Mountain Xpress 11.01.23

OUR 30TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 30 NO. 14 NOV. 1-7, 2023

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NOV. 1-7, 2023

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C ONTENT S

NEWS

NEWS

FEATURES 6

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ACCOUNTABILITY OR OVERREACH? Local leaders respond to new state investigative powers

BATHROOM BREAK New 24-hour restroom coming to downtown

PAGE 22 SOBER THOUGHTS

PUBLISHER & EDITOR: Jeff Fobes

Beer culture — and alcohol generally — permeates Western North Carolina, complicating things for those choosing the sober life. Aware of such concerns, many local breweries and bars now carry nonalcoholic beer and liquor options. And groups and individuals are stepping in to create alternative spaces and events for people, especially those in their 20s and 30s, who are sober or at least “sober curious.”

ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson

A&C

WELLNESS

COVER ILLUSTRATION Brent Brown

22 SOBER THOUGHTS Nondrinkers reflect on navigating life in Beer City USA

24 50,000-WORD WARRIORS NaNoWriMo resources help local writers achieve their goals

COVER DESIGN Olivia Urban 4

LETTERS

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CARTOON: MOLTON

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CARTOON: BRENT BROWN

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NEWS

11 DEVELOPMENT ROUNDUP 12 CITY BEAT 16 COMMUNITY CALENDAR 22 WELLNESS

A&C

24 ARTS & CULTURE 26 MASTERS OF THE MACABRE ‘Palimpsest’ horror podcast conjures its fifth season

32 CLUBLAND 36 FREEWILL ASTROLOGY 38 CLASSIFIEDS 39 NY TIMES CROSSWORD

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OPINION

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

More local election information, please Thank you for your recent twopage article devoted to candidates currently running for office in Woodfin and Weaverville [“Waves of Woodfin: Candidates Talk Development, Tourism as Early Voting Begins,” Oct. 18, Xpress].

My husband and I moved to this area six months ago. As a result, we have limited knowledge of the local candidates and their views on issues. We’ve found it extremely hard to find information on the candidates and issues. We’ve attended two candidate forums, and in both situations, the candidates gave a two-minute “speech” and took no questions from the audience.

Extremely disappointing!

So, I was thrilled when you published a two-page article on the candidates and their responses to questions. Fortunately, I learned a lot about the Woodfin candidates.

Unfortunately, I live in Weaverville and the (only) 16 lines of content on the Weaverville candidates offered little insight. So, I’m wondering: Did Mountain Xpress choose to give 90% of the content in the article to Woodfin or did the Weaverville candidates choose to give limited information to the questions you posed? Note: The article stated Jennifer Young did not respond to your request for comments.

— Catherine Haynes Weaverville Editor’s response: Thank you for your thoughts. Faced with limited space, we opted to focus our attention on Woodfin because of various compelling elements in its election this year. With its mayor of 20 years retiring and a new town manager in place, we wanted to explore how the fresh faces in the Town Council race are helping to usher in

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C A RT O O N B Y R AN DY M O L T O N a new approach to the way the town addresses development and a growing tourism sector. Woodfin also is on the verge of constructing a $33.1 million river feature that’s poised to entice tens of thousands of visitors a year, impacting residents and infrastructure in Woodfin, Asheville and Weaverville. Additionally, a new stormwater fee in Woodfin has many residents up in arms, adding another layer of intrigue to the election there.

Sierra Club endorses candidates in Woodfin, Weaverville Two years ago, Woodfin elected three new Council members and appointed two others. Since then, the town has adopted a comprehensive development plan and new zoning regulations to prevent developments like The Bluffs; passed a steep-slope development ordinance to protect our hills and ridgelines from development; and passed a resolution calling for the regulation of plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.

They have supported the creation of two new access points and a wave feature in the French Broad River next year and building 5 miles of new greenways in 2025. The new Council members also have delivered on their promise of increased transparency and transitioning to a professionally managed city government.

Two of these new Council members will be on the ballot in November: Jim McAllister, running for mayor, and Betsy Ervin, running

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for a full term on Council. These two, along with Ken Kahn and Johanna Young, have been endorsed by the Sierra Club and deserve your vote to continue the progress in Woodfin. The Sierra Club has also endorsed Lauren Edgerton, Larry Hopkins and Gordon Maybury for the Woodfin Sanitary Water and Sewer District.

The town of Weaverville has set an example for the rest of the county on how to do things right, from planning for growth and new greenways to having the first all-electric police car in Western North Carolina. The Sierra Club has endorsed John Chase, Dee Lawrence and Peter McGuire for Weaverville Town Council.

— Ken Brame WNC Sierra Club Political Co-Chair Leicester

A fatal flaw in the Reparations Commission Asheville’s Community Reparations Commission continues to meet expectations. Failure is assured when a special interest enterprise is set up with an impossible mission.

Following the recent retreat of their second consulting firm in two years, one notes that over $350,000 in taxpayer funding has been invested in outside resources — with no tangible constructive production.

That figure does not include the dollars invested in the city’s liberally autocratic bureaucracy devoted to this divisive initiative, nor the par-

ticipants’ unique status through paid versus volunteer board membership.

There are numerous fatal flaws in this misguided creation, but the big one is that it is running in direct opposition to the hard-won progress of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Good people have worked too hard too long to take discrimination by color out of our cultural equation.

This latest induced exercise in a glorified sympathy by our hyperdominating Democratic Party will serve no purpose than to further unravel our already precarious social unity. That a few people will fill their pockets, secure a platform for personal vanities or justify a position in the bureaucracy does not compensate for the toxic reality of this commission’s motivations, missions and methods.

Shame is due for the elected officials who breathed life into this pretense, those exploiting the opportunity to personal advantage and predictable media outlets declining to attend to this assault on the uplifting potentials of an authentic version of social justice — so strenuously secured in 1964.

— Carl Mumpower Asheville

City Council should focus on fighting crime [Regarding “Buncombe Sheriff: Crime Is Decreasing Outside Asheville,” Oct. 25, Xpress] I’m concerned about our City Council. To me, crime should be their No. 1 subject. Yet I see bike lanes being added when we could use that money to fight crime. They could give our underpaid police a raise, and that might attract more applicants.

We can’t fight crime without a strong police force. That should be Council’s No. 1 priority. I am a bit disappointed in our Council.

— Jack Lowell Asheville X

Corrections Buncombe County Assistant County Manager DK Wesley’s name was misspelled and title misidentified in the article “Make Amends: Reparations Commission Releases Initial Recommendations” in our Oct. 25 issue.

Also in the Oct. 25 issue, we should have credited Jennifer Corbett for the photo of James Mitchell’s hands in the article “31 Seconds: Life Inside a Gang.” X

CARTOON BY BRENT BROWN

Give thanks ...and have fun doing it!

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NOV. 1-7, 2023

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NEWS

Accountability or overreach?

Local leaders respond to new state investigative powers

BY CHASE DAVIS cdavis@mountainx.com Buried deep within North Carolina’s 625-page, $30 billion state budget are provisions that give the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, an oversight committee led by Republicans, the authority to investigate and search any entity that has received state funds for programs or services to state or local government.

Republican Sen. Warren Daniel, whose district covers the eastern portion of Buncombe County, is a member of the commission. He says this power will “increase government accountability across the state.” (Meanwhile, other provisions in the budget block public access to legislative records.)

Several local leaders have expressed concern over the new provisions, saying that it is state government overreach.

“This new legislation involving the North Carolina Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations is not only a significant expansion of state authority but also specifically moves the function of the commission well beyond its traditional role of overseeing state matters,” says Asheville City Attorney Brad Branham. “It is concerning that such immense power has been placed in a partisan commission.”

THE EXPANDED POWERS OF GOV OPS The commission, commonly referred to as Gov Ops, was created in 1975 to provide legislative oversight of public policies and state spending. Before its expanded powers, Gov Ops looked into organizations that received state funding, but its investigative powers were limited, relying primarily on openly accessible records and state-sponsored studies. The new provisions give lawmakers full authority to investigate “possible instances of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, mismanagement, waste, abuse or illegal conduct” in regard to state funds.

The commission can seize any document or record from any entity “receiving, directly and indirectly, public funds,” including corporations, nonprofits, local governments and state universities. Gov Ops staff can enter any building or facility owned or 6

NOV. 1-7, 2023

EXPANSION OF POWER: Buried in the state budget are provisions that give the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations the authority to investigate and search any entity that has received state funds for programs or services to state or local government. Photo courtesy of the State of North Carolina leased by any entity receiving public funds without a judicial warrant.

All communications and requests from the commission are confidential.

The recipients can only alert those within their organizations who will produce the documents. For example, recipients cannot alert their supervisors of the investigation or consult with legal counsel. Violating this rule “shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal,” the law reads.

Additionally, anyone — elected or hired — who refuses to cooperate faces jail time and fines of up to $1,000.

The commission is composed of 42 members, 34 of whom are Republicans, including co-chairs Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.

Daniel says that these rules are “benign” and necessary for the committee to properly oversee state funds.

“We have a constitutional obligation to oversee what the executive branch is doing and what our state funds are being used for,” says Daniel. “This isn’t a power grab or anything of that sort.

We just want the committee to be able to function as it was intended.”

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However, critics say the changes turn Gov Ops into a “secret police force,” warning that the new policies have far-reaching implications.

“The commission is a massive overreach in power from Republicans in the state legislature. If you do business with the state and your business is registered at your home, the partisan legislative staff from Gov Ops could go into your home without a warrant to get documents, including computer files,” says Julie Mayfield, a Democratic state senator from Asheville. “That is a level of intrusion of government that I don’t think the majority of us want, whether we’re Republican or Democrat.”

TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS The budget also has a number of provisions restricting public access to legislative records and information.

One provision allows North Carolina lawmakers to exempt themselves from public records requests. Current and former legislators, the law says, “shall not be required to reveal or to consent to reveal any document, supporting document, drafting request or informa-

tion request made or received by that legislator while a legislator.” Under the state’s previous law, legislators were recognized as the custodians of their own records but had to file a specific exemption to withhold records.

Another provision will allow legislators to determine “whether a record is a public record.” Legislators now can decide to “retain, destroy, sell, loan or otherwise dispose of” their documents.

Daniel says that these new laws will keep the legislature efficient and save the state money. “We receive very expansive requests where people may ask for every correspondence for every member of the General Assembly,” Daniel says. “These kinds of requests don’t help increase transparency, they are just expensive and slow down the legislative process.”

Opponents say that these new rules will make it harder to uncover corruption. In a joint letter to the N.C. General Assembly, the N.C. Press Association, the N.C. Association of Broadcasters, the Carolina Journal, Radio One Charlotte and others outlined objections and called on lawmakers to rescind the budget language.

“The newly introduced amendment grants custodians the power to determine what constitutes a public record and allows for the destruction of records that could otherwise be essential for transparency and accountability,” the letter reads. “This change effectively creates a situation in which state lawmakers, who are also considered custodians of their records, could exempt themselves from public records law, denying citizens their right to scrutinize their government’s actions.”

NONPROFITS IN CROSSHAIRS? Several local nonprofits have expressed concern related to the expanded powers of Gov Ops. Amy Upham, executive director of Blue Ridge Pride, an Asheville-based nonprofit that focuses on supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, says that the new provisions are excessive.

“The argument that these new rules will help to improve oversight over state funding does not make any sense,” says Upham. “I previously worked for the county, and there are already a number of processes and laws that ensure that state funding is transparent and used properly. The new provisions for this commission are unnecessary.”

Additionally, Upham is concerned about the commission potentially targeting disadvantaged communities. While Blue Ridge Pride has not received money directly from the state, it received state grant funding from Buncombe County, making the group a potential candidate for a Gov Ops investigation.

“Our current legislature has repeatedly enacted laws that directly target minorities such as the LGBTQIA+ and the African American community, and these new Gov Ops [provisions] are no different,” says Upham. “My biggest concern with this is that the Republican-led legislature will be able to target and search organizations with differing ideologies, all under the premise of improving transparency.”

Keynon Lake, executive director of My Daddy Taught Me That, a nonprofit focused on supporting and mentoring young men, echoed that sentiment.

Lake says that his organization does not receive any state funding but has considered applying for grants in the past. Now, with the potential of a Gov Ops investigation, he’s not sure if it would be worth the risk.

“It’s intimidating for organizations to know that the government could

come in at any time and start an investigation,” Lake says. “I worry that these allowances are going to scare organizations away from requesting state funds or grants and that it will ultimately hurt the people that they serve.”

From the city’s perspective, Branham says that the manner in which the legislation was passed is concerning.

“The City of Asheville believes the best legislation is made openly and through the traditional process,” says Branham. “Inclusion of nonfinancial matters such as this in the budget legislation is disheartening, given that it avoids open public engagement and review, and provides no opportunity to offer debate and amendment.”

He is unsure of the implications that the new provisions will have on the city.

“How impactful this will be to cities such as Asheville is yet to be seen and will depend greatly on the implementation of the new law by the commission itself,” says Branham. “However, as is always the case, the City of Asheville intends to comply with the legislation and has no reason to believe that it will be the target of any pending review by the commission in the near term.” X

Community Action Opportunities HELPING PEOPLE. CHANGING LIVES.

Notice of Intent to Apply and Public Hearings Community Action Opportunities (CAO) will submit a FY 2024-25 Community Services Block Grant application for $885,495.

CAO will operate a self-sufficiency project in Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Polk and Transylvania counties.

CAO will host virtual public hearings 11/14 at 10am and 5pm.

Join us at meet.goto.com/113172725.

CAO Executive Committee will meet 11/15 – 3pm to review and approve the application.

This meeting is open to public.

Join us in person at 25 Gaston Street, Asheville, or virtually at meet.goto.com/551303013.

Questions? Call Trudy Logan at 828-210-0603.

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NOV. 1-7, 2023

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NEWS

Bathroom break

New 24-hour restroom coming to downtown

BY BROOKE RANDLE brandle@mountainx.com It’s sleek. It’s nearly indestructible.

And it might be coming to downtown Asheville.

The Portland Loo, or the self-proclaimed “Swiss army knife of restrooms,” is one of several prefabricated, single-stall restroom concepts that the City of Asheville is considering purchasing and installing. Asheville City Council voted last year to allocate a portion of the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds to enhance the city’s public restrooms The new amenity, which will be located at the intersection of Rankin Avenue and College Street, aims to offer residents, visitors and the unhoused a safe, clean place to go when nature calls.

“The city has long heard from businesses, homeless service providers and other community members that a 24/7 restroom facility is needed downtown,” Mayor Esther Manheimer tells Xpress.

While the final design and operational details of the new restroom are still being hammered out, the city anticipates that the new facility will be open to the public sometime next year. Though the project has received widespread support, not everyone agrees that the amenity is a good use of the ARPA funds. Others fear that the facility will become a magnet for crime and vandalism, and concerns remain about how the new restroom would be monitored and maintained.

INDESTRUCTIBLE?

ODE TO THE COMMODE: The Portland Loo, pictured, is one of several standalone restroom models that the City of Asheville is considering to purchase and install downtown. The facility would be open 24/7. Photo courtesy of the City of Asheville OUT OF ORDER There are six public restrooms that are open for limited hours within Asheville’s downtown corridor, and the city also maintains a portable restroom that can be accessed 24/7.

The new downtown restroom project aims to fill the gap left by the city’s last 24/7 restroom at 29 Haywood St. The facility, which was housed in the same building as the former Asheville Police Department downtown substation, opened as the city’s

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“With millions of visitors every year, downtown is far too busy a place to not have accessible restrooms at all times,” says Turner. “There should be several locations up and running, including the ones on Haywood Street that were open pre-COVID.” “Public restrooms are fundamental to human dignity and contribute to public health, but it also benefits our central business district,” adds Council member Sheneika Smith.

“Whether you´re a local or a guest, where there’s a safe and clean restroom facility, people are inclined to stroll longer, which can lead to people patronizing more businesses.”

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only 24-hour restroom in 2018, but not without issues.

According to previous reporting from Xpress, the block surrounding the restroom saw a 128% increase in service calls between 2018 and 2019.

Drug-related calls went up 400% over the same period.

The Haywood Street facility was closed with other downtown public restrooms in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was never reopened. City officials cited increased maintenance costs and increased illegal activity and vandalism as causes.

But Asheville soon began to feel the effects of the closure. Complaints about human waste found on the streets of downtown became more frequent, as downtown also experienced an uptick in homelessness.

According to the city’s Point-in-Time Count, which measures the number of homeless individuals during a single night in January, Asheville’s unsheltered homeless population peaked in 2021 and remains higher than pre-pandemic numbers. The 2023 count tallied 573 people.

Council member Sage Turner also points out that as tourism continues to rebound from the pandemic, more facilities will be needed to accommodate visitors and residents alike.

In spring 2021, Asheville received $26.2 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, a COVID-19 relief package passed by Congress earlier that year. Council voted at its May 10, 2022, meeting to allocate $650,000 toward “the modernization and upgrade of downtown restroom facilities,” along with 30 other city projects relating to homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, domestic violence prevention and assistance, among others.

“Due to the connection of addressing health, safety and [homelessness], the Council was able to allocate some COVID relief funding toward this project,” Manheimer explains.

Susannah Horton, the city’s manager for the project, says the city is looking for a prefabricated, standalone restroom option with features designed to mitigate many of the issues experienced at 29 Haywood St. The Portland Loo, which was created by the city of Portland in 2010, is a 7-by-10-foot structure that would provide enough room for a wheelchair, bike or stroller. The single stall has a flush toilet. There are no mirrors, and blue interior lighting makes it difficult for intravenous drug users to find a vein for injection. Handwashing facilities are provided outside the structure.

It is still unclear what the city’s final design will include, but according to the city’s project page, all of the models being considered will include additional lighting, security cameras and “crime prevention through environmental design.”

“Louvers at the top and the bottom [will] allow for visibility but privacy, and these are designed so [emergency medical services] can see inside if there’s an emergency and they need to get in,” adds Horton. “The material that we are seeing these being fabricated from is stainless steel with an anti-graffiti coating. These types of units are also designed to be

vandal-resistant. … So those are all considerations that we have and are looking to install.”

The Portland Loos in particular, which have cropped up in more than two dozen locations across the country, have had mixed results. San Diego removed one toilet structure in 2016, just over a year after it was installed, citing a 130% increase in police service calls to the area, and city officials say that maintenance and repair costs were more than double initial estimates. Meanwhile, Reno, Nev., is installing its second restroom after its first facility was said to have reduced human waste on city streets by 73%.

GIVE AND TAKE In August, the city invited members of the public to provide feedback on conceptual design options for the site through an online survey. The survey received 200 responses, with about half providing written comments as well.

Horton notes that among the respondents’ top priorities were safety, site visibility, tree preservation and cleanliness. Those concerns were echoed in an Xpress call for comments online and through its weekly newsletter, where dozens of community members expressed both concern and optimism about the project.

“An outdoor public restroom will cause additional security concerns, encouraging illegal behaviors that are already out of control in downtown Asheville,” worries resident Susan Sherman Gaddis. “This encourages the homeless population to congregate, thus increasing illegal activities.”

“Civilized societies provide public restrooms to people regardless of the time of day,” says resident and Xpress contributor Storms Reback. “If people are going to complain about homeless people urinating and defecating in public downtown, giving them a place to use the bathroom seems like an easy and humane solution.”

“It’s not only the homeless who need to ‘go’ downtown. I, for one, would welcome such a facility,” says Laura Allen. “The bathrooms at Pack Square are only open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A place where you can go and also wash your hands located toward the other end of the downtown strip would be welcomed.”

Nearly all respondents, both supporters and those worried about the potential negative impacts of the amenity, said that daily maintenance and a security presence would be needed to support the structure.

“A facility without round-the-clock monitoring and cleaning doesn’t seem like it would be a recipe for success,”

notes resident and former candidate for Asheville City Council Rich Lee. “Of course, it would need to be staffed and cleaned — and maintenance is a thing we seem to be bad at as a town — but ‘It will be gross, and people will sleep there’ is a weak excuse against providing a reasonable facility,” says Asheville resident Claire Dima, who works downtown.

“Obviously, a 24-hour bathroom won’t fix homelessness or all the waste issues downtown, but it would certainly help.”

Meanwhile, a majority of Council appeared aligned with the project while acknowledging that issues may arise. Details regarding maintenance or security monitoring of the facility have not yet been determined.

“Recognizing the challenges of maintaining 24/7 public restrooms, the city focused on a design to maximize safety, durability and maintenance,” says Manheimer. “The stand-alone facility allows for improved safety, accessibility and easier maintenance.”

Council members Antannette Mosley, Sandra Kilgore and Maggie Ullman did not return requests for comment on the project.

IN THE PIPELINE As the project marches on, Horton says that she and her team are working with local architects to incorporate feedback from the public survey into the final design and construction documents.

“We’re aiming to get this out to bid before the end of the calendar year.

The holidays are tricky. But we know that this is important,” says Horton.

“We want to get this out. And we’re planning on construction being [in] late winter [or] early spring 2024.”

Once it wraps up the design process, Horton says that the city plans to hold another drop-in information session with updated renderings and details in November, though a date has not been scheduled.

For now, members of Council, business owners and the public will get by with the current facilities until the arrival of the amenity next year.

“Access to 24/7 restrooms is sorely needed, and this model is designed with both function and maintenance in mind,” says Council member Kim Roney. “I’ve shoveled waste off the sidewalk [and felt] disgusted and ashamed because I know our bathrooms aren’t open. Plus, folks are being punished for not having a place to go.

“This is for all of us,” Roney continues. “We deserve better.” X MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 1-7, 2023

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N EWS

DEVELOPMENT ROUNDUP

Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss new hotel City of Asheville

square feet and include a two-car garage. The 5.75 acres of wooded common space will be maintained by a homeowners association. The review of this application is continued from the board’s Oct. 11 meeting. Project documents can be found at avl.mx/cvd.

The public will be able to provide input on one plan review and one zoning map amendment at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9, which will be in person at City Hall’s first-floor North Conference Room at 70 Court Plaza. A meeting of the same body to review the agenda, which is open to the public but does not allow public comment, will be at 4:30 p.m. in the fifth-floor Large Conference Room.

The Design Review Committee will meet virtually at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 16, with an agenda review at 12:15 p.m. the same day.

The agenda for that meeting was not available as of press time.

SITE PLAN REVIEW: 22 Carter St., Asheville The commission will review a Level II site plan for a six-story, mixed-used building on 0.67 acres.

The plans call for a Tempo by Hilton hotel with 115 rooms, 4,337 square feet of restaurant space and 1,910 square feet of retail space.

The property owner is Milan CN Holdings LLC. No estimated project cost was listed.

As a Level II project, these site plans will not require City Council approval if approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Instead, it will go back to the Technical Review Committee for a final review. Project documents can be found at avl.mx/d4c.

ZONING MAP AMENDMENT: 511 Brevard Road, Asheville Bear Creek Holdings LLC is requesting to amend the conditional zoning ordinance for property located 511 Brevard Road to make changes to site plans and project conditions. If approved, the ordinance would be changed to remove language prohibiting a drive-thru facility north of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott.

Residents can submit comments over email and voicemail until 24 hours before the meeting or pro-

NEW DEVELOPMENTS: The plans at 22 Carter St. call for a Tempo by Hilton hotel with 115 rooms, 4,337 square feet of restaurant space and 1,910 square feet of retail space. Rendering courtesy of the City of Asheville vide in-person comment during the meeting itself. Instructions on how to attend and comment, as well as the full meeting agenda, are available at avl.mx/8b6.

Buncombe County Two projects requiring special-use permits are on the agenda at the Buncombe County Board of Adjustment meeting at noon, Wednesday, Nov. 8. The in-person meeting will be at the Board of Commissioners Chambers, 200 College St. Information on how to attend and apply for comment can be found at avl.mx/anq. No email or voicemail comments will be accepted.

Sheehan Townhomes SUP (145 and 183 Sheehan Road, Fletcher) Warren Sugg of Asheville-based Civil Design Concepts is requesting a special-use permit to build a Level 1 Planned Unit Development on 22.23 acres. The development will consist of 131 residential units across 29 buildings. The project proposes a number of amenities, including a dog park, playground, centralized mail station and pedestrian paths. Project documents can be found at avl.mx/d4b.

— Chase Davis X

Lunch & Learn KNOWLEDGE IS ON THE MENU

November 30th 11am-1pm Rethinking retirement has never been easier. Come enjoy a presentation about Givens Gerber Park: a more affordable rental retirement option (55+) and enjoy lunch on us. Monthly fees are all-inclusive based on income.

RSVP required.

SPECIAL-USE PERMITS: Wilderness Ridge SUP (99999 Reeves Code Road, Lower Hominy Township) Kevin Kerr of Asheville-based Wilderness Ridge LLC is requesting a special-use permit to build a Level 1 Planned Unit Development on 58.66 acres. The development will consist of 74 condominium units across 35 buildings. Each condominium will be about 2,850 MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 1-7, 2023

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CITY BEAT

Council approves zoning for McCormick Field improvements At its Oct. 24 meeting, Asheville City Council unanimously approved a zoning change required to upgrade McCormick Field. The modifications to the site’s zoning requirements at 30 Buchanan Place include allowances for the project to exceed height restrictions and bypass parking space requirements.

The improvements to McCormick Field, which were approved at the March 14 City Council meeting, will include a new clubhouse, an enhanced outdoor seating area and an expanded concourse and entrance area.

The zoning request, presented by Will Palmquist, City of Asheville principal planner, would rezone the 8.25 acres from Institutional to Institutional-Conditional Zone.

This change would give the project’s development more flexibility, removing the 40-foot height restriction and reducing the number of required on-site parking spaces from 1,000 to 34.

After the presentation, Council member Antanette Mosley said she had received emails from residents in the area concerned about parking and traffic. Historically, the surrounding neighborhoods, including East End and Oakhurst, have struggled with sports fans parking on residential streets during games.

City Attorney Brad Branham said most concerns that city staff had received about parking stem from events at the nearby Mountainside Park. As such, Branham said it would be “legally inappropriate” for the city to place conditions on McCormick Field to

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member of the park committee for East End/Valley Street, thanked the city staff for establishing a formal parking plan but urged the city to address ongoing issues at the park, even though it fell outside the scope of the conditional zoning request.

“Thank you to staff for all of the community meetings and surveys to gather input on the parking plan as part of the CZ,” Broderick said.

“I do want to urge the Council to follow through to address the issues in regard to Mountainside Park. …We understand it’s a complex situation, but the city owns all of the parcels around, so we know that we can come up with a solution that is serving the residents, mitigating impact of usage and providing space for the facility as well.”

In other news

PARKING CONCERNS: City Attorney Brad Branham said that the majority of concerns that city staff had received about parking at McCormick Field stem from events at the nearby Mountainside Park. Photo by Chase Davis address complaints regarding a separate property.

“We had a lot of conversations with the community around parking, and I think we have taken that to heart,” said City Manager Debra Campbell. “Even though [Mountainside Park] is separate from this particular site …we do have a plan.”

Palmquist said a new traffic control and parking strategy is

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designed to lessen negative impacts from events at the 4,200-seat stadium on nearby neighborhoods.

For example, on event days, general admission parking will not be allowed at Mountainside Park parking lots. These lots will be reserved for staff and teams who can be held responsible for any issues.

Additionally, special-event parking will be prohibited on several residential streets in the vicinity.

The parking plan incorporates three existing public parking areas near the stadium: the front McCormick Field parking area with 51 spaces, the Buchanan Avenue parking area with 25 spaces (including seven spots accessible to those with disabilities) and the front Memorial Stadium parking area with 78 spaces.

The plan indicates that, within a 10-minute walk from the front gate, are 914 structured parking spaces, 1,067 surface parking spaces and 372 street parking spaces, totaling 2,353.

Mandy Broderick, a resident of Hunt Hill Place directly behind Mountainside Park, as well as a

The City Council also voted to delay adoption of the South Slope Vision Plan. Council member Kim Roney said the city needed to engage more with the Southside neighborhood to address concerns about stormwater mitigation, support for small businesses, tree canopy repair and buffers between developments and the neighborhoods.

“I went back and reviewed my notes from 2018 when I was serving on the Multimodal Transportation Commission, and back then we were having the same concerns about how the Southside neighborhood was being engaged around the vision plan for South Slope.

It still feels to me that we are still putting the cart before the horse,” Roney said.

South Slope: A Southside Neighborhood Vision Plan is a 92-page document that grew out of the Downtown Master Plan and has been six years in the making. The plan aims to channel the growth and development of the area south of the downtown core and its surrounding neighborhoods, including South French Broad, East End Valley Street and Oakhurst.

The plan’s executive summary outlines how to use existing infrastructure and regulations to create a unified design and improved connectivity between neighborhoods and commercial areas, such as a gateway to connect McCormick Field and Memorial Stadium with downtown, public art installations and commemoration of the neighborhood’s African American history. The plan does not include funding commitments for capital projects or investments.

— Chase Davis X

TDA BEAT

Tourism board approves over $6 million for three projects The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority board unanimously approved $6.1 million for three tourism projects during its Oct. 25 meeting. Vic Isley, BCTDA president and CEO of Explore Asheville, said that the vote ended a “historic” investment year for the TDA’s Tourism Product Development Fund.

“Combined with our investment into McCormick Field, this marks the largest annual investment of TPDF funds since it was first established nearly 20 years ago,” Isley said. “We are funding projects that are not only going to increase tourism to the area but also have lasting impacts on our local community members.”

The approved projects include upgrades to the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and an outdoor covered equestrian arena for the WNC Agricultural Center as well as new turf, lighting and a playground for the Enka Recreation Destination.

When applications for the fund opened earlier this year, 10 applications submitted a combined total request of $18.4 million. Only $7.98 million was available to fund projects for the 2023 cycle. Seven applications moved to phase II, but only six submitted applications. Of those, three were recommended for funding allocation, as presented by Tiffany Thacker, director of grants for Explore Asheville: • Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville: nearly $1.59 million The Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville upgrades project will include improvements to the facility that will help attract annual arena-sized events such as concerts, performing arts and sporting events. The improvements will include a new multiuse sports court for volleyball and pickleball, as well as rigging enhancements, concert lighting and audio/visual, and network improvements to increase the arena’s internet infrastructure. The project began in June and is estimated to be completed by May 2025.

• Equine facility at WNC Agricultural Center: $500,000 The WNC Agriculture Center’s equine facility modernization project includes capital improve-

BIG INVESTMENTS: The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority approved new funding projects that include upgrades to the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville and an outdoor covered equestrian arena for the WNC Agricultural Center, as well as new turf, lighting and a playground for the Enka Recreation Destination. Photo by Chase Davis

as far as TPDF?” Patel asked. “For example, we have a big issue with [the] Thomas Wolfe [auditorium].”

Board member Matthew Lehman reminded Patel that the board can only make allocations based on the projects submitted for consideration.

“To me, it’s similar to the workforce housing issue,” Lehman continued. “I have ideas of what I’d like to do, but we as a body have to vote ’yes’ or ’no’ on a project based on what third-party nonprofits submit.”

Isley said that discussions are ongoing about funding major projects.

“We have been in discussions and meetings with the county and with the city and with all three parties to look at a longer trajectory of what are the priority projects coming down, including Thomas Wolfe,” Isley said.

Following the discussion, TDA board members voted to approve the projects for funding, which passed unanimously. Funds for the projects will be allocated as they are needed throughout each project’s development process.

— Chase Davis X

ments to several existing facilities, including the replacement and renovations of barns as well as the addition of a 32,500-square-foot outdoor covered arena. The project is expected to begin next June and is estimated to be completed

by January 2026.

• Enka Recreation Destination Phase II: just over $4 million Phase 2 of Buncombe County’s Enka Recreation Destination project includes turfing three fields and lighting four fields; a new playground that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act; park ranger facility renovations to bathrooms, a first-aid station and storage; and the replacement of an outdated picnic shelter with a new lighted structure. The project is expected to begin in January 2025 and is estimated to be completed

by June 2027.

Board reaction Several board members commented on the positive impact that the projects will have on local tourism.

However, board member HP Patel questioned if there were more meaningful projects that were overlooked.

“I mean, these projects are great, but what are our long-term goals MOUNTAINX.COM

NOV. 1-7, 2023

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HEALTH BEAT

HCA’s independent monitor faces tense public meeting Ronald Winters, CEO of the independent monitor for HCA Healthcare, faced an unhappy crowd at a community meeting Oct. 19.

Current and former physicians, nurses and patients from Mission Hospital implored Gibbins Advisors to monitor the health care system’s quality. Throughout the 90-minute public meeting, Winters repeatedly told the audience that quality of patient care is not one of the 15 obligations the Gibbins Advisors is assigned to measure. HCA made 15 commitments as part of its purchase agreement when it acquired nonprofit Mission Hospital.

HCA, a Nashville-based for-profit health care system, bought Mission Hospital for $1.5 billion in 2019.

Gibbins Advisors, a Nashville-based health care operations and restructuring consultancy, was hired by Dogwood Health Trust, a nonprofit that was created as part of the sale.

According to Carolina Public Press, Attorney General Josh Stein selected Gibbins Advisors as the independent monitor.

