Mountain Xpress 11.27.13

OUR 20TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 20 NO. 19 NOVEmbER 27 - DECEmbER 3, 2013

PLUS: Mountain BizWorks tackles funding crisis, page 30

page 32

WNC residents share Thanksgiving memories

The Big Crafty returns, page 46

Fracking in WNC? page 8

Annie Oakley’s heart target, private collection, Los Angeles, California, 2010. © Annie Leibovitz. From “Pilgrimage” (Random House, 2011)

October 4, 2013 – January 5, 2014

1515 Main Street in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC | 803.799.2810 | columbiamuseum.org

Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Bernie Stadiem Endowment Fund provided support for the exhibition. The C. F. Foundation of Atlanta supports the museum’s traveling exhibition program, Treasures to Go.

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contEnts contact us pagE 32

Food & friendship “Food is something we all need, no matter who we are,” says local pastor Shannon Spencer. With that in mind, we asked residents and community leaders to share their memories of food, fellowship and friendship.

FREE iPad! Purchase or sell a home using Marshall Real Estate & receive a new iPad at closing!

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Ask A Bankruptcy Attorney

What is Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

news tips & story ideas to nEws@mountainx.com letters to the editor to LEttERs@mountainx.com business news to BusinEss@mountainx.com a&e events and ideas to aE@mountainx.com events can be submitted to caLEnDaR@mountainx.com

Features

or try our easy online calendar at mountainx.com/EVEnts

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food news and ideas to fooD@mountainx.com

8 fRacking in wnc?

State agency gives contradictory accounts on WNC gas explorations but reveals areas of interest

wellness-related events/news to mxhEaLth@mountainx.com. venues with upcoming shows cLuBLanD@mountainx.com

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24 music hEaLs Using sound to reconnect patients with a sense of peace

30 fEELing thE cRunch Mountain BizWorks tackles funding crisis

a&E

LocaL Economy

10 sEcREt no moRE Armed with WLOS report, residents renew push for CTS cleanup

wELLnEss

get info on advertising at aDVERtisE@mountainx.com

44 a nEw cRop of songs Acoustic Syndicate talks agriculture, family and a return to making music

a&E

Chapter 13 is a repayment plan allowed as part of a re-organization of debts. A person wishing to file Chapter 13 will provide his attorney with a list of his debts, assets and a financial statement disclosing his income and expenses. The filing stops all foreclosures, repossessions and most other collection activities. The client makes payments to a Chapter 13 Trustee who in turn pays the creditors. The payment would likely include future house payments, any arrearage on the home, auto payments and some amount to unsecured creditors.

Unsecured creditors include credit card issuers, signature loans and medical debts.

The amount paid to unsecured creditors will depend upon several factors, including ability to pay and net worth. Many plans pay as little as 10% of principal to unsecured creditors with the balance being forgiven when the plan is completed. At the end of the plan the client gets a fresh financial start. Normally, no assets are lost in a Chapter 13 and attorney’s fees are usually rolled into the plan which may last no longer than five years.

(828) 251-1333 fax (828) 251-1311

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LEttERs caRtoon: moLton caRtoon: BREnt BRown community caLEnDaR conscious paRty ashEViLLE DiscLaimER nEws of thE wEiRD statE of thE aRts smaRt BEts cLuBLanD moViEs cLassifiEDs fREEwiLL astRoLogy ny timEs cRosswoRD

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Bentley Leonard, Attorney A Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law

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copyRight 2013

By Mountain Xpress aDVERtising copyRight 2013

By Mountain Xpress aLL Rights REsERVED

opinion

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

puBLishER: Jeff Fobes assistant to thE puBLishER: Susan Hutchinson managing EDitoR: Margaret Williams a&E EDitoR/wRitER: Alli Marshall sEnioR nEws REpoRtER: David Forbes staff REpoRtERs/wRitERs: Hayley Benton, Carrie Eidson, Jake Frankel, Lea McLellan Gina Smith fooD EDitoR/wRitER: Gina Smith EDitoRiaL assistants: Hayley Benton, Carrie Eidson, Lea McLellan moViE REViEwER & cooRDinatoR: Ken Hanke

caRtoon By RanDy moLton

Asheville citizens will fight against Keystone Pipeline As a concerned citizen, I am planning to take part in a nationwide wave of peaceful civil disobedience in the event that Obama approves the Keystone Pipeline. [In the U.S.], 76,000 people have signed the “Pledge of Resistance to the KXL Pipeline,” initiated by Rainforest Action Network and CREDO, committing themselves to risk arrest in order to protest the pipeline. Obama has said that if science showed the pipeline would have a negative effect on the climate, he would not approve it — we intend to hold him to his word. The science is clear: This pipeline would lead to a sharp rise in carbon dioxide emissions, just when we need to decrease those emissions in order to stabilize the global climate. Canadian tar-sands oil is among the most polluting, and its extraction is poisoning thousands of square miles of pristine forests and native lands in Alberta.

Typhoon Haiyan is just the latest evidence of the devastating effects of sea-level rise and ocean warming: Thousands have lost their lives because of runaway fossil-fuel emissions, and it will only get worse. What sort of a future will our children and grandchildren have?

In December, a group of people, including members of Asheville350. org, will go to the Federal Building to

inform those who work there of our pledge and why we’ll be returning if the KXL pipeline is approved. We have nothing against the dedicated employees who work in the building — we applaud and support their work. We will be taking this action in coordination with tens of thousands of others from around the country to let President Obama know that the KXL pipeline must not be built and that we won’t rest until it is stopped.

— Cathy Holt Asheville

Light voting?

In a recent issue of the Xpress, I read an article about light voter turnout [“Between the Lines,” Nov. 13 Xpress]. In previous issues, we read about what [some] considered restrictive voter laws. No matter what side of the issues your opinion may fall on, the solution to both problems is simple.

I can sit at home at my computer and do my banking, pay my bills and taxes. I can watch the news or movies, read and send emails, and messages and well — the list is endless. Why not voting? Electronic voting would go a long way to relieve a lot of voter apathy and, if done correctly, would relieve some of the restrictive aspects of these new voter laws. I know, I know, what about voter fraud? Well, my banking is considered safe, my taxes are considered safe — I believe the risk for voter fraud is no larger

EDitoRiaL intERns: Brandy Carl, Max Miller, Micah Wilkins contRiButing EDitoRs: Jon Elliston, Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak contRiButing wRitERs: Jonathan Ammons, Sharon Bell, Brandy Carl, Bridget Conn, Michael Franco, Steph Guinan, Ursula Gullow, Jordan Lawrence, Max Miller, Kyle Sherard, Toni Sherwood, Katie Souris, Justin Souther, Micah Wilkins aRt & DEsign managER: Megan Kirby

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than the risk for those [activities] previously mentioned.

I do not think this will take place anytime soon, because the prominent reason for low voter turnout is that those in power do not want fair and inclusive elections. It simply does not serve their desire for unfettered power.

— Rusty Cullen Fletcher

Traffic safety standards fall short While I appreciate an expanded approach to modestly priced housing in Asheville, I’ve not seen attention given to the problems such development can create in a neighborhood.

Specifically, increased traffic on narrow streets with blind curves causes unsafe conditions — not to mention the difficulties of access for firetrucks and ambulances. The city’s traffic-safety standards are out of date and too often fail to adequately protect residents.

— Norma Warren Asheville

No such thing as a small potbellied pig I am the director of Goat Mountain Animal Sanctuary in Leicester, and some of the calls we get regarding pigs are from people who believed, when they purchased their potbellied pig,

caRtoon By BREnt BRown

that it wouldn’t grow large — that it was some new, mini-type that would only grow to be 30 pounds. When the pig grows to the average size 80 to 125 pounds — and sometimes up to 150 pounds or more — they either can’t handle it, or their landlords tell them to get rid of it.

There is no such thing as a mini- potbellied pig! I was told by the director at a Ross Mill Farms pig sanctuary in Pennsylvania, which is home to 150 potbellied pigs, that perhaps an inbred runt could grow to be only 50 or so pounds, but that instance would be very rare. We have some here at Goat Mountain that are nearing 200 pounds.

It is my opinion that most people should never buy a potbellied pig anyway, since so many are available for rescue. So if you are in a position to own a potbellied pig —meaning you own your house or property, you have at least an acre, or a few acres, you know that they will be large and you have the proper fencing — please, of course, rescue one.

Otherwise, don’t buy a potbellied pig believing that it might be a mini one, because they don’t exist.

Here is a website dedicated to educating people about this issue: teacuppig.info.

— Rob Levy Leicester

“News of the Weird” in bad taste You have a very strange concept of humor. If satire is supposed to make a point and teach something, I wonder what is being taught here [see “News of the Weird: First Things First,” Nov. 13 Xpress].

I subscribed to The Realist, which pushed more boundaries than you can imagine. But that publication was available to subscribers only — and I’m sure many readers were offended.

However, with all the listings for family and kids’ activities in the Mountain Xpress, Chuck Sheperd’s view of things is more than “weird.”

I am not religious, but picking on Orthodox Jews is singling out an identifiable minority within a minority. For those unfamiliar, this group — and still only a part of them — wears “peyes,” or prayer curls. The “modern” Orthodox do not. Instead, they keep a very small part of their hair longer, and tucked behind the ears.

Before I moved to Asheville, I had some “modern” Orthodox friends in Brooklyn. They were as observant as the ones who wore

mountainx.com

long peyes, but they would not have had a single woman as a friend.

I have not yet passed Shepherd’s column on, but I am certain that my very close friend, who is a Baptist pastor, would be equally offended.

Shepherd’s syndication only means that this offensive, blatantly anti-Semitic piece will reach a wider audience. Quite frankly, I am not sure if anyone here knows anything about Jewish Orthodoxy, and probably has never met anyone who practiced it.

Before Shepherd’s piece appeared, I had mentioned Orthodoxy to a friend here, who is about as open-minded and good a person as one can find, and has no religious attachment whatsoever. The first reference he had was, “Oh, are those the guys with the strange, long curls?”

— Bryna Miller Asheville

coRREction A Local Economy story in the Oct. 23 issue, (“By Design: An Asheville Lotion Business and Go Local Spell Success,” Oct. 23 Xpress) did not include the website of the business. To learn more about Carolyn Burton’s new business, By Design Personalized Lotions, visit carolynsbydesign.com.

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• Call: (828) 250-6430 and email: lostandfound@ashevillehumane.org Visit: 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville (Buncombe County Animal Shelter) • Check photos of stray pets daily at ashevillehumane.org/report-yourlost-pet-missing.php • Search and flyer the area where your pet went missing; offer a reward • Post photos on Facebook and Craigslist

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Fracking in WNC? State agency gives contradictory accounts on mountain-area gas exploration but reveals area of interest By jon ELListon

courtesy of Carolina Public Press

As North Carolina paves the way for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” will the mountains see a new form of mining? Recent signals out of Raleigh are both revealing and contradictory. mitch gillespie, an assistant secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, told a legislative environmental committee in mid-November that his agency planned to study potential natural gas deposits in Western North Carolina. But a DENR spokesman has since told Carolina Public Press that no funds have been appropriated to conduct such a study.

Last week, DENR public information officer jamie kritzer identified the location of the potential study, which had not been previously disclosed. It would include parts of North Carolina’s seven westernmost counties: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain.

“Based on rock sampling and geologic mapping conducted by the N.C. Geological Survey during the past three decades, DENR has determined that geologic formations in an area known as the Precambrian rift basin in Western North Carolina have the potential to contain natural gas,” Kritzer said.

In response to recent state legislation, DENR is scouting locations that would be conducive to fracking, a controversial method of extracting natural gas using pressurized water and chemicals.

“The agency is still a long way from determining whether this region contains oil and natural gas resources and whether those resources are abundant enough to make energy explora-

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The areas marked in brown on this geological map of Western North Carolina contain the type of rock that make them a potential source of natural gas, though the chances of significant gas deposits there are said to be slim.

Image courtesy N.C. Geological Survey.

tion feasible,” Kritzer added. “As part of a long-range plan, the department has determined rock sampling and additional research is necessary in this region to determine whether the potential organic-rich formation contains oil or natural gas.”

At an Environmental Review Commission hearing Nov. 13, Gillespie said that DENR had dedicated $11,725 of already appropriated state funds to conduct a study in WNC. Gillespie, a former state representative from McDowell County, is a major fracking proponent who resigned his elected office in January to accept the DENR appointment from Gov. pat mccrory.

“If you look there in Western North Carolina, there’s a possible [shale gas] basin out there,” Gillespie told the commission. “And we’re going to go out there and grid the county off, a section of the counties off, out there, and go to the highways and the road cuts … to see what the rock looks like, and actually pick up some rocks.”

“We’re looking from Murphy to Manteo, across the state, like the General Assembly told us to, to find our resources,” Gillespie added.

He stressed that millions of dollars worth of testing would have to

be conducted before any site is judged suitable for fracking.

Kritzer, however, gave a contradictory account of the situation.

“At this time, DENR does not have an appropriation from the General Assembly needed to conduct testing in Western North Carolina,” he said.

Gillespie has not responded to Carolina Public Press’ requests for comment. katie hicks, the Ashevillebased assistant director of Clean Water for North Carolina, a nonprofit group that opposes fracking, said she was surprised by DENR’s sudden interest in a WNC location.

“There have been rumors going around, very recently, about potentially some sort of small area of shale gas up in the mountains,” she said. “But rumors only, so we’re just trying to learn more about that.”

Meanwhile, state Rep. chuck mcgrady, a Hendersonville Republican who sits on the Environmental Review Commission and voted against recent legislation that opens to the door to fracking, said initially that the mention of a site in WNC was the first he’d heard. “I don’t know what to make of it,” he said.

Conversations

There are 56 new VW owners & more women in WNC will receive the medical care they need and deserve

By jakE fRankEL

The idea of “fracking” for natural gas has long been a hot topic of discussion in Western North Carolina.

Soon after an initial version of this report was published online Nov. 20, it generated heated comments on various websites. Here’s a sample of what readers had to say at Carolinapublicpress.org: mitch giLLEspiE, a longtime fracking proponent from Marion, resigned his state House seat in January to take a senior post in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. He recently announced a small natural-gas study planned for a site in WNC. Photo courtesy N.C. General Assembly.

According to McGrady, he then contacted both Gillespie and State Geologist kenneth taylor seeking more information. The conversations left McGrady convinced, he said, that the chances of finding substantial natural gas deposits in WNC are practically nil.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything to this,” he said. “No one seems to view it as anything worth studying right now. This would be a wild goose chase, from what I can tell.”

In North Carolina, fracking was legalized in the summer of 2012, but the legislature has maintained a moratorium on granting permits for the procedure until rules and regulations can be developed. Last week, the Raleigh News & Observer reported that a Texas-based company is set to begin major pre-fracking studies in three counties in the Piedmont. X CarolinaPublicPress. org is a nonprofit online news service that provides Western North Carolina with unbiased, in-depth and investigative reporting as well as educational opportunities to journalists, students and others.

“As vocal of an anti-fracking proponent that I’ve been in the last 18 months, it’s a real jolt when the issue comes to rest at my own back door. And yet another wake up call for my neighbors and me.”

— stephanie Biziewski “I know the anti-fracking proponents don’t want any drilling done in our state, but that issue aside, what really irritates me is the way Mr. Gillespie casually mentions its cost: ‘…millions of dollars worth of testing would have to be conducted before any site is judged suitable for fracking.’ I hope this money isn’t coming from the NC DENR? Let the oil and gas companies who are going to profit from the drilling pay for this, not North Carolina taxpayers.” — kenneth glick “It is foolish and short sighted to risk our ground water for energy. If we contaminate the natural resources we have, everyone in the region will be affected causing a loss to investments and steering future development away from North Carolina. Who wants to move to Saginaw or Cleveland or Love Canal.” — nils Lucander “What are these ‘feasibility’ studies other than plain old fracking without the necessary permits or needed investigations? North Carolina needs to invest in clean safe alternative energy. We are just lining the pockets of the fracking pushers, not benefiting our economy or environment or health. What happened to the days when people like Mitch Gillespie would be run out of town?” — Elizabeth o’nan

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by David Forbes

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Secret no more The Skyland Fire Department’s white-walled community room might not be the usual place to watch an in-depth news report, but for the roughly 50 people gathered late on the afternoon of Nov. 18, it wasn’t a typical viewing.

Many residents of the Mills Gap Road area have lived with the specter of severe health risks for more than a decade. Trichloroethylene, a carcinogen, leaked into the groundwater under the abandoned former CTS of Asheville electroplating plant, and for years some residents drank, cooked and bathed in contaminated water from their wells. Watching this particular report, many of them displayed visible emotion.

Over the years, locals and environmental activists alike have repeatedly decried what they see as governmental negligence, lack of transparency and failure to tackle a major health hazard. Some have even alleged that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials knew about the contamination, failed to act on it or inform the public, and subsequently tried to cover their tracks. Local media (including Xpress, which broke the story in 2007) have periodically reported on the issue. But while the EPA did add the site to its Superfund list in 2012, a full cleanup remains years away.

Now, however, WLOS reporter mike mason and colleagues at the station have spent six months putting together “Buried Secrets,” an hourand-15-minute report that details how trichloroethylene leaked through a concrete holding tank in the aban-

@DavidForbes

Armed with WLOS report, residents renew push for CTS cleanup

out in thE opEn: In 2010, Mills Gap Road residents protested outside the abandoned CTS of Asheville plant. A recent WLOS report has renewed their push for accountability and a full cleanup. (Pictured far right, Dot Rice, whose family unknowingly used contaminated water for at least a decade.) File photo by Susan Andrew

doned plant and eventually into the groundwater below. The report includes interviews with U.S. Rep. mark meadows, UNC Asheville professor jeff wilcox, local activist tate macQueen and a former CTS manager, among many others.

“Buried Secrets” also touches on the 63,000 pages of documents the station acquired through a federal Freedom of Information Act request, revealing that some EPA officials knew about the contamination as far back as 1990 — long before the agency informed neighboring residents. In the report, Mason sharply questions EPA staff about negligence and raises concerns about missing records.

“They [the EPA] have dragged this thing on for so long,” Mason told the residents after the view-

ing. “We wanted to create something undeniable. ... What bothers me is, they knew and they knew and they knew — and now it’s in the groundwater.” community unitEs In a July interview that’s included in the report, Meadows criticized the EPA and said he’ll seek congressional hearings on the issue. Mason, meanwhile, said he’ll keep pressing Meadows.

“My job is to hold him accountable, to say, ‘You saw this, now what are you going to do about it?’”

Mills Gap residents hope the report will add vigor to a renewed push for a cleanup. They applauded during the commercial breaks, and one woman exclaimed that Mason should take “Buried Secrets” “to the president’s

“What bothers me is, [the EPA] knew and they knew and they knew — and now it’s in the groundwater.” wLos REpoRtER mikE mason

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desk.” Meanwhile, they raised questions about possible additional sources of contamination and when the long-awaited hookup to municipal water would arrive.

Mason, however, said that despite his in-depth report, the issue is so complex that there are still plenty of other aspects to investigate.

“The time for the games we’ve been enduring is over,” MacQueen said after the viewing, calling for a full cleanup of the site and a “cleanout of the officials who did this,” including an FBI investigation and congressional hearings.

But even residents who’ve faced many of the same dangers haven’t always agreed on how to respond to them. Issues such as financial settlements, media attention and the best way to deal with CTS and the various government agencies involved have sometimes proved divisive.

In 2005, the Rice family, one of the ones most affected by the contamination, agreed to a settlement with CTS. In the WLOS report, however, Dot Rice says that if she’d known some of the things that started coming to light in 2007, she wouldn’t have agreed to the settlement, which limited future legal action against the company (see sidebar, “Legal Battles Continue”).

MacQueen, meanwhile, admitted that these divisions have sometimes led to a community “as fractured as the bedrock” underneath the abandoned plant.

“That’s something we should all be working toward healing,” he said. “Sometimes I think, when situations are raw like this, it can cause people to work themselves away from who they are, and I’m just as guilty as the next person.”

Nonetheless, MacQueen continued, the community is now united behind the push for the state and federal governments to finally deal with the contamination, firmly believing that the issue is significant not only for locals but for people across the country.

“If you think this is the only community that’s been treated like this,” he observed, “then everything we’ve worked for is a loss.”

For more stories about the CTS contamination, go to mountainx.com/ cts. To view a timeline of the CTS case, go to timetoast.com/timelines/ cts-contamination. For more of the history, visit mountainx.com/ xpressfiles/040908ctssite. X

Legal battles continue Despite the Rice settlement, 23 other residents have sued in federal court, trying to force CTS to clean up the site and compensate the affected homeowners. In 2011, they hit a stumbling block when the district court ruled against them, citing a state rule that declared too much time had passed since the initial contamination.

But then, in July, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that a federal law intended to protect people unaware of contamination clearly applied in this case and that the residents could proceed with their lawsuit.

CTS then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting that the ruling isn’t in line with existing case law and “deepens a conflict in the state and federal appellate courts.”

The latest development in that battle came earlier this month, when Wake Forest law professor john korzen, who’s representing the residents, replied, encouraging the Supreme Court to let the ruling stand. Korzen’s brief asserts, “There is no meaningful split” among the circuit courts, and that the federal law in question is intended to protect citizens in precisely the kind of situation facing the Mills Gap Road residents. If the Supreme Court chooses not to take the case, the residents will proceed with their lawsuit. — David Forbes

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12

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

mountainx.com

nEws

by Jake Frankel

Photo courtesy of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy

Keeping it conservative

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commissionERs appRoVE Long mountain consERVation EasEmEnt On Nov. 19, the Buncombe Board of Commissioners voted to spend $69,000 on a conservation easement to protect 121 acres from development on Long Mountain in the Upper Hominy area. The measure passed 6-1, with Commissioner mike fryar casting the dissenting vote.

The property includes a rare mountainside wetland and is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Commissioners David king and joe Belcher, who represent the Upper Hominy area, voted in support. Noting that tourism brings in millions of dollars to the local economy, King said, “The parkway’s quite important to us.”

Belcher added, “This is in my backyard. It’s a beautiful piece of property. This is an area that doesn’t need to be torn all to pieces.”

But Fryar argued that with the county planning to pump millions into capital improvements at several schools, it’s not the right time to make any more financial commitments. “I can’t see the county putting money into anything at the present time,” he said.

The county’s $69,000 will help cover some transaction and purchase costs. It will also leverage $255,700 in grants and donations by the landowner. Board Chair David gantt, who has long been a supporter of the county’s easement program, argued that it was a good investment for taxpayers.

“This is one of the things we do that’s timeless,” he said. “I think sometimes you’ve just got to look beyond today. You’ve got to invest in the future.”

Under the voluntary easement arrangement, he emphasized, the property owner retains the land, although development restrictions will apply permanently.

The Land Conservation Advisory Board and the Planning Department recommended that commissioners approve the funding. The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy will help implement the deal.

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WEDNESDAY TRIVIA NIGHT LanD with a ViEw: Looking toward Upper Hominy, this photo shows Long Mountain as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

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THURSDAY “It’s a great day for land conservation in Buncombe County,” said Commissioner Brownie newman. in othER BusinEss Commissioners also unanimously approved a rezoning request, changing 10.8 acres at 499 Long Shoals Road from residential to employment district, which will allow more development.

On another front, commissioners were presented with a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2013 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Without going into detail, auditor chuck killian reported, “It’s a very clean, efficient audit, from start to finish.” He added, “There’s no significant deficiencies noted. … There’s no items to bring to your attention.” X

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Thank You Asheville for Your Support Gift Cards are Available 828-575-9166 • 211 Merrimon Ave. Ste 201 • Asheville • Tue-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5

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Please check us out on FACEBOOK for our daily specials. facebook.com/ mellowmushroomasheville noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

13

C O M M U N I T Y

C A L E N D A R

noV 27 - DEc 3, 2013

Unless otherwise stated, events take place in Asheville, and phone numbers are in the 828 area code.

Day-By-Day caLEnDaR is onLinE Want to find out everything that’s happening today, tomorrow or any day of the week? Go to www.mountainx.com/events.

Calendar Deadlines fREE anD paiD Listings Wednesday, 5 p.m.

(7 days prior to publication) can’t finD youR gRoup’s Listing?

Due to the abundance of great things to do in our area, we only have the space in print to focus on timely events. Our print calendar now covers an eight-day range.

For a complete directory of all Community Calendar groups and upcoming events, please visit www.mountainx.com/events.

In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must cost no more than $40 to attend and be sponsored by and/or benefit a nonprofit. If an event benefits a business, it’s a paid listing.

If you wish to submit an event for Clubland (our free live music listings), please e-mail clubland@mountainx.com.

fREE Listings onLinE (best) http://www.mountainx.com/events/submission

moDERn mastER cuts: Artist Leo Monahan will demonstrate paper sculpture techniques inspired by Bauhaus design and Japanese and Chinese paper arts. Held at the Grovewood Gallery, next to the Omni Grove Park Inn, during the first week of December (p.15).

E-maiL (second best) calendar@mountainx.com fax (next best) (828) 251-1311, Attn: Free Calendar maiL Free Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 in pERson Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), second floor, downtown Asheville.

Please limit your submission to 40 words or less. Questions? Call (828) 251-1333, ext. 365. paiD Listings Paid listings lead the calendar sections in which they are placed, and are marked (pd.). To submit a paid listing, send it to our Classified Department by any of the following methods. Be sure to include your phone number, for billing purposes.

E-maiL marketplace@mountainx.com. fax (828) 251-1311, Attn: Commercial Calendar maiL Commercial Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 in pERson Classified Dept., Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), Ste. 214, downtown Asheville. Questions?

Call our Classified Department at (828) 251-1333, ext. 335.

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

AnimAls AnimAl HAven Benefit • WE (11/27), 5-9pm - Plant, 165 Merrimon Ave., will host a dinner fundraiser for Animal Haven sanctuary featuring a three-course vegan meal. $35. Info: plantisfood.com or animalhaven.org.

BrotHer Wolf AnimAl rescue fundrAiser BWAR is a nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless dogs and cats find permanent homes. Info: bwar.org or 458-7778.

• TH (12/5), 5pm - An-Tiki, a tropical-themed auction to benefit Brother Wolf Animal rescue, will be held at the Antique Tobacco Barn, 75 Swannanoa River Road.

Includes drinks, food and music.

Free to attend. Donations encouraged.

mountainx.com

Wine tAsting to Benefit AnimAl legAl defense fund • WE (12/4), 5:30pm - Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St., will host a wine tasting to benefit the Animal legal defense fund. Food provided by PLANT. $10. Info: aldf.org.

Art 5 WAlnut Wine BAr 5 Walnut St. Info: 5walnut.com.

• Through (12/30) - Show and Tell, featuring artists from TAPAS (Teaching Artists Presenting in Asheville Schools).

Opening reception Dec. 5, 5:308:30pm, with a percentage of sales to Asheville City Schools.

ABstrAct PAstels • Through TH (12/19) - Abstract Pastels, a compilation of paintings

by Bridget Risdon Hepler, will be on display at The Junction, 348 Depot St.

#190. Info: thejunctionasheville.com or 225-3497.

Art At Asu Exhibits take place at Appalachian State University's Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, unless otherwise noted.

Tues.-Thurs. & Sat., 10am-6pm; Fri., noon-8pm. Donations accepted. Info: tcva.org or 262-7338.

• ONGOING - Susan Webb Tregay: Contemporary Art for Adult Children will be on display in the Community Gallery.

• ONGOING - Orna Bentor: Landscapes Within will be on display in the Mayer Gallery.

• ONGOING - Men Working: The Contemporary Collection of Allen Thomas, Jr. will be on display in the Main Gallery.

Art At BrevArd college Exhibits are free, unless otherwise noted. Info: brevard.edu/art or 8848188.

• Through FR (12/6) - Photography by senior art major Mary Kathryn Webb will be on display at the Spiers Gallery.

Art At mArs Hill university Weizenblatt Gallery: Mon.-Fri., 9am5pm. Info: mhc.edu.

• TU (12/3) through SU (12/15)- A Horse of Course photography exhibit

by Emma Claire Hoffman.

• WE (12/4), 5-7pm - Opening reception.

Art At uncA Art exhibits and events at the university are free, unless otherwise noted. Info: unca.edu.

• Through SU (12/15) - Rewind and Press Play, a sculptural installation

by Sally Garner on display in the Highsmith Union.

Art in tHe AirPort gAllery Located on the pre-security side of the Asheville Regional Airport terminal.

Open to the public during the airport’s

Are you ready to “use it or lose it”? hours of operation. Info: art@ flyavl.com or flyavl.com.

