Mountain Xpress 11.25.15 by Mountain Xpress

OUR 21ST YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 22 NO. 18 NOV. 25 - DEC. 1 , 2015

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I-26 conn ector • M aking fri ends with Muhamm ad Ali • Escape ro oms

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PaGe 32 survivinG thanksGivinG

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Thanksgiving focuses on gratitude, food and family. But sometimes, plans can go awry. This week, Asheville residents share their offbeat and notso-perfect Thanksgiving memories. cover design Elizabeth Bates, Norn Cutson and Alane Mason illustration Norn Cutson

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10 crunch time for i-26 connector DOT seeks public input as key decision nears of the planet

26 one step at a time Land of Sky’s Living Healthy program offers path to better living

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Who has their hands on housing crisis? On Nov. 16, the city of Asheville hosted a symposium on affordable housing. What was glaringly apparent on both panels that spoke [was] there was not one person of color, women were in the minority, and no one who sat on the panel is actually living this crisis! Interesting perspective. Those in need of affordable housing are disproportionately single mothers, women of color, seniors and the homeless folk. It was remarked over and over again that people of color are more affected by lack of good housing, and yet it was not thought to include those that the lack of affordable housing affected? The difference between advocacy and community organizers is just that. Community organizers live in the situation, while advocates acknowledge the situation but do not live or experience it. The need for affordable housing is real for so many of us! This is not an exercise in good deeds. Only one person truly spoke for the people affected. Robin [Merrell] from Pisgah Legal Services said: Do we realize that people are dying from the cold while holding a housing voucher in their hands?

And my friend the Rev. Amy Cantrell of the BeLoved Community called out from the audience: Shame, shame, shame on us! Do we realize that people are dying while we are merely talking about the need for affordable housing? This is a crisis of epic sadness that a city that supports tourism is not willing to support its residents! And suppose we became advocates of just economics for all, and we instituted a fair living wage? That would mean that every single worker in this city would have the opportunity to afford a reasonable place to live. Laborers who are responsible for the labor on these hotels cannot even afford to rent a place. So I am asking: Is this an exercise in projecting good deeds, or is this for real? Have you heard the expression “Who has their hands on it”? It means who is going to follow it through. Who does have “their hands” truly on this crisis? — Ariel Harris Asheville

Stereotyping WNC newcomers is insulting What is the writer’s [“Newcomers Fail to Respect WNC Natives,” Nov. 4, Xpress] definition of a “newcomer”? I have lived most gratefully in Asheville for nearly 20

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We want to hear from you Please send your letters to: Editor, Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St., Asheville, NC 28801 or by email to letters@mountainx.com.

years and appreciated and respected the indigenous culture and traditions of this unique part of our country. To paint all people not native to this area with the proverbial broad brush is insulting and narrow-minded. Is this unfair and biased opinion based upon a few encounters with people new to Western North Carolina? Although an uncommonly high percentage of natives I have met do indeed exhibit the character traits that make the quality of life here enviable, sadly, I have also experienced meanness and hostility interacting with “natives” at times. As evident, the writer is from Swannanoa. I would advise her to consider all the good the newcomers at Warren Wilson contribute to our community.

To conclude, during my 20 years here I have volunteered at local schools, taught at Haywood Community College, have made many close friends — old-timers and new-timers — and have tried to be of service to my fellow humans. By the way, when considering the role of unions, particularly related to teaching, I was able to retire here at age 55 because my union made sure I was treated and rewarded as a professional. Perhaps if our educators were treated as such, we would not see signs and bumper stickers reading: North Carolina First in Teacher Flight. If the writer of aforementioned article would do me the honor breaking bread with me, perhaps she will have a change of heart and I might acquire a new friend. — Ed Wolfsohn Asheville

Local breweries, give us the ‘liquid gold’ “How’s your beer?” “It’s not bad.” Anyone else tired of this answer? Where did beer take such a bad turn?

Don’t take your guns to town Restaurant owners who are not allowing guns in their establishments should be applauded. I do not own a gun nor feel the need to. Is Asheville that unsafe that people carry guns when they go out? Are they afraid they will be mugged on the way home? Why would they need a gun to protect themselves in a restaurant? Protect them from what? Other people with guns, that’s what!

Our palates seem to have been tricked and swindled by the microbrew explosion. Oatmeal stout, pumpkin ale, any fruit imaginable, triple IPA, bacon beer! Are you covering up bad ingredients? Is capitalism the culprit? Just beer: lager so pure and crisp that you crave it with breakfast. Pork shoulder with Pilsner makes sense any time of day in Prague. Many European establishments take the

Speaking for myself and probably lots of other people, I would feel safer dining in a place that does not allow guns. The owners know that alcohol and guns make a potentially deadly cocktail. I admire the restaurant owners for standing up to the gun-toting population with their civilized decision to ban guns from their establishments. — Gail Roberts Asheville

decision mechanism away with one beer on the menu. The system only works if you’re serving liquid gold, an easy lager. Indulging in a triple chocolate imperial stout with my omelet feels dirty and immoral. I’m in an Asheville brewery offering 14 types of ale: not a single lager. The indirect explanation from a superfriendly staff member: “Money!”

Brewing ale is chemically aggressive, taking about two weeks. Pilsner, the ultimate in lager, takes a minimum of four weeks and colder storage. A much gentler brewing leaves you with a smooth, clean beer. The quick turnaround in ale means more money now. Let us not be told that our demand is driving this travesty. Greater demand could only be in ignorance; collectively, we don’t know better. It doesn’t help that most American microlagers are barely drinkable; containing an unexpected “bite” in comparison to the European masters. Geography isn’t to blame, as we’ve done it beautifully on American soil: Trumer Pils (Berkeley, Calif.), Prost Pils (Denver), New Belgium Blue Paddle Pilsener (Fort Collins, Colo.). I’m certainly not here to support the big boys of the industry. But have a look at what’s dominating the globe: lager. Mass-produced, lacking in patience, flavor and quality ingredients — yet lagers nonetheless. It has and will stand the test of time. Lager is forever. How many more times can we lie to each other about “how good this beer is” while taste buds freak out, blanketed in a layer of residual sugar. Of course, capitalism doesn’t correspond with patience. It’s hard to have a slow, gentle beer dominating your tank space. But we know you’re out

c art o o n b Y b r e n t b r o Wn of red figures! Facilities are expanding, becoming glamorous. You’ve fooled us long enough. We love to support local. I don’t want to leave “Beer City USA” markets with a German six-pack in hand! If you brew it, they will come (they being return locals as well as the drunk bus tours). Please give us the gold! — Mike Peterson Asheville

Krispy Kreme hospital naming reflects thanks I only have a quick thought about the “Rethink the Krispy Kreme Hospital’s Name” letter to the editor [Nov. 11, Xpress] by Carmen Procida. When my youngest sister had several surgeries at the Shriners Hospital in Kentucky, they put us up in a place called the Ronald McDonald House because the cost of hotels and traveling and treatments can be very expensive on families with children who are in need of medical services. None of my family are struggling with overweight issues due to this experience.

I personally find naming things after those who donate to be a reflection of the honor and thanks we have for the people who are not only able but willing to donate large sums of money. So I say, “Thank you Krispy Kreme and more power to you! I love your doughnuts and I happen to love exercise, too!” — Leilani Robinson Tucson, Ariz.

Accident witness needed after all I was involved in a collision at the corner of Biltmore Avenue and College Street downtown between 3:30 and 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. One of you offered to be a witness. Thinking that the nature of the situation was obvious and clear-cut, I let you continue on your way. Turns out, unfortunately, I need a witness after all. If you (or anyone else who saw what led up to the collision and is willing to be a witness) could contact me by phone (828-255-7650), I would be grateful. Thank you. — Darren Stroupe Asheville

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Stepping up bY Julie maYField

Revised Duke Energy proposal challenges us all On Nov. 4, Duke Energy held a press conference at the Lake Julian power plant just south of Asheville. Addressing journalists from around the region, Lloyd Yates, the company’s president for the Carolinas region, declared, “The process worked,” before unveiling a revised “modernization” plan that was drastically different from the one proposed six months before. Gone was a 45-mile, high-voltage transmission line cutting through the countryside of Western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina, as well as a new substation in Campobello, S.C. Duke had even reduced the size of the natural gas plant that’s slated to replace the coal-fired Lake Julian plant. Duke touted the process and thanked the public for their input. But make no mistake, this was a hard-fought victory won by the dedicated communities throughout our region that organized in opposition. This grassroots effort is a source of immense inspiration to my colleagues and me at MountainTrue. Through the Carolina Land Coalition, MountainTrue partnered with residents, community groups and businesses from around the region to voice our concerns and ask Duke Energy to stop, re-evaluate its plans and come back with something better. Dedicated people of every political stripe came together and took a stand for a better vision of our future. Thousands of residents and families attended public hearings and called for a plan that respects our natural heritage and our region’s beauty. In the end, Duke’s leaders credited the more than 9,000 comments they received from the community with changing their minds. A fourth important part of Duke’s announcement is that the utility is now willing to enter into partnerships with local governments, groups like

Julie Mayfield MountainTrue and others to address the region’s growing energy needs in a way that’s less destructive to our natural environment and local economies. Switching from coal to natural gas mitigates most of the immediate harms to our local environment, such as the ongoing production of toxic coal ash and the release of sulfur dioxide, a pollutant and acid rain precursor, into the atmosphere. But it’s really just kicking the fossil fuel can a bit farther down the road. Natural gas is mostly methane, a greenhouse gas that’s 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and recent studies have shown a troubling amount of methane leakage during nearly every stage of production and transport. Not to mention the devastation in communities where fracking has fouled the water and made both people and livestock sick. This is where Duke’s new proposal actually contains an opportunity and a challenge. While the utility has reduced the overall size of the proposed natural gas plant, it has also issued a warning: Unless something changes in Western North Carolina, Duke will need to build an additional gas-fueled, 190-megawatt peaking unit to meet growing demand. This would commit us to an even greater reliance on climate-changing fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. But preventing the construction of this peaking unit will require more than merely asking our members to sign a pledge. It will take everyone — Duke Energy, the city of Asheville, other municipalities in the region, institutions,

businesses and consumers — working side by side in fulfillment of the utility’s offer of partnership. Duke’s openness and willingness to give our community some measure of control over our energy future is precedent-setting and an opportunity not to be wasted. For local governments, that means looking for opportunities to reduce energy use in their operations and pursuing policy solutions through smart planning like what was laid out in Asheville’s Community Clean Energy Policy Framework. This document serves as a road map for a meaningful partnership between the city and Duke Energy to increase participation in energy-efficiency programs and build more renewable infrastructure on city-owned property. For businesses and consumers, it means adopting sustainable practices and enrolling in existing energy-efficiency programs that offer incentives for things like weatherproofing, insulating electric water heaters and installing motion sensors to turn off lights in empty offices. It also means reforming longstanding habits: turning off the lights when you walk out of a room, unplugging phone chargers and power strips when not in use and using major appliances

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at nonpeak times. MountainTrue has resources to help consumers cut their energy use and enroll in efficiency programs at bit.ly/MTGreenEnergy. Duke Energy, however, may face the greatest challenge of all, because reform can’t just be about good public relations. Fossil fuels have substantial hidden costs for our climate, our communities and our health, and for an energy company, fighting the urge to pass those costs on to the public is no easy task. But Duke has offered us another path here in WNC that will hopefully get us to the clean energy future we want and need. Duke has opened the door, and we must walk through it together. Done well, the partnership will be far more productive than continuing to fight each other through lawsuits and advocacy campaigns. Done poorly, we’ll be breaking ground on yet another fossil fuel plant in seven years. We invite you to join us in doing this partnership well. Newly elected City Council member Julie Mayfield is co-director of MountainTrue, a grassroots environmental group.

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CrunCh time for i-26 ConneCtor DOT seeks public input as key decision nears bY haYleY benton hbenton@mountainx.com After more than two decades of discussion and debate, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is getting the ball rolling on the Interstate 26 connector project. And though actual construction is still years away, the next few weeks are the public’s best chance to influence the route of a massive infrastructure project that, regardless of which option is chosen, will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, displace dozens of homes and businesses, and change the face of Asheville. Concerned residents have until Wednesday, Dec. 16, to submit their comments to the DOT by phone, mail, email or online (see box, “Weighing In”). The state agency will take that feedback into account in selecting its preferred design, a decision due next spring. In its current form, I-26 takes a sharp turn as it merges onto Interstate 240 at Patton Avenue, breaking up the interstate and requiring drivers headed north to cross four lanes of often bumper-to-bumper traffic to access “future I-26” via a winding ramp. For the next 16 miles, the roadway is not yet up to current interstate standards — but that’s another project altogether.

Just get it done The connector project, long a source of heated controversy, picked up speed last year when an informal group of Asheville City Council members and Buncombe County commissioners began pushing the DOT to improve the road, citing safety concerns and economic benefits. And on Nov. 16, the state agency hosted an open house and public hearing on nine proposed routes covering three distinct sections. Hundreds of residents filled the Renaissance Hotel’s Grand Ballroom to study and have their say about the various traffic patterns displayed on giant maps.

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Consensus, however, seemed to be in short supply. During public comment, some residents urged the DOT to simply choose the best alternative and do it. Other speakers criticized the agency for coming up with designs better suited to a metropolis like Atlanta or Charlotte than to Asheville. Some people spoke on behalf of plan 4B; others dismissed it as overly complicated. Many argued that the future lies in self-driving cars and multimodal transportation — including not just bikes and buses but also commuter trains. Still others disputed the traffic projections that were the basis for these designs, saying the current traffic volume is actually much lower than what the 2005 study predicted. Asked about that last point, DOT Construction Engineer ricky tipton said a new traffic-demand model has been released. “That will be looked at again prior to finalizing the section, and if it showed something different, other options might be looked at.” But one thing most people seemed to agree on at the hearing was that this particular section of roadway desperately needs some sort of fix. Madison County Commissioner matthew wechtel said commuters to Asheville from his county must contend with “malfunction junction.” Even though the DOT is asking for input, however, for ordinary mortals, comparing these complex plans isn’t easy. To further complicate matters, the connector project is broken up into three separate subprojects, labeled sections A, B and C. To help you get a handle on what’s being proposed, here’s a look at the key differences among the alternatives. It might also be useful to trace the routes you actually drive on the various maps to see how those differences would most affect you.

First things First Section B, the northernmost stretch, is the part that does the actual connecting. It spans downtown and West Asheville from just north of the Haywood Road exit to Patton Avenue, crossing the French Broad River and continuing on to future I-26 in North Asheville. The DOT is considering four alternatives for Section B, each of which

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ConstruCtion AheAd: One of the biggest roadblocks for the I-26 connector — and one of the biggest changes to the face of Asheville — is Section B of the project. With four alternative routes to choose from (find alternatives 4 and 4B on page 12), the DOT is asking the public for advice. To view these maps in full resolution, visit avl.mx/218.

takes a different approach to bridging the river. Two of those options bypass the Burton Street community, a historically African-American neighborhood that was heavily impacted when I-240 was built, displacing many residents and leaving bitter memories that have resurfaced repeatedly in the debate over the I-26 connector. The other two alternatives would run right through the neighborhood. At the southern end of the project, Section C covers the I-26/I-40 junction in southwest Asheville, near Enka-Candler. There are also four alternatives for this part, differing mostly in which style of interchange ramp they use. In the middle sits Section A, which was something of a flash point during the public hearing, since the DOT is proposing only one plan: an eightlane highway through West Asheville that would double the current roadway’s width and take out 102 buildings in its path. This will be the last part of the project to get built, however, and meanwhile, none of the nine designs is absolute, DOT Public Involvement Officer drew joyner explained at the hearing. So for both residents and the DOT, the immediate challenge is determining the general route through sections B and C.

deConstruCting seCtion B The four options for this section are 3, 3C, 4 and 4B. Alternative 3 dives under Patton Avenue before cutting between Westgate Shopping Plaza and the Sam’s Club parking lot. It then rises over Emma Road before coming back down to the east of the Woodridge Apartments and crossing the river. The bridge passes over Zen Tubing and Riverside Drive before joining back up with a widened version of the future I-26 west of Montford. At the hearing and in Facebook group discussions before the event, however, this option drew criticism for two main reasons. The first was the difficulty of accessing Haywood Road from the north: Traffic would exit I-26 before Patton Avenue and hit four lights before running through the Burton Street neighborhood on its way to the existing Haywood Road exit. Critics also disliked the roundabout way traffic coming from the south would be routed to Westgate Plaza. Alternative 3C continues in much the same way, except that it

crosses the French Broad much sooner, turning right behind Westgate Plaza before splitting up and crossing the river on two separate bridges. The westbound (technically northbound) lane crosses over the vacant warehouse at 472 Riverside Drive before merging into a widened version of the future I-26 behind Montford. The eastbound (read: southbound) lane passes over this building as well but then veers north, proceeding through what’s now the Asheville Hardwood Center, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Total Performance Muffler and Brakes — all of which the DOT would have to acquire prior to construction. Alternatives 4 and 4B call for a looping design to separate both I-26 and I-240 traffic from local Patton Avenue traffic. Unlike plans 3 and 3C, 4 and 4B PULL interstate traffic OFF the Jeff Bowen Bridge. Both plans show I-26 dipping under Patton Avenue, but from there, they go separate ways. The differences between the two involve both how they cross the river and how many ramps and bridges they envision to accommodate the exchange of vehicles between the two highways and local roads. Alternative 4 calls for layered ramps behind Westgate Plaza and over Emma Road, with a bridged entrance ramp that splits in two to lead traffic both north to I-26 westbound and over the river to I-240 east. Across the river, the I-240 onramp merges with another bridged ramp, bringing in the local traffic from I-26 and crossing over Asheville Auto Parts and Salvage on Riverside Drive. There’s yet another bridge over the river where I-240 ends as it crosses over I-26 and then splits into an on-ramp for I-26 east and an off-ramp to Patton Avenue. I-26 then follows the same path seen in Alternative 3, crossing the river north of the Woodridge Apartments. Alternative 4B emphasizes compactness and sensitivity to the needs of local drivers. While the other three alternatives provide limited access to Haywood Road from the north, exiting the interstate behind Westgate before stopping at a light on Patton, 4B keeps the off-ramps short and tight to the highway. This allows for interstate access to Haywood Road and, like Alternative 4, keeps interstate traffic off the Jeff Bowen Bridge. Another big difference is that, just as I-26 follows a similar path in options 3 and 4, 4B routes I-26 simi-

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larly to Alternative 3C — albeit with the two lanes of traffic merged into a single bridge over the vacant warehouses on Riverside Drive.

high-impACt ChAnges “We need a road to Asheville — not through Asheville,” argues alan mcguinn, an architect at ARCA Design. McGuinn serves on the board of the Asheville Design Center, which helped develop 4B. The idea, he explains, was to improve the road while remaining “sensitive to urban design. It needs to be a little slower and a little tighter, because we’re constrained by the mountains and the river — and we’re trying not to let roads take us over. … You don’t design an urban road like you’re out in open, rural country” — especially in a city like

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Asheville that’s already strapped for buildable land. The other three Section B plans, he maintains, don’t fit Asheville’s need for both a minimal impact highway and a quick and easy way to get from place to place. Although 3 and 3C seem to make the most obvious connections — a straight shot over the French Broad FOR the through traffic on I-26 — both designs fail to take 240 traffic off the Jeff Bowen Bridge, the most traveled stretch of road in the whole region. And since a lot of those vehicles are trucks, this segment is reaching a critical point in terms of safety. Both 4 and 4B also spare the Burton Street community, but they also require more right of way acquisitions on the other side of the river. As things now stand, Alternative 3 would require relocating 34 residences, 24 businesses and two nonprofits; 3C would take 23 residences, 33 businesses and one nonprofit. Alternative 4 would

take out 46 residences, 24 businesses, two nonprofits and one church. And finally, 4B would eliminate 33 residences, 34 businesses, one nonprofit and one church. McGuinn, however, says the DOT changed the 4B design in ways that dramatically increased the number of residents and businesses displaced. The initial version, he explains, called for relocating only three residences rather than the current 33. But the DOT, says McGuinn, changed the radius of one of the on-ramps in the Hillcrest area to cut into an adjacent neighborhood. “If you changed the radius [back] you could get rid of those [additional displacements].” Since last year, he continues, “They’ve made so many changes that have improved 3C, while they’ve actually made 4 and 4B less workable. The question in my mind is: Why did

it change from May 2014? It seemed to be fine.” Asked about the changes, Tipton said: “They came up with a concept design and said, ‘Let’s make it work like this.’ It was explored further by city- and county-funded consultants at engineering firms, and they worked with the department to see what would make that concept work. And that resulted in 4B. We’re trying to keep it as small as possible, but when you get in there, you need the necessary things to make it safe.” As always, of course, there’s also the question of money. At $332 million, 4B would cost the DOT over $100 million more than 3C, the cheapest option on the table at an estimated $230 million. “But it’s not about what’s cheapest,” argues McGuinn. “It’s about the best value.” In 10 years after completion, he maintains, option 3C would reduce Patton Avenue traffic by just 11 percent. “Sure, it’s cheaper: It’s not doing as much.” Meanwhile, he continues, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive Section C options amounts to almost $100 million. “I think we’d be better served to use it on Section B. Once they do Section B, it’s going to be very hard to fix later. If you put that extra money into Section B, that would pay for difference” between the 3C and 4B options.

BACk to the drAWing BoArd? Each alternative has its pros and cons, Tipton told the crowd. And currently, “There’s not a preferred alternative. Even if I told you my personal preference, it wouldn’t really mean anything. The point of [the hearing] is to gather public input to help us make the best decision.” But as resident after resident stepped up at the public hearing to voice their opinions, it was clear that for many speakers, none of the proposals on the table was acceptable. Newly elected City Council member julie mayfield, who is co-director of the environmental nonprofit MountainTrue, called on the DOT to follow the lead of Duke Energy, which recently decided to retool its plans in response to massive public outcry. “I never imagined I would cite Duke Energy as an example,” said Mayfield, drawing laughs from the crowd. But the utility, she continued, listened to Asheville, “And if the largest energy company in the nation

can provide a plan that meets public demands, then so can you.” Tipton, meanwhile, stresses that all the current options are really works in progress, “more along the lines of ‘Is this the direction we want to go?’ You start with what we call the best fit alignment with the least amount of damage and disruption. And if the new traffic projections ever show that something smaller would work, then we would consider that, of course.” According to the DOT’s timeline, the agency will select the preferred alternative by next spring. Soon after, it will begin finalizing a plan that would be presented at a 2017 public hearing. Acquisition of the homes and businesses in the right of way (shown in green on the maps) would take place in 2019 for Section C and in 2021 for Section B; construction on B and C would begin in 2021 and 2024, respectively. Progress on Section A would start sometime after that. All this may seem a long way off, but the DOT needs to know which concept to work from as it finalizes its plans. And with residents still sharply divided over how best to proceed, the feedback the agency receives in the coming weeks could significantly influence the outcome. “Going forward, we’re going to look at selecting a recommended alternative next year and complete the final environmental impact statement,” notes Joyner. “We’ll follow that with another public hearing. So there’ll be another opportunity to speak, and there may be even more small group meetings, neighborhood meetings and maybe other opportunities as well. … And remember that written comments are weighed the same as verbal comments. They count the same. So if you didn’t get to say everything you needed to say [at the public hearing], then by all means, send us your comments.” X

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reviving the homesteAd: North Carolina has long been defined by its agriculture industry. As development pressures and rising land costs threaten farmland across the state, public agencies and private land trusts are working to preserve farms and support farmers like Robin and Betty Reeves (inset), whose family has worked their land for several generations. Photos courtesy of Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

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Saving WNC’s farms robin reeves is the sixth generation to grow up on her family’s Madison County farm — a lineage that dates back to before the Civil War. Reeves spent much of her youth helping her parents raise cattle, burley tobacco and tomatoes as well as her extended family in Sandy Mush. As an adolescent, she sold produce to Ingles to earn spending money. “We worked together, we played together. You can’t trade those memories for anything,” remembers Reeves. And after her father, burder reeves, passed away in 2009, Robin and her son moved back to the farm from Swannanoa to help her mother keep the family homestead going.

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But times were tough, and the farm suffered for it. “Financially it was hard, because the tobacco buyout happened, and we weren’t getting that income anymore,” she explains. “It was basically me trying to run the farm alone.” Reeves’ story is a familiar one in North Carolina, a state long defined by its robust agricultural output. According to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the state’s $78 billion agricultural industry employs 16 percent of the workforce. North Carolina leads the nation in tobacco and sweet potato production and ranks second in poultry, Christmas trees, hogs and trout. But encroaching development, the rising cost of land and an aging farming population have put a strain on agricultural pursuits across N.C. And

in the mountains, where topography and poor soil conditions already limit the amount of arable land, the loss of farmland is felt even more acutely, says william hamilton, farmland program director for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. “Only 2 percent of the region’s land mass consists of these prime soils, and part of that has already been converted to a developed land use,” he explains. Much of WNC’s prime agricultural land lies near rivers and creeks where, Hamilton says, it’s “highly threatened, because those areas are typically easy to develop.” Government agencies and private land trusts are fighting back, however, working hand in hand with farmers to preserve rural communities through conservation easements and other agreements. And

there’s far more than just heritage and money at stake. Preserving farmland, notes Hamilton, is important for a whole host of reasons, including “food security, soil preservation, open space for wildlife and scenic beauty, groundwater recharge, the preservation of our cultural heritage, and the long-term security of a unique economic resource.”

A long slog Working to preserve the state’s agricultural land “has been a long slog,” says edgar miller, director of government relations at the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. The nonprofit partners with local land trusts across the state and lobbies the Legislature on their behalf. Under a conservation easement, the property owner retains possession of the land but either donates or sells the right to develop it, typically for significantly less than the market value. The money comes from grants, government programs and/or land trusts, which also coordinate the process and hold the easement once the transfer has been made. Finding the money, however, isn’t easy. Although The Farmland Preservation Enabling Act was passed in 1986, no money was allocated for the trust fund established by the state law until 1996, notes Miller. And even then, funding remained negligible until 2005, when the law was amended to broaden the scope of projects that could be supported by the renamed Agricultural Development

Blue mArks the spot: This map highlights the voluntary agricultural districts across Buncombe County as of 2013, with concentrations in the Sandy Mush area, near Barnardsville and around Fairview. VADs exempt farmers from certain nuisance ordinances and place a 10-year development easement on agricultural land. Image courtesy of the Buncombe County Planning & Development Department and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. Each year, the trust fund awards a limited number of grants to land trusts and other conservation programs. Together with federal money, those grants provide most of the funding for the approved projects and easements. The 2005 amendment also established voluntary agricultural districts. These 10-year provisional agreements are a way to “get the farmer in the door and

get him used to operating under an easement,” says Miller. “The theory is that they will ultimately put it under an easement in perpetuity.” The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has protected over 6,000 acres of farm properties in WNC, focusing on “intact agricultural communities where the primary land use is agriculture” in Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, Yancey,

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Avery and Mitchell Hamilton explains.

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ChAnging the mindset Facing an uphill battle, Reeves and her family reached out to a longtime friend about securing an easement to protect their property from future

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development. Eventually, Reeves was put in contact with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, which she says helped her overcome her reservations about transferring the development rights. “I always had this thing about not liking people telling me what to do with my property,” she reveals. “There’s a lot of farmers with the same stubborn mindset that I have, but William and the Southern Appalachian crew are great to work with.” Preserving the Reeves farm was an important symbolic objective for the nonprofit, says Hamilton; the conservancy recently helped preserve three separate parcels totaling 318 acres. “This farm is representative of agriculture in Western North Carolina, and the Reeves family made a gift to this region in permanently protecting this farm. This project represents five years of hard work on the part of the land trust, the landowners and the agencies involved.” Securing an easement is a complicated process that often spans several years, notes ariel dixon, farmland preservation coordinator for Buncombe County’s program, a division of the Soil and Water Conservation District. She typically works on two to three such projects at a time, meeting with the property owner, getting the land surveyed and applying for state and federal grants. “In general, we have just a handful of different grant programs that the county can apply for,” she explains. “Occasionally we’ll get other small grants; we’re lucky to get some of the closing costs for our easements from Buncombe County, but that’s not always the case.” Land trusts like the SAHC, however, have more wiggle room when it comes to securing private donations to supplement government funding. “Supporting SAHC as a member or philanthropic leader is a great way to provide direct, needed support for our farmland conservation efforts,” notes Hamilton. Hammering out the details can also require a fair amount of compromise on both sides. Open communication and establishing a positive working relationship with property owners during the application process is key, says Dixon. “A lot of the landowners we work with are amazing farmers who oftentimes were born on the property and grew up there. We want to make them understand that even though they’re working with a government agency, the county is not going to take their land.”

And for those who aren’t ready to commit to a permanent easement, notes Dixon, there are other options. Voluntary agricultural districts, which consist of 50 or more acres of farmland within a 1-mile radius, exempt farmers from nuisance ordinances, sewer and water assessments, and other restrictions. Enhanced VAD status also allows farmers to generate up to 25 percent of their sales from nonfarm products. Landowners can withdraw after 10 years and are free to apply for a permanent easement at any time. “Even if it’s just that small extra protection for the farmers, it’s crucial that they understand that it’s out there,” says Dixon.

toWArd greener pAstures Despite these local entities’ success in preserving agricultural land, there are a number of obstacles to accomplishing grander goals. “State funding has been sporadic and certainly significantly below the demand,” says Miller, who estimates that less than a third of such grant applications get funded. Budgetary limits also make it hard to pull together larger-scale, community-based easement projects. “Funding is definitely difficult,” agrees Dixon. “Every year it gets cut again and again.” As a result, her department is getting creative in how it markets the program. “We have such a huge tourism industry, and I think a lot of people come here because of the picturesque, rolling hills and farms framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains,” she notes. Recently, for example, Buncombe’s farmland preservation program received a grant from the county’s Parks and Recreation Department to establish a pilot “farm heritage trail” in northwest Buncombe. “It’s a driving route with various stops and activities that takes you through some of the most beautiful farm areas and countryside of that part of the county,” Dixon explains. Designed to bring potential paying customers to the farms while building public support for preservation, the trail is expected to be completed by next April. Ironically, however, even land that’s already been preserved can pose an equal challenge: how to put it back into active use. “We’re really trying to get land trusts to get that land in agricultural production, and particularly to provide creative ways to get that land into the hands of new farmers,” notes Miller. Farming schools and educational programs like the Organic Growers

School in Candler have gone a long way toward rekindling young adults’ interest in farming, he says, but in many cases, “Young farmers can’t afford the land” they need to make a go of it. To help address this, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has established a 103-acre community farm in Alexander. “The farm was donated to SAHC because the landowners wanted to see it continue in agricultural use,” Communications Director angela shepherd explains. The nonprofit recently launched an incubator program there, giving beginning farmers lowcost access to both land and hands-on learning opportunities.

plAnting the seeds

FArming For the Future: Robin Reeves hopes that the easement agreement placed on her land will help preserve a central role in WNC for the farming community. “We’re caretakers [of this land],” she says. “It’s very important that we keep that land available for farming.” Photo courtesy of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

For Reeves, the conservation easement has had both immediate and longterm benefits. the money she received enabled her to buy a new tractor and hay equipment, and she’s working on building a facility for on-site retail sales. “The tractor has a closed cab with an air conditioner and heat,” she notes enthusiastically. “We’d never had a cab

tractor before, so I feel very, very blessed that we were able to get one.” In addition, says Reeves, placing the land under an easement has alleviated the stress of an uncertain future. “My mom is 75. She had a heart bypass in January; I’ve already had two heart attacks. It’s one of those things where we want to make sure it’s all planned out and taken care of, that the legacy plan is there, so that if something does happen to us, things will be taken care of for the grandkids.” And with new developments seeming to spring up in the mountains “almost every day,” she continues, keeping prime farmland available is really a matter of the entire region’s survival. “We want to support local food — Asheville’s great about that. But if we lose all the farmland to development, we won’t have that local food here.” Preserving agricultural land for future generations “is a long process, but it’s worth it,” asserts Reeves. “That way you know there won’t be a bunch of houses looking at each other on prime farmland that’s fed your family for many years.” X

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Community CAlendAr nov. 25 - deC. 3

Calendar guidelines In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must benefit or be sponsored by a nonprofit or noncommercial community group. In the spirit of Xpress’ commitment to support the work of grassroots community organizations, we will also list events our staff consider to be of value or interest to the public, including local theater performances and art exhibits even if hosted by a forprofit group or business. All events must cost no more than $40 to attend in order to qualify for free listings, with the one exception of events that benefit nonprofits. Commercial endeavors and promotional events do not qualify for free listings. Free listings will be edited by Xpress staff to conform to our style guidelines and length. Free listings appear in the publication covering the date range in which the event occurs. Events may be submitted via email to calendar@ mountainx.com or through our online submission form at mountainx.com/calendar. The deadline for free listings is the Wednesday one week prior to publication at 5 p.m. For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 251-1333, ext. 137. For questions about paid calendar listings, please call 2511333, ext. 320.

AnimAls The events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23)

BeneFits Some of the events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23) Adventure Center oF Asheville 1 Resort Drive, 247-5539, ashevilletreetopsadventurepark. com • FR (11/27) - Proceeds from aerial adventure sales benefit local nonprofits. Contact for details.

zdeCk the trees BeneFit 669-8870, themontevistahotel.net • TH (12/3) through TH (12/31) Proceeds from this exhibition of decorated Christmas trees benefit the swannanoa valley christian ministries. Opening party: Dec. 3, 6-8pm. Awarding of prizes for trees: Dec. 18, 6-8:30pm. Free to attend. Held at Monte Vista Hotel,

light up the night: Winter Lights, the nighttime walking tour of the holiday lighting display at the N.C. Arboretum that is open nightly from 6-10 until Jan. 2, allows participants to experience the nationally known gardens in a brilliantly illuminated way. Produced in collaboration with the former holiday decoration manager and designer of Walt Disney World, the exhibit includes musical animated displays, energy-efficient lighting and family-friendly activities. Winter Lights operates with the help of hundreds of community volunteers, and the proceeds from the event support the arboretum’s programs, exhibits and facilities year-round. For more information about tickets and volunteering opportunities, visit ncwinterlights.com. (p. 23)

308 W. State St., Black Mountain

Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway.

zFull CirCle FArm thAnksgiving soul Food BeneFit facebook.com/ events/1494924827503174 • TH (11/26), 5pm - Proceeds from this vegan Thanksgiving buffet benefit Full Circle Farm Sanctuary. $30/$15 children under 13. Held at The BLOCK Off Biltmore, 39 South Market St.

veterAn JAm 5k rACe AgAinst ptsd veteranjam.org • SA (11/28), 10am - Proceeds from this 5k race benefit veterans. Registration begins at 8am. $35/$25 youth/Free veterans. Held at Fletcher Community Park, 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher

zhAyWood street respite

holidAy dinner BeneFit haywoodstreet.org/giving • TU (12/1) - 6-9:30pm - Proceeds from this holiday dinner at Catawba Brewing with French Broad Chocolate Lounge benefit haywood street respite. $100. &nbsp; Held at Catawba Brewing South Slope, 32 Banks Ave Suite 105

rAms to the resCue eblencharities.org • SA (11/28), 2-9pm - Proceeds from this fundraising event benefit rams to the rescue. Live music by Circus Mutt from 7-9pm. Free to attend. Held at Highland

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Business & teChnology A-B teCh smAll Business Center 398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc Registration required. Free unless otherwise noted. Held at A-B Tech Enka Campus, 1459 Sand Hill Road, Candler • TU (12/1), 10am - “How to Write a Business Plan,” seminar • WE (12/2), 10am - “Business of Public Contracting,” seminar. WnC kAuFFmAn FoundAtion 260-7982, starthub.us, mara@starthub.us • MO (11/30), 6pm - “Talent

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Jam,” business-focused mash-up of “speed dating, job fair and a networking event.” $15. Held at Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway

ClAsses, meetings & events ABout the trAnsCendentAl meditAtion teChniQue: Free introduCtory leCture (pd.) The most effortless meditation technique is also the most effective. Learn how TM is different from other practices (including common “mantra” methods). An evidence-based technique for going beyond the active mind to access deep inner reserves of energy, creativity and bliss — dissolving stress, awakening your highest self. The only meditation recommended for hypertension by the American Heart Association. NIH-sponsored research shows decreased anxiety, improved brain functioning, heightened well-being. Reduces insomnia, ADHD, PTSD. Personalized training, certified

instructors, free follow-up classes. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut. 828-254-4350 or TM.org or MeditationAsheville.org

• 1st TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Social meeting for U.S. Navy submarine veterans. Free to attend. Held at Ryan’s Steakhouse, 1000 Brevard Road

everything you don’t WAnt to knoW ABout dog WAste (pd.) Seminar to educate how lingering dog waste affects us, our pets, and the environment. FREE Event! Complimentary food & giveaways. Limited seating. Tue., Dec. 1st, 2015, 7pm-8pm. Town & Country Square, Suite “K”, 175 Weaverville Hwy., Asheville, NC 28804. Organizer: Stephanie Chow, 828-668-2055, petpooskidoo@gmail.com. More details at

Asheville timeBAnk 348-0674, ashevilletimebank.org • TUESDAYS, 4-6pm - Orientation session. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road

www.petpooskiddoo.com.

zAsheville history Center 253-9231, smh@wnchistory.org. • TH (12/3) & FR (12/4), 6-8:30pm - After hours holiday tours of the Smith McDowell house. Registration required. $25/$10 under 18. Held at Smith-McDowell House Museum, 283 Victoria Road Asheville suBmArine veterAns ussashevillebase.com, ecipox@charter.net

Blue ridge toAstmAsters CluB blueridgetoastmasters.com, fearless@blueridgetoastmasters. org • MONDAYS, 12:15-1:25pm - Public speaking and leadership group. Free. Held at Lenoir Rhyne Center for Graduate Studies, 36 Montford Ave.

zCArl sAndBurg home 1928 Little River Road, Flat Rock, 693-4178, nps.gov/carl • SA (11/28), 10am-1pm “Christmas at Connemara,” dulcimer music, craft making, storytelling by Black Feather and sing-a-longs. $5. CArolinA JeWs For JustiCe West carolinajewsforjustice.org

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november 25 - december 1, 2015

C o n s C i o u s pA r t y By Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com

Green Friday’s al fresco alternative to holiday shopping what: Green Friday fundraiser when: Friday, Nov. 27 where: Asheville’s Wildwater Ltd. and the Adventure Center of Asheville why: While Asheville’s bargain hunters weave through hundreds of fellow shoppers on Black Friday, others will navigate the season’s last leaves, ziplining through Western North Carolina for charity. Asheville’s Wildwater Ltd. and the Adventure Center of Asheville (plus several sister organizations in neighboring states) will donate 50 percent of zipline revenues to select nonprofits, including RiverLink, during the companies’ fifth annual Green Friday. “There are many people looking for things to do that day for whom Black Friday is completely out of the question,” says RiverLink’s director of volunteer services, dave russell.

Just peACe For isrAel/ pAlestine mepeacewnc.com • FR (11/27), 3:15pm - General meeting. Free. Held at BrooksHowell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave.

outdoor options: While adults are ziplining through Appalachia in support of RiverLink, kids can participate in Green Friday by visiting the Adventure Center of Asheville’s KidZip course or its Treetrops Adventure Park. Photo courtesy of the Adventure Center of Asheville “For them, fresh air, exhilaration and supporting causes such as RiverLink are a win-win-win.” Participants should be at least 10 years old and weigh 70 pounds or more for a full-fledged canopy tour, although younger or smaller children may be eligible to participate in other activities. The Adventure Center offers KidZip experiences and a Treetops Adventure Park with “60 unique climbing, zipping, walking, jumping, swinging and rappelling challenges anchored to more than 30 trees and towering poles tucked into a wooded park.” “RiverLink will use the funds to continue our work on the French Broad River watershed,” Russell says. “We might use them for more cleanup supplies. We might add them to our scholarship fund for disadvantaged youth to take part in our summertime RiverCamp program for kids.” Reservations for Green Friday adventures are recommended and can be made by calling 800-451-9972 or visiting wildwaterrafting.com. Prices vary, with discounts available for groups, students and youths. Mentioning Green Friday is encouraged, although half of the day’s revenues will be donated to participating nonprofits automatically. X

november 25 - december 1, 2015

• TH (12/3), 6:30pm - Film screening followed by panel discussion of race and police practices. Panelists include Chief of the Asheville Police Department and the Buncombe County Sheriff. Free. Held at Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock Ave.

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zlove lights CeleBrAtion oF rememBrAnCe cancercareofwnc.com • TH (12/3), 6:30pm - Holiday remembrance ceremony for loved ones taken by cancer with choral music and candles. Free to attend. Held at Cancer Care of WNC, 428 Biltmore Ave. mountAin housing opportunities 254-4030, mtnhousing.org, housewarming@mtnhousing.org • TH (12/3), 4pm - House warming party and ribbon cutting ceremony for Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments. Free. Held at Villas at Fallen Spruce Apartments, 20 Fallen Spruce Drive reynolds/FAirvieW sCrABBle CriBBAge CluB • WEDNESDAYS - Scrabble and cribbage club. Free to attend. Held at Mountain Mojo Coffeehouse, 381 Old Charlotte Highway, Fairview shoWing up For rACiAl JustiCe showingupforracialjustice.org • TUESDAYS, noon-2pm - Educating and organizing white people for racial justice. Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road

dAnCe BELLY DANCE • Clogging ClAsses (pd.) Now at Idea Factory Inc. Dance Studio, 3726 Sweeten Creek Road, in addition to our ongoing classes for ages 2 & up. Class schedule, registration/information: www.ideafactoryinc.org studio zAhiyA, doWntoWn dAnCe ClAsses (pd.) Monday 5pm Ballet Wkt 6pm Hip Hop Wkt 7:30pm Bellydance 8pm Tap • Tuesday 9am Hip Hop Wkt 5:30pm Stretch Wkt 6pm Intro to Bellydance 7pm Bellydance 8pm Hip Hop Choreo 2 •Wednesday 5pm Bhangra Wkt 7:30pm Bellydance 8pm Contemporary • Thursday 9am Hip Hop Wrkt 4pm Kid’s Dance 5pm Teens Hip Hop 6pm Intro

to Bellydance 7pm West African 8pm West African 2 • Saturday 9:30am Hip Hop Wkt 10:45am POUND Wkt • $13 for 60 minute classes, Wkt $5. 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. www.studiozahiya.com :: 828.242.7595

zBig sAndy mush thAnksgiving dAnCe 712-0901, twells206@gmail.com • SA (11/28), 7-11pm - Proceeds from this family-friendly contra dance benefit the big sandy mush community center. $7. Held at Big Sandy Mush Community Center, 90 School Road, Leicester JoyFul noise 649-2828, joyfulnoisecenter.org • MONDAYS, 6:45-7:30pm Beginner clogging class. Ages 7 through adult. $10. Held at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Ave, Weaverville • MONDAYS, 7:30-8:15pm Intermediate/Advanced clogging class. Ages 7 through adult. $10. sWing Asheville swingasheville.com • THURSDAYS, 7:30pm Beginner & intermediate swing dance lessons. 8:30-11pm Open dance. Live music regularly. $7/$5 members. Held at Club Eleven on Grove, 11 Grove St.

eCo Some of the events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23) CreAtion CAre AlliAnCe oF WnC creationcarealliance.org • TH (12/3), 7pm - General meeting. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. green grAnnies avl.mx/0gm • SU (11/29), 5pm - “Light Up the Night: A Vigil for the Paris Climate Talks.” Free. Held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St..

FArm & gArden City lights Bookstore 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva, 586-9499, citylightsnc.com • SA (11/28), 3pm - Peter Loewer discusses his book Solving Deer Problems.

FestivAls Some of the events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23)

zBlACk mountAin

neuro mediCAl treAtment Center 932 Old U.S. Highway 70, Black Mountain Black Mountain Neuro Medical Treatment Center • TH (12/3), 3:30pm - Annual holiday parade with over 30 entries including the Owen marching band and floats. Free.

zFletCher

Community pArk 85 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher • TH (12/3), 6pm - Lighting of the Fletcher Christmas tree, visits with Santa and refreshments. Free.

zhendersonville

historiC Courthouse sQuAre 1 Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville, 697-4809 • FR (11/27), 5:30pm - Holiday tree lighting. Free to attend.

zlAke JuliAn

FestivAl oF lights 684-0376, david.blynt@buncombecounty.org • TH (12/3), 6-8pm - Walking tour of Lake Julian’s holiday lights. $5/ Free for children. Held at Lake Julian Park, 406 Overlook Road Ext., Arden

Food & Beer The events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23)

government & politiCs City oF Asheville 251-1122, ashevillenc.gov • WE (12/2), 10am-noon Asheville Regional Housing Consortium (ARHC) Board meeting. Held at the 6th Floor Training Room. Free. Held at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza • WE (12/2), 3-5pm - Multimodal Transportation Commission meeting. Held in room 623. Free. Held at Asheville City Hall, 70 Court Plaza

kids BArnes & noBle Booksellers Asheville mAll 3 S. Tunnel Road, 296-7335 Barnes & Noble Booksellers Asheville Mall • FR (11/27), 2-5pm - Robert Beatty signs his book Serafina and the Black Cloak. Free to attend. FletCher liBrAry 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 687-1218,

C ommu n it y CA l e n d Ar

library.hendersoncountync.org • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am Family story time. Free. irA B. Jones elementAry 544 Kimberly Ave. • TH (12/3) & FR (12/4), 6:30pm - The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr., presented by Ira B. Jones Drama Department. $5/$3 per student. JoyFul noise 649-2828, joyfulnoisecenter.org • MONDAYS, 6-7:30pm Capriccio String Orchestra for intermediate players. $10. Held at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road • MONDAYS, 6:15-6:45pm “Movement and Dance,” class for 5 and 6 year olds. $10. Held at First Presbyterian Church of Weaverville, 30 Alabama Ave, Weaverville spellBound Children’s Bookshop 50 N. Merrimon Ave., 708-7570, spellboundchildrensbookshop.com • SATURDAYS, 11am - Storytime for ages 3-7. Free to attend.

outdoors ymCA oF WnC 210-2265, ymcawnc.org • SA (11/28), 8:45am - 4.3 mile easy to moderate hike on Rainbow Road Trail in Montreat. Free/Optional $5 carpool. Meets at YMCA - Woodfin, 30 Woodfin St.

puBliC leCtures puBliC leCtures At unCA unca.edu Free unless otherwise noted. • TU (12/1), 7:30pm - World Affairs Council Lectures: “DEAS (ISIS) and PKK – The Regional Struggle for Hegemony: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar,” presentation by Ali Demirdas. $10. Held in the Reuter Center.

spirituAlity Asheville insight meditAtion (pd.) Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation. Learn how to get a Mindfulness Meditation practice started. 1st & 3rd Mondays. 7pm – 8:30. Asheville Insight Meditation, 29 Ravenscroft Dr, Suite 200, (828) 808-4444, www.ashevillemeditation.com Astro-Counseling (pd.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also

by Abigail Griffin

available. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229. CrystAl visions Books And event Center (pd.) New and Used Metaphysical Books • Music • Crystals • Jewelry • Gifts. Event Space, Labyrinth and Garden. 828-687-1193. For events, Intuitive Readers and Vibrational Healing providers: www.crystalvisionsbooks.com open heArt meditAtion (pd.) Experience and deepen the spiritual connection to your heart, the beauty and deep peace of the Divine within you. Increase your natural joy and gratitude while releasing negative emotions. Love Offering 7-8pm Tuesdays, 5 Covington St. 296-0017 heartsanctuary.org shAmBhAlA meditAtion Center (pd.) Meditation and community on Thursdays 7:00 to 8:30 PM and Sundays 10-12 noon. By donation. Asheville.Shambhala.org, 828200-1520. 60 N Merrimon #113, Asheville, NC 28804 JuBilee Community ChurCh 46 Wall St., 252-5335, jubileecommunity.org • SA (11/28), 2pm - Native elder Ben Rhodd speaks. $5 and up. nourish & Flourish 347 Depot St., 255-2770, nourishflourishnow.com • TUESDAYS, 7:30pm - Kirtan with Sangita Devi. $10-$15. prAmA yogA And meditAtion 712-9326 • TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm - All levels yoga and meditation class. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Welfare and Development Foundation. Registration required. $5. Held at Asheville Therapeutic Yoga, 29 Ravenscroft sAi mAA enlightened living group 279-7042, facebook.com/ groups/1385824208412583 • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm Meditation, energy blessing, group discussion and reading. Free to attend. Held at Asheville Therapeutic Yoga, 29 Ravenscroft

spoken & Written Word Blue ridge Books 152 S. Main St., Waynesville • SA (11/28), 3pm - Kate Alcott presents her book, A Touch of Stardust. Free to attend.

SUWS Carolinas Wilderness Skills Weekends December 4, 5 and 6 • December 17, 18 and 19

Cool BeAns CoFFee shop 1197 Greenville Highway, Hendersonville, 551-7498 • SA (11/28), 2-4pm - Author J.W. Scott presents his book The Inheritance and author Don Rabon presents his book An Endless Stream of Lies. Free to attend. Firestorm CAFe And Books 610 Haywood Road, 255-8115 • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Other Worlds Are Possible Book Group. Free to attend. • Last THURSDAYS, 7pm - Liberty Book Club. Free to attend. • SA (11/28), 2pm - Asheville Animal Rights Reading Group. Free to attend.

Sharpen Essential Life and Wilderness Skills • Healthy Communication • Resiliency • Communication • Self Awareness • Healthy Meals • Rustic Lodging in the Pisgah National Forest at the SUWS Carolinas Basecamp • Old Fort, NC • Ages 10 & older • $650/person includes all food and lodging

TO REGISTER: Call (9am-4pm, M-F) Mike Vines or Shawn Farrell: (828) 668-7590

hAyWood County liBrAryCAnton 11 Pennsylvania Ave., Canton, 648-2924, haywoodlibrary.org • TU (12/1), 4pm - Wrap up party for the National Novel Writing Month with presentations on editing, rewriting and publishing. Free. mAlAprop’s Bookstore And CAFe 55 Haywood St., 254-6734, malaprops.com Free unless otherwise noted. • SA (11/28), 10am-4pm - “Small business Saturday,” local authors share books and gifts. • MO (11/30), 7pm - PIH Engage Public Health Book Club. Free to attend. • TU (12/1), 7pm - Davis Miller book launch for Approaching Ali: A Reclamation in Three Acts. • TU (12/1), 7pm - Current Events Book Club. • TH (12/1), 7pm - Wild Book Club: More Than Words: Illustrated Letters from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art. • WE (12/2), 1pm - Autism Book Club: A Mind Apart: Travels in a Neurodiverse World. • WE (12/2), 7pm - Malaprop’s Book Club: The Pleasure Was Mine.

greenteasushi.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

volunteering Some of the events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23) Big Brothers Big sisters oF WnC 253-1470, bbbswnc.org • TH (12/3), noon - Volunteer information session. Held at United Way of Asheville & Buncombe, 50 S. French Broad Ave. For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx. com/volunteering

We are closed Thanksgiving Day.

Enjoy your turkey, then come in for t he best sushi in town! 2 Regent Park Blvd. | 828-252-8300 Like us on facebook.com/greenteasushi mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

givelocalguide.org

eVentS Calendar

The Give!Local nonprofits stay busy throughout the year providing needed services to our community. Here’s what they are up to for the week of 11/25 through 12/3 by Abigail Grifﬁn The Give!Local campaign is moving towards its fourth week, is progressing steadily forward, and is headed into the Dec. 1 Big Give Day. Thanks to all those who have donated so far! The campaign provides a fun, fast and easy way to give online from $10 to the $1000’s. Donors can give to as many of the 30 participating nonprofits as they like and pay with one easy credit card transaction. Plus, there are incentives to encourage donations AnimAls ChArlie’s Angels AnimAl resCue 885-3647, wncanimalrescue.org • SA (11/28), noon-4pm - Animal adoption event and Santa photos with your pet. Free to attend. Held at Patton Avenue Pet Company, 109 Patton Ave.

Art

z lexington glAssWorks 81 South Lexington Ave., 348-8427 • SA (11/28), noon-6pm - Holiday Ornament exhibition. 5% of proceeds will be donated to Irene Wortham Center. Free to attend. BeneFits

z n.C. ArBoretum Winter lights 665-2492, ncwinterlights.com • SU (11/20) - SA (1/2), 6-10pm Proceeds from this walking tour of the holiday animated light display benefit N.C. Arboretum programs, exhibits, and facilities year-round. $18/$16 children. Held at N.C. Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way eCo mountAintrue 258-8737, wnca.org • SU (11/29), 1-5pm - Hendersonville Rally for Climate Change. Free. Held on the steps of the Historic Courthouse in Hendersonville • TH (12/3), 7pm - “Come Hell or High Water, Remembering the Flood of 1916,” presentation, film

from new givers, people who don’t get tax breaks, and a whole new generation of givers — children! Dec. 1 is a Big Give Day! Here’s the deal: Donate $10 or more on Dec. 1 via the Give!Local website, and you’ll not only get Give!Local’s fantastic coupon book (with special offers from dozens of local businesses), you’ll also be entered in a drawing for some great prizes. Want to know more? Visit givelocalguide.org

and forum. Registration suggested: saveculture.org $5. Held at Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Dr., Flat Rock

Food & Beer the lord’s ACre thelordsacre.org • THURSDAYS, 11:30am - The Fairview Welcome Table provides a community lunch. Free. Held at Fairview Christian Fellowship, 596 Old Us Hwy. 74, Fairview

gAlleries n.C. ArBoretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 665-2492, ncarboretum.org • Through SA (1/3) - Fine-feathered Friends and Flowers, oil paintings by Mary Webster. $12 per vehicle. • Through SA (1/3) - The Robot Zoo, exhibit featuring giant-size robots and interactive displays to teach biomechanics of animals. $12 per vehicle. the Center For CrAFt, Creativity & Design 67 Broadway, 785-1357, craftcreativitydesign.org • Through SA (11/28) - Emblematic, embroidery installation by Nava Lubelski. • Through SA (1/9) - Made in WNC, textile, furniture, ceramics, and art exhibit exploring how craft, design, and production relate.

support groups our voiCe 44 Merrimon Ave. Suite 1, 28801, 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • Ongoing drop-in group for female identified survivors of sexual violence.

theAter

z the mAgnetiC theAtre 375 Depot St., 279-4155 • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (12/3) through (12/19), 7:30pm The 42nd Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular! $18-$23. volunteering

z CAre pArtners FoundAtion 277-4815, carepartnersfoundation.org • FR (11/27) through TH (12/24) - Volunteers needed for gift wrap station at Asheville Outlets. Registration required. homeWArd Bound oF WnC 218 Patton Ave., 258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • 1st THURSDAYS, 11am - “Welcome Home Tour,” tours of Asheville organizations that serve the homeless population. Registration required. Free to attend.

z n.C. ArBoretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 665-2492, ncarboretum.org • Through SA (1/2) - Hundreds of volunteers needed for the Winter Lights exhibit through SA (1/2) from 5:3010pm nightly. Register online: ncwinterlights.org mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

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www.abccm.org To Sponsor: Call 259-5337 or email ChristmasAngel@abccm.org 24

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

neWs oF the Weird

The Patient Will See You Now Professional patients now help train would-be doctors, especially in the most delicate and dreaded of exams (gynecological and prostate), where a becalming technique improves outcomes. One "teaching associate" of Eastern Virginia Medical School told The Washington Post in September that the helpers act as "enthusiastic surgical dummies" to 65 medical colleges, guiding rookie fingers through the trainer's own private parts. The prostate associate might helpfully caution, "No need for speed here," especially since he will be bending over for as many as nine probings a day. A gynecological teaching associate, mentoring the nervous speculum-wielder, might wittily congratulate pupils on having a front-row sight line the "GTA" will never witness: an up-close view of her own cervix.

Latest Religious Messages American Sharia: (1) U.S. parents have a right to home-school their kids, but are subject to varying degrees of regulation, with Texas the most lax, and one El Paso family will have a day before the Texas Supreme Court after one of its kids was reported declining to study because education was useless since he was waiting to be "raptured" (as described in the Bible's Book of Revelation). (2) U.S. courts increasingly allow customers to sign away state and federal rights by agreeing to contracts providing private arbitration for disputes rather than access to courts — even if the contract explicitly requires only religious resolutions rather than secular, constitutional ones. A November New York Times investigation examined contracts ranging from Scientology's requirement that fraud claims by members be resolved only by Scientologists — to various consumer issues from home repairs to real estate sales limited to dockets of Christian clerics.

Leading Economic Indicators • First-World Spending: According to estimates released by the National Retail Federation in September, 157

by Chuck Shepherd million Americans "planned to celebrate" Halloween, spending a total of $6.9 billion, of which $2.5 billion would be on costumes, including $350 million dressing up family pets. • At a ceremony in Kabul in November, prominent Afghan developer Khalilullah Frozi signed a $95 million contract to build an 8,800unit township and was, according to a New York Times dispatch, toasted for his role in the country's economic rebirth. However, at nightfall, Frozi headed back to prison to resume his 15-year sentence for defrauding Kabul Bank of nearly $1 billion in depositors' money. Because he remains one of Afghanistan's elite, arrangements were made for him to work days but spend his nights in prison (in comfortable quarters). Said one Western official, laconically, "(I)f you have stolen enough money, you can get away with it."

Cultural Diversity Before the terrorist murders gripped Paris, President Francois Hollande and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had been trying to arrange a formal dinner during Rouhani's planned visit to the city to celebrate the two countries' role in the recent accord limiting Iran's nuclear development. France's RTL radio news reported that "dinner" is apparently more vexing than "nuclear weaponry" — as Rouhani demanded an alcohol-free meal, which was nixed by Hollande, who insisted that the French never dine without wine.

Compelling Explanations • Skeptics feared it was just a matter of time, anyway, until the "political correctness" movement turned its attention to dignity for thieves. San Francisco's SFGate.com reported in November on a discussion in an upscale neighborhood about whether someone committing petty, nonviolent theft should be referred to by the "offensive" term "criminal" (rather than as, for example, "the person who stole my bicycle," since "criminal" implies a harsher level of evil and fails to acknowledge factors that might have caused momentary desperation by a person in severe need).

• Reginald Gildersleeve, 55 and free on bond with an extensive rap sheet, was waving a gun as he threatened a clerk and tried to rob a store in Chicago on Halloween night — until a customer (licensed to carry) drew his own gun and, with multiple shots, killed Gildersleeve. Closer inspection revealed Gildersleeve's weapon to be merely a paintball gun, leading the deceased man's stepson to complain later that "Some people (the licensed shooter) don't actually know how to use guns. They go to firing ranges, but it's not the same ... as a bullet going into flesh. ... Someone's got to answer for that."

The Continuing Crisis • U.S. and European entrepreneurs offer extreme "games" in which liability-waiving "players" volunteer for hours of kidnapping, pain and death threats, but the cult-like, under-theradar "McKamey Manor" in Southern California (said to have a waiting list of 27,000) is notable for the starkness of its threats of brutality — and the absence of any "safe word" with which a suddenly reluctant player can beg off. (Only Russ McKamey himself decides if a player has had enough.) The "product" is "100 percent fear," he said. "We're good at it," he told London's The Guardian in an October dispatch from San Diego (whose reporter overheard one of McKamey's thugs promise, "I'm going to tear that girl (player) apart" and "No one is leaving with eyebrows today"). • In October, the student newspaper of Toronto's Ryerson University reported a mighty scandal that upset the student body: The school's executive offices' restrooms routinely supply two-ply toilet paper while most other campus buildings offer only oneply. Following up on the hard-hitting Ryerson Eyeopener's expose, The Canadian Press noted that the universities of Guelph, Ottawa and Toronto comfort all toilet-users' bottoms the same. Ryerson officials defensively noted that older plumbing in many of their buildings cannot handle twoply paper.

Least Competent Criminals Nicholas Allegretto, 23, was convicted of shoplifting in Cambridge,

mountainx.com

England, in October (in absentia, because he is still at large). The prosecutor knows Allegretto is his man because, shortly after the February theft, police released a surveillance photo of Allegretto leaving the store with the unpaid-for item, and Allegretto had come to a police station to complain that the suddenly public picture made him look guilty. In fact, he claimed, he intended to pay for the item but had gotten distracted (and besides, he added, his body language often looks somewhat "dodgy," anyway).

Recurring Themes • Lowering the Bar in Zero Tolerance: The 6-year-old son of Martha Miele was given an automatic three-day out-of-school suspension at Our Lady of Lourdes in Cincinnati in October after, emulating actions of his favorite Power Rangers characters, he pretended to shoot a bow and arrow at another student. Principal Joe Crachiolo was adamant, insisting that he has "no tolerance for any real, pretend or imitated violence." An exasperated Martha Miele confessed she was at a loss about how a 6-yearold boy is supposed to block out the concept of a super-hero fighter (and instead imagine, say, a superhero counselor?). • Cavalcade of Fetishes: (1) Among the approximately 100 arrests Seattle police made in an October drug sting were of a man, 63, and woman, 58, accused only of retail theft of $150,000 worth of goods — including about 400 pairs of jeans. Police said the couple "ordered" items from shoplifters and seemed to have an "insatiable appetite for denim." (2) In November, police in Bethel, Connecticut, arrested Nelson Montalvo, 50 — accused of taking about 30 items of underwear from one particular home. Montalvo's motive is being investigated, but police said his modus operandi was to remove items, cut holes in them and return them to the home.

r e a D D a i LY Read News of the Weird daily with Chuck Shepherd at www.weirduniverse.net. Send items to weirdnews@ earthlink.net or PO Box 18737, Tampa, Fla. 33679.

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Wellness

one Step at a time

Land of Sky’s Living Healthy program offers path to better living

bY nicki Glasser nickiglasser@hotmail.com For Western North Carolina residents with chronic health problems, help is nearby. Mars Hill resident peggy mcconnell has several chronic conditions, including atrial fibrillation, which wakes her up in the night. Although she is receiving regular medical care, last May, McConnell decided to get extra help: She enrolled in Living Healthy, a six-week workshop sponsored by the Land of Sky Regional Council, a multicounty agency that partners with local governments and organizations. Developed by Stanford University Patient Education, the workshop series is also known as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. It’s a standardized curriculum taught throughout the United States and in 26 countries. After completing the workshop series, McConnell is having fewer atrial fibrillation episodes and, overall, feels better, she reports. “My condition is improving; it’s not keeping me awake at night like it used to,” she says.“ I’ll feel the afib start or getting ready to start, but I’ll just take a deep breath and focus on something else, and it goes away faster.” Peggy’s husband, stephen mcconnell, came along, too, for help with diet and exercise. He found the program’s goal-setting approach — breaking larger objectives into smaller steps — very helpful, he says. One of his goals was to substitute a piece of fruit for a cookie once a week, which he says he’s still doing. And another goal, walking 10 minutes a day, three times a week, has grown to a 20- to 30-minute walk almost every day, he adds. “The most valuable thing [I got from the class] and what I am most surprised with is the ability to keep it up,” says Stephen. “I do now enjoy my walks. I know I don’t

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mAking heAlth hAppen: Peggy and Stephen McConnell of Mars Hill attended the Living Healthy workshop. “I found it made me feel healthier living each day,” says Peggy. Photo by Robert Moore have to walk a great deal, but I walk around the blocks where I live. I can slow down if I get heavy breathing,” he says. “I can get out and walk, and I always feel better when I do that.” “I found it made me feel healthier living each day,” says Peggy, who was also seeking relief from chronic hip pain.

mountainx.com

“If you go to a doctor’s office, or get medication from a doctor or nurse, and you want to take the next step [to improve your health], the class is a really good way to begin,” says stephanie stewart, program coordinator of Living Healthy. “A chronic health condition is any condition that is persistent and requires daily management,” she says. People

with chronic health conditions, along with their caregivers, are eligible to attend the workshop free, Stewart notes. “One of the recent revisions of the program is that it is inclusive for people with chronic physical as well as mental health concerns,” says rebecca chaplin, master trainer and former program

29 N Market St. Asheville, NC 28801•828-552-3334

coordinator of the Land of Sky workshops. The connection of the body and the mind, says Chaplin, is a key feature. An adjustment in thinking can change the experience of symptoms, she says. “All the classes have a short lecture that gives background information on the topic for that day,” says Stewart, who was a class facilitator before becoming program coordinator. Topics include ways to deal with frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation; appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance; nutrition; and decision-making. After each lecture, participants can share their ideas and experiences, learn a skill and create an action plan, says Stewart. The workshop does not focus on diagnoses, she says. Participants are invited to share their illnesses in the first class, but they’re not required to do so, nor must they discuss them again. “Even though everyone might have different diagnoses, a lot of the challenges are similar, like difficult emotions, not getting enough sleep, pain, fatigue and stress,” she says. Developing an action plan is a key component. “At the end of every class, there’s a lot of focus on choosing goals that we want to do. We break it down into the details,” says Stewart. For example, if participants want to exercise more, they might decide they will walk; then they will decide when, for how long, how often and where they will walk, she explains. Another unique component of Living Healthy is that the classes are led by peer volunteers who also have chronic health conditions. A few years ago, retiree jane Kennedy saw a Mountain Xpress ad calling for people interested in being trained to help. In December she will co-facilitate her third class. One of Kennedy’s favorite things about the program is how it’s organized across six consecutive weeks. That approach “really gives the participants an opportunity to incorporate into their lives the subjects that we’re covering,” she says. “They set little goals each week and then come to class and report what happened with their goal, whether they were successful or not.” She also likes the way the class is designed to encourage participants to help each other. “It’s really participants talking to each other

about what they’ve learned, what they’ve tried, what’s worked for them, doing brainstorming together,” Kennedy says. “People are just a wealth of knowledge for each other.” Integrative Family Medicine provides space for Living Healthy each week. “Collaborating is truly a no-brainer,” says Dr. chad Krisel of IFM.“We’re constantly trying to find ways to communicate to our patients [how they can become] self-dependent and how to take control of their own lives in terms of the choices that they’re making on a day-to-day basis.” The program “is the right prescription for health care right now,” says Chaplin. “I think this is a great opportunity for health care providers to partner with community-based programs like the chronic disease self-management program. The more we can work together, the better outcomes and the better savings will come from it,” she says.

more info

Essential Oils & Diffusers are 20% off in November

Join us for 20 days for $30!

Dec. Events

hotyogaasheville.com

Open 7 Days a Week

Dec. 2nd Cacalchemy: A class on Chocolate Alchemy

Asheville Massage Natural Therapeutics

Dec. 10th Give the Gift of Herbal Salves and Lip Balms

“Best Massage EVER!”

Please see our website for pricing and details.

Open 7 days a week by appointment only

828-423-0106

naturaltherapeuticspecialist.com

www.herbiary.com

Services Provided by North Carolina Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapists

living healthy workshop Tuesdays, 4-6:30 p.m., Dec. 1 - Jan. 12 Integrative Family Medicine, Asheville stephanie stewart living healthy chronic disease selfmanagement program 251-6622 stephanie@landofsky.org land of sky regional council living healthy program landofsky.org/ livinghealthy rebecca chaplin Rebecca@landofsky.org chad Krisel, MD Integrative Family Medicine

Andrew & JulieAnn Nugent-Head Bring to Asheville 30+ Years Experience in China “I highly recommend the Alternative Clinic. The incredible knowledge, sincere dedication, and individualized treatments have been the most effective of any doctor I have worked with” Emily A.

575-9600 integrativeasheville.org

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Wellness cal e ndar

by Abigail Griffin

Wellness BreAst/testiCulAr CAnCer pAtients desired For Free heAling Work (pd.) Breast or testicular cancer patients needed as clients for advanced hands-on healing students. Earthbased healing school. FREE. SAT. & SUN. (12/5-12/6) 9am-3pm both days. Interested parties must register at registrar@wildernessFusion.com Black Mountain, NC. (828) 785-4311. wildernessFusion.com heArt diseAse/hypertension pAtients desired For Free heAling Work (pd.) Heart disease and hypertension patients needed as clients for advanced hands-on healing students. Earth-based healing school. FREE. SAT. & SUN. (12/1212/13) 9am-3pm both days. Interested parties must register at registrar@wildernessFusion.com Black Mountain, NC. (828) 785-4311. wildernessFusion.com. seCrets oF nAturAl WAlking (pd.) Workshop, Saturday, 12/5, 9-5pm. Proper alignment = healthy joints, energized body, calm minds. Let your walking be your healing. Join Us!! $150 - Call to register: 828-215-6033. natural-walking.com. red Cross Blood drives redcrosswnc.org Appointment and ID required. • SU (11/29), 11:30am-4pm - Appointments & info: 299-3788. Held at Lowe’s 0617, 89 South Tunnel Road

support groups Adult Children oF AlCoholiCs & dysFunCtionAl FAmilies adultchildren.org • Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings. Al-Anon/ AlAteen FAmily groups 800-286-1326, wnc-alanon.org • A support group for the family and friends of alcoholics. For full listings, visit mountainx.com/support.

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com

AlCoholiCs Anonymous • For a full list of meetings in WNC, call 254-8539 or aancmco.org Asheville Women For soBriety 215-536-8026, womenforsobriety.org • THURSDAYS, 6:30-8pm – Held at YWCA of Asheville, 185 S French Broad Ave. Asperger’s Adults united facebook.com/WncAspergersAdultsUnited • 4th SATURDAYS, 2-5pm - Occasionally meets additional Saturdays. Contact for details. Held at Earth Fare South, 1856 Hendersonville Road Asperger’s teens united facebook.com/groups/AspergersTeensUnited • For teens (13-19) and their parents. Meets every 3 weeks. Contact for details. BrAinstormer’s ColleCtive 254-0507, puffer61@gmail.com • 1st THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Led by brain injury survivors for brain injury survivors and supporters. Held at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road Codependents Anonymous 398-8937 • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm & SATURDAYS, 11am – Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. • TUESDAYS, 8pm – Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave. Suite G4 deBtors Anonymous debtorsanonymous.org • MONDAYS, 7pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. depression And BipolAr support AlliAnCe 367-7660, magneticminds.weebly.com

Dr. Matthew Young DDS, PA BIOLOGIC GENERAL DENTISTRY

Q: Why are you opposed to fluoride in your holistic dental practice? A: Several studies have shown that fluoride is toxic to the thyroid gland and may adversly effect the levels of iodine available to the immune system. See www.fluoridealert.org for more details.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm & SATURDAYS, 4pm – Held at 1316-C Parkwood Road. emotions Anonymous 631-434-5294 • TUESDAYS, 7pm – Held at Oak Forest Presbyterian Church, 880 Sandhill Road Food AddiCts Anonymous 423-6191 or 301-4084 • THURSDAYS, 6pm - Held at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 1 School Road • SATURDAYS, 11am- Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave. Suite G4 Four seAsons CompAssion For liFe 233-0948, fourseasonscfl.org • THURSDAYS, 12:30pm - Grief support group. Held at SECU Hospice House, 272 Maple St., Franklin • TUESDAYS, 3:30-4:30pm - Grief Support Group. Held at Four Seasons - Checkpoint, 373 Biltmore Ave. gAmBlers Anonymous gamblersanonymous.org • THURSDAYS, 6:45pm - 12-step meeting. Held at Basillica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St. heArt support 274-6000 • 1st TUESDAYS, 2-4pm - For individuals living with heart failure. Held at Asheville Cardiology Associates, 5 Vanderbilt Drive liFe limiting illness support group 386-801-2606 • TUESDAYS, 6:30-8pm - For adults managing the challenges of life limiting illnesses. Free. Held at Secrets of a Duchess, 1439 Merrimon Ave. men Working on liFe’s issues 273-5334; 231-8434 • TUESDAYS, 6-8pm - Contact for location. mindFulness And 12 step reCovery avl12step@gmail.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7:30-8:45pm - Mindfulness meditation practice and 12 step program. Held at Asheville 12-Step Recovery Club, 370 N. Louisiana Ave. Suite G4 mission heAlth FAmily group night 213-9787 • 1st TUESDAYS, 5:30pm - For caregivers of children with social health needs or development concerns. Held at Mission Reuter Children’s Center, 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive nAr-Anon FAmily groups nar-anon.org • WEDNESDAYS, 12:30pm - Held at First United Methodist Church of Hendersonville, 204 6th Ave. West, Hendersonville • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Held at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road our voiCe 44 Merrimon Ave. Suite 1, 28801, 252-0562, ourvoicenc.org • Ongoing drop-in group for female identified survivors of sexual violence. overComers oF domestiC violenCe 665-9499 • WEDNESDAYS, noon-1pm - Held at First Christian Church of Candler, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler

728 FIFTH AVENUE WEST • HENDERSONVILLE, NC 28739 For more information call 828.693.8416 • www.matthewyoungdds.net NO LEVEL OF SUPERIOR SERVICE CAN BE IMPLIED FROM THIS AD COMPARED TO OTHER DENTISTS.

november 25 - december 1, 2015

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overComers reCovery support group rchovey@sos-mission.org • MONDAYS, 6pm - Christian 12-step program. Held at SOS Anglican Mission,

1944 Hendersonville Road overeAters Anonymous • Regional number: 258-4821. Visit mountainx.com/support for full listings. reCovering Couples Anonymous recovering-couples.org • MONDAYS, 6pm - For couples where at least one member is recovering from addiction. Held at Foster Seventh Day Adventists Church, 375 Hendersonville Road reFuge reCovery 225-6422, refugerecovery.org Buddhist path to recovery from addictions of all kinds with meditation, sharing and discussion. • TH (11/26), 7pm - Special Thanksgiving Day meeting. Held at Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave. • FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm & SUNDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Held at Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave. • TUESDAYS, 7pm - Held at Shambhala Meditation Center, 60 N Merrimon Ave #113 s-Anon FAmily groups 258-5117, wncsanon@gmail.com • For those affected by another’s sexual behavior. Confidential meetings available; contact for details. shiFting geArs 683-7195 • MONDAYS, 6:30-8pm - Group-sharing for those in transition in careers or relationships. Contact for location. smArt reCovery smartrecovery.org • THURSDAYS, 6pm - Info: 407-0460 Held at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. • SUNDAYS, 7pm - Info: 925-8626. Held at Crossroads Recovery Center, 440 East Court St., Marion sunrise peer support volunteer serviCes facebook.com/sunriseinasheville • TUESDAYS through THURSDAYS, 1-3pm - Peer support services for mental health, substance abuse and wellness. Held at Kairos West Community Center, 742 Haywood Road supportive pArents oF trAnskids spotasheville@gmail.com • 4th WEDNESDAYS, 6pm - For parents to discuss the joys, transitions and challenges of parenting a transkid. Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. sylvA grieF support melee@fourseasonscfl.org • TUESDAYS, 10:30am - Held at Jackson County Department on Aging, 100 Country Services Park, Sylva t.h.e. Center For disordered eAting 337-4685, thecenternc.weebly.com • WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm – Adult support group, ages 18+. Held in the Sherill Center at UNCA. undereArners Anonymous underearnersanonymous.org • TUESDAYS, 6pm - Held at First Congregational UCC of Asheville, 20 Oak St. us too oF WnC 273-7689, wncprostate@gmail.com • 1st TUESDAYS, 7pm - Prostate cancer support forum for men, caregivers and family members. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St.

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mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

green sCene

SuStainaBle GinSenG: leGendarY herB’S BeSt-kept SeCret bY heather Wood buzzard November marks the tail end of “’sang” season, but relics of the harvest time remain: hand-scrawled signs declaring “Will Buy Ginseng – No License Needed” and reports of recent poaching on both private and public lands. Ginseng hunters and buyers have been everywhere this autumn, but where’s the ginseng? People reach for this storied herb to improve their health. About 95 percent of what’s harvested here gets shipped to Hong Kong and Singapore, which have exhausted their own resources and now rely almost exclusively on the Appalachian Mountains to meet the steady demand. In 2012, the U.S. exported 45,000 pounds of wild ginseng and 342,000 pounds of the cultivated woodland crop, according to a Wall Street Journal report. What many consumers and even cultivators don’t realize, though, is that ginseng has a secret, and it’s hiding in plain sight. We’ve all seen those hokey reality TV episodes in which life depends not on modern commerce as we know it but on Confederate flags, bear hunting and huge sackfuls of ’sang. But what’s the deal? Is there a way to harvest it legally here without risking jail time? Is that approach sustainable? And how is poaching different from stealing? Let’s get rooted in the rules of the game.

As one of six states allowing a very limited amount of ginseng to be wild-harvested from its national forests, North Carolina has struggled to set the optimal number of permits. In the past two years, the U.S. Forest Service has cut the number of permits issued annually by 75 percent to allow for the growing loss to

poachers and thieves. But it’s not clear how much that’s helping to preserve wild ginseng, notes agency botanist gary Kauffman. These days, the Forest Service’s lottery randomly selects 136 winners, who get permission to harvest from Sept. 1-15; state law requires them to sow the seeds within 100 feet of the harvested plant. But even within that limited period, permit holders are limited to 3 pounds of ginseng; anything additional is considered poaching, which carries a $5,000 fine, six months in federal prison or both. It takes about a month for the roots to fully dry naturally; the dried root sells for $500 to $2,000 per pound. Before exporting to international buyers, dealers must also obtain permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

the doWn And dirty on ginseng in north CArolinA

A Coveted herB: In 2012, the U.S. exported 45,000 pounds of wild ginseng and 342,000 pounds of the cultivated woodland crop, pictured above. The dried root sells for $500 to $2,000 per pound. Photo by Heather Wood Buzzard

Meanwhile, ginseng thieves are proliferating as quickly as the viewers of shows like “Appalachian Outlaws.” Recently, $8,000 worth of ginseng cultivated by a retired local physician disappeared through a hole in a barbed wire fence. Diggers wanting to harvest on private land must have written permission from the landowner on their person or risk a felony charge. In the Smokies, where any harvesting of ginseng is illegal, theft has gotten so serious that park rangers have now microchipped and dyed over 13,000 roots, many of them recovered from thieves and replanted on parkland. The dye enables law-abiding dealers to immediately tell if they’re being offered stolen property. Despite these efforts, however, a volatile market combined with Mother

Nature’s unpredictability means this multimillion-dollar industry never seems to be too far removed from potential collapse.

to hArvest is to kill … or is it? Harvesting the root kills the ginseng plant. But in the early 20th century, before cultivation began, wild ginseng was harvested in a way that enabled it to grow back. Traditionally, ginseng root had to have three prongs or four buds, meaning it was at least 5 years old and typically 7 or 8, in order to be harvested. Until the 1970s, harvesters usually dug up the root, shaped like a little man with a torso and two scrawny legs, then broke off and

Making spirits bright! replanted the shorter leg. Sometime after that, however, dealers started accepting only whole roots: From then on, to harvest meant to kill. Renowned local cultivator joe hollis, who specializes in Chinese herbs, takes a different approach. “I grow ginseng as a perennial: I harvest the roots, but I don’t kill the plants. When it gets to be 8-10 years old, it frequently starts making new roots around the neck,” he says. Hollis recommends harvesting the roots while leaving those new rootlets in the ground, where they’ll produce a new root in a couple of years. Most buyers, however, won’t accept ginseng root without the neck. And even as we export almost all of our organically wild-harvested ginseng to Asia, we’re importing their heavily sprayed, chemical-laden ginseng to be used in our formulas and Chinese medicine clinics. Buyers pay nearly 90 percent more for wildharvested roots, which are believed to be roughly twice as effective. But that won’t matter if we eliminate the ginseng from the woods.

As BeloW, so ABove The “wise woman” tradition values whole plant extracts containing all the synergistic constituents. This holistic approach is the direct opposite of pharmaceuticals, which isolate one chemical compound and extract, manipulate and concentrate it. And it turns out that there’s more to ginseng than just its root. A 2009 Chinese study found that “Extracts from ginseng root and leafstem have similar multifaceted pharmacological activities,” including the plant’s anti-fatigue, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-aging properties. What’s considered the active ingredient in ginseng, the ginsenosides, are fully present and active in the leaf, along with the polysaccharides, flavonoids, volatile oils, peptides, and amino and fatty acids. Other studies have shown that ginseng leaf extract improves learning and memory capabilities, preserves the cardiac and vascular systems, and exhibits anti-diabetes effects just as effectively as the root. It’s in terms of cost and sourcing that ginseng leaf and stem offer the greatest advantages, however. Acclaimed Finnish herbalist henriette Kress says: “The leaf of American ginseng is as good as the root. It’s also much cheaper, but next

to nobody sells it, because next to nobody knows about it.” The tradition of using only the root, she explains, was due to storage limitations in the old-fashioned herb trade. Dried root kept in burlap bags would last for years in barns; the leaf would not. We’ve now moved beyond those limitations, but the regulations and general public awareness haven’t kept up. Hollis, meanwhile, has also brought gynostemma, a five-leafed, weedy plant containing the same active chemical compounds as ginseng, into the U.S. He calls it “the most valuable plant you can grow for your own health” — particularly the leaves and stems. For value-added products (and maybe eventually a new wave of more sustainable regulations), this perennially cultivated “Southern ginseng,” represents a largely untapped market. The Asheville-based Red Moon Herbs hopes to soon pioneer nationally a tincture of ginseng leaf and stem. In the meantime, the company will be offering a limited edition ginseng leaf and local honey elixir at an upcoming expo on the UNC Asheville campus (see box, “Come Together”). “We’re choosing to take a stand on behalf of the plant — the whole plant, leaf included,” says jeannie dunn, director of Red Moon Herbs. “We’re choosing to stand up for the complexities of ginseng as a living, growing botanical, as well as a valuable medicine that deserves to remain a growing part of our Appalachian heritage.” Wildcrafter and clinical herbalist Heather Wood Buzzard is a writer for Red Moon Herbs.. X

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mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Food

THANKSGIVING

HORROR STORIES

Sure, Thanksgiving is about gratitude. And it’s about community, bringing family and friends together around the table, eating traditional foods with people you care about — all that wonderful, heartwarming stuff. But, as many of us know, it can also be about less-lovely things. Turkeys can be notoriously tricky to thaw and cook properly, beautifully crafted pies sometimes end up upside down on the kitchen floor, crucial appliances and plumbing can quit working at the least opportune times and family members aren’t always on their best behavior. This Thanksgiving, Xpress encouraged members of the community — including a few Xpress staffers — to share their tales of Thanksgiving travails past. Although certainly some of these folks weren’t laughing at the time, many of the stories offer a chuckle or even a guffaw and prove that it’s not always the most perfect meals that make for the best memories. by Gina Smith | gsmith@mountainx.com

CECIL BOTHWELL

photo Courtesy oF CeCil BothWell

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

An elderly friend gave me an excellent pie crust recipe in 1976, making me an expert. When Thanksgiving Day 1987 rolled around, I stepped up to perform the deed. I was living in Broad River back then, a couple of miles off the pavement and off the grid in a house built of recycled material. Need I add that I was deep in the woods? My habit on Thanksgiving Day is to do something I enjoy but don’t make time to do amidst workaday necessities. That morning found me splitting oak shakes with a homemade froe and mallet and then hiking to discover a frozen waterfall, which I named, for my personal pleasure, Shaky Heart Falls. I was late starting the pie, so while eight of us ate, I set it on the deck rail to cool in a brown paper bag to ward off falling leaves and dust. Dinner complete, I went to fetch dessert, and when I picked up the bag, it moved! A young possum was seated in the middle of the pumpkin filling, enjoying a private Thanksgiving. Though he hadn’t finished much, my guests declined to share the spoils. Cecil Bothwell is an Asheville writer and builder and a member of the Asheville City Council.

MAX HUNT

photo By virginiA dAFFron

On the day before Thanksgiving my sophomore year at Warren Wilson, I was involved in a pretty nasty car accident that forced me to stay on campus for the holiday break. After gathering the entire $25 I had on hand, I made a harrowing trip on foot down Tunnel Road to Ingles on Thanksgiving Day. I returned that evening to cook up a lavish Thanksgiving feast consisting of a grilled PB&J sandwich, a can of vegetable alphabet soup and a Pabst Blue Ribbon, which I enjoyed alone in the common room of my deserted dorm. I found out later that Warren Wilson had a Thanksgiving dinner for students on campus, but I didn’t learn about it until after it was over. Later that night, I managed to lock myself out of my dorm room when I went to use the restroom. I proceeded to traipse around campus in 30-degree weather with nothing on but a pair of pajama pants and a T-shirt — stepping on a piece of glass in my bare feet in the process — looking for someone to unlock my door for me. After an hour spent trying to find the RA on duty, I finally found one from another dorm. Unfortunately, he did not have the key to my room either. So after warming myself up with some wine he had on hand, we led a Black Ops mission to break into the facilities building, hijacked the master key and finally got me into my room. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out, finishing his wine and generally having a good ol’ time. Max Hunt is a staff writer at Mountain Xpress.

photo Courtesy oF susAn Foster

HEATHER FOSTER photo By Jim donohoo photogrAphy

ANDREW SCOTCHIE Four brothers under one roof, three to four pets lurking, and despite the passing of my dad, Tom, my mom, Theresa, perseveres each year and gives our family and friends another Thanksgiving. I appreciate all the time I can get with my family but — and I say this in the most loving way possible — Thanksgiving in the Scotchie household can seem like a horror story and a very anti-Hallmark experience compared to others. I love it though. One Thanksgiving in particular, a dog jumped on the table and ran off with a fair share of the ham and one of my brothers in tow. I believe it was that same Thanksgiving that when it was time for each family member at the table to declare what they were thankful for, someone said he was thankful for Waffle House, earning him a not-so-playful glare from Mom. And quite naturally, at my mom’s country home there are plenty of outside activities to keep you entertained while the food is being prepared. Those activities have consisted of one brother chasing another brother down on a dirt bike, at least one skateboard-induced injury, the occasional fireworks explosion and plenty of loud music. Our neighbors love us. Andrew Scotchie is the frontman for the band Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats and founder of Asheville Barnaroo festival.

My favorite meal of the year is my mom’s Thanksgiving dinner — always has been and always will be. The past few years I’ve gradually been trying to learn more and more of her recipes but can’t quite seem to get the hang of the turkey; something always goes wrong. I had several turkey fails over the years, but the real clincher was the first year I tried to brine the turkey. My sister, a professional chef, advised me to brine it by storing it overnight in clean trash bags since they’re sterile and easily disposed of. All was going along smoothly, until I got a whiff of something strange as I was wrestling the 25-pound turkey and five gallons of brine into the fridge. I sniffed again. And again. A nauseatingly floral scent was coming from somewhere … and it seemed to be the turkey. Suddenly it hit me: The trash bags were Febreeze bags, and I had just placed my lovely, fresh bird to brine in Febreeze! At this point I knew I couldn’t leave the bird as it was, but getting a turkey out of a brine-filled bag is harder than filling up the bag. My efforts were rewarded by five gallons of raw turkey brine cascading across the kitchen floor and a turkey that had to go in the sink and be scrubbed before I could even attempt to pass it off as edible. Of course, I couldn’t bear to tell my mom about my late-night turkey escapades since I knew she’d never eat a bite if I did. The rest of the family managed to keep the secret until about five minutes after we’d finished dessert, and there was no turning back then. Heather Foster is the vice president for Marketplace Policy at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans in Washington, D.C. In the photo, she is pictured, right, with her mother, Susan Foster, who is the Xpress Wellness editor/writer.

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

LAUREN VAUGHT Sept. 3, 2011, one day after my birthday. This was the day all processed foods, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese and other dairy items would never again cross my lips. Now what? Armed with a plant-based program and recipes, I took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves and went shopping. Rice, beans, potatoes, vegetables, fruit … you get the idea. What was I going to do with it all? “One day at a time, one recipe at a time” became my mantra in those first few months. I was determined to learn a healthier way to nourish my body. I read, I cooked, my husband was on board, and we ate like kings! We were feeling great eating veggie-stuffed baked potatoes, corn tortilla casseroles and homemade refried black beans. Then Thanksgiving was staring at me from the calendar. The absence of turkey that year was a daunting thought. Panic began to set in. I opened my laptop and Googled “vegan Thanksgiving recipes.” I found one for a seitan roast. I also made my own stuffing, mushroom gravy and a traditional green-bean casserole made without butter, oil or cheese. Our first holiday as plant-based eaters was a success. The second year was much better, and this holiday … I got it! Lauren Vaught is certified in plant-based nutrition and offers kitchen consultations, grocery shopping adventures, cooking class demos and tips for eating plant-based and whole foods. She blogs about vegan food at EdibleMusings.com. photo Courtesy oF lAuren vAught

TONI SHERWOOD

photo Courtesy oF toni sherWood

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

Mom’s place, Asheville, circa 1997: My brother and I are in town for Thanksgiving. We watch as Mom’s born-again Christian boyfriend “Doug” exits his car with two flamboyant characters in tow. “Looks like Doug found a couple of victims,” I say. “Oh stop it,” Mom says. “You kids are terrible.” Doug proudly introduces us to “Terry” and “Sam,” explaining that God told him to stop and ask them to dinner. God’s selection was an interesting one, since they both looked well-fed and not in need of charity. Fortunately, they were funny and nice. We sit at the table as Doug begins an excruciatingly long prayer. Like, “Are you kidding?” long. As he drones on, my brother and I sneak glances at each other, making faces, trying not to explode with laughter. Finally, we start eating in awkward silence. “Terry’s an actress,” Doug says suddenly. “She’s in a play in Flat Rock. Isn’t that something?” We exchange glances: She? Terry was obviously a gay man, as was Sam. But Doug had mistaken Terry’s effeminate features and pegged them for a straight couple! Turns out God had a damned good sense of humor. And I finally understood why Doug had to be born so many times. Toni Sherwood is an Asheville writer, director, comedian and puppeteer.

JANE ANDERSON I was born and raised in the little town of Titusville in northwestern Pennsylvania, known as the birthplace of the American oil industry. My small family — Mom, Dad and one brother — became smaller when my Dad died suddenly when I was 16. It was important — very important — for us to keep all of the Swedish and German traditions he valued alive for my mother. On one particular Thanksgiving, we had a small but very traditional family Thanksgiving at my mother’s modern ranchstyle home. My brother and his wife did most of the preparation — including Brussels sprouts, which I tried hard to like and at least consume politely. Unfortunately, the first one in my mouth forced me to run from the dining room table to the closest bathroom, where it was promptly regurgitated. I was embarrassed, to say the least, but the best was yet to come. In preparation to do the dishes — crusty turkey pan, mashed sweet potatoes and all — the faucet on the kitchen sink broke. There was no water and a pile of dirty dishes, pots and pans. They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and that night it was. We proceeded to wash and dry the entire mess in the bathtub on our knees. We created a production line and had them done in no time. The plumber arrived the following day, and all was right with the world. I still detest Brussels sprouts and am amazed to see their incredible popularity with Asheville’s finest restaurants. Jane Anderson is the executive director of Asheville Independent Restaurants. photo By lynne hArty

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TRACY ROSE Confessions are good for the soul, and I confess that it’s been hard to pick just one Thanksgiving horror story to tell. There was the year of the flaming oven mitt, the year the meal got cold while I tried to boil down homemade gravy to an acceptable thickness, the year it slowly dawned on my husband and me that the oven was never going to get any hotter than 200 degrees. But Thanksgiving 2006 stands out. That was the year we decided to roast a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey, thinking that was the ticket to Easy Street. As it turns out, that 4-pound breast must have come from a truly massive bird and required way more cooking time that I had calculated. The result? Thanksgiving dinner was ready and on the table at 10:15 p.m., complet e with green beans that had been boiled down to mush and stuffing that, in an unrelated incident, was missing three main ingredients. That year marked a turning point of holiday meal preparation at our home. Since then, we have enjoyed a streak of perfectly timed turkeys, properly mashed potatoes and green beans that still favor their original shape. The difference? With only the faintest twinge of regret, I handed over almost all holiday kitchen duties to my spouse. And that is something for which our whole family can be thankful. Tracy Rose is a budding visual artist and the Opinion editor at Mountain Xpress. originAl ArtWork By trACy rose

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mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

VIRGINIA DAFFRON

photo Courtesy oF virginiA dAFFron

As the whitewater rafting season wound down in 1992, my boyfriend Eric and I decided to follow the example of some of our fellow Nantahala Outdoor Center raft guides by signing on to run a Christmas tree lot in suburban Atlanta for five weeks. The basics of the deal were: set up a tree-selling operation in a parking lot the week before Thanksgiving, live onsite in a rented travel trailer until Christmas and make $1,900 each for our efforts. Who could turn that down? After days of labor, we learned that our setup alongside a parking lot in Buford, Georgia, was in the public right of way. Eric and I spent Thanksgiving Day rebuilding the operation on the asphalt parking lot in a pouring rain. We had hired three employees (one had recently been parolled), but we didn’t feel right about asking them to work on Thanksgiving. Sometime after dark, we retreated to our trailer covered in mud. We had no water hookup, so a shower was out of the question. We had just put our special holiday meal — two Stouffer’s French bread pizzas — into the toaster oven when we heard a knock at the door. There stood our employee, Pat, holding two foil-wrapped paper plates heaped with his mother’s Thanksgiving meal. Best Thanksgiving dinner ever. P.S. Eric and I have been together ever since. We married in 1998. Virginia Daffron is a staff writer at Mountain Xpress.

photo By Jen hAynes

KATIE BUTTON photo Courtesy oF White lABs

ESTHER MANHEIMER A couple of years ago I was running the Turkey Trot in Asheville with family and friends. I started running only in the last several years, but I was pretty proud of my progress. Running the Trot was a great way to spend time with family and mitigate the damage I was about to do later that day with our traditional doubleThanksgiving (dinner with the in-laws and supper with my extended family). It was an especially cold day, but sunny. The costumes were fabulous: turkey legs flopping like ear flaps. The run was fun, but the family spread out across the course, and I ended up running the last section alone. As I made my way to finish line, I glanced up and saw the time clock — just over 30 minutes, a great run! And as I crossed the finish line, I looked around and saw that I was crossing the finish line with several firefighters who had just run the race IN FULL GEAR! Wow! While I was thankful for fun, fitness, family and friends, I was even more thankful for the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Asheville Fire Department. Happy Thanksgiving! Esther Manheimer is an attorney with the Van Winkle Law Firm and the mayor of Asheville.

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

I’m a Thanksgiving purist. We have a traditional meal that our family makes every year with our traditional sides, and as a little girl, I would scowl and grumble if my mother even tried to do something different. So, one year, when I was told that we would be having grilled lobster with potatoes and onions instead of turkey and brandied sweet potato soufflé, I was extremely skeptical. However, the fact that we would be having it on vacation in the Bahamas did soften the blow somewhat, and I reluctantly agreed. But on Thanksgiving, after hours of fruitless diving, my Dad — who usually would fill a bag with lobster — came up empty-handed dive after dive. As the sun began to set, and with the market now closed, the only things in our pantry were those potatoes, onions and a couple of cans of smoked salmon that my mother had luckily stashed in her suitcase. This was the only Thanksgiving where no one asked for seconds. It wasn’t the food that was memorable, but the laughter and joking about a meal most likely not to be replicated at any other Thanksgiving table. To this day we laugh and tell that story almost every Thanksgiving. Chef Katie Button operates Asheville’s Cúrate bar de tapas and Nightbell restaurant along with her parents, Elizabeth and Ted Button, and her husband, Félix Meana.

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

photo By mike Belleme photo Courtesy oF sArAh Fielding

JEFF MILLER

SARAH FIELDING

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because of the value it places on gratitude, and the setting for this is gathering around a feast with our dearest family and friends. Like many people, I was raised in a house where Thanksgiving was also synonymous with watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and later falling asleep watching the Dallas Cowboys play football on TV. But in the late fall of 2000, I traveled to northern Italy for white truffle season and spent Thanksgiving Day in Florence. Of course, Thanksgiving is just another Thursday in Florence. Like any other day, the streets smelled of freshly brewed espresso blended with exhaust fumes from the hundreds of Vespa scooters. And although as a bright-eyed young chef questing for flavor and experiences, I was having the trip of a lifetime, I couldn’t help feeling homesick for Thanksgiving traditions. Following the adage “When in Rome ...” — or Florence in my case — I began to look for symbolic alternates throughout my day. My parade was the stream of Vespas that crossed paths with this American tourist wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey at the Cathedral of Santa Maria Fior. My Thanksgiving dinner was a memorable meal eaten with two French travelers. We shared stories and gratitude over braised chicken stomachs (tripe) in a rich, earthy gravy with a side of soft polenta. As it turns out, I would take that meal over turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy any day. Jeff Miller is the proprietor, chef and “pit boss” at Luella’s Bar-B-Que.

When I was about 8 or 9 years old I was a hardcore vegetarian. On Thanksgiving I decided I was going to sneak into the kitchen, steal the Thanksgiving turkey, take it out to the backyard and give it a proper burial. I almost made it! My mom caught me just in time. I wore all black (and sunglasses) the entire rest of Thanksgiving so that everyone in my family would know I was in mourning. Needless to say, that story gets told every year at our family Thanksgiving. Sarah Fielding is the brand ambassador at Roots Hummus.

photo By ABle Allen

SHANEKA SIMMONS Several years ago my mom had a parakeet named Aaron. She loved him dearly but was afraid of him. This particular Thanksgiving my entire family was at the house. I, being the prankster that I am, took Aaron out of his cage and walked around the house with him. I guess there was too much commotion going on for Aaron, because he bit me, and I let him go. He began flying around the house, and most of the family was terrified of this little bird. I’m not sure if my mom or my brother (who happens to be 6-feet 9-inches tall) was the more afraid. The only concern of my mom’s at that time was for everyone to cover the food so that Aaron wouldn’t “poop” in it, and for me to get him back in his cage immediately. I finally caught Aaron, who at this point must have been scared out of his mind. I put him back in his cage safe and sound, and then had to calm the nerves of the others in the house. We have told this story over and over to our children and other family members each year since it happened. Shaneka Simmons is a health access coordinator for the Western Carolina Medical Society’s Project Access and the winner of the 2015 Mountain Xpress Give!Local Julian. The Julian Award recognizes a young person who is making a difference in Western North Carolina through nonprofit work.

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TERRILYN CHANCE It was Thanksgiving Day 1967, and my mom had gone all out preparing a huge meal for our family and friends. Like many Italian women of her generation, Mom took pride in her culinary skills. Up early preparing her famous cornbread-and-sausage stuffing for our 20-pound turkey, Mom and I worked in tandem getting the turkey stuffed and into the oven. The smell of the roasting bird wafted throughout the house, and the whole family eagerly awaited our holiday dinner. When the turkey was done, Mom placed the bird on the sideboard alongside her freshly baked pumpkin pie. While the turkey was cooling, Mom — per holiday tradition — was “absent” having one of her regular afternoon cocktails. And when the cat’s away the mice — or dog, in this case — will play. Unbeknownst to anyone, our dog, a German shepherd by the name of Foxy Lady, sneaked into the kitchen, quietly removed the turkey from the platter and proceeded to eat the whole thing, including the stuffing, stripping the bird down to the carcass. Being the feisty girl that she was, Foxy then ate most of the pumpkin pie too — you can’t have turkey and stuffing without pumpkin pie! Needless to say, my mother was furious, cursing in Italian, condemning both of us to hell for the rest of eternity. My family ended up going to a local Chinese restaurant for Thanksgiving that year. It might not have been the turkey meal we were anticipating, but it was one of the best Thanksgiving stories we shared at our table in the years to come. Terrilynn Chance is a graphic designer at Mountain Xpress.

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hAvAnA on WAll street: Alyssa Mikus is bringing Cuban food back to downtown Asheville. Photo by Thom O’Hearn editor’s note: Back of House is a new monthly series from former Xpress Beer Scout writer Thom O’Hearn spotlighting local chefs and brewers. A plastic pink flamingo stands beside the door of MG Road, and Miami Nights handbills are plastered across the windows. Inside, hours before the pop-up restaurant is set to open, alyssa mikus is already in the kitchen making empanadas. Mikus, who’s jokingly billed on the menu as “Chef Papaya Valdez,” comes from Miami. She worked as a vegan chef in south Florida before moving to Asheville four years ago. Since then, she’s put in time as a chef at the Laughing

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Seed Café and held just about every position — chef, pastry chef, hostess, server, food runner, dishwasher — at Seven Sows Bourbon & Larder. But with the latter eatery now closed and the Havana Restaurant also recently shuttered, Mikus saw an opportunity to keep Cuban food in downtown Asheville.

giving young CheFs A shot Every few months, meherwan irani, michael files and the rest of MG’s management crew give an up-and-coming chef free rein to create a concept and a menu for certain nights. Previous pop-ups have included The Thunderbird from elliott moss, Sausage Party from

dan silo, and Girls on Deck from sarah cousler and erin hawley. For Miami Nights, Mikus has been focusing on different Cuban dishes week by week, occasionally working in Jamaican, Colombian and Venezuelan specialties alongside a mix of standbys and recurring favorites. “We’re making empanadas just about every week, and I’ve been making arepas for a couple weeks now, too,” she explains. “We’ve [often] got picadillo, essentially the Cuban version of a sloppy joe but with currants, raisins and green olives. We do mojo chicken, which has a marinade with a lot of garlic, onion and citrus. Oh, and always rice and beans. There’s love in those beans.”

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chef on chef Chefs always seem to know where to grab the best food in town. We asked Alyssa Mikus what local chefs and restaurants she’s most excited about: bhramari brewhouse: “gary sernack is one of my dearest friends in Asheville, and I don’t know if it’s because I have such a connection with him, but I swear he brews the best beer I’ve ever had, hands down. But the other really exciting thing is that [executive chef] josh dillard comes from Zambra, and Gary worked at The Admiral, so the food will be unlike other brewpub

food in Asheville. This will be four-star food in a brewery,” says Mikus. buxton hall barbecue: “Walking into Buxton, it’s clear that it’s more than just a barbecue restaurant. It feels so giant and so extravagant, but then the food is so humble. The care that Elliott [Moss] puts into those hogs — it’s not an easy endeavor. And the service separates it from other barbecue restaurants too. I’m not just going to a counter and having someone shout my number,” says Mikus. X

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organic-mechanic.com • 568 Haywood Rd • West Asheville The overwhelmingly positive response has kept Miami Nights going for close to four months. “The community has really taken to it and let me run with it, which is an awesome thing,” says Mikus. Building on that warm reception, Miami Nights will partner with MG Road for the holidays. A Very Cuban Christmas, a ticketed event on Dec. 16, will feature a whole roast pig, mofongo, flan and other holiday dishes.

From south FloridA to Asheville Mikus grew up in a community where food was central to everyday life. Her father emigrated from Cuba, and she’s just one generation removed from Italy on her mom’s side. “Basically, I’m from a mix of cultures where food is very important,” notes Mikus. And when she realized that food was a huge part of the Asheville community too, she felt instantly at home here. “Not growing up in ‘the South,’ it was funny, because I’d have these experiences like the first time I ate shrimp and grits, it was so

familiar. Or how quickly Southern fried chicken became one of my favorite things.” Both in and outside the kitchen, Asheville clicked for Mikus. “I could not have dreamt this life for myself,” she says. “The quality of friends, the quality of jobs … it’s magical.” Friends, sure, but jobs? In Asheville? At Seven Sows, Mikus says she grew as part of a small business. “I think the only clock-in option I didn’t have was bartender. I wore all the other hats, and I’m a way better employee for knowing all those aspects” of the business. She’s now brought her jack-ofall-trades approach to Cucina24, where she works as a pastry chef and is about to start serving as well. “Every place has bad jobs, but I can honestly say I’ve loved my work in Asheville. If you put forth the effort — and it might sound like a hippie saying this — the universe will take care of it. Never did I think I’d have my own menu as a chef, but here I am.” MG Road (19 Wall St.) will host Miami Nights on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the foreseeable future. Tickets for A Very Cuban Christmas ($35) are available at cubanchristmas.splashthat.com. X

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

F ood

by Liisa Andreassen

LiisaS66@gmail.com

Culinary buCket lists From goose barnacles to puffer fish, Asheville chefs crave crazy stuff Whether it’s seeing the elusive northern lights, learning a new language or running a marathon, we all have those bucket list items we’d like to check off before we check out. But what about food? Is there something you’ve been dying to try? Several local chefs say they’re willing to go the distance to sample some particular bit of exotica. But before getting into their wish lists, we asked what was the most unusual item they’d cooked with or tasted to date.

oBlAdi, oBlAte Katie button, co-owner of the Heirloom Hospitality Group and executive chef at Cúrate bar de tapas and Nightbell, says she’s cooked with oblate (aka potato starch paper). “It has some really interesting applications, and we currently use it for special sugar work. I have to order it directly from Japan and wire-transfer yen to make it happen. It’s worth the trouble.” john fleer, the owner and executive chef of Rhubarb, says that while he’s yet to cook with blowfish sperm, he did find himself face to face with it once. “This happened during a sakefueled haze while indulging in a multicourse tasting menu at Masa in New York City. It was used to season a risotto. I have not even been close to anything that exotic or unusual since,” he reports. For michelle bailey, executive chef at the Smoky Park Supper Club, lamb testicles top the list. “It’s fun and challenging to cook with underutilized cuts and then turn them into something that people would enjoy eating,” she notes. mike moore, the founder and chef of Blind Pig Productions, recently traveled to the Lesser Antilles. He explored St. Lucia, which has many

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Adventurous tAstes: Ivan Candido, executive chef at The Admiral, says some his culinary bucket list includes tasting white truffles from Italy and traveling to Japan to experience Japanese street food. Photo by Cindy Kunst

wild ingredients and tropical fruits as well as specialty items brought in from the Venezuelan coast. “I shopped in Castries on the southern tip of the island, where French and Indian influences abounded,” says Moore. “Ghost crab and goat were prominent, cooked together in a stew over hardwood on the beaches. We

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also foraged tropical fruits such as star apple and Barbados cherry from the rain forest in the vicinity of an ancient French sugar plantation. Pawpaw fruit, which was once prominent in the American South, was abundant and delicious, along with fresh pigeon peas and cocoa, now farmed and grown within the plantations.”

goose BArnACles, Anyone? With those experiences behind them, however, both Button and Fleer say they’d like to head to Spain to try some percebes (goose barnacles). “I’ve yet to be lucky enough to find them on a menu over there,” Button

reports. “They’re dangerous for fishermen to catch, so their spotty availability is completely understandable, but I’m dying to try them.” Fleer, meanwhile, stresses the importance of getting them fresh.

From itAly to JApAn ivan candido, executive chef at The Admiral, says he really wants to try white truffles from Italy. Foraged by truffle hogs, they’re available only a couple of months of the year, and an ounce could run you about $1,000. Candido would also like to visit Japan and indulge in some serious street food. There’s tamagoyaki, an omelet made by rolling together several layers of cooked egg; takoyaki, a ball-shaped snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger and green onion; and mikan ame, a hardto-find candied fruit.

Just A tingle Bailey says she’s already sampled her share of unusual foods, including wood grubs and pigs’ eyes, but she’s not finished yet. Japanese chefs spend years learning how to safely prepare fugu (puffer fish). “They leave just enough of the toxins in the

fish to give you a tingling sensation when you eat it,” she explains.

north meets south For Moore, seeking out that one splashy ingredient is less enticing than experiencing a whole culturally diverse region that’s rich in wild game and foraged foods. “I’d love to visit and work with the local provisions and cuisine from Canada,” he says. “I’ve always been impressed with Canadian cuisine. Canada shares many common roots with American cuisine, being a melting pot … specifically the French and Native American cultures that existed there. Wild game, foraged ingredients from the land and sea, and the unique, colder altitude and climate make this area appealing to me, and its ingredients very distinct.” Their maple syrup, tapped from native trees, is analogous to how sorghum and molasses are used in southern Appalachia, notes Moore. “French culture has been very prominent in melding Canadian cuisine, and I appreciate the foods for being wholesome and hearty, somewhat reminiscent of foods here in the American South.” So much for the pros: What’s on your food bucket list? Xpress wants to know. X

shAre your CulinAry BuCket list items in the Comments seCtion oF this story At mountainx.com

Are you prepared for the holidays? We will have a large & delicious assortment of pies! Order yours early! mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

F ood

smAll Bites by Kat McReynolds | kmcreynolds@mountainx.com

mountAins oF Food: Restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias says he fell in love with the energy, people and foodcentric culture of Asheville before deciding to open Golden Fleece: Slow Earth Kitchen in the “fairy tale of a space” he’s secured at Grovewood Gallery. “The tagline ’slow cooking’ is not something I’ve used before in a restaurant, but the topography kind of spoke to me,” he explains. “I feel like I slow down [in Asheville].” Photo courtesy of Giorgios Group

Asheville goes Greek

Although difficult to translate, the Greek concept of filotimo refers to a person’s hospitable and giving nature, even toward new acquaintances. In practice, it often involves large quantities of baked goods

perched in anticipation of potential house guests. Filotimo — along with regionally sourced meats and abundant produce — will be a key ingredient at Asheville’s forthcoming Greekinfluenced restaurant, the Golden Fleece: Slow Earth Kitchen. Owned and inspired by Trianglebased chef giorgios bakatsias, the

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eatery is set to open in December at the Grovewood Gallery. Golden Fleece’s rotating menu will feature slow-cooked, nourishing meals made with care — like those Bakatsias grew up eating in the small town of Karista, Greece. “It sounds kind of mushy, but that’s the energy that goes into food,” says the James Beard Foundation nominatee for Best Restaurateur. “It’s something that we try to figure out how to fit into our recipe.” The culinary developer says Golden Fleece’s style of cooking will be relatively light and “not complicated with too many ingredients.” Instead, he’ll aim to showcase the abundant flavors of each season on a limited menu, in part by utilizing a large on-site growing space. “Believe me, when we have a garden flowing with tomatoes, we’re going to have a million ways to eat tomatoes,” he says. “My favorite is when you make a horiatiki — a simple Greek village salad that has no lettuce. But it has all the beautiful flavors of the garden, especially the tomato water that merges with perfect olive oil and wild oregano. That’s perfection when you have a crusty bread, a fantastic sea salt and creamy feta cheese.” Although patrons will have to consult an ever-changing blackboard for each day’s menu, Bakatsias expects to prepare lots of soups, salads (often decorated with toasted seeds or grains), meats (including lamb and whole-fish dishes), desserts and “anything that’s wonderful that comes from the ground.” Bakatsias is prepared to showcase classic Greek cuisine, but he’s not a strict observer of the old ways. For vegetarians, he says he may cook a casserole of forbidden rice or use lemongrass to create “an interpretation of spanakopita, the traditionally triangular spinach pastry. Lamb dishes, on the other hand, may lend themselves to Moroccan influences, tahini or perhaps ”a little more spices than the Greeks [use].“ “One thing unique that we’ll have is an offering tray with a lot of small delicacies,” he says. “It could be from lamb tongue to tripe to different cold vegetarian dishes.” “It’s a very exciting time. A lot of the details are coming together,” Bakatsias adds. “We’re so excited about being in Asheville and creating a concept that becomes part of that culture in a community of great food.” The Golden Fleece opens at Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Road, in December. Visit giorgiosgroup.com for

more information on Bakatsias and his other culinary ventures.

rhuBArB’s holidAy dinner With CAtAWBA BreWing Co. And FrenCh BroAd ChoColAte lounge Rhubarb’s chef john fleer is teaming up with Catawba Brewing and French Broad Chocolate Lounge to offer what the restaurant calls “an epic, multicourse, holidaythemed dinner.” The holiday dinner is at Catawba’s Rickhouse Room, 32 Banks Ave., on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m. Admission is $100 per person, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Haywood Street Congregation. Tickets are available on the haywoodstreet.org donation page.

WeAverville AWAits A puBlix Florida-bred supermarket Publix has signed a lease to occupy the Weaverville Plaza shopping center, where the employee-owned grocery chain will open a 49,000-square foot-store. Structural and cosmetic upgrades are set to begin in early 2016, with a projected store opening date in 2017. Leasing space for additional businesses will be available at the redeveloped commercial center. Visit publix.com for more information about the grocer.

ednA’s oF Asheville on merrimon goes green Edna’s of Asheville recently announced its conversion to using clean electricity through provider Arcadia Power, meaning the Merrimon Avenue café now meets the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership requirements. “It’s always been important that Edna’s has a positive impact on our community and world, and in partnering with Arcadia Power to eliminate our carbon footprint, we saw an opportunity to really make a difference and lead by example,” says owner mike Zukoski. “We couldn’t be prouder to be a clean energy business.” Edna’s of Asheville’s clean energy branch is at 870 Merrimon Ave. Visit ednasofasheville.com for more information. X

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

A r t s & e n t e r tA i n m e n t

the writer and the boxer

Davis Miller’s memoir documents his long friendship with Muhammad Ali

A Friend indeed: Davis Miller, left, and Muhammad Ali in 1992 at the Champ’s Michigan farm. Photo courtesy of Miller

The first time writer davis miller spent any time with his friend muhammad ali, the boxing legend autographed a copy of Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words and Photographs — and not just once, but at least 100 times. Ali went photo by photo, signing many with his Muslim name, some with his childhood name, Cassius Clay, and adding commentary to others. On one he wrote, “The man who named me”; on another, “Crazy”; on a famous knockout shot, “Get up Chump.” Miller will launch his own book, Approaching Ali: A Reclamation

in Three Acts, at Malaprop’s Tuesday, Dec. 1. The story of how Miller’s book came to be is one with many twists and turns. In 2004, while broke, the author sold that signed copy of Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words and Photographs to a collector for $35,000. With the money in hand, he fled Winston-Salem to start a new life in Asheville. Just before that, he had escaped from a Hong Kong kidnapping — it’s a story for another time, he says, and the subject of a future book — and made it back to North Carolina, only to face believable threats to himself and his family. So he sought the mountains and went into hiding. “It changed my life hugely,” he says. “I went off the grid. No address anyone

november 25 - december 1, 2015

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bY corbie hill afraidofthebear@gmail.com

could find, no online life, no credit cards, no car in my name.” From a wimpy, despondent kid in 1964, reeling from his mom’s death, to a frustrated, 30-something video store manager in 1988, unfulfilled and ready to break free and pursue a writing career, the writer was inspired many times by the charismatic boxer. Indirectly, Ali helped Miller again when his autographed book fetched enough money to start over in Asheville, and it was the Champ who brought him back up for air when, in 2009, the writer realized he was through with hiding. “Finally, I said, ‘I can’t live in a foxhole anymore,’” Miller says. “‘I’ve just got to stand up and have a life.’” Miller got up swinging. First he copenned a successful opera, Approaching

Ali, and now he’s written a similarly named memoir, both of which chronicle his abiding friendship with a living legend. The memoir Approaching Ali is a collection of vignettes covering 27 years of friendship and even further back — some entries are written from Miller’s perspective as a teenager. It’s a return to public life for the author of The Tao of Muhammad Ali and The Tao of Bruce Lee — a man whose writing on Ali has garnered praise from none other than Maya Angelou. For Miller, the Champ lends him courage, and not just because he’s a talented athlete. What sets Ali apart, the writer says, is his uncompromising magnanimity. “He’s an American mythological figure — he’s also an international mythological figure, and he’s in many ways regarded with even greater respect outside of this country,” Miller says. “Hundreds of millions of people adore Ali. That sounds like hyperbole, but it’s not. I’ve traveled with him some, and it’s amazing to watch.” As a boxer, Ali moved with uncommon grace and spoke in poetic boasts. Yet rather than put his name on the boxing world’s equivalent of Air Jordans, he changed his name, open-

ly aligning himself with the Nation of Islam in a move that estranged many fans and backers. When he was drafted to fight in Vietnam, he refused, though it could have cost him his career. “He always stood up,” Miller says. In 1996, Ali lit the Olympic torch at the Summer Games in Atlanta, one hand shaking with tremors from Parkinson’s. He has lived with the disease for four decades. Miller starts the count at a brutal 1975 match with Joe Frazier, though the medical diagnosis came in 1984. Most people would not have survived that long with Parkinson’s, Miller says, crediting the boxer’s sheer strength of will. Through it, Ali carries himself with dignity, humor and gentleness. “He’s this uncompromisingly tender mountain of a man who just lets you inside his life,” Miller says. “He lights up around children and radars in on children in a way I’ve never seen another person do.” The writer has seen Ali pick up terminally ill kids, kiss them and hold them close with no concern for the often communicable diseases that afflict them. If the Champ can stand up, so can Miller. Twelve years after his terrifying ordeal in Hong Kong, he’s resurfaced. The Approaching Ali opera and book are both out, and he has both an account of his kidnapping and a novel set in the “sweetly seedy strange little hippie hillbilly town” of Asheville in the works. Ali may not last many more years, Miller admits, but the fighter’s power to inspire cannot die. “Don’t feel sorry for me,” the ailing boxer has told Miller dozens of times. “I’ve done exactly what I wanted to do. I’ve had the life of 100 men. I’ve seen everything a man can see. I’ve done everything a man can do.” X

what Book launch for Approaching Ali: A Reclamation in Three Acts by Davis Miller where Malaprop’s malaprops.com when Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m.

