACKER JAZZ BAND firecrackerjazz.com

3 JASON DECRISTOFARO

1 ANDREW SCOTCHIE & THE RIVER RATS x

3 RUSS WILSON

2 MODERN STRANGERS

reverbnation.com/jasondecristofaromusic everswinging.com

andrewscotchiemusic.com modernstrangers.com

salvagestation.com salvagestation.com

#1 OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE!

~ celebrating 22 years ~ we thank you for your continued support

Waynesville, NC • twigsandleaves.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

7

MODERN STRANGERS Thanks for voting us #2 Rock Band ('19 and '20) #2 Lyricist David Rogers

BEST OF Arts & Entertainment WORLD MUSIC 1 FREE PLANET RADIO freeplanetradio.com

2 TOUBAB KREWE toubabkrewe.com

facebook.com/lesamisasheville

ALL-ROUND FAVORITE BAND 1 STEEP CANYON RANGERS steepcanyon.com

2 EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS empirestrikesbrass.com

3 LEEDA “LYRIC” JONES reverbnation.com/lyricfans

2 LIL MEOW MEOW (ANNELISE KOPP) 3 KIPPER SCHAUER fb.com/heykipper

MUSIC ENGINEER OR PRODUCER 1 JULIAN DREYER (ECHO MOUNTAIN RECORDING) d juliandreyer.com

joshblakemusic.com

x

THE HALL OF FAME ICON

Livestream Album Release Show from the Orange Peel via iamavl on Saturday, Sept 26

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

marleycarroll.com

2 JOSH BLAKE

available everywhere Friday, Sept 18

8

1 MARLEY CARROLL

fb.com/djlilmeowmeow

3 LES AMIS

New Album DANGEROUS FICTION

DJ (NONRADIO)

The Hall of Fame designation is reserved for winners who have won first place four years in a row (or more), including this year (2017 - 2020)

MUSIC INSTRUMENT REPAIR COMPANY 1 MUSICIAN’S WORKSHOP n musiciansworkshop.com

2 ACOUSTIC CORNER e a acoustic-corner.com

3 HEYDAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS & REPAIR d heydaymusic.net

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

Continued METAL ARTIST OR METALWORKER 1 DAVID EARL TOMLINSON (DYNAMIC METAL WORK) dynamicmetalwork.com

2 STEFAN BONITZ (STEEBO DESIGNS) steebo.com

2 TINA COUNCELL (IRON MAIDEN STUDIOS) w

POTTER/CERAMIC ARTIST 1 ROB AND BETH MANGUM (MANGUM POTTERY) n a mangumpottery.com

2 MELISSA WEISS s

melissaweisspottery.com

3 AKIRA SATAKE r akirasatake.com

NONPROFIT THAT SERVES THE ARTS

ironmaidenstudios.com

3 MARK WOODHAM (MW STUDIOS) n a mwstudiosnc.com

MURAL ARTIST 1 GUS CUTTY x guscutty.com

2 IAN WILKINSON

1 ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL d ashevillearts.com

2 LEAF GLOBAL ARTS d theleaf.org

3 OPEN HEARTS ARTS CENTER d openheartsartcenter.org

ianthepainter.com

3 DUSTIN SPAGNOLA w

MOVIE THEATER

fb.com/spagnolaart

PAINTER/ILLUSTRATOR 1 ANDY HEROD r andyherod.com

PHOTO BY TOM FARR

ANDREW SCOTCHIE & THE RIVER RATS Best Rock

PHOTOGRAPHER 1 SHEILA MRAZ

1 LEAF GLOBAL ARTS e theleaf.org

2 ASHEVILLE MUSIC SCHOOL d ashevillemusicschool.org

3 GIRLS ROCK ASHEVILLE girlsrockasheville.org

LOCAL ART GALLERY

1 THE BIG CRAFTY d x thebigcrafty.com

2 CRAFT FAIR OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS d craftguild.org

3 LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL (LEAF) e a theleaf.org

STUDIO STROLL/ DRIVING TOUR

2 ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM d ashevilleart.org

3 HORSE + HERO d

grovewood.com

3 NEW MORNING GALLERY s newmorninggallerync.com

FIBER ARTIST

3 JUDE STUECKER w

penland.org

ashtonzagerfiberart.com janiwovens.com

judestuecker.com

JEWELRY ARTIST/DESIGNER 1 LAUREN MOODY (FOX & BEAUX BOUTIQUE) d foxandbeaux.com

2 JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL w a

2 ANNA JOHNSON

3 A-B TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE d w n s a

3 PAULA DAWKINS (JEWELS THAT DANCE) d

folkschool.org

abtech.edu

Thank you WNC for voting us Best Seafood every year since 2005

2 GROVEWOOD GALLERY n

3 TOE RIVER STUDIO TOUR n a

1 PENLAND SCHOOL OF CRAFT n ax

bonesteelfilms.com

southernhighlandguild.org

2 JAN WESCOTT (JANI WOVENS)

CRAFT SCHOOL OR PLACE TO LEARN A CRAFT

carrieturnerphotography.com

1 PAUL BONESTEEL (BONESTEEL FILMS) d

1 FOLK ART CENTER/SHCG GALLERIES e x

2 WEAVERVILLE ART SAFARI n a toeriverarts.org

3 CARRIE TURNER

LOCAL FILMMAKER

CRAFT-ORIENTED GALLERY

1 ASHTON ZAGER

weavervilleartsafari.com

avl.mx/3n9

bluespiral1.com

1 RIVER ARTS DISTRICT STUDIO STROLL r x riverartsdistrict.com

fineartstheatre.com

3 THE CAROLINA CINEMARK ASHEVILLE s

1 BLUE SPIRAL 1 d x

horseandhero.com

ART/CRAFTS FAIR OR EVENT

grailmoviehouse.com

2 FINE ARTS THEATRE d

sheilamraz.com

2 STEPHAN PRUITT

stephanpruittphotography.com

MUSIC-RELATED NONPROFIT

1 GRAIL MOVIEHOUSE d

35 Patton Ave. Downtown Asheville Reservations Recommended www.thelobstertrap.biz

annajohnsonjewelry.com

jewelsthatdance.com

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

9

BEST OF Arts & Entertainment

Greenteajapanese.com

PHOTO BY SHEILA MRAZ

SHEILA MRAZ Best Photographer

THEATER COMPANY 1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE d ashevilletheatre.org

2 NORTH CAROLINA STAGE CO. d ncstage.org

3 MONTFORD PARK PLAYERS n montfordparkplayers.org

ACTOR (MALE OR FEMALE) 1 SCOTT TREADWAY (NC STAGE CO.) d x

“Thank you for voting us the best for Japanese food and sushi”

ncstage.org

2 CHARLIE FLYNN-MCIVER (NC STAGE CO.) d ncstage.org

PERFORMANCE DANCE COMPANY

- Tony

1 TERPSICORPS THEATRE OF DANCE w x terpsicorps.org

2 Regent Park Blvd. | 828-252-8300 Like us on facebook.com/greenteasushi

2 THE ASHEVILLE BALLET n ashevilleballet.com

3 ASHEVILLE CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE d acdt.org

10

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

PLACE TO DANCE 1 DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE n danceclubasheville.com

2 SCANDALS NIGHTCLUB d scandalsnightclub.com

3 ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL & ONE STOP d ashevillemusichall.com

PLACE TO TAKE DANCE CLASSES OR LESSONS 1 STUDIO ZAHIYA d

zahiyaonline.mykajabi.com

2 DANCECLUB ASHEVILLE n danceclubasheville.com

3 ASHEVILLE BALLROOM AND DANCE CENTRE s ashevilleballroom.net

VAUDEVILLE TROUPE (BURLESQUE, AERIAL ARTS, JUGGLERS, ETC.) 1 ASHEVILLE AERIAL ARTS ashevilleaerialarts.com

2 LAZOOM d

lazoomtours.com

3 ASHEVILLE VAUDEVILLE COLLECTIVE avlvaudeville.com

2010

2013

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

2018

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

11

BEST OF Arts & Entertainment BUSKER/STREET GROUP 1 ABBY THE SPOON LADY x spoonlady.com

2 ABBY THE SPOON LADY & CHRIS RODRIGUES 3 ABBY THE SPOON LADY & BANCO BEN COMEDY TROUPE OR SERIES 1 LAZOOM d x lazoomtours.com

2 REASONABLY PRICED BABIES fb.com/RPBimprov

LOCAL COMEDY SHOW/ NIGHT/EVENT

TRIVIA NIGHT EMCEE 1 KIPPER SCHAUER (TOTALLY RAD TRIVIA) x fb.com/heykipper

1 MITCH FORTUNE (MITCH’S TOTALLY RAD TRIVIA) avl.mx/7ul

2 DR. BROWN (DR. BROWN’S TEAM TRIVIA) avl.mx/7uk

3 ROBERT BENNETT (TOTALLY RAD TRIVIA) avl.mx/6ej

LOCAL AUTHOR 1 RON RASH avl.mx/7uf

1 LAZOOM TOUR d

2 ROBERT BEATTY

2 OPEN MIC COMEDY FREAKSHOW AT THE ODDITORIUM w

3 WILEY CASH

lazoomtours.com

robert-beatty.com wileycash.com

ashevilleodditorium.com

3 DISCLAIMER LOUNGE COMEDY OPEN MIC AT THE ONE STOP d disclaimercomedy.com

COMEDIAN 1 HILLIARY BEGLEY fb.com/highlarrious

LOCAL POET 1 ALLAN WOLF allanwolf.com

2 GLENIS REDMOND glenisredmond.com

3 BARBIE ANGELL barbieangell.com

MONTFORD CONVENIENCE

Affectionately known as “The Store” Thank you Mountain Xpress readers for voting us one of the best convenience stores in the region, we appreciate the support 231 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 12

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

commemorate your Best of WNC win with an official plaque

This year Mountain Xpress is partnering with Asheville T-Shirt Company to bring you a locally sourced and affordable keepsake.