• Through FR (1/3) - The gallery's 19th exhibition will feature works from six local artists.

Artisun gAllery oPen House • SA (11/30), 2-7pm - ArtiSUN Gallery, 16 Andrews Ave., Hot Springs, will host a holiday open house for Small Business Saturday. Info: artisungallery. com.

AsHeville AreA Arts council gAllery 346 Depot St. Tues.-Sat., 11am4pm. Info: ashevillearts.com or 258-0710.

• Through SA (11/30) - Way of Nature / Way of Grace AsHeville Art museum Located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm and Sun., 1-5pm.

Programs are free with admission unless otherwise noted.

Admission: $8/$7 students and seniors/children under 4 free.

Free first Wednesdays from 3-5pm. Info: ashevilleart.org or 253-3227.

• ONGOING - Rebels With a Cause, a traveling exhibition of artwork from the Huntsville Museum of Art. • ONGOING - Esteban Vicente: The Art of Interruption will feature paintings, drawings and collages.

• Through SU (3/9) Cityscapes, works by Ben Aronson.

AsHeville BookWorks 428 1/2 Haywood Road.

Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri., 1-5pm; Sat., 1-4pm. Info: ashevillebookworks.com or 255-8444.

• Through SA (11/30) Printocracy will celebrate contemporary print culture.

AsHeville gAllery of Art 16 College St. Mon.-Sat., 10am5:30pm; Sun., 1-4pm. Info: ashevillegallery-of-art.com or 251-5796.

• Through SA (11/30) - A Brush with North Carolina, paintings

by Renee Williams.

BellA vistA Art gAllery 14 Lodge St. Hours: Mon., 10am-4pm; Wed., & Thurs., 11am-4pm; Fri. & Sat., 11am5pm. Info: bellavistaart.com or 768-0246.

• Through SA (11/30) - Works

by Doug Waterfield and Nicora Gangi.

BinAry existence At silversPAce • Through SA (12/14) - Binary Existence, mixed media pho-

tographs by J.R. Berry, will be on display at Silverspace, the photo gallery of The Asheville Darkroom, 109 Roberts St. Info: theashevilledarkroom. com.

BlAck mountAin college museum + Arts center The center, which preserves the legacy of Black Mountain College, is located at 56 Broadway St., Asheville. Tues. & Wed., noon-4pm; Thurs.-Sat., 11am-5pm. Info: blackmountaincollege.org or 350-8484.

• ONGOING - Shaping Craft and Design.

Blue sPirAl 1 38 Biltmore Ave. Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm, and Sun., noon5pm. Info: bluespiral1.com or 251-0202.

• FR (11/29), 11am - Coffee and conversation with photographer John Dickson. Free.

• Through SA (11/30) - Remains to be Seen: An Out of the Box Look at Modern Cremation Containers will feature urns from Shine on Brightly.

• Through TU (12/31) - A group show will feature ceramics by Josh Copus and Marlene Jack, photography by John Dickson and paintings by Peggy N. Root. cAstell PHotogrAPHy 2-C Wilson Alley. Tues.-Sat., by appointment. Fri. & Sat., 11am6pm. Info: castellphotography. com or 255-1188.

• Through SA (1/11) - NEXT: New Photographic Visions. elements sPA And sHoP Located at 29 W. French Broad St., Brevard. Hours: Sat.-Wed.: 9am-6pm. Thu: 9am-7pm. Info: 884-2701 • Through WE (1/8) - Paintings

by Karen Keli Brown.

• TH (12/5), 5-7pm - Opening reception events At tHe turcHin center Appalachian State University's Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is located at 423 West King St., Boone. Info: 262-3017 or tcva.org.

• ONGOING - Photographs by Hugh Morton: An Uncommon Retrospective will be on display in Galleries A and B. foundry 92 Charlotte St. Hours: Mon.Sat., 10am-6pm. Info: digfoundry.com.

• Through TU (12/31) - Talula Love Bottoms: Echoes Collection by Maryanne Pappano.

gAllery 86 86 N. Main St., Waynesville.

Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm. Info: haywoodarts.org.

• Through SA (12/28) - It’s a Small, Small Work featuring Matthew Zedler and others. girl scout Art sHoW • Through TU (12/31) - A Girl Scout art show will be on display at the RE/MAX Results office, 34 Orange St. Info: gstroop026.webs.com. groveWood gAllery Located at 111 Grovewood Road. April-Dec. Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm & Sun., 11am-5pm.

Info: grovewood.com or 2537651.

• Through TU (12/31) - Beauty from Wood: Natural and Paper Forms, bowls and vessels by Bill Luce and paper works by Leo Monahan.

• SU (12/1), TU (12/3) & TH (12/5), 1- 2pm - A paper sculpture demonstration with Leo Monahan.

• TH (12/5), 10am-4pm - A doll making demonstration with Charlie Patricolo.

HAen gAllery 52 Biltmore Ave. Mon., Tues. & Sat., 11am-6pm; Wed.-Fri., 10am-6pm & Sun., noon-5pm.

Info: thehaengallery.com or 254-8577.

• Through SA (11/30) - Lynn Boggess: New Work 2013. irAniAn Poster Art exHiBition • Through FR (11/29) Selections from In Search of Lost Causes, an exhibition of Iranian poster art, will be on display in the River Arts District's Flood and Courtyard galleries. n.c. ArBoretum Located at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way. 9am-5pm daily.

Info: ncarboretum.org or 6652492.

• ONGOING - A LEGO brick sculpture exhibit will feature works by Sean Kenney.

Pink dog creAtive A multi-use arts space located at 342 Depot St. Info: pinkdogcreative.com.

• Through SA (11/30) - Eli Corbin: People, a collection of collage, mixed-media and acrylic will be on display in the Sam Reynolds Gallery. Info: 243-0200 or eli@elicorbinart. com.

PusH skAte sHoP & gAllery Located at 25 Patton Ave. Mon.-Thurs., 11am-6pm; Fri.

With the new year just around the corner it’s time to start thinking about your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds!

Champion Eye Center is located on 300 Julian Lane (Long Shoals Road near Pomodoros and Fire House Subs)

(828) 650-2727 • www.championeyecenter.com

S E C N U O N N A N A M S S E R T T MA BLACK FRIDAY SALE

save

UP TO

$300 r on our most®popula s se es ttr ma Tempur - Pedic

Mattress Man testifies against sleep deprivation

$100

OFF

any ComforPedic Through November 2013!

anksgiving Unpr ecedented Th vings Sa d Weeken 2 ONLY C DE 28 V NO

FINANCING 48 MONTHS NO INTEREST S ERADIC ATE SLEEPLESSNES MATTRESS MAN VOWS TO NIGHT AT A TIME” “SAVING ASHEVILLE, ONE Mattress Man, the Asheville Area’s ONLY Locally and Independently Owned Bedding Store asks you to consider: Where does your money go when you buy from a Big Box Store or Chain?

Consider this information from the 3/50 project:

http://www.the350project.net/home.html For every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $68 returns to the community. When you buy from a national chain, just $43 stays locally.

ASHEVILLE 80 S. Tunnel Road (828) 299-4232

ARDEN

CLEARANCE CENTER

303 Airport Road (828) 687-2618 mountainx.com

HENDERSONVILLE

1900 B. Four Seasons Blvd.

(828) 693-9000

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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by Hayley Benton & Carrie Eidson

community caLEnDaR

C P

O A

N R

S T

C Y

I

O

U

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com.

S

Fun fundraisers

& Sat., 11am-7pm; Sun., noon6pm. Info: pushtoyproject.com or 225-5509.

• Through MO (12/2) - The Arts of Darkness III, a Halloween group show. rurAl life museum • ONGOING Interwoven: Coverlets, Ballads and America’s Discovery of Madison County Folklife will be on display at Mars Hill College's Montague Hall. Info: mhc.edu. seven sisters gAllery 117 Cherry St., Black Mountain.

Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm and Sun., noon-5pm. Info: sevensistersgallery.com or 669-5107.

• Through SU (3/16) - Acrylics and oils by Bridgette MartinPyles. tHe Bender gAllery 12 S. Lexington Ave. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10:30am-5pm; Sun., noon-5pm. Info: thebendergallery.com or 505-8341.

• Through TU (12/31) - Through the Future, Brightly, works

by Eunsuh Choi and Adam Waimon.

Art/crAft fAirs

Tropical party of art and antiques for animal rescue what: Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s An-Tiki Benefit Auction whERE: The Antique Tobacco Barn, 75 Swannanoa River Road whEn: Thursday, Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m.

Free to attend. Donations encouraged. Info: bwar.org or avl.mx/035 why: To warm local hearts on an otherwise chilly Asheville evening, animal lovers will head to the Antique Tobacco Barn for the first ever An-Tiki Benefit Auction, a night of “holiday aloha” to benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. The event will feature both a live and silent auction with light, vegan appetizers from Sunny Point Cafe, Mamacita’s and HomeGrown and drinks from New Belgium and Oskar Blues Brewery (all for suggested donations).

Tropical swing band Kon-Tiki will play at the event to accompany the auctions of an estimated 400-500 items, from antique jewelry and artwork to larger wares such as a mosaic coffee table and a “large, funky piece of fur-

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

niture,” says Brother Wolf Events Coordinator Mary Freeman.

“We thought it would be a fun twist to do a Hawaiian thing when everyone’s so freaking cold in December to lighten it up,” she explains. “People in the community sent us emails after having seen the [event] announcement on Facebook. We started receiving donated antique jewelry and antique furniture. It’s a coalescence of the entire community. It’s awesome that people rally around us.”

Though all proceeds from the auctioned items and food and drink donations will benefit the animal rescue center, there will be no Brother Wolf animals present at the event.

“I think that would be pretty chaotic,” Freeman says, laughing. “We decided it will be a benefit for and not a benefit with animals, especially with the live band and everything. We’re trying to keep it as tame as possible.”

But, she says, every dollar is “going to help pull animals from dangerous situations and keep saving them in our community.”

mountainx.com

essentiAl Journeys AnnuAl soAP sAle! (pd.) Tour our studio and view our enticing collection of unique handmade products: • 50 plus Soaps • Paraben Free Lotions • Lip Lube and Soy Candles. • Saturday, December 7, 12-5pm.

77 Vermont Avenue, West Asheville. www.essentialjourneys.com POTTERY SALE! • BATTOn clAyWorks (pd.) On Black Friday, November 29, get an extra 5% off! 4-9pm. • Saturday, November 30, 9-5pm. • Sunday,December 1, 11-4pm.

• 10% donation of proceeds awarded to Manna Foodbank.

Details at www.battonclayworks.com edo creek studio HolidAy sHoW (pd.) December 7-8, 10-4pm.

Preview Party, December 6, 5:30-7:30pm. • 5 craft artists displaying hats and wearables, baskets, glass, pottery and whimsical found art. 19 Garren Mountain Lane, Fairview. (828) 628-8618.

HolidAy PoP-uP sHoP • WE (12/4) through SA (1/4) Asheville BookWorks will host “A Gift of Art”, with handmade book and print-related items, at 428 1/2 Haywood Road. Tues.-

Fri., 1-5pm; Sat. & Sun. 1-4pm.

Info: ashevillebookworks.com. sAntA's PAlette HolidAy sHoW • FR (11/22) through FR (12/20), 9:30am-4:30pm - Transylvania Community Arts Council, 349 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, will hold "Santa's Palette Holiday Show and Sale". Free to attend. Info: artsofbrevard.org or 884-2787. tryon HolidAy gift sHoW • FR (11/22) - TU (12/24), 9am4pm - Tryon Arts and Crafts, 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon, will hold its Holiday Gift Show.

Info: tryonartsandcrafts.org or 859-8323.

Auditions & cAll to Artists 25tH AnnuAl memoirs comPetition • Through SA (11/30) - The Writers’ Workshop of Asheville is sponsoring a memoirs contest, open to any writer. $25/$20 members. Info and submission guidelines: twwoa. org or 254-8111.

Arts & community grAnt • Through (12/17) - The Asheville Area Arts Council is accepting applications for the Asheville Art in the Park Arts and Community grant, offered to qualifying artists to enhance public spaces and increase awareness of local artists. Info: ashevillearts.com or 258-0710.

Benefits Book giving tree • Through TU (12/10) - Oakley Library, 749 Fairview Road, will accept new books or monetary donations valued at $10 or more for its Book Giving Tree program. Books will be distributed to local children in need. Info: 250-4754 or oakley.library @buncombecounty.org. cHildren's Bicycle drive • Through SA (12/21) Donations of new and gently used bicycles and cash will be accepted and donated to children in Buncombe and madison counties at Weaverville Tire and Wheel, 183 Old Mars Hill Highway, Weaverville; and Fast Lane Auto Sales, 318 Weaverville Highway, Weaverville. Info: slhiggins32@ gmail.com, 768-7423 or 6458330.

HolidAy giving • TH (11/28), 11am-5pm - Fig Bistro, 18 Brook St., will host a Thanksgiving meal to benefit Homeward Bound's room in the inn program. Donations encouraged. Info: figbistro.com or hbofa.org/programs/roomin-the-inn. ingles mAgicAl cHristmAs toy drive • TH (12/5) through SA (12/7) - Eblen Charities and Ingles will host the Ingles Magical Christmas Toy Drive to benefit local children in need at Ingles, 1141 Tunnel Road. leAf scHools And streets • WEDNESDAYS, 5-7pm - Wine tasting and jazz, to benefit leAf schools and streets, will be held at 5 Walnut Wine Bar, 5 Walnut St. $5. Info: theleaf.org or Jocelyn@theLEAF.org. mountAin Housing oPPortunities MHO’s mission is to build and improve homes, neighborhoods, communities and lives. Info: mtnhousing.org or 254-4030.

• TH (12/5), 6:30pm - A celebration of MHO’s 25th anniversary and the 2nd Annual House Warming Party. Held at The Venue, 21 N. Market St. All proceeds will benefit mountain Housing opportunities programs. $40/$75 for two.

Registration required. reynolds sHoe drive • Through SA (11/30) - Reynolds Shoe Drive will donate shoes to the survivors of the Haiti earthquake. Drop-off location: Carolina Mountain Sales, 1550 Hendersonville Road. Info: giveshoes.org or 277-5551. socks for seniors • ONGOING - Opportunity House will accept socks for local seniors at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. Info: opportunityhouse.org or 6920575.

clAsses, meetings & events esPeciAlly for Women neW to AsHeville (pd.) Join Asheville Newcomers to meet other women new to the area. Discover friendships, fun and fabulous finds. Get connected at ashevillenewcomersclub.com criBBAge gAtHering • MONDAYS, 6pm - A weekly cribbage game will meet at Atlanta Bread Company, 633

Merrimon Ave. All levels welcome. Training available. Free.

Info: peter.ely@gmail.com.

• ONGOING - Douglas Ellington: Asheville's Boomtown Architect exhibit.

four seAsons toAstmAsters • WEDNESDAYS, 8-9am - Four Seasons Toastmasters will meet at Lake Pointe Landing, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Info: fourseasonstoastmasters. com.

trAnsition AsHeville Aims to bring the community together, develop practical solutions and improve the quality of life for everyone in light of peak oil, climate change and the ensuing economic tensions. Info: (423) 737-5162 or 296-0064.

• TU (12/3), 6:40-8pm Transition Asheville and WaterLinks will present the Water Sustainability Initiative of WNC to encourage residents to address problems that stem from water management. Free.

Held at West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road.

Hendersonville Wise Women's discussion grouP • 1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 1:30pm - The Hendersonville Wise Women's Discussion Group meets twice monthly for friendship, intellectual stimulation, personal growth and support. Info and directions: ravery09@gmail.com or 693-1523.

Just economics An Asheville-based nonprofit dedicated to working toward closing the gap between earning a minimum wage and a "living wage," taking into consideration the cost of living in Asheville. Info: justeconomicswnc.org.

• TH (12/5), 6-9pm - A celebration of this year's work at Jubilee!, 46 Wall St., with food, beverages, and entertainment.

Free. looking for mr. goodBAr meetuP • SUNDAYS, 1pm - The "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" group, moderated by Patrick Ochsenreiter, meets weekly at Wall Street Coffee House, 62 Wall St., for "banter about what is happening in the world of gay men." Info: pbochsenreiter@gmail.com or avl.mx/yc. music lessons At AsHeville music scHool • TUESDAYS, 5pm - Asheville Music School, a nonprofit community music school, offers private lessons and group instruction for all instruments, voices and styles. 126 College St. Info: 252-6244.

PuBlic lectures & events At uncA Events are free unless otherwise noted. Info: unca.edu.

• TU (12/3), 7:30pm - UNCA's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute will present "Africa — A Hopeful Continent." $10/ UNCA students free. Info: olliasheville.com or 251-6140. smitH mcdoWell House History center Located on the A-B Tech campus, 283 Victoria Road. Info: wnchistory.org.

Wnc sierrA cluB Info: wenoca.org or 251-8289.

• WE (12/4), 7pm - The Sierra Club of Western North Carolina will meet for a holiday party at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place. Free; bring a potluck dish and a book to swap.

Info: judymattox@sbcglobal.net or 683-2176.

comedy disclAimer comedy • FRIDAYS, 8-9:30pm Disclaimer Comedy presents weekly stand-up at Elaine's Piano Bar in the Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave. Free. Info: disclaimercomedy.com. disclAimer stAnd-uP oPen mic • WEDNESDAYS, 9pm Disclaimer Stand-Up Lounge open mic is held at the Dirty South Lounge, 41 N. Lexington Ave. Free. Info: DisclaimerComedy.com. slice of life comedy • SU (12/1), 7:30pm - Stand-up comedy and booked open mic. Held at Pulp, below the Orange Peel, 103 Hilliard Ave. $5. Info and booking: sliceoflifecomedy@gmail.com.

dAnce Beginner sWing dAncing lessons (pd.) 4 week series starts first Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm. $12/week per person.

• No partner necessary. Eleven on Grove, downtown Asheville.

Details: www.swingAsheville. com

studio ZAHiyA (pd.) studio Zahiya, downtown dance classes Monday 7pm Bellydance 1 • Tuesday 8:15am 30 Minute Workout, 9am Hip Hop Workout Dance • Wednesday 5pm Beginner Bellydance, 7pm Bellydance, 7pm High Heels Hip Hop • Thursday 9am Bellydance Workout • 7pm Bollywood • 8pm Hip Hop • Sunday 3pm Yoga for Dancers$13 for 60 minute classes.• 90 1/2 N. Lexington Avenue. • www.studiozahiya. com 828.242.7595. dAncecluB dAnce clAsses (pd.) • Monday, 6pm: Jazz/ Funk to Rihanna. • Tuesday, 6:30pm: Dance & Sweat, Gangama Style, Jerk, Soulja Boy. • Wednesday, 6pm: Beginner Modern.

• Wednesday, 7:30pm: Burlesque, Boas, Feathers, Embracing your Sexy. • Thursday, 10am: Booty Camp Exercise. • Saturday, December 14, 1-3pm, Workshop: Holiday Striptease Class with costume accessories and bubbly! $9-$11/class. Class location: 114 N. Lexington Ave. Information/Registration: 828275-8628. idodances.com line dAnce clAsses • WEDNESDAYS, 9-10:30am - Henderson County Department of Parks and Recreation will host beginner classes in line dancing. Held at the Athletics and Activity Center, 708 South Grove St., Hendersonville. Registration required. $5 per class. Info: linedanceclass.com or 8905777. mountAin sHAg cluB • TUESDAYS - The club meets weekly at Fred's Speakeasy, 2310 Hendersonville Road, Arden. Free lessons from 6:307pm. Shag DJ from 7-10pm. $5. Info: mountainshagclub. com. old fArmer's BAll contrA dAnce Held at Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, in Bryson Gym. Beginner's lesson at 7:30pm. $6/$5 OFB members/$1 Warren Wilson students. Info: oldfarmersball.com.

• Th (11/28), 8pm- Laura Lengnick and Art Shuster will perform.

• TH (12/5), 8pm- Good N Plenty will perform.

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

17

community caLEnDaR

by Hayley Benton & Carrie Eidson

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com.

food & Beer AsHeville sister cities • TU (12/3), 5:30pm - Asheville Sister Cities will host an "Around the World Party" featuring food and drinks at Aloft Asheville Downtown, 51 Biltmore Ave. $30/$25 in advance. Info and tickets: ashevillesistercities.org.

gArdening tAilgAte mArkets • WednesdAys • 2-6pm - french Broad food co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. Ends Nov. 27.

• 2-6pm - montford farmers market, 36 Montford Ave. Ends Nov. 27.

giVE thE gift of giVing: Loving Food Resources is a special needs food pantry that provides food and personal care items to persons living with HIV/AIDS or in home hospice. The 100 percent volunteer organization is seeking new recruits to help throughout the holiday season and beyond. (p.21).

eco cArolinA mountAin lAnd conservAncy Located at 847 Case St., Hendersonville. Info: www.carolinamountain.org.

• TU (12/3), 4-5pm - Bob Gale of Western North Carolina Alliance will discuss how to identify and control common non-native invasive plants. Registration required.

WAter sustAinABility initiAtive PresentAtion • TU (12/03), 6:30-8pm Transition Asheville and WaterLinks, PLLC will present the Water Sustainability Initiative of WNC to discuss methods for managing rain water. Held at the West Asheville library, 942 Haywood Road.

festivAls 18tH AnnuAl montford HolidAy tour of Homes (pd.) Saturday, December 14, 1-5 pm. Tour of Homes in Montford, Asheville's most historic neighborhood. Enjoy festive historic houses, homebaked treats and entertainment. $20 at Chamber of Commerce, 36 Montford Avenue, December 1-14. Info: montfordtour.com or 828-280-1576.

18

cArl sAndBurg Home HolidAy events Musicians and storytellers will perform every Saturday from Thanksgiving to New Years.

Located three miles south of Hendersonville off U.S. 25 on Little River Road. Info: nps.gov/ carl or 693-4178.

• SA (11/30), 10am-1pm - Virginia Black Feather Thompson will dress in her native Cherokee attire and share stories of holiday traditions. Free; guided tour $5/$3 seniors/15 and under free. deck tHe trees • WE (12/4) through TU (12/31) - Deck the Trees, a display of decorated Christmas trees to benefit the swannanoa valley christian ministries, will be held at The Monte Vista Hotel, 308 West State Street, Black Mountain. Free to attend with donations encouraged.• WE (12/4), 6-8pm- Kick off party. • FR (12/20), 5-8pm- Christmas Party Hendersonville tree ligHting And BAZAAr • FR (11/29), 5:30-8pm - A holiday tree lighting and christmas bazaar will be held at the Historic Courthouse, 145 5th Ave. E., Hendersonville. Includes music, carriage rides and a visit from Santa. Free. Info: downtownhendersonville.org or 694-1619.

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

HolidAy tAilgAte mArkets • WE (11/20) through WE (12/18), 2-6pm - Weaverville Tailgate/ Holiday Market will be held outside the Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr., Weaverville.

Includes food vendors, artisans, and craft vendors. Free to attend. Info: weavervilletailgate. org.

• Through SA (12/21), 10am2pm - Madison County Farmers and Artisans Holiday Market will be held in the lower level of Fiddlestix, 37 Library St. Mars Hill. Includes food and craft vendors. Free to attend. Info: info@ marshillmarket.org. oPerAtion toAsty toes cHAPter 7 Makes yarn comfort items that are sent to troops deployed overseas. Info: Info@ OperationToastyToes.org or operationtoastytoes.org.

• Through TU (12/31)Operation Toasty Toes will display Christmas trees dedicated to members of the armed forces at select Henderson County libraries. Families of soliders are encouraged to provide a photo to Chapter 7 for inclusion. Info: operationtoastytoes.org or 696-9777.

mountainx.com

tHursdAys • 8am-2pm - Henderson county curb market, 221 N. Church St., Hendersonville.

Ends Dec. 31. sAturdAys • 6am-noon - caldwell county farmers market, 120 Hospital Ave., N.E., Lenoir. Ends Dec. 21.

• 8am-1pm - Asheville city market, 161 South Charlotte St. Ends Dec. 28.

• 8am-2pm - Henderson county curb market, 221 N. Church St., Hendersonville.

Ends Dec. 31.

• 8am-12:30pm - transylvania tailgate market, 190 E. Main St., Brevard. Ends Dec. 21.

• 8:30am-12:30pm - yancey county farmers market, U.S. 19 East at S. Main Street, Burnsville. Ends Dec. 14.

• 9am-noon - Jackson county farmers market, in the Community Table, 23 Central St., Sylva. Through March.

• 9am-noon - Historic marion tailgate market, West Henderson and Logan Streets.

Ends Dec. 14.

kids PAri scigirls ProgrAm • TU (12/3), 6-8pm- PARI and Transylvania County 4-H will host a program for girls ages 9-14 to show how different building designs affect heat control. Held at the Transylvania County Extension Office, 98 E. Morgan St., Brevard. $10. Info: pari.edu/ programs/students/scigirls reAding corner At PAck liBrAry • WE (12/4), 3:30pm- Reading Corner, held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., will feature friendship bracelet making. Supplies provided.

Ages 6-12. Free. Info: 2504700. tHe mArsHmAlloW fAmily circus • SA (11/30) & SU (12/1) - Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Road, will host The Marshmallow Family Circus, a one-man show featuring juggling, puppets, comedy and more. Sat., 7pm; Sun., 2pm. $10. Info: toyboatcommunityartspace. com. youtH cHess • SATURDAYS, 11am - Chess Ninjas youth chess club meets at Mellow Mushroom, 50 Broadway Ave., for all levels to learn from a skilled instructor.

Ages 7-15. $5 per session. Info: mommyshape@gmail.com.

music song o' sky cHorus (pd.) tuesday 6:45-9:30 Pm song o' sky chorus (Sweet Adelines International) Covenant Community Church, 11 Rocket Dr., 28803 Asheville's premier a capella barbershop-style chorus! We welcome all women who love to sing! www.songosky.org 1-866-824-9547

tuesdAys • 8am-2pm - Henderson county curb market, 221 N. Church St., Hendersonville.

Ends Dec. 31.

• 3-6pm - Historic marion tailgate market, West Henderson and Logan streets.

Ends Dec. 14.

AsHeville PArty Hosts free, live entertAinment! (pd.) Free live music, dancing, DJ tunes, Karaoke, games in a fun and funky atmosphere.

Tuesday, December 3, 4-8pm, at the The Millroom, 66 Asheland Avenue, Asheville.

(828) 808-1757. www.ashevilleparty.com

dAily • 8am-6pm - Wnc farmers market, 570 Brevard Road.

Ongoing.

42nd street JAZZ BAnd • SATURDAYS, 6-9pm - The 42nd Street Jazz Band will perform at Kelsey's Restaurant

and Lounge, 840 Spartanburg Highway, Hendersonville. Free.

Info: 693-9393.

HigHlAnds Performing Arts center • FR (11/29), 8pm - David Holt and Josh Goforth will perform at the Highlands Performing Arts Center, 507 Chestnut St., Highlands. $35 preferred seating/$25. Info: highlandspac.org or 526-9047. kArAoke At PlAyers • WEDNESDAYS, 8pm; FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, 9pm - Players Cigar Bar, 170 Rosscraggon Road, hosts weekly karaoke. Info: 676-0588. music At green river liBrAry • TH (12/5), 4pm - Harpist Carroll Ownbey will perform at the Green River Library, 50 Green River Road, Zirconia. music At uncA Concerts are held in Lipinsky Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Tickets and info: 251.6432.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Blue Ridge Orchestra will hold an open rehearsal in UNCA’s Reuter Center.

• TH (12/5) 7:30pm - Judi Lampert (flute) and friends will perform. $5/students free. Info: music.unca.edu. music At Wcu Unless otherwise noted, performances are held at the Fine and Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University. Tickets and info: bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227-2479.

• TU (12/3), 7:30pm - WCU will host "An Enchanted Broadway Holiday Show" performed

by Lee Lessack and Joanna O'Brien. Held in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. $5/students free.

Info: bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227-2479. oPen mic At tHe courtyArd gAllery • MONDAYS, 8:30-10:30pm Open mic with Ash Devine at the Courtyard Gallery in the Phil Mechanic Building, 109 Roberts St. Musicians, storytellers, poets, filmmakers and other artists welcome. Free.

Info: carlos@ashevillecourtyard. com.

outdoors lAke JAmes stAte PArk 6883 N.C. Highway 126, Nebo.

Programs are free unless other-

wise noted. Info: 584-7728.

• SA (11/30), 2pm - Park Ranger Earl Weaver guides a boat tour looking for waterfowl.

PuBlic lectures PuBlic lectures & events At uncA Events are free unless otherwise noted. Info: unca.edu.