HCA’s management of Mission Health has drawn scrutiny since the sale. Nurses have expressed alarm about what they say are unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios, and patients have complained about longer wait times and surprise fees.

During the meeting, Dr. Robert Kline, a former member of Mission Hospital’s board of directors, read a letter aloud addressed to Winters that was signed by dozens of current and former physicians. (Fifty-nine physicians, both open signers and

Nonprofit

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a chief nursing officer and representatives from Dogwood Health Trust usually attend. Alleging that those site visits aren’t an accurate portrayal, several nurses asked Gibbins Advisors to make surprise visits to Mission Hospital instead of scheduled ones.

PATIENT SAFETY

TAKING QUESTIONS: Gibbins Advisors CEO Ronald Winters fielded numerous questions during a community meeting Oct. 19 about his company’s scope as independent monitor of Mission Health. Photo by Jessica Wakeman anonymous, have added their names to the letter as of Oct. 25.)

“Many of the for-profit driven changes that HCA has wrought, despite advocacy and protests from multiple sectors, have gutted the heart and soul of our community health care system,” the letter said.

“The relationships and deep personal investment that historically mattered to staff across the board have been stifled. Emblematic of this is the loss of over 200 physicians and countless health care staff who have left Mission and/or the medical community since the sale.” Read the entire letter here: avl.mx/d4g.

State Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe; Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust; and Holly Jones from the N.C. Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General also attended the meeting.

the Mission Health System Quality Office, an agency to report concerns about patient experience.

Following the presentation, Winter fielded questions from the audience who had gathered in a meeting space at The Scenic Hotel in South Asheville. He frequently said he didn’t know the answer or that the topic of the question was beyond the independent monitor’s purview.

One person asked Winters whether a commitment to quality is an “industry standard” among health care systems. Another attendee asked about HCA’s commitment to invest $25 million over five years for an investment and innovation fund and whether any had been invested and in what. In both cases, Winters said he didn’t know.

HELPFUL OR HOPELESS?

The independent monitor performs site visits at Mission Hospital to assess whether the 15 commitments are being followed. During his presentation, Winters explained that under the purchase agreement, Dogwood Health Trust is entitled to visit each of the hospitals during the 30 days that follow the publication of HCA’s annual reports.

A nurse in attendance asked Winters, “Who participates in those visits, and how do we identify the veracity of the reports?” He responded that Mission Hospital’s president,

Winters outlined the 15 commitments HCA made that Gibbins Advisors can monitor, such as participating in Medicaid and Medicare programs for at least 10 years and keeping “material facilities” open for at least 10 years. [Available here: avl.mx/d1o] He emphasized Gibbins’ role isn’t to oversee billing or how HCA runs the hospital and noted each table in the room had fliers listing public resources (avl.mx/d4e) to help with those concerns, such as

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NURSES REQUEST SURPRISE VISITS

Asheville resident John Nicolay told Winters that he and his wife retired to Asheville partially due to the city’s “stellar reputation” for health care. But that hasn’t been fulfilled, he said. “The experience my wife and I have had in the [Mission] emergency room more than once was unpleasant, awful — it’s a zoo,” he told the audience.

“That ER could kill five people a day, and that would not make it into your 15 commitments,” he said.

“The labor and delivery could drop five babies a day, and that would not affect anything [in the 15 commitments].” He concluded that his family is considering whether Asheville was the best place to retire after all.

Nicolay was one of several attendees who questioned whether there was any way to add quality of patient care as a 16th commitment.

“We understand the public is frustrated by limitations of the asset purchase agreement,” Winters responded to Nicolay. “We didn’t write the asset purchase agreement. We’re charged with the responsibility to umpire everybody. … Changing, adding things — I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s not our role. It’s going to take people other than us to do that.”

Winters repeatedly encouraged attendees to share concerns with Gibbins Advisors via email so they could be incorporated into the independent monitoring assessment.

The company takes the feedback, aggregates it and then shares it anonymously with HCA, he said.

The Asheville community meeting is part of a series held by Gibbins Advisors in Western North Carolina.

(The independent monitor held similar community meetings in 2020.) The group held a public meeting regarding Transylvania Regional Hospital on Oct. 17, and will hold meetings regarding Angel Medical Center and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively. (Community meetings for Blue Ridge Hospital and Mission Hospital McDowell haven’t been scheduled.)

For more information about meeting details visit avl.mx/wordcapg.

— Jessica Wakeman X

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NOV. 1-7, 2023

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV. 1 - NOV. 9, 2023 For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 828-251-1333, opt. 1.

 Online-only events  More info, page 28  More info, page 31 WELLNESS Tai Chi for Balance A gentle Tai Chi exercise class to help improve balance, mobility, and quality of life. All ages are welcome.

WE (11/1, 8), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Free Zumba Gold Fitness program that involves cardio and Latin-inspired dance.

Free, but donations for the instructor are appreciated. For more information please call (828) 350-2058.

WE (11/1, 8), noon, Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave Therapeutic Recreation Adult Morning Movement Active games, physical activities, and sports for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over.

Advanced registration at avlrec.com required.

WE (11/1, 8), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave

TH (11/2, 9), 9:30am, TU (11/7), 10:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Tai Chi for Beginners A class for anyone interested in Tai Chi and building balance, whole body awareness and other health benefits.

TH (11/2, 9), MO (11/6), 11:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Morning Meditation Everyone is most welcome to join the sit; however no meditation instructions are provided.

FR (11/3), TU (11/7), 7:30am, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Yoga in The Solarium A Vinyasa flow that is perfect for yogis of every experience level. Bring your water bottle and your mat.

WE (11/1), 6pm, The Restoration Hotel, 68 Patton Ave

Qigong for Health A part of traditional Chinese medicine that involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind and spirit.

FR (11/3), TU (11/7), 9am, SA (11/4), 11am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Nia Dance Fitness A sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson This exhibition celebrates the legacy of Lambert Wilson, a passionate collector of contemporary Native American art.

Gallery open Tuesday through Friday, 10am.

Exhibition through Dec. 8.

WCU Bardo Arts Center, 199 Centennial Dr, Cullowhee

Seeds of Spirit A free weekly meditation and healing circle.

Register at avl.mx/d1f.

TH (11/2), 7pm, Online

Tai Chi Fan This class helps build balance and whole body awareness. All ages and ability levels welcome.

Fans will be provided.

WE (11/1, 8), 1pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 NnMerrimon Ave, Ste 109

Dharma & Discuss People coming together in friendship to meditate, learn and discuss the Dharma. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

TH (11/2), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

Saturday, 10am, and Sunday, noon. Exhibition through Dec. 3.

Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

Yoga for Everyone A free-in person yoga class for all ages and abilities. Bring your own mat, water bottle and mask.

SA (11/4), 9:30am, Black Mountain Presbyterian, 117 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Therapeutic Slow Flow Yoga A blend of meditation, breathing and movement.

All bodies, genders, and identities welcome. Bring

PIANO AND NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE: The Diana Wortham Theatre hosts R. Carlos Nakai, of Navajo-Ute heritage, a premier performer of the Native American flute, alongside pianist/composer Peter Kater on Saturday, Nov. 4, and Sunday, Nov. 5, starting at 7:30 p.m. The award-winning pair has played in Asheville 10 times over their 30-plus-years musical partnership. Photo courtesy of John Running your own mat.

SA (11/4), 10am, Mount Inspiration Apparel, 444 Haywood Rd, Ste 103

instructions provided.

SU (11/5), 10am, Walk Jones Wildlife Sanctuary, Montreat

Wild Souls Authentic Movement Class w/ Renee Trudeau Enjoy release, movement and connection with like-minded women.

SU (11/5), 9:30am, Dunn's Rock Community Center, 461 Connestee Rd, Brevard

Fall Flow w/Jamie Knox Level 1+ heat increasing flow with restorative bonds designed to warm the body, calm anxiety, and release excess heat built over the summer.

SU (11/5), 10:30am, One World Brewing W, 520 Haywood Rd

Walking Meditation Reduce stress, anxiety and increase health and wellbeing. Meditation

Yoga Taco Mosa Donation based yoga with Clare Desmelik.

Bring your mat, a water bottle and an open heart.

SU (11/5), 10:30am, The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave Gentle Yoga for Queer & GNC Folks This class is centered towards creating an affirming and inclusive space for queer and gender non-conforming individuals.

SU (11/5), 1:30pm, W Asheville Yoga, 602 Haywood Rd Barre Fusion A high energy low impact practice that shapes, sculpts, and tones the body like a dancer. No experience necessary, open to all levels.

MO (11/6), 9:30am, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109

Free Zumba A fun hour of dance fitness. All fitness bodies are invited and no experience is required.

MO (11/6), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave Metta Meditation Free in-person guided meditation focused on benevolence and loving-kindness. Beginners and experienced practitioners are welcome.

MO (11/6), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Zumba Free zumba class; Registration not needed.

TU (11/7), 6:30pm, St. James Episcopal Church, 424 W State St, Black Mountain Community Yoga & Mindfulness Free monthly event with Inspired Change Yoga that will lead you into a morning of breathwork, meditation and yoga.

Bring your own mat.

WE (11/8), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave ABCs & 123s For people looking to start a fitness journey with morning walks, stretching, and calisthenic workouts.

WE (11/8), 10am, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St

EMPYREAN ARTS

INTRO TO POLE weekly classes MONDAYS 12pm, 6pm, and 7:15pm + TUESDAYS 4:30pm + WEDNESDAYS 7:10pm + THURSDAYS 6pm + FRIDAYS 6pm

empyreanarts.org • info@empyreanarts.org 828.782.3321

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ART Beyond the Lens: Photorealist Perspectives on Looking, Seeing, and Painting This exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to explore a singular and still vigorous aspect of American painting.

Gallery open daily, 11am, closed on Tuesday.

Exhibition through Feb. 5, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Weaving at Black Mountain College: Anni Albers, Trude Guermonprez & Their Students The first exhibition devoted to textile practices at Black Mountain College.

Gallery open Monday through Saturday, 11am.

Exhibition through Jan. 6, 2024.

Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Western North Carolina Glass: Selections from the Collection Western North Carolina is important in the history of American glass art.

A variety of techniques and a willingness to push boundaries of the medium can be seen in this selection of works.

Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday.

Exhibition through April 15, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Janice Geller: InHer Visions This exhibition revolves around the processes Janice Geller uses to create art after exploring vivid dreams, inner meditations, authentic movement, active imagination, inner body states or the sumptuous allure of nature. Gallery open Monday through

Evolving Visions: A Contemporary Collective Opening Reception This group show celebrates the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of contemporary art with a diverse group of talented artists, each with their unique perspectives and artistic voices. The featured artists draw inspiration from various sources, including cultural and urban influences, personal experiences, and memories.

FR (11/3), 5pm, Citron Gallery, 60 Biltmore Ave, Ste 002 Natalie Ray Art Opening Local artist, Natalie Ray, along with the Asheville Gallery of Art, will be celebrating the music scene of Asheville with her, Opening Reception Exhibition titled, The Music of Asheville.

FR (11/3), 5pm, Asheville Gallery of ARt, 82 Patton Ave Reckoning: Adornment as Narrative Opening Reception An exhibition of diverse practices, anchored by three points: methods of reckoning; the function of adornment; and the fusing of personal and cultural narrative.

FR (11/3), 5pm, Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St, Ste 144 Art & Soul Relaxing art classes full of friends, self expression, and laughs with other adults 50 and over. Free, but advance registration at avlrec.com required.

FR (11/3), 6:30pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave Weaving at BMC: Loom Activation Students from Warren Wilson College’s Fiber Arts work crew will weave on an original loom from Black Mountain College’s weaving workshop.

SA (11/4), 1pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Janice Geller: InHer Visions Opening Reception An intimate glimpse into artist Janice Geller’s inner world of dreams and awakenings of the unconscious. At the opening reception there will be mini performances inspired by the paintings.

SA (11/4), 5pm, Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St

In the Flow: The Art of Safi Martin Opening Reception Opening reception and artist talk for Safi Martin, who recently begun creating her own art using a unique form of painting.

Martin involves pouring acrylic paints directly on the canvas, which conveys a celebration of flow, both in art and in life.

See p31 SA (11/4), 6pm, Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, 850 Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain Public Tour: Intersections in American Art A docent led tour of the museum's Collection and special exhibitions. No reservations are required.

SU (11/5), 2pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Romare Bearden: Ways of Working This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores many of Romare Bearden's most frequently used mediums including screen-printing, lithography, hand colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage. Gallery open daily, 11am, closed Tuesday.

Exhibition through Jan. 22, 2024.

Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square Daily Craft Demonstrations Two artists of different media will explain and demonstrate their craft with informative materials displayed at their booths, daily. These free and educational opportunities are open to the public.

Open daily, 10am.

Folk Art Center, MP 382, Blue Ridge Pkwy

COMMUNITY MUSIC Contemplative Evensong A meditative service led by the choir of St. Mark's and Tim McWilliam’s guitar. Poetry, readings, and silence will also take place to celebrate the Feast of All Saints. Free and open to the public.

WE (11/1), 7pm, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 10 N Liberty St Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Joni Mitchell's Court & Spark Bill Kopp, author and music journalist is joined

by Asheville-based singer Eleanor Underhill to discuss Joni Mitchell's Court & Spark album and play key recordings from it.

WE (11/1), 7pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr When You Wish Upon A Star: A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney An unforgettable evening that celebrates 100 years of Disney through the lens of Jazz with newly created house band of The National Jazz

Museum in Harlem.

TH (11/2), 7pm, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave

SU (11/5), 3pm, Porter Center, Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard

Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift A series of candlelit performances played by local musicians in various stunning locations illuminated by thousands of candles.

FR (11/3), 6:30pm, AyurPrana Listening Room, 312 Haywood Rd

Mark's House Jam & Beggar's Banquet Weekly Sunday pot luck and musician's jam with acoustic and plug in players. It's a family friendly community day so bring a dish to share.

SU (11/5), 3pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr

The Sanctuary Series Presents: Amythyst Kiah w/Lillie Syracuse Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah will be the next featured guest in The Sanctuary Concert Series.

Proceeds from ticket sales for the show will benefit Equal Plates Project.

FR (11/3), 7pm, Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church St

R. Carlos Nakai & Peter Kater An evening of music to open your heart to with R.Carlos Nakai, of Navajo-Ute heritage, the world’s premier performer of the Native American flute and pianist/composer Peter Kater.

SA (11/4), SU (11/5), 7:30pm, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave

ACMS Presents: Le Consort Featuring harpsichord, violin and cello, Le Consort takes the quintessence of baroque chamber music, and interprets it through personal, dynamic and colorful language.

FR (11/3), 7:30pm, First Presbyterian Church Asheville, 40 Church St Ensemble Sangineto An eclectic band which skillfully blends ancient harmonies and sonorities with modern rhythms.

FR (11/3), 8pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Scottish Music Concert Gaelic love songs, rustic peasant dances and mythic tales from the ancient Celtic world with fiddle champion Jamie Laval and vocalist Amber Rose.

SA (11/4), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd Soul Blue A charismatic and entertaining band whose five members bring classic soul, blues and R&B sounds.

SA (11/4), 7:30pm, Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr The Honey Dewdrops Virginia raised and Maryland based, Laura Wortman and Kagey continue to expand their experimental folk sound while maintaining a commitment to deepening their understanding of the world through the lens of music.

SA (11/4), 7:00pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State Street, Black Mountain Brevard Philharmonic Presents: A Royal Philharmonic This lineup begins with Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, continues with Strauss Jr.’s elegant Kaiser-Waltzer, and concludes with Beethoven’s crowning piano concerto achievement, his Emperor Concerto featuring the fantastic Tanya Gabrielian.

Reuter Center Singers Seasoned seniors that study and perform classical, popular, show tunes and other favorites.

Membership fees apply.

MO (11/6), 6:15pm, UNC Asheville Reuter Center, 1 University Heights Local Live Series: Jay Brown & Stimulus A bi-weekly local live series featuring a variety of talented local musicians.

MO (11/6), 7pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Open Folk A songwriters showcase where the audience is required to stay silent while six songwriters play three original songs each.

Donations are suggested and accepted.

TU (11/7), 7pm, Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave Concert: Simone Dinnerstein Simone Dinnerstein makes her western North Carolina debut performing pieces by François Couperin, Robert Schumann, and Philip Glass.

WE (11/8), 7pm, Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St Classic Silent Cinema Experience the artistic talents of multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Min Xiao-Fen. This unique performance is a celebration of cultural traditions of early Chinese cinema.

TH (11/9), 7:30pm, Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln, Brevard

LITERARY Joke Writing Workshop Hosted by Disclaimer Stand Up Lounge and moderated by Cody Hughes, weekly. Bring 90 seconds of material that isn't working.

WE (11/1, 8), 6:30pm, Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave

Representing a Region & Its Cuisine In this talk, Professor Abrams Locklear will discuss her new book, Appalachia on the Table: Representing Mountain Food and People.

TH (11/2), 6pm, Mars Hill University, College St, Mars Hill Poetry Open Mic Hendo A poetry-centered open mic that welcomes all kinds of performers every Thursday night. 18+ TH (11/2, 9), 7:30pm, Shakedown Lounge, 706 Seventh Ave E, Hendersonville

A Case for the Existence of God Two men struggle to make a place for their families in the American dream, while balancing parenthood, financial security, desire, and empathy.

WE (11/1), TH (11/2), SA (11/4), 7:30pm, FR (11/3), SU (11/5), 2pm, North Carolina Stage Co., 15 Stage Ln Dancing with Death: The Last Great Adventure A mix of moving dramas, a lively animated film, and thought-provoking docu-

mentaries. Following each film, an expert will lead a discussion on legacy, the spiritual side of death, alternative ways to die, preparedness, facing fear and finding courage.

FR (11/3), 2pm, Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St Asheville Mind Reading Show Asheville native Jonathan Pritchard will leave you questioning what’s real and what’s possible with

this highly interactive mentalism show.

FR (11/3), 8pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd Who Does She Think She Is? A one woman’s journey from Ireland to WNC, with many stops along the way. The show includes original songs as well as many favorites that tie in with Paula’s stories.

FR (11/3), SA (11/4), 7:30pm, SU (11/5), 4pm, The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St

A Doll's House Written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House is about a housewife who becomes disillusioned and dissatisfied with her condescending husband.

SA (11/4), 3pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville Rita Hayworth: The Heat is On Lemley’s full, deep singing voice is gorgeous as she transforms wondrously into Hayworth and tells the star’s story

Katherine Soniat Poetry Reading Katherine Soniat will present her eighth collection of poetry, Polishing the Glass Storm.

SA (11/4), 3pm, City Lights Bookstore, 3 E Jackson St, Sylva Jeff Mann: Loving Mountains, Loving Men: Memoirs of a Gay Appalachian Jeff Mann will be doing a Q&A and signing of his new book, Loving Mountains, Loving Men: Memoirs of a Gay Appalachian.

MO (11/6), 6pm, Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St Book Tok Discuss books, play trivia, and get more reading recommendations.

TU (11/7), 6pm, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave Poetry Critique Night Everyone is welcome to share a few poems or just sit back and listen.

Signups to share will open 15 minutes prior to the start.

TU (11/7), 6pm, Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Wilma Dykeman Book Discussions: Mary Othella Burnette Retired secondary English teacher, features her memoir Lige of the Black Walnut Tree: Growing Up Black in Southern Appalachia.

TH (11/9), 7pm, W Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Rd The Campfireball Created spontaneously out of whatever stories and lives happen to be gathered together at that moment in time.

TH (11/9), 7:30pm, Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd

THEATER & FILM Children of the Vine A film screening of Children of the Vine and expert panel discussion to learn the risk factors, solutions and action steps to take as a community to safeguard children, pets, wildlife and families from Round Up (glyphosate).

WE (11/1), 6pm, AB Tech, Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Rd

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COMMU NI T Y CA L E N DA R via fascinating first-person dialogue and marvelous vocal renditions of standards, and wowing dance breaks.

SA (11/4), 7:30pm, Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave, Tryon Audition Workshop for Children This workshop will take participants step-by-step through most theatre’s audition process and give young actors pointers to make the whole experience more relaxing and familiar.

SU (11/5), 2pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville Healing US Film Showing A panel discussion and Q&A with doctors and nurses will take place after the film.

MO (11/6), 7pm, Grail MovieHouse, 45 S French Broad Ave Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence The plays tackle gun violence through different lenses, from the threat of and anxiety over school shootings, police shootings, community violence, race, and gun culture in American history.

MO (11/6), 7:30pm, Hendersonville Theatre, 229 S Washington St, Hendersonville

Dot Dot Dot: A New Musical The musical follows Marisol’s journey to help her new friends, and her entire community, break free from self-criticism and learn to let their imaginations soar.

Recommended for grades 1 to 4.

WE (11/8), TH (11/9), 10am and noon, Wortham Center For The Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave Murder on the Orient Express Asheville High School Theatre presents Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express adapted

by Ken Ledwig.

TH (11/9), 7pm, Asheville High Arts Theater, 419 McDowell St

MEETINGS & PROGRAMS Free E-Bike Rental A free one hour bike adventure to experience Asheville's historic River Arts District, French Broad River Greenway, local breweries, restaurants and more.

WE (11/1, 8), 10am, Ace Bikes, 342 Depot St Peace Education Program An innovative series of video-based workshops

that help people discover their own inner strength and personal peace.

WE (11/1, 8), 5pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave Therapeutic Recreation Adult Morning Movement Active games, physical activities, and sports for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over.

Advanced registration at avlrec.com required.

WE (11/1, 8), 10am, Tempie Avery Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Ave Community Choice Enjoy family activities including puzzles, board games, arts and crafts, and more. Kids ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

WE (11/1, 8), 6:30pm, Dr Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Center, 285 Livingston St Farm to Fork Series: Sessions 5-6 A deep dive into developing a food business.

At the completion of this programming you will have created a business plan, financial projections and a network of lenders and business professionals WE (11/1), 11:30am, WNC Farmers Market, 570 Brevard Rd

Mindspark: Collaborate Within Your Business Find new ways to interact within your chosen network. Free with registration at avl.mx/d45.

WE (11/1), noon, Online Eightfold Path Study Group A group will gather to study the Eightfold Path Program. Kris Kramer will host the group as a fellow participant and student.

WE (11/1, 8), 3pm, Black Mountain, Honeycutt St, Black Mountain Supporting the Body Through Pregnancy, Delivery & Beyond A presentation with Zoe Martin, PT, DPT, and Jan O'Hara, NP that discusses ways to promote improved outcomes and ways to support yourself throughout the pregnancy, delivery and postpartum periods.

WE (11/1), 5pm, Movement for Life Physical Therapy - Candler, 1572 Sand Hill Rd, Candler Drop-in Community Notary Service Stop by Firestorm on the first Wednesday of each month for free, friendly, no-judgment Notary Public services.

WE (11/1), 6pm, Firestorm Books, 1022 Haywood Rd

Intro to Ballroom Explore the world of Latin and ballroom dancing with such styles as swing, salsa, foxtrot, rumba, merengue and more.

WE (11/1), 6pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain An Evenign of Excellence w/Céline Cousteau A renowned environmentalist, filmmaker, and humanitarian, will be visiting the campus to engage with the Community and share her insights on environmental conservation and global citizenship.

WE (11/1), 6:30pm, Odyssey Community School, 90 Zillicoa St Dollar Décor DIY Enjoy new crafts made from simple items you have at home or can be found at dollar stores.

Advance registration at avlrec.com required.

WE (11/1), 7pm, Stephens-Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave Wild & Scenic North Fork River Award-winning investigative reporter Jack Igelman recounts the historic threats to the French Broad and the ongoing effort to secure the wild and scenic river designation for the North Fork.

WE (11/1), 7pm, OLLI/ Reuter Center, 300 Campus View Rd Western NC Water Quality Conference This water quality conference will be held virtually.

Speakers will include Samantha Krop, Atalie Fischer, Amy Grogan and others who will touch on different water-related discussions. Register at avl.mx/d42.

TH (11/2), 8:45am, Online Therapeutic Recreation Adult Hiking Club Participants need to pack a lunch, water bottle, and clothes comfortable to move in. Open to individuals with disabilities ages 18 and over.

TH (11/2), 9am, Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd

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TH (11/2), 9:30am, Horse Shoe Community Church, 3 Banner Farm Rd, Mills River Kids & Teens Kung Fu Learn fighting skills as well as conflict resolution and mindfulness. First class is free to see if it’s a good fit for you.

TH (11/2, 9), MO (11/6), TU (11/7), 4pm, Dragon Phoenix, 51 N Merrimon Ave, Ste 109 Reimagining Capitalism

by Reimagining Business A lecture, made possible by an Arthur Vining Davis Grant, that will change the way you think about business by reimagining the world we all want to live and work in.

TH (11/2), 7pm, Kittredge Theatre, Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Rd, Swannanoa Swing Dance Lesson & Dance Swing dancing lesson and dance, every Thursday.

TH (11/2, 9), 7pm, Alley Cat Social Club, 797 Haywood Rd Climate Adaptive Design Symposium: Where Building Science Meets Climate Science This symposium incorporates problem-based learning and case studies showing practical applications of regenerative design architects that can employ, in public and private spaces, to lessen negative impacts and help reverse climate change. Free and open to the public.

FR (11/3), 8:45am, The Collider, 1 Haywood St, Ste 401

IBN Biz Lunch A free independent Business Networking meeting that consists of a discussion of future networking opportunities in the area, a roundtable business needs and solutions segment and more. Free and open to the public.

TH (11/2), TU (11/7), 11:30am, Suwana Asian Cuisine, 45 Tunnel Rd

Astronomy Club of Asheville: Public Star Gaze A public star gaze at Grassland Mountain Observatory in Madison County. This event is free and open to everyone, and registration is not necessary to attend. A temporary gate code, required for entry, will be posted on their website by 5:00 pm on the day of the star gaze. Sunset occurs at 6:33 p.m.

Location directions at avl.mx/prxa FR (11/3), 5pm, Grassland Mountain Observatory, 2890 Grassland Parkway, Marshall

Embroiderers' Guild of America: Laurel Chapter This month members will create fabric pumpkins adorned with a surface embroidery technique called chicken scratch, depression lace or snowflake embroidery.

Carlie Holdredge, Laurel Chapter Vice President, will be teaching the class.

Dating Support Group Learn to understand about neurobiology and attachment styles in relationships which can help you find your ideal mate.

FR (11/3), 6pm, W Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Rd

AIGA Asheville Design Weekend A weekend where creativity flows, minds collide, and inspiration ignites around the power of design with work workshops and panels. Design has the extraordinary ability to influence perceptions, challenge possibilities, and make a lasting impact on the future. See p31 FR (11/3), SA (11/4), SU (11/5), 5:30pm, Mojo Coworking, 60 N Market St

people in rural Andean Ecuador.

SU (11/5), 2pm, Waynesville First United Methodist Church, 566 S Haywood St, Waynesville

SCORE: Marketing Your Business Gain insights to understand and reach your customer, analyze your industry and business environment and differentiate between branding, advertising, and grassroots marketing techniques. Free with registration.

SA (11/4), 9am, A-B Tech Small Business Center, 1465 Sand Hill Rd, Candler

Black Men Monday A local group that has stepped up in the community to advocate for and mentor students through academic intervention.

MO (11/6), 7pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

Team Jigsaw Puzzle Competition Race other teams to determine the ultimate Asheville puzzle masters.

Register at avlrec.com.

SA (11/4), 1pm, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Rd Therapeutic Recreation Bowling League A five-week non-competitive bowling league.

Open to individuals with disabilities ages 6 and over. For more information, please call (828) 232-4529.

SA (11/4), 1pm, Sky Lanes, 1477 Patton Ave Introduction to Knitting Participants will learn the basic skills of knitting, which include how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, increase, decrease and knit in the round. Projects will include a headband or fingerless mitts, an infinity scarf and a beanie style hat.

SA (11/4), 2pm, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain Trauma & Tension Releasing Workshop This workshop will teach you to safely use Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises as a lifelong tool for personal healing and reducing stress.

SA (11/4), 2pm, Black Mountain Yoga, 116 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Change Your Palate Cooking Demo This free food demonstration is open to everyone but tailored towards those with type 2 diabetes or hypertension and/ or their caretakers. Our featured host is Change Your Palate's very own Shaniqua Simuel.

SA (11/4), 5:30pm, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave A Taste of Ecuador: Chocolate Tasting An afternoon of chocolate tasting and information about READ, a nonprofit with a mission to support

Money Visioning & Goal Setting Learn how to create a realistic savings goal and plan the steps needed to reach it. You will leave this class with motivation and tools to start making your best money life a reality.

Register at avl.mx/d4i.

MO (11/6), noon, Online

Intro to Senior Games Sports Each week will cover a different sport. This is for people trying a new sport for the 2024 Asheville-Buncombe senior games.

TU (11/7), 10am, W Asheville Park, 11 Vermont Ave Parkinson's Support Group A monthly gathering for People with Parkinson's and the people who support them.

TU (11/7), 10am, Groce Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd Therapeutic Recreation Adult Crafting & Cooking A variety of cooking and crafts for individuals with disabilities ages 17 and over each week.

This week will focus on crafting with play doh.

TU (11/7), 10am, Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd Loan Readiness This workshop will guide you through the effective preparation for a business loan application offering insights and suggestions on what to expect and how to approach the process confidently.

Register at avl.mx/d4f.

TU (11/7), noon, Online New Member Orientation Learn more about your AmeriHealth Caritas benefits and services, we are offering member orientations onsite and online. Lunch guaranteed for all who register.

TU (11/7), noon, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave Mary Magdalene Connect and commune with the essence of Magdalene's sacred mysteries for healing, personal transformation and self mastery.

Register at avl.mx/d1f.

TU (11/7), 5pm, Online James Green Presentation on Russia-Ukraine War A presentation on the Russia-Ukraine War from James Green's

MAKE A DIFFERENCE… ~ in your community ~ for the environment - An anti-poverty nonprofit organization Energy Services Tech • Perform prescribed general heat loss and air infiltration improvements that will increase energy efficiency • Correct health/safety threat on homes • Four-day work week, no nights, no on-call shifts • No experience needed • Training and development provided (paid by employer) • Salary range $19.31 to $21.85, depending on qualifications

Excellent benefits! 13 paid holidays, PTO accrual, health benefits 100% paid by the employer, including dental & vision and up to 6% match 401k

For full job description & to apply, visit:

communityactionopportunities.org/jobs-listing/

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C OMMU N IT Y CA L E N D AR perspective of 30 years as a first-hand observer of Russia and Ukraine.

James Greene is a former NATO diplomat, U.S. naval officer, and expert on national security cooperation and transformation in democratizing societies.

TU (11/7), 7pm, UNC Asheville Reuter Center, 1 University Heights The French Broad River Partnership 5th Annual Meeting The French Broad River Partnership is a collaboration of business, nonprofit, and government stakeholders all interested in the water quality and economic impact of the watershed in our region.

WE (11/8), 9am, AB Tech, Ferguson Auditorium, 340 Victoria Rd Education & Workforce Symposium The A3 Event will focus on our region’s innovative practices for educational attainment, and it’s planned by six local organizations alongside two statewide organizations.

WE (11/8), 10am, UNC Asheville Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights 2nd MWBE Vendor Outreach An invitation to all Prime contractors and Minority

and Women-owned businesses vendors to attend this outreach event and take advantage of this unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse construction landscape in Asheville.

WE (11/8), 6pm, River Cane, 8 River Arts Pl

MBBC Networking Event w/Focus on Leadership A monthly networking meeting with a special guest speaker. The meeting will focus on why leadership is key and there will be food, conversation and networking.

TH (11/9), 11:30am, AmeriHealth Caritas, 216 Asheland Ave

WNC Food Waste Solutions Summit This year’s Summit will bring together local businesses, organizations, educational institutions, community leaders, and interested individuals to expand conversations and deepen collaborations that have emerged since the 2017 Summit. See p28 TH (11/9), 8:30am, A-B Tech Conference Center, 340 Victoria Rd

Bowling for Adults 50 & Over A friendly game of bowling for adults 50 and over. Transportation provided from Grove St Community Center.

TH (11/9), 1pm, Sky Lanes, 1477 Patton Ave

Dye Series: The Magic of Indigo Learn how to set up an organic indigo vat using a few simple ingredients.

Witness the magical creation of blue as the fiber comes out of the vat with traditional resist techniques will be used to dye cotton bandanas.

TH (11/9), 10am, Buncombe County Cooperative Ext Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd, Ste 102

The Marshall Trilogy to Standing Rock: A Legal History of Native American Dispossession Dr. George D. Pappas examines literary pathways that transformed fiction into U.S. law in order to dispossess Native Americans of their ancient homelands.

TH (11/9), 6pm, Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain Therapeutic Recreation Adult Supper Club Prepare and enjoy meals with new and old friends.

Open to individual with disabilities ages 18 and over. This week focuses

on Chicken Alfredo.

TH (11/9), 6pm, Oakley Community Center, 749 Fairview Rd Dharma & Discuss: John Orr Teaching A meditation with instructions for beginners and experienced practitioners.

This will be followed by a dharma talk and an opportunity to ask John questions afterwards.

TH (11/9), 7pm, Quietude Micro-retreat Center, 1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain

LOCAL MARKETS RAD Farmers Market Winter Season Browse 30+ local vendors all winter long with fresh produce, pastured meats, baked goods, honey, and more. Safely accessible by bike or foot on the greenway, plus free public parking along Riverside Drive.

WE (11/1, 8), 3pm, Smoky Park Supper Club, 350 Riverside Dr Weaverville Tailgate Market A selection of fresh, locally grown produce, grass fed beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, eggs, cheese, sweet and savory baked goods, artisan bread, fire cider, coffee, pickles, body care, eclectic handmade

goodies, and garden and landscaping plants. Open year round.

WE (11/1, 8), 3pm, 60 Lake Shore Dr Weaverville North Asheville Tailgate Market The oldest Saturday morning market in WNC, since 1980. Over 60 rotating vendors offer fresh Appalachian grown produce, meats, cheeses and eggs - with a variety of baked goods, value added foods, and unique craft items. Weekly through Dec. 16.

SA (11/4), 8am, 3300 University Heights Asheville City Market Local food products, including fresh produce, meat, cheese, bread, pastries, and other artisan products. Weekly through Dec. 17.

SA (11/4), 9am, 52 N Market St Black Mountain Tailgate Market Featuring organic and sustainably grown produce, plants, cut flowers, herbs, locally raised meats, seafood, breads, pastries, cheeses, eggs and local arts and handcrafted items. Every Saturday through Nov. 18.

SA (11/4), 9am, 130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Night Market Discover handcrafted wonders, artisanal delights, and treasures by local makers, purveyors and curators.

SA (11/4), 5pm, The Railyard Black Mountain, 141 Richardson Ave, Black Mountain WNC Farmers Market High quality fruits and vegetables, mountain crafts, jams, jellies, preserves, sourwood honey, and other farm fresh items. Open daily 8am, year-round.

SU (11/5), 8am, 570 Brevard Rd

FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS Día de los Muertos Annual commemoration and remembrance of loved ones who have died with traditional mexican food, an altar, candles and more. A panel of guests will describe what this tradition looks like in Mexico and Central America.

WE (11/1), 6pm, Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Ave W, Hendersonville Venardos Circus A Broadway-style, animal-free circus with assortment of aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, hand balancers, comedic jokesters and more.

The circus has multiple dates and times, visit avl.mx/d46 for the show's full schedule.

TH (11/2, 9), FR (11/3), WE (11/8), 7pm, SA (11/4), SU (11/5), 2pm, Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd

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Fall & Winter Bazaar The Bazaar will include a country store, raffle, knitted and crochet items, hand crafted items and bake sale. For more information please call (828) 243-3410.

SA (11/4), 8am, St Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Rd, Arden 21st Annual Juried Art & Craft Festival Thirty local artisans will display original, handcrafted art and fine crafts for sale. Proceeds support a self-help fund for low-income residents of church-owned apartments.

SA (11/4), 8:30am, First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, 204 6th Ave W, Hendersonville Farm School General Store Grand Opening The day will include tours of the College Farm, yard games, cute animals and live music. Everyone who joins us will be entered into a raffle to win a choice of either an assorted meat package or an assortment of herbal and forest products.

SA (11/4), 10am, Warren Wilson College Farm, 108 South Ln, Swannanoa Ritual of Remembrance Learn about the cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos, enjoy an outdoor performance, and build a collective 'ofrenda' to remember your loved ones. Space is limited, so you must register in advance.

SA (11/4), 5pm, Dreaming Stone Arts and Ecology Center, 382 Pleasant Hill Rd, Rutherfordton Psychic & Holistic: Holiday Expo Enjoy a wide range of readings including tarot, past lives, astrology and discover a variety of holistic practices for wellness and balance, rejuvenating experiences and more.

Indulge in an array of metaphysical products, crystals, spiritual jewelry, henna and aura photos.

SA (11/4), SU (11/5), 10am, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, 49 E Campus Dr, Flat Rock 75th Anniversary Dance Party A night of drinks, dancing, and nostalgia as we commemorate 75 years of artistic excellence at museum. The party will be a blast from the past, so wear your best ’70s attire.

SA (11/4), 7pm, Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square 15th Anniversary Concert Celebrating 15 years of serving the local, regional, global community through the power of live music. The concert feature various artist and will serve as a fundraiser for White Horse Black Mountain, a new nonprofit organization.

SA (11/4), 8pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Weaverville Art Safari A self-guided free event that offers a unique look at the artist’s work in their working environment, featuring artists who specialize in handmade pottery, glass, photography, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, painting, drawing, fiber art, wood art and more.

Visit avl.mx/d4h for studio locations.

SA (11/4), SU (11/5), 10am, Weaverville Art Safari, Multiple Locations, Weaverville WNC Fermenting Festival A celebration of all things fermented, the gathering features local and regional fermenters presenting their products and educating participants on the benefits of probiotic-rich foods. See p28 SU (11/5), 11am, Madison County Fairgrounds, 330 Carolina Ln, Marshall Holiday Family Fest & Market This family-friendly event will feature bounce inflatables, balloon art craft, face-painting and more. In addition, there will be a holiday market with around 20 vendors, toy and game demos and a visit from Father Christmas.

SU (11/5), 11am, Hendersonville Toy Co., 315 S Church St, Hendersonville The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall This Traveling Memorial stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War. It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their home town who otherwise may not be able to make the trip to Washington. The healing wall will be open to the public and will remain open 24 hours a day.

TH (11/9), 5pm, Veterans Healing Farm, 38 Yale Rd, Hendersonville

BENEFITS & VOLUNTEERING River Cane Work Days Focusing on removing Kudzu from river cane stands along the Wilma Dykeman Greenway in the River Arts District. No experience needed. Please sign up at avl.mx/d26.

TH (11/2, 9), 10am, River Cane, 8 River Arts Pl Celebration & Silent Auction w/Mosaic & Bountiful Cities Guests can enjoy complimentary food and beverages while learning about Bountiful Cities and bidding on auction items. This silent auction fundraiser benefitting Bountiful Cities.

TH (11/2), 5pm, Haiku AVL, 26 Sweeten Creek Rd

Warming Shelter & Sanctuary In addition to a warm, welcoming space to share a meal with neighbors, Saturday Sanctuary offers restrooms, phone charging, videos, popcorn and a safe place to rest.

SA (11/4), 11am, First Presbyterian Church Asheville, 40 Church St 43rd Annual Smoky Mountain Toy Run This police escorted Toy Run is a motorcycle parade starting at the Kearfott Corp. parking lot to downtown Asheville.

All proceeds benefit Eblen Charities Saint Nicholas Project. Please stop by Harley-Davidson of Asheville to drop off a toy or purchase an event t-shirt if you are unable to attend.

SA (11/4), 10am, Kearfott Corporation, 2858 US-70, Black Mountain Climb To Recovery A fundraiser for the Harlan Serenity Foundation that raises funds for scholarships that help provide wilderness treatments for youths struggling with substance abuse. This event is free to attend, but donations will be accepted on site.

SA (11/4), 2pm, Cultivate Climbing, 173 Amboy Rd Knuckle Deep BBQ Festival & Competition Participants will be battling it out in 5 deliciously tough categories with the cook-off being more competitive than ever.

Proceeds will be benefitting Holiday Wishes for Foster Youth.

SU (11/5), noon, The Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St Fall Back Drag Show This show is a fundraiser for Tranzmission, a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for non-binary and transgender people in Western North Carolina.

SU (11/5), 1pm, New Belgium Brewing Co., 21 Craven St Benefit for PEG Partners/ Senderos A benefit to raise funds for PEG Partners/ Senderos, a nonprofit that was founded by David and Deanna LaMotte in Guatemala. Enjoy Guatemalan music, food, crafts and more.

SU (11/5), 2pm, White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd, Black Mountain Indigo De Souza w/ Astoria An all ages benefit show for a dear friend’s medical bills and needed procedure.

TU (11/7), 7pm, The Outpost, 521 Amboy Rd

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WELLNESS

Sober thoughts Nondrinkers reflect on navigating life in Beer City USA

BY JUSTIN McGUIRE jmcguire@mountainx.com

SRI KALKI SOMA DEEKSHA A Golden Age Movement Event Saturday, Nov. 11th, 11am-1pm

Unity of the Blue Ridge Peace

Happiness

Awareness

Experience the power of Grace through the phenomena of Soma (Blessed Water). Deepen your personal connection with the Divine.

Sponsored by the Golden Age Movement and Inner Peace for The Children 501c3.

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When Asheville’s Amanda Jones decided to stop drinking alcohol last year, she figured it would have an immediate impact on her social life.

“We live in Beer City USA, right?” she says. “Anytime someone says, ‘Let’s meet up,’ you know, as an adult, you’re going to a bar or a brewery. So, I had to rethink what that looks like for me.”

She’s not alone. Beer culture — and alcohol generally — permeates Western North Carolina, complicating things for those choosing the sober life. Going out for a night of trivia or karaoke? Most likely you’ll be going to a brewery. Want to catch some live music? You’ll be listening with an audience full of people imbibing.

Alcohol is even present in unlikely places: barbershops and hair salons.

5Ks, swim-runs and half-marathons.

Volleyball tournaments. Yoga classes.

Pottery-painting shops. Some companies offer canoe tours of the area’s breweries on the French Broad River.

“It’s inescapable,” says Asheville’s Peter Kleczynski. “I was offered a beer sample at an outdoor recreation store. When I started as a massage therapist, I very quickly had to start serving Champagne in the course of my job. It’s like, ‘Why am I serving alcohol as a massage therapist?’”

Kleczynski and other nondrinkers are quick to point out they do not object to others drinking and don’t judge them for it. It’s just that they’d like to find some social options that aren’t centered around booze. That can be tough in a place that markets itself as having more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city.

“I would love one day to see a new business open up that’s not a brewery or a taproom,” says Kleczynski, who chooses not to drink because of a family history of alcoholism. “Can’t there be something else?”

Aware of such concerns, many local breweries and bars now carry nonalcoholic beer and liquor options. And groups and individuals are stepping in to create alternative spaces and events for people, especially those in their 20s and 30s, who are sober or at least “sober curious.”

The Buzz, which bills itself as “WNC’s first sober bar and café” recently opened in Hendersonville offering nonalcoholic

beer and liquor. It is run by Hope Coalition, which is dedicated to preventing substance use among young people and supporting long-term recovery.

And Jones and fellow nondrinker Maria Borisevich started Asheville Lose the Booze Crew, a Meetup.org group that hosts alcohol-free social events for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

“We need to start having a culture that understands that not everyone drinks,” says Julie Huneycutt, director of Hope Coalition, the nonprofit that runs The Buzz.

THE NONDRINKING LIFE People choose not to drink for a variety of reasons.

Some, such as Kevin Nonnenmacher, got sober after decades of alcohol abuse.

Others, like Jones and Borisevich, decided to quit drinking to improve their physical and mental health.

Meanwhile, folks like Kleczynski and Keaton Bishop-Marx, have seen family members struggle with alcoholism.

“I’ve been a nondrinker my entire life,” explains Asheville’s Bishop-Marx.

“I have pretty severe addiction risk on both sides of the family. There’s a couple of factors at play, but it’s mostly a lifestyle choice to try to avoid having unnecessary challenges in my life.”

In some cases, it’s as simple as trying to lose weight or not liking the taste or the expense of booze.

Whatever the reason, nondrinkers sometimes feel they are expected to explain their decision or make excuses. Kleczynski, for instance, uses his early-morning workout routine as a way of getting out of nighttime events at breweries or bars.

“Alcohol is the one drug that you do have to explain why you don’t use it,” Jones says. “If you don’t smoke, no one is like, ‘Well, why don’t you smoke?’ It’s obvious. I think because alcohol is a part of our culture, some people can’t wrap their head around why you wouldn’t engage in that.”

Some people even get offended about other people not drinking, she says. “But it has nothing to do with me. It’s about their own relationship with alcohol.”

Attitudes seem to be changing, however.

“I’m pleasantly surprised with how frequently people are not only accepting but have some sort of anecdote about

A BAR WITHOUT BOOZE: Hope Coalition, a Henderson County nonprofit, recently opened The Buzz in downtown Hendersonville. The sober bar offers nonalcoholic beers and mocktails. Photo courtesy of Hope Coalition a family member or a friend who also doesn’t drink,” Bishop-Marx says. “They go out of their way to be accommodating.

And I think that speaks volumes about the kind of people Asheville attracts.”

Borisevich has had a similar experience since moving to the city in January.

“Dating here, I felt like it was more on me to disclose it: ‘Just so you know, I don’t drink.’ But the person on the other side, they’re like, ‘OK, I don’t care.’ I know there are people that do feel that pressure, whether it’s from family members or their group of friends, but I haven’t personally felt it.”

Bishop-Marx, 27, and Borisevich, 32, think their experiences may reflect the fact alcohol is less culturally important to their peers than it is to older generations. Polling group Gallup reports that the percentage of people 18-34 who say they “have occasion to use alcoholic beverages” has declined from 72% to 62% over the last two decades.

BEING SOBER IN BEER CITY Nondrinkers have various strategies for maneuvering the area’s alcohol scene.

“The gravitational pull of beer in breweries is ever present, so it’s going to be a little hard to find things that aren’t either hosted at breweries or have beer readily available,” BishopMarx says. For instance, he sometimes plays disc golf at Highland Brewing Co. He is OK being at breweries but worries about those who are in recovery and triggered by being around booze.

A big part of his social life revolves around playing online video games with friends. That means staying home and avoiding the brewery scene altogether.

Kleczynski tries to steer clear of the area’s alcohol-centric nightlife by going home early. “It’s like I only exist during the day,” he says.

Also, he tends to socialize more with women than men. “I feel like men are physically incapable of relating to each other without alcohol being involved.”

He says he and his wife, who moved to Asheville in 2013, are thinking about relocating to someplace that has different experiences to offer — and less of an emphasis on alcohol.

But others find the area’s abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation provide alternatives to drinking.

Nonnenmacher says he moved to Asheville from Raleigh in large part because he loves riding his motorcycle in the mountains. “And that’s kind of what got me to quit drinking.

I bought a motorcycle, and I knew I was going to die if I didn’t stop.”

Nonnenmacher got sober 15 years ago, a few years before he moved to Asheville. “I moved to Beer City sober, man,” he jokes.

Despite being a recovering alcoholic, he doesn’t mind being in places where booze is served, especially if live music is being played.

“It’s all good if you can get past the fact that alcohol’s going to be served everywhere, no matter where you go,” he says.

That reality was the impetus behind Jones and Borisevich starting Asheville Lose the Booze Crew in March. The meetup group regularly hosts hikes, coffee walks, pickleball games and more.

“When I moved to Asheville [in January], it was important for me to surround myself with people that value [not drinking] for whatever reason,” Borisevich says. “So, we had this idea of creating a space for people to explore

living without alcohol, whether that’s just for that event or long term. This isn’t like a 12-step program.”

A similar idea was behind the creation of The Buzz.

“We felt like, with over two dozen breweries and multiple wineries and cideries cropping up in Henderson County, there was a need for a safe, sober, socializing space,” says Huneycutt, the coalition’s director.

“This is a place where you don’t have to feel pressured to drink, but you can still have a barlike atmosphere.”

Huneycutt says she goes to breweries occasionally but less frequently than she used to. “I think as a culture we’re teaching our kids that in order to have social conversations, in order to have social lives, you have to include alcohol.

We just wanted to change that.”

LEAVE OUT THE ALCOHOL The Buzz isn’t alone. Most WNC breweries and several concert venues

now offer nonalcoholic beers from national brewers, says Karis Roberts, executive director of the Asheville Brewers Alliance. And while no local brewery brews its own NA beer, at least one is in the process of trying to create an in-house option, she says.

Additionally, she points out that there are a number of Asheville bars that offer NA beer and mocktails, including The Whale, Golden Pineapple, Appalachian Vintner and Rosetta’s Buchi Bar. The Pot Stirred is an alcohol-free mushroom and botanical bar.

“It’s very naive to think that everyone in your party is going to be participating in drinking alcohol,” she says. “There should be options for everyone.”

During May’s Asheville Beer Week, The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage hosted a nonalcoholic event. And the week featured an ice cream social and other sober-friendly events.

And The Mule will host the ZeroProof Non-Alcoholic Social Experience on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11. The event, in partnership with Charlotte’s Counterculture Club, will feature an extensive list of NA beers, spirits, wines and other beverages.

Jones is a big fan of Athletic Brewing Co. beers and has even turned some friends who still drink onto it. Founded in 2017, the Connecticut-based brewer makes a variety of NA IPAs, stouts, lagers and more.

“I had a lot of anxiety about what it would be like with my friends and social circle when I stopped drinking,” she says. “I thought I was going to start getting uninvited from things, but most of my friends were pretty accommodating. I realized that I had been making assumptions based on where I live and the brewery scene that people want to drink beer and they want to go to bars. But when given the opportunity to do something else, I think people will choose it. We have to offer the opportunity.” X

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NOV. 1-7, 2023

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ARTS & CULTURE

50,000-word warriors

NaNoWriMo resources help local writers achieve their goals

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com It takes a particular creative type to want to write 50,000 words in a month.

That these individuals keep doing it on an annual basis — during a month with a traditionally family-intensive holiday in the mix — hints at something downright superhuman.

Such is the power of National Novel Writing Month, more commonly known as NaNoWriMo. From its humble 1999 inception in the San Francisco Bay Area with 21 aspiring novelists, the initiative now inspires hundreds of thousands of people around the world to achieve their writing dreams each year.

Considering Asheville’s reputation as a creative hub, it’s no surprise that NaNoWriMo proves popular among local writers. As of press time, the city’s official NaNoWriMo group has 2,104 members, compared with 6,831 in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill and 4,232 in Charlotte. More importantly, a range of resources is in place to help participants reach their ambitious goals.

PANTSER VS. PLOTTER Among those area writers determined to finally reach the 50,000-word mark this year is Katie Craig. Though she’s done NaNoWriMo multiple times, she’s found that work, Thanksgiving

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?: Asheville-based author Stephanie Perkins, left, has completed NaNoWriMo three times, while local poet Michael Hettich will assist this year’s participants during write-ins at the Black Mountain Library. Perkins photo by Destinee Blau; Hettich photo by Colleen Ahern Hettich and other obligations keep getting in the way.

“I’ve learned from my failed experiences that being a ‘pantser’ — one who just wings it by the seat of their pants all month long — has not served me well, even though my creative style is to just sit down and kind of wing it,” Craig says. “But if you do that, then you’re not necessarily going to hit those numbers.”

On the opposite end of the NaNoWriMo spectrum are the “plotters” — extremely organized writers who thoughtfully plan out the month

and stick to their schedules. While Craig doesn’t want to wholly commit herself to a potentially rigid approach, she’s willing to meet it halfway.

“I’m going to be a ‘plantser’ this year — between a ‘plotter’ and a ‘pantser,’” she says.

To stay on track this year, Craig has created outlines for her book and is participating in write-ins — dedicated multihour blocks where writers gather to work and meet other writers. She also plans to use the Flatiron Writers Room’s coworking space throughout November as one of her work sites.

“That gives me a no-excuses place I could go 24 hours a day,” Craig says. “If I decide that I need to write at 3 a.m., then I could go there and know that I wouldn’t be bothered or interrupted.”

As Asheville’s NaNoWriMo municipal liaison, Craig will also be encouraging her fellow writers to stick with it. The position involves keeping participants informed about events and resources available to them, all of which can make a big difference during the challenge.

“Writing tends to be a solo endeavor,” she says. “Even if you do a virtual write-in for NaNoWriMo, you can have that sense of community that you’re not in it alone. And I think that that can help keep you going when you otherwise might quit on day two.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERS One NaNoWriMo ally is Buncombe County Public Libraries, which has been helping writers with the event since 2019. Sara Kaglic, adult services librarian at the North Asheville Branch Library, is organizing monthlong pro-

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gramming across the BCPL system, culminating in a wrap party at Revolve Mercantile on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Kaglic notes that 2023 marks the first year since 2019 where all of the writeins will be in-person. Even without plentiful official NaNoWriMo offerings, she says local writers take advantage of public library spaces throughout November. But the dedicated write-in times prove especially motivational for certain participants.

“They love having a specific time and place set aside for them to come focus on their novels,” Kaglic says. “At my branch, I’ve seen people come over on their lunch breaks just to knock out a few pages. I even had one woman tell me during a Zoom write-in that she had hit a new personal record for number of words written in an hour.”

Though holidays and normal weekly closures limit library availability, various branches are hosting write-ins on 17 days in November. Melisa Pressley, branch manager of the Black Mountain Library, has programmed write-ins 2-4 p.m. each Wednesday.

There, NaNoWriMo participants will be joined by such local writers as Michael Hettich and Clint Bowman, who have volunteered to serve as resources and talk about their processes, inspiration, successes and failures.

“I wanted to build a foundation of support for writers this year,” Pressley says. “Rather than focusing on largescale events, I wanted to offer a quiet space for writing. Adding in the presence of a published author offers approachable access to those who may feel intimidated by the process or puzzled by the industry.”

It also helps that such library efforts are spearheaded by fellow writers.

Pressley says she participates in NaNoWriMo each year and starts out strong but never quite reaches her goal.

And while Kaglic has been tempted to participate for years, she’s planning on giving it a go this November.

“Not necessarily to write a novel, but just as an excuse to get back into the habit of writing,” Kaglic says. “If I have 50,000 words of anything by the end, I’ll consider it a win.”

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU While some writers take on the challenge of NaNoWriMo for recreation and/or to feel part of a community, others use it as an opportunity to further their career goals.

Asheville-based author Stephanie Perkins’ first three published novels

began as NaNoWriMo drafts. Before her first time participating in 2007, she’d only managed to write 70 pages of a novel over the course of seven years. Though the prospect of completing 50,000 words — approximately the length of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye or William Golding’s Lord of the Flies — in a month felt daunting, once she learned more about the true point of the challenge, partaking suddenly seemed more accessible.

“The brilliant thing about NaNoWriMo is that it’s not about writing a good book in a month. It’s about just finishing something,” Perkins says.

“Most writers have really, really bad first drafts that look nothing like the final product, so it’s important not only to learn how to finish but to finish something even when you know it’s bad. You can’t make it good until you have something to work with.”

Perkins says she can’t stress enough that her NaNoWriMo draft of Anna and the French Kiss barely resembled the published version. Characters were later combined, and the central love story at a French boarding school also included the solving of an art heist at the Louvre.

“There’s absolutely none of that in the final book. But it gave me some-

thing to work with and it gave me a confidence boost,” she says. “And so, when it was time to do my next book, [Lola and the Boy Next Door,] I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll try it out again.’ I will always be so grateful to that organization for teaching me how to finish something.”

Perkins also credits NaNoWriMo founder Chris Baty’s book The No Plot?

No Problem! Novel-Writing Kit with helping her stay on track that first year.

She says Baty breaks down the process into writing a certain number of words per day, and though hitting that daily

mark proved difficult, she committed out of a sense of having nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“I basically thought, ‘OK, I’ve wasted the last seven years of my life’ — which now, looking back, it wasn’t really wasting, I was practicing and figuring it out,” she says. “But at the time it felt like ‘I’ve wasted seven years; I can waste one month with this experiment and just give it my best and see what happens.’

And then it ended up changing my life.”

With Thanksgiving looming at the end of November, Perkins notes it’s

a tricky month to hit the 50,000-word mark. But with careful planning and discipline, writers can accomplish their goal and still have their proverbial pumpkin pie.

“When you’re doing the math on how many words a day to write, give yourself Thanksgiving off and whatever other days you need and subtract that so you can actually have that break and not be stressed out about not working on it,” she says.

To learn more, visit avl.mx/d43. X

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ARTS & C U L T U R E

AUDIO

Masters of the macabre

‘Palimpsest’ horror podcast conjures its fifth season

BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com It was a match made in horror heaven.

During the production of his 2017 music industry satire, Terry Tempest: The Final Interview, playwright Jamieson Ridenhour and actor Hayley Heninger bonded over their love of the macabre. As their friendship developed on the Magnetic Theatre set, they also discovered a shared interest in the then-emerging creative platform of audio dramas.

“Independently, we were both listening to an audio drama called ‘Alice Isn’t Dead,’ which is written

by Joseph Fink, the guy that created [the acclaimed paranormal podcast] ‘Welcome to Night Vale,’” Ridenhour says. “It’s a side project he had done that was a single actress and a single writer, and I think both of us were kind of inspired by that.”

Ridenhour, who’s also a musician, already owned recording equipment.

With that element in place, the duo created “Palimpsest,” which they describe on the podcast’s website as “a (mostly) single-voiced audio drama about memory, identity and the things that haunt us.” The tongue-twister of a title is defined as “something reused or altered but still bearing traces of its earlier form.”

The 10-episode first season, “Anneliese,” debuted Oct. 31, 2017, and ran biweekly until March 6, 2018. Written by Ridenhour and performed by Heninger, each season of “Palimpsest” has one key detail in common: It’s set in the same house — but the supernatural structure can appear in any year and location.

“Deciding that early on gave me a lot of freedom as a writer because it means if I want to set an entire season in London during World War II, it’s still ‘Palimpsest,’” Ridenhour says. “It’s really fun to think, ‘What other people have been through this house? What other kinds of things have happened over time?’”

That sense of liberty has taken the stories from a 19th-century freak show to what Ridenhour describes as “a disco episode set during the 1970s.” The latter was part of the standalone “Visitations” chapters released in 2022.

Prior to the release of “Palimpsest’s” fifth season — which, appropriately, took place on Halloween — Ridenhour and Heninger spoke with Xpress about their creative partnership and 26

NOV. 1-7, 2023

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS: “Palimpsest” co-creators Jamieson Ridenhour, left, and Hayley Heninger discuss the show’s latest season. Photo by Drew Baron the joys of bringing original eerie tales to listeners around the world.

SPOOKY ROOTS As of press time, “Palimpsest” sports over 700,000 downloads from listeners around the world. And while the material’s subject matter and quality have much to do with the project’s success, being ahead of the curve on a developing trend also helped.

“2017 was a really great time for us to start,” Ridenhour says. “Audio drama was getting this surge of interest, but the field wasn’t really crowded yet. There hadn’t been this explosion that there has in the last five years.

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So, I think we were able to get noticed in a way that we might not now.”

A firm foundation in the genre has also enhanced their work.

Ridenhour’s mother was a horror fan, and he began watching horror movies with her when he was 11 years old.

His fascination with the genre subsequently inspired him to write the plays Grave Lullaby and Bloodbath: Victoria’s Secret; animated short films Cornerboys and The House of the Yaga; and numerous works of short fiction and poetry. He’s also an English professor at Warren Wilson College and frequently teaches courses on gothic/ horror literature and film.

“I’m always most comfortable there in this kind of gothic space, because I

feel like there are real darknesses in the world, and narrative is one of the ways that we can work through those darknesses,” he says. “They don’t go away because we ignore them. They go away because we face them and talk through them. And for me, that’s sort of what horror allows us to do is face those things in a safe space where you’re encased in a narrative.”

For Heninger, the inherent layers within scary stories are appealing.

Perhaps best known to Asheville-area audiences for her work in the locally produced horror short film How to Love Your Demon and the nonhorror web series “Transplanting,” the actor notes that in each “Palimpsest” season, the main character experiences

“a very outward, spooky, haunting thing.” But beneath the spectral threats are relatable human dramas.

“I think it’s a good way to take that inner fear and put it out there and be able to explore it in front of you versus it being all trapped in your head,” she says.

EERIE EVOLUTION Early on, Heninger says, she hesitated to critique Ridenhour’s writing.

But as their professional dynamic grew, she’d suggest tweaks to the dialogue that would sound more natural for her to say. And their ease of communication has only improved with each season.

“There’s this trust where there’s not fear of insulting the other person,” Heninger says. “It’s an honest, open relationship where we can enter this ‘Palimpsest’ world. And it’s not about Jamie or about me. We’re in this space and working toward the same goal.”

Ridenhour notes that while he’s credited as the audio drama’s writer and Heninger the performer, the actual process involves a great deal of character creation in which both collaborators throw ideas back and forth.

“Often, even in a recording session, we’re rewriting lines of dialogue because of insight she’s got into the character,” he says. “It’s a really nice organic process where we’re both creating this thing together.”

“Palimpsest’s” technical side has likewise evolved with each season.

While Ridenhour had audio recording experience as a guitarist in a studio, he’d never done an audio drama. And though they both acknowledge that the series’s first season was a bit rickety and raw on the audio side, Heninger says Ridenhour has “really stepped up his editing skills” and the sound quality has likewise improved.

“We were learning it from the ground up. And what that meant was it was purposefully minimal sound design in the first season because I just didn’t know how to do beyond that,” Ridenhour says. “I tried to make it feel like this is the aesthetic we’re going for. But then as we got further in, we’ve got EQ on her voice dialed in and we know where the mic needs to be set. And we can record an episode in an hour and a half now where it used to be like a three or 3 1/2-hour process.”

QUOTH THE RAVEN “Palimpsest’s” fifth season, “Lenore,” debuted Oct. 31, with new episodes posting every other week

through March 5. The eponymous narrator first appeared in two of the series’ “Visitations” episodes as an auxiliary character. But she rises to protagonist level in this 1920s-set tale, which Ridenhour says has “kind of a Great Gatsby feel.”

He adds that Lenore is an American expatriate living in England who, at a young age, marries a mysterious man.

The husband then whisks her away to his house in France. The season is told through her journaling about her life there. In crafting “Visitations,” Ridenhour and Heninger drew inspiration from fairy tales, English writer Angela Carter’s folk tale reinterpretations, plus Bluebeard and Little Red Riding Hood.

“I think the trailer already gives away that it’s a full-on werewolf story,” says Ridenhour.

In the coming-of-age tale, toxic masculinity and bad marriages are also explored. Heninger is confident that it will be “Palimpsest’s” best season yet and feels especially drawn to her latest character.

“And God, the Bluebeard story is so horrific,” she says of the folk tale about a man with a secret murderous past. “I’ve found in talking to different

people that not a lot of people are very familiar with Bluebeard. It’s not as common as Little Red Riding Hood and stuff like that.”

Looking ahead, both collaborators are committed to working together long term and are open to such new ventures as an ensemble production.

But they’re happy with what they’ve built and continue to feel humbled that their experiment has found an audience.

“It’s a lovely surprise, but it was definitely a surprise,” Ridenhour says. “We forget about it because it’s just, you know, Haley and me in my basement, recording. And then we’ll get an email from, like, Argentina or somebody sends us fan art. And I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s right. People are listening.’”

Before long, people might get to experience “Palimpsest” through additional senses. The two have an agent who’s looking at developing the intellectual property into other media.

“It’s a side of the business that we don’t know, and we’re learning as we go,” Ridenhour says. “But we hope we will have some things to announce soon.”

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FOOD ROUNDUP

What’s new in food WNC Food Waste Solutions Summit seeks action WNC Food Waste Solutions hosts the third WNC Food Waste Solutions Summit at the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center on Thursday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The summit, held for the first time since 2019, will address the food waste issues facing WNC communities. A number of local businesses, organizations, educational institutions, community leaders and interested individuals will provide information and programming focused on four topic areas: business opportunities, equity and access, how public policies impact food waste, and how food waste impacts climate change.

Elizabeth Biser, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, will provide the event’s opening remarks. Presenters and panelists will include representatives from the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Biltmore Estate, 12 Baskets Café (Asheville Poverty Initiative), Food Connection, DirtCraft Living Soils, CompostNow, UNC Asheville, Bounty & Soul and more.

“People need to know the facts about food waste,” says Cathy Cleary, Bountiful Cities outreach coordinator and Asheville Buncombe Food Policy Council member. “They also need to know what they can do in their spheres of influence to make changes.”

According to WNC Food Waste Solutions, food waste is the third-largest contributor to climate change in the United States, and 40% of food produced in this country ends up in landfills. Additionally, nearly 33,400 residents out of 271,000 in Buncombe County are experiencing what the county defines as food insecurity, lacking reliable access to nutritious

FIGHTING FOOD WASTE: The first WNC Food Waste Solutions Summit since 2019 takes place Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center. Photo courtesy of Cathy Cleary food in the amount they need to survive and thrive. Buncombe County’s 2022 Waste Characterization Study revealed that 22.1% of the county’s residential waste stream and 28.5% of its commercial waste stream are composed of unconsumed food.

“Tackling food waste and finding solutions is one of my personal passions, and I’ve been focused on it for most of my career in different ways,” says Cleary. Previously a restaurant owner, Cleary gained invaluable insight into the prevalence of food waste throughout the culinary industry while taking steps to address the problem.

“Now I am getting to see from a nonprofit perspective the creative ways that programming and governmental policies can have an impact on what

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happens to food that might otherwise get wasted and how collaboratively we can make a difference.”

Summit registration is on a sliding scale starting at $35 per person.

Volunteer and work-trade opportunities are also available to community members interested in participating directly.