Plaques are 9x12 laminate material with a glossy finish ready to hang.

:: 20 ever-rotating tap selections :: :: extensive bottle selection of craft beers, wines, meads, sakes, and ciders :: 12pm - 11pm 7 days a week

$60 includes delivery or shipping.

To purchase, contact your Xpress sales rep or email advertise@mountainx.com

507 Haywood Road, W. Asheville 828-575-9888

TheWhaleAVL.com

Huge love

from your friends at the Odditorium!

Thanks for all the wins!

We miss you and your eccentric friends terribly.

But don’t worry, we have some amazing plans for the future! Hang in there Asheville, we’ll see you soon. ««««« art by krystal marie of invidia tattoo ««««« MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

13

shopping STORE THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF ASHEVILLE 1 MAST GENERAL STORE d w ax mastgeneralstore.com

2 L.O.F.T. (LOST OBJECTS FOUND TREASURES) d

SHOE STORE 1 TOPS FOR SHOES d x topsforshoes.com

2 DISCOUNT SHOES s

discountshoesofasheville.com

3 GB SHOES e s a housershoes.com

loftofasheville.com

3 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP d frenchbroadfood.coop

CLOTHING: DRESS-UP/STYLIN' 1 MINX BOUTIQUE d x minxasheville.com

2 ELEMENTALITY e myelementality.com

CLOTHING: OFFICE (WOMEN'S) 1 MINX BOUTIQUE d minxasheville.com

CLOTHING: OFFICE (MEN'S) PHOTO COURTESY OF INGLES MARKETS

INGLES MARKETS

Best All-Round Grocery Store, third place Beer Store

H

OME, they say, is where

the heart is. But in the age of COVID-19, it’s also become where the fun is. The living room is now a theater; the dining room, a restaurant. And thanks to VaVaVooom, newly entered into the Hall of Fame for Adult Toys, Lingerie & Naughty Things Store, the bedroom can take on a touch of the cabaret.

Many other WNC retail venues also offer area shoppers opportunities to make stay-at-home life more enjoyable.

In this year’s new category of Store for Comics, Collectibles and/or Games, co-winners Comic Envy and Morgan’s Comics sell stories of cinematic scale and excitement. Victuals from the West Village Market & Deli — a new Hall of Fame honoree for Convenience/Corner Store — help quarantined chefs whip up five-star cuisine.

14

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

Of course, even the most well-stocked residence can’t meet every essential need. When you must leave the comforts of home, new Hall of Fame winner Prestige Subaru (Auto Dealer – New and/or Used) will make sure you get to your destination in style.

— Daniel Walton X

a OUTLYING AREA

x HALL OF FAME

(Winner four years or more in a row)

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

spicergreene.com

2 FOX & BEAUX d foxandbeaux.com

3 ELEMENTALITY e myelementality.com

ALL-ROUND GROCERY STORE 1 INGLES MARKETS e w s n x ingles-markets.com

2 TRADER JOE'S n traderjoes.com

3 PUBLIX s n w a publix.com

BUDGET-FRIENDLY GROCERY STORE

josbank.com

CLOTHING: USED OR VINTAGE (FOR-PROFIT STORE)

1 ALDI e w x aldi.us

1 RECIPROCITY w

2 HOPEY & CO. d e a

2 HONEYPOT d

3 TRADER JOE'S n

reciprocityasheville.com honeypotvintage.com

3 LULU’S CONSIGNMENT s a ilovelulus.net

CLOTHING: USED OR VINTAGE (NONPROFIT STORE) 1 GOODWILL w e s n ax 2 ZEN & NOW n avl.mx/6c0

ASHEVILLE-STYLE CLOTHES 1 ELEMENTALITY e myelementality.com

2 GOODWILL OUTLET (THE BINS) w goodwillnwnc.org

3 HIP REPLACEMENTS d hipreplacementsclothing.com

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

1 SPICER GREENE JEWELERS d

1 JOS. A. BANK e x

goodwillnwnc.org

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT

JEWELRY STORE

hopeyandcompany.com traderjoes.com

HEALTH FOOD STORE 1 WHOLE FOODS MARKET e n wholefoodsmarket.com

2 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP d frenchbroadfood.coop

3 EARTH FARE w earthfare.com

IMPORT/ETHNIC FOOD STORE 1 KIM’S ORIENTAL FOOD & GIFTS w x yelp.com/biz/kims-orientalfood-and-gifts-asheville

2 YZ ASIAN MARKET w yzasianmarket.com

3 FOREIGN AFFAIRS ORIENTAL MARKET e foreignaffairsorientalmarket.com

Continued CONVENIENCE/ CORNER STORE

USED FURNITURE STORE (NONPROFIT STORE)

1 WEST VILLAGE MARKET & DELI w x westvillagemarket.com

2 GAS-UP w avl.mx/6bv

3 MONTFORD CONVENIENCE n 828-258-1879

NEW FURNITURE STORE 1 TYSON FURNITURE e ax tysonfurniture.com

2 PENLAND'S FURNITURE e a penlandsfurniture.com

3 MOBILIA d mobilianc.com

USED FURNITURE STORE (FOR-PROFIT STORE) 1 THE REGENERATION STATION s x regenerationstation.com

1 ASHEVILLE AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE s x ashevillehabitat.org/restore

2 GOODWILL w e s n a goodwillnwnc.org

BED AND MATTRESS STORE 1 COLTON MATTRESS s x coltonmattress.com

2 PENLAND'S FURNITURE e a penlandsfurniture.com

ANTIQUE STORE 1 ANTIQUE TOBACCO BARN s x atbarn.com

2 THE REGENERATION STATION s regenerationstation.com

3 SCREEN DOOR s

screendoorasheville.com

PAWN SHOP

2 ATOMIC FURNISHING & DESIGN s

1 ALAN’S JEWELRY & PAWN w e x

3 SCREEN DOOR s

2 FINKELSTEIN’S LOAN OFFICE d

atomicfurnishings.com

screendoorasheville.com

alanspawn.com

finkelsteinspawn.com

Thank you Asheville and beyond for your support! #1 used furniture store #2 antique store

Come shop our warehouse of uniques, antiques and rarities!

Best of WNC since 2014!

26 Glendale Ave

Asheville’s oldest Junk Removal service, since 2010

Over 75 Vendors

• 828.505.1108 • theregenerationstation.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

TheRegenerationStation

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

15

BEST OF shopping PICTURE FRAMER 1 FRUGAL FRAMER n s ax frugalframer.com

BOOKSTORE - USED 1 MR. K’S USED BOOKS, MUSIC & MORE e x mrksusedbooks.com

2 BLACKBIRD FRAME & ART n

2 DOWNTOWN BOOKS & NEWS d

3 MICHAELS e s a

3 BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE & CHAMPAGNE BAR d

blackbirdframe.com

michaels.com

dbnbooks.com

batteryparkbookexchange.com

FLORIST 1 FLORA w x

florabotanicalliving.com

Kim’s

Oriental Market

STORE FOR COMICS, COLLECTIBLES AND/ OR GAMES

2 MERRIMON FLORIST n

1 COMIC ENVY n

3 CLEMENT’S FLOWER SHOP & GREENHOUSE s

1 MORGAN’S COMICS w

merrimonflorist.com

clementsflowershop.com

comicenvy.com

morganscomics.com

2 ORBIT DVD w orbitdvd.com

BOOKSTORE - NEW

3 THE WYVERN’S TALE n thewyvernstaleavl.com

1 MALAPROP'S BOOKSTORE/CAFE d x malaprops.com

5 Regent Park Blvd.

Asheville, NC 28806 828-254-7235

16

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

RECORD/CD STORE

2 BARNES & NOBLE e s

1 HARVEST RECORDS w x

3 FIRESTORM BOOKSTORE CO-OP w

2 STATIC AGE RECORDS d

bn.com

firestorm.coop

harvest-records.com staticagerecords.biz

NC‘s Oldest Pawn Shop

commemorate your Best of WNC win with an official plaque

Oldest … and maybe quirkiest!

Consistently Voted One of WNC’s Best Italian Restaurants in:

THANKS TO YOU, WE‘RE NUMBER 2!

BEST PASTA BEST ITALIAN

21 BROADWAY • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE

27 Broadway, Downtown AVL

Thank you for your support!

stradaasheville.com

Open 7 Days • 253-7731 • www.FinkelsteinsPawn.com

Visit our Lounge and enjoy the full Strada menu on our Rooftop Patio

This year Mountain Xpress is partnering with Asheville T-Shirt Company to bring you a locally sourced and affordable keepsake.

Plaques are 9x12 laminate material with a glossy finish ready to hang. $60 includes delivery or shipping.

To purchase, contact your Xpress sales rep or email advertise@ mountainx.com

Eat, Drink & Be Social

socialloungeasheville.com 29 Broadway, Downtown AVL

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

17

Thank you for voting us

#

1 PAWN SHOP We LOVE Our Fans!

Follow us on

Alan’s West

1186 Patton Ave.

828.254.8681 Mon - Sat: 9 to 7 Sun: 1 to 6

Cherokee

(Across from Casino)

828.554.0431

Se Habla Español

Alan’s East

736 Tunnel Road

828.299.4440 Mon - Sat: 9 to 7

Asheville’s Thank you Businesses Rely On Us 24/7

for recognizing One Click Fix in the “Best of” Computer Repair category.

We install and maintain firewalls, manage antivirus protection, and provide the most secure wireless networks in Asheville.

Business owners rely on us for UP TIME!

info@oneclickfix.com | oneclickfix.com | 828-318-8558 438 Montford Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 18

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

Thank you for voting for us again! #1 Chinese restaurant 5 years in a row

Outdoor Dining Full Bar Dine in & take out Delivery through Door Dash

redgingerasheville.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

82 Patton Ave. Downtown Asheville 828.505.8688 BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

19

BEST OF shopping MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE 1 MUSICIAN’S WORKSHOP n x musiciansworkshop.com

2 ACOUSTIC CORNER e a acoustic-corner.com

3 HEYDAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS & REPAIR d heydaymusic.net

GIFT SHOP

ADULT TOYS, LINGERIE & NAUGHTY THINGS STORE 1 VAVAVOOOM d x vavavooom.com

2 BEDTYME STORIES s a bedtymestories.business.site

BIKE SHOP 1 LIBERTY BICYCLES s x libertybikes.com

1 WHIST w x

2 MOTION MAKERS BICYCLE SHOP w a

2 L.O.F.T. (LOST OBJECTS FOUND TREASURES) d

3 EPIC CYCLES e a

whistshop.com

loftofasheville.com

3 DUNCAN & YORK d duncanandyork.com

HEAD SHOP 1 OCTOPUS GARDEN SMOKE SHOP w e d n s ax octopusgardensmokeshops.com

VAPE SHOP 1 OCTOPUS GARDEN SMOKE SHOP w e d n s a

motionmakers.com epiccyclesnc.com

AUTOMOBILE TIRE STORE 1 NEWBRIDGE TIRE CENTER n newbridgetirecenter.com

2 JAN DAVIS TIRE STORE d jandavistire.com

3 DISCOUNT TIRE e discounttire.com

AUTO DEALER - NEW AND/OR USED 1 PRESTIGE SUBARU e x prestigesubaru.com

2 ASHEVILLE VAPOR n s w a

2 APPLE TREE AUTOMOTIVE SUPERSTORE s a

2 OG VAPORS w e s n a

3 FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA s

octopusgardensmokeshops.com ashevillevapor.com ogvapors.co

appletreeautomobiles.com ashevilletoyota.com

Thanks to everyone who voted for us First Place in Burnsville for Breakfast Restaurant, Lunch Restaurant,

Dinner Restaurant, Coffee & Sweets, Music/Entertainment Venue, Business that Best Represents the Spirit of your Town

Second Place in WNC for Best Business Lunch & Best Take-Out Third Place Tie in WNC for Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant & Best Lunch

Best of WNC Winner Third Year in a Row!

~

8 West Main Street, Burnsville, NC 28714 828-682-0120 ~ www.appalachianjavaburnsville.com

20

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Thank you, Asheville!

We couldn't do what we LOVE without YOU and our amazing TEAM! We truly appreciate all of our amazing customers and your votes for

1st Place Best Jeweler / Jewelry Artist!

2nd Place Best Jewelry Store!

Glorifying God by caring for children and families

At Black Mountain Home, children are protected, nurtured, and loved. Thank you to our foster care families, volunteers, donors, and ministry partners for helping provide a safe, loving home for abused, abandoned, and neglected children of all ages (newborn to college-age) from Western North Carolina.

Black Mountain Home 80 Lake Eden Road Black Mountain, NC 28711 Info@BlackMountainHome.org (828)686-3451

Lauren Merrell of LM Photography

Book your free custom jewelry consultation online today!

56 Haywood Street, 28801 (828) 585-7230 foxandbeaux.com

Visit our Mountain Home Thrift Store & 13 Pennies CafĂŠ 10 Lake Eden Rd., Black Mountain

www.facebook.com/MountainHomeThriftStore MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

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21

personal services SPA 1 THE SPA AT OMNI GROVE PARK INN n x avl.mx/554

2 SENSIBILITIES DAY SPA d s sensibilities-spa.com

3 SHOJI SPA & LODGE s

TATTOO PARLOR 1 ZEN INK d

zeninkasheville.com

2 SACRED LOTUS TATTOO w sacredlotustattoo.com

3 THISTLE AND PEARL TATTOO n thistleandpearltattoo.com

shojiretreats.com

HAIR SALON 1 WILLOW’S DREAM d willowsdream.com

2 ANANDA HAIR STUDIO d r anandahair.com

3 WINK SALON & BOUTIQUE s ilovewink.com

HAIRSTYLIST 1 AMY GROOMS ROSE (SALON ZHENYA) w amyrose.glossgenius.com

2 CAITLIN FRINK (SALON DRAGONFLY) d salondragonfly.net

3 JENNA WILSON (ATLAS BEAUTY) w atlasbeautyasheville.com/jenna

BARBERSHOP

PHOTO COURTESY OF GINGER KELLEY

GINGER KELLEY (POSH LASH LOUNGE & BEAUTY BAR) Best Aesthetician

B

barberandtap.com

2 THE CHOP SHOP BARBER SHOP w avl.mx/55u

1 KIMI LEGER (SACRED LOTUS TATTOO) w x sacredlotustattoo.com

2 CHRIS CHAVERS (RED RABBIT TATTOO) r redrabbittattoo.com

3 DANNY REED (HOT STUFF TATTOO) w hotstufftattoos.com

PIERCING STUDIO 1 BELLA FINE JEWELRY AND PIERCING d bellapiercing.com

2 DIAMOND THIEVES BODY PIERCING & TATTOO w diamondthieves.net

3 EMPIRE TATTOO & PIERCING d empiretattooavl.com

LOCAL BODY PRODUCTS MAKER 1 BONNY BATH ORGANIC BODYCARE bonnybath.com

3 ASHEVILLE BARBER & BEARD d

AESTHETICIAN

avlbarberandbeard.com

EST Hair Salon and Hairstylist

continue to be some of the most heavily contested categories in Personal Services. During the Best of WNC balloting period in April, some people were even taking to the streets with hand-painted signs demanding that the governor allow them to get a haircut. Others were doing their best to manage without professional help, snipping their own split ends or trying their hand at styling for their significant other or neighbor. No matter their political differences, one thing is for sure: People missed the attention from their favorite salon, barber or spa.

22

1 THE LOCAL BARBER & TAP d x

TATTOO ARTIST

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

Welcome to new Hall of Famer, The Local Barber & Tap, which has dominated the Barber Shop category since it was added to the ballot in 2017. Proving that when it comes to pampering an Asheville man, it pays to understand both his beard and his beer.

This section’s races are always tight, largely because voters are broadly divided on their beloved candidates.

We believe this is because great providers of personal services inspire loyalty and love from their clients.

So, don’t forget to lend your support to your own favorites on next year’s ballot. Every vote counts.

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

— Able Allen X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

NAIL SALON 1 AMERICAN NAILS AVL w americannailsavl.com

1 AVANTE BEAUTY LOUNGE w a avantebeautylounge.com

1 GINGER KELLEY (POSH LASH LOUNGE & BEAUTY BAR) n poshlashandbeauty.com

TAILOR/ALTERATIONS

2 NOIRE THE NAILS BAR s

1 MISHA'S ALTERATIONS w

3 MAJESTIC NAIL SALON e

2 KATHERINE'S CORNER n

3 NAILS BY JENNA (RÉALTA SALON) d

3 INARA'S TAILOR & ALTERATIONS n

noirethenailsbar.com

majesticnailsalon.com

facebook.com/nailsbyjennanc

NAIL TECHNICIAN 1 JENNA DUVALL (NAILS BY JENNA, RÉALTA SALON) d facebook.com/nailsbyjennanc

facebook.com/mishasalterations katherines-corner.business.site

facebook.com/Inarasalterations

3 QUICK AS A WINK CLEANERS s avl.mx/7v6

3 SEW & SEW CUSTOM SEWING & ALTERATIONS e avl.mx/7v7

Thank you to the Mountain Xpress readers for voting

DIAMOND THIEVES

BODY PIERCING AND TATTOO

Posh Lash Lounge & Beauty Bar

for Best of WNC in 2020

Western North Carolina’s Leader in Eyelash Extensions THANK YOU FOR VOTING GINGER KELLEY 1ST PLACE ESTHETICIAN! Services include eyelash extensions, microblading, lash lifts, facials & waxing, permanent makeup, teeth whitening and full service hair bar

Come see why we’re voted #1!

7 BE AVERDA M RD #103, ASHE VILLE • (828) 348-0111 P O SH L A SH A N DBE AU T Y.C OM

Bring this ad in and get $10 OFF your next piercing or tattoo

Merci Beaucoup

Y’all

French Fries First place

French

First place MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

23

We feel the love and are honored to be voted one of the Best Real Estate firms in WNC! We are so grateful for your support!

Thank you WNC for voting us BEST Dry Cleaners in the region for 7 straight years

Detailed cleaning with earth friendly products.

We are so thankful to our customers for voting us #1 six years in a row!

WNC’s Hall of Fame Cleaning Company 828.505.7320 | greenhomecleaning.com 24

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

Thank you for voting us

Best Pet Supply Store for 9 years running!

Stop by one of our 3 Asheville locations to see what’s new, including the new self-service dog wash at our South Asheville store!

109 Patton Avenue, Downtown AVL 1392 Patton Avenue, West AVL • 582 Hendersonville Road, South AVL

Our Customers Are The Best!

Thank you for voting us

#1 Nursery in WNC

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

76 Monticello Rd. Weaverville, NC I-26/Exit 18 828-645-3937 www.reemscreek.com

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

25

Thank You Asheville!

Now Open at

All Three Locations!

BE

ST OF

14

20 WNC

white duck taco shop 26

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

27

professional services ACCOUNTANT/CPA FIRM 1 AUSTIN CPA, PC d x austincpapc.com

2 CHAD STORCK (STORCK CPA, PC) n storckcpa.com

3 STUART LEBLANC (LEBLANC CPA LTD.) n avl.mx/7v5

PLACE TO GET YOUR TAXES PREPARED

3 CHAD STORCK (STORCK CPA, PC) n

3 TOWN AND MOUNTAIN REALTY w

1 KEVIN PASARILLA (NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO.) s kevinpasarilla.nm.com

LAW FIRM

S

28

1 GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER, P.A. d s grcclaw.com

2 THE VAN WINKLE LAW FIRM d s a vwlawfirm.com

3 MCGUIRE WOOD & BISSETTE LAW FIRM d mwblawyers.com

Shakespeare. This year, Xpress is upending the Bard of Avon’s immortal words: The first thing we do, let’s celebrate all the lawyers!

