Any given weekend in WNC promises happenings of every sort, for every folk. But don’t overlook the bevy of school-night events — from traditional dancing to Irish music jams to club-style mayhem to wild piano boogie. From the long-running to the recently introduced, weeknights aren’t just for watching mediocre sitcoms.
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news
9 BUNCOMBE COMMISSIONERS County aproves zoning, activists keep pressure on commissioners
12 SOUTH ASHEVILLE RISING A number of independent local businesspeople have opened second locations in south Asheville, where one big development and an abundance of built-out commercial space makes the move attractive.
arts&entertainment
45 DAVE RAWLINGS MACHINE Backed by members of Old Crow Medicine Show, Rawlings has a brand-new album all his own 47 STAND AND FIGHT Joe Buck is a one-man war and a one-man band
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letters
How the election saved Asheville
Within basic political reality, I couldn’t be happier with the local election results and feel that if predictions hold up, Asheville/ Buncombe has real cause to celebrate, for once, the wisdom of our voters. I actually erred in my endorsements of Bothwell and Smith, when shortly after I wrote, Manheimer showed up to Blue Ridge Pride and said she would initiate gay-partner benefits. Then, though Manheimer failed to oppose zoning, I discovered on blogs that her contributors, like Albert Sneed, do oppose zoning and very effectively. So now I am doubly impressed with Manheimer, wish I had endorsed her over Smith, and am so glad she won. I had become too discouraged to do enough early research.
Not only did Manheimer win, but I think she won the deciding vote on both issues, because now four cultural progressives can [successfully support] gay benefits and attract a community that does so much to save us all from paralyzing childcare taxes, while four different fiscal conservatives protect homebuilders, and with them, the buyers, renters and construction workers from the job-ravaging NIMBYs. So Manheimer is in a position to literally save Buncombe County just when I had written it off as politically hopeless and was focused on fleeing.
And for icing on the cake, Swannanoa incorporation was trounced, thus protecting con-
struction workers and homebuilders there too, hooray! The future of both cultural progressivism and fiscal conservatism in Buncombe, and the link between the two (gays save taxes), seems to have just been saved, mostly by Esther Manheimer and mostly without my timely knowledge.
— Alan Ditmore Leicester
Act now to oppose the proposed H-bomb factory in Oak Ridge
Overcoming rain and interstate blockages, two teenagers’ testimony supplemented that of 10 from WNC at the Department of Energy’s Nov. 17 hearing in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The 12 opposed our government’s proposed new $3.5 billion H-bomb factory. Despite Obama’s avowal to phase out nuclear weapons, our militarists endorse a sustained global arms race for another century.
Unless we on Main Street stop the military-industrial complex, it will, through the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, build the new bomb plant at Y12 in Oak Ridge, an act likely to provoke unprecedented global nuclear-weapons proliferation.
Working to prevent extreme environmental degradation for which there is no cure, Western North Carolina Physicians for Social Responsibility is a medical and public-health voice working to prevent the greatest environ-
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mental threats to human existence, specifically the use or spread of nuclear weapons, and working to slow, stop and reverse global warming and the toxic degradation of the environment.
On April 5 in Prague, President Obama told the world that the United States was prepared to move towards a world free of nuclear weapons. The president offered several steps, including ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
In addition, the president is negotiating with Russia for new nuclear-weapons reductions, and the U.S. is preparing a new Nuclear Posture Review.
The United States is at the brink of either, 1) promoting nuclear proliferation by continuing the present status quo course that we have been pursuing for 60 years, or 2) demonstrating our resolve to seize the opportunities to renew and strengthen commitments to treaties to which we have agreed, but with which we have not been in compliance. Over the next few months, our executive and legislative branches will have perhaps one last opportunity to reduce the risks of nuclear disaster by carrying through on arms-reduction negotiations with Russia and other nations and on good-faith negotiations to solidify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. It would be globally dangerous for the United States to construct the proposed facility, which would produce secondaries and other nuclear-weapons components that would reverse these opportunities and signal to the rest of the world that we guarantee our weapons will be capable of inhumanely killing millions of people, mostly innocent civilians, for the next 100 years. Such would be a colossal environmental disaster, catastrophically affecting the health and lives of all earth’s inhabitants.
For more information: www.stopthebombs. org. You may challenge continued production of nuclear weapons in Oak Ridge by responding to the Draft Y12 Site Wide Environmental Impact Statement by sending comments to: LY12sweis.comments@tetratech.com before Jan. 29, 2010.
— Lewis E. Patrie, Chair WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility Asheville
Beware of basing your diet on ideology
Vegetarianism vs. factory meat-farming? We have lost our instincts about what is natural to eat. No other animal has philosophical discussions about the subject. Choosing a diet based on ideology can get you in big trouble if your ideology doesn’t match your biology. What do humans eat naturally? Our teeth are like chimpanzees’ — chimps are largely herbivorous, but occasionally kill and eat
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small animals. We now know gorillas also eat small amounts of animal food, but mostly leaves and shoots, needing to eat almost constantly, with a bony skull-crest anchoring their huge jaw muscles.
Anthropologist Louis Leakey thought that humans evolved because we ate meat and used fire. Cooked (partially predigested) meat and vegetables allowed eating less, chewing less. The bony crest disappeared, letting our brain expand. Before we were human, we stood up and chased our prey with spears.
All “primitive” cultures ate some meat, if only a little. Agriculture built ancient civilizations, with grains the staple food source, but meat was welcomed when available.
Traditional Chinese medicine has 2,000 years of scientific experience with the energetics of food and human health, recommending cooked vegetables and grains as the bulk of the diet, with smaller amounts of meat and other foods, such as fruits, nuts and raw vegetables, as supplements. Three ounces of meat per day is enough. It makes biological and ethical sense. Buy from local producers. If you choose a vegan diet, you need three cups of cooked beans to get the same amount of protein; and eat fermented foods and take care of your intestinal flora to avoid B-12 deficiency. Feel a little spacy and crave sweets? You are probably protein deficient.
If you can get around your ideology, have a little animal food when your body asks for it. It’s your biology talking.
— Kim Bonsteel Saphire
Stupak amendment attempts to “keep women in their place”
As a result of late-night, back-room negotiations, anti-choice forces took a “win” when the House health-care bill passed the Saturday before last. Outlawing coverage for a legal, medical procedure, the Stupak amendment will hurt millions of women who will pay the price for this staggering restriction on their right to choose.
The Stupak amendment doesn’t just extend the status quo — which says federal funds cannot cover abortions — it proposes to make insurance coverage for abortion virtually unavailable for millions of women in the new health-insurance exchange, even if paid for with their own money
Conservatives are attempting to highjack health-care reform to legislate reproductive rights when what we need right now is an affordable, fair health-care system that will include the millions of Americans who currently have little or no access to medical care.
Outlawing a legal medical procedure — for women only — is another attempt to “keep women in their place.” This amendment is part of a conservative political agenda that cannot be allowed to poison the health-care reform bill. It is discriminatory and it is wrong!
Health care reform now!
— Jessie Jones Asheville
Zoning war winding down? news
Despite outcry by activists, Buncombe commissioners approve zoning ordinance
by David Forbes
Eight months ago, the N.C. Court of Appeals struck down Buncombe County’s 2007 zoning ordinance on technical grounds, saying that the county hadn’t properly notified the public and that the county Planning Board hadn’t had sufficient time to consider the sweeping changes.
That ruling sent county staff scrambling to craft a new zoning ordinance that would satisfy state standards. At the Nov. 17 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, staff presented a draft document that was approved 4-1, with Commissioner Bill Stanley opposed. None of the commissioners commented prior to casting their votes. A second reading is scheduled for Dec. 1, when the commissioners will vote on the ordinance once again. If it’s approved, zoning will return to Buncombe County.
Although none of the commissioners commented prior to casting their votes, they’d gotten an earful before saying “aye” or “nay.” The Court of Appeals ruling also breathed life back into the county’s antizoning movement, which maintains that the practice infringes on property rights while ignoring the will of the people. Those activists showed up in force for the public hearing, sporting red “Let Us Vote” stickers and calling on the commissioners to put zoning to a referendum.
The county held a nonbinding referendum on zoning in 1999. Turnout was low, but the vote went decisively against zoning. Holding another
“This is what happens in communist countries. There are other ways to protect people besides zoning, which takes away our private-property rights.”
referendum would require permission from the General Assembly.
And while Board of Commissioners Chair David Gantt didn’t comment before casting his vote, he did caution speakers at the public hearing to be respectful. “We’re not all going to agree with one another,” he said. “I don’t agree with everything my wife says, and she doesn’t agree with me. But I’m going to call you down if you’re not respectful; we’re ladies and gentlemen here.” He added that he would eject people for “personal attacks.”
Despite Gantt’s warning, however, the atmosphere was tense, with comment veering into invective throughout the lengthy public hearing.
“This is what happens in communist countries,” asserted West Asheville resident Hope Herrick, adding, “There are other ways to protect people besides zoning, which takes away our private-property rights.”
Former Commissioner Dolph Robinson also didn’t see eye to eye with the board. “Zoning was implemented before, but you didn’t get it right, and you won’t get it right this time — because there’s no right way to trample down the will of the people,” he told the commissioners.
Enka resident Jerry Rice framed the ordinance as an attempt to push out the poor to make way for the well-heeled. “We want to provide a haven for the rich and famous; we’ll rape our mountains to give the wealthy what they need,” said Rice. “This zoning isn’t going to hurt the rich: They’ll buy their way to the top of the mountain no matter what it costs.”
He added that while the commissioners had held public meetings on the topic, he wasn’t impressed with their efforts. “You didn’t want to have a big audience because you didn’t want to have red faces like baboons going out of here today,” Rice charged. “But I tell you one thing: History will show how many baboons are sitting behind those desks.”
That proved too much for Gantt, who banged his gavel, saying, “Let’s go, Jerry, cut it out.”
“You’re the political figure and you can get it — take it or leave it,” Rice replied.
“We told you the rules. You’re finished,” Gantt declared.
“I hope you’re finished at the end of your term,” Rice shot back, before a deputy escorted him out of the room at Gantt’s direction.
Here’s your sign: Mike Fryar holds up a sign announcing the zoning public hearing, comparing it to larger election signs from the commissioners’ last campaign.
PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WELCH
owner of a property that doesn’t meet the new zoning rules can nonetheless continue using it for its current purpose and even double the size of the structure in most cases.
While the vast majority of speakers opposed zoning, some supporters also weighed in, asserting that the ordinance is necessary to protect their land and manage the environmental impacts of new development.
“I want zoning. I want my property to be zoned so that someone can’t come and put a racecar track or a cement plant next to me,” said south Buncombe resident Mary Lou Davies. “I want to have some security. I approve of the slope designation. I know it cost someone here some value on their property. But you were proposing that to stop their house from falling off the mountain. This year we’ve had over 50 inches of rain. I think you have been looking out for the interests of the people.”
CTS controversy continues
Bead & Jewelry Show
“We’re not going to ... respect your right to be here”: After Enka resident (and zoning opponent) Jerry Rice compared the commissioners to baboons, Chair David Gantt directed deputies to escort him out.
“If you’re going to be like that, we’re not going to respect your right to be here,” Gantt said.
Since it proved such a sticking point last time, the county took particular care to meet the state’s rules on notifying the public. But conservative activist Mike Fryar said those efforts had still left a lot to be desired, comparing the relatively small size and print in the signs advertising the hearing with the signs the commissioners used during their last election.
“Can you read that at 50 miles an hour? Can you read that across the room?” Fryar asked, brandishing a sign announcing the zoning hearing. “Get ahold of Raleigh, ask them to let us vote. It’s been 10 years — you might win.”
County Attorney Michael Frue later replied: “You can’t expect us to attach the entire zoning map and ordinance to every sign. The fact that so many people showed up to complain about the size of the signs shows that they accomplished their purpose and got the word out.”
Some speakers criticized the new ordinance’s ban on mobile homes in certain residential zoning districts, asserting that the provision — which wasn’t in the 2007 version of the ordinance — would reduce the supply of affordable housing. “[When] I moved here, I pulled a 14-foot-by-46-foot singlewide and set it up on property that’s now a Wal-Mart,” said Joe Belcher, whose employer, Clayton Homes, builds manufactured housing. “This county afforded me an opportunity to grow. People need to be able to put a home on their property that they can afford.”
Throughout the meeting, county staff were stationed outside the chamber to answer questions about individual properties. Before the final vote, the commissioners modified the ordinance by waiving the fee for rezoning requests for 90 days. Under the ordinance, the
Mills Gap Road area residents repeated their complaints that local, state and federal officials have been dragging their feet in cleaning up trichloroethylene contamination at the former CTS of Asheville site and in the surrounding neighborhood’s ground water, and they called on the county to put all Chapel Hill Church Road residents on city water. This summer, a well tested there contained 168 times the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s limit for TCE in drinking water.
“To see the way the government is taking care of the people in this community is a disgrace; it’s dishonorable,” resident Aaron Penland charged.
The county did put the family drawing water from that well on city water, but it has argued that other Chapel Hill Church Road residents are not in imminent danger. Penland, however, said the high level measured at the well probably indicates that the contamination is spreading.
Department of Social Services Director Mandy Stone said the director of the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources has finally responded to the county’s request for more information about the public-health risks posed by the contamination and has agreed to join the county in pressing the EPA to release more information.
Frue, meanwhile, repeated the county’s assertion that its authority is limited by state and federal law and that the county cannot directly seek compensation from CTS.
“As for the imminent threat, we’ve been told there’s no danger to wells that aren’t testing positive,” said Frue. “We have to trust the EPA and DENR on this: They have the expertise.”
Affordable housing on Merrimon
In other business, the commissioners approved the sale of land at 786 Merrimon Ave. to Mountain Housing Opportunities, which plans to build affordable housing on the site. The complex is expected to be finished by 2012, and rents are projected to run from $300 to $750 a month.
South Asheville rising
Local small-business owners drawn to overlooked area
powerhouse: A joint venture of the Asheville-based
— it’s a $204 million mixed-use development on Long
Farms and
Road that features a 15-screen movie theater, 285,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 270,000 square feet of office space and 274 condominiums, town homes and apartments.
by J ason S andford
Tom Montgomery looked south and spied opportunity.
By last year, 12 Bones Smokehouse, the rib shack in Asheville’s River Arts District co-owned by Montgomery and S abra Kelley , had racked up three successful years. Powered by strong demand for their smoky barbecue and a talented staff itching to do still more, they decided to launch a second restaurant on Sweeten Creek Road in Arden.
South Asheville “was the obvious choice, with the population growth coming this way and the lack of hometown feel,” says Montgomery. “There are so many chain restaurants down here; somebody needed to do something.”
A number of other independent local businesspeople have made similar decisions recently. While their specific reasons may vary, they say the lack of community meeting places in the area and an abundance of built-out commercial space piqued their interest. Meanwhile, growth driven by one of Asheville’s biggest new developments, Biltmore Park Town Square, has made moving south even more attractive to optimistic business owners.
As an independent opening in an area marked by large commercial developments
PHOTO BY JASON SANDFORD
that cater mostly to chains, “We’re kind of jumping in the face of the big guys, for sure,” Montgomery concedes. But so far, it’s paying off. His company just bought the building next door to the Sweeten Creek Road location to provide parking, Montgomery reports, adding that they’d planned from the beginning to buy the neighboring property when it became available.
A perfect fit
The south side of Asheville was also a perfect fit for Tupelo Honey Cafe’s second location, says owner S teve Frabitore . The original downtown eatery, now a tourist destination, is consistently near capacity, he says, adding that the 62-seat space makes it hard to honor customers’ desire to make reservations and bring in large groups. Meanwhile, he’d heard that south Asheville residents were hungry for a homey breakfast-and-brunch place.
The spot Frabitore found on Hendersonville Road meets all those needs. The former Stir Fry Cafe space will seat 170 people, enabling his restaurant to take reservations and offer semiprivate rooms accommodating up to 60 diners, he says. The location has plenty of parking and was recently upfitted with new restaurant equipment.
“It’s a tremendous facility; the space is right where we want it to be. I guess you
Southside
Biltmore
Charlotte-based Crosland, Biltmore Park Town Square is the big growth engine in south Asheville
Shoals
could say we’re moving our product to the burbs,” observes Frabitore.
The restaurateur has a three-day job fair slated for Monday, Nov. 30, through Wednesday, Dec. 2, to fill 70 new jobs. Offers will be extended about a week after that, and Frabitore says he plans to open Tupelo Honey’s south location Feb. 1. Aside from meeting customers’ needs, Frabitore says he’s excited about growing his business and creating new opportunities for his dedicated employees.
“That’s what’s most rewarding for me as an owner.”
Tommy Tsiros , proprietor of Pomodoros Greek and Italian Café, says he decided to open a second restaurant on Long Shoals Road last year after researching south Asheville’s increasing population density. Tsiros saw Biltmore Park Town Square, in particular, as a “people magnet.”
“There’s really no tourism draw down south, not like what we have with the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance so close to our
to Dwellings, a second location for a locally owned furniture store. Bon Bebe specializes in children’s gifts, clothes and furnishings, and Moda features women’s clothing. The Sparrow Spa has opened in the Hilton Asheville, and Travinia Italian Kitchen adjoins the Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium theater and 131 MAIN.
“We are delighted to welcome these local stores to the mixture of regional and national tenants located in Biltmore Park Town Square.,” Biltmore Farms President Jack Cecil said in a press release. “From the initial planning we wanted Town Square to become a community whereby our shoppers could find local, regional and national goods as well as dine at a variety of restaurants.”
Old-fashioned social networking
For Thirsty Monk pub owner Barry Bialik , opening a second watering hole off Hendersonville Road was as much about building community as it was about building his business.
“I live down there, and for selfish reasons,
“There’s really no tourism draw down south. We felt like Biltmore Park would offset that. For us, it was part of the decision to move south.”
POMODOROS CAFÉ OWNER TOMMY TSIROS
Afternoon Ceremony and Introduction to the Pachakuti Mesa Tradition of Peruvian and Cross-Cultural Shamanism
east Asheville location on Tunnel Road,” he explains. “We felt like Biltmore Park would offset that. For us, it was part of the decision to move south.”
Six restaurants, notes Tsiros, have opened in the last year in Biltmore Park alone: Brixx Wood Fired Pizza, the Hickory Tavern, 131 MAIN, P.F. Chang’s, a small sandwich shop and Roux (in the Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park). That increased competition, plus a sluggish economy, has meant sales at his south restaurant have been down about 8 percent since the opening early in 2008.
But that doesn’t worry Tsiros. As the economy picks up and consumers regain some lost confidence, he says he’s hopeful his customers will return.
“We’re not upset with what’s going on with Biltmore Park. Competition is a good thing. We feel like eventually all those restaurant seats will be filled. The outlook is positive, and I’m very optimistic.”
Ambitious plans
While a number of other planned projects in south Asheville have languished, Biltmore Park Town Square has forged ahead. The $204 million mixed-use development, a joint venture by the Asheville-based Biltmore Farms LLC and Crosland LLC of Charlotte, features a 15-screen movie theater, 285,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 270,000 square feet of office space and 274 condominiums, town homes and apartments.
Attracting a mix of chain and locally owned stores, the massive project just announced the addition of six more businesses: Echo Gallery, a cooperative founded by six River Arts District artists, opened recently next
I wanted to have a place there,” says Bialik. After noting that a number of his beer-loving friends hailed from the south side, and recognizing the lack of a viable social gathering place in the area, Bialik got serious about launching another location. Building on the success of his downtown pub, which specializes in Belgian beers, he found a vacant space and opened Monk South Sept. 10.
One key, says Bialik, was the fact that the space had recently been outfitted with all new equipment for a coffee shop. “A lot of independent small businesses can get by sometimes by riding on the coattails of other, unsuccessful businesses. We took over a space that was recently built out, so we leased the space and bought the equipment for literally pennies on the dollar.”
It’s not all about the money, though. Bialik also sees his mission as helping build community. Curious about the history of his south Asheville neighborhood, Bialik says he recently met a couple in his pub who knew much of it and invited him to see their collection of local property deeds dating back to the 1700s.
“Before the Monk South, there really was no opportunity to sit down and meet my neighbors in a public house. Here, I’m meeting my neighbors for the first time,” says Bialik, adding, “I think this is good for south Asheville.”
Jason Sandford can be reached at 251-1333, ext. 115, or jsandford@mountainx.com.
THIS Sunday, November 29th, 3-5pm with Jason Blaesing
This Holiday Season, Ten Thousand Villages in Asheville is hosting holiday shopping bene ts for local nonpro t agencies. We will donate 15% of the value of your purchase between 5-8 pm during these events to the following organizations:
3
Counseling
Local publisher Ira Schultz dies; Stereotypd to carry on his work thebuzz
Ira S chultz will be remembered by friends and colleagues for his ability to make people laugh. “He had a fabulous sense of humor,” says L in Orndorf , editor of the GLBT magazine Stereotypd . “He loved to be in the spotlight, but only if he was making people laugh.”
Schultz, who died of a heart attack Nov. 15 at age 52, was known in the gay-and-lesbian community as a major fundraising organizer and the publisher of Stereotypd and its predecessor, Out in Asheville . But he was also a font of humor and a dynamic performer, especially in the guise of his drag persona, S tephanie S inclair
“He was our publisher, but he was also our best friend. He was the funniest person I’ve ever met,” recalls Porscha Yount , the magazine’s art director.
Born in Pennsylvania, Schultz moved to Asheville about 12 years ago after a stint as a club owner in Fort Lauderdale, where he developed his alter ego. After arriving in Western North Carolina, Schultz established himself as the driving force behind fundraisers for organizations like Loving Food Resources and the WNC Aids Project.
But at the heart of those events was always a desire to throw a party, says Orndorf. For example, an upcoming benefit for WNC Youth OUTRight, titled “Don We Now Our Gay Apparel,” grew out of Schultz’s desire to see his friends decked out in Christmas sweaters. There was also talk of starting a
Stephanie Sinclair scholarship fund.
As Sinclair, Schultz contributed regular nightlife columns to Out in Asheville and Stereotypd and made celebrity-style appearances, including serving as a pageant judge at O. Henry’s the night before his death.
“Stephanie was just radiant that night,” remembers Yount. An ad in the current Stereotypd announces a split bill at the club that would have featured Sinclair and drag favorite Cookie L aRue
Schultz’s passing comes just two months after the unveiling of the glossy redesign of Stereotypd (which Out in Asheville had morphed into back in January), a change he’d long wanted to make.
“Shiny and pretty; it was part of his personality,” says Yount.
The redesign followed an attempted merger with two other regional magazines that went sour in September, with the various parties leveling accusations at one another. “It went really badly,” Yount reports. “Ira was the most angry, because we almost lost [the magazine].”
But with Stereotypd not publishing that month, the group decided it was time to unveil the new model. “We might as well make a big splash,” Orndorf explains.
Schultz was laid to rest Nov. 20 at Shepherd Memorial Park in Hendersonville, but a memorial service is slated for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28, at O. Henry’s. In honor of Schultz’s showmanship, the organizers are billing it as a “dress to impress” send-off.
“The one thing Ira always wanted to do was have an event where everyone dressed up,” Yount notes. The nonreligious ceremony will begin with remembrances by people close to Schultz, followed by a celebration of his life.
“We can’t imagine letting him go without a party,” adds Yount.
— Brian Postelle
A new image: Schultz had recently unveiled a glossy new look for his GLBT publication Stereotypd — a shiny, pretty look that complemented his own personality, friends say.
Buncombe County to hand off health-care services to local nonprofit
Buncombe County has taken another step toward handing a local nonprofit the job of providing primary health care to indigent and uninsured children and adults.
The county announced Nov. 17 that it had reached a formal agreement with Western North Carolina Community Health Services to provide basic access to health care for about 10,000 patients now served by the Buncombe County Health Center. Contracting with Community Health Services will give an additional 5,000 people access to the local health-care “safety net” for the same amount of the money the county’s spending now, officials say.
That’s because, as a federally qualified health clinic, the nonprofit gets significantly higher Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements than the county Health Department. In a March report to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, Department of Social Services Director Mandy Stone said it would cost the county $6 million a year to serve its current patient load plus another 5,000 needy patients, whereas Community Health Services could do it for $3 million.
And the need is definitely there. Local demand for services has been on the rise because of the rising cost of health care and the tough economy,
says Buncombe County Health Director Gibbie Harris, adding, “We’re pleased WNCCHS is working with us to expand access to services.”
The nonprofit, which has been providing health care in Asheville for 15 years, will begin serving former Health Center patients Jan. 4 at two locations. An office on Ridgelawn Road in West Asheville will serve families and children; another one at 257 Biltmore Ave. will serve adults, says Harris. Both sites will provide lab and pharmacy services, dental care, urgent care and behavioral health services.
Harris said that most of the 80 or so county Health Department employees will now work for Community Health Services, she explains; some employees are retiring, and others will stay on at the Health Department.
The change, says Harris, will also enable the Health Department to focus more on improving other core services, such as tackling communicable diseases, offering prenatal and familyplanning services, breast and cervical cancer screenings, and a nutrition program for women and children. Once the move takes place, the county agency will officially change its name to the Buncombe County Department of Health.
— Jason Sandford
Former Asheville firefighter gets four months for cyclist shooting
Former Asheville firefighter Charles Alexander Diez will spend four months in jail for shooting at cyclist Alan Simons in July. Diez pleaded guilty Nov. 19 to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.
On July 26, Simons was riding with his family on Tunnel Road. According to Asheville police, Diez had stopped to argue with Simons, saying that the child seat the cyclist’s 3-yearold son was riding in was unsafe. As Simons began walking away, Diez fired his handgun, the .38-caliber bullet tearing through the back of Simons’ bike helmet less than an inch from his head. Diez had no prior criminal record and was sober at the time. In the wake of the incident, Diez was suspended with pay; as of Aug. 10, he was no longer employed by the Asheville Fire Department.
Diez was originally charged with attempted first-degree murder, but a grand jury refused to press those charges, instead indicting him on the felony-assault charge.
Sentences for defendants convicted on such charges average 20 to 39 months, according to state charts. But for Superior Court Judge James Downs, Diez’s military service, as well as testimony from former colleagues about his good character, were mitigating factors. Downs instead chose to sentence the defendant to 15 to 27 months, with all but four months suspended unless Diez breaks the law again during the next 30 months. The defendant must also attend anger-management training and pay $1,200 to cover Simons’ medical costs for damage to his eardrum.
The case has sparked controversy, especially within the cycling community. After the attempted-murder charge was dropped in August, some protested what they saw as overly lenient treatment of Diez, while calling for better road conditions for cyclists.
— David Forbes
City names economic development chief as Civic Center director
The Asheville Civic Center is getting more than just a new roof: After a five-month search, the city has appointed Economic Development Director S am Powers as the venue’s director.
The Civic Center has been operating under an interim director since the departure of S herman Bass back in June. Bass had served for about a year-and-a-half before accepting a position in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas. D avid Pisha had overseen the facility for the previous 10 years.
Powers’ appointment marks a new approach to leadership at the venue, one that will recognize its economic impact on the city, he says. “If you think of the Civic Center and our local and regional economicdevelopment plan, there’s a really natural connectivity.” But financial belt-tightening also played a part in the decision. “With the current economic climate we are in, it made sense to look within instead of bringing someone from outside the organization,” Powers explains.
While the preference would have been to have two separate directors, the joint appointment will save the city about $100,000 a year, says City Manager Gary Jackson . And though Powers will also continue running the Office of Economic Development, some of that workload will be shared, Jackson reports. In addition, new economic-incentive structures — such as the “business improvement district” envisioned in the Downtown Master Plan — could eventually assume responsibilities now covered by Powers’ office.
Commission, says his group is looking forward to coordinating its strategies with Powers. “The city’s choice of a knowledgeable and respected community-business-oriented individual bodes well for the Civic Center’s future,” he wrote in an e-mail to Xpress. “The choice of Mr. Powers is a strong endorsement of the capabilities of the center’s present professional staff.”
For his part, Powers says his involvement with the Civic Center will likely focus on external economic development rather than internal management. That could include discussions with the Tourism Development Authority — with whom City Council is currently at odds over a proposal to allocate a portion of hotel-room-tax revenues for Civic Center improvements — and perhaps coordinating with the nonprofit group pushing for constructing a new performance center in the city. D an D over , who has served as interim director since Bass’ departure, will continue to handle day-to-day operations at the facility, Powers explains.
“There’s a core staff ... right now who understands the operations [there],” he notes. “As long as we’ve got good folks like that who are engaged, that allows me to concentrate perhaps more on external issues that are inherently tied with the Civic Center.”
Powers will also give City Council updates on the ongoing Civic Center capital-improvements plan, which aims to repair or replace a laundry list of outdated or neglected equipment in the building.
— Brian Postelle
Mike Burke , who chairs the Civic Center
outdoors
Fontana flashback
Family memories from 1970s WNC
by Cinthia Milner
While Western North Carolina may be a tourist destination — as well as home to quite a few transplants who now enjoy our mountains, woods and lakes — there are still a few of us with longer histories here who recall a different era.
Here’s what I remember: Fontana Lake in 1975. I was 15 years old, it was the middle of summer and the lake was near empty of people. If a boat went by our boathouse, we knew who was in it and where they’d been (into Bryson City for a haircut and some groceries). We’d throw a hand up in greeting. Otherwise we spent the day fishing, swimming, cooking, cleaning and just sitting. If a boat went by that we didn’t recognize, one of us went to check on it — to make our presence known, to be friendly.
My Papaw grew up in the valley that became the bottom of Fontana Lake. His family’s farm was there before the Tennessee Valley Authority bought everyone out and flooded the area. I never saw it as he remembered it, except in a few rare pictures the family valued highly. But when the lake was low, we’d climb into the boat, and my Papaw would drive us over to the old farm site. We could see the tip of a roof sticking out of the water. If we leaned over the edge of the boat and squinted, we could still see the rocking chairs on the front porch. Why those
When the lake was low, my Papaw would drive us over to the old farm site, where we could see the tip of a roof sticking out of the water.
had been left behind (and hadn’t washed off the porch when the water came pouring down) I never learned, but there they were, eerily reminding us of days gone by. That place was more home to my Papaw than I’d ever know. But the lake was home, not some exotic location where you went hiking into the wilderness. I don’t remember anyone ever suggesting a “hike” in the way outdoors enthusiasts mean it today. Hikes meant going to Aunt Kate’s house: two miles over a ridge, one mile through a valley and about another half-mile up a dirt road.
Fishing was an ongoing, morning-and-evening event, not some special outing. My Aunt Louise, terrified of water but a true fisherman nonetheless, got up at 4 a.m., and if you wanted to go with her, you got up too and tagged along. We fished until the sun made it too hot to catch anything, and then she’d let us jump in the lake for a swim — as long as we didn’t rock the boat too bad. Evenings, everyone sat on the boathouse and fished. Old couches cluttered the porches. They were covered in a green fabric that scratched your skin. If you had sunburn they weren’t too comfortable, but if you were eaten up with mosquito bites, they felt pretty good.
A “vacation” was camping up in Linville Gorge or at Mount Mitchell, and every year we noticed the little changes: An old oak had fallen in a storm; somebody had built a house; a creek had dried up. Though we were a working family, not wealthy or even middle-class, we’d stay two weeks, sometimes three.
But summers at the Fontana boathouse were special. We had a view of the mountains sur-
rounding the lake, and we watched the sun go down behind them every night and rise above them again the next day. We wore sweatshirts at night and bathing suits or blue-jean shorts during the day. Our boathouse was two miles from Fontana Dam, and my sisters, cousins and I regularly took the boat over there for adventures. We hiked up trails, took canoes down every trickle of a creek and went squirrel hunting. We camped on every ridgetop and flattop between the dam and the boathouse.
We did all of that — unchaperoned — at the ages of 15, 14, 13 and 10 (just the sisters, that is).
Four teen and preteen girls (often accompanied by assorted cousins and friends) routinely went camping, fishing, swimming, water skiing and driving boats, all on their own, on miles of a lake in the middle of a remote forest. What parent nowadays would allow that?
We fell asleep on the boathouse each night, lulled by the sounds of the mountain creatures settling around us. Some gardening magazines suggest extending your living area outside to better complement your home and allow you to enjoy the outdoors. We didn’t need that. The outdoors framed the walls and floors of our real home: the mountains.
It was as natural as breathing and as normal as everyday life. We didn’t know there was a difference, or that some folks lived indoors and did outdoor things only when they could. We just knew that we lived outdoors and did inside things when we had to.
Days gone by: In the 1970s, author Cinthia Milner and her sisters called Fontana Lake home every summer.
PHOTO COURTESY CINTHIA MILNER
Cinthia Milner lives in Leicester.
OUTDOORS CALENDAR
CALENDAR FOR N OVEMBER 25 - D E C EMBER 3, 2009
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.
• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - Carrier Park Runners. Meet at the Carrier Park Pavilion. Leader: Dick Duccini, 645-8887. Pace: slow-moderate —6pm - Beginning Runner’s Program. Meet at the Carrier Park Pavilion. Leader: Tom Kilsbury, burytom@charter.net —- 6pm - ATC Walkers Club. Meet at the Carrier Park Pavilion. Leader: Larry Fincher, HawCreekLarry@aol.com.
• SATURDAYS, 8am - Carrier Park Runners. Meet at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Leader: Dick Duccini, 645-8887 —- 8am - Beginning Runner’s Program. Meet at Carrier Park Pavilion. Leader: Tom Kilsbury, burytom@charter.net —- 8am - ATC Walkers Club. Meet at Fletcher Park. Leader: Sherry Best-Kai, 595-4148 or bestmsrd@mchsi.com. Call ahead to confirm.
• SUNDAYS, 8am - Carrier Park Runners. Park at NC Arboretum Greenhouse. Leader: Dick Duccini, 645-8887. Long, slow distance on trails —- 8:30am - ATC Trail Run. Park at NC Arboretum Greenhouse. Leaders: Bryan Trantham, 648-9336, and Rick Taylor, 776-3853. Pace: 8:30-9:30mpm.
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 for details or if weather is questionable: 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. Email for departure time: 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. Call or email for departure time: 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 (11/25), 8am - Mt. Cammerer from Big Creek. Info: 656-2191 or desraylet@aol.com.
• SU (11/29), 9am - Coontree Loop Extended. Info: 257-2136 —- 1pm - Craven Gap to Folk Art Center. Info: 298-9988.
• WE (12/2), 8:30am - East Fork Pigeon River. Info: 738-3395 or bcmorg@hughes.net.
Pigeon Valley Bassmasters
All interested anglers in the community in WNC, Upstate S.C., East Tennessee and NE Georgia are invited to attend and share fishing ideas. Invitational tournaments are held throughout the area. Info: 8842846 or middlefork2846@gmail.com.
• 2nd MONDAYS, 7pm - Meeting at the Canton Library.
Turkey Trot 5K
• TH (11/26), 9am - Turkey Trot 5K at Carrier Park in Asheville. $25 in advance/$30 day of race. For info & downloadable entry forms: www.jusrunning. com.
MORE O UT DOOR S EVEN TS ONL I NE
Check out the Outdoors Calendar online at www. mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after December 3.
C ALENDAR DEADL I NE
The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m. WEDNESDAY , one week prior to publication. Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365
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CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 25DECEMBER 3, 2009
calendar
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
14th Annual Montford Tour of Homes • December 12 (pd.) 1pm-5pm. Tickets: $20/ person, can be purchased at the Asheville Chamber Visitors Center, 36 Montford Avenue.
All proceeds go to Montford Neighborhood Association.
AIDS Memorial Quilt Exhibit
• Through TH (12/3) - Pack Place in Asheville will be hosting a display of personalized quilts in memory of those who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. Musicians to perform daily. World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Candlelight Vigil to be held 7pm. Info: www. wncap.org.
Public Lectures & Events at UNCA
Events are free unless otherwise noted.
• MO (11/30), 11:25am
- Humanities Lectures: “Early Christianity,” with Dr. Merritt Moseley in the Humanities Lecture Hall and “The Ebb and Flow of Empires,” with Ann Dunn in Lipinsky Auditorium.
Salvation Army Info: 253-4723.
Social & SharedInterest Groups
Ardent Toastmasters Club
Afraid to speak in public? Want to practice your speaking skills in a fun and supportive environment? Meets at Zona Lofts, 162 Coxe Ave., in downtown Asheville. Info: 225-8680 or www.toastmasters.org/websiteApps/.
• Alternate THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - Meeting.
Arise & Shine Toastmasters Ready to overcome your fear of public speaking and to enhance your communication and leadership skills? This group provides a friendly environment in which to do so. Guests have no obligation to join. Info: 776-5076.
• THURSDAYS, 7:30am - Meets at UNCA’s Highsmith Student Union.
• TH (11/26) - Thanksgiving dinner will be served at the Salvation Army Center for Hope, 204 Haywood St. Open to all.
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
* 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.
* 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.
252-7928, ext. 6241 or sue. simpson@pphsinc.org. 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.
The New Friends Meetup Interested in meeting new people for friendship, fun, romance, activities, and learning new things? Info: www. meetup.com/New-FriendsMeetup.
• WEEKLY - Meets at a bar/ restaurant.
Youth OUTright
WEEKLY PICKS
Have family and friends in town for the Thanksgiving holiday? Why not visit the SmithMcDowell House Museum Wednesday, Nov. 25. The antebellum house, located on the campus of A-B Tech Community College in Asheville, will be authentically decorated with fresh trees, garlands, ornaments and toys of the Victorian period through Jan. 10. Info: 2539231.
Thursday, Nov. 26: Happy Thanksgiving! The Salvation Army Center for Hope, 204 Haywood St., in downtown Asheville, will be serving Thanksgiving dinner. Open to all. Info: 253-4723.
The Holiday Artists Market at the Arts Council of Henderson County, 538 N. Main St., Hendersonville, kicks off Friday, Nov. 27, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The market will feature work by regional artists/crafters, and will be open through Dec. 19. Info: 693-8504.
Catch a screening of Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt Saturday, Nov. 28. The Asheville Art Museum will be offering continuous screenings of the film, which profiles six people with AIDS, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pack Place, 2 S. Pack Place Square. Info: 2533227.
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.
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, 12:20-1:30pm - Meeting.
Koinonia Monday Night Potlucks
• MONDAYS, 6-10pmPotluck. The gathering invites visionaries, homeschoolers, activists, spiritualists and folks of all walks of life to share ideas and wisdom. Be a part of fostering an evolved local and global community. Change begins within us. Info: 333-2000.
Planned Parenthood of Asheville Young Advocates
• 1st WEDNESDAYS, 6:308pm - Monthly meeting. Get to know like-minded young Ashevilleans who advocate for choice and reproductive health. Explore volunteer opportunities and plan upcoming events. Info:
A weekly discussion group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 14-20. Each week a new topic and activity will be led by at least two trained facilitators. Straight allies (ages 14-20) are also welcome. Info: www. youthoutright.org.
• FRIDAYS, 6:30-9pmMeets at the Jefferson House, adjacent to the Unitarian Universalist Church (corner of Edwin and Charlotte Streets) at 21 Edwin Pl.
Government & Politics
Stand for Peace
• TUESDAYS, 5-6pm - Stand for peace with Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, War Resisters League, Military Families Speak Out, Buncombe Green Party and other peace mongers at Pack Place, intersection of Patton and Biltmore Avenues. Info: 582-5180.
Seniors & Retirees
Henderson County Senior Softball League
The league is always looking for new players, age 50 and older. Weather permitting, they play year-round. Info: 698-3448 or www. LJRsoftball.com.
• TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS
- Morning games at Jackson Park in Hendersonville. Waynesville Parks and Recreation Info: 456-2030 or recyouth@ townofwaynesville.org.
Enjoy an afternoon outdoors with the Carolina Mountain Club Sunday, Nov. 29. Hike the Coontree Loop trail to Perry Cove and Bennett Gap at 9 a.m. (7 miles) or hike from Craven Gap to the Folk Art Center at 1 p.m. (5.4 miles). Coontree Loop info: 257-2136. Craven Gap info: 298-9988.
Stop by the Grovewood Gallery Monday, Nov. 30, to see two exhibitions on display through December: The second annual Sculpture for the Garden exhibit, featuring large-scale, contemporary outdoor sculptures by nationally recognized artists, and new fiber-art wall hangings by LINT (Ladies in New Textiles). Info: 253-7651.
Classical, romantic music from 20th century repertories will be performed at the Brevard College Chamber and Percussion Ensemble's concert Tuesday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Porter Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Brevard College. Info: 884-8330.
• TU (12/1), 8am-3pm
- Senior Trip: Go to the Grove Park Inn for breakfast and a tour of the gingerbread house exhibition. Next, visit the antique car museum and craft store. $20/$24 nonmembers. Info: recprograms@townofwaynesville.org.
Animals
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue
A no-kill organization. Info: 458-7778 or www.bwar.org.
• FR (11/27), Noon-4pm
- Pet Adoption Day at BoneA-Fide Bakery & Pet Boutique. Info: 669-0706.
Buncombe County Animal Services
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services Division offers low-cost vaccination clinics. Rabies shots: $6. Combo shots: $15 per dog and $20 per cat. Microchips: $10. To receive a three-year rabies vaccine, bring the one-year certificate. Please bring restraints for pets. Info: 2531195.
• SA (11/28), 9am-Noon - At Superpetz on Brevard Rd. —-
1-4pm - At Tractor Supply on Monticello Rd.
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 4 times a month within Asheville or Buncombe County to build a fence for a chained dog.
Haywood County Animal Shelter
Located at 245 Hemlock St., Waynesville. Info: 456-9340.
• Through SU (1/3) - Haywood County Animal Shelter, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation and Aidan’s Fund are teaming up to help people adopt a shelter pet. A portion of the adoption fee for pets will be paid. Info: 246-9050.
Transylvania Animal Alliance Group
For information about T.A.A.G., or donations of time or resources, 966-3166,
taagwags@citcom.net, www. taagwags.org or www.taag. petfinder.com.
• SATURDAYS, 11am-4pmAdoption Days at PETsMART on Airport Road in Arden. View adoptable animals on the Web site.
Business & Careers
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.
• TH (12/3), 6-9pm
- “Advanced Internet.”
Designed to give participants the information they need to promote their Web sites. At the Small Business Center, Rm. 2046, on the A-B Tech Enka Campus. $30 at the door. To register: 274-1142 or visit the Web site.
Volunteering
Ashevillage Institute (AVI) Nonprofit eco-urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions. Info or to RSVP: 225-8820, info@ashevillage.org or www.ashevillage.org.
• MONDAYS through SATURDAYS, 9am-5pm - Volunteer days and potluck lunch. Volunteers needed in: gardening, permaculture, stonework, carpentry, marketing, administration, fundraising and business development. 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 after school 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. Events at Barnes & Noble
The bookstore is located at 3 Tunnel Rd. in the Asheville Mall. Info: www.bn.com.
• Through FR (1/1) - Annual Holiday Book Drive: Barnes & Noble will be collecting books for Toys for Tots. Info: 296-7335.
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.
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe
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.
• SA (11/28), 11am-1:30pm
- Show support to hospice patients and their families by cooking and serving a meal at the John Keever Solace Center.
Henderson County Heritage Museum
Located in the Historic Courthouse in Hendersonville at 1 Historic Courthouse Square on Main Street. Info: 694-1619 or www.hendersoncountymuseum.org.
• FR (11/27) through SA (1/2) - Help Operation Toasty Toes Tree makes and sends items to troops overseas. Info: 694-1619.
Holiday Giving Tree at the Oakley Library
• TU (12/1) through WE (12/16) - Donations will be accepted for the 10th annual Holiday Giving Tree at the Oakley Library, located at 749 Fairview Road. Provide new books for disadvantaged children in the community. Info: 250-4754.
Holiday Hope Tree Social for Eliada Homes for Children
• SA (11/28), 2-4pmChoose ornaments from the Eliada tree and fulfill a child’s holiday wish. Each ornament represents a wish from an Eliada Homes for Children resident. All gift givers will be entered to win a quilt made by the S. Asheville Quilting Bee. Info: 254-5356.
Housing Assistance
A local nonprofit that helps low-income Henderson County residents with their housing needs. Info: 6965483.
• The HAC Resale Shop needs donations: construction materials, household items, furniture, appliances.
Pick-up can be arranged, just call.
OnTrack Needs Administrative Support
• OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling needs extra office administrative support. Volunteers are needed to assist with various office tasks. The volunteer must be available during OnTrack’s regular business hours (8am-5:30pm). Info: 210-4956 or adamc@ ontrackwnc.org.
Operation Santa Claus
• Through TU (12/1) - The Arc of Buncombe County is sponsoring Operation Santa Claus for special needs individuals throughout the county. Volunteers are asked to “adopt” a child to help spread the joy of Christmas to these individuals who have no immediate family or support systems. Donations must be received by Dec. 1. Info: 253-1255.
Our VOICE Education & Outreach Training
• MO (11/30) through TH (12/17) - Training (30 hrs.) prepares volunteers to present in a variety of settings, like schools and businesses, on the basics of sexual violence. Programs are aimed at breaking down myths, challenging unsafe attitudes, advocating for healthy relationships and consent, and sharing resources. Info: 255-7576.
Toys for Tots Benefit Drive
• Through (12/11) - Drop off unwrapped new toys at the Rush Fitness Complex, located at 1818 Hendersonville Road and on Patton Ave. Info: 274-7874.
YWCA MotherLove Giving Tree
• Through MO (12/14) - The Giving Tree, made of stars bearing wishes from a local teen mother for her children, will be on display in the lobby of the YWCA, 185, S. French Broad Ave. Pick out a star and make a wish come true. Info: 254-7206, ext. 116.
Health Programs & Support Groups
Announcing • Amie’s DeeLishUs Gluten Free Goodies! (pd.) Cookies, Muffins and Sweet breads. • Gluten free and gluten free/vegan. • Holiday Gift Baskets • Catering. Call Amie: (828) 505-7223. Made with Love...but NO Gluten!
EFT • Yes It Really Works! (pd.) Learn the basics in 1 hour ($45) and take charge of your own wellbeing. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) offer impressive results for easing
THE SODA FOUNTAIN
physical discomforts, relieving feelings of unease and changing the behaviors and habits that are holding you back. Call The Water Lily Wellness Salon (828) 5053288. www.waterlilysalon. com
Professional Help For Overshoppers/Overspenders (pd.) Stop the pain of Overshopping and Overspending • Discover triggers and cues • Learn specific tools, strategies and techniques • Break the cycle of overspending • Overcome the urge to splurge this holiday season • Develop mindfulness in making decisions. Call 231-2107.
Shoji Spa Discounts and Events (pd.) • Locals Discount: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. • SPArty: Wednesday evenings, 6-8 p.m. Drinks, food and music, free. 828-299-0999. www. shojiretreats.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.
Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families
• MONDAYS, 7-8:30pm
- Open 12-step meeting at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St., Asheville. Rear entrance; first room on left. Info: 298-6600 or maybloomer@yahoo. com.
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: 800-286-
1326 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: 225-0515.
• 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.
• 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.
- 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. Art of Intimacy Practice Group 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. By donation. Info: 254-5613 or www.centerforsacredsexuality.org.
• WEDNESDAYS, 7:309:30pm - Meeting.
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).
Debtors Anonymous
• THURSDAYS, 7-8pm
- Meets at Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church, 2606 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville. Info: DAHendersonville@gmail. com.
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.
Eating Disorders Individuals are welcome to come to one or all of the support group meetings. Info: 337-4685 or www.thecenternc.org.
• WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm
- Support group for adults at T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating, 297 Haywood St. Free.
Essential Tremor Support Group Info: 687-2356 or bchhenze@bellsouth.net.
• 1st THURSDAYS, 6-7pm - Meeting at Seymour Auditorium, CarePartners, Sweeten Creek Rd. 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 otherwise noted. To register or for info: www.pardeehospital.org or 692-4600.
• TH (12/3), 3-4:30pm - “Balance and Fall Prevention,” with physical therapist Chloe Egan. Registration required. Food Addicts Anonymous A fellowship of men and women who are willing to recover from the disease of food addiction. Sharing experiences and hope with others allows participants to recover from the disease one day at a time. All are welcome. Info: 242-3717.
• MONDAYS, Noon-1pm & FRIDAYS, 7-8pm - Meetings at Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Road, Asheville. 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.
• TU (12/1), 12:30-5pmWestern Carolina Community Action, 220 Fickley Dr., Hendersonville. Info: 6931711.
K.A.R.E. Support Groups
Kid’s Advocacy Resource Effort offers several ongoing support groups. Info: 4568995.
• WEDNESDAYS, 5:307:30pm - Single Parents Support Group. Dinner and childcare provided. At First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. Call ext. 201 for more info.
Lupus Support Group
Those living with Lupus and their caregivers are welcome to exchange feelings, opinions and thoughts about coping with this complicated illness. Meetings are held in the conference room at the Canton Public Library, 11 Pennsylvania Ave. Info: www.lupuslinks.org or (877) 849-8271.
• 1st TUESDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Support group meeting, featuring an open discussion, a guest speaker or a DVD presentation.
Moms Supporting Moms
• TUESDAYS, Noon or 6:30pm - Peer support for moms struggling with depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum. Connect with other mothers and community resources. Meets at the Women’s Resource Center. Info: 213-8241. Directions: 213-8246.
Narcotics Anonymous
A fellowship of recovering addicts that can help those afflicted get clean and stay clean through a 12-step 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: 5057353.
• THURSDAYS, 7:30-9pm
- Veterans Connection Recovery Support Group meets at the Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville. Multi-purpose room. Contact Ray at raycarter2001@ yahoo.com or 337-0515.
• • MO (11/30), 11amMeeting at NAMI-WC Office, 356 Biltmore Ave., Suite 298. Overcomers Recovery Support Group
A Christian-based 12-step recovery program. Provides a spiritual plan of recovery for people struggling with life-controlling problems. Meetings are held at 32 Rosscraggon Road. All are welcome. Info: rchovey@ sos.spc-asheville.org.
• TUESDAYS, 7-8pmMeeting.
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: 298-1899.
• 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: 1-800-5804761.
• MONDAYS, 5:15pm
- Asheville: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Beginners mtg. Info: 277-8185.
• MONDAYS, 6pm
- Asheville: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Open mtg. Info: 277-8185.
• TUESDAYS, 10:30amNoon - Asheville: Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. at Ottari. Open BBSS mtg. Info: 2802213.
Pet Loss Support Group
For anyone who has lost a pet or is anticipating the death of a companion animal. Free. Info: 258-3229.
• 1st WEDNESDAYS, 6pm
- The group meets at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, 1 Edwin Pl.
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 - Three meetings are available per week.
Sex Addicts Anonymous
A fellowship of men and women recovering from addictive sexual behavior (physical and/or emotional). Meetings are held in downtown Asheville. Info: 800477-8191 (live person Mon.Fri. 11am-7pm) or 348-0284
to leave a local message for a return call.
• SUNDAYS, 7pm - Meeting. Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
SLAA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who have a desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction. Meetings are held in downtown Asheville. Open to all sexual orientations. Info: AshevilleSLAA@gmail.com.
• SATURDAYS, 10am
- First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. 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. Support Groups Sessions are led by Charlene Galvin, a board certified Chaplain. Love offering. Info: 329-3187 or chargalvin@ hotmail.com.
• THURSDAYS, 10-11:30am
- Living with Life Limiting Illness —- 1:30-3pmCaregivers Support Group.
Helplines
For Xpress’ list of helplines, visit www.mountainx.com/ events/category/helplines.
Garden
Events at The Bullington Center
This nonprofit horticultural learning center is in Hendersonville. Info: 6986104 or www.bullingtoncenter.org.
• TH (12/3), 3-5pm
- “Wreath Making,” a workshop with Linda Beach. $35. Materials provided. N.C. Arboretum Events
The Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs.
Unless otherwise noted, all events are free with parking fee ($6/vehicle). No parking fees on Tuesdays. Info: 6652492 or www.ncarboretum. org.
• Through (1/3), 10am4pm - “Winter Solstice and Holiday Plants” will be on display in the Baker Exhibit Greenhouse.
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 Dodge Ball
Must have at least 6 players per team. The season will consist of 24 games and a league championship game with trophies for the winning team. $25/person. Info: 250-4269 or jay.nelson@ buncombecounty.org.
• Through MO (12/14)
- Registration. Season: Jan. 5 through Feb. 25 at Recreation Experiences Complex. Asheville Masters Swimming Competitive, fitness and triathlon swimmers welcome. Info: www.ashevillemasters. com
• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 5:45-7:15amPractice at Asheville School.
Check the kiosk at Richmond Hill Park for events and nearby tournaments. Info: 680-9626 or www.wncdiscgolf.com.
• SUNDAYS, 4pm - Doubles at Waynesville Rec Park.
• TUESDAYS, 3:30pm - Doubles at Richmond Hill Park.
• 1st TUESDAYS, 7pm - Club meeting. Moved from Mondays during the winter months.
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.).
Special Olympics Buncombe County Info: 250-4265 or grace. young@buncombecounty. org.
• Sign up to participate as a swimmer with the aquatics program. Practice begins in Jan. 2010 and will be held at the YMCA, 30 Woodfin St. Current physical and consent form required.
UNCA Men’s Basketball vs. Furman
• FR (11/27), 7pm - UNCA Men’s Basketball vs. Furman in the Justice Center. $15 reserved/$10 general/$7 children.
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.
• Through SU (1/3) - Explore the good, the bad and the ugly at Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Explore why your body produces mushy, oozy, crusty and stinky gunk at this educational exhibition.
• THURSDAYS, 10:3011:30am - Preschool Play Date. Interactive fun just for preschoolers led by museum facilitators. Free with admission.
• SATURDAYS, 1-2pmExperiment with science during Super Science Saturdays. Featuring hands-on activities led by museum facilitators, the programs are fun for all ages. Free with admission. For specific activity descriptions or for more info, visit the Web site.
• TH (12/3), 3:30-4:45pm“Brownies Chemistry Try-It.” Come play in the slime lab. Use carbon dioxide to launch rockets and make raisins
dance. Discover how colorful white light really is. $4. 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. Earth Scouts for Kids Earth Scouts is an environmental education group that is fun and empowering. Kids ages 4 and up learn plant identification, medicine making and earth skills.
• THURSDAYS, 6-7pm
- Meets at One World Healing Arts Institute, 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville. Parents welcome. $10. Events for Kids at Spellbound Spellbound Children’s Bookshop is located at 19 Wall St., in downtown Asheville. Info: 232-2228 or www.spellboundchildrensbookshop.com.
• SU (11/29), 1pm - Story time for children ages 3 and up.
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, 11amFamily story time for children of all ages. Read books, sing songs, learn finger plays and more.
Visit With Santa Claus
• MONDAYS through SATURDAYS, 10am-9pm & SUNDAYS, Noon-6pm
- Santa will be at his castle in the Asheville Mall, where he will be available to hear children’s wishes. Plus, Santa Feeds America canned food drive in partnership with MANNA FoodBank. Info: asheville-mall.com.
Spirituality
7 Day Zen Retreat • December 1-8 (Headline in Bold) (pd.) At Great Tree Zen Temple, led by Rev. Teijo Munnich. $300. Begins 7pm, December 1, ends Noon December 8. Rohatsu sesshin commemorates Buddha’s enlightenment. Register through www.greattreetemple.org/Practice/registration.html. Questions: (828) 645-2085 or info@greattreetemple.org. Great Tree is 15 minutes from downtown Asheville.
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. Faerie Pathway Readings (pd.) Guidance from faeries, guardian angels, and spirit guides to help you rediscover the magic in your life. Faerie workshops also available. (828) 645-2674. www. davidswing.com
commercialism, explore simple and meaningful family traditions, and serve others together. Info: www.losucc. org.
Asheville Center for Transcendental Meditation
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, 7:15pm
- At the Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut.
Asheville Satsang With Gangaji Info: 216-7051 or nckristinenelson@yahoo.com.
• SUNDAYS, 7pm - Discover true fulfillment. Silent sitting and video satsang with Western spiritual teacher Gangaji. New location at Servanthood House, 156 East Chestnut St., near Greenlife.
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.
Buddhist Meditation and Discussion
Jewish women. Create an herbal oil bottle, listen to the story of the Menorah’s flames and enjoy Latkes, donuts and treats. $10 Info: 505-0746.
Coalition of Earth Religions Events Info: 230-5069 or www. ceres-wnc.org.
• 4th WEDNESDAYS - Meeting at the Earth Fare Community Room. Call for details.
• 1st WEDNESDAYS, 6:309pm - Pagans Night Out. Meet at the Bier Garden in downtown Asheville.
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.
Hare Krsna Sunday Feast Meets above the French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. Info: www. highthinkingsimpleliving.org or 586-3919.
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.
• 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.
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, 7-8:30pmMeditation 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
What if sustainable land clearing was faster, better & cheaper?
FREE Consultation!
Mulch Clearing vs. Traditional Clearing
• Single step process
• Seldom requires permitting
• Preserves and builds topsoil
• Low ground pressure
• Creates natural erosion control
• Workable in wet/snowy weather
• No burning, chipping, hauling
• No windrows or brush piles
• Recycles biomass
• Extremely selective clearing
• Visually appealing
• Sustainable
• Less Expensive
• Multi-step process
• Requires permitting and site plan
• Damages and dislocates topsoil
• High ground pressure (compaction)
• Requires erosion control measures
• Weather dependent
• Requires burning, