Mountain Xpress, February 10 2010

news The play’s the thing ABCCM Thrift Shop

Community production highlights stories of the local homeless

a local ministry

by Jason Sandford

Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm

Reggie Mullins’ ringing baritone can command a room.

On this night, that room is the sanctuary at First Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Asheville. He’s standing on a newly built stage as the rehearsal swirls around him, and despite the hubbub, Mullins’ booming voice demands attention.

It’s been roughly 20 years since the actor and musician was last involved in a play. But with opening night approaching, it’s clear that he’s found his form and is relishing his return to the spotlight. “I play a shape-shifter,� Mullins explains before the night’s run-through, noting that his character narrates the production. The role is fitting, notes Mullins, stating matter-of-factly that he’s been shunned by his family in Alabama for the past few years, since he told them about his homosexuality. The resulting upheaval almost left him homeless, says Mullins. But he found help in Asheville and now lives in The Griffin Apartments with the help of a federal rent subsidy.

Elements of Mullins’ life saga have actually been worked into the play. Titled Always Expect Miracles, the piece incorporates stories collected from a number of Asheville residents. It’s being produced by an outside contractor under the auspices of the nonprofit Homeward Bound, whose mission is to end chronic homelessness in Asheville. Besides serving as a fundraiser for the group, the stage show — the first production of the nonprofit’s Just Home in the Mountains

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Miracle-makers: A group of about 75 people have come together for the community production of Always Expect Miracles. The play is a project of Asheville nonprofit Homeward Bound. The group hopes the play will help it raise money to end chronic homelessness, as well as create new connections between people to also aid in that mission. photos by Jonathan Welch

Performance Project — is also a way to highlight stories of residents who often get overlooked while bringing city residents together to learn from one another in a creative setting, Homeward Bound staffers explain.

Mullins, meanwhile, says: “It’s nice to be able to share my story from the stage. It’s unfortunate

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that people don’t understand we’re all human — that we cannot accept one another despite our differences. “We’re all human beings, [and] no one is better than anyone,� he declares — a message Mullins hopes his performance delivers loud and clear. If it does, he observes, “It will certainly get people thinking and talking.�

That’s exactly what Homeward Bound and the rest of the folks behind the production hope for, too.

Making sweet music: The play is being produced by Community Performance Inc., which provides the expertise to build a play from the ground up, including a director and a playwright. The production includes songs written just for Always Expect Miracles, with titles such as “Beaucatcher Brew� and “Just Home in the Mountains.�

10 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Fran Harvey, the nonprofit’s executive director, explains it this way: “What we do at Homeward Bound is create trusting relationships in the community� to help move people out of chronic homelessness. What better way to extend that mission, she says, than by creating a community production that draws on residents’ stories and puts regular people into roles that help them learn from one another?

Homeward Bound runs the A HOPE Day Center in downtown Asheville, which offers food, shelter and a range of other services to the homeless. Looking to rev up its annual fundraiser, the organization’s board hit upon the idea of a community-based play. And while casting about for ways to make it happen, they found Community Performance Inc., which specializes in just such events.

With a cast and crew of about 75, the play has drawn together students, members of the local

clergy, veterans and business people ages 6 to 80, Harvey reports.

And bringing all those people together will help boost everyone, not just the homeless, adds Rebecca Williams, Homeward Bound’s project director for the production.

“The gift of acting — what a great way to build empathy and understanding,” says Williams. “It allows everyone to give the stories,” and that act of sharing and listening, as well as just working together, helps build relationships that might not otherwise exist, she notes.

The process of creating the play began last summer. Homeward Bound held a series of local gatherings to collect people’s stories.

After that, Community Performance playwright Jules Corriere took over and started melding those pieces into a dramatic whole.

“This theme of transformation began to emerge,” she says.

“Asheville is a place where people come to reinvent themselves and find new things.” Armed with some 60 local tales of courage and personal strength, Corriere shaped the piece as a series of vignettes tied together by the theme that became the play’s name: Always Expect Miracles.

“It’s unfortunate that people don’t understand we’re all human — that we cannot accept one another despite our differences.”

— Reggie Mullins, narrator, Always Expect Miracles “We’re not talking politics here — we’re talking people’s stories,” she emphasizes. “We’re honoring people’s stories. The best thing to do is put a face on that seeming other, and when you do that, people start to care for each other.”

Director Richard Geer echoes that sentiment, noting that people “need an opportunity to stand in each other’s shoes.” Each night, two different people will perform all the roles in the play, giving the production an ever-changing feel, he explains, adding, “There are no stars.”

Instead, continues Geer, “This is a play about our values and Let’s dance: Choreographer Kevin Iega Jeff leads the cast of what we stand for, and if it’s any good, it’s about life and death, “Always Expect Miracles” in warm-up exercises before a recent because that’s what all great theater is. The question is, is there rehearsal. something beyond our core differences to explore in our human- community to come and participate — it’s planting seeds in a way ity? The answer is yes, but it’s hard.” that formal meetings just can’t do,” she says. “We need that as we address the root causes of homelessness.”

Amy Sawyer, who coordinates the Homeless Initiative, says Asheville alone has a known homeless population of 500 to 600, she’s excited about the production. Sawyer oversees Looking notes Sawyer, adding that the number is probably soft due to the Homeward: the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Asheville and transient lifestyle of people on the street and other factors, such as Buncombe County, which both local governments adopted in 2005. the current tough economy.

“By hearing stories of people in all walks of life, and by bring- The city recently held a meeting to get community feedback on ing them together to produce this piece of art and then asking the what’s working in the 10-Year Plan and what’s not. This year, the

Creative approaches

project is continuing to focus on getting more people involved with the issue, Sawyer reports.

Meanwhile, other activists are forging their own solutions. The 7-year-old Asheville Homeless Network seeks to give homeless people a direct voice. The nonprofit regularly provides its homeless members with bus passes, can sometimes help with a rent payment or utility bill, and even lends out a few netbook computers.

The group recently transformed its Web site into a blog called the Asheville Street Sentinel. The goal is to collect news and information relevant to people on the street and get it back out to them, volunteer David Mayeux explains.

“The homeless community as a whole tends to get stereotyped.

Overcoming those stereotypes is going to be key to getting people out of chronic homelessness,” he maintains, adding, “They love and they laugh and they cry just the same as everybody else does.”

Seeing that — whether through the Web or via a community play — “is when people will begin to respond,” says Mayeux.

Local activist Michael Muller has a different Web-based plan to aid the homeless: providing technical assistance to help them establish and maintain a presence on Facebook. He’s working through the Church of the Advocate, based in downtown Asheville’s Trinity Episcopal Church, to make that happen. Helping people connect creates better understanding, which can lead to solutions, says Muller.

“Most people treat the homeless as somehow less than human — if they see them at all — or as a commodity, a statistic,” Muller said via e-mail. “My hope is that by allowing stories to be told, to share insights into who they are, we might reach a better level of understanding.

“I think that for most of us, the worst thing in the world is feeling that you don’t matter — that the world never knew you were here. This’ll maybe help to heal some of those wounds.”

Tony Nimmons, who’s performing in Homeward Bound’s community play, couldn’t agree more. The Vietnam veteran, who now lives in the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s shelter for veterans in east Asheville, says he’ll use his role “to make some statements about homelessness.

“It’s going to take much more help than we’re getting now.

Homelessness is not something we’re going to eradicate overnight,” notes Nimmons. “I’d like to see more of the community come together, and let’s do this together. We’re creeping toward solutions, and we should be running toward them.” X

Performances of “Always Expect Miracles” will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturdays from Feb. 11 through March 6. Saturday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Cost is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and students and $12 for children. All performances will be held at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St., Asheville.

Advance tickets are on sale at Pack Place on Pack Square in downtown Asheville.

Jason Sandford can be reached at jsandford@mountainx.com or at 251-1333, ext. 115.

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Tough times, hard choices

ADA luncheon spotlights key downtown issues

by Brian Postelle The upcoming year will call for tough political choices, Mayor Terry Bellamy told a roomful of people at the Asheville Downtown Association’s annual State of Downtown Luncheon.

“Now is the time for heavy lifting,” Bellamy told the 120 people who gathered in the Asheville Civic Center’s banquet hall on Feb. 4. “If we don’t have the will to do it, this will all be for naught.”

She was referring to the 17 master plans approved by City Council over the past few years, as well as such unresolved issues as the fate of the Civic Center itself. Bellamy aimed her appeal at both the other Council members present — Jan Davis, Esther Manheimer, Gordon Smith and Cecil Bothwell — and at the audience in general, saying these conversations need to extend further into the community. The speech built on the pitch she’s been making since January: that local agencies, governments and residents need to step up and partner with the city to accomplish common goals at a time when money is tight.

“I refuse to do another one of these [talks] if we are not going to roll up our sleeves to make a difference in our community,” Bellamy declared.

The mayor also called on her audience to move past the stalemates that have stalled such projects as the hotel and parking deck for which the city had acquired property adjacent to the Civic Center. The deck, she said, is important to downtown businesses, and the conversation has been too one-sided in favor of a plaza there.

“I will not give up all that property for a piazza,” she proclaimed, speaking about an alternative plan championed by the Basilica of St. Lawrence last year.

A bigger conversation

But Bellamy’s agenda wasn’t the only one aired at the luncheon. Unable to attend the event, ADA President Joe Minicozzi put in an appearance via video to report on research the group has compiled concerning Asheville, its downtown and revenue and to awaken the discussion of a Downtown Business District.

According to the findings, the city receives

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Time for heavy lifting: Mayor Terry Bellamy addresses attendees of the Asheville Downtown Association’s annual State of Downtown luncheon. photo by jonathan welch

only 27 cents for every dollar it generates in sales taxes, due largely to Buncombe County’s method for apportioning those revenues, which is based on the value of taxable property rather than a head count.

“You see a huge disparity in the amount of sales tax created in Asheville and the amount returned to Asheville,” Minicozzi noted, building a case that although the city and its downtown are the region’s primary revenue generators, they don’t see the kind of reinvestment needed to improve.

Over the past eight years, he said, Asheville’s retail and restaurant trade increased as much as they had during the previous 30 years — on a per capita basis, the best performance of any North Carolina city. “We’re basically cleaning the clock of everybody in the state as far as restaurants go,” said Minicozzi. The central business district, he noted, also generates $2.7 million in annual real estate taxes for the city and $3.4 million for Buncombe County.

One way to attract more investment, Minicozzi maintained, is to establish a business-improvement district, in which money raised via a special levy on businesses and property within the district would be reinvested in it. The idea has gained traction in other cities as a way to provide supplementary services to specific revenue-generating parts of town. The idea was included in Asheville’s Downtown Master Plan, but implementing it would require City Council action, and in preliminary discussions when the plan was being drafted last year, some stakeholders voiced concerns about a lack of oversight for such an entity.

And though Minicozzi didn’t outright advocate for the formation of a BID, he did lob the

proposal back out into the community, saying, “This is just the start of a bigger conversation.”

When the mayor took the stage shortly after his presentation, she treaded cautiously on the subject, reminding her audience that making such a big decision is Council’s responsibility.

“This is our city: We were elected. We shouldn’t rely on our nonprofits to take the lead,” said Bellamy, adding, “That’s our job.”

But the mayor did concur with the idea that the city is a resource that needs to fostering — and investment. “Asheville as a whole is a brand,” she said. “We need to think of it not just as Asheville but as the heart of Western North Carolina. We need to ask, ‘What can you do to fix this brand that is tarnished?’”

Cracking down on downtown crime

Meanwhile, Community Resource Officer Jackie Stepp of the Asheville Police Department reported on the accomplishments of the APD’s downtown unit during its first six months. The unit’s presence downtown, she said, has resulted in 118 panhandling charges, 162 drug charges and 22 prostitution charges.

In Pritchard Park alone, the squad has issued 10 citations for drug violations, 23 for disorderly conduct and 107 for other violations. Nestled in the heart of the central business district, the little park has been a contentious landmark for downtown business owners and residents alike.

“Please know that we are continuing to work hard in the Pritchard Park area,” Stepp assured the audience. X Brian Postelle can be reached at 251-1333, ext. 153, or at bpostelle@mountainx.com

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Naming names

County to out delinquent taxpayers february 2 meeting

v Commissioners briefed on Forsyth prayer ruling v $500,000 in state home-repair funds v County seeks federal grant for Eco-Panels

by David Forbes The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners kept its Feb. 2 meeting short, dealing mostly with such routine matters as stepping up efforts to collect outstanding property taxes and handing out unused grant funds.

But the commissioners did discuss one ongoing, controversial topic, albeit behind closed doors. A federal court ruled recently that the Forsyth County commissioners’ practice of opening their meetings with a (typically Christian) prayer is unconstitutional, and the decision could have ramifications for Buncombe’s similar practice. In closed session, county legal staff advised the commissioners on the ruling’s potential impact, but the board has not yet taken any action.

A taxing situation

Tax Director Gary Roberts comes to the board annually seeking permission to make the names of delinquent taxpayers public.

This time, however, Roberts said the economic downturn has contributed to a rise in unpaid taxes — some 6,200 to 6,500 taxpayers collectively owe about $11.6 million, and “Many, many more people are setting up payment plans than we’ve ever had.”

Historically, Buncombe County has enjoyed a higher tax-collection rate than the state average, and while the rate has declined to 91.86 percent so far, it should remain well above the state average.

“We still expect to have a good collection year,” noted Roberts, prompting board Chair David Gantt to chime in, “because the more we collect, the less taxes have to be.”

The board unanimously gave Roberts the go-ahead, with Commissioner Carol Peterson (who made the motion) dubbing him “our compassionate tax collector.” On March 21, the county will start advertising delinquent taxpayers’ names in local papers.

On another 5-0 vote, the commissioners unanimously approved disbursing $500,000 in state grants to help low-income homeowners

But that didn’t happen either. Instead, Gantt phoned his fellow commissioners individually — in a move that N.C. Press Association attorney Mike Tadych said violated the spirit if not the letter of the state’s open-meetings law — and they decided to stick with the current policy. Meanwhile, at their Jan. 5 meeting, board members got an earful from both supporters and opponents of the prayer policy (see “On a Meeting and a Prayer,” Jan. 13 Xpress).

And though Frue advised the board on the ruling’s implications in closed session during the Feb. 2 meeting, as of this writing, he has yet to reveal exactly what that advice was.

“I just informed the board what they’d done in Forsyth, and laid out some options,” Frue tells Xpress.

It’s unknown yet whether the board will take any action on those options in the near future — whether by phone call or in a public meeting.

CTS neighbor calls for reassessing property values

During the public-comment portion of the meeting, county resident Aaron Penland, who lives near the contaminated former CTS of Asheville site on Mills Gap Road, called upon the commissioners to reassess property values in the neighborhood, saying that the health

“These people live in an area that’s contaminated; their property values are plummeting. We’d like to ask that a reassessment be done.”

— CTS

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repair or improve their dwellings.

The commissioners also unanimously approved applying for $6.5 million in federal recovery funds for the Mocksville, N.C.-based Eco-Panels, which manufactures one-piece, environmentally friendly prefab wall modules. The funding would enable the company to move to Buncombe and provide more than 50 local jobs.

“This sounds like it’s a sustainable business,” noted Commissioner Holly Jones.

“This gives me so much hope: We’ve got to start making goods in America. This is our future, and I’m glad to help in this and open to finding other ways we can facilitate this kind of investment in our community.”

Prayed out

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In December, after a magistrate initially ruled Forsyth’s prayer policy unconstitutional, Buncombe County Attorney Michael Frue sent out a memo advising municipal governing bodies and other local officials that the board would shift to a moment of silence instead of a prayer. The board then declared that it had made no decision but would discuss the matter during its Jan. 5 meeting.

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risks from ground-water pollution have made it almost impossible for residents to sell or otherwise profit from their homes.

As evidence, he presented the board with a disclaimer from Beverly-Hanks & Associates warning potential homebuyers in the area that “the subject property is bordered by or near the former CTS manufacturing facility, which factory or facility is generally recognized in the community as having environmental contamination issues or concerns.”

“If you were looking to buy a property and someone put this in your hands, would you still be willing to buy? I don’t think you would,” asserted Penland. “These people live in an area that’s contaminated; their property values are plummeting. We’d like to ask that a reassessment be done. It needs to be looked at, and their taxes need to be reconsidered.”

Gantt thanked Penland for his time, adding that all comments concerning CTS are being passed on to the federal and state agencies overseeing the site cleanup. X David Forbes can be reached at dforbes@ mountainx.com or at 251-1333, ext. 137.

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Look homeward, Asheville Just over five years since its adoption, Looking Homeward: the 10-year Plan to End Homelessness in Asheville and Buncombe County needs tweaking, say those working on the issue. Utilizing the “housing first” model — in which homeless folks are placed in housing immediately, without preconditions such as finding a job or getting treatment for addiction — the Homeless Initiative has put a dent in the problem. According to a point-in-time count, the program placed more than 200 people in housing in 2009 alone, Coordinator Amy Sawyer reports.

But gaps still exist in such areas as mental and physical health care, a dwindling supply of affordable rental units and follow-up transitional housing. That was the prevailing view at a Feb. 2 stakeholder meeting at the United Way Building in Asheville that was called to consider priorities for the year ahead.

In the shadow of the economic slowdown, affordable housing becomes an ever-more-precious commodity, and landlords can be even pickier about whom they rent to.

“Landlords say they don’t want to work with offenders, and they don‘t have to work with offenders,” noted Angela Denio of Homeward Bound, an Asheville-based nonprofit.

“This targets people with a criminal history or bad credit,” said Mae Creadick of Pisgah Legal Services. “There needs to be some kind of appeal process — that’s everybody that’s in need of housing.”

But the biggest need, she continued, is money to build more rental units and provide rent subsidies.

“This is the time to be approaching the city and county for the funding for that,” noted Creadick.

(The Asheville City Council recently amended its Housing Trust Fund guidelines to set aside more resources for projects that include affordable rental units rather than for-purchase homes.)

Rolling up the sleeves: Participants at an annual meeting break into small groups to appraise the Asheville/Buncombe plan to address homelessness and talk priorities for the next year. photos by jonathan welch

People also need help paying the rent. “We need more medium-term rental assistance,” said Jonathan Stansell, rental services coordinator at OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling. “‘Housing first’ implies there’s a ‘second.’ What comes second?”

Anthony Goodson of the Asheville Housing Authority spoke to the need for more hotel vouchers, noting that about 1,000 people are now on the waiting list for vouchers and an estimated 1,000 more are eligible to apply. Goodson said he’d relayed that message to Mayor Terry Bellamy.

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Putting it where it counts: Anthony Goodson (left) from the Asheville Housing Authority, and Mae Creadick (right) from Pisgah legal Services, affix stickers to posters showing where they think the homeless situation in Buncombe County needs the most attention.

16 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

hard work building a common database for the various agencies involved, the initiative now has access to useful information about the local homeless population. “It looks like this community is really ahead of the curve in terms of looking at data,” said Richard Leatherman of the Asheville VA Medical Center. “And that data is going to be very helpful as far as getting funding.”

But extra attention needs to be paid to families whose makeup is not a good fit with existing shelters, said Meredith Hammond, director of the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s women’s shelter. “We get a lot of calls from families who have older males. That creates a difficulty: You have a mother with a 12-year-old boy in the women’s shelter, and you can’t put him in the men’s shelter,” she explained.

But a big goal of the group appeared to be collaboration. To that end, a Feb. 18 “faith summit” aims to bring together leaders from local faith organizations providing services for the homeless to talk about what each group is doing — and what isn’t getting done (see below).

Meanwhile, at the Feb. 2 gathering, Heather Spencer of A HOPE took a look around the room and said it’s time for all the agencies involved to leverage their combined clout to push for legislative action and funding.

“We have a pretty big collective voice,” she said.

“Let’s use it.”

“From Sandwiches to Solutions: an Asheville-Buncombe Faith Summit on Homelessness” will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, at the YMI Cultural Center (39 S. Market St. in downtown Asheville). The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the $15 suggested donation includes lunch. For more information, call 259-5733.

— Brian Postelle

New A-B Tech president ready to get started Hank Dunn, the newly hired president of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, says he’s ready to listen, plan and engage.

During an on-campus reception, Dunn, whose hiring was announced Jan. 25, sketched out his long-term goals: put student success first, make the college a top choice for students, create an atmosphere where people want to work, be the trainer of choice for local businesses, and build a reputation far and wide for the educational services A-B Tech provides.

These are ambitious goals, but Dunn isn’t shy about setting the bar high. “With a longterm strategic plan, we can move mountains,” he told Xpress in a recent interview. “If a student has an obstacle in their way, that’s a mountain, and we can help move those mountains. We can use data to make us a better institution and one that uses best practices.”

Dunn, 57, worked as chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis before accepting his new post. Ivy Tech, a system of 14 regional colleges, has more than 21,000 students. Before that, Dunn worked as president of student services at Sinclair Community College. In Asheville, Dunn will oversee an operating budget of $51 million and about 1,000 employees. A-B Tech has an enrollment of more than 27,000.

Dunn replaces Betty Young, who announced in March 2009 that she would leave to take the helm of Coleman College, a member of the Houston community-college system. Coleman specializes in health-sciences programs and is located at the Texas Medical Center. In announcing her plan to leave A-B Tech, Young cited “discontent” and “division” on campus.

Young was inaugurated in May 2008 as the college’s fourth president. The first woman president of the college, Young replaced longserving K. Ray Bailey, who had been A-B Tech’s president since 1990.

Dunn described himself as a listener who will dive into the local community. “I’m a hands-on-the-table kind of guy. I try to be a communicator. I try to be engaged in the community. I like to be engaged with people, and I have a very team-member approach,” Dunn said. “I’m committed to a collegial environment where trust and respect are practiced religiously. I also want us to be organized and disciplined in using data and analysis to inform and transform.”

Dunn knows Western North Carolina well.

He and his wife have owned a home in Wolf Laurel for about 10 years and have visited Asheville frequently. Dunn says he loves the outdoors and writes fiction in his spare time.

Not that he has a lot of that.

“I tell people that because I love what I do, I don’t work anymore. It’s fun. It’s not a chore,” he says.

Dunn holds a doctoral degree in higher education leadership from the University of Florida-Gainesville and a master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and an associate degree from Indian River Community College. He and his wife, Darlene, an attorney, have three children and two daughters-in-law.

A-B Tech’s Board of Trustees hired Asheville-based Gold Hill Associates to conduct a national search. Trustees also met with campus and community stakeholders. The trustees’ search committee culled a pool of 58 applicants down to five finalists, who visited campus in December for interviews. Trustees then narrowed the field to three, submitting the names to the state Board of Community Colleges for reference checks before trustees made their pick. Trustees also sent a threemember group to Dunn’s college, where they conducted interviews of Dunn’s students and colleagues.

— Jason Sandford

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Oral history project spotlights local LGBT community A project conducted by Appalachian State University is gathering the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people living in the Appalachian region.

“We’re not just looking for people who grew up here but transplants, those who moved here or lived here and moved away,” archivist Kathy Staley explains. “Asheville has a very robust LGBT community. In the 1970s, the Running Water commune in Bakersville put out a national gay magazine. You have bubbles and pockets like that all over the mountains, but there’s never really been a history that tells their unique experiences.”

The project is seeking out both members of the LGBT community and members of groups that support it. The interviews will become part of the Belk Library’s Appalachian Collection.

The stories may also be posted online or used in a future documentary.

The idea for the project, says Staley, grew out of previous work she’d done documenting the stories of the LGBT community at ASU and in surrounding Watauga County. For this initiative, the state’s Appalachian region was defined as stretching as far east as WinstonSalem.

“We want to start looking at what makes the LGBT experience here different from, say, the Piedmont, as well as how the area affects the lives of those who move here,” she says.

Participants can choose to share their identities but won’t be required to. Those interested in participating should contact Staley (2626724; staleyk11971@yahoo.com) or co-director Michael Howell (262-7682 or howellml@ appstate.edu).

— David Forbes

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 17

YuDeal promises to put more power in hands of consumers

Growing local business: Local merchants are supporting the Asheville Grown campaign in numerous ways, including donning T-shirts at work to spread the message. Here, Aubury Philips and Anthony Cerrato of Fiore’s (wearing shirts) are flanked by Asheville’s Mardi Gras king and queen, Michael Parker and Laura Holland, at the restaurant last week.

Asheville Grown campaign seeks to buoy local businesses If you made your way around downtown Asheville on a Saturday night last December, you might have noticed that staff members at several local businesses were wearing the same shirt. It was no coincidence: You were witnessing the birth of Asheville Grown.

The goal of the campaign is “educating consumers about the importance of buying local, of supporting independent businesses,” explains Director, Franzi Charen, co-owner of the downtown vintage-clothing store Hip Replacements.

Last summer, she and other members of the Lexington Avenue Merchants Association met to brainstorm ideas for promoting local commerce.

Afterward, she says, inspiration struck: “I was in the shower, thinking about it, and then I thought, I’ve got it! Everyone’s going to wear the same T-shirt — it’s going to be like a crazy moving billboard.”

Another downtown merchant, Union clothing store co-owner Orlando Hernandez, coined the Asheville Grown name. Two Lexington Avenue businesses joined the effort, with Spriritex pro-

photo by Jonathan Welch

viding the shirts and On a Roll doing the screen printing. Several downtown stores and restaurants volunteered to provide the shirts for their employees.

Now, Asheville Grown is branching out further, forming an alliance of local businesses and spreading the message not just on T-shirts but also via posters and bumper stickers. And, Charen says, a steering committee is forming to shape the campaign into a group that will seek nonprofit status and ratchet up the outreach.

The main message Asheville Grown hopes to get out is spelled out on the campaign’s Facebook page: “We are letting consumers know that we are voting with our dollars when we make the choice of where to spend money. Every dollar spent at a locally owned and independent establishment is a vote to keep Asheville’s independent spirit growing.”

For a list of merchants selling Asheville Grown T-shirts and other goods, or for information on participating in the campaign, e-mail ashevillegrown@gmail.com.

— Jon Elliston

18 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

The founders of a new Web site that promises to put the power of “social couponing” in the hands of consumers unveiled their work last Thursday in downtown Asheville.

YuDeal.com will work as a social-media tool for people and businesses to share coupons with one another, James Parker, YuDeal’s head of consumer relations, told a group of about 50 family and friends at Top Floor Studio. Built to integrate with other social-media networking sites, YuDeal’s goal is to “empower you to get the deals you want and use them,” Parker said.

YuDeal, a publicly owned company, is based in Asheville and worked closely with Asheville Web-design company Top Floor Studio to develop its software. Isaac Roberts, the company’s chief executive officer, lives in Waynesville. Ty Hallock, chief executive officer of Top Floor, described the site as “a social-couponing site that allows small businesses to start taking coupons by a handheld device.”

The twist is that consumers will eventually have the ability through the site to negotiate their deals with businesses depending upon variables, such as the time of day they’re shopping or the number of people in their party, Hallock said. Put another way, the site is offering an evolution of mobile marketing, according to James McMahon, YuDeal’s chief operating officer.

McMahon described how the site works: A user registers at YuDeal.com, then can browse businesses that are offering coupons. A user chooses

a deal by clicking and confirming on the Web site.

Next, the user goes to the business to redeem the deal by typing their phone number into an iPod Touch, installed at each participating business.

The site is still in test mode, and it’s launching in Asheville. Participating businesses so far are City Bakery Cafe, Green Sage, Corner Kitchen and Bouchon French Bistro. Representatives from each of those businesses attended the kick-off event, and each said they’re excited about taking part in the launch.

Tony Smith of Green Sage said his company sees YuDeal as a green marketing tool, with no paper waste. Kevin Westmoreland of the Corner Kitchen said he liked the fact that discounts could be tailored to users. Michel Baudouin of Bouchon said he was attracted to the ability to track results.

YuDeal’s goal is to have all kinds of businesses participating in every city across the U.S. In coming months, YuDeal plans to add Facebook and Twitter functionality. There’s a smart-phone application in the works, as well as a point system for site users and a new logo and design for the site.

Roberts, YuDeal’s CEO, told the group that he envisions his company changing the global economy one transaction at a time. He credited the “creative cauldron” of Asheville for providing him with the resources needed to make his company work, and in the end, Roberts said, “this is something Asheville can hopefully be proud of.”

— Jason Sandford

Busted: Task forces make high profile drug arrests A pair of joint law-enforcement task forces made high-profile drug busts in recent weeks.

On Jan. 28, Buncombe and Henderson County sheriff’s deputies made the largest narcotics-related cash seizure in Western North Carolina history after a traffic stop on Interstate 26 found 1,083 lbs. of marijuana and $1.1 million in cash in a horse trailer.

Deputies arrested Andrew Curtis Vanover, 62, of Middlesboro, Ky., and Jose Alfrado Flores, 33, of Mission, Texas. Both were charged with trafficking marijuana and maintaining a vehicle for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance.

Both are being held in the Buncombe County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

The deputies were part of the two counties’ joint Highway Interdiction Team. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $2.5 million.

Lt. Ross Dillingham of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office refused to reveal whether either man was affiliated with a gang or crime syndicate, as well as whether the drugs were earmarked for local distribution or just passing through on their way to someplace else.

The cash was turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration; the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will get $400,000 of it back to use for training, equipment and travel, said Dillingham.

Meanwhile, the Buncombe County Anti-Crime Task Force, composed of Asheville and Black Mountain police officers as well as sheriff’s deputies, concluding a four-month undercover operation by arresting two Asheville men and seizing marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and firearms.

Searching the men’s homes, the task force says it found 14 pounds of marijuana, 7 ounces of cocaine, 1 ounce of methamphetamine, 19 firearms (including one sawed-off shotgun) and approximately $21,000 in cash.

Task force agents arrested Antonio Gonzalez Zamudio, 28, and Daniel Angulo, 25. Zamudio is charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine, trafficking marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell and deliver, two counts of of assault on a female and driving charges.

Angulo was charged with four counts of trafficking cocaine and one count of conspiring to traffic cocaine. Both are being held in the county jail, Zamudio on an $82,500 bond and Angulo on an $18,000 bond.

Dillingham said the busts are part of local law enforcement’s improved strategy and better coordination with other agencies. “We’re out there aggressively trying to disrupt drug trafficking,” he told Xpress. “I think we’re seeing results.”

— David Forbes

North Shore Road settlement brings $52 million to Swain County

The family history: Under the terms of the settlement, transportation will still be provided for the descendants of those buried in the remote areas of the north shore of Fontana Lake.

Xpress file photo

In a long-sought settlement, the National Park Service will pay Swain County $52 million, approximating today’s cost of a county road that was flooded in the 1940s when Fontana Lake was created. On Feb. 5, county commissioners voted 4-1 to accept the settlement, which will be paid in installments and placed into a trust fund. Under a state ruling, commissioners can only spend the interest earned on the funds, and only for projects approved by county residents.

Although environmentalists have long called for a cash settlement, some residents remained adamant in calling for a new road to be built, as promised in a 1943 agreement between the federal government and Swain County. Commissioner David Monteith made the lone vote opposing the settlement, saying he’d rather work on the road for another 67 years than accept the cash.

The announcement came from the offices of Rep. Heath Shuler, a Swain County native who joined in the call for cash instead of the road, which would have cut through the most remote, wild area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In the 1960s, the National Park Service began

building a replacement road for Swain County along the north shore of Fontana Lake but abandoned the project just seven miles into it, due in part to severe erosion and acidic runoff that wiped out fisheries in several streams. For decades, a number of county residents pushed for completion of what came to be known in its incomplete state as “the Road to Nowhere,” although the NPS, the governors of North Carolina and Tennessee, and the majority of Swain County commissioners all rejected the project on environmental and economic grounds, favoring a cash settlement.

“Today’s announcement is the tipping point on the North Shore Road story — the resolution of an historical wrong in Swain County, and protection of the park’s most wild, remote area for the future,” said D.J. Gerken, attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. “It’s also a win for American taxpayers, since the road would have cost several times more than this settlement.”

Sierra Club spokesperson Ted Snyder added, “The Sierra Club has been fighting the disastrous North Shore Road proposal since the late 1960s.”

In a release, Shuler remarked: “This settle-

ment will bring much-needed resources to Swain County for decades to come. ... The interest on these funds alone will greatly increase Swain’s annual budget and will help the commissioners in their efforts to create jobs, invest in Swain County schools, and improve the county’s infrastructure.”

“The wildest region of the park will stay wild, and future generations will be able to experience its isolation and grandeur,” said Don Barger, a director with the National Parks Conservation Association.

Over the course of the next 10 years, the money will be deposited in a trust account with the North Carolina state treasurer, who will disburse annual interest payments to Swain County. Already, $4 million has been authorized for transfer into the trust. Within 120 days of the signing, another $8.8 million will be added, with an additional $4 million allocated in the president’s 2011 budget, which outlines the first of 10 annual payments that complete the settlement. These initial amounts alone will provide an annual return of approximately $1 million in interest available to Swain County, say representatives of Citizens for the Economic Future of Swain County.

Dale Ditmanson, superintendent of the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, has stated that the Park Service will continue to provide transportation to annual cemetery “decoration days,” allowing descendants of people buried in the North Shore area to visit the remote gravesites.

— Margaret Williams

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Historic agreement ends North Shore Road controversy For Western North Carolina, it was bigger than when Eric Rudolph was caught Dumpster diving in Murphy. After 67 years, the North Shore Road controversy was over.

Saturday, Feb. 6 — the day after the Swain County commissioners voted to accept the agreement — was wet, cold and icy. Not the most auspicious conditions for the signing ceremony planned at Swain County High School. And bad weather in Washington kept Interior Secretary Ken Salazar away.

But none of that seemed to dampen the audience’s enthusiasm. Local musicians led the audience in “This Land is Your Land” and “America, the Beautiful,” and a brass band played patriotic tunes.

Retired Swain County educator Leonard Winchester, the president of Citizens for the Economic Future of Swain County, proclaimed: “It’s a historic day.” However, Winchester, who’s been pushing for the deal for five or six years, added: “We have to continue working to make sure we get the rest. But now we can ask our two senators to help, because there’s only one option.”

Ted Snyder has been involved with this issue since the ’60s. The former Sierra Club president feels the agreement “does something for the parks, the plants and the animals.” He now plans to focus on getting wilderness designation for the Smokies.

“Wilderness status is feasible,” he believes, “but the locals won’t support it until they get all their money.”

Not everyone present was thrilled about the deal. “I think this is two steps back-

ward,” said sixth-generation mountaineer Mike Clampitt. “The new agreement says less than the old one. There’s no guarantee we’ll get the $52 million.” He also questioned what wilderness status would mean for the area. Helen Vance, a member of Proctor High School’s class of ’43, expressed disappointment but added, “The time has come that we have to accept it and move on.

My concern, now, is that the cemetery trips continue.”

Glenn Jones, chair of the Swain County Board of Commissioners, noted, “It took us 67 years to reach this point,” asserting, “Every citizen in Swain County will benefit from this cash settlement.” He praised U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, a former quarterback for the Swain County Maroon Devils.

Superintendent Dale Ditmanson of Great Smoky Mountains National Park brought a message from Salazar: “The settlement is good for the people of Swain County, because it generates much-needed revenue; good for the department, because it protects one of America’s most treasured parks; and good for the American taxpayers, since building the road would have cost several times more than the settlement.”

Finally it was Shuler’s turn. “Growing up, I saw both sides of the issue,” he recalled.

“It’s divided this community. Our next generation can grow up with better education.

It’s time to let go of something in our past that divided us. My roots are here; my foundation is here.” He received three standing ovations.

— Danny Bernstein

20 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Olympic couple: Jennifer and Andrew Marsh, of Black Mountain-based event management consultants Event Mercenaries, will have key behind-the-scenes roles at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Marsh

Black Mountain couple will work Olympic venues A Black Mountain couple will play key roles in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Andrew Marsh, the owner and president of event-management consulting company Event Mercenaries, will work as broadcastvenue manager at the center where press from around the world will be assembled to cover the games. Jennifer Marsh, program manager for Event Mercenaries, will work as a liaison officer at the ski-jump venue, serving as a go-between with members of the media and athletes.

“This will be my first trip to Canada and my first Olympics, so I’m pretty excited to be a part of something so huge,” Jennifer Marsh says.

The Marshes moved to Black Mountain seven years ago — Andrew from Athens, Ga., and Jennifer from the Washington, D.C., area. They’ve helped manage mostly sporting

events all over the world through the 11-yearold company. Andrew Marsh has worked Olympic events in Atlanta and Salt Lake, and locally, the couple has managed concessions for the Lake Eden Arts Festival. Last year, the couple took over managing the Sourwood 5K race in Black Mountain.

“We don’t produce events ourselves, but we help out with portions of events that people need help with,” Jennifer Marsh says. “We will do anything that needs to get done.”

Marsh says her husband is already in Vancouver, and she plans to arrive Feb. 8.

What’s the key to handling all the chaos with ease? Marsh says it’s all in the mindset.

“My husband likes to say that all events are the same. You need food for people to eat, and bathrooms, and a place for them to put their stuff. In some ways, it’s kind of the same general checklist.”

— Jason Sandford

gallery

www.mountainx.com/gallery

Art around town: A photo gallery Asheville High senior (and Xpress intern) recently turned her photographic eye on Asheville and thereabouts: an installation by artist David Wilson (top left) at Warren Wilson College, the band Of Montreal (bottom left), band fans (top right) and contra dancing, also at Warren Wilson. You can find more images at www.mountainx.com/gallery.

mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 21

outdoors

Row, row and really row your boat Katie Spotz meets the sharklike tuna of the seas

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On Jan. 3, Warren Wilson College grad Katie Spotz started rowing — solo — across the Atlantic in a 19-foot boat. She undertook the journey to raise money for the nonprofit Blue Planet Run Foundation, and if she completes the 2,500-mile, 70- to 100-day journey, she’ll become the youngest person to accomplish the feat. Spotz has been featured in The New York Times, and Xpress has been chronicling her adventure online by relaying her “tweets” (short text messages) and blog posts. In her journey from Dakar, Senegal, on Africa’s west coast to Cayenne in French Guiana, the young woman has reached the approximate halfway point.

In the excerpt below, Spotz details one particularly challenging day, Sunday, Jan. 31: “Every week or so it is important for me to check the bottom of the boat for slime and barnacles. If I see any growth, I simply scrub it off, making for a slightly faster ride.

[Sunday] was a smoldering hot day, so I thought around midday would be the perfect time to jump in and inspect the hull. In the morning, I heard and felt some bumping against the

In difficult times, personal faith and belief provide a guiding star to help keep our lives on course.

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22 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Row, row, row your boat: Warren Wilson College grad Katie Spotz is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, from Senegal to French Guiana. She’s about half way. photo courtesy Katie Spotz

boat but thought it was just some fish. I also hit something with my oar, thinking again, must be a fish. A really big fish, perhaps.

I grabbed my snorkel, mask and scrubber and took a quick look into the water. I started to dangle my toes in the water but something did not feel quite right. Another glimpse and … there it was. It was deep in the water but looked too big to be a fish yet too small to be a shark.

Either way, it certainly did not look friendly with green spikes. So I crawled my way back into the boat and decided to keep my mantra: “Just keep rowing.”

As I was rowing along into the early evening, I felt it again: a loud thud, and the whole boat shook. Peering over the side, there it was — times eight. It looked like they were on a mission, the way they were swimming so quickly and closely to the boat. To me. Two hours of circling around and bumping into the boat.

But it was only a tuna!”

For updates on Spotzs’ journey, see her Web site, http://rowforwater.com/. For the latest Xpress updates, see http://bit.ly/4Ru1yM. For more information about the nonprofit she’s raising money for, see http://blueplanetrun.org.

Gear up for the Frostbite 5K

On Sunday, Feb. 21 — our ever-fickle weather permitting — Park Ridge Hospital will host its 18th annual Frostbite 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk. All race proceeds will benefit the Park Ridge KidPower ENERGIZE! Program, a free community service promoting the benefits of nutrition and exercise while combating childhood obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

The event gets going at 2:30 p.m. Here are a few more details.

The 5K race takes place on a flat-to-gently rolling course, beginning at the hospital and finishing at the Lelia Patterson Center, located at the intersection of Howard Gap Road and Naples Road in Fletcher. Water and sports drinks will be available to runners throughout the course, and delicious cookies and fruit will be available to everyone after the race. Each runner’s race time will be recorded using special devices.

Registered 5K runners will receive a long-sleeved performance-fabric shirt, and all Fun Run/Walk participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt.

Registration for the 5K is $27 through Feb. 20 and $35 on race day. The Fun Run/Walk costs $10. Race packets for registered participants will be available Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Foot Rx Running Store in the Turtle Creek Shopping Center in south Asheville, located on Hendersonville Road. Race-day registration and packet pickup will take place at the Lelia Patterson Center from 1 to 2:15 p.m.

This year’s Frostbite 5K will be held in conjunction with the Park Ridge Hospital Family Health Fair, a free event that will also be held at the Lelia Patterson Center from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on race day.

For more information or to obtain a registration form, call Duncan Sharrits at 681-2162. For more information about Park Ridge Hospital, visit www.parkridgehospital.org. X Margaret Williams can be reached at mvwilliams@ mountainx.com or at 251-1333, ext. 152.

outdoorscalendar Calendar for February 10 - 18, 2010 Asheville Track Club The club provides information, education, training, social and sporting events for runners and walkers of any age. Please see the group Web site for weekly events and news. Info: www.ashevilletrackclub.org or 253-8781.