• TU (12/3), 7:30pm- "Africa: A Hopeful Continent?" Held in the Reuter Center.

seniors oPPortunity House events Located at 1411 Asheville Highway in Hendersonville.

Info: 698-5517 or 692-0575.

• MO (12/2), 11am-noon - A presentation on hearing loss, "Hearing Loss Myths & Communication Techniques," will take place at the Opportunity House. Free.

• 1:30-4pm - Free hearing screenings will be available for people 55 and over.

Registration required: 6920575.

Wnc AlliAnce for retired AmericAns • 3rd TUESDAYS, 10am - The WNC Alliance for Retired Americans meets at Kenilworth Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, 123 Kenilworth Road. Free.

Info: dick@dickandnorma.com.

sPirituAlity Astro-counseling (pd.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also available. Christy Gunther, MA, LPC. (828) 258-3229.

AsHeville comPAssionAte communicAtion center (pd.) Free practice group.

Learn ways to create understanding and clarity in your relationships, work, and community by practicing compassionate communication (nonviolent communication). 252-0538 or www.ashevilleccc.com. • 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 5:00-6:15.

AQuAriAn consciousness felloWsHiP (pd.) Metaphysical program inspired by spiritual growth

topics of your choice.

Meditation, potluck, St. Germain live channeled piano music. • Second and Fourth Wednesday. 6:30pm. • Donation. (828) 658-3362. mindfulness meditAtion clAss (pd.) Explore the miracle of healing into life through deepened stillness and presence. With consciousness teacher and columnist Bill Walz. Mondays, 6:30-7:30pm: Meditation class with lesson and discussions in contemporary Zen living. Asheville Friends Meeting House, 227 Edgewood Ave. (off Merrimon).

Donation. Info: 258-3241. www.billwalz.com Weekly circle W/ eArtH green medicine lodge (pd.) 6 PM THURSDAYSWorking with divination and purification rituals, we gather wisdom of the ancestors to be in right relations and advance the collective dream. (828)2840975 or mayanrecordkeeper@ live.com AsHeville insigHt meditAtion (pd.) free introduction to insight or mindfulness meditation. 2nd and 4th Thursday.

7pm. Asheville Insight Meditation, Suite 200, 29 Ravenscroft Dr, (828) 808-4444, www.ashevillemeditation.com mindfulness meditAtion (pd.) "AsHeville insigHt meditAtion Practice Mindfulness Meditation (aka Vipassana or Insight Meditation) with a supportive group. Group sessions: Wednesdays, 7pm-8:30pm.

Sundays, 10am-11:30pm. 29 Ravenscroft Dr., Suite 200, Asheville. (828) 808-4444,www. ashevillemeditation.com" Aim meditAtion clAsses (pd.) "ramp up your meditation practice with AIM’s Meditation’s Classes: mindfulness 101 - Basics of Mindfulness Meditation, mindfulness 102 - More advanced, intermediate class.

Class dates and times: www. ashevillemeditation.com/ events, (828) 808-4444" eckAnkAr WORShiP SERvicE • “contemPlAtion APPreciAting tHe gift of life” (pd.) “Another word for contemplation is appreciation.

Think about all the reasons you have to be grateful. Think about the gifts in your life that have come from God, from

the Holy Spirit, that make this life worth living. Think about the adventures that are coming, and be grateful for the strength to meet tomorrow; appreciate the gift of life. True contemplation is reflecting on the blessings of God in your life. It’s not complex, there are many ways to do it, and it certainly will enrich you.”

Experience stories from the heart, creative arts and more, followed by fellowship and a pot-luck lunch. (Donations accepted). • Date: This Sunday, December 1, 2013, 11am12noon, Eckankar Center of Asheville, 797 Haywood Rd. (lower level), Asheville NC 28806, 828-254-6775. www. eckankar-nc.org coffee And cHrist • 1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Coffee and Christ, a casual conversation about Christian cosmology, meets at Edna's of Asheville, 870 Merrimon Ave. Free. Info: MT1128@live.com. greAt tree Zen temPle Daily, weekly and monthly retreats and zazen practice and study. Info: greattreetemple. org or 645-2085.

• TUESDAYS, 3:30pm Meditation, readings and discussion with Rev. Teijo Munnich. 679 Lower Flat Creek Road, Alexander. ligHt center 2196 N.C. Highway 9 S., Black Mountain. Info: urlight.org or 669-6845.

• DAILY, 10am-4:30pm - Chakra balancing light sessions.

Donations accepted.

• DAILY - Seven Circuit Classical Labyrinth. Daylight hours.

• TUESDAYS, 7:30pm - Self Energy Awareness Group. sisters on tHe Journey • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm - Sisters on the Journey women's circle will focus on living genuine, wholehearted and empowered lives. Meets biweekly. $10 donation. Info and location: 13moons.info or 13moons@gmail.com. sPirituAl develoPment 101 • WEDNESDAYS, 7pm Spiritual Development 101 will teach participants how to develop spiritual gifts. Held at the Dove's Nest. Free. Info and directions: 808-3879 or mountaintwin@yahoo.com.

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

19

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

by Hayley Benton & Carrie Eidson

Send your event listings to calendar@mountainx.com.

and signings of their work.

• MO (12/2), 7pm - Cassandra King with read from her novel Moonrise.

• MO (12/2), 7pm - Patti Digh will host the Bridging Differences Bookclub to discuss Far From the Tree by Andrew Solomon.

• WE (12/4), 7pm - Malaprop's Bookclub will discuss The Sense of Ending by Julian Barnes.

• TH (12/5), 6-8pm - Amy Ridenhour will sign copies of her book Historic Inns of Asheville.

Leap into the holidays: See High Country Youth Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Tickets can be purchased at Toe River Arts Council offices in Spruce Pine and Burnsville (p.27)

Spoken & Written Word Accent on Books 854 Merrimon Ave. Free, unless otherwise noted. Info: accentonbooks.com or 252-6255.

• SA (11/30), 11am - William Murdock will read from and sign copies of his book, The Inklings at Christmastide.

Battery Park Book Exchange 1 Page Ave. Info: batteryparkbookexchange.com or 2520020.

• TU (12/3), 7pm - Local writer Susan Blexrud will host a discussion of Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline.

Blue Ridge Books Located at 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. All programs free, unless otherwise noted. Info: blueridgebooksnc.com or 4566000.

• SA (11/30), 3pm- Readings of traditional sacred poetry with dulcimer music. Poet Tracey Schmidt will also read from her work I Have Fallen in Love with the World.

Buncombe County Public Libraries LIBRARY ABBREVIATIONS - All programs are free unless otherwise noted. Each Library event is marked by the following location abbreviations:

20

n EA = East Asheville Library (902 Tunnel Road, 250-4738) n EC = Enka-Candler Library (1404 Sandhill Road, 250-4758) n FV = Fairview Library (1 Taylor Road, 250-6484) n PM = Pack Memorial Library (67 Haywood Street, 250-4700) n SA = South Asheville/Oakley Library (749 Fairview Road, 250-4754) n SW = Swannanoa Library (101 West Charleston Street, 250-6486) n WV = Weaverville Library (41 N. Main Street, 250-6482) • WE (11/27), 10am - "Sew What," a beginner's sewing class. Info: 250-6486. SW • Through (12/17) - Book loans for "Imagining the Future: Scientific Revelations in Fiction," a science fiction book discussion series, will be available.

Discussions begin Oct. 22 at 6pm and continue every other Tuesday. PM • Through SA (11/30), 9am-5pm - Juvenile and young adult book sale. Free to attend.SA • TU (12/3), 7pm - Book Club: assorted short stories WV. • TU (12/3), 6-8pm- Discussion of The Space Merchants

by Frederick Pohl and C.M. Kornbuth. Part of the “Imagining the Future: Scientific Revelations in Fiction” series.

PM. • TU (12/3), 7pm - Book club: Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan. EC

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2013

• TU (12/3), 7pm - Author/musician Danny Ellis will share music and talk about his memoir The Boy at the Gate. FV. • WE (12/4), 3pm - Book Club: The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig. WV. • WE (12/4), 5pm - Swannanoa Knitters. SW • TH (12/5), 6:30pm - Book Club: The Left Hand of Darkness

by Ursula K. Le Guin. EA. City Lights Bookstore Located at 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva. Events are free, unless otherwise noted. Info: citylightsnc.com or 586-9499.

• SA (11/30), 9am-9pm - Small Business Saturday with local authors Pamela Duncan and Brent Martin.

Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe 55 Haywood St. Info: malaprops.com or 254-6734. Events are free, unless otherwise noted.

• SA (11/30), 9am-5pm - A day to meet 16 local authors: 9-11 a.m. - Jay Erskine Leutze, Nancy Dillingham and Megan Shepherd; 10 a.m.-noon Tommy Hays; 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

- Nathan Ballingrud, Sallie Bissell and Katey Schultz; 1-3 p.m. Dershie McDevitt, Rose Senehi, Vicki Lane and Alan, Jo and Wendi Gratz; 3-5 p.m. - Terry Roberts, Denise Kiernan and Joe D'Agnese.

• SU (12/1), 3pm - "Poetrio" with Hilda Downer, Tony Reevy and Jillian Weise for readings

mountainx.com

Spellbound Children's Bookshop 50 N. Merrimon Ave. Free, unless otherwise noted. Info: spellboundchildrensbookshop. com or 232-2228.

• SA (11/30), 3-4:30pm Author Gloria Houston will visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her book The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree.

• SU (12/1), 4-5pm - Royal Book Club will meet to discuss The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Anyone 18+ welcome.

• TH (12/5), 5:30-7pm - A holiday story time event with activities and giveaways during Woodfin Holiday Stroll. Free.

Sports Asheville Browns Backers • ONGOING - Asheville Browns Backers, a nonprofit organization, invites Cleveland Browns fans to view games at Beef 'O Brady's, 2625 Hendersonville Road. Free.

Info: Ashevillebbw@gmail.com.

Coed Dodgeball League • MONDAYS through (12/9), 7-9pm - A league for ages 16 and up. Info: collin.bugniazet@ townofblackmountain.org or 669-2052.

Dodgeball Registration • Through TU (12/17) Registration for individuals and teams wishing to participate in dodgeball season will end on Dec. 17. The games will take place Tuesdays, Jan. 7 through Feb. 25 at the UNCA Justice Center. $225 per team/$40 per individual. Info: jay.nelson@buncombecounty.org or 250-4269.

Turkey Trot 5k • TH (11/28), 8:30am - The City of Hendersonville Wellness Committee hosts a Turkey Trot 5k, a run/walk event open to all ages and all fitness levels. Meets in front of City Hall. $10. Registration

required. Info: cityofhendersonville.org

Theater Asheville Community Theatre Located at 35 E. Walnut St. Tickets and info: ashevilletheatre.org or 254-1320.

• Through SU (12/8) - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Fri. & Sat. 7:30pm; Sun. 2:30pm. $22/$19 seniors and students/$12 children.

High Country Youth Ballet: The Nutcracker • SA (11/30), 7pm & SU(12/1), 2pm - High County Youth Ballet will perform The Nutcracker.

Held in the auditorium at Mountain Heritage High School, 333 Mountain Heritage Road, Burnsville. $15/$10 for students/children under 5 free.

Info: 467-1887.

The Christmas That Almost Wasn't • FR (11/29), 10:30am Burnsville Dogs will perform The Christmas That Almost Wasn't at The Burnsville Town Center, 6 S. Main St., Burnsville. $5/$1 kids. Proceeds benefit the Toe River Arts Council. Info: 208-4731.

Thriving Children Children First/CIS • ONGOING - Children First/ CIS seeks volunteers for its learning centers and after school program for elementary school children living in public and low-income housing. Mon.Thurs., 2:30-5:30pm. Info: childrenfirstbc.org, facebook.com/ SuccessEquation or 768-2072.

Play and Learn for Infants and Toddlers • TUESDAYS, 10:30am & THURSDAYS, 10 & 11am - An 8-week series of pre-literacy classes for parents and children from Buncombe County.

Tuesdays, ages 3-12 months; Thursdays, ages 13-35 months.

Free. Info, location and registration: grace.ragaller@asheville.k12.nc.us. or 350-2932.

Volunteering American Cancer Society • WEEKDAYS, 9am-1pm - The American Cancer Society seeks volunteers to provide information to cancer patients and their families. Orientation and

screening required.

• The American Cancer Society seeks volunteers to drive cancer patients to treatments in Buncombe County. Must have valid driver's license, vehicle and insurance. Info: (800) 2272345.

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity • ONGOING - AAHH, a nonprofit whose goal is to provide safe and decent housing to Buncombe County residents, seeks ReStore volunteers.

Opportunities include working with the deconstruction program and assisting with neighborhood pickups and deliveries. Info: ashevillehabitat.org.

Asheville City Schools Foundation • ONGOING - The Asheville City Schools Foundation seeks volunteers to tutor/mentor students (K-12) in need of support. Volunteer opportunities available Mon.-Fri., 8am-6pm.

Info: jay@acsf.org or 350-6135.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC Located at 50 S. French Broad Ave., Room 213, in the United Way building. The organization matches children from single-parent homes with adult mentors. Info: bbbswnc.org or 253-1470.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters seeks volunteers 18 and older to share outings in the community twice a month with youth from single-parent homes. Activities are free or low-cost, such as sports, local attractions, etc. Volunteers age 16 and older are needed to mentor one hour per week in schools and after-school sites.

Girls on the Run Girls on the Run is a nonprofit dedicated to educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Info: www.gotrwnc.org or girlsontherunwnc@gmail.com.

• ONGOING - Girls on the Run of WNC seeks volunteers to plan and assist with the GOTR 5K, scheduled for Dec. 7 in Fletcher.

Interfaith Assistance Ministry • ONGOING - Interfaith Assistance Ministry offers emergency assistance to Henderson County residents in financial crisis. Four-hour volunteer shifts available as well as substitute opportunities. Info: iamhendersoncounty.org or 697-7029.

literAcy council of BuncomBe county Located at 31 College Place, Building B, Suite 221. Info: litcouncil.com, volunteers@ litcouncil.com or 254-3442.

• Volunteers are needed to tutor adults in basic literacy skills including reading, writing, math and English as a second language. Tutors provide one on one or small group instruction in Buncombe County. No prior tutoring experience or foreign language skills required.

Orientation: Jan. 8 or 9. loving food resources LFR provides food, health and personal-care items to people living with HIV/ AIDS, or any person in home hospice, regardless of diagnosis, in WNC. LFR is a self-select food pantry.

If you think you qualify and need some help: 280-4112 or lovingfood.org.

• ONGOING - Loving Food Resources needs volunteers Tue. 9-11am, Wed. 9-11am, Fri. 9amnoon and Sat. 9am-11 and/or 11am-2pm. Help is needed with stocking, helping clients shop, driving, food box delivery, sort-

ing, internet related tasks, graphic design and office assistance. mAnnA foodBAnk • ONGOING - MANNA FoodBank seeks volunteers to work in its warehouse.

Mon.-Sat. daytime and Thurs. evening shifts available. Info: mannafoodbank.org, mgruber@mannafoodbank.org or 299-3663, ext. 245. memorycAre AdminstrAtive suPPort volunteer • ONGOING - MemoryCare, a nonprofit dedicated to providing assessment, treatment and support for memory-impaired individuals and their families, seeks a volunteer administrative assistant 2-3 hours a week on Tue., Wed. or Thur. for general office duties. Info: alexander@memorycare.org. mountAin Housing oPPortunities • Through (12/31) - The Mountain Housing Opportunities seeks low-to-moderate income families for its Self Help Home Ownership Program, "an alternative path to affordable homeownership." No construction

Mr. K’s

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experience or down payment required. Info: mtnhousing.org or 254-4030, ext. 122. tHe rAtHBun center • ONGOING - The Rathbun Center, which provides free lodging for patients and their caregivers staying in Asheville for medical treatment, seeks volunteers to support and register guests. Weekend shifts: noon3pm, 3-6pm and 6-9pm. Info: rathbuncenter.org or 251-0595.

Western nortH cArolinA AlliAnce • WEDNESDAYS, noon-3pm - The WNC Alliance seeks volunteers to sample water in the French Broad watershed for bacterial pollution. Meets at Westfeldt Park, Highway 280 and Old Fanning Bridge Road near the Asheville regional airport. Bring water, snacks and old shoes. Info: wnca.org or cynthia@wnca.org. cAlendAr deAdline The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WednesdAy, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

21

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Asheville Disclaimer by Tom Scheve

tomscheve@gmail.com

Find local live standup comedy events at www.DisclaimerComedy.com (and you should follow us on Twitter at @AVLdisclaimer).

asheville disclaimer The Most Beloved Page in All the Land

Briefs Asheville sees 2nd Brazilian steakhouse open City residents still anxiously await 1st Icelandic-picked shark steam room

Weaverville man owns two JFK limos “One of them needs pretty serious cleaning of the interior upholstery”

Nursing home residents remember Kennedy death 50 years later “It was a cold March day in Missouri, when an assassin’s baseball bat struck down the president as he sung the National Anthem to Babe Ruth”

McKibbon Hotel group won’t develop Basilica park property after all “We just wanted to upset everyone before we announced the real location” New location: Riverside Cemetery

Warm, dry drought predicted for Southeast Contradicts all prior predictions from nature, gut feeling and grandpa’s knees

Deer hunting in WNC cranks into full swing Also in full swing: Adults hiding in trees, day drinking

Gamers wait in lines outside overnight for release of Xbox One Last time gamers will see outdoors for at least a year

Asheville Disclaimer is parody/satire Contact: tomscheve@gmail.com

Twitter: @AVLdisclaimer Contributing this week: Joe Shelton, Tom Scheve

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

Asheville unicorn encounters up due to gluten scarcity

By The Numbers

ASHEVILLE, MONDAY — Asheville residents are reporting higherthan-normal sightings of unicorns during a time of year when unicorns are usually preparing to float-gallop west for the winter.

“This has been a poor season for gluten, which unicorns crave and require in order to survive,” said Holly Janson, author of several self-published pamphlets on unicorns, wildwoman soul cultivation and dream-manifestation.

If you look closely at this According to Janson, photograph of a Merrimon Ave. gluten prevents unicorn horns sidewalk taken by an amateur from becoming brittle and photographer in early December, shattering during encounters you can make out the image with human spirit-partners. (albeit blurry) of a unicorn.

“Most of the unicorns I have seen this fall have been from the morning mist where they missing their horn — a real bad normally hide, in order to seek out sign,” said Janson, who added that the sacred substance. gluten also helps unicorns’ skin from “The unicorns are becoming chafing when spiritual-warrior- unusually aggressive,” said an official goddesses ride them naked during with the N.C. Wildlife Resources lucid daydreams.

Commission. “A White Wizard was A decreased stock of gluten in nearly gored to death when he got Asheville has forced the unicorns between a hungry unicorn and the to emerge with greater frequency trashcan behind Papa John’s.”

• Average life expectancy of Russian officer upon being sent to Battle of Stalingrad: 3 days

• Average life expectancy of Russian soldier upon being sent into the Battle of Stalingrad: 1 day

• Average length of employment of line cook at Asheville restaurants: 37 minutes • Average time it takes after opening gas station until clerk hears customer state, “Working hard, or hardly working?”: 16 minutes • Percentage of African-American males aged 65+ who respond to question “What’s up?” with, “Nothing but the rent”: 45 percent • Average increase in rent prices in America over last 30 years (accounting for inflation): 34 percent • Average increase in rent prices for AfricanAmerican men over last 30 years (accounting for inflation): 4.1 million percent • Day by which majority of Americans have put up Christmas decorations: Dec. 17 • Day by which majority of Americans have taken them down: Dec. 3 of following year • Percentage of children who were “unschooled” in late 1990s/early 2000s: 0.01 percent • Percentage of un-schooled young adults who were re-schooled in state penitentiaries in early 2010s: 87 percent

Tips for Asheville city residents visiting relatives for Thanksgiving

• Obamacare is going to be brought up before, during and after the blessing. Remember to correct them each time and call it the “Affordable Care Act,” but don’t add “dot-gov.”

• To honor tradition, let your family eat indoors, but serve them the Thanksgiving meal through an open window from your food-truck that’s idling directly outside the dining room.

• Do not hula-hoop during the blessing.

• Costumes are generally frowned upon.

• Thanksgiving dinner is clothing-optional, if one of your options is getting removed as a beneficiary from your parent’s life insurance policy.

• You should never say, “And now I’D like to bless this food,” right after someone already blessed the food while you stepped away to find your staff.

• If you have to honor the turkey, do it in your head.

• The 12 hours you will spend with family on Thanksgiving mountainx.com

day is almost — but not quite — enough time to explain to them who is REALLY running the world, and why. Split the presentation into two sessions and save the rousing finale for next year’s Thanksgiving.

• The fact your cousin is goading you on to tell everyone about your outfit at Mountain Oasis and the friends you made at Transformus doesn’t mean that doing so is a good idea.

• Take no more than two of your polyamorous life-partners to the family gathering. DO NOT let your nephews scroll through your smartphone’s photo-roll.

• Even though ending the dinner with a giant turkeyburn while tripping your face off and pointing out dead ancestors in the burning-turkey smoke is, in fact, a great idea, turkeys don’t actually burn that well.

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EVERyBoDy nEEDs a hug After its launch was delayed for a month by the Madison, Wis., city attorney, the Snuggle House was cleared and scheduled to open Nov. 15 to provide in-bed, pajama-clad “intimate, nonsexual touch” for $60 an hour. “So many people,” said Assistant Manager Emily Noon, “don’t have a significant other in their lives” and “just need to be held” (including, she said, the elderly and hospice patients, who are part of the target clientele). The delay, a spokesman said, was to ensure that Snuggle House had protocols for dealing with “risky” situations in which a customer refuses to take “no sex” for an answer. (Snuggle House staff have prominent surveillance cameras and panic buttons.) oh DEaR! Among the underreported catastrophes caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 was the flooding of the 27,000-case WineCare storage cellar in Manhattan. Though it claimed to have lost only about 5 percent of its inventory when Hudson River waters invaded its supposedly secure warehouse, that apparently didn’t count the many bottles whose labels washed off, dramatically reducing their value and forcing WineCare into bankruptcy court, according to a July New York Times report. supER pRotEsts (1) Artist David Cerny, fed up with the collapse of the Czech Republic’s governing parties, launched a barge on the River Vitava in Prague in October, holding a gigantic purple hand with middle finger extended, aimed at Prague Castle (the office of President Milos Zeman). (2) In a November demonstration against Russia’s “police state,” artist Pyotr Pavlensky was arrested after nailing the skin of his scrotum into cobblestones in Moscow’s Red Square, in front of horrified tourists. Pavlensky had earlier called his stunt “a

F

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by Chuck Shepherd

metaphor for the apathy, political indifference and fatalism of contemporary Russian society.” cLichEs comE to LifE (1) The Azerbaijani government’s official vote totals for the Oct. 8 elections (showing President Aliyev winning, as expected, with 72.76 percent of the votes) were mistakenly released to the public on Oct. 7. (Officials blamed a computer app “bug.”) (2) Terry Jenkins, 25, was arrested for domestic battery in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in September after police said he’d asked his girlfriend and her female cousin for a bedroom ménage à trois. He allegedly became enraged when the women paid more attention to each other than to him.

LEast-compEtEnt cRiminaLs Recurring themes: (1) Steven Campbell, 51, entering a courthouse in Kelso, Wash., in November for a hearing on his arrest for methamphetamine possession, apparently failed to anticipate being searched and was forced to hand over a 3-inch pipe with suspected meth residue on it. (2) Andrew Laviguer, 57, was captured and accused of robbing several banks in Oregon and Washington in September, including the Wells Fargo branch in Portland, Ore., on whose counter he mistakenly left his car keys when he fled. finE points of thE Law In November, the lawyer for a 43-year-old Canadian man argued that his client wasn’t guilty of violating a Dubai law prohibiting public insults, even though he’d used the F-word, because he’d merely said “F-word off” and not “F-word you.” “F-word off,” the lawyer explained, is simply a demand (in Canada, anyway) that someone leave you alone. X

REaD DaiLy Read News of the Weird daily with Chuck Shepherd at www.weirduniverse.net. Send items to weirdnews@earthlink.net or PO Box 18737, Tampa FL 33679.

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S P I R I T UA L I TY EXPAND YOUR REACH. What is your vision for the world?

How does your organization connect with the community? In it’s December 25th issue, Mountain Xpress is inviting WNC’s spiritual leaders and faith-based groups to spread your message in this specifically formatted advertorial section.

BenefITS • Share what you and your organization stand for • Reach potential members, students, and seekers • Open opportunities for spiritual growth

Publishes December 25th, 2013 To reserve your space please contact : 828-251-1333 • advertise@mountainx.com mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

23

W E L L N E S S

Music heals Using sound to reconnect patients with a sense of peace

By LEa mcLELLan

lmclellan@mountainx.com 251-1333 ext. 127

Complete silence. All noise ceases upon entering the sound chamber.

Once a patient is seated in the suspended chair, mickra hamilton, owner of Synchronicity Wellness and an audiology expert for the U.S. military, lifts them on a hoist, so that their ear aligns with a laser pointer. This is the point where the sound waves arrive from all five speakers — located above, below and on all sides of the chamber. The door closes and total darkness envelopes. Music begins to fill the chamber — the trickling of rain, rushing rivers and the beating of drums create various “sound journeys” that are intended to transport the listener to a calm and peaceful place.

While Hamilton says the sound therapy is beneficial for everyone, her passion is helping fellow soldiers heal from post-traumatic stress disorder. “You have to reconnect [veterans] with their emotions before they can look at what they went through,” says Hamilton. “That’s what we do with music. Music just does it. You don’t have to think, and you’re transported to a place of awe and beauty — that makes you feel good,” she continues. “If you can get them in peace, they just want to be there as often as possible. And these PTSD guys can’t get there.”

While the sound chamber isn’t yet open to the public, Hamilton has been quietly admitting clients — free of charge —since construction completed in December 2012. During this research phase, volunteers were invited to experience the chamber for 20-minute sessions over a 12-week period, so that Hamilton could study the effects of the music on the patients’ stress levels. A pilot study will be finished in late February, at which time

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

jouRnEy in sounD: Musician Tommy Calloway, who created the various “sound journeys,” gives a tour of the sound chamber. photo by Carrie Eidson

it will be presented at the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. She also hopes to share her findings with the military, eventually making the therapy available to soldiers suffering from PTSD. Dr. cindy ackrill, a licensed physician who specializes in stress management and has spent the last decade studying the brain, experienced the sound chamber firsthand. “It was really lovely,” says Ackrill. “We all know that music affects us. You listen to something upbeat, and your energy changes. I’ve often seen in neurofeedback conferences how they use auditory things to drive the brain, so I know there’s interaction there. For me, it was a little bit like ... an alpha-theta state. You know when you’re just falling asleep or just waking up, and you’re not really in present time? You’re a little bit drifty — that’s what it felt like.”

Bringing PTSD patients — as well as all patients with anxiety and stressrelated issues — to that “alpha-theta” state is precisely what Hamilton is after. Part of her research focuses on biofeedback and neurofeedback techniques, which deal in heart-rate variability and brain waves, respectively.

She likens the “stressed” beta-wave brain-state to a fight-or-flight response that is never-ending. “What happens

mountainx.com

is that they’ll hear a sound in their environment [such as a] car backfiring, or even a cup on a granite table [or] a door slamming, and the sound memory triggers them back to the state of trauma,” says Hamilton. “We understand the processes that occur in the brain, and in the heart and in the body, and so we’re using that knowledge to get the heart open so that they can feel emotions again.”

Hamilton is convinced that music has a unique power for natural healing. And she’s willing to do the work to prove it, scientifically. “We have used music from the beginning of humanity to heal, to calm, to evoke whatever state of being we want to evoke,” she says. “So what music does with the brain,” Hamilton says, “is that it shifts the brain into a different place, into different wave patterns. It disconnects that place where you’re thinking. Music moves through the right creative brain and it stops that monkey mind. If we can use the music to stop the monkey mind, then we can achieve that peace.”

The volunteers involved in her study range from stressed-out parents with demanding jobs to Vietnam veterans and meditation practitioners. One woman, who is

recovering from a drug overdose, says the experience is different every time she goes in, but it is always deeply relaxing, and it takes her to a “different place.” (Several of the patients who spoke to Xpress requested that we not use their names.)

Another volunteer — meditation practitioner christopher matthews — says the chamber allows him to go deeper into a meditative state in less time. “It’s a unique combination of feelings,” he says. “You’re suspended and you’re also surrounded by sound, [which] supports meditation and being able to relax very deeply in that sound because you feel transported.”