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vAriety is the spiCe oF theAter: Queen April, left and Amber Shehan as Millie Van Illa, perform in a Black Forest Menagerie skit as part of an Asheville Vaudeville show. “You never quite know what you’re going to get,” says troupe member and producer Shehan. But, “it generally has a rather naughty spin.” Photo by Indulge Images

With the assistance of his Black Forest Menagerie acting troupe, the dapper and diabolical master of ceremonies onkel woland delivers risqué retellings of classic fairy tales and plays host to a cavalcade of brand-new acts. Woland is the ringleader of variety show Asheville Vaudeville, which returns to Toy Boat Community Art Space

Saturday, Nov. 28, for a night of clowning, comedy, puppetry and burlesque. amber shehan, a member of the troupe and the producer of the November show, is excited for the upcoming performance. Shehan (her vaudeville name is Milli Von Illa) says the group has included “everything from the burlesques:

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plethora of novel acts. “[Asheville is] kind of a small town so you might see some of these performers throughout the year,” says Shehan. But even if an act has debuted elsewhere in town — possibly on a busy sidewalk or popular stage, she explains, it will be new material for the Asheville Vaudeville production. That influx of fresh ideas keeps the show interesting. The members of Asheville Vaudeville take the entertainment business seriously.“‘Keep Asheville Weird?’ This is the front lines,” says Shehan. “These are not just the people who dress weird and walk down the street, these folks get onstage and do it, too. [These are] folks who have been contributing to the Asheville theater scene solidly for many years.” At the post-Thanksgiving show, the lineup includes the physical storytelling of the Black Forest Menagerie acting troupe, the bizarre antics of El Payaso Fracasado, aka The Clown Who Fails, and the amazing acrobatics of Lucky Rigel 7, among many other acts. “It tends to be a fun, raucous show,” says Shehan. “You’re encouraged to hoot and holler. It’s definitely not the opera or the ballet.” X

puppetry, comedy, folks who do storytelling while others act it out. We’ve had hoop artists and other kinds of flow art, we’ve had fire eaters and stage magicians. You never quite know what you’re going to get.” Asheville Vaudeville began its fall season with a show in October, and the collective plans to put on more performances in December, January and February. Members of the troupe take turns being the producer and master of ceremonies. For the upcoming shows, mustachioed emcee Woland will be offering his comedic German impression of North American Thanksgiving traditions. He “plays a storyteller from the Black Forest, so I’m sure he won’t get everything right,” says Shehan. “It generally has a rather naughty spin,” she adds. For that reason, Asheville Vaudeville is recommended for ages 18 and older. The theatrical company has been an on-again, off-again part of the Asheville community since 2008. After changing hands and venues several times over the past seven years, the troupe has taken up residence at Toy Boat. “It’s been going pretty steady since Toy Boat opened,” says Shehan. The circus arts school, located near Biltmore Village, offers classes in hula hoops and trapeze, and has a black-box stage. “It’s kind of a natural home,” says Shehan. Beyond finding the perfect place to perform, Asheville Vaudeville has been seeking out new members. This month, comedian craig holcombe joins the show from Greenville, S.C., and tap-dancer elizabeth evans will be performing a comedy dance routine with a group of her students. As for familiar artists returning to the stage, Shehan promises a

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november 25 - december 1, 2015

a& e

by Kyle Petersen

kylepetersen@outlook.com

GrOWinG bOlD The Juan Benavides Group moves its weekly residency to The Millroom

who Juan Benavides Group where The Millroom ashevillemillroom.com when Wednesdays at 9 p.m., free

Bigger is Better: “As you play with jazz musicians or people who are more influenced by Western music, I think a kind of bridge is built,” says guitarist Juan Benavides, right. Photo by Micah Mackenzie When flamenco guitarist Juan Benavides started playing at 5 Walnut in 2009, the space was perfect. “That place is small and has more of an acoustic vibe,” he says. “That’s why I started playing there.” He’s been there ever since,

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although the musicians who play with him as the Juan Benavides Group have rotated in and out, creating different reincarnations of the project, always rooted in the guitarist’s Latin and flamenco roots. Recently the group has blossomed and taken on a more dynamic sound with the addition of players like Ryan Oslance and Shane Parish of the avantgarde duo Ahleuchatistas. As a result, Benavides’ weekly shows at 5 Walnut are regularly packed. “It will be over capacity, with people spilling out on the street who can’t get in,” says Oslance. “ Inside, there’s not much room to dance anymore. So we’ve been talking about it for a while now, about how we can expand into something bigger, with a bigger venue and a bigger event.” This was a particular concern because people were being turned away from 5 Walnut week after week, opening up the possibility that the gig was getting a reputation as something

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of a hassle for regular patrons. Enter Asheville Brewing Co., which has invited the Juan Benavides Group to move its weekly gig into The Millroom. That South Slope venue triples the capacity of the group’s shows while offering state-of-the-art sound, light and projection systems along with a full bar. “It’s a good space for us because they don’t have anything going on regularly there, they just do special events,” says Oslance. “So it would be available and a really good spot. I think it’s gonna be the type of thing that could really build into something big.” The band has already launched its new series, which takes place Wednesdays from 9 to 11 p.m. The new space fits with the band’s current, more amplified sound that blends a disparate set of world music influences together with modern rock and soul flourishes. “As you play with jazz musicians or people who are more influenced by Western music, I think a kind of bridge is built,” says Benavides,

who cites his Colombian heritage and time spent studying flamenco music in Spain as the central drivers of his songwriting. “I do play some numbers that are flamenco-influenced, very traditional,” he says. “But there’s a style of crossover, when the Cuban Revolution happened, and a lot of refugees went to Spain. This new sort of music emerged from the point of view of the European Gypsies that kind of coalesced with the Cuban. That’s why you have the rumba flamenca, the Gipsy Kings and a bunch of other people who have changed it around a bit.” He continues, “Flamenco is the style in which the guitar is played, so the other influences are basically Spanish harmony or Middle Eastern, more exotic-sounding because of the Mediterranean influence.” Benavides’ background is part of what attracted musicians like Oslance to the band. “You don’t often get a chance to play with people who have actually studied the music and lived in thoroughly,” he says. World music is something he’s always been drawn to as a listener and a player. “It’s a great experience for me to learn a style of music that I’m interested in. And it goes into any other style of music you play, whatever you can sponge up.” Plus, it’s a starkly different atmosphere from a typical Ahleuchatistas show. “I’m [really] drawn to how fun the environment is,” Oslance says. “Just being in a dance band and connecting with the audience so directly like that is a treat.” Benavides also makes it clear how appreciative he is to 5 Walnut for hosting him for so long. “We loved playing at Walnut — great people, incredible venue,” he says. “I think at this point we just wanted to develop the sound in a different way and with a full sound system. And there’s a lot more space at The Millroom, so people can dance.” X

A& E

by Jonathan Rich

jonathanwlrich@gmail.com

Lockdown

Asheville’s escape rooms offer claustrophobic fun

Those inside have an hour to find, solve and implement clues and puzzles associated with Will Harris’ story before the door is unlocked and the game is over. Participants hope to solve the mystery before time runs out. Some try to beat the time set by groups during previous visits. Leammookda says everything in the room has the potential to help with decoding at least part of the chain gang story. “It’s very interesting to observe the different problemsolving techniques,” she says. During the game, Leammookda observes the groups by remote HD camera in the next room. “I’m always exhilarated when they figure out the puzzle or riddle,” she says. In the first month of business, 13 teams entered Great Escape Asheville’s room, and one solved its enigmas within 31 minutes. Two teams, however, failed to make an escape before the time expired.

A-Escape

NO WAY OUT: Asheville’s escape rooms offer eerie fun. Clockwise from top left, the doorway to A-Escapes, Great Escapes Asheville founder Tara Leammookda, a prop that holds a clue, signs for participants. Photos by Jonathan Rich If you have ever felt locked in a situation where all you wanted to do was escape by any means necessary, it was probably not by choice. Strangely enough, a new form of entertainment has arrived in Asheville where small groups of people pay to be locked in a room filled with puzzles and clues that may facilitate their release within an hour. Two local escape rooms offer different adventures in intense, timed fun.

Great Escape Asheville Tara Leammookda was visiting New Orleans last summer when some friends told her about the escape

room experience. After receiving cryptic email instructions, her group agreed to be locked into a space for 60 minutes. She describes the feeling as “creepy, strange and intriguing.” Although Leammookda’s group did not discover or solve all the hidden mysteries before the clock ran out, it gave her the idea to create her own escape room. Great Escape Asheville was born. Located off Woodfin Place, adjacent to Charlotte Street, Great Escape Asheville makes the most of an aging office building that was once home to Mission Hospital’s patients (and morgue) from 1885 to 1947. There, Leammookda greets groups of up to six players on weekend nights and escorts them in a rickety gated elevator to the

third floor. There, they walk past modern office spaces used by various health and business professionals during the week. Leammoookda aims for the escape room’s backstory to match the somewhat spooky building that houses the event. She tells guests a tale about how convict Will Harris broke free of a Charlotte chain gang in 1906 and embarked on a killing spree on his way back to Asheville to reunite with his lost love, Molly. “Ten people and one dog met with their untimely fate that evening,” Leammookda says. “I challenge the participants to get out of the room to warn Molly before Will arrives.” Once guests arrive at the room and are told the story, the door is locked.

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If being locked inside a former hospital seems too eerie (or maybe not eerie enough), A-Escape offers an alternative. The New Leicester Highway-based business was created by Kyle Tharrington and Ashley Fox after they visited a popular escape room in Seoul, South Korea. A-Escape is located inside a nondescript building behind a gas station and between two fast-food restaurants. Guests open a red door to enter a room staged to look like the interior of a cabin in the woods, complete with a unique story and puzzling ambiguities. For newcomers, Tharrington points out that participants are meant to interact with the props in the room Within the first three weeks of opening, 17 groups tried to solve the conundrum of A-Escape’s enclosed space, but none were successful. At least one team, though, was just seconds away from escaping before its hour was up. Despite the similarities, the two businesses don’t fear competition. “I knew it would be a hit in Asheville because people are drawn to the unknown,” Leammookda says. “Locals and tourists love it here because we’re different and quirky. It was the perfect opportunity for such a unique entertainment venture.” A-Escape is planning a second room with a Christmas theme for the holidays, “so we have both sides of the spectrum, light and dark,” Tharrington says. “I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say that Santa will be needing help this year.” X

november 25 - december 1, 2015

a&e

smArt Bets Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Wish List Celebration

DubConscious

“Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards Man. What else is on your holiday list?” asks American Folk Art. The gallery has been readying its own list (and checking it twice), but this is not a ledger of mere desires. Instead, throughout the year, American Folk Art compiled a “gift closet” stocked with special works from the 40 artists whom the gallery showcases. This year’s exhibition includes ornamentsized paintings by Liz Sullivan, “wonderfully ridiculous” carved opossum, pig and bear ornaments by Lonnie and Twyla Money, and ornaments fashioned from foraged local lichens, mica and honeycombs by Ona Cavey. The show opens for Black Friday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m., and runs through Thursday, Dec. 31. amerifolk.com. Pictured, “Junior Bug Gospel Sings with Angels” by James A. Snipe

Despite his recent death, bassist and vocalist Carl Lindberg remains listed as a current member on Athens, Ga.-based outfit DubConscious’ Facebook page — perhaps because the musician still has a significant impact on his fellow artists’ lives and creative expression. In fact, celebrating Lindberg’s life is the sole inspiration for two reunion performances — one in the band’s hometown and another in Asheville. In addition to bringing together friends and family members as musical guests, the show will include all original members of DubConscious, including lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Adrian Zelski, who hosts the show at his local concert venue. The Ooga Booga Shooga Giving Thanks Family Reunion Shows mini-tour stops at New Mountain Saturday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m., with Piper Street Sound and Free Radio opening, and Futexture wrapping up the night with an electronic set. $10-$15. Proceeds support the Carl Lindberg Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Carl Lindberg Legacy Fund. newmountainavl.com. Photo by Keith Berson

Joshua Messick With its delicate and graceful tones, the hammered dulcimer is an excellent candidate for revitalizing Christmas classics and capturing the magic of the holiday season. Similarly, local musician Joshua Messick seems well-paired with his stringed, trapezoidal instrument, having discovered an intuitive aptitude for playing it at age 9. About a decade later, he became the national hammered dulcimer champion in 2003. “Music is the sound of the human spirit and for me, it’s prayer without words,” he says. “I used to play only for the purpose of becoming good. Now, I seek to play honestly from the heart, learn as much as I can and enjoy music.” Check out Messick’s album Hammered Dulcimer Christmas for a glimpse at the multitude of holiday-themed tunes he’ll perform live at White Horse Black Mountain Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 and 28, at 8 p.m. $18/$20. whitehorseblackmountain.com. Photo courtesy of the artist 52

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Renshaw Davies Renshaw Davies is a New Orleans-based folk duo with a knack for low-key tunes that range from sweet to stormy. Composed of guitarist John Renshaw and percussionist Emily Davies (think tambourine, not drum kit), the duo have become a regular act on the Big Easy’s singer-songwriter circuit over the past three years. Now they’re touring wider circles in support of a recent vinyl release with Bear America Records, which features singles “Goin’ Down the Road” and “Auctioneer.” After a recent appearance at 5 Walnut, Renshaw says he and Davies are “thrilled at the opportunity to play in Asheville for the second time in months.” The musicians’ minimalist live sound — “two voices, a guitar and some beat,” according to an online bio — returns to 5 Walnut Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. 5walnut.com. Photo courtesy of the band mountainx.com

All philosophies welcome in our

Spirituality

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Faith-based and spiritual groups receive a special discount in this issue.

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november 25 - december 1, 2015

a& e

by Abigail Griffin

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com

pAtterns on Wood: Artist Leslie Rosenberg’s woodcarvings, sculptures and paintings are being shown at Odd’s Cafe until Dec. 2. Rosenberg’s work explores patterns, imperfections and relationships, and she is “most interested in the interplay of line, pattern, color and shape, and the way these elements manifest in the natural world.” Rosenberg says that “the process of carving wood is sublime — how a piece takes shape, the way the grain reveals itself and how the final details emerge all contribute to a work that is both organized and improvised.” Photo courtesy of Leslie Rosenberg (p. 55)

Art Some of the events in this section are listed in the Give!Local Events Calendar (p. 23) sip And doodle (pd.) “Everyone leaves with a Painting” Sip your favorite drink and have fun painting. Ask about - Private Parties (Birthday, Anniversary, etc.) $25.00 with this AD. (828) 712-1288 Asheville Figure drAWing netWork facebook.com/AVLFigureDrawing • 1st, 3rd, & 4th TUESDAYS, 6-9pm - Figure drawing with live

model. $10. Held at Firestorm Cafe and Books, 610 Haywood Road groveWood gAllery 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • FR (11/20) & FR (11/27), 11am4pm - Karen Kennedy demonstrates needle felting. Free to attend.

zliving WeB FArms 176 Kimzey Road, Mills River, 5051660, livingwebfarms.org • TU (12/1), 6:30pm - “Make It, Don’t Buy It! A Skill Share Event,” holiday crafting event. Free to attend. trAnsylvAniA Community Arts CounCil tcarts@comporium.net

november 25 - december 1, 2015

• 4th FRIDAYS until (11/27), 5-8pm - Gallery Walk. Held in downtown Brevard. Free to attend.

Art/CrAFt FAirs

zArtisun gAllery

16 Andrews Ave. S., 622-4573, facebook.com/ArtiSunGallery • SA (11/28), noon-7pm - Holiday open house with local arts, crafts, food and books. Free to attend.

zhArd CAndy ChristmAs 227-3591 • FR (11/27) & SA (11/28), 10am5pm - “Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Crafts Show,” with 100 regional artists. $4.50. Held at the WCU Ramsey Center.

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zhenderson County

CurB mArket 221 N. Church St., Hendersonville, 692-8012, curbmarket.com • SA (11/28), 8am-2pm - Holiday market with Christmas wreaths, fresh greenery, crafts, demonstrations, music, carriage rides and refreshments. Free to attend.

musiC BLUE RIDGE ORCHESTRA • HOLIDAY FANTASIES • WITH the reuter Center singers (pd.) Saturday, December 5, 2015, 3pm; Ferguson Auditorium, AB-Tech • Sunday, December 6, 2015, 3pm; Folk Art Center, BRP. • General Admission: $15; Friends of BRO: $10; Students: $5. Tickets available online and (cash and checks only) at Soli

Classica, 1550 Hendersonville Road, and Musician’s Workshop, 310 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville. • Further information: blueridgeorchestra.org CAthey’s Creek Community Center Island Ford Road, Brevard • SA (11/28), 7pm - Silk Nickel Bluegrass Band. $5/$3 under age 12.

zFletcher Community Chorus 651-9436, fletchercommunitychorus.com • TH (12/3), 7pm - “Welcome the Holidays,” choral music. Free to attend. Held at Opportunity

House, 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville

theAter

zCAldWell

Community College 2855 Hickory Blvd., Hudson, 726-2200, cccti.edu • TH (12/3) through SA (12/5), 7:30pm - The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, presented by Foothills Performing Arts. $16.25/$9 students and children. FlAt roCk plAyhouse 2661 Highway 225, Flat Rock, 693-0731, flatrockplayhouse.org • THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS (11/27) until (12/19) - Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz. Thur.Sun.: 8pm. Sat.: 2pm. $15-40.

zimmediAte theAtre proJeCt 239-0263 ext. 140, new.immediatetheatre.org • WE (11/25), 8pm - Live From WVL Radio: It’s A Wonderful Life. $20/$15 advance. Held at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall, 743 Haywood Road

zreAd it & Weep repertory Theatre 682-7209, burnsvilletowncenter.com, lucy@main.nc.us • FR (11/27), 10:30am - The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t. $10/door/$2 kids. Held at Burnsville Town Center, 6 Main St., Burnsville

n.C. ArBoretum 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, 665-2492, ncarboretum.org • Through SA (1/3) - Fine-feathered Friends and Flowers, oil paintings by Mary Webster. • Through SA (1/3) - The Robot Zoo, exhibit featuring giant-size robots and interactive displays to teach biomechanics of animals. odd’s CAFe 800 Haywood Road, Suite A, 505-7776, oddscafe.com • Through WE (12/2) - Woodcarvings, sculptures and paintings of Leslie Rosenburg.

zthe mAgnetiC theAtre

odyssey CooperAtive Art gAllery

375 Depot St., 279-4155 The Magnetic Theater • THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS (12/3) through (12/19), 7:30pm - The 42nd Annual Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular! $18-$23.

238 Clingman Ave, 285-9700, facebook.com/odysseycoopgallery • TU (12/1) through TH (12/31) Group ceramic art exhibition showcasing the work of Mark Harmon and Ed Rivera.

theAter At WArren Wilson College inside.warren-wilson.edu/blogs/theatre • TH (12/3) until SA (12/5), 7:3opm - The Motherf***er, presented by Warren Wilson Theatre. $10. Held in Kittredge Theater.

push skAte shop & gAllery 25 Patton Ave., 225-5509, pushtoyproject.com • Through MO (11/30) - Satanic Panic, aerosol art by Gus Cutty.

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Ga l l e rY dir ec torY AmeriCAn Folk Art And FrAming 64 Biltmore Ave., 281-2134, amerifolk.com • Through TH (12/31) - Wish List Celebration, exhibition of 40 artists. Art At mArs hill mhu.edu • Through FR (12/11) - Faces of Afghanistan, drawings of Skip Rohde. Held in Weizenblatt Gallery. Art At unCA art.unca.edu • Through (12/16) - New Orleans.... Honoring her resilience, her heart, photography by Maureen Scott. Held in Ramsey Library. Art At WArren Wilson College warren-wilson.edu • MO (11/2) through SA (12/12) Quantum Confusions, life-sized charcoal drawings by Denise Stewart-Sanabria. Held in the Elizabeth Holden Gallery. Asheville AreA Arts CounCil 1 Page Ave., 258-0710, ashevillearts.com • Through SA (1/9) - Akira Satake hosts the Ceramic Invitational. • Through SA (1/9) - To the Harbormaster, paintings by Amanda Seckington. Asheville museum 35 Wall St., 785-5722 • Through SA (4/30) - The Interbeing Project, photography by Bonnie Cooper. groveWood gAllery 111 Grovewood Road, 253-7651, grovewood.com • Through TH (12/31) - Vessels of Merriment, exhibition of handcrafted drinking vessels by 25 artists.

157 Lexington Ave., 505-7788, salon-intuition.com • Through TH (12/31) - Ladies, paintings by Keith Kimmel.

828-251-1333 • advertise@mountainx.com

seven sisters gAllery 117 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-5107, sevensistersgallery.com • Through SU (1/31) - Nature paintings by Rachel Clegg. the Center For CrAFt, CreAtivity & design 67 Broadway, 785-1357, craftcreativitydesign.org • Through SA (11/28) - Emblematic, embroidery installation by Nava Lubelski. • Through SA (1/9) - Made in WNC, textile, furniture, ceramics, and art exhibit exploring how craft, design, and production relate. the FrenCh BroAd Artists saharfakhoury@yahoo.com • TU (12/1) through TH (12/31) - Small Jewels, exhibition of small paintings. Held at Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St. trAnsylvAniA Community Arts CounCil 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, 884-2787, tcarts.org • Through FR (12/18) - In the Belly of the Clouds, photography of R. K. Young, paintings of Julie Bowland and woodturning of Peter B. Mockridge. Western north CArolinA Aids proJeCt 252-7489, wncap.org • Through TU (12/1) - Displaying the NAMES PROJECT AIDS Memorial Quilt. Held at Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. Contact the galleries for admission hours and fees

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november 25 - december 1, 2015

CluBlAnd good stuFF Karaoke!, 7pm grind CAFe Trivia night, 7pm highlAnd BreWing CompAny Woody Wood Wednesdays (rock, soul), 5:30pm iron horse stAtion Kevin Reese (Americana), 6pm isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll It’s A Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio (old-time radio show), 8pm JACk oF the Wood puB Old-time session, 5pm New Belgium Nights w/ Empire Strikes Brass, The Hermit Kings & Hank West and the Smokin’ Hots, 8pm lAzy diAmond Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10pm lex 18 Appalachian Old & New Time Music & Dinner Experience (ticketed event), 5:45pm loBster trAp Ben Hovey (dub-jazz, trumpet), 6:30pm mountAin moJo CoFFeehouse Open mic, 6:30pm noBle kAvA Open mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 9pm o.henry’s/the underground “Take the Cake” Karaoke, 10pm oFF the WAgon Piano show, 9pm olive or tWist Intermediate swing dance lessons w/ Bobby Wood, 7pm Beginning swing dance lesson w/ Bobby Wood, 7:30pm 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock), 8pm one stop deli & BAr Jive Turkeys 2 (electronic), 10pm

nAshville’s BArd: Folk singer-songwriter David Olney has spent the last four decades as one of Nashville’s leading musical luminaries, producing thoughtful, vaudevillian tunes for everything from Shakespeare productions to ABC’s “Nashville” television series. The iconic troubadour brings his “extradordinary hybrid of sounds and styles” (Blurt! Magazine) to the Grey Eagle on Wednesday, December 2 at 8 p.m. in support of his new album “When The Deal Goes Down.”

WednesdAy, novemBer 25 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Wine Tasting w/ Dave Desmelik (acoustic), 5pm Juan Benavides Trio (flamenco), 8pm

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Asheville musiC hAll Brown Bag Songwriting Competition w/ Debrissa McKinney (all genres), 7:30pm Ben’s tune-up Honky-tonk Wednesdays, 3pm BlACk mountAin Ale house Play to Win game night, 7:30pm Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Open mic, 7pm CroW & Quill Piano karaoke, 9pm douBle CroWn Classic Country w/ DJs Greg Cartwright, David Gay, Brody Hunt, 10pm

one World BreWing Billy Litz (Americana, singer-songwriter), 8pm orAnge peel The Sword w/ Royal Thunder (metal, stoner rock), 8pm oskAr Blues BreWery Dustin Maxwell (singer-songwriter), 6pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Bruce Nemerov & friends (folk, Americana), 6pm room ix Fuego: Latin night, 9pm sAnCtuAry BreWing CompAny Nikki Talley & Jason Sharp (folk, Americana, indie), 7pm sCully’s Sons of Ralph (bluegrass), 6pm sly grog lounge Word Night (trivia-ish), 8pm Cards Against Humanity Game Night, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm sol BAr neW mountAin World Wednesdays, 8pm southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery Spin Sessions w/ DJ Robin Tolleson (vintage funk, jazz), 6pm tAllgAry’s At Four College Open mic & jam, 7pm

Foggy mountAin BreWpuB Bobby Miller w/ special guest (folk), 9pm

the Joint next door Bluegrass jam, 8pm

FunkAtorium John Hartford Jam (folk, bluegrass), 6:30pm

the phoenix Jazz night, 8pm

the southern Disclaimer Comedy open mic, 9pm

tWisted lAurel Karaoke, 8pm

lAzy diAmond Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10pm

sCully’s DJ, 10pm

tiger mountAin Flux (’80s & ’90s dance party), 10pm

Wxyz lounge At AloFt hotel Stevie Lee Combs (Americana, juke), 7:30pm

lex 18 Hot Point Trio (Gypsy swing), 6:30pm Lenny Pettinelli (pop, jazz), 9:45pm

soCiAl lounge & tApAs DJ Kyuri on vinyl (funk, soul, disco), 10pm

JACk oF the Wood puB Bluegrass jam, 7pm

CluB eleven on grove Thanksgiving jam w/ DJ Harry Hippie & DJ Jam (ole skool hip-hop, R&B, soul), 9pm

mArket plACe Ben Hovey (dub jazz, beats), 7pm

Cork & keg One Leg Up (Gypsy jazz, Latin, swing), 8:30pm

o.henry’s/the underground Game Night, 9pm Drag Show, 12:30am

CroW & Quill Firecracker Jazz Band (hot jazz), 9pm

oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

douBle CroWn DJ Greg Cartwright (garage & soul obscurities), 10pm

olive or tWist Dance lesson w/ Ian & Karen, 8pm DJ (oldies, Latin, line dance), 8:30pm

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm

one stop deli & BAr Phish ’n’ Chips (Phish covers), 6pm pACk’s tAvern Steve Mosely Duo (classic hits, bluegrass), 9pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm sly grog lounge Open mic (musicians, poets, comedians & more welcome), 8pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs 80s night w/ DJ Kyuri on vinyl, 8pm spring Creek tAvern Open Mic, 6pm tAllgAry’s At Four College Open mic w/ Datrian Johnson, 7pm timo’s house Dance Party w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10pm trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Cajun & western swing jam w/ Steve Burnside, 7pm tressA’s doWntoWn JAzz And Blues The Westsound Revue (Motown, soul), 9pm

good stuFF The Occasional Caucasians (rockabilly, honkytonk), 8pm grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern An evening w/ David Wilcox & friends (singersongwriter), 8pm highlAnd BreWing CompAny Black Watch Friday w/ Pierce Edens (Americana), 7pm iron horse stAtion Luke Wood (instrumental), 7pm JACk oF the Wood puB Southbound Turnaround w/ Little Lesley & The Bloodshots (rock, honky-tonk, outlaw country), 9pm JerusAlem gArden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm

87Patton Patton Ave., Asheville 87 Asheville

oskAr Blues BreWery Skribe w/ Gingerwolf (garage folk), 6pm pACk’s tAvern DJ MoTo (dance hits, pop), 9pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Bayou Diesel (zydeco), 8pm root BAr no. 1 Boneheart Flanagan (outlaw country), 7pm sAnCtuAry BreWing CompAny Petty Cash (singer-songwriter), 7:30pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm

Foggy mountAin BreWpuB Phil Alley Trio (folk), 10pm FrenCh BroAd BreWery Letters to Abigail (country, bluegrass), 6pm

4pm-2am Mon-Fri | 12pm-2am Sat | 3pm-2am Sun Mon.-Thur. 4pm-2am • Fri.-Sun. 2pm-2am

orAnge peel Wham Bam Bowie Band (David Bowie tribute), 9pm

To qualify for a free listing, a venue must be predominately dedicated to the performing arts. Bookstores and cafés with regular open mics and musical events are also allowed / To limit confusion, events must be submitted by the venue owner or a representative of that venue / Events must be submitted in written form by e-mail (clubland@mountainx.com), fax, snail mail or hand-delivered to the Clubland Editor Hayley Benton at 2 Wall St., Room 209, Asheville, NC 28801. Events submitted to other staff members are not assured of inclusion in Clubland / Clubs must hold at least TWO events per week to qualify for listing space. Any venue that is inactive in Clubland for one month will be removed / The Clubland Editor reserves the right to edit or exclude events or venues / Deadline is by noon on Monday for that Wednesday’s publication. this is a firm deadline.

k lounge DJ CVtheProducer (old-school hip-hop), 10pm

mountainx.com

AN EVENING WITH

11/27 AND FRIENDS

DAVID WILCOX

7PM DooRS

ClAssiC Wineseller The Blue Ribbon Healers (swanky-tonk, jazz), 7pm

one World BreWing Prince vs. Michael Jackson night w/ DJ Brandon Audette, 8pm

ANNUAL THANKSGIVING HOMECOMING CONCERT

11/28

12/1 JoHN KADLECIK BAND

AN EVENING WITH

8PM DooRS

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm

Boiler room Rebirth 26 w/ DJ Luis Armando (electronic, dance), 10pm

7PM DooRS

douBle CroWn 33 and 1/3 Thursdays w/ DJs Devyn & Oakley, 10pm

Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Acoustic Swing, 7pm

one stop deli & BAr Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam (jam), 5pm VIBE w/ ARune & red.tree (ambient, dance, electronic), 10pm

(oF FURTHER, DARK STAR oRCHESTRA, GoLDEN GATE WINGMEN )

12/2 DAVID OLNEY 12/3 AN EVENING WITH

MARTIN BARRE BAND

7PM DooRS

CroW & Quill Orphan’s Thanksgiving (potluck, classic movies, Tom Waits), 7pm

BlACk mountAin Ale house Billy Litz (soul, alt-country), 7:30pm

oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

7PM DooRS

Creekside tAphouse Singer-songwriter night w/ Riyen Roots, 8pm

Ben’s tune-up Woody Wood & the Asheville Family Band (acoustic, folk, rock), 5pm

odditorium Sex Knuckle w/ The Kimberly White Project & The Beard (metal, rock), 9am

(OF JETHRO TULL)

W/ THE GET RIGHT BAND

RAMSEY 12/4 TYLER RAYNA GELLERT BLACK LILLIES 12/6 THEANNABELLE’S CURSE

november 25 - december 1, 2015

8PM DooRS

Blue ridge tAproom Beyond Chicken (Americana), 8pm

BACk yArd BAr Karaoke, 9pm

o.henry’s/the underground Cherry Bomb, 10pm Drag Show, 12:30am

7PM DooRS

BlACk mountAin Ale house Bluegrass jam w/ The Big Deal Band, 8pm

AthenA’s CluB Dave Blair (folk, funk, acoustic), 7pm

noBle kAvA Beat Life Lounge (downtempo, instrumental hip-hop, electronica), 8:30pm

FRI

BArley’s tAproom AMC Jazz Jam, 9pm

Asheville musiC hAll An evening w/ The Goodies (rock ’n’ roll), 10pm

tAllgAry’s At Four College Apple Blue Horse Band (country), 9:30pm

FRI

thursdAy, novemBer 26

AltAmont theAtre An evening w/ Ellis Paul (folk, acoustic, singersongwriter), 8pm

spring Creek tAvern Paper Crowns (folk), 8:30pm

TUE

White horse BlACk mountAin CaroMia & Jason Kenny (blues, country, gospel), 7:30pm

5 WAlnut Wine BAr Sankofa (world music), 9pm

neW mountAin theAter/ AmphitheAter Asheville drum circle (at Blue Ridge Tap Room), 6pm THE BLVCKOUT w/ DJ Audio & DJ Tune (electronic), 9pm

southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery Carver & Carmody (Americana, country), 8pm

WED

tressA’s doWntoWn JAzz And Blues Blues & soul jam w/ Al Coffee & Da Grind, 8:30pm

mArket plACe The Sean Mason Trio (groove, jazz, funk), 7pm

sol BAr neW mountAin Sol Vibes w/ Transputer (electronic), 10pm

THU

trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Acoustic jam w/ Kevin Scanlon (bluegrass, oldtime, folk), 6pm

185 king street Hometown Holiday Jam w/ Mike Ashworth, Mike Guggino, Corey Bullman, Leigh Glass, Derrick Gardner, Isaac Wells & Noel Felty (funk, jam), 8:30pm

loBster trAp Riyen Roots & Kenny Dore (blues), 6:30pm

FRI

toWn pump Open mic w/ Billy Presnell, 9pm

FridAy, novemBer 27

SUN

timo’s house “Spectrum AVL” w/ DamGood & rotating DJs, 9pm

Wed • November 25 Woody Wood @ 5:30pm

JACK

Thu • November 26

WOOD

Black Watch release party featuring Pierce Edens & the Dirty Work @ 7pm

Sat • November 28 Circus Mutt @ 7pm

Sun • November 29

Reggae Sunday featuring Dennis “Chalwa” Berndt @ 1pm

Tue • December 1 Team Trivia with Dr. Brown @ 6pm

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

OF THE

CLOSED for Thanksgiving

Fri • November 27

cl u b l a n d

PUB

#1 Pub Grub #2 Bar for Live Music

WED 11.25

SAT 11.28 SUN 11.29 TUE 12.1 FRI 12.4

good stuFF Pierce Edens (Americana), 8pm

the dugout Flashback Sally, 9pm

grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern An evening w/ Acoustic Syndicate (bluegrass, rock), 9pm

NEW BELGIUM NIGHTS & CONCERTS SERIES

the soCiAl Steve Moseley (acoustic), 6pm

W/ (FEATURING MEMBERS OF ASHEVILLE BANDS

tiger mountAin Dark dance rituals w/ DJ Cliffypoo, 10pm

STEVEN SEGALMAN

EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS, THE HERMIT KINGS AND HANK WEST & THE SMOKIN HOTS)

8 p.m. Free (Donations Encouraged)

FRI 11.27

the AdmirAl Hip Hop dance party w/ DJ Warf, 11pm

SOUTHBOUND TURNAROUND WILD ROCK/TONK OUTLAW BAND

w/ LITTLE LESLEY & THE BLOODSHOTS HOT ROD GREASER ROCKABILLY 

9 p.m. $7

HUSKY BURNETTE

toWn pump ZuZu Welsh Band (rock), 9pm tWisted lAurel Live DJ, 11pm White horse BlACk mountAin Joshua Messick “Hammered Dulcimer Christmas” (mountain music), 8pm

SCREEN DOOR PORCH

Wxyz lounge At AloFt hotel Ben Hovey (souljazztronica), 8pm

lex 18 Michael Jefry Stevens (modern jazz), 6:30pm Michael Andersen (honky-tonk piano), 9:45pm

w/ THE GRAVELYS

zAmBrA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

loBster trAp Hot Point Trio (jazz), 6:30pm

9 p.m. Free (Donations Encouraged)

AMERICANA, ROOTSROCK

7 p.m. Free (Donations Encouraged)

SHANE PRUITT BAND

HIGH ENERGY GOSPEL,BLUES AND ROCK AND ROLL! 9 p.m. $5

sAturdAy, novemBer 28 185 king street Trufant Brothers holiday jam, 8pm 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Duo of Dreams & Splendor (vintage jazz), 6pm Resonant Rogues (old-time), 9pm AltAmont theAtre Soldier’s Heart w/ The Petticoat Government (“Appalachian porch rock”), 8pm AthenA’s CluB Michael Kelley Hunter (blues), 6:30pm BACk yArd BAr Ginny McAfee (country), 9pm

odditorium Amnesis w/ Call the Next Witness, The Art of War & Everthrone (metal), 9pm oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

w/ wyla, the dead tongues

oskAr Blues BreWery Shotgun Gypsies (Americana), 6pm

resonant rogues

Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Bob Zullo (acoustic), 7pm

laura blackley

Boiler room Bleedseason w/ Vic Crown, A World of Lies & Jynzo (progressive, ambient, metal), 9pm

1970s f ilm stock

ClAssiC Wineseller Joe Cruz (Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor covers), 7pm

mr. mange

CluB eleven on grove Holiday dance party (ole skool hip-hop, R&B, funk), 10pm Cork & keg Zydeco Ya Ya (two-step, waltz), 8:30pm

transplanting holiday party!

CroW & Quill Honky-tonk night w/ Hearts Gone South and Pat Reedy & The Longtime Goners, 9pm douBle CroWn Rock ’n’ Soul w/ DJs Lil Lorruh or Rebecca & Dave, 10pm

super shakers

w/ egg eaters, kitty tsunami snack champion 12/12

o.henry’s/the underground Yeah, Nah, 10pm

BlACk mountAin CiderWorks Rabelasian Feast w/ Blue Christmas release, 2pm

(local comedy series)

sat

noBle kAvA The Hellacious Habaneros (old-time, jazz fusion), 8:30pm

one stop deli & BAr Group Therapy (electronic), 10pm

w/ artificial oceans, snack champion

12/11

neW mountAin theAter/AmphitheAter DubConscious w/ Free Radio (reggae, hip-hop), 9:15pm

BlACk mountAin Ale house Zapato (funk), 9pm

w/ yours truly, judas horse

fri

mArket plACe DJs (funk, R&B), 7pm

olive or tWist 42nd Street Band (big band jazz), 8pm Dance party (hip-hop, rap), 11pm

w/ the darnell boys,

12/9 wed

lAzy diAmond Unknown Pleasures w/ DJ Greg Cartwright, 10pm

Ben’s tune-up Gypsy Guitars, 2pm

' 11/28 sat mr. fred s ping pong tournament mon 11/30 aunt sis

12/7 mon

JerusAlem gArden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm

Wild Wing CAFe south A Social Function (acoustic), 9:30pm

OCCASIONAL CAUCASIANS

252.5445 • jackofthewood.com

12/5

JACk oF the Wood puB Husky Burnette (blues, Southern rock), 9pm

MEMPHIS BIG BEAT SOUTHERN ROCKABILLY

95 PATTON at COXE • Downtown Asheville

sat

isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll An evening w/ The Kruger Brothers (folk, country, bluegrass), 8:30pm

Wild Wing CAFe Two Live Brew, 7pm

SATURDAY Parker & Smith (old-fashioned blues), 2-4pm SUNDAY Celtic Irish session 3-9pm MONDAY Quizzo! 7:30-9pm • WEDNESDAY Old-Time 5pm SINGER SONGWRITERS 1st & 3rd Tuesdays THURSDAY Scottie Parker (old-fashioned blues) 2-4pm, Bluegrass Jam 7pm

12/4

iron horse stAtion Mark Shane (R&B), 7pm

COUNTRY BLUES, DOUSE IT WITH KEROSENE AND BLOW IT UP REAL GOOD 9 p.m. $5

OPEN AT NOON DAILY

fri

highlAnd BreWing CompAny Circus Mutt (Appalachian rock), 7pm

the wham, bam! puppet slam

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

pACk’s tAvern Grand Theft Audio (rock, classic covers), 9pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Travers Brothership (blues, rock, jam), 9pm purple onion CAFe Roots & Dore (blues), 8pm room ix Open dance night, 9pm root BAr no. 1 Zuzu Welsh Band (Americana, blues, rock), 7pm sAnCtuAry BreWing CompAny Letters to Abigail (Americana), 7:30pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm sCully’s DJ, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm

southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery King Possum (folk, Americana), 7pm

Foggy mountAin BreWpuB Steely Dan Tribute band (rock), 10pm

tAllgAry’s At Four College Jordan Ockrend (soul, rock), 9:30pm

FrenCh BroAd BreWery The Papers Crowns (indie-rock), 6pm

the AdmirAl Soul night w/ DJ Dr. Filth, 11pm

the dugout Two Dollar Pistol, 9pm

southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery BlueSunday w/ Garry Segal & special guests, 5pm

the mothlight Mr. Fred’s Ping Pong Tournament, 7:30pm

tAllgAry’s At Four College Jason Brazzel (acoustic), 6pm

timo’s house Dance Party w/ DJ Franco Nino (top 40), 10pm

the omni grove pArk inn Lou Mowad (classical guitar), 10am Bob Zullo (pop, rock, blues), 7pm

toWn pump Skribe (garage folk), 9pm toy BoAt Community Art spACe Asheville Vaudeville, 7:30pm trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr The Sufi Brothers (bluegrass, rock, soul), 8pm tWisted lAurel Live DJ, 11pm White horse BlACk mountAin Joshua Messick “Hammered Dulcimer Christmas” (mountain music), 8pm Wild Wing CAFe Karaoke, 8pm Wxyz lounge At AloFt hotel MandelKorn Project (rock, blues, jam), 8pm zAmBrA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

sundAy, novemBer 29 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Letters To Abigail (Appalachian, Americana), 7pm Ben’s tune-up Reggae night w/ Dub Kartel, 8pm Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Larry Dolamore (acoustic), 7pm douBle CroWn Karaoke w/ Tim O, 9pm highlAnd BreWing CompAny Reggae Sundays w/ Dennis “Chalwa” Berndt, 12pm iron horse stAtion Blue Ribbon Healers (old-time, jazz, folk), 6pm isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Sunday Classical Brunch, 11am An evening w/ The Kruger Brothers (folk, country, bluegrass), 6:30pm JACk oF the Wood puB Irish session, 5pm Occasional Caucasians (rockabilly, big beat), 9pm

the soCiAl Get Vocal Karaoke, 9:30pm the southern Yacht Rock Brunch w/ DJ Kipper, 12pm timo’s house Asheville Drum ’n’ Bass Collective, 10pm toWn pump Caroline Reese (Americana, folk), 9pm Wedge BreWing Co. Vollie McKenzie & Hank Bones (acoustic jazzswing), 6pm White horse BlACk mountAin The Karmacanix & The Egg Eaters (ska, hip-hop, punk), 7:30pm WiCked Weed Mrs. Dubfire (reggae), 3pm

mondAy, novemBer 30 185 king street Open mic night, 7pm 5 WAlnut Wine BAr The Roamin’ Jasmine (vintage jazz, blues), 8pm AltAmont BreWing CompAny Old-time jam w/ Mitch McConnell, 6:30pm Ben’s tune-up Savannah Smith & Southern Soul (Americana, roots, Southern rock), 8pm ByWAter Open mic w/ Taylor Martin, 8pm CAtAWBA BreWing south slope Open mic night, 5pm CourtyArd gAllery Open mic (music, poetry, comedy, etc.), 8pm Creekside tAphouse Trivia, 7pm douBle CroWn Country Karaoke, 10pm

Los Abrojitos (tango), 9pm sovereign remedies Stevie Lee Combs (acoustic), 8pm the mothlight Aunt Sis w/ Wyla & The Dead Tongues (pop, rock, indie), 9pm the omni grove pArk inn Bob Zullo (pop, rock, blues), 7pm the vAlley musiC & Cookhouse Monday Pickin’ Parlour (open jam, open mic), 8pm tiger mountAin Service industry night (rock ’n’ roll), 9pm timo’s house Movie night, 7pm toWn pump Old Man Rinken (blues), 9pm urBAn orChArd Old-time music, 7pm

tuesdAy, deCemBer 1 5 WAlnut Wine BAr The John Henrys (hot jazz), 8pm AltAmont BreWing CompAny Open mic w/ Chris O’Neill, 8:30pm

BuFFAlo niCkel Trivia, 7pm CAtAWBA BreWing south slope Reverend Finster (R.E.M. covers), 6:30pm Cork & keg Honky-tonk Jamboree w/ Tom Pittman, 6:30pm Creekside tAphouse Old School Low Down Blues Tues. w/ Matt Walsh, 6pm

lex 18 Michael John Jazz (classic jazz), 7pm

highlAnd BreWing CompAny Asheville Talent Jam (networking), 6pm

loBster trAp Lyndsay Pruett & John Stineman (old-time), 6:30pm

JACk oF the Wood puB Quizzo, 7pm

grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern An evening w/ John Kadlecik Band (rock, jazz, jam), 8pm

one stop deli & BAr Bluegrass brunch w/ Woody Wood, 11am orAnge peel Waltz night, 6pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead covers), 4pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs DJ Kyusi on vinyl (old school trip-hop, deep house, acid jazz), 8pm

o.henry’s/the underground Geeks Who Drink trivia, 7pm

BUY SPECIAL EVENTS TICKETS W W W .LEX18AVL. C OM

BlACk mountAin Ale house Trivia, 7pm

good stuFF Old time-y night, 6:30pm

loBster trAp Bobby Miller & Friends (bluegrass), 6:30pm

A CLASSIC RADIO DRAMA FILLED WITH PERIOD HOLIDAY SONGS, LOCAL LEGENDS, ZANY OLD COMMERCIALS, SOUND EFFECTS AND A COMIC VERSION OF TʼWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS THAT TOUCHES AND LIGHTENS THE HEART. TICKETS: $68 PER PERSON INCLUDES COCKTAIL PUNCH AND A FOUR-COURSE CLASSIC HOLIDAY MENU

BlACk BeAr CoFFee Co. Round Robin acoustic open mic, 7pm

grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern Contra dance (lessons, 7:30pm), 8pm

oFF the WAgon Piano show, 9pm

WHITE CHRISTMAS RADIO SHOW DEC. 23 & DEC. 24, TWO DINNER SHOW SEATINGS, 5:30PM AND 7:45PM

Ben’s tune-up Eleanor Underhill (acoustic), 5pm

lAzy diAmond Tiki Night w/ DJ Lance (Hawaiian, surf, exotica), 10pm

lexington Ave BreWery (lAB) Kipper’s “Totally Rad” Trivia night, 8pm

FICTIONALIZED EVENTS THAT ARE BOTH FUN AND FASCINATING . INCLUDES A COCKTAIL RECEPTION & THREECOURSE MEAL. | $58 PER PERSON

BACk yArd BAr Open mic & jam w/ Robert Swain, 8pm

douBle CroWn DJ Brody Hunt (honky-tonk, Cajun, Western), 10pm

odditorium A Cinematographer’s Party w/ Sammy Guns (country), 9pm

THIS UNIQUELY DESIGNED DINNER EXPERIENCE BLENDS HISTORICAL FACTS, SETTING AND PERSONAGES WITH

Asheville musiC hAll Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 11pm

good stuFF Open mic w/ Laura Thurston, 7pm

lAzy diAmond Heavy Night w/ DJ Butch, 10pm

THOMAS WOLFE MYSTERY DINNER EXPERIENCE DEC 12 & DEC. 27TH, 6PM

iron horse stAtion Open mic, 6pm

TAVERN DOWNTOWN ON THE PARK Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 13 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shufﬂeboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night

Looking for the Perfect Gift? bo

A How

ut a Pa ck’s Tave rn Gift Card!

THU. 11/26 Steve Mosely Duo

(classic hits, bluegrass)

isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Tuesday bluegrass sessions, 7:30pm JACk oF the Wood puB Screen Door Porch w/ The Gravelys (Americana, roots-rock), 7pm lAzy diAmond Punk ’n’ Roll w/ DJ Leo Delightful, 10pm

olive or tWist 2 Breeze Band (Motown), 6pm

loBster trAp Jay Brown (acoustic-folk, singer-songwriter), 6:30pm

one World BreWing Beats & Brews w/ DJ Whistleblower, 8pm

mArket plACe The Rat Alley Cats (jazz, Latin, swing), 7pm

oskAr Blues BreWery Mountain Music Mondays (open jam), 6pm

odditorium Odd comedy night, 9pm

soCiAl lounge & tApAs “Moshave November” w/ Kettle One, 7pm

oFF the WAgon Rock ’n’ roll bingo, 8pm

FRI. 11/27

DJ MoTo

(dance

hits, pop)

SAT. 11/28 Grand Theft Audio (rock, classic covers)

20 S. SPRUCE ST. • 225.6944 PACKSTAVERN.COM mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

Dinner Menu till 10pm Late Night Menu till

Tues-Sun

5pm–12am

Full Bar

12am

cl u b l a n d

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

soCiAl lounge & tApAs Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm

odditorium Sea Cycles (electronic, indie), 9pm

tAllgAry’s At Four College Jam night, 9pm

oFF the WAgon Piano show, 9pm

the Joint next door Open mic w/ Laura Thurston, 7pm

olive or tWist Intermediate swing dance lessons w/ Bobby Wood, 7pm Beginning swing dance lesson w/ Bobby Wood, 7:30pm 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock), 8pm

tressA’s doWntoWn JAzz And Blues Funk & jazz jam w/ Pauly Juhl, 8:30pm

COMING SOON WED 11/25 8:00 PM – IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE FROM WVL RADIO SAT 11/28 8:30 PM – AN EVENING W/ THE KRUGER BROTHERS SUN 11/29 6:30 PM – AN EVENING W/ THE KRUGER BROTHERS THU 12/2 7:00 PM – THE RAY CHESNA TRIO (LOUNGE) THU 12/3 6:30 PM – ASHEVILLE ON BIKES BUTTON UP BIRTHDAY SOIREE 8:30 PM – CLAIRE LYNCH BAND FRI 12/4 7:00 PM – CLASSICAL DINNER AND A CONCERT: AMICIMUSIC PRESENTS “FLUTE FANDANGO” 9:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH DULCI ELLENBERGER AND BIG SOUND HARBOR SAT 12/5 STEVE BAUGHMAN AND ROBIN BULLOCK: CELTIC GUITAR CHRISTMAS WED 12/9 7:00 PM – SWEET CLAUDETTE (LOUNGE) 8:30 PM – WINTER SOUL WITH SIDNEY BARNES, KAT WILLIAMS AND RICHARD SHULMAN THU 12/10 ROADKILL GHOST CHOIR, T HARDY MORRIS AND THE HARDKNOCKS, SAINT PE FRI 12/11 7:00 PM – AN EVENING WITH JOAN AND JONI 9:00 PM – MOUNTAIN SOUL PARTY: LYRIC AND THE SECRET B SIDES W/ RYAN R&B BARBER AND FREE RADIO SAT 12/12 9:00 PM – RIVER WHYLESS W/ SPECIAL

GUEST JUSTIN RINGLE (OF HORSEFEATHERS) WED 12/16 7:00 PM – SWEET CLAUDETTE: HOLIDAY SEASON RESIDENCY

8:30 PM – CHATHAM COUNTY LINE— ELECTRIC HOLIDAY TOUR

THU 12/17 7:00 PM – CLARINET HOLIDAY:

A FESTIVAL OF PIPES

Every Tuesday

7:30pm–midnite

BLUEGRASS SESSIONS

Every Sunday

6pm–11pm

JAZZ SHOWCASE

tWisted lAurel Tuesday night blues dance w/ The Remedy (free dance lesson 8 - 8:30), 8pm urBAn orChArd Billy Litz (Americana, singer-songwriter), 7pm

pisgAh BreWing CompAny The Everydays (Americana), 6pm

White horse BlACk mountAin Irish sessions & open mic, 6:30pm

room ix Fuego: Latin night, 9pm

Wild Wing CAFe south Tuesday bluegrass, 6pm Trivia w/ Kelilyn, 8:30pm

sCully’s Sons of Ralph (bluegrass), 6pm

WednesdAy, deCemBer 2 185 king street Movie night, 7pm 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Sean Gaskell (world music), 5pm Les Amis (African folk), 8pm AltAmont theAtre Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer w/ Tina & Her Pony (folk rock, roots, Americana), 8pm Ben’s tune-up Honky-tonk Wednesdays, 3pm BlACk mountAin Ale house Play to Win game night, 7:30pm Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Open mic, 7pm douBle CroWn Classic Country w/ DJs Greg Cartwright, David Gay, Brody Hunt, 10pm FunkAtorium John Hartford Jam (folk, bluegrass), 6:30pm good stuFF Uncle Jake & The 18 Wheel Gang (folk, bluegrass), 7pm grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern An evening w/ David Olney (Americana, folk, blues), 8pm grind CAFe Trivia night, 7pm highlAnd BreWing CompAny Woody Wood Wednesdays (rock, soul), 5:30pm isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Ray Chesna Trio (singer-songwriter, old-time, acoustic), 7pm JACk oF the Wood puB Old-time session, 5pm Honky-tonk dance party w/ Hearts Gone South, 9pm lAzy diAmond Killer Karaoke w/ KJ Tim O, 10pm loBster trAp Ben Hovey (dub-jazz, trumpet), 6:30pm mountAin moJo CoFFeehouse Open mic, 6:30pm neW mountAin theAter/AmphitheAter John Scofield & Jon Cleary (jazz, R&B, soul), 8pm

743 HAYWOOD RD 828-575-2737 ISISASHEVILLE.COM 60

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mountainx.com

one stop deli & BAr Lip sync karaoke, 10pm

sly grog lounge Cards Against Humanity Game Night, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm sol BAr neW mountAin World Wednesdays, 8pm tAllgAry’s At Four College Open mic & jam, 7pm the Joint next door Bluegrass jam, 8pm the phoenix Jazz night, 8pm the southern Disclaimer Comedy open mic, 9pm tiger mountAin Flux (’80s & ’90s dance party), 10pm timo’s house “Spectrum AVL” w/ DamGood & rotating DJs, 9pm toWn pump Open mic w/ Billy Presnell, 9pm trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Acoustic jam w/ Kevin Scanlon (bluegrass, oldtime, folk), 6pm tressA’s doWntoWn JAzz And Blues Blues & soul jam w/ Al Coffee & Da Grind, 8:30pm

thursdAy, deCemBer 3 185 king street Jas Patrick (rock, blues, Americana), 8pm 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Pleasure Chest (blues, rock, soul), 8pm BArley’s tAproom AMC Jazz Jam, 9pm Ben’s tune-up Urban Pioneers (Americana, bluegrass, folk), 8pm BlACk mountAin Ale house Bluegrass jam w/ The Big Deal Band, 8pm Blue ridge tAproom Beyond Chicken (Americana), 8pm Buxton hAll BBQ Velvet & Lace w/ DJ Dr. Filth (dark classics, benefit), 10pm

noBle kAvA Open mic w/ Caleb Beissert, 9pm

CluB eleven on grove Tango lessons & practilonga w/ Tango Gypsies, 7pm

o.henry’s/the underground “Take the Cake” Karaoke, 10pm

Creekside tAphouse Singer-songwriter night w/ Riyen Roots, 8pm

toWn pump Ben Phan (singer-songwriter), 9pm

oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm

trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Cajun & western swing jam w/ Steve Burnside, 7pm

FrenCh BroAd BreWery Cygne (alternative), 6pm

tressA’s doWntoWn JAzz And Blues The Westsound Revue (Motown, soul), 9pm

one stop deli & BAr Free Dead Fridays w/ members of Phuncle Sam (jam), 5pm

good stuFF Cameron Sutphin (country, folk, rock), 7pm

tWisted lAurel Karaoke, 8pm

douBle CroWn 33 and 1/3 Thursdays w/ DJs Devyn & Oakley, 10pm

grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern Martin Barre Band w/ The Get Right Band (rock, folk), 8pm isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Claire Lynch Band (bluegrass), 8:30pm JACk oF the Wood puB Bluegrass jam, 7pm loBster trAp Hank Bones (“The man of 1,000 songs”), 6:30pm mArket plACe Ben Hovey (dub jazz, beats), 7pm neW mountAin theAter/AmphitheAter Mimosa (electronic), 9pm o.henry’s/the underground Game Night, 9pm Drag Show, 12:30am odditorium Dr. Sketchy’s Presents (burlesque), 6pm Jesus Jim (rock), 10pm

FridAy, deCemBer 4 185 king street Noche Latina, 8pm 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Les Amis (African folk), 9pm Asheville musiC hAll Brown Bag Songwriting Competition w/ Debrissa McKinney (all genres), 7:30pm AthenA’s CluB Dave Blair (folk, funk, acoustic), 7pm Ben’s tune-up Woody Wood & the Asheville Family Band (acoustic, folk, rock), 5pm BlACk BeAr CoFFee Co. Comedy night w/ Tom Scheve, 7pm Blue mountAin pizzA & BreW puB Acoustic Swing, 7pm

oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

City lights Bookstore Cygne (alternative), 7pm

olive or tWist Dance lesson w/ Ian & Karen, 8pm DJ (oldies, Latin, line dance), 8:30pm

douBle CroWn DJ Greg Cartwright (garage & soul obscurities), 10pm

one stop deli & BAr Uncle Jake & The 18 Wheel Gang (folk, bluegrass), 11pm

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm

orAnge peel 14th annual benefit concert for Make-A-Wish w/ Marcus King Band (psychedelic, Southern rock, jam), 6pm oskAr Blues BreWery Redleg Husky (Americana), 6pm pACk’s tAvern Billy Litz (Americana, acoustic), 9pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Red Honey (Goth, country, psychedelic), 8pm room ix Throwback Thursdays (all vinyl set), 9pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm sly grog lounge Open mic (musicians, poets, comedians & more welcome), 8pm

pACk’s tAvern DJ OCelate (dance hits), 9pm pisgAh BreWing CompAny Dead 27s w/ Copious Jones (soul, blues, jam), 9pm sCAndAls nightCluB Zumba Fitness in Da Club w/ Be Bad Hip Hop, 7pm DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm sCully’s DJ, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs DJ Kyuri on vinyl (funk, soul, disco), 10pm sol BAr neW mountAin Downright (funk, synth-rock, psychedelic), 6pm southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery Fin Dog (bluegrass), 8pm the AdmirAl Hip Hop dance party w/ DJ Warf, 11pm

grey eAgle musiC hAll & tAvern Tyler Ramsey w/ Rayna Gellert (folk), 9pm highlAnd BreWing CompAny Devil’s Britches release party, 7pm isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Amicimusic presents “Flute Fandango” (Latin), 7pm An evening w/ Dulci Ellenberger & Big Sound Harbor (folk, pop), 9pm JACk oF the Wood puB Shane Pruitt Band (gospel, blues, rock ’n’ roll), 9pm JerusAlem gArden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm k lounge DJ CVtheProducer (old-school hip-hop), 10pm

sol BAr neW mountAin Open Mic Nights w/ Arjay Sutton & Melissa Blazen (folk, singer-songwriter), 6pm Songwriter Thursdays w/ Caine McDonald, 8pm

lAzy diAmond Sonic Satan Stew w/ DJ Alien Brain, 10pm

southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery Nitrograss (newgrass), 7pm

luellA’s BAr-B-Que Riyen Roots (blues, soul), 8pm

spring Creek tAvern Open Mic, 6pm

mArket plACe The Sean Mason Trio (groove, jazz, funk), 7pm

tAllgAry’s At Four College Open mic w/ Datrian Johnson, 7pm

neW mountAin theAter/AmphitheAter Asheville drum circle (at Blue Ridge Tap Room), 6pm

timo’s house Dance Party w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10pm

oskAr Blues BreWery Carver & Carmody (blues, Americana), 6pm

good stuFF Marshall Christmas Pageant, 7:30pm Laura Thurston (Americana, folk, singer-songwriter), 8pm

soCiAl lounge & tApAs 80s night w/ DJ Kyuri on vinyl, 8pm

the mothlight AlonTree crowdfunding kickoff party w/ Bygone Blues, Melissa Hyman, Jay Brown & DJ Mike Hurd (blues, roots, dance), 7pm

orAnge peel Deerhunter w/ Atlas Sound (post-punk, ambient, rock), 9pm

loBster trAp Calico Moon (Americana), 6:30pm

o.henry’s/the underground Drag Show, 12:30am odditorium Drunk In a Dumpster w/ Flashbang, No Anger Control & Mormon Informant (punk), 9pm

mountainx.com

november 25 - december 1, 2015

• POUR YOUR OWN DRINK

• 46 CRAFT BEERS • 8 WINES • GAME ROOM

cl u b l a n d

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com

the mothlight Resonant Rogues w/ The Darnell Boys & Laura Blackley (Gypsy-swing, jazz, folk), 9pm

WED Nov. 25 - Pie and Beer Pairing

Shufﬂe Board League every Wednesday of December

THU Dec 3rd - Homegrown Tap Takeover Highlighting Local Breweries

THU Dec.10 - Holiday Beer Tap Takeover 8 0 0 H a y w o o d S t r e e t • P o u r Ta p R o o m . c o m Monday - Thursday 12-11pm • Friday & Saturday 12-1am • Sunday 12-11pm

the soCiAl Steve Moseley (acoustic), 6pm

Zin Vetro w/ The Tip (rock), 9pm oFF the WAgon Dueling pianos, 9pm

thomAs WolFe Auditorium Joy: The Christmas Tour w/ Steven Curtis Chapman & Jillian Edwards (singer-songwriter), 8pm

olive or tWist

tiger mountAin Dark dance rituals w/ DJ Cliffypoo, 10pm

orAnge peel

timo’s house Subterranean Shakedown w/ TowerHand, B1G BEN & DJ Kool Laid (bass party), 10pm toWn pump The Fat Catz (space-rock), 9pm

42nd Street Band (big band jazz), 8pm Dance party (hip-hop, rap), 11pm The Twelve Days of Alice’s Winter Ashevilleland (dance, cabaret, comedy), 8pm oskAr Blues BreWery If Birds Could Fly (indie, folk), 6pm pACk’s tAvern

trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Three Frog Night w/ Owen Grooms (oldtime), 8pm

A Social Function (classic hits, rock ’n’ roll), 9pm

tWisted lAurel Live DJ, 11pm

Wavy Train (jam), 9pm

White horse BlACk mountAin Sheila Kay Adams and the Scofflaws (Americana, Appalachian music, folk), 8pm

November / December 2015

odditorium

Wild Wing CAFe south A Social Function (acoustic), 9:30pm zAmBrA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

pisgAh BreWing CompAny room ix Open dance night, 9pm sCAndAls nightCluB DJ dance party & drag show, 10pm sCully’s DJ, 10pm soCiAl lounge & tApAs

FRIDAY

SOL VIBES

11.27

w/ TRANSPUTER

11.27

w/ DJ AUDIO & DJ TUNE

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

11.28

WEDNESDAY

12.02

THURSDAY

12.03 FRIDAY

12.04

THURSDAY

12.10 FRIDAY

sAturdAy, deCemBer 5 185 king street Grits & Soul (country, soul, blues), 8pm

THE BLVCKOUT

5 WAlnut Wine BAr Andrew Fletcher (stride piano), 6pm The Devyl Nellys (experimental), 9pm

southern AppAlAChiAn BreWery The Zuzu Welsh Band (blues), 8pm the AdmirAl Soul night w/ DJ Dr. Filth, 11pm the CroW And Quill

DUBCONSCIOUS

Asheville musiC hAll Honeypot 15th anniversary w/ Morphonic, Samuel Paradise, Dee MF & Earthtone Soundsystem (multi-genre), 10pm

JOHN SCOFIELD

AthenA’s CluB Michael Kelley Hunter (blues), 6:30pm Dave Blair (folk, funk, acoustic), 7pm

Andy Sandford w/ Minori Hinds, Cody Hughes & Jason Webb (comedy), 8pm

MIMOSA

Ben’s tune-up Gypsy Guitars, 2pm Honey & Houston (Americana, country, blues), 5pm Through The Hills (Americana), 7pm

the mothlight

BlACk BeAr CoFFee Co. Wintervals (indie, folk, acoustic), 7pm

the southern

W/ FREE RADIO & FUTEXTURE

+ JON CLEARY

SOL VIBES

w/ THE DOWNRIGHT

douBle CroWn Rock ’n’ Soul w/ DJs Lil Lorruh or Rebecca & Dave, 10pm

DOPAPOD W/ SPECIAL GUESTS THE NTH POWER

elAine’s dueling piAno BAr Dueling Pianos, 9pm good stuFF Marshall Christmas Pageant, 7:30pm

COSMIC CHARLIE

12.11 PERFORMS EUROPE ‘72 Coming Up:

isis restAurAnt And musiC hAll Steve Baughman & Robin Bullock (Celtic, acoustic, Christmas tunes), 9pm JACk oF the Wood puB Don Merkle & The Blacksmiths w/ Honey & Houston (Appalachian, country, Celtic), 8pm

FRI - 12.18 - ANDREILIEN & SOOHAN SAT - 12.19 - VANESSA CARLTON

JerusAlem gArden Middle Eastern music & bellydancing, 7pm

THU - 12.31 - NEW YEARS EVE 2015-2016 THE MANTRAS W/ PIGEONS PLAYING PING PONG

lAzy diAmond Unknown Pleasures w/ DJ Greg Cartwright, 10pm loBster trAp Sean Mason Trio (jazz), 6:30pm

FRI - 2.19 - TAUKING MCGEE OFFICIAL UMPHREY’S MCGEE AFTER PARTY

Phantom Pantone (DJ), 10pm

november 25 - december 1, 2015

mArket plACe DJs (funk, R&B), 7pm

mountainx.com

Lost Dog Street Band w/ Carolina Catskins (country, storytelling), 9pm the millroom

1970s Film Stock w/ Yours Truly & Judas Horse (experimental, psychedelic, shoegaze), 9:30pm Disclaimer Comedy w/ Mello Mike, Blaine Perry & Chaz Scovel (comedy), 8pm timo’s house Dance Party w/ DJ Franco Nino (top 40), 10pm toWn pump Shimmy & The Burns (country, folk, rock), 9pm trAilheAd restAurAnt And BAr Kevin Lorenz (acoustic), 8pm tWisted lAurel Live DJ, 11pm White horse BlACk mountAin AmiciMusic presents: Flute Fandango (Latin, classical), 2pm Rhoda Weaver (pop), 8pm Wild Wing CAFe Karaoke, 8pm zAmBrA Zambra Jazz Trio, 8pm

movies

CrankY Hanke reVieWs & listings BY KEN HANKE & JUSTIN SOUTHER

HHHHH =

C O N TA C T AT P R E S S M O V I E S @ A O L . C O M m a x r at i n g

Picks of the week

the ate r l istinG s WednesdAy, novemBer 25 thursdAy, deCemBer 3 Due to possible scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.