Three of 2020’s new Professional and Home Services categories praise WNC’s legal eagles. Taking the inaugural honor for Criminal Law Attorney is Barbara Bowers. Katherine Fisher with The Van Winkle Law Firm is the region’s favorite Family Law Attorney, while Zeno Lancaster of Lancaster Law Firm is the first winner for Real Estate Attorney.

Those attorneys must share the stage with a motley crew of other Professional and Home Services newBEST OF WNC - PART ONE

comers. In a testament to the occasional benefits of hubris, the winner of Best Bookkeeping is named — wait for it — Best Bookkeeper in Asheville. Kudzu Brands won a closely contested race to label itself as best Marketing and Graphic Design Service, and Verizon’s victory as the best Cell Phone Service Provider for the WNC Mountains rang out loud and clear.

Finally, while lawyers can get their clients out of deep metaphorical you-know-what, the only new Hall of Fame honoree in Professional and Home Services deals with the more literal kind. Congrats to T.P. Howard’s Plumbing Co.!

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

— Daniel Walton X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

REAL ESTATE COMPANY

2 KELLER WILLIAMS d

FINANCIAL ADVISER

ORRY,

homeiswnc.ne

2 H&R BLOCK d storckcpa.com

Best Real Estate Attorney

themattandmollyteam.com

2 SONA MERLIN (APPALACHIAN REALTY ASSOCIATES) n

1 BEVERLY-HANKS & ASSOCIATES d s n w a

avl.mx/54y

ZENO LANCASTER (LANCASTER LAW FIRM)

1 THE MATT & MOLLY TEAM (KELLER WILLIAMS) d x

1 AUSTIN CPA, PC d austincpapc.com

PHOTO BY ANASTASIIA PHOTOGRAPHY

REAL ESTATE AGENT

beverly-hanks.com

kellerwilliamsasheville.com townandmountain.com

BOOKKEEPING SERVICES 1 BEST BOOKKEEPER IN ASHEVILLE n avl.mx/7v4 t

WEB DEVELOPMENT FIRM 1 INTEGRITIVE WEB DESIGN d integritive.com

COMPUTER REPAIR 1 CHARLOTTE STREET COMPUTERS n x

charlottestreetcomputers.com

2 ONECLICKFIX COMPUTER REPAIR n oneclickfix.com

3 CHRISTOPHER'S COMPUTERS n christopherscomputers.com

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY 1 KATHERINE E. FISHER (THE VAN WINKLE LAW FIRM) d vwlawfirm.com

REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY 1 ZENO LANCASTER (LANCASTER LAW FIRM) n s a lancasterlawfirm.com

2 VERONICA H. COLVARD (GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER) d s grcclaw.com

3 GEORGE F. GOOSMANN (GOOSMANN ROSE COLVARD & CRAMER) d grcclaw.com

CAR REPAIR 1 XPERTECH CAR CARE e x avl.mx/551

2 THE ORGANIC MECHANIC w organic-mechanic.com

3 JIMMY’S AUTOMOTIVE n jimmysauto.com

BIKE REPAIR 1 LIBERTY BICYCLES s x libertybikes.com

2 MOTION MAKERS BICYCLE SHOP s w a motionmakers.com

3 FIND YOUR LINE BICYCLE SHOP w findyourline.bike

Responsible Automotive Service & Repair

Thank you for letting us LOVE your vehicle!

Voted one of the BEST OF WNC for 15 years in a row.

Thank you!

Call us!

255.2628

organic-mechanic.com • 568 Haywood Rd • West Asheville

THANKS, ASHEVILLE! for voting me one of the Best!

8 years in a row!

Sona Merlin Real Estate Broker Appalachian Realty (828) 216-7908 www.sonamerlin.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

29

BEST OF professional services GREEN BUILDER

HEATING/COOLING COMPANY

1 JAG CONSTRUCTION e

1 GENTRY HEATING e ax

jaggreen.com

gentryheatinginc.com

2 JADE MOUNTAIN BUILDERS r

2 MB HAYNES CORP. w

jademountainbuilders.com

mbhaynes.com

3 BULLMAN HEATING & AIR n

ALT ENERGY SALES AND INSTALLATION

bullmanheating.com

PEST CONTROL SERVICE

1 SUGAR HOLLOW SOLAR e a sugarhollowsolar.com eleeos.com

1 TP HOWARD'S PLUMBING CO. e ax tphowardsplumbing.com

2 FOUR SEASONS PLUMBING s

2 GIBSON PEST CONTROL s gibsonpest.com

3 APEX PEST CONTROL n apexpestcontrolwnc.com

twomenandatruckasheville.com

mbhaynes.com

2 PERSONAL TOUCH MOVERS w a

ELECTRICAL/ELECTRICIAN COMPANY 1 MB HAYNES CORP. w x mbhaynes.com

dlvroofing.com

3 BALKEN ROOFING e a balkenroofing.com

HANDYMAN OR WOMAN

2 GREG HOLDEN (HOMEWORK HANDYMAN) w

1 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK s ax

3 MB HAYNES CORP. w

2 DLV ROOFING s a

2 DODSON PEST CONTROL w a

MOVING COMPANY

callfourseasons.com

johnmcclungroofing.com

1 BEN WEAVER (LEAVE IT TO WEAVER) n a

dodsonbros.com

PLUMBING COMPANY

1 JOHN MCCLUNG ROOFING

1 TERMINIX s x trustterminix.com

2 ELEEOS w

ROOFING COMPANY

personaltouchmovers.net

HOUSE PAINTERS 1 BIONIC MAN PAINTING CO. w bionicmanpainting.com

fb.com/LeaveItToWeaverAVL

828-258-1107

EQUIPMENT RENTAL SERVICES 1 GENERAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL n a

PRINT SHOP 1 HENCO REPROGRAPHICS d x hencorepro.com

2 ALLEGRA PRINT & IMAGING r n w allegranetwork.com

3 PRINTVILLE d s a printville.net

HOME CLEANING SERVICE 1 GREEN HOME CLEANING d x greenhomecleaning.com

2 MERRY MAIDS s a merrymaids.com

3 FLYING SQUIRREL CLEANING CO. s flyingsquirrelcleaningcompany.com

generalrents.com

CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE WNC MOUNTAINS 1 VERIZON e s w a verizon.com

2 U.S. CELLULAR w e n s a uscellular.com

3 T-MOBILE w e s t-mobile.com

DRY CLEANER 1 SWANNANOA CLEANERS d n w s e ax swannanoacleaners.com

2 ASHEVILLE CLEANERS n ashevillecleaners.com

3 QUICK AS A WINK CLEANERS s avl.mx/7v6

Thank you WNC, for helping us “raise the roof”

8 Brandy Branch Road, Mills River, NC 28759 • 828-654-0212 30

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

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32

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#1 Accountant/CPA Thanks for voting us #1 in WNC seven years in a row!

Thanks, Asheville. Be audit you can be!

-George Austin CPA, CVA & Joel Chambers Action Tax

301 W Haywood St Asheville, NC 28801 | 828-785-1556 | austincpapc.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

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33

kids SCHOOL (PRE-COLLEGE) 1 ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL e a artspacecharter.org

1 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL w rainbowcommunityschool.org

2 CAROLINA DAY SCHOOL s carolinaday.org

3 CATAWBA FALLS e a

2 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL w rainbowcommunityschool.org

3 Y AFTERSCHOOL IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (YMCA OF WNC) d n s e w a ymcawnc.org/childcare

whom have children, according to our reader survey — once again shared their insights for getting the most out of our region via their top picks for all things kids-related.

Top vote-getters across all the Kids categories include Asheville Museum of Science (Museum), Dancing Bear Toys (Toy Store), ABC Pediatrics of Asheville (Pediatric Practice – General) and Great Beginnings Pediatric and Orthodontic Dental Specialists (Pediatric Practice – Dentistry).

While some winning businesses have been able to remain open under current safety protocols, others remain temporarily shuttered at press time as part of efforts to limit the spread of the new coronavirus, including the Mountain Play Lodge (Place for Birthday Parties) and Asheville Retrocade (the new cat34

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

— Tracy Rose X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

OVERNIGHT CAMP 1 CAMP CEDAR CLIFF e a campcedarcliff.org

2 YMCA CAMP WATIA w a ymcacampwatia.org

2 SHALOM CHILDREN’S CENTER (ASHEVILLE JCC) n

2 YMCA OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA d e w n s a

jcc-asheville.org

X

avl.mx/7uz

1 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL w rainbowcommunityschool.org

egory of Teen-Friendly Place to Hang Out). Meanwhile, WNC Nature Center (Daytrip for Kids, Nature Camp and the new category of Place for Outdoor Fun) reports that it will reopen to the public on Oct. 5..

A fond farewell to Asheville’s Fun Depot (Place for Indoor Fun), which closed permanently this summer due economic losses related to COVID-19.

Please welcome new Hall of Fame honorees Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts (After-School Program) — which also took first-place honors in three other categories — and AMOS – Asheville Museum of Science (Museum).

