Mountain Xpress 12.11.19

OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 20 DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

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OUR 26TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 26 NO. 20 DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

C O NT E NT S C O NTAC T US

STARTS ON PAGE 6 RETAIL DONE RIGHT What makes WNC the unique place we call home? Count our region’s specialty shops among the elements that propel the distinctive culture of this place — from independent bookstores to boutiques and pet stores that attract human, equine and reptilian visitors.

On the cover: Morgan Caferra, left, holds Jetsun Dorji at Bagatelle Books COVER PHOTO Erin Fowler COVER DESIGN Scott Southwick

(828) 251-1333 fax (828) 251-1311 news tips & story ideas to NEWS@MOUNTAINX.COM letters/commentary to LETTERS@MOUNTAINX.COM sustainability news to GREEN@MOUNTAINX.COM a&e events and ideas to AE@MOUNTAINX.COM events can be submitted to CALENDAR@MOUNTAINX.COM or try our easy online calendar at MOUNTAINX.COM/EVENTS

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OPINION

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

STA F F PUBLISHER: Jeff Fobes ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Susan Hutchinson MANAGING EDITOR: Virginia Daffron A&E EDITOR: Alli Marshall FOOD EDITOR: Gina Smith GREEN SCENE EDITOR: Daniel Walton OPINION EDITOR: Tracy Rose STAFF REPORTERS: Able Allen, Edwin Arnaudin, Thomas Calder, Laura Hackett, Brooke Randle, Daniel Walton COMMUNITY CALENDAR EDITOR: Deborah Robertson

CARTOO N BY RAN D Y M O L T O N

Sheriff has work to do on jail conditions Thanks for the best issue in years on Nov. 27, featuring the hateful TDA and neighborhood fascists, corruption, suppression of public comment, but most of all, hunger and cold in the Buncombe jail [“On the Inside: Waiting for Justice in the Buncombe County Jail,” Xpress].

Compared to hunger and cold amounting to torture, the rest of the jail criticisms seemed a bit like psychobabble to me. I suppose neurotypicals might need stuff like “vibes” and “eye contact,” but I’m politically isolated anyway, so I don’t see what difference that stuff makes, though they could use more free phone time.

Sheriff [Quentin] Miller still has a lot of work to do, as I remember his campaign was a bit weak on jail conditions.

— Alan Ditmore Leicester

Asheville needs to keep critical mass of artists In his letter of Oct. 2, [“We Owe Artists an Opportunity, Not a Living” Xpress], Charles Peele revealed the soul of an auditor or financier — rather than that of an artist. If Asheville is to maintain its extraordinarily vital art scene, it needs to maintain the critical mass of artists who comprise the heart and soul of that scene.

The simple fact is that Asheville’s artists need each other. It is the very concentration of artists here that enables the creativity that flourishes in every gallery, art studio and street vendor’s booth. It is the presence of their fellow artists that raises the bar and challenges our artists to express themselves in ever-evolving ways.

Without the unique mix that we have here, their art will wither and fade.

Creativity does not lend itself to a financial formula. In fact, artists pursue their craft even in the face of the sure knowledge that they most likely will not become millionaires.

They know that their road will not be easy, but they take that road anyway, because they must. For most, pursuing their art is not a choice but a calling.

So I challenge Mr. Peele’s conclusions that if the artists’ community here was hypothetically cut in half, the remaining half would stand to “double their sales opportunity” and that the “cream” would rise to the top.

As I see it, the fact is that, should our artist community be diminished, there would be far less “cream” all around, and we would all be the poorer. Art enriches our world as nothing else does or can. Especially today, we need art as never before. We owe artists far more than affordable housing.

We owe them for infusing our world with beauty.

— Gail Solomon Weaverville

CLUBLAND EDITOR: Lauren Andrews MOVIE SECTION HOSTS: Edwin Arnaudin, Bruce Steele CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Peter Gregutt, Rob Mikulak REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Mark Barrett, Leslie Boyd, Abigail Griffin, Bill Kopp, Cindy Kunst, Jeff Messer, Joe Pellegrino, Kim Ruehl, Luke Van Hine, Kay West ADVERTISING, ART & DESIGN MANAGER: Susan Hutchinson LEAD DESIGNER: Scott Southwick GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Norn Cutson, Olivia Urban MEMBERSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR: Laura Hackett MARKETING ASSOCIATES: Sara Brecht, Bryant Cooper, Brian Palmieri, Heather Taylor, Tiffany Wagner OPERATIONS MANAGER: Able Allen INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES & WEB: Heather Brown, Bowman Kelley BOOKKEEPER: Amie Fowler-Tanner ADMINISTRATION, BILLING, HR: Able Allen, Lauren Andrews DISTRIBUTION: Susan Hutchinson (Coordinator), Cindy Kunst, Laura Hackett DISTRIBUTION DRIVERS: Gary Alston, Russell Badger, Autumn Hipps, Clyde Hipps,, Joan Jordan, Mark Low, Angelo Sant Maria, Desiree Davis, Charlotte Rosen, David Weiss

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OPI N I ON

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

Tax policy means caring falls to good Samaritans Eleven years have passed since the onset of the 2008 economic recession. And while economic recovery has restored and returned a lot of us to a place of personal security and prosperity, there are many less fortunate in our midst who remain unemployed/underemployed, homeless, food insecure and without basic health care. It’s disheartening to read that charitable donations to help the “least among us” have declined since the GOP tax bill, which was touted by President Trump as a “Christmas gift” and “middle-class miracle,” was enacted in December 2017.

While some hourly wage earners may have benefited from a small-to-moderate increase in their take-home pay in the short run, it is the big corporations and wealthy individuals who will garner the lion’s share of the benefits in the long term. The tax cuts for low- to middleincome earners will expire after 2025; however, the tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations will be permanent unless Congress acts to change it.

In addition, raising the standard deduction for individuals and couples has resulted in a disincentive to make charitable donations. It’s clear that the responsibility of caring for the least among us in our community is going to fall upon local good Samaritans (individuals, businesses, churches, civic groups, etc.) in both Asheville and the greater WNC community.

If your primary reason for making charitable donations was to get a tax deduction, then I guess you’re like the Levite or the priest in the parable — callously giving a wide berth to the beaten stranger by the side of the road in need of help. I choose to believe that more of us will be moved with compassion like the good Samaritan and will go out of our way to lovingly care for others in need by sustaining or increasing out charitable giving.

— Nancy Tabel Asheville

Reorient to love and justice There is deep power and beauty in loving relationships that guide the human heart. How do we bring this greater energy of purpose and compassion to the hearts and minds of our collective thinking? How do we inspire wonder, awe and compassion that inspires the “zest for life” in our children, our youth, parents and leaders — ourselves? The

process requires the transformation of our American “way of life.”

I’m addressing the “education” of our children, but reforming schools is not enough. We can’t focus on schools without considering the family. We can’t focus on the family without considering the economy. We can’t focus only on the economy without including our dysfunctional political system. And we can’t simply focus on politics without reflecting on our worldview that includes the meaning and purpose of life. That’s a job for all us at all levels and positions in life.

Political, economic and institutional control prevail over the mystery, joy and creativity of real learning. We measure school dropout rates, but this doesn’t count the children who are disengaged.

Reforms generally are based on conformity rather than creativity. Language and math skills are necessary, but not sufficient. Our schooling and education has to provide equal weight to the arts and content to unleash creativity in the service of a truly democratic, free society.

Learning can foster the values of love, caring for others, generosity, intellectual curiosity and compassion that are essential for a democratic society. A focus that honors the soul and trusts the creative process that can develop socially minded consciousness. The arts, such as visual and performance arts, which includes music, hands-on projects, drama and other creative activities, recognize that humans inherently are naturally different and diverse with the potential for discovering their personal inner passion and skills. This can light the spark of curiosity in children, as they are natural learners.

Our present system stifles and trivializes much of what passes for education. ...

Most teachers are dedicated, and there are many wonderful, creative, alternative programs in the Asheville area and our country in spite of the dominant culture of what we call “education.” I’ve participated in these creative programs, but these are the programs that are underfunded or eliminated with budget cuts.

The illusion being that national standardized testing is the most important measure of schooling. Change is needed! ...

Teachers, parents and all of us need to insist that our schools foster and support our children’s capacity to be playful, joyful, spontaneous, loving, creative and compassionate while developing their intellectual curiosity. ...

Each of us can work for truth and social justice in our own small way depending on our situation in life. It’s an unending task required by democracy.

We each inform ourselves and do our little thing. We all affect eternity and never know where our influence stops, no matter how small. ...

Our families and communities, along with service to others, have more impact

C A R T O O N B Y B R E NT B R O W N it’s difficult, even painful, when we participate to create a better world. But the satisfaction of fulfilling the yearning for peace and justice is great.

— Ed Sacco Asheville Editor’s note: A longer version of this letter will appear at mountainx.com. X

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NEWS

SURFING THE CHANGES Hendersonville’s Main Street specialty shops talk business

DOWNTOWN HENDERSONVILLE: Specialty shops line both sides of downtown Hendersonville’s Main Street. And as the city continues to grow, shop owners consider both the opportunities and future challenges of operating in the district. Photo courtesy of Hendersonville County Tourism Development Authority

BY THOMAS CALDER tcalder@mountainx.com On a chilly autumn day in Hendersonville, downtown fixture Jose Case strums a nylon string guitar outside the Mast General Store on Main Street. Seated in a rocking chair, he considers the changes he’s witnessed over the decades.

“There’s a uniqueness in Hendersonville now that you didn’t see years back,” he says, surveying the local scene. And though his eyes are concealed behind green-tinted, yellow-framed sunglasses, you sense that he’s recalling businesses of old.

Pointing toward the buildings across the street, he says, “Years back you had mostly antique shop, antique shop, clothing store, clothing store.”

Today’s Main Street, he continues, is a bit more diverse. From used books to pet supplies, from handcrafted Native American jewelry to boutique baby apparel, the city’s main thoroughfare is packed with a variety of practical goods and novel accessories.

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“This is one of the most interesting places you can come to,” boasts Case. Local shop owners and city leaders agree.

Yet for many of these folks, a pressing question remains: How does Hendersonville retain Main Street’s charm as the city continues to grow?

Key to the district’s character, they say, are the area’s flourishing local businesses. Along with unique goods, they point out, each shop has an individual story that contributes to the downtown’s quaint feel.

Lose these, community members warn, and you just become Anyplace USA. GET THESE BOOKS OUT OF HERE Several business owners who spoke with Xpress say they gave up a reliable paycheck in order to launch their own specialty shop. Such was the case for Joye McGinnis, who opened Joy of Books in 2010. Before that, she worked for 20 years as an administrator at a local engineering firm.

A longtime patron of used-book stores, McGinnis began dabbling in online book sales in the late 2000s.

But what started as a casual side hustle quickly morphed into a large-scale operation. “My husband and I were talking about it one night, and he was like, ‘You got to get these books out of here,’” she remembers with a laugh.

“They were taking over the house.”

At first, McGinnis considered renting a storage unit and simply continuing her online sales. But the more she thought about it, the more apparent it became: She wanted to open an actual bookstore. “I didn’t want to work in administration forever,” she says, “and I was getting older.” If she waited much longer, McGinnis worried, the opportunity might pass her by.

So she opened Joy of Books on Kanuga Road, south of Main Street. Foot traffic was nonexistent, McGinnis remembers, and the slow start led to early self-doubt. “Some days I was like, ‘Oh, what did I do?

I gave up a good job with great benefits. Did I make a mistake?’”

Within a year, however, she’d relocated her store to Main Street, where it remains today. Business is good these days, says McGinnis, with a noticeable uptick in sales over the last several years.

She’s also observed more young people working and living in the area. “I think Asheville is getting priced out,” she says. “So you’re seeing a lot of younger families moving this way. Right now Hendersonville is more affordable.”

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART At the northern end of Main Street, not far from where Case still plays his nylon string guitar, Maria and Mike Martin are shopping. The young couple moved to Hendersonville in 2018 by way of Asheville. Both work on Main: Maria helps run Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, and Mike cooks at Shine restaurant.

“The variety in Asheville is cool,” she says. “But I think, value-wise, we’re excited about the growth of Hendersonville.”

According to the city of Hendersonville’s 2018-19 bud-

get report, the area’s population increased 8.21% between 2008 and 2017 to reach 14,064. City officials project continued growth.

For Wag! owner and Downtown Advisory Committee member Caroline Gunther, though, the more the merrier. Like McGinnis, Gunther launched her business in 2010. “I had always had this kind of shop in the back of my mind,” she explains. “I just thought it would happen much further down the road.”

But a lack of job opportunities in Hendersonville at the time, she reveals, inspired her to get the ball rolling on her business plan.

Soon after launching her shop, however, Gunther discovered that life as a small-business owner “is not for the faint of heart.” Within a few months of Wag’s opening, the city began a multiyear streetscape project, shutting down entire sections of Main Street and even its sidewalks.

And though Gunther applauds the city’s efforts to maintain support and communication during those years, her business suffered. “It was very

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N EWS difficult to get through, but the results speak for themselves,” she says now.

Since the project’s completion in 2013, Wag’s sales have continued to improve, says Gunther. During the summer, dog boots were all the rage, and currently, she’s having a hard time keeping pet coats and fleeces in stock. Meanwhile, her raw food selection reflects both consumer trends and overall business growth. “We have six huge freezers now,” she says. Back in 2010, “I only had one very small freezer.”

Still, like many of the entrepreneurs who spoke with Xpress, Gunther acknowledges the obstacles local businesses face — particularly competition from e-commerce and big-box stores.

“But a lot of people do still like to shop locally,” she notes. Shopping online, “You’re not going to get the service that we give,” she maintains.

“I’ve spent two years in some cases helping someone figure out what they need for their pets — whether it’s dietary, behavioral, even looking at allergy testing and vet records.”

Her holistic approach, continues Gunther, develops bonds with cli-

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STORY TIME: For the most part, folks pop into Joye McGinnis’ store in search of classics, popular fiction or kids books. But a handful of devotees swing by regularly just to say hi to her dog, Bella. Photo by Thomas Calder ents that go beyond a simple business transaction. “There is a lot of emotion surrounding pets,” she explains. “We have customers that lose pets, which is really sad. But we get to be with them through that journey.”

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Other local business owners echo those sentiments. Convenience may lead people to shop online, but customer service and community are what draw them back to Main Street.

In 2017, the city’s median household income was $36,620, the budget report notes. Residents’ median mortgage payment was $999, and the median rent sat at $757. Factor in such basic monthly expenses as food, electric, water, transportation, medical and child care, and suddenly there’s not much left rattling in the piggy bank to spend at downtown shops.

Business owners realize this.

They also understand that locals tend to shy away from the district due to a perceived lack of parking.

(Several shop owners contested this belief, saying spaces are typically available on side streets, if not along the main drag.)

Thus, many Main Street boutiques rely on out-of-town visitors to survive. “We get a lot of tourists,” says Tiffany Cornett, who owns Emma’s Baby Boutique.

Together, the city and county welcome visitors from over 25 countries each year, notes Beth Carden, executive director of Henderson County’s Tourism Development Authority. Last year alone, she con-

tinues, tourism-related industries and services generated roughly $13.5 million in local tax revenues, and in the last seven years, her organization’s budget has more than doubled. Today, Henderson County ranks 14th among the state’s 100 counties in terms of travel impact, Carden reports.

The authority, she explains, promotes the city and county in airports across the country, as well as in travel magazines. “We’ve also been on the Nasdaq screen in Times Square this September, and we’ve been on the ‘Good Morning America’ banner about three times in the last three years.”

Closer to home, the TDA hosts regular workshops to help businesses improve their customer service. Simple interactions, stresses Carden, go a long way. “If I go in a store and no one speaks to me, I’m not going to spend my money there,” she points out.

time, those kinds of things can start to negatively impact the ability of a business to operate.”

In the coming year, notes Holloway, Hendersonville’s City Council will decide the fate of a proposed new parking garage and hotel in the downtown area. He views both components as positives that could help create greater foot traffic on Main Street during the slower winter season.

At the same time, he knows there are skeptics. “Somebody asked me just the other day, ‘Why would you want a downtown hotel? I mean, look at what happened to Asheville,’” Holloway recalls.

He disagrees, however. Downtown Asheville, Holloway points out, has had multiple hotels built in recent years, whereas the proposed Hendersonville project would be a first for the city’s downtown. “I think it is a potential positive at this

point,” he asserts. “We’re always looking at how we can continue to have a strong relationship with our local economy. … A certain level of sustainable tourism can certainly facilitate a nice quality of life for the people that live here.”

But the question that Holloway and other community members continue to grapple with, and that no

CONTINUES ON PAGE 10

NO SECOND ASHEVILLE Support for the tourism industry isn’t universal, however. As in Asheville, reactions are mixed. Back at Emma’s Baby Boutique, Cornett, who grew up in the area, concedes that the city’s growth can seem nerve-wracking at times. And while she stresses that she’s not opposed to the tourists who frequent her shop, Cornett says she worries about Hendersonville’s future.

At this point, the hustle and bustle still seem to be concentrated in Asheville, Cornett explains.

“That’s what I love about being here: It’s small and quaint. It’s one of those small towns where everybody knows everybody.”

But signs of change are in the air.

As in Asheville, a recent increase in property taxes has driven up rents for some business owners. Anita Earnest, who opened All Nations Trading on Main Street in 2008, says her monthly rent increased by $200 in October. The spike is manageable during the busy months, she says, but “It’s going to be a killer for us in January, February and March.”

Lew Holloway, the city’s downtown economic development director, says officials have had dialogue with business owners about their concerns. But the broader significance of those higher property values is a kind of silver lining, he argues. “It’s a symbol of the desirability and attractiveness of the district, which is part of what we’re trying to promote. At the same

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N EWS one necessarily knows the answer to, is: How much is too much of a good thing?

keepers continue to foster community dialogue and bolster one another’s businesses.

The TDA, Carden maintains, deserves some of the credit for this cooperative mindset. Citing her organization’s ongoing efforts to connect local business owners, primarily through guided tours led by members of her staff, Carden sums up the logic this way: “If I don’t know about your industry, how can I send people your way?”

SEEING IS BELIEVING For now, at least, Main Street business owners seem cautiously optimistic about Hendersonville’s future development and growth. To them, the downtown’s quaint feel seems sustainable as long as shop-

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MUST LOVE DOGS: Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique specializes in dog and cat foods, treats, accessories and toys. But enthusiastic pet owners, says proprietor Caroline Gunther, have brought all sorts of animals to her shop. “We have seen monkeys, rats, turtles, gerbils, guinea pigs, a pony, a horse and a goat,” she says. Photo courtesy of Wag! For many downtown shop owners, though, including more recent arrivals, cooperation just seems to come naturally. In May 2018, Morgan

North Futrell opened Moonshine and Magnolias, a home decor boutique. Before the official launch, she welcomed fellow Main Street merchants to a private soft opening.

“We invited them to see what we were carrying,” she explains. “I think that was important, so they knew we weren’t trying to compete with them — that we were just bringing another element to the downtown area.”

For her part, Earnest believes this is a defining trait among Main Street businesses. “We’re a good group,” she says. “There is not competition, really, because everybody has their own little niche that they do. So it’s all good.”

Enthusiasm is also widespread among shop owners and visitors alike.

At Wag!, Gunther shares a recent exchange she had with a German tourist. The man was wandering around downtown early one morning, photographing its historic structures. Gunther, meanwhile, was sitting outside her shop enjoying a morning cup of coffee. The two struck up a conversation, and she learned that he’d photographed small towns across America.

As Gunther sipped and the man continued snapping pictures, he turned to her and said that in 25 years of pursuing his hobby, he’d never been to a town as good as this one.

After taking a few more shots, the tourist asked, “How is this town so wonderful?”

Gunther considered the question and then said: “You know, I don’t know. It just really is.” X

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According to a press “When it comes to adding release, “Jim, as he is known the dry bar, it’s something to his friends, has owned and that I’m always looking for operated parking around the when I go to other cities. western end of downtown It’s a salon that you can Asheville for many years. get into that day and very His mother, Thyma Phillips quickly, especially if you’re Crawford, a legal stenogracoming from out of town,” pher who once worked for Maybin said.

More information at F. Scott Fitzgerald, ran the parking lots before him.” beauty-bin.com.

WATCH YOUR STEP: Crumbling bluestone sidewalks on Hay The freshly-repaved wood Street in downtown Asheville will be replaced next year, and fenced lot, which also with construction beginning in January and scheduled to wrap up MOUNTAIN BIZWORKS includes professional lightin September. Photo by Virginia Daffron CELEBRATES SMALLing and security cameras, BIZ SUCCESS will offer 125 monthly parkDAY SPA OPENS, TOUTS HAYWOOD STREET ing spaces Monday-Friday, 6 INCLUSIVE MISSION Mountain BizWorks, which MAKEOVER TO BEGIN a.m.-6 p.m., as well as hourly provides training, support IN JANUARY Courtney Maybin, a native or event parking on nights and funding to local smallof Western North Carolina and weekends. business owners, will hold Specialty retailers and who’s married to former T.C. its annual celebration 6-9 service businesses on and Roberson High School athlete p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, near downtown Asheville’s VILLAGERS OWNER ON and Major League Baseball at the Center for Craft, 67 Haywood Street are bracing NEW DIRECTIONS free agent Cameron Maybin, Broadway. The organizafor the impact of a major opened Beauty Bin, a dry bar tion, now in its 30th year, will Kendra Shillington puroverhaul of the streetscape and day spa. also recognize outgoing its chased West Asheville home “I wanted Beauty Bin to be scheduled to begin construcoutgoing executive director, a place where everyone could steading supplier Villagers tion in January. A key elePatrick Fitzsimmons. come and get all of these this past spring. She reportment of the project is the The event is free to attend. great services at an afforded in a Nov. 22 blog post RSVP at avl.mx/6rb. Light replacement of the bluestone able price,” said Maybin, who that the shop is “still in the refreshments and drinks will sidewalk paving between is biracial, in a press release. game” despite the challenges be served.

Vanderbilt Place and “Inclusivity is one of my of competing with Amazon College Street. According to main things, especially when and other local homesteading I’m training my employees. a city press release, other CRAWFORD OFFERS supply retailers.

Whether it’s for skin or for 125 PARKING SPACES improvements will include In an email to Xpress, hair, I train their ability to street repaving, stormwater Skillington wrote, “We have An Asheville man with an work on all people — not just upgrades, sanitary sewer been experiencing a lull in illustrious past that includes one race.” replacement, crosswalks and sales and traffic and want service in the N.C. General Located at 117 Sweeten amenities including trees to resurrect the shop and its Assembly has embarked, Creek Road, Suite 40, the spa and benches. visibility to our community.” offers waxing, facials, eyelash at the age of 90, on a new Sewer infrastructure will She said in her blog post extensions and massages. An business venture. Narvel adjacent space is scheduled James Crawford announced also be replaced along that the shop is phasing out farm-oriented items includCollege, Walnut and Flint ing large sizes of feed and streets, Page Avenue and soil amendments, as well as possibly Rankin Avenue. feeders and other livestock The construction costs will products. The shop will “conbe underwritten by the 2016 tinue to carry high quality city transportation general tools and other garden prodobligation bond, as well as a ucts including plant starts, cost-sharing agreement with seeds and soil! You will find the Metropolitan Sewerage a plethora in the hearth and District of Buncombe County. home section to help cre The Asheville Downtown ate a nurturing and cozy Association is coordinating home environment, includstrategies to support affected ing many, many local artisan businesses during the congoods,” Skillington said. struction, which is scheduled CARTER STREET PARKING: Upgrades at the parking lot on Villagers is located at for completion by September Carter Street include new paving, wider sidewalks, landscaping, 278 Haywood Road in West 2020. More information steel fencing, professional lighting and 16 security cameras. Photo Asheville. More information courtesy of Jim Crawford, parking lot owner at avl.mx/6h4. at forvillagers.com. X

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BUNCOMBE BEAT

Pressley elected vice chair of Board of Commissioners While the results of Buncombe County’s most recent audit showed that staff efforts to correct years of mismanagement were beginning to take hold, the report still found evidence of previous financial mishandling, members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners were told during their Dec. 3 meeting.

The annual audit for the 2019 fiscal year, conducted by Minneapolis-based accountant firm CliftonLarsonAllen and presented by principal Chris Kessler, gave Buncombe an “unmodified opinion,” indicating no major financial misstatements were discovered. However, the accountants also noted one material weakness related to the previous year’s audit adjustments and two significant deficiencies related to internal controls and compliance measures.

Far fewer items were flagged than in the county’s fiscal year 2018 audit, released in May. That report found six material weaknesses, nine significant deficiencies and one instance of noncompliance, which the auditors tied

to fraud by former County Manager Wanda Greene and other leaders, staff turnover and the county’s implementation of a new financial system.

The reduction in findings, Kessler said, indicated that the county’s corrective measures were working. All of the current findings, he added, were the results of prior years.