All food and beverages are included in the registration fee. Chefs from DJ’s Pickles, White Labs and Vivian will be on-site cooking meals from food and produce donated by Flying Cloud and other local farms. Gluten-free, vegan and meat options will be provided for breakfast, lunch and snacks. All service ware will be either compostable or reusable. Danny’s Dumpster will pick up all compost at the end of the summit.

“I hope people take away some new knowledge, resources and personal/ professional next steps,” says Cleary.

“We can all make choices that have an impact.”

The Mission Health/A-B Tech Conference Center is at 16 Fernihurst Drive. Visit avl.mx/cxk for registration and additional information.

7th annual WNC Fermenting Festival The annual WNC Fermenting Festival, presented by Fermenti Foods, returns for its seventh year to the Madison County Fairgrounds on Sunday, Nov. 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

A celebration of all things fermented, the gathering features local and regional fermenters presenting their products and educating participants on the benefits of probiotic-rich foods.

“Everyone’s enjoyment and anticipation of this event is very rewarding,” says Fermenti CEO Meg Chamberlain. “I love how our vendors collaborate and work together to create memorable flavors for the guests.”

A variety of free fermenting demonstrations and skill-sharing sessions will explore how to prepare beneficial fermented food and drinks, such as jun, kimchi, sourdough, cheese and mead. Dirty Gertie’s Taco Stand will be on-site featuring a new kimchi taco created for the event. Commemorative T-shirts printed especially for the festival, ceramic artists, farmers and local resources will also be available in support of fermentation, food preservation and food security.

“I hope our community embraces fermenting in the home and incorporates its benefits in their daily lives,” says Chamberlain. “We hope to provide an example of how delicious and accessible fermentation really is.”

The Madison County Fairgrounds are at 330 Carolina Lane, Marshall.

Visit avl.mx/8ji for a full list of vendors and additional information.

Holiday cookie class Looking to bone up on your baking before the holidays arrive?

Sweet and Southern Bakery hosts a

Come Feast In Our Enchanted Zen Gardens Thanksgiving-themed sugar cookie decorating class on Sunday, Nov. 5, 4-6 p.m., at Haw Creek Commons.

Sweet and Southern Bakery owner and operator Keri Hernandez, alongside her assistant Tonia Allen, will lead the class step by step in decorating six different cookies in a variety of styles.

Intended for beginner decorators and those curious about the practice, the class will explore piping, icing strategy and general decorative concepts.

Cookies in seasonal forms such as turkeys, pumpkins, footballs and slices of pie will be baked and prepped prior to the start of class, allowing participants to focus solely on the art of decorating.

All icings, decorative tools and supplies will be provided.

“It’s so fun to see how each person brings their own creativity to each set,” says Hernandez. “We create a supportive atmosphere in our groups because the majority are decorating for the first time, so you will often hear the students compliment and encourage each other. I love seeing how proud the students are of their creations at the end of class.”

Tickets cost $47 per person. Takehome kits including the supplies and instructions from class are also available for an additional $25.

Haw Creek Commons is at 315 Old Haw Creek Road. Visit avl.mx/d40 for tickets and additional information.

Buxton Hall Barbecue to close After an eight-year run serving award-winning smoked meats on the South Slope, Buxton Hall Barbecue has announced plans to close. The final pulled pork plates, fried chicken sandwiches and fresh-baked pies will be served on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

“Buxton Hall has helped to revitalize Carolina barbecue, paying respects to hallowed traditions while adding its own innovative approach, a process rooted in a respect for the barbecue craft and for people,” says Jordan Culberson, a spokesperson for the Chai Pani Restaurant Group representing Buxton Hall Barbecue, in a statement.

Buxton Hall Barbecue opened in 2015, melding Meherwan Irani’s business acuity with Elliot Moss’ pitmaster know-how. The collaboration was an immediate and enduring hit. In just its second year, the restaurant was named one of Bon Appétit’s “Top 10 Best New Restaurants” and garnered praise for having the “Fried Chicken Sandwich of the Year.” Numerous accolades continued to roll in through-

out the restaurant’s life span, including recognition from The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, The Food Network, Eater, Food & Wine, Garden & Gun and more.

There has been no indication that Buxton Chicken Palace, the fried chicken sandwich-focused spin-off shop that opened in 2021, will be affected by this news, but the situation remains fluid.

“This is an evolving situation, and we will have more news to share from the Chai Pani Restaurant Group in the coming months,” says Culberson in the statement. “We are so proud of Buxton’s eight-year run. We hope the community comes out to support our Buxton team and local producers in this last month of service. We are rallying behind our team during this incredibly hard time to support them through financial and employment resources.”

Buxton Hall Barbecue is at 32 Banks Ave. Visit avl.mx/d3z for news and updates.

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. to sell Following 25 years of award-winning pizzas and independent cinema, the owners of Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. have announced plans to sell their location at 675 Merrimon Ave. “We are not closing,” clarifies the company in the social media announcement. “It will be business as usual for us and for as long as it takes for us to find the next caretaker of our North Asheville landmark.”

The owners also made clear that only the Merrimon location, referred to by locals as the “Brew ‘n View,” is up for sale. Asheville Brewing Co. downtown at 77 Coxe Ave. will continue to run as currently operated. Asheville T-Shirt Co. (owned by Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. co-owner Mike Rangel) will also remain open. Rabbit Rabbit (a collaboration with The Orange Peel) and the new distillery Ninja Spirits, launched earlier this year by Rangel and Chall Gray of Little Jumbo, are both unaffected by this news.

“Our hope is that whoever is to become the new director of this amazing story has the same love for movies, a passion for great pizza, a spirit of fun and a desire to create a sequel that’s even better than the original,” says the company in its post.

Those interested in becoming the next owner(s) of Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co.’s Merrimon location should contact brewnview@ashevillebrewing.com.

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A R TS & CU LTU R E

ROUNDUP

Around Town Burial Beer Co. opens new music venue on the South Slope On Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., new music venue Eulogy goes live on the South Slope. Californiabased alternative indie rock band Xiu Xiu will play the first headlining performance at the club, which is owned and operated by Burial Beer Co. Asheville-based, dark post-punk band Secret Shame will open.

“Music has forever been at the heart of Burial’s immersive experiences,” says Doug Reiser, Burial co-founder and chief strategy officer. “Eulogy will provide a platform for more fluid collaboration, allowing artists to have more freedom to design their presentation, working with lighting, projection and stage formation, and often working to co-create products with our team.”

The vision of Eulogy is to offer a variety of programming, spanning all genres. “Our focus is to nurture the experimental spirit, giving a voice to the innovative underground,” says Bryce Franich, the venue’s music manager.

Eulogy is adjacent to Burial and features a full bar with 18 taps of the brewery’s beer, house-made cocktails and Visuals wine. A rooftop bar spotlighting Visuals, the company’s product line of wine, cider and aperitifs, will open in the spring.

Later this fall, “Top Chef ”competitor and James Beard Award finalist Ashleigh Shanti will open her Good Hot Fish restaurant in the complex as well. The counter service fish-fry spot will feature local North Carolina seafood and other specialties.

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Eulogy at Burial Beer Co. is at 10 Buxton Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/d47.

Vince Herman Band On Sunday, Nov. 5, at 9 p.m., Leftover Salmon founder Vince Herman will perform at downtown’s Asheville Music Hall with his first solo album — which is the furthest thing from a solo project.

“I guess solo might be a little bit of a misnomer, as it’s a full six-piece band,” Herman laughs. Fronted by Herman on guitar, it consists of his son Silas Herman on guitar and mandolin, Nathan Graham on upright bass, Dakota Holden on pedal steel, Ian Cory on banjo and fiddle, and Lawrence Nemenz on drums.

The album is a collection of songs Herman wrote in his Nashville home during the pandemic. The sound, which is a departure from the “Salmon sound,” is more his idea of country, he says. There are bluegrass, Cajun and honky-tonk influences as well.

“It’s a thrill to be out on the road with my son,” he says, “especially doing all this brand-new material for folks to get their ears on.

“He grew up definitely not wanting to play like his dad. In his early years, it was all about Godsmack and Green Day. And then bluegrass got ahold of him at RockyGrass in Lyons, Colo. He saw kids his own age play, and those kids were Sarah Jarosz and Sam Grisman. I like to say he’s proof of evolution,” Herman laughs again.

Herman, who is currently touring with Leftover Salmon, takes the Vince Herman Band on tour during “breaks” between Leftover Salmon shows and various other side projects.

“I guess it is my happy place,” he says. “I don’t press ‘stop’ very often.

And when you’re in your 60s, there’s not a lot of time left. You gotta get a lot done.”

The age-21-plus show will open with Nashville-based jam band Airshow.

Asheville Music Hall is at 31 Patton Ave. For more information, visit avl.mx/d48.

OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/2023

EULOGIZING: Workers at Burial Beer Co. prepare for the opening of the brewery’s South Slope music venue, Eulogy.

Photo courtesy of Burial Beer Co.

Witness the ‘Power of Design’

Let it flow: paint pouring exhibit

The American Institute of Graphic Arts Asheville’s second annual design weekend returns Friday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 5.

The Power of Design, held at Mojo Coworking, will feature new creatives ranging from architects to fashion designers to printmakers.

The keynote speaker is Toren Reaves, Adobe Express community relations manager, who will present a live demonstration of the company’s new generative AI features. The event will also offer panels, comedy and workshops.

“Programs span educational, inspirational, hands-on and thought-provoking,” says Alyssa Phillips, AIGA Asheville president.

“Our theme for this year ... represents a bold shift from aesthetics to impact,” says AIGA Vice President John Hornsby. “It’s about how design shapes perceptions, challenges the status quo and leaves a lasting imprint on our world.”

On Friday and Sunday, general admission will be free, while Saturday requires a ticket.

Attendees are invited to wrap up the weekend with a selection of walking and bus tours of Asheville architecture, which are free but require registration.

Mojo Coworking is at 81 Broadway.

To register or for more information, visit http://avl.mx/d3y .

On Saturday, Nov. 4, 6-9 p.m., Safi Martin will hold a reception and talk about her new exhibit, In the Flow, at Black Mountain’s Flood Gallery Fine Art Center. The exhibit features acrylic paint — with water and other additives — poured directly on wet canvas.

“Paint pouring challenges the traditional norms of control and perfection in art,” says Martin in a press release. “It reminds us to let go and trust in the flow of life, rather than trying to control every outcome.”

Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is at 850 Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain. For more information, visit avl.mx/d49.

‘A Walk through WWII History’ The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas in Brevard will host A Walk through WWII History on Friday, Nov. 3, and Saturday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. The collection of stories will be presented by three World War II authors and historians, who will be joined by three local World War II veterans.

Presenters include author Alex Kershaw, who will speak about D-Day with 98-year-old George Sarros, a veteran U.S. Navy motor machinist. Author James Scott will touch on highlights from his book Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and

the Raid that Avenged Pearl Harbor, while 101-year-old Joe Cooper, who served as a gunner’s mate on a ship in the Pacific, will recount spending five hours in shark-infested water after an attack during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Jonathan Jordan, author of Brothers, Rivals, Victors: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley and the Partnership that Drove the Conquest of Europe, will tell the story of the Battle of the Bulge. Veteran P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell, also 101 years old, will recall his many near-death experiences flying 65 missions in Europe.

The Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas is at 55 E. Jordan St., Brevard. For more information and registration, visit avl.mx/d4a.

— Andy Hall and Murryn Payne X

MOVIE REVIEWS ANATOMY OF A FALL: The latest Palme d’Or winner features superb writing and acting but lacks personality on the directorial side. Grade: B — Edwin Arnaudin

Find full reviews and local film info at ashevillemovies.com ashevillemovies.substack.com MOUNTAINX.COM

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CLUBLAND THE DFR LOUNGE Steve Simon & The Kings of Jazz (Latin, jazz), 7pm THE GETAWAY RIVER BAR Karaoke w/Terraoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE • Patio: Dirty French Broads (Americana, bluegrass), 5:30pm • Della Mae w/Dori Freeman (Appalachian, Americana, folk), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN David McKindley-Ward & Eimear Arkins (Celtic, folk), 7:30pm WRONG WAY RIVER LODGE & CABINS Campfire Comedy, 7pm

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

CAJUN COUNTRY: On Sunday, Nov. 5, the Vince Herman Band performs with Airshow at Asheville Music Hall. The show starts at 9 p.m. and will feature country and bluegrass sounds with Cajun influences and honky tonk ballads. Photo by Jen Haselhorst For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, opt. 4.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 27 CLUB Church Girls, The Discs & SnakesSnakeWhale (pop, rock'n'roll), 9pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, 8pm BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots, blues, jazz), 6pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Bluegrass Jam w/ The Saylor Brothers, 6:30pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. FBVMA: Mountain Music Jam, 6pm

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm SALVAGE STATION The Elovaters w/ Shwayze & Surfer Girl (rock, reggae), 8pm SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/Ek Balam & Mad Mike, 10pm SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Night, 7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm

THE ODD Amends, Dear Kavalier & Zillicoah (alt-rock, indie, emo), 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Tennis w/Sam Evian (indie-pop), 8pm THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR The MGB's (acoustic), 7:30pm CROW & QUILL Meschiya Lake's New Orleans Jazz Band, 8pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Jerry's Dead (Grateful Dead & JGB Tribute), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Not Rocket Science Trivia, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam w/Drew Matulich, 7:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Emily Bodley (jazz, pop), 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING Matthew Fowler (Americana, folk), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST World Reggae Night w/Petah Iah & The Mind Renewing Band, 8pm OUTSIDER BREWING Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm PULP Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic, 8pm SALVAGE STATION Iam Tongi (folk), 8pm SHILOH & GAINES Karaoke Night, 8pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Simon Joyner & Sarah Louise (folk, rock, country), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Venus House Party, 10pm ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Mr Jimmy's Friday Night Blues, 8pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Dr. Bacon & The Kind Thieves (Appalachian-funk, rock'n'roll), 10pm BEN'S TUNE UP EK Balam (reggaeton, hip-hop), 8pm CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE ASHEVILLE Comedy at Catawba: Chris Ivey, 7pm CITIZEN VINYL Hiding Places & Special Guests (indie, alt-country), 6pm CORK & KEG My New Favorites (Appalachian, honkytonk), 8pm CROW & QUILL DJ Dr. Filth (jazz, soul, R&B), 9pm DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE Stand Up Comedy w/ Chris Roach, 8pm DIFFERENT WRLD Cory Hanson w/ Slowhand & Tashi (rock, alt-indie), 8pm FLEETWOOD'S Rocky MTN Roller, The Golden Grass & Rougarou (rock, metal, psych), 9pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Alma Russ Trio (country, folk, Appalachian), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Brady Turner (pop, soul, R&B), 7pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM Drag Music Bingo w/ Divine the Bearded Lady, 7:30pm

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Honky-Tonk Fridays w/ Jackson Grimm, 4pm LA TAPA LOUNGE Open Mic Night w/ Hamza, 8pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. TrancEnd (prog-rock), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Funky First Fridays w/ Funk'n Around, 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING Isaac Hadden (funk, jazz, rock), 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Aunt Vicki & The Build (indie, electric-folk), 8pm RABBIT RABBIT Silent Disco: Scorpio Party, 8pm SALVAGE STATION Andy Frasco & The U.N, Doom Flamingo w/Empire Strikes Bass (alt-indie, synth-wave), 6:30pm SHAKEY'S • Big Blue Jams Band (multiple genres), 9pm • Friday Late Nights w/DJ Ek Balam, 12am SHILOH & GAINES Abbe Davis Band (rock), 9pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Lactones (experimental, psych-rock), 9pm STATIC AGE RECORDS Uniform, Corpse Dust & Body Void (industrial, metal, noise-rock), 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Tortoise (rock, jazz, electronica), 9pm THE ORANGE PEEL Sold Out: Muscadine Bloodline w/Gabe Lee (country), 8pm THE OUTPOST Don Merckle (alt-country, rock'n'roll, Appalachian), 6pm THE RAD BREW CO. Chilltonic (funk, altrock), 7pm

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr Jimmy (blues), 7pm ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays w/ Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels (country, rock, folk), 9pm

EULOGY Xiu Xiu (post-punk, synth-pop, folk), 7pm FLEETWOOD'S Bad Vibes, Clean Girl & Dirty Dishes & Mongo (punk, rock), 9pm FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Comedy Hypnosis w/ Jon Dee, 8pm GINGER'S REVENGE Eyes Up Here Comedy, 7pm GINGER'S REVENGE CRAFT BREWERY & TASTING ROOM Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (Appalachian, folk), 4pm

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HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters (Southern-blues, roots), 6pm HIGHLAND BREWING DOWNTOWN TAPROOM The Hammer & The Hatchet (Americana, folks, bluegrass), 7pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Nobody's Darling String Band, 4pm LA TAPA LOUNGE Karaoke Night, 9pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. The Get Right Band (psychedelic, indierock), 8pm ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Slide Bayou (bluegrass, blues), 10pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • St. Owsley (Grateful Dead tribute), 4pm • The Art Haus: Saturday Sessions, 8pm PISGAH BREWING CO. Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead tribute), 3pm SALVAGE STATION Joe Samba w/Joey Harkum (rock, reggae), 8pm SHILOH & GAINES Boat Command (post-lofi, jazz, yachthop), 9pm STATIC AGE RECORDS My Wall, Two Planes & Divorce Papers (experimental, metal, noise-punk), 8pm THE BURGER BAR Best Worst Karaoke, 9pm

BEARS SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Backyard BBQ w/DJ Audio, 7pm

THE GREY EAGLE Robbie Fulks & Slaid Cleaves (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 8pm

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

THE ORANGE PEEL Rayland Baxter w/Flyte (alt-country), 8pm

BEN'S TUNE UP Jaze Uries (house, electronic), 8pm

Trivia Wednesdays & Karaoke Thursdays NFL SUNDAY TICKET

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE 80's Dance Night, 7pm

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C LUBLAND

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6

27 CLUB The Guild, Consciousness, Zillicoah & Oberlin (deathcore, punk, metal), 8pm

DSSOLVR Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Vince Herman Band (bluegrass, Cajun, honky-tonk), 9pm CATAWBA BREWING CO. SOUTH SLOPE ASHEVILLE Monster Comedy Jam, 6:30pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 3pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. The Paper Crowns (Appalachian, folk, Americana), 2pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB • Bluegrass Brunch, 1pm • Traditional Irish Jam, 3:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. Andrew Wakefield (bluegrass, folk, Americana), 4pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST • Sunday Jazz Jam, 1:30pm • JLAD (The Doors tribute), 6pm PISGAH BREWING CO. Pisgah Sunday Jam, 1:30pm SHILOH & GAINES Soul Sundays w/ Datrian Johnson, 8pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Aaron Woody Wood (Appalachia, soul, Americana), 7pm

HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Open Mic w/Taylor Martin & Special Guests, 7:15pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Totally Rad Trivia w/ Mitch Fortune, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo! Pub Trivia w/ Jason Mencer, 7:30pm NOBLE CIDER & MEAD DOWNTOWN Freshen Up Comedy Showcase, 6:30pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. It Takes All Kinds Open Mic Nights, 7pm ONE WORLD BREWING Open Mic Downtown, 8pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Mashup Mondays w/ The JLloyd Mashup Band, 8pm SHAKEY'S Live Band Honky Tonk Karaoke, 9pm THE GREY EAGLE Gilla Band w/Bambara (rock'n'roll, noise, Irish), 8pm THE JOINT NEXT DOOR Mr Jimmy & Friends (blues), 7pm

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

THE GREY EAGLE A. Savage w/Sluice (indie-rock, experimental, post-punk), 8pm

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY • Trivia: Are You Smarter Than a Drag Queen?, 8pm • Karaoke w/Ganymede, 9pm

THE ODD Black Tusk, Howling Giant & Serrate (metal, punk), 8pm

FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7pm

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ONE WORLD BREWING WEST The Grateful Family Band Tuesdays (Grateful Dead tribute), 6pm SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 9pm SHILOH & GAINES Songwriters Night, 7pm SILVERADOS Dark City Comedy Night, 8pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Weekly Open Jam hosted by Chris Cooper & Friends, 6:30pm THE GREY EAGLE Vincent Neil Emerson (country), 8pm THE ORANGE PEEL Gaelic Storm (Celtic, country, bluegrass), 8pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN White Horse Open Mic, 7pm

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8 BLACK MOUNTAIN BREWING Jay Brown (roots, blues, jazz), 6pm FRENCH BROAD RIVER BREWERY Bluegrass Jam w/ The Saylor Brothers, 6:30pm HIGHLAND BREWING CO. Well-Crafted Music w/ Matt Smith, 6pm JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Jam, 5pm OKLAWAHA BREWING CO. FBVMA: Mountain Music Jam, 6pm ONE WORLD BREWING WEST Latin Night w/DJ Mtn Vibez, 8:30pm PULP The Bins & Gabrielknowseverything (electronic, hip-hop), 8pm SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/Ek Balam & Mad Mike, 10pm SHILOH & GAINES Trivia Night, 7pm SOVEREIGN KAVA Poetry Open Mic, 8pm THE GREY EAGLE Nation of Language w/ Miss Grit (new-wave, punk), 8pm THE ODD Nox Eternus, Urocyon & Vras (metal, deathcore), 8pm THE RAILYARD BLACK MOUNTAIN Dan's Jam (bluegrass), 7pm WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Music Circle, 7pm

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9 ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Robert Thomas Band (jazz, prog-rock, Celtic), 7:30pm AYURPRANA LISTENING ROOM The Sea The Sea w/ Skylar Gudasz (indiefolk, pop), 7pm

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F R E E W I L L A S T R O L O G Y BY ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Our bodies sometimes serve as the symbolic ground where order and disorder fight for supremacy,” writes storyteller Caroline Kettlewell. Here’s good news, Aries: For you, order will triumph over disorder in the coming weeks. In part through your willpower and in part through life’s grace, you will tame the forces of chaos and enjoy a phase when most everything makes sense. I don’t mean you will have zero problems, but I suspect you will have an enhanced power to solve problems. Your mind and heart will coordinate their efforts with exceptional flair.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I recently endured a three-hour root canal. Terrible and unfortunate, right? No! Because it brought profound joy. The endodontist gave me nitrous oxide, and the resulting euphoria unleashed a wild epiphany. For the duration of the surgery, I had vivid visions of all the people in my life who love me. I felt their care. I was overwhelmed with the kindness they felt for me. Never before had I been blessed with such a blissful gift. Now, in accordance with your astrological omens, I invite you to induce a similar experience — no nitrous oxide needed.

It’s a perfect time to meditate on how well you are appreciated and needed and cherished.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Unless you are very unusual, you don’t sew your clothes or grow your food. You didn’t build your house, make your furniture, or forge your cooking utensils. Like most of us, you know little about how water and electricity arrive for your use. Do you have any notion of what your grandparents were doing when they were your age? Have you said a prayer of gratitude recently for the people who have given you so much? I don’t mean to put you on the spot with my questions, Gemini. I’m merely hoping to inspire you to get into closer connection with everything that nourishes and sustains you. Honor the sources of your energy. Pay homage to your foundations.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega has had a modest but sustained career. With nine albums, she has sold over three million records, but is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has said, “I always thought that if I were popular, I must be doing something wrong.” I interpret that to mean she has sought to remain faithful to her idiosyncratic creativity and not pay homage to formulaic success. But here’s the good news for you in the coming months, fellow Cancerian: You can be more appreciated than ever before simply by being true to your soul’s inclinations and urges.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Everything in the world has a hidden meaning,” wrote Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis. Did he really mean everything?

Your dream last night, your taste in shoes, your favorite TV show, the way you laugh? As a fun experiment, let’s say that yes, everything has a hidden meaning. Let’s also hypothesize that the current astrological omens suggest you now have a special talent for discerning veiled and camouflaged truths. We will further propose that you have an extraordinary power to penetrate beyond surface appearances and home in on previously unknown and invisible realities. Do you have the courage and determination to go deeper than you have ever dared? I believe you do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): How many glowworms would have to gather in one location to make a light as bright as the sun? Probably over a trillion. And how many ants would be required to carry away a 15-pound basket of food? I’m guessing over 90,000. Luckily for you, the cumulative small efforts you need to perform so as to accomplish big breakthroughs won’t be nearly that high a number. For instance, you may be able to take a quantum leap after just six baby steps.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the 17th century, John Milton wrote a long narrative poem titled Paradise Lost. I’ve never read it and am conflicted

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about the prospect of doing so. On one hand, I feel I should engage with a work that has had such a potent influence on Western philosophy and literature. On the other hand, I’m barely interested in Milton’s story, which includes boring conversations between God and Satan and the dreary tale of how God cruelly exiled humans from paradise because the first man, Adam, was mildly rebellious.

So what should I do? I’ve decided to read the Cliffs Notes study guide about Paradise Lost, a brief summary of the story. In accordance with astrological omens, I suggest you call on similar shortcuts, Libra. Here’s your motto: if you can’t do the completely right thing, try the partially right thing.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Who would have guessed that elephants can play the drums really well? On a trip to Thailand, Scorpio musician Dave Soldier discovered that if given sticks and drums, some elephants kept a steadier beat than humans. A few were so talented that Soldier recorded their rhythms and played them for a music critic who couldn’t tell they were created by animals. In accordance with astrological omens, I propose that you Scorpios seek out comparable amazements. You now have the potential to make unprecedented discoveries.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian novelist Shirley Jackson wrote, “No live organism can continue for long to exist under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids dream.” Since she wrote that, scientists have gathered evidence that almost all animals dream and that dreaming originated at least 300 million years ago. With that as our inspiration and in accordance with astrological omens, I urge you to enjoy an intense period of tapping into your dreams. To do so will help you escape from absolute reality. It will also improve your physical and mental health and give you unexpected clues about how to solve problems.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn writer Kahlil Gibran believed an essential human longing is to be revealed. We all want the light in us to be taken out of its hiding place and shown. If his idea is true about you, you will experience major cascades of gratification in the coming months. I believe you will be extra expressive. And you will encounter more people than ever before who are interested in knowing what you have to express.

To prepare for the probable breakthroughs, investigate whether you harbor any fears or inhibitions about being revealed—and dissolve them.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): November is Build Up Your Confidence Month. In the coming weeks, you are authorized to snag easy victories as you steadily bolster your courage to seek bigger, bolder triumphs. As much as possible, put yourself in the vicinity of people who respect you and like you. If you suspect you have secret admirers, encourage them to be less secretive.

Do you have plaques, medals or trophies? Display them prominently. Or visit a trophy store and have new awards made for you to commemorate your unique skills — like thinking wild thoughts, pulling off one-of-a-kind adventures, and inspiring your friends to rebel against their habits.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I’m glad we have an abundance of teachers helping us learn how to be here now — to focus on the present moment with gratitude and grace. I love the fact that books on the art of mindfulness are now almost as common as books about cats and cooking. Yay! But I also want to advocate for the importance of letting our minds wander freely. We need to celebrate the value and power of NOT always being narrowly zeroed in on the here and now. We can’t make intelligent decisions unless we ruminate about what has happened in the past and what might occur in the future. Meandering around in fantasyland is key to discovering new insights. Imaginative ruminating is central to the creative process. Now please give your mind the privilege of wandering far and wide in the coming weeks, Pisces.

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MARKETPLACE REAL ESTATE & RENTALS | ROOMMATES | JOBS | SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS | CLASSES & WORKSHOPS MIND, BODY, SPIRIT | MUSICIANS’ SERVICES | PETS | AUTOMOTIVE | XCHANGE | ADULT Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 advertise@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds EMPLOYMENT RETAIL RETAIL SALES ASSISTANT The Kress Emporium is looking for a retail sales associate. Part time. Must be able to work weekends and holidays. Customer service and cash register preferred. kressemporium@yahoo.com www.thekressemporium. com.

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A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR, RUNNING OR NOT! Fast free pickup. Maximum tax deduction. Support Patriotic Hearts. Your car donation helps Vets! 1-866-559-9123.

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Give thanks ...and have fun doing it!

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Available. Call Now For The Most Sports & Entertainment On TV! 855-401-8842. (AAN CAN) DON'T PAY FOR COVERED HOME REPAIRS AGAIN! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100OFF POPULAR PLANS Call 877-707-5518 Monday-Friday 8:30am to 8:00pm EST. (AAN CAN)

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UNCLAIMED / RECEIVED FIREARMS The following is a list of Unclaimed / Received firearms currently in possession of the Asheville Police Department. SIL/BLK, SCCY, 9MM; BRN/BLK, H&R, 12GA; SIL/BLK, BERSA, 38; BLK, STAR, GC, 9MM; BLK, RUGER,

REVOLVER, 38; BLK, RUGER, LCP 38; BLK, DIAMONDBACK, DB380, 38; BRN/BLK, S&W, SPECIAL, 38; SIL/BLK, TAURUS, MAGNUM, 357; BLK/GRN, REMINGTON, 870 EXPRESS, 12GA; BLK, COLT, 380, 38; BLK, CZ, P-09, 9MM; BLK, GLOCK, 43, 9MM; BRN/ BLK, TRISTAR, PUMP, 12GA; BLK, HI-POINT, 45; S&W, BACK-UP, 40; US REVOLVER; DAVIS IND, D-32, 32; ESSEX, 12GA; BLK, RUGER, LC9S, 9MM; BLK/BRN, TAURUS, 85, 38; BLK, GLOCK, 30S, 45; KIMBER, MICRO CDP, 38; BLK, TAURUS, REVOLVER, 357; BLK, S&W, M&P 2.0, 40: SIL/BLK, RUGER, P89, 9MM; BLD/BRN, HY HUNTER INC, DETECTIVE, 22; BLK, TAURUS, TX, 22; BLK/BRN, COLT, NEW AGENT, 45. Anyone with a legitimate claim or interest in this property must contact the Asheville Police Department within 30 days from the date of this publication. Any items not claimed within 30 days will be disposed of in accordance with all applicable laws. For further information, or to file a claim, contact the Asheville Police Department Property & Evidence Section at 828232-4576 .

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS BUNCOMBE COUNTY BEEKEEPERS 2023 BEES SCHOOL Buncombe County Beekeepers Bee School to be held Nov. 7th & 9th evenings; Saturday Nov.11th all day. Find information and sign up at wncbees.org. Get all the information to start your journey. wncbees.org.

LOVE TO SING! LEARN A CAPPELLA SINGING FOR FEMALE VOICES WITH A LOCAL CHORUS Song O’ Sky Chorus rehearses Tuesday Nights - 7:00 p.m. St. John's Episcopal Church. Come share a love for singing A Cappella barbershop-style harmony and in a culture of belonging.

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T HE N E W Y O R K T I ME S C R O S S W O R D P U ZZLE edited by Will Shortz | No. 0927

ACROSS 1 Playfully tap on the nose 5 Hindu Mr. 9 Step after lather 14 Throw a ball for a strike, say 15 Intl. price-setting group 16 Fake 17 Like helium and carbon dioxide 19 Object of wishful thinking?

20 Sealed with a knot 22 Symbols of Egyptian royalty 23 Was known as 26 Instrument that Hermes made from a tortoise shell and reeds, in myth 28 Sunburn soother 29 “I haven’t the foggiest” 33 Secrecyenforcing contract, for short 36 Get into it 37 Indication of correctness in Wordle 38 Let it all out, in a way 39 “Steamed ___,” classic “Simpsons” sketch 40 You might entertain them 41 Eponym of a popular vodka brand 42 “Cancel” on a keyboard 43 Recharge, so to speak 44 Did in 45 Classic “Simpsons” sound 46 Second social media account for posting private jokes and such, informally 48 Like father, like son 49 Plains people 51 Big batteries 53 A well-known Stone 55 Golf ball features

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59 Alternating current pioneer 61 Following 17-, 37-, 40- and 43-Across, end of a properly formed yet 11-Down sentence by 25-Down demonstrating the distinction between syntax and semantics 65 Beseeched 66 One guilty of disorderly conduct?

67 Smoothie seed 68 Parental authority 69 Parents, to kids 70 Edible seaweed

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11 Meaningless 12 Quick cut 13 What “:” might represent in a text 18 Kid 21 Chimney vents 23 Past one’s prime, with “up” 24 Westernmost city in Texas 25 So-named “father of modern linguistics” 27 Ache 30 Nash who called the rhinoceros “prepoceros” 31 Plains people 32 Vaulted 34 “You’ve got my attention” 35 Dwellings 40 “OK, so that’s not exactly true”

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Talk by Mary Othella Burnette, retired secondary English teacher, featuring her memoir, Lige of the Black Walnut Tree: Growing Up Black in Southern Appalachia A hybrid event: In-person at West Asheville Public Library AND Zoom Accessible Register for Zoom at: mystory@wilmadykemanlegacy.org

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

I S S A T A R O T A T O M M O C S O L I V E R A V E B L A C K M A G I C F L E A A D M I R E R S H E E R G A I M S R E N E E C O P S U P E R S T A R K N I C K L O B N E E P E T P OW E R B A L L A D P A C S U E S I N R O C K E T M A N F A R E S M O A T A L T A L I S T A S H S T E A M E R R E F H I G H E R L O V E E N I D S T E M A D I O S O N E S M E A N T T A N S T A R S MOUNTAINX.COM

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