Also, be sure to check out another new category for 2020, which could be ideal for these times: Kid-Friendly Hike.

ncarboretum.org

DAY CAMP 1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e

PRESCHOOL

PRESS readers — over half of

avl.mx/6cf

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM martialartsasheville.com

Best Overnight Camp, third place Day Camp (tie)

KID-FRIENDLY HIKE 1 CRAGGY GARDENS n a 2 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM s

1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e x

CAMP CEDAR CLIFF

wncnaturecenter.com

3 FRANKLIN SCHOOL OF INNOVATION w franklinschoolofinnovation.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMP CEDAR CLIFF

DAYTRIP FOR KIDS 1 WNC NATURE CENTER e x

CHILD CARE OR DAY CARE SERVICE 1 SHALOM CHILDREN’S CENTER (ASHEVILLE JCC) n x jcc-asheville.org

2 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e martialartsasheville.com

3 YWCA EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM d ywcaofasheville.org

ART EDUCATION PROGRAM

martialartsasheville.com

ymcawnc.org

3 ASHEVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER n jcc-asheville.org

3 CAMP CEDAR CLIFF e a campcedarcliff.org

NATURE CAMP 1 WNC NATURE CENTER e wncnaturecenter.com

2 DISCOVERY CAMP (THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM) s ncarboretum.org

2 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL w

PLACE FOR INDOOR FUN 1 ASHEVILLE’S FUN DEPOT [CLOSED] 2 MOUNTAIN PLAY LODGE s a

3 ROOTS + WINGS SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN s

3 SKY ZONE INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK s

1 ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL e a artspacecharter.org

rainbowcommunityschool.org

rootsandwingsarts.com

MUSIC TEACHER (CLASSROOM) 1 SUE FORD (RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL) w x rainbowcommunityschool.org

2 MEG BOERNER (ARTSPACE CHARTER SCHOOL) e a artspacecharter.org

mountainplaylodge.com

skyzone.com/asheville

PLACE FOR OUTDOOR FUN 1 WNC NATURE CENTER e wncnaturecenter.com

2 CARRIER PARK w avl.mx/6vq

3 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org

, Wyble

#1 Pediatric Dentistry Practice 7 years in a row!

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

35

BEST OF kids PLAYGROUND 1 CARRIER PARK w x avl.mx/6vq

2 RAINBOW COMMUNITY SCHOOL w

TEEN-FRIENDLY PLACE TO HANG OUT 1 ASHEVILLE RETROCADE w ashevilleretrocade.com

rainbowcommunityschool.org

PARENTS NIGHT OUT PROGRAM

3 ROBERT LAKE PARK e a montreat.org

MUSEUM 1 ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE (AMOS) d x ashevillescience.org

2 ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM d ashevilleart.org

3 HANDS ON! CHILDREN'S MUSEUM s a

1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e x martialartsasheville.com

2 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT r

ashevillecommunitymovement.com

3 ASHEVILLE YMCA (DOWNTOWN) d ymcawnc.org

handsonwnc.org

PLACE FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES 1 MOUNTAIN PLAY LODGE s a mountainplaylodge.com

2 ASHEVILLE’S FUN DEPOT [CLOSED] 3 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e

DANCE STUDIO FOR KIDS 1 CENTER STAGE DANCE STUDIO s centerstage1.com

2 ASHEVILLE DANCE THEATER e ashevilledancetheater.com

2 THE ACADEMY AT TERPSICORPS w terpsicorpsacademy.org

martialartsasheville.com

PLACE TO MAKE ART

GYMNASTICS PROGRAM

1 FIRED UP! CREATIVE LOUNGE d x

1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY MOVEMENT r x

2 CLAYING AROUND s

2 THE LITTLE GYM OF ASHEVILLE s

fireduplounge.com

clayingaround.com

ashevillecommunitymovement.com tlgashevillenc.com

Commemorate your Best of WNC win with an official plaque This year Mountain Xpress is partnering with Asheville T-Shirt Company to bring you a locally sourced and affordable keepsake.

Plaques are 9x12 laminate material with a glossy finish ready to hang. $60 includes delivery or shipping.

To purchase, contact your Xpress sales rep or email advertise@mountainx.com

36

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

Asheville, we P you!

THANKS FOR VOTING FOR THE LITTLE GYM! 828-747-2239 • www.tlgashevillenc.com 10 Crispin Court, Ste 104 • Asheville, NC 28803

Come visit our brand new facility in Gerber Village MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

37

BEST OF kids MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM 1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e x martialartsasheville.com

LOCAL, NATURAL, NEW, CONSIGNMENT.

Thank You!

www.fermenti.biz fermentifoods@gmail.com

Best selection of wooden toys, cloth diapers, baby carriers, and more!

647 Haywood Road West Asheville 253-4747 thelittlestbirds.com

2 BUDO MOUNTAIN FAMILY MARTIAL ARTS n budomountain.com

YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM 1 ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION e abysa.org

2 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e martialartsasheville.com

3 YMCA OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA d e w n s a ymcawnc.org

KIDS' CLOTHES

optaylors.com

3 SPARKY’S TOYS & GIFTS w sparkystoyshop.com

PEDIATRIC PRACTICE GENERAL MEDICINE 1 ABC PEDIATRICS OF ASHEVILLE s x abcasheville.com

2 FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS n frenchbroadpeds.com

3 MOUNTAIN AREA PEDIATRICS e mountainareapeds.com

PEDIATRIC PRACTICE - DENTISTRY

2 ASHEVILLE PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY s

2 LOLLIPOPS LIMITED s

3 BEST BITES DENTAL s

childrenstradingpost.com lollipopsltd.com

We couldn't do it without you!

ashevillegreenworks.org MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

2 O.P. TAYLOR'S s a

2 CHILDREN'S TRADING POST n

thelittlestbirds.com

We want to thank our dedicated volunteers and supporters for helping to keep Asheville and Buncombe County clean and green.

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

dancingbeartoys.com

1 THE LITTLEST BIRDS w

B U N C O M B E CO U N T Y

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

1 DANCING BEAR TOYS e s ax

1 GREAT BEGINNINGS PEDIATRIC & ORTHODONTIC DENTAL SPECIALISTS s w ax

ASH EVILLE

38

TOY STORE

begreatdental.com

ashevillepediatricdentistry.com drjoshdentistry.com

Thank you for voting for us one of the Best of WNC 5 years in a row, we love you!

Our budtenders look forward to seeing you at our local dispensaries soon!

Asheville South Asheville Hendersonville

FrannysFarmacy

f rannys far m .com • f rannys farmac y.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

39

Health & Wellness PHYSICIAN (GENERAL PRACTICE) 1 MEREDITH POLANSKY (OUR FAMILY DOCTOR) d x ourfamilydoctorasheville.com

2 ANANDA VIEAGES (OUR FAMILY DOCTOR) d ourfamilydoctorasheville.com

MATERNITY CARE/SERVICE 1 ASHEVILLE WOMEN’S MEDICAL CENTER d x ashevillewomens.com

2 LAUREL OB/GYN n laurelobgyn.com

3 MAHEC OB/GYN SPECIALISTS s mahec.net

2 GUS VICKERY (VICKERY FAMILY MEDICINE) s vickeryfamilymed.com

2 MICHAEL WEIZMAN (OUR FAMILY DOCTOR) d ourfamilydoctorasheville.com

3 RUSTAN ADCOCK (THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS) d fhconline.com

PEDIATRICIAN 1 LAUREN KEELY CARLISLE (FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS) n x frenchbroadpeds.com

2 JOHN D. TEMPLETON (FRENCH BROAD PEDIATRICS) n frenchbroadpeds.com

PHOTO BY GABRIEL SWINNEY

abcasheville.com

GIVENS ESTATES

FAMILY MEDICAL PRACTICE

Best Assisted Living Facility

W

HETHER it’s a tension-re-

leasing massage, a thorough dental cleaning or a comprehensive annual physical you seek, connecting with the right health practitioner or service can feel like winning the lottery. Those who help safeguard and restore our health are community heroes indeed.

Finding a path to wellness is crucial.

Xpress readers put better health at the top of their wish list, second only to a less contentious world, in our annual reader survey. And to help in the quest, each year WNC residents cast thousands of votes in the Best of WNC poll for these up-close-and-personal categories.

New in 2020 are awards for the best Dental Practice (Gillespie Dental 40

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

Associates), Assisted Living Facility (Givens Estates) and Pharmacy/ Drugstore (CVS, all locations).

Congratulations to these inaugural winners! And a tip of the hat to orthodontist Keith Black of Black Orthodontics, a new Hall of Famer.

Welcome to an elite club!

Recognizing that we can all improve our health, here’s a notion: After perusing the best of our area’s health and wellness offerings, resolve to add one new service or provider to your personal care regimen. Schedule an eye checkup, purchase a bottle of CBD oil or join a yoga session — whatever you choose, you’re likely to be glad you did.

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

3 JOHN S. PASCHALL (ABC PEDIATRICS) s

— Virginia Daffron X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

HOSPITAL 1 MISSION HOSPITAL d x mission-health.org

2 ADVENTHEALTH HENDERSONVILLE s a parkridgehealth.org

3 PARDEE HOSPITAL s a pardeehospital.org

PLACE TO GET MEDICAL CARE WHEN UNDEROR UNINSURED 1 WNC COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES (MINNIE JONES HEALTH CENTER) d x wncchs.org

2 MERCY URGENT CARE w e s n a mercyurgentcare.org

2 RANGE URGENT CARE n e a rangeurgentcare.com

3 MISSION HEALTH d mission-health.org

1 OUR FAMILY DOCTOR d

DENTIST

ourfamilydoctorasheville.com

2 THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS ASHEVILLE d fhconline.com

3 COMMUNITY FAMILY PRACTICE n communityfamilyonline.com

WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER 1 ASHEVILLE WOMEN’S MEDICAL CENTER d x ashevillewomens.com

2 PLANNED PARENTHOOD: ASHEVILLE HEALTH CENTER d avl.mx/3va

3 LAUREL OB/GYN d laurelobgyn.com

3 MAHEC OB/GYN SPECIALISTS s mahec.net

1 MARK A. KNOLLMAN e drknollman.com

2 TIM GILLESPIE n drtimgillespie.com

3 M. SCOTT PEELE s

ashevilledentalwellness.com

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA

x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

Continued DENTAL PRACTICE 1 GILLESPIE DENTAL ASSOCIATES n drtimgillespie.com

2 ZOE DENTAL s zoedental.com

3 MARKS FAMILY DENTISTRY n northashevilledentist.com

ORTHODONTIST 1 KEITH BLACK (BLACK ORTHODONTICS) s x kblacksmiles.com

CHIROPRACTOR 1 DAN MARTIN (RADIUS CHIROPRACTIC) e radiuschiropractic.com

2 DEREK KASTEN (ONE LOVE CHIROPRACTIC) n onelovechiropractic.com

3 J. ANYA HARRIS (CRYSTALIGN CHIROPRACTIC) d crystalignchiropractic.com

2 TIMOTHY SCANLAN (TS ORTHODONTICS) s

ACUPUNCTURIST

tsorthodontics.com

3 JEFFREY ROEDER (ROEDER ORTHODONTICS) s roederorthodontics.com

EYE CARE SPECIALIST/SERVICE 1 ASHEVILLE EYE ASSOCIATES s x ashevilleeye.com

2 ENVISION EYECARE n myenvisioneyecare.com

3 TUNNEL VISION e

tunnelvisionasheville.com

1 LIZ ROSEMAN (SUSTAINABLE HEALTH ACUPUNCTURE) n x

URGENT CARE

re.imagined

Simplified. Transparent. Respectful.

Skip the wait and schedule your appointment online at

rangeurgentcare.com

Now Offering HOUSE

CALLS!

acupuncture-in-asheville.com

2 SAM SOEMARDI (THE PEOPLE’S ACUPUNCTURE OF ASHEVILLE) d peoplesacupunctureavl.com

3 LEX KEKLAK (ALCHEMY) n alchemyasheville.com

We love YOU! Thank you for continuing to vote us one of the "BEST" in WNC, 10 years strong!

Urgent Care DELIVERED Asheville • Black Mountain Virtual • House Calls

8am-7:30pm Everyday

myenvisioneyecare.com

Celebrating over 40 years of Excellence in Women’s Health Care FIRST PLACE: • Women’s Health Center • Maternity Care/Service (828) 258-9191 • www.ashevillewomens.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

41

BEST OF Health & wellness ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC

1 GIVENS ESTATES s

1 THE PEOPLE’S ACUPUNCTURE OF ASHEVILLE d

givensestates.org

2 DEERFIELD RETIREMENT COMMUNITY s deerfieldwnc.org

peoplesacupunctureavl.com

HOSPICE

2 CHINESE ACUPUNCTURE & HERBOLOGY CLINIC n

1 CAREPARTNERS (MISSION HEALTH) s x

ashevilleacupuncture.com

3 ALCHEMY: TEAROOM, APOTHECARY, ACUPUNCTURE n alchemyasheville.com

ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY

avl.mx/7x8

2 FOUR SEASONS COMPASSION FOR LIFE s a fourseasonscfl.org

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHEVILLE EY ASSOCIATES

ASHEVILLE EYE ASSOCIATES Best Eye Care Specialist/Service

MORTUARY/FUNERAL SERVICES 1 GROCE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE w x grocefuneralhome.com

2 WELLS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES w a wellsfuneralhome.com

3 WEST FAMILY FUNERAL SERVICES n a

MASSAGE THERAPIST 1 ZACH COMER (ADVANCED PAIN RELIEF THERAPY) n medicalmassageasheville.com

2 TONI CORADETTI (ALCHEMY) n alchemyasheville.com

westfamilyfuneralservices.com

PHYSICAL THERAPIST 1 WES MILLER (ANTIFRAGILE PHYSICAL THERAPY) d antifragilept.com

2 MIRIAM SALLOUM (THE RUNNER’S MECHANIC) s therunnersmechanic.com

3 AMANDA ROACH (PHYSIO PHYSICAL THERAPY & WELLNESS) n physiownc.com

GYM OR PLACE TO WORK OUT 1 YMCA OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA d e w n s ax ymcawnc.org

2 HARD EXERCISE WORKS s hardexerciseworks.com

3 GOLD’S GYM w e s goldsgym.com

Thank to the readers for Voting Groce Favorite once again!

Asheville’s Local, Family-Owned Cremation & Funeral Service West Asheville 1401 Patton Avenue Asheville 828-252-3535

Lake Julian 72 Long Shoals Road Arden 828-687-3530

www.grocefuneralhome.com 42

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

East Asheville 856 Tunnel Road Asheville 828-299-4416

Yes, we listen to you ... you matter.

Thank You Asheville for Voting Us One of The Best!

600-B Centrepark Drive • • • Asheville, NC 28805 • • • 828.254.5677

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

43

NEW YORK BUTCHER SHOPPE Thank you, Asheville!

OurFamilyDoctorAsheville.com

Unparalled service & expert advice CHECK OUT OUR WEEKLY SPECIALS from Wagyu beef, custom meat grinds, exotic sausages, and hard to find seafood items.

Thank you WNC! Thanks for voting us to the top!

OUR WINE CLUB offers a unique sampling of hard to find high quality wines, special discounts, and other exclusive perks. offering the highest quality meats • small-vineyard wines prepared meals • deli sandwiches • specialty cheeses

44

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

the best primary care doctors under one roof

828.252.2511

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

Thank you WNC!

Dr. Dan Martin Affordable Chiropractic Care is Our Mission. ✓

Experienced, Professional & Friendly Staff

✓

Convenient Appointments & Hours

1011 Tunnel Rd., Suite 110, Asheville, NC 28805 • 828-333-4447 • www.radiuschiropractic.com MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

45

BEST OF health & wellness Thanks for voting us one of the best overall, people-watching, and kid-friendly pizza joints in Asheville!

You rock!

50 Broadway • 236-9800 mellowmushroom.com/asheville

FITNESS STUDIO WITH CLASSES 1 HARD EXERCISE WORKS s hardexerciseworks.com

2 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e martialartsasheville.com

3 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE e hotyogaasheville.com

PHYSICAL TRAINER 1 CALLIE JORDAN SHOPE (HARD EXERCISE WORKS) s hardexerciseworks.com

RelationshipCentered

2 ZACH COMER (ADVANCED PAIN RELIEF THERAPY) n

Behavior Solutions

YOGA STUDIO

medicalmassageasheville.com

1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA n x ashevillecommunityyoga.com

2 HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE e

Heather Polechio CPDT-KA, CTC, FPPE Licensed Educator

hotyogaasheville.com

3 ASHEVILLE YOGA CENTER n youryoga.com

YOGA TEACHER

MindfulMutz.com • (828) 230-6389

1 MICHAEL GREENFIELD (ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA) n x ashevillecommunityyoga.com

Thank you for choosing us as your favorite corner market for the 4th year in a row!

West Village Market

Come shop and Pick up a Voter Registration form here!

Now open all day!

9am to 8pm Working hard to keep you safe and fed!

Don’t want to put on that mask, or maybe you just feel like staying home?

Order online for pick-up or delivery Unique selection of natural foods and locally made products All organic produce, bulk foods & herbs Health & body care, beer & wine Hot & cold prepared foods.

The popular Sunflower Diner is right here!

10am to 3pm for take-out. (closed Mondays)

771 Haywood Rd. • West Asheville • 225-4949

www.westvillagemarket.com

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BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

2 KELLY GILMORE (ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA) n ashevillecommunityyoga.com

3 ADI WESTERMAN (HOT YOGA ASHEVILLE) e hotyogaasheville.com

PILATES STUDIO/ CENTER/CLASSES

MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO 1 ASHEVILLE SUN SOO MARTIAL ARTS e x martialartsasheville.com

2 BUDO MOUNTAIN FAMILY MARTIAL ARTS n budomountain.com

PHARMACY/DRUGSTORE 1 CVS PHARMACY n w e a cvs.com

2 WALGREENS n e w a walgreens.com

3 SONA PHARMACY + CLINIC e sonapharmacy.com

PLACE TO BUY SUPPLEMENTS, VITAMINS & HERBS 1 FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP d frenchbroadfood.coop

2 EARTH FARE w earthfare.com

3 NATURE'S VITAMINS & HERBS s naturesvitaminsandherbs.com

PLACE TO BUY CBD OIL 1 FRANNY’S FARMACY n s a frannysfarmacy.com

2 TRINITY PHARMS HEMP CO. e a trinitypharmshempco.com

3 GARDEN PARTY w shopgardenparty.com

PLACE TO CENTER YOURSELF

1 CLUB PILATES n s

1 ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY YOGA n

2 CLASIQUE ACUPUNCTURE & PILATES STUDIO d

2 ASHEVILLE SALT CAVE n

3 RISE: AUTHENTIC PILATES d

3 ASHEVILLE YOGA CENTER n

clubpilates.com

studioclasique.com riseasheville.com

ashevillecommunityyoga.com ashevillesaltcave.com youryoga.com

Trinity Pharms Hemp Co was created with one single intention at the center of its foundation. To vastly change the quality of life for all people in our pathways, for the better.

Our greatest desire is to see people find relief, and achieve a state of homeostasis within the body. In the most natural of ways.

We also believe the Cannabis plant directly aligns with the natural solutions He created to help us live our best lives.

Our family vows to provide you with the purest of ingredients available. We promise to continue growing in our knowledge, and staying in tune with the most up to date research and information in the cannabis world. We will operate with integrity, ethics, and a passionate fire that will not burn out. We promise to show you that customer service is still very much alive and well.

We will remain dedicated to you, and all that is best for you.

Thank you for voting us Best Of WNC! It’s an honor to serve.

112B Cherry St. Black Mountain, NC 828-357-8295

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

47

#1 Acupuncturist

Liz Roseman

“Thank you for voting me #1 Acupuncturist for the seventh year. I’m so grateful to be partnering with you in your health!”

Specializing in: Women's Health Fertility Struggles Emotional Issues Insomnia Digestive Issues Pain Sustainable Health Acupuncture 828-216-3101 • 36 Clayton St, Asheville, NC 28801

www.acupuncture-in-asheville.com liz@acupuncture-in-asheville.com

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BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

49

uniquely asheville NEIGHBORHOOD 1 MONTFORD n 2 WEST ASHEVILLE w 3 NORTH ASHEVILLE n STREET FOR A STROLL 1 LEXINGTON AVENUE d 2 HAYWOOD ROAD w 2 MONTFORD AVENUE n 2 WALL STREET d 3 KIMBERLY AVENUE n LOCAL ASHEVILLE ATTRACTION 1 BILTMORE ESTATE s x biltmore.com

2 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org

3 ASHEVILLE DRUM CIRCLE d avl.mx/559

PHOTO COURTESY OF BELOVED ASHEVILLE

BELOVED ASHEVILLE

Best Activist Group for Civic/Political Action, Nonprofit That Improves Asheville, Nonprofit That Serves the Underprivileged

T

ALK about disagreeing. This

year’s voter views on the pandemic are like night and day.