“The corrective action plans have already been implemented by management, and these should not repeat going forward,” Kessler said. “[If] you look at the comparison between 2018 and the 2019 audits and the number of findings year to year, and you look at these three that were in 2019, they’re all carryover from 2018. … That is a very good sign for you all as governance to say that management is focused on implementing the corrective action plans and resolving findings.”

Board members voted unanimously to accept the results of the audit and praised county staff for completing the “unbelievable” task of completing two audit reports only months apart.

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that, while he agreed county staff had worked hard to complete the audit, previous audits had not detected more than a decade of financial abuse by former county leadership.

“You better not be patting people on the back too quick, because that happened for years and you see what happened to Buncombe County. …

It was overlooked by the oversight committee, just like you people sitting right up there,” Rice said. “So, instead of pats on the back, you need to be [the] oversight. You need to be asking more serious questions than you are.”

NEW GIG: Members of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners nominated and unanimously elected Commissioner Robert Pressley to serve as the board’s vice chair for one year. Photo courtesy of Buncombe County “I hope everybody realizes the hard work that our employees have put into this. I spent 40 years in banking, but I’ve never seen a mess like we inherited when I become a commissioner,”Commissioner Al Whitesides said. “But thanks to the good employees that we have here at Buncombe County, we are really lightyears ahead of where I thought we would be at this point in time.”

Candler resident Jerry Rice told commissioners during public comment

IN OTHER NEWS Board members unanimously elected Commissioner Robert Pressley to serve as the board’s vice chair, effective immediately. Pressley replaces outgoing Vice Chair Jasmine BeachFerrara and will serve in the position for one year.

Commissioners also delayed choosing nine members to serve on the county’s newly established Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Board after receiving 25 applications.

Board Chair Brownie Newman asked board members to narrow their choices down to top candidates to interview at a later date.

— Brooke Randle X

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Catholic diocese to release review of sexual misconduct by year’s end

ON THE RECORD: Vicar General Father Patrick Winslow of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte spoke at St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden about the upcoming release of a list of priests about whom credible allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct have been made. Photo by Laura Hackett The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, which represents 46 counties in Western North Carolina and six parishes in the Asheville area, announced in August that it will release a list of clergy who have been the subject of credible accusations of sexual abuse by the end of this year.

The process of reviewing personnel files and other historical records, which date to the diocese’s founding in 1972, began last fall.

On Nov. 26, the diocese said in a press release that credible allegations of sexual misconduct had been made toward its former vicar general, Monsignor Mauricio West.

Those incidents allegedly date from the late 1980s and early 1990s, when West was a monk at Belmont Abbey. All the allegations involve adult victims; the alleged conduct includes unwanted kissing and, in one instance, unwanted touching.

West was removed from ministerial duties beginning in March as the diocese investigated the victims’ claims.

West’s replacement, Vicar General Father Patrick Winslow, met with Xpress on Nov. 13 to discuss the

process of reviewing diocesan records.

Historical information warranting further inquiry has been passed to an independent lay review board, he said. If the board determines that a clergy member should be removed from his post, the bishop will consider that recommendation and make the final decision.

Winslow added that the diocese will pay for professional counseling services to help people address trauma experienced as a result of abuse.

The Charlotte Diocese has lagged behind many of its peers in undertaking a historical review. Since the Diocese of Tucson, Ariz., became the first to release a list in 2002, more than 150 religious orders and Roman Catholic dioceses have released similar lists.

On Nov. 20, The Associated Press released an investigation showing that review boards have “routinely undermined sex abuse claims from victims, shielded accused priests and helped the church avoid payouts.” Moreover, the AP found “dozens of cases in which review boards rejected complaints from survivors, only to have them later validated by secular authorities.”

Winslow maintained that incidents of sexual abuse in the church are mostly a thing of the past. While “it’s required a bit of courage to go back and unearth things,” he said, the process is important to “bring a sense of healing for the victims.” Because the number of Catholics is relatively small in the South, “You don’t necessarily have the same history that a Northeastern diocese has. I think the exercise will be helpful in just setting the record straight.”

He stressed that the church has made progress in dealing with the crisis of sexual abuse by its clergy. “I think it’s important to state from the outset that our policies are working, that we’ve engaged in nearly two decades of education, prevention and accountability,” Winslow said. “We recognize the passage of time when it comes to these abuse issues doesn’t make anything easier. Oftentimes these kinds of wounds take time to really do damage in people’s lives and therefore take a lot of time for people to address them and report them.”

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— Laura Hackett X MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

13

N EWS

Sunrise Movement occupies City Hall over climate emergency “I went down to the mayor’s office and I took back what they stole from me,” sang over 40 members of Sunrise Movement Asheville as they lined the second-floor hallway of Asheville City Hall. After months of haranguing City Council over the wording of a climate emergency resolution, protesters occupied the government building on Dec. 6 to demand that Mayor Esther Manheimer and her colleagues pass the document as written by the climate justice group.

As hundreds of marchers participated in the Asheville Climate Strike for a Green New Deal at Pack Square Park outside the building, Sunrise member Flannery Clark addressed why her group felt compelled to act.

Although the resolution had been taken up in November by the city’s Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment, she claimed that the process had stripped the document of all mea-

ASSEMBLY HALL: Sunrise Movement member Flannery Clark addresses her fellow protesters as the group occupies Asheville City Hall.

Photo by Daniel Walton sures that would hold city leaders accountable on climate issues.

“If cities are declaring climate emergencies and there is nothing in it regarding legislation or accountability … it is a ploy to make it seem

like they’re doing something when they’re not,” Clark said. “And that’s unacceptable when our lives and our families and the places that we love are at risk.”

Ashley McDermott, one of Sunrise Asheville’s founding organizers, noted that Council members Brian Haynes, Sheneika Smith and Keith Young had previously agreed to put the Sunrise version of the resolution on the agenda for Council’s meeting of Tuesday, Dec. 10. However, she said Young later took away his support and proposed his own “Green New Deal for the city of Asheville.”

In a Dec. 6 message to Xpress, Young said that he had not withdrawn his support of considering the resolution on a Council agenda. He did say that he had moved the resolution to the agenda of Tuesday, Jan. 28, instead of Dec. 10, a shift of which he said he had

notified McDermott. Regarding his own proposal, the Council member added, “[Sunrise] knew about it before it was made public on social media. We met face to face about their issues on their own resolution, and no one offered critical crucial dissent in person to me about what I had crafted.”

Because the mayor was traveling at the time of the protest, the Sunrise group hoped to speak with both Young and Council member Julie Mayfield, who also serves as the co-director of environmental nonprofit MountainTrue and has made “a homegrown Green New Deal for North Carolina” a plank in her campaign platform for state Senate. Neither met with the protesters during the occupation.

Attorney Ben Scales, who has announced a run against Mayfield in the Democratic primary for the N.C. Senate District 49 seat, was

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present alongside the Sunrise members and offered legal advice as they were informed of permitted protest activities by the Asheville Police Department. He said the young people “don’t want empty promises” from elected officials.

Mayfield’s absence, Scales argued, “shows how out of touch she is” with the current environmental movement. “You can’t call something an emergency then not act in an expeditious manner,” he added.

In a series of Facebook comments on Dec. 6, Mayfield wrote that she had previously asked to meet with Sunrise leaders on three separate occasions but had not received any response. She also said that she was never informed about the protesters’ request to meet with her during the occupation.

“My record on climate speaks for itself. ... I am an ally and can move the cause forward,” Mayfield wrote. Xpress could not immediately reach her by phone for further comment on Dec. 9.

Numerous Sunrise protesters were escorted out of City Hall for remaining in the building after it

closed to the public at 5 p.m. APD Lt. Michael Lamb had confirmed earlier in the day that such behavior could be grounds for a charge of second-degree trespassing, but the APD’s records show no such arrests taking place on Dec. 6.

At 11:36 a.m. on Dec. 9, City Clerk Maggie Burleson sent notice of an emergency meeting of the city’s Sustainability Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment that same day “for the purpose of considering and recommending a climate emergency resolution to City Council.” As of press time, the meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the APD’s Fourth Floor Conference Room at 100 Court Plaza. “Council’s request for guidance on the resolution

by Dec. 10 constitutes an unexpected circumstance that requires immediate consideration of the resolution by SACEE and justifies calling an emergency meeting,” Burleson wrote.

— Daniel Walton X

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15

F E AT UR E S

ASHEVILLE ARCHIVES

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

‘Deer heads and bear skins’

City residents search for a taxidermist, 1955-59

ON THE HUNT: In the 1950s, hunters throughout WNC were on the hunt for a local taxidermist. This photo, believed to have been taken in the 1940s, features members of the Mount Mitchell Bear Hunting Club. Photo courtesy of the North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville “Several hunters phoned in last week asking for taxidermy information,” the Sunday edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times reported on Nov. 27, 1955.

Unfortunately for these callers, the paper continued, “There are few taxidermists in Western North Carolina.”

At the time, Leland J.W. Jones was the leading expert in the field. Formerly of Rochester, N.Y., he and his family arrived to Asheville in 1932.

According to local reports, Jones suffered chronic health problems. Nevertheless, his talent as a taxidermist kept him in high demand. “In spite of the fact that his health has kept him under wraps for many months now, he is still besieged by those who want him to preserve in lifelike appearance prize specimens of game and fish, they have killed or caught,” the Sunday edition of the Asheville CitizenTimes wrote on Oct. 11, 1953. “He manages to handle some of this work with the aid of an assistant.”

But by early spring 1955, the paper reported that Jones was no longer accepting projects. The news arrived in the midst of the latest fishing season. For fishermen seeking to stuff their catch, Jones offered tips for outsourcing the job (or as the paper put it, “[a] recipe for mailing or expressing

16

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

MOUNTAINX.COM

a fish”). In short, Jones noted that a frozen fish faired far better on the road than a fish transported otherwise.

The retired taxidermist continued to offer pointers that fall, as the deer hunting season commenced. In the Nov. 27, 1955, paper he shared best practices for preserving trophies. The sooner a deer could be delivered to a taxidermist the better, Jones wrote. Showing a wry sense of humor, he continued, “Where this is impossible, fill mouth (deer’s), with salt. Place several handsful inside skin at base of skull, salting rest of skin heavily before expressing in a burlap bag with antlers showing.”

Asheville received promising news the following year. On Dec. 9, 1956, the paper reported of Jones’ plan to mentor James “Ralph” Nelson of Arden. “Jones and Nelson have plenty of deer heads and bear skins, supplied by local hunters, to keep them busy while the cold winter months roll away,” the article read.

“Nelson, who is rapidly mastering the secrets of taxidermy, is undecided whether to go to work for Jones or open his own shop at the end of his study,” the paper continued. “One way or the other, we’ll have a full-time practicing taxidermist in Western North Carolina.”

Jones died less than two years later, on March 20, 1958.

Nelson’s early promise as Jones’ replacement does not appear to have panned out.

His name is unmentioned in future articles lamenting the city’s ongoing need for a taxidermist. However, Nelson’s obituary, featured in the Dec. 8, 1999, edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times suggests otherwise. It notes that the late Nelson, a lifelong resident of Buncombe County, was a selfemployed handyman and taxidermist.

If Nelson was indeed actively working as a taxidermist in the late 1950s, it appears his services escaped many of the city’s residents. One piece of evidence includes a reader’s write-in to the paper on March 5, 1959. Offering only her initials, Mrs. S.L. penned the following message and request: “I am devoted to a pet skunk but am unable to care for him any longer. Even though he’s fairly young and has been ‘de-odorized’ I have decided to have him put to sleep and stuffed.

I wonder if anyone can tell me where I can find a taxidermist?”

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

COMMUNITY CALENDAR DEC. 11 - 19, 2019

CALENDAR GUIDELINES For a full list of community calendar guidelines, please visit mountainx.com/calendar. For questions about free listings, call 828-251-1333, ext.

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

=❄ ACTIVISM HENDERSONVILLE REMEMBERS GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS • SA (12/14), 1-2:30pm - Remembrance ceremony for gun violence victims. Followed by presentations by survivors speaking about the impact of gun violence in their own families. Free.

Held at Hendersonville Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville

ANIMALS ASHEVILLE BEARS • SA (12/14), 5-6pm - Presentation by staff with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and BearWise initiative regarding the natural history of the black bear and how to safely coexist. Free to attend.

Held at Downtown Books & News, 67 N. Lexington Ave. CAT CAFÉ & AUTHOR EVENT • TH (12/19), 3pm - Proceeds from the Pop-up Cat Café with Kimberlie Hamilton presenting her book, Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats with kitty cuddle time and a beverage benefit Asheville Humane Society. Registration: avl.mx/6ra. $10. Held at Asheville Humane Society, 14 Forever Friend Lane Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

BENEFITS 100X100 • SA (12/14), 6-7:30pm - Proceeds from the 100x100 art exhibition benefit Upstairs Artspace.

Preview: 11am-3pm.

Free to attend. Held at Upstairs Artspace, 49 S. Trade St., Tryon CAT CAFÉ & AUTHOR EVENT • TH (12/19), 3pm - Proceeds from the Pop-up Cat Café with Kimberlie Hamilton presenting her book, Fearless Felines: 30 True Tales of Courageous Cats with kitty cuddle time and a beverage benefit Asheville Humane Society. Registration: avl.mx/6ra. $10. Held at Asheville Humane Society, 14 Forever Friend Lane DECK THE TREES ❄ Through MO (1/6), 10am-9pm - Proceeds from Deck The Trees in the theme of Go Tell It On the Mountain benefit the Fuel Fund for the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministries.

Free to attend. Held at Monte Vista Hotel, 308 W. State St., Black Mountain EAST ASHEVILLE HOLIDAY MARKET ❄ FR (12/13), 3-6pm - Proceeds from the East Asheville Holiday Market with vendors, massage, raffle and silent auction benefit East Asheville Farmers Market. Free to attend.

Held at Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Road

CLI-FI NEARBY: In the next installment of Folkmoot’s Cultural Crash Courses, Laura Wright speaks on the topic Cli-Fi: The New Genre of Climate Change Fiction. Wright discusses the ways in which some of these works of fiction engage with climate science, possible worst-case scenarios and potential modes of salvation. Limited seating is available. Tickets are available in advance by calling 828-452-2997 or online at Folkmoot.org.

Photo courtesy of Western Carolina University (p. 20) SANTA SHOWDOWN 5K ❄ SA (12/14), 9am - Proceeds from the family and dog-friendly Santa Showdown 5K benefit blind children going to summer camp. Registration: IFBShowdownrace.com. $35/$10 children/$10 dogs.

Held at Asheville Recreation Park, 65 Gashes Creek Road TROUT UNLIMITED OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT SALE • SA (12/14), 11am-4pm - Proceeds from this used outdoor equipment sale benefit local stream conservation. Free to attend. Held at The Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St. Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY A-B TECH SMALL BUSINESS CENTER 1465 Sand Hill Road, Candler, 828-398-7950, abtech.edu/sbc

• WE (12/11), 9-11am Deep Dive Lab: Let Your Business Conscious be Your Guide, seminar.

Registration required. Free.

• SA (12/14), 9am-noon - Branding Your Business, seminar. Registration required. Free.

• SA (12/14), 9am-noon - Cybersecurity for Your Small Business, seminar.

Registration required. Free.

GAME DESIGNERS OF NORTH CAROLINA • FR (12/13), 6-10pm - Meeting for game designers to discuss board game design, play-test each others games and learn more about the industry.

Free to attend. Held at The Wyvern's Tale, 347 Merrimon Ave. MOUNTAIN BIZWORK YEAR END CELEBRATION • WE (12/18), 6-9pm - Year end celebration with refreshments, desserts and drinks. Registration required. Free. Held at Center for Craft, 67 Broadway

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS EMPYREAN ARTS CLASSES (PD.) Intro to Handstands on Thursdays 7:45pm. Intro to Partner Acrobatics on Sundays 6:30pm. Intro to Pole Fitness on Mondays 6:15pm, Tuesdays 7:15pm and Saturdays 11:30am.

Release & Restore on Sundays 5:00pm and Wednesdays 7:30pm. empyreanarts.org • 828.782.3321 ASHEVILLE CHESS CLUB • WEDNESDAYS, 6:30pm Sets provided. All ages and skill levels welcome. Beginners lessons available. Free.

Held at North Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E. Larchmont Road CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL SERVICE • SA (12/14), 5:30pm - Tree of Lights candlelight memorial service to recognize and honor loved ones lost. Free. Held at WNC Agricultural Center, 1301 Fanning Bridge Road

CHRISTMAS GEM, MINERAL AND FOSSIL SHOW • FR (12/13) & SA (12/14), 10am-6pm, SU (12/15), 10am-4pm - Christmas Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show, 20+ vendors.

Free to attend. Held at Haywood County Courthouse, 285 N. Main St., Waynesville HENDERSONVILLE REMEMBERS GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS • SA (12/14), 1-2:30pm Remembrance ceremony for gun violence victims.

Followed by presentations by survivors speaking about the impact of gun violence in their own families. Free. Held at Hendersonville Historic Courthouse Square, Hendersonville HOMINY VALLEY RECREATION PARK • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - Hominy Valley board meeting. Free. Held at Hominy Valley Recreation Park, 25 Twin Lakes Drive, Candler

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

17

CONSCIOUS PARTY

C OMMU N IT Y CA L EN D AR

18

KOREAN WAR VETERANS CHAPTER 314 • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, noon - Korean War Veterans Association, General Frank Blazey Chapter 314, general meeting. Lunch at noon, meeting at 1pm.

Free to attend. Held at Golden Corral, 2530 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville

Get it. Keep it. Improve

LEICESTER HISTORY GATHERING • 3rd THURSDAYS, 7pm - The Leicester History Gathering, general meeting.

Free. Held at Leicester Community Center, 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester

class. Registration

ONTRACK WNC 50 S. French Broad Ave., 828-255-5166, ontrackwnc.org • WE (12/11), noon1:30pm - Budgeting and Debt, class.

Registration required.

Free.

• TH (12/12), 5:30-7pm - Understanding Credit.

party. Free/Bring a dish

it. Seminar. Registration required. Free.

• TU (12/17), noon1:30pm - Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it. Seminar.

Registration required.

Free.

• TH (12/19), 5:30-7pm - Budgeting and Debt, required. Free.

TRANSITION ASHEVILLE • MO (12/16), 6:30-8pm - General

BEAR TOWN SHOWDOWN: TIFB Solutions, formerly Industries for the Blind, is sponsoring a new 5K race called Santa’s Showdown, which pits elves and reindeer against one another. Runners are assigned a reindeer or elf T-shirt at the start of the race. All proceeds go to help blind children attend summer camp for free. This inaugural race is family and dog friendly and begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14. Registration is $35 at IFBShowdownrace. com. Dogs run for $10 per dog. Photo courtesy of IFB Solutions (p. 17)

of proceeds benefit Buncombe County Special Olympics. $10 per passenger vehicle/ Discount for tickets purchased in advance.

Held at Lake Julian Park and Marina, 406 Overlook Extension, Arden SWANNANOA WINTERFEST

❄ SA (12/14), 4-8pm

meeting with potluck and holiday re-gifting

FOOD & BEER

and used gift to share.

Held at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte St.

FAIRVIEW WELCOME TABLE • 2nd THURSDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Com-

Some events from

munity lunch. Admission by

this section may be

donation. Held at Fairview

found in the Give!Local

Christian Fellowship, 596 Old

calendar on p. 21

US Highway 74, Fairview

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

MOUNTAINX.COM

LEICESTER COMMUNITY CENTER 2979 New Leicester Highway, Leicester, 828774-3000, facebook.com/ Leicester.Community.Center • 3rd TUESDAYS, 2:30pm - Manna food distribution.

Free.

• WEDNESDAYS, 11:30am1pm - Welcome Table, community meal. Free.

NAVIDAD LATINO

❄ FR (12/13), 11am Navidad Latino, pristinos and coquito cooking demonstration. Free. Held at Mountain Branch Library, 150 Bill's Creek Road, Lake Lure WEST ASHEVILLE HOLIDAY MARKET ❄ TU (12/17), 2:30-6pm - Annual indoor holiday

market. Free to attend.

Held at The Mothlight, 701 Haywood Road

- Art and craft festival featuring 20 vendors, artisans and nonprofits selling holiday items.

Event includes caroling, sing-alongs and holiday lights. Free to attend.

Held at Grovemont Square, 101 W Charleston Ave., Swannanoa WINTER LIGHTS EXHIBITION

❄ Through SA (1/4), FESTIVALS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

❄ Through MO (12/23), 6-9pm - Drive through holiday light festival. Portion

6-10pm - Outdoor holiday lights exhibition. $18/$12 children/ Free under 5. Held at NC Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS INFORMED PROGRESSIVE SERIES • WE (12/11), 2-3:30pm - Progressive Alliance of Henderson County presents Kelly Hollinger, speaking about regenerative agriculture. Free. Held at Henderson County Democratic Party, 1216 6th Ave. W., Suite 600, Hendersonville

KIDS EMPOWERING THE LEADER IN EACH YOUNG MAN (PD.) Journeymen is supporting adolescent boys on their paths to becoming men of integrity. Our cost-free program is now enrolling young men 12-17.

Mentees ("J-men") participate in bi-weekly mentoring groups and a semi-annual Rites of Passage Adventure

Weekend, where they develop compassion, selfawareness, accountability, resilience and authenticity. Learn more: journeymenasheville.org Contact: journeymenasheville@ gmail.com (828) 7716344.

'THE NUTCRACKER'

❄ TH (12/12), 9am - The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker for school children. $6. Held at Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave. BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (12/11), 4-5:30pm - Read with Hunter the Therapy Dog. Free. Held at Black Mountain Public Library, 105 N. Dougherty St., Black Mountain • THURSDAYS, 6pm Story time designed for children ages 3-6. Free.

Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St.

❄ SA (12/14), 2pm Family Movie Afternoon: The Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • TU (12/17), 4-5:30pm - Read with Olivia the Therapy Dog. Registration required: 828-250-6482. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville • 2nd SATURDAYS, 1-4pm & LAST WEDNESDAYS, 4-6pm - Teen Dungeons and Dragons for ages 12 and up.

Registration required: 828-250-4720. Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. CREATION STATION ❄ SA (12/14), 10am-noon - Make a Christmas ornament at Creation Station for children 10 and up with adult. Registration: 828-356-2507 or kathleen.olsen@ haywoodcountync.gov.

Free. Held at Waynesville Library, 678 S. Haywood St., Waynesville

FLETCHER LIBRARY • WEDNESDAYS, 10:30am - Family story time. Free. Held at Fletcher Library, 120 Library Road, Fletcher MISS MALAPROP'S STORY TIME • WEDNESDAYS, 10am - Miss Malaprop's Story Time for ages 3-9.

Free to attend. Held at Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe, 55 Haywood St. PET PHOTO NIGHT ❄ SU (12/15), 6-8pm Bring your pet to meet Santa. Free. Held at Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Road SKATING RINK ❄ WE (12/18) through WE (1/1), 11am-6pm, except Christmas Eve 11am-3pm, Christmas Day Closed, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm and New Year’s Day from 1pm-6pm - Iceless ice skating. $10/$5 children 10 and under. Held at Hendersonville Visitor

Center, 201 S. Main St., Hendersonville Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

OUTDOORS JACKSON PARK BIRD WALK • SA (12/14), 9am - Bird walk. Free. Held at Jackson Park, 801 Glover St., Hendersonville PISGAH CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED • 2nd THURSDAYS, 7pm - General meeting and presentations. Free to attend. Held at Ecusta Brewing, 49 Pisgah Highway, Suite 3, Pisgah Forest TROUT UNLIMITED OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT SALE • SA (12/14), 11am-4pm - Proceeds from this used outdoor equipment sale benefit local stream conservation. Free to attend. Held at The

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Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St. ULINSKI HABITAT RESTORATION WORKDAY • FR (12/13), 10am-2pm Volunteer to help restore a southern Appalachian bog by removing nonnative invasive species.

Registration required: avl.mx/6rc Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

PARENTING PREVENTING SUBSTANCE ABUSE • MO (12/16), 6:30pm Not My Kid: Preventing Substance Abuse, presentation. Free. Held at Owen High School, 99 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

PUBLIC LECTURES CULTURAL CRASH COURSE • WE (12/18), 5:30-8pm Cli-Fi: The New Genre of Climate Change Fiction, presentation by Dr. Laura Wright. Registration required. $9. Held at Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville NONPROFIT MORNINGS • FR (12/13), 8am - Misdirected: White Women doing White Supremacy in Nonprofits, lecture

by Heather Talley and presented by Auxillium.

Registration required: auxilliumworks.com. Free to attend. Held at Tunnel Road Tap Haus, 4 S. Tunnel Road, Suite 100 WINTERFEST CELEBRATION ❄ SU (12/15), 2:30-5pm - Winterfest celebration with The Case of the Missing Ethicals mystery and holiday potluck.

Free/bring a potluck dish.

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• THURSDAYS, 6:30-7:15 pm - All faith Taize service of meditation and music. Free.

Dec. 13 at the North Asheville Ace Hardware Store, 812 Merrimon Ave. Held at Kenilworth Presbyterian Church, 123 Kenilworth Road

OPEN SANGHA • THURSDAYS, 7:309pm - Open Sangha night. Free. Held at Urban Dharma, 77 W. Walnut St.

ANATASATI MAGGA (PD.)

APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SERVICE ❄ SU (12/15), 9:30am - Christmas worship service. Free. Held at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska

YULE CELEBRATION OF WINTER SOLSTICE ❄ SU (12/15), 5pm - Yule celebration of the winter solstice. Free/Bring a potluck dish to share and optional food donation.

Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

ASHEVILLE PRISON BOOKS • 3rd SUNDAYS, 1-3pm - Send books to inmates in NC & SC. Information: avlcommunityaction.com or ashevilleprisonbooks@ gmail.com. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road

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GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 1245 6th Ave W., Hendersonville, 828-6934890, gracelutherannc. com • 2nd FRIDAYS, 1-2pm - Non-denominational healing prayer group.

Free. ❄ TH (12/19), 3pm - Blue Christmas Service, service

Held at Asheville Friends Meetinghouse, 227 Edgewood Road

$30. Held at Jewish Family Services of WNC, 2 Doctors Park, Suite E

Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

HENDERSONVILLE ELDER CLUB

SENIORS ASHEVILLE NEW FRIENDS (PD.) Offers active senior residents of the Asheville area opportunities to make new friends and explore new interests through a program of varied social, cultural and outdoor activities. Visit www.ashevillenewfriends. org ASHEVILLE ELDER CLUB • TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 11am-2pm - The Asheville Elder Club Group Respite program for individuals with memory challenges and people of all faiths. Registration required: 828-253-2900.

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• WEDNESDAYS, 11am2pm - The Hendersonville Elder Club for individuals with memory challenges and people of all faiths.

Registration required: 828-253-2900. $30. Held at Agudas Israel Congregation, 505 Glasgow Lane, Hendersonville

SPIRITUALITY

VOLUNTEERING ANNUAL COOKIE MAKING PARTY ❄ FR (12/13), 6-8pm Loving Food Resources annual cookie-making party for individuals and families in need. Cookies may also be dropped off before 5pm on Friday,

ELIADA CHRISTMAS PARTY ❄ TH (12/12) - Volunteer to help with the campuswide Eliada Christmas party. Registration: mbrown@eliada.org.

Held at Eliada, 2 Compton Drive GIVING TREE BOOK WRAPPING ❄ WE (12/11), 2pm Volunteer with Friends of the Library to gift wrap books from the holiday giving tree. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview

TRANZMISSION PRISON PROJECT • Fourth THURSDAYS, 6-9pm - Monthly meeting to prepare packages of books and zines for mailing to prisons across the US. Free to attend.

Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AIDS PROJECT • 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS, 10am-noon - Volunteer to deliver food boxes to homebound people living with HIV/AIDS. Registration: 828-252-7489 x 315 or wncapvolunteer@ wncap.org.

For more volunteering opportunities visit mountainx.com/ volunteering Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

An ode to matches After a big Giving Tuesday, Give!Local crossed the $100,000 mark in the annual campaign to raise money for worthy local nonprofits. Total giving as of Monday morning, Dec. 9, was about $84,000 from 290 individual donors. But the total raised was much higher, thanks to $31,600 in matching dollars.

The seven animal welfare nonprofits participating in Give!Local all benefit from a matching commitment from the Community Foundation of WNC. Already, $8,300 of the available $9,000 in matching funds has been claimed, and the remaining $700 is likely to be snatched up this week. Donors can earn this money for the nonprofits they prefer by simply making a gift of at least $25 to one of the animal nonprofits. The animal welfare nonprofit that gets the most individual donors by the end of December will earn an additional award of $1,000 from the Community Foundation.

Fourteen individual nonprofits also came to Give!Local with their own matching funds to inspire their donors. The matches come from anonymous donors, longtime supporters, boards of directors, businesses and grants. Three cheers for the generous folks offering these matches.

Of those 14, Asheville Poverty Initiative, Beloved Asheville, Children First/ Communities in Schools, The Council on Aging and All Souls Counseling Center have already had enough donations to fulfill their entire matches. The remaining nine nonprofits still have money available for donors to earn on their behalf.

It is not too late to offer matching funds. If you, your business or organization would like to put forward matching dollars for a Give!Local nonprofit or for a group of them, please contact Mountain Xpress at 828-251-1333 or givelocal@mountainx.com. To donate or for more details, go to givelocalguide.org.

Give!Local organizations with matches (other than animal)

Maximum amount of match possible

Match total as of Dec 8

103.3 AshevilleFM All Souls Counseling Center Asheville City Schools Foundation Asheville Poverty Initiative BeLoved Asheville Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County Girls on the Run

$440 $750 $720 $5,000 $1,000 $2,311

/$1,000 from an anonymous donor /$750 from an anonymous donor /$1,000 from Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty /$5,000 from an anonymous donor /$1,000 from Asheville Home Realty /$3,000 from Publix Super Market Charities

$665

Homeward Bound of WNC OpenDoors of Asheville Pisgah Legal Services The Council on Aging of Buncombe County The Mediation Center Verner WNC Birth Center Total non-animal org. matches

$3,220 $1,475 $2,671 $1,000 $695 $1,300 $1,995 $23,242

/$3,500: $1,000 from Johnson Price Sprinkle PA and $2,500 from Starks Financial Group /$100,000 from the Creating Hope and Homes challenge grant /$2,500 from an anonymous donor /unlimited amount from anonymous donors /$1,000 from an anonymous donor /$10,000 from anonymous donors /unlimited amount from an anonymous donor /$3,000 from the Birth Center’s board and friends

Give!Local animal organizations Appalachian Wildlife Refuge Asheville Cat Weirdos Emergency Fund Asheville Humane Society Blue Ridge Humane Society Brother Wolf Animal Rescue Friends of the WNC Nature Center Wild for Life Total animal org. matches

$1,875 $650 $1,860 $175 $980 $1,190 $1,570 $8,300

your t s o o B s dollar /maximum for group of $9,000

GIVE!LOCAL NONPROFITS’ CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS This week the Community Calendar is highlighting events that are sponsored by nonprofits that are participating in the Give!Local campaign. The campaign is raising money for 45 worthy local nonprofits that make a big difference where we live. These events are wonderful examples of some of the great work that these nonprofits do within our communities!

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER 140 Roberts St., Suite B, 828-5053552, ncglasscenter.org • SA (12/14), 5-8pm - Open house with hot shop and flame shop demonstrations and refreshments.

Free to attend.

OPEN HEARTS ART CENTER 217 Coxe Ave.

❄ Through FR (12/20), noon-5pm - Shop Local Holiday Pop-Up Market with ceramics, cards and original art, make an ornament, live music and food and drink for sale.

WHOLE FOODS MARKET

ANIMALS FRIENDS OF THE WNC NATURE CENTER 828-259-8092, wildwnc.org, americorps@wildwnc.org • SU (12/15), 1:20-3pm - Behind the scenes tour of the Nature Center.

Registration required. $20-$35. Held at WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Road WNC NATURE CENTER 75 Gashes Creek Road, 828-2985600, wildwnc.org ❄ SA (12/14), 10am-4pm - Familyfriendly holiday celebration with arts and crafts, games, educational programs, animal encounters and an appearance from Santa. Admission fees apply.

BENEFITS

4 S. Tunnel Road • 2nd SATURDAYS, noon-4pm - Artisan market with opportunity to buy Asheville Cat Weirdos Emergency Fund merchandise and items from local artisans. Free to attend.

NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER 140 Roberts St., Suite B, 828-5053552, ncglasscenter.org • Through TU (12/31) - 10am-6pm - Proceeds from the sale of blown

glass ornaments benefit Open Hearts and Pisgah Legal.

CLASSES, MEETINGS & EVENTS ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE 828-254-7162, colburnmuseum.org • SUNDAYS, 2:30-4pm - Tour of the night time sky in an inflatable astronomy dome. Admission fees apply. Held at Asheville Museum of Science, 43 Patton Ave. SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY OFFICE 372 Merrimon Ave. ❄ TH (12/12), 4-6pm - Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Holiday Open House, free.

ECO GREEN BUILT ALLIANCE greenbuilt.org • WE (12/11), 1-4pm - Ecological Site Preparation & Long-Term Resilience, workshop for builders, architects,

landscape architects and developers. $50/$40 members. Held at LenoirRhyne University, 36 Montford Ave. • TH (12/19), 5-7pm - Quarterly happy-hour meetup open to the public. Free to attend. Held at Hi-Wire Brewing, 197 Hilliard Ave.

KIDS BELOVED ASHEVILLE LIBERATION STATION 10 N. Market St., belovedasheville. com • MONDAYS & THURSDAYS, 3:304:30pm - Spanish/English immersion for kids from Spanish and English speaking backgrounds to come together. Free.

OUTDOORS SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY 828-253-0095, appalachian.org • SA (12/14), 4:30-6:30pm - Guided evening hike under the light of the full moon at Blue Ridge Pastures.

Registration required: avl.mx/6rd.

Free.

PUBLIC LECTURES MOUNTAINTRUE 828-258-8737, mountaintrue.org • TH (12/12), 5:30-7pm - Hendersonville Green Drinks: The Plastic Reduction Task Force and the Trash Trout, lecture by Eric Bradford, Director of Operations with Asheville GreenWorks. Free to attend. Held at Black Bear Coffee Co., 318 N. Main St., Hendersonville

Homeward Bound is working to end homelessness and how you can help. Registration required: tours@homewardboundwnc.org or 828-785-9840. Free.

THE LITERACY COUNCIL OF BUNCOMBE COUNTY 31 College Place, Suite B221, 828254-3442, litcouncil.com/ • TH (12/12), 9-10:30am - Information session for those interested in

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MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS network@memorycare.org • 3rd TUESDAYS, 1-3pm – Held at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Road

VOLUNTEERING HOMEWARD BOUND OF WNC 19 N. Ann St., 828-258-1695, homewardboundwnc.org • THURSDAYS, 11am - See the Hope Tour, find out how

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WELLNESS BELOVED ASHEVILLE LIBERATION STATION 10 N. Market St., belovedasheville. com • WEDNESDAYS, 2:30-4pm - Street medic outreach clinic. Free.

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“Around the world, infant mortality rates are seen as a key measure of how healthy a community is, because we know that so much more goes into this than just prenatal care,” Hannah Legerton of the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services told the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners in an update on the county’s Community Health Improvement Process on Dec. 3.

Since 2010, Legerton said, the county’s white infant death rate has dropped from 4.7 to 3.8 deaths for every 1,000 live births, putting Buncombe on par with some of the best states in the country. But during the same period, she continued, “Our black infant mortality rate has increased from 11.7 to 15.1 deaths for every 1,000 babies born.

Again, meaning that black babies in Buncombe County are four times as likely to die before their first birthday as white babies.” Meanwhile, North Carolina’s black infant mortality rate declined from 14.7 to 12.7.

As a leading indicator of population health, that disparity reflects the structural racism that creates inequitable social and economic conditions for people of color in Buncombe County, says Libby Kyles, CEO of the YWCA of Asheville and WNC. “Women of color have continuously been low on the totem pole in terms of care, in terms of respect, in terms of pay,” says Kyles. “Those mothers who are working two or three jobs and

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barely making ends meet are continuously stressed, and their children are stressed. Those are the things that are reflected in those numbers.”

The data supports Kyles’ conclusion, says Zo Mpofu of the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services. “We know in our county, we have disparities in terms of education outcomes, housing opportunities and making a living wage. The material conditions actually work to have manifestations in health outcomes,” she explains. As the costs of living have risen in recent years, especially in North Carolina’s urban areas, “the tools and resources that families have are not always keeping up,” she says.

In the past, public health interventions to improve health for members of marginalized groups have focused on changing behaviors, Mpofu says. But those approaches generally haven’t worked. What’s needed, agree a range of professionals interviewed for this story, is a cross-sector, communitydriven approach to eliminate the inequities that underlie the problem.

FIRM FOUNDATION That’s where CityMatCH comes in.

Funded by the Kellogg Foundation, the nationwide program promotes shared learning among public health departments, community organizations, academic researchers and other experts to identify the best strategies for eliminating racial infant mortality disparities. Buncombe County was one of six locations selected to participate in CityMatCH’s fourth cohort, which kicked off this fall.

In the application for CityMatCH, the program notes, “While many cities have improved their overall birth outcomes, few have measurably reduced disparities, much less eliminated them.

One reason for this is that science has not produced all the needed answers.

Though many public health programs are in place, very few have risen to the level of evidence-based practices, and few of those have been proven to reduce inequities.”

The program provides travel funding for attending conferences with national experts and leaders from other communities. A group from Buncombe attended a four-day kickoff event in August. Still in its early stages, according to Mpofu, the CityMatCH program over the next three years will also support community-driven local training opportunities focused on health equity, as well as technical assistance.

Among the reasons behind Buncombe County’s acceptance into the cohort, Mpofu says, are the programs already underway to boost the health of local mothers and babies.

Buncombe CityMatCH partners include MotherLove (run by the YWCA to serve pregnant and parenting teenage mothers), the county health department’s Nurse Family Partnership, the Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement and Pisgah Legal Services. Two programs based out of the Mountain Area Health Education Center — Mothering Asheville, a community-based collaborative, and Sistas Caring 4 Sistas, an associated group of African American community doulas — are also involved and have served over 100 families of color since the latter program’s founding in 2016.

Doulas provide individualized, nonmedical support through a woman’s pregnancy, during labor and delivery and in the postpartum period.

SC4S doulas also connect their clients with housing, resources for escaping domestic violence and other services to address social determinants of health, says Maggie Adams, program director at MAHEC. Because the goal of SC4S services is to reduce the infant mortality disparity, clients are selected based on their race and risk factors such as living in public housing and having a previous preterm birth or low birth weight baby. “We do wish all women could get care. But this is our little dose of reparations for black women in this community,” says Adams.

Supported by a $125,000 annual grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina, the group’s services are free to mothers. But to meet the demand for doulas, MAHEC staffers say, they’re also actively advocating for the state to cover the program through Medicaid.

Once a mother has been accepted into the program, “We’re there 24/7. From the time that you hire us, we’re there on call for you,” explains doula Cindy McMillan, one of the program’s co-founders. “We do prenatal appointments, we do doctors’ appointments, we do the labor, we come after the birth. The more you allow us in, we’re going to take that.

Just building the relationship.”

That relationship can extend for years beyond the baby’s delivery, she says: “Birthday parties — we see the milestones that the kids have made and we’re celebrating with the families.”

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W ELL NESS ‘SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR ME’ During a June event at MAHEC, McMillan introduced Itiyopiya Ewart, whom McMillan assisted with the birth of her daughter through the SC4S program.

“Having a doula for me was really important because with my son, I had a traumatic birth experience. And far too many women do. It’s very common for women to say, ‘I didn’t really feel comfortable. I felt pressured. I felt forced,’” Ewart said.

Ewart described how McMillan offered “the knowledge that she had, the care that she had, the intention that she had in caring for me as a black woman — as another black woman that has had the negative experiences, that knows the data, that knows the reports and wanted to see something different for me.”

As the relationship developed between the two women, McMillan offered active encouragement to attend childbirth classes, go for walks, maintain flexibility and practice other forms of self-care in preparation for labor and beyond. She also helped Ewart seek healing from past sexual abuse.

WIDENING GAP: As part of a presentation on efforts to improve community health, Hannah Legerton of the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services showed this chart to county commissioners on Dec. 3. While white infants’ deaths per 1,000 births have decreased in the county since 2010, black babies now die at a rate nearly four times that of white babies. Graphic courtesy of Buncombe County In health care situations, Ewart said, black women’s experiences and input are often dismissed. “Like, ‘You don’t know anything. You stay quiet and you

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stay in the corner and you let people take care of you how they feel they need to take care of you,’” she said.

Overcoming those disempowering messages is central to the benefits a doula can offer any woman, Ewart said.

But for women of color, it’s critical to have a care provider “that understands what racial injustice feels like. That they know, they can sense it in their bones, their DNA is vibrating it through the generations. There is something very powerful in the support that can be provided with that,” she said.

“Itiy is very vocal, but I have so many clients I’m working with that are just as vocal,” McMillan added.

“And I want to stop calling them my clients from now on, because I want to say they are my peers. These are my sisters. Sistas Caring 4 Sistas means something. We are all in this together.

Females, it’s time for us to fix this issue that’s going on.”

CAUSES OF DEATH Low birth weight, preterm delivery and sudden infant death syndrome are the “huge drivers” of infant mortality, according to Amanda Brickhouse Murphy, a certified nurse midwife who serves as the medical director for Mothering Asheville.

SC4S doula services, McMillan notes, have been shown to address each of those conditions. “We reduce the cesarean [section] rates. We have less medical interventions during labor,” she says, adding that APGAR scores, which assess the baby’s condition, are also higher. And SC4S cli-

ents are more likely to breastfeed, which reduces the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.

“If a mom is healthy in her pregnancy and knows her power, moms are huge influencers on the health of her family,” Murphy says.

Still, empowering mothers isn’t a cure-all. America’s long history of slavery, discrimination and ongoing institutional and systemic racism take a continuing toll on the health of black women and their children, Murphy says. “This toxic stress that comes from not only how she’s living and what she’s experiencing and what she has experienced in her past, but generational stress that’s coming from all those years of slavery, Jim Crow and continued racism, institutional and systemic — that’s almost more caustic because it’s hidden,” she explains.

That’s why learning to listen to African American women has transformed her own practice, Murphy says.

As part of building trust within the black community, Mothering Asheville providers asked women what they saw as the most important factors in health and well-being disparities. Their answers had nothing to do with specific medical or social conditions, Murphy recalls.

Instead, she continues, “It’s this stress that they are feeling all the time, no matter if they are an immigrant worried about deportation or a black woman who’s worried about her son being shot.

That’s what they said we got wrong.

We didn’t ever ask them about that. We asked them about all our other checklists that we have to check off.”

SHOWING UP Murphy recalls the program’s early efforts to connect with black women in Buncombe County. “We spent a year and a half just gaining trust before there was even any movement on what we were going to work on,” Murphy says. “We just kept showing up and sitting at picnic tables and having lunch and talking to whoever would talk to us.” Taking time to demonstrate Mothering Asheville’s longterm commitment was crucial, she adds, because many women in the black community have seen different health programs and initiatives come and go over the years.

Another barrier was a history of negative experiences with local health care providers. “There are women who purposely don’t deliver at the hospital or don’t come to their care because they think that there will be judgment in one way or another,” Murphy explains.

“For example, they might get a drug test, whereas someone else who’s a dif-

FAMILIES VALUED: Former Sistas Caring 4 Sistas client Itiyopiya Ewart, right, described the support she received from the program, which aims to reduce the disparity in infant mortality between white and black babies in Buncombe County. Cindy McMillan, left, was her doula.

Photo by Virginia Daffron ferent color may not. And there’s a fear of [the Department of Social Services] taking their baby.”

Studies have shown that the medical field “doesn’t do a good job with things like implicit bias or addressing racism,” Murphy says. “That’s felt in the community, and it’s a small enough community that stories are told. If somebody had a very bad experience, then that’s the story that’s told.”

As employees of MAHEC, the SC4S doulas have helped shift the conversation around some of those past negative experiences. “They’re trusted in their community,” Murphy notes.

“And they say, ‘Well, we trust Amanda.

Or, we trust Dr. So-and-so. It’s OK. You can come to them.’” If a woman later has a concern, the doula can relay that back to MAHEC, and the organization can look for opportunities to make systemic changes.

for her thoughts on what factors might have caused the gap in rates of mortality between white and black Buncombe babies to widen beginning in 2012, Kyles points to changes she believes coincided with President Barack Obama’s election in 2008.

“I think that there was a shift in our society, and some things have happened societally that have created more of a divide,” she says. “The people that always end up being hurt and wounded are the women of color. That’s not to say that men of color are not, but men don’t carry babies; women do.

The impact of those numbers play out throughout their pregnancies.”

While factors such as drug use and other behaviors may contribute to infant deaths, Kyles says, “The underlying cause is a lack of humanity and the lack of equity that exists for women of color. I know that for everyone equity is the buzzword, but we’ve got to take that word, ‘equity,’ and put it into action. It’s not enough to just keep talking about it.”

Gazing at the smooth surfaces of the rocks as they slip through her fingers, she muses, “And this is why I have my stones.” X

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EQUITY INTO ACTION Running her hands meditatively over a small pile of polished rocks on a conference table at the YWCA, Libby Kyles considers how infant mortality figures reflect broader societal issues. Asked

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by Dr. Demetri Poulis.

Registration required: 855-774-5433. Free. Held at AdventHealth Hendersonville, 100 Hospital Drive, Hendersonville Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

25

FARM & GARDEN

WINGING IT

Local shops share tips for turning WNC yards and gardens into bird-watching havens

BY GINA SMITH gsmith@mountainx.com With the last of the autumn leaves turning into mulch and spring blossoms not yet a glimmer on the horizon, wild birds are often the only flashes of natural color adorning the local landscape this time of year. Fortunately, Western North Carolina is a bird-watching paradise, and winter is an ideal time to begin attracting them to your yard or garden, say the owners of three local shops.

Steve and Heidi Muma came to own their two local franchises of the Indiana-based Wild Birds Unlimited through a passion for bluebirds that Heidi developed years ago when the couple lived in Chapel Hill. “I went from [having] one bluebird box to another bluebird box, then feeding stations that went from one to two to three — it was crazy,” says Heidi.

She eventually joined the staff at the store where she’d been buying her birdseed and supplies and worked there and at other locations for several years.

After moving to Asheville for Steve’s job, the couple decided in 2014 to buy the WBU shop in Hendersonville (they sold that location almost a year ago) followed soon by shops on Hendersonville Road and Merrimon Avenue.

GOING NATIVE In making outdoor spaces accommodating for wild birds, there are three basic things to consider, says Steve: habitat, food sources and safety. And creating a healthy habitat with native plant varieties is key.

12.25.19

In the

Spirit Issue

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

FOR THE BIRDS: Steve and Heidi Muma at Wild Birds Unlimited, left, and Laura Mahan of The Compleat Naturalist, right, can help customers turn their yards into habitats for bird-watching. Photos by Gina Smith “Get rid of your grass,” he says.

“Really manicured yards are fun to have, but they’re not the best for birds. You want to have trees and shrubs, hummingbird-attracting flowers and things like that that are native to the area.”

Hummingbirds prefer a “trumpetshaped flower,” Heidi adds, while berry-bearing bushes will bring in many other species. “Not all birds are fruit or berry eaters, but you’ll get robins if you have holly.”

Laura Mahan, co-owner of The Compleat Naturalist in Biltmore Village, agrees. “Your yard can be a little ecosystem that supports all levels of the food chain,” she says.

Mahan speaks with some authority.

A botanist and former head of education at both the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the San Diego Natural History Museum, she has operated the shop since 1992 with her husband, Hal, an ornithologist who previously served as director of both museums and was the first president of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

One practice that’s gaining popularity is not raking fallen leaves.

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Allowing dead leaves and other organic materials to decompose undisturbed on a lawn helps “create that food web for organisms that live in the soil,” Mahan explains.

And she points out that because many birds rely on caterpillars as food for their young, it’s important to consider the varieties of plants those caterpillars feed on. “Caterpillars of particular moths and butterflies are very specific, usually, in what species of plants they will eat, and the native butterflies and moths have evolved with these particular plants,” she says.

Oak, says Mahan, is a tree that supports numerous types of caterpillars.

For details on others, she recommends the book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy (available at her shop) as a data-driven resource for those hoping to build an optimal ecosystem for wild birds.

ROOM AND BOARD Winter is a good time to plant woody shrubs and trees, she says. “It’s also not too early to install bird boxes for cavity-nesting birds,” such as chicka-

dees, bluebirds, titmice and woodpeckers. “Bluebirds will start looking for nesting spots really early, like even in February. Now is also a good time to clean out bird boxes from last year and get them ready for the next season.”

In addition to nesting boxes, The Compleat Naturalist stocks a wide range of feeders. Mahan encourages the use of high-quality black oil sunflower seed. “That’s a very simple, basic seed to start with,” she says, adding that suet is another good food source for insect-eating birds like woodpeckers and wrens.

Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in seed, and the Mumas encourage people to keep feeders out year-round to support molting, late-summer hatchlings, migratory birds and more. “Spring is actually a really important time to feed, because nothing has come into seed or fruit yet,” Heidi points out. And Steve notes studies that indicate feeder-supported birds tend to lay more eggs and have healthier bone structure than other wild birds.

But as anyone who keeps up with NextDoor posts knows, bird feeders attract more than just avian wildlife.

How do we feed the birds without also

giving handouts to opportunistic squirrels, opossums and raccoons — and, of course, our resident bears, which will often take down the entire feeder along with the seed?

Steve Muma recommends setting up feeding stations at least 10 feet away from tree branches and shrubbery, then adding a baffle to pole feeders to prevent small intruders from climbing up. There are also weight-sensitive feeders that support feather-light birds but snap shut when a larger critter visits. And Mahan is partial to a clear, bell-shaped dome available at her shop that covers a feeder and prevents seed thieves from reaching inside.

When it comes to bears, though, the only thing to do, say the Mumas, is go spicy. “Hot food is the answer for nearly everything,” says Steve. Wild Birds Unlimited carries many types of seed and suet that are liberally spiced with habanero oil — much hotter than the cayenne some bird enthusiasts may have tried at home — which birds can’t taste, but most mammals can’t stand.

“Bears have a great sense of smell, and they have a great memory, too,” he says. He suggests that those with regular bear visitors place the feed out first in a cheap container so bears won’t bend an expensive feeder pole taking that first sniff.

Both Mahan and the Mumas add that keeping a water source available is extremely important. Both businesses sell bird baths as well as thermostat-controlled warming elements to add to existing baths that keep water from freezing during the winter. “They’ll bathe when it’s freezing cold outside, because feather maintenance is really important to their survival,” says Heidi.

SAFETY FIRST Also crucial to their survival, the Mumas say, is addressing the two big-

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gest safety concerns for wild birds: cats and windows. A 2013 study by researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates between one and four billion birds are killed by domestic cats annually in the contiguous U.S. The same research team reported in 2014 that up to 988 million birds die each year after colliding with windows.

Cats are “crazy-good hunters,” says Steve, and to keep them from annihilating bird populations, they have to be kept indoors. The couple partners with the Asheville Humane Society to foster cats at each of their two stores to model to customers how cats and wild birds can coexist.

“We’re cat people, we have cats, but they’re inside, they’re never allowed out,” says Heidi. “They’re an invasive species to North America; they don’t belong out in the environment.”

As for windows, products are available at the shops that can warn birds away, including window alerts — a decal that is transparent to humans but can be seen by birds — and window tape. Steve also advises that feeders be placed within 10 feet of windows so birds can’t build up enough speed to injure themselves. Keeping screens in windows can also help.

As an all-around resource, the Mumas suggest the book The Joy of Bird Feeding by Wild Birds Unlimited founder Jim Carpenter. “Jim always uses the word ‘joy’ because he’s found so much joy in bird feeding,” says Steve. “And that’s what our customers tell us — it’s just such a joyful thing.”

The Compleat Naturalist is at 2 Brook St. (compleatnaturalist.com).

Wild Birds Unlimited is at 10 Crispin Court and 946 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville (asheville.wbu.com) and 638 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville (hendersonville.wbu.com). X

CULTURAL CRASH COURSE • WE (12/18), 5:30-8pm Cli-Fi: The New Genre of Climate Change Fiction, presentation by Dr. Laura Wright. Registration required. $9. Held at Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville

Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place

ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM • FR (12/13), 7pm - A Hard Straight, documentary. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist

GRAPE GROWER MEETING • TU (12/17), 9:30am-5pm - Full day workshop for beginner grape growers.

Information: Chuck@

Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

FARM & GARDEN

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MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

27

FOOD

TABLE TALK

Brighten holiday meals with thoughtful dining decor

BY LAURA HACKETT lhackett@mountainx.com While gathering around the table with friends and family is an occasion many look forward to during the holiday season, these rare meals can also be a bit unnerving. Perhaps your uncle is fed up with the “OK, boomer” memes you’ve been circulating on the internet. Or your parents are still skeptical about your sister’s decision to get a liberal arts degree. Or a guest brings up a really fun and festive topic, like political gerrymandering.

Some of these phenomena might be an inevitable part — even a staple — of the holiday experience. However, when we sit down to a meal, we’re affected, at least to some degree, by the surrounding atmosphere. To that end, the way one sets a table has the potential to be a secret weapon in defusing discomfort and cultivating a sense of warmth and intimacy. With that idyl-

at the Foundation Building in the River Arts District. With one glance into this warehouse of wonders, visitors quickly realize that behind every curious-looking object is a story with a good bit of mileage.

“I don’t deal in products that a normal store would sell, like dishes, napkins and glassware,” explains owner Stuart Hough, who has spent the last 40 years of his life traveling the world and collecting furniture, rugs, textiles and other curiosities from places like India, Morocco and Turkey. “We specialize in what we think are very interesting objects.”

That can mean anything from a batik indigo table runner handmade by the Hmong people of Vietnam, to antique wooden toys from Rajasthan, India, to a vintage Chinese rice carrier.

“I like the stories behind all these pieces. They’re what I find fascinating,” Hough says. While there’s no guarantee what goods might be available on a given day, he says the shop’s array of specialty baskets and vases can make for great centerpiece options. For a special occasion, Hough also points to his collections of marble trivets, vintage wooden spice holders and table-sized sculptures of everything from horses to Indian deities to masks.

LIVEN IT UP

FLORA FINESSE: The centerpiece is one of the most important considerations in planning festive table decor. Pictured is a holiday centerpiece designed by Flora owner Melissa Thomas for an in-house workshop a few years ago. Photo by Juliana Renee

Give the holiday gift they’ll never return– hand-crafted confections from Kilwins!

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

lic scenario in mind, here’s a crash guide for finding Asheville shops offering jazzy table goods and, with the help of local interior designer Amber Baxley, ideas for arranging them properly.

“I think [table design] sets the mood for the entire dinner. When people see a really beautiful setting, it makes them feel good,” asserts Baxley, who works at ID.ology Interiors & Design. “I definitely think it’s fun to mix it up every year. It’s a way to have a creative outlet and a way to have fun during the holidays. Every year guests will wonder what the table will look like this year.”

While one can never go wrong with classic color schemes such as dark red, green and gold, Baxley says the hot trends this year include the color cayenne (a bright red-orange) and incorporating pops of neon into the design. “It’s also very important to mix materials. A lot of people like to incorporate burlap. But if you’re going to have naturally textured materials, be sure to also incorporate

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items that are smooth or metallic in order to create depth and texture,” she says.

FIND YOUR CENTER When it comes to encouraging conversation, one of the most important factors to consider is the centerpiece, says Baxley. “You can create an intimate space by incorporating something that sparks a conversation — a collection of vintage holiday ornaments or holiday snow globes. Incorporating things like that into a tablescape gives it a really personal touch.”

But don’t forget to consider the height of the centerpiece, Baxley advises. “You don’t want it to be more than 18 inches, because you don’t want to block anyone’s eye line,” she explains. She also recommends asking guests to place cellphones in a basket at the door.

If you recently Marie Kondoed your knickknack collection, no worries.

Head over to Sunnyside Trading Co.

Once you know the main elements of your centerpiece, the next step is to enliven the design with some greenery.

“Really, any plant — whether it’s real or synthetic — gives you an opportunity to layer different colors so that the table doesn’t look stale,” says Baxley.

“Even if you’re going for a monochromatic look, it’s important to incorporate different color tones.”

Flora, a botanical boutique in West Asheville, stocks options for a truly local floral finish. The full-service floral shop, which closely resembles a fairy home, offers customized centerpiece designs, simple hand-tied bouquets and a plethora of other plant decor.

“We like to do a lot of foraging.

This year is perfect because evergreen has been really abundant,” says shop manager Tyler Rogero, noting that the plants are not only great for decorating but are also safe to display with food.

“Our aesthetic is definitely really garden-y,” she adds. “We have a variety of interesting flowers, ones you can’t find at a grocery store, like hellebores, amaryllis bulbs, ginestras and garden roses. I’m partial to the garden roses because they smell fantastic and open differently than other roses.”

Another plus to visiting Flora: Its whimsical in-house cafe, aptly

named Forage, serves coffee, smallbatch beer and cider and baked goods from The Rhu.

chandeliers that artfully intertwine playful spherical, tapered and tulip shapes with luminous colors like manganese blue, honey gold and sap green.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, MEALTIME A final make-or-break when it comes to mealtime ambiance is lighting. “You don’t want your overhead lighting to be too harsh, but you also want people to be able to see what they’re eating,” says Baxley.

Candles, she says, are great for setting the mood, but it’s best to steer clear of the scented variety. “The whole point is for people to smell the good food you’re making,” she points out. “I wouldn’t want to cut into turkey and smell Hawaiian breeze.”

If your overhead lighting is hopelessly bright (think interrogation scene) or nonexistent (e.g., occult seance vibes), it might be worth taking a trip to Lexington Glassworks. This walk-in studio, located in a former full-service garage on South Lexington Avenue, was founded by artists Billy Guilford and Geoff Koslow in 2015. In addition to offering hand-blown cups, bowls, vases and other accent pieces, the shop also sells custom traditional and cluster

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

(RE)PURPOSEFUL GOODS If you’ve been reading this story and thinking to yourself, “Ain’t nobody got money for that,” or “Shoot, I don’t even have matching dishware or silverware,” do not pass go, just immediately visit The Regeneration Station off Thompson Street. You’re going to want to give yourself at least an hour (or three) to pick through this eclectic, 36,000-squarefoot treasure trove of upcycled, repurposed, salvaged and consigned goodies.

While this secondhand bazaar is known for its funky furniture and artwork, you can find plenty of vintage dishware, silverware, tablecloths, wine glass sets, napkin ring holders and beyond — some proudly on display and others hiding in the nooks and crannies of the more than 70 permanent vendor booths that occupy the space. Pro tip: If the item is priced over $100, haggling and negotiating are welcome. X

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Karen Donatelli Bakery & Café 57 Haywood Street | Downtown Asheville 828-225-5751 | donatellicakedesigns.com MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

29

FOOD

by Thomas Calder

tcalder@mountainx.com

SECOND SERVING Don’t let the title of Nan Chase’s latest book — Lost Restaurants of Asheville — fool you. Yes, eateries of yesteryear fill its pages, but the work is far from a simple, nostalgic look back at the city’s former drive-ins, lunch counters and burger joints.

“It’s not a smiley-face history,” says the author — a fact she shared with the book’s publisher, The History Press, before taking on the project.

Along with old recipes, classified ads and photographs from bygone eras, the book’s chapters examine immigration, segregation and gentrification. Her goal for writing the book, notes Chase, was to tell the city’s true story.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library will celebrate its release with a launch party. Chase will speak at the event as well as hold a book signing.

Nan Chase revisits restaurants of Asheville’s past

IMAGES OF THE PAST

and moved to Clingman Avenue in the early 1970s — the chapter’s featured image shows the small building headed to its new site. Operational from 1934 to 2011, the former cafe is now home to All Souls Pizza.

Of course, not all of the book’s photography is as whimsical. For example, a pair of holiday photographs, circa 1950, reflects Asheville’s then strict adherence to segregation laws.

Both photos were taken at Tingles Cafe, which operated from 1918-73.

In the first image, the restaurant’s white staff poses before a Christmas tree alongside owner Alvis Tingle; half the group is seated at a table (adorned with white linen and holiday décor), while the other half stands. The second photo shows the cafe’s black staff gathered around the same Christmas tree; the women are lined up in a single row while the male chefs crouch in the empty space previously occupied by the table.

By Chase’s estimate, thousands of restaurants have come and gone since Asheville’s incorporation in 1797.

The 32 featured establishments in her book, however, operated primarily in the 20th century. As part of The History Press’ Lost Restaurants series, available photography played a determining factor, Chase explains.

Many of the featured images show the interior layout of former restaurants like the Red Carpet Room at Bucks on Tunnel Road, the Biltmore Plaza Recreation Center and the original S&W Cafeteria. Others capture unique signage, advertisements and menu designs. Shots of more recent establishments like Stone Soup and Laurey’s Gourmet Comfort Food are also featured.

And then there are a handful of gems like the Silver Dollar Cafe. Originally located on Roberts Street, the entire building was loaded onto a truck bed

LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Author Nan Chase explores 32 former Asheville restaurants in her latest book. Cover photo reprinted with permission from Lost Restaurants of Asheville, by author Nan Chase; available online at arcadiapublishing.com or by calling 888-313-2665; author photo by Jenny Tenney Photography

MUDHOLES AND VOLCANOS Though photography may have played a part in shaping the book’s focus, Chase’s research and language are what bring the stories to life. In one example, the author’s vivid descriptions transport readers back to the start of the 20th century.

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it, Chase offers an interwoven and complex tale that is both unique to Asheville and reflective of the country at large.

But along with an honest look back, Lost Restaurants of Asheville is also a celebration of the city’s culinary scene and the sense of community each former establishment created.

Through this lens, the book reads as an extended toast to the entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic of Asheville’s bakers, bartenders, owners and chefs — past and present. X

Thanks, Asheville!

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~Grazie Mille~ TAKE TWO: A pair of holiday staff photos, circa 1950, at the former Tingles Cafe shows a city divided and defined by race. Photos courtesy of the North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Public Library, Asheville “Greek immigrants had begun settling around Asheville soon after 1900, when much of the downtown was still a ‘mud hole’ with only rudimentary public services,” Chase writes.

“Sidewalks were wooden planks laid over knee-deep mire. But demand for food was high, and working in cafes and restaurants quickly became a favored career.”

A few chapters later, readers are in post-World War II Asheville, when a series of drive-ins on Tunnel Road were all the rage. The drive-in restaurant model itself is emblematic of the period’s popular portrayal as a time of innocence and prosperity, when carefree teenagers cruised the streets, grabbing burgers and milkshakes on Friday nights.

Rather than perpetuate this narrative, Chase reminds readers of the social and political unrest that simmered beneath the surface. “In the first exhilarating postwar years, it would be nearly impossible to see [the social] changes ahead, the cracks in the foundation, the seismic shifts between the races and the sexes that would fracture the cultural landscape,” she writes. “It was as though Americans were about to build an amusement park on a volcano.”

Later, as the country grappled with civil rights and protested the Vietnam War, Asheville’s downtown fell into a death spiral. Businesses and restaurants alike fled the district for the latest craze: the indoor shopping mall. Of course, the mass exodus is what ultimately made it possible for the next wave of culinary visionaries, who in the late ’70s and ’80s took advantage of the cheap rent in the city’s seedy downtown, paving the

(A Thousand Thanks)

way for today’s nationally recognized, award-winning restaurants and chefs.

“There would not have been a twenty-first-century rebirth of downtown Asheville if first it hadn’t died,” Chase writes. “That dying took only fifteen years, but the misery lasted far longer.”

A TOAST TO THE INDUSTRY The book’s inclusion of social history lends weight to a topic that might have otherwise been forgettable. With

WHAT Lost Restaurants of Asheville launch party WHERE Lord Auditorium at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. avl.mx/6eu WHEN Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-7 p.m. Free

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31

SMALL BITES

F OOD

by Thomas Calder | tcalder@mountainx.com

Deluxe opens in Woodfin In November, Deluxe, a cafe and wine bar, quietly opened on the eastern edge of Woodfin. Located just across the street from Asheville’s city limit, the new cafe occupies the downstairs portion of a quaint, two-story, navy blue brick building at the threeway intersection where Lakeshore Drive meets Elk Mountain Road and Elkwood Avenue.

Co-owner and chef Scott Haulman says the restaurant’s soft opening was intentional. “We’re trying to get to know people in the neighborhood,” he explains. “That’s who we want in here on a regular basis. Anything else is just incidental.”

Originally from Greensboro, Haulman has made his rounds in the restaurant industry for over 30 years.

Along with working as an executive chef at a number of fine dining establishments, he also owned the original Deluxe in Wilmington for 10 years before closing it in 2012.

Deluxe’s latest iteration, he says, is about a third of the size of his original operation, seating 36. Offering wine by the glass and by the bottle, the restaurant features selections from Arizona, California, Oregon, France, Italy and Spain. Pours run $8-$14.

The restaurant’s evening food menu includes selections such as assorted artisan cheeses, roasted exotic mushrooms, warm crepe manicotti and sterling silver beef tenderloins. According to Haulman, lunch and weekend brunch options will be ever changing. Plates run from $5-$14.

Along with a handful of parking spaces outside the building, additional spots are available across Elkwood Avenue, diagonal from the restaurant — meaning most visitors will park in Asheville but eat in Woodfin.

So far the neighborhood response has been positive. “We’re literally populating the seats with people we know on a first name basis who live within three blocks of here,” Haulman says. “And those are a lot of really fun people.”

Deluxe is at 126 Elkwood Ave., Woodfin.

Hours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

Fruit vinegars class

EVEN

STOCKING STUFFERS SHOULD MAKE A STATEMENT

In an upcoming class, Stephanie Poetter of Locally Good will teach folks how to make apple cider vinegar and other fruit vinegars from scratch.

“Whether drinking for health, using in a marinade or splashing on a fresh salad, you will love having your own vinegar at hand,” states a recent press release.

Vinegar starters will be available for purchase during the event. Tickets are $15.

The workshop runs 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Locally Good, 41 Charlie Brown Road, Burnsville. To learn more, visit avl.mx/6qs.

Love Never Fails Christmas Gala Receive a $25 Bonus for every $100 purchased in gift cards this Holiday Season!

Promotion begins Monday, 12/2 from 12-4pm in-store.

Also available online at ruths-chris.com (828) 398-6200 • 26 All Souls Crescent, AVL 32

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

The third annual Love Never Fails Christmas Gala takes place Thursday, Dec. 12. The event is hosted by Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, a nondenominational ministry that serves the homeless, financially insecure and addicted populations of Western North Carolina.

The event includes a three-course dinner, live entertainment and a silent auction.

Menu highlights include caprese skewers with tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil

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Saturday, Dec. 14. This year’s winner takes home a $1,000 cash prize. There is a $10 entry fee, and competitors are asked to bring a full-size slow cooker of gravy. The Social will provide biscuits.

Five local chefs will judge the entries, and attendees will also taste and vote for their favorite dish. Tickets are $16.

A combined total score taken from the judges’ panel and the event’s popular vote will decide the overall winner.

The competition runs 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14, at The Social, 1078 Tunnel Road. For more information, visit avl.mx/6qx.

Vegan cookie swap Your Vegan Mentor and Sunflower Diner will host a vegan cookie swap on Sunday, Dec. 15. Those interested in participating must email Laura Beck at laura@yourveganmentor.com to sign up. Beck asks that contributors include their cookie recipe in the email.

There are 18 spaces available. Each baker is asked to bring six dozen vegan cookies along with a list of ingredients.

Sunflower Diner will offer snacks, wine by the glass and vegan coconut eggnog for sale during the event.

The swap runs 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Sunflower Diner, 771 Haywood Road. To learn more, visit avl.mx/6qt.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Chef Scott Haulman, pictured, and business partner Mark Collins recently launched Deluxe, a cafe and wine bar in Woodfin. Photo

by Thomas Calder pesto, mixed greens and roasted pork chop with apple cider glaze. Tickets are $50 per person or $350 for a table of eight.

The gala starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Crowne Plaza Resort & Expo Center, 1 Resort Drive. To purchase tickets, visit avl.mx/6qq.

Vegetarian potluck Meditation in Asheville, a meditation center offering group classes, retreats and special events, will host a vegetarian potluck on Friday, Dec. 13, to celebrate the holiday season and the end of the decade.

The event is family friendly.

The potluck runs 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at Meditation in Asheville, 1070 Tunnel Road. To learn more, visit avl.mx/6qu.

Biscuit & Gravy Battle returns For a second straight year, The Social will host its Biscuit & Gravy Battle on

Family meal at Ivory Road Café & Kitchen Ivory Road Café & Kitchen welcomes the winter with a cozy fourcourse family meal on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Menu highlights include brie puff with candied walnut, cranberry orange chutney and house balsamic reduction; cornbread apple souffle stuffing with bacon; Brussels sprouts with brandy gravy; crispy-skin roasted duck breast; and an eggnog crème brûlée. Tickets are $45 for the meal or $65 with wine, beer or cider pairing.

The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Ivory Road Café & Kitchen, 1854 Brevard Road. For reservations, visit avl.mx/6qr.

The Lobster Club WNC returns Michael Scharf, Asheville’s “Lobster Guy,” recently relaunched The Lobster Club WNC. Deliveries of live Maine lobsters and fresh, pasteurized lobster meat are available for pickup Fridays at the Innsbruck Mall.

For more information and to place an order, visit thelobsterclubwnc.com. X

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE TURNERS

Locally owned bookstores flourish in the region’s fertile literary landscape

BY KAY WEST kswest55@comcast.net When it comes to a love of literature and passion for the printed word, Western North Carolina is an open book. And many of its bookstores — independently owned, local institutions — have endured, even as megachains and online ordering have spurred the closing of the same in similarly sized cities around the country.

In WNC, say bookstore owners, size doesn’t matter so much as a deep well of literary history, and residents and visitors who simply love to read.

That the Asheville area continues to be fertile ground for the written word is clear in contemporary bestselling books authored by natives and evident in the regional section of Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, which has an entire shelf devoted to native son Thomas Wolfe. “Our local section has regional guides, regional cooking, regional nonfiction and regional fiction,” says Gretchen Horn, an 18-year-employee who purchased majority ownership from founder Emoke B’Racz at the start of 2019 (as well as B’Racz’s other store, Downtown Books & News).

A literary landmark minus a marker is 61 Haywood St., site of the first location of The Captain’s Bookshelf and Malaprop’s, respectively. When Chan Gordon, co-founder of The Captain’s Bookshelf with his wife, Miegan Gordon, got out of the Navy in 1970, he took a job at Talman’s Bookstore on Wall Street in Asheville. After the store closed, the couple moved to Charleston, S.C., and worked in another bookstore, The Book Basement. In 1976,

GET A READ: Bagatelle Books on Haywood Road is the newest bookstore to open in Asheville, but owner Patrick Kutcher brings years of experience from working at Malaprop’s, Downtown Books & News and The Captain’s Bookshelf. The shop’s name, Kutcher explains, is a term for a short musical composition. Photo by Erin Fowler they returned to Asheville and opened The Captain’s Bookshelf.

Customers followed The Captain’s Bookshelf to its next location above Enman’s Furrier on Battery Park Avenue in 1982 but also continued to patronize 61 Haywood when B’Racz opened Malaprop’s there. “It was a seamless bookstore transition,” notes Gordon, with a laugh. While on Battery Park, The Captain’s Bookshelf shifted its inventory from new books to secondhand and rare,

establishing a reputation that followed the business to Page Avenue.

Malaprop’s moved a few doors down to its current location at 55 Haywood St. in 1997 (B’Racz opened Downtown Books & News on Lexington Avenue nearly a decade earlier).

“WNC people are readers, curious people, people who seek knowledge.

Visitors have that same curiosity,” says Gordon, explaining the success of the region’s independent bookstores.

Horn agrees: “Painters, potters, craftspeople, musicians, books and reading are the cultural landscape here.”

Here are some of the oldest and newest in Asheville and surrounding areas: • The Captain’s Bookshelf, 31 Page Ave.: “In March [2020], Miegan and I will have been in the retail book business for 50 years, and that’s long enough,” says Chan Gordon, in partial explanation of why Asheville’s oldest

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bookstore will close March 31. “Our lease is ending, and the new rent structure will be prohibitive for this kind of business.”

The enterprise counts almost 25,000 curated secondhand and rare books in its inventory, culled from multiple sources. “We just got a huge Edward Gorey collection shipped to us from California because they know we are interested in him,” says Chan.

The Gordons will retain a few thousand books as the basis for a continuation of their online business, but everything is for sale, including the signed, first-edition, original dust jacket copy of Maurice Sendak’s children’s classic, In The Night Kitchen.

In December, all books priced over $10 will be discounted 40%. captainsbookshelf.com • Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café, 55 Haywood St.: Since assuming primary ownership of the store, Horn hasn’t made any drastic changes to the model that has kept Malaprop’s thriving for nearly four decades. “We like to cram as much as we can in here,” she says, looking around the multisectioned space that, in addition to new books in dozens of categories, sells games, puzzles, crafty projects, calendars, greeting cards and

journals. “Lots and lots of journals. But I’ve tried to open it up a little so it’s a bit roomier and easier to get around.”

She has streamlined programming a bit, too, from about six readings a week to four, from local and national authors. “But really, this place is all about community,” Horn says.

“I don’t call myself an owner. I call myself a guardian, preserving the community spirit that draws us all here.” malaprops.com Downtown Books & News, 67 N. Lexington Ave.: Martha Stewart’s Living might be the most conventional publication on the shelves of this proudly quirky store. “It’s very Lexington Avenue,” says Horn, referring to the street’s inherent individuality. Secondhand books run the gamut from fiction and poetry to travel and the occult. The magazine inventory is epic in its breadth and ethos. Here you will find not just foreign language editions of American publications like Vogue, but titles like High Snobiety, Another Man, Bitch, frankie, Hi-Fructose, Toothache and six issues of Pussweek, by and about cats. “I love going to Downtown,” says Horn. “It’s like a vacation.” dbnbooks.com

“We have everything you need to be successful!”