Asheville pizzA & BreWing Co. (254-1281) the maze runner: the scorch trials (pG-13) 1:00 (Sat-Sun only), 4:00 straiGht outta compton (r) 10:00 the Walk (pG) 7:00

CArmike CinemA 10 (298-4452) CArolinA CinemAs (274-9500)

Helen Mirren (as Hedda Hopper) and Bryan Cranston (as Dalton Trumbo) in Jay Roach’s powerful and still relevant Trumbo.

trumbo HHHHH director: Jay Roach plaYers: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Elle Fanning, Alan Tudyk, Louis C.K., John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg bioGraphical historical drama RATED R the storY: Biopic of blacklisted screewriter Dalton Trumbo, and a picture of the whole HUAC era. the loWdoWn: A savvy biopic that benefits from an often very funny script, excellent performances and an unfortunately stillrelevant story.

Jay Roach’s Trumbo is something of a miracle — in part because it’s from Jay Roach, a man whose directing career previously peaked with the Austin Powers movies. At the very least, there’s nothing in his filmography that suggests he’d be suitable for this. Toss in the fact that, on the surface, it bites off more than it should be able to chew by covering not just Dalton Trumbo’s (a brilliant Bryan Cranston) life and career from 1947 to 1970 but also the story of the Hollywood Ten, the House Un-American Activities Committee, the blacklist and the defeat of that same list. Does the film telescope events and simplify some things in order to

do this in two hours? Does it create scenes to make its points? Of course, it does. It has to. Does it work as powerful drama all the same? Like gangbusters. I wish it wasn’t opening the same week as Brooklyn, however. Not only does that pit two must-see movies against each other, but it lands me squarely in the position of having two “Weekly Picks” that cannot be accommodated easily (if at all) in the layout. More than that, I wish the film was simply an historical record, but it’s not — especially in a world where certain political pundits have been trying to paint a positive picture of HUAC and the blacklist. Trumbo is unfortunately as relevant today as it ever was. It almost works as allegory. The distance between one of the major architects of the mountainx.com

brooklYn (pG-13) 11:40, 2:10, 4:40, 7:10, 9:40 creed (pG-13) 10:55, 1:50, 4:40, 7:35, 10:00 the Good dinosaur 3d (pG) 2:25, 9:25 the Good dinosaur 2d (pG) 10:45, 12:00, 1:10, 3:35, 4:45, 7:05 the hunGer Games: mockinGJaY -- part 2 (pG-13) 10:15, 12:15, 1:15, 3:15, 4:15, 6:15, 7:15, 9:15, 10:15 love the coopers (pG-13) 11:15, 4:20, 9:55 the martian (pG-13) 6:55, 9:55 the niGht beFore (r) 12:10, 2:50, 5:15, 7:40, 10:05 the peanuts movie (G) 11:10, 1:25, 3:55, 6:10, 8:25, 10:35 room (r) 1:40, 7:20 secret in their eYes (pG-13) 11:20, 1:50, 4:25, 7:00, 9:30 spectre (pG-13) 12:20, 3:40, 7:20, 10:30 spotliGht (r) 11:00, 1:45, 4:30, 7:30, 10:20 trumbo (r) 11:25, 2:05, 4:45, 7:25, 10:05 victor Frankenstein (pG-13) 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:45, 10:10

Co-ed CinemA BrevArd (883-2200)

the hunGer Games: mockinGJaY -- part 2 (pG-13) 12:30, 4:00, 7:30

epiC oF hendersonville (693-1146) Fine Arts theAtre (232-1536) brooklYn (pG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 700, Late show Fri-Sat 9:30 spotliGht (r) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show Fri-Sat 9:50

FlAtroCk CinemA (697-2463)

love the coopers (pG-13) starts FridaY 1:00 (Fri-sun onlY), 4:00, 7:00 (closed mon)

regAl Biltmore grAnde stAdium 15 (684-1298) united Artists BeAuCAtCher (2981234) november 25 - december 1, 2015

movies

by Ken Hanke & Justin Souther

contact xpressmovies@aol.com

HHHHH = max rating

s ta rti n G Fr i d aY Brooklyn See review in “Cranky Hanke”

screen scene

Creed A new twist — sort of — in reboots comes our way with this one, in which the old Rocky series gets a new shot with Sylvester Stallone essentially playing the old Burgess Meredith role to the son of his old boxing nemesis Apollo Creed, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan). Screwy as this sounds, the early reviews have been surprisingly enthusiastic. (pg-13)

The Good Dinosaur The latest from Pixar is described thus: “The Good Dinosaur asks the question: What if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct? Pixar Animation Studios takes you on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of.” Destined to be the week’s big opener. (pg)

Trumbo See review in “Cranky Hanke”

Victor Frankenstein This unasked-for attempt to revive the old Frankenstein yarn comes from Scottish director Paul McGuigan, who is not known for making good movies — but the cast makes it at least interesting. The studio explains it like this: “James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe star in a dynamic and thrilling twist on a legendary tale. Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences.” Isn’t that always the way things go with Dr. Frankenstein? (pg-13) 64

november 25 - december 1, 2015

FeAr FACtor: Matt Burke films a night scene on location for “Possession,” the pilot episode of Asheville director Ben Carland’s new series, “Monster of the Week.” Photo by Eric Anderson • The Asheville-set satirical Web comedy “Transplanting” holds a free holiday party Wednesday, Dec. 9, at The Mothlight. The evening begins at 8 p.m. and includes a screening of each episode up to the series’ never-beforeseen holiday installments, standup comedy by event emcee chase mcneill, performances by local troupe Blacklist Improv (several of whose members are in the “Transplanting” cast), an affordable raffle for desirable prizes and more. The series is co-created by lea mclellan and andrew vasco and chronicles the adventures of millennial Maeve (hayley heninger) as she discovers the many quirks that make Asheville equal parts wonderful and ridiculous. avl.mx/20r • In the tradition of “The X-Files,” the original “Twilight Zone” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark,” Asheville director ben carland has launched a new short film project called “Monster of the Week.” Each episode in the series is a standalone horror, sci-fi, thriller or hybrid story running approximately 30 minutes. The pilot “Possession” was filmed in Flat Rock in mid-October and follows the struggles of recently divorced father Bart (matt burke) to keep custody of his young son miles (Reid Meadows) and the changes that occur once something crashes in the woods behind their house. Carland is aiming for 10 total episodes in the first season — a self-professed moderate number so that each story may receive maximum attention

mountainx.com

on the production and editing fronts — and will soon be accepting pitches from area writers. Interested parties are invited to register on Carland’s Pixel Pictures website and will be notified via email once the submission process opens. Writers whose scripts are greenlighted will be financially compensated. Much of the team that made “Possession” will be involved in the subsequent episodes, adjusting the crew size depending on the needs of each story with casting done independently each time. “I hope to accrue some familiar faces throughout the show, but that will boil down to the best fits for the selected episodes,” Carland says. “One of my favorite elements of the show is the localgrown approach to every aspect of its creation. Almost all of the cast and crew are local to the region, and we’re planning to do the same with each episode.” Carland predicts that “Monster of the Week” will likely be released through video-on-demand platforms but is open to other possibilities. “There’s an exciting range of content networks sprouting up seemingly overnight these days, so there are lots of options and combinations to consider,” he says. Whatever form the release takes, Carland hopes to have a public screening at a local movie theater, either just of “Possession” or a marathon of multiple episodes. avl.mx/20s Send your local film news to ae@ mountainx.com X

blacklist, gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren), and modern pundits like Ann Coulter is very small. And when, in the course of the film, it’s suggested that all members of the Communist Party should be put in camps, it cuts even deeper. (It should be noted that it was not then, nor is it now, illegal to be a party member.) A certain amount of criticism that has been leveled against the film is that it tells “us” nothing we didn’t know already. That idea — being put forth by film-savvy writers who presumably know the history — works on the faulty assumption that there is a unified “us.” There’s not. Did I learn anything new? Probably not, but I’m also 61 years old and steeped (some would say too much so) in film history, which includes this chapter. But, if I was in my 20s, 30s or even 40s and not conversant with this history, would I still say that? My guess is no. As such, I’m not on board with the argument that it tells “us” nothing new. More than that, though, it tells it in a surprisingly entertaining manner — skillfully blending outrage, bleak humor and genuinely moving scenes. What Trumbo gives us is a portrait of the writer — in all his sometimes wrong-headed prickliness — and his circle being harassed and even imprisoned for their political belief that congress had no legal right to ask them the infamous “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” question. It also offers a trenchant behindthe-scenes look at the forces behind the witch hunt and the blacklist. As noted, some things are simplified — the idea that Kirk Douglas single-handedly broke the blacklist by crediting Trumbo as writer on Spartacus in 1960 is hardly the whole story, but it serves dramatically. Similarly, the scene where Hedda Hopper browbeats Louis B. Mayer (a staunch right-wing moralist himself) into submission by threats of bringing up the Jewish heritage (and real names) of nearly all the industry’s moguls to play on the public’s antiSemitism may be invented, but the tone is very authentic. That sense of authenticity, I think — along with just how entertaining and important the film is — raises Trumbo to greatness. Rated R for language, including some sexual references. Starts Wednesday at Carolina Cinemas. revieWed By ken hAnke khAnke@mountAinx.Com

Pick of the week

Saoirse Ronan and Emory Cohen in James Crowley’s transcendently beautiful Brooklyn.

brooklyn HHHHH director: John Crowley (Closed Circuit) plaYers: Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Fiona Glascott, Jane Brennan, Jessica Paré romance drama RATED PG-13 the storY: The tale of a young Irish woman who moves to America. the loWdoWn: You will find few better movies this year — and none that are more magical. This is an essential. Saoirse Ronan moves to forefront of young actresses with this film.

Utterly charming, quietly moving, sweet without being cloying, beautiful in its simplicity — yet surprising in the depth of its characterizations — John Crowley’s Brooklyn is very nearly a perfect film. Oh, there’s some annoyingly shaky hand-held camera early on, but this is brief, so minor (and so completely cancelled out by the rest of the movie) that I almost hesitate to mention it. It certainly has no bearing on my assessment of Brooklyn, but it is startlingly out of place in a film that otherwise so carefully creates an image of the world in 1952. (Even the movies referenced — Singin’ in the Rain and The Quiet Man — and the song “Zing a Little Zong” are dead on to that year.)

In no capacity did I detect even a moment of falseness. This is not just a great film, it is an unerringly genuine one. The story is disarmingly simple — young Irish girl Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) goes to Brooklyn, gets a job in a department store, sets out to better herself, suffers loneliness and homesickness, falls in love with nice Italian-American Tony (Emory Cohen), etc. There are complications, the greatest of which is the death of her sister, Rose (Fiona Glascott), which cause her to have to return to Ireland — just before which she secretly marries Tony. Once in Ireland, she finds herself being drawn back in to that world and, worse, finds herself falling in love with a well-to-do local boy, Jim (Domhnall Gleeson), a friend

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has fixed her up with. None of this sounds terribly original or in any way special. How it’s written (by Nick Hornby from the novel by Colm Toibin), played and directed is … well, something magical. Much of what makes Brooklyn such a special film lies in its attention to detail. The places where the story unfolds — Ireland, the ship, Ellis Island, Brooklyn, the department store and so on — don’t feel like sets or locations. They feel like a real world that the film inhabits. The characters don’t feel like characters. They feel like real people and their emotions — which are sometimes contradictory — ring true. You can put all this down to the various elements that make up the film, but it is simply not possible to explain the alchemy that transmutes those elements into the experience of the overall picture. The only other film I can think of this year that comes close to this feeling is Bill Condon’s Sherlock Holmes, and it exists in a more rarefied world than this. What separates Brooklyn from most movies is that even relatively minor characters have at least the illusion of reality. Take, for example, Eilis’ supervisor (Jessica Paré) at the department store. It isn’t just that she slowly becomes more believably human over the course of her scenes — while retaining a certain acerbic quality (note her assessment of an Italian boy who doesn’t endlessly talk baseball and his mother) — it’s easy to feel that she has a life beyond the confines of her role. She’s just one of many such characters in the film. There’s never a sense that anyone is just there to move the story along. Also in the film’s favor is the totally unstressed fact that we have the advantage of historical hindsight. Brooklyn absolutely never succumbs to a fit of quaintness concerning the

november 25 - december 1, 2015

MOVIES

by Edwin Arnaudin

changes between 1952 and today. It realizes that the characters who inhabit it don’t consider themselves anything but modern, yet we look at their world through the prism of what we know is to come. We know, for example, that the uninhabited area of Long Island where Tony envisions a five-house building project will one day be a sprawling suburb — just as we know his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers will defect to Los Angeles in a few short years. This sort of thing lends the movie a quietly wistful air that broadens its scope. However, one of the most amazing aspects of the film lies in its ability to realistically combine conflicting traits in its characters. Almost no one is as quite as good, quite as bad or quite as shallow as they may at first seem. It’s delightful — and delightfully touching — to witness the kind of reality we see in Eilis’ malleable emotions and Tony’s own uncertainty about whether or not he’s really good enough for Eilis (and whether his clumsy attempts at writing her when she’s in Ireland has tarnished her image of him). That the performances are up to these demands is in itself remarkable — even considering the luminous presence of Ms. Ronan in the lead. If you do not see Brooklyn, you will be missing out on one 2015’s best films. Rated PG - 13 for a scene of sexuality and brief strong language. Starts Wednesday at Carolina Cinemas and Fine Arts Theatre.

MYSTERY THRILLER RATED PG-13 THE STORY: An unresolved 13-year-old murder case returns to haunt those involved. THE LOWDOWN: Intelligent, and largely effective, Americanized remake of the 2010 Argentinian thriller. Great performances and a respect for the original mostly carry the day, but the plot-driven nature of the story is apt to disappoint viewers who already know where it’s all leading.

PLAYERS: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Dean Norris, Alfred Molina, Joe Cole, Michael Kelly

Back when Juan Jose Campanella’s The Secret in Their Eyes came out in 2010, I was greatly impressed — giving it the highest possible recommendation. But, as sometimes happens, the film faded from my mind over time. I could remember that I thought it was great, but not why. Nor could I remember much about the film, making me suspect that I had very likely overrated it. This is something that most often happens with movies that are largely plot-driven — once the story is told, there’s just not much left. I had much the same experience with Guillaume Canet’s 2008 thriller Tell No One and Claude LeLouch’s Roman de Gare (also 2008). (A case can be made that this is more related to foreign language thrillers than anything else.) This is less a criticism than an observation. Some movies — no matter how well-made or how entertaining — simply don’t have much replay value. Seeing Billy Ray’s Americanized remake of Campanella’s film brought this home with a vengeance. Despite the changes made in Secret in Their Eyes — more has been altered than dropping the “The,” changing the location and shooting it in English — the new film brought the original back to mind in all its structural cleverness. It also reminded me just where all this was leading, and, once I knew, my involvement with it all lessened by the minute. While I could appreciate the same cleverness inherent in the original, I wasn’t really invested in the plot. But — and I cannot stress this enough — Secret in Their Eyes is by no means a bad movie, and I strongly suspect that anyone who doesn’t know the story will find much to like. Even while waiting for things to happen — as opposed to waiting to see what would happen — I liked the film and found a good bit to admire. Without giving away too much about the plot, I can say that the story works in two time periods taking place 13 years apart. (In the original,

november 25 - december 1, 2015

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reviewed by Ken Hanke khanke@mountainx.com

Secret in Their Eyes HHHS DIRECTOR: Billy Ray (Shattered Glass)

edwinarnaudin@gmail.com the gap was 25 years.) But the film is not linear. It moves back and forth between an old murder case and a present-day attempt to bring the killer to justice. In the new film, Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Ray, a former FBI agent who can’t let go of the 2002 case that changed his life and the lives of the two other main characters, L.A. District Attorney Claire (Nicole Kidman) and his former police partner Jess (Julia Roberts). That murder took place when he was working a Homeland Security detail in conjunction with the LAPD and he and Jess were called in because it took place near a Mosque. The victim turned out to be Jess’ daughter. Although Ray identified the killer (Joe Cole) fairly quickly, the evidence wasn’t there to hold the man — in part because he was a police informant inside the Mosque — and he disappeared. Thinking he’s spotted the killer in the police files, Ray (now a private investigator) returns to L.A. to re-open the case, along with a lot of old, unhealed wounds — including his unrequited (or unacted-upon) love for Claire. It is tempting to read too much into the Homeland Security/Islam aspects of the film (the original dealt with government corruption), but it’s mostly just window dressing that happens to be unfortunately relevant. That aspect of the movie doesn’t really go anywhere beyond the purely functional, since this is a character-study mystery, not a political film in the strict sense. Honestly, any other bureaucracy would work as well. What makes Secret in Their Eyes work lies in carefully recreating key high points from the original — the stadium sequence, the elevator encounter, the plot twist, etc. — and the performances of the three leads. Ejiofor is outstanding as Ray, the obsessed, damaged, romantic idealist. In fact, both his character and his performance suggest a better film than the one we get. Kidman is also very fine as the slightly enigmatic Claire, who tries to balance her feelings with her position in the world. Then there’s the utterly de-glammed Roberts going from wisecracking cop to the shell of a woman over the course of the proceedings. Her performance is flawless, but the film errs somewhat in the total glamming down of the actress. It’s not wrongheaded — it makes perfect sense when the full story is known — but it is distracting in its extreme nature. A great movie? No. But it’s a good one with great things in it. Rated PG-13 for thematic material involving disturbing violent content, language and

some sexual references. Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemas, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande. reviewed by Ken Hanke khanke@mountainx.com

The Hunger Games Mockingjay — Part 2 HHHH

DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1) PLAYERS: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore YA DYSTOPIAN SCI-FI ACTION RATED PG-13 THE STORY: Conclusion to the popular film series. THE LOWDOWN: While it’s not a great film (was that even a possibility?), it’s a satisfying enough wrap-up to the story — one that boasts a sequence of genuine power.

The Hunger Games movies are unusual as far as series films go, if only by virtue of the fact that each new entry has been better than the last. That, of course, is really more opinion than fact, but it’s certainly how it looks from here — meaning that this final film is both a reasonably satisfying conclusion and the best of the lot. It does what it needs to do in tying the whole thing together. But, more importantly, it manages to finally make Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) at least somewhat likable. Now, none

of this should be taken as a rave. The furthest I’ll go is that I enjoyed most of Mockingjay — Part 2, but I’m by no means sorry to see the series end. Granted, it has one stretch of pure action — starting with a shock-effect in the sewers beneath the Capital and lasting until our heroes reach a temporary safe space 10-15 minutes later — that is among the most sustained suspense sequences I’ve seen this year. Plus, there’s an occasional whiff of true madness — if only a whiff and mostly involving Donald Sutherland. But in a nearly twoand-a-half hour movie, that makes for a relatively small amount of screen time. There’s really no point trying to detail the plot. It’s the final chapter in a series that has already established itself as being about attempting to overthrow a decadent society held together by keeping the havenots in a constant state of division and fear by the haves. (The allegory is not exactly subtle.) As a result, you know that the final entry is going to center on that overthrow. The series has always worked on the assumption that you’ve seen the previous entry, and this is no different — it simply drops the viewer into the ongoing story. In other words, this is not the movie to start with if you haven’t seen the earlier entries. You may have heard that the conclusion is surprisingly grim. That’s sort of true in the sense that theoretically well-liked characters don’t necessarily make it out of the movie alive. However, it’s at best grim-lite. After the film’s none-too-surprising big revelation, it flirts with being really dark in a “meet the new boss, same as the old boss” manner, but quickly backs away with an even less-surprising twist. It all works OK, but don’t expect to be shattered by any of it. That’s not a complaint, since I’m not in the least sure that would be in its favor. As for the burning question of whether some of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s screen time is CGI-augmented, that’s hard to say, but there’s at least one series of close-ups early on that look like composites. Is it perfect? No, not even on a sliding scale. It most certainly didn’t need to be this long. Despite the aforementioned suspenseful segment, much of the action is on a par with a video game where obstacles have to be overcome and traps are avoided. No matter how

well done, there’s an inherent limitation to it as thrilling entertainment. But, on balance, it works well enough to achieve its aims. Plus, no matter how heavy-handed its allegory may be, it’s never a bad thing to see movies with something on their minds that are aimed at a younger audience. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and for some thematic material. Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemas, Co-ed of Brevard, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande. revieWed By ken hAnke khAnke@mountAinx.Com

the night before HHHS director: Jonathan Levine (50/50) plaYers: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Jillian Bell, Lizzy Kaplan, Michael Shannon holidaY comedY RATED R the storY: Three longtime friends cling to youthful irresponsibility one last time as they put to rest a timehonored Christmas tradition: getting wasted and avoiding their families. the loWdoWn: A broad farce cashing in on holiday angst that works better than it has any right to. To say that my expectations for The Night Before were low would be something of an understatement. While I could accurately be described as representative of this film’s target demographic, I lost interest in the severely oversaturated man-child raunch-com market years ago. I was therefore understandably surprised when, leaving the theater, I realized I hadn’t hated The Night Before as expected. In fact, I enjoyed its highlights quite a bit. This is certainly not a film driven by meticulous scripting. Sure, there is a loose narrative structure, and our protagonist does complete a character arc, such as it is. But The Night Before was clearly never intended to be a thoughtful examination of personal growth. When young Ethan (Joseph

Gordon-Levitt) loses his parents to a drunk driver on Christmas Eve, his friends Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) conclude that intensive partying is the best therapy they can provide. Fifteen years later, Isaac is a married lawyer expecting a child, Chris is a successful professional athlete, and Ethan has remained an underemployed emotionally avoidant wastrel clinging to his friends’ tradition of Christmas debauchery to avoid his problems. This is the full extent of the plot this film offers. However, The Night Before’s underdeveloped and overly predictable story is overshadowed by strong improvisational comedy and excellent use of its ensemble cast. One of the film’s smartest decision was to cast Gordon-Levitt, rather than Rogen, as the developmentally stunted loser railing against his inevitable transition into adulthood, a role the latter has embodied in the vast majority of his oeuvre. While Rogen is rarely an incentive for me in any film, I don’t find him completely objectionable in limited doses, and here he carries his b-plot competently without overstaying his welcome. Where The Night Before shines is in its cameos, giving B and C list television celebrities small but narratively significant roles. These bits work more often than not (with notable exceptions being an obligatory James Franco incursion and a thoroughly obtrusive turn from Miley Cyrus) and lend depth without detracting from the proceedings. Michael Shannon, however, single-handedly redeems this film with his turn as the gang’s pot-dealing former high school teacher/guardian angel, Mr. Green. Jacob Marley meets Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life by way of Tommy Chong — Shannon’s character is portrayed with a masterful blend of gravitas and absurdity that undercuts the saccharine pandering of the third act. Closer in tone to Bad Santa than Elf, The Night Before is likely to succeed in establishing itself as a revisable holiday mainstay, though not as a classic of the genre. If you think this film might be for you, then it probably is. If you’d rather vomit during midnight mass than see another Seth Rogen movie, avoid this one like the brown acid. But if you’re on the fence, give it a shot; you might be pleasantly surprised. Rated R for language and drug use throughout, some strong sexual content and graphic nudity Now playing at Carolina Cinemas , Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande, UA Beaucatcher. revieWed By sCott douglAs JsdouglAs22@gmAil.Com

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FilmWestern north Carolina Aids project 252-7489, wncap.org • TU (12/1), 6:30pm - deepsouth, documentary. Free to attend. Held at Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St.

be sure to read ‘crankY hanke’s WeeklY reeler’ For comprehensive movie neWs everY tuesdaY aFternoon in the xpress online

Winter Packages Available! november 25 - december 1, 2015

All philosophies welcome in our

Spirituality

Issue

s pecia l scr e e ninG s

About a Boy HHHHH

Director: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz Players: Hugh Grant, Rachel Weisz, Toni Collette, Nicholas Hoult COMEDY-DRAMA Rated PG-13 The Asheville Film Society jumps into seasonal mode with Chris and Paul Weitz’s About a Boy (2002) — the film that demonstrated there was a lot more to these guys than Jason Biggs having conjugal relations with baked goods. It’s not, perhaps, standard Christmas season fare, but About a Boy isn’t your standard movie. It’s an unusually serious comedy. It’s also a romantic-comedy that doesn’t get to anything like a romance till it’s more than half over. Anyway, the film includes two Christmas scenes and is about a determinedly shallow womanizer (Hugh Grant) who lives comfortably off the royalties of his late father’s single hit song, “Santa’s Super Sleigh.” (More Christmas movies should be so clever.) Overall, it’s a warm, wonderful film about Grant’s character growing up and finally admitting — in part due to a lonely Christmas viewing of Bride of Frankenstein, but more due to his unwilling involvement with an awkward boy (Nicholas Hoult) with an impossible mother (Toni Collette) — to himself that he needs other people. That it’s also terrifically funny is no small bonus. The Asheville Film Society will screen about a boy Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. in Theater Six at The Carolina Asheville, hosted by Xpress movie critic Ken Hanke.

Rashomon HHHHS

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Director: Akira Kurosawa Players: Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki DRAMA Rated NR Though he’d made better movies before this one — and would make better ones after it — Rashomon (1950) is the film that put Akira Kurosawa on the map as a major force in international film. The secret probably lies in the picture’s unusual structure, which not only functions as a hook, but is, in fact, the whole reason for the film. The story by itself is simple — a man and his wife are waylaid by a bandit in an encounter that leaves the husband dead. But the trick is that we never see the story objectively. Instead, we see if from differing perspectives — and different agendas — so that we never know what really happened, only those differing tellings of the same events. What is true? There’s no way of telling and that’s what caught people’s imaginations. It becomes a mystery without a solution. Looked at without this aspect in mind, Rashomon actually feels cruder than some of Kurosawa’s earlier work, and maybe even a little padded. Does it deserve its massive reputation? Probably, but it’s best looked at as of its time. Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present rashomon Friday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 2733332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

The Other Boleyn Girl HH

Director: Justin Chadwick Players: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Mark Rylance, Jim Sturgess HISTORICAL DRAMA Rated PG-13 This deadly dull Masterpiece Theatre-ish waxworks display came out in 2008 and quickly disappeared. It isn’t hard to understand why. Apart from a few “shocking” interjections of earthy dialogue, an array of truly tepid PG-13 sex scenes, a dose of 16th-century feminism and the absurdly bloodless beheadings, the film is dull, dull, dull. It’s the living embodiment of Alfred Hitchcock famously complaining that he didn’t like period pictures because he could never imagine the characters in them going to the bathroom. And the movie is not helped by the fact that we know where it’s going from the onset. Supposedly, it’s going to be the story of the “other” Boleyn girl, meaning Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson). But it’s only that to the extent that Mary’s story (and the tension between her and her sister) sets the stage for Anne’s (Natalie Portman) ill-fated royal romance. All the court intrigue in the world can’t make this fresh, and the film’s insistence on a virtual cornucopia of characters who seem to exist for no other reason than to stand around on the edge of things and look concerned only makes it all a bit silly. The Hendersonville Film Society will show the other boleyn girl Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

maRketplace real e s tat e | r e n ta l s | r oom m ates | serv ices | job s | a n n ou n cements | m i nd, bo dy, spi r i t cl as s e s & w or k s hop s | m u s ic ia n s’ serv ices | pets | a u tomotiv e | x c hang e | adult Want to advertise in Marketplace? 828-251-1333 x111 tnavaille@mountainx.com • mountainx.com/classifieds If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember the Russian proverb: “Doveryai, no proveryai,” trust but verify. When answering classified ads, always err on the side of caution. Especially beware of any party asking you to give them financial or identification information. The Mountain Xpress cannot be responsible for ensuring that each advertising client is legitimate. Please report scams to ads@mountainx.com REAL ESTATE Rentals HOmES FOR REnT 2BR, 2BA LOG HOmE Next to stream. Cathedral ceilings, front/ back porch. Hi speed internet. $975/month. Marshall, 25 minutes to Asheville. Call (828) 649-1170. 2BR, 2BA nORTH Hardwoods, completely remodeled, custom woodwork. Solar workshop, carport, large deck. 2 miles north of UNCA. All new carpet/tile. Fresh paint. $900/month. No pets, no smoking. (828) 230-8706.

COmmERCiAL/ BuSinESS REnTALS

JOBS

showroom but ideal for loft apartment. Available soon, but view now to see if it fits your needs. Bill: 828-216-6066.