Furthermore, he says, “any sort of meditation is always about calming or stilling the mind. Usually, it’s some sort of inner focus, but the sound chamber was actually an outer focus that supported reaching that inner focus very clearly.” Matthews adds, “I think anytime you have a deep, mental focus — it stays with you for hours and days after that.”

More time and research will tell if the sound chamber becomes a method of therapy and healing embraced by the military and the medical field at large. In the meantime, Hamilton plans to host a grand opening Dec. 21 and will open the chamber to the public Jan. 15. Free consults will be available to the PTSD population to determine if they are good candidates for the treatment.

“It’s the pioneers like [Hamilton], who get a cool idea and go with it, [who] advance the world,” says Ackrill.

And while the brain remains a complex and largely unexplored territory, the goals of the research are simple. “I think it’s really about achieving peace,” says Hamilton. “And we know music can make that happen.”

Synchronicity Wellness is at 190 Broadway St. Learn more at synchronicitywellness.org, or call 2796750. Mickra Hamilton serves in the U.S. military as individual mobilization augmentee to the executive director for the Hearing Center of Excellence, as well as military audiology subject matter expert to the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. X

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Dear Dr. Waldman, For the last 3 years, my right heel has been hurting, especially when I get out of bed in the morning and when I start walking after sitting. I don’t remember injuring my foot at all. I tried some cushions and ibuprofen from the drugstore, but it doesn’t help. It’s starting to hurt so bad, I don’t know what to do. What is going on, and what can be done to cure this? -Mrs. G.T., Arden From the symptoms you describe, I believe you have one of the most common foot problems I treat in the office. The medical term is plantar fasciitis (Fa-shE-Its), which simply means inflammation of the ligament on the bottom of the heel. A spur on the bottom of the heel bone is often present. The most common reason for this is repetitive pressure on the heel and flat arches (hyper-pronation). I commonly treat this problem with stretching exercises, anti-inflammatory pills, shoe inserts and topical relieving gels like BioFreeze. I will often use ultrasound to see inside the heel to evaluate the condition of the ligament. Sometimes the ligament is thickened and/or torn. It may also have an area of inflammation called a bursae. Occasionally, a small steriod injection can be given to quickly shrink the bursea and greatly reduce the pain. More than 95% of my patients of my patients get long term relief with these treatments.

New treatments for resistant heel pain include high energy sound wave which is replacing traditional heel surgery. Of course, there are a number of other possible causes for heel pain so you should consult with your podiatric physician soon.

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Burn tHe turkey (pd.) Black Friday shopping not your thing...

Start the Holiday season off right! Offering a full class schedule Friday November 29. • 6am Power Yoga • 8:30am Restorative Yoga • 10am Pilates Reformer • 11am Pilates Reformer • 12:15pm Mixed Level Vinyasa Flow Yoga • 1:30pm Pilates Reformer • 2:30pm Pilates Mat. • 1378 Hendersonville Road. 277-5741, www.

AshevilleHappyBody.com

yogA for veterAns • MONDAYS, 7-8pm - A yoga class for veterans and their families will be offered at Asheville Yoga Donation Studio, 239 S. Liberty St. All levels. Instructor: Ashley Poole. Free. Info: youryoga.com or 254-0380.

understAnding tHe AffordABle cAre Act (AcA) (pd.) Platinum Exchange is offering Free 30 minute public presentations on Understanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at the Asheville Chamber, 3rd floor. Mondays at 12:15pm, 1:15pm and 2pm and Wednesdays at 12:15pm.

More info: platinum-exchange.com

Adult cHildren of AlcoHolics & dysfunctionAl fAmilies ACOA is an anonymous 12-step, "Twelve Tradition" program for women and men who grew up in alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional homes. Info: adultchildren.org.

• FRIDAYS, 7pm - "Inner Child" study group.

Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. Info: 989-8075.

• SUNDAYS, 3pm - "Living in the Solution," The Servanthood House, 156 E. Chestnut St. Open big book study. Info: 989-8075.

• MONDAYS, 7pm - "Generations," First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St. Info: 474-5120.

• TUESDAYS, 7pm - Meets at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St. Info: 2731280.

SLEEPLESS in AShEviLLE • EFFEcTivE And nonAddicting treAtments for insomniA, stress And Anxiety (pd.) By Phil Ellis, Ph.D. • Tuesday, December 10 and Tuesday, January 14, 6pm-7:30pm, The DoubleTree by Hilton in Biltmore Village, 115 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville. • Information/ Registration: 828-281-2299 x 1. www. focuscentersofAsheville.com treAting AdHd WitHout medicAtion (pd.) "The Science and Research behind Neurofeedback" by Phil Ellis, Ph.D. • Tuesday, December 3 and Tuesday, January 7 from 6pm7:30pm. The DoubleTree by Hilton, Biltmore Village, 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville.

Registration/Information: 828-281-2299 x 1. www.focuscentersofAsheville.com

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

Aids memoriAl Quilt • MO (11/25) through MO (12/2) - The Western North Carolina AIDS Project will display the AIDS Memorial Quilt at Asheville Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. Open Mon.-Sat., 10am7pm; closed Thanksgiving Day. Free. Info: wncap.org/wad or 252-7489.

• SU (12/1), 7-9pm - A candlelight memorial vigil will be held at the hotel.

AromAtHerAPy for tHe HolidAys • WE (12/4), 9am-noon & 1-4pm - A program on aromatherapy for the holidays will be held at Mission Hospital’s Integrative Healthcare Wellness Resource Center, 50 Doctor’s Drive, 120 W. Annex. $30/$10 Mission employees. Info and registration: mission-health.org/events or 213-8250. cAndleligHt vigil for Aids AWAreness • SU (12/1), 5pm- Interfaith Action will hold a World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil at Agudas Israel, 505 Glasgow Lane, Hendersonville. Free to attend. Info: agudasisraelsynagogue.org oPPortunity House Blood tests • WEDNESDAYS, 8:30-10am - Opportunity House will offer blood profile laboratory testing at 1411 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. $25.

No appointment required. Info: opportunityhouse.org or 692-0575. red cross Blood drives 100 Edgewood Road. Info: redcrosswnc.org or 258-3888. Appointment and ID required for blood drives.

• MO (12/2), 2-6:30pm- Trinity Baptist Church, 216 Shelburne Road. Appointments and info: 254-2187.

• TH (12/5), 1:30-6pm - Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Road, Black Mountain. Info and appointments: 669-2725.

mountainx.com

suPPort grouPs

Al-Anon Al-Anon is a support group for the family and friends of alcoholics. More than 33 groups are available in the WNC area. Info: wnc-alanon. org or 800-286-1326.

• WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am - "Daytime Serenity," Pardee Education Center at the Blue Ridge Mall, 1800 Four Seasons Blvd.

--- 7pm - Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 798 Merrimon Ave. --- 5:45pm Al-Anon meeting for women, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 798 Merrimon Ave. • THURSDAYS, 6pm - Al-Anon meeting for women, New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3020 Sweeten Creek Road.

• THURSDAYS, 7pm - "Parents of Children with Alcoholism," West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road. --- 7pm - Pinecrest Presbyterian Church, 1790 Greenville Highway at North Highland Lake Road, Flat Rock. --- 8pm - Fletcher United Methodist Church, 50 Library St., Fletcher.

• FRIDAYS, 1pm - "Keeping the Focus," First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Entrance near Charlotte Street. --- 5:30pm - "Family Matters," First United Church, 66 Harrison Ave., Franklin.

• SATURDAYS, 10am - "One Day at a Time," First Baptist Church, Buncombe and 5th avenues, Hendersonville. --- 10am - "Grace Fireside," Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. --- 10am - "Saturday Serenity," St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St. --- noon - "Courage to Change," Bess Sprinkle Memorial Library, Weaverville.

• SUNDAYS, 5pm - Al-Anon and Alateen, West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road.

• MONDAYS, noon - "Keeping the Focus," First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Entrance near Charlotte street. --- 6pm - "Attitude of Gratitude," Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. --- 7pm - First Christian Church, 201 Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain. --- 7:30pm - First United Methodist Church, Jackson and Church Streets, Sylva.

--- 8pm - "Al-Anon Spoken Here," Ledger Baptist Church, U.S. 226 near Bakersville.

--- 8pm - Pinecrest Presbyterian Church, 1790

Greenville Highway at North Highland Lake Road.

• TUESDAYS, 4pm - Grace Church, 242 Highway 107 N., Cashiers. --- 5:30pm - "Steps to Recovery," Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Road. --- 7pm - "One Day at a Time," First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St. --- 8pm - Transylvania men's meeting, Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church, 249 E. Main St. BAlAnce Point collABorAtive Located at 263 Haywood St. unless otherwise noted. Info: balancepointnc.com or 348-6922.

• TUESDAYS, 5:30-6:30pm - New Voice, a support group for eating disorder recovery.

Free. Info: balancepointnc.com or 348-6922. deBtors Anonymous 12-step recovery on issues of underearning, debt and learning to live one's vision in life.

Info: 779-0077.

• MONDAYS, 7pm - Meets at First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St., Room 101.

Info: debtorsanonymous.org. dePression And BiPolAr suPPort AlliAnce: mAgnetic minds • WEDNESDAYS, 7-9pm & SATURDAYS, 4-6pm - Magnetic Minds provides self-help through weekly, peer-facilitated support meetings. Meets at 1316-C Parkwood Road, across from the West Asheville BB&T. Free.

Info: MagneticMinds.weebly.com or 3677660. emotions Anonymous: AsHeville • TUESDAYS, 7pm- Emotions Anonymous offers a 12-step program for anyone desiring to live a healthier emotional life. Held at Oak Forest Presbyterian Church, 880 Sandhill Road. Info: 631-434-5294. nAmi suPPort grouPs The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers three types of groups to support people living with mental health issues and their families, friends and loved ones. Free. Info: namiwnc.org or 505-7353.

• WEDNESDAYS, 2pm - Dual Diagnosis Support Group. For individuals with MH/SA diagnoses. 3 Thurland Ave., off Biltmore Avenue.

• 1st SATURDAYS, 10am; 3rd TUESDAYS, 6pm - Family/Caregiver group for people supporting someone experiencing a mental health issue.

356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 315. nAr-Anon Nar-Anon provides support to relatives and friends concerned about the addiction or drug problem of a loved one.

• • TUESDAYS, 7pm - West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road; enter through back door. Info: robinplemmons@gmail. com.

• WEDNESDAYS, 12:30pm - First United Methodist Chuch, 204 6th Ave. W., Hendersonville. Enter through side parking lot.

Info: 891-8050. overeAters Anonymous A fellowship of individuals who are recovering from compulsive overeating. A 12-step program.

• THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Step Study group at the Cox House, 723 N. Grove St., Hendersonville. Info: 329-1637.

• THURSDAYS, noon - Biltmore United

thE wEstERn noRth caRoLina aiDs pRojEct will display the AIDS Memorial Quilt at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. as part of a weeklong tribute to the more than 94,000 individuals who lost their lives to AIDS. Nov. 25 to Dec. 2 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, closed Thanksgiving Day. Admission is free.

Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Road.

Info: 674-2417.

• SATURDAYS, 9:30am - 424 W. State St., Black Mountain. Open relapse and recovery meeting. Info: 669-0986.

• MONDAYS, 6pm - First Congregational UCC, 20 Oak St. Info: (516) 650-5626.

• MONDAYS, 6:30pm - Balfour United Methodist Church, 2567 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. Info: 800-580-4761.

• TUESDAYS, 10:30am-noon - Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. at Ottari. Info: 609-731-0808.

ProstAte cAncer suPPort forum • TU (12/3), 7pm - WNC Prostate Support Group, a prostate cancer support forum, will meet at the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, College St. Free. Info: 338-0290. recovering couPles Anonymous • MONDAYS, 6:30pm & SATURDAYS, 10am - Recovering Couples Anonymous, for couples with at least one member in a 12-step program. Held every other Monday at Foster Seventh Day Adventist Church, 375 Hendersonville Road, and every other Saturday at The Unity Church Center, 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Road, Mills River. Info and schedule: recovering-couples.org. s-Anon • ONGOING - An anonymous 12-step program for those affected by another's sexual behavior.

Four meetings available weekly in WNC. Days, times, locations and additional info: 258-5117. smArt recovery A peer support group to help individuals gain independence from all types of addictive behavior (drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, etc.).

• • THURSDAYS, 6pm -Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. Info: smartrecoveryavl@gmail.com or 407-0460.

• MONDAYS, 6:30pm - An additional group will meet at St. Andrew Celtic Church, 850 Blue Ridge Road, Black Mountain. t.H.e. center for disordered eAting 297 Haywood St. Info: thecenternc.org or 337-4685.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm - Support group for adults. Free.

• 1st & 3rd MONDAYS, 5:30-6:30pm - Eating disorder support group for teens ages 15-17. more Wellness events online Check out the Wellness Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after December 5. cAlendAr deAdline The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WednesdAy, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

675 hour Massage Certification Program Accepting applications for April 2014 $30 Student Massages - Call for Appointment Clinic Thursdays December - March

Eating Right for Good Health presented by

Milk - Nutrition Q & A Here are some of the questions/comments I get from consumers: 1. “Are the cows that supply Laura Lynn milk hormone-free?”- In order to produce milk a cow

has to have hormones so technically we cannot say the cows are “hormone-free” but all of the dairy farmers that supply the milk that is sent to our processing plant (MILKCO) in West Asheville certify that they do not administer artificial growth hormones like rBST and rBGH to their cows.

2. “What is the difference between organic milk and Laura Lynn milk?” - In both conventional

and organic dairy operations cows typically graze for all or part of the year (it depends on weather and the condition of the grasses and the dairy farmer) but in order to have the nutrient quality they need their diet is supplemented by different grains, grasses or feed.

In the case of organic cows this would all have to be organic. The other difference would be in treating a sick animal. In a conventional dairy operation if an animal became ill it would be removed from the milking herd and if antibiotics were required, the cow’s milk would not be used until the after the “withdrawal time” (the time calculated for the antibiotic to leave the cow’s system). In an organic farm a sick cow that was given antibiotics would have to be removed from the herd permanently and sold to a conventional farm.

Our MILKCO plant operates both a conventional (Laura Lynn milk) and an organic (Harvest Farm) production lines.

All batches of milk are tested before being processed. If antibiotics are detected, the milk is dyed with a bright food coloring so it cannot be sold to the public and returned to the farmer who is responsible for disposing of the milk.

Leah McGrath, RD, LDN Corporate Dietitian, Ingles Markets Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/InglesDietitian Work Phone: 800-334-4936

New Location - 707 Haywood Rd. #001, (West) Asheville

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The revolution will be printed 3-D Innovation Lab opens in Asheville

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jfrankel@mountainx.com 251-1333 ext. 115

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Back in February, President Barack obama hailed 3-D printing as having “the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.” And now, Asheville area residents have affordable access to that innovative technology, which transforms digital designs into real-world objects.

On Nov. 20, Mojo Coworking, in partnership with The Van Winkle Law Firm, unveiled the 3D Innovation Lab at Mojo’s facility at 60 N. Market St. in downtown Asheville. Available to the public for a small fee that covers the cost of materials, the new facility features a pair of 3-D printers and a computer station with design software. It’s the first public 3-D lab in Western North Carolina, and while the sponsoring businesses don’t expect the lab itself to be profitable, they’re hoping it will become a hub of creative economic activity that might yield them some indirect benefits.

“It’s really disruptive technology ... just like the Internet was 20 years ago,” says Brian johnson, a patent and trademark attorney at Van Winkle. “The world is different when we disrupt the normal sequence of how we use information. And this is what we’re doing now: We’re disrupting the design sequence.”

Already, websites such as Thingiverse and Cubify have begun springing up, encouraging users to design, share, buy and sell products made with these groundbreaking machines. Jewelry designers, for example, can use the software at the lab to create and “print” designs and sell them on those sites. Or they can upload their designs and work with a growing array of partners mountainx.com

cREatiVE tEchnoLogy: These 3-D printers transform digital designs into real-world objects. Photo by Jake Frankel

around the world to “print” and ship them anywhere. Meanwhile, children (with their parents’ help) can design and produce their own toys on-site.

“It’s more than just printing,” says Johnson. “It’s a way to make your concepts real.”

Residents can also use the lab as a training ground for learning skills that could help them enter the burgeoning field of industrial 3-D printing, or “additive manufacturing.” The printers at the Innovation Lab use plastics to create objects up to the size of basketballs, but higher-end industrial machines elsewhere are starting to use various other materials, such as titanium, to build everything from hip replacements to airplane parts. In the years to come, whole houses could be constructed using massive high-end printers, predicts adam Reichental, national retail sales manager at 3D Systems in Rock Hill, S.C. Company founder chuck hull invented the world’s first 3-D printing technology 30 years ago.

Since then, the technology has vastly improved while becoming more affordable, says Reichental.

“We wanted to democratize incredible technology and bring it to everyone. Because if it’s simply for the million-dollar users, there’s no opportunity for us to truly advance with it,” he explains. “We’re hoping to power the next wave of entrepreneurship.”

Meanwhile, Mojo, which rents open office space as a way to bring together independent small-business people, hopes the lab will help propel its facility into a center of local learning offering a variety of classes and workshops.

“Since Mojo is the place in Asheville where anyone can plug into social, creative and entrepreneurial energy, it makes sense for us to stay on the leading edge of technologies that support these values,” says co-founder craig mcansh.

Before using the 3D Innovation Lab, participants must take a 30-minute orientation class at Mojo Coworking.

For more information or to sign up, visit mojocoworking.com. X

You’re Invited!

Join us at the 3rd Annual Woodfin Holiday Stroll, Thursday evening, December 5, from 5-8pm.

17 locally owned Woodfin shops will offer extended hours, warm and tasty refreshments and loads of holiday cheer to make this festive night out a memorable and fun Holiday shopping tradition.

Discover Woodfin’s treasured independent businesses, just 4-6 miles from downtown Asheville at

Woodfin Holiday Stroll

the

Sanctuary of Stuff

Visit Woodfin Holiday Stroll on acebook for the inside scoop on all the exciting specials and treats offered at each business. See you there December 5! mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

29

thE LocaL Economy

by Jake Frankel

jfrankel@mountainx.com

251-1333 ext. 115

Feeling the crunch Mountain BizWorks tackles funding crisis

Xpress readers are

local Find great employees with Mountain Xpress classifieds

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

Struggling to address an increased demand for services amid a funding crunch, Mountain BizWorks is conducting “an intensive review of our programs and finances,” board Chair Eileen mcminn reports. Most of the organization’s existing training programs will be phased out by the middle of next year. The downsized local nonprofit will focus its remaining resources on lending.

Throughout its 24 years, Mountain BizWorks has nurtured Asheville’s now thriving entrepreneurial scene, providing loans and training to help people start and grow small businesses. But the departure of CEO shaw canale, who stepped down Nov. 12 after four years on the job, created a leadership vacuum — and raised questions about how the influential organization might change in response to current challenges.

Board members and staff have formed committees and task forces to take stock of the situation and plot a way forward, notes McMinn.

In addition to slashing educational programs, they will cut staff positions. And they don’t plan to hire another CEO, McMinn reports.

A contributing factor in both Canale’s departure and the internal crisis was the organization’s failure to obtain a million-dollar federal Community Development Financial Institutions Fund grant it was counting on. Canale declined to comment on the situation, except to say she plans to move back to the Pacific Northwest with her family (she was previously CEO of the Cascadia Revolving Fund in Seattle).

The grant, which would have been spread out over three years, would have gone a long way toward funding Mountain BizWorks’ services. (Last year, the organization’s expenses totaled $1.59 million.) The group has been awarded similar grants in the past, says McMinn, but with its assets now topping the $5 million threshold for the first time, Mountain BizWorks had to compete with a different group of applicants.

mountainx.com

“It’s like we went from the bush leagues to the majors and didn’t quite make it,” McMinn explains.

“We didn’t think we would necessarily get everything we asked for. But we didn’t get anything we asked for.”

Rising DEmanD Meanwhile, the organization’s loans to local businesses have been on the rise. In 2010, Mountain BizWorks made 43 loans totaling $609,379, according to Development and Communications Coordinator anna Raddatz. By 2012, that number had jumped to 61 loans totaling more than $1.5 million. And this year, the nonprofit is on pace to make 75 loans totaling $1.7 million.

The nonprofit had revenues of roughly $1.84 million in 2011 and $1.29 million last year, according to its website.

Mountain BizWorks’ classes, trainings and other support services for entrepreneurs have also been growing in popularity.

“Everything’s up: The loans that we’ve been giving out have been increasing,” says McMinn. “As a matter of fact, I might even say that we’ve been going a little bit too fast in some areas, and … some of what we need to do is slow down a little bit. And maybe it’s time for us to sit back and evaluate our capabilities.”

She says that she hopes A-B Tech, SCORE and other local organizations will be able to provide the types of training programs Mountain Bizworks is eliminating.

“We deeply regret having to lay off staff and eliminate programs, but we feel confident that this new structure will allow Mountain BizWorks to preserve its legacy,” she adds. “We are focusing our limited resources on what small businesses need most: lending.”

BRoaDER impact The new direction Mountain BizWorks is charting may have a significant long-term impact on the local economy.

“If you look around Asheville, they’re the reason that Asheville is a dynamic hub for independent businesses,” proclaims Lauren

patton, who opened the ZaPow! pop-culture gallery with her husband two years ago. Without the training and loan from Mountain BizWorks, she says, the business wouldn’t have opened.

“In the lending environment at the time, [traditional banks] weren’t even giving loans to conventional businesses with proven money streams.

Whereas we were a total startup, trying to do something entirely new, and [Mountain BizWorks] was like, ‘Yeah, we believe in you: Let’s do it!’”

The roster of successful enterprises Mountain BizWorks has helped fund or train over the years includes LaZoom Tours, The Organic Mechanic, FLS Energy and the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, among many others. meherwan irani, who co-owns MG Road with his wife, says a $50,000 loan from Mountain BizWorks was key to opening the busy bar last year.

“It was a very easy process. What I like about them, rather than a traditional bank, is they seem genuinely invested and interested in trying to help local, community-based small businesses,” Irani explains. Noting that the nonprofit turned down a 2009 loan request for Chai Pani, the couple’s other business, he points out: “They still have guidelines for who they can lend to. And the ideas have to make sense. They do try to secure their collateral to secure their loans. But I think they’re a great place to start. If something were to happen to them, I think it would be a loss to the community.”

For her part, Patton believes Mountain BizWorks’ current plight might even lead to improvements.

“Changing or cutting things doesn’t mean they won’t grow into something else later — maybe something even more dynamic and interesting,” she points out.

Meanwhile, McMinn says that in addition to ongoing efforts to form partnerships with investors, the nonprofit is weighing other options for getting people involved.

“Support from the public is something that we certainly value,” she notes, adding that in the days ahead, residents “can keep their eyes open, and we’ll have a way for them to help.” X

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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Thanksgivingmemories

Food and friendship WNC residents share Thanksgiving memories

by gina smith

he Thanksgiving Day spotlight usually shines brightly on the ideas of gratitude, tradition and, of course, bountiful, seasonal food. We work hard to prepare what is traditionally one of the year’s most elaborate meals; we travel miles to unite with family and friends.

But the thing that stays with us long after the last piece of pie is eaten and all the leftovers are gone is the feeling of community we get from having a whole day devoted to recognizing the good things in our lives and eating ourselves silly with people we care about.

One of my most memorable Thanksgivings was spent in a tiny apartment surrounded by rice fields in rural Japan. With my beloved family members a 20-hour plane ride away and not a single turkey anywhere in the country as far as I could tell, it could have been a lonely holiday. What made it meaningful was that I ended up sharing the U.S. Thanksgiving tradition with a jovial and curious group of my Japanese and British expatriate friends.

Dealing with challenges ranging from not having an oven to a lack of everything from cranberries to sweet potatoes (Japanese sweet potatoes are white — definitely not Thanksgiving orange!), we persevered, and a meal came together. As we sat on my tatami (straw mat) floor using chopsticks to eat a hodgepodge of the traditional (a can of that wiggly cranberry jelly stuff mailed to me by my mother) and pseudo-traditional (a rather amazing faux pumpkin pie made with kabocha winter squash and silken tofu), along with some Japanese sushi and tsukemono (fermented vegetables) thrown in for good measure, I realized that the specific dishes we were eating didn’t really matter. It was the joy of sharing the meal together as a community of friends and acquaintances that made it Thanksgiving.

As the Rev. Shannon Spencer of the Haywood Street Congregation says, “Food is something we all need, no matter who we are. We all need to be fed.” And connecting with each other over a meal to acknowledge our blessings is what makes this holiday accessible and valuable to everyone.

With this idea in mind, Xpress invited readers and members of our community to share their own food-related Thanksgiving stories.

Enjoy these gems from your community and Happy Thanksgiving!

T

SUSTENANCE: Radisa John bosiljkanovic enjoys a meal at haywood street Congregation. Photo by Michael Carlebach

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mountainx.com

2013 Holiday Special

BarBara BaTeS SmiTh

haywood street Congregation volunteer I remember having aspirations of creating memorable Thanksgiving traditions for my family. Starting with the meal, of course. … Well, food preparation has never been my long suit, but I had a great concept — gleaned from the Norman Rockwell cover on The Saturday Evening Post: the family gathered around the table, holding hands, Russell blessing the sumptuous spread laid out before us — laid out by me, of course. ... But upon extracting my gourmet dressing from the oven — and dropping it all over the kitchen floor — for two years in a row, the sumptuous spread has grown ever simpler. I now proudly purchase the prepared, packaged Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix and shove it into that bird, not even dirtying an extra dish!

Oh, So Special Extra Festive Holiday Sections!

STewarT DaviD On Thanksgiving Day 1988, I volunteered at a soup kitchen, helping to feed turkey dinners to about 400 people. I had been a vegetarian for a few years, but up until that day, it had never bothered me that others ate animals. I had eaten meat for over 35 years, and stopping was a personal decision. As I watched as some of society’s neediest people devoured baby birds, which had lived miserable lives and suffered violent deaths, I began to make the connection between animal rights and human rights. I guess it was the graphic images of so many people ripping apart so many birds and cleaning up so many carcasses that made such a strong impression. I petted a dog on the way home and was struck by how nonsensical it was that we cared so much about certain species and turned such a blind eye to the suffering of others. I soon realized that I needed to become a voice for the voiceless and speak out against the senseless violence perpetrated on all vulnerable individuals, both human and nonhuman. As Dr. King said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

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STephanie SwepSon-TwiTTy

Eagle-market streets Development Corp.

It’s less than a week away from Thanksgiving, and I’m gathering my thoughts and clothes for our annual pilgrimage to Maryland. For the past eight or 10 years, I have traveled with my parents and my sister Pamela to visit my sister Alisa who lives in Temple Hill, MD. It has often been a chore getting all the dots connected, the logistics solidified Mom and Dad packed and finally getting on the road for the 6 ½-hour drive. Yes this was quite an endeavor, and admittedly I secretly complained to Pamela, “I don’t know how much longer we can do this.” And then, the unthinkable happened in February of this year: I suffered the loss of my Dad, a loss and pain that words cannot express.

Less than a week, and what a difference time and circumstances make. We are preparing for the pilgrimage as usual but with one less participant, one less to enjoy stopping at our favorite Cracker Barrel along the way, one less to help navigate the right and wrong turns we will take and alas one less to enjoy Alisa’s excellent cooking; all the traditional dishes: turkey, greens, mac-n-cheese, killer dressing and coconut cake. Yes we will be missing our father this year as we celebrate, but, we will be remembering all that he meant to us and how he would want us to enjoy the fruits of Alisa’s labor. Best wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving!

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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Thanksgivingmemories CheF peTer pollay

Posana Cafe Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday. Each year, we venture up to Wisconsin to celebrate the holiday at my mother- and father-in-law’s. We are joined there by my parents, relatives from both sides and friends who come from far and wide. It truly is a festive and collaborative occasion. The guests are many, the food abundant and the competition lively. You see, my brother-in-law Philip and I have an annual dueling turkey “competition.” Philip, a former professional chef, enjoys foraging for his turkey. I prefer to buy an organic turkey that I prepare with gluten-free cornbread stuffing and gravy so it can be enjoyed by my wife, Martha. By the end of dinner, both turkeys are devoured, and we both walk away winners. With any luck, there is a little something leftover for a sandwich the next day.

JarroD perkinS

asheville savings My wife and I have no family in the area so we like to invite our other “orphan friends” over to share Thanksgiving with us. We buy the heaviest, most organic-free-range-handfed-pampered turkey we can afford and then make a ridiculous amount of side dishes.

The orange-cranberry sauce never fails to boil over and has to be made at least twice.

The green-bean casserole shows my Southern roots and must be made with the cheapest store-brand beans available. My wife’s special family recipe crescent rolls take an indecent amount of time to make but cannot be left off the menu. The stuffing is one of her family traditions as well and ages like a fine cheese in the days following Thanksgiving.

After the damage has been done, we leave the dishes for later and enjoy some television.

We eschew football in favor of something much more highbrow, usually a marathon of Home Alone. It’s the best day of the year.

Jimmy, Don anD iriS lee; anD miok Chung

34

Sam kaTz

El Kimchi Food truck (photo by Adam Hillberry)

One stop Deli & bar

Growing up in Korea, we never celebrated Thanksgiving in my house, but instead a similar Korean holiday called Chuseok. Chuseok is a very foodcentric holiday, during which we celebrate the end of the harvest. Similar to Thanksgiving in America, food during this holiday is made with seasonal ingredients.

The morning of Chuseok always starts with the loud sound of chatter in the kitchen, knives rapidly hitting the cutting board, and savory pancakes sizzling in the pan.

The sweet smell of rich beef stew (called galbi) fills the air. Women busily walk around the kitchen while men watch holiday specials on the TV. It must be the busiest morning of the year for moms. The first meal is a late brunch and always the best. The table is covered with so many dishes and someone would say, “There’s so much food the table legs will break!” This meal always includes some sort of grilled fish for my grandparents, who were born in a coastal town. My aunt’s beef stew is so rich and flavorful. Mom’s japchae is always the best on this day. Since then, both my grandparents have passed, and we are thousands of miles away from family.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving as we celebrated Chuseok, and it always brings me back to vivid memories of back home.

Thanksgiving, the most important holiday of the year! At least in my family, because it’s my mom’s favorite holiday, which means by default it’s the entire family’s favorite holiday. So you can imagine that it is expected that somehow, no matter what part of the country I’m in, I hightail it back to Boston every year for turkey. Well, a few years ago, when I first moved to Asheville, it became evident I wasn’t going to be able to get home for Thanksgiving that year, and I was dreading telling my mom but finally did, and as expected she had a mini-freakout.

That was a few days before the grand holiday, and my phone conversation with my mom hadn’t ended well.

I worked late the night before Thanksgiving, and I was awakened that fateful day by a loud, persistent knocking on the door. So I got out of bed and opened the door aggressively, to show whoever was on the other side that I was annoyed at being woken up at this ungodly hour of 1 in the afternoon, and it was my Mom and my Dad, and they had gotten a very, very last-minute flight to town to surprise me for Thanksgiving! Needless to say it was the best Thanksgiving yet.

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

mountainx.com

Terri DaviD My most memorable Thanksgiving was in 1995. For the second time, my family adopted turkeys through Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt a Turkey project (see “farmsanctuary.org”). We hosted a party for the birds, and it was a wonderful event.

It was the 10th anniversary of the project, and Farm Sanctuary had done a press release, which included information about the adoption events around the country. Much to our surprise, we received many interview requests, including one from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. A local daily did a front-page story, “Adopt a gobbler, don’t be one, vegetarians say,” that featured pictures of our newly -adopted birds, Mogen, Bessie and Affa. Other headlines included “Turkeys will be served, not eaten” and “Couple strives to give turkeys something to be thankful for.” And there was TV coverage, too. We were thrilled to be able to call so much attention to the suffering of turkeys and advocate on behalf of healthy, humane plant-based diets.

Shane remingTon

Peppermint Os Last year I hosted Thanksgiving dinner, and one of my best friends raved about my cooking. After cleaning her plate she looked at me and said, “When I die, I want to be buried in a casket full of your gravy.”

marTha vining

blue Ridge Food Ventures Growing up in upstate New York, sweet potatoes were not a staple on the Thanksgiving menu or any other time, for that matter. We had the obligatory turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, lots of gravy over everything, canned green beans and pickles made from the summer garden, and then finished Turkey Day off with pies made from our McIntosh apples, pumpkins and real mincemeat my mother “put up” from venison my father hunted earlier in the fall.

Even after moving to Western North Carolina over 20 years ago I never felt compelled to eat sweet potatoes, even though there’s always a mountain of them to wheel by in every grocery store I’ve ever been in down here, especially this time of the year.

It wasn’t until I worked at Schenck Job Corps, a federal program for at-risk youths in Pisgah Forest, that I started eating sweet potatoes. Students live on campus at Job Corps, and inevitably there were always “orphans” during the holidays, students that for one reason or another did not have a place to go home to over the break. So staff would take students home for the holidays. Many Schenck students are from the South, and any Thanksgiving meal memory they had would include sweet potatoes; therefore, they were expected on the table.

I’ve learned to bake, boil, slice, fry, cube and mash them. They are great seasoned with everything from brown sugar and butter to curried coconut milk any time of the year.

These days I work at Blue Ridge Food Ventures, and we include local, fresh sweet potatoes in our Winter Sun Farms CSA program. Subscribers love them.

So do I.

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

35

Thanksgivingmemories

AND MANY MORE: Helen Reilly, left, and Ticia Grier, right, celebrate “Ms. Mary” Littlejohn’s birthday at Haywood Street Congregation.

Food and fellowship for all e

story by gina smith Lead photo by miChaEL CaRLEbaCh Profile photos by ann mERRitt

36

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

very Wednesday, like clockwork, the Haywood Street Congregation, based in the brick church at the corner of Patton Avenue and Haywood Street, offers a family-style lunch and rollicking worship service that nourishes the bodies and souls of many members of Asheville’s homeless population, along with other residents from all walks of life. All attendees seem to be drawn not only to the free, hot meal, but equally to the congre-

mountainx.com

gation’s warm feeling of community and spirit of acceptance.

Recently, Haywood Street volunteer Ann Merritt, who has dedicated herself to photographing and collecting the life stories of the congregation’s homeless members, took time to ask a few of them, as well as Haywood Street pastor Rev. Shannon Spencer, to share their Thanksgiving memories with Xpress readers. Their stories and photos follow, as told to Merritt.

BoB williamS “Even if you are homeless, you can always get a Thanksgiving meal in Asheville,” Bob says. Many of the churches provide them, and “people actually drive around town and hand out plates of food on Thanksgiving.” Bob noted that Haywood UMC “has been great to provide a meal every year.”

Bob has been homeless for 13 years and sleeps in a tent even in winter. He said he always looked forward to Thanksgiving as a child. He has only one sibling, a brother, but said they always had a crowd of other family and friends to share the Thanksgiving meal. Their menu usually included the basics: turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and green beans. “Oh, and cranberry sauce, you know, where you grind up the cranberries and the orange peel all together — I like it like that,” Bob concluded.

raChel pope (a.k.a. roSe or BuTTerFly) Rachel has a degree in recreational therapy from East Carolina and has worked in many different fields.

Unfortunately, her vehicle took the brunt of a collision with an oil truck about 20 years ago in California, and she suffered a traumatic head injury that left her with permanent memory problems. However, she does have some memories of her childhood. She especially likes the nickname she gave herself, Butterfly, because she feels that when life overwhelms, “God sometimes wraps you up in His arms, like a cocoon, so you can rest.”

When asked to share some memories of Thanksgiving, she immediately mentioned her mother’s “best-ever sweet potato casserole, with pecans and marshmallows on top.” Her dad was diabetic, so he had to remove the toppings. She said her mother also made “some of the best big buttermilk biscuits and creamed corn” for the Thanksgiving dinner.

She laughingly told the story of how one year her PaPa decided to raise a turkey and made it a point to tell the children not to talk to the turkey or make him a pet. Of course the children did, and when Thanksgiving time came and PaPa served his turkey, no one would eat a bite of it! She also fondly recalled gathering food from the garden before sunrise. Her grandmother would call them to get out of bed about 5 a.m., always telling them, “It’s getting on toward 8:30!”

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raDiSa John BoSilJkanoviC Born in Bosnia to parents who were Communists, John says they did not celebrate any Christian holidays in their home, nor was there even a Bible in the house. His first and most pleasant memory of Thanksgiving is of going to his grandparents’ when he was 8 or 9 years old. His grandfather was born in Bosnia in 1896, before the Communist takeover, so he was a Christian who celebrated all the holidays.

John remembered fondly the huge Thanksgiving dinner, prepared by his grandmother who cooked “all day long.” There were 12 children in the family, so it was a rather large gathering. John said for the main dish they slaughtered a goose off the farm, then added “tons of other foods,” including pumpkin and lots of vegetables. He especially recalled all the pies.

John says he thanks God every single day for the influence of his grandparents on his life.

When he was 37, he came to the United States and says he has “loved every day of it.” Even though he is homeless now, he feels this is just a temporary thing and says he is “hoping to accomplish something a whole lot bigger than this.” He is trusting God, who he is convinced has a special plan for his life.

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Thanksgivingmemories Brian granT

rev. Shannon SpenCer

haywood street Congregation (photo by Michael Carlebach)

Brian, disabled from a wreck at age 15, is now homeless. When asked to share special Thanksgiving memories, he recalled walking down the street in Asheville, wondering what he was going to do, when a man in a pickup drove by and told him to go to Haywood Street UMC for Thanksgiving dinner. He did, and said he enjoyed “some of the best turkey and stuffing” he ever had. Brian says Haywood Street Congregation is “such a great blessing in my life every week. … I am so thankful for what y’all do here at Haywood!”

Then he talked about how his family always gathered for a huge Thanksgiving meal when he was a child. “We always had turkey, a huge turkey, the biggest turkey you’ve ever seen, and sometimes even a ham.” There were lots of side items, including dressing, cranberry sauce, banana pudding and his favorite, apple pie.

There were five in his family, but when you added the grandparents and other family, they usually had about 25 for dinner. He recalled that his mother and three aunts did most of the cooking, though everyone brought something to share. He thinks his grandparents usually contributed the turkey. Brian said it was always “such a blessing just to be together for Thanksgiving.”

Growing up, I loved having Thanksgiving lunch at my Grandma’s house. My mom was one of seven kids, so it could get crowded. The women would gather in the kitchen to help my grandma cook while the Oak Ridge Boys sang through the eight-track in the corner, and the men hovered around the TV watching the Dallas Cowboys. My cousins and I would run through the cornfield or try to climb the magnolia tree incognito — for that was a “switch-able” offense.

Gathered around homemade biscuits, chicken dumplings, pan-fried chicken and fresh vegetables, we celebrated being a family. It didn’t matter who was mad at whom — and there was a lot of that — we still passed the mashed potatoes. It didn’t matter how hungry you were; you always left the table full. It didn’t matter if you were at the kids’ table or the grown-ups — everyone had a place. At that table we were always welcomed, always forgiven and always loved.

Table Fellowship — a model for life.

It’s holy. It’s communion.

gerri Gerri lives with her husband, Garland; they became homeless when he lost his job. She said she has been camping with him in a tent since April. She finds it especially hard because of her very poor health. Among other problems, she suffers severe seizures as a result of head trauma from an abusive relationship with the father of her last child.

She has had four children: an 18-yearold (who lives with her mother), a 16-year-old (who was placed for adoption when he was a baby) and 5- and 7-year-olds who are in foster care awaiting adoption. She is giving them up because of her health and inability to properly care for them, and she wants a better life for them than she knows she can provide. She mentioned that she loves them so much, and this was a most difficult decision; she “just wants what’s best for them.”

Gerri, her twin sister, and an older sister grew up in Iowa with their single mother, who “worked hard to put food on the table and keep the family together.” She recalled that her father was an alcoholic and frequently abused her mother and all the children.

She said her mother was a good cook and always did the cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. Gerri especially looked forward to the ham and a special green-bean casserole, but said they “usually had turkey and sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top too.” Usually it was just her mother and sisters there, but they sometimes went to other relatives’ homes after dinner. Gerri mentioned that they were close and that they were “especially grateful to have food for Thanksgiving, because we sometimes went without.”

Her mother taught her to cook too — “country, Mexican and Italian foods mostly.” Her mom is coming for a visit near the end of this month, and Gerri is excited about that.

The congregation will serve Thanksgiving dinner 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Many local homeless individuals will be cooking and serving the meal, as well as eating it. Look for turkey, butternut squash, cranberries and pie on the menu. All members of the community are welcome to attend. X

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Skip the S

. tress. Eat Out

2013 Thanksgiving Menu

$65 per person

2:00p - 9:00p

Starters: amuse-bouche maple pork belly: sea scallop with apple Choice of: kale salad with blue cheese & candied pecans butternut squash bisque with 5 spice creme fraiche Entree: sugar maple smoked & roasted turkey; herbed muffins, sweet potato mash, giblet gravy & cranberry

BERRY NICE: Reader arjuna da silva suggests serving honey-sweetened cranberry chutney over some fresh farmer’s cheese, as well as with the traditional thanksgiving bird.

Cranberry chutney

Sides: turnips, brussel sprouts, cornbread stuffing, creamed onions Dessert: pumpkin creme brulee, apple crisp eggnog ice cream please call 828-239-0186 for reservations

by aRJuna Da siLVa Editor’s note: In response to our request for readers to share their favorite dishes, Arjuna da Silva of Black Mountain sent in this refreshing take on cranberries — just in time for Thanksgiving.

For health foodies, traditional Thanksgiving dinners offer a stealthy provision of sugary, syrupy sauces and potato concoctions we no longer eat. Here’s one that’s a hit at my table, year after year, as it sits, honey-sweetened, beside the sacrificial bird. Freeze local blueberries or other berries before they’re gone, add Florida oranges — and when you are growing your own cranberries, please let us all know! ingredients 12 ounces fresh cranberries 6 ounces fresh or frozen berries 1 green apple, cored and diced 2 oranges, peel and seeds removed, diced 1 small onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, pressed

1 tablespoons grated ginger 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon cayenne Place cranberries in a large saucepan (to prevent spattering) with a cup of good water. Bring to a boil, add the olive oil and turn down to simmer.

Add all other ingredients except the honey and simmer gently about 30 minutes, stirring often, or until thickened. (The chutney will get thicker as it cools, so don’t overdo it!). Add the honey and stir for a few minutes longer. Cool and spoon into jars and chill. Lasts a long time in the fridge.

Whether or not you’re enjoying a turkey’s blessings this year, try a spoon of chutney over a scoop of local or homemade farmer’s cheese.

Oh, yeah! X

A Neighborhood Bistro located in North Asheville in the Beaver Lake Shopping Center Featuring farm to table southern influenced cuisine with a focus on small plates and sharing. The modern dining room is cozy and relaxing with a nice yet comfortable environment. The bar is wine focused with craft beers and creative cocktails. A great place to enjoy a multi course dinner or just stop by and have a drink.

— Cheers!

Featuring Sunday Brunch 11-3 828-350-3033 • 1020 Merrimon Ave. • Asheville Tue- Sat: 5pm-close | Sun Brunch: 11am-3pm www.ambrozia-avl.com mountainx.com

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fooD

story and photo by Michael Franco

Tuning up the menu A new chef takes the wheel at Ben’s Tune Up

This holiday season, let DOUGH do the cooking for you.

372 Merrimon Avenue • 828.575.9444 40

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The mighty plank of wood sailed through the air before docking atop my table. On it, two iron burners protected small fires in their depths. Armored red legs rested in a tangle in the middle and architecturally interesting shapes rose from the edges, forming a tantalizing city. The new pupu platter from Ben’s Tune Up had arrived.

The legs were chili crab; the iron pots, warmers to heat your food (because there ain’t no one making it through this food festival in a hurry); and the different shapes were a variety of finger foods. The whole assemblage is emblematic of the new menu at Ben’s Tune Up as conceived by new head chef Jake Whitman: fun Asian fare cooked to perfection and designed for sharing.

The bacon dumplings were appropriately chewy, with a sweet drizzle of ton katsu sauce (sort of a sweetened Worcestershire sauce) perfectly balancing the salty, spicy meat inside.

Shredded barbecue pork shoulder was topped with house-pickled white kimchi and served on charred mini-pitas.

The barbecue chicken egg rolls sport flaky moist wrappers surrounding super-juicy filling with hints of pineapple and five spice.

Most fun of all was what came before and after the meal. Firing things up at the beginning was the Love Boat for 2, a Hawaiian-style bowl filled with sake and fruit juice, with a shot of Bacardi 151 flaming from a perch in the middle. And afterward, the sorghum soy sauce ice cream made by The Hop especially for Ben’s was a salty, sweet and creamy soother after the fire and spice of the platter.

It would be hard to eat here, even in the darkest depths of winter, and not undergo serious mood improvement. To find out more about the new food-as-fun menu, we sat down with Whitman, along with general manager Amelia Lindsey and sous chef Brad Mess.

Mountain Xpress: so tell me a little bit about jake and his arrival at Ben’s. amelia Lindsey: Jake has a lot of

characteristics that are hard to find in the kitchen. He’s very calm, he’s very dedicated and does things the hard way. No cutting corners in the kitchen. He’s really passionate about Japanese food, and fish in particular, and enjoys the whole breadth of Asian cuisine. It’s nice to see that passion, especially at a young age. jake whitman: I moved to Asheville when I was 8 and went to culinary school at A-B Tech. After that, I started working at Zambra and was there for about 2 1/2 to three years.

Then I did a job out in Lake Lure for about half a year, and then a buddy of mine got me a job at the Admiral, and that’s how I got hooked up with Jonathan [Robinson] and everyone over here. how would you describe the menu? whitman: It’s trying to be playful with Asian cuisine, trying to be more American with it. I also use some French techniques, as I have a lot of experience with that. Asian food’s always been my passion, especially sushi. I guess my earliest memory of it is watching “Iron Chef Japan” with my grandmother every night.

Lindsey: We’re kind of like a beer garden/sake garden here, so we were looking to find the right fit with that food-wise. It’s fun, and there’s all sorts of food on there. We’re not trying to be an authentic Japanese restaurant. Obviously, none of us has spent 10 years watching the master while we took the trash out or anything like that. But everyone’s very passionate about exploring this kind of food. We’re a fun Asheville fusion of all of these different inspirations together. where are you sourcing your ingredients from? whitman: We do a lot from Foods in Season; they bring in all the stuff from California, and they source it from all over the world. We order a lot of food from Honolulu Fish, all fish from the Pacific Ocean. And then we try to do everything else as local as possible. We ended up buying local shiso leaves, and we were getting local edamame in the spring.

Best Latin Breakfast in Town thE nEw guy: There’s a new chef at Ben’s Tune Up — A-B Tech culinary grad Jake Whitman, who says one of his earliest memories was watching “Iron Chef Japan” with his grandmother.

Then we do lots of our sauces in house. We make our own ponzu, duck sauce and green sriracha using jalapeños. We’d make our own soy sauce in house too if we could, but it’s not really cost-effective to do that.

Brad mess: One of the things we’re really proud of is the pickle program. These are kimchi daikons (pointing at the pupu platter), these are fermented beets, these are fermented pickles over here, and then our fermented white kimchi is on a lot of our dishes. It’s on our burger, our ramen and a couple of other things. you have said your new menu appeals to groups, especially families. is this a big shift from the old menu? whitman: Yes. In the beginning we did a lot of smaller plates, trying to be more like an izakaya (casual Japanese restaurant that serves drinks and small plates).

And now we’re focusing more on larger dishes. mess: There is a shift. Less on smaller plates and tapas style, more into family-style meals. We have a steak for two now, for example. We even have a kids menu.

Lindsey: It’s been really, really fun to watch groups come in and share these platters together. They’re

having fun — not just enjoying each other’s company, but having fun with the food.

Open 7 days for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Grove Arcade Suite 139 828-350-1332

you mentioned that you’re going to start making your own sake soon. when will that be ready?

Lindsey: We’re starting this week.

Jonathan is back there right now prepping the tanks. It’s going to be made with American rice, so it will be Ben’s All American Sake. There’s just a few places right now that are doing that.

Brewing Company Asheville, NC

Full bar . Full kitchen

Food served til 11 pM nightly Monday $2 pint night

Even now, the cocktail list has a significant sake section.

Lindsey: That’s right. We’ve expanded our sake list and dropped the prices to encourage people to try lots of different sakes. A lot of the bottles are smaller than a whole bottle of wine, so it’s a nice way for you to taste some different sakes.

Tuesday - 11/12 cask night Wednesday $2 oFF growler & chugger reFills Thursday $4 well drinks Saturday and Sunday $4 MiMosas & bloodies

what’s been a big hit so far foodwise? whitman: We’ve been doing a barbecue platter because we get whole pigs in from Foothills. And when we save up enough trotters and ears and tails, we’ll turn that into a barbecue plate for the weekend. And that’s been a big hit. We do it in the style of the pupu platter. The Grand Palace (platter) has been a big one too. It says it serves four, but there’s a lot of food on there.

I like to do it as a chef’s surprise for the table. X

$10/ dozen Mon-Fri 3-6pm!

(828) 575-9370 625 Haywood Rd • West Asheville Mon-Thur 3-11 • Fri 3-12 • Sat 12-12 • Sun 12-11 oysterhousebeers.com mountainx.com

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B

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Send your beer news to avlbeerscout@gmail.com or @avlbeerscout on Twitter.

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by Thom O’Hearn

Small sips for Thanksgiving Catawba changes directions, fall seasonal beers roll out and more

After 14 years of brewing in Western North Carolina, Catawba is on the move. This month, the company is rolling out completely new branding and a new winter seasonal.

“There’s unprecedented growth in our industry across the country. ...

The market is getting more crowded, [with] more choices than ever before,” says co-owner Billy Pyatt.

“We realized we needed to be more cohesive in our lineup [for the people that] knew us as the Farmer Ted guys or the White Zombie guys.”

In addition to redesigned cans, which are rolling out now, Catawba is rebranding other public-facing components of the company — including the name, which has been shortened from Catawba Valley Brewing to Catawba Brewing because “people ask for Catawba anyhow,” according to Pyatt. The Catawba website has also been redone from the ground up. Unlike the old website, it has an up-to-date listing of the beers for just about every product Catawba makes, as well as a new “find my beer” component and a calendar, both of which Pyatt says will be kept current.

Catawba couldn’t properly toast the branding without a new beer. King

it will hit both breweries’ tap rooms on draft and in 22-ounce bottles this week or next.

• Burial’s collaboration with Hi-Wire, Firebreather Bourbon Barrel Belgian Strong, is also about to be released — in early December, according to the breweries. It will be available on draft and in bottles.

just BEing catawBa: All hail Catawba Brewing’s rebranding (drop the “valley” and just ask for Catawba) and its beer lineup, including the new seasonal, King Winterbolt. Image courtesy of Catawba Brewing Co.

Winterbolt comes from new head brewer Kevin Sondey. According to Pyatt, the beer is a traditional winter warmer on the malty side, with plenty of coffee, toffee and roasted flavors.

However, it has a dry-hop kick from Sorachi Ace and Cascade hops that’s all-American. “Kevin has 20 years of experience at places like Dogfish Head, Stoudt’s, and Highland. ... He’s a great recipe guy and a great beer guy,” says Pyatt. “I’ve fallen in love with this beer.” King Winterbolt is rolling out now on draft at area bars and in cans where Catawba beer is sold.

plant gift cards the perfect holiday present 165 merrimon avenue | 828.258.7500 | www.plantisfood.com 42

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Last but certainly not least, Catawba’s satellite brewery in Asheville has come to a crossroads.

“We’ve had permit problems for the better part of a year. We’re at the point where we have to start looking at a plan B. ... We’re still committed to Asheville and committed to a brewery in Asheville,” says Pyatt. thanksgiVing BEERs anD BEyonD • In Black Mountain, Lookout Brewing has been pushing beyond the pale ale with some of its specialty beers. According to owner John Garcia, the highlight of the season is Lookout’s Jive Turkey IPA. The beer is brewed with six specialty ingredients: pumpkin, cranberries, ginger, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg.

“It tastes like Thanksgiving dessert,” says Garcia. He also says Lookout will soon be releasing another unique beer, a Champagne-like ale called Hoppy New Beer, for New Year’s celebrations.

• Asheville Brewing and Burial are about to release the second beer in the Asheville Afterlife series (the first was a big West Coast Black IPA called Black Ink). The next beer is rumored to be an imperial French saison, and

• Of course, what would a fall seasonal update be without Cold Mountain? The Highland favorite is already making its way around town. Since demand can make it tough to find the beer, a beerlanthropist has set up a Twitter account to help out fellow fans: @ ColdMtnTracker will be reporting and retweeting sightings.

• A Big Brevardiversary: Looking further out, Oskar Blues has just put tickets on sale for its big New Year’s Eve party, which is also the brewery’s “Brevardiversary.” The celebration will start at 7 p.m. at 342 Mountain Industrial Drive and include food, beer and music from The Hackensaw Boys and Packway Handle Band. Since the brewery has added yet more tanks, this year’s celebration will take place on the patio, which will be walled in for the event. Kids 16-21 years old are allowed with a ticket and a responsible adult. Proceeds will benefit the CAN’d AID Foundation, a nonprofit started in September to help victims of the Colorado Floods.

Tickets are $25 and available at oskarbluesnye2.eventbrite.com.

• Can’t make the New Year’s Eve event? Oskar Blues will be partying on Thursday, Dec. 12, as well.

It’s the anniversary of the brewery’s first North Carolina mash-in.

Since then, Oskar Blues has sent out 9.2 million cans and produced 40,000 barrels of beer in the state.

The celebration will include a book signing with John Holl (The American Craft Beer Cookbook), music from This Mountain and Soldier’s Heart, a bouncy house for kids and more. There are no tickets or cost to attend the event — but you’ll probably want to bring some money for beer. X

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&

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

A new crop of songs Acoustic Syndicate talks agriculture, family and a return to making music

By aLLi maRshaLL

amarshall@mountainx.com

In 2006, Bryon McMurry had 75,000 tomato plants in the ground and was moving produce on a large scale. But then the economy took a dive, along with a hefty chunk of McMurry’s confidence. It sounds like the basis for a blues or country song that some Nashville-based troubador might pen about someone else’s hard luck. In this case, however, both the farming and the writing share space in McMurry’s personal history. And he holds that story in common with his Acoustic Syndicate band mates, brother Fitz McMurry and cousin Steve McMurry.

“We’d put so much of ourselves into the band, and we thought it was over,” says Bryon. After

who: Acoustic Syndicate whERE: The Orange Peel, theorangepeel.net whEn: Friday, Nov. 29, at 9 p.m. $15 in advance/$17 day of show

Acoustic Syndicate called it quits in ’04, Bryon, who plays guitar and banjo, had returned to farming.

He wasn’t sad about it: “My passion for agriculture was always a struggle with the Syndicate,” he says. When Bryon was on the farm, he longed to be out on the road with the band; when on tour, he found himself wanting to be back with his crops.

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The McMurry brothers grew up in Cleveland County, N.C., and Steve visited often. One Christmas when the boys were around 10 or 12, the legend goes, their parents gave them each an instrument: A fiddle for Steve, a guitar for Fitz and a banjo for Bryon. They shifted instruments a bit over the years, but making music together stuck. Today, they all live within a mile-and-a-half of one another.

“We can get mad at one another and we can get over it,” says Bryon. “Whenever we sing together, it feels right.”

What didn’t stick was the band breakup. They started playing a smattering of shows, and Bryon

mountainx.com

mixtapE: Sure, Acoustic Syndicate’s McMurrys play acoustic instruments, but they grew up listening to ’80s rock, punk and reggae. “It lit a fire in me. It made me realize there was a much bigger world out there,” says Bryon. Photo

by Lynne Harty

found that a three-year stint with the local Soil and Water Conservation District freed him up for creative thought. “These melodies and ideas had been dancing around in my head for some time, and they had to find their way to paper,” he explains.

The songs went one better, finding their way onto Rooftop Garden, the band’s first album in nearly a decade. Eschewing Americana and bluegrass producers, Acoustic Syndicate reached out to Grammywinner Stewart Lerman, who’d just come off a Patti Smith project.

It was that rocker cred that the band wanted to tap because, while there’s a loose, organic sensibility to much of the album, it’s also steeped in a lifetime of varied influences. “We were children of the ’80s, so we grew up on rock ’n’ roll.

We’d ride around town at night listening to King Crimson, Little Feat, Yes, Genesis, Judas Priest and Sex Pistols,” he recalls.

Reems Creek

Nursery & Landscaping, Inc. Inc. Meanwhile, the Jamaican and Haitian migrant workers who helped out on the McMurry family farm brought reggae to the mix, along with a certain herbal import.

“It lit a fire in me. It made me realize there was a much bigger world out there,” says Bryon. All of that can be felt on Rooftop Garden, along with Billy Cardine’s rock edge and Jay Sanders’ jazz prowess.

Most of the songs on the record, released in September, are very personal, says Bryon. “I’ve never taken myself seriously as a lyric writer,” he says. But while Steve has historically been the group’s primary writer, Bryon stepped up on Rooftop Garden with tracks like the aptly named “Heroes,” an uplifting ode to the working-class champion, and the world-beat-fueled “Bicycle Song.”

There, jazz influences and syncopation (not to mention some jaw-dropping fingerpicking) burble below the

“We can get mad at one another and we can get over it.

Whenever we sing together, it feels right.”

BRyon mcmuRRy

surface while Bryon’s vocal, though not expressly lithe, rises above.

“These lyrics found me,” says Bryon. “Steve had songs and I had songs, and in the winter of 2011 we said, ‘Let’s make a record.’” They began the project in 2012, and despite the years and the hardships that had played out since Acoustic Syndicate’s last record, Rooftop Garden plays like the work of a band in its prime.

It probably won’t be their last effort, either. “We don’t have grand expectations of trying to break out at our age,” notes Bryon, who says he finds his current work with his home county’s Farm Service Agency rewarding. But even as he’s traveling those country roads, there’s music in the back of his mind.

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” he says with a laugh. “Even if there wasn’t an audience there, I’d still need to write it down.” X

Christmas Cactus Live & Local Fresh-Cut

Christmas Trees Wreaths

photo by Eliot Hazel 70 Monticello Rd. Weaverville, NC 1-26/Exit 18 828-645-3937 www.reemscreek.com

Hooks from the Highlands: Scotland’s Chvrches

by Jordan Lawrence What is it about life in Glasgow that inspires such catchy music? During the last few decades, the largest burg in Scotland has supplied some of the most resplendent hooks on the international market. From the brisk balladry of Belle & Sebastian to the soaring strings and sumptuous coos of Camera Obscura, and on to the kinetic riffs and choruses of rock bands like Franz Ferdinand and Glasvegas, the city overflows with infectious gems.

And now Chvrches etches its name onto the ever-expanding list. After a few singles and small platters, the synth-pop trio emerged this year with The Bones of What You Believe, an LP debut elevated by buoyant complexity, enormous emotions and the airy belts of singer Lauren Mayberry.

Iain Cook and Martin Doherty handle the majority of the trio’s instrumentation and production, while Mayberry provides and sings most of the words. Chvrches’ songs succeed, thanks to well-managed tension: The uplifting urgency that masks Mayberry’s consistently dark imagery, the coarse distortion that clouds the jubilant synths. Achieving that balance is the band’s primary focus.

“If there was anything that defines our songwriting, I would say that that’s exactly it,” Cook says. “It’s about that contrast, that push-and-pull tension between not just the dark and the light, but the happy and the sad, the angry and the peaceful, the sweet and the sour. It’s all about tension. In music and art, things that are kind of cut-and-dry one way or another are less interesting than things that have that tension.”

Chvrches plays The Orange Peel on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 9 p.m., $18/$20. theorangepeel.net. Read the full interview with the band at mountainx.com.

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a&E

by Steph Guinan

stephguinan@gmail.com

All sewed up Textile artists shine at The Big Crafty In the hierarchy of craft cachet, fiber arts are often less discussed than other media such as pottery or metalwork. Maybe that’s because textiles are, by nature, a quieter genre: no hammers to wield, forges or kilns to stoke or clay to sling. But Western North Carolina’s textile artists are not only thriving, they’re taking traditional forms and adding a modern twist — and many of them will be showing at The Big Crafty on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Celebrating the handmade, the area’s favorite local indie-craft fair (so voted by Xpress readers in this year’s Best of WNC poll) showcases a full and exciting range of artworks.

“We wanted to create an indie-craft

what: The Big Crafty, thebigcrafty.com whERE: Asheville Art Museum whEn: Sunday, Dec. 1, 1-6 p.m., free admission; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $5 VIP early admission

version of the lively markets we’d seen on travels abroad that showcased the vitality of the homemade movement,” organizer Brandy Bourne explains. “We wanted to bring the social, community element back into commerce.”

Now in its sixth year, the semiannual event at the Asheville Art Museum will feature about 75 juried vendors. Bourne recalls that when she and her partner, Justin Rabuck, launched the community fête-meetsartisan-expo, many area artists were developing their business online but didn’t yet have a local presence.

Bourne and Rabuck’s vision brought interested consumers together with talented craftspeople. “As we said

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then, Asheville has craft-and-indie cred in its bones, and it was time that local indie crafters came out of their basement workshops to show their wares and party handmade-style,” says Bourne.

One of the changes to this year’s Big Crafty is the addition of VIP early admission. For a $5 ticket, shoppers can gain entry from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. After that, the doors will open to the public, admissionfree, from 1 to 6 p.m.

“Of course, many, like us, love the hustle and bustle of a lively crowd,” Bourne explains, “but we also know that there are people who travel to the event, some from great distances, and are less interested in the social aspect and more interested in an in-depth experience with artists and their wares.” fRom shEEp to swEatER Natural fibers are Asheville knitter Emolyn Liden’s passion.

“My mother has been raising sheep for over 30 years, developing wool that can be worn against the skin,” she reveals. “Often people react oddly when they first feel the fiber from her sheep, because it defies childhood memories of ‘the itchy sweater.’” Sourcing her fibers from WNC, Liden then uses natural dyes made from onion skin, marigold and madder root to color the yarn.

Selling her wares under the business name Emolyn Knits, Liden says her personal challenge is creating products that are affordable while still employing locally and ethically sourced material. “I think people have forgotten how wonderful wool is,” she observes. “Wool has a breathability, which means you don’t sweat like you do in acrylic. Instead, it feels as comforting as a wood stove warming your living room.”

And maybe, by wearing a wool hat, we’re demonstrating our interdependence with the sheep that produced its fiber. With the exception of the primitive breeds, notes Liden, sheep have to be shorn in order to survive. “They need us, and I think we’re realizing, once again, how much we need them.”

Grove Arcade 828.225.4133

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Romantic. Farm to Table. Italian.

Liz stigLEgs of CozyBlue makes embroidery and patterns for DIY crafters.

Learn more about Emolyn Knits at TheRovingKnitter.com. caRRy on When Karie Reinertson and Rob Maddox moved to Asheville from the Green Mountains of Vermont, they carried their business on their backs, so to speak. Their company, SHELTER, uses luxe materials such as waxed canvas, leather and Pendleton wool to make knapsacks, purses and clutches.

“In Vermont,” notes Reinertson, “we lived in an area that has thousands of blueberries, raspberries and mushrooms to forage. We spent much of the summer that we started SHELTER swimming in the lake, picking berries and foraging for chanterelles. We were also in the midst of building a timber-frame cabin for a friend, so we had endless needs for chisel wraps, tool bags, berry-picking and wildcrafting bags.”

The carry-alls that Reinertson and Maddox make refer to that wilder life of hunting and gathering. And amid attention from main-

stream media outlets such as Better Homes and Gardens and NYLON, SHELTER’s stylish products are more than just fashionable accessories: They’re built to be functional, durable tools for contemporary outdoors lovers.

2013 Holiday Special

Learn more about SHELTER at ShelterProtectsYou.com. a stitch oR ninE Focused on the fine detail work of embroidery, Liz Stiglets of CozyBlue produces a modernday take on an old tradition. Her patterns include well-thumbed, hipster-approved images such as sea captains, foxes, palmistry and Mom heart tattoos.

Assisted by her husband on the weekends, Stiglets sells both finished embroidery pieces and, for the DIY-inclined, patterns. The latter can be purchased either as screen-printed fabric that crafters can stitch over or as digital downloads via Etsy.com. Think of it as embroidery meets technology.

The Asheville-based Stiglets says she’s grateful to be part of

Oh, So Special Extra Festive Holiday Sections!

Dec.4, 11, and 18 Share Your Gifts with the Community by Advertising with Xpress mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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“We wanted to create an indie-craft version of the lively markets we’d seen on travels abroad that showcased the vitality of the homemade movement.”

Big cRafty oRganizER BRanDy BouRnE

a supportive community. “It’s always been such a lively and creative place to be and live,” she notes. “We’re very lucky to have so many like-minded people who love and encourage the creative culture here.”

The Sp ot for y our Holida y P ar t i e s

Find more information CozyBlue.etsy.com.

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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Knitted wool hat by EmoLyn LiDEn. Photo by Gabe Spencer, SimplyPickin.com

It’s been only a few months since Amanda Lanier of Hey Baby Craft Co. launched her website. “When my little sister became pregnant with her first child, I made a quilt for her baby and fell completely in love with quilting,” she explains.

The craft’s meditative aspect is what drew her in. “When I began quilting, I was in an incredibly chaotic period in my life and was searching for something that would bring me calm. Channeling my inner little old lady brought me to quilting and gave me peace.”

Quilt-making might seem like an old-fashioned craft. And there’s certainly some of that sentiment behind Hey Baby. “Sewn into every quilt and scarf is the love I have for my precious sister and little Eli; my admiration for my grandmother, a prolific quilter and superseamstress who has inspired me to cultivate my creativity and passion; and my gratitude for my family and friends who have tirelessly supported me in my journey to find happiness,” Lanier’s website proclaims. But there’s more than nostalgia running, like a thread, through the end product.

“I want my quilts to have the feel of an old, comfy blanket that your grandmother made, with an aesthetic that will fit into a contemporary home,” she says. “I like to blend traditional patterns and repurposed fabrics into my creations with more bold, modern colors and accents.”

Find more information HeyBabyCraftCo.com. X

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Celebrate the holiday season and lesserknown pieces of WNC art heritage The next two weeks offer a couple of unconventional opportunities to connect with local culture and influence. From an art exhibit featuring folk-heritage takes on seasonal spirit to a film focused on the German-born Bauhaus movement in America (and, specifically, Western North Carolina), it’s an insider’s perspective on regional art and craft. thE spiRit of thE sEason The forthcoming weeks of holiday retail drudgery have long been synonymous with snowy window displays, scarf-wearing teddy bears and small, greencapped elves.

Spirit, a new exhibition opening Friday, Nov. 29, at American Folk, dodges that would-be holiday medley. That’s to say, gallerygoers won’t find Christmas-tinged, snow-covered angels or palmable holiday tchotchkes there, says Betsey-Rose Weiss, the gallery’s owner and curator.

Instead, Weiss is using the final weeks of 2013 to celebrate a year’s worth of rare finds, culled from studio visits to the more than 60 artists her gallery represents.

Each year, she saves those special items for the annual exhibition, now in its 13th iteration. Among the offerings, there are pots and jugs imbued with functionalmeets-spiritual folk-life heritage, wood-paneled paintings and bone dolls that suggest a greater sense of being. “[They’re] pieces that evoke an undeniable spirit,” says Weiss.

“The show is about that spirit — the spirit of the work and the season.” In each case, something immediately grabbed her attention. The works embody a deep personal reflection or intention.

They’re steeped in spirituality, she says. It’s that spirit that has proved to be a signifier, definer even, of many folk artists and their works. The exhibition includes hand-carved woodwork by Lonnie and Twyla Money, paintings by Lucy Hunnicutt and Liz Sullivan,

and small dolls and relic-like objects by James Buddy Snipes.

The group exhibition Spirit opens Nov. 29 at the American Folk, 64 Biltmore Ave. A reception will follow on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. as part of the Downtown Asheville Art District’s final art walk of the year. amerifolk.com.

Bauhaus in amERica Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center’s current exhibition, Shaping Craft + Design, recent ReVIEWING conference and its ongoing itinerary of programming have all focused on the relationship and evolution of craft and design — particularly in the WNC region. But for several months, a secondary current of design, that of the Bauhaus school, has surfaced in each of these programs.

Bone doll by James Buddy Snipes.

Photo courtesy of American Folk

Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer’s Black Mountain College Campus Model, circa 1938. From the Theodore and Barbara Loines Dreier Collection.

Photo by Ezra Stoller, courtesy of the Western Regional Archives, State of N.C.

On Thursday, Dec. 5, the resource center will continue that conversation with a screening of Bauhaus in America, a film highlighting the German-founded architecture and design school’s impact on American art, architecture and design. Following the showing, UNC Asheville professor of philosophy and BMCM+AC’s board chair Brian Butler will lead a discussion.

The film begins with narratives from three former students of the original German Bauhaus school. It details the school’s inception, its closure and the lasting aesthetic and conceptual legacies as told by students, teachers, artists and architects who were part of the movement — many of whom found refuge in Black Mountain College and WNC. The Bauhaus school was founded in 1919 by architect and designer Walter Gropius. But mounting pressure from the Nazi regime forced it to shutter in 1933. The architectural diaspora that followed saw many of the students and teachers, as well as Gropius, flee to various institutions across the United States. One of those instructors, Josef Albers, settled at Black Mountain College, where he taught design and painting courses from 1933-49.

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“The Bauhaus tradition was planted here, particularly at Black Mountain College, and it flourished,” says Butler. The legacy of traditional Southern and Appalachian arts and crafts tends to restrain connections to the German-influenced style, he says. That has ultimately delayed full recognition and further discussion of the Bauhaus and Modernist impact on the area’s craft and design movements.

“The furniture industry is the obvious link. But somehow [Bauhaus] doesn’t read as either Southern or North Carolinian,” says Butler. It’s clearly impacted the region, beginning with it’s initial introduction to the area in the early 1930s. “It’s weird that North Carolina doesn’t clearly embrace this tradition of Bauhaus design,” he adds.

The screening of Bauhaus in America takes place on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in downtown Asheville. $5 for members and students, $7 for nonmembers. blackmountaincollege.com. X Kyle Sherard writes about visual arts for Xpress and can be reached at kyle. sherard@gmail.com.

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Cassandra King “In this novel of second chances, the conflicts begin because Emmett remarries quickly and brings his new wife, Helen, into the world he had occupied with Rosalyn before her puzzling death. At Helen’s insistence, the couple retreats for the summer to the grand and eerie mansion in the mountains of Highlands, N.C., known as Moonrise, the estate that Emmett has inherited from Rosalyn.” So begins the description of Moonrise by Cassandra King. The novelist not only weaves a compelling mystery but is married to author Pat Conroy. She’ll read at Malaprop’s on Monday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. malaprops.com. Photo

by Tamara Reynolds

The Melodic If the name The Melodic seems a bit too pointed (albeit sweetly so), the English folk ensemble has been living up to it. A collaboration between songwriters Huw Williams and Rudi Schmidt, the Melodic taps ’60s and ’70s British and American folk along with inspirations gleaned from international travel. “Our approach to recording our songs is almost as if painting,” says Schmidt in the band’s bio. “Building layers, replacing others until we get the music to say what we want it to say.” The group makes a stop at The Mothlight on Sunday, Dec. 1. Vikesh Kapoor and Hospital Call also perform. 9:30 p.m., $8. themothlight.com.

David Wilcox It’s the time of year for annual happenings: turkey dinners, top-10 roundups and homecoming shows.

The latter is the case of singersongwriter David Wilcox’s annual Thanksgiving show at The Grey Eagle. “It happens every year and it’s kind of a Thanksgiving table of musicians,” says Wilcox in a preview video he posted on YouTube.

“I’ll be playing a lot of songs, and there will also be guests who come up. … I kind of orchestrate it so the songs work into the story that I’m telling about the gratitude for this community we have here.” Watch the video at avl.mx/02y; see the show on Friday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m.

All ages. $18/$20. thegreyeagle.com.

Photo by Jack Hollingsworth

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Malcolm Holcombe “This album really was created by the grace of the good Lord and a lot of friends and family that have helped this old boy and his family,” singer-songwriter and WNC native Malcolm Holcombe said in a recent interview. He was talking about his newest album, Down the River — his ninth studio effort. Holcombe is known not only for his consistently thoughtful and gritty take on Americana, but also for being endlessly quotable: “I am just trying to achieve a little step in the ladder of truth,” he says. He’ll perform at The Altamont Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. $10/$12. thealtamont.com. Photo by Ray Kennedy

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C L U B L A N D WednesdAy, nov. 27 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Hot Point Trio (jazz), 5pm Juan Benavides Trio (Latin), 8pm BlAck mountAin Ale House Bluegrass jam, 9pm Blue mountAin PiZZA & BreW PuB Mark Bumgarner (Southern Americana), 7pm cluB HAirsPrAy Requests w/ DJ Ace of Spade, 8pm cork & keg Irish jam, 7pm iron Horse stAtion Jesse James (Americana), 6pm isis restAurAnt And music HAll Vinyl night, 9pm

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JAck of tHe Wood PuB Old-time jam, 5pm loBster trAP Ben Hovey (dub-jazz, trumpet, electronics), 7pm

MUST PRESENT COUPON. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. EXP. 12/31/13

metrosPHere Open mic, 9pm motHligHt Game night w/ DJ Lorruh, 9pm

XZONE GOLD

odditorium Movie night: "Blood Freak," 9pm

PILLS FOR MEN NEW DVD’S FROM DEVIL’S FLIM

olive or tWist Swing lessons, 7pm 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock), 8pm orAnge Peel Trivium & DevilDriver (metal) w/ After the Burial & Thy Will Be Done, 7pm PisgAH BreWing comPAny Jon Stickley & friends (bluegrass, Americana), 6pm

punk ain’t pREtty: Screaming Females stop by The Mothlight on Tuesday, Dec. 3 as they tour for their new album Ugly. The New Jersey trio will perform with local band Kreamy ‘Lectric Santa.

sly grog lounge Open mic, 7pm soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery The Sufi Brothers (Americana, indie), 8-10pm strAigHtAWAy cAfe Screech Owl Serenade (country, Western swing), 6pm tAllgAry's cAntinA Open mic & jam, 7pm tHe PHoenix Jazz night, 8pm tHe sociAl Karaoke, 9:30pm timo's House Tournament-style game night, 9pm toWn PumP Open mic, 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 Dane Smith 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.

tressA's doWntoWn JAZZ And Blues Wednesday night jazz w/ Micah Thomas, Daniel Iannucci & Cody Wright, 10pm vincenZo's Bistro Aaron Luka (piano, vocals), 7pm

tHursdAy, nov. 28

tAllgAry's cAntinA Rock & roll showcase, 9:30pm timo's House Asheville drum and bass collective, 9pm

5 WAlnut Wine BAr The Crow Quill Night Owls (jug band, jazz), 8pm

tressA's doWntoWn JAZZ And Blues WestSound Review (R&B, soul, dance), 8:30pm

BlAck mountAin Ale House Lyric (R&B, soul, pop), 9pm

vincenZo's Bistro Ginny McAfee (piano, vocals), 7pm

cluB HAirsPrAy Karaoke, 8pm

WAter'n Hole Karaoke, 10pm

iron Horse stAtion Barb Turner (classic country, blues), 7pm JAck of HeArts PuB Old-time jam, 7pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Bluegrass jam, 7pm loBster trAP Hank Bones ("man of 1,000 songs"), 7-9pm o.Henry's/tug Open mic w/ Jill Siler, 8pm olive or tWist Dance lessons, 7pm Mike Filippone Band (dance), 8pm

THANKSGIVING HOURS: 3PM TO MIDNIGHT

scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Drag show, 12:30am

toWn PumP Brian Kelley (country), 9pm

HAvAnA restAurAnt Open mic (band provided), 7pm

SHIRLEY OF HOLLYWOOD LINGERIE

Aaron Luka (piano, rock, hits), 9pm

185 king street Blues jam w/ Riyen Roots, 8pm

cluB remix Reggae dance night, 9pm

$1699 $999

fridAy, nov. 29 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Pleasure Chest (blues, soul, rock), 10pm AtHenA's cluB Mark Appleford (singer-songwriter, Americana, blues), 7-10pm DJ, 10pm-2am Blue kudZu sAke comPAny DJ Fortune, 9pm Blue mountAin PiZZA & BreW PuB Acoustic Swing, 7pm ByWAter Hot Point Trio (jazz, swing), 9pm

Where Adult Dreams Come True • • OPEN 7 DAYS • •

SUN-THUR 8 AM - MIDNIGHT FRI SAT 8 AM - 3 AM (828) 684-8250

clAssic Wineseller Ben Wilson (guitar, vocals), 7pm

one stoP deli & BAr Phish 'n' Chips (Phish covers), 6pm

cork & keg One Leg Up (jazz), 8:30pm

PAck's tAvern

frencH BroAd BreWery tAsting room

2334 Hendersonville Rd. (S. Asheville/Arden)

www.bedtymestories.net mountainx.com

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cLuBLanD

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com.

SAtuRdAy cHicken & WAffleS Sunday Brunch

FRI 11/29 pinball, foosball, ping-pong & a kickass jukebox kitchen open until late 504 Haywood Rd. West Asheville • 828-255-1109 “It’s bigger than it looks!”

DAVID WILCOX & FRIENDS Annual

Thanksgiving Homecoming Show

8pm • $18/$20

SUN 12/1 WED 12/4

BIG SAM’S FUNKY NATION 9pm • $10/$12 JUNIOR BROWN w/ Dean Alexander 8pm • $16/$18

THU HOOTS & HELLMOUTH 12/5 w/ David Childers & Overnight Mountain Men 9pm • $10/$12 FRI ANDREW SCOTCHIE & THE RIVER RATS 12/6

w/ Michael Tracy & Woody Wood 9pm • $5/$7

Sat. NOV 30

elijah hooker band w/ kelly jo connect backstage • 9:30PM • $5

tueS. dec 3

disclaimer comedy presents: alex koll backstage 9:00PM • $8

wed. dec 4

iii w/ paper moth,anhinga backstage • 9:00PM • $5

fri. dec 6

les femme mystique presents: naughty is nice holiday soiree - 2 shows backstage • 8:00PM • 10:30PM $12

thurS. dec 12

reasonably priced babies

SAT 12/7 THU 12/12

DAR WILLIAMS

w/ Angel Snow 8pm • $22/$25

An Evening With AARON LEE TASJAN & JOE FLETCHER 9pm • $10/$12

TUE DR. MADD VIBE (ANGELO 12/17 MOORE OF FISHBONE)

w/ Rebelmatic & Prop Anon 9pm • $10/$12

SAT 12/21 SUN 12/22

GREG BROWN & BO RAMSEYw/ RB Morris 8pm • $25/$28

PROJECT OBJECT ASHEVILLE w/ Denny Walley 8pm • $12/$15

improv sketch comedy

RED mEEts oRangE: August Burns Red, which just released a music video for “Provisions,” will be headlining The Orange Peel on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

LeMaster Plan (indie folk), 6pm green room cAfe Buzz Beilharz & Nick Fierstos (Americana), 6:30pm grey eAgle music HAll & tAvern David Wilcox (folk, singer-songwriter), 8pm HAvAnA restAurAnt Ashley Heath (singer-songwriter), 7pm HigHlAnd BreWing comPAny John Wilkes Boothe & The Black Toothe (folk, indie), 6-8pm isis restAurAnt And music HAll The Kruger Brothers (folk), 8pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Luxury Spirit (indie rock) w/ Megan Jean & the KFB (avant-Americana), 9pm

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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timo's House Gypsy Swingers w/ Resonant Rouges (folk, jazz, swing), 9pm toWn PumP Linda Mitchell (blues, jazz), 9pm trAilHeAd restAurAnt And BAr Kevin Scanlon (old-time, bluegrass), 6pm tressA's doWntoWn JAZZ And Blues Al Coffee & Da Grind (blues, rock), 10pm vAnuAtu kAvA BAr A.J. Nunez (ambient harp), 9pm vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm

monte vistA Hotel Blue Moon (jazz, country, rock), 6pm

WAter'n Hole Soldiers Heart w/ Petticoat Junction (rock), 10pm

odditorium Dance party w/ DJ Abu Disarray, 9pm

Westville PuB Comedy open mic, 10pm

olive or tWist 3 Cool Cats (vintage rock, swing), 8:30pm

WHite Horse Cabaret jazz w/ Paula Hanke, Frank Southecorvo & more, 8pm

one stoP deli & BAr Free Dead Fridays feat. members of Phuncle Sam, 5-8pm orAnge Peel Acoustic Syndicate (Americana), 9pm

sAturdAy, nov. 30

PAck's tAvern DJ Moto (dance, pop, hits), 9pm

5 WAlnut Wine BAr El Duende (Latin, jazz), 10pm

PisgAH BreWing comPAny The Travers Brothership (rock, blues, jam), 9pm

AltAmont BreWing comPAny Dave Desmelik (Americana), 9pm

root BAr no. 1 Open Pallet (folk, funk), 9:30pm

AsHeville music HAll Submerse (electronic) w/ Peripheral, Kolourz & Koresma, 10pm

scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Drag show, 1am

sPring creek tAvern Mark Bumgarner (Southern Americana), 8pm

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tHe sociAl Jason Whitaker (solo acoustic), 9:30pm

loBster trAP King Leo (jazz), 7pm

soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery The John Wayne Experience (rock, Americana), 5-7pm Serious Clark (indie, funk, pop), 8-10pm

backstage • 7:30PM $7

tAllgAry's cAntinA The Nightcrawlers (blues, rock), 9:30pm

AtHenA's cluB Mark Appleford (singer-songwriter, Americana, blues), 7-10pm DJ, 10pm-2am BlAck mountAin Ale House Dulci Ellenberger & Daniel Shearin (folk, Americana), 9pm Blue mountAin PiZZA & BreW PuB

cLuB DiREctoRy

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185 king stREEt 877-1850 5 waLnut winE BaR 253-2593 aLtamont BREwing company 575-2400 thE aLtamont thEatRE 348-5327 apothEcaRy (919) 609-3944 aQua cafE & BaR 505-2081 aRcaDE 258-1400 ashEViLLE ciVic cEntER & thomas woLfE auDitoRium 259-5544 ashEViLLE music haLL 255-7777 athEna’s cLuB 252-2456 BaRLEy’s tap Room 255-0504 BLack mountain aLE housE 669-9090 BLuE mountain pizza 658-8777 BoiLER Room 505-1612 BRoaDway’s 285-0400 thE BywatER 232-6967 coRk anD kEg 254-6453 cLuB haiRspRay 258-2027 cLuB REmix 258-2027 cREEksiDE taphousE 575-2880 aDam DaLton DistiLLERy 367-6401 Diana woRtham thEatER 257-4530 DiRty south LoungE 251-1777 DouBLE cRown 575-9060 ELEVEn on gRoVE 505-1612 EmERaLD LoungE 232- 4372 fiREstoRm cafE 255-8115 fREnch BRoaD BREwERy tasting Room 277-0222 gooD stuff 649-9711 gREEn Room cafE 692-6335 gREy EagLE music haLL & taVERn 232-5800 gRoVE housE thE gRoVE paRk inn (ELainE’s piano BaR/ gREat haLL) 252-2711 hangaR LoungE 684-1213 haRRah’s chERokEE 497-7777 highLanD BREwing company 299-3370 isis music haLL 575-2737 jack of hEaRts puB 645-2700 jack of thE wooD 252-5445 LExington aVEnuE BREwERy 252-0212 thE LoBstER tRap 350-0505 mEtRoshERE 258-2027 miLLRoom 555-1212 montE Vista hotEL 669-8870 natiVE kitchEn & sociaL puB (581-0480) oDDitoRium 505-8388 onEfiftyonE 239-0239 onE stop BaR DELi & BaR 255-7777 o.hEnRy’s/tug 254-1891 thE oRangE pEEL 225-5851 oskaR BLuEs BREwERy 883-2337 pack’s taVERn 225-6944 thE phoEnix 333-4465 pisgah BREwing co. 669-0190 puLp 225-5851 puRpLE onion cafE 749-1179 RED stag gRiLL at thE gRanD BohEmian hotEL 505-2949 Root BaR no.1 299-7597 scanDaLs nightcLuB 252-2838 scuLLy’s 251-8880 sLy gRog LoungE 255-8858 smokEy’s aftER DaRk 253-2155 thE sociaL 298-8780 southERn appaLacian BREwERy 684-1235 static agE REcoRDs 254-3232 stRaightaway cafE 669-8856 taLLgaRy’s cantina 232-0809

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

Paul Cataldo (Americana), 7pm Boiler room Amnesis w/ Downbreak, Scalded Fire & A Conquering Soul (metal), 9pm clAssic Wineseller Jacob Johnson (folk, funk, pop), 7pm cluB eleven on grove Zydeco dance, 7pm cluB HAirsPrAy DJ Brian Sparxxx, 8pm cork & keg Old-time jam, 8:30pm frencH BroAd BreWery tAsting room William Borg Schmitt (folk), 6pm green room cAfe Jennifer Scott & Hank Bones (jazz, blues), 6:30pm HAvAnA restAurAnt Mande Foly (African, acoustic), noon Noah Stockdale & Company, 7pm HigHlAnd BreWing comPAny Sweet Claudette (Motown, country), 6-8pm iron Horse stAtion Ashley Heath (soul, blues), 7pm isis restAurAnt And music HAll The Kruger Brothers (folk), 8pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Cary Fridley & Down South (country, folk) w/ Crazy Water Crystals, 9pm lexington Ave BreWery (lAB) Elijah Hooker Band (rock) w/ The Kelly Jo Connect, 9:30pm mAck kell's PuB & grill The Mug (rock), 9pm metrosPHere Playa's Ball (dress-up affair), 9pm millroom The Redcoats Are Coming CD release party w/ Jeff Santiago y los Gatos Negros, 9:30pm monte vistA Hotel Live music, 6pm odditorium Death Shroud w/ Shadow of the Destroyer (metal), 9pm one stoP deli & BAr Bluegrass brunch w/ Grits & Soul, 11am orAnge Peel Chvrches (synth-pop), 9pm PAck's tAvern A Social Function (rock, dance, hits), 9pm PisgAH BreWing comPAny Bruckshot (roots reggae), 8pm root BAr no. 1 Arsena Shroeder (singer-songwriter), 9pm scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Drag show, 12:30am smokey's After dArk Karaoke, 10pm soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery Ellen Trnka, Howie Johnson and Woody (blues, Americana, rock), 8-10pm sPring creek tAvern Reems Creek Incident (bluegrass), 8pm strAigHtAWAy cAfe Sherry Lynn & Mountain Friends (folk, country), 6pm tAllgAry's cAntinA Carolina Rex (rock), 9:30pm tHe motHligHt Vaz (noise-pop) w/ Common Visions, 9:30pm tHe PHoenix Bread & Butter Band (bluegrass), 8pm tHe sociAl Karaoke, 9:30pm timo's House R4Y Up7OWN w/ Klaws, Spaghetti Man & Collective One (drum and bass), 9pm

DOWNTOWN ON THE PARK

LIVE MUSIC... NEVER A COVER

THU. 11/28 Aaron Luka

(piano, rock, hits)

FRI. 11/29

DJ MoTo

(dance, pop hits)

SAT. 11/30

A Social Function (rock, classic dance hits)

20 S. SPRUCE ST. • 225.6944 PACKSTAVERN.COM

SAT 12/21

WINTER SOLSTICE GATHERING

W/ The Human Experience, (Soul Visions) +Theresa Davis, Aerialists, Activists, and Poets The Orange Peel •$15 Adv.

NewEarthMuziq.com find us on facebook: facebook.com/NEMUZIQ mountainx.com

RisingAppalachia.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

53

cLuBLanD

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com.

tigER mountain thiRst paRLouR 407-0666 timo’s housE 575-2886 town pump 357-5075 toy Boat 505-8659 tREasuRE cLuB 298-1400 tREssa’s Downtown jazz & BLuEs 254-7072 Vanuatu kaVa BaR 505-8118 VincEnzo’s 254-4698 waLL stREEt coffEE housE 252-2535 wEstViLLE puB 225-9782 whitE hoRsE 669-0816 wiLD wing cafE 253-3066 wxyz 232-2838

Monday, December 2nd

Blues Jam

8pm to Midnight Thursday, December 5th

Dead Night With:

Phuncle Sam

5 WAlnut Wine BAr Sufi Brothers (bluegrass, folk), 8pm AltAmont BreWing comPAny Old-time jam, 7pm ByWAter Open mic w/ Taylor Martin, 9pm emerAld lounge Blues jam, 8pm odditorium Synergy story slam, 9pm

sly grog lounge Trivia night, 7pm

Sirius B w/ Ideomotion

toWn PumP Duke Frye & friends, 9pm

timo's House Super Jam, 9pm

tressA's doWntoWn JAZZ And Blues Lyric (funk, soul, pop), 10pm

vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm

vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm

Westville PuB Trivia night, 8pm

Westville PuB Jamboogie Band (funk), 10pm

Saturday, December 7th

WHite Horse Bryan Sutton, Josh Goforth & Leonard Hollifield (Appalachian guitar), 8pm

Common Foundation Murphy’s kids

WxyZ lounge Vinyl Time Travelers (soul, funk, DJ), 9pm

sundAy, dec. 1 5 WAlnut Wine BAr Mande Foly (African rhythm, jazz), 7pm AsHeville music HAll The Sky Walkers w/ Fly Paper (gangsta-jazz, electronic, hip-hop), 8pm

5 WAlnut Wine BAr The John Henrys (gypsy jazz), 8pm AsHeville music HAll Funk jam, 11pm cluB eleven on grove Swing lessons, 6:30 & 7:30pm Tango lessons, 7pm Dance, 8:30pm cluB HAirsPrAy Trivia night, 8pm creekside tAPHouse Bluegrass jam, 7pm isis restAurAnt And music HAll Tuesday bluegrass sessions, 7:30pm

cluB HAirsPrAy DJ Ra Mac, 8pm

JAck of tHe Wood PuB Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel (psychedelic, rock), 10pm

isis restAurAnt And music HAll Sunday jazz showcase, 6pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Irish session, 3pm loBster trAP Leo Johnson (hot club jazz), 7-9pm odditorium The Lizard People w/ Vin Zetro, Busted Chops, Chunx & Snake Prophecy (punk), 9pm orAnge Peel Waltz night lesson, 5:30-6:15pm Dance, 6:30-9:15pm scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Miss Land of the Sky Pageant, 10pm Drag show, 12:30am soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery The Dan Keller Trio (jazz), 5-7pm tAllgAry's cAntinA Sunday Drum Day, 7pm tHe motHligHt The Melodic (Afro-folk, pop) w/ Vikesh Kapoor & Hospital Call, 9:30pm tHe sociAl '80s vinyl night, 8pm

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tuesdAy, dec. 3

Blue kudZu sAke comPAny Karaoke brunch, 1-5pm

grey eAgle music HAll & tAvern Big Sam's Funky Nation (funk, rock, hip-hop), 9pm

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

mondAy, dec. 2

oskAr Blues BreWery Old-time jam, 6-8pm

Friday, December 6th

54

WHite Horse Strings of Lumina, 7pm

lexington Ave BreWery (lAB) Alex Koll (comedy), 9pm loBster trAP Jay Brown (Americana, folk), 7-9pm odditorium Comedy open mic w/ Tom Peters, 9pm orAnge Peel August Burns Red (metal, hardcore) w/ Blessthefall, Defeater & Beartooth, 7:30pm tHe motHligHt Screaming Females (post-punk, rock), 9:30pm timo's House Open mic variety show, 9pm vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm Westville PuB Blues jam, 10pm

WednesdAy, dec. 4 BlAck mountAin Ale House Bluegrass jam, 9pm Blue mountAin PiZZA & BreW PuB Open mic, 7pm cluB HAirsPrAy Requests w/ DJ Ace of Spade, 8pm

timo's House Sherry Lynn w/ Raphe & Friends (Americana, bluegrass), 9pm

grey eAgle music HAll & tAvern Junior Brown (country, Western, rock, blues) w/ Dean Alexander, 8pm

vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm

isis restAurAnt And music HAll Vinyl night, 9pm

JAck of tHe Wood PuB Old-time jam, 5pm lexington Ave BreWery (lAB) iii w/ Paper Moth & Anhinga, 9pm

LOVE YOUR LOCAL

advertise@mountainx.com

odditorium Fifty Year Flood w/ Pick Your Switch (rock), 9pm orAnge Peel Bro Safari (DJ) w/ Torro Torro & CRNKN, 9pm PisgAH BreWing comPAny Lord King (reggae, ska), 6pm sly grog lounge Open mic, 7pm tAllgAry's cAntinA Open mic & jam, 7pm tHe PHoenix Jazz night, 8pm tHe sociAl Karaoke, 9:30pm timo's House Tournament-style game night, 9pm toWn PumP Open mic, 9pm

Over 40 Entertainers!

tressA's doWntoWn JAZZ And Blues Wednesday Night Jazz w/ Micah Thomas, Steve Alford & James Simmons, 8:30-11:30pm

A True Gentleman’s Club

vincenZo's Bistro Aaron Luka (piano, vocals), 7pm

tHursdAy, dec. 5 185 king street Bobby Miller & the Virginia Dare Devils (bluegrass), 8pm AsHeville music HAll All Star Brown Bag Songwriter Competition Finals, 7:30pm cluB HAirsPrAy Karaoke, 8pm cluB remix Reggae dance night, 9pm emerAld lounge Dead night w/ Phuncle Sam, 8pm frencH BroAd BreWery tAsting room Paul Cataldo (roots, folk), 6pm grey eAgle music HAll & tAvern Hoots & Hellmouth (rock, soul) w/ David Childers & Overmountain Men, 9pm HAvAnA restAurAnt Open mic (band provided), 7pm

Fine Guitars, now in every price range.

Guitars / Ukes / Resos / Banjos / Mandos

isis restAurAnt And music HAll The Wooten Brothers (fusion) w/ Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, 9pm JAck of HeArts PuB Old-time jam, 7pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Bluegrass jam, 7pm loBster trAP Hank Bones ("man of 1,000 songs"), 7-9pm odditorium The Stump Mutts w/ The Balsa Gliders (blues, rock), 9pm one stoP deli & BAr Phish 'n' Chips (Phish covers), 6pm orAnge Peel Make-a-Wish benefit w/ Artimus Pyle, Peggy Ratusz, Caleb Johnson & more, 7pm PAck's tAvern Steven Poteat (funk, jam), 9pm PisgAH BreWing comPAny The Lee Boys (gospel, blues) w/ The Shane Pruitt Band, 9pm scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Drag show, 12:30am

Just minutes away in Weaverville, NC by Appointment.

FREE AL PETTEWAY CD when you visit us and mention this ad

828-658-9795 • www.dreamguitars.com THURSDAY • NOVEMBER 28

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BACHELOR PARTY & BIRTHDAY PARTY SPECIALS

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JOHN WILKES BOOTHE & THE BLACK TOOTH

Mon – Thurs 6:30pm–2am | Fri – Sat 6:30pm–3am

SATURDAY • NOVEMBER 30

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FRIDAY • DECEMBER 6

FREEWAY REVIVAL

DOES NOT INCLUDE UFC NIGHTS

soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery Nitrograss (bluegrass), 7-9pm

520 Swannanoa River Rd • Asheville (828) 298-1400 • TheTreasureClub.com facebook.com/thetreasureclub

tAllgAry's cAntinA Rock & roll showcase, 9:30pm

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

55

cLuBLanD

Dinner Menu till 10pm Late Night Menu till

12am

Send your listings to clubland@mountainx.com.

Tues-Sun

5pm–12am

COMING SOON

Fri & Sat AN EVENING WITH 11/29 &1 1/30 THE KRUGER BROTHERS 8:00pm • $25/$28 Wed HOTPOINT TRIO MUSIC OF DJANGO REINHARDT 12/4 Paired with French/Belgian Dinner Features • Dinner Reservations • 7:30pm • No Cover

Full Bar

AN EVENING WITH

Thur THE WOOTEN BROTHERS: VICTOR, JOSEPH, “FUTUREMAN” 12/5 AND REGI - JONATHAN SCALES FOURCHESTRA OPENS 9:00pm • $22/$27 Fri 12/6 THE DEEP DARK WOODS W/ RAISING CAINE 9pm • $8/$12 Sat VON GREY W/ HANNAH THOMAS 9pm • $12 12/7 Thur 12/12 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE FROM WVL RADIO 8pm • $15/$20 Fri 12/13 BAREFOOT MOVEMENT AND PALEFACE 9pm • $10/$12 Sat 12/14 BIG DADDY LOVE W/ AARON BURDETT 9pm • $8/$10 Every Sunday JAZZ SHOWCASE 6pm - 11pm • $5 Every Tuesday BLUEGRASS SESSIONS 7:30pm - midnite what’s that sounD?: It’s jazz. It’s folk. It’s bluegrass. It’s The Kruger Brothers. This European-turned-North Carolinian band will stop by Isis Restaurant & Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 30.

743 HAYWOOD RD • 828-575-2737 • ISISASHEVILLE.COM timo's House Asheville drum and bass collective, 9pm

lexington Ave BreWery (lAB) Les Femmes Mysitque Holiday Soiree, 8 & 10:30pm

vincenZo's Bistro Ginny McAfee (piano, vocals), 7pm

millroom Rodney Laney (comedy) w/ Andy Forrester & Petey Smith-McDowell, 7 & 9:30pm

WAter'n Hole Karaoke, 10pm WHite Horse Benefit for the Philippines, 7:30pm

12/7 Resonant Rogues • 9pm FREE

12/21 Grass Monkey • 9pm FREE

12/28 Groove 8 • 9pm FREE

1/10 The Riverbank Ramblers • 9pm FREE

11/29 10/25Luxury Sarah Spirit Lee Guthrie w/ Megan Jean & the KFB & Johnny Irion 9pm $7 w/ Battlefield • 9pm $10 11/30 Fridley Jazz Band 10/26Cary Firecracker and Down South w/ & HALLOWEEN Costume Crazy Water Crystals • 9pm $5 Party & Contest • 9pm $8 10/27 Sons Vinegar Creek • 9pm FREE 12/6 of Ralph 9pm $7 10/28 Mustard Plug • 9pm $8 w/ Crazy Tom Banana Pants 12/7 Bethesda 9pm $7 10/29Shake Singer Songwriters It Like A Caveman in the Round • 7-9pm FREE w/ Anthony Davis 12/13 Shane Tripi, PruittElise Band Mud 9pm Tea$7• 9pm FREE Open Mon-Thurs at 3 • Fri-Sun at Noon SUN Celtic Irish Session 5pm til ?

MON Quizzo! 7-9p • WED Old-Time 5pm SINGER SONGWRITERS 1st & 3rd TUES THURS Bluegrass Jam 7pm

95 Patton at Coxe • Asheville 252.5445 • jackofthewood.com 56

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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fridAy, dec. 6 185 king street Jonathan Byrd and The Pick Up Cowboys (country, folk), 8pm AsHeville music HAll Enter the Earth Xmas Party w/ The Nth Power & Jamar Woods Trio (funk, soul), 10pm AtHenA's cluB Mark Appleford (singer-songwriter, Americana, blues), 7-10pm DJ, 10pm-2am cluB eleven on grove DJ Jam (old-school hip-hop, R&B, funk), 9pm emerAld lounge Sirius B w/ Ideomotion, 8pm frencH BroAd BreWery tAsting room Even the Animals (rock), 6pm grey eAgle music HAll & tAvern Andrew Scotchie & the River Rats (rock, funk) w/ Michael Tracy & Woody Wood, 9pm HAvAnA restAurAnt Ashley Heath (singer-songwriter), 7pm HigHlAnd BreWing comPAny The Freeway Revival (rock, Americana), 6-8pm

isis restAurAnt And music HAll The Deep Dark Woods (psychedelic folk) w/ Raising Caine, 9pm JAck of tHe Wood PuB Sons of Ralph (bluegrass), 9pm

odditorium Brother Hawk w/ Old Flings, Sundale, Ryan Sheffield & The High Hills (rock), 9pm one stoP deli & BAr Free Dead Fridays feat. members of Phuncle Sam, 5-8pm orAnge Peel Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (jazz, funk) w/ Alanna Royale, 9pm PAck's tAvern DJ OCelate (pop, dance), 9pm PisgAH BreWing comPAny Duke of Lizards (Phish tribute/jam band), 8pm root BAr no. 1 Matt Woods (outlaw country), 9:30pm scAndAls nigHtcluB Dance party, 10pm Drag show, 1am Zumba, 7pm soutHern APPAlAcHiAn BreWery The Stipe Brothers 3rd Annual Ugly Sweater Show (pop, rock, holiday), 8-10pm tHe motHligHt Nightlands (experimental pop, singer-songwriter) w/ Eric Slick & VA/MD, 9:30pm tHe sociAl Jarvis Jenkins (rock), 9:30pm timo's House In Plain Sight (house), 9pm vincenZo's Bistro Steve Whiddon (old-time piano, vocals), 5:30pm Westville PuB Comedy open mic, 10pm WHite Horse Kat Williams Christmas show, 8pm

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HHHHH = max rating contact xpressmovies@aol.com

PicK oF thE WEEK

thEatER LiStinGS

Philomena

WEDnESDaY, noVEmBER 27 thuRSDaY, DEcEmBER 5

HHHHH

Due to possible scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.

DiREctoR: Stephen Frears (The Queen) PLaYERS: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Mare Winningham, Barbara Jefford, Ruth McCabe, Peter Hermann Fact-BaSED DRama RatED PG-13 thE StoRY: Fact-based story of the search for a child given up for adoption 50 years after the fact. thE LoWDoWn: Beautifully crafted, intelligently written and anchored by marvelously nuanced performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, Philomena is a delightful, emotionally satisfying awards-season surprise.

Chances are good that Stephen Frears’ fact-based Philomena is the most perfectly crafted, expertly made, finely calculated movie you will see this year. Oh, you will see — you probably already have seen — better films, but whether you’ll encounter anything else so precisely successful at what it sets out to do, I’m doubtful. This is a splendid meeting of director, screenplay and stars. I don’t know that Stephen Frears has ever made a bad film — though he’s certainly made some lesser ones — but Philomena is definitely on the high-end of his filmography.

That it stars Judi Dench will probably ensure that it will be one of his most successful, too. Face it, there’s a section of the moviegoing public who will flock to see any film she stars in. (You know who you are.) That this movie pairs her with the cynical Steve Coogan

JuDi DEnch and StEVE cooGan give wonderful performances in Stephen Frears’ masterful Philomena

(who also co-wrote and co-produced the film) is another plus. Yes, it makes them into a fairly standard odd couple — and its “surprises” are more satisfying than surprising — but in their hands, the chemistry of the hardened cynic and the seemingly unworldly little old lady is pretty irresistible.

Dench stars as Philomena Lee, a woman who, 50 years earlier, had an out-of-wedlock son in an Irish Catholic convent. The son was not merely taken away from her but was actually sold by the convent (the going rate at the time being, it seems, was £1000). Her own efforts to find her son had come to nothing but pat excuses about a fire that destroyed the records from that era.

It happens that her story lands on the desk of former star reporter and government press secretary Martin Sixsmith (Coogan). It’s the sort of tale that not only doesn’t interest him, but that he holds in complete contempt. However, with his career in need of a jump-start, he grudg-

ingly ends up pursuing it for a newspaper that’s keen on the story — as long as it’s “really, really happy or really, really sad.”

Not surprisingly, Sixsmith is almost painfully condescending toward Philomena — but she’s clearly not as oblivious to his contempt as she appears. But once he becomes involved in the story — and especially once he realizes that the convent is handing Philomena a carefully contrived snow-job — that attitude starts to change.

Where Philomena is satisfied that all the paperwork was destroyed in a convenient fire — except, of course, the document where she signed away her rights to the child — Sixsmith isn’t. And it doesn’t take long before he unearths the convent’s brisk business of selling children for adoption — primarily to rich Americans. This naturally takes them to America to find the truth. This is where I’ll leave the film to tell its own story. What happens is sufficiently unexpected that

mountainx.com

Asheville PizzA & Brewing Co. (254-1281) Please call the info line for updated showtimes.

Percy Jackson: sea of Monsters 3D (Pg) 1:00, 4:00 (no 3D on Tuesdays) The way, way Back (Pg-13) 7:00 This is the end(r) 10:00 CArMike CineMA 10 (298-4452) The Best Man holiday (r) 1:30, 4:15, 7:20, 10:15 Captain Phillips (Pg-13) 1:10, 7:05 The Christmas Candle (Pg-13) 11:20, 1:45, 4:05, 6:50, 9:30 Free Birds 2D (Pg) 11:10, 1:15, 3:15, 5:20, 7:30, 9:35 homefront (r) 11:05, 1:40, 4:40, 7:40, 10:10 The hunger games: Catching Fire (Pg-13) 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:15, 4:00, 5:00, 5:30, 7:15, 8:15, 8:50, 10:30 last vegas (Pg-13) 11:05, 1:50, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45 Thor: The Dark world 3D (Pg-13) 4:30, 10:20 Thor: The Dark world 2D (Pg-13) 1:05, 4:10, 7:00, 9:40 CArolinA CineMAs (274-9500) 12 Years a slave (r) 10:30, 1:15, 4:00, 6:50 About Time (r) 11:00, 1:35, 4:10, 6:45, 9:25 All is lost (Pg-13) 10:30, 3:50, 6:15 Blue is the warmest Color (nC-17) 8:20 The Book Thief (Pg-13) 10:50, 1:40, 4:00, 6:50, 9:40 Dallas Buyers Club (r) 11:15, 1:45, 4:15, 6:00, 8:20 Delivery Man (Pg-13) 11:00, 1:20, 3:35, 8:40, 9:40 Free Birds (Pg) 10:40 Frozen 3D (Pg) 1:00, 8:30 Frozen 2D (Pg) 10:30, 3:30, 6:00 homefront (r) 11:45, 2:00, 4:20, 6:40, 9:00 The hunger games: Catching Fire (Pg-13) 10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15, 3:00, 3:45, 4:30, 5:15, 6:00, 6:45, 7:30, 8:15, 9:00, 9:45 last vegas (Pg-13) 12:30, 6:00 Philomena (Pg-13) 11:30, 1:45, 3:00, 4:00, 6:15, 8:20 Thor: The Dark world 2D (Pg-13) 10:45, 1:15, 6:45, 9:10 CineBArre (665-7776) Co-eD CineMA BrevArD (883-2200) The hunger games: Catching Fire (Pg-13) 12:30, 4:00, 7:30 ePiC oF henDersonville (693-1146) Fine ArTs TheATre (232-1536) Dallas Buyers Club (r) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late show Fri-Sat 9:30 Philomena (Pg-13) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show Fri-Sat 9:40 FlATroCk CineMA (697-2463) 12 Years a slave (r) starts Friday 3:30, 7:00 regAl BilTMore grAnDe sTADiuM 15 (6841298) uniTeD ArTisTs BeAuCATCher (298-1234)

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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by Ken Hanke & Justin Souther

moViEs

it deserves to be experienced in the film, not in a review.

What makes Philomena work — apart from the shrewd performances — is the craftsmanship Frears brings to the storytelling. As he blends past and present, his seemingly effortless stylishness is the assured work of a master filmmaker (one who always sells himself short in interviews).

Yes, Dench and Coogan are remarkable. Without them, the film probably wouldn’t work at all. Dench, in particular, is a source of endless delight as she casually reveals herself to be far more worldly (and non-judgmentally broad-minded) than we expect. That she started out as something of a joke, while Sixsmith is revealed to be the real joke, is pure joy. So much of what makes the movie come together lies in Frears’ ability to tell the story with a keen eye and full control over how to dispense its inevitably sentimental aspects. This may just be the season’s surprise must-see. Rated PG-13 on appeal for some strong language, thematic elements and sexual references. reviewed by Ken Hanke Starts Wednesday at Carolina Cinemas and Fine Arts Theatre

The Book Thief HHHH

DiREctoR: Brian Percival pLayERs: Geoffrey Rush, Emily Watson, Sophie Nélisse, Ben Schnetzer, Nico Liersch, Barbara Auer wwii DRama RatED pg-13 thE stoRy: Story of a young girl living with a foster family in Nazi Germany. thE LowDown: Old-fashioned, a little stolid and safe, but well made and generally effective drama with some terrific performances that make up for most of its shortcomings.

Almost defiantly old-fashioned, too long by a good 15 minutes (maybe more), inconsistent in its narrative approach and frequently betraying the fact that director Brian Percival comes from TV, The Book Thief is nonetheless a solid film with a well-told story and performances that raise it above its

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contact xpressmovies@aol.com

shortcomings. Even so, you would be advised to approach the film with its shortcomings in mind — though I’m sure there are people who will think it’s just fine the way it is. It has that patina of historical authenticity that pleases a lot of people all by itself.

I don’t really mind that the film is old-fashioned. These days, that sometimes feels almost avantgarde. I don’t even mind its tendency to (effectively) rely on a certain amount of cliché, especially since the bulk of the movie’s clichés are served up by consummate pros like Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. They may not make you forget that the clichés are there, but they can make you not care very much. No, my biggest beef lies in the strangely inconsistent use of narration. The narration is a big part of the source novel by Mark Zusak. In fact, the narrator — Death (voiced here by British stage and TV actor Roger Allam) — is who tells the entire story in the book. In the movie, the narration disappears for great stretches of time — to the degree that it’s often jarring when he suddenly pipes up. Too bad, too, because his wry, tired, even somewhat sad take on the events is one of the best things about the movie.

Narration is often thought of as a crutch in film — screenwriting classes advise against it, despite its existence in quite a few highlyregarded movies — but here it’s hard not to wish there was more of it.

Even so, the film we do get has its merits — even if it does downplay its depictions of Nazi atrocities. (I’m not entirely sure that’s a downside, since the main character barely understands what’s happening around her.) Sophie Nélisse plays Liesel, a young girl whose mother (Heike Makatsch) arranges to have her taken in by a couple in a distant city in 1938 Germany. (Mother is a communist, slated for a trip to a concentration camp any day.) The couple — Hans (Geoffrey Rush) and Rosa (Emily Watson) — are not entirely altruistic. They are expecting a stipend for taking her in. Actually, they were expecting two, but Liesel’s brother (Julian Lehmann) died on the journey.

Hans is warm and loving; Rosa is harsh, forbidding and not happy about the halved income. Things settle into a routine — built largely on Liesel’s desire to learn

HHHHH = max rating to read (starting with a book she picked up at her brother’s funeral, The Gravedigger’s Handbook). But, of course, the world of Nazism creeps in — especially when Hans and Rosa take in a Jew, Max (TV actor Ben Schnetzer), who is hiding from the Nazis.

Much of what happens is fairly predictable — especially once you get the film’s basic tone — but it’s mostly done with artistry and obvious good intentions. It’s primarily the acting and the first-rate production values that put the film over. Plus, the story’s point of view — and its faith in the redemptive power of writing — is sufficiently fresh to make the whole thing just different enough to keep it interesting. A great movie? No, but it’s a good one — with flashes of something more. Rated PG-13 for some violence and intense depiction of thematic material. reviewed by Ken Hanke Starts Wednesday at Carolina Cinemas

Delivery Man HHH DiREctoR: Ken Scott (Starbuck) pLayERs:Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders, Simon Delaney, Bobby Moynihan comEDy RatED pg-13 thE stoRy: A deadbeat who donated sperm over 600 times in the ‘90s discovers that he has more than 500 children, with a hundred or so wanting to track him down. thE LowDown: While a low-key performance from Vince Vaughn and an overall kindhearted nature help, the movie’s just too schmaltzy and can’t maintain any dramatic momentum.

Before sitting down for Ken Scott’s Delivery Man, I thought about Vince Vaughn — specifically how he has coasted on an especially aggressive persona that he’s to run into the ground long after its charms expired.

Yet, he stopped trying to be taken seriously as an actor long, long ago.

There’s a handful of “serious” films in his catalog, but as of late, it seems as if he’s just given up and resigned himself to the punishment of playing an aging variant on Trent from

Swingers (1996) until the end of time.

I’d almost respect the approach if his schtick weren’t so tiresome, seeing as how he’s spared us the Oscar-bait performances so many other limping comedic actors can’t seem to stay away from. All that said, this aspect might be the most interesting side of Delivery Man, a negligible comedy that takes Vaughn’s usual routine, ratchets it down a few notches and places it inside a kindhearted movie, making him palatable for once.

Unfortunately, the movie’s just not that good. It’s pleasant and mature and rarely obnoxious (a surprisingly difficult achievement in modern comedy), but it’s also too long and far too sentimental.

The film is a remake of Starbuck, a 2011 Quebecois film also directed by Scott. Having never seen the original, I can’t say what’s changed here, besides a bigger musical budget (in a bit of dirty pool, Scott’s thrown a T. Rex song over the end credits in an obvious last-ditch effort to win me over). Here, Vaughn plays David, a general loser who’s a delivery man at his family’s meat-packing business, and who’s just knocked up his girlfriend (Cobie Smuthers, The Avengers). Worse, he has somehow managed to rack up $80,000 in debt with some nondescript gangsters.

On top of all of this, it turns out that a spree of 600 sperm donations under the pseudonym “Starbuck” in the ‘90s unfortunately led to him father 500 children, a hundred of whom are suing to find his identity.