The Dr. Jekylls of our city decreed the virus the “Worst Thing to Happen to Asheville.” But the Mr. Hydes helped it top the category of “Best Thing to Happen to Asheville.”

Along with earning these two conflicting accolades, COVID-19 also placed third for the “Biggest Threat to Asheville’s Uniqueness.” Excessive hotels and tourism placed first and second, respectively.

Initially, these contradictory results were hard to square. But upon further review, it all makes sense, especially if you tie in that third-place finish. Too many hotels means too many tourists means too many potential new carriers of the virus — a 1, 2, 3 threat (in that

50

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

order) to voting residents and a worstcase scenario for this year’s Dr. Jekyll voters.

At the same time, when COVID-19 effectively shut down the city earlier this year, closing most hotels and other nonessential businesses, the virus put the kibosh on those unwanted tourists — the best-case scenario for the Mr. Hyde balloters.

And so the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde voters is solved. COVID19 is the best and worst thing to happen to our city this year. Stay weird, Asheville.

P.S. We welcome new Hall of Fame winners The Windsor Boutique Hotel (B&B or Small Boutique Hotel) and Esther Manheimer (Local Politician).

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

— Thomas Calder X MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

LOCAL CITY TOUR 1 LAZOOM d x lazoomtours.com

2 GRAY LINE TROLLEY TOURS d graylineasheville.com

3 HOOD HUGGERS HOOD TOURS w hoodhuggers.com

PLACE TO TAKE YOUR ECCENTRIC FRIENDS 1 THE ODDITORIUM w ashevilleodditorium.com

2 THE CROW & QUILL d

PLACE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE WITHIN ASHEVILLE CITY LIMITS 1 BOTANICAL GARDENS n ashevillebotanicalgardens.org

2 WNC NATURE CENTER e wncnaturecenter.com

3 THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM w ncarboretum.org

HISTORIC/INTERESTING BUILDING 1 BILTMORE ESTATE s biltmore.com

2 FLATIRON BUILDING d flatironbuilding.org

3 GROVE ARCADE d grovearcade.com

3 JACKSON BUILDING d VENUE TO BOOK FOR A PARTY OR EVENT 1 HAIKU I DO s haikuido.com

2 HIGHLAND BREWING CO. e highlandbrewing.com

3 THE VENUE d

ashevillevenue.com

PLACE TO GET MARRIED 1 HAIKU I DO s haikuido.com

2 BILTMORE ESTATE s biltmore.com

3 FLEETWOOD’S ROCK-N-ROLL WEDDING CHAPEL w fleetwoodschapel.com

thecrowandquill.com

3 ASHEVILLE DRUM CIRCLE d avl.mx/559

PLACE TO PRETEND YOU’RE A TOURIST 1 DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE d 2 BILTMORE ESTATE s biltmore.com

3 OMNI GROVE PARK INN n avl.mx/3te

n ORTH s OUTH e AST w EST d OWNTOWN AREA r IVER ARTS DISTRICT a OUTLYING AREA

x HALL OF FAME (Winner four years or more in a row)

Continued HOTEL 1 OMNI GROVE PARK INN n x avl.mx/3te

2 ALOFT ASHEVILLE DOWNTOWN d aloftashevilledowntown.com

3 KIMPTON HOTEL ARRAS d hotelarras.com

B&B OR SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTEL 1 THE WINDSOR BOUTIQUE HOTEL d x windsorasheville.com

HOLIDAY EVENT SUMMER/FALL

LOCAL HERO 1 GREG MAYER (ONE CLICK FIX) n gregmayer.com

2 AMY CANTRELL (BELOVED ASHEVILLE) d belovedasheville.com

LOCAL VILLAIN 1 WANDA GREENE (FORMER BUNCOMBE COUNTY MANAGER) 2 CARL MUMPOWER 3 SHAWN JOHNSON (AIRBNB RULE BREAKER)

LOCAL POLITICIAN 1 LAKE EDEN ARTS FESTIVAL (LEAF) e a 1 ESTHER MANHEIMER x avl.mx/7zw theleaf.org

2 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS d HOLIDAY EVENT WINTER/SPRING 1 WINTER LIGHTS AT THE NC ARBORETUM s ncarboretum.org

2 CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVENINGS AT BILTMORE s biltmore.com

3 NATIONAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION AT THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN n avl.mx/7zx

NONPROFIT THAT SERVES THE UNDERPRIVILEGED 1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE d belovedasheville.com

2 MANNA FOODBANK s mannafoodbank.org

3 ASHEVILLE BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (ABCCM) w abccm.org

ACTIVIST GROUP FOR CIVIC/POLITICAL ACTION 1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE d belovedasheville.com

2 KIM RONEY

2 MOUNTAINTRUE d

3 JULIE MAYFIELD

3 SUNRISE MOVEMENT

kimroney4asheville.com mayfieldforncsenate.com

NONPROFIT THAT IMPROVES ASHEVILLE 1 BELOVED ASHEVILLE d

mountaintrue.org

— EMERSON

sunriseavl.org

BUMPER STICKER OR SLOGAN ABOUT ASHEVILLE

belovedasheville.com

1 KEEP ASHEVILLE WEIRD x

ashevillegreenworks.org

2 MANNA FOODBANK s

2 WELCOME TO ASHEVILLE, NOW GO HOME

3 MOUNTAINTRUE d

3 ASHEVILLE CAT WEIRDOS

2 ASHEVILLE GREENWORKS mannafoodbank.org mountaintrue.org

“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted”

ashevillecatweirdos.org

DR. CARL MUMPOWER Voted 2nd place for

Best Local Villain

— 2020 WNC READER’S POLL

Thanks Mountain Xpress readers!

navitat.com | 855.628.4828 MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

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51

You WNC! k n a h T

BEST OF uniquely asheville THING DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE NEEDS

1 MORE QUALITY RESTAURANTS 1 BETTER, MORE AND/OR FREE PARKING 2 BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE 2 FEWER HOTELS AFFORDABLE HOUSING 3 3 MORE PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THING WEST ASHEVILLE NEEDS 1 PARKING 2 BIKE LANES 3 AFFORDABLE HOUSING THING NORTH ASHEVILLE NEEDS

#1 H a nd y m a n!

Small Repair & Maintenance

(828) 301-4725

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BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

1 MORE QUALITY RESTAURANTS 2 BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE 3 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT THING SOUTH ASHEVILLE NEEDS

LeaveItToWeaver.net

THING EAST ASHEVILLE NEEDS

1 TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT 2 MORE QUALITY RESTAURANTS 3 GREENWAYS

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

THING THE RIVER ARTS DISTRICT NEEDS 1 MORE QUALITY RESTAURANTS 2 BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE 3 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DO 1 FINISH THE GREENWAYS 2 FIX OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES 3 AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORST THING TO HAPPEN TO ASHEVILLE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS 1 CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 2 MORE HOTELS, ESPECIALLY FLATIRON BUILDING BECOMING A HOTEL 3 HCA PURCHASE OF MISSION HEALTH

BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO ASHEVILLE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS 1 COVID-19 VIRUS QUARANTINE AND LOCKDOWN 2 HOTEL MORATORIUM 3 EXPANSION OF GREENWAYS BIGGEST THREAT TO ASHEVILLE'S UNIQUENESS 1 HOTEL GROWTH 2 TOURISTS/TOURISM 3 CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ASHEVILLE'S UNIQUENESS 1 SLOW DOWN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 1 TOURISM MONEY FOR CITY NEEDS, SUCH AS STREET AND SIDEWALK REPAIR OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING 2 ARTISTS 3 KEEP IT LOCAL: SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES, STOP CHAINS

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

53

small towns BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN

BREVARD

1 D.D. BULLWINKEL’S OUTDOORS ddbullwinkels.com

2 O.P. TAYLOR’S optaylors.com

3 WHITE SQUIRREL SHOPPE

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE 1 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER x brevardmusic.org

2 185 KING STREET 185kingst.com

3 OSKAR BLUES BREWERY oskarblues.com

whitesquirrelshoppe.com

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT 1 THE SUNRISE CAFE x the-sunrise-cafe.com

2 CEDAR MOUNTAIN CAFE cedarmountaincafe.com

LUNCH RESTAURANT 1 THE SQUARE ROOT x squarerootrestaurant.com

G

ages. As residents of the towns south and west of Asheville know, there’s no shortage of hidden gems to draw folks off the beaten path and showcase the small-town charm we all know and treasure, made even sweeter by fewer crowds and an abundance of parking.

This year’s winners were dominated by hometown breweries, including Oskar Blues, Brevard Brewing, Boojum, BearWaters, Frog Level, Ecusta, Sanctuary (which closed temporarily this summer), Dry Falls, Southern Appalachian and Innovation.

The list of brewers and their sudsy

offerings continues to grow with each season, so peruse area listings and get ready to explore.

Although downtown streets won’t be packed with visitors and vendors this year, we’re excited to welcome three cultural or arts events to the Hall of Fame: Brevard’s White Squirrel Festival, Hendersonville’s N.C. Apple Festival and Waynesville’s Folkmoot USA festival. Also joining the Hall of Fame are the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock and the Jackson County Historic Courthouse and Public Library, both for best Cultural or Historic Landmark.

— Molly Horak X

squarerootrestaurant.com

2 MAGPIE MEAT & THREE magpiemeatandthree.com

3 JORDAN STREET CAFÉ thejordanstreetcafe.com

COFFEE & SWEETS

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

3 O.P. TAYLOR'S optaylors.com

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT whitesquirrelfestival.com

brevardmusic.org

3 MOUNTAIN SONG FESTIVAL mountainsongfestival.com

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS 1 PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST avl.mx/6aw

2 DUPONT STATE FOREST dupontforest.com

1 CUP & SAUCER

cupandsaucernc.com

2 BRACKEN MOUNTAIN BAKERY brackenmountainbakery.com

3 BLUE RIDGE BAKERY blueridgebakery.com

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE 1 OSKAR BLUES BREWERY oskarblues.com

2 BREVARD BREWING CO. brevard-brewing.com

3 ECUSTA BREWING ecustabrewing.com

54

theophilusnc.com

3 MAGPIE MEAT & THREE

1 THE SQUARE ROOT x

OOD things come in small pack-

2 THEOPHILUS

2 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

DINNER RESTAURANT

Best Music/Entertainment Venue, second place Cultural or Arts Event

ddbullwinkels.com

1 THE WHITE SQUIRREL FESTIVAL x

magpiemeatandthree.com

BREVARD MUSIC CENTER

1 D.D. BULLWINKEL'S OUTDOORS

2 MAYBERRY'S mayberrys.co

PHOTO BY STEVEN MCBRIDE

RETAIL STORE

x

THE HALL OF FAME ICON The Hall of Fame designation is reserved for winners who have won first place four years in a row (or more), including this year (2017 - 2020)

Continued

HENDERSONVILLE / FLAT ROCK

The Square rooT

PHOTO BY BROWN DOG STUDIO

FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE

Best Music/Entertainment Venue, second place Cultural or Historical Landmark and Cultural or Arts Event BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN 1 MAST GENERAL STORE mastgeneralstore.com

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT 1 HENDOUGH CHICKEN & DONUTS

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE 1 FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE x flatrockplayhouse.org

1 SANCTUARY BREWING CO. [CLOSED] 2 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY sabrewery.com

RETAIL STORE

hendough.com

2 HONEY AND SALT honeyandsaltnc.com

3 FIRESIDE RESTAURANT

1 MAST GENERAL STORE x mastgeneralstore.com

ART GALLERY

firesidepancakeinn.com

LUNCH RESTAURANT 1 FLAT ROCK VILLAGE BAKERY flatrockwoodfired.com

2 HOT DOG WORLD

1 THE GALLERY AT FLAT ROCK galleryflatrock.com

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT

hotdogworld.net

1 NC APPLE FESTIVAL x

hendough.com

2 FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE SHOWS

3 HENDOUGH CHICKEN & DONUTS DINNER RESTAURANT 1 POSTERO postero-hvl.com

2 NEVER BLUE

theneverblue.com

2 WEST FIRST WOOD-FIRED PIZZA flatrockwoodfired.com

3 UMI JAPANESE FINE DINING umisushinc.com

COFFEE & SWEETS 1 BLACK BEAR COFFEE CO. blackbear.coffee

2 FLAT ROCK VILLAGE BAKERY flatrockwoodfired.com

2 MCFARLAN BAKERY mcfarlanbakery.com

3 APPALACHIAN COFFEE CO. appalachiancoffeecompany.com

ncapplefestival.org

flatrockplayhouse.org

3 ART ON MAIN avl.mx/7zp

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS 1 CARL SANDBURG HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE dupontforest.com

3 THE PARK AT FLAT ROCK flatrockparkfoundation.org

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT 1 BLUE RIDGE HUMANE SOCIETY blueridgehumane.org

CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE 1 SANCTUARY BREWING CO. [CLOSED] 2 SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY

2 FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE

3 DRY FALLS BREWING CO.

3 JUMP OFF ROCK

sabrewery.com

dryfallsbrewing.com

Brevard

nps.gov/carl

2 DUPONT STATE FOREST

1 CARL SANDBURG HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE x

First Place - Lunch Restaurant First Place - Dinner Restaurant

s q ua r e r o o t r e s ta u r a n t . c o m 33 TimeS arcade alley B r e va r d , N c 828.884.6171

nps.gov/carl

flatrockplayhouse.org

laurelpark.org/jumpoff

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

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BEST OF small towns

SYLVA / CULLOWH EE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE

CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE

Business That Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town (tie) BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN 1 CITY LIGHTS BOOKSTORE citylightsnc.com

innovation-brewing.com

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT 1 CITY LIGHTS CAFE LUNCH RESTAURANT

amongst many other awards.

We appreciate your support! check our website for menu updates, operating hours & other important info:



bluemountainpizza.com 

55 N Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787 • 828-658-8778 56

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

lulusonmain.com

2 MAD BATTER KITCHEN DINNER RESTAURANT 2 GUADALUPE CAFÉ guadalupecafe.com

3 BOGART’S RESTAURANT fb.com/BogartsSylva

Why I support Xpress:

innovation-brewing.com avl.mx/7zt

1 INNOVATION BREWING

madbatterkitchen.net

lulusonmain.com

1 INNOVATION BREWING

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

1 LULU'S ON MAIN

1 LULU'S ON MAINx

citylightscafe.com

2 THE CUT COCKTAIL LOUNGE

citylightscafe.com

First Place for numerous years as The Business that Best Represents the Spirit of Your Town: Weaverville & Woodfin

1 CITY LIGHTS CAFE x LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE

1 INNOVATION BREWING

Thank you Mountain Xpress readers for voting us

COFFEE & SWEETS

innovation-brewing.com

CULTURAL OR HISTORICAL LANDMARK 1 JACKSON COUNTY HISTORIC COURTHOUSE / PUBLIC LIBRARY x fontanalib.org

“I’ve relied on Mountain Xpress for real local news and announcements for 20 years.”

– Becca Hall

Join Becca and become a member at SupportMountainX.com

Continued ART GALLERY

WAYN ESVI LLE MAGG I E VALLEY / CANTON

1 TWIGS & LEAVES GALLERY x twigsandleaves.com

CULTURAL OR ARTS EVENT 1 FOLKMOOT USA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL x folkmoot.org

2 APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL avl.mx/7zr

LOCAL PLACE TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS 1 LAKE JUNALUSKA lakejunaluska.com

2 BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY blueridgeparkway.org

3 CATALOOCHEE VALLEY avl.mx/7zs

LOCAL CAUSE TO SUPPORT PHOTO COURTESY OF TWIGS & LEAVES GALLERY

TWIGS & LEAVES GALLERY Best Art Gallery

BUSINESS THAT BEST REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF YOUR TOWN 1 BOOJUM BREWING CO. boojumbrewing.com

2 MAST GENERAL STORE mastgeneralstore.com

3 ORCHARD COFFEE orchardcoffeeroasters.com

BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

orchardcoffeeroasters.com panaceacoffee.com

3 PAPERTOWN COFFEE papertown.coffee

LOCAL BAR/BREWERY/ WATERING HOLE 1 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM boojumbrewing.com

2 JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE avl.mx/7zq

LUNCH RESTAURANT 1 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM boojumbrewing.com

2 THE SWEET ONION RESTAURANT sweetonionrestaurant.com

3 J-RO’S BURGERS AND SUBS jrosburgers.com

DINNER RESTAURANT

bwbrewing.com

froglevelbrewing.com

MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT VENUE 1 THE GEM BAR AT BOOJUM BREWING boojumbrewing.com

2 HAYWOOD ARTS REGIONAL THEATRE (HART) harttheatre.org

3 THE STRAND @ 38 MAIN 38main.com

RETAIL STORE 1 MAST GENERAL STORE x mastgeneralstore.com

1 BOOJUM BREWING CO. TAPROOM

2 HAZELWOOD SOAP CO.

2 THE SWEET ONION RESTAURANT

3 PIGEON RIVER MERCANTILE

3 SOUTHERN PORCH

3 ROBIN BLU

boojumbrewing.com

sweetonionrestaurant.com southern-porch.com

facebook.com/reachofhaywood

2 PANACEA COFFEE CO.

3 FROG LEVEL BREWING CO.

3 CLYDE'S RESTAURANT

2 REACH OF HAYWOOD COUNTY

1 ORCHARD COFFEE

1 THE BUTTERED BISCUIT joeyspancake.com

sargeanimals.org

COFFEE & SWEETS

2 BEARWATERS BREWING CO.

fb.com/TheButteredBiscuit

1 SARGE’S ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION

hazelwoodsoapcompany.com pigeonrivermerc.com robinblu.com

MOUNTAINX.COM/GUIDES

SEPT. 16 - 22, 2020

BEST OF WNC - PART ONE

57

Mountain Xpress

2020 X Awards

Commemorate your Best of WNC win with an official plaque

This year Mountain Xpress is partnering with Asheville T-Shirt Company to bring you a locally sourced and affordable keepsake.

Plaques are 9x12 laminate material with a glossy finish ready to hang. $60 includes delivery or shipping.

THANK YOU for VOTING US #1

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Best Veterinarian in WNC Unsurpassed in Caring • State-of-the-Art Affordable • Serving all WNC • COVID-19 Protocols

To purchase, contact your Xpress sales rep or email advertise@mountainx.com This is the only official plaque product authorized by Mountain Xpress. Other companies may be contacting you with an expensive scammed product. Don’t be fooled!

1 Beaverdam Road at Merrimon Ave. • 828-253-3393 ahna.net • Join us on Facebook 58

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Thank you so much for voting for me as the best real estate attorney!

Realtors, tired of waiting for a call back from your real estate attorney?

We answer all communications in real-time or within 4 business hours!

Service oriented, New-school law office utilizing the latest technology and highest standards of customer service to offer you a seamless, stress-free real estate closing.

“Closings with Zeno Lancaster = Well Advised, Organized, and Sanitized”

Zeno B. Lancaster, IV

MANAGING ATTORNEY

189 E CHESTNUT ST | ASHEVILLE, NC 28801 Free, dedicated parking lot.

PHONE: 828.505.8514 | FAX: 828.365.6046

WWW.LANCASTERLAWFIRM.COM | ZENO@LANCASTERLAWFIRM.COM

Offices in Hendersonville located inside the Keller Williams Mountain Partners building.

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