SHORT-TERm REnTALS 15 minuTES TO ASHEViLLE Guest house, vacation/short term rental in beautiful country setting. • Complete with everything including cable and internet. • $150/day (2-day minimum), $650/ week, $1500/month. Weaverville area. • No pets please. (828) 6589145. mhcinc58@yahoo.com

Roommates

uniQuE WAYnESViLLE DOWnTOWn SPACE Above Beverly-Hanks Realtors at 74 N Main. Impressive open 3rd floor of 4000+ sqft., high ceiling, wonderful natural light, separate HVAC, elevator from entrance on Wall St. Many uses: storage/office/

ROOmmATES ALL AREAS ROOmmATES. COm Lonely? Bored? Broke? Find the perfect roommate to complement your personality and lifestyle at Roommates.com! (AAN CAN)

OFF LEiCESTER HiGHWAY Roommate needed to share rent and utilities. Nice trailer community. $260/month and utilities. • Absolutely No drugs or alcohol. Call Joe: (828) 774-8450.

employment GEnERAL GRAY LinE TROLLEY SEEKS CDL DRiVERS FOR 2016 SEASOn Tour Guide- CDL Drivers: If you are a "people person" you could be a great TOUR GUIDE! Seasonal FULL-TIME and parttime available. Training provided. MUST have a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). www.GrayLineAsheville.com; info@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-251-8687 GRAY LinE TROLLEY SEEKS DiESEL mECHAniC Opening for experienced diesel mechanic; minimum 5 years verifiable experience; certifications a plus; must

have own tools; part-time, possible full-time. Jonathan@GrayLineAsheville.com; 828-251-8687; www.GrayLineAsheville.com JuST A QuiCK nOTE... ...to say thank you for your help from Mountain Xpress. I had a dozen calls about my ad and it is only Friday. I now know the best route is through your paper. I will definitely place another ad... Mountain Xpress is an excellent paper. Keep up the excellent work. Libby W.

ADminiSTRATiVE/ OFFiCE BOOKKEEPinG ASSiSTAnT, 8-10 HRS/WK The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville seeks an on-site, part-time Bookkeeping Assistant 8-10 hours/week between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm Wednesday and Thursday. FMI go to http:// uuasheville.org/wp-content/ uploads/2015/11/BookkeepingAsst-description-111515.pdf

TELEmARKETER nEEDED International firm with local presence in Asheville is seeking an experienced Telemarketer to generate appointments with multinational companies located in South America. Part-Time position to start with flexible hours. Must be fluent in Spanish and have a bachelor's degree. If interested, send resume to: jessica.martin@basefirma.com / www.basefirma.com

SALES/ mARKETinG

HELP WAnTED SALES Jewelry Sales, Diamond and Fine Jewelry knowledge required. Bookkeeping ability helpful. Part-time permanent with potential for full time. No nights or Sundays. Salary commensurate with experience. 10 years longevity in Biltmore Village. Call 828-274-7007.

mARKETinG PROJECT COORDinATOR Behavioral marketing firm has a project based role for a creative individual to implement digital, social and email marketing campaigns. Ideal candidate would have experience in content creation and implementing database marketing strategies. Submit resume with cover letter to mpauer@thepauercompany.com OuTWARD BOunD SERViCES GROuP - SEASOnAL ADmiSSiOnS ADViSORS Outward Bound in Asheville, NC seeking seasonal Admissions Advisors for 2016 season. Accepting resumes for P/T and F/T seasonal positions starting February through July 2016. Please send cover letter and resume to: Laurel Zimmerman by December 11th. lzimmerman@ outwardbound.org

DRiVERS/ DELiVERY DRiVERS WAnTED Mature person for full-time. Serious inquiries only. Call today. 828-713-4710. Area Wide Taxi, inc.

mEDiCAL/ HEALTH CARE

mAXim HEALTHCARE iS LOOKinG FOR CnA'S, LPn'S, AnD Rn'S Maxim Healthcare is looking for CNA’s, LPN’s, and RN’s in the Asheville and surrounding area to work in Home Healthcare. Call 828-299-4388 or email dapolich@maxhealth.com if interested. 828-299-4388 dapolich@maxhealth.com

nuRSE mAnAGER AnD Rn’S nEEDED Eliada Homes is seeking a Nurse Manager and full-time Registered Nurses to work with children and adolescents. The Nurse Manager position will supervise the Nursing team. Nurse Manager must be a Registered Nurse with a minimum of five years of psychiatric or related nursing experience and a minimum of two years of supervisory experience. All RN positions require valid NC RN licensure. Experience working with children and/or adolescents preferred. Both day and night shifts available. For more information or to apply, visit www.eliada.org/employment/current-openings.

HumAn SERViCES

AVAILABLE POSITIONS • mERiDiAn BEHAViORAL HEALTH Haywood and Buncombe Counties Clinician, Team Leader - Assertive Community Treatment Team – (ACTT) We are seeking a passionate, values-driven and dynamic professional to oversee our Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT), which primarily serves Haywood County. ACTT is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, community-based service which supports individuals with severe psychiatric disorders in remaining in the community and experiencing mental health recovery. We have a deep commitment to our ACTT services because, over the years, we have seen that is a service that truly makes a difference in the lives of the people that struggle the most with mental health challenges. Our ACTT staff have been known to describe the work as the “hardest job that you will ever love”. Come be part of our rural team and experience if for yourself! Master’s Degree in Human Services required. Two years’ experience with adults with

ON SITE REAL ESTATE AUCTION

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5, 2015 10:00 A.M. 6 Club Knoll Road Asheville, NC

The Estate of the late William W. Guthrie

in conjunction with Roberts & Stevens Attorneys at Law, Attorney/Executor John S. Stevens

REAL ESTATE

NO WALK UPS!

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PERSONAL PROPERTY

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Inspection Friday December 4th from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Morning of Sale from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. FOR INFO AND PICTURES: WWW.BRAMSEY.COM ACCELERATED REAL ESTATE MARKETING GROUP, BILL RAMSEY BROKER

BILL RAMSEY & ASSOCIATES, LLC 272 BILTMORE AVENUE ASHEVILLE, NC 28801 828-252-0406 | 828-273-8833 NCAL# 2789 NCAFL# 7879

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october 7 13,1,2015 november 25- -october december 2015

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): "We are torn between nostalgia for the familiar and an urge for the foreign and strange," wrote novelist Carson McCullers. "As often as not, we are homesick most for the places we have never known." I'm guessing that these days you're feeling that kind of homesickness, Aries. The people and places that usually comfort you don't have their customary power. The experiences you typically seek out to strengthen your stability just aren't having that effect. The proper response, in my opinion, is to go in quest of exotic and experimental stimuli. In ways you may not yet be able to imagine, they can provide the grounding you need. They will steady your nerves and bolster your courage. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The Pekingese is a breed of dog that has been around for over 2,000 years. In ancient China, it was beloved by Buddhist monks and emperors' families. Here's the legend of its origin: A tiny marmoset and huge lion fell in love with each other, but the contrast in their sizes made union impossible. Then the gods intervened, using magic to make them the same size. Out of the creatures' consummated passion, the first Pekingese was born. I think this myth can serve as inspiration for you, Taurus. Amazingly, you may soon find a way to blend and even synergize two elements that are ostensibly quite different. Who knows? You may even get some divine help. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Author Virginia Woolf wrote this message to a dear ally: "I sincerely hope I'll never fathom you. You're mystical, serene, intriguing; you enclose such charm within you. The luster of your presence bewitches me . . . the whole thing is splendid and voluptuous and absurd." I hope you will have good reason to whisper sweet things like that in the coming weeks, Gemini. You're in the Season of Togetherness, which is a favorable time to seek and cultivate interesting kinds of intimacy. If there is no one to whom you can sincerely deliver a memo like Woolf's, search for such a person. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Some people are so attached to wearing a favorite ring on one of their fingers that they never take it off. They love the beauty and endearment it evokes. In rare cases, years go by and their ring finger grows thicker. Blood flow is constricted. Discomfort sets in. And they can't remove their precious jewelry with the lubrication provided by a little olive oil or soap and water. They need the assistance of a jeweler who uses a small saw and a protective sheath to cut away the ring. I suspect this may be an apt metaphor for a certain situation in your life, Cancerian. Is it? Do you wonder if you should free yourself from a pretty or sentimental constriction that you have outgrown? If so, get help.

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- BY ROB BREZNY

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you willing to dedicate yourself fully to a game whose rules are constantly mutating? Are you resourceful enough to keep playing at a high level even if some of the other players don't have as much integrity and commitment as you? Do you have confidence in your ability to detect and adjust to ever-shifting alliances? Will the game still engage your interest if you discover that the rewards are different from what you thought they were? If you can answer yes to these questions, by all means jump all the way into the complicated fun! SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I suspect your body has been unusually healthy and vigorous lately. Is that true? If so, figure out why. Have you been taking better care of yourself? Have there been lucky accidents or serendipitous innovations on which you've been capitalizing? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine. Now I'll make a similar observation about your psychological well-being. It also seems to have been extra strong recently. Why? Has your attitude improved in such a way as to generate more positive emotions? Have there been fluky breakthroughs that unleashed unexpected surges of hope and good cheer? Make these new trends a permanent part of your routine. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): From the dawn of civilization until 1995, humans cataloged about 900 comets in our solar system. But since then, we have expanded that tally by over 3,000. Most of the recent discoveries have been made not by professional astronomers, but by laypersons, including two 13-year-olds. They have used the Internet to access images from the SOHO satellite placed in orbit by NASA and the European Space Agency. After analyzing the astrological omens, I expect you Sagittarians to enjoy a similar run of amateur success. So trust your rookie instincts. Feed your innocent curiosity. Ride your raw enthusiasm. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Whether or not you are literally a student enrolled in school, I suspect you will soon be given a final exam. It may not happen in a classroom or require you to write responses to questions. The exam will more likely be administered by life in the course of your daily challenges. The material you'll be tested on will mostly include the lessons you have been studying since your last birthday. But there will also be at least one section that deals with a subject you've been wrestling with since early in your life -- and maybe even a riddle from before you were born. Since you have free will, Capricorn, you can refuse to take the exam. But I hope you won't. The more enthusiastic you are about accepting its challenge, the more likely it is that you'll do well.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted," wrote Leo author Aldous Huxley. That's the bad news. The good news is that in the coming weeks you are less likely to take things for granted than you have been in a long time. Happily, it's not because your familiar pleasures and sources of stability are in jeopardy. Rather, it's because you have become more deeply connected to the core of your life energy. You have a vivid appreciation of what sustains you. Your assignment: Be alert for the eternal as it wells up out of the mundane.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For $70,000 per night, you can rent the entire country of Liechtenstein for your big party. The price includes the right to rename the streets while you're there. You can also create a temporary currency with a likeness of you on the bills, have a giant rendition of your favorite image carved into the snow on a mountainside, and preside over a festive medieval-style parade. Given your current astrological omens, I suggest you consider the possibility. If that's too extravagant, I hope you will at least gather your legion of best friends for the Blowout Bash of the Decade. It's time, in my opinion, to explore the mysteries of vivid and vigorous conviviality.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In their quest to collect nectar, honeybees are attuned to the importance of proper timing. Even if flowering plants are abundant, the quality and quantity of the nectar that's available vary with the weather, season, and hour of the day. For example, dandelions may offer their peak blessings at 9 a.m., cornflowers in late morning, and clover in mid-afternoon. I urge you to be equally sensitive to the sources where you can obtain nourishment, Virgo. Arrange your schedule so you consistently seek to gather what you need at the right time and place.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Are you available to benefit from a thunderbolt healing? Would you consider wading into a maelstrom if you knew it was a breakthrough in disguise? Do you have enough faith to harvest an epiphany that begins as an uproar? Weirdly lucky phenomena like these are on tap if you have the courage to ask for overdue transformations. Your blind spots and sore places are being targeted by life's fierce tenderness. All you have to do is say, "Yes, I'm ready."

november - december 1, 2015MOUNTAINX.COM mountainx.com OCTOBER 7 25 - OCTOBER 13, 2015

Mental Health, Substance Abuse or Development Disability required. Haywood County Driver/Peer Group Co-Facilitator – SA-IOP Meridian Behavioral Health Services is seeking a Driver/Peer Group Co-Facilitator for a part-time position only. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. Driver is responsible for providing transportation in Meridian van for clients attending substance abuse group and returning them to their location after group ends at 8:00 p.m. This person must be in recovery him or herself and will also be cofacilitating the substance abuse groups. Must have a valid driver’s license with no restrictions and a good motor vehicle record with no major violations within the last five years (MVR record will be reviewed prior to an offer of employment). Must also have current vehicle liability insurance, be eligible to be a Peer Support Specialist, pass a post-offer/preemployment drug test, and have moderate computer skills. Jackson County Nurse – Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) Seeking an RN, or LPN, to join our Jackson County Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. The ACTT nurse is responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the psychiatrist; providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation and support services; and sharing shiftmanagement responsibility with the ACTT Coordinator. Employee must have a valid driver's license without violations or restrictions, which could prevent completing all required job functions. Full or Part-time applicants welcome. Support Services Coordinator The responsibilities of this position include technical support for all support staff, conducting monthly on-site support/training with all support staff and quarterly support staff meetings. This individual will be directly responsible for supervising and assuring coverage in Jackson County and assist in orchestrating coverage for support staff agency wide when they use PTO or need emergency leave. Applicants must demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills, have strong computer literacy skills and a minimum of two years supervisory experience. This position requires travel throughout all counties that Meridian serves. Clinician – Recovery Education Center (REC) Seeking passionate, valuesdriven and dynamic professional to join our Jackson County Recovery Education Center (REC). This program reflects a unique design which integrates educational, clinical and peer support components in a center-based milieu. To be considered, an applicant should be familiar with the recovery paradigm of mental health and substance abuse services. A Masters degree and license eligibility are also required. Haywood and Jackson Counties Clinician – Offender Services Meridian is seeking a therapist to be a member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team, providing assessment, individual and group therapy services to sex offenders and their non-offending partners within a structured Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) and to domestic violence abusers and their families within a structured Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP). Prior clinical experience working with sexual offenders and an understanding of the dynamics of sexual deviance strongly preferred as well as familiarity with relevant research literature, clinical assessments, procedures and methods, particularly those designed for sexual offenders. Demonstrated interpersonal skills and the ability to

establish rapport and maintain objectivity with a criminal or forensic population is a necessity. Masters Degree in a human services field and licensure as a Professional Counselor or Clinical Social Worker or Psychological Associate is required. At least one year of supervised clinical experience is required, preferably in a community mental health center setting. Services provided in Haywood, Jackson, and Cherokee County. Peer Support Specialist – Recovery Education Center (REC) Meridian is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to work in our Recovery Education Centers in Haywood and/or Jackson County. Being a Peer Support Specialist provides an opportunity for individuals to transform their own personal lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges into a tool for inspiring hope for recovery in others. Applicants must demonstrate maturity in their own recovery process, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and have moderate computer skills. Part-time work may be available. Macon County Clinician - Recovery Education Center (REC) Seeking passionate, values-driven and dynamic professional to join our Macon County Recovery Education Center. This program reflects a unique design which integrates educational, clinical and peer support components in a center-based milieu. To be considered, an applicant should be familiar with the recovery paradigm of mental health and substance abuse services. A Master’s degree and license eligibility are also required. Macon and Haywood Counties Employment Support Professional (ESP) Supported Employment The ESP functions as part of a team that implements employment services based on the SE-IPS model. The team’s goal is to support individuals who have had challenges with obtaining and/or maintaining employment in the past and to obtain and maintain competitive employment moving forward. The ESP is responsible for engaging clients and establishing trusting, collaborative relationships that result in the creation of completion of individualized employment goals. The ESP will support the client through the whole employment process and provide a variety of services at each state to support the individual in achieving their employment goals. Transylvania County Clinicians & Team Leader - Child and Family Services Seeking licensed/ associate licensed therapist for an exciting opportunity to serve youth and their families through individual and group therapy, working primarily out of the local schools. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Graduate of an accredited Certified Medical Assistant program and CMA certification with AAMA or AMT required. Two years of related experience preferred, preferably in an outpatient medical office setting. Clinician, Team Leader – Community Support Team (CST) We are seeking a passionate, values-driven and dynamic professional to oversee our Community Support Team (CST), serving Transylvania County. CST is a community-based mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation service, which provides support through a team approach to adults. Licensed Professional or Associate level Licensed Professional required. Substance Abuse credential preferred. At least one year of supervised, clinical experience is required. This is a new service for Transylvania County, requiring someone who can confidently manage a team of three and is comfortable working with the challenges of bringing up a new service. Peer Support Specialist – Community Support Team (CST) Being a Peer Support Specialist provides an opportunity for individuals to transform their own personal lived experience

with mental health and/or addiction challenges into a tool for inspiring hope for recovery in others. We currently have a vacancy for a Peer Support Specialist on our Community Support Team (CST), serving Transylvania County. CST is a community-based mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation service, which provides support through a team approach to adults. Applicants must demonstrate maturity in their own recovery process, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and have moderate computer skills. Qualified Professional (QP) – Community Support Team (CST) We are seeking a passionate, values-driven and dynamic Qualified Substance Abuse or Mental Health Professional to join our Community Support Team (CST), serving Transylvania County. CST is a communitybased mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation service, which provides support through a team approach to adults. Individual must meet state requirements to serve adults with either mental health or substance use challenges and be comfortable working as part of a small, three-person team. AGENCYWIDE Peer Support Specialist Peers Assisting in Community Engagement (PACE) Being a Peer Support Specialist provides an opportunity for individuals to transform their own personal lived experience with mental health and/or addiction challenges into a tool for inspiring hope for recovery in others. Applicants must demonstrate maturity in their own recovery process, have a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation and have moderate computer skills. Clinician Peers Assisting in Community Engagement (PACE) Clinician will be providing ongoing therapy with individuals and clinical support to the peer support team. The position will involve travel and communitybased work in multiple counties. A Master’s degree, license eligibility and experience are required. PACE provides structured and scheduled activities for adults age 18 and older with a diagnosis of Mental Health and Substance Use disorders. This could be a part time or full time position. • For further information and to complete an application, visit our website: www.meridianbhs.org CHILD/ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH POSITIONS IN TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY Jackson County Psychological Services (in partnership with Meridian Behavioral Health) Is expanding schoolbased mental health services to Transylvania County Schools. We are currently recruiting for immediate therapist positions to work with elementary, middle and high school age students struggling with functional mental health issues in the Transylvania County Schools. We are also recruiting a therapist and a QP for an Intensive In-Home team that will begin on January 1, 2016. This is a great opportunity for gaining clinical experience, supervision, training and helping to bring responsive, high-quality mental health services to the schools of Transylvania County. Interested candidates please submit a resume and cover letter to telliot@jcpsmail.org DIRECT CARE STAFF NEEDED Turning Point Services, Inc. is currently accepting applications in Asheville/Brevard/Hendersonville for direct care staff providing home and community based services. All you need is a high school diploma. Visit our website at www.turningpointservicesinc. com for more details about our openings and to apply. Look for the Job Board under Career Opportunities. DIRECT SERVICE POSITION AVAILABLE Storybook Farm, providing Innovations Services to IDD adults seeks a direct service professional for a lady Sundays,

8-5pm. This client requires personal care services in her home or staff's. 828-891-7571 828-8917571 p_story@bellsouth.net

INTAKE COORDINATOR The Intake Coordinator is responsible for the referral, intake and admissions of children and teens to Eliada Homes’ treatment programs, completing and obtaining initial authorization, and writing PCPs as needed. Qualified Professional status and experience in behavioral health services required. Bachelor’s degree in human services preferred. For more information or to apply, visit www.eliada. org/employment/current-openings. MEDIATOR/FACILITATOR The Mediation Center is seeking a Mediator/Facilitator for the Buncombe County Office (PT). Please visit www.mediatewnc.org for more information.

RESIDENTIAL TEAM LEAD The Team Lead provides supervision to 2nd shift residential staff while working in ratio, plans the shift according to program schedule, provides leadership during crisis and provides feedback based on residential staff performance. Must be able to work in a high pressure, high stress environment. Position will experience verbal and physical aggression from student population. A Bachelor’s Degree required with six months behavioral health experience. Compensation is $26,000 to $29,000 per year. For more information or to apply visit www. eliada.org/employment/currentopenings. TURNING POINT SERVICES is looking for CNA's who can provide In Home Services. Must be reliable and have dependable transportation. If interested please apply online at www.turningpointservicesinc.com

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT WEST ASHEVILLE TAILGATE MARKET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WATM seeks a hardworking self-starter with attention to detail and creativity in moving our tailgate market forward. To learn more, please visit our website: www.westashevilletailgatemarket.com. This announcement closes December 4.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION AVAILABLE POSITIONS • VERNER Verner is a state-ofthe-art learning environment providing the highest quality early care and education and so much more! In addition to paid time off, holiday pay, and a competitive benefits package, staff are offered free nutritious meals each day! Check out the positions currently open and apply at www. vernerearlylearning.org/jobs • Verner is an EEOE. • Rainbow In My Tummy(r) Director • Maintenance Coordinator • Toddler Teachers • Preschool Teacher Assistant • Substitute Teachers • Kitchen Substitutes. HEAD START/NC • PRE K TEACHER Seeking dedicated and experienced early childhood professional to join our high quality program. • Four year degree in Early Childhood Education and at least two years of related experience with pre-school children

required. • North Carolina Birth to Kindergarten teaching license preferred. • Bi-lingual in SpanishEnglish a plus. Great Benefits! A valid North Carolina driver’s license required. Must pass physical and background checks. • Salary Range: $15.35/hour. -$19.44/ hour. DOQ. • Send resume, cover letter and work references with complete contact information along with DCDEE CRC Qualifying Letter to: Human Resources Manager, 25 Gaston Street, Asheville NC, 28801. (828) 252-2495 or for more information: Admin@communityactionopportunities.org Or www.communityactionopportunities.org Or (828) 253-6319 (Fax) Open until filled. EOE & DFWP. HEAD START/NC • PRE K TEACHER ASSISTANT Seeking energetic individual to work as an early childhood professional to join our high quality early childhood program. • Experience working with pre-school children and NC Early Childhood Credentials required. • Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education or CDA preferred. • Bi-lingual in SpanishEnglish a plus. Salary: $11.78./ hour. A valid North Carolina driver’s license is required. Must pass physical and background checks. Make application with complete work references and contact information along with DCDEE CRC Qualifying Letter to: Human Resources Manager, 25 Gaston Street, Asheville NC, 28801 (828) 252-2495 or for more information: Admin@communityactionopportunities.org Or www.communityactionopportunities.org Or (828) 253-6319 (Fax) Open until filled. EOE & DFWP.

INTERESTED IN WORKING AT A-B TECH? Full-Time, Part-Time and Adjunct Positions available. Come help people achieve their dreams! Apply for open positions at https://abtcc.peopleadmin. com MENTORS (DIRECT CARE) WANTED The Academy at Trails Carolina, is seeking passionate and energetic individuals to join its student life staff. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, creativity, and desire to work in a tight-knit community. Personal and professional experience with experiential education and/or in a therapeutic environment is highly desirable. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Full time and PRN work available. Interested applicants should email copies of their resume, letters of reference, and any pertinent wilderness certifications (WFR, CPR, etc.) to jobs@trailsacademy.com. For more information, visit www. trailsacademy.com

CAREGIvERS/ NANNy AFL/HOST HOMES NEEDED Do you want to work from home? Have a compassionate heart? Individuals with developmental disabilities are waiting for someone like you. Community Alternatives is looking for individuals that will provide a host home to support individuals with developmental disabilities in your home in the Hendersonville and Asheville areas. Call for information. Training provided! 828-678-9116 EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY WORKING WITH ADULTS WITH I/DD RHA is seeking staff for group homes in Hendersonville. Full-time and part-time available. Must be able to work every other weekend. Positions require: valid DL, HS Diploma/GED, drug / background screening.

Competitive pay DOE - benefits package for FT employees. Contact Derrick - (828) 684-1940 x102 derrick.clayton@rhanet.org

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PAID IN ADvANCE! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home! No experience required. Helping home workers since 2001! Genuine opportunity. Start immediately! www.MailingHelp.com (AAN CAN)

CAREER TRAINING AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get started by training as a FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 800-725-1563 (AAN CAN)

Xchange APPLIANCES 12 CUBIC FOOT UPRIGHT FREEZER 3 months old. $250, price negotiable. Please call 7851397.

BUSINESS EqUIPmENT JEWELRY DISPLAY CASES 5' long x 4' tall; 6' tall x 3.5' wide. With lights. Glass and wood. Call (828) 216-0624.

JEWELRy FREE vINTAGE COSTUmE JEWELRY! It's easy to earn Vintage and Contemporary jewelry for free and 1/2 price. Visit www. Eyecatchers-Jewelry.info for details. Shop www.EyecatchersBoutique.etsy.com and www.EyecatchersLuxuries.etsy.com today for gorgeous jewelry.

BUSINESSES FOR SALE HOT DOG KING ARDEN FOR SALE South Asheville Hot Dog King business is now available and affordable. Great opportunity involves food experience and hard work. More details call Jimmy: 828230-9093.

ServiceS AUDIO/vIDEO DISH Tv Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 months) Save! Regular Price $34.99. Ask about Free same day Installation! Call now! 888-9921957 (AAN CAN).

COmPUTER AvALON'S CYBER TECH SERvICES Wifi and Internet Issues • First Time Computer Setup • Computer Cleanup and Virus Removal • Building/Designing Custom PC's • Phone Repair • Evening Hours • Reasonable Rates avalonstechservices@gmail.com

ENTERTAINMENT

T he N e w Y ork Times Crossword pu zzl e Across 1 Flexible, electrically speaking 5 “Calculating” device 8 Braininess 14 “Call on me! Call on me!” 15 Alley-___ 16 Alaskan grizzly 17 Part 1 of a maxim by Publilius Syrus, hinted at by the series of circled letters 19 Sitting at a red light, say 20 Part 2 of the maxim 22 Bro, e.g. 23 Level, for one 24 Ballpark fig. 25 Sitter’s handful 28 Looney Tunes “devil,” informally 30 Houlihan player on “M*A*S*H” 32 See 47-Across 34 Prego competitor 36 Damage inflicted 39 Drawing contests? 41 G.I. fare 42 Some military choppers 44 “BOGO” event 45 Gets free, as a smoke FINANCIAL ARE YOU IN BIG TROUBLE WITH THE IRS? Stop wage and bank levies, liens and audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, and resolve tax debt Fast. Call 844-753-1317 (AAN CAN) ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS Get up to $250K of working capital in as little as 24 hours. (No Startups) – Call 1-800-426-1901 (AAN CAN)

home improvement HANDy MAN HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYmAN SERvICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. $1 million liability insurance. References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

announcementS

SANTA AT YOUR HOmE OR BUSINESS EvENT! Be sure to book your event with Santa before his schedule fills up. Available for Christmas events thru the 24th! Please e-mail BADHAIR@A-O. COM or https://www.facebook. com/santalandhendersonvillenc. Santa over 20 Years.

No. 1021

47 With 32-Across, whopper 48 Place for a pavilion 50 Place for a stud 52 Cipher creator’s need 53 R.V. stopover 56 All there 58 Carrere of “Wayne’s World” 60 Part 3 of the maxim 64 Risks 65 End of the maxim 68 Saffron-flavored dish 69 Mamie’s man 70 State firmly 71 “Missed it by tha-a-at much!” 72 Beat by a hair 73 “That hurts!”

9 Easter Island statue, e.g. 10 Score after deuce 11 Potato chip feature 12 Anklebone 13 Sport utilizing a throwing machine 18 Move like a moth 21 Sarcastic “Sorry!” 25 “___ be an honor!” 26 First graphic novel to win a Pulitzer (1992) 27 Courtroom entry 29 Between-periods equipment 31 Offerer of hot tips 33 Palindromic magazine title 35 “Despicable Me” supervillain 37 Release à la Edward Down Snowden 1 Owner of MapQuest 38 Lovett of country and Moviefone 40 Advertising truism 2 Physician-turned43 Like some grins revolutionary 3 “The lady ___ protest 46 Extracurricular study for many a high school jr. too much”: Shak. 49 Handles clumsily 4 Total confusion 51 Antipiracy org. 5 Mr. ___ (Hershey’s product) 53 Honor society letter 6 Bear of children’s lit 54 10-year-old Oscar winner for “Paper Moon” 7 Win one, lose one 55 Pertinent, in law 8 Winter lift

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ANNOUNCEmENTS

edited by Will Shortz

Puzzle by Mary lou Guizzo and Jeff Chen

57 59 61 62

Like a pixie Test, as ore Port on the Big Island Shape-shifting Norse god

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RETREATS

ASHEvILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you're away. Reasonable rates. Call Sandy (828) 215-7232.

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SPIRITUAL

63 Command under “File” 66 Icky stuff 67 “That’s icky!”

Answer to Previous Puzzle

PET SERvICES

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adult ADULT CLOUD COTTAGE COmmUNITY OF mINDFUL LIvING: Mindfulness practice in the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, 219 Old Toll Circle, Black Mountain. Freedom, Simplicity, Harmony. Weds. 6-7:30 PM; Sundays 8-9:00 AM, followed by tea/ book study. For additional offerings, see www.cloudcottage.org or call 828-669-6000. THE SEARCH: FINDING BALANCE IN HEART, BODy AND MIND (NOV 15, DEC 13) Two workshops examining G.I. Gurdjieff's Fourth Way. We will explore through music, movement, discussion, and crafts the possibility toward harmony of heart, body and mind. Visit gfwnc.com or call 828-232-2220.

petS

DREAMS Your destination for relaxation. Now available 7 days a week! • 9am-11pm. Call (828) 275-4443. FEELING WHACKED? Let Kaye's revive you back! Incall/outcall: 2808182. PHONE ACTRESSES From home. Must have dedicated land line and great voice. 21+. Up to $18 per hour. Flex hours/most Weekends. 1-800-403-7772. Lipservice.net (AAN CAN) vIAGRA Viagra!! 52 Pills for Only $99.00. Your #1 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-888403-9028 (AAN CAN) vIAGRA! 52 Pills for Only $99.00. Your #1 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-877621-7013. AAN CAN

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Paul Caron

Furniture Magician • Cabinet Refacing • Furniture Repair • Seat Caning • Antique Restoration • Custom Furniture & Cabinetry (828) 669-4625

• Black Mountain

november 25- -october december 2015 october 7 13,1,2015

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november 25 - december 1, 2015

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