• Battery Park Book Exchange, 1 Page Ave.: Books and bubbles. Is there a more perfect combination? Bibliophiles, oenophiles, jazz enthusiasts and passersby lured inside by the striking exterior of the shop and Champagne bar, anchoring a corner of the Grove Arcade, can be found nestled into the cozy leather seating tucked into the many rooms, levels, nooks and crannies in this encourager of indulgence. Resembling a French salon of the 19th century, the store stocks thousands of secondhand books, noted for their pristine condition. Also noteworthy: The wine list. batteryparkbookexchange.com • Bagatelle Books, 428-C Haywood Road: This is the newest bookstore to open in Asheville, but owner Patrick Kutcher brings years of experience from working at Malaprop’s, Downtown Books & News and The Captain’s Bookshelf. The last was especially helpful in building an inventory of secondhand books to place on the tulip poplar shelves he had built for the light-filled shop on Haywood Road in West Asheville. “As Captain’s Bookshelf is winding down, they let me look through books they were receiv-

CONTINUES ON PAGE 36

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A& E ing,” he says. “There was no secondhand bookstore in West Asheville, so I’m not stepping on any toes, and I like that our neighbors are Harvest Records and Flora.” A copy of Eudora Welty’s Country Churchyards and Patti Smith 1969-1971 by Judy Linn share a shelf and reflect Kutcher’s interest in regional work, collectible literature and music. So does the name of the store: “Bagatelle is a term for a short musical composition.” bagatellebooks.com

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devoted to children, with books and toys. firestorm.coop • Highland Books, 36 W. Main St., Brevard: Book lovers Amanda and Chris Mosser bought this 43-year-old Brevard mainstay in 2015 and, in 2019, moved it to Main Street. The store stocks new books, a large collection of greeting and note cards, fair trade gifts through an alliance with Ten Thousand Villages, wine and cheese. The owners share staff picks online and host author events with local writers. highlandbooksonline.com

• Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road: Firestorm is a small store with big and bold ideas. Launched in downtown Asheville in 2008 as a collectively owned, radical bookstore and community gathering space, it moved into a storefront in West Asheville in 2014. Along with mainstream titles like White Negroes and Where the Crawdads Sing, Firestorm is the best source for books exploring socialism, anarchy, racism, LGBTQ and gender issues, animal and environmental activism, food movements and feminism. The store serves coffee (no specialty drinks) and all-vegan local baked goods from a counter and hosts book events and community meetings on a near-daily basis. A significant area of the store is

• City Lights Bookstore, 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva: City Lights Bookstore, open since 1985, sells new and used books, journals, greeting cards, gifts and maps in its corner building, which it shares with City Lights Café on the lower level.

The business hosts readings, classes and — in partnership with the North Carolina Writers Network West — a monthly open mic night for writers and poets to share new and in-progress work. citylightsnc.com • Sassafras on Sutton, 108 Sutton Ave., Black Mountain: The business is less than 2 years old, but the brick-and-stone building it inhabits is one of the oldest in

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Local authors offer a variety of books — from fiction and winter sports to a holiday-themed children’s book — as gift options. Following is a selection of recent local releases; area bookstores carry other regional author offerings in their Western North Carolina sections.

• Naughty Noel, about “a cat who loses everything and finds his way home for Christmas,” according to a book description, is based on a true story. Author Christine D. Page published her children’s story of adventures and misadventures with local press Grateful Steps; the book was illustrated by Dana Margaret Irwin.

• Meagan Lucas, an English teacher at A-B Tech and the fiction editor at Barren Magazine, shares her Southern noir novel Songbirds and Stray Dogs, which explores

small-town secrets and escaping expectations.

• Henderson County resident Evan Williams recently published his latest novel, Ripples, which draws from his family’s multigenerational apple-growing business.

• The second edition of Banner Elk-based author Randy Johnson’s 1987 book Southern Snow: The New Guide to Winter Sports from Maryland to the Southern Appalachians was just published by the University of North Carolina Press.

• “The milestones of Asheville’s long history are well known to locals, but so many interesting stories are all but forgotten,” says a description of Hidden History of Asheville, compiled by Zoe Rhine and the staff and volunteers of the North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library.

— Alli Marshall X

Black Mountain; a historical marker by the front door notes it was constructed in 1876 as the livery stables for the railroad.

In addition to new books and a very large selection of gifts, Sassafras brews fresh coffee from roaster and neighbor Dynamite Coffee and serves baked goods from nearby Four Sisters Bakery. sassafrasonsutton.com • Blue Ridge Books, 428 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville: Blue Ridge Books specializes in new titles but also carries used books, gifts, greeting cards, magazines and newspapers, and is the only place in Haywood County to find The Wall Street Journal. The cozy store hosts local authors on weekends; Michael Beadle and Peter Yurko’s Waynesville has been the shop’s bestselling book for 10 years. blueridgebooksnc.com • Wall Street Book Exchange, 18 Wall St., Waynesville: Located in downtown Waynesville for 23 years, Wall Street Book Exchange has been owned by Bonnie and Greg Owens since 2015. A large chalkboard on one wall announces new arrivals, events and posts literary quotes. The store boasts more than 50,000 used books, outdoor seating and a plush reading sofa named Ms. Virginia. wallstreetbooksnc.com X

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

37

A &E

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by Bill Kopp

bill@musoscribe.com

‘EACH DAY IS PRECIOUS’ Kat Williams and Richard Shulman present a holiday concert For nearly two decades, Katrina Way “Kat” Williams was a prominent fixture of Asheville’s live music scene. The vocalist’s multigenre repertoire earned her a place as one of the region’s most beloved performers. But a serious health condition largely sidelined her for several years. Twelve months to the day after a successful kidney transplant, Kat Williams returns to the stage with a holiday-themed concert, Bells Will Be Ringing. Teaming up with pianist, longtime friend and musical associate Richard Shulman, Williams plays Isis Music Hall on Saturday, Dec. 21.

When Williams moved from Western New York to Asheville in 1997, she wasn’t known as a singer. And unlike some artists drawn to this city’s fertile musical ground, her relocation wasn’t part of some larger plan. “I moved a friend here,” she explains. “And I never left.”

But she grew up steeped in music.

The 1945 Mel Tormé composition “The Christmas Song” was her mother’s favorite. “Me and my mom used to listen to it over and over again,” she recalls. From a young age, Williams could sing, but even as a young adult, she didn’t apply her gift toward a career as a vocalist.

That all changed by accident not long after Williams moved south. One night, she went to Tressa’s, a thennewly opened bar and music venue on Broadway. “I was discovered at karaoke,” Williams says with a laugh. Club owner Terri Abernathy was impressed: “She asked me what band I sang with. I said that I didn’t; I worked for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department.”

A year later, Williams was the house singer at Tressa’s.

Williams took on other gigs as well and established herself as a prime mover in the local music scene. She first teamed up with Shulman in 1998. The pianist says that by 2015, he and Williams were “playing together almost every week.”

Drawing on her background as a union member, Williams encouraged Asheville musicians to organize — even if only informally — to get better pay. “If I wanted ‘exposure,’ I could have stayed

THE GREATEST GIFT: Bouncing back from health challenges that threatened to sideline her permanently, Asheville-based vocalist Kat Williams joins longtime collaborator Richard Shulman for Bells Will Be Ringing, a holidaythemed concert at Isis Music Hall on Dec. 21.

Photo by Lauren Rutten in Buffalo and stripped naked,” she told one local club owner. She told her fellow musicians, “If we, across the board, ask for the same fee, the clubs will give it to us.” That effort met with some success: “Everybody pretty much got the same money instead of fighting each other.”

But Williams eventually found herself in a fight of a very different sort.

After establishing herself locally and gaining some high-profile national attention as a singer (including a Grammy nomination, an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and a finalist spot on “America’s Got Talent”), she began to develop health problems.

In 2015, Williams was diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.

Wait-listed for a kidney transplant, the singer continued to perform as she was able, but gigs became far less frequent. “I was out of the music scene for about five years, on and off,” Williams says. Meanwhile, the community rallied to her support. Benefit shows helped defray the singer’s mounting medical bills. By the start of 2017, more than $70,000 had been raised.

Eventually, some 80 people signed on as potential kidney donors. An anonymous donor proved a match, and a year ago Williams underwent a successful transplant. By the summer, she was ready to make selected live appearances. Dubbing those shows her With Gratitude Tour, she explained in a press release that the concerts were her way of expressing thanks to “that special angel who gave me this kidney” and to her fans and supporters.

Calling her live dates a tour might be a bit of a stretch; though she’s healthy now, these days Williams says that she takes things one day at a time. “We’ll see where it goes,” she says. “Each day is precious to me now.”

The Christmas show is another way that Williams expresses her deep gratitude. But her approach isn’t solemn or overly serious. Shulman notes that a perennial favorite at the holiday shows is James Brown’s “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto.”

With mischief in her voice, Williams teases, “This isn’t your mamma’s Christmas show.” X

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39

A&E

by Alli Marshall

amarshall@mountainx.com

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND Filmmaker Kira Bursky’s projections installation opens through Vibe of Asheville Sharing art with an audience is a vulnerable experience — especially when that work is raw and personal.

And when the venue for public viewing is also the artist’s living space, it adds an extra level of poignancy and exposure. Considerations of Infinity, an immersive video installation by local filmmaker Kira Bursky is just that: intimate, revealing and set within Bursky’s downtown Asheville apartment.

As part of Asheville Stay’s Vibe of Asheville artist residency, the exhibition is open to the public on the second Wednesday of each month, DecemberJune, starting Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Other events around Considerations of Infinity — which examines depression, creativity and hope through surrounds of light, imagery and spoken word —

STAY A WHILE: Celeste Gray, left, and Kira Bursky are pictured inside Bursky’s installation Considerations of Infinity. The multiprojector art project was created as part of Bursky’s artist residency through Gray’s Vibe of Asheville initiative. Visitors can book the apartment and vacation within Bursky’s work, which explores themes of depression, creativity and magic.

Photo by Jeff Haffner

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include an immersive night on Saturday, Jan. 25, and a film premiere and gallery opening on Saturday, March 7.

It’s not a spoiler to say Considerations of Infinity starts with an image of Bursky, naked. Tastefully, modestly nude, but unclothed, nonetheless. It sets the bar for the level of exposure and soul disclosure of the show. A narrative delivered in an urgent whisper accompanies the flurry of images that are sometimes flung across the apartment’s walls and ceilings and other times rotating in place or wavering, 3D-like, thanks to an effect Bursky created with tulle panels.

Considerations of Infinity is, to an extent, part of a bigger project. Bursky, who has created more than 60 short films and music videos (and is still in her early 20s), is in the process of writing her first full-length film in an effort to take her career to the next level. The Vibe of Asheville installation “parallels and ties into everything I’ll be exploring in my feature screenplay,” she explains. “I had this idea that it would be so amazing to create an environment that represented the vibes, imagery and storyline that I’ll be exploring … and once I created that

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environment, continue writing the script while immersed in that world.”

But Bursky’s not the only one who will live in that crafted setting. As part of Asheville Stay, visitors to this city (or locals looking for a staycation) can book Bursky’s apartment while she’s out of town and reside among the installation. Part of the programming is a userfriendly setup that will allow visitors to launch the projections (including a serene starscape in the bedroom) with the touch of a button.

“I think that people are often searching for more depth. They want to have an experience,” says Celeste Gray, owner of Asheville Stay. She likens the vacation rental within the installation to adventure travel.

Asheville Stay comprises 10 lightfilled, modern, fully equipped lofts in downtown Asheville. When Gray (who is also a maker) first began creating vacation rentals on Chicken Alley and Carolina Lane — formerly home to lowrent artist residences and performance spaces like The Big Idea and The Green Door — her neighbors thought she was crazy. “Innovation is always a little like,

‘Are you sure?’” Gray points out. “But I’m constantly seeking innovation in my work.”

“The vibe of every city begins with its creators” is the tagline for Vibe of Asheville, the artist residency/event arm of Asheville Stay that Gray hopes to expand to other cities. Doing so will allow for artists who are part of the program to grow their audiences and connections, and will bring creatives from other regions to Asheville (an artist from Switzerland has already applied for a residency).

But the immediate impact is that the residency provides creative people with a fully serviced apartment so they can focus on work instead of, say, vacuuming. “How can we all come up with creative and equitable solutions that address economic disparities?” Gray asks, rhetorically. “Why do we have starving artists? We need to take care of our creators.”

And, she continues, the artist residency does benefit the vacation rental arm of the business. “We can have altruistic tendencies built into any business,” Gray says. “To give opportunities to artists is a win-win-win because then tourists and locals … can experience the world of the artist. It adds another dimension of intimacy and connection to the work.”

For Bursky, the opportunity to create a world within her living space has resulted in “happy accidents.” Space and time to experiment led her to push the limits of her abilities in how she uses projections, and “now I’m starting to look at future projects in a new way,” she says.

But what the artist most wants to share with viewers of Considerations of Infinity is a sense of wonder. “It’s possible to rediscover the magic, and if you haven’t even discovered it yet, it’s possible to find it,” Bursky says.

“We all have the ability to live lives of infinite possibility. X

WHAT Considerations of Infinity WHERE Downtown Asheville; address shared with ticket holders WHEN Open exhibition second Wednesdays of each month, December-June, starting Wednesday, Dec. 11, 7-9 p.m., $15 Immersive Night Saturday, Jan. 25, 7-9:30 p.m., $125 Info and tickets at ashevillestay.com/vibe-events

A & E CALENDAR

=❄ ART 5TH ANNUAL DISPLAY OF NATIVITY SETS ❄ WE (12/11) through WE (12/18), weekdays 5-8pm, weekends noon6pm - Display of 300+ nativity sets from 60+ countries. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. ARTIST DEMONSTRATION WITH LORI DEUTSCHMANN • SA (12/14), 1-4pm - Lori Deutschmann demonstrates knitting techniques. Free. Held at Haywood County Arts Council, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville ASHEVILLE ART THEORY READING GROUP • 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 6pm - Asheville art theory reading group.

Free. Held at Revolve, 821 Riverside Drive, #179 BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • SU (12/1) through TU (12/31) - Fairview fiber artists Julie Bagamary, Paula Entin and Laura Gaskin display their work. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • MO (12/16), 10amnoon - Itch to Stitch, a casual knitting and needlework group for all skill levels. Free. Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville DRAFT 2.0: LIFE DRAWING NIGHT • WE (12/18), 6-8pm - Life drawing session, bring your own art supplies, dry media only. $5. Held at Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave. FIGURE DRAWING SALON • FRIDAYS, 6-9PM - Open figure drawing sessions with live model. Basic art supplies provided or bring your own, dry media only. $15. Held at The Colourfield, 54 Ravenscroft Drive

OLD FARMERS BALL CONTRA DANCE • THURSDAYS, 7:3011pm - Old Farmers Ball, contra dance. $8/$7 members/$1 Warren Wilson Community. Held in Bryson Gym Held at Warren Wilson College, 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa

FUN WITH FASHION • SA (12/14), 11am-4pm - Fun with Fashion, event featuring handmade wearable clothing, refreshments and demonstrations.

Free to attend. Held at Mica Fine Contemporary Craft, 37 N. Mitchell Ave., Bakersville MARVELOUS MONDAY STUDIOS • MONDAYS, 9:30am-12:30pm or 1-4pm - Marvelous Mondays, beginner and up, includes watercolor, oils, acrylics, drawing and mixed media.

Registration required. $27 and up. Held at 310 ART, 191 Lyman St., #310 MIXED MEDIA FOR VETERAN FAMILIES • FR (12/13), 5-6:30pm - Mixed media art class for veteran families.

Registration required.

Free. Held at Asheville Area Arts Council, 207 Coxe Ave. SECOND SATURDAY FOLKMOOT MARKET • 2nd SATURDAYS, 6-9pm - Second Saturday Market featuring vendors, live music, dance lessons, food and beverages.

Free to attend/$10-$15 for dinner/$5 per dance lesson. Held at Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville

ART/CRAFT STROLLS & FAIRS SHOW & TELL HOLIDAY POP UP SHOP (PD.) 11/29-12/21, 10am-8pm @ ASHEVILLE SOCIAL HALL. Find a gift for everyone on your list! Shop local/indie craft, design, and vintage. showandtellpopupshop.com • 81 Broadway St., 28801.

APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW ❄ SA (12/14), 9am-4pm - Appalachian Christmas Craft Show, featuring vendors from across the region. Free to attend.

ANGELIQUE MUSICKE: Musicke Antiqua’s 2019 winter program, Christmas Renewed, features traditional holiday music from several cultures and arranged for replicas of early instruments, including recorders, crumhorns, percussion instruments, violas da gamba and harpsichord. Musicke Antiqua’s 13 musicians perform in historically accurate costumes. The programs are designed to inspire appreciation of early music and support its study. Two free performances are planned this week. The first is on Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m., at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, the second on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at noon at Transylvania County Library. Photo courtesy of Arlin Geyer (p. 43)

Held at Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center, 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska

featuring 10+ local artists.

Free to attend. Held at The Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St.

FIRESTORM HOLIDAY CRAFT POP-UP SERIES ❄ SATURDAYS (12/14) through (12/21) & SU (12/15), 11am-4pm - Firestorm holiday craft pop-up event with 18 local crafters, illustrators, fiber artists, jewelers, herbalists, woodworkers and bladesmith.

Free to attend. Held at Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT SECOND SATURDAY • 2nd SATURDAYS, 11am-4:30pm - River Arts District gallery walks and open studios featuring 200+ artists. Information: riverartsdistrict.com. Free to attend/Free trolley. Held at River Arts District Studio Stroll, Depot St.

HOLIDAY TRUNK SHOW ❄ SA (12/14) & SU (12/15), 11am-5pm - Jewelry invitational trunk show. Held at Ignite Jewelry Studios, 191 Lyman St., Suite 262 MADISON COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL HOLIDAY SALE ❄ FR (12/13), 5-8pm & SA (12/14), 10am-3pm - Holiday art sale featuring local artisans. Free to attend.

Held at Madison County Arts Council, 90 S. Main St., Marshall OWEN MIDDLE SCHOOL HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR ❄ SA (12/14), 10am-4pm - Juried holiday art and craft fair with pottery, metalwork, woodwork, fabrics and jewelry. Free to attend. Held at Owen Middle School, 730 Old US Highway 70, Swannanoa REFRACTION ART MARKET ❄ SU (12/15), 1-6pm - Curated art market

RIVERVIEW STATION HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE ❄ SU (12/15), noon-5pm - Holiday open house with 65+ studios and galleries.

Free to attend. Held at Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St. SECOND SATURDAY CELEBRATIONS • 2nd SATURDAYS, 11am-5pm - Second Saturday Celebration, event with food, music and artist demonstrations. Free to attend. Held at Odyssey Cooperative Art Gallery, 238 Clingman Ave. SWANNANOA WINTERFEST ❄ SA (12/14), 4-8pm - Art and craft festival featuring 20 vendors, artisans and nonprofits selling holiday items. Event includes caroling, sing-alongs and holiday lights. Free to attend. Held at Grovemont Square, 101 W Charleston Ave, Swannanoa

THIRD THURSDAY IN MARSHALL • 3rd THURSDAYS, 5-8pm - Gallery openings, studio tours, shops, food and drinks. Free to attend. Held at Downtown Marshall TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY HANDCRAFTER’S GUILD • FR (12/13) & SA (12/14), 9am-5pm - Transylvania County Handcrafter’s Guild juried show with handcrafted items for sale ranging from basketry, fiber art, weaving, enamelware, landscape painting, pottery, marionettes and jewelry.

Free to attend. Held at Masonic Lodge Brevard, 174 E Main St., Brevard WEST ASHEVILLE HOLIDAY MARKET ❄ TU (12/17), 2:30-6pm - Annual indoor holiday market. Free to attend.

Held at The Mothlight, 701 Haywood Road WINTER IN THE WEAVE HOLIDAY POP-UP ❄ FR (12/13), 5-8pm & SA (12/14), 10am-2pm - Holiday market featuring 20 local art and craft vendors. Free to attend. Held at Gotta Have It Antiques, Weaverville Some events from this section may be found in the Give!Local calendar on p. 21

AUDITIONS & CALL TO ARTISTS ARTSCAPE BANNER • Through SA (1/18) - Applications accepted for artists

who wish to participate in the 2020 ArtScape Banner Project in downtown Hendersonville. Information: artscapehvl.org.

WORTHAM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 18 Biltmore Ave., 828-257-4530, worthamarts.org ❄ FRIDAY through SUNDAY - The Asheville Ballet presents The Nutcracker. FR (12/13), 7:30pm, SA (12/14), 2:30 & 7:30pm, SU (12/15), 2:30pm. $15-$50. ❄ THURSDAY through SATURDAY - The Ballet Conservatory of Asheville presents The Nutcracker. TH (12/19) & FR (12/20), 4:30 & 7:30pm, SA (12/21), 10am. $16-$30.

MUSIC DANCE LEARN HOW TO DANCE! BALLROOM, SWING, TWO-STEP & MORE (PD.) Single or couple, enjoy learning with certified instructor: Richard & Sue, 828-333-0715, naturalrichard@mac.com, www.DanceForLife.net HARVEST HOUSE 205 Kenilworth Road, 828-350-2051 • TUESDAYS, 7:30-9:30pm - International folk dancing, dances from around the world. No partner needed.

Info: 828-645-1543. Free.

• WEDNESDAYS, noon-2pm - Intermediate/ advanced contemporary line dancing. $10.

IMPROVER CONTEMPORARY LINE DANCING • THURSDAYS, noon-2pm - Improver contemporary line dancing. $10. Held at Stephens Lee Recreation Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave. LINE DANCING PARTY • SA (12/14), 2:30-5:30pm Line Dancing Party open to all dancers and non-dancers. $10. Held at Montford Community Center, 34 Pearson Drive

ACAPELLA - SINGING VALENTINE (PD.) Help out Cupid this Valentines Day! Quartet brings singing Valentines to your home, business, or restaurant. Order at ashevillebarbershop.com 866.290.7269 AFRICAN DRUM LESSONS AT SKINNY BEATS SOUND SHOP (PD.) Wednesdays 6pm. Billy Zanski teaches a fun approach to connecting with your inner rhythm.

Drop-ins welcome. • Drums provided. $15/ class. (828) 768-2826. skinnybeatsdrums.com

‘A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’ ❄ SA (12/14), 5-9pm - Christmas songs performed by Betina Morgan on her 31-string gothic/folk harp. Free.

Held at Haywood County Arts Council, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville ASHEVILLE AIRPORT Terminal Drive, Fletcher ❄ WE (12/11), 10:15am - Sounds of the Holidays, Rosman Elementary School music concert.

Free. ❄ FR (12/13), 10:15am - Sounds of the Holidays, Enka Intermediate School music concert.

Free. ❄ MO (12/16), 10:15am - Sounds of the Holidays, Cullowhee Valley School and Black Mountain Elementary School, holiday music concert.

Free. ❄ TU (12/17), 1pm Sounds of the Holidays, Brevard Elementary School, holiday music concert. Free. ❄ WE (12/18), 10:15am - Sounds of the Holidays, East Rutherford Middle School, holiday music concert. Free. ❄ TH (12/19), 10:15am - Sounds of the Holidays, West Marion Elementary School, A.C. Reynolds Middle School and Owen Middle School, holiday music concert. Free.

ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY BAND HOLIDAY CONCERT ❄ SU (12/15), 3:30-5pm - Holiday concert. $12/ Free for children. Held at Lipinsky Auditorium at UNC Asheville, 300 Library Lane

5th Annual

NYE Celebration with ReggaeInfinity!

Tuesday, 12/31 • 10pm-1am

Caribbean Vegan Dinner $30 w/ Dinner • $20 Show Only • 8-10pm

39 S. Market Street • 254-9277

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DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

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SMART BETS

A&E

by Edwin Arnaudin | Send your arts news to ae@mountainx.com

Johnny Gandelsman Born in Moscow in 1978, violinist Johnny Gandelsman grew up in a musical household with a violist father, pianist mother and fellow violinist sister before moving to the U.S. in 1995. A founding member of the Brooklyn Rider string quartet and part of Yo-Yo Ma’s celebrated global collective, the Silkroad Ensemble, Gandelsman pulls from classical and folk traditions in his eclectic work. For his newest project, the Grammy-winning artist has etched his name in history as one of the first musicians to record or perform J.S. Bach’s complete cello suites on violin. On Thursday, Dec. 12, Gandelsman brings his ambitious undertaking to Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center for a 7 p.m. concert. $10 BMCM+AC members and students with ID/$15 nonmembers. blackmountaincollege.org.

Photo by Shervin Lainez

42

The Harmaleighs For Nashville-based indie rock/folk/pop duo The Harmaleighs’ sophomore LP, She Won’t Make Sense, lead vocalist and guitarist Haley Grant found inspiration in her journey through anxiety, depression and mania. Each song finds Grant talking to her anxiety, which she named Susan, or sees Susan acting on Grant’s behalf. “It’s that dialogue with your inner self and how at times it feels like that inner voice has more control over you than you do,” she says. Produced by Lucius’ Dan Moland, the concept album finds Grant and bandmate Kaylee Jaspersen (bass/backup vocals) moving beyond their acoustic roots and experimenting with synths, strings and drums to craft a sound that better suits the emotional weight of the collection’s lyrical content. On Sunday, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m., The Harmaleighs open for Portland, Ore.-based singer-songwriter Chris Pureka at The Grey Eagle. $17 advance/$20 day of show. thegreyeagle.com. Photo by Ruth Chapa

The Reel Sisters

Tony Grant

Under the name The Reel Sisters, Asheville-based Scottish smallpiper Rosalind Buda and Atlanta harpist Kelly Brzozowski tour the U.S., enlivening audiences with their interpretations of traditional music. Following the success of their 2018 Celtic Christmas show at Isis Music Hall, the duo return to the venue’s main stage on Sunday, Dec. 15, for a program titled A Celtic Celebration with The Reel Sisters. Buda and Brzozowski will use harps, pipes, whistle and song to perform Christmas favorites, plus traditional tunes from the British Isles and Appalachia.

The goal is to “leave your heart full and your toes tapping” and send attendees home “feeling inspired, contented and full of good cheer.” The music starts at 7:30 p.m. $18 advance/$20 day of show. isisasheville.com. Photo by Rachael Rodgers

Fans of filmmaker Tyler Perry’s prolific work know Tony Grant from his roles in Why Did I Get Married, The Marriage Counselor, A Madea Christmas, Madea Gets a Job and Behind Closed Doors. But before the advent of his acting career, Grant made his mark as a singer, first as the lead vocalist for R&B group Az Yet and later as a solo artist with his 2007 debut, Grant Life. The Forest City native currently calls Los Angeles home but returns to North Carolina on Saturday, Dec. 14, when he brings his Soulful Christmas concert to Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Veh Stage. The “night of class and elegance at its finest” gets underway at 7:30 p.m. and promises “fun, music, dancing and singing.” $10 student/$35 standard/$40 premium. tryonarts.org. Photo courtesy of Grant

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

MOUNTAINX.COM

A & E CALENDAR ASHEVILLE DRUM CIRCLE • FRIDAYS, 6-9:50pm Asheville outdoor drum circle. Free. Held at Pritchard Park, 4 College St. BREVARD PHILHARMONIC ❄ SU (12/15), 3-5pm - Christmastime in Brevard, holiday concert featuring the philharmonic and the Transylvania Choral Society. $35. Held at Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Drive, Brevard BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • MO (12/11), 6pm -The Rhythmic Arts Project is an educational curriculum that utilizes drums and percussion to educate and empower people with developmental disabilities.

Registration required. Free.

Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • MO (12/16), 6pm - Jazz concert featuring Michael Jefry Stevens and friends.

Free. Held at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. • WE (12/18), 3:30pm Ukulele jam, all levels. Free.

Held at Weaverville Public Library, 41 N. Main St., Weaverville CANTARIA: THE GAY MEN'S CHORUS OF ASHEVILLE 404-964-5420, cantariaasheville.org ❄ SA (12/14), 7:30pm & SU (12/15), 4pm - Sound the Trumpet, holiday concert featuring the chorus and horns by Casey Coppenbarger. $20-$30/$10 students.

Held at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Ave.

and William Ritter. $15/$10 students. Held at Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville FLETCHER COMMUNITY CHORUS CHRISTMAS CONCERT ❄ TH (12/12), 7pm Fletcher community chorus Christmas concert. Admission by donation. Held at Fletcher United Methodist Church, 50 Library Road, Fletcher GLORIOUS AND MAGNIFICENT • SU (12/15), 7pm Glorious and Magnificent, concert featuring the First Baptist Church Adult Choir and AYC Treble Chorus and Orchestra playing works by Vivaldi and John Rutter. Free. Held at First Baptist Church of Asheville, 5 Oak St. HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD ❄ SA (12/14), 3pm - Holidays Around the World, holiday concert. $45/$12 students. Held at Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall, 49 E. Campus Drive, Flat Rock JOHNNY GANDELSMAN PERFORMS BACH • TH (12/12), 7pm - Johnny Gandelsman performs Bach's complete cello suites on the violin. $10 BMCM+AC members + students/$15 nonmembers. Held at Black Mountain College Museum & Arts Center, 120 College St.

CHRISTMAS AT CONNEMARA ❄ SA (12/14), 11am-2pm - Christmas at Connemara with Howard Baaken playing holiday music on keyboard. Admission fees apply. Held at Carl Sandburg Home NHS, 1800 Little River Road, Flat Rock

LAKE JUNALUSKA CONFERENCE & RETREAT CENTER 91 N. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Junaluska, 828-4522881, lakejunaluska.com ❄ FR (12/13), 7:30pm - Lake Junaluska Singers, and local orchestra and choristers sing selections from Handel's Messiah.

Tickets: 800-965-9324. $18. ❄ SA (12/14), 2pm - Summer Brooke and the Mountain Faith Band, Christmas concert. $18. ❄ SA (12/14), 7:30pm - Lake Junaluska Singers Christmas concert. $18.

CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS ❄ FR (12/13), 6pm - Christmas in the Mountains, concert featuring music and storytelling by Bob Plott, Darren and Taylor Nicholson, Bobby McMillon

MOUNTAIN FRIENDS TRIO • TH (12/19), 7:30pm - The Mountain Friends Trio, concert featuring vocal harmonies, dulcimer, autoharp, guitar and bass. $12. Held at Black

Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain MUSICKE ANTIQUA CHRISTMAS ❄ SU (12/15), 3pm - Christmas Renewed, traditional holiday music concert featuring music from the 15th to 21st centuries. Free. Held at St. Matthias Church, 1 Dundee St. ❄ TU (12/17), noon - Christmas Renewed, traditional holiday music concert featuring music from the 15th to 21st centuries. Free. Held at Transylvania County Library, 212 S. Gaston St., Brevard TONY GRANT ❄ SA (12/14), 7:30pm Soulful Christmas, concert featuring songs and stories

by Tony Grant. $35-$40.

Held at Tryon Fine Arts Center, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon

SPOKEN & WRITTEN WORD BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES buncombecounty.org/ governing/depts/library • WE (12/11), 4pm Creative Writing Group, a supportive and fun environment for writers through exercises and discussions. Open to adults and teens 15 and older.

Free. Held at Skyland/ South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • TH (12/12), 7pm - Local author Jennifer McGaha presents her memoir Flat Broke With Two Goats. Free. Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road • SA (12/14), 11am Nonfiction Book Club: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Free to attend.

Held at Skyland/South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road • SA (12/14), 3pm - Book Club: News of the World

by Paulette Jiles. Free.

Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road • TU (12/17), 2pm - Book Club: News of the World

by Paulette Jiles. Free.

Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road

• TU (12/17), 7pm - Evening Book Club: The BadAss Librarians of Timbuktu

by Joshua Hammer. Free.

Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview • TU (12/17), 7pm - Social Justice Book Club: How to Be Less Stupid About Race

by Crystal Flemming. Free.

Held at Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road, Leicester • WE (12/18), 3pm - History Book Club: Mozart's Sister by Rita Charbonnier.

Free. Held at Enka-Candler Library, 1404 Sandhill Road, Candler • WE (12/18), 6-7:30pm – Hear men read Eve Ensler's The Apology.

Free. Held at Swannanoa Library, 101 West Charleston St., Swannanoa • WE (12/18), 7pm - Book Club: Flat Broke With Two Goats by Jennifer McGaha. Free. Held at West Asheville Public Library, 942 Haywood Road CHRISTMAS IN THE MOUNTAINS ❄ FR (12/13), 6pm - Christmas in the Mountains, concert featuring music and storytelling

by Bob Plott, Darren and Taylor Nicholson, Bobby McMillon and William Ritter. $15/$10 students.

Held at Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville FLETCHER LIBRARY 120 Library Road, Fletcher, 828-687-1218, library.hendersoncountync. org • 2nd THURSDAYS, 10:30am - Book Club.

Free.

• 2nd THURSDAYS, 1:30pm - Writers' Guild.

Free.

NORTH CAROLINA WRITERS’ NETWORK OPEN MIC • WE (12/11), 6-7:30pm.

North Carolina Writers’ Network Open Mic: Poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction. Free to attend.

Held at The BLOCK off biltmore, 39 S. Market St. PRACTICES TO EMPOWER QUEER AND POC COMMUNITIES • SA (12/14), 6-7:30pm Shaunna Williams presents her book, The Spiritual Magic of A Queer POC. Free to attend. Held at

Firestorm Books & Coffee, 610 Haywood Road

THEATER 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL'

❄ FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/13) until (12/22), 5pm - Outdoor production of A Christmas Carol.

Saturday performances preceded by the 3pm Montford Park Players’ Holiday Festival with local vendors and refreshments.

Dress warmly. Free to attend. Held at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre, 92 Gay St. 'A FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE CHRISTMAS'

❄ WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS until (12/22) - A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, musical. Wed. & Thurs.: 2pm & 7:30pm, Fri.: 8pm, Sat.: 2pm & 8pm, Sun: 2pm. $17-$64. Held at Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Highway 225, Flat Rock APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS CAROL

❄ FR (12/13) & SA (12/14), 5:30pm - Appalachian Christmas Carol, performance by the American Myth Center. $5/$2 youth.

Held at Vance Birthplace, 911 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville ASHEVILLE COMMUNITY THEATRE 35 E. Walnut St., 828-2541320, ashevilletheatre.org ❄ WEDNESDAY through SUNDAY (12/11) until (12/15) - The Santaland Diaries, comedy. Wed.Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2:30pm, additional performances Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday, Dec. 14, 9:30pm. $20. ❄ THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/5) until (12/20) - Miracle on 34th Street, fantasy.

Fri.: 7:30pm, Sat. & Sun.: 2:30pm, additional performances Wednesday, Dec. 18 & Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7:30pm. $26/$12 children. ❄ TU (12/17), 5-7pm - Asheville Community Theatre annual holiday party with refreshments.

Free.

'BERNSTEIN FAMILY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR' ❄ THURSDAYS through SATURDAYS until (12/21) Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular. Thurs.-Sat.: 7:30pm. Sat.: 10pm. $31.

Held at The Magnetic Theatre, 375 Depot St. 'CHAGALL AND MRS. BELMONT' • SU (12/15), 5:30pm Chagall and Mrs. Belmont, drama. $10. Held at Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St.

‘WHO KIDNAPPED MRS. CLAUS’

YULEFEST

❄ FRIDAYS and

8pm - Yulefest, a musical celebration of Olde Christmas with Laurie Fisher, Saro LynchThomason, Mother Yule, Asheville Wassailers, Bardic Alchemy and the Asheville Morris Dancers. $18/$9 under 12. Held at White Horse Black Mountain, 105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain

SATURDAYS until (12/14), 7:30pm - Who Kidnapped Mrs. Claus, holiday whodunit. $39/$25 children under 12/family 4-pak $88.

Held at The Center for Art & Entertainment, 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville

❄ SA (12/14),

'HANDLE WITH CARE' • WEDNESDAYS through SUNDAYS until (12/22) - Handle With Care, bilingual rom-com. Wed.-Sat.: 7:30pm, Sun.: 2 pm, with additional matinees on Sat.: (12/14) & (12/21). $18$38/$10 students. Held at NC Stage Company, 15 Stage Lane 'LET IT BE, CHRISTMAS' ❄ FRIDAY through SUNDAY until (12/15) Proceeds from Let It Be, Christmas, The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke John, Paul, George, and Ringo, benefits Eliada Homes.

Fri.-Sun.: 7:30pm & Sun.: 2:30pm. $10. Held at Biltmore United Methodist Church, 378 Hendersonville Road 'MIRACLE IN BEDFORD FALLS' • THURSDAYS through SUNDAYS until (12/22) - Miracle in Bedford Falls, musical. Thurs.-Sat.: 7:30pm, Sat. & Sun.: 2:30pm. $25-$30/$18 students. Held at Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre, Owen Theatre, Mars Hill University Mars Hill THE SANTALAND DIARIES ❄ FRIDAYS through SUNDAYS (12/13) until (12/22) - The Santaland Diaries. Fri. & Sat.: 7:30pm. Sun.: 2pm.

Adults only. $20. Held at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St., Black Mountain THE VANISHING WHEELCHAIR SHOW • FR (12/13), 7pm - Magic show featuring differently abled performers. Information online. Held at The Vanishing Wheelchair, 175 Weaverville Road, Suite L

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GALLERY DIRECTORY

REVOLVE YOUR WORLD: Revolve Now, organized by Colby Caldwell of REVOLVE and Kristi McMillan of the Asheville Art Museum, conjuncts with the museum’s current Appalachia Now! exhibition. It is an evening of sound, performance and spoken-word vignettes featuring 17 performance artists and groups stationed throughout the building activating spaces throughout the newly renovated museum. The performers make works that erase stereotypes of Appalachia. Revolve Now is planned for Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 p.m. Admission fees apply. Photo courtesy of Kiki Godwin AMERICAN FOLK ART AND FRAMING • The annual Wish List show features ornaments and mantel pieces for the holiday season as well as pottery, paintings and sculptures.

Nov. 29-Dec. 30 64 Biltmore Ave. ART AT MARS HILL UNIVERSITY 79 Cascade St, Mars Hill • Exhibition of photography by Colby Caldwell.

Nov. 20-Dec. 20 • Elements of Hand and Mind, exhibition of historic Southern Highland crafts.

Nov. 13-Jan. 25 ART GARDEN • SA (12/14) - Art Garden sampler and studio-warming party.

Art stroll: 11am-4pm with free workshops and demos. Reception: 5-8pm. Free to attend.

Dec. 14 191 Lyman St., Suite 316 ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL • Through Our View We Find, group exhibition curated by Elliot Kulwiec.

Dec. 6-Jan. 10 207 Coxe Ave.

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ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM

DOWNTOWN BOOKS & NEWS

2 S. Pack Square • AppalachiaNow!: An Interdisciplinary Survey of Contemporary Art in Southern Appalachia, exhibition featuring a collective survey of contemporary Southern Appalachian culture.

Nov. 14-Feb. 3 • TH (12/12), 5-8pm - A collaborative evening between the new Art Museum and MAP/REVOLVE in the Appalachia Now gallery includes sound, performance and spoken word vignettes by 17 performance artists and groups. Info: avl.mx/6ql. Admission fees apply.

• Exhibition of paintings by Cheryl Eugenia Barnes. Reception: Friday, Dec. 13, 7-9pm.

Dec. 13-Feb. 29 67 N. Lexington Ave.

CENTER FOR CRAFT • Making Meaning, 14 UNC Asheville alumni whose work shifts perceptions of material, method and meaning, creating new vocabularies in clay, digital media, photography, printmaking, assemblage and textiles.

Nov. 16-Jan. 7 67 Broadway

GALLERY 1 SYLVA • Small Wonders, paintings, photographhy, wood, printmaking, jewelry and glass.

Dec. 6-Feb. 29 604 West Main St., Sylva JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY • Jenean Hornbuckle's new landscape paintings and a series of prints on display at the Rotunda Gallery.

Dec. 7-Jan. 7 310 Keener St., Sylva MOMENTUM GALLERY • Small Works, Big Impact, curated group exhibition featuring paintings, original prints and sculptural works.

Nov. 14-Dec. 31 24 N. Lexington Ave. ONTRACK WNC • Völuspá Vision Story – Valeria Watson explores Norse Mythology focusing on the witch or wise

woman and her role in prophecy.

Dec. 6-Jan. 5 348 Depot St. POSANA CAFE • Transportation, 12 local artists relate to the notion of transportation.

Nov. 13-Feb. 10 1 Biltmore Ave. PUSH SKATE SHOP & GALLERY • Foggy Notion, group show curated by Maxx Feist.

Nov. 15-Dec. 31 25 Patton Ave. THE ASHEVILLE SCHOOL • TransFormNation, Cleaster Cotton's show on civil rights, human rights and inequities.

Held at the Walker Arts Center.

Nov. 6-Dec. 13 360 Asheville School Road THE WEDGE STUDIOS • The WOWS - Women of WhiteSPACE, five women painters show their works.

Dec. 7-Jan. 7 129 Roberts St. Contact the galleries for hours and admission fees

CLUBLAND

FROM INSECTS TO ALIENS: Baltimore-based musicians Brian Daniloski and Ann Everton create ambient, progressive rock set to a curated visual immersion for a savory sonic journey. The duo, aka Darsombra, calls their sound “trans-apocalyptic galaxy rock.” Their Asheville stop is in support of their ninth project, the self-released album Transmission. Fellow Baltimore resident DJ Space Bear and Winston-Salem singer-songwriter Damiyana will open the show at The Odditorium on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 9 p.m. Free. ashevilleodditorium.com. Photo by Matt Conden

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM 185 KING STREET NC Songsmiths Ryan Furstenberg, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis, (African folk music), 8:00PM

LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Cigar Brothers, 6:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP A Hooligan Holiday on Haywood, 6:00PM

ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 5:00PM

ODDITORIUM Little River Creek Police, Ska City, Pronounced Heroes, 8:00PM

ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM

OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic, 6:30PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM

CROW & QUILL Asheville City Horns (hot jazz), 9:00PM FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk feat. the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Hannah Kaminer, 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Music Jam Session, 5:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM ORANGE PEEL Winter Gala Dance Show, 7:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Music Bingo, 6:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays: Kyle Travers, 6:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Artistic Collective Holiday Market (music, beer, art), 6:00PM French Broad Valley Music Association Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM

THE MOTHLIGHT Chris Head and the Broken Family Band w/ Jail, Colin Miller, 8:30PM

SIERRA NEVADA BREWING CO. Pete Lee, 6:00PM

US CELLULAR CENTER Dave Chappelle, 7:00PM

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Open Mic w/ Caleb Beissert (sign-up at 7:30PM), 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Solo Guitar w/ Albi, 5:00PM Poetry, Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction Open Mic, 6:00PM Ruby's Blues Trio, 9:00PM THE BARRELHOUSE Zoo Trippin’, 10:00PM THE FOUNDRY HOTEL 3 Cool Cats, 6:00PM

TOWN PUMP David Bryan's Open Mic, 9:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Jingle Bell Jamboree, 7:30PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 27 CLUB Reel 2 Real Presents: Mild-Sonar, 9:30PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Pleasure Chest, (blues, rock, soul), 8:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Will Ray and the Space Cooties, 7:00PM

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk w/ The Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM

ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Of the Trees, Integrate (Black Carl & VCTRE) w/ Secret Recipe, 10:00PM

THE GREY EAGLE 5th Annual Trolley La La La, 6:00PM

BEN'S TUNE UP Offended! Comedy Open Mic, 9:30PM

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

45

C LUBLAND BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM & ARTS CENTER Johnny Gandelsman performs Bach's complete cello suites, 7:00PM BROWN MOUNTAIN BOTTLEWORKS NC Songsmiths Ryan Furstenberg, 7:30PM

COMING SOON WED 12/11 7:00PM–HANNAH KAMINER

THU 12/12 7:00PM–ERIC LEE + ANDY FERRELL

FRI 12/13

CROW & QUILL Big Dawg Slingshots (western swing), 10:00PM FLOOD GALLERY FINE ART CENTER True Home Open Mic, 6:30PM HI-WIRE BREWING BIG TOP Pong AVL's Ugly AF Sweater Holiday Bash, 6:30PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Eric Lee & Andy Ferrell, 7:00PM

8:30PM–WARD HAYDEN & THE OUTLIERS SAT 12/14 7:00PM–AMICIMUSIC PRESENTS: FOUR-HAND HOLIDAY

JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Bluegrass Jam, 7:00PM Quizzo Pub Trivia, 7:30PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LAKE JUNALUSKA CONFERENCE & RETREAT CENTER Appalachian Christmas, 12:00AM LOBSTER TRAP Hank Bones, 6:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP Vinyl Night (bring your to share!), 8:00PM

8:30PM–MATT NAKOA BAND- THE CASTING SHADOWS TOUR WITH LOGAN MARIE SUN 12/15 6:00PM–CHRISTMAS TIME WITH BOB SINCLAIR AND THE BIG DEALS 7:30PM–A CELTIC CELEBRATION W/ THE REEL SISTERS

TUE 12/17 7:30PM–TUES. BLUEGRASS W/ CANE MILL ROAD

WED 12/18 7:00PM–HAEGTESSA

THU 12/19

7:00PM–EJ & FRANCES: BAGPIPES AND BOUZOUKI

FRI 12/20 7:00PM–NOUVEAUX HONKIES 8:30PM–PRETTY LITTLE GOAT AND GIRI & UMA PETERS

ISISASHEVILLE.COM DINNER MENU TIL 9:30PM LATE NIGHT MENU TIL 12AM BRUNCH 10-2 SUNDAY ONLY

TUES-SUN 5PM-until

743 HAYWOOD RD | 828-575-2737 46

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

MOUNTAINX.COM

MARKET PLACE Bob Zullo (pop, rock, jazz & blues), 6:00PM ODDITORIUM Party Foul Drag Circus, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Mitch's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM Of The Trees, Integrate (Black Carl & VCTRE) w/ Secret Recipe, 10:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Lenny Pettinelli, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: One World Family Band Jam, 8:00PM PACK'S TAVERN The Hope Griffin Duo, 8:00PM

PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Dave Desmelik, 7:00PM POLANCO RESTAURANT DJ Dance Party w/ DJ Phantome Pantone Collective, 10:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Joseph Hasty & Centerpiece, 7:30PM SALVAGE STATION Poster Nutbag, 8:30PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. 4th Annual Santa Paws!, 5:30PM Ellen Trnka, 7:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Witch Party, Shutterings, Teso, Nikki’s B-day Bonanza!, 8:00PM SOVEREIGN KAVA Ping Pong Tournament, 8:00PM THE 63 TAPHOUSE Weekly 8 Ball Tournament (sign ups at 7:00PM), 8:00PM THE BARRELHOUSE Ter-rific Trivia, 7:00PM THE CHEMIST Repeal the Cookie (beer release, live music), 6:00 PM THE GREY EAGLE The Midnight Aces, 7:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE The Roaring Lions (jazz), 9:00PM THE MOTHLIGHT The Wham, Bam! Puppet Slam, Annual Toybox Birthday Show, 8:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Craft Karaoke, 9:00PM VANCE BIRTHPLACE Appalachian Christmas Carol, 5:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Acoustic Karaoke, 10:00PM ZAMBRA Kessler Watson, 7:00PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 185 KING STREET Front Country, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Eleanor Underhill & Friends, (Americana, soul), 9:00PM

WED

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Bill Mattock & The Strut, 8:00PM Barrio Candela LatinX Dance Party, 10:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY CannaComedy!, 8:30PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Vince Junior Band: Refreshingly Soulful Blues, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL ETE 18th Annual Xmas Party w/ George Porter Jr. Trio feat.

Joe Marcinek & JBOT, 9:30PM BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Dinah's Daydream (Gypsy jazz), 7:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Santaland Diaries

by David Sedaris, 7:30PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Ugly Sweater Extravaganza & Steal the Pint (music, santa visit at 6PM, contest at 7PM), 11:00AM Flashback, 6:00PM CAPELLA ON 9 @ THE AC HOTEL DJ Dance Party w/ Phantom Pantone DJ Collective, 9:00PM CORK & KEG Vaden Landers Band, 8:30PM

GASTRO PUB AT HOPEY DOWNTOWN The Mic is Open hosted by Heather Taylor, 7:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Gold Rose, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Ward Hayden & The Outliers, 8:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Warren Haynes Christmas Jam by Day hosted by Kevn Kinney, 11:00AM Irish Session, 3:00PM BogTurtle (formerly The Severed Heads of Guion Pond) Irish Band, 9:00PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Andrew Michael, 8:00PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LAKE JUNALUSKA CONFERENCE & RETREAT CENTER Handel's Messiah, 7:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Hillbilly Diamonds, 6:30PM LOCAL 604 BOTTLE SHOP TOUCH Samadhi Presents: Chillectronica, 8:00PM LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE Friday Night Live Music Series: Riyen Roots, 8:00PM

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Jackie and the Racket (honky tonk), 10:00PM

MAD CO BREW HOUSE Big Dawg Slingshots, 6:00PM

FUNKATORIUM Repeal the Cookie (beer release, live music), 6:00PM

NEW BELGIUM BREWERY Live Music: Jukebox Jumpers, 5:30PM

THIS WEEK AT AVL MUSIC HALL & THE ONE STOP!!!

CROW & QUILL Posey Quintet (swing jazz), 9:00PM

LUELLA'S BAR-B-QUE BILTMORE PARK Friday Night Live Music Series, 8:00PM

Of the Trees, INTEGRATE

ODDITORIUM Planned Parenthood Votes Benefit, 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Free Dead Fridays feat. members of Phuncle Sam (acoustic), 5:00PM ETE 18th Annual Xmas Party : George Porter Jr. Trio ft. Joe Marcinek & JBOT, 9:30PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Rainbeaux, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Disney's Encore Showing & Live Music, 8:30PM ORANGE PEEL Holidaze For Habitat Benefit Concert, 7:00PM PACK'S TAVERN Dance Friday w/ DJ RexxStep, 9:30PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Sparrow & Her Wingmen, 7:00PM RUSTIC GRAPE WINE BAR Hope Griffin (singersongwriter, folk), 7:30PM SALVAGE STATION Samantha Fish, 8:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Andrew Thelston, 8:00PM

THE MIDNIGHT ACES

TUE

REV. HORTON HEAT

WED

O’SHEA FOR CONGRESS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY

THU

12

THE OMNI GROVE PARK INN Andrew J. Fletcher (solo jazz piano), 2:30PM

13

TOWN PUMP Bald Mountain Boys, 9:00PM

SAT

14

THE BARRELHOUSE Katie Sachs, 7:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Soulful Fridays, 9:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Dance Party feat.

Phantom Pantone Collective, 10:00PM

ETE 18th Annual Xmas Party

w/ Secret Recipe

ft. George Porter Jr. Trio, Joe Marcinek & JBOT

THU, 12/12 - SHOW: 10 pm (DOORS: 9 pm) - tix: $15

FRI, 12/13 - SHOW: 9:30 pm (DOORS: 9 pm) - tix: $20

18

THE HONEYCUTTERS

HOLIDAY LIQUOR & DANCE PARTY

19 TAB BENOIT

W/ JP SOARS & THE RED HOTS

BURLESQUE BRUNCH

SUN

W/ VOODOO GLOW SKULLS, THE 5.6.7.8’S, DAVE ALVIN

THU

FT. DJ MARLEY CARROLL

15

W/ THE HARMALEIGHS

17

AMANDA ANNE PLATT &

FRI

FRI

20

12PM

JON STICKLEY TRIO W/ OLD SALT UNION

Asheville’s longest running live music venue • 185 Clingman Ave TICKETS AVAILABLE AT HARVEST RECORDS & THEGREYEAGLE.COM

URBAN ORCHARD CIDER CO. SOUTH SLOPE UO Friday Night GETDOWN, 8:00PM VANCE BIRTHPLACE Appalachian Christmas Carol, 5:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Malcombe Holcomb, 8:00PM WILD WING CAFE Walking Through Glass, 9:00PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH A Social Function Acoustic, 9:00PM ZAMBRA Phil Alley, 7:00PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 185 KING STREET Caleb Wolfe, 9:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE The Essence of Bass, 9:00PM

CHRIS PUREKA

SUN

15

THE MOTHLIGHT Happy Holidays to YOU! And to YOU! And to U2!, 5:30PM

THE WYVERN'S TALE Game Designers of North CarolinaAsheville Meeting, 6:00PM

TROLLEY SOLD

11 LA LA LA OUT!

5 WALNUT WINE BAR Virginia & The Slims, (jump blues, swing), 9:00PM APPALACHIAN COFFEE COMPANY Free Live Music, 6:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING BROADWAY Archetype Holiday Pop-Up (music, raffles, food truck), 1:00PM

Daily select $4 drafts and $3 singles WED

MANNA FOOD DRIVE

12/11

see our FB page for details

THU

XTREME MUSIC BINGO

Food, Beer, & Wine specials

win $50 gift card 12/12 $4 WNC drafts

FRI

12/13

LIVE MUSIC

w/ Les Izmoore

SAT

LIVE MUSIC

SUN

NFL SUNDAY TICKET

MON

TEAM TRIVIA

TUE

OPEN MIC NIGHT

w/ Chris Minick & ‘Round the Fire 12/14 $6 brats, 1/2 off boneless wings

WNC drafts, BOGO 1/2 off 12/15 $4 food w/ beverage purchase off food 12/16 1/2 for service industry workers off 16oz pours, wine pours.

12/17 $2 $2 singles & $2 off food specials

35 rotating taps

@CasualPintAsheville 1863 Hendersonville Rd

JointKiller Brass Band

Warren Haynes Presents

CHRISTMAS JAM

BY DAY!

Cultivated Mind

FRI, 12/13 - SHOW: 10 pm [Brass Band] DONATION BASED COVER

SAT, 12/14 - SHOW: 12 pm (DOORS: 1pm) - tix: $10 EARLY EVENT

SAT, 12/14 - SHOW: 10 pm [Multi-Genre] DONATION BASED COVER

Bleep Bloop

w/ Kirby Bright, Zeplinn & Sabali SAT, 12/14 - SHOW: 10 pm (DOORS: 9:30 pm) - adv. tix: $15

LOCAL THURSDAY SHUFFLE - 10pm

Free Dead Friday - 5pm

SUN

Mitch’s Totally Rad Trivia - 6:30pm

FRI

disclaimer comedy - 9:30pm Brown Bag Singer-Songwriting Competition - 5:30pm

THU

Tuesday Early Jam - 8PM Tuesday Night Funk Jam - 11PM Electrosoul Session - 11:30PM

WED

TUE

12/19 - Phutureprimitive + An-Ten-Nae • 12/20 - Vince & Drew (of Leftover Salmon) w/ Ton of Hay • 12/21 - Machine Funk [WSP Tribute] • 12/27 - Dirty Dead’s 2nd Annual Solstice Jam • 12/28 - Voodoo Visionary • 12/31 - Ball in the Hall w/ The Grass is Dead World Famous Bluegrass Brunch - 10:30am-3pm Shakedown Sundays - 4pm-7pm MOUNTAINX.COM

@AVLMusicHall @OneStopAVL DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

47

EXCITING UPCOMING EVENTS!

CLU B LA N D

Local

WEST ASHEVILLE WED. 12/11: LATIN DANCE NIGHT W/ DJ OSCAR 9PM THU. 12/12: ONE WORLD FAMILY BAND JAM: NEW START TIME 9PM FRI. 12/13: DISNEY’S ENCORE SHOWING & MUSIC 9PM FEAT. ASHEVILLE’S LAINE LEWIS & WITH MUSICAL GUESTS THE ONES AND JUAN HOLLADAY DUO

SATURDAY 12/14: 2-6PM

98.1 The River’s Homegrown for the Holidays

BLANKET/ CLOTHES DRIVE FOR ABCCM LIVE MUSIC FROM: MELISSA HYMAN, RIYEN ROOTS, THE MAGGIE VALLEY BAND, & BARDIC ALCHEMY

SATURDAY 12/14:

LOCAL LAUGHS: Chuckle away the holiday doldrums with the Slice of Life Comedy holiday showcase. The event, produced by comedian and AshevilleFM host Michele Scheve, travels the Southeast with national and local acts. The Thursday, Dec. 19, performance will be hosted by Cody Hughes and features 10 local and regional comics. The hilarity starts at 8 p.m on The Orange Peel’s mainstage. $10. theorangepeel.net. Photo by Jennifer Bennett

FLUX CAPACITOR

Ambush Glowing Tour Phase 2

9PM • $5 WAVL- 520 HAYWOOD RD. DOWNTOWN- 10 PATTON AVE.

ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY Dance Party w/ DJ Lil Meow Meow, 10:00PM

www.oneworldbrewing.com

ASHEVILLE CLUB Mr. Jimmy, 4:00PM ASHEVILLE DISPENSARY Asheville Holiday!

Hemp Market (samples, demos, elixirs, fun), 10:00AM

UPCOMING SHOWS: DOORS 5PM

DEC 15

DOORS 5:15PM

DEC 17

DOORS 6PM

2ND ANNUAL NOT QUITE KOSHER COMEDY NIGHT

EXPERIENCE MUSIC

DEC 18

GOOD GRIEF TRIO

DOORS 7PM

CHARLIE TRAVELER PRESENTS:

DEC 19

A CAJUN CHRISTMAS

DOORS 7PM

THE GREEN RUMOURS

DEC 21

WITH BEAUSOLEIL

WITH MIRIAM ALLEN

SHOW 6PM

DEC 15

SHOW 6PM

DEC 17

SHOW 7PM

DEC 18

SHOW 8PM

DEC 19

SHOW 8PM

DEC 21

TICKETS SOLD HERE: W W W. A M B R O S E W E S T. C O M BOX OFFICES: T H E H O N E Y P O T & T H E C I RC L E

BOOK YOUR WEDDING OR EVENT NOW: 828.332.3090 312 HAYWOOD ROAD

48

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

MOUNTAINX.COM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Classical Guitar Concert & Dinner Party, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Bleep Bloop w/ Kirby Bright, Zeplinn & Sabali, 10:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Santaland Diaries

by David Sedaris, 7:30PM BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONFERENCE HALL Holidays Around the World: Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, 3:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Soldado, 6:00PM BURIAL BEER CO. 4th Annual Other Half & Burial Velvet Magnum Christmas Party (feat. Selleck Clause costume contest), 5:00PM

CORK & KEG Big Dawg Slingshots, 9:30PM CROW & QUILL Vaden Landers Band (local honky tonk), 9:00PM FINES CREEK COMMUNITY CENTER Fines Creek BINGO Night, 4:00PM FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREWPUB Ethan Hellar and Friends (funk, jam), 10:00PM GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sound the Trumpet: Asheville Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert, 7:30PM GROVEMONT SQUARE Swannanoa Winterfest, 4:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Live Music, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 AmiciMusic presents: Four-Hand Holiday, 7:00PM Matt Nakoa Band, The Casting Shadows Tour w/ Logan Marie, 8:30PM LAZOOM ROOM LaZoom Comedy: Kyle Ayers, 9:00PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM

LAKE JUNALUSKA CONFERENCE & RETREAT CENTER Summer Brooke & Mountain Faith Band, 2:00PM Lake Junaluska Singers Christmas Concert, 7:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Sean Mason Trio, 6:30PM NORTH CAROLINA GLASS CENTER Holiday Open House, 5:00PM ODDITORIUM Odd Selectors Showcase (electronic, DJ), 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Holiday Decorating Party, 4:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Warren Haynes Presents Xmas Jam by Day, 1:00PM Bleep Bloop w/ Kirby Bright, Zeplinn & Sabali, 10:00PM

PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Zuzu Welsh, 7:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Bob Sinclair & the Big Deals, 8:00PM SALVAGE STATION Squirrel Nut Zippers, 9:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Fwuit, 8:00PM SLY GROG LOUNGE Dot.s, 9:00PM STRAIGHTAWAY CAFE Hummingtree Band, 6:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE CommUNITY Salsa, (lesson at 9:00PM), 9:30PM THE MOTHLIGHT Mr. Fred's Fair: A Market of Arts 'N Stuff (vendors, music, full bar), 12:00PM TOWN PUMP Black King Coal, 9:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Homegrown for the Holidays w/ Roots & Dore, 2:00PM Flux Capacitor, 9:00PM

TRYON FINE ARTS CENTER Tony Grant, 7:30PM

ORANGE PEEL Colter Wall, Wade Sapp, 8:00PM

VANCE BIRTHPLACE Appalachian Christmas Carol, 5:00PM

PACK'S TAVERN The Carolina Lowdown Band, 9:30PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Yulefest, 8:00PM

TWISTED LAUREL DJ Dance Party w/ Phantom Pantone DJ Collective (rotating DJ's), 11:00PM

WILD WING CAFE Karaoke, 9:30PM WILD WING CAFE SOUTH Free Flow Band, 9:00PM ZAMBRA Dinah's Daydream, 7:00PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 185 KING STREET Open Electric Jam, 6:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Random Animals, (soul, rock, funk), 7:00PM AMBROSE WEST 2nd Annual Not Quite Kosher Comedy Night, 5:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Post-Brunch Blues, 4:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Free Live Music, 3:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Pot Luck & Musician's Jam, 3:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Uncle Kurtis & Friends Holiday Showcase, 5:00PM BATTERY PARK BOOK EXCHANGE Pimps of Pompe Trio (Gypsy jazz hip-hop), 2:00PM BLACK MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris, 2:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Sunday Brunch, 12:00PM Jukebox Jumpers, 3:00PM BREVARD COLLEGE Brevard Philharmonic presents: Christmastime in Brevard, 3:00PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ASHEVILLE Glorious and Magnificent!, 7:00PM

GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 'Sound the Trumpet' Asheville Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Concert, 4:00PM HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Reggae Sunday w/ Chalwa, 2:00PM Sidecar Honey, 7:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Christmas Time w/ Bob Sinclair and The Big Deals, 6:00PM A Celtic Celebration w/ the Reel Sisters, 7:30PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Irish Session, 3:00PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM

TAVERN Downtown on the Park Eclectic Menu • Over 30 Taps • Patio 15 TV’s • Sports Room • 110” Projector Event Space • Shuffleboard Open 7 Days 11am - Late Night t he g i f t o f g r e at f o o d a nd Gi ve k d r i n ! Gi ve a Pac k ’s Gi f t C a r d!

THU. 12/12 Hope Griffin Duo (acoustic rock)

FRI. 12/13 DJ RexxStep

(dance hits, pop)

SAT. 12/14 Carolina Lowdown Band (classic rock, dance)

LIPINSKY AUDITORIUM AT UNC ASHEVILLE Asheville Community Band Holiday Concert, 3:30PM LOBSTER TRAP Phil Alley, 6:30PM LUELLA'S BAR-BQUE Sunday Brunch w/ Hank Bones & Jon Corbin, 12:00PM

20 S. Spruce St. • 225.6944 packStavern.com

LUELLA'S BAR-BQUE BILTMORE PARK Sunday Live Music w/ Leo Johnson, 1:00PM ODDITORIUM Odd Trivia Night, 9:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL World Famous Bluegrass Brunch, 10:30AM Uncle Kurtis & Friends Holiday Showcase, 5:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Trivia Night, 5:00PM PILLAR ROOFTOP BAR Late Night Trivia, 9:00PM PURPLE ONION CAFE Elizabeth Cook, 7:30PM

Downtown Asheville 45 South French Broad Ave Pizza • Wings • Pubfare • 20 Taps

OPEN TUES - SAT 11:00AM - 9:00PM

» Trivia Wednesdays » Drag Show Thursdays » Open Mic 2 nd & 4 th Fridays

SLY GROG LOUNGE Open Mic w/ Mike Andersen, 6:30PM

» Live Music Saturdays

FLEETWOOD'S Comedy at Fleetwood's: Dan Alten, 8:00PM

SOVEREIGN KAVA Reggae Sunday w/ Pop-Up Dinner, 4:00PM

Check out our other store in Black Mtn

FUNKATORIUM Gary "Macfiddle" Mackey (bluegrass), 1:00PM

THE BARRELHOUSE Weekly Original Music Open Mic, 6:00PM

Champagne & Oysters Holiday Formal DECEMBER 21ST 8PM- UNTIL @ UO SOUTH SLOPE • FREE ADMISSION SEVEN YEARS OF LOOKING GOOD & ACTING BAD. DJ MALINALLI, CHAMPAGNE SPECIALS, & OYSTERS FOR PURCHASE

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Gastropub at Hopey

NOW HIRING!

24 BUXTON AVE • 210 HAYWOOD RD

URBANORCHARDCIDER.COM

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

49

CLU B LA N D

E v e nts THURSDAY NIGHTS

18 to party, 21 to drink FRIDAY NIGHTS

Latin dancing

EVERY SATURDAY

Live DJ pop 40, hip hop, trap, R&B

COMING SOON

V-12 Hookah Bar@Paradox

Booking available for all company holiday parties...

828-458-5072

THE IMPERIAL LIFE DJ Dance Party feat.

Phantom Pantone Collective, 9:00PM

SOVEREIGN KAVA Stage Fright Open Mic (7:30PM sign up), 8:00PM

THE MOTHLIGHT Holiday PopUp - A Benefit for NC Natural Products Association, (vendors, music, raffles, full bar), 1:00PM

THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Ambigious Roots w/ Jamar Woods, Brennan Dugan & Adam Chase, 9:00PM

UPCOUNTRY BREWING COMPANY Holiday Pop Up Market feat. a Holiday Honky Tonk Matinee, 3:00PM

THE GOLDEN PINEAPPLE Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 8:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Amici Music 4-Hand Piano Concert, 2:00PM WILD WING CAFE NFL Sundays w/ DJ Razor!, 1:00PM ZAMBRA Cynthia McDermott, 7:00PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16

FREE PARKING Doors open 10pm nightly

Located in the heart of Downtown AVL

38 North French Broad Ave

Paradox Nightclub

Putting the Bunk back in Buncombe! presents

The

Humor Issue

ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 5:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB Live Improv, 7:00PM CATAWBA BREWING SOUTH SLOPE Musicians in the round hosted by Jon Edwards, 6:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Quizzo Pub Trivia, 7:30PM Open Mic Night, 9:30PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Bobby Miller, 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Risque Monday Burlesque hosted By Deb Au Nare, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Karaoke From Muskogee, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Open Mic, 8:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Jazz Jam, 12:00AM ORANGE PEEL Movie Night: Elf (free holiday movie), 7:00PM

Asheville’s post-holiday recovery tool

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OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Mountain Music Mondays (open jam), 6:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Open Mic Night w/ It Takes All Kinds, 7:00PM

ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Early Jam, 8:00PM Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 11:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING OWB Downtown: Jack Pearson's Comedy Cosmos (stand-up), 8:00PM

THE IMPERIAL LIFE Leo Johnson Trio, 9:00PM

ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: FLOW, 8:00PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Local Live w/ host, Bob Hinkle, 7:00PM

SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Team Trivia w/ host Josh Dunkin, 7:00PM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17 5 WALNUT WINE BAR The John Henrys, (hot jazz), 8:00PM AMBROSE WEST Experience Music, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE BEAUTY ACADEMY The Salon w/ Ida Carolina (drag cabaret), 7:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB BluesDay Tuesday w/ Mr. Jimmy, 6:00PM ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR Evening of Classical Guitar - 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, 8:00PM ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Tuesday Night Funk Jam, 11:00PM BOLD ROCK HARD CIDER Tacos & Trivia, 4:00PM CORK & KEG Old Time Moderate Jam, 5:00PM HAYWOOD COUNTRY CLUB Turntable Tuesdays hosted by Vinyl Time Travelers, 10:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions hosted

by Cane Mill Road, 7:30PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Jay Brown, 6:30PM MARKET PLACE Rat Alley Cats (instrumental jazz), 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Odditorium Comedy Night, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Booty Tuesday, 10:00PM

SLY GROG LOUNGE So Very, Peppermint Boys, 8:00PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Swing Asheville Holiday Dance, 9:00PM Late Night Blues Dancing, 11:00PM THE IMPERIAL LIFE Andrew J. Fletcher (solo jazz piano), 9:00PM THE MARKET PLACE RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Rat Alley Cats, 6:30PM THE SOCIAL Open Mic w/ Riyen Roots, 8:00PM TWIN LEAF BREWERY Robert's Twin Leaf Trivia, 8:00PM WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Irish Session-Jam Every Tuesday, 6:30PM Open Mic, 8:45PM

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18 12 BONES BREWERY Robert's Totally Rad Trivia, 7:00PM 185 KING STREET NC Songsmiths, Laura Thurston, 8:00PM 5 WALNUT WINE BAR Les Amis, (African folk music), 8:00PM ARCHETYPE BREWING Old Time Jam, 5:00PM ASHEVILLE CLUB BluesDay Tuesday w/ Mr. Jimmy, 6:00PM

HIGHLAND BREWING COMPANY Woody Wood Wednesday, 6:00PM ISIS MUSIC HALL & KITCHEN 743 Haegtessa, 7:00PM JACK OF THE WOOD PUB Old Time Music Jam Session, 5:00PM LAKE JULIAN PARK AND MARINA Lake Julian Festival of Lights, 6:00PM LOBSTER TRAP Cigar Brothers, 6:30PM ODDITORIUM Minorcan, Rickolus, Drunken Prayer, 9:00PM OLE SHAKEY'S Sexy Tunes w/ DJ Franco Nino, 10:00PM ONE STOP AT ASHEVILLE MUSIC HALL Disclaimer Lounge Comedy Open Mic, 9:00PM ONE WORLD BREWING WEST OWB West: Latin Dance Night w/ DJ Oscar (Bachatta, Merengue, Salsa), 9:00PM OSKAR BLUES BREWERY Music Bingo, 6:00PM PISGAH BREWING COMPANY Acoustic Wednesdays: Kyle Travers, 6:00PM SANCTUARY BREWING CO. Artistic Collective Holiday Market (music, beer, art), 6:00PM FBVMA Mountain Music Jam, 6:00PM SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN BREWERY Jazz Night hosted by Jason DeCristofaro, 6:30PM THE BLOCK OFF BILTMORE Classic Guitar Solos w/ Albi, 6:00PM Ruby's Blues Jam, 9:00PM THE FOUNDRY HOTEL 3 Cool Cats, 6:00PM

ASHEVILLE GUITAR BAR AGB Open Mic, 6:30PM

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Scots-Baroque Chamber-Folk w/ The Tune Shepherds, 7:00PM

CROW & QUILL Asheville City Horns (hot jazz), 9:00PM

TOWN PUMP David Bryan's Open Mic, 9:00PM

FUNKATORIUM Grass at the Funk feat. the Saylor Brothers, 6:30PM

WHITE HORSE BLACK MOUNTAIN Steve Leow & Clarinet Choir, 7:30PM

MOVIE REVIEWS

Hosted by the Asheville Movie Guys HHHHH

= MAX RATING

EDWIN ARNAUDIN earnaudin@mountainx.com

H PICK OF THE WEEK H

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS

BRUCE STEELE bcsteele@gmail.com

Josh McCormacck

Dark Waters HHH DIRECTOR: Todd Haynes PLAYERS: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins BIOPIC/DRAMA RATED PG-13

Waves HHHHS DIRECTOR: Trey Edward Shults PLAYERS: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Sterling K. Brown, Taylor Russell DRAMA RATED R With the frenetic, emotionally devastating Waves, writer/director Trey Edward Shults proves that the third time is indeed the charm.

After two well-made but narratively bankrupt features — the loathsome Krisha (2015) and the pretentious It Comes at Night (2017) — Shults has “finally” penned a script to match his top-notch technical prowess.

The film’s initial star is Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr., Luce), a talented South Florida high school wrestler driven by his self-made father Ronald (Sterling K. Brown, NBC’s “This Is Us”), whose high standards have thus far inspired greatness from his son but are about to have their less flattering consequences revealed.

Portraying a star student under immense pressure to perform at elite levels in all ways of life, Harrison keeps Tyler sympathetic at nearly every turn — a staggering accomplishment considering the intense stress he inspires through his poor choices and the verbal abuse he doles out to his girlfriend, Alexis (Alexa Demie, Mid90s), and loving stepmother, Catharine (Renée Elise Goldsberry, the original cast of Hamilton).

As Waves progresses, its mission, gratefully, becomes split between breaking viewers’ hearts through

Tyler’s string of questionable decisions and restoring their spirits through a focus on his little sister, Emily (Taylor Russell, Escape Room), and her budding relationship with love interest Luke (Lucas Hedges, in full, adorable goofball mode).

Minus Russell’s complicated yet uplifting work as Emily, the film would still be a knockout coming-of-age story — but with her damaged optimism, plus razor-sharp edits that echo Terrence Malick’s best work and a structure that recalls The Place Beyond the Pines, Waves organically builds to gigantic moments, bolstered by powerful mini-explosions along the way.

Other than multiple jarring musical cues that may make some viewers plug their ears, the primary knock against this stunning work is whether a movie about a young black man destroying his life is a responsible story to tell right now — especially from a white filmmaker.

Despite the showcase it offers Harrison, Brown and Russell, and the numerous positives of centering on a black family, Waves unwittingly reinforces its share of negative stereotypes, though always in the service of honesty and hope. As such, nagging questions aside, Shults and his collaborators accomplish so much cinematic positivity in the process that it’s difficult to let the film’s few flaws bog it down.

REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

Led by a fantastic Mark Ruffalo performance, Dark Waters’ true story of corporate defense attorney Robert Billot taking on the DuPont chemical company for illegally testing chemicals in a West Virginia community is fascinating. Screenwriters Matthew Michael Carnahan and Mario Correa fill their script with wonderful exchanges and powerful underdog moments that allow Ruffalo to shine. A lot of it is riveting stuff, so it’s a shame that director Todd Haynes carries a rather dull vision behind the camera.

From Far From Heaven to 2015’s Carol, the filmmaker has consistently brought a unique and enticing visual style to practically all of his works. This is not the case with Dark Waters, which is full of lifeless, static shots that don’t quite make it clear where the audience’s focus should be in the frame.

On top of this weakness, the editing is incredibly messy. Scenes awkwardly conclude immediately after an actor expresses something at full intensity — an effect that winds up being unintentionally amusing. It could be admirable if Haynes was going for a documentary-style approach, but he insists on filling the film with rather odd stylistic flourishes that stick out like a sore thumb. The music, by composer Marcelo Zarvos, is also not well utilized, with most of the score feeling as if it’s manipulating viewers in how to feel, rather than letting them take in the emotional weight of the scenes by themselves.

The final act of Dark Waters falls apart and suggests that the film may have needed to be cut by about 20 minutes. With the preceding hour and a half having placed so much emphasis on the overall conflict between DuPont and Billot and so little on our lead character’s relationship with his wife (played with trademark overintensity by Anne Hathaway), the shift in focus to Robert’s domestic life is somewhat jarring.

Melissa Myers

Cameron Allison

However, at the center of it all is Ruffalo, who proves yet again that he’s one of the greatest on-screen “everymen.” An environmental advocate himself, the actor remains magnetic and completely committed to this story, even if the filmmaking seems like it’s on autopilot.

Dark Waters has a handful of issues that keep it from being great and doesn’t say anything a well-made documentary on the subject couldn’t relay better. But Ruffalo’s performance, a well-written script and a timely story of corporate overreach make the film worth seeking out despite some of its more glaring problems.

REVIEWED BY JOSH MCCORMACK JMCCORMA@UNCA.EDU

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Honey Boy HHHHS DIRECTOR: Alma Har’el PLAYERS: Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe BIOPIC/DRAMA RATED R If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded an Oscar for bravery, Shia LaBeouf’s autobiographical work in Honey Boy would be a shoo-in.

While the celebrity-adverse and folks who’ve grown tired of the prodigal actor’s off-screen shenanigans over the past decade might rather shame him for egotistical excess and crafting a film that’s essentially a 90-minute public therapy session, the payoffs that arise via exorcising his demons are plentiful for game viewers — and, hopefully, the screenwriter/co-star/ subject himself.

Opening in exciting, tongue-incheek fashion with LaBeouf’s fictional surrogate, Otis (Lucas Hedges), enduring grueling stunt work on a 2007, Transformers-like action flick, Honey Boy follows him to court-mandated rehab, then flashes back 12 years in an attempt to figure out how he got to this low point.

The introduction of preteen Otis (Noah Jupe, Ford v Ferrari) in a similar but far cruder stunt setup on a Hollywood lot wordlessly suggests that little has fundamentally changed in the intervening stretch. The film soon loops in a figure who’s key to providing answers as to why: Otis’ father, James, played by none other than LaBeouf.

A former clown with a daredevil pet chicken sidekick, a schtick that never resulted in the fame he so desperately desired, James revels in the allure of vicarious stardom while accompanying his son on set. Tragically funny, LaBeouf channels the pain of a failure’s second chance at success with an authenticity that can only come from

witnessing it firsthand — a complex, wounded pride compounded by the fact that James is only there as Otis’ paid employee, and a somewhat reluctant hire on the boy’s part at that.

Each shared scene between father and son is enthralling, frequently heartbreaking, and forms the core of LaBeouf’s raw exploration of his past as he steps into the shoes of the man who most shaped him and, in many ways, doomed him to a path of addiction and hardships.

All the more impressive is that Honey Boy is the narrative directorial debut of documentarian and musicvideo helmer Alma Har’el. Her confident guidance of this special material and gifted ensemble is evident throughout and turns what could have been a messy trip down memory lane into a truly great film.

Read the full review at ashevillemovies.com Now playing at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

Richard Jewell HHHH

DIRECTOR: Clint Eastwood PLAYERS: Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates BIOPIC/DRAMA RATED R A year after the patience-testing cinematic experience known as The Mule, Clint Eastwood returns to what he’s done best over the past 15 years — making films that don’t star himself.

Better than the manipulative American Sniper but not quite reaching the well-earned emotional highs of Sully, Richard Jewell again finds Eastwood reverentially profiling an American hero who, like Chesley Sullenberger, had to fight a lengthy battle to exonerate him-

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self for performing admirably under extreme duress.

The focus here is the eponymous security guard who famously reported a suspicious backpack containing pipe bombs at Centennial Park during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.

Instantly hailed as a hero for saving lives, Jewell became a villain just as quickly when the FBI and media identified him as the primary suspect for the terrorist attack.

Arguably the most boring marquee director working today, Eastwood and his no-fuss style prove an apt fit for Jewell’s story, allowing the simmering tension of Billy Ray’s script and a handful of strong performances to stand out more clearly than they might have under more imaginative guidance.

Chief among those acting achievements is Paul Walter Hauser (who memorably played another tangential mid-’90s Olympic sports figure, Shawn Eckardt, in I, Tonya) as Jewell.

No comedic punching bag this goround, Hauser shows his impressive range as a flawed, honest-to-a-fault individual, determined to make a difference via law enforcement — a loyalty that gets him in trouble when the Feds come knocking.

Dedicated to keeping him out of trouble, Richard’s attorney, Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), and his mother, Bobi (Kathy Bates), form an appealing and important support system for our overwhelmed protagonist.

The unified front is precisely what he needs to weather the dual attacks from FBI agent Shaw (Jon Hamm, superb yet again at playing an asshole) and former Citizen Times reporter Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde), who trades sex with Shaw to get the scoop on Richard’s top-suspect status for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In Richard Jewell’s presentation of its less admirable characters, it’s odd — and a bit unfair — that Hamm’s equally ethically shady Shaw is a composite, while Scruggs, who died in 2001 after stress from the Jewell case and its fallout reportedly ruined her health, is written up under her real name and unable to dispute whether the depiction is accurate. (Former colleagues and friends, including Xpress writer Tony Kiss, say Scruggs did no such thing.)

Further troubling is that by suggesting Scruggs would sleep with a source to get a scoop and subsequently smear the good name of an innocent man without due diligence, Eastwood and Ray viciously suggest that journalists are a force for evil — a dangerous message in the age of so-called “fake

news,” where a wide swath of the public has grown to distrust reporters.

An easy out from a narrative angle, the film’s straw man approach for its antagonists may get viewers’ blood boiling in regard to the mistreatment of an innocent man but calls into question the validity of Richard Jewell’s portrayal of the other real-life people in its narrative.

Starts Dec. 13 REVIEWED BY EDWIN ARNAUDIN EARNAUDIN@MOUNTAINX.COM

Stuffed HHHS DIRECTOR: Erin Derham PLAYERS: Allis Markham, Jaap Sinke, Ferry van Tongeren DOCUMENTARY RATED NR Asheville-based filmmaker Erin Derham’s Stuffed joins the ranks of documentaries on unusual professions and hobbies. Taxidermy usually brings to mind big-game trophy hunters and backwoods sheds full of deer skins, but this film busts that stereotype wide open with a variety of taxidermists, including a focus on the younger upand-coming generation of “3D wildlife artists,” as one subject, Daniel Meng, calls himself on first dates to avoid coming off as a weirdo for his unconventional profession.

Dozens of taxidermists from across the globe are interviewed and vignetted for this film to capture the wide range of people who stuff and mount dead animals for a living. Allis Markham — who clearly has a keen eye for aesthetics, judging by the way she flawlessly adorns herself in pinup model-esque fashion and makeup — is a former marketing employee with a posh studio in the heart of the Los Angeles art district; Jaap Sinke and Ferry van Tongeren defy purist taxidermy, opting to take artistic license with portraying animals in exaggerated features and unnatural positions; and Daniel Meng got his start at the age of 8, scooping up roadkill to secretly practice the craft.

Stuffed challenges viewers to define taxidermy as a true art form and to show the artists as lovers of the natural world with the desire to educate and preserve through their art. The amount of time spent skinning, molding, sculpting and sewing each piece is astounding. Taxidermists must also possess the scientific prowess to understand the anatomy of each animal. It isn’t enough to simply stretch a zebra skin over a horse mannequin.

Taxidermists must scrutinize each muscle and vein in meticulous detail,

even when it doesn’t seem to have a huge impact on the outcome of the final product.

As much as this documentary educates viewers about a unique and unfamiliar world, the character development of each interviewee is lacking, perhaps in part due to the sheer volume of taxidermists highlighted in the film. I would have loved to see more of the artists in their candid day-today lives outside the world of taxidermy, and it would have been more interesting to explore more deeply one of the most interesting subgenres of taxidermy — rogue taxidermy, which involves creating fictional hybrid creatures out of multiple different species.

Still, viewers are sure to come out of this 84-minute film with a greater appreciation and respect for a profession that likely previously felt distant and unfamiliar.

Screens Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre REVIEWED BY MELISSA MYERS MELISSA.L.MYERS@GMAIL.COM

seems mortified of heights, it’s clear there’s no room for errors.

Part of the film’s overall beauty, the cinematography yields extremely harrowing sights — great for thrills, but likely to ruin the day of anyone who suffers from acrophobia — and from the costumes to the snowflakes and the sky itself, everything is deserving of a second look.

Read the full review at mountainx. com/movies/reviews Now playing at Grail Moviehouse REVIEWED BY CAMERON ALLISON CAMERONRTALLISON@GMAIL.COM

STARTING FRIDAY Richard Jewell (R) HHHH JUST ANNOUNCED Black Christmas (PG-13) A remake of the 1974 horror classic, about a sorority terrorized by a killer.

Jumanji: The Next Level (PG-13) The video game players from the series’ first film find themselves inhabiting new characters’ bodies.

The Aeronauts HHH DIRECTOR: Tom Harper PLAYERS: Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne, Himesh Patel BIOPIC/ADVENTURE RATED PG-13 Set in 1862, The Aeronauts tells the story of hot air balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) as they set out to break the record of flying highest in the world and research the atmosphere in order to learn more about weather patterns.

While the pair’s professional relationship doesn’t always reflect the hardships each has endured, some of the film’s best character moments come from the intensity of the situation the two find themselves in. Being thousands of feet in the air is no small feat, and even though neither of them

FILM ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM • FR (12/13), 7pm - A Hard Straight, documentary. Free. Held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place ‘THE GRINCH’ • SA (12/14), 2pm - Family Movie Afternoon: The Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch. Free. Held at Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road, Fairview

CURRENTLY IN THEATERS 21 Bridges (R) HHS The Addams Family (PG) HH The Aeronauts (PG-13) HHH A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (PG-13) HHHH Charlie’s Angels (PG-13) HHHS Dark Waters (PG-13) HHH Doctor Sleep (R) HHHHS Fantastic Fungi (NR) HHHH Ford v Ferrari (PG-13) HHHHS Frozen II (PG) HHS The Good Liar (R) HHHHS Harriet (PG-13) HH Honey Boy (R) HHHHS Jojo Rabbit (PG-13) HHHHH Knives Out (PG-13) HHHHH Last Christmas (PG-13) HHHH Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (PG) HHHS Marriage Story (R) HHHHH Midway (PG-13) HS No Safe Spaces (PG-13) HHS Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (R) HHHHS Pain and Glory (R) HHHH Parasite (R) HHHHH Playing with Fire (PG-13) H Queen & Slim (R) HHHHS Stuffed (NR) HHHS Waves (R) HHHHS (Pick of the Week) Zombieland: Double Tap (R) HHHS

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FREEWILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Nobody knows really what they’re doing,” says Aries comedian Conan O’Brien.

“And there are two ways to go with that information,” he continues. “One is to be afraid, and the other is to be liberated, and I choose to be liberated by it.” I hope you’ll be inspired by O’Brien’s example in the coming weeks, Aries. I suspect that if you shed your worries about the uncertainty you feel, you’ll trigger an influx of genius. Declaring your relaxed independence from the temptation to be a know-it-all will bless you with expansive new perspectives and freedom to move.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Creativity expert Roger von Oech tells us, “Everyone has a ’risk muscle.’ You keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don’t, it atrophies. Make a point of using it at least once a day.” Here’s what I’ll add to his advice. If your risk muscle is flabby right now, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to whip it into better shape. Start with small, modest risks and gradually work your way up to bigger and braver ones. And what should you do if your risk muscle is already well-toned? Dream and scheme about embarking on a major, long-term venture that is the robust embodiment of a smart gamble.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many people engage in laughably feeble attempts to appear witty by being cynical — as if by exuding sardonic irony and sneering pessimism they could prove their mettle as brilliant observers of modern culture. An example is this lame wisecrack from humorist David Sedaris: “If you’re looking for sympathy you’ll find it between shit and syphilis in the dictionary.” I bring this to your attention in the hope of coaxing you to avoid indulging in gratuitous pessimism during the coming weeks. For the sake of your good health, it’s important for you to be as open-minded and generous-spirited as possible.

And besides that, pessimism will be unwarranted.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “You can shop online and find whatever you’re looking for,” writes pundit Paul Krugman, “but bookstores are where you find what you weren’t looking for.” That’s a good principle to apply in every area of your life. It’s always smart to know exactly what you need and want, but sometimes — like now — it’s important that you put yourself in position to encounter what you need and want but don’t realize that you need and want.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Bachianas Brasileiras is a nine-part piece of music that blends Brazilian folk music with the compositional style of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The poet Anne Sexton relied on it, letting it re-play ceaselessly during her long writing sessions. My painter friend Robin sometimes follows a similar method with Leonard Cohen’s album Ten New Songs, allowing it to cycle for hours as she works on her latest masterpiece.

In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to select a new theme song or collection of theme songs to inspire your intense efforts in behalf of your labors of love in the coming weeks. It’s a favorable time to explore the generative power of joyous, lyrical obsession.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I’ve spent my life butting my head against other people’s lack of imagination,” mourned Virgo musician Nick Cave, who’s renowned for his original approach to his craft. I’m bringing this to your attention because I suspect you will be endowed with an extra fertile imagination in the coming weeks. And I would hate for you to waste time and energy trying to make full use of it in the presence of influences that would resist and discourage you. Therefore, I’ll cheer you on as you seek out people and situations that enhance your freedom to express your imagination in its expansive glory.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A scholar counted up how often the Bible delivers the command “Fear not!” and “Don’t be afraid!” and similar advice. The number was 145. I don’t think that approach to regulating behavior works very well. To be constantly thinking about what you’re not supposed to do and say and think about tends to strengthen and reinforce what you’re not supposed to do and say and think about. I prefer author Elizabeth Gilbert’s strategy. She writes, “I don’t try to kill off my fear. I make all that space for it. Heaps of space.

I allow my fear to live and breathe and stretch out its legs comfortably. It seems to me the less I fight my fear, the less it fights back.” That’s the method I recommend for you, Libra — especially in the coming weeks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Isaac Newton (1642–1726) was one of history’s most influential scientists and a key contributor to physics, astronomy, mathematics and optics. His mastery of the nuances of human relationships was less developed, however. He had one close friendship with a Swiss mathematician, though he broke it off abruptly after four years. And his biographers agree that he never had sex with another person.

What I find most curious, however, is the fact that he refused to even meet the brilliant French philosopher Voltaire, who reached out to him and asked to get together. I trust you won’t do anything like that in the coming weeks, Scorpio. In fact, I urge you to be extra receptive to making new acquaintances, accepting invitations and expanding your circle of influence.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How did humans figure out that a luxurious fabric could be made from the cocoons of insect larvae? Ancient Chinese sage Confucius told the following story. One day in 2460 B.C., 14-year-old Chinese princess Xi Ling Shi was sitting under a mulberry tree sipping tea. A silk worm’s cocoon fell off a branch and landed in her drink. She was curious, not bothered. She unrolled the delicate structure and got the idea of using the threads to weave a fabric. The rest is history. I foresee a silk-worm’s-cocoon-falling-in-your-cup-of-tea type of event in your future, Sagittarius. Be alert for it.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “It is the soul’s duty to be loyal to its own desires,” wrote Capricorn author Rebecca West. “It must abandon itself to its master passion.” That’s a high standard to live up to! But then you Capricorns have substantial potential to do just that: become the champions of devoting practical commitment to righteous causes.

With that in mind, I’ll ask you: How are you doing in your work to embody the ideal that Rebecca West articulated? Is your soul loyal to its deepest desires?

Has it abandoned itself to its master passion? Take inventory — and make any corrections, if necessary.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I would never try to talk you into downplaying or denying your suffering. I would never try to convince you that the pain you have experienced is mild or tolerable or eminently manageable.

Who among us has the wisdom to judge the severity or intractability of anyone else’s afflictions? Not I. But in the coming months, I will ask you to consider the possibility that you have the power — perhaps more than you realize — to diminish your primal aches and angst. I will encourage you to dream of healing yourself in ways that you have previously imagined to be impossible.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “You owe it to us all to get on with what you’re good at,” wrote Piscean poet W. H. Auden. In other words, you have a responsibility to develop your potential and figure out how to offer your best gifts. It’s not just a selfish act for you to fulfill your promise; it’s a generous act of service to your fellow humans. So how are you doing with that assignment, Pisces? According to my analysis, you should be right in the middle of raising your efforts to a higher octave; you should be discovering the key to activating the next phase of your success — which also happens to be the next phase of your ability to bestow blessings on others.

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No pets please. Phone 828 231 9145 - Email mhcinc58@yahoo.com

EMPLOYMENT GENERAL LIFE GUARDS FOR ASHEVILLE JCC YEAR-ROUND POOL The Asheville Jewish Community Center is seeking Certified Lifeguards.

Our state-of-the-art facility offers a 6-lane, 25-yard competition indoor/outdoor pool with the only one-meter spring board diving board in WNC. https://www.jcc-asheville.org/employment/ certified-lifeguard/ RECREATION LIFE COACH Plans & facilitates recreational, social, & cultural activities for residents. Supports residents' mental health recovery process. Full-time, Thurs/ Friday/Monday evening hours Sat/Sun 8 am-5 pm Contact: 828-894-7117 hr@cooperriis.org www. cooperriis.org TROLLEY TOUR GUIDES If you are a "people person," love Asheville, have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and clean driving record you could be a great Tour Guide. Full-time and seasonal part-time positions available. Training provided. Contact us today!

828 251-8687.

Info@ GrayLineAsheville. com www.GrayLineAsheville. com

RESTAURANT/ FOOD DISHWASHERSFULLTIME AND PART-TIME DISHWASHERS at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. play an important role in the success of our Taproom & Restaurant. This entry-level position allows you the opportunity to learn how our kitchen works, gain

and improve your culinary skills, and show your dedication toward a long-term kitchen career. Dishwashers thoroughly clean and inspect dishes, silverware, glasses and kitchen equipment. To Apply- Please visit our website https:// sierranevada.com/ careers/ https://sierranevada.com/careers/

HUMAN SERVICES JOB FAIR: WAREHOUSE AND CDL CLASS B DELIVERY DRIVER POSITIONS AT MANNA FOODBANK https://www. mannafoodbank.org/ careers/ Warehouse: $13 - $13.50/hr CDL Delivery Driver(Class B) : $14.50 - $15/hr Full-time, great benefits, welcoming work environment

PROFESSIONAL/ MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC seeks a visionary Executive Director with demonstrated fundraising success to lead the organization and build on its mission to: transform children’s lives through mentoring and supportive services in Western North Carolina. See www. bbbswnc.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nikwasi Initiative, a collaborative nonprofit in Macon County, is seeking its first executive director. See www. nikwasi-initiative.org for a full job description.

Send cover letter, resume and 3 references to nikwasi.initiative@gmail. com.

TEACHING/ EDUCATION Rainbow Community School Seeks Division Head To oversee operations for the K-5 Division and contribute to a safe, inclusive, and dynamic culture. For details, requirements, and application visit rainbowcommunityschool.org

CAREGIVERS/ NANNY Live-in Caretaker Nice home on Airport Rd., Asheville.

For friendly elderly lady. Will exchange free use of nice bedroom and bath ($600 p/m value), for your loving care. Some freedom during daylight hours. Must be an experienced caregiver, have car and be a licensed driver.

Looking for good cook, honest and joyful, drugfree lady. Call Beverly 828-210-8724.

ARTS/MEDIA WNC MAGAZINE SEEKING A SENIOR EDITOR Asheville-based WNC magazine is looking for a full-time Senior Editor to lead our award-winning

publication.

Publishing experience required.

Details at wncmagazine. com/careers.

SERVICES HOME LOOKING FOR SELF STORAGE UNITS? Looking for self storage units?

We have them! Self Storage offers clean and affordable storage to fit any need. Reserve today!

1-855-617-0876 (AAN CAN)

HOME IMPROVEMENT ELECTRICIAN ELECTRICAL SERVICE Power to the People!

Serving Asheville and abroad. Troubleshooting, fixture hanging, can lights, generators, car chargers, remodels, new construction, we do it all! Licensed and insured. Free Estimates. 828-551-9843

HANDY MAN HIRE A HUSBAND • HANDYMAN SERVICES Since 1993. Multiple skill sets. Reliable, trustworthy, quality results. Insured.

References and estimates available. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

INTERIOR DESIGN DELIGHTFUL HOUSE PORTRAITS Great gift for the holidays. For new homes, birthday, anniversary, etc. Pen, ink & watercolor by Asheville artist Michael Havelin.

(828) 712-5570 michaelhavelin. com

ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS A PLACE FOR MOM Has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. 1-855-993-2495 (AAN CAN) GET RID OF YOUR TIMESHARE TODAY! Safely, ethically and legal. Don’t delay call today. 1-844757-4717 (AAN CAN)

LEGAL NOTICES RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER AND 60+ YEARS OLD? Call now! You and your family may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Call 844-2691881 today. Free Consultation. No Risk. (AAN CAN)

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS CLASSES & WORKSHOPS WWW.TERRYNEWBEGIN. COM I am a channeler and author of Books on "New Energy Consciousness" and I will be hosting "the Channeling of the Masters" at 497 Southern Way, Lenoir City, Tennessee on January 18, 2020, Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Since 2004 I have been channeling a group of nine well-known Ascended Masters from beyond the physical realm.

Since I will be doing the presentation of the Masters in my home, then space is limited. The cost is $40 and can be paid at the event. Contact Terry at email terry@nei.net or Nancy Salminen at email toddypond333@gmail. com or phone her at 207266-4400 to reserve your spot. Also, and only for those that will attend the event, Nancy and I are willing to do some private channelings for the following week of January 19th through 22, 2020.

The time, day, and cost for the private channelings will be established at the event. Please note: these type of events fill up fast so don't hesitate. terry@ nei.net - website www. terrynewbegin.com

MIND, BODY, SPIRIT BODYWORK TRANSFORMATIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY For $60.00 I provide, at your home, a 1.5-2 hour massage [deep Swedish with Deep Tissue work and Reiki]. • Relieve psychological and physiological stress and tension. • Inspires deep Peace and Well-Being. • Experience a deeply inner-connected, trance like state • Sleep deeper. • Increase calmness and mental focus. I Love Sharing my Art of Transformational Massage Therapy! Book an appointment and feel empowered now! Frank Solomon Connelly, LMBT#10886. • Since 2003. • (828) 7072983.

Creator_of_Joy@ hotmail.com

HEALTH & FITNESS HEALTH AND WELLNESS WEBSITE Alternative Health and Wellness Website. www.pharmacistdrugsandyou.com

AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, high-end, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! Newer models too! Call 1-866535-9689 (AAN CAN)

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

ACROSS 1 Unspecified series ender

4 Unrefined barrelful

14 Toilette water

9 Spelunking spots

16 “___ we a pair?”

15 Dynamited, maybe

edited by Will Shortz 17 Raciest classification 19 One that “eats, shoots and leaves,” in a classic joke 20 Group overthrown

by Zeus 21 Marvel hero with multiple M.I.T. degrees 23 “Star Wars” nickname 24 One of a ZZ Top duo?

25 Preschoolers 26 Hip-hop artist with the 2006 hit “Ms. New Booty” 31 Members ___ 32 AOL, for one, in brief 33 Vows 37 Charles Kingsley’s “___ to the North-East Wind” 38 Three-screen cinema … or a hint to 17-, 26-, 46- and 61-Across 41 Going viral, say 42 Puccini title heroine 44 Lo-o-ong stretch

puzzle by Ross Trudeau 45 Austin ___ (Tennessee university) 46 Contest in which the Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-17 50 Shark attractant 53 Loop trains 54 Genre for 26-Across 55 Danish cheese 57 Brit’s gasoline 60 Capital of Nigeria 61 Article of clothing at the very end of the rack 64 Word before light or study 65 Seal the deal 66 24-Across, in London 67 Rubberneck 68 Tilt-a-Whirl and bumper cars 69 Start to succeed?

DOWN

1 Deli counter call 2 Curbside call 3 1980s-’90s sitcom family 4 Skulls 5 “Dang it!”

6 ___ Gal (eponymous gun designer)

No. 1106

7 Fox’s home 8 More out there, as humor 9 Mafia head 10 ___ Sánchez Vicario of the International Tennis Hall of Fame 11 Mobile payment service owned by PayPal 12 Conclude by 13 Set of seven Asian countries, informally 18 Explained quickly to get an O.K. 22 Dinosaur in “Toy Story” 24 Mosquito killers 26 Kick out 27 Excel command 28 Common base word 29 Chi follower 30 Affectionate sign-off 34 Award that encourages technological development to benefit humanity 35 Elaborate deception

36 River of Hades 38 Sigma follower 39 Softball toss 40 Brian of ambient music 43 Student with coding homework, for short 45 Sylvia who wrote “The Bell Jar” 47 Something a zoo animal isn’t 48 Magic potion 49 Seizes by force

50 Togs for a cowboy 51 Good thing to break, maybe 52 Throat dangler 56 Assign stars to, say 57 Movement that’s French for “bent” 58 Unrefined cartfuls 59 Bygone Fords 62 Nero’s 91 63 Struck (out)

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS NY TIMES PUZZLE

heville M Join tfhorethAesnext Movie Noivghiet! Guys The evening includes a brief introduction by the Asheville Movie Guys, Bruce C. Steele and Edwin Arnaudin of AshevilleMovies.com, as well as a lively discussion with the audience after the credits.

US Mon., 12/16, 7pm • Fine Arts Theatre 36 Biltmore Ave., Asheville

Do you want an email reminder prior to each Asheville Movie Guys night?

Send an email with ‘Asheville Movie Guys’ in the subject line to ashevillemovies@gmail.com Xpress readers who say “Lupita” at the box office receive a discounted ticket price of $6.50 per person.

MOUNTAINX.COM

DEC. 11 - 17, 2019

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