Presumably out of sheer embarrassment (the film does a poor job of fleshing this out), David wants to remain anonymous. But this doesn’t keep him from being curious about his numerous kids. So instead of laying low, he decides to track down some of them, realizing he likes helping them out in small ways, while remaining a stranger. It’s in these moments that Delivery Man works best and is refreshingly sweetnatured in both content and comedy.

The film has the right idea, often slipping in small, touching moments (the reason why, for instance, David donated so much of his seed is deftly handled), but Scott has a tendency to lose his way. When David’s emotionally needy son Viggo (Adam ChanlerBerat) figures out just who Starbuck is, it leads to a section of the film that gets bogged down with a lot of extraneous runtime dedicated to the film’s most obnoxious character. We’re also stuck with far too many precious moments and sentimental frivolities that take the film’s good nature a bit

too far. As a whole, it makes the film feel slight, never quite achieving the grand emotional response it desperately wants. Delivery Man is bound to be remembered for little more than being the rarest of things — a watchable Vince Vaughn movie — and little else.

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, some drug material, brief violence and language. reviewed by Justin Souther Playing at Carolina Cinemas, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande, United Artists Beaucatcher

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire HHHS

staRting fRiDay

EYE OPENER

The Book Thief See review in “Cranky Hanke”

Black Nativity This is something of an oddity — not in the least because Kasi Lemmons’ (Talk to Me) film version of Langston Hughes’ musical play is being treated by Fox Searchlight not as an art title, but as a faith-based film (presumably due to Bishop T.D. Jakes as a producer). It is being given a quasiwide release — where remains to be seen, but it will play locally. (PG)

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DiREctoR: Francis Lawrence (Constantine) pLayERs: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman futuRistic action thRiLLER RatED pg-13 thE stoRy: Sequel to The Hunger Games thE LowDown: Mostly an improvement on the first film — until it gets to the action centerpiece of the game, whereupon it not only spins the same wheels, but relies too heavily on the assumption that you have seen the first movie.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire presents a kind of conundrum for me. There’s no doubt that I mostly liked it a lot more than the first one. It’s better written and certainly far better directed.

Yet I gave the first picture a mild, three-and-a-half-star recommendation — and I can’t bring myself to get any more extravagant with this. Despite a central problem that was expressed by one of the characters in the course of the film, and a general tendency toward pomposity, the first twothirds of Catching Fire is truly compelling. Unfortunately, that

Frozen OK, this is supposed to be the biggie in animated movies for the season — Disney’s so-far highly praised female-empowerment version of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. If we’re to believe the reviews, this is the greatest animated film in ages — complete with comedy, show tunes and adventure. So it is claimed. We shall see. In your choice of 2-D and 3-D. (PG)

Homefront Then there is TV director Gary Fleder’s Homefront — presumably for those who like Thanksgiving served with a side of mayhem. It’s from an old screenplay by Sylvester Stallone (it was once considered as the finale to the Rambo movies) and it stars Jason Statham as a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who retires to a sleepy little Louisiana town and runs afoul of the local meth kingpin, Gator Bodine (James Franco). That should tell you if this is for your family after the turkey and stuffing. (R)

Philomena See review in “Cranky Hanke”

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59

spEciaL scREEnings

The Milky Way HHHHS suRREaList comEDy on RELigion Rated PG: Luis Buñuel’s playfully cheeky comedy about Catholicism finds the iconoclast surrealist and avowed atheist (“I’m still an atheist, thank God”) in a surprisingly mellow mood. Oh, the film has its outrages against the Church and clearly finds religion very foolish indeed, but there’s no real anger in this one. It’s almost something of a romp. The biggest potential problem is that it works on the assumption that the viewer has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Catholicism.

Classic World Cinema by Courtyard Gallery will present The Milky Way Friday, Nov. 29, at 8 p.m. at Phil Mechanic Studios, 109 Roberts St., River Arts District (upstairs in the Railroad Library). Info: 273-3332, www.ashevillecourtyard.com

Amélie HHHHH fantasticatED comEDy RomancE Rated R: The Asheville Film Society kicks off a month of holiday treats with Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s most popular film, Amélie (2001), the movie that introduced the world to the charms of Audrey Tautou in the title role. It’s not actually a Christmas movie, but its red and green color scheme makes it feel like a wonderfully wrapped Christmas present — and a delightful gift it is. It’s endlessly inventive and contains just about everything you could want in one movie — romance, comedy, mystery, suspense, fantasy and just a generally good time — as it follows our heroine on her journey of good deeds and self-realization.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Amélie Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m. in Theater Six at The Carolina Asheville and will be hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

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noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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last third is something else altogether. Once the movie gets to the actual “game,” it feels like it’s on auto-pilot. It’s like sitting through that second Quidditch match in the Harry Potter films, which is to say, it’s kind of a drag. Even a brace of CGI-simians don’t really liven it up. (And God help you as far as understanding parts of it if you didn’t see the first movie.) I will concede that the twist at the very end promises a more intriguing sequel, but it’s not enough to undo the tedium of the game — at least for me.

I’ll be the first to acknowledge that these movies aren’t startling in using this kind of framework and parallel dystopian world to make a greater point. Face it, folks, this is not a unique case of a pop-culture movie having a deeper agenda — though you might think so if you read some of the gush. That said, the first sections of Catching Fire are very well done in building the sense of oppression. (It really needed an R rating, but within that self-imposed, box-office concession limitation, it works.) Most of the characters are better drawn this time (of course, they still have all those dopey names) and a lot of the dialogue is surprisingly sharp (as long as hunky lunkhead Liam Hemsworth doesn’t say anything).

Some of the scenes are quite striking. (Thank you, whoever ditched shaky-cam Gary Ross for the more professionally inclined director, Francis Lawrence.) The growing unsettled nature of the populace as Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (John Hutcherson) undertake their “victory tour” is beautifully structured. The sequence in the capitol where Katniss dances with game designer Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is not only nicely staged, but their dialogue and its delivery is spot-on.

However, it’s also in this part of the film that there’s an exchange between Katniss and her (and Peeta’s) trainer, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), in which he tells her that she could never be worthy of Peeta’s love for her. Right then, something that had been niggling at me through both films came into focus — he’s right. There’s just not much to the Katniss character.

I’m sure I’ve just committed some kind of heresy with that statement, but really, without Jennifer Lawrence in the role, Katniss would be pretty unbearable. Even

with her, she’s still incredibly oblivious to just about everything that goes on around her. She’s largely self-centered — at least self-absorbed — and always greets the fallout from anything she does with utter astonishment. Even when she has a crise de conscience about Peeta, she remains blissfully unaware of what’s going on around her. She didn’t realize that her mockingjay-gown transformation would play badly for the safety of its creator, Cinna (Lenny Kravitz)? Seriously?

Overall, though, the film has much to recommend it. The character portrayals are often brilliant. Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks are far better — and deeper — here than they were in the first film. Philip Seymour Hoffman is brilliant in a tricky role.

Stanley Tucci — with that ghastly orange “tan” and blazingly white teeth, like one of those vapid E! Entertainment News creatures — is the perfect incarnation of the smug TV host with smarmy familiarity and endless fake gushing. Not only that, but he manages to suggest an undercurrent of fear of falling out-of-favor with the ever-fickle powers that be.

This is the sort of thing that raises the film a notch more than its rather facile depths. Too bad that the most of the last act is so much a retread of the first movie. Hopefully, the sequels will get around that. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some frightening images, thematic elements, a suggestive situation and language. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike 10, Carolina Cinemas, Co-ed of Brevard, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande

Community Screenings

Jimmy steWArt film series All films are shown at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Info: 250-4700.

• TU (12/3), 3pm - You Can’t Take it With You middle eAst film series Sponsored by Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East. All showings held at 7pm. Monday showings held at the Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St. Black Mountain. Thursday showings held at the Brooks-Howell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave. Free. Info: mepeacewnc.com • MO (12/2) & TH (12/5) - The Other Son

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independently and lead others. Minimum of high school diploma, additional education a plus, some warehouse experience preferred, good business communication skills needed. Local wholesale distributor selling a high quality line of pottery to independent garden centers & retailers across the US. Pleasant working small business environment with pay commensurate to experience and dedication for long term career. Email cover letter and resume to info@potterymarket.com.

AdministrAtive/ office office And teAcHing AssistAnt in mArtiAl Arts scHool. Ideal qualities: Excellent social skills, background with kids and movement, quick-thinking, competence in problem solving, reliable and punctual.

Mon-Thurs 3-6 and 1st Sat. morning each month. Email resume: Ashevilleninjas@ gmail.com seeking QuAlity emPloyees? "We advertised with Mountain Xpress looking for a Licensed Assistant for our company. Right away we received numerous responses, one of which we ended up hiring. So impressed with the quality of leads we received from Mountain Xpress compared to our other ad placed with another source. Great job as always!" Dawn, Candy Whitt & Associates. • You too, can experience quality applicants. Advertise in mountain xpress classifieds.

sAles/ mArketing PArt time HeAltH coAcH - $1,000/mo. Want to lose weight and earn money helping others do the same?

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medicAl/ HeAltH cAre Pt or Prn PHysiciAn's AssistAnt or fAmily nurse PrActitioner needed to Join our teAm Mountain Health Solutions-Asheville, a member of CRC Health Group and CARF accredited is an outpatient program specializing in the treatment of opiate dependence. We are currently seeking a PRN or PT t PA or FNP to conduct routine annual physicals for program patients. contact krubendall@crchealth. com or 828-225-6050 ext 120

joBs HumAn services AsHeville AcAdemy for girls / solstice eAst – neW oPPortunities Direct Care Staff and Overnight Staff positions available. Are you interested in making a difference? Come join our team where you can have a positive, lasting impact on youth from across the country. Our programs are steadily growing and we continue to seek qualified FT, PT, and PRN applicants to join our programs.

The suitable applicant is outgoing, energetic, and a responsible and positive role model. Our staff ensures the provision of physical and emotional safety of our students and residents at all times. Asheville Academy for Girls is a private therapeutic boarding school for girls ages 10-14 and Solstice East is a residential treatment center for girls ages 14-18. Our beautiful 24-acre campus provides a safe setting for our students to transform their lives.

Benefits are offered to full time employees and include health, dental, vision and life insurance as well as holiday pay, vacation and sick leave.

EOE. Please send a resume and cover letter to humanresources@ashevilleacademy. com No phone calls please. www.ashevilleacademy.com www.solsticeeast.com cSAc cOUnSELOR • MALE tHerAPist Established Counseling Center looking for a male therapist. Must have CSAC credentials. Prefer someone with Substance Abuse work background.

Should be familiar or have worked with Domestic Violence Abuser programs in past. Our center runs the 26 week Domestic Violence Abuser program and we're seeking a male counselor to help run our Saturday group.

Additional Substance Abuse contract work available. Please contact Colleen directly at The Relationship Center, (828) 3880011. direct suPPort ProfessionAls Progressive company seeking dependable individuals to provide residential support to individuals with disabilities. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, be a positive role model and have a clean driving background. Interested individuals can send an email admin@ mountainarearesidentialfacilities.org or apply in person Monday and Wednesday from 10am-2pm at 108 Cedar Ridge Drive Asheville NC 28803. licensed tHerAPists needed in HAyWood county Licensed Therapists needed in Haywood County to provide mental health therapy to children and adolescents.

Competitive salary, flexible hours, and excellent benefit package. Therapists MUST possess a current NC Therapist License. Apply by emailing resume to: telliot@jcpsmail.org nc trAcks Billing mAnAger This position provides daily supervision, monitoring, analysis, reconciliation, and coordination of the upstream claims and billing process. This position is responsible for claims adjudication quality control activities through continuous monitoring, audit and quality control measures. Responsibilities include reviewing claims adjudication results, payments to SMC, monitoring the implementation of LME/ MCO upstream billing policy and procedures, ensuring accuracy in claims and data systems, review and follow-up of billing denials, coordination among and follow up with other staff as needed, and assuring the expected level of NC Tracks system results and payments. Graduation from high school and at least 5 years of experience or a 2-year degree or higher, and 3 to 5 years experience preferred in claims processing, preferably involving Medicaid and/or behavioral health, medical billing/coding, or a similar job field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous supervisory or coordination experience of 1 year of more in behavioral health, medical billing/coding, or a similar job field. Position is full-time salary with comprehensive benefits. This position is exempt from overtime compensation. Position is open until filled. Send a NC State Application and resume to: Smoky Mountain Center, Department of Human Resources, 44 Bonnie Lane, Sylva, NC 28779. Smoky Mountain Center is an equal opportunity employer.

PArents needed Do you believe that all youth deserve the opportunity to experience what it feels like to belong, to be happy and to look forward to the future? Are you willing to open your heart and your home to a child or adolescent who needs a fresh start? • If so ... Become a treatment partner in an innovative and highly successful program for youth with behavioral issues. Who is eligible? • Anyone 21 years old and over, married or single, who rents or owns a home, is already licensed or just now

ready for the journey, desires full-time placements or wishes to provide respite only Please Call: 828-631-3973 x 1464

ProfessionAl/ mAnAgement Admissions director Four Circles Recovery Center and Transition Program is seeking an Admissions Director. Located in Horse Shoe, NC, Four Circles Recovery Center is an innovative wilderness-based treatment program for young adults ages 18-28 who are struggling with addiction, substance abuse, and co-occurring emotional or behavioral issues. Four Circles Transition Program is a therapeutic, recovery-based Transitional Living facility for young adult males.

This position will oversee and facilitate all aspects of the admissions process, work with clients and families in crisis, supervise the admissions team, exhibit a thorough understanding of substance abuse treatment, must be able to meet the demands of a highly flexible work schedule, schedule and work an on-call rotation, travel, present, and market the facility to individual referral sources and at conferences. Looking for a hardworking and passionate candidate with excellent communication and crisis management skills, • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree preferred, clean driving record required, familiarity with Microsoft Office products, minimum of two years’ experience in the substance abuse field, marketing and admissions experience preferred. Please send all inquiries to jobs@fourcirclesrecovery.com

teAcHing/ educAtion full-time educAtors Would you like to work in a high-quality, Reggio-inspired early learning center that promotes family engagement, offers free nutritious meals, and professional development opportunities?

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Pets of

Adopt a Friend Save a Life

the Week Clara•

Female, Domestic Longhair, 1 year

Clara is a total love bug who likes to be held, petted and snuggled.

She is confident and relaxed, even around new people. She can be active and playful, but she’s not hyper. She’s fine with children as long as they treat her lovingly. She came to AHS as a stray nursing a litter of kittens.

She’s a beautiful, sweet cat who would make a wonderful addition to your household.

Colin •

Male, Coonhound/Bluetick Mix, 3 years old

Colin has been chosen for project Photo Train. Adopt him and receive free obedience training and a handsome photo, only at Asheville Humane Society. Mr. Colin is a handsome boy with big soul searching eyes who is a little quieter than your average hound. He loves hiking, running, and car rides. Come and meet this sweet boy!

More Online!

Tally

Raisin

Alpha

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14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 828-761-2001 • AshevilleHumane.org noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

61

FREEWILL ASTROLOGY

by Rob Brezny

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Thinking inside the box will be a crime against your nature in the coming weeks.

The last place you want to be is in a pigeonhole. I advise you to stay far away from tight squeezes, claustrophobic “sanctuaries” and “convenient” confinements. If you’re in a one-size-fits-all situation, you simply won’t be able to access your highest intelligence. So then where should you be? I am rooting for you to wander into the wild frontiers where unsanctioned wonders and marvels await you. I’d love for you to find virgin terrain and uncharted territories where the boring old rules don’t apply.

Touted as a prime source of “kick-@ss spirituality,” author Danielle LaPorte has advice that’s good for you to hear.

“You will always be too much of something for someone,” she says, “too big, too loud, too soft, too edgy.” But that’s exactly as it should be, she adds. It would be a mistake to “round out your edges,” because then you would “lose your edge.” And I’m here to tell you that you need all of your edge right now, Sagittarius. It’s time to ignore people’s mediocre expectations and push past their limits. To be true to yourself, you will probably have to be too much of something for several someones.

“I am very fond of strawberries and cream,” said author Dale Carnegie, “but I have found that for some strange reason, fish prefer worms. So when I went fishing, I didn’t think about what I wanted. I thought about what they wanted. I didn’t bait the hook with strawberries and cream. Rather, I dangled a worm or grasshopper in front of the fish.”

That’s a good teaching story for you, Scorpio.

In order to get your desires fulfilled by the people who have the power to do that, you should give them what they actually long for — not what you long for, nor what you wish they did. This is always true, of course, but it’s especially applicable to what’s going on in your life right now.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Mike Finnigan is a veteran keyboardist and blues vocalist who has toured with more than 20 major acts, including Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Leonard Cohen and Los Lonely Boys. There’s a primal quality to his singing.

It’s gritty and fluid and tempestuous, almost feral at times. I understand perfectly why Bonnie Raitt has called him a “tall drink of bacon.” The sound he makes with his voice is that lush and tasty. Can you guess his astrological sign? It’s Taurus, of course. I’m naming him your patron saint this week because you yourself are as close as you have ever come to being a tall drink of bacon.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) French painter Henri Matisse thought highly of his own work. He tended to ignore critics because he didn’t think they understood his art well enough to produce intelligent critiques. There was one person, though, who he said had earned to right to evaluate and assess his art: Pablo Picasso. I encourage you, Gemini, to come up with your own short list of people whose judgment you totally trust and respect. It’s a good time to seek out their feedback on how you’re doing.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) How is it possible that you have come so far and worked so diligently only to be resigned now to hanging out in limbo, waiting around for the lucky break that may or may not ever arrive? I’m here today to escort you out of this infernal place. If you resist, my assignment is to drag you out. Why am I so adamant? Because I am sure it’s a mistake for you to be passive and hope for the best. You need to resume working diligently, focused for now on what’s right in front of you without worrying too much about the big picture.

In my opinion, that approach will lead you to unforeseen help — and a clarification of the big picture.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Your levels of personal magic are high. The radiance beaming out of your eyes is extra sparkly. There’s an artistry in the way you 62

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3, 2013

are expressing yourself. Without even trying, you’re exuding natural charisma and animal magnetism. In light of all these advantages, I suspect you will have an elevated capacity for both giving and receiving pleasure. In fact, I predict that your ability to feel really good and make other people feel really good will be at a peak. I hereby designate this the Week of Supreme Bliss.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The BBC reported on an expert who combs Switzerland’s Risoud Forest to find the spruce trees whose wood can be made into the highest quality violins. After years of experience, Lorenzo Pellegrini knows which few trees will produce instruments with the most resonant tone. They grow slowly and have few knots. They need to have had enough water to grow strong, but not so much that they’re mushy. Your task in the coming weeks, Virgo, has a certain resemblance to the master tree-picker’s work. It’s time for you to start selecting and gathering the raw materials you will use to craft your own lyrical story in 2014.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Here’s the bad news: For all of us, including you, there is a gap between our intentions and our actual effects. Here’s the good news: Now is your special time to narrow that gap. More bad news: All of us, you included, are periodically guilty of sending out mixed messages. We confuse people with our ambivalence; what we say is sometimes different from what we feel. More good news: Now is your special time to reduce your mixed messages to as close to zero as possible. One more taste of bad news: Like all of us, you are a bit hypocritical. You engage in behavior that you criticize in others. You don’t practice what you preach. One last piece of good news: Now is your special time to work on being forthright, genuine and consistent. mountainx.com

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Going into my spiritual mentoring session with the priestess, I had the intention of discovering truths about myself I didn’t know before.

That meant stirring up revelations about my ignorance as well as my potentials. I wanted assistance in facing my flaws as well as in tapping into my dormant powers. It worked. Her guidance was a potent catalyst. I was able to shed the debilitating nonsense stories I’d been telling myself about who I am. I awakened strengths that had been asleep. What I wish for you, Capricorn — indeed, what I predict for you — is a comparable experience. To expedite matters, go out in search of a person, adventure or breakthrough that can help provide you with the kind of prod I received.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) I bet people will be gossiping about you more than usual. Is there anything you can do to ensure that it’s mostly benevolent gossip?

Yes, there is. First, make sure that when you gossip about others, you are unfailingly positive in your comments. If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, don’t say it. Second, be on your best behavior.

Communicate clearly and don’t even think about taking unethical shortcuts. Finally, contribute more inspirational energy than usual to every group you’re part of. Be an effervescent team player.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Maybe your ego isn’t big enough. I’m serious. Is it possible that you could benefit from being more proud of yourself? Would it be healthy for you to give yourself more credit for the struggles you have weathered and the skills you have mastered and the beauty you have managed to forge out of the chaotic raw materials that life has given you? I’ve got a good feeling about this, Pisces. I can imagine you summoning the playful courage you will need to express more confidence. I can even picture you beginning to fantasize about embarking on certain stirring adventures you’ve never believed you were strong enough to try before now.

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Computer/ Technical SEEKING WEBSITE PROJECT MANAGER Integritive seeks, technically-minded PM for website design and development. Confident and articulate communicator. High level thinking and problemsolving. Email cover letter and resume to resume@integritive.com. www.integritive. com resume@integritive.com.

Jobs Wanted CARPENTER'S HELPER WANTED Local Contractor looking for Carpenter's Helper. Full/Part time. Must have basic skills,good health, quick thinker… Pay commiserates with experience. Contact Danny: Email kxwood@gmail. com or call 828.658.9547 between 4pm-8pm.

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Trustworthy, quality results, reliability. $2 million liability insurance. References available. Free estimates. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

Heating & Cooling MAYBERRY HEATING AND COOLING Oil and Gas Furnaces • Heat Pumps and AC • • Radiant Floor Heating • • Solar Hot Water • Sales • Service • Installation. • Visa • MC • Discover. Call (828) 658-9145.

Painting SOUTH ASHEVILLE CUSTOM PAINTING Residential • Interior • Exterior • Pressure Washing • Drywall/ Plaster repair • Wallpaper removal • Excellent references • Free estimates • Reasonable Rates.

Over 35 years experience. (828) 606-3874.Announce-

ments

Announcements

Xchange Antiques & Collectibles MICKEY MOUSE Large collection of various antique, collectibles, posters, pictures and memorabilia. Call 1-410358-8470. Leave contact number.

Services Home DOMESTIC GODDESS makes your house a homeconscientious cleaning, organizing, errands, and meal prep. Personal assistant + home companion too. OneWritersInk@yahoo.com or 828.595.6063.

HOW SAFE IS YOUR WATER? "The Water Guy" can help you find out, with a FREE in-home water test.

WNC factory authorized dealer, for Hague Water International, American owned and made for over 50 years. • Patented and guaranteed.

Call Stephen Houpis, 828280-2254. CrystalClearWaterSystems.com

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mind, Body, sPirit BodyWork

#1 AffordABle community conscious mAssAge And essentiAl oil clinic 2 locations: 1224 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 5057088 and 959 Merrimon Ave, Suite 101, 785-1385 • $33/ hour. • Integrated Therapeutic Massage: Deep Tissue, Swedish, Trigger Point, Reflexology.

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for musiciAns eQuiPment for sAle tAmA Swingstar drum kit. 5 piece, gunmetal gray. Includes hardware and seat. Like new, great condition. $400. Call 712-2273.

musicAl services AsHeville's WHiteWAter recording Full service studio services since 1987. • Mastering • Mixing and Recording.

• CD/DVD duplication at the best prices. (828) 684-8284 • www.whitewaterrecording. com

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musiciAns’ Bulletin voices of victory voice lessons Anyone can learn to sing. Experienced training coach. First place adult solo winner, 2011, NC Mountain State Fair Gospel Singing competition. Reasonable rates. Safe, convenient location. Free first consultation.

(828) 551-6280.

Pets lost Pets A lost or found Pet? Free service. If you have lost or found a pet in WNC, post your listing here: www.lostpetswnc.org

Pet services AsHeville Pet sitters Dependable, loving care while you're away. Reasonable rates.

Call Sandy (828) 215-7232. leAving toWn for tHe HolidAys? Excellent references. • Reasonable rates. Call Flo: 298-5649. tender loving care cat sitting service.

Automotive Autos for sAle cAsH for cArs: Any Car/ Truck. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Call For Instant Offer: 1-888420-3808 www.cash4car.com (AAN CAN)

Crossword

thE nEw yoRk timEs cRosswoRD puzzLE

ACROSS 1 Keystone place 5 Some vacation spots 10 Uttered, as a farewell 14 Carnaby Street’s locale 15 Brown, in a way 16 Gershwin’s “Summertime” is one 17 Tornado monitors?

20 AOL or MSN 21 Like Mao’s “little” book 22 Tito, the King of Latin Music 23 Deg. from M.I.T. Sloan 25 Note in a poker pot 28 Cafeteria stack 29 What the only detective on a case has?

33 “It ___ over till …”

34 Improve, as one’s manners

35 Prefix with classical 38 What a bouncer may confiscate 40 Makes tough 42 Medevac destinations, briefly 43 New British royal of 2013 47 Smelling salts holder 48 What a remorseful Iago might have said?

50 Send as payment 53 Classic car whose name is a monogram 54 ___ Antiqua 55 Draw out 57 Get into 59 Wash. neighbor 62 Doubleheader … or what 17-, 29and 48-Across are?

66 To be, to Béatrice 67 Make blond, maybe

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

AAnswer H O R Ato Previous B A S I CPuzzle D L I R A T E R A L C A P P E OT HHMN Y O S OY I L D C OL OE SA HR UT H FE AA R I E R C OO CE T M FO LA OR O R MM AA T I H I S O SA HU EG A M AL PI N EE IA RR ET H I NC KR I A NG G BC AN CN O N F I AS T AH AE CR SS IS CT HP OA KT E DS O I T RO A I S KE E V NI OH OE NA R T H AU SC I K F A BA EH ES S TB HR RA O W IW NI TT HH E T SO AW YE SL O C T D RA R E O AA SN C HH SO IR A A BC EU GT OE OA DR T AH NRN I O TY I E SD HS II ST PA AR N I CU RA OE O M N U T US TA EO S M I D AD CL HE T E AM RA TC H A AN NI M HE ER RR SO HL E Y SB HA EB RY A Y S L O N S ES VE AE CR S L E AO I NMA AS T R T E X E N A P T B O A T

68 Primordial ___ 69 Spanish province or its capital 70 Fraternity letter 71 Band with the 1987 hit “Need You Tonight”

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DOWN 1 Sparkling Italian export 2 Toils on a trireme 3 High-pitched group with a 1958 #1 hit, with “the” 4 Yuletide interjections 5 “Point taken” 6 Rush-hour subway rider, metaphorically 7 Director Jean-___ Godard 8 Ordinal suffix 9 Flow slowly 10 Business with an enticing aroma 11 Fight site 12 Like some looks and laundry 13 Slacks off 18 Disneyland vehicle 19 Often-breaded piece of meat 24 ___ noire 26 Shot-to-the-solarplexus sound 27 Reuters alternative 29 It may have outdoor seating 30 “That is so not true!”

31 Happy Meal with a Sprite, e.g.

32 Beginning

No. 1023

edited by Will Shortz

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PUZZLE BY ROBYN WEINTRAUB

35 “Lost in Yonkers” playwright 36 Airline that doesn’t fly on the Sabbath 37 Kon-Tiki Museum city 39 Outfielder’s cry 41 In perpetuum 44 Legendary Boston Garden skater

45 Part of a Reuben

56 Clock sound

46 Half a police interrogation team, maybe

58 Gumbo need

48 Make queasy

61 Deadly snakes

49 Pend

63 Deadly snake

50 Revolting sort 51 Make up?

64 Peak next to a glacier, maybe

52 Prefix with brewery

65 “Just ___ suspected”

60 Pierre’s pair

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. for answers: Call 1-900-285-5656, online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle Annual subscriptions area available themore bestthan of Sunday 2,000 past puzzles, $1.49 a minute; or, with credit card, forand nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a 1-800-814-5554. crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. year).

AT&TAnnual users: Text NYTX 386 to subscriptions are to available for download puzzles, or visit share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. the best of Sunday crosswords the information. nytimes.com/mobilexword forfrom more last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle crosswords and more than for 2,000 young past solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

At&tnytimes.com/crosswords users: Text NYTX to 386 to($39.95 puzzles, a year). download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/ Sharemobilexword tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. for more information.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

Automotive services We'll fix it Automotive • Honda and Acura repair. Half price repair and service. ASE and factory certified. Located in the Weaverville area, off exit 15. Please call (828) 275-6063 for appointment. www.wellfixitautomotive.com

Adult Adult dreAms Your destination for relaxation. Now available 7 days a week! • 9am-11pm.

Call (828) 275-4443.

mountainx.com

noVEmBER 27 - DEcEmBER 3, 2013

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