• TH (2/18), 7:15-8:30pm - Water Running Clinic begins at the YWCA. Improve your running form and recover from/prevent injuries while maintaining fitness. Taught by a former UNCA track-and-field coach. $40 for four sessions. Proceeds benefit ATC’s summer training programs. To reserve a spot: 242-5360.

• MO (2/15), 5:30-6:30am - Boot(y) Camp starts at the Jewish Community Center. Work with an ex-UNCA trackand-field coach for four sessions. $28 for ATC and JCC members/$33 nonmembers. Proceeds benefit ATC’s summer training programs. To reserve a spot: 242-5360.

Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Encourages safe and responsible recreational bicycling in the WNC area. To find out more about the club and its ongoing advocacy efforts, or to see a complete club calendar, visit www.blueridgebicycleclub.org.

• THURSDAYS - Fletcher Blue Sky Road Ride. Departs promptly at 9:15am. Route and meeting place vary. No one will be left behind. E-mail: JohnL9@MorrisBB.net.

• SATURDAYS - Gary Arthur Ledges Park Road Ride.

Departs in the a.m. from Ledges Park, located 6.5 miles off UNCA exit on I-26. Ride north along the French Broad River to Marshall for coffee, then return via Ivy Hill. E-mail: jbyrdlaw@ charter.net.

• SUNDAYS - Folk Art Center Road Ride. Departs in the p.m. from the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This is a show-n-go ride, meaning there may not be a ride leader. Info: 713-8504 or billcrownover@bellsouth.net.

Carolina Mountain Club

CMC fosters the enjoyment of the mountains of WNC and adjoining regions and encourages the conservation of our natural resources, through an extensive schedule of hikes and a program of trail building and maintenance. $20 per year, family memberships $30 per year. Newcomers must call the leader before the hike. Info: www.carolinamtnclub.org.

• WE (2/10), 8:30am - Sugar Cove Road to Mackey Mountain. Info: 669-3805 or tryonaf@charter.net.

• SA (2/13), 10am - Elk Pasture Gap to Mt. Pisgah via MST. Info: 476-0010 or psdicken@charter.net.

• SU (2/14), 8am - ALT, Butter Gap and Long Branch Loop. Info: 883-2447 or stuengo@citcom.net — 12:30pm - Lover’s Leap/Pump Gap Loop. Info: 505-0471 or mwbromberg@yahoo.com.

• WE (2/17), 8:30am - Lane Pinnacle from Bull Gap. Info: 243-3630 or rhysko@yahoo.com.

Fly Tying Classes Held at Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman. Info: 877-3106 or www.headwatersoutfitters.com.

• SA (2/13), 2pm - “Smallmouth Slayers” with Michael Sprouse.

Valentine 5K & Kids One-Mile Fun Run • SA (2/13), 2pm - Run the paved Oaks Trail in Black Mountain. Starts and ends at Black Mountain Recreation Park. Prizes for winners. Race entry is $25/$30 after Feb. 11 —- 2:45pm - One-mile run starting from Recreation Park. All runners receive a prize. Free/$5. Info & registration: 669-8610 or www.bmrecreation.com.

MORE OUTDOORS EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Outdoors Calendar online at www.mountainx. com/events for info on events happening after February 18.

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mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 23

calendar

your guide to community events, classes, concerts & galleries

Community Events & Workshops • Social & Shared-Interest Groups • Government & Politics • Seniors & Retirees • Animals • Technology • Business & Careers • Volunteering • Health Programs & Support Groups Calendar C a t e g o r i e s : Helplines • Sports Groups & Activities • Kids • Spirituality • Arts • Spoken & Written Word • Food • Festivals & Gatherings • Music • Theater • Comedy • Film • Dance • Auditions & Call to Artists Calendar for February 10 - 18, 2010 Unless otherwise stated, events take place in Asheville, and phone numbers are in the 828 area code.

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

Weekday Abbreviations: SU = Sunday, MO = Monday, TU = Tuesday, WE = Wednesday, TH = Thursday, FR = Friday, SA = Saturday

Community Events & Workshops One Burner, One Pot Cook Off (pd.) Feb. 23rd at 6pm at Diamond Brand. Do you have a favorite camping meal you like to cook? Enter Diamond Brand’s Camping

Meal Cook Off and receive a $10 gift card plus the chance to win great prizes.

Only rule is you must use one burner and one pot.

For more information on the contest or to enter, contact Gary at: geblen@ diamondbrand.com or 828684-6262.

Program by Stuart Cowles (pd.) Feb. 16th at 7pm at Diamond Brand. Stuart Cowles, owner of Climbmax and certified climbing guide and mountaineer, will present a program on South America including the people, culture and mountains of the Andes and a slide show on Ecuador. For more info contact: geblen@ diamondbrand.com AARP Tax-Aide The Tax-Aide Program will offer free tax preparation for seniors and for low-and middle-income taxpayers through April 15. Electronic filing available. Call the indi-

Calendar deadlines:

*FREE and PAID listings - Wednesday, 5 p.m.

(7 days prior to publication) Can’t find your group’s listing?

Due to the abundance of great things to do in our area, we only have the space in print to focus on timely events. Our print calendar now covers an eight-day range. For a complete directory of all Community Calendar groups and upcoming events, please visit www.mountainx.com/events..

Calendar Information In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must cost no more than $40 to attend and be sponsored by and/or benefit a nonprofit.

If an event benefits a business, it’s a paid listing.

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

Free Listings To submit a free listing: * Online submission form (best): http://www.mountainx.com/ events/submission * E-mail (second best): calendar@mountainx.com * Fax (next best): (828) 251-1311, Attn: Free Calendar * Mail: Free Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 * In person: Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), second floor, downtown Asheville.

Please limit your submission to 40 words or less.

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

Paid Listings Paid listings lead the calendar sections in which they are placed, and are marked (pd.).

To submit a paid listing, send it to our Classified Department by any of the following methods. Be sure to include your phone number, for billing purposes. * E-mail: marketplace@mountainx.com. * Fax: (828) 251-1311, Attn: Commercial Calendar * Mail: Commercial Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 * In person: Classified Dept., Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), Ste. 214, downtown Asheville.

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

vidual location for details on what to bring. Info: www. aarp.org/taxaide. Questions and requests for homebound individuals: 2778288 or info@coabc.org.

• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 1-5pm - Senior Opportunity Center, 36 Grove St. Info: 350-2062.

• THURSDAYS, Noon-5pm - Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St. Info: 2506482.

• SATURDAYS, 10am-3pm - Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty St. Info: 250-4756.

• TUESDAYS, 9am-3pm - West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road. Info: 250-4750.

Asheville City Schools Foundation Tour of Excellence • TH (2/18), 9am-1pm - Meet at Asheville High to take a school bus to sites where ACS Foundation has implemented programs that address challenges facing our schools. Tour participants will see programs at Hall Fletcher Elementary, Asheville Middle and Asheville High. RSVP: acsf@acsf.org.

Black History Month Events at UNCA All events are free unless otherwise noted. Info: 2325024.

• TU (2/16), 7pm Screening and discussion of the film Natural Woman in Highsmith University Union Grotto. A talk by director Cindy Hurst and noted author Darryl Scriven will follow.

Operation Toasty Toes • Items related to the American Armed Forces, including a flag that was flown over Iraq in 2005, a War Bond Doll and more, will be on display in the lobby at Hendersonville Public Library. Info: 6969777 or www.operationtoastytoes.org. n Knitted gifts are also needed for the Armed Forces. Pick up an “Interest Form” at the library.

Peace Corps Information Session • TU (2/16), 6-7:30pm - The information session will be held at the North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave. Info: (202)

692-1053 or jschuhl@ peacecorps.gov.

Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute Info: 862-5554 or www. pari.edu.

• FR (2/12), 7pm - The public is invited to a presentation on Mars. The evening’s activities will include a tour of the campus and celestial observations.

Reservations required by 3pm on Feb. 12. $20/$15 seniors & military/$10 children.

Public Lectures & Events at UNCA Events are free unless otherwise noted.

• TH (2/11), 7pm - The UNCA Center for Jewish Studies presents “What Kind of Jew was Jesus?

How Texts and Archeology Tell Us a New Story,” with noted religious scholar James Tabor in the Reuter Center.

• MO (2/15), 7:30pm - Great Decisions Lecture Series: “The Persian Gulf,” with Dr. Larry Wilson, founder of Zayed University in the United Arab Emerites, in Owen Conference Center. $8. Info: 251-6634.

• WE (2/17), 7:30pm “The Etruscan and Roman Site of Cetamura del Chianti,” with Dr. Nancy de Grummond in the Whitman Room of the Ramsey Library.

Vance Birthplace State Historic Site Located at 911 Reems Creek Road, Weaverville.

Info: 645-6706.

• SATURDAYS (through 2/27) - Celebrate Black History Month with the “Behind the Big House Program.” The program will explore the slaves’ side of the plantation: their daily life, their housing and individual stories. For 4th grade and up. Free, but reservations required.

WCU Asheville Luncheon Series Hear about the latest developments at the university at the Hilton in Biltmore Park. $10.50 for lunch. Info: alumni.wcu.edu, 227-7335 or mramsey@wcu.edu.

• WE (2/17), 11:45am - Gathering and reception followed by lunch buffet —12:15pm - Program focusing on the Kimmel School of

24 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

weeklypicks Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Girls on the Run will give a presentation featuring panelists Rachelle Sorenson-Cox, Cathy

wed Higgins, Olivia Pistor and Molly Peeples Wednesday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. at Malaprop's

Bookstore/Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville. Learn about the organization and its efforts to empower young women in grades 3-8. Info: www.gotrwnc.org.

UNCA Center for Jewish Studies presents "What Kind of Jew Was Jesus? How Texts and thur The Archeology Tell Us a New Story," with noted religious scholar James Tabor, at UNCA's Reuter Center Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. Info: 251-6576.

fri

All are welcome to the opening reception for the High School Student Art Exhibition Friday, Feb. 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Haywood County Arts Council's Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville. The exhibit features work by students at Pisgah and Tuscola High Schools, and will be on display through March 6. Info: 452-0593.

sat

Start your Valentine's Day celebration early at a gypsy/swing dance party featuring Djangoinfluenced tunes performed by Viper's Dream and Acoustic Swing Saturday, Feb. 13, starting at 8 p.m. at the Madison County Arts Council, 90 S. Main St., Marshall. The event is a benefit for the council. $10. Info: 649-1301.

sun

Join in the festivities at the Valentine's Extravaganza benefitting Asheville Prison Books Sunday, Feb. 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Rosetta's Kitchen, 111 Broadway St., Asheville. Enjoy soup and cornbread, music and performances. Plus, bid on a pie and get a date with its baker.

Info: 225-3854.

Catch a women's basketball game at Warren Wilson College Monday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m.

mon The college’s Athletic Department will host a fundraising event for Haiti relief, with the women's basketball team playing local alumnae in DeVries Gym. At half time, campus youth will perform a step show. Info: 771-3737.

tue

As part of UNCA's Black History Month celebration, there will be a screening and discussion on Natural Woman Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. at UNCA's Highsmith University Union Grotto.

A talk by director Cindy Hurst and noted author Darryl Scriven will follow. Info: 232-5024.

Construction Management and Technology.

What You Should Know Before You Go • WE (2/10), 7-8:30pm - Leslie Stevens, attorney at law, will discuss end-of-life issues at Bury Me Naturally, 227 Haywood Road. Info: 776-7464. Free.

WNC Agricultural Center Hosts agricultural events, horse shows and farm-related competitions. Located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Road. in Fletcher. Info: 687-1414.

• FR (2/12) through SU (2/14) - Mountain Boat and RV Show.

Social & SharedInterest Groups Alpha Phi Alumnae • MO (2/15), 6-8pm Asheville-area alumnae of Alpha Phi sorority will meet at Black Forest Restaurant, 2155 Hendersonville Road in Arden. Info: 230-8764.

Alternative Currency • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 5:307:30pm - Informal social gathering at Westville Pub for people who find an alt.

paper currency intriguing, but have questions/concerns, and for those who understand the ins-and-outs and want to share their knowledge with others.

Family-friendly event.

Asheville Cribbage Club Everyone who would like to play social cribbage is invited. Info: 274-2398.

• MONDAYS, 6pm - Meets at McAlister’s in the Asheville Mall.

Asheville Homeless Network Meetings take place at Firestorm Cafe & Books in downtown Asheville. Info: 552-0505.

• THURSDAYS, 2pm - All homeless people and interested citizens are welcome.

Asheville Newcomers Club Women new to the city or recently retired make new friends while learning about opportunities Asheville offers. Info: avlnewcomers@aol.com or 274-6662.

• 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 9:30am - Meeting with speakers from local organizations.

Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club

Meets once a week to enhance speaking skills both formal and impromptu.

Part of an international proven program that takes you through the steps with fun along the way. Network with interesting people of all ages and professions. Info: www.blueridgetm.org or 333-2500.

• MONDAYS, 12:201:30pm - Meeting.

Firestorm Cafe & Books Located at 48 Commerce St., Asheville. Info: 2558115 or www.firestormcafe. com.

• WE (2/10), 6pm Firestorm/Blitzkrieg game night (bring a game, if you’d like).

Friends of Asheville Transit Club Discuss transit-related issues over pints of beer.

Info: 279-8349.

• 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 7:30-9pm - The club meets on the lower level of The Thirsty Monk, 92 Patton Ave. in Asheville. Find the group by looking for the toy buses and maps on the table.

Ongoing Cultural Discussion • WEDNESDAYS, 5:30-8pm - “Christ in Culture.” Explore the impact of Christianity on our diverse culture through film clips, literature, poetry and art. A discussion group with Dr. Allen Permar Smith.

At Kenilworth Church, 123 Kenilworth Rd. Light meal provided. Info: 252-8872.

Scrabble Club Come play America’s favorite word game SCRABBLE. Info: 252-8154.

• SUNDAYS, 1-5pm Meets at Books-A-Million in Asheville. We have all the gear; just bring your vocabulary. No dues the first six months.

Sons of the American Revolution • 2nd SATURDAYS, 1-2pm - The Blue Ridge Chapter meets bi-monthly at Ryan’s Steakhouse, 1000 Brevard Road, Asheville. Info: 5451222.

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War The group meets monthly at St. George’s Episcopal Parish in the Malvern Hills area of Asheville. Info: 6707125.

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 25

• 2nd SATURDAYS, 10am - Meeting.

Swannanoa Valley Museum Located at 223 W. State St., Black Mountain. Info: 669-9566 or www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.

• WE (2/17) - Visit the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville for a guided tour. Lunch at an area restaurant will follow. $10/$20 nonmembers.

Please RSVP. TEDxAVL 2010 Organizational Meetings • 1st & 3rd MONDAYS - Help TEDxAVL find speakers, performers and product demos for a 2010 conference packed with ideas. At Posana Cafe, 1 Biltmore Ave. Info: 2317205. Call to confirm meeting date/time.

Welcome Club of HC • 3rd TUESDAYS, 10am1pm - Social group to welcome new people to the community. Meet friends in general meetings and activity groups. Some groups: Coffee and Conversation, book clubs, bridge and card games, day trips, Tea Society and luncheons.

Info: 697-5911.

Youth Outright • FRIDAYS - Empowering LGBTQ youth in WNC

from 14-20 years of age.

Weekly Youth Group meetings Friday evenings at the Jefferson House, 21 Edwin Place, Asheville.

Government & Politics Buncombe County Republican Women A group dedicated to electing and supporting conservative Republicans.

• 2nd THURSDAYS, 11:30am-1pm - Meeting.

Open to women (and men) who believe and support the core principals of the Republican Party.

The group is dedicated to electing conservative officials and protecting the Constitution.

LibertyOnTheRocks.org A national nonpartisan social group connecting liberty advocates.

• MONDAYS, 7pm - Meets at El Chapala Restaurant off of Merrimon Ave. The Green Tea Party Where reasoned discussions of current affairs occur. Free and open to the public. Info: 582-5180 or 225-4347.

• 1st & 3rd MONDAYS, 7-9pm - Meetings at

Waking Life Espresso, 976 Haywood Rd.

(Nov.-March). Start times may vary with season.

Seniors & Retirees

Animals

Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning Info: www.brcll.com.

• THURSDAYS (through 2/25), 1:30-4pm - Foursession class on Rogers & Hammerstein. Presenter Jinny Bell will show four beloved films: Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. $25 plus one-time membership fee.

• MONDAYS, (2/15 & 22), 1-3pm - Two-session class on Feng Shui. Join Denise Medved to discover the ancient system of environmental placement and the earth’s five primary elements. $15, plus one-time membership fee.

Henderson County Senior Softball League The league is always looking for new players, ages 55 and older. Weather permitting, they play yearround. Info: 698-3448 or www.LJRsoftball.com.

• TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS Daytime games at Jackson Park in Hendersonville (April-Oct.) and Leila Patterson Center in Fletcher

ChainFree Asheville A nonprofit, all-volunteer effort dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs living outdoors on chains and in pens in Asheville and Buncombe County. Info: www.chainfreeasheville.org or 450-7736.

• SUNDAYS, 11am-3pm - Come help a chained dog experience freedom.

No experience necessary. Meets four times a month within Asheville or Buncombe County to build a fence for a chained dog.

Technology Macintosh Asheville Computer Society • 2nd THURSDAYS, 7pm - MACS user group meets.

Visitors welcome. Info: 665-0638 or http://web. me.com/macsnc.

Business & Careers A-B Tech Continuing Ed Classes Classes are free, unless otherwise noted. Info: www.abtech.edu/ce.

• MO (2/15), 2-4pm - “Sweetners.” Many questions are out there about sweeteners: Are honey, maple and agave syrup better for you than sugar?

Are artificial sweeteners safe? This class will help answer these questions.

Info: http://abtech.edu/ce/ schedule/bio.asp.

• TU (2/16), 6-8pm - “Labeling Natural Products.” Learn the required elements of a dietary supplement label.

Info: http://abtech.edu/ce/ schedule/bio.asp.

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Located at 36 Montford Ave. Info: 258-6101 or www.ashevillechamber.org.

• WE (2/10), 8:30-9:30am - Member orientation in the boardroom.

• TH (2/18), 9-11:30am “Creative Leasing Solutions in a Unpredictable Economy,” a lecture and open discussion with Craig Melby. Info: 258-6114.

Asheville SCORE Counselors to Small Business If your business could use some help, SCORE is the place to start. Free and confidential. To make an appointment: 271-4786.

Our offices are located in the Federal Building, 151

Patton Ave., Rm. 259.

Veterans may attend any SCORE seminar at no charge. Info: www.ashevillescore.org.

• WE (2/17), 6-9pm “Basic Internet Marketing,” focusing on businesses and the Web, will be held at the Small Business Center on the A-B Tech Enka Campus. $30. To register: 274-1142.

Mountain BizWorks Information Sessions Mountain BizWorks, 153 South Lexington Ave., assists aspiring and current small business owners with business training and loans. To register: 2532834, ext. 10.

• MO (2/15), Noon-1pm Information Session. Learn about the services available at Mountain BizWorks.

Free, but registration required: naomi@mountainbizworks.org.

Volunteering Asheville City Schools Foundation Seeking Academic Coaches (tutors/mentors) to support students by assisting them with a variety of tasks that support educational success. One hr/wk min., for one school year, in your

choice of school or afterschool program. Training provided. Info: 350-6135, terri.wells@asheville.k12. nc.us or www.acsf.org.

• MONDAYS through FRIDAYS, 8:30am-5pm - Academic coaching in the schools or at after-school programs, once a week.

Graffiti Removal Action Teams Join Asheville GreenWorks in combating graffiti vandalism in our community.

Removing quickly and keeping covered is the best way to reduce graffiti. Info: 254-1776.

• THURSDAYS - Graffiti removal.

Habitat for Humanity Seeks Volunteers for the Home Store & Construction Site Help build houses in Buncombe County by volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Home Store and at the building site in Enka Hills. Volunteers are needed who can make an ongoing commitment to a shift in the Home Store. Info: 2515702 or brusso@ashevillehabitat.org.

• 2nd FRIDAYS, 10am Volunteer orientation at 30 Meadow Road.

Hands On AshevilleBuncombe

Choose the volunteer opportunity that works for you. Youth are welcome to volunteer on many projects with adult supervision. Info: www.handsonasheville.org or call 2-1-1. Visit the Web site to sign up for a project.

• TH (2/11), 5:30-7:30pm - Meals for Hope. Cook and serve a meal for 15-25 women and children who are part of New Choices, an empowerment program for displaced homemakers in need of counseling and assistance.

• SA (2/13), 10-11:30am - Kids Care: An age-appropriate learning component and a hands-on activity for ages 7-12, with adult supervision —- 1-4pm - Assist with unpacking and pricing merchandise for Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit, fair-trade retail store that sells handcrafted items made by artisans in more than 30 developing countries —- 3-5pm - Help make “lovies” blankets for premature babies served by Mission Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Instructions provided.

• SU (2/14), 1-2:30pm - Help keep a home warm this winter by making “draft stoppers,” stuffed and decorated fabric tubes

THE #1 SUBARU DEALER IN THE SOUTHEAST!*

585 Tunnel Rd. Asheville, nC 28805 • 828-298-9600 • www.pResTigesubARu.Com

*Based on 2009 Sales Reports from SOA.

26 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

that are placed at the bottom of a door. Instructions and material provided. Kid friendly.

• TH (2/18), 6-8pm - Help MANNA prepare “Packs for Kids,” backpack-sized parcels of food that will be distributed to students from low-income families.

Hands On! Gallery This children’s gallery is located at 318 North Main St. in Hendersonville. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm.

Admission is $5, with discounts available on certain days. Info: 697-8333 or www.handsonwnc.org.

• TUESDAYS through SATURDAYS, 10am-5pm - Volunteers are needed.

Opportunities include customer greeting, program coordinating, cleaning and maintenance.

Literacy Council of Buncombe County Located at 31 College Place, Bldg. B, Suite 221. Info: 254-3442, ext. 205.

• Volunteers are needed to tutor men and women in the “Teach Reading to Prisoners” program. Tutors provide one-on-one reading instruction to prisoners in correctional centers, preparing them to enter A-B Tech’s GED classes.

Orientation will be held on Feb. 17th & 18th. Info: becca@litcouncil.com or call ext. 202.

MANNA Food Bank MANNA helps alleviate hunger in WNC by processing donated food for distribution throughout WNC. Located at 627 Swannanoa River Road.

Info: 299-3663 or mannafoodbank.org.

• Through FR (2/26) MANNAfest Workplace Food Drive. Local businesses are encouraged to participate and collect nonperishable goods for MANNA. All donations are due on Feb. 26th, from 8am-4:30pm. Register: 299-3664 or AMcCarver@ FeedingAmerica@org.

WNC Nature Center Located at 75 Gashes Creek Rd. Hours: 10am-5pm daily.

Admission: $8/$6 Asheville City residents/$4 kids. Info: 298-5600 or www.wildwnc. org.

• WEDNESDAYS through (2/24) - Winter Work Days.

Volunteers are needed to help with exhibition improvements and outdoor landscaping projects. Info: 298-5600, ext. 305.

Health Programs & Support Groups Professional Help For Overshoppers/Overspenders

(pd.) • Begins February/ March. Stop the pain of Overshopping/Overspending • Individual or group format • 10 session group beginning February/March • Discover triggers and what you’re really shopping for • Learn specific tools and strategies to end the shame and pain • Holistic, Mindful and Compassionate approach. Call Denise Kelley, MA, LPC: 231-2107 or email:empowering.solutions@yahoo.com Adult Children Of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families ACOAs continue “survival” behaviors they had as children, which no longer serve them as adults. Come learn how to grow in recovery and become the person you are meant to be through this 12-step fellowship. Info: 545-9648.

• FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Meets at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.

Al-Anon Al-Anon is a support group for the family and friends of alcoholics. More than 33 groups are available in the WNC area. Info: 800-2861326 or www.wnc-alanon. org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 8-9pm - Newcomers meeting and discussion: West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road, across from Ingles. Enter through parking lot door. Info: 2250515.

• WEDNESDAYS, 12:151:15pm - Step study: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot between Church and Y. Info: 686-8131.

• WEDNESDAYS, 8pm - AlAnon in West Asheville: Meeting at West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Rd., across from Ingles. Separate Newcomers’ Meeting meets also at 8pm. Info: 2584799.

• THURSDAYS, 7pm - Discussion meeting for parents of children with addictions: West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road, across from Ingles. Info: 242-6197.

• FRIDAYS, 8pm - The Lambda (GLBT) group of Al-Anon is a gay-friendly support group for families and friends of alcoholics, and holds their weekly candlelight meeting at All Souls Cathedral, 3 Angle St. Info: 670-6277 (until 9pm).

• FRIDAYS, 12:30-1:30pm - Discussion meeting: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot

between Church and Y. Info: 686-8131.

• FRIDAYS, 6:30pm - Discussion meeting for couples only: All Souls Cathedral, 3 Angle St. Info: 676-0485.

• SATURDAYS, 10am - Al-Anon North: Meeting at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. • SATURDAYS, 10am - Saturday Serenity at St Mary’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Charlotte and Macon. Beginners welcome.

• SATURDAYS, Noon - Weaverville discussion meeting at First Baptist Church on N. Main St., next to the library. Enter via side glass doors.

• SUNDAYS, 5-6pm - Discussion meeting: West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road. Info: 281-1566.

• MONDAYS, 12-1pm - Discussion meeting: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot between Church and Y. Info: 686-8131.

• TUESDAYS, 7pm Discussion meeting: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. ALS Group Resource and support group for people with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), their family and friends. Meetings are held at 68 Sweeten Creek Rd. Info: 252-1097.

• 2nd SUNDAYS, 3-5pm Meeting, with refreshments.

Art of Intimacy Learn life-changing communication and relationship skills, drawing from the work of Brad Blanton (Radical Honesty), Marshal Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication), Susan Campbell (Getting Real), John Bradshaw (Homecoming) and others. $60/4-session class. Info: 254-5613 or www.centerforsacredsexuality.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7:309:30pm - Meeting.

Beauty Through Cancer Provides programs and services for breast cancer patients and survivors in the WNC area. Located at 131 McDowell St., Suite 202, Asheville. Info: 252-8558 or info@beautythroughcancer. org.

• 1st & 3rd MONDAYS, 5:15-6:30pm - Breast cancer support group. Inspire one another, share stories and listen to interesting speakers from the community. All breast cancer patients, survivors and caregivers welcome.

Cancer Support Group for Caregivers • MONDAYS, 11am-Noon Meetings at Jubilee, 46 Wall St., Asheville. Emotional support for family members of people experiencing cancer. Facilitated by Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Info: 299-0394.

Cancer Support Group for Women • MONDAYS, 1:30-3pm - Meetings at Biltmore United Methodist Church.

Emotional support for women experiencing cancer.

Facilitated by Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Info: 299-0394.

CarePartners Hospice Bereavement Offers one-on-one grief counseling, support groups, grief education classes, a monthly grief support newsletter and semi-annual memorial services (available to anyone who is suffering a loss through death). Located at 68 Sweeten Creek Road., Asheville. Call 251-0126 to set up an initial visit with a counselor.

• WEEKLY - Grief education classes and support group meetings: Good Grief Support Group, Child-Loss Support Group, Suicide Loss Group (monthly).

Depression & Bipolar Support • THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - DBSA support group meets at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Open support for family and friends. Info: peacehead@ gmail.com or DBSAlliance. org/asheville.

DivorceCare • WEDNESDAYS (through 4/15), 6:15-7:30pm - A free seminar and support group for people who are separated or divorced. Each week a nationally recognized expert on divorce and recovery topics is heard. Meets at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 201 Mount Carmel Road, Asheville.

Eating Disorders Individuals are welcome to come to one or all of the support group meetings.

Info: 337-4685, frost_natalie@yahoo.com or www. thecenternc.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm - Support group for adults at T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating, 297 Haywood St. Focus is on positive peer support, coping skills and recovery tools. Led by licensed professionals. Free.

Events at Pardee Hospital All programs held at the Pardee Health Education Center in the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville. Free, but registration and appointments required unless oth-

Offer expires 2/15/2010

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 27

erwise noted. To register or for info: www.pardeehospital.org or 692-4600.

• TH (2/11), 3-4:30pm - Shoulder Pain. Physical therapist Jason Morgan will discuss the causes of shoulder pain and the range of treatments available.

Free H1N1 Flu Vaccine • Buncombe County Department of Health is now offering the H1N1 flu vaccine by appointment to anyone age 6 months or older. Call 259-3000 to schedule an appointment.

No waiting with appointment. Free.

Free H1N1 Flu Vaccines • WE (2/10), 11am-2pm - The Henderson County Department of Health will be providing free H1N1 flu vaccines at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville. No appointment necessary.

If unable to attend, call 694-4040 to schedule an appointment for another day.

Grief Support Group • SUNDAYS, (through 2/14), 2-4pm - The support group will be held at the Four Seasons office, 571 South Allen Road in Flat Rock. Open to anyone dealing with grief related to the death of a family member, partner, friend or loved one.

Register: 233-0307.

Healthy Lifestyles in Shiloh At the Shiloh Community Center, 121 Shiloh Road.

Sponsored by Circle of Light Healing Center & Shiloh Community Center.

Info: 280-7287.

• WEDNESDAYS, 12:30pm - Senior pot-luck, qigong and lecture.

• THURSDAYS, 6-8pm - “Eat, drink and be merry.”

Vegetarian meal, lecture and alternative health treatment. By donation.

• MONDAYS, 6-8pm - “Sell yourself in today’s marketplace.”

Henderson County Red Cross Red Cross holds classes in CPR and First Aid for infants, children and adults; Standard First Aid in Spanish; Babysitter Training; Pet First Aid. Located at 203 Second Ave. East, Hendersonville.

Info: 693-5605. : Blood Drive dates and locations are listed below. Appointment and ID required.

• FR (2/12), 1-5:30pm Hendersonville Community First Baptist Church, 312 5th Ave. Info: 273-2273 —- 8am-12:30pm Hendersonville Elementary School, 1139 Randall Crl. Info: 697-4752.

• MO (2/15), 10am2:30pm - American Red Cross Chapter, 203 2nd Ave. Info: 693-5605.

• TU (2/16), 8:30am-1pm & 2pm-6:30pm - Park Ridge Hospital, Naples Roads in Fletcher. Info: 681-2172.

• TH (2/18), 9am-1:30pm - Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Dr. in Flat Rock. Info: 6941805.

Jewish Family Services of WNC A program of the Asheville Jewish Community Center, 236 Charlotte St. • 3rd TUESDAYS, 12:302pm - Caregiver Support Group. This group offers family members and caregivers of any loved one to share experiences, receive information and develop coping skills in matters related to the issues of caregiving. Info: 253-0701, ext. 112 or lauren@jccasheville.org.

MemoryCaregivers Network Support for caregivers of loved ones who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Info: 645-9189 or 7712219.

• 1st TUESDAYS, 12:302pm - Meeting at Fletcher Calvary Episcopal Church.

• 3rd TUESDAYS, 12:302pm - Meeting at New Hope Presbyterian Church.

NAMI Family-to-Family A free 12-week class for families of persons with a severe mental illness.

Sponsored by NAMI WC. Covers facts and feelings.

Early registration required: 707-2937 or bkinschner@ aol.com.

• MONDAYS, (starts 2/22), 6pm - Class in Asheville.

Narcotics Anonymous A fellowship of recovering addicts that can help those afflicted get clean and stay clean through a 12step program. The group focuses on recovering from the disease of addiction rather than any particular drug. For WNC NA meeting schedules and info: www. wncana.net. Helpline: (866) 925-2148.

• DAILY - Please call for location details.

National Alliance on Mental Illness - Western Carolina Dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression, OCD, PTSD and anxiety disorders. Free Connection Recovery Support Groups.

Info: 505-7353.

• THURSDAYS, 7:30-9pm - Veterans Connection Recovery Support Group meets at the Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road. Multipurpose room. Contact Ray at raycarter2001@yahoo. com or 337-0515.

• 3rd TUESDAYS, 8pm - Group meets at Mountainhouse, 225 E. Chestnut St. Overcomers Recovery Support Group • TUESDAYS, 7-8pm - A Christian-based 12-step recovery program. Provides a spiritual plan of recovery

for people struggling with life-controlling problems such as alcohol, drugs, overeating, pornography, codependency, enabling.

All are welcome. Info: rchovey@sos.spc-asheville.org.

Overeaters Anonymous A fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. This 12-step program welcomes everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively.

Meetings are one hour unless noted.

• THURSDAYS, Noon - Asheville: Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Rd. (S. 25 at Yorkshire). Info: 2981899.

• SATURDAYS, 9:30am - Black Mountain: Carver Parks & Recreation Center, 101 Carver Ave. off Blue Ridge Road. Open relapse and recovery mtg. Info: 686-8131.

• MONDAYS, 6:30pm - Hendersonville: Balfour United Meth. Church, 2567 Asheville Hwy. (Hwy. 25).

Open mtg. Info: 1-800580-4761.

• MONDAYS, 6pm - Asheville: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Open mtg. Info: 2778185.

• TUESDAYS, 10:30amNoon - Asheville: Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. at Ottari.

Open BBSS mtg. Info: 2802213.

Patient Advocacy Concerns: Enable Yourself • FR (2/12), 11:30am - “Patient Advocacy Concerns: Enable Yourself,” with Rev. George Karl of Mission Hospital in the Reuter Center. Free. Info: 251-6140.

Red Cross Events & Classes Red Cross holds classes in CPR/First Aid for infants, children, and adults;

28 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Babysitter Training; Pet First Aid; Bloodborne Pathogens; Swimming & Water Safety; and Lifeguarding. All classes held at chapter headquarters, 100 Edgewood Rd. To register, call 258-3888, ext.

221. Info: www.redcrosswnc.org. : Bloodmobile Drive dates and locations are listed below. Appointment and ID required.

• WE (2/10), Noon4:30pm - Owen Middle School, 730 Old US Hwy. 70 in Swannanoa. Info: 686-7739.

• TH (2/11), 11am3pm - The Rotary Club of Asheville at the Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. Info: 2543035.

• FR (2/12), 10am-2pm - University of Phoenix, 30 Town Square Blvd., Suite 220. Info: 335-9574 —- 37:30pm - Spring Mountain Community Club in Fairview. Info: 628-1938.

• SU (2/14), 3-7:30pm - Barnardsville Baptist Church, 1639 Barnardsville Highway. Info: 626-2000.

• WE (2/17), Noon5:30pm - UNCA Highsmith University Center, 1 University Heights. Info: 696-3400.

• TH (2/18), 10:30am-3pm - Pisgah Valley Retirement Community, 95 Holcombe Cove Road in Candler. Info: 667-9851.

S-Anon

For those affected by someone else’s sexual behavior. Info: 545-4287 or 606-6803.

• WEEKLY - Three meetings are available per week.

S-Anon Meetings S-Anon is a 12-step recovery program for partners, family and friends of sexaholics. We share our experience, strength and hope to help solve our common problems. Meetings held weekly in Asheville, Fletcher and Waynesville.

Call confidential voice mail for information: 258-5117.

• WEEKLY - Meetings.

Sexaholics Anonymous SA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women recovering from compulsive patterns of lust, romance, destructive relationships, sexual thoughts or sexual behavior. Call confidential voice mail 681-9250 or e-mail saasheville@gmail. com. Info: www.orgsites. com/nc/saasheville/.

• DAILY - Asheville meetings.

Step/Weights Class Free ongoing aerobics class with step, weights, resistance bands and stretches. Offered

by Asheville Parks & Recreation to promote Asheville’s cardiovascular health. At Stephens-Lee Center (from S. Charlotte, turn on Max St. and go up the hill). Info: 350-2058.

• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 5:30-6:30pm - Step/Weights Class ending with mat work (stretches, yoga & pilates).

All levels.

Support Group for Women With Disabilities • 3rd TUESDAYS, 2-4pm - The group meets at Western Alliance Center for Independent Living, 109 New Leicester Hwy. Discuss issues, share coping skills and stories, and socialize with others. Info: 298-1977.

Support Groups Sessions are led by Charlene Galvin, a board certified Chaplain. Love offering. Info: 329-3187 or chargalvin@hotmail.com.

• THURSDAYS, 1011:30am - Living with Life Limiting Illness —- 1:303pm - Caregivers Support Group.

Tai Chi Class • TUESDAYS, 1:30pm - At CarePartners Seymour Auditorium, 68 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville.

Taught by Shellye Godfrey, Occupational Therapist and Certified Instructor of Tai Chi for Arthritis & Health. $7/session. Info: 274-6179.

The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity • MONDAYS, 5:15-6:30pm - A support group of persons who want to discover and recover their creative selves meets. Based on

course developed by Julia Cameron. Info: rachael_ bliss@yahoo.com.

WNC Brain Tumor Support Welcomes family as well as the newly diagnosed and longer-term survivors.

Info: 691-2559 or www. wncbraintumor.org.

• 3rd THURSDAYS, 6:158pm - Group meets at MAHEC, 501 Biltmore Ave., at the edge of the Mission Hospitals campus.

Helplines For Xpress’ list of helplines, visit www. mountainx.com/events/ category/helplines.

Garden Asheville Mushroom Club Learn about all aspects of mushrooms (collecting, identifying, growing or cooking). Info: 298-9988 or www.ashevillemushroomclub.com.

• 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Monthly meeting at the WNC Nature Center.

Membership is $18/year, and includes informative meetings and scheduled forays.

Organic Growers School An all-day conference at UNCA for beginning gardeners to advanced commercial growers that includes workshops, homesteading and rural living classes, a seed exchange, a trade show and a chil-

dren’s program (ages 7-12). $40. Register by February 12. To register: www.organicgrowersschool.org. Info: 582-5039 or meredith@ organicgrowersschool.org.

• SA (3/6) & SU (3/7) - The 17th annual Organic Growers School.

Regional Tailgate Markets • For tailgate listings, visit www.mountainx.com/events and click on “Garden.” For more information, including the exact start and end dates of markets, contact the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project: 2361282 or www.buyappalachian.org.

Sports Groups & Activities Adult League Kickball Must have at least 10 players per team. The season will consist of 10 games and a league championship game with trophies for the winning team. $25/person.

Info: 250-4269 or jay.nelson@buncombecounty.org.

• Through MO (3/8) Registration. Season: April 1 through June 10 at the Buncombe County Sports Park, field #9.

Asheville Masters Swimming Competitive, fitness and triathlon swimmers welcome.

Info: www.ashevillemasters. com • MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 5:45-7:15am - Practice at Asheville School.

• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 5:45-7:15am & SATURDAYS, 7-9am - Coached practices at Warren Wilson College.

Asheville Ski and Outing Club The year-round activity club organizes skiing, snowboarding, biking and hiking trips for its members.

Membership is open to all ages and ability. Info: www. ashevilleskiclub.com.

• 2nd THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Meets at the Country Club of Asheville.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day A community event designed to expose women to a variety of fun, athletic activities. Held at UNCA. $15. Info: 350-2058 or www.adains@ashevillenc. gov.

• SA (2/13), 9am-4pm - Clinics and activities will be held throughout the day.

Plus, a healthy lunch will be served, there will be goody bags, door prizes and a chance to meet local female athletes.

Pickleball

It’s like playing ping pong on a tennis court. For all ages. $1 per session. Paddles and balls are provided. Info: 350-2058.

• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 9-11am - Meets at Stephens-Lee Rec Center, 30 George Washington Carver St. (take S. Charlotte to Max St.).

Sports at UNCA Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Info: 251-6459.

• TH (2/11), 7pm - UNCA Men’s Basketball vs. Liberty in the Justice Center. $15/$10 general/$7 children.

• SA (2/13), 2pm - UNCA Women’s Basketball vs.

Presbyterian —- 4:30pm UNCA Men’s Basketball vs.

VMI in the Justice Center. $15/$10/$7 children.

Swannanoa Babe Ruth • SATURDAYS (through 2/27), 9am-2pm Swannanoa Babe Ruth will hold baseball and softball registration at the Burger King in Swannanoa.

Waynesville Recreation Center Located at 550 Vance St. in Waynesville. Info: 4562030 or recyouth@townofwaynesville.org.

• SA (2/13), 9am-2pm - Snow tubing trip to Wolf Laurel. Transportation is provided and will leave from and return to the Waynesville Recreation Center. $25 members/$35 nonmembers.

Women’s Indoor Trainer Sessions • MONDAYS, 6:15pm - Youngblood’s Trainer Sessions. Bring your own trainer; no roller, please. A few indoor trainers will be available for loan/rent ($10).

Begin your winter conditioning program. Info: amy@ golightlydesigns.com or tdrews@trainright.com.

Kids At The Health Adventure Free first Wed. of every month from 3-5pm. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm & Sun., 1-5pm. $8.50 adults/$7.50 students & seniors/$6 kids 2-11.

Program info or to RSVP: 254-6373, ext. 324. Info: www.thehealthadventure. org.

• 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 4-5pm - Origami Folding Frenzy. From simple designs to complex creations, join us to learn about the Japanese art of paper-folding. Included with museum admission.

freewillastrology ARIES (March 21-April 19)

“Hate leaves ugly scars,” wrote author Mignon McLaughlin, but “love leaves beautiful ones.”

If I’m reading the astrological omens correctly, Aries, you’re scheduled to receive at least one of the beautiful kind of scars in the coming months — maybe even two or three. In fact, I think they’ll be such lovely booboos that they will markedly add to your overall attractiveness. Rarely if ever have you been privileged to hurt as good as you will in 2010 — thanks to the benevolent jolts of love. Happy Valentine Daze!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

In my view, 2010 is the year you should expand your world. That could mean enlarging your circle of allies or building a bigger web of connections. It might mean broadening your appeal or widening your frame of reference or opening your mind to possibilities you’ve been closed to. It may even involve extending your territory or increasing the range of your travels.

However you choose to expand, Taurus, I urge you to put love at the heart of your efforts.

Love should be the fuel that motivates you and the reference point that ensures you’re always making smart moves. For inspiration, memorize this line by poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning: “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.” In your case, Taurus, “thee” should mean the whole world.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Of all the signs of the zodiac, you Geminis are most likely to thrive if you experiment with new approaches to kissing in the coming weeks. To whip up your fervor, read incendiary texts like William Cane’s The Art of Kissing.

Conspire with an imaginative partner to conjure up a new kissing game or even a sacred kissing ritual. And come up with your own interpretations of the following kiss techniques: the throbbing kiss, the sip kiss, the butterfly kiss, the tiger kiss, the whispering kiss. Happy Valentine Daze!

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Happy Valentine Daze, Cancerian! After meditating about what advice would be most valuable for your love life in the coming months, I decided on this challenge from poet William Butler Yeats: “True love is a discipline in which each divines the secret self of the other and refuses to believe in the mere daily self.” In other words, create in your imagination a detailed picture of your loved ones at their best. Each day, make it a point to feel joy and gratitude for their most excellent beauty and power — as well as the beauty and power that are still ripening and will one day appear in full bloom.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

A friend of mine has woven her life together with a Leo who doesn’t fully appreciate the ways she expresses her adoration. She asked

me to use my bully pulpit as a horoscope writer to convey a message to her lover, and I agreed, because I think it’s excellent advice for all of the Leo tribe this Valentine season. Here’s what she said: “Just because somebody doesn’t always love you the way you wish they would, doesn’t mean they don’t love you the best they can and with all they have.” Are you willing to consider the possibility that maybe you should take that plea to heart, Leo? I hope so, because then you’ll be able to get some of the good loving you’ve closed yourself off from.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Happy Valentine Daze, Virgo! I meditated on what message might best energize your love life, and what I came up with is a declaration by author Mignon McLaughlin: “Love unlocks doors and opens windows that weren’t even there before.” In other words, the love you should be most interested in during the coming months is the kind that opens your eyes to sights that were previously invisible and that creates new possibilities you’ve barely imagined.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Happy Valentine Daze, Libra! My astrological hunch is that you’d benefit from the specific teaching that would come from exploring a three-way relationship. But wait. Don’t jump to conclusions. Here’s the form I think it should take: Fantasize that the merger of you and your lover or ally has created a third thing that hovers near you, protecting and guiding the two of you. Call this third thing an angel. Or call it the soul of your connection or the inspirational force of your relationship. Or call it the special work the two of you can accomplish together.

And let this magical presence be the third point of your love triangle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Happy Valentine Daze, Scorpio! After meditating on what advice would best serve your love life, I decided to offer you the words of psychologist Carl Jung: “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” As I see it, my dear, acting on Jung’s wisdom will help you carry out your primary task in the coming months, which is to bring novel experiences and fresh perspectives to your most engaging relationship. The best way to accomplish that is not with non-stop serious talk and intense analysis, but with a generous dose of playful improvisation and experimental fun.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

To prepare your Valentine horoscope, I did a lengthy meditation on your love life. I wish I could offer you a 20-page treatise on my conclusions, but there’s not enough room. So instead I’ll give you the single most important piece of advice I came up with: The coming week will be an excellent time for you to survey the history

of your love life, starting with the first moment you ever fell in love. I mean you should actually stream the memories across your mind’s eye as if you were watching a movie. Feel all the feelings roused by each scene, but also try to maintain some objectivity about it all. Watch for recurring themes. Be especially alert for unexpected insights that emerge about the past.

And through it all, be wildly compassionate toward yourself and your co-stars.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

“If I love you, what business is it of yours?” wrote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Now I’m offering his words for you to use as your mantra in the coming months. Your main job, as I see it, is simply to be a lover of pretty much everything — to generate, cultivate, and express love in abundance — and not to worry about whether your love is reciprocated or how it’s regarded. It’s a tall order, I know — one of the most difficult assignments I’ve ever suggested.

And yet I think you have the soul power and the crafty intelligence necessary to accomplish it. Happy Valentine Daze, Capricorn!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Happy Valentine Daze, Aquarius! In my search for the counsel that would be of greatest help to your love life in the coming months, I decided on this observation by psychologist Albert Ellis: “The art of love is largely the art of persistence.” I hope you take that in the spirit in which I’m offering it. It’s not meant to suggest that you will be deprived of love’s burning, churning pleasures; I just want to make sure you know that your best bet for experiencing burning, churning pleasures is to be dogged and devoted and disciplined in your cultivation of burning, churning pleasures.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

In 2010, you will have more cosmic assistance than you’ve had in a long time whenever you seek to increase your experience of pleasure.

Do you want to get more sensual joy out of eating and drinking and dancing and listening to music? This is your year. Do you want to heighten your perceptiveness and find more beauty in the world and cultivate new ways to stimulate positive feelings and liberating emotions? This is your year. Do you want to intensify your orgasms and have more of them and learn how to use them to enhance your spiritual power? This is your year. And the coming weeks will be one of the best times in 2010 to move from charging up your pleasure to supercharging it. Happy Valentine Daze, Pisces!

Want some inspiration as you compose your romantic invitations? Go here: http: //bit.ly/LoveAd. © Copyright 2010 Rob Brezsny

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 29

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• THURSDAYS, 10:3011:30am - Preschool Play Date. Interactive fun just for preschoolers led by museum facilitators. Free with admission.

• SATURDAYS, 1-2pm - Experiment with science during Super Science Saturdays. Featuring hands-on activities led by museum facilitators, the programs are fun for all ages. Free with admission.

• TH (2/18), 3:30-4:45pm - Brownies Science Wonders Try It: Come be a mad scientist. Use ordinary milk to make extraordinary colors. Play with dry ice bubbles. Make a take-home craft that’s magnetic. $4/ Brownie.

Celebration Singers of Asheville Community children’s chorus for ages 7-14. For audition/performance info: 230-5778 or www.singasheville.org.

• THURSDAYS, 6:307:45pm - Children’s chorus rehearsal at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St., downtown Asheville.

Events at Asheville Dance Revolution Located at 63 Brook St. Events are sponsored by the Cultural Development Group. Info: 277-6777.

• SA (2/13), 7pm-Midnight - Teen Valentine’s Dance. A hip hop DJ will spin songs all evening long. $7.

• SU (2/14), 1-4pm Fairy Ballerina Prince and Princess Tea and Dance.

Moms and Dads, invite your favorite ballerina prince or princess to a tea and social dance. Tea and snacks will be served. $10 per couple/$5 additional children.

Haywood County Public Library System The main branch is located at 678 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. The county system includes branches in Canton, Maggie Valley, Fines Creek and Cruso.

Info: 452-5169 or www. haywoodlibrary.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 11am - Family story time for children of all ages. Read books, sing songs, learn finger plays and more.

Home School Happenings • 2nd WEDNESDAYS, 1:30-2:30pm - Experience educational programming The Health Adventure way with monthly Home School Happenings. Programs are available for various grade levels. $7/child.

N.C. Arboretum Events for Kids

Info: 665-2492, jmarchal@ ncarboretum.org or www. ncarboretum.org.

• Through SU (5/9) - The Scoop on Poop, an interactive zoological exhibit based on the book by science writer Dr. Wayne Lynch, on display at the Baker Exhibit Center. $3 adults/$2 for children ages 5-18.

Spirituality 3 Locations • Drum Painting in North Carolina (pd.) March 6, 2010, Saturday. Painting from our memories: “Brushing of the Quetzal’s Feathers”.Earth Green Medicine Lodge.

Please call Zoe (828) 2840975. • For details see: www.mayanrecordkeeper. com Astro-Counseling (pd.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also available. Christy Gunther, MA. (828)258-3229.

Free Sacred Women’s Circle (pd.) Tuesday, February 23rd, 7pm at WOMENS WELLNESS & EDUCATION CENTER, 24 Arlington Street, Asheville. Come join Anyaa McAndrew and Shari Starrfire for a fun evening of dance, journeying and sharing, focusing on the Divine Feminine within, activating and accelerating consciousness as women in the time of the Great Shift, and stepping fully into the multi-dimensional energies of 2012. Anyaa@ vzemail.com or 828-7880773.

Spirit, Service, and Community in the Second Half of Life (pd.) Saturday, Feb. 13, 9am-4:30pm - How do we insure our longer lives will be richer, more meaningful lives is the topic of this day-long seminar at the UnitarianUniversalist Church of Asheville.

See SecondJourney. org/2010Spr.htm for further information.

Tuesday Afternoons • Study • Meditation • Great Tree Zen Temple (pd.) Study: 3:30pm • Meditation: 5:30pm. 679 Lower Flat Creek Road, Alexander. Love offering.

More information: 6452085 or www.greattreetemple.org A Course in Miracles • MONDAYS, 6:30-8:15pm - A truly loving group of people studying A Course in Miracles meets at Groce

United Methodist Church on Tunnel Road. The group is open to all. Info: 712-5472.

Asheville Center for Transcendental Meditation/ An Evening of Knowledge Transcend the busy, active mind—effortlessly—for peace, bliss and full awakening of creative intelligence. The most effective, extensively researched meditation. Revitalizes mind/body, relieves worry and anxiety, improves brain functioning. Free Introduction. Info: 2544350 or www.meditationasheville.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7:158:15pm - Introductory Talk: Access your deepest intelligence; compare meditation techniques; explore higher states of consciousness and total brain functioning; and learn about Scientific findings on TM’s health benefits. Held at 165 E. Chestnut St. Asheville Meditation Center Classes are held at the Greenlife Community Center, 90 Merrimon Ave., unless otherwise noted.

Info: 505-2300 or www. meditateasheville.org.

• THURSDAYS, 6:307:30pm - Meditation Circle.

Donations accepted.

Asheville North SeventhDay Adventist Church Located at 364 Broadway, Asheville. Info: 606-6834.

• TH (2/11), 7pm - “In the Footsteps of Paul,” a 10week Bible study focusing on the life journey of the apostle Paul will begin. The DVD film series was filmed on location in cities Paul visited. Guides review each episode and include personal application questions.

Awakening Practices Study the works of Eckhart Tolle and put words into action through meditation and discussion. Info: Trey@QueDox.com.

• 2nd & 4th THURSDAYS, 7-9pm - Meets at the EnkaCandler Library meeting room.

Being Filled With the Holy Spirit • TH (2/11), 6:30-8:30pm - Program of OSL ecumenical group dedicated to the Christian healing ministry. At Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave., Asheville. All are welcome. Info: 242-3260 or mtn_osl@yahoo.com.

Buddhist Meditation and Discussion Meets in the space above the French Broad Food Co-op. February’s theme: “Learning to Love.”

Suggested donation: $8/$4 students & seniors. Info:

779-5502 or www.meditation-in-northcarolina.org.

• WE (2/10), 7:15pm “The Power of Love.”

• WE (2/17), 7:15pm “Can I Love Myself?”

Chabad Asheville Jewish Asheville and WNC Chabad Lubavitch Center for Jewish Life, located at 660 Merrimon Ave. Info: www.chabadasheville.org.

• SUNDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Asheville Jewish Learning Institute for Teens presents “Welcome to Hollywood!”

The culture of Hollywood subliminally influences our society. Just how much sway should movies and television have in your life? $36. Info: rabbi@chabadasheville.org.

Compassionate Communication Practice Group Learn ways to create understanding and clarity in your relationships, work, and community by practicing compassionate communication. Group uses a model developed

by Marshall Rosenberg in his book Nonviolent Communication, A Language of Life. Free. Info: 252-0538 or www.ashevilleccc.com.

• 2nd & 4th THURSDAYS, 5-6:15pm - Practice group for newcomers and experienced practitioners.

Dances of Universal Peace Circle • 2nd SUNDAYS, 7pm - Rejuvenate your spirit and open your heart with sacred circle dancing and group singing honoring the world’s mystical traditions.

No previous experience is necessary. At Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Ave. $5 donation. Info: 225-0515.

Hare Krsna Sunday Feast Meets above the French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. Info: www. highthinkingsimpleliving.org or 506-2987.

• Select SUNDAYS, 6-8pm - An evening of bhajans, class on the Bhagavad-Gita and a vegetarian feast.

Everyone welcome. Refer to the Web site or call for dates.

Land of the Sky United Church of Christ Located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 15 Overbrook Place, in East Asheville.

• SUNDAYS, 9:15am - Women-led, justicefocused, family-friendly, and open to all. Worship with Land of the Sky UCC. An unconditional church.

Mindfulness Meditation Class

From Mars with love: A depiction of NASA Mars Exploration Rover on the surface of the red planet. The public is invited to a presentation on Mars at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute on Friday, Feb. 12. Info: www.pari.edu. photo courtesy nasa

Explore the miracle of healing into life through deepened stillness and presence. With consciousness teacher and columnist Bill Walz. Info: 258-3241 or www.billwalz.com.

• SA (2/20), 2-5pm - Late Winter Satsang. Meditation and personal consciousness development discussion at the Friends Meeting House with Bill Walz.

Start with a gentle yoga warm-up. Bring questions re personal, psychological and spiritual development or e-mail them in advance: healing@billwalz.com.

Donation.

• MONDAYS, 7-8pm - Meditation class with lesson and discussions in contemporary Zen living. At the Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Ave. (off Merrimon Ave.). Donation.

Mother Grove Events Info: 230-5069, info@ mothergroveavl.org or www.mothergroveavl.org.

• MONDAYS - Book discussion group, facilitated

by Antiga, on the book The Creation of Patriarchy by Gerda Lemer. Info: 2859927.

Mountain Zen Practice Center Exploring the ‘how’ of moment by moment peace, joy, and freedom through the practice of Conscious Compassionate Awareness.

Info and Orientation times:

www.mountainzen.org or 450-3621.

• TUESDAYS, 7-8:30pm Meditation and discussion.

Mystic Gatherings Share in the community of those who are governed both by logic and observing signs around them: gut, spirit, intuition or whatever That is. Bring your stories and experiences.

Gatherings are dynamic and diverse and range from topics such as changes in our society to defining moments in life and much more. Info: 206-2009.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Meeting.

Psychic Development Class • 2nd & 4th WEDNESDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Develop your intuition in a stress-free environment. Everyone will have an opportunity to read and to be read. Love donation accepted. Info: 255-8304.

Shambhala Meditation Center of Asheville The center offers free meditation instruction following ancient principles at 19 Westwood Place in W. Asheville. Donations accepted. Info: www. shambhala.org/center/asheville, ShambhalaAshvl@ gmail.com or 490-4587.

• THURSDAYS, 6-6:45pm & SUNDAYS, 10am-Noon - Public meditation.

Sojourner Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

A congregation in formation. The goal is provide a caring, non-threatening environment for the exploration of Christian spirituality. Info: www. sojournerchurch.org.

• SUNDAYS, 9:30am - Worship —- 10:30am - Fellowship. Lower floor of Morningside Baptist Church, 14 Mineral Springs Road, Asheville.

Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi Meditation Group Receive initiation into Sri Swamiji’s one-hour meditation technique. One-hour of silent meditation followed

by Bhajans (devotional singing). Fairview location directions: 299-3246. Info: www.shivabalamahayogi. com.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm “Silent Meditation.” Free.

Toning for Peace Lift your voice in free-form [removed]to generate wellbeing and peace for the greater benefit of our everevolving planet). $5-$10.

Info: 667-2967 or www. toningforpeace.org.

• 2nd SUNDAYS, 1pm - Warm-up.

• 2nd & 4th SUNDAYS, 1:30-2:45pm - At the Light Center in Black Mountain.

Transmission Meditation Group Join in this meditation group for personal and spiritual growth, as well as the healing and transforma-

tion of the planet. Info: 318-8547.

• SUNDAYS, 2pm Meditation.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville Located at the corner of Charlotte St. & Edwin Pl. Info: 254-6001 or www. uuasheville.org.

• SUNDAYS, 9:15am & 11:15am - Services and Children’s Programs.

Unity Center Events Celebrate joyful, mindful living in a church with heart.

Contemporary music by Lytingale and The Unitic Band. Located at 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Info: 684-3798, 891-8700 or www.unitync.net.

• WE (2/10), 7pm “Chocolate Meditation,” with Reverend Chad O’Shea. Celebrate the food of love and indulge. Love offering.

• SA (2/13), 9am-Noon - “Using EFT for the Care and Curing of Addictive and Obsessive Behaviors,” with Romella Hart and Ed O’Keefe. $20-$25.

• WE (2/17), 7pm - “What Is Lent?” Prepare for Ash Wednesday and learn about the 40 days of preparation for Easter. Love offering.

Waynesville Creative Thought Center Located at 741 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. Info: 4569697, waynesvilleCTC@ aol.com or www.mountainshops.com/ctc.

Supporting Asheville businesses has never been so affordable!

Find the discounts, coupons and promotions you need at SaveInAsheville.com “We’re for Business” for more information on the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce visit us:

ashevillechamber.org • 36 Montford Ave. Asheville info@ashevillechamber.org

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 31

• THURSDAYS, 5:306:30pm - Zumba fitness classes with Ann Parsons.

Love offering.

• MONDAYS & THURSDAYS, Noon-1pm - Qi Gong, Yoga and Pilates with Kim May. Love offering.

• TUESDAYS, 2-3:30pm & WEDNESDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Chakra-balancing meditation and oneness blessings with Margie Brockmiller and Donna Webster. Love offering.

Womyn in Ceremony Co-create a sacred circle of women where we will connect, share, dream and experience inner awarenesses and empowerment. Each Circle “stands alone.” Meets 12 miles NW of Asheville.

By donation. Info: www.

RitesofPassageCouncil. com/theresa.

• SUNDAYS, 3:45-6pm - Gathering.

Art Gallery Exhibits & Openings Art at UNCA Art exhibits and events at the university are free, unless otherwise noted.

• FR (2/5) through TU (3/2) - Redhanded: A Songe Forre the Loste, prints by Kore Loy Wildredkinde-McWhirter, will be on display in S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, on the first floor of Owen Hall.

• Through SU (2/28) - Asheville’s East End Circa 1968, photographs

by Andrea Clark, will be on display in the Blowers Gallery, main floor of Ramsey Library.

• TH (2/11), 4-6:30pm Art reception for Asheville’s East End Circa 1968 in Blowers Gallery. Info: 2516436.

• FR (2/5) through TU (3/2) - The annual Alumni Exhibition will be on display in Highsmith University Union Gallery.

Art League of Henderson County The ALHC meets and shows exhibits at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy. (25N) in downtown Hendersonville.

Info: 698-7868 or www. artleague.net.

• SU (2/14), 1:30-2:30pm - Opening reception for Beverly Bowden Pickard’s exhibit. Following the reception, Pickard will present a program entitled “Einstein and Art.” She will talk about Einstein’s connections with art.

Art on Depot 250 Depot St., Waynesville.

Info: 246-0218 or www. artondepot.com.

• Through FR (2/26) - Chemo Today, an installation by Susan Livengood.

Arts Council of Henderson County D. Samuel Neill Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 1-5pm and Sat., 1-4pm. Located at 538 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, Hendersonville. Info: 693-8504 or www.acofhc. org.

• FR (2/5) through SA (5/1) - Mentors & Students will be on display.

• FR (2/5) through SA (3/6) - Art Teachers Create, an exhibit presented by artists and art teachers who provide art instruction to Henderson County children.

• FR (2/12), 5:30-8pm - Opening reception for Art Teachers Create.

Asheville Area Arts Council AAAC is located at 11 Biltmore Ave. Info: 2580710 or www.ashevillearts. com.

• Through MO (2/22) - The AAAC invites the public to view an exhibit featuring local artists Norma Bradley and Calvin Edney at the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park.

• FR (2/5) through SU (2/28) - “A Work of heART: Celebrating Artists Living With Disabilities.” Plus, an individual show by Merlin Strivelli will be showcased in the Back Gallery.

And, works by Moni Hill, Margaret Hester and Constance Lombardo will be on display.

• FR (2/12), 5-8pm - Opening reception for “A Work of heART: Celebrating Artists Living With Disabilities.” Outsider, visionary and folk art created by the students of Open Hearts Art Center will be on display throughout the month of February.

Asheville Art Museum Located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville.

Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am5pm and Sun., 1-5pm.

Admission: $6/$5 students and seniors/Free for kids under 4. Free first

Wednesdays from 3-5pm.

Info: 253-3227 or www. ashevilleart.org.

• Through SU (2/14) - The WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be on display. Info: 253-3227, ext. 121 or eshope@ashevilleart.org.

• Through SU (5/9) - Lorna Blaine Halper: The Space Between will be on display in Holden Community Gallery.

• SA (2/13) through SU (7/11) - Nouns: Children’s Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things.

Asheville Gallery of Art A co-op gallery representing 28 regional artists located at 16 College St. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am5pm. Info: 251-5796 or www.ashevillegallery-ofart.com.

• Through SA (2/27) - Solo exhibition of new works, featuring paintings

by Joyce Schlapkohl.

Bella Vista Art Gallery Located in Biltmore Village, next to the parking lot of Rezaz’s restaurant. Open Mon.-Thurs., 11am-5pm, and Fri. & Sat., 10am-6pm.

Info: 768-0246 or www. bellavistaart.com.

• Through FR (2/26) - Feature wall artist: Galen Frost Bernard.

Black Mountain Center for the Arts Located in the renovated Old City Hall at 225 West State St. in Black Mountain.

Info: 669-0930 or www. blackmountainarts.org.

32 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

• SU (2/7) through SA (3/13) - Gallery show of art

by UNCA faculty.

Blue Spiral 1 The gallery at 38 Biltmore Ave. is open Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm. Info: 251-0202 or www.bluespiral1.com.

• Through SU (3/21) - New x 3: New Artists, New Works, New Year, 10 artists debut at the gallery offering fresh perspectives for the new year.

• Through SU (3/21) - Fiat Lux, paintings by Gabriel Shaffer, will be on display.

• Through SU (3/21) - CUPS: From Hand to Hand, handmade and made to hold, 16 artists offer an intimate expression of functional and sculptural works.

Castell Photography A photo-based art gallery located at 2C Wilson Alley, off of Eagle St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 255-1188 or www.castellphotography.com.

• FR (2/5) through SA (3/27) - Ooh La La, a collection of fine art nudes and boudoir photographs

by Brie Castell.

Center For Craft, Creativity and Design Located at the Kellogg Conference Center, 11 Broyles Road. in Hendersonville. Info: 8902050 or www.craftscreativitydesign.org.

• Through FR (3/26) Loren Schwerd’s Mourning Portrait, a series of memorials to the communities of New Orleans devastated by

Hurricane Katrina, will be on display.

Events At Folk Art Center The center is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 382 (just north of the Hwy 70 entrance in East Asheville). Open daily from 9am-6pm. Info: 2987928 or www.craftguild. org.

• Through TU (2/23) - Turned wood by David Shombert and art quilts by Elizabeth Garlington will be on display.

• Through SU (5/2) - Charles Counts: A Retrospective Exhibition will be on display.

Grovewood Gallery Located at 111 Grovewood Road, Asheville. Info: 2537651 or www.grovewood. com.

• Through SU (4/4) Women in Wood, an exhibit bringing light to the exceptional quality of work being created by women artists working in the medium of wood, both woodturning and constructed wood.

Haywood County Arts Council The HCAC sponsors a variety of art-related events in Waynesville and Haywood County. Unless otherwise noted, showings take place at HCAC’s Gallery 86 (86 North Main St.) in Waynesville. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm.

Info: 452-0593 or www. haywoodarts.org.

• WE (2/10) through SA (3/6) - The High School Student Exhibition, featuring works by art students

at Pisgah and Tuscola High Schools, will be on display in Gallery 86.

• FR (2/12), 6-9pm Opening reception for High School Student Exhibition.

Transylvania Community Arts Council Located at 349 South Caldwell St. in Brevard.

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am4pm. Info: 884-2787 or www.artsofbrevard.org.

• FR (2/12) through FR (3/12) - Body & Soul, an open show.

• FR (2/12), 4-7pm - Artist reception for Body & Soul. Held as part of the Valentine’s Day weekend events in Brevard.

WCU Exhibits Unless otherwise noted, exhibits are held at the Fine Art Museum, Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University. Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am-4pm & Sat., 1-4pm. Suggested donation: $5 family/$3 person. Info: 227-2553 or www.fineartmuseum. wcu.edu.

• Through SA (3/13) - Richard Ritter: 40 Years in Glass, a retrospective of work by the master glassblower —- Transformation: Drawing into Painting, work by six New York artists.

Window Gallery 58 Broadway, Asheville.

Info: 505-8000.

• Through SU (2/28) - Group Art Exhibit.

Paintings, pastels, photography, recycled arts, collages, hats.

Woolworth Walk Gallery

• Through SA (2/27) - Asheville artist Christina Serra will be showing her newest needle-felted wall pieces. Info: www.christinaserra.com.

More Art Exhibits & Openings Art at the Hollingsworth Building in Brevard • Through (2/28) National Parks and National Monuments, an exhibition of photographs by Phil Thurman, will be on display at the Gallery Walk Wall.

Located at 147 E.Main Street. Info: 275-5833.

Art at the N.C. Arboretum Works by members of the Asheville Quilt Guild and regional artists are on display daily in The Visitor Education Center. Info: 665-2492 or www.ncarboretum.org.

• Through MO (2/22) - Celebrating Rivers and Streams, paintings by Sue Sweterlitsch, will be on display in the Education Center, 2nd floor.

Art League of Henderson County The ALHC meets and shows exhibits at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy. (25N) in downtown Hendersonville.

Info: 698-7868 or www. artleague.net.

• SU (2/14) through TH (3/11) - Beverly Bowden Pickard’s paintings will be on display in the Grace Etheridge Room at the Opportunity House. f/32 Photography Group Info: www.f32nc.com.

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Pretty in blue: A painting from Moni Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beethovenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ninth exhibit on display at the Asheville Area Arts Council through Feb. 28. Info: www.ashevillearts.com. image courtesy asheville arts council

â&#x20AC;˘ Through MO (1/4) - An exhibit by the members of this fine photography group will be held at Deerpark on the Biltmore Estate.

Grand Bohemian Gallery Located at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village, 11 Boston Way. Info: www.bohemianhotelasheville.com or 505-2949. â&#x20AC;˘ Through SU (2/28) - Heart & Soul, an exhibit featuring the theme of love with special guest artist Amber Higgins and her hand-crafted glass jewelry. â&#x20AC;˘ SA & SU (2/13 & 14), Noon-3pm - Jewelry Trunk Show.

Classes, Meetings & Arts-Related Events Drawing and Painting Classes At The Island Studios (pd.) Ongoing classes and workshops in drawing and painting the figure, portrait, landscape, and more.

Classical to Impressionism.

Newly renovated studios.

(864) 201-9363. www. theislandstudios.com Encaustic Collage (pd.) Art workshop presented by Roots + Wings School of Art. Sat. Feb. 20th, 9am-3pm. $90. Ages

18+. Registration and more information at www. rootsandwingsart.com or call 828-545-4827.

Asheville Art Museum Located on Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm and Sun., 1-5pm. Admission: $6/$5 students and seniors/Free for kids under 4. Free first Wednesdays from 3-5pm. Info: 2533227 or www.ashevilleart. org. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (2/12), Noon-1pm - Art Break: Join a member of the Asheville Art Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Docents on a guided tour of the exhibitions Looking Forward and Looking Back.

Events at HandMade in America Located at 125 S. Lexington Ave., Suite 101. All classes are free and open to the public.

Registration is required.

Info: mwilliams@handmadeinamerica.org or 252-0121. â&#x20AC;˘ MO (2/15), 6-7:30pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;DIY Marketing & Technology: Online Marketing, Technology, Sales & Arts Business Growth,â&#x20AC;? held at the Ashe County Arts Council,

303 School Ave., West Jefferson.

Land of Waterfalls Art Gallery A co-op in Cedar Mountain made up of 18 local and regional artists, artisans and craft persons. Info: 883-3830. â&#x20AC;˘ FR & SA (2/12 & 13) - Award-winning jewelry maker Jacolyn Campbell will demonstrate her lapidary art.

Laurel Chapter of the Embroiderersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guild of America Holds monthly meetings and smaller groups dedicated to teaching different types of needlework. The chapter is also involved in numerous outreach projects. Guests are always welcome at meetings. Info: 654-9788 or www.egacarolinas.org. â&#x20AC;˘ MO (2/1) through SU (2/28) - Display cases at the Fletcher Library will be filled with needle-art creations.

Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League Classes are held at the studio, 999 W. Old Rt. 70, Black Mountain. Info: svfal. info@gmail.com or www. svfal.org.

â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS, Noon-3pm - Experimental Art Group.

Experimental learning and sharing water-media techniques and collage. $20 for four sessions or $6/session. â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAYS, 10am-1pm - Open studio for figure drawing. Small fee for model. â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAYS, Noon-3pm - Open studio for portrait painting. Small fee for model.

Spoken & Written Word Asheville Storytelling Circle A nonprofit dedicated to excellence in the oral tradition that affirms various cultures through storytelling, and nourishes the development of emerging and established artists.

Guests and new members always welcome. Info: 274-1123. â&#x20AC;˘ 3rd MONDAYS, 7pm - Tellers and listeners are invited to come to Asheville Terrace Lobby, 200 Tunnel Road.

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consciousparty

fun fundraisers

what:

Candy, just in time for Valentine’s Day, along with raising awareness of hunger in the WNC area. Mast General store will donate $1 for each pound of candy purchased to MANNA FoodBank.

benefits:

MANNA FoodBank

where:

All Mast General Store Locations. In Asheville 15 Bultmore Ave.

when:

Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14

Benefits Calendar for February 10 - 18, 2010 Animal Compassion Network WNC’s largest nonprofit, no-kill animal welfare organization. Find a new pet at their pet adoption events. Info: 274-DOGS or www.animalcompassionnetwork.org.

• Through SU (2/28) - Donations for ACN will be accepted at Sensibilities Day Spa, which will be matching donations throughout the month. Located on Haywood St. and in Biltmore Park.

Asheville H3 Red Dress Run • SA (2/13), 1-11:45pm - Join us for a pub crawl to remember and help us raise money to fight breast cancer. Meet at Asheville Ale House in your finest red dress.

Bring cash and ID. $10. Info: http://ashevilleh3.gotothehash.net/rdr10.htm.

Benefit for Haiti • SA (2/13), 1-3:30pm - At Asheville Community Acupuncture, 378 Haywood Rd. (777-8804 or communityacupuncture.com) and Living Points Community Acupuncture, 5 Allen Ave. (687-8747 or livingpoints.net).

Receive acupuncture for a donation. All proceeds go to Acupuncturists Without Borders, providing trauma relief.

Info: www.ACWB.info.

Big Band Sweetheart Dance • SA (2/13), 6pm - Held at the WNC Air Museum, dancing is encouraged throughout the evening, with music provided by the Hendersonville Swing Band. Hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert and cocktails. Proceeds go to support the Flat Rock Playhouse YouTheatre program.

Tickets & info: 693-0731.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake A fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Team packets are now available. Get your packet and reserve a lane today by calling your local office or 253-1470, or by emailing jc@bbbswnc.org.

• SA (2/13), Noon-2pm - Haywood County bowl at Sky Lanes in Asheville.

Chamber Music & Chocolate • TU (2/16), 7-9pm - The Cafe String Quartet will perform live music and chocolate will be provided by the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, located at 10 S.

Lexington Ave. $10-$20. All proceeds benefit Mercy Corps, helping people in Haiti.

Community Diaper Drive for Local Families • WE (2/10), 9am-1pm - LightShare Diaper Drive for local families. Bring any unused or new disposable diapers, any size, brand or style, to Atlanta Bread Co., 633 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, and enjoy coffee and pastries.

Info: LightShare Facebook page.

Dine Out for Haiti • TH (2/11) - Participating restaurants: Barley’s, Doc Chey’s, Luella’s BBQ, Mamacita’s, Rise ‘n’ Shine, The Corner Kitchen and many more. A portion of sales from both lunch and dinner will go to the Red Cross. Info: 252-5220.

Haiti Fundraiser • MO (2/15), 5pm - The Warren Wilson College Athletic Department will host a fundraising event for Haiti relief.

The women’s basketball team will play local alumnae in DeVries Gym. At half time, campus youth will perform a step show. Info: 771-3737.

Just Home in the Mountains Homeward Bound’s Community Performance Project performs at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit HBofA’s mission to end chronic homelessness. Info: www.hbofa.org, bbinfo@hbofa.org or 768-2456.

• TH (2/11) through SA (3/6) - Always Expect Miracles, will be performed. More than 100 actors, including some homeless, will bring to life true tales from all parts of town. Performances: Thur.-Sat., 7:30pm and Sat., 2:30pm. Info: www.justhome.org.

Mercy For Animals A nonprofit animal advocacy organization dedicated to establishing and defending the rights of all animals. Info: 231-6859 or kaylaw@mercyforanimals.org.

• TH (2/11), 10am-11pm - Mercy For Animals benefit at Firestorm Cafe & Books in downtown Asheville. Enjoy vegan food and books.

Singing Valentines • FR (2/12) through SU (2/14) - The Land of the Sky Chorus is taking orders for their Singing Valentines.

The annual fundraiser is offered by the organization in Buncombe, Henderson and Haywood counties. A Singing

34 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Valentine consists of two love songs, a rose and a personalized card. $40. To order: (866) 290-7269.

Skyland Performing Arts Center Located at 538 N. Main St. in Hendersonville. Info: 6930087 or www.BRPAC.org.

• TU (2/16), 6pm - Shrove Tuesday Fun!Raiser. The event will feature a pancake dinner, games, door prizes, beads and fun for the whole family. Music by the Mardi Gras Blues Show Band begins at 7:30pm. $20. All proceeds benefit Absolute Theatre Company. Costumes encouraged (best costume prize).

Sweetheart Dancing With Our Stars • SA (2/13), 8pm-11pm - The Valentine’s Day dance will be held at Brevard Little Theatre, 55 E. Jordan St. Compete for glory on the dance floor. $10. All proceeds benefit scholarship funds for Transylvania Community Arts Council’s summer kids art camps. Info: 884-3278 or www.brevardnc.org.

The Bombs Away Cabaret Asheville’s tantalizing cabaret and burlesque collaborative. Info: www.myspace.com/bombsawaycabaret.

• FR (2/12 & 2/19) & SA (2/13 & 2/20), 8pm - Eat Your Heart Out: A Knockout Thriller will be performed at the Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Ave. $12. Adult audiences only. All profits benefit playwright Jo Carson, who is battling cancer.

Valentine’s Extravaganza Benefitting Asheville Prison Books • SU (2/14), 6-9pm - Featuring soup and cornbread, music and performances by One Tough Cookie, Well Sung and The Runaway Circus and the Loose Caboose.

Plus, a pie and date auction: bid on the pie and get a date with its baker. At Rosetta’s Kitchen. All proceeds go to Asheville’s Prison Books program. Info: 225-3854.

MORE BENEFITS EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Benefits Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after February 18.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

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

LIBRARY ABBRVIATIONS - Each Library event is marked by the following location abbreviations: n BM = Black Mountain Library (105 N. Dougherty St., 250-4756) n EA = East Asheville Library (902 Tunnel Road, 250-4738) n FV = Fairview Library (1 Taylor Road, 250-6484 n SA = South Asheville/ Oakley Library (749 Fairview Road, 250-4754) n SW = Swannanoa Library (101 West Charleston Street, 2506486) n WV = Weaverville Library (41 N. Main Street, 250-6482) n Library storyline: 250KIDS. • WE (2/10), 9:30 & 10:45am - “Preschoolers We Love You!” A kids show featuring puppets, dancing and music. Reservations: 250-4729. WV. • TH (2/11), 9:30 & 10:45am - “Preschoolers We Love You!” A kids show featuring puppets, dancing and music. Reservations: 250-4729. BM —- 1pm - Book Club: In the Shadow of Chimney Rock by Rose Senehi. FV. • FR (2/12), 9:30 & 10:45am - “Preschoolers We Love You!” A kids show featuring puppets, dancing and music. Reservations: 250-4729. SA. • SA (2/13), 3:30pm - Manga Club for Teens. A forum for drawing, reading and discussing manga with interested teens ages 11 to 18. EA. • TU (2/16), 7pm - Book Club: Sinister Pig Tony Hillerman. BM —- 6:30pm - Bilingual Bedtime Stories: Kids and parents are invited to learn songs and stories in English and Spanish. WV. • WE (2/17), 5-7pm - Library Knitters meet. A needlework group for all skill levels. SW. • TH (2/18), 7pm - Book Club: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. FV. Events at Malaprop’s The bookstore and cafe at 55 Haywood St. hosts visiting authors for talks and book signings. Info: 2546734 or www.malaprops. com.

• WE (2/10), 7pm - Girls on the Run, an organization committed to educating and preparing girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living, will give a presentation featuring guest panelists Rachelle Sorenson-Cox, Cathy Higgins, Olivia Pistor and Molly Peeples.

• TH (2/11), 7pm - Karen Head, the founder and director of Equinection, will discuss her book Horse as Teacher: The Path to Authenticity.

• SA (2/13), 7pm - Amy Greene reads from her debut novel Bloodroot.

• MO (2/15), 7-8pm - Susan Elizabeth Hale, Marta Osborne, Brian Sneeden and Pasckie Pascua host a postValentine’s Day poetry reading. A Traveling Bonfires gig.

• TU (2/16), 7pm - Literary Triva Night.

• TH (2/18), 5:30pm Women on Words: A poetry circle for women. New members always welcome —- 7pm - Stitch-N-Bitch.

Bring a project and chat with fiber artists Stacey Budge-Kamison.

For Accomplished Asheville Writers Seeking other serious writers for critique group.

Mostly fiction and nonfiction. Info: 658-8217.

• Alternate THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Group meets.

Haywood County Public Library System The main branch is located at 678 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. The county system includes branches in Canton, Maggie Valley, Fines Creek and Cruso.

Info: 452-5169 or www. haywoodlibrary.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 1:30pm - Ready 4 Learning. A story time designed for 4 and 5-year-olds with a focus on kindergarten readiness. This story time runs Sept.-May. • THURSDAYS, 11am - Movers & Shakers. This story time for active 2 and 3-year-olds incorporates dance, physical activity, songs and age-appropriate books.

• TUESDAYS, 11am - Family story time at the Fines Creek Branch Library.

We will read books, tell stories, learn songs and finger plays, and do a simple craft.

Info: 627-0146.

• TUESDAYS, 11:15am - Family story time for children of all ages at the Canton Branch Library.

We will read books, listen to songs, and learn finger plays. Info: 648-2924.

Tuesday Morning Poems • TUESDAYS, 8:30-8:50am - Meditation —- 8:509:20am - Poetry reading.

Introduce meditation and poetry into your week.

Plus, Laura Hope-Gill will read selections from The Soul Tree. Held at 84 N. Lexington Ave. $5 suggested donation for Wordfest.

Laissez les bon temps roulez! The Mardi Gras Blues Show Band will perform at the Absolute Theatre Company Shrove Tuesday Fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the Skyland Performing Arts Center. Info: www.thespac.org.

Organic local healthy homestyle breakfast and lunch all day. expires -03/10/09 Mon. - Sat., 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.• Sun., 9 a.m.

2 p.m.

(828) 254-2224 www.risenshinecafe.com • 828.254.4122

photo courtesy the Spac

Food Chocolate Opens the Heart • SA (2/13), 1:30-3pm - Free presentation and conversation with Mary Lane, local chef and author of Divine Nourishment: A Woman’s Sacred Journey with Food, at the Hendersonville Co-op.

Registration required: 6938557 or gretchen@hendersonville.coop Fun, Delicious, Nutritious and Smart Choices • TUESDAYS, 3-4pm Francine Delany New School for Children is offering a series of workshops for busy parents trying hard to make good choices for family meals. $10, all proceeds benefit FDNSC. Info & registration: 236-9441, ext. 386.

Music Sh*t Loads Of Vintage Vinyl! (pd.) All genres! Especially 70’s Jazz: Miles, Trane, McCoy, Ornette, Jarrett, ECM, CTI, Vanguard. Very low prices. Visit us in Brevard, across from the College: Rockin Robin Records African Drumming With Billy Zanski at Skinny Beats Drum Shop, 4 Eagle St., downtown Asheville.

Drums provided. No experience necessary. Suggested donation $10 per class.

Drop-ins welcome. Info: 768-2826.

• WEDNESDAYS, 6-7pm - Beginners.

• SUNDAYS, 1-2pm Intermediates —- 2-3pm - Beginners.

Asheville Chamber Music Series This series of concerts is held at the Unitarian Universalist Church on the corner of Charlotte St. and Edwin Pl., unless otherwise noted. Tickets at the door/ Free for students. Info: 6582562 or www.main.nc.us/ ashevillechambermusic.

• FR (2/12), 8pm Asheville Chamber Music presents a piano trio from The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, featuring artistic directors Wu Han (piano) and David Finckel (cello), with Philip Setzer on violin. Music by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Schubert.

Concerts on the Quad at UNCA Bring picnics and blankets or lawn chairs to these free concerts. (In case of rain, held in Lipinsky Auditorium.

Call 232-5000 after 5:15pm to find out location information.) Info: 251-6227 or www.unca.edu/summerquad/.

• TH (2/18), 8pm - Now You See Them will perform acoustic, indie and folk music.

FENCE Events The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located in Tryon. Free. Info: 859-9021 or www.fence.org.

• SU (2/14), 4pm - Family concert with instrumentalists Joe and Kathleen Erwin

and soprano Patti Peake in the Great Room. Free.

Indoor Drumming & Toning Circle At Skinny Beats Drum Shop, 4 Eagle St., Asheville.

All level djembe players welcome. No experience required. Seating and available drums are limited, so come on time. Info: 7682826 or www.skinnybeatsdrums.com.

• 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS, 6-7pm - Drumming and Toning. Love offerings accepted.

Koinonia • MONDAYS, 6-8 pm - Drum circle for the imaginative and those looking for a creative outlet in a free, fun and informal setting. All ages and levels welcome.

Info: 333-2000.

Land-of-the-Sky Barbershop Chorus For men age 12 and older.

Info: www.ashevillebarbershop.com or 768-9303.

• TUESDAYS, 7:30pm - Open Rehearsals at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 51 Wilburn Pl. Madison County Arts Council Events MCAC is located at 90 S. Main St. in Marshall. Info: 649-1301 or www.madisoncountyarts.com.

• SA (2/13), 8-11pm - Valentine’s weekend gypsy swing dance party with Viper’s Dream and Acoustic Swing. An evening of Django-influenced tunes.

Come out and dance to benefit the Madison County Arts Council. $10.

Music at Asheville Art Museum The museum is situated at 2 South Pack Square. Info: 253-3227.

• SU (2/14), 3pm Valentine’s Day Pianoforte concert featuring Deborah Belcher and John Cobb. $5 members/$5 + admission for nonmembers.

Reservations: 253-3227, ext. 120 or nsokolove@ ashevilleart.org.

Music at UNCA Concerts are held in Lipinsky Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Tickets & info: 232-5000.

• TH (2/11), 4:15pm - Asheville Chamber Music Series Lecture: “Piano Trio,” in the Reuter Center. Info: 251-6140.

Song O’ Sky Chorus (Sweet Adelines International) The chorus is always looking for women 18+ who want to learn how to sing barbershop harmony. Please visit a rehearsal. Info: 1866-824-9547 or www. songosky.org.

• MONDAYS, 6:45pm Rehearsal at Reed Memorial Baptist Church on Fairview Rd. (enter parking lot on Cedar St.). Guests welcome.

St. Matthias Musical Performances These classical music concerts take place at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Asheville, 1 Dundee St. (off South Charlotte). Info: 252-0643.

• SU (2/14), 3pm - Van Anthony-Hall will be featured as the pianist in the Vanism Jazz Trio. Part of the Second Sunday Jazz Series. A free-will offering will be taken for the restoration of the historic church.

WCU Musical Events Unless otherwise noted, performances are held at the Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University.

“A taste of Asheville, Under One Roof!”

Circle In The Square c The Hop c Great Clips ´ Rise ‘n Shine Cafe c Urban Burrito c Creme Zen Sushi c Hands On Spa c Asheville Realty Cartridge World

Cher Shaffer

Kent Ambler

Margaret Couch Cogswell

Sixth Annual [Beloved] Miniatures Show February 11-28, 2010 Opening Reception Friday, February 12, 5-8pm

by Darrell Loy Scott

Info: www.writemindinstitute.com.

Writers’ Workshop Events WW offers a variety of classes and events for beginning and experienced writers. Info: 254-8111 or www.twwoa.org.

• Through SA (2/20) - Words of Love Contest: Send in a creative letter, poem or story 3,500 words or less. $20/$15 members.

Open 7 Days 64 Biltmore Avenue • Downtown Asheville 828.281.2134 www.amerifolk.com mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 35

Tickets or info: 227-2479 or http://fapac.wcu.edu.

• TH (2/18), 8pm - The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble will perform a concert featuring the work of Bartok, Frazier and Glass in the Coulter Building, recital hall. Free. 227-2471.

Theater Events at 35below This black box theater is located underneath Asheville Community Theatre at 35 Walnut St. Info: 254-1320 or www. ashevilletheatre.org.

• Through SA (2/27), 7:30pm - Short Order Durang, screen plays and one acts by Christopher Durang, a contemporary playwright known for his absurd comedy. Contains adult language and situations. $15 adult/$10 seniors & students.

Freaks of Asheville Pageant • SA (2/13), 8-10pm - Contestants will perform, show a costume of their own creation, and respond to interview questions relevant to the kingdom of freaky behavior. The winner will appear in the 2011 Freaks of Asheville Calendar. At Grove House, 11 Grove St. After-parties at Club 11 from 10pm3am. Info: avlfreakscalendar@gmail.com.

Just Home in the Mountains Homeward Bound’s Community Performance Project performs at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit HBofA’s mission to end chronic homelessness. Info: www. hbofa.org, bbinfo@hbofa. org or 768-2456.

• TH (2/11) through SA (3/6) - Always Expect Miracles, will be performed. More than 100 actors, including some homeless, will bring to life true tales from all parts of town. Performances: Thur.-Sat., 7:30pm and Sat., 2:30pm. Info: www. justhome.org.

NC Stage Company Performances are at 33 Haywood St. (entrance on Walnut St., across from Zambra’s, in downtown Asheville). Info: 239-0263 or www.ncstage.org.

• WE (2/17) through SU (3/7), 7:30-10:30pm - True West by Sam Shepard.

Charlie Flynn-McIver and Scott Treadway play a pair of estranged brothers who converge on their mother’s suburban home one sweltering summer weekend.

First Wed. is Pay-WhatYou-Can ($6 min., cash only).

The Bombs Away Cabaret Asheville’s tantalizing cabaret and burlesque collaborative. Info: www.myspace. com/bombsawaycabaret.

• FR (2/12 & 2/19) & SA (2/13 & 2/20), 8pm - Eat Your Heart Out: A Knockout Thriller will be performed at the Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Ave. $12.

Adult audiences only. All profits benefit playwright Jo Carson, who is battling with cancer.

The WNC Theatre League Unified Auditions Modeled after the Southeastern Theatre Conference auditions, this annual event allows local actors to showcase their talents in a professional audition setting for a variety of companies throughout the region. Events are held at A-B Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium. To register early or for more info: unifieds@montfordparkplayers.org.

• FR (2/19), 5pm Registration —- 6-9pm - Registration for actors 17 and younger.

• SA (2/20), 9:30am - Registration for technicians —- 10-11:30am - Technical interviews for designers, directors, stage managers, musicians and technicians —- 11am - Registration for actors —- 12:30-5pm - Auditions for adult actors. n Resumes/photos for actors must be received by Feb. 12.

Theater at WCU Unless otherwise noted, all performances take place at the Fine & Performing Arts Center. Tickets & info: 227-2479 or http://fapac. wcu.edu.

• SU (2/14), 3pm Entertainer Tom Mullica will pay tribute to the improvisational skills and comic genius of Red Skeleton, America’s beloved clown. $25/$20/$5 students.

Comedy The Feral Chihuahuas Asheville’s premiere sketch comedy troupe can be reached at 280-0107 or feralcomedy@yahoo.com.

Info: www.feralchihuahuas. com.

• FR & SA (2/12 & 13), 10:30pm - Valentine’s Day shows. Two nights of loveflavored comedy at Funny Business Comedy Club.

Film Film Screenings at WCU Held in the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Screening begin at 7pm. $2 students, faculty and staff/$4 public. Info: 2277206.

• WE (2/17), 7pm Foreign Film Series: Beauty and the Beast (France, 1946). $1.

“Red Gold” Film Screening • FR (2/12), 7pm - Red Gold, a film about the threats of gold and copper mining on Alaska’s salmon and fish populations, will be screened at Headwaters Outfitters, located at the junction of Hwy. 64 and 215. Popcorn and candy provided. Info: 877-3106.

For information about Bristol Bay fisheries: www. savebristolbay.org.

Seven Sisters Cinema A documentary film series presenting films by regional filmmakers and/or subjects of regional interest. Screens are held at the White Horse in Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Road. Info: dontalley@ gmail.com or jerry@serpentchild.org.

• TH (2/18), 7pm - The Mystery of George Masa, a film by Paul Bonesteel, will be screened. A discussion will follow. $5/$3.

Southern Circuit Tour The nation’s only regional tour of independent filmmakers, providing communities with an interactive way of experiencing independent film. Films will be shown in the theater of A.K. Hinds University Center on the WCU campus. Free. Info: www.southarts.org/southerncircuit or 227-3622.

• TH (2/18) - Trimpin: The Sound of Invention.

Dance Annual Fletcher Father/ Daughter Dance • SA (2/13), 3-5pm & 6-8pm - Dance at the Calvary Episcopal Church’s Fellowship Hall. Each father/daughter will receive a free photo and each girl will receive a flower and a princess face painting. $12 father/$6 daughter for Fletcher residents. $18/$7 nonresidents. Purchase tix at Fletcher Town Hall. Info: 687-0751.

Argentine Tango Dancers of all levels welcome. Info: www.tangoasheville.com.

• SUNDAYS (except 1st), 7-10pm - Argentine Tango

Practica at North Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E. Larchmont Rd. $5 for members/$6 for nonmembers.

Asheville Culture Project A cultural arts community center offering ongoing classes in Capoeira Angola and Samba percussion.

Other instructors, groups and organizations are invited to share the space.

Info: www.ashevillecultureproject.org.

• WEEKLY - Capoeira Angola, an Afro-Brazilian martial art taught and practiced through a game involving dance, music, acrobatics, theater and the Portuguese language.

Mondays, 7-9pm, beginners class; Wednesdays, 7-9pm, intermediate class; Fridays, 7-9pm, intermediate class; Saturdays, 10am-Noon, beginners class. $12 (free for first timers on 2nd and 4th Sat.). Info: www.capoeiraasheville.org.

Asheville Jewish Community Center Events The JCC is located at 236 Charlotte St., Asheville.

Info: 253-0701.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm - Beginning folk dance lessons. Families especially welcome —- 8-9:30pm - Not-so-beginning folk dance lessons. Led by instructor Erik Bendix and other guest teachers. $4 members/$6 public. Info: erikbendix@hotmail.com or 450-1670.

Beginner Clogging Classes • WEDNESDAYS, 7:158pm - Classes offered by the Mountain Thunder Cloggers at the Oakley Community Center. No experience or partner necessary. Family-oriented; ages 7 and up welcome. $40/8-week session. Info: 490-1226 or www.mtnthundercloggers.org.

Classes at Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre Classes are by donation and on a drop-in basis.

Classes are held at the New Studio of Dance, 20 Commerce St. in downtown Asheville. Info: www. acdt.org or 254-2621.

• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Modern classes. By donation.

• MONDAYS, 6:30-7:30pm - Beginning adult tap dancing with Joe Mohar —7:30-8:30pm - Intermediate adult tap dancing. $20.

Classes at Asheville Dance Revolution Sponsored by The Cultural Development Group. At 63

36 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Brook St. Info: 277-6777 or ashevilledancerevolution@ gmail.com.

• TUESDAYS, 8-9:15pm - Beginning/Intermediate Adult Jazz.

• FRIDAYS, 4-5pm - Boys Dance Combo Class. This is for boys interested in dance. The class touches on all styles of dance for the male dancer —- 67:30pm - African dance with Sarah Yancey featuring live drumming. Open to all. $14.

• THURSDAYS (through 2/25) - Training in basic salsa patterns, elements of salsa, side breaks, open breaks, cross body leads, cross over breaks, pretzel turns and Cumbia turns.

Couples are welcome, yet a partner is not necessary. $16.

Indian Dance Class • TU (2/16), 6:307:30pm - Asheville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts’ Adult Indian Dance class starts at the East Asheville Recreation Center, 906 Tunnel Rd. $8/class. Info: 251-4041 or eastrecctr@ashevillenc. gov.

InterPlay Held at 227 Edgewood Ave. $5-$15 per class.

Info: www.interplaync.org.

• WEDENSDAYS (2/10 through 2/24), 7-8:30pm Fruitful Darkness: “Explore the territory of stillness and play with the unknown.”

Morris Dancing Learn English traditional Morris dances and become a member of one of three local teams as a dancer or musician. Music instruction provided to experienced musicians. Free. Info: 994-2094 or www.ashevillemorris.us.

• MONDAYS, 5:30pm Women’s Garland practice held at Reid Center for Creative Art. Saluda Mountain Jamboree Info: 749-3676 or www. saludamountainjamboree. com.

• SA (2/13) - Valentine Party. Sound Factory will perform. Dancing, tables of cake, punch and sweet treats. $10. Call for reservations.

Skyland Twirlers Western square dancing at the Senior Opportunity Center (not just for seniors), 36 Grove St., near the Federal Building in downtown Asheville. Info: 650-6405.

• FR (2/12), 7-9:30pm - Sweetheart Squares Dance. Early Rounds at 7pm. Mainstream, Plus and

Rounds from 7:30-9:30pm. $5.

Studio Zahiya Classes Classes are held at Studio Zahiya, 41 Carolina Lane.

All classes are drop-in anytime. $12 per class. $40 for four classes, with other discounts available. Info: 242-7595.

• THURSDAYS, 6:307:30pm - Bhangra! A high-energy dance from Punjab, India influence by dancehall, hip-hop and Bollywood films.

• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm Beginner belly dance. Learn the basics of belly dance.

This class will cover posture and basic movements —- 7:10-8:10pm - Drills & Skills. Get ready to sweat, workout and practice your intermediate/advanced belly dance.

Sweetheart Dancing With Our Stars • SA (2/13), 8pm-11pm The Valentine’s Day dance will be held at Brevard Little Theatre, 55 E. Jordan St. Compete for glory on the dance floor. $10. All proceeds benefit scholarship funds for Transylvania Community Arts Council’s Summer kids art camps.

Info: 884-3278 or www. brevardnc.org.

Swing Asheville Info: www.swingasheville.com, 301-7629 or dance@swingasheville. com.

• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Beginner lindy-hop swing lessons. $12/person per week for 4-week series or $10 for members. Join at SwingAsheville.com. No partner necessary. Let your inner dancer out. 11 Grove St, downtown Asheville.

Classes start first Tuesday of every month.

VFW Upstairs. Open to the public. At 5 Points, 860 N. Main St., Hendersonville.

Info: 693-5930.

• SATURDAYS, 6pm - Free dancing lessons —- 7pm - Live band music and dancing. $7. All singles welcome. No partners necessary. Finger food and sweets provided. No alcohol or smoking in dancing area.

Auditions & Call to Artists A-B Tech Drama Club The club sponsors and produces a variety of productions, performances, workshops and lectures.

Reservations & info: 254-1921, ext. 890 or pcarver@abtech.edu.

• MO & TU (2/15 & 16), 7pm - Auditions for Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile will be held at the Carriage House Theatre.

Roles for 7 men and 2 women of all ages. Prepare a 90 sec. monologue; cold readings will also be available.

Arts Council of Henderson County D. Samuel Neill Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 1-5pm and Sat., 1-4pm. Located at 538 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, Hendersonville. Info: 693-8504 or www.acofhc. org.

• Secondary-school age students are welcome to submit art for the upcoming exhibition Vision 2010: Artists of Tomorrow. Info: acofhc@bellsouth.net.

Asheville Community Theatre All performances are at 35 East Walnut St. Info & reservations: 254-1320 or www.ashevilletheatre.org.

• MO (2/15), 11am-3pm - Auditions for A Shayna Maidel, produced by The Autumn Players. Seeking 4 women, 2 men, 1 narrator. A Yiddish accent is required for one female role and both male roles.

Production dates: March 5-7.

FoAM Music Video Asheville Future of Asheville Music/ MVA is a showcase that pairs local musicians and filmmakers to increase the awareness and appreciation of local musicians and videographers. Info: 279-4166, jenny@soundmindmedia.net or www. myspace.com/musicvideoasheville.

• Through WE (2/17) - Submissions for videos/films focusing on at least one musical artist currently residing in Buncombe County will be accepted. Feb. 17 is the final deadline. See Web site for additional guidelines: www.box.net/shared/static/ xnjaekdxbn.pdf Glen Rock Depot Call to Artists • Through FR (2/26) - Mountain Housing Opportunities requests submissions from artists interested in designing specific architectural elements for the Glen Rock Depot in the River Arts District.

Submission info: www.

GlenRockDepot.com.

Haiti Relief Effort Seeks Artists • Large-scale auction/sale being held in the Asheville are to raise funds and awareness for Haiti Relief Effort. Looking for artist

submissions for auction/ sale. Info: 338-2294.

Musicians & Artists Needed for a Help Haiti Benefit Concert • Musicians, singers, artists, T-shirt makers, sound and light personnel, electricians and volunteers are needs for a benefit concert in Asheville, which will be held in March. All proceeds will benefit victims in Haiti.

Info: extendedbatterylife@ hotmail.com.

Saluda Arts Festival Call to Artists • Through MO (2/15) - Apply to be a part of the juried arts-and-crafts showcase at the May 15 festival in downtown Saluda. Info: 749-3900 or www.saluda.com, click on “Annual Events.”

Soup & Sonnets Call • Through SU (2/21) Accepting submissions for performances — dramatic or comedic, reading or spoken word, movement or song — for an evening of performances on the theme “Healing, Hope & Rebuilding” and a soup dinner to benefit response efforts in Haiti. Info: madamehope@yahoo. com.

Transylvania Community Arts Council Located at 349 South Caldwell St. in Brevard.

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am4pm. Info: 884-2787 or www.artsofbrevard.org.

• Through FR (2/12) - Local and regional artists are invited to submit artwork for an open show with the theme “Body & Soul.” Call to get an application mailed to you.

Waynesville Art Commission • Through FR (2/12) - Deadline to submit art work/ “artistic railings” honoring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Work must be designed to stand up to environmental/ human factors, meeting the N.C. building codes for a railing. Info: www.townofwaynesville.org.

CALENDAR DEADLINE The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)2511333, ext. 365

newsoftheweird Lead story In January, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers confiscated a live, jeweled beetle a woman was wearing on her sweater as she crossed into Brownsville, Texas, from Mexico. Blue jewels were glued onto the beetle’s gold-painted back, and the mobile brooch was tethered by a gold chain attached to a safety pin. Even though the woman orally “declared” the animal, the beetle was confiscated because she hadn’t completed the bureau’s PPQ Form 526, required when bringing insects into the country. Reportedly, such jewelry is not uncommon in Mexico, but a spokesperson for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was nonetheless appalled.

The entrepreneurial spirit

• Economic Recovery in Denver: As of early January, at least 390 new Denver businesses had applied for sales-tax licenses to dispense legal (medical) marijuana. By comparison, there are 208 Starbucks coffee shops in the entire state of Colorado. Among the first cannabis-centered businesses to open was the Ganja Gourmet, featuring lasagna, pizza, jambalaya, paella, flavored cheesecakes and other delicacies, all appropriately “spiced” for customers with a doctor’s prescription.

• In October, jeweler Colin Burn of Broome, Australia, announced plans to handcraft the world’s most expensive “personal vibrator” out of smooth platinum studded with 1,500 white diamonds. Burn, who aims to sell the 10 pieces for $1 million (U.S.) apiece, said he currently offers a similar device with 400 diamonds and a handle made of rare conkerberry wood for $38,000.

• Professor Yevgeny Moskalev of Russia’s St. Petersburg Technological University announced in November that he’d perfected a powdered version of Russia’s favorite drink. After much experimentation, however, he found that the only way to preserve the alcohol was by mixing the vodka into a special wax and letting it harden. According to a November report in the English-language version of Pravda, the resulting shaved chips could then be flavored to counteract the wax’s insipidness and then used for cooking or medicine. Moskalev apparently has no plans to make an “instant

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vodka” mix for straight drinking.

• In 2008, Sweden — one of only seven countries with embassies in North Korea — began trying to coax that country into the global economy by encouraging the manufacture of jeans, which Sweden would then arrange to offer in high-end stores. After a series of awkward missteps involving manufacturers unfamiliar with the concept of “jeans,” 1,100 pairs were finally shipped and priced at the equivalent of about $215 a pair, according to a December Reuters dispatch from Stockholm. (At least one store initially gave the “NoKo” jeans shelf space but now offers them only on its Web site.)

Leading economic indicators

• After the New York Post reported in December on the 175-square-foot Manhattan apartment recently purchased by Christopher Prokop and his wife (for $150,000, with $800 monthly in maintenance fees), residents of even smaller Manhattan digs told the Post they were unimpressed. For instance, Felice Cohen, 39, rents a 90-square-foot apartment ($700) with a loft bed but admits that she must sit sideways on the toilet. Freelance event planner Eddie Rabon rents a 55-square-foot palace that’s closer to midtown than Cohen’s place for $800 a month. He can almost touch both side walls simultaneously and cannot easily turn around while showering.

Bird sluts

A team of researchers led by a University of Connecticut professor, writing recently in the ornithology journal The Auk, declared the local saltmarsh sparrow to be America’s most promiscuous bird, noting that 95 percent of the females hook up with more than one male during mating season.

The likelihood that any two chicks in a nest had the same father was only 23 percent, and in one-third of the nests, all chicks had different fathers. The researchers hypothesized that the frequent flooding of Connecticut’s marshes destroys so many nests that loose females have gained evolutionary advantage. (A wren in Australia and a parrot in

Read News of the Weird daily with Chuck Shepherd at www.weirduniverse.net.

Send items to weirdnews@earthlink.net or PO Box 18737, Tampa FL 33679

Least-competent deer

A seven-point buck was found dead in Viroqua, Wis., in November, apparently after losing a headbutting contest with a statue. Ramming contests are common during mating season, and the concrete buck is about the same size as the dead one (but weighs about three times as much).

Least-competent criminals

• Two partners in crime were sentenced to a total of four years in jail by England’s Manchester Crown Court in December. Ali Abdullah, 28, and Muqtar Nuren, 22, had offered to take driver’s license tests for people. Between them, they had 35 clients, took 43 tests and failed 33 (passing only seven driving tests and three written ones). Although they didn’t charge for their failures, it’s still illegal to take a driving test for another person.

• Recurring Themes: (1) Brandon Stepp, 27, and two companions were arrested in Parkersburg, W.Va., in December after they became the most recent alleged drug runners to hide their marijuana unsuccessfully in their car’s engine compartment.

(The engine got hot; the dope caught fire.) (2) A man fled a Taco Bell in Haverstraw, N.Y., in October after announcing robbery but then, before the cashier could gather money for him, asking the manager for a job application. When the manager refused, the man walked out empty-handed.

A News of the Weird classic (January 1999)

French performance artist Orlan made News of the Weird in 1993 when she underwent surgery in a New York City art gallery as part of a multiplesurgery transformation of her face according to five icons of Renaissance and post-Renaissance beauty (in that case, implanting small horns to simulate Mona Lisa’s bumpy forehead). During a Chicago show in December 1998, Orlan raised money for further operations by selling posters and videos of her surgeries and digitally enhanced portraits of her face incorporating features that ancient Mayans had found attractive but which this society considers ugly (huge noses, crossed eyes). She also sold souvenir tubes of her liposuctioned fat. X

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edgymama

parenting from the edge by Anne Fitten Glenn

Cheap eats with kids for Haiti At some point, I want, no I need, to write about Haiti and about talking to my kids about what’s happening there. But right now, like many folks, I’m still trying to get my head around it all. So I’m going to throw out a little something pro-active that we can all do in the meantime.

I’m going to offer you a deal. I’ll tell you about a bunch of inexpensive and kids eat free restaurant options locally, so you can save money while feeding your children. But you have to promise me that you’ll send any cash you save to Haitian relief programs. I recommend that you donate to the American Red Cross Haitian Relief Program at www.redcross. org or to locally-based Mission Manna at www. missionmanna.org. You can donate to both online with a few clicks.

I trust you to keep track of how much you’re saving and send it on your own. Even better?

Let your kids do the math and help you make the donations.

So here’s the list by night of the week, plus extra information about a one-day local restaurant fundraiser for Haiti: Sunday night: Kids eat free at Hooter’s.

Dads, the Hooter’s folks want you to send what-

ever you would’ve paid for that burger and fries to Haiti.

Monday night: Kids eat free at Don Papa’s and Fuddruckers (after 4 p.m.)

Tuesday night: The familiest-friendly night in town. Kids eat free at Urban Burrito, Fuddruckers, Denny’s, Lone Star, The Asheville Mall Food Court, Ruby Tuesday’s, and The Bier Garden. Also family night deals at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company on Merrimon.

Wednesday night: Kids eat free at Chai Pani, Bier Garden, Fuddruckers, Texas Roadhouse, and La Fiesta. Blue Sky Café offers kid meals for 99 cents.

Thursday night: Kids eat free at Moe’s Southwest Grill from 5 to 6 p.m.

Friday night: A bleak night out with kids, but see category below titled “Good deals all the time.”

Saturday night: Kids eat free at Lone Star from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Denny’s after 4 p.m.

Good deals all the time: At Moose Café and IHOP, kids eat free after 4 p.m. every night. A slice of cheese pizza from Barley’s Pizzeria & Taproom that’s bigger than your kid’s head is always $2. Many local restaurants have kids’ menus that include lower prices and smaller

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portions. Ask if you don’t see these options on the menu.

I’m not suggesting you take your kids out to eat every night, even if it is free (most restaurants assume you’ll buy an adult meal with a free kid meal. In fact, some require it). But if you do take advantage of any of the options I’ve listed, please take a moment to send the money you saved to aid those in Haiti.

At the same time, you’ll be supporting local businesses, many of which need a little help in the off-season—especially after the extra bite this winter’s brutal weather has taken out of business.

Here’s another way you can help this week, without even having to go on-line afterwards: Twenty local restaurants will donate ten percent Parenting Calendar for February 10 - 18, 2010 Attention West Asheville 31 (pd.) Super nanny, now accepting new kids. • Safe • Art based environment • Play area • Flexible hours. • Affordable rates. CPR certified. • All hours. • Slumber parties. Call Sarah: 633-1792.

Involve Your Partner In Your Child’s Birth • Empowered Birthing Classes (pd.) Increase confidence, learn hands-on tools, enjoy your birth! 828-231-9227. One 8-hour class Sat. March 6. $175. Monthly classes available. www.

AshevilleWomensWellness.com Let’s Talk Embrace your right and responsibility to be your teen’s primary educator. Otherwise, the world around them will do it for you. No registration required. Parents and guardians only. At Randolph Learning Center, 90 Montford Ave. Free. Info: anna@ourvoicenc.org.

of their end-of-day sales on Thurs., Feb. 11, to the American Red Cross for relief work in Haiti. Participating restaurants are: 12 Bones Smokehouse, Artisan Catering & Deli, Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria, Blue Ridge Dining Room, Burgermeister’s Kitchen & Tap, Chai~Pani, The Corner Kitchen, Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Fig, Horizons, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Luella’s Barbeque, Mamacita’s Mexican Grill, Piazza, Rise ‘n Shine Cafe, Sunny Point Cafe, Sunset Terrace Chophouse, Table, and Tupelo Honey Cafe (both locales).

Thank you, in advance. X Anne Fitten “Edgy Mama” Glenn writes about a number of subjects, including parenting, at www. edgymama.com.

• TH (2/11), 6-7:30pm - “Sexual Health.”

• TH (2/18), 6-7:30pm - “Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs.”

Professional Parenting Open House • 3rd MONDAYS, 5:30-6:30pm - Come and learn more about fostering and adopting children in custody of Social Services. Get questions answered and learn how to take the first step. Info: carrie.lauterbach@familyinnovations.org.

MORE PARENTING EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Parenting Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after February 18.

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Cover design by Nathanael Roney

news 10 the play’s the thing Homeward Bound chronicles stories from the city’s homeless population 12 tough times, hard choices Luncheon spotlights key downtown issues

14 buncombe commissioners County will out delinquent taxpayers

19 north shore road Swain County approves $52 million settlement from feds

arts&entertainment 52 the book of love Asheville bands take on the Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs

58 dirty south’s gonna do it again Goodie Mob is back, but don’t call it a reunion

69 bombs away Eat Your Heart Out: A Knockout Thriller offers burlesque for a good cause

features

Remember what is included in your

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•4 YMCA Locations • No Hidden Fees or Contract •Over 250 Group Exercise Classes/Weekly • Indoor Pools offering 22 Lap Lanes • Child Watch • Wellness Coaching • Nationally Certified Staff • Family Fun • Access www.ymcawnc.org Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC, 210-YMCA(9622) Reuter Family YMCA, 3 Town Sq. Blvd, Asheville, NC, 651-YMCA(9622) YMCA Woodfin, 40 North Merrimon Ave. Suite #101, Asheville, NC, 505-3990 Corpening Memorial YMCA, 348 Grace Corpening Dr., Marion, NC 659-YMCA(9622) The charitable work of the YMCA is supported in part through contributions to the YMCA’s annual Strong Kids Campaign, endowment program, and other contributed income.

It is our belief that NO ONE should be turned away for their inability to pay.

FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

5 7 9 16 21 22 24 29 32 34 37 38 40 42 46 48 60 62 63 69 72 73 78 79

Letters Cartoon: Molton Commentary The Buzz WNC news briefs photo gallery Outdoors Out and about in WNC Community Calendar FreeWill Astrology cartoon The City Conscious party Benefits News of the Weird edgy mama Parenting from the edge GREEN SCENE WNC eco-news Food The straight dish on local eats Small Bites Local food news brews news Local beer beat smart bets What to do, who to see spork A&E news ClubLand cranky hanke Movie reviews Asheville Disclaimer Classifieds Cartoon: brent brown NY Times crossword

xpress info P.O. Box 144 • Asheville, NC 28802 (828) 251-1333 • fax (828) 251-1311 e-mail: xpress@mountainx.com www.mountainx.com

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Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Mountain Xpress is available free throughout Western North Carolina. Limit one copy per person. Additional copies may be purchased for $1.00 payable at the Xpress office in advance. No person may, without prior written permission of Xpress, take more than one copy of each issue.

To subscribe to Mountain Xpress, send check or money order to: Subscription Department, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802.

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greenscene

environmental news by Margaret Williams

West Asheville laundromat in hot water

by Margaret Williams The solar fixtures crowning a West Asheville laundromat are not the flat-panel type that’s become almost commonplace these days. Like most such devices, they’re angled to catch the sun, but each panel also sports a large tubular tank perched atop an array of tubes.

Each “evacuated tube collector” contains a set of glass outer tubes surrounding inner ones containing a copper rod that absorbs the sun’s energy. In between, a vacuum has been created to reduce heat loss, making the system more efficient than its flat-panel brethren, explains Accem Scott, the founder of Green Brothers Solar.

The absorbed energy heats water, which is then stored in the tank, he explains. In a project Scott participated in at A-B Tech last year, the water in a similar system reached 198 degrees — significantly outperforming the flat-panel system they also tested.

“When we opened up the tank, steam shot out,” says Scott, who moved to Western North Carolina from Philadelphia about seven years ago.

He spent his first few years here living off the grid, sharing a solar-powered motor home with his wife and young child. That experience, combined with what he’d learned

Farm with a view: Through a conservation easement, Claxton Farm will be preserved. photo by Steven McBride

from prior business ventures, helped spark the idea of launching a company to install solar systems.

A mentor — Kevin Wei, who owns the Asheville-based SolarPlusGreen — provided most of the technical training Scott needed.

And a class offered by Mountain BizWorks, a local nonprofit, helped him cook up his business plan for Green Brothers Solar, which is now 1 year old. It included collaborating

with Asheville Green Opportunities, another nonprofit that trains disadvantaged youth and young adults in green technologies. Scott hired GO graduate Michael Moore who was on the job for the laundromat project, he mentions.

“It’s our goal to train and hire within the communities where youth and the unemployed need this opportunity,” says Scott.

Another goal is demonstrating that evacuated-tube systems are more efficient and boast lower up-front costs than some other solar technologies. That may take awhile: “We need a few months for the owner to see results,” Scott explains. But in the meantime, the business has at least one ingredient that laundromat owner Bruce Cahoon says is crucial: hot water.

Saving the farm

Sunny work: Entrepreneur Kevin Wei and Green Opportunities graduate Michael Moore put the final touches on a solar hot-water system for the Clothing Care Center in West Asheville.

Photo courtesy Green Brothers

40 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

A working-lands conservation easement will add 480 acres of historic Buncombe County farmland to the 3,000 acres already permanently preserved by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Farmland Preservation Initiative, the nonprofit reported Feb. 4. The group has partnered with landowners Porter and Martha Ann Claxton to protect the bulk of their 550-acre property. “SAHC has been talking with the family for almost three years about options for placing their farm under conservation,” notes Carl Silverstein, the group’s executive director. “Claxton Farm is a landmark, a place that’s visited and enjoyed by many people.”

Located in the Brittain Mountain area of Flat Creek Township, Claxton Farm is home to the largest intact breeding herd of registered Polled Herefords — a type of cattle— in Western North Carolina. A good local example of a modern, viable farming

enterprise, Claxton combines traditional farm activities with agrotourism: Weddings and other special events draw some 11,000 visitors each year. A diverse assortment of livestock — including llamas, miniature horses, camels, donkeys and sheep — attracts school groups from surrounding communities.

“We want to share our farm and enjoy having people come visit to see the animals, walk the trails and share their special occasions,” Martha Ann explains. The farm features 360degree views where no other buildings can be seen — “just mountainsides and pastures with animals grazing on the hillsides,” she notes.

The Claxton family donated 84 percent of the $6 million appraised value, with the remainder covered by grant funds.

“This easement ensures that [Claxton Farm] will be there to be enjoyed for future generations,” says Silverstein.

In other news...

The comment period for Evergreen Packaging’s wastewater permit has been extended to Feb. 25, state officials report.

Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., the company owns Blue Ridge Paper Products in Canton, N.C., which discharges effluent into the Pigeon River.

To download a fact sheet about the permit, go to http://bit.ly/acFjD9. Written comments may be mailed to Dina Sprinkle, N.C. Division of Water Quality/NPDES Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 276991617, or e-mailed to dina.sprinkle@ncdenr. gov. Include the permit number NC0000272 for Blue Ridge Paper Products. X Send your environmental news to mvwilliams@ mountainx.com, or call 251-1333, ext. 152.

Eco Calendar for February 10 - 18, 2010 Bird Walks • FR (2/12) through MO (2/15), 9am - Five local bird walks will be led by experienced birders from Swannanoa to Sandy Mush. Each walk highlights participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is sponsored by National Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Info: www.main.nc.us/emas.

Cradle of Forestry Events Experience the natural and cultural history of the Southern Appalachians at the birthplace of scientific forestry. Located on Route 276 in Pisgah National Forest. Info: 877-3130 or www.cradleofforestry.org.

• SA (2/13), 11am - “Frog Love in the Pink Beds,” an amphibian-awareness program oriented to adults.

Learn about wood frogs and amphibian conservation and explore the winter woods. $5.

ECO Events The Environmental and Conservation Organization is dedicated to preserving the natural heritage of Henderson County and the mountain region as an effective voice of the environment. Located at 121 Third Ave. W. Hendersonville. Info: 692-0385 or www.eco-wnc.org.

• SA (2/13), 9am - Guided bird walk at Jackson Park in Hendersonville.

Friends of Hickory Nut Gorge Advocates for the natural beauty, biodiversity and wildlife habitat, along with the ecological health and integrity of Hickory Nut Gorge. Info: 685-8798 or www.friendsofhng.org.

• WE (2/17), 6:30-7:30pm - “Conservation Conversation,” a meeting for anyone interested in the protection and preservation of Hickory Nut Gorge.

Discuss ideas, concerns and solutions at Old Rock Cafe, next to the entrance to Chimney Rock Park.

Pisgah Center for Wildlife

Located in Pisgah National Forest, 10 miles from Brevard off of US Hwy. 276 N. Programs are free, but registration is required. Info: 877-4423 or www. ncwildlife.org.

• SA (2/13), 1-2:30pm - Fire Awareness Week presents “Fire on the Mountain,” a presentation with biologist and forester Dean Simon. Learn about the techniques used in prescribed fires. For ages 18 and up. Info: www.ncprescribedfirecouncil.org. Call to register.

RiverLink Events RiverLink, WNC’s organization working to improve life along the French Broad, sponsors a variety of river-friendly events. Info: 252-8474 or www.riverlink.org.

• 3rd THURSDAYS, Noon-2pm - Bus Tours. See and hear about plans for the river’s future, learn local history and visit neighborhoods. Meet in front of Asheville City Hall. $15 for nonmembers. BYO lunch.

Reservations required.

Styrofoam Recycling Collection • SA (2/13), 10am-2pm - Bring your clean packing styrofoam and plastic plant pots to be recycled at the A-B Tech College parking lot on Victoria Road (beside the Smith McDowell Museum) and get a 10 percent off coupon for a dinner out.

MORE ECO EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Eco Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after February 18.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

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mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 41

food

the straight dish

A Valentine story from Asheville’s restaurant scene

Wendy Gardner and Nate Allen of Knife and Fork. photos by Jonathan Welch

by Hanna Rachel Raskin

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If there’s anything small-business advisors find as scary as undercapitalization, it’s choosing the wrong partner.

“Partners present the opportunity for turmoil,” counsel the authors of Small Business for Dummies (Wiley, 2008) before outlining nightmare partnership scenarios in which entrepreneurs found themselves friendless, broke and in court.

While business schools types generally agree that partnerships outperform one-man shows, the potential pitfalls are so enor-

mous that readers of business advice books could be forgiven for assuming partnering is an arrangement best left to masochists and Marxists.

But business owners persist in taking on partners, whether it’s because they want to share the risk, problem solve in tandem or — as is the case in a startling number of Asheville restaurants — because they love their partner very, very much.

It’s not uncommon for couples to get into the restaurant biz, which offers opportunities for a diverse array of skill sets (“You cook?

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Patrons of the places named here are extraordinarily likely to encounter both spouses on any given visit, which hints at how often these hard-working lovebirds are together.

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Fig Bistro owners Traci and Treavis Taylor. and general nastiness — which can sink a business and a marriage. Yet experts like Becky Stewart-Gross say entrepreneurial projects can actually enhance already strong marriages, a sentiment echoed by Asheville’s restaurant couples.

“In a healthy marriage, a husband and wife can really complement each other,” says Stewart-Gross, a business coach who’s written about couples in business. “Now you bring that into a restaurant, and you can create the joy of team effort.”

Stewart-Gross adds that the cooperative relationship between two spouses often filters down to staff members, a phenomenon that Fig Bistro owners Treavis and Traci Taylor have worked to cultivate. The Taylors opened the catering company that evolved into Fig in 2000, four years after they were married.

“One thing we’ve always done here is pool

tips, which creates a sense of teamwork,” Treavis Taylor says. “We try to lead by example.”

The Taylors have very different professional backgrounds: Treavis Taylor was working as an engineer when he spotted his betrothedto-be waiting tables at Barley’s. He has a minutely focused analytical mind, while she’s an artist who tends to gravitate to big ideas.

That’s the sort of mixed-up personality profile business advisors love, but Taylor says it underscores the need for clear conversations.

“We spend a lot of time together in the morning, having coffee,” Taylor says. “We sit down and hash out issues. I think the best thing is we do it first thing in the morning, when we’re fresh. We’re fresh, even if we don’t agree.”

Glenn Muske, a business professor at Oklahoma State University, has studied hun-

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44 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

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dreds of “co-preneurs,” couples in which both spouses are recognized as decision makers.

He’s found no evidence that businesses run by married couples are any more or less successful than businesses run by best friends, cousins, a lone entrepreneur or any other conceivable ownership strategy, but suggests communication is critical for a married couple trying to make its business work. For obvious reasons, the mistake of calling one’s business partner an ignorant moron takes on even more damaging dimensions when the partners share the same bed at night.

“A lot of communication has to take place here,” Muske says.

Stewart-Gross and Muske say it’s fine for spouses to disagree about business matters, but their discussions should be imbued with a trust and respect rooted in shared values.

If the husband likes red tablecloths, while the wife fancies orange, that’s not partnership-ending material. But if one spouse works 100 hours a week while the other spouse prioritizes gym workouts and movie going, their business relationship’s chances are dim.

“What felt natural for us is there’s a way in which fundamentally, we’re very similar,” says Mollie Irani, who owns Chai Pani with her husband Meherwan. “In goals and ethics, we’re on the same page.”

The Iranis have been married for 15 years, and Irani attributes their business success partly to their well-honed relationship.

“He’s learned I need to communicate, and I’ve learned he needs to go into a cave and be with his thoughts,” she laughs.

The word that comes up most often in speaking to business advisors and owners about co-preneurs is “boundaries.” Most everyone agrees that married couples should strive to keep their work life and home life as separate as possible, since nobody wants a general manager storming into a kitchen and screaming that the chef didn’t replace the toothpaste.

Within the business too, Stewart-Gross adds, it’s important that both spouses have “clear job responsibilities and expectations.”

Rebecca Daun-Widner, who co-owns Tomato Jam Café with her life partner Charlie Widner, admits it’s sometimes hard to leave job duties at work.

“Here, Charlie is the chef with a capital ‘c,’” she explains. “It’s very easy to fall into those assumptions at home.”

Still, Daun-Widner says, the pair has managed to make their partnership work by resorting to what she calls “general life advice.”

“It’s just knowing what you can control, figuring out what you can roll with and having a sense of humor,” she says.

Irani says she’s come to very same conclusion: “A lot of it comes down to having a sense of humor,” she says. “We try not to sweat the small stuff too much. We love what we’re doing and we love each other.”

Or, as Taylor puts it, “I’ve never partnered with anyone else, and we don’t want to partner with anyone but ourselves.” X Food writer Hanna Raskin can be reached at food@mountainx.com

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smallbites

photo by Jonathan Welch

HAITI RELIEF: Servers at Bouchon recently collected more than $1,000 for the recovery effort in Haiti, dedicating all of their tips on Jan. 28 to the cause. According to restaurant co-owner Vonciel Baudouin, guests were extremely generous, with one table leaving $200 on a $76 tab.

The Bouchon event kicked off a short season of Haiti benefits at area restaurants, with Hector Diaz last Thursday donating 100 percent of sales at his three restaurants. The charitable efforts continue on Thursday, Feb. 11, with more than 20 restaurants committing 10 percent of their sales to the American Red Cross: Artisan Catering and Deli, Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria, Blue Ridge Dining Room, Burgermeister’s Kitchen and Tap, Chai Pani, The Corner Kitchen, Doc Chey’s Noodle House, Fig, Horizon’s, the Lexington Avenue Brewery, Luella’s Barbecue, Mamacita’s Mexican Grill, Piazza, Rise ‘n’ Shine Café, Sunny Point Café, Sunset Terrace, Table and Tupelo Honey Café all plan to participate.

To learn more, call 258-3888.

CAMINOS SOUTHWESTERN GRILLE: A popular Mexican eatery in Black Mountain has vastly expanded its capacity, adding 60 seats by absorbing an adjacent building that previously housed Powerhouse Perks. With harsh winter weather rendering the café’s 50 patio seats unusable, owner Marvin McFadyen predicts the new arrangement will help reduce recent table waits that sometimes approached an hour. “Our former bar and seating areas were just too tight for demand,” McFayden explained in a press release.

Camino’s, 107 Black Mountain Ave., is open Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. For more information, call 6691982.

SHORT STREET CAKES: As if Mardi Gras wasn’t sufficient reason to party, Short Street Cakes is throwing itself a birthday celebration on Sunday, Feb. 14, with a Mardi Gras, Valentine’s, and We’re One Year Old theme. The popular east West Asheville bakery will mark the all-important day with live music, a cake raffle, beads and the official launch of its 2010 menu. Festivities run from noon to 6 p.m. To learn more, call 505-4822.

TRUFFLE FESTIVAL: The National Truffle Festival is returning to Asheville for a second year, and bringing some culinary heavyweights with it. Participants in the chef’s gala at the Grand Bohemian Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 27, include Ashley Christensen of Raleigh’s muchadored Poole’s Downtown Diner, and James Beard award winner John Currence, the man behind Oxford’s City Grocery and Big Bad Breakfast. Tickets to the three-day event — which comprises a welcome reception, two dinners and educational seminars — are $500, and can be purchased through www.northamericantrufflefest.com.

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL: Maple Creek Farm in Burnsville is reprising its popular syrup open house on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21, proving to disbelievers that great syrup is made in the Southern mountains. The family-friendly tour includes syrup cooking demonstrations, a sugar-house tour, hikes through the sugar bush and syrup sampling. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. both days; tickets are $5 for adults and children under 12 will be admitted free. To find out more, visit www.maplecreekfarm.net.

S e n d y o u r f o o d n e w s t o f o o d @ m o u n tai n x . c o m

46 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

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48 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Brewtopia rocks: RateBeer offers an annual list of the worldwide “Best in beer,” and once again a number of Asheville beer purveyors have been honored. The RateBeerBest 2010 includes: Bruisin’ Ales as the No. 3 best beer retailer; Highland Brewing as No. 26 best brewery to visit, Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria as No. 27 best beer restaurant; The Thirsty Monk as No. 41 best beer bar, Mellow Mushroom as No. 41 best beer restaurant, and Wedge Brewery as No. 43 best brewpub.

Congrats to the winners and to all you lucky local beer lovers.

Cooking with beer: Heinzelmännchen Brewery in Sylva has released a cookbook.

Aptly titled “Your Gnometown Cookbook,” the book of beer-infused recipes will be celebrated at a party on Thursday, Feb. 25, at Spring Street Café in Sylva from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Purchase the cookbook at the brewery or at City Lights Bookstore for $21. Kielbasa, mac-and-cheese casserole with Ancient Days Honey Blonde? Yes, please.

More eats with beer: Chef Adam Hayes of the Grand Bohemian Hotel’s Red Stag Grill has added a five-course plus beer dinner to his menu in honor of Highland Brewing’s 15th anniversary. The meal is paired with six of Highland’s beers for $40. It includes an aged Cheddar soup made with Gaelic Ale, hop-rubbed pork ribs, and a dessert parfait

made with Black Mocha Stout. The dinner’s currently available as a regular menu item.

All Hail Dubbels: Craggie Brewing Company will release a seasonal Dubbel in February, appropriately called Dubbelicious. The Craggie crew refer to the beer as Craggie’s “Love Brew” (6.5 percent ABV).

Highland will introduce a new seasonal, Seven Sisters Abbey Style Ale, in March.

This will be an Abbey style Dubbel (also 6.5 percent ABV). The beer will be available until May. Beer tourist? Or just a lost local? This app is for you: Asheville-based Wolf Mountain Apps has published an Android application that provides Google Maps location markers for Asheville’s micro-breweries (the 10 in the city plus Pisgah Brewing). A marker placement displays details about that brewery including a hyperlinked Web site address, phone number and street address. The user’s current location is provided as an overlay on the map, and you also can use a satellite view. The application is free and can be found in the Android Market on most Android devices, such as Verizon’s Motorola Droid. As of last week, there had been 390 downloads of this app. Scott Hicks, Wolf Mountain’s owner and developer, plans to release an IPhone version of the app by the end of February. X

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letters Snow-plowed in by the city I want to say “thank you” to the city of Asheville for doing such a “great job” of pushing the snow on the street in front of my driveway, building a mountain of snow — frozen snow — so nobody can enter the driveway.

The city is solving one problem, freeing the streets of snow, by creating another for homeowners. The problem of being blocked has already occurred twice for me this winter.

Because of my age and health, I am not able to shovel the load of snow pushed in front of my driveway by the city. The city should be aware of this problem — and I suppose I am not the only one suffering.

Thanks again, Asheville, for the “good service” you provide to your taxpaying homeowners.

— Elli Cleber Asheville

If citizens can clear their sidewalks, city government can clear theirs As we walked down Haywood Street on Feb. 1 to Waking Life Espresso (which has a great scene and great coffee), we were bothered by having to walk in the street in front of the West Asheville police station and the library on Haywood, because the sidewalk was piled high with an icy snow mix.

We agreed that as much as anywhere, the police station and library should ensure that their sidewalk is cleared for pedestrians.

Clearing my sidewalk on Hudson Street was among my first tasks this past Saturday morning. If we can do it on our dinky side street, the city can too!

— Josh Rosenberg Asheville

Disclaimer bit on church puzzle project is unworthy of even the birdcage The piece in the Asheville Disclaimer page about Mills River Presbyterian Church [”World’s Largest Puzzle Completed,” Jan. 27] was tasteless and crass. I appreciate creative satire and humor, but this spoof was neither.

It sadly demonstrated the extreme lack of creativity and poor judgment of managing editor Jon Elliston and the entire management staff of Xpress. In my 27 years as chief creative director of Philadelphia’s leading ad agency, I have witnessed some brilliant creative efforts, and I can unquestionably state this is the worst I have ever seen.

This insensitive piece has degraded your publication, [making it] unworthy to even be considered flooring for my parrot.

— Hap Del Buono Hendersonville

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Letters continue

Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 or by e-mail to letters@mountainx.com.

(Include name, address and phone number.)

xpress staff publisher & Editor: Jeff Fobes GENERAL MANAGER: Andy Sutcliffe senior editor: Peter Gregutt MANAGING editor: Jon Elliston A&E editor: Rebecca Sulock ASSOCIATE editor: Margaret Williams MULTimEDIA EDITOR: Jason Sandford Staff writers: David Forbes, Brian Postelle A&E REPORTER & Fashion editor: Alli Marshall editorial assistants: Hanna Rachel Raskin, Tracy Rose Staff photographer: Jonathan Welch Clubland editor & Writer: Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt contributing writers: Jonathan Barnard, Melanie McGee Bianchi, Ursula Gullow, Anne Fitten Glenn, Whitney Shroyer EDIToRIAL INTERN: Gabe Chess PHOTO INTERNs: Joshua Cole, Halima Flynt Production & Design ManaGeR: Andrew Findley Advertising Production manager: Kathy Wadham Production & Design: Carrie Lare, Nathanael Roney calendar editor & supplements coordinator: Mannie Dalton

Movie reviewer & Coordinator: Ken Hanke Food editor: Hanna Rachel Raskin Advertising director: James Fisher advertising manager: John Varner retail Representatives: Russ Keith, Rick Goldstein, Leigh Reynolds, Scott Sessoms WEB MARKETING MANAGER: Marissa Williams Classified Representatives: Arenda Manning, Tim Navaille Information Technologies Manager: Stefan Colosimo webmaster: Jason Shope web DEVELOPER: Patrick Conant Office manager & bookkeeper: Patty Levesque special projects: Sammy Cox ASSISTANT OFFICE MANAGER: Lisa Watters ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT: Arenda Manning, distribution manager: Sammy Cox Assistant distribution manager: Jeff Tallman DIStribution: Mike Crawford, Ronnie Edwards, Ronald Harayda, Adrian Hipps, Joan Jordan, Russ Keith, Marsha McKay, Beth Molaro, Ryan Seymour, Dane Smith, Ed Wharton, Thomas Young

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

arts&entertainment Many splendors To create is to preserve love

I deliver this bind unto you.

In the Valentine’s spirit, a collection of Asheville’s creative couples. First page, left to right: musician Lance Wille and artist Suzie Millions, co-owners Hand-cranked Letterpress; artist Courtney Chappell and musician Shane Perlowin.

Second page, clockwise from top left: June Allison and Aaron Thomas. June is a designer, Aaron is the chef and co-owner of Nine Mile. David and Nicole McConville.

David is co-founder of The Elumenati, Nicole is a painter.

Susan and Giles Collard, Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre. Third page, left to right, Kip Veno and Franzi Charen of Hip Replacements. Charlie and Angie Flynn-McIver, N. C. Stage Company.

— Cupid Clark Roney

Photography by Jonathan Welch Lyrics compiled by Rebecca Sulock and Alli Marshall

I wanna love you night and day you know my love a-not fade away.

— Buddy Holly

50 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was.

Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere, they’re in each other all along.

— Rumi

Let us roll all our strength, and all Our sweetness, up into one ball.

— Andrew Marvell Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin.

— Leonard Cohen

Love is enough: though the World be a-waning.

— William Morris

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 51

It’s such a crazy, crazy feeling, I get weak in the knees.

— Wanda Jackson

52 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

For nothing this wide universe I call Save thou, my rose, in it thou art my all.

— Ol’ Billy Shakespeare

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X

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You can sing me anything

Asheville musicians recreate the Magnetic Fields’ iconic 69 Love Songs

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by Rebecca Sulock The story goes like this: Stephin Merritt sat at an Upper East Side piano bar, drinking alone and writing songs. And lo, the idea came. He would write a musical revue, a comprehensive survey of “every kind of song there is to be written about love, from country to punk to krautrock to Irish folk ballad.” This according to Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, the label that released the three-album set in 1999.

After drawing a massive chart listing the songs — by genre, instrument, variety of love addressed, etc. — Merritt came up with 100.

Too many, perhaps; and wouldn’t 69 be a terrific number for the album covers? The rest of the Merge story tells more of the tale.

So the hitherto relatively unknown Merritt found himself and the Magnetic Fields in Rolling Stone, Spin, the Village Voice, the New York Times, Magnet, etc., etc. And lovers found a pithy soundtrack for the pain, joy, lust, wretched heartbreak and ridiculousness of love — all in clever singalong form.

This weekend, some of Asheville’s finest bands will perform all 69 songs in order, in a Valentine’s Day event borne from the minds of co-producers Chall Gray and James Richards.

The albums have their own field guide, a 157page book with anecdotes, citations, history and illustration. In April, Merge will release a limited-edition box set of the songs remastered on six 10” records. What is it about Love Songs that resonates?

“69 Love Songs is an enviable pop masterpiece that shows off not only what seems to be stream of consciousness, back-handed songwriting, but also creative and economical production,” writes Aaron Price, local songwriter/producer/singer who’ll be debuting a new band, GladHammer, at the Saturday show. “Plus, it’s a charming and unpredictable record, sort of like what a Valentine’s Day breakfast in bed should be.”

Merritt’s songs seem to make it all more manageable. You might think your pain or joy or weird situation is the only one of its kind, the Most or the Worst or the Biggest. But no, Merritt’s charted more than five-dozen distinct

who:

Electric Owls, Fox Teeth, Erika Jane & Remember the Bees, Wilson the Rocker, Now You See Them, Pilgrim, Night’s Bright Colors, Aaron Price and GladHammer, Jay Martin & Friends

what:

Performance of the Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs, all three albums in order

where:

The Grey Eagle

when:

Saturday, Feb. 13 (8 p.m. $8/$10. thegreyeagle.com)

forms of Joy and Pain and Oddity. Most of the songs clock at under three minutes, so really, how important could any of it be? Many are witty, and the wrenching ones are only a few songs away from the chipper ones. So laugh and revel, because tomorrow you could be in the middle of a different disc.

Says Andy Herod from Electric Owls: “Merritt has a great, human view of life and love. He acknowledges the futility of it, yet goes back for more and more like we all do.

That’s when music really hits home, when you hear someone singing things you always felt, but are afraid to admit, but they are just belting it out into the light of day so we can all look at it together and be like, ‘F@#*k yeah! That’s me, too!’”

Xpress asked all the performers questions about their favorite (and least-favorite) of the songs, why they think the albums work and what surprises might be in store at the show.

Their answers are available in their entirety online. In order of appearance:

Andy Herod / Electric Owls

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

I remember having an instant emotional reaction to “I Don’t Believe in the Sun.” It says it all about this record: sad, funny, dreary, brilliant.

At what time in your life did the albums come

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 53

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along? Were there songs that seemed especially appropriate?

I remember clearly this album coming out as I was rebounding from a bad break-up and having the time of my life doing it. It was a perfect soundtrack because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just love songs, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breakup songs too. And it seemed to celebrate the mistakes made in love as well as all of the joy you can get from it.

Fave lyrics? A section or two? What makes them your favorite? â&#x20AC;&#x153;...You scare me out of your wits / when you do that Shih-t/ zu, Fido your leash is too long.â&#x20AC;?

Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just too smart for his own good. He canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help showing off, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Damn, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d show off too â&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

Joti Marra / Fox Teeth

At what time in your life did the albums come along?

I think I was 19 or 20 when I first heard these songs ... and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll admit it. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love them ... or like them ... in fact I would hurl myself across the room to turn them off! I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a sense of humor about the music I listened to at the time, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I think you really need to have when you listen to these beauties. Not to demean them at all as valid amazing love songs but ... you have to admit they are a little odd. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure exactly how but not long after my first listen I began to die for them.

Are there any that you skip, and if so, why?

I love this about them. There are still a few songs I would hurl my body across the room to turn off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rosesâ&#x20AC;? into â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love is Like Jazzâ&#x20AC;? for instance, or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love in The Shadows.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Punk Love.â&#x20AC;? Kinda the obvious ones.

Fave lyrics? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cause I always say I love you when I mean turn out the light / and I say letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s run away when I just mean stay the night.â&#x20AC;? How good is that? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street.â&#x20AC;? I wish so hard I had written that line. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brilliant.

54 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ mountainx.com

Erika Jane / Remember the Bees

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

From the moment I heard the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chicken With Its Head Cut Off,â&#x20AC;? I began to smile. It was playing on KEXP Seattle and I had to find out who sang it. Charmingly funny lyrics with a sweet old time country smooth voice. My uncle had raised chickens for a bit when I was a kid.

I have particular memories that make it easy to visualize. I thought it was brilliant.

Fave lyrics?

I absolutely love the song â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Want to Get Over You.â&#x20AC;? When I connected to this album, I was going through a breakup and it really resonated with me. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something that happens when lovers part â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where the sadness can feel like comfortable old blanket wrapped around you. I think this song really captures a specifically beautiful and dark emotion.

Evan Hill / Wilson the Rocker

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not doing it, but I think â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nothing Matters When Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Dancingâ&#x20AC;? is just such a sweet love song. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a song I wish would be played at every wedding reception.

Are there any that you skip, and if so, why?

Oh yeah. Coincidentally enough, the two songs I skip most often are in our set: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rosesâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love is Like Jazz.â&#x20AC;? (Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me wrong, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky to have gotten the set we did: itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got some killer songs.) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re right at the beginning of Disc 2. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rosesâ&#x20AC;? is short and forgettable, and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Love is Like Jazzâ&#x20AC;? is so ramshackle and chaotic that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to listen to. The rest of Disc 2 is so solid that I feel like those two songs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t belong.

Fave lyrics?

From â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Pretty Girl Is Like...â&#x20AC;?: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so in love with you, girl, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m on the moon / I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really breathe, but I feel lighter.â&#x20AC;? He takes the grim reality of what it would really be like on the moon and turns it into a cute simile about love. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special kind of brilliance there.

Another devastating one is from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

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Fave lyrics?

My favorite thing about Merritt’s songwriting is his fantastic use of simile and metaphor. ...

The whole of “Love is Like a Bottle of Gin” is one extended simile, and I find the lengths to which he extends that single comparison nothing short of astounding. In both of these examples, he manages to fit in the positive and negative aspects of love, which really makes the wordplay feel like it completes a metaphoric circle.

My Only Home”: “When you cancel dinner plans / When you cross the street / and you don’t take my hand / When you make impossible demands / I wish I didn’t understand.”

Merritt’s lyrics have a lot in common with the lyrics of the American Popular Song era (songs

by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, etc.) in that he is able to make a large emotional impact with just a few simple images. I feel like everybody has been able to foresee the end of a relationship in a few small gestures, just like the singer of this song. It’s like the slow train coming for the tied-up captive: There’s an aching inevitability to it.

Shane Conerty / Now You See Them

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

The song “Papa was a Rodeo” was the reason I wanted to do this thing. I love that song, and we got cut off the song before it. hmph.

So, that song, but some of the songs we got assigned have grown on me, like ”You’re My Only Home.”

What will be your take on the songs?

We tried to make all the songs we’re doing sound as far away from the original as possible.

At this point we’re not sure if we are going to get tomatoes thrown at us at the show. People sure are die-hard about the Magnetic Fields.

Jaye Bartell / Pilgrim

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

Down-tempo songs with simple, decisive melodies are always the favorites. “Book of Love” has a terrific ring to it, and I like the echoic guitar, the shrugging lyrics. I guess I like love songs in extremes — wry and clever tunes of cool distance, or straight ribbon candy numbers, like every song in Dirty Dancing.

What will be your take on the songs?

My approach to the songs is so basic that it just might work. Otherwise, it will be a long night, and I wouldn’t be surprised or bristled if people chose to take a break for the guy with the guitar segment. I’ll be playing loud and slow.

56 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Eventually, I’ll just be rubbing my guitar with a mitten and murmuring “baby” in a variety of languages. In any case, I’ve been playing the Magnetic Fields songs regularly and preparing a topical comedy routine to lighten the mood between each one. In sum, it’s been enjoyable, and it turns out I have the sense of humor of a 13-year-old.

James Richards / coproducer, Night’s Bright Colors

Which songs in particular resonate with you from the albums?

Despite having listened to all three albums countless times at this point, my favorite song remains “Papa Was a Rodeo” off Disc 2. I think the song’s trucker or hitchhiker or cowboy is Merritt’s most complete character. The song is sweet, a little wary and there’s not a wasted word in there. The melody is plaintive and beautiful with the mandolin line contrasting against Merritt’s croaky baritone. Besides, it’s potentially the first gay cowboy song in pop culture, preceding Brokeback Mountain by a decade.

Fave lyrics?

“Papa was a rodeo / Mama was a rock n’ roll band / I could play guitar and rope a steer / before I learned to stand / Home was anywhere with diesel gas / Love was a trucker’s hand / Never stuck around enough for a one-night stand.” I mean, it really does tell you everything you need to know about that character. The Grey Eagle will be full of great lines like that, hopefully with everyone singing along. I wish I had a teleprompter for the audience to follow.

Jay Martin

Are there any songs in particular that resonate with you from the albums?

“The Book of Love” sums up the whole song cycle, in a way. The verses are about the banal and cliched nature of love songs (and sentiments of love) in general, but the choruses are a celebration of the tenderness existing in the specifics of the singer’s love for another person. ... This, to me, captures the whole spirit of 69 Love Songs.

How are you preparing for the show? What are you most looking forward to? What will be your take on the songs?

Since I recently moved to the triangle area away from my usual pool of Asheville musicians, I had to form an entirely new band for the show — this is the prototype for my new band the New Euphemisms. Since “There are Two Kinds of People” has such a minimal arrangement, we have worked out a three-part harmony for the vocals. The fact that I’ve got my sister (Amanda Fellingham, on synthesizer) in the lineup is particularly exciting for me — we’ve sung together at special occasions, holidays, and the like, but never in a live band scenario.

Chall Gray / coproducer

At what time in your life did the albums come along? Were there songs that seemed especially appropriate, then or later?

For me, 69 Love Songs came along at a perfect (though not very good) time in my life. My father had just died suddenly, and I was, in several ways, adrift. A friend had introduced me to the band a few months earlier, and I ended up acquiring the CDs that comprise 69 Love Songs less than a month after I lost my father. I’ve listened to them pretty regularly ever since then, and as I’ve evolved from being completely overcome by grief (“All My Little Words,” “I Don’t Want To Get Over You,” “If You Don’t Cry”) to moving on with life, and the more normal vicissitudes we all face (“The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure,” “(Crazy For You But) Not That Crazy”), to being in a serious relationship (“Asleep And Dreaming,” “Yeah, Oh Yeah”).

Fave lyrics?

“I could make a career of being blue / I could dress in black and read Camus / smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth / like I was 17 / that would be a scream / but I don’t want to get over you.” I’m a sucker for literary allusions.

Why do you think the albums work so well?

They are expansive, and supremely detailoriented. Obsessed with the details, concerned with the big picture. Riddled with cliches that all boil down to deep wisdom. A smile on the face, a tear in the eye. Esoteric and relentlessly easy to relate to. In the end, I can’t think of a better definition of the term “love” than sitting down and listening to these three albums. X Rebecca Sulock can be reached at rsulock@ mountainx.com.

B R H C M M, MD

Board Certified Headache Medicine/Family Medicine

D H, PD

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Don’t let headaches control your life.

Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management

Morris Maizels, MD

Carolinas Center for Advanced Management of Pain Donald Hinnant, PhD

Board Certified Pain Medicine Specialists

69 McDowell St., Asheville • 828.232.1955 820 Fleming St., Hendersonville • 828.233.0060

FREE Online Headache Assessments at: www.BlueRidgeHeadache.com “Over the last 8 years, I was lost and in pain with migraines until your tender care found relief” - DV, former patient

Presents the 1st play of its 45th Season A drama/comedy by Jeff Baron Directed by Glenn Musser

Performance Dates: Friday thru Sunday March 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, 2010 Fri & Sat Evenings @ 8:00PM, Sun Matinees @ 2:00PM TICKET PRICES: RESERVATIONS: Walk-In BOX OFFICE: ADULT: $14.00 828-692-1082 Fri & Sat 10am-1pm UNDER 18: $8:00 Starting March 1 Starting March 5

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arts

X

music

Dirty South rides again Goodie Mob continues its reign

by Jake Frankel “What you niggas know about the Dirty South?” asks the refrain of Goodie Mob’s seminal, term-coining 1995 single “Dirty South.” In the mid-’90s, the question piqued the interest of listeners across the country, tired of mainstream rap’s obsession with Los Angeles and New York and the beef between Tupac and Biggie. Soon, along with fellow Dungeon Family group OutKast, Goodie Mob was putting Atlanta on the national map with a southern-fried hip-hop sound that helped define the genre for years to come.

Now, more than a decade since their heyday and almost that long since their last tour together, the original members of the group — Cee-lo, Khujo, T-Mo and Big Gipp — are back on the road. But don’t call it a reunion, says Cee-lo. “It’s more of a continuum,” the MC and vocalist tells Xpress.

“What people done witnessed over the last 10 years is a testament to our elasticity. We were stretched out but not separate.”

Although they won’t admit to officially breaking-up, the ‘00s saw the MCs focus on a number of other projects. Gipp released Mutant Mindframe and later collaborated with Nelly’s St. Lunatic family. Khujo released a pair of solo albums and teamed up with T-Mo to form the Lumberjacks.

In 2004 Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo worked together on One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.

But none of their efforts compared to the success Cee-lo found with Gnarls Barkley.

A collaboration with multi-instrumentalist/ producer Danger Mouse, their 2006 debut St. Elsewhere went platinum and earned them two Grammys. Rolling Stone recently went so far as to declare their song “Crazy” the best song of the decade.

In time, however, the urge to make music and perform together again with his childhood friends in the Mob proved irresistible for Cee-lo. “We’re coming all the way up from nursing school. We’ve been around

who:

Guerilla Union presents Goodie Mob, featuring Cee-Lo, Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo), with B.o.B.

where:

The Orange Peel

when:

Saturday, Feb. 13 (9 p.m. $30/$32. www.theorangepeel.net) each other all our lives,” he says. “We’re really having fun. This is a second child to us — we’ve been privileged and empowered and compassionate about having another opportunity.”

Asked if the tour marks a full-fledged return or if it’s more of a way for them to test the waters, Cee-lo insists that the Mob is back to stay. “This is sailing the waters,” he says. “We’re multitasking between fulfilling the obligations of a tour, and also thinking, and creating, and socializing about new ideas and new music and new material. So of course there’s an album in mind and in the works. It’s a process, slowly but surely.”

B R H C M M, MD

Board Certified Headache Medicine/Family Medicine

D H, PD Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management

Morris Maizels, MD

Carolinas Center for Advanced Management of Pain Donald Hinnant, PhD

Board Certified Pain Medicine Specialists

69 McDowell St., Asheville • 828.232.1955 820 Fleming St., Hendersonville • 828.233.0060

FREE Online Headache Assessments at: www.BlueRidgeHeadache.com “Over the last 8 years, I was lost and in pain with migraines until your tender care found relief” - DV, former patient

58 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

www.jeffpitmanart.com

Don’t let headaches control your life.

Cee-lo says the current shows have the feel of a live mix tape, with the MCs offering remixed versions of their classic songs.

“It still continues to be organic and atmospheric,” he says. Adds Khujo, “We’re also bringing some of that old soul, that old funk that has inspired us to be who we are today.

So it’s like we’re doing a tribute to all the fallen soldiers plus the ones that inspired us. So when you come to the show you’re not only going to see a ‘rap’ show, you’re going to see it all, all genres of music, all types of talent being displayed.”

While hesitant to name names, members of the group cite disdain for what they hear on the radio as part of what’s motivating them to make music, seeing themselves as once again offering a fresh alternative to mainstream rap. “Rapping is talking at a tempo. Hip-hop is culture and cultivation, consciousness and consideration. It’s embodying everything that it is and that one intends it to be, and that’s in our playlist,” says Cee-lo. “It ain’t about following nobody else’s path, it’s about blazing a trail.”

The MCs also say their gritty mix of combativeness and consciousness continues to be inspired by the struggles and tough realities of life on the streets of Atlanta.

“Rap and hip-hop comes from urban areas.

So there’s a lot of angst, there’s a lot of animosity, there’s a lot of anger, there’s a lot of energy, there’s a lot of urgency and attack,” Cee-lo says, later explaining that he sees Goodie Mob’s music as a tool in an ongoing fight against ignorance that’s just as important now as ever. “It’s not hard to keep the urgency because we still care and we’re still compassionate. And we still gotta fight, we still gotta fight — fighting for our rights, fighting for our lives and fighting for the future.” X Jake Frankel is an Asheville-based freelance writer.

arts

X

performance

Burlesque troupe does more than just striptease Bombs Away Cabaret performs benefit for renowned playwright Jo Carson

by Tracy D. Hyorth Corsets. Garter belts. Bondage. Dirty jokes. Lace, frills and whips. A striptease or two. And, zombies?

That’s how Laura Grant, Meg Hale and Chelsea Crispin of The Bombs Away Cabaret troupe described their upcoming production, Eat Your Heart Out: A Knockout Thriller.

It’s a bit hard to imagine the above description while the group rehearses one very cold January night at a large, chilly house in Montford. Dressed in jeans, sweaters, gloves, scarves and warm hats, the women prepare for their performance in a room ample enough to be an actual stage.

The aroma of Thai-food spices drifts from the kitchen where company member Seana Steele shares the home with several other Asheville artists. All furniture has been pushed back to the walls, and rehearsal begins.

The story revolves around Cabaret owner Miss Moxie (Grant) and her “lovelies.” Moxie has just recently survived a foreclosure and has invited a talent judge from a Hollywood reality show in hopes of attracting new audiences and investors to the cabaret. But will Moxie be able to impress this diva judge despite her smalltown cabaret, her unenthused performers (a greedy Southern belle, a bitter mail-order Russian bride and a very confused fundamentalist Mormon) and a local zombie outbreak?

But there’s more to this show than just pretty girls wearing skimpy costumes. The original production features local performers, a satirical plot with live music and sideshow vignettes including song, dance, magic and burlesque.

“Our show is more than just ‘boobies and stripping,’” says Hale. (Hale and Grant co-wrote the script.) “Yes, we do have some striptease, but we also have a plot-driven script, and some of the content is very

who:

Bombs Away Cabaret

what:

Eat Your Heart Out: A Knockout Thriller

where:

Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Ave.

when:

Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 12 and 13 and 19 and 20 (8 p.m. $12. www.ashevilleartscenter. com) political. The script is original and comedic. A lot of the musical numbers were also written by members of the group. We even have a belly dancer and a few guys in the show. We are really trying to get back to the roots of burlesque.”

There’s also the philanthropic goal of giving all proceeds from the show to Jo Carson, a Johnson City playwright who once taught Grant at East Tennessee State University and is now struggling to survive colon cancer.

Carson writes plays, short stories, essays and poems. She has been an occasional commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered for five years, and won awards in 1984 from the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services and in 1986 from the Kentucky Foundation for Women. Her script Daytrips received the 1989 Kesselering Award for Best New American Play. She’s also won an AT&T Onstage Award, a Roger L. Stevens Award from the Fund for New American Plays in 1993 and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship.

“Jo is just this amazing person and creative advisor,” Grant says. “She teaches you to just ‘play’ when you write, to just play with your characters and then edit later.

“We’d like to be able to give Jo $5,000 to help her pay her mortgage, some hospital bills, whatever,” Grant says. That’s not an unreasonable goal considering the troupe raised $2,200 for Mission Hospital’s Breast Program with their last show, Risqué Business: A Burlesque Comedy Extravaganza.

How does Carson feel about her former student wanting to help her out?

“I find Laura (Grant) truly inventive and talented and mightily ironic and funny ... and the Bombs Away Cabaret is a really good vehicle for such a talent,” Carson says in an e-mail. Her health is currently alright, she writes, but she’s been financially crippled by more than $100,000 in medical bills, despite having some insurance.

“I could be the poster child — except I’m a little long in the tooth for the job — for health-care legislation,” Carson says. “The notion that someone finds my being on this earth valuable enough to help pay for medical expenses is, to say the least, humbling, and I am honored.” X

Spring Color Special!

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mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 59

FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

smartbets Miniatures show

Sometimes the best things come in small packages, from the Lilliputian wonders of dollhouse furniture and nesting dolls to the high art of the 2-to-4 inch Jain, Hindu and Buddhist paintings in India. Folk Art & Framing’s sixth annual miniatures show, Up Close & Personal, lands somewhere between scholarly and whimsical. “Small size creates an intimacy between an artist and media; a certain delicacy of brush or finger to clay. This concentration filters distraction and intensifies thought,” says press for the event. Work includes new paintings by Spencer Herr and petite scenes by Liz Sullivan, who worked by candle light during a recent power outage.

The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 13, 5-8 p.m.; the exhibit runs through Sunday, Feb. 28. Amerifolk.com or 281-2134.

The Juniper Bends reading

The Juniper Bends is neither a rec park in Oregon nor a folk-pop band from Canada (depite what Google would have you believe).

Nope, it’s a series of readings organized, according to the group’s creators, to give “voice to local writers.” This, the second installment, includes literary performances by fiction writer Chall Gray, multidisciplinary writer Ingrid Carson, poet/songwriter Jaye Bartell and poets Julian Vorus, Lucy Tobin and Jennifer Callahan. Downtown Books & News on Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. 253-8654.

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Black Mountain • 3018 US 70 • (828) 669-8988 • Asheville • 121 Sweeten Creek Road • (828) 277-0805 Mon. thru Sat. • 9am - 7pm • Closed Sunday 60 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

EBT

You probably saw (if not purchased) the inaugural Freaks of Asheville 2010 calendar — that monthly planner that distracts from Asheville-centric holidays and happenings with the pierced, tattooed and otherwise adorned countenances of some of Asheville’s most colorful residents.

Coveted spots on the forthcoming 2011 calendar will be determined by a pageant set to take place on Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Crystal Room at the Grove House. Press for the events says, “Talent, costume and interview competitions bring out the distinctiveness of our local flavor for all to see. A voyeur’s delight is guaranteed.” 8-10 p.m., $10. After-parties take place at Eleven on Grove with the Purgatorio de san Valentine Latin dance party, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. arts2people.org or thegrovehouse.com.

Club phone numbers are listed in Clubland in the (828) area code unless otherwise stated; more details at www. mountainx.com/clubland. Send your Smart Bet requests in to ae@mountainx.com for consideration by the Monday the week prior to publication.

smartbets We’re Celebrating our

Lube Royale

One-Year Anniversary!

The underground percussion outfit Lube Royale — known for its penchant for creating a spectacle through costumes and theatrics — play a rare live show. Featuring a lineup of Asheville notables, including Rob Westmore, Dougal Bailey, James Owen, Hal Millard and others. The band will accompany the premier of its new short film, Tall and Pink, which involves a vampire guy, a bunny and a snowman. Naturally. Don’t miss the oddity and brazen display of musical muscle in the form of tightly-orchestrated noise rock. Saturday, Feb. 13. 9 p.m. Stella Blue. myspace.com/stellabluelive

…and you’re invited

Come Celebrate with Us! Saturday, Feb. 13 10 am -6 pm Food, fun & great door prizes!

10% of proceeds will be donated to WNC Big Brothers Big Sisters

Feral Chihuahuas

There actually are feral chihuahuas; small but bloodthirsty dogs that terrorize neighborhoods in California and Hawaii. Which is a funny thought, though not as laugh-outloud as Asheville’s sketch-comedy troupe by the same name. Just back from Chicago’s Sketchfest where they, according to Time Out Chicago, “did a fine job shelling out the ridiculous.” Back on home turf, the group (which claims to have started performing in a two-car garage for friends), is preparing for a Valentine’s Day Xtreme on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13, at Funny Business Comedy Club. 10:30 p.m. nightly, $10. feralchihuahuas.net.

Gift Certificates • Unique Gifts • Free Wi-Fi Now serving locally roasted coffee & locally made gluten-free treats

31 Montford Ave. (across from the Chamber of Commerce)

828-285-8805 • Open Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

This Weekend The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Societies are usually grand (if not shrouded in secrecy) organizations. The Society of Women Engineers. The Fabian Society. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unlike these other noble groupings, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center is a club of but three: pianist Wu Han, cellist Davis Finckel and violinist Philip Setzer. Their sound, though, is entirely worthy of the august moniker: They’ll perform trios

by Schubert and Shostakovich as well as a Beethoven cello sonata at the Asheville Chamber Music Series concert, slated for Friday, Feb. 12, 8 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville. $35. 658-2562 or www.main.nc.us/ashevillechambermusic.

Club phone numbers are listed in Clubland in the (828) area code unless otherwise stated; more details at www. mountainx.com/clubland. Send your Smart Bet requests in to ae@mountainx.com for consideration by the Monday the week prior to publication.

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 61

spork

random & useful / ae@mountainx.com

Loveapalooza

Quirky fun over Valentine’s Day weekend

by Alli Marshall Whether you think that love will keep us together or Cupid is stupid, there’s no stopping the day of hearts and arrows. Feb. 14 may be just another Hallmark holiday, but if you’re half of a couple, chances are your sweetie is hoping for some sort of acknowledgment of your unwavering affections. Make a grand gesture — no, not in a sky-writing or diamond-ring way, necessarily, but in an “I gave this more thought than a Whitman’s Sampler from the Dollar General way.” Here’s a few unique ways to spend Valentine’s weekend. For an extended list, go to mountainx.com. For more ideas, visit Clubland.

Friday, Feb. 12 • Malaprop’s hosts a chocolate and wine tasting. “Join us for a pre-Valentine’s hedonists’ paradise!” says the press release. A sommelier from Weinhaus discusses several wine varieties, chocolates are from The Chocolate Fetish and each ticket holder receives a rose from Bloomin’ Art. Seating is limited. 6 p.m., $15. Info: 2546734.

Saturday, Feb. 13 • Go back in time at the Big Band Sweetheart Dance. The event is slated to “bring back the golden days of big band dancing at the one-ofa-kind location of the hangar of the WNC Air Museum, where the feature décor is airplanes from the decades surrounding the Second World War.” Music is provided by the 17-piece Hendersonville Swing Band, under the direction of Jerry Zink. Tickets are $100 each and include cocktails and dinner. 6-10 p.m. Info: 693-0731.

• If pink hearts and rose petals aren’t exactly your style, consider An Evening of Dark Love at the Boiler Room. “Come explore an alternative to Cupid’s sissy little arrows and feel the impalement of deep hard slicing tunes,” suggest event organizers. Angels on Acid, DJs Kri and Psyonic of T.O.U.C.H. Samadhi and End: The DJ perform. 8 p.m., $10.

• Singer/songwriter Angela Easterling invites fans to “Have an early Valentines Day with me!” She performs at the Saluda Inn Wine Cellar (229 Greenville Street, Saluda) at 8 p.m.

The evening also involved food and wine and a super-romatic setting (up the ante: reserve a room). 8 p.m., no cover. saludainn.com and angelaeasterling.com.

Sunday, Feb. 14 • The Mystic Mountain Krewe invites you

62 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Love in color, and don’t forget the shiny beads: This year, much of Asheville’s Mardi Gras festivities — including a parade and a ball — will be happening on Valentine’s Day. photo by Jonathan Welch

(and your brightly-colored sweetie) to the annual Asheville Mardi Gras parade. This year’s theme is Wild at Heart. The creativity, frivolity and celebration starts at 2:37 p.m. at the corner of Walnut and Market Street in downtown Asheville. Featuring aplenty of zaniness, upbeat music, political satire and the Zambumba! samba group, which will hold a special performance of drumming and dance at Pritchard Park following the parade. There will be a Mardi Gras Ball following the parade at the Lexington Avenue Brewery. Also on the Mardi Gras bill: The Mardi Gras with Heart ball at the Grey Eagle, featuring the cajun and zydeco music of Carolina Gator Gumbo. At 5 p.m. there’s a free intro to two-step class, and at 6 p.m. will be the revelry and dancing! Costumes encouraged. Tickets are $8 advance, $10 day of show.

• Visit the Asheville Art Museum for a Valentine’s Day Pianoforte Concert Featuring Deborah Belcher and John Cobb. The concert celebrates the legendary relationship and artistry of Robert and Clara Wieck Schumann; music is interspersed with readings from the Schumanns’ letters and diaries. 3 p.m. $5 Museum Members, $5 + museum admission for non-members. ashevilleart.org.

• Dinner and a show: Mo Daddy’s serves up a “Lovey Dovey Special” ($20 for two!) starting at 5 p.m.; music from The Asheville Skyline Band (backing up performers including Amanda Platt, Galen Kipar, Chris O’Neill and Union County) starts at 7 p.m. $10 for the show. myspace.com/ modaddysbar.

• Boo Reiners and Elena Skye of folk/bluegrass act Demolition String Band play a special Valentine’s Day “power duo” show at Jack of the Wood. Says, the band, “Love songs, cheatin’ songs, murder ballads, and maybe a Sonny & Cher cover, will make for a special evening for you and yer beloved.” 8 p.m. demolitionstringband.com or jackofthewood.com.

• Round out Valentine’s Day in style: Jazz/ pop/electronica duo Paper Tiger performs at The Hookah Bar. The venue goes all out for the mushy holiday (with private rooms for rent including sweet treats, two complimentary special house cocktails, two movie passes and table cocktail service); Paper Tiger’s downtempo sound sets the perfect swanky mood. 9 p.m., $8. thehookahbar.net, myspace.com/thepapertigermusic. X

clubland

where to find the clubs • what is playing • listings for venues throughout Western North Carolina C lubland rules •To qualify for a free listing, a venue must be predominately dedicated to the performing arts. Bookstores and cafés with regular open mics and musical events are also allowed.

•To limit confusion, events must be submitted by the venue owner or a representative of that venue.

•Events must be submitted in written form by e-mail (clubland@mountainx.com), fax, snail mail or hand-delivered to the Clubland Editor Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt at 2 Wall St., Room 209, Asheville, NC 28801.

Events submitted to other staff members are not assured of inclusion in Clubland.

•Clubs must hold at least TWO events per week to qualify for listing space. Any venue that is inactive in Clubland for one month will be removed.

•The Clubland Editor reserves the right to edit or exclude events or venues.

•Deadline is by noon on Monday for that Wednesday’s publication. This is a firm deadline.

Wed., February 10 Back Room

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

BoBo Gallery

Peace/Loving & Bob Ross

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Boiler Room

Old Time Jam, 6pm

Traxx (metal) Shag dance

Songwriters circle & open jam w/ John Spear

Broadway’s

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

‘80s Night, 10pm Chameleon Soul Food

Spoken word, music & poetry night hosted

by Lyric Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

The Cisco Playboys (Western swing, country) Zydeco dance & lessons Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)

Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Paul Cataldo Duo (Americana, country) w/ Will Straughan

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Jam w/ Billy & Jim

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

BoBo Gallery

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Red Stag Grill

Boiler Room

Rocket Club

Bosco’s Sports Zone

Open mic

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Scandals Nightclub

Country dance lessons, 9-10pm Dance, 10pm-Midnight

Holland’s Grille

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Contagious (rock covers, alternative)

‘80s night

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Back Room

10th Annual Bob Marley Tribute feat: Groundation (roots, reggae), Selector Aba Shaka & Dubatomic Particles Selectors

Beacon Pub

Open mic

DJ night

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

The Hookah Bar

Open jam

Garage at Biltmore

John Brown’s Body (reggae, dub, roots) w/ Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Steve Whiteside, early Open mic

Jammin’ w/ Funky Max

Umphrey’s McGee after party feat: Magma Blood (electroacoustic) w/ Mamma Jamma & Arpetrio

Good Stuff

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Open mic hosted by Jimbo

Athena’s Club

Ras Berhane (acoustic, reggae)

“Super dance party” feat: Adam Strange & Crick Nice DJ

Barton Carroll (folk, rock) w/ Fox-Teeth

Westville Pub

Nine Mile

Bobby Sullivan (blues, rock, standards)

Frankie Bones

Fred’s Parkside Pub & Grill

Patrick Fitzsimons (world, blues)

“Hits & Shits” w/ Jamie Hepler

Eleven on Grove

Steve Whiddon (piano, vocals)

Thu., February 11

Orange Peel

Eleven on Grove

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)

Jazz night

Bluegrass jam night, 7pm

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am

Frankie Bones

The Free Flow Band (soul, funk) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Mike’s Tavern

Bosco’s Sports Zone

Live music w/ Future

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Open mic w/ rotating local hosts Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub Town Pump

Open Mic w/ David Bryan

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Poetry w/ Mark

DJ Panther God & DJ Dep (electronic)

Handlebar

Open mic & jam

Drive-By Truckers (Southern rock) w/ Pride Parade

Club 828

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Hip-hop & DJ night

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

Courtyard Gallery

Infusions Lounge

Decades Restaurant & Bar

Iron Horse Station

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Emerald Lounge

Laurey’s Catering and Gourmet To Go

Open mic w/ Barbie Angell

Live music

Jazz piano w/ Garnell Stuart

Open mic w/ Yorky

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am

Bluegrass Jam, 7pm

thurSday, February 11

A benefit for Hall Fletcher 4th grade field trip to the Outer Banks

7i^[l_bb[Èi D[m[ij D[_]^Xeh^eeZ 8Wh 35¢ Wings Everday

Tuesday

Saturday, February 13

Texas Hold ‘em Tournament by Buzztime Wednesday

48 Biltmore Avenue • 296-0100 Music starts at 9 pm/ 21 and older

Raffle tickets: 2/$5, 5/$10 Raffle includes gifts from the following local businesses: Biowheels, Pomodoro’s, French Broad Brewery, Highland Brewery, Lola Salon, Malaprop’s, Carmen! Carmen!

Salon, Pisgah Brewery, The Lobster Trap, Barley’s, Asheville Yoga Center, and more!!

Friday, February 12

the Deluge

Golden Tee Tournament

Fri. Feb. 12th • Ed Boudreaux’s

tropiCal Folk & Fun!

Monday

*excludes special event days

Free Live music by: Baby Cowboy & The Cropdusters

raylanD Baxter

Karaoke 10pm-2am

Thursday

Dart Tournaments

Friday

Trivia with Buzztime

Saturday

$2.50 Tequilla Shots

Sunday

Karaoke 10pm - 2am

$50 cash prize for karaoke winner!

Full Menu Available Daily until 2am

828-505-3550

144 Biltmore Ave. Asheville, NC M-F 4pm-2am • Sat & Sun 11am-2am

BluegraSS

County FarM Country rootS MuSiC MOndayS!

$1 Beer • the DewDaBiDeS wedneSdayS!

open MiC night

SundayS!

8:30 pm w/ David Bryan

$1.50 Beer

Open SundayS nOOn- Midnight MOn. - wed. 3pM - Midnight thurS. - Sat. 3pM - 2aM

828-669-4808

135 Cherry St. BlaCk Mountain, nC

MySpaCe.CoM/townpuMptavernllC

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 63

JWbb]WhoÉi College Street Pub

Valentine’s Day Thur., Feb. 11 Asheville Horns Mardi Gras Celebration 7pm Fri., Feb. 12 Pond Farm Pickers 8pm Hours: 7 Days a Week Sun. 12-9 • Tours Sat. 2pm & 3pm

sunDay Feb. 14

Champagne brunch & bloody mary bar • music by taylor moore

B?L; CKI?9 < H ? : 7O < ; 8 $ ' (

Listen to Bad Ash &

every Sunday on

Thievery Corporation Appreciation Night feat: audio selections by Sound Pimp

Lobster Trap

Feed and Seed

Hank Bones Mela

Belly dancing Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Fifty Year Flood & Scenic Roots (Americana, bluegrass) Never Blue

Singer/songwriter showcase

tallgaryS.Com

Purple Onion Cafe

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Jon Shain CD release show (blues, folk) Anne Coombs (jazz, swing) Kemistry (Southern rock, covers) Rocket Club

Lost in the Trees (classical, folk, acoustic) w/ Midtown Dickens Root Bar No. 1

Jay Brown (singer/songwriter) Scandals Nightclub

DJ Acolyte

Temptations Martini Bar

Dance party w/ DJ Steele TGI Friday’s

Open mic

The 170 La Cantinetta

Dave Lagadi (smooth jazz) Town Pump

Raymond Baxter Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Peggy Ratusz and Friends (blues) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Westville Pub

The Last Call Band (folk, rock) White Horse

“Great Blue Ridge Talent Search” Zuma Coffee

Thursday night bluegrass jam

Theh le asTF Cr all igh

nergy

olk

SaturDay, February 13

The honeyCuTTers rayland BaxTer opens, homegrown ameri-Tonk

Home Grown!

dave Turner

mel Jones & his Bag-o-Bones harp led piedmonT Blues ClassiCs

- tueS. -

Blues Jam Featuring the

Westville All Stars hosted by Mars

- WeD. -

Jammin’

with Funky Max

- Fri. -

Trivia Night with Prizes 9pm

Smoke-Free Pub • Pool & DartS 777 Haywood Road • 225-wPUB (9782)

64 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Handlebar

Craig Sorrells Trio (funk) Highland Brewing Company

Brushfire Stankgrass (electro-acoustic bluegrass) Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Infusions Lounge

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues), 7:30-10:30pm Iron Horse Station

Jesse and Isobel (Americana) Jack Of The Wood Pub

Bayou Diesel (zydeco)

Jerusalem Garden

Belly dancing w/ live music Lobster Trap

Live music by local artists Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Back Room

The Honey Dewdrops (“American traditional acoustic”)

Orange Peel

Josh Phillips Folk Festival (folk, reggae) w/ The Mantras Pisgah Brewing Company

Pond Farm Pickers (bluegrass) Purple Onion Cafe Red Stag Grill Rocket Club

The Houstons (indie, experimental) w/ Midnight & the Smooches Scandals Nightclub

Stella Blue

Noise in Print (indie, rock) w/ Oculi & Aminal Chameleon Soul Food

Skull Thunder w/ Delicious (psychedelic, rock, indie) & Enoch Straightaway Café

Tim Marsh (jazz)

Tallgary’s College Street Pub

Peggy Ratusz & guest (blues) The Hookah Bar

Music w/ Statta Lions & DJ Stankfoot

The Nova Echo (electro, pop, alterantive) w/ I Was Totally Destroying It (powerpop) & Endeavour

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Decades Restaurant & Bar

The Deluge (Americana, bluegrass)

Rotating jazz bands

Diana Wortham Theater

Destino (opera, soul, pop, gospel) Ed Boudreaux’s Bayou BBQ

Baby Cowboy (acoustic, rock) & The Cropdusters Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

Salsa & Mambo Dancing, 10pm-2am Dance Lessons, 10:30pm Emerald Lounge

Peace Jones (rock, reggae, funk) Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Patrick Fitzsimons (blues, folk)

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm BoBo Gallery

Dromedary Quartet (jazz, acoustic) Boiler Room

“An Evening of Dark Love” feat: DJ End, Angels on Acid, DJ KRI, & DJ PSYONIC Broadway’s

Cobra Horse (garage, rock) Club 828

“LOVEAPALOOZA” feat: Mindelixir, Agobi Project, EP3 & more Craggie Brewing Company

Freaks of Asheville Pageant & Party Decades Restaurant & Bar

42nd Street Jazz Band

El Dorado Latin Grill

Live music

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

“Purgatory/Heaven Event Latin Dance” Emerald Lounge

Mob after party w/ Agentstrangemouth Feed and Seed

Adam Pope Band (high energy country, rockabilly) w/ Honey Holler (bluegrass, fiddle)

The Hundred Hands (rock, experimental)

Michael Burgin & The Drinker’s Union

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Earthtone (indie, progressive)

Beacon Pub

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Acoustic Swing

BoBo Gallery

Mitch Barratt (Appalachian funk, blues)

Firestorm Cafe and Books

Drag show & dance party w/ DJ Stratos, Vivica Dupree & Coco Couture

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm

DJ night

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra (jazz, fusion) & Turbo Pro Project (Americana, hip-hop)

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)

DJ night

Club 828

SaturDay, February 20

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Athena’s Club

Ghost Mountain Rhythm and Blues (soul, blues)

piano wizard

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Fri., February 12

Boiler Room

thurSDay, February 18 Free!

Joseph Arthur (rock, A cappella)

Fred Whisken (jazz pianist)

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

oCk

Funny Business Comedy Club

Asheville Horns Mardi Gras Celebration

Aaron LaFalce (acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter)

thurSDay, February 11 Free!

Pierce Edens (folk, rock)

Pisgah Brewing Company

I 7J K H : 7O < ; 8 $ ' ) mu d d C u t I K D : 7O < ; 8 $ ' *

828.232.0809

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

The Dynamic Duo (Ike Stubblefield and Jeff Sipe) w/ Chasing Edison East Coast Dirt (progressive, experimental, fusion), late

Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill

4 College Street

Back Room

Now You See Them (indie, folk, acoustic) w/ Uncle Mountain

Garage at Biltmore

Peggy r atu Sz & Friend S

CED$ # JK;I$ 9BEI;: M;:$ # <H?$ * FC # ( 7C I7J$ '( FC # ( 7C IKD$ '( FC # '( 7C

Fred’s Parkside Pub & Grill

Orange Peel

Umphrey’s McGee (progressive rock)

Sat., February 13 Athena’s Club

Ken Evans (comedian), 8pm Feral Chihuahuas Sketch Comedy, 10:30pm

Mark Keller (singer/songwriter)

The Logic

Adam Pope Band (high energy country, rockabilly)

Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Red Stag Grill

taylor moore entertainment writers

ScreechOwl w/ Laurie Fisher & friends (dance, swing)

Live music w/ singer-songwriters Town Pump

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Taylor Moor and the Bordeaux Brothers (blues) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Bobby Sullivan (piano) Watershed

The Flying Whales (rock) Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Demijohn Varmits (“Appalachian dirty shuffle”) White Horse

Skinny Legs and All (blues, funk, soul) Wild Wing Cafe

Matthew VanDeburgh (acoustic, rock, folk) Fred’s Parkside Pub & Grill

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Every Mother’s Dream (roots)

Funny Business Comedy Club

Ken Evans (comedian), 8pm Feral Chihuahuas Sketch Comedy, 10:30pm Garage at Biltmore

Phuncle Sam (jam band, psychedelic) w/ The Jaimee Thomas Band Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs performed by Vendetta, Electric Owls, Pilgrim, Now You See Them, Angi West, Foxteeth & more Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Infusions Lounge

Live music

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Delta Moon (Southern rock) CD “leak” party Jerusalem Garden

Belly dancing w/ live music Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Shane Pruitt Band (blues, rock, jam) New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Death Becomes Even the Maiden (rock) w/ tHE POLES Nine Mile

Ras Berhane (acoustic, reggae) Orange Peel

Goodie Mob Reunion feat: Cee-Lo (soul, hip-hop), Big Gipp, Khujo & T-Mo w/ B.o.B. (Bobby Ray) Pisgah Brewing Company

Wild South Benefit

Purple Onion Cafe

Jacob Johnson (indie, acoustic, blues) Red Room at Temptations

DJ SPY-V

clubdirectory Complete clubland directory: www.mountainx.com/clubland. Questions or errors? E-mail (clubland@mountainx.com).

The 170 La Cantinetta 687-8170 Asheville Ale House 505-3550 Asheville Civic Center & Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 259-5544 Athenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club 252-2456 The Back Room 697-6828 Barleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tap Room 255-0504 Beacon Pub 686-5943 The Blackbird 669-5556 Blue Mountain Pizza 658-8777 BoBo Gallery 254-3426 Boscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Zone 684-1024 Broadwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 285-0400 Cancun Mexican Grill 505-3951 Club 828 252-2001 Club Hairspray 258-2027 Courtyard Gallery 273-3332 Craggie Brewing Company 254-0360 Curras Dom 253-2111 Decades Restaurant & Bar 254-0555 Desoto Lounge 986-4828

Diana Wortham Theater 257-4530 Dockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restaurant 883-4447 The Dripolator 398-0209 Ed Boudreauxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bayou BBQ 296-0100 Elaineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dueling Piano Bar 252-2711 El Dorado Latin Grill 689-9704 Eleven on Grove 505-1612 Emerald Lounge 232- 4372 Feed & Seed + Jamas Acoustic 216-3492 Firestorm Cafe 255-8115 Five Fifty Three 631-3810 Frankie Bones 274-7111 Fredâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parkside Pub & Grill 281-0920 French Broad Brewery Tasting Room 277-0222 Funny Business Comedy Club 318-8909 The Garage 505-2663 Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern 232-5800 Grove House Eleven on Grove 505-1612

T O

The Grove Park Inn 252-2711 Guadalupe Cafe 586-9877 The Handlebar (864) 233-6173 The Hangar 684-1213 Havana Restaurant 252-1611 Highland Brewing Company 299-3370 Hollandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grille 298-8780 The Hookah Bar 252-1522 Infusions 665-2161 Iron Horse Station 622-0022 Laureyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catering 252-1500 The Lobster Trap 350-0505 Mack Kellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub & Grill 253-8805 Magnoliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Raw Bar 251-5211 Mela 225-8880 Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tavern 281-3096 Mo-Daddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bar & Grill 258-1550 New French Bar Courtyard Cafe 225-6445 Never Blue 693-4646 Old Fairview Southern Kitchen 277-7117

Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On Main 246-0898 The Orange Peel 225-5851 Pantherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Paw 696-0810 Pisgah Brewing Co. 669-0190 Purple Onion Cafe 749-1179 Rankin Vault 254-4993 Red Stag Grill at the Grand Bohemian Hotel 505-2949 Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill 622-0001 Rocket Club 505-2494 Root Bar No.1 299-7597 Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BBQ Shack 299-3511 Scandals Nightclub 252-2838 Shovelhead Saloon 669-9541 Skyland Performing Arts Center 693-0087 Steak & Wine / Satchelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Martini Bar 505-3362 Stella Blue 236-2424 The Still 683-5913 Stockade Brew House 645-1300 Straightaway Cafe 669-8856

Switzerland Cafe 765-5289 The Red Room at Temptations 252-0775 Tallgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Street Pub 232-0809 Temptations Martini Bar 252-0775 Tolliverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossing Irish Pub 505-2129 TGI Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 277-4080 Town Pump 669-4808 Tressaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Downtown Jazz &â&#x20AC;&#x2C6;Blues 254-7072 Vaso de Vino Wine Bar & Market 687-3838 Vincenzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bistro 254-4698 The Watershed 669-0777 Waynesville Waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Hole 456-4750 Wedge Brewery 505 2792 Westville Pub 225-9782 White Horse 669-0816 Wild Wing Cafe 253-3066 Xcapades 258-9652

FRIDAY 2/12

7Vndj 9^ZhZa ZYDECO

SATURDAY 2/13

9ZaiV Bddc SLIP SLIDINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GUITAR SLINGERS

SUNDAY 2/14 SPECIAL VALENTINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SHOW!

7dd :aZcV

S M O K E â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; O R â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; N O T â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; T O â&#x20AC;&#x2C6; S M O K E

OSO: smoking clubspforr specfics â&#x20AC;˘ ISS: smoking N o outdoor/patio r t h C ar o l only i n â&#x20AC;˘aSH:ssmoking t a t ehours, l acallw ohib i t sindoor sm o k section i n gâ&#x20AC;˘ SA: i nsmoking d o oallowed rs.

Red Stag Grill

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues) Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill

Live music

Rocket Club

Mind Shape Fist w/ Ironside (metal)

Angela Easterling (Americana)

Luna and the Lunatics (rock)

Tolliverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crossing Irish Pub

Live music w/ singer-songwriters

Sun., February 14

Town Pump

Athenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club

County Farm (country)

DJ night

Tressaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Barleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Taproom

Live music w/ Bob B.

The Funky Four Corners feat: Joshua Singleton (funk, blues)

Scandals Nightclub

Vincenzoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bistro

Root Bar No. 1

Drag show & dance party w/ DJ Stratos, Ami Zhan, Celeste Starr, Trinity Norrell

Live music w/ Tom Coppola (early) & Marc Keller (late)

Stella Blue

Watershed

Straightaway CafĂŠ

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Tallgaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College Street Pub

Westville Pub

The Hookah Bar

White Horse

The Wine Cellar at the Saluda Inn

Wild Wing Cafe

Lube Royale (experimental, thrash) Jenne Sluder (singer/songwriter) Mudd Cut (Southern rock)

Wax Poets, Skull Thunder, Go-Devils & more

Twist of Fate (rock) Tim Fast (folk, Americana)

Honeycutters (Americana, country) Cheri Cagle Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Dance (jazz)

FROM DEMOLITION STRING BAND

FRIDAY 2/19

I]Z =dda^\Vch CELTIC ROCK MAYHEM! SATURDAY 2/20

I]Z CZl GZa^Xh

DeCristofaro Quartert (jazz) Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

ENERGETIC ROCK & ALT COUNTRY

John Cook (acoustic) BoBo Gallery

Honeycutters (Americana, country) & Itchy Hearts Boiler Room

Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Party feat: WestSound Boscoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Zone

Shag dance & lessons

Eleven on Grove

Arundas (â&#x20AC;&#x153;sacred worldâ&#x20AC;?)

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

now over 30 Smoking Entertainers

Warm up your winter & join us at Ashevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upscale adult club & sports lounge LADIES & COUPLES WELCOME GREAT DRINK SPECIALS EVERY NIGHT

520 Swannanoa River Rd. Mon. - Sat. 6:30pm - 2am â&#x20AC;˘ 828-298-1400

this areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only Spinning Pole

SPORTS ON THE BIG SCREEN POOL TABLES & GAMES

mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 65

Mardi Gras With Heart feat: Carolina Gator Gumbo (folk, roots), 6pm (dance lessons begin at 5pm) Jack Of The Wood Pub

Your Pet’s Preferred Vacation Destination

Valentines show w/ Boo & Elena from Demolition String Band (country, folk) Lobster Trap

Chris Rhodes

• Personal Attention & Tender Loving Care • Private Accommodations • Affordable Rates • Playtime & Daily Walks Available

828-686-3175

12 Cavalier Lane Swannanoa

Just Minutes from Asheville

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

The Asheville Skyline Band (feat: members of Barrel House Mamas, Velvet Truckstop & more) perform a Valentine’s Day show New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Love songs night

Sideways Reign (rock, Americana)

Feed and Seed

Will Ray’s Mountain Jam

Emerald Lounge

Firestorm Cafe and Books

Dance party w/ DJ Wayd Runk

Open mic

Garage at Biltmore

French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Ashley’s Birthday Party

Cafe String Quartet performs live music to benefit Haiti & Mercy Corps

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Contra dance

Gone Again (jazz, funk, blues), 6-8pm

Bob Zullo (guitar), 630-10:30pm

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Hangar

Open mic night w/ Aaron LaFalce

Fat Tuesday feat: Firecracker Jazz (explosive jazz) w/ Screaming Jays

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

EYMAREL (other)

Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Rocket Club

Rocket Club

Laurey’s Catering and Gourmet To Go

Asheville Jazz Orchestra (swing, jazz)

Old-time jam

Scandals Nightclub

Temptations Martini Bar

Lobster Trap

Open mic w/ Pierce Edens

Geoff Weeks

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Vinyl at the Vault w/ Chris Ballard Sunday jazz jam

Dance party w/ DJs Acolyte or Zorro, Coco Couture, Chyna & Manhattan

The Oxymorons (improv comedy)

Acoustic JAMbalaya

Danny Schmidt (Americana, singer/songwriter), 3:30pm

D Mack Sharon LaMotte (jazz) w/ Bill Gerhardt, Mike Holstein & Sonny Thornton

Stella Blue

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Tallgary’s College Street Pub

Taylor Moore Band (blues, roots)

Tue., February 16

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

The Hookah Bar

Back Room

Skyland Performing Arts Center

Town Pump

Barley’s Taproom

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Beacon Pub

Open mic

Aaron LaFalce (acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter)

White Horse

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Town Pump

Makia Groove (funk, reggae, fusion)

Paul Cataldo (Americana, country)

Mon., February 15

Eleven on Grove

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Skyland Performing Arts Center

The Beggin Fiends (rock)

Paper Tiger (electronic) w/ Pavane & Galliard Pickin’ at the Pump, open acoustic jam Steve Whiddon (piano, vocals) Andy Statman Trio (Klezmer) Club 828

Metal Monday feat: guest artists BoBo Gallery

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Tomato Tuesday comedy open mic

Marc Keller & Company (variety)

Tony Campbell (bluegrass)

Mardi Gras Blues Show & Pancakes (a fundraiser for Absolute Theatre Company), 6pm

The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show (bluegrass)

Emerald Lounge

Tuesday Night Funk Jam

Mardi Gras Celebration Vincenzo’s Bistro

Marc Keller & Company (variety) Watershed

hosted by Working Otet feat. Justin Powell (of Vertigo Jazz Project) • No Cover

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

CDL NDJ H:: I=:B with Uncle Mountain [Rock/Alternative/Folk/Indie]

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

The Hundred Hands [Rock/Experimental/Irresistible]

• Distinctive Pub Fare served thru 1:30am!

February 11th Fifty-Year Flood w/ Senic Roots February 12th Jonathan Scales w/ Turbo Pro Project February 13th Shane Pruitt February 15th Eymarel February 16th Acoustic JAMbalaya - No cover!

February 17th Jazz Night

• Tuesday Dart League Coming SoonSign up now for Spring/Summer League

hosted by Working Otet feat. Justin Powell (of Vertigo Jazz Project) • No Cover

• Wednesday: Not Your Average Karaoke (Voted #1 in WNC... Xpress Reader’s Poll)

All shows start at 9:30 pm and are $5 unless otherwise noted 77b Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 828-258-1550 • mo.daddys@gmail.com Check out our music online! myspace.com/modaddysbar

• Thursday: Open Mic - Come Strum with us & Your Host Jimbo

Mon - Sat 4:30pm - 2am • 828.281.0920 122 College St., Downtown (below Fiore’s Restaurant)

66 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Mack Kell’s Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues TUESDAY Getaway’s (Eleven on Grove) Hookah Bar Mike’s Side Pocket W EDNESDAY Asheville Ale House • Fred’s Parkside Pub & Grill • The Hangar • Infusions Temptations Martini Bar O’Malleys on Main • Holland’s Grille T H URSDAY Beacon Pub • Cancun Mexican Grill Chasers • Club Hairspray Shovelhead Saloon

TGI Friday’s

February 10th Jazz Night

Still the old charm of Fred’s Speakeasy...

Just a whole new look!

MONDAY

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues) Rock Records

Swing & Tango lessons and dance w/ Russ Wilson Orchestra

IN TH E C L U B S

Garage at Biltmore

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

K ARAO K E

FRIDAY Infusions • Mack Kell’s • Shovelhead Saloon • Stockade Brew House The 170 La Cantinetta SATURDAY Club Hairspray • Holland’s Grille Infusions • Shovelhead Saloon The Still SUNDAY Asheville Ale House • Bosco’s Sports Zone • Cancun Mexican Grill The Hangar • Getaway’s (Eleven on Grove) Mack Kell’s • Wing Cafe Live music w/ Robert Greer Westville Pub

Blues Jam w/ Mars Fariss White Horse

Irish session, 6:30pm Open mike w/ Parker Brooks, 8:30pm Wild Wing Cafe

Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass) w/ Elk Mountain Cloggers

Wed., February 17 Back Room

Open mic

Beacon Pub

Open jam

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Open mic

BoBo Gallery

Vandeveer (folk) Boiler Room

ShadoLine (metal) Bosco’s Sports Zone

Shag dance

Broadway’s

‘80s Night, 10pm Chameleon Soul Food

Spoken word, music & poetry night hosted by Lyric Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

Zydeco dance & lessons Frankie Bones

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter) Garage at Biltmore

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Jason C. Waller (folk)

French Broad Chocolate Lounge

Utah Green (lyrical, roots)

Rusty Scott & The Enormous Radio w/ Worthless Son-In-Laws (indie, Americana, folk, rock)

Garage at Biltmore

Good Stuff

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Open mic

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Handlebar

Lucero (country, soul) w/ Glossary Holland’s Grille

Mark Keller (singer/songwriter) Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Jack Of The Wood Pub

Old Time Jam, 6pm Mike’s Tavern

Songwriters circle & open jam w/ John Spear Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Jeff Sipe Trio (jazz, funk, jam) Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys (rockabilly, country) Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Ghost Mountain Rhythm and Blues (soul, blues) Club 828

Reggie Warren Jr. (comedy) Decades Restaurant & Bar

Rotating jazz bands

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

Salsa & Mambo Dancing, 10pm-2am Dance Lessons, 10:30pm Emerald Lounge

Spelling Bee & Benefit for Camps Opportunity

Blue Dragons (experimental, folk, rock) w/ Gaslight Street

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Feed and Seed

Infusions Lounge

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Iron Horse Station

Funny Business Comedy Club

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Garage at Biltmore

Handlebar

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Live music

Open mic w/ Yorky

Bluegrass Jam, 7pm

Leigh Glass Band (Americana)

Chris Barnes (comedian), 8pm & 10:30pm Summertime Whiskey Band (funk, rock, alternative)

Lobster Trap

Nine Mile

Mela

Belly dancing

Willy Porter (experimental, folk, acoustic) w/ The Brilliant Inventions (indie, powerpop)

Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Orange Peel

Never Blue

Ras Berhane (acoustic, reggae) Bluegrass jam night, 7pm

A Concert for Haiti feat: The Vinyl Brothers Big Band (soul, rock) & Sophistaphunk Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

“Hits & Shits” w/ Jamie Hepler

The Funk Messengers (funk) w/ BPL Singer/songwriter showcase Old Fairview Southern Kitchen

Mark Keller (singer/songwriter) Orange Peel

Red Stag Grill

Bobby Sullivan (blues, rock, standards)

Dark Star Orchestra (jam band, classic rock, Grateful Dead concert experience)

Rocket Club

Pisgah Brewing Company

“Super dance party” feat: Adam Strange & Crick Nice DJ Scandals Nightclub

Country dance lessons, 9-10pm Dance, 10pm-Midnight The Hookah Bar

Open mic w/ rotating local hosts Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

‘80s night

Town Pump

Open Mic w/ David Bryan Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Acoustic spotlight hosted by Peggy Ratusz & “Big Al” Pearlman Vincenzo’s Bistro

Steve Whiddon (piano, vocals) Westville Pub

Jammin’ w/ Funky Max

Thu., February 18 Athena’s Club

DJ night

Back Room

Aaron Burdett Band (folk, pop) Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Patrick Fitzsimons (blues, folk) BoBo Gallery

Matt Butcher (folk, country) Bosco’s Sports Zone

Open mic & jam Club 828

Hip-hop & DJ night

Jamie McLean Band (rock) Purple Onion Cafe

13th annual Chase Away the Blues feat: Tinsley Ellis (blues, rock) & Shane Pruitt Band

Kemistry (Southern rock, covers) Root Bar No. 1

Jay Brown (singer/songwriter) Scandals Nightclub

DJ Zorro

Temptations Martini Bar

Dance party w/ DJ Steele TGI Friday’s

Open mic

The 170 La Cantinetta

Dave Lagadi (smooth jazz)

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Peggy Ratusz and Friends (blues) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Athena’s Club

DJ night

Back Room

Laura Blackley & Lyndsay Wojcik (roots music by members of the Swayback Sisters)

Decades Restaurant & Bar

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Mark Bumgarner (Americana)

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm BoBo Gallery

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues), 7:30-10:30pm Benefit for Madison County Arts Council feat: Pierce Edens (roots, rock)

Open mic hosted by Jimbo

Chameleon Soul Food

thur.

2/18

Fat Tuesday w/ Firecracker

Jazz Band & Screaming J’s 9pm

Big Sandy & His Fly Right Boys 8:30pm

232-5800 www.thegreyeagle.com 185 Clingman Ave.

Learn to Meditate Using the Timeless Practice of Primordial Sound Meditation as

Developed by Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Judy PePPer, LCSW Friday, March 12, 6:30 pm Saturday, March 13, 10:00 am 828.337.9052 • jpepper64@aol.com 218 E. Chestnut St. www.choprateachers.com/judypepper

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Black Diamond Heavies (punk, blues) w/ Shake It Like A Caveman (freestyle) New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Javi DJ

Orange Peel

Cage The Elephant (rock, punk) w/ As Tall As Lions & Morning Teleportation Jeff Sipe Trio (jam)

Purple Onion Cafe Red Stag Grill

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues) Root Bar No. 1

Peace Jones (rock, reggae, funk) Scandals Nightclub

Drag show & dance party w/ DJ Stratos, Ashleigh Addams, Kandi & Nicole Divine Stella Blue

Dissent (metal) w/ Dixie Deathwish & The Black Ensemble Tallgary’s College Street Pub

Mind Echo (rock ‘n’ roll) The Hookah Bar

Dub Brothers (dub, electronic) w/ Intrinsic

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Fred’s Parkside Pub & Grill

tueS. 2/16

Live music by local artists

Firestorm Cafe and Books

Pretty Boy Thorson (rock)

Dance Lessons 5pm

Lobster Trap

Boiler Room

Broadway’s

Carolina Gator Gumbo 6pm

Belly dancing w/ live music

Solito (rock)

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)

Mardi Gras w/ Heart feat.

504 Haywood Rd. West Asheville 828-255-1109

Jerusalem Garden

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Frankie Bones

69 Love Songs 8pm

The Hooligans (Celtic, rock, fusion)

Poetix Vanguard (“immersive artistic atmosphere”) & open mic Solito (rock) w/ Machiavillians & Dirtbag Love Affair

Valentine’s Show

kitchen open until late 3pm-2am everyday pinball, foosball & a kickass jukebox “It’s bigger than it looks!”

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Emerald Lounge

John Zedd (troubadour)

Joseph Arthur 9pm

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Fred Whisken (jazz pianist)

Fri., February 19

Bob Marley Tribute Tour 9pm

Free Flight (classic rock)

Westville Pub

Thursday night bluegrass jam

Groundation

Holland’s Grille

Pisgah Brewing Company

Zuma Coffee

Sun. 2/14

with Fox-Teeth 8:30pm

Sirius B (absurdist, Gypsy, punk)

Aaron LaFalce (acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter) Dave Turner (piano)

Sat. 2/13

Barton Carroll

Highland Brewing Company

Iron Horse Station

Open mic w/ Barbie Angell

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am

Handlebar

Red Stag Grill

Courtyard Gallery

Jazz piano w/ Garnell Stuart

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Infusions Lounge

Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill

Fri. 2/12

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Brian McGee & Hollow Speed (rock, country, 2-step) Anne Coombs (jazz, swing)

thur.

2/11

Buddy Davis Band

Jazz Jam hosted by members of VJP w/ guest Matt Williams

Hank Bones

Wed. 2/10

Live music w/ singer-songwriters Gashouse Mouse (rock, blues)

Tuesdays aT T.G.i. Friday’s 9 pm - midniGHT

C I S U M E LIV d r i n k sp e c i a l s $2.00 domesTic draFTs $3.50 lonG island iced Teas $3.75 Heineken & coronas

FEbrUary 16 aaron laFalce FEbrUary 23 WellHouse duo OPEN MIC NIght every THursday

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Bobby Sullivan (piano) Watershed

115 Hendersonville rd. • 277-4080

Rafe Hollister (Southern rock, Americana)

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 67

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Paul Cataldo (Americana, country) White Horse

Mon. Tues.

Wed. Thur.

Fri. Sat.

WING NIGHT 5-11 pm

FAT TuesdAy

all u Can Eat Jambalaya & Blues $2 domestics and $5.50 bombs

80’s NIGHT starts at 9 pm

TRIVIA NIGHT starts at 9 pm

Live Music

Sun. Sunday Bloody Sunday $4.50 Bloody Marys 733 Haywood Rd. • West Asheville (on the corner of Brevard & Haywood Rd.)

828-505-2129

IRISH PUB

68 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

Corduroy Road (Americana, folk) Wild Wing Cafe

Dave Landeo (alternative, acoustic)

Sat., February 20 Athena’s Club

DJ night

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Buddy Davis & friends

Lyndsay Wojcik (folk, soul)

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)

Funny Business Comedy Club

Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill

Garage at Biltmore

Rocket Club

Chris Barnes (comedian), 8pm & 10:30pm Juliapawooza! feat: David Krantz (Agobi Project) vs. David Mathes (Sonmi Suite), DJ Galdytron, Liam Collins, Andy Reed & more Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Agent 23 Skidoo (family hip-hop), 1pm Tony Trischka (bluegrass, roots) w/ Della Mae (all-girl bluegrass quintet) Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

BoBo Gallery

Handlebar

Poetry by Ray McNice, 8-10pm DJ Tumbleweed, late Boiler Room

Telic (metal) w/ Ironside & Wake the Living Chameleon Soul Food

Dan Keller (jazz guitarist) Club 828

“The Blackout Ball” feat: Captain Crunk (electronic), Esiris, Thump, A.D.D.ict, Libravado Sisters (aerial artists) & POETIX Craggie Brewing Company

Voodoo Wedding (indie, rock)

13th annual Chase Away the Blues feat: Ninth Row (funk, Carolina beach music) & Wanda Johnson

Live music

LOL Comedy

Root Bar No. 1

Traveling Trio (blues) Scandals Nightclub

Drag show & DJ Dance party w/ DJ Stratos, Roxxy Hart & Manhattan Stella Blue

Hillside Bombers (acoustic, folk) w/ Baby Cowboy Straightaway Café

Paul Cataldo (Americana, country) Tallgary’s College Street Pub

Westsound (r&b, blues)

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

Moscow Festival Ballet: Swan Lake

Infusions Lounge

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Live music

Live music w/ singer-songwriters

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

The New Relics (country, rock)

The Nightcrawlers (dance, blues)

Jerusalem Garden

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Belly dancing w/ live music Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Live music w/ Tom Coppola (early) & Marc Keller (late)

Decades Restaurant & Bar

Paul Edelman w/ Pierce Edens & The Dirty Work (rock, soul, blues)

Watershed

42nd Street Jazz Band

Diana Wortham Theater

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

King of Prussia (lyrical, indie, folk)

Peg Twisters (“old-time music w/ a twist”)

Nine Mile

Westville Pub

Punch Brothers feat: Chris Thile (Mandolin virtuoso) El Dorado Latin Grill

Live music

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Feed and Seed

Ras Berhane (acoustic, reggae) Orange Peel

Live music w/ Black Jack

Mel Jones & His Bag-o-Bones (harp, blues classics)

North Mississippi Allstars (Southern rock, blues) w/ The City Champs

White Horse

Purple Onion Cafe

Wild Wing Cafe

Kellin Watson (pop, folk, rock)

The Family Eversole (bluegrass, roots, experimental)

Red Room at Temptations

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Red Stag Grill

DJ SPY-V

Free Planet Radio (acoustic, jazz) Contagious (rock covers)

crankyhanke

theaterlistings Friday, FEBRUARY 12 - Thursday, FEBRUARY 18

Due to possible last-minute scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.

movie reviews and listings by ken hanke

JJJJJ is the maximum rating

additional reviews by justin souther • contact xpressmovies@aol.com

Dear John JJJ

Director: Lasse Hallström (The Hoax) Players: Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas, Scott Porter

Please call the info line for updated showtimes.

The Princess and the Frog (PG) 1:00, 4:00 The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) 7:00, 10:00 n Carmike Cinema 10

(298-4452)

Goopy Romance Rated PG-13

The Story: A soldier finds the love of his life, only to have the romance complicated by 9/11. The Lowdown: Strong direction isn’t enough to counteract the onslaught of goofy melodrama and paper-thin characterization on display.

Nicholas Sparks — the reigning king of goopy, folksy, ham-fisted romantic fiction — is back, and this time with his schmaltzy guns ablazing. We’ve got not one, but two characters with autism (one of whom has a stroke — take that Rain Man), war, beefcake, gunfights, cancer, 9/11 and even a great big explosion. The movie adaptation of Sparks’ novel of the same name is exactly as manipulative and overwrought as you might expect, and just as solemn and overly serious as you might fear.

The gist is that bad-boy-with-a-heart-ofgold and Green Beret John (the ever bulbous Channing Tatum, G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra) falls madly in love with the woman of his dreams, Savannah (Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer’s Body), while on leave. Though he’s a nice enough guy, John also has a past of teenage rebellion (that appears to be limited to causing ruckuses at seafood restaurants), which seems to tie into his strained relationship with his coin-collecting, autistic father (Richard Jenkins, Burn After Reading). But deep down, John is really a big softie, and after their fortnight of trysting, he and Savannah decide to keep up a correspondence — and to stay faithful to one another — while John is overseas finishing up his tour of duty.

Everything is going fine, until Sept. 11, 2001 comes around and John decides to re-up his commitment to the Army. At first, everything seems OK between the happy couple, but then Savannah suddenly — and seemingly inexplicably — becomes engaged (this “twist” got laughs from the audience I saw the film with, which I assume wasn’t the preferred response … honestly, I got a chuckle out of it, too). John’s reaction to this — and a healthy smattering of melodramatics — makes up the crux of the movie, as he continues, for years, to bear a torch for Savannah (well, at least we’re told it’s years, but it’s hard to tell, since no one ever seems to age and we rarely get any frame of reference in regards to time passing besides Tatum’s Anton Lavey goatee at the end of the movie).

The premise is no great shakes in itself, but there are also two fatal flaws in the approach — besides the constant parade of clichéd hard luck — that keep Dear John from being any-

n Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. (254-1281)

Jonathan Rhys Meyers and John Travolta as mismatched spying partners in the terminally stupid, but generally entertaining From Paris With Love. thing more than a gussied up soap opera. First, Tatum just doesn’t have the chops to be the kind of heartsick, wounded heartthrob the material demands. Whenever he tries to emote or get teary-eyed, it’s about as awkward as watching a giraffe ice skate. Not once did I believe that two weeks of hanging out with Savannah and one hot night in a horse stable (talk about romance) was enough to have John hung up on her for half a decade.

However, not all of this is Tatum’s fault, which brings me to the film’s second big failing. It’s impossible to believe in this big, epic romance between these two people when Seyfried’s character has no personality. We learn nothing about her interests, her hobbies, her friends, her home life. She likes horses and wants to help people with autism — that’s about it. Yet we’re supposed to really feel for John once he gets dumped by this insipid girl.

Even with all this going against it, Dear John at least remains watchable. This is pretty much due to the assured direction of Lasse Halström (The Hoax), who — with an apparent hit on his hands after a recent series of well-made busts — does what he can with a flaccid script. He’s smart enough to keep the film moving along, and it’s occasionally stylish, even if he’s fighting a losing battle when it comes to making Dear John anything more than painless. Rated PG-13 for some sensuality and violence. reviewed by Justin Souther Playing at Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande 15, United Artists Beaucatcher Cinema 7.

From Paris With Love JJJJ

Director: Pierre Morel (Taken) Players: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden Action/Adventure With a High Body Count Rated R

The Story: A rookie agent and his seemingly insane mentor blast their way across Paris on the trail of drug dealers — or maybe terrorists — without ever attracting the attention of the French police, who must be off somewhere listening to Josephine Baker records. The Lowdown: Terminally stupid, but reasonably entertaining — if splattery deaths of the wholesale variety don’t offend you.

Yeah, it’s dumb. It’s really dumb. It’s so dumb that if it were a person From Paris With Love would be placed in a facility to prevent it from harming itself or others. It has some painfully bad dialogue and a plot that waffles between borderline incoherence and shameless predictability. And these are actually some of its finer qualities — none of which prevent the film from having a certain addle-brained appeal. What makes this witless — and morally dubious — concoction succeed as passable entertainment is that it doesn’t pretend to be intellectually capable of much more than scratching its name in the dirt with a stick. There’s something kind of charming about that — in a lobotomized way.

Running a brisk 92 minutes, From Paris With

Avatar 3D (PG-13) 12:00, 1:00, 3:30, 4:30, 7:15, 800 Edge of Darkness (R) 1:15, 4:10, 7:10, 9:50 From Paris with Love (R) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:05 Legion (R) 1:30 (no 1:30 show Sat-Sun), 4:15, 7:10, 9:30 Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50 Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 10:00 Super Why (G) 1:00 Sat and Sun only Up in the Air (R) 1:30, 4:30, 7:05, 9:30 Valentine’s Day (PG-13) 1:10, 2:00, 4:05, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:55. Late show Fri-Sat only 11:00 n Carolina Asheville Cinema 14 (274-9500)

Avatar 3D (PG-13) 11:50, 3:00, 7:00, 10:15 The Book of Eli (R) 12:00, 3:15, 7:30, 10:10 (Sofa Cinema showing) Crazy Heart (R) 11:30, 2:20, 4:55, 8:00, 10:35 Dear John (PG-13) 11:25, 2:00, 4:40, 7:20, 9:55 Edge of Darkness (R) 11:40, 2:15, 5:00. 7:35, 10:10 An Education (PG-13) 11:45. 5:00, 10:25 From Paris with Love (R) 12:00, 2:40, 5:20, 7:55, 10:20 The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (PG-13) 12:05, 3:40, 7:10, 10:00 (Sofa Cinema showing) Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) 11:25, 2:05, 4:45, 7:25, 10:00 A Single Man (R) 12:10, 2:35, 5:15, 7:50, 10:30 (Sofa Cinema showing) Tooth Fairy (PG) 11:35, 2:10, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50 Up in the Air (R) 2:30, 7:40 Valentine’s Day (PG-13) 11:35, 2:20, 5:05, 7:45, 10:30 When in Rome (PG-13) 12:15, 4:50, 9:35 (Sofa Cinema

showing) The Young Victoria (PG) 2:25, 7:05 (Sofa Cinema showing) The Wolfman (R) 11:55, 2:25, 4:50, 7:30, 10:05 n Cinebarre (665-7776)

Avatar 2D (PG-13) 11:50 (Fri-Sun), 3:30, 7:10, 10:35 Dear John (PG-13) 11:15 (Fri-Sun), 1:45, 4:40, 7:30, 10:00 From Paris with Love (R) 11:00 (Fri-Sun), 1:50, 4:45, 7:40, 10:20 Valentine’s Day (PG-13) 10:35 (Fri-Sun), 1:35, 4:30, 7:35, 10:25 The Wolfman (R) 10:40 (Fri-Sun), 1:30, 4:25, 7:25, 10:15 n Co-ed Cinema Brevard (883-2200)

Edge of Darkness (R) 1:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed), 4:00 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu), 7:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed) When in Rome (PG-13) 1:00 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu), 4:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed), 7:00 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu) n Epic of Hendersonville (693-1146) n Fine Arts Theatre (232-1536)

Crazy Heart (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late show Fri-Sat 9:30 A Single Man (R) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show Fri-Sat 9:40 n Flatrock Cinema

(697-2463)

Precious (R) 1:00 (Sat, Wed), 7:00 The Young Victoria (PG) 4:00 (no show on Sun) n Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 (684-1298) n United Artists Beaucatcher (298-1234)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (PG) 1:50, 4:45, 7:50, 10:05 The Blind Side (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:10, 10:00 The Book of Eli (R) 1:10, 7:20 Dear John (PG-13) 1:20, 4:40,7:40, 10:10 Tooth Fairy (PG) 1:40, 4:20, 8:00, 10:20 When in Rome (PG-13) 4:30, 9:55 The Wolfman (R) 1:30, 2:00, 4:00. 4:50, 7:00, 7:30, 9:45. 10:15

For some theaters movie listings were not available at press time. Please contact the theater or check mountainx.com for updated information.

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 69

For other Molton cartoons, check out our Web page at www.mountainx.com/cartoons

Supports domestic-partner benefits, but only for same-sex partners I strongly support domestic-partner benefits for gay public employees, as Asheville City Council member Gordon Smith is proposing. However, I favor restricting the benefits to same sex-partners only, as several North Carolina towns already do. The reason for this is that I don’t know the mean fertility rate of opposite-sex domestic partners, and without that key information, I don’t know if Asheville will save money, or the environment, by attracting opposite-sex domestic partners to Asheville jobs.

I do know that — with an average gay fertility rate near 0.5, including adoption — the reduced amount of child benefits going to gay employees will more than make up for the cost of same-sex domestic-partner benefits. In addition, opposite-sex domestic partners can get married, and though I don’t care, I think many residents believe they should. I would wholeheartedly support opposite-sex domestic-partner benefits as soon as they demonstrate a reduced fertility rate and, with it, child-benefit savings. But so far they have not done so, at least to me, and so I oppose them.

— Alan Ditmore Leicester

Teabaggers should learn from original tea party protests I agree with [recent letters] to the Asheville Citizen-Times arguing that the “teabaggers” have it twisted.

The original tea party protested transnational corporations that destroyed local colonial businesses. We must engage in revolution against mega-corporations of banking, Wall Street and other special interests that have already appropriated our government through billions in contributions and lobbying. They are poised for total control of our republic. Through their

newly acquired Supreme Court legacy, they will blitz their way in hot pursuit of all elected officials who would oppose them or have the temerity to propose a necessary constitutional amendment that would eliminate their misbegotten “personhood” — erroneously conferred upon them in 1886, as revealed in Thom Hartmann’s book, Unequal Protection.

While we need millions of teabaggers, we need them to focus on real solutions to the greatest threats to our nation, a constitutional amendment and publicly supported campaign financing.

— Lew Patrie Asheville

Forget Shuler; how about a third-party solution?

Rep. Heath Shuler has consistently opposed much-needed health-care reform because he considers it “too expensive.” And yet he is willing to spend $13 million of taxpayers’ money on a divisive and highly questionable highway project in Swain County. I had previously been a Shuler supporter, but after two terms in Congress, it is clear he does not represent me.

Nor can I vote Republican.

I believe that there are others who feel as I do. Perhaps it’s time we had a viable thirdparty candidate for Congress from our district.

— R. Michael Jones Sylva

Republicans must earn right to be heard The Republicans say that they want to be heard, but they haven’t earned that right.

They never listened to the Democrats when they were in power, and not one of them has ever apologized for the mess they left this country in. To the party of “No,” I say, forget it until you have earned the right to be heard.

— Lloyd Kay Asheville

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

nowplaying Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel J

Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long (voice) Animated Rodent Musical/Adventure Everyone’s favorite singing chipmunks are back—whether you like it or not. This time, starting off at high school.

Manages to be both bottom-of-the-barrel and incredibly grating. This might be the first time I’ve watched a movie that’s completely made up of filler.

Rated PG

Avatar JJJJ

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez Science Fiction In the future, an ex-Marine inflitrates the indigenous race on the planet Pandora, only to find their simple ways superior to those of civilization as he knows it. An undeniable effects and design extravaganza, Avatar is nonetheless a fairly basic story with a new paint job. Rated PG13

The Blind Side JJJJ

Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Ray McKinnon, Kathy Bates, Jae Head Fact-Based Uplifting Sports Drama Fact-based story of Michael Oher, a poor black kid adopted by an upscale white family. A manipulative, but effective, uplifting sports drama that benefits from a strong cast, but never escapes a sense of condescension and questionable messages. Rated PG-13

Crazy Heart JJJJ

Tune In to Cranky Hanke’s Movie Reviews

5:30 pm Fridays on Matt Mittan’s Take a Stand.

Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Jack Nation Redemption Drama With Country Music A downon-his-luck alcoholic country singer on the deadend circuit gets a chance at a comeback and personal redemption. A straightforward redemption drama that’s damaged by an unpersuasive romance, but offers the compensation of a strong lead performance from Jeff Bridges. Rated R

Dear John JJJ

Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas, Scott Porter Goopy Romance A soldier finds the love of his life, only to have the romance complicated by 9/11.

Strong direction isn’t enough to counteract the onslaught of goofy melodrama and paper-thin characterization on display. Rated PG-13

Edge of Darkness JJJ

Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Bojana Novakovic, Shawn Roberts Standard Revenge Thriller Wrapped in Endless Convolutions When a Boston detective’s daughter is murdered, the detective follows a trail that leads him to pretty high places in his search for her killers. A simple revenge thriller that’s tarted up with not very convincing conspiracy nonsense that isn’t helped by a sluggish pace. Rated R

Extraordinary Measures JJ

Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, Keri Russell, Meredith Droeger, Diego Velazquez Melodrama A father—with the help of an eccentric, curmudgeonly scientist—attempts to find a cure for his children’s rare disease. Predictable TV-styled melodrama vaguely gussied up for movie theaters, but nevertheless transparent. Rated PG

From Paris With LovE JJJJ

John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Kasia Smutniak, Richard Durden Action/Adventure With a High Body Count A rookie agent and his seemingly insane mentor blast their way across Paris on the trail of drug dealers—or maybe terrorists—without ever attracting the attention of the French police, who must be off somewhere listening to Josephine Baker records.

Terminally stupid, but reasonably entertaining—if splattery deaths of the wholesale variety don’t offend you. Rated R

Sherlock Holmes JJJJJ

Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan Action/Mystery Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson pit their skills against a criminal mastermind who has apparently risen from the grave. One of the most enjoyable and beautifully crafted films of the year— and built around an interpretation of Holmes and Watson that’s more than a worthy addition to their cinematic predecessors. Rated PG-13

A Single Man JJJJJ

Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult, Matthew Goode, Jon Kortajarena Drama A college professor, unable to cope with the death of his lover, plans to kill himself at the end of the day. A stunning filmmaking debut from Tom Ford finds a perfect match with an inspired cast— Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult—to create a genuinely remarkable film.

Not to be missed. Rated R

Fairy J The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus Tooth Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, Julie Andrews, Stephen Merchant, JJJJJ Ryan Sheckler

Heath Ledger, Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Tom Waits, Verne Troyer Mystery/Fantasy/Allegory Dr. Parnassus and his traveling imaginarium roam about London in quest of an audience and as part of a contest between Paranassus and the devil. A wildly imaginative and fantastic film from Terry Gilliam that ranks up there with his best work. Rated PG-13

Family/Fantasy A callow hockey tough guy is sentenced to magical tooth-fairy duty for crushing the dreams of little kids. Filled with hokey CGI and a grown man in fairy wings and tights, the movie is yet another foray into nauseating family cheesiness.

Rated PG

It’s Complicated JJJ

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Michael Sheen Teen Romance/Horror/Fantasy More teencentric romantic entanglements among the supernatural set and one whiny girl. It’s better made than the first one, but it may be even dumber in its attempt to go for the world’s record in moping teens. Rated PG13

Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell Romantic Comedy A divorcée begins having an affair with her ex-husband, a man she hasn’t been married to for a decade. A professionally made film with a good central performance by Meryl Streep that’s still never good enough to overcome its inability to create likable, believable characters. Rated R

Legion J

Paul Bettany, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Adrianne Palicki, Charles S. Dutton, Dennis Quaid Apocalyptic Claptrap The end-time is upon us (again) and the fate of humanity depends on a fallen angel and a pregnant waitress. Rampant ho-hummery of the dubiously biblical kind that is rarely even relieved by unintentional amusement. Rated R

The Messenger JJJJ

Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, Jena Malone Drama A decorated Iraq war soldier finds himself assigned to the job of informing relatives of the deaths of their loved ones in the service. An often powerful drama about a side of war that is rarely explored except in passing. A tendency toward formula writing is overcome by strong performances and occasional scenes that play against expectations. Rated R

The Twilight Saga: New Moon JJ

Up in the Air JJJJJ

George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, J.K. Simmons, Melanie Lynskey Dramatic Comedy A man whose job is to fly around the country and fire people finds his way of life— and his perceptions of life—changing. Bitterly funny on the one hand and heartbreaking on the other, Up in the Air is a film of surprising depth and humanity. Rated R

When in Rome JJ

Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Danny DeVito Romantic Comedy A young woman takes coins from a fountain of love in Rome, which causes the coins’ previous owners to instantly fall in love with her. A couple of not-so-bad leads in a really unfunny, high-concept, occasionally strange (in the worst kind of way) and inept retread of romantic-comedy formula. Rated PG-13

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1-866-550-9290 • Visit Us at: www.staciespcs.com A N.C. Licensed Home Care Agency

70 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

startingfriday PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF

Here’s the idea: Take a popular series of kids’ books, bring in the director who established the Harry Potter series — et voilà!

— instant successor to the Harry Potter franchise. Logically, that’s pretty sound, but in practice, who knows? The books do not have anything like the Harry Potter following, and despite a massive saturation campaign with the trailer, there’s not been all that much push. Does Greek mythology have the requisite appeal? A pretty impressive cast — Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Steve Coogan, Uma Thurman — may help, but none of them have ever actually sold a picture on their own.

Logan Lerman, who plays the title character, was excellent in My One and Only and Gamer, but almost no one saw those movies. The trailer tries to sell the film on a single gag and uneven special effects. Now, throw in the lack of critic screenings, and the prospect for this as the Next Big Thing dims even more. (PG)

VALENTINE’S DAY

It’s fashionable to look down on Garry Marshall as a filmmaker, but say what you will, the man is a consummate professional.

If the material is right, Marshall delivers a classy, entertaining movie. The question with Valentine’s Day is whether the material is right. It’s supposed to be an attempt to snare the same audience that He’s Just Not That Into You drew, but it frankly looks

like an Americanized Love Actually knockoff — and that could be in its favor. The timing is perfect for the title, and the cast is certainly notable: Julia Roberts, Queen Latifah, Anne Hathaway, Shirley MacLaine, Jamie Foxx, Patrick Dempsey, Bradley Cooper, Hector Elizondo. That it hasn’t been screened for critics may be more a case of it doesn’t need to be than a signal that they’re hiding a stinker.

(PG-13)

THE WOLFMAN

It’s been shuffled from release date to release date. There’s been talk of re-edits and reshoots. The running time listed two weeks ago was 102 minutes; now it’s down as 125 minutes. Kiran Shah was originally listed in the cast as “Wolf Boy,” but has now disappeared from the list. But here at long last is Joe Jonston’s remake of the iconic 1941 Universal horror The Wolf Man, and classic horror fans are just waiting to sit in judgment on the results. It’s got a terrific cast in Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Geraldine Chaplin and Hugo Weaving. It has the good sense to retain the basic characters from the original. But it’s shifted the story of hapless lycanthrope Larry Talbot (Del Toro) to a Victorian setting, making it look a bit like Universal by way of Hammer Films. It also quite obviously expands on and changes aspects of the story. The results should be interesting to say the least. It’s been kept from critics. Certainly, it’s the most enticing — and mysterious — prospect of the week. (R)

Love (yes, the title is meant to evoke that of the second James Bond movie — I’ve no idea why) is a fairly generic odd-couple buddy movie. The normal character is James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers doing a credible American accent), assistant to the U.S. ambassador (TV actor Richard Durden) and wannabe CIA operative. For reasons the film never actually makes clear (perhaps because it doesn’t understand them either), Reece occasionally gets low-level spy-stuff instructions from a voice on his cell phone (is this really how spies are recruited?). Having successfully — if awkwardly — bugged the office of some French bigwig, he’s “rewarded” by being partnered with a singularly improbable agent named Charlie Wax (John Travolta). Mayhem and a good deal of enjoyable scenery-chewing by Travolta follows.

To the degree that there’s anything like a coherent plot, the film follows the duo around Paris as Wax bullies, blasts, bludgeons and bombs his way through a variety of endlessly expendable — and generally ethnic — extras.

The reason behind all this carnage is never made very clear. The first section of the film involves chasing Chinese cocaine dealers (I think). I’m a little skeptical that cocaine traffickers would name their Chinese restaurant front “Le Lotus de Neige,” but I can go with that, I guess, since I’m perfectly cool with Travolta shooting up their ceiling and having cocaine pour out of the bullet holes. This, in turn, leads to Reece being ordered to catch the cascading contraband in a Chinese vase that he then proceeds to lug around Paris for a reel or so. That’s the kind of inanity it’s hard not to like.

Somewhere along the way, it turns out that drugs aren’t at the core of any of this, but terrorists are. Why? I don’t have the slightest idea. The movie is not big on motivation. What it’s big on is having Travolta take on all comers — and if they don’t come to him, he’ll go to them. When all is said and done, this is a movie made up of body-count set pieces. And in this regard, From Paris With Love is amazingly proficient. All right, so it ain’t art, but on occasion the film actually evidences a degree of wit. Tired of seeing Travolta beat, blast and skewer extras various and sundry? Fine. Instead, we’ll hang back in a nice spiral stairwell with his hapless sidekick and watch as the victims plummet earthward like so much overripe fruit.

Otherwise, the film is clearly — almost defiantly — ridiculous to the degree that it makes very little sense. It does, however, offer one potentially valuable life lesson. (I should note, though, that mentioning it might come under the heading of a spoiler — assuming your suspicions aren’t easily aroused — so read on at your own peril.)

Just remember, if your girlfriend is altogether too understanding about your propensity to dash off at all hours for extended periods of time and accepts “You know I can’t discuss my work” as an all-purpose excuse, there’s probably a reason for it — and it’s almost certainly not in your favor. Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, drug content, pervasive language and brief sexuality. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike Cinema 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande 15

one-timeshowings All the Real Girls JJJJ

Director: David Gordon Green Players: Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Shea Whigham, Danny McBride Drama Rated R While I’m inclined to think I overrated David Gordon Green’s All the Real Girls when in first appeared in 2003, it’s still a film with much to recommend it for what it tries to do and for Tim Orr’s gorgeous wide-screen photography. Also, it carries an inescapable local appeal as one of the few locally made films that looks like it’s taking place in this area.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show All the Real Girls at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

Our Man in Havana JJJJJ

Director: Carol Reed Players: Alec Guinness, Maureen O’Hara, Ernie Kovacs, Burl Ives, Noel Coward, Ralph Richardson Satirical Comedy Rated NR Carol Reed’s film of Graham Greene’s novel Our Man in Havana (from a screenplay by Greene) is at once very much of its time — 1959 — and surprisingly modern and relevant to today. It takes place in Batista’s Havana, a place that ceased to exist with Fidel Castro’s coming to power, which occurred while the film was in development, earning the movie an explanatory title that the story is set “just prior to the recent revolution.”

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Our Man in Havana at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St., in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.

For Cranky Hanke’s full reviews of these movies, visit www.mountainx.com/movies.

mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 71

72 FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 • mountainx.com

marketplace

Classified Advertising Sales Team: • Tim Navaille: 828-251-1333 ext.111, tnavaille@mountainx.com • Rick Goldstein: 828-251-1333 ext.123, rgoldstein@mountainx.com • Arenda Manning: 828-251-1333 ext. 138, amanning@mountainx.com

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The Green Family Goes Green

realestate

p. 74

Real EstateSpotlight

The FAQs

a paid advertising feature highlighting the best in local real estate

About Green Building

G ROVE A RCADE APARTMENTS

by Elizabeth Koenig

In the heart of downtown Asheville

Mr. Green is all about saving money.

When he heard about the North Carolina appliance rebates, he got very excited and put off buying all of his new Energy Star appliances until the programs were set to start.

In North Carolina, there will be limitedtime, instant rebates on selected Energy Star refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and dishwashers starting April 2010. A mail-in rebate program for several types of water heaters, as well as gas furnaces and central air conditioners, is tentatively scheduled to begin in June 2010 and last until the funding runs out. Appliances include: refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, gas storage water heaters, gas tankless water heaters, electric heat pump water heaters, solar water heaters, gas furnaces and central air conditioners.

Retailers will be required to recycle old appliances according to state laws.

Where everything is just around the corner…

p. 76

jobs

services

NOW AVAILABLE:

p.74

• 2BR, 2BA, 2 Parking Spaces • Executive Suite: Perfect short-term extended stay 2BR, 2BA, 2 secure parking spaces, beautifully furnished with full-service amenities.

• Penthouse Suite: 3BR, 4BA with 3 secure parking spaces, fireplace, terrace views.

• Many additional services. Please call for details.

These unique, beautiful apartments must be seen to be appreciated.

crossword p. 79

Call Amber Ammons: (828) 252-7799 ext. 305

provided by the WNC Green Building Council www.wncgbc.org

or see more: www.tessierassociates.com

2010 ree ed T Treasurndars Cale Sale Now On

for a clean & green buncombe county

Growing Out of Quality Forward

Rain King Rain Barrel

Tumbler Composter

The rain barrel has a 65-gallon water capacity and comes with faucet fixtures, screened lid and overflow attachment. Made from recycled plastic.

The composter holds 11 cubic feet of compost and is made from recycled plastic.

Mountain Xpress extends our condolences to the family and friends of Bill Rickman.

Asheville GreenWorks offers excellent choices and each purchase goes toward plantings all around Asheville and Buncombe County. We Deliver!

Call 254-1776 or info@ashevillegreenworks.org mountainx.com

• FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

73

Condos For Sale $185,000 • CLINGMAN

Real Estate Services

Kitchen & Bath

We know Asheville. Since 1969. Let me help you sell your home or find the perfect one for you. Make it simple!

Cindy Zinser. cindy@ashevilleproperty.com 828-243-0217, 828-210-3636.

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New 2BR, 2BA urban condo.

Real Estate

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10,000 HOMES • 1 ADDRESS! Search virtually all MLS listings. Visit www.KWBrent.com

$185,000 • GREEN BUILT DOWNTOWN TOWNHOME This energy efficient townhome was built under the NC Healthy Built Home Program. The floorplan has a great room with front porch on the main level, 2 bedrooms above. One parking space included. MLS#457438. Call Sona, (828) 216-7908. www.appalachianrealty.com

$255,000 • FAIRVIEW Artistic, new passive solar house on flat, South facing private 1.67 acres. 2BR, 2.5BA, gourmet kitchen and oak floors. Easy access. Mature landscaping and great garden areas. • Perfect for pets. Green built.

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1000’s OF ASHEVILLE HOMES! On our user friendly property search. New features include Google Mapping and Popular Neighborhood searches. Check it out at www.townandmountain.com

2 RUSTIC CABINS • NATIONAL FOREST RETREAT 15+ acres joining National Forest on 2 sides. Pasture.

Nice creek and spring.

Beautiful sunny knoll building site. Very private. • All this: $155,000. MLS#452577.

Steve DuBose: (828) 622-3518. sdubose @mountaindream.com Mountain Home Properties.

*Based on 100% financing, APR 4.229% on 5 year ARM. No prepayment penalty, no balloon payment, no PMI. Rates are subject to change at any time. Based on 80% 1st mortgage of $111,920 (principal + interest) and 20% 2nd mortgage of $27,980 (interest only) APR 4.125%.

Both loans are variable rate, subject to change at 5 years.

Select condos only. Does not include taxes and insurance.

Nitch Real Estate: (828) 654-9394 or bricktonvillage.com

Parking, storage, private balcony. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

22 ACRE ESTATE • UPPER RICEVILLE • $1,150,000 This home was built with the finest craftsmanship. Cathedral ceilings, custom kitchen, private master suite, decks.

Creeks, pond, views, gardens.

15 minutes east of Asheville, adjoining National Park Service land. MLS #456600.

Call Bill Palas, (828) 691-7194. bpalas@bellsouth.net Appalachian Realty.

COMPACT COTTAGE COMPANY • Small “green”built buildings usable for an enormous variety of practical applications, such as: Sleep, Work, Mother-in-law storage, Poker, Karaoke, Be in the doghouse in. From $15K-30K. compactcottages.com, 828-254-5450.

DOWNTOWN KRESS BUILDING Custom Condo in the historic Kress Building. 2 PINs, adjoining spiral staircase. Original maple floors, private balconies, high ceilings. • $525,000,

AFFORDABLE NEW CUSTOM HOMES • NC Healthy Built Certified • Built Within 90 Days • Land/Home Packages for All Budgets.

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Home Services

GORGEOUS NEW CONSTRUCTION 3BR, 2.5BA with garage. Great South location. • Lease/purchase options now available. Call (828) 676-0677 for details. www.123newhomenow.com

lease/purchase also available for $1800/month.

MLS#456097. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

KENILWORTH FOREST Get information and pictures of this 3 bedroom home near downtown Asheville at http://www.reallyoffthewall.co m/house.html Call 828-775-3663. $229,000, best reasonable offer.

SWEET HOUSE IN THE WOODS 3BR/1BA, 920sf, 1 acre. Light, airy, wraparound deck, walk-in basement.

Winter views. Stream. Fairview area, 25 min/Asheville. $133,500. 828-628-6106.

7dZ H[c[cX[h # ."&&& JWn 9h[Z_j ;nf_h[i 7fh_b )&" (&'& 9B?D=C7D 7L;DK; BE< JI • 1 & 2 BR Condominiums • Close to downtown • Nine foot ceilings • Energy Star and NC HealthyBuilt Home certified • Private Balconies

Own for only $650/month

4.3 ACRES BUNCOMBE COUNTY • Build your own mini-farm. Totally private paradise with creek near ecovillage. $64K. (828) 669-7483.

AWESOME SOLAR BUILDING LOT • In Haw Creek. South Facing, quiet dead end street with long range views. Flat, 1/3 acre with city utilities. Will build to suit or consider parting with lot by itself.

Check out SUNPLANS.COM for ideas. 828.768.8772.

LEICESTER • Beautiful .57 acre lot. Mountain views, close to Asheville, quiet neighborhood, modulars OK. 22 Goughes Branch. only $26,000! Vickie Regala, agent, 828-423-1349.

LEXINGTON STATION Downtown high-end condos on Lexington Ave. Hardwood floors, stainless

EMD <EH L;HO BEM CEDJ>BO F7OC;DJI

Land For Sale

appliances, balconies, fitness center, parking. 3BR penthouse: $525,000 • 1BR: $185,000. • 2BR: $260,000.

The Real Estate Center: (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

Out-Of-Town Property NO SNOW SHOVEL OR LAWNMOWER NEEDED! Walk to Florida beach. Bask by pool and tennis courts. Store RV/boat. • Recently and completely renovated 2BR, 2.5BA townhome. 1600 sqft. $215,000. Garage, screened porch. • (321) 777-7428. • Photos available: jeanfer@bellsouth.net

Lawn & Garden CUTTING AND GRINDING • Great work • Fair prices • Free estimates. Call 2303854. Jimmy’s Tree And Stump Grinding Service.

Heating & Cooling CONSERVE ENERGY/MONEY! Home Weatherization. Building Performance Institute Certified Home Energy Auditor. • Infared Thermal Imaging • Blower-door Testing • Gas Safety Inspections • AirSealing. (828) 329-0799.

Asheville Energy Audits.

MAYBERRY HEATING AND COOLING INC • Service • Repairs • Replacements AC/Heat Pumps • Gas/Oil Furnaces • New Construction/Renovations • Indoor Air Quality Products.

(828) 658-9145.

Upholstery UPHOLSTERY AND RESTORATION Quality and friendly custom restoration services for all your upholstery needs. • Auto • Home. Free estimates. (828) 776-8220.

ELK MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATES We specialize in • re-fitting Bathrooms and Kitchens and finishing Basements • adding Garages, Porches and • Sunrooms. • Professional education and experience. Call (828) 242-1950 or (for all our information): elkmountainassociates.com

1 STOP HOME SOLUTIONS Handyman services • Honey do list • Custom upgrades • Decks • Painting • Flooring • Sheetrock • Doors • Renovations • General carpentry • 25 years experience. (828) 216-6979.

Handy Man HIRE A HUSBAND Handyman Services. 30 years professional experience. Quality, reliability. References available. Free estimates. $2 million liability insurance. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

Services

Education/ Tutoring TUTOR: Master’s Degree Special Ed. Teacher’s certificate LD/ED 16 yrs. exp: call Hugh 450-4431.

Computer COMPUTER SERVICE AT YOUR DOORSTEP We Come To You! • PC and Mac • Slow computer? We’ll speed it up. • Repairs • Upgrades • Networking • Tutoring. Senior Citizen/Nonprofit Discounts.

Call Christopher’s Computers, 828-670-9800. Member Better Business Bureau of WNC. christopherscomputers.com

Financial AFFORDABLE TAX FILING I will save you money! • E-filing • Business • Individual. • 20 years professional experience.

Muriel Smith, Accountant. Call (828) 252-6500.

Work with a REALTOR® who loves what she does…

Includes Mortgage, Taxes & Association Fees

Contact us today: 828-582-5397 www.TrilliumProperties.net

;BA CE K D J7 ?D JE M D > E C; I Own for as low as $700/month

Jennifer Ritchie-Eller, REALTOR® (828) 215-4537 cell

Pre-construction pricing starts at $159,900. Beautifully upgraded homes available NOW for $169,900: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 9’ ceilings, open, ideal floor plans all on one level. Hardiplank exterior, front yards with mulched beds and extensive landscaping along with a stream meandering in the backyard!

USDA approved • 100% financing available.

Includes mortgage, taxes and association fees. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths.

Less than 4 miles from downtown Asheville and minutes from UNCA.

We will be hosting Open Houses each Saturday & Sunday from 1-5pm.

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9Wbb C_a[ LWdY[ .(.#(+*#*&)& [nj$ ''74

FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 •

mountainx.com

View more info at www.LowerGrassyCottage.com

INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION Income tax returns for individuals and small businesses. If you need help, please contact us. David Houck (828)667-0757 davehouck@davehouck.com www.davehouck.com

Commercial Listings

Commercial Property

26 N. LIBERTY STREET • CENTRALLY LOCATED Live/Work opportunity. Corner lot with off-street parking.

1918 built converted residence, now office with 1BR apartment on second floor w/separate entrance.

Commercial zoning. $525,000.

Call Russ Towers, Lewis Real Estate (828) 274-2479. www.lewisrealestatenc.com COMMERCIAL FOR SALE • Downtown, Coxe Avenue one story building, approximately 1800 sqft, affordable price $295,000. *Downtown, Lexington Avenue turn-key coffee bar, $333,000. *Downtown, service station on 0.36 acres, corner of Grove and Patton, $675,000.

• The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

Commercial For Lease 1 MONTH FREE! (W/12 month lease). River Arts Studios starting at $180/month, includes utilities.

Call 250-9700 or e-mail: rega@charterinternet.com

444 HAYWOOD ROAD • WEST ASHEVILLE RETAIL Excellent, affordable location one block east of I-240. • Two storefronts remain: 1,550 sqft and 1,841 sqft. Off-street parking. $14/sqft plus utilities.

Call Russ Towers, Lewis Real Estate, (828) 274-2479. www.lewisrealestatenc.com ASHEVILLE • ALL POINTS Check out our inventory of commercial property starting at $595-$6000 monthly lease or $295K and up for sale.

Paula Cooper, The Real Estate Center, (828) 775-1485. www.recenter.com DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE: For lease. Retail and office suites, 222 to 2,964 sqft. Very prominent locations. Call G/M Property Group, 828-281-4024. jmenk@gmproperty.com DOWNTOWN PART-TIME OFFICE SHARE Furnished office. Approximately 500 sqft.

2 rooms. Perfect for private practice. • Flexible schedule/rent. Call Steve: 273-4102.

DOWNTOWN Ground-floor retail w/courtyard on Lexington Avenue.

Approximately 2982 sqft, hardwood floors, newer building. $2000/month. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com HENDERSONVILLE ROAD Close to Asheville. Deluxe suite of offices. 280, 1000 and 1660 sq.ft. Ample parking.

Cheap! 828-216-6066.

LEXINGTON AVENUE Vanilla shell w/loads of character, hardwood floors, exposed beams, 3 bathrooms, large windows, $3,950/month. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

1 UNIT REMAINING In 4 unit medical office complex, East Asheville, Bleachery Boulevard, off exit 8, I-240.

1200 sqft. $2000/month.

275-2248.

2 GREAT LOCATIONS • HENDERSONVILLE ROAD • Hair Styling Salon, space for lease. 1300 sqft. • Restaurant space for lease. 1514 sqft.

(828) 691-0586.

224 BROADWAY STREET • OFFICE BUILDING 1,600 sqft, completely renovated, 1.5BA, full kitchen, 2 floors plus full basement, 2 parking spaces included (more available). $2,000/month lease, with $2,000 deposit.

(828) 713-6336.

LEXINGTON LOFTS Renovated restaurant and retail spaces between 1100-2000 sqft on Lexington and Rankin Avenues w/competitive lease rates; ready for upfit mid-2010. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com RIVER DISTRICT 6,000 sqft shell - artists; flexible uses.

Owner will upfit for Class A office. Call G/M Property Group, 828-281-4024. jmenk@gmproperty.com WEST ASHEVILLE 2 commercial spaces with shared bath and separate entrances, can be rented separately or together. All utilities except internet included. On-site parking. 6 month lease. $400/$600 or rent both for $950/900 sqft.

(828) 225-6911. info @asheville4seasonsrealty.com

Rentals

Apartments For Rent 1 & 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS STARTING AT $595/MONTH!* Apartment living in a park-like setting. • Hurry!...Special pricing ends February 26, 2010! * Price based on a 12 month lease.

Call 274-4477. EHO. woodsedge.webs.com 1 FREE MONTH! (w/contract).

Live, work and play downtown. • Studio: $545/month. • 2BR: $725/month. Call 254-2229.

APM 1, 2, 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS From $525$1500. • Huge selection! • Pet friendly. (828) 251-9966.

Alpha-Real-Estate.com 1BR - NORTH • Hardwood floors, water provided. $500/month. 828-253-0758.

Carver Realty

1BR, 1.5BA NORTH • 154 Barnard. $625/month. Bonus room, dishwasher.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1.5BA SWANNANOA • 532 Warren Wilson. Carpet, W/D hookups. $710/month.

828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com

1BR, 1BA ARTISTIC FLARE IN WEST ASHEVILLE • Near downtown. W/D hookup. $400/month + security deposit. No pets.

828-551-0017.

2BR, 1BA EAST • 2484 Riceville Rd. Open floor plan, porch. $615/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

1BR, 1BA HENDERSONVILLE • 2010 Laurel Park Highway.

Heat included. Hardwood floors. $495-$525.

828-693-8069. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA Hendersonville 827 4th Ave, $650/month.

Hardwood Floors, water Included, 828-693-8069. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA NORTH • 12 Golf St. $625/month. Hardwood floors, gas heat.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA WEST • 19 Brucemont, $590/month.

Porch, hardwood floors.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA • 37 Skyview. $575/month. Nice views. 2nd month is FREE. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR/1BA NORTH • 82 Merrimon. $595/month.

Hardwood floors, water included. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR/1BA, EAST • 314 Fairview, porch, $525/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2 BEDROOM/1 BATH, EAST, 7 Lindsey, washer/dryer hookups, deck, $595, 828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com 2 GREAT APARTMENTS • NORTH Ivy Riverfront! New construction! • 2 units: 1BR, 2BR starting at $650/month. • All appliances, free wifi.

Hiking, swimming, views, solitude! (828) 768-8110. david@davidsguitar.com 2BR, 1.5BA NORTH • 30 Clairmont. Close to shopping and dining. Water included. $615/month. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

79,*0:065 ,(9;/>692:

$299,900 Downtown Healthy Built 3 Bdrm, 3 bath cool modern interiors.

P r e c i s i o n @ e a rt h a v e n . o r g

SUN REALTY

Co-Creating Your Natural Landscape

2BR, 1BA SOUTH • 6 Lakewood. AC, W/D hookups. $650-$675/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA WEST • 130 Louisiana. A/C, dishwasher. $585/month. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA WEST • 9 King Arthur. Dishwasher, baseboard heat. $625/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA WEST • 92 Appalachian Way. $895/month. Harwood floors, W/D connections.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 2BA NORTH • 81 Lakeshore. Porch, coinoperated laundry. $675/month. www.leslieandassoc.com 2Br. 1.5BA NORTH • 172 Macon. Garage, dishwasher. $695/month. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR/1BA WEST • 217 Bear Creek. $615/month. Central A/C - Heat, deck.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR/1BA WEST • 45 Florida. $615/month. W/D connections, deck. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR/2BA, ARDEN • 216 Weston, A/C, 2nd Month Rent Free. $795/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

STUDIO/1BR DOWNTOWN •

HENDERSONVILLE • 1BR Studio. Walking distance to downtown. Includes water.

Only $325/month.

828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

www.leslieandassoc.com

KENILWORTH • 1BR, upstairs unit. Hardwood floors. $475/month. 828-253-0758.

Carver Realty

Large Kitchen. Study. Covered

BLACK MOUNTAIN • 2BR, 1BA. Heatpump, central air, W/D connection. Nice area.

Only $495/month.

828-252-4334.

MONTFORD 2BR, 1BA apartment in wonderful historic house. • Very close to downtown. Hardwood floors, high ceilings, lots of windows.

Backyard w/garden space. $795/month. 712-1675.

BLACK MOUNTAIN Nicely renovated (new: bath, kitchen), 1BR, sunroom, dining room.

10’ ceilings, abundance of natural light. Hardwood floors.

Short walk to downtown. • $625/month includes heat, water, Wifi. Smoke free.

280-5449.

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES •Special• Off Merrimon. Walking distance to town. • 2BR, 1BA. $495/month. 3BR, 1BA $595/month. Includes water.

828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

CENTRAL • 1BR. Heat and water provided. $620/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty.

EAST • QUIET APARTMENT Ideal for serious student/professional. • Cozy 1BR: nice kitchen, washer/dryer. Patio. Private parking. •$475/month.

References. Lease. • No smokers. • Available March 1.

• (828) 686-0072.

85 Walnut. Roof access, hardwood floors. $645/month.

828-253-1517.

WEST ASHEVILLE DUPLEX 866 1/2 Haywood RoadLanvale entrance. 1 bedroom.

Porch. Off Street parking.

Convenient to all things West Asheville. $525/month.

828-231-2577.

Mobile Homes For Rent 14X80 • OAKLEY AREA 3BR, 2BA. • Fireplace in living room. Stove, refrigerator, garbage pickup, lawn care provided. WD connections. • No pets. $585/month.

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOUSE • Walking distance to town. 1BR, 1BA. $495/month. Includes water.

0828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

298-8939.

SOUTH • Forestdale. 2BR, 1BA. 2nd month rent free. $625/month. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

W/D connection. $575/month.

STUDIO/1BA NORTH • 85 Merrimon, all utilities included.

Furnished. $550/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

near downtown. W/D

WEST ASHEVILLE • 2BR, 2BA in nice park close to town.

828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

WEST ASHEVILLE • 3BR, 2BA connection. Excellent condition. $595/month.

828-252-4334. WNC Rentals

MOVE IN NOW 1 and 2 Bedrooms starting at $595/month*

Apartment living in a park-like setting.

H U R RY !

SPECIAL PRICING ENDS 02/26/10*

Call today: (828) 274-4477 www.woodsedge.webs.com *Price based on 12 month lease

WOODRIDGE

Specializing in Bridge & Roadwork Brandon Greenstein • Paul Caron (828) 664-9127 | 301-7934

2BR, 1BA NORTH • 270 Edgewood. $650/month. Near UNCA. Pets okay.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

ACTON WOODS APARTMENTS • Beautiful 2BR, 2BA, loft, $850/month. • 2BR, 2BA, $750. Include gas log fireplace, water, storage.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty

EAST 1BR BUNGALOW APARTMENT Quiet, wooded, convenient. • Pet considered.

• No smoking. $550/month.

230-2511.

Sign a lease in February and we’ll waive your rent for the month!

Fine Grading & Site Preparation

Ecological Site Planning & Landscape Design • Excavation & Roads •Water Harvesting/ Management • Stonework • Bridges & Gazebos • Water Features • Renewable Energy

2BR, 1BA EAST • 7 Violet Hills. $565-$650/month. A/C, D/W. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

A HOME IN THE MOUNTAINS • GREAT PRICE! Live in a beautiful, green, conveniently located scenic resort-style community! • Fireplaces • Heated pool • Fitness Center and more.

Call (828) 687-0638. kensingtonplaceapts.com

777-7786 Bill MacCurdy - Owner/Broker

A PA RT M EN T S

• Conveniently located at 61 Bingham Road, Asheville • 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedrooms NOW AVAILABLE! • SPACIOUS • COMFORTABLE • AFFORDABLE Now accepting pets with deposit.

Professionally Managed by Partnership Property Management Section 8 welcomed.

Call 828-250-0159 Today!

mountainx.com

Equal Housing Opportunities

• FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

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Condos/ Townhomes For Rent

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NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOUSE â&#x20AC;˘ Walking distance to town. 1BR, 1BA. $495/month. Includes water.

0828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

We offer full service Real Estate services for buyers and sellers, specializing in residential property management.

Our beliefs at Arc Agency, Inc. are to treat each individual and company with the same high level of respect and professionalism. We offer our services in a manner that sets us apart from the larger ďŹ rms.

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Visit: www.arcagencyasheville.com

828/350-9400 (phone) 828/350-9099 (fax) 549 Merrimon Ave. Suite C Asheville, NC 28804 PO Box 1008, Asheville, NC 28802 76

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES â&#x20AC;˘Specialâ&#x20AC;˘ Off Merrimon. Walking distance to town. 2BR, 1BA. $495/month â&#x20AC;˘ 3BR, 1BA 595/month.

Includes water.

828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

2BR, 2BA CONDO â&#x20AC;˘ END UNIT with southern exposure!

Stainless appliances, granite countertops, carpet/ceramic floors, high ceilings with crown molding. Located in convenient and beautiful Eastwood Village. $895/month includes washer/dryer.

828-545-7445.

60 NORTH MARKET â&#x20AC;˘ DOWNTOWN 7th floor, North views. 2BR, 2BA, study/media, woodfloors/carpet, granite.

Gas fireplace/stove. WD. 2 walk-in closets. â&#x20AC;˘ 2 balconies. â&#x20AC;˘ Secured parking. â&#x20AC;˘ Club/fitness centers. $1650/month. â&#x20AC;˘ Minimum 1 year lease. 254-4071 or oldtimr28@yahoo.com A BIG THANX! â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanx Xpress!

The recent rental ad attracted a steady stream of quality applicants, thanks to your quality publication.â&#x20AC;? Mark K. â&#x20AC;˘ You too can find quality renters by placing an affordable ad in the pages of Mountain Xpress Classified Marketplace: 251-1333.

BEVERLY TOWNHOUSE â&#x20AC;˘ Between downtown and Biltmore village. 2BR, 1BA. Hardwood floors, newly painted, modern lighting and updated kitchen with Corian countertops, washer/dryer.

End unit with quiet green and gardening space. $725/month, $350 deposit. Small pets considered. Available immediately AND For Sale: $114,000 . (828) 545-3163.

BILTMORE AVENUE â&#x20AC;˘ HOSPITAL Renovated 2BR, 1BA, designer kitchen, granite countertops, 6 new appliances, hardwood floors. â&#x20AC;˘ Available now. â&#x20AC;˘ $725/month, includes water. First, deposit.

Lease. References. 230-3739.

CANTERBURY HEIGHTS â&#x20AC;˘ WEST ASHEVILLE 46 and 48 Beri Drive. Newly renovated 2BR, 1.5BA split level condos, 918 sqft. Pool, fitness room. $700/month.

Mike: (919) 624-1513.

DOWNTOWN CONDO 2BR, 2BA, hardwoods, stainless appliances, granite countertops, jet tub, balcony, fitness center, parking, $1550/month. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com DOWNTOWN â&#x20AC;˘ KENILWORTH â&#x20AC;˘ Close to hospitals. 2BR, 2BA. â&#x20AC;˘ Great Winter views! â&#x20AC;˘ Fireplace, deck, washer/dryer.

Nice pool! â&#x20AC;˘ $895/month, includes condo fee, water.

(828) 712-1675.

LUXURY DOWNTOWN CONDO Split 2BR/2BA, great kitchen gas fireplace, parking, storage.

Next to Pack Library. $1,550.

Bright Star Realty 828-301-8033.

FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘

SOUTH ASHEVILLE Bramblewood condo. 2BR, 1.5BA. $725/month. Available immediately. Sorry, no pets.

828-350-9400. www.arcagencyasheville.com

Homes For Rent ASHLEY WOODS â&#x20AC;˘ Large 3BR, 2.5BA. Lovely corner lot.

Fenced back yard. $1875/month. 828-253-0758.

Carver Realty $1500 / 3BR - 3-4 BD/2 BA (CENTRAL/DOWNTOWN) 34bd/2ba, convenient to everything, large house with covered front porch, back deck. Walk to downtown, Starbucks, City Bakery.

Available now, 1 yr lease, $1500mo/$1500deposit.

828-545-2809 1 FOR THE SIMPLE LIFE Clean, charming, cozy 1BR duplex, â&#x20AC;˘ totally renovated 1BA, South Asheville. â&#x20AC;˘ Newly refinished woodfloors, WD access. â&#x20AC;˘ Gay friendly. â&#x20AC;˘ 1 pet negotiable. $550/month. 1 year lease, references required. 712-0935.

1BR, 1BA WEST â&#x20AC;˘ 45 Cloyes.

Fenced yard, off-street parking. $735/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1ST CALL US! 2, 3 and 4BR homes from $700-2500. â&#x20AC;˘ Pet friendly. â&#x20AC;˘ Huge selection!

(828) 251-9966 Alpha-Real-Estate.com 2BR, 1BA ARDEN â&#x20AC;˘ 85 Tampa. $1095/month. Oak floors, fireplace.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA Near UNCA. Wood floors, dining room, half basement, small yard and porch. Washer/dryer hookups. $800/month. Security deposit and lease required.

Call 828-691-8793 or 298-5088.

2BR, 1BA HOUSE â&#x20AC;˘ WEST ASHEVILLE 8 minutes from downtown. Hardwood floors.

Great yard. $650/month Call 254-2229, APM.

jobs 2BR/1BA WEST â&#x20AC;˘ 344 State. $895/month. Fireplace, pets okay. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 3BR/1.5BA WEST â&#x20AC;˘ 28 Covington. $1,095/month.

Basement, deck.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com ALL AREAS - HOUSES FOR RENT. Browse thousands of rental listings with photos and maps. Advertise your rental home for FREE! Visit: http://www.RealRentals.com (AAN CAN) ASHEVILLE AREA RENTALS $550-$1950/month. â&#x20AC;˘ 1-East. â&#x20AC;˘ 3-West. â&#x20AC;˘ 3-North. â&#x20AC;˘ 3South. â&#x20AC;˘ Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles: (828) 684-2640, ext 17. For more details: www.DebraMarshall.com BEAUTIFUL KENILWORTH COTTAGE 3BR, 2BA w/office, family room, fireplace and large backyard. $1150/month. â&#x20AC;˘ Pets ok. Angela Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien: (828) 216-1610. Mountain Vista Properties BEST TIME IS NOW! Best time to buy, pay less than rent, 1% rebate from Buyer Agent Commission, see www.BuncombeRealty.com, 301-2021.

BUNGALOW NEAR BEAVERLAKE 2BR, 2BA, central AC. Quiet street. Large yard, great for gardening! Pets considered. $800/month plus deposit. â&#x20AC;˘ Available March 1.

Call 299-8095.

CANDLER â&#x20AC;˘ 3BR, 3BA. Private. $1,200/month. Call 828-253-0758. Carver Realty COZY COTTAGE â&#x20AC;˘ WEST ASHEVILLE 2BR, 1BA. WD connection. $800/month includes water/trash. â&#x20AC;˘ End of road privacy. Communal garden.Deposit/references. â&#x20AC;˘ Pet friendly. â&#x20AC;˘ Child care onsite. 633-1792.

COZY COTTAGE â&#x20AC;˘ WOODFIN 3BR, 1BA. Hardwood floors, central air, AC, oil heat. Single carport. â&#x20AC;˘ Pets considered. $850/month. Deposit.

References. â&#x20AC;˘ Available March 1. Call 242-6531.

2BR, 1BA KENILWORTH â&#x20AC;˘ 271 Forest Hill. $895/month.

Garage, back yard.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA NORTH â&#x20AC;˘ 42 Hollywood. $850/month.

Porches, hardwood floors.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 2BA NORTH â&#x20AC;˘ 27 Spooks Mill Cove. $1075/month. Views, all utilities included.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

mountainx.com

BEAUTIFUL LOG CABIN Sleeps 5, handicap accessible.

Near Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC. (828) 231-4504 or 277-1492. bennie14@bellsouth.net GORGEOUS NEW CONSTRUCTION 3BR, 2.5BA with garage. Great South location. â&#x20AC;˘ Lease/purchase options now available. Why rent when you can own! Call (828) 676-0677 for details. www.123newhomenow.com GREAT OAKLEY NEIGHBORHOOD Spacious 3BR, 2BA w/bonus room. New kitchen, flooring. Large rooms.

Lots of dry storage. All appliances including DW, WD. Large: decks/fenced yard. $1100/month, deposit, lease, references. Vickie: 277-0811.

LITTLE COTTAGE IN THE WOODS â&#x20AC;˘ Mars Hill. 1BR. Private deck and yard. 400 sq.ft. Wooded lot, 25 minutes to downtown Asheville. $400/month. (828) 206-1420.

NEW SUMMER GETAWAY or year-round home. 20 minutes north of Asheville. Spectacular mountain views; country setting. 900 sqft, 2BR, 1BA, W/D, lots of windows, hardwood floors, heat pump, deck, garage. $1,000/month+deposit.

Includes amenities, cable, utilities, yard maintenance.

(828) 649-3229.

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOUSE â&#x20AC;˘ Walking distance to town. 1BR, 1BA. $495/month. Includes water.

0828-252-4334. WNC Rentals.

NORTH ASHEVILLE Beautiful 2BR, 1BA. New roof, windows, linoleum, paint, hardwoods and updated bathroom.

Washer/dryer. Private. $840/month, includes water, yard maintenance.

(828) 768-2191.

READY TO RENT â&#x20AC;˘ WEST ASHEVILLE 3BR, 2 full BA, living room, dining room, utility room, washer, dryer, central A/C. Large storage space underneath home. Great family neighborhood. Walking distance to Carrier Park. Pets considered with deposit. $1,050/month + $1,050 security deposit. One year lease. (803) 323-9241.

SPECIAL FIND WEAVERVILLE â&#x20AC;˘ 1200 sq.ft. duplex off N. Main. St. 2BR, 1BA. Fireplace, appliances.

Convenient, quiet neighborhood. $795/month.

Pet considered.

828-658-2983.

FIND OUT WHY! Folks are calling City Real Estate for exploring the art or finding your home. Sales and Rentals handled professionally and efficiently. We help you find â&#x20AC;&#x153;Views From All Anglesâ&#x20AC;?.

(828) 210-2222.

AshevilleCityRealEstate.com

Vacation Rentals A BEACH HOUSE At Folly. The legendary dog-friendly Rosieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ocean View and Kudzuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cottage now booking now booking for oyster season! Call (828) 216-7908. www.kudzurose.com

Roommates 1000 SQ. FT UPSTAIRS STUDIO $520 Seeking female housemate for west asheville 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. Sky lights, internet, half bath, new carpet/paint. House is on one acre with organic garden and laying hens. Seeking someone who is responsible, would enjoy a quiet/peaceful living space and would help keep common areas tidy-(i.e kitchen/bathroom).

828-216-4763.

Arden Furnished room, beautiful/private setting.

Organic garden. Chemical-free household. Seeking responsible, clean roommate(s). No pets. $395/month, utilities included.

No lease. (828) 687-2390.

ROOMMATES.COM â&#x20AC;˘ Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. Find your roommate with a click of a mouse! Visit http://www.roommates.com.

(AAN CAN) Share 2BR West Asheville home, close to everything. $350/month, share utilities.

Deposit. References. â&#x20AC;˘ Pet considered. Call Sherri: 242-6119.

Employment

General $$$HELP WANTED$$$ Extra Income! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary! Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800-405-7619 EXT 2450 http://www.easyworkgreatpay.com (AAN CAN) CAB DRIVERS Needed at Blue Bird; call JT 258-8331. Drivers needed at Yellow Cab; call Buster at 253-3311.

CAMPUS STORE MANAGER â&#x20AC;˘ Warren Wilson College seeks a full-time Campus Store Manager, who is responsible for the overall operation of the College Store with annual sales of $360,000. This includes the supervision of one full-time staff member and a student crew of approximately four members.

Responsibilities include financial management; ordering, stocking, selling, and returning textbooks; buying and inventorying merchandise; working with the alumni and marketing offices; training and supervising student workers; and planning special events.

Qualified candidates should have a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree, preferably in Business or related area; three years of full-time management experience in a college bookstore, preferably with textbook purchasing experience; effective interpersonal skills; time management and organizational skills; merchandising, inventory control, and purchasing experience; prior experience working with the public; supervisory experience; and financial and budgetary experience. Warren Wilson College is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of its community.

Please send cover letter, rĂŠsumĂŠ and contact information including email addresses for three professional references by email to hr@warren-wilson.edu.

Electronic submissions are required. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 26, 2010.

FIND QUALITY EMPLOYEES FAST! We found more than a dozen highly qualified job applicants in less than a week with just a single classified ad in the Mountain Express. â&#x20AC;˘ Chris Dennen, PhD, President of Innovative Healing Inc. â&#x20AC;˘ Your business can quickly and affordably find the right employee. Call 251-1333, Mountain Xpress Marketplace!

HIRE QUALITY EMPLOYEES â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our employment advertisements with the Mountain Xpress garner far more educated and qualified applicants than any other publication we have used. The difference is visible in the phone calls, applications and resumes.â&#x20AC;? Howard Stafford, Owner, Princess Anne Hotel. â&#x20AC;˘ Thank you, Howard. Your business can benefit by advertising for your next employee in Mountain Xpress Classifieds. Call 251-1333.

Sales/ Marketing

Employment Opportunities â&#x20AC;˘ Call (828) 225-6122 or visit: biltmore.com

Skilled Labor/ Trades WOLF TREE INC. â&#x20AC;˘ NOW HIRING Experienced â&#x20AC;˘ Crew Leaders, â&#x20AC;˘ Tree Trimmers and â&#x20AC;˘ Climbers. Great pay and benefits. CDL license very helpful. Call Harold: (828) 460-2966.

Administrative/ Office OFFICE SUPPORT SPECIALIST â&#x20AC;˘ The Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, a not for profit organization engaged in applied child development research, is recruiting a fulltime Office Support Specialist to provide clerical and administrative office support to the Institute Co-Director and two Research Scientists.

Applicants must be highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Power Point) and be willing to learn new software applications and office procedures. Applicant must possess excellent typing skills, and be well organized, detail-oriented, and capable of assisting with office management. The individual will be responsible for a variety of office-related duties, with primary emphasis on preparing and typing manuscripts, reports, grant applications, and preparing graphics. Other duties include maintaining office files and documents; maintaining office supply levels; answering incoming telephone calls for Research Scientists; submittng electronic grant applications; and related duties. Knowledge of EndNote citation software, APA manuscript style, and the ability to proofread and edit documents are preferred.

Salary is dependent upon experience and qualifications.

The position includes a liberal fringe benefits package (health, disability, and life insurance; retirement; personal leave). Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, recent typing test results, and salary history and requirements to The Puckett Institute, 8 Elk Mountain Rd., Asheville, NC, 28804, or e-mail to jobs@puckett.org. No phone calls please.

Salon/ Spa A STYLIST desired at a busy, Organic North Asheville salon.

Full time, motivated, health conscious and works well with others. Professional environment, clean, non-toxic products that work! Come and join our lovely, relaxing, supportive team. We offer flexible hours, education and support. Your clients will follow you to our wellness salon. Call now (828) 505-3288, thewaterlily@mac.com or stop in at 7 Beaverdam Road. You will be glad you did! www.waterlilysalon.com

LOCAL WHOLESALE COMPANY â&#x20AC;˘ Looking for fulltime help in our customer service/sales department.

Employee should have a calm and friendly disposition, and the ability to talk on the phone for much of your eight hour day. Position entails answering incoming calls from our customers, taking their orders and fielding their questions.

Each sales representative also has a list of existing and potential customers that they will be required to make at least 20 outgoing calls a day to check in with them. Not in a pushy way, just to let them know we are here to help.

Experience with Quickbooks and Excel would be great, but can be taught to the computer literate. Interested parties must be self motivated, focused, reliable, have good attention to detail and be able to balance multiple tasks.

Benefits include competitive pay, comfortable atmosphere w/casual dress, paid time off, health insurance, and great office hours. Interested parties please fax or email resume and cover letter with a few sentences about yourself to fax# 828-236-2658 or email jobs@allfungifts.com SALES PROS â&#x20AC;˘ Time to get paid what you are worth AND have a life.

Call 1-888-700-4916.

Restaurant/ Food MOUNTAIN X JAMS! As a growing business that relies on the face put forward by our employees, Mountain Xpress Classifieds is where we turn to find them. The volume of highquality applicants replying to our ads can be hard to choose from, and it is always worth our investment. Thanks Mountain X! Rebecca and Charlie, owners, Tomato Jam Cafe.

PART-TIME DENTAL ASSISTANT â&#x20AC;˘ Must have recent experience in all modalities, be a people person and like to work! Email resume to: clegrow@sbcglobal.net or call 810-434-9233.

RN to join multidisciplinaryteam providing medical/psychiatric education/consultation/training to LTC Facilities regarding Geriatrics/Adults. Medical/LTC experience preferred.

Resume:MCBH, POBox 1501, Weaverville, NC 28787-1501

Human Services BUILD YOUR RESUME WORKING PART-TIME WITH CHILDREN â&#x20AC;˘Opening for female Alternate TeachingParent position at Whitewater Cove, a level II childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental health home located on 10 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Brevard, NC. This beautiful home serves 6 girls and/or boys (ages 6-18) from Transylvania and surrounding counties. Children served attend local schools.

This part-time position requires the individual to live in residence for four to eight 24-hour shifts per month.

Lodging and all meals are provided during shifts. The right candidate will have a BS or BA and related experience.

Income $500-$1000/month.

Training and consultation provided by Appalachian Family Innovations, an affiliate of Appalachian State University. Whitewater Cove is a private, not-for-profit agency and an equal opportunity employer licensed by NC Department of Health and Human Services. Email resumes and references to: wwcconover@yahoo.com.

Medical/ Health Care $5,000 SIGN-ON BONUS â&#x20AC;˘ REHABILITATION MANAGER Medical Facilities of America is seeking a Rehab Manager to join our dynamic team in Asheville. The facility Rehabilitation Manager directs the daily operations of the Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy disciplines in order to meet center and patient needs. This is a full time position with approximately half of the candidateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time spent on treatments and evaluations, the remaining time spent on management duties. Our candidate must possess a North Carolina license as a PT/OT/SLP. Knowledge of the PPS process, RUGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s system, and management experience preferred, but not required. We are willing to train the right candidate. If you meet our qualifications please send your resume to: Tim Sparks, Human Resources Manager: Office: (828) 298-2214 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: (828) 298-2037 or tsparks@mfa.net www.lifeworksrehab.com

FAMILIES TOGETHER FTI is a local mental health agency providing child, adult, and family centered services in WNC. FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours, room for advancement, health benefits, and an innovative culture. Go to www.familiestogether.net for employment opportunities.

FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES OF ASHEVILLE is seeking licensed therapists and QMHPs to provide mental health services to children, families and adults. Email csimpson@fpscorp.com

INTAKE LIAISON WANTED! Do you have previous experience working in the behavioral health field? Do you consider yourself to be detailoriented, highly organized, and professional? If this is you and you are in search of a challenging position that will allow you to further hone your professional skills, you could be Eliada Homesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new Intake Liaison! Responsibilities: Receive all initial inquires and applications for Eliadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services. Must be familiar with databases and be able to create reports as needed.

Must complete all required documents within deadlines, and perform all office management duties. This will include staff schedules, appointments, etc.

Qualifications: Prefer Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in human services or related field, but will consider a degree in office management or health information systems. At least one year of experience with social work, particularly referral/admissions work is a plus. Prefer non-profit behavioral health experience.

This job requires excellent follow through and there is a high level of accountability.

Must be able to multi-task, communicate professionally, and deal with persons in crisis. This is a fast-paced environment with many deadlines. For the right person, it will be an excellent opportunity to grow while at the same time helping to make a difference in the lives of the families we serve at Eliada! 828-254-5356 or eweaver@eliada.org if you are interested.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE NC Mentor is looking for foster parents in Western North Carolina. Be a hero in your community and open your home to a child in need. We provide training, 24 hour support, internal respite as needed and a generous stipend. Please call Nicole at 828-696-2667 ext 14.

Together we can make a difference in our community.

Visit our web site at www.nc-mentor.com â&#x20AC;˘ Do you know someone who is interested in becoming a therapeutic foster parent?

MERIDIAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Haywood, Jackson County: Clinician Sexual Abuse Intervention Program (SAIP) Must have Masters degree and be licensed or license-eligible. Please contact Diane Paige, diane.paige@meridianbhs.org Jackson, Swain, Macon County Clinician: Assertive Community Treatment Team.

Must have masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and be license eligible. Please contact Kristy Whitaker, kristy.whitaker @meridianbhs.org QMHP Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have mental health degree and two years of experience working with adults with mental illness. Please contact Kristy Whitaker, kristy.whitaker @meridianbhs.org Cherokee, Clay, Graham County Therapist/Team Leader: Child and Family Services. Masters degree and license eligible. Please contact David Hutchinson at david.hutchinson @meridianbhs.org Clinician Assertive Community Treatment Team.

Must have masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and be license eligible. Please contact Patty Bilitzke, patricia.bilitzke @meridianbhs.org QMHP Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have mental health degree and two years of experience working with adults with mental illness. Please contact Patty Bilitzke at patricia.bilitzke @meridianbhs.org â&#x20AC;˘ For further information and to complete an application, visit our website: www.meridianbhs.org PARKWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH has an immediate opening for a Part or F/T CSAC position in our Asheville or Hendersonville Offices. This position requires CSAC Certification and min 2 years experience working with adults. Knowledge of working with DWI and IPRS clients would be helpful. Some evenings will be required.

Parkway has excellent benefits, medical insurance, PTO and more for full time staff. Send resume to: slayton@parkwaybh.com SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR Early morning hours. Full-time position with benefits. Great work environment. On-site supervision with opportunity for professional growth. CSAC preferred, but not required.

Must be eligible for registration with NCSAPPB. Please fax resume: (828) 274-6377 or email to: kostertag@crossroadstreat mentcenters.com

FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES OF HENDERSONVILLE is seeking QMHPs to provide enhanced services for child and adult consumers. Applicants must have a Bachelors degree in the Human Services field and at least 2 years post-degree experience with the MH population.

FPS of Hendersonville office is also seeking LCSW or LPC (fully licensed or provisionally licensed) to provide therapy to children and their families.

Please email resumes to wfhoward@fpscorp.com

Professional/ Management ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR â&#x20AC;˘ The Asheville Art Museum seeks a full-time Development Manager. The Development Manager is responsible for the corporate, foundation and government fundraising efforts to maximize contributed income to support the Museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s operations, exhibitions, educational programs and special events.

The Development Manager is the primary grant writer and works closely with all staff and volunteers. This is a fulltime position with benefits. A minimum of five years fundraising experience, significant success in grant writing, ability to work in a fast paced environment, undergraduate degree, knowledge of and excellent ability to work with all typical computer programs and excellent verbal and written communication skills required.

The Asheville Art Museum is a private non-profit visual arts organization located in the center of a vibrant city in Western North Carolina and focusing on collecting and interpreting American Art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Museum is an equal opportunity employer. Please send rĂŠsumĂŠ, cover letter, references, salary history and several writing samples demonstrating successful grant writing to: Development Manager Search, PO Box 1717, Asheville, NC 28802 or 2 South Pack Square, Asheville, NC 28801 or email to Development Manager Search at rlynchmaass@ashevilleart.org.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Building Bridges of Asheville seeks a part-time Executive Director. Must possess experience in development and delivery of programs in building community amongst diverse people, particularly in black-white relations. Also requires excellent written and oral communications skills, ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and organizations, and ability to supervise others. Applications due February 26. For more details and how to apply, visit www.buildingbridgesasheville.org

mountainx.com

RIVERLINK RiverLink is seeking a serious full-time professional for â&#x20AC;&#x153;signature water quality programâ&#x20AC;? who is knowledgeable about restoration, conservation, education and recreation issues pertaining to water quality. â&#x20AC;˘ No phone calls please, send resume to: PO Box 15488, Asheville, NC 28813 with cover letter, salary history and references.

Teaching/ Education HISTORIC INTERPRETER WANTED Thomas Wolfe Memorial looking for part-time interpreter working weekends.

Must have excellent communication and customer service skills. Patrick Willis 828-253-8304 TEACHERS WANTED!!! Eliada Homes is seeking teachers who are dedicated to helping children succeed! We need an elementary teacher, preferably with special education background. Individuals must be flexible and creative. Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Create a classroom environment that meets the academic and treatment needs of students, maintain an organized and structured environment, evaluate academic and behavioral progress of all students. Qualifications: Must have a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree from an accredited college or university. Must also possess appropriate, current valid teaching certification as specified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (or be able to obtain said licensure). Prefer a minimum of two years teaching experience with elementary students or direct residential experience with the target population.

Skills/Working Conditions: Eliada Academy is open yearround. Position may experience verbal and/or physical aggression from the client population. Must provide a copy of current, valid teaching certificate. All qualified individuals please email resume to eweaver@eliada.org.

YMCA OF WESTERN NC â&#x20AC;˘ Afterschool Program Opportunities $7.25 $13/hour Please visit our web site for details: www.ymcawnc.org

Career Training BARTENDERS IN DEMAND â&#x20AC;˘ No experience necessary.

Make up to $300 per shift.

Part time, day, evening, night shifts available. Training, placement, certification provided. 877-879-9153. (AAN CAN)

Employment Services HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Fast, affordable & accredited.

Free brochure. Call now! 1800-532-6546 Ext. 97 www.continentalacademy.com (AAN CAN) UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS Get paid to shop. Retail and dining establishments need undercover clients to judge quality and customer service.

Earn up to $100/day. Please call 1-800-720-0576.

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BIZ OP â&#x20AC;˘ Want to purchase minerals and other oil/gas interest. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

Announcements ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every week for $1200. No adult ads. Call Mountain Xpress Classifieds at (828) 251-1333. (AAN CAN) SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER ***Tues.Feb.16,2010*** 5-7:30pm @ St. George's Episcopal Church, 1 School Rd. Asheville, NC 28806/(828)258-0211 **Dine-in or Take-out Adults-$5.00/Child$3.00/Families(up to 5 people)-$13.00.

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Four Circles Recovery Center, a substance abuse recovery program for young adults, is seeking highly motivated individuals with a passion for service-oriented work, dedication for professional/personal growth, and an interest in a nontraditional work environment. Excellent entry-level position for those interested in addiction treatment or wilderness therapy. Competitive pay, health beneďŹ ts, and professional and clinical training.

HIRING SEMINAR MARCH 5, 2010 To attend please send resumes and/or questions to Todd Ransdell or Josh Gunalda

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â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

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ANCIENT VOICE CONSULTING “Divining the Truly Essential” *Love*Money*Health*Relations hips* Business*The Spiritual.

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READINGS BY FRANZINI • Receive guidance for the new year: love, career, health, motivation, business and spiritual concerns answered.

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Musicians’ Xchange

Musical Services PENIS ENLARGEMENT. FDA Medical Vacuum Pumps. Gain 1-3 inches permanently.

Testosterone, Viagra, Cialis.

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Classes & Workshops

Saturday, Sunday, February 20, 21. • Learn hands on healing through the Shamballa

PERUVIAN SHAMANISM TRAINING SERIES - February Peruvian Shamanic Training

PREGNANT CONSIDERING ADOPTION? • Talk with caring agency specializing in matching birthmothers with families nationwide • Living expenses paid. Call 24/7 • Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions • 1-866-413-6293. (AAN CAN)

energies, allowing energy to flow in a very powerful way, enabling you to reach out and heal others and yourself.

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series offered by the Rainbow

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MASSAGE!** Perfect pressure! Caring, intuitive, professional therapist. Tranquil sanctuary just 3 blocks from Greenlife & downtown.

Locals: $35! Open Mon thru Sun. 9am to 8pm by appt. only. Brett Rodgers LMBT #7557. www.vitalitymassage.net (828) 255-4785.

7i^[l_bb[ >kcWd[ IeY_[jo 72 Lee’s Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 253-6807 • AshevilleHumane.org

Buncombe County Friends For Animals, Inc.

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24 TRACK ON-LOCATION RECORDING Digital. Highest quality equipment. Reasonable rates. Superb quality and service! Call (828) 442-6211 or (828) 724-1500. www.blantonemusic.com

SHAMBALLA CLASS

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#1 AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS MASSAGE CENTER Best rates in town! $29/hour.

• 20 Wonderful Therapists to choose from. Therapeutic Massage: • Deep Tissue • Swedish • Sports • Trigger Point. Also offering: • Acupressure • Energy Work • Reflexology • Classes. Call now for your appointment: • 10 Biltmore Plaza, 505-7088.

Asheville. www.thecosmicgroove.com AAA & AARP DISCOUNT • Massage gift certificates available for the Holidays.

Great rates. Professional office. Stress Busters Massage. LMT #7113.

828-275-5497.

CARING STRONG HANDS Will relax and rejuvenate you! Kern Stafford, NC LMBT#1358 • (828) 301-8555 • www.avlmassage.com

HAND DELIVERING GOOD WORK TO HOMEBODIES & BUSYBODIES IN ASHEVILLE I utilize aspects of several modalities and approaches to better facilitate relaxation, moving through energetic blocks, releasing pain and healing. Travis Jackson, LMBT #4393. 828-772-0719, eyes-of-the-worldmassage@hotmail.com MASSAGE/MLD Therapeutic Massage. Manual Lymph Drainage. Lymphedema Treatment. $45/hour or sliding scale for financial hardship.

17+ years experience.

828-254-4110. NC License #146. www.uhealth.net SHOJI SPA & LODGE • 7 DAYS A WEEK Looking for the best therapist in town—- or a cheap massage? Soak in your outdoor hot tub; melt in our sauna; then get the massage of your life! 26 massage therapists. 299-0999. www.shojiretreats.com

Spiritual 2010 • YOUR FUTURE CAN BE BRIGHT! Ask Nina: (828) 253-7472 or email: asknina@excite.com

ASHEVILLE’S WHITEWATER RECORDING Full service studio services since 1987. • Mastering • Mixing and Recording. • CD/DVD duplication at the best prices.

(828) 684-8284 • whitewaterrecording.com GUITAR LESSONS Beginner through advanced • 25 years experience • Yancey, Madison, No. Buncombe • Your home or studio • Call Dave (772-579-5127) or (828-682-3658) PIANO-GUITAR-DRUMSBASS-MANDOLIN-BANJOSINGING Learn what you/your child wants to learn.

Knowledgeable, flexible, enthusiastic instructor.

828-242-5032.

SPECIALIZED SINGING LESSONS AND VOICE COACHING • In a real recording studio with separate vocal and control rooms.

Offering audition, gig, showcase and tour prep.

Learn endurance techniques and increase range. Gain studio experience and broaden vocal skills. All levels.

Experienced teacher. $35/hour. Terry (828) 674-6417.

Alterations • Custom Design 2 Day Service (Not 2 Weeks!) Also last minute!

29 Years Experience • 10 years in Black Mountain

NOW OPEN ON CHARLOTTE STREET Call 232-2229 or pop in at 246 Charlotte Street • Asheville mountainx.com

VIDEO AND RECORD YOUR MUSIC Or band to CD, DVD or any internet destination, in our studio or on location. • Affordable and Professional Production.

Call (828) 335-9316.

VISA/MC. www.amrmediastudio.com

Musicians’ Bulletin Available: Percussionist: Congos, bongos, Handsonic.

All styles. Experienced.

Seeking working band. Call Jeff: 329-0799.

Pet Xchange

Automotive Services WE’LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE • Honda and Acura repair. Half price repair and service. ASE and factory certified. Located in the Weaverville area. Please call 828-275-6063 for appointment.

For Sale

Appliances Hotpoint Refrigerator • 18.2 cubic feet. No frost. Almond.

Works great. $75.

828-628-9912.

Electronics Lost Pets A LOST OR FOUND PET? Free service. If you have lost or found a pet in WNC, post your listing here: www.lostpetswnc.org LOST YOUR PET? FOUND A PET? Call Asheville Humane Society, (828) 253-6807, to fill out a missing or found pet report. Visit 72 Lee’s Creek Road, Asheville. www.ashevillehumane.org

Pets for Adoption FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE! Cats, dogs, & other small animals available for adoption at Asheville Humane Society • 72 Lee’s Creek Road • Asheville, NC • (828) 253-6807 www.ashevillehumane.org

Get Dish -Free Installation–$19.99/mo HBO & Showtime Free-Over 50 HD Channels Free Lowest Prices–No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details: 877-242-0974 (AAN CAN)

Furniture MATTRESSES Pillow-top: queen $250, king $350 • Extra firm: queen $175, king $275 • Full: $150 • Twin: $99. New, in plastic.

828-277-2500.

General Merchandise Get Dish -Free Installation–$19.99/mo HBO & Showtime Free-Over 50 HD Channels Free Lowest Prices–No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details- 1877-238-8413 (AAN CAN)

Wanted

HELP SCARLETT FIND HER HOME! Scarlett is a Shepherd mix puppy who is searching for a loving home. If you are interested in adopting , please call 808-9435 or for more information, visit www.bwar.org

Pet Services ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you’re away. Reasonable rates. Call Sandy Ochsenreiter, (828) 215-7232.

Vehicles For Sale

Autos 2007 Kia Rio Red. $1500 down, take over payments.

31K miles. 828-337-2162.

2001 PORSCHE CARRERA FOR SALE! Fully loaded Porsche for sale! In like-new condition, all maintenence up to date. Too many options to mention! Call for information and best pricing: 828-5520144 Asking $26,500.00

NON-PROFIT NEEDS DONATED VAN • S.O.S. Mission, a local non-profit serving victims of domestic violence in WNC, is in need of a donated, good working bus or van to help the families we work with get to classes, trainings, church, etc. S.O.S. Mission is an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation and as such your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. If you can help. please call (828) 684-0591.

Adult A MAN’S DESIRE • Now hiring attractive, pleasant ladies! • Start the New Year right with us! • MondaySaturday, 9am-9pm. • Incall/outcall. (Lic#0800020912). • Call (828) 989-7353.

A PERSONAL TOUCH Asheville. • Start the New Year right! Incall/outcall: 713-9901.

A WOMAN’S TOUCH “We’re all about you!” Keep warm with our “Winter Special”! • Call 275-6291.

MEET SEXY SINGLES by phone instantly! Call (828) 239-0006. Use ad code 8282. 18+

The New York Times Crossword Edited by Will Shortz No. 0106 Across 1 Add a new article to, maybe 6 Sweat units 11 Prime meridian std.

14 Zellweger of “Leatherheads” 15 Not yet reached 16 Evergreen tree 17 Race energetically past?

19 What an athlete may turn 20 It sometimes depicts a dragon or tiger 21 Rides 23 Keys on the side of a keyboard 26 Last word of a January 1 song 27 Mozart’s “___ Fan Tutte” 30 Yellow one 33 Todd who directed “I’m Not There,” 2007

36 More bohemian

68 “With this ring ___ wed” 37 East ender?

38 Like King Solomon 69 What every inning has three of? … or an oral hint 70 Native of India in to 17- and 62the British army Across and 11and 29-Down 71 They might get shingles 40 “___, verily” 43 Nonchalant

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Furniture Magician

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26 31

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828-225-5555 • Child Therapy • EMDR

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47 Games involving 2 Soften picks 3 Grammy winner 50 Sch. groups for “Amarantine” 51 River to the 4 Occupies, as Mediterranean bushes or trees 52 Dust collector 5 Sonar’s measurement 55 Stonewall, say 6 Bribe 58 Popular sandwich bag 7 Photo blowup: Abbr.

61 Smoke detector batteries, often 8 Singer Winehouse 9 Red ink 62 Native African’s musical beat?

10 Eyelid annoyance 66 “I said … out!”

11 Where an old wanderer is 67 Banana-loving zoo interred? critter 12 Sister of Venus ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 13 Like some short tennis matches S L E D L O C H S I M A X 18 Louis XIV, e.g.

W I F I A S Y O U S A X E 22 “… so long ___ A L F A S H A W N A U L D both shall live?”

B A R N E S A N D N O B L E 24 Fishing boat O N O A I D E G E N E N T E C H A L D E R 25 Garment in Gujarat H A T S E T H M Y L O V E 27 2008 title role for O R E L S E A L Y A G I N Benicio Del Toro S T R I C T K A R O W A D T H Y M E P A P A J O H N S 28 Trireme propeller 29 What Romeo and E L K S A L I Juliet had to do?

H A R L E Y D A V I D S O N 31 “___ date!”

S O L I A C E L A S T Y E O P E C T H E O C A L E N 32 Went kaput W I C K S E R T A W E R E 34 Luxury 45 Adjusts to one’s situation

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49 Alignment of celestial bodies

59 Roman emperor after Galba

53 Former space station

60 Contestant on a Bravo reality show

54 Biblical land with “ivory and apes and peacocks”

• Black Mountain

63 Breach 64 6 on a phone

56 Debuts on Wall St. 65 Enero, por ejemplo 57 Rochester’s love

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554.

Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information.

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

In difficult times, personal faith and belief provide a guiding star to help keep our lives on course.

(828) 669-4625

(ANDBLOWN 'LASS 0IPES AND /THER !SHEVILLE %SSENTIALS

285.8999

78 N. Lexington • Asheville,NC

THIS WEEKLY FEATURE BEGINS FEBRUARY 24 and is open to those churches, synagogues and organizations concerned with the importance of religion and spirituality.

The Mountain Xpress reserves the right to edit A Matter of Faith column submissions for clarity, style, and community standards. Edited submissions will be shared with the authors prior to publication.

Introducing

Don’t wait - reserve your space today!

;V^i]

a matter of

Contact advertise@mountainx.com or 828.251.1333

mountainx.com

• FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010

79

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*SEE STORE FOR DETAILS. On approved credit. Minimum purchase of $2999 required for 36 month finance plan. Financing provided by CitiFinancial Retail Services. Finance Charges will accrue on the purchase from the beginning of the credit promotional period, and minimum payments will be due each billing cycle. However, if you pay the purchase price in full by the expiration date of the credit promotional period, all of the accrued Finance Charges will be waived and no Finance Charges will be assessed on the purchase. Otherwise, all of the accrued Finance Charges will be assessed. Credit promotional period may be terminated if you default under your account agreement. SEE STORE FOR DETAILS. Some pieces and fabric prints may vary by region. Selection may vary by store. Although every precaution is taken, errors in price and/or specification may occur in print. We reserve the right to correct any such errors. Prices valid for a limited time only. Participation times may vary. HomeStores are independently owned and operated. Previous purchases excluded. Picture may not represent item exactly as shown, advertised items may not be on display at all locations. Š2010 Ashley HomeStores, Ltd.

FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ mountainx.com

commentary

The challenges of choice

Asheville has the right school for your child

by Leah Ferguson If you live in Asheville and have one or more children who’ll be entering kindergarten next fall, it’s time to start the process of selecting a school. It’s a privilege to be able to choose from among a number of great schools, but to some parents, it might feel like a burden.

Growing up, most of us attended neighborhood schools. There was no choice: We took the bus to the same school where everybody else went. Now, however, Asheville residents have choices in spades — more than 14 all told, including public, public charter, private and religious schools.

Here are a few thoughts to guide you as you embark on this exciting journey: Pick the best school for your child, but do consider your public schools with an open mind. I am a champion of public education in the same way that I champion public radio. Both are so important. Healthy, diverse public schools are the lifeblood of a thriving community — and a meaningful democracy.

the various services available to the hundreds of gifted and special-needs students in the Asheville City Schools, who come from every corner of our community.

In the city schools, kindergarten families can choose from among five magnet elementary schools, each with an overarching theme designed to draw kids in. That enables you to find schools that match your own priorities. In my family, we’re very concerned about environmental responsibility, so we’re staying close to home. (My vision of a perfect world includes walking or biking to school in the mornings.)

The themes for the five magnet schools are as follows: technology and science, ecology and diversity, experiential learning, arts and humanities, and global scholarship. But that doesn’t mean that other key areas are excluded.

The arts-and-humanities magnet, for example, also teaches math and science, and all the schools encourage hands-on, experiential learning. Magnet themes are really a hook to engage families and kids in exciting and expressive ways.

Healthy, diverse public schools are the lifeblood of a thriving community — and a meaningful democracy.

Asheville’s alternative spirit is a hallmark of our community, but our skepticism of all things traditional may prevent us from investing in one of the most progressive, equalizing and democratic institutions ever to grace our nation.

When you think public schools, are you seeing desks in a row? Consider the community gardens bursting forth each spring at our elementary schools, or the arts-integrated classrooms that teach Shakespeare to fourth-graders. If you worry about standards, investigate the opportunity to study Spanish at least three days a week by the third grade, or learn about

All this choice, however, means that to secure a kindergarten slot in the Asheville City Schools (www.ashevillecityschools.net), you must apply

by Monday, March 15. And keep in mind that while the district will work hard to ensure you get your first choice, each school’s racial makeup must also be considered when placing students, because the system is still operating under a desegregation order.

Nonetheless, last year, every child whose application was complete and submitted on time (complete means including the required additional documents: Read the back of the application carefully!) was placed in their first-choice school.

Relax — all the schools are staffed by excellent teachers who are ready to delight in your child’s unique qualities. Our district serves more than 3,700 students in 10 schools (one preschool, five elementaries, one middle school, two high schools and one middle/high school combination). Talking with parents whose kids are already in these schools can give you good on-the-ground information. But don’t get caught up in the hype: School spirit is infectious, after all, and it’s easy to be swayed by all the talk you may hear about the “best school.”

And whatever you may ultimately choose, you’re not stuck with it. If you find you aren’t getting what you want or need for your child, you can make a change. Switching schools should not be done capriciously, but it’s important to remember that you do have options.

So what’s the best way to ensure that your child is nurtured and successful in school?

Get involved, become an advocate and volunteer. Your child will thrive — and so will our community.

And if you’re feeling a little freaked out, it’s a sign that you care deeply — and that means your child has everything he or she needs. At my son’s preschool, they sing a version of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” to prepare for graduation. It goes like this: “Don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing is gonna be all right in kindergarten!”

I strongly encourage you to take those words to heart.

To learn more about some of our local programs, take the Asheville City Schools Foundation’s Tour of Excellence on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to noon.

RSVP online at acsf.org. X Leah Ferguson is co-director of the Asheville City Schools Foundation.

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mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 10 - FEBRUARY 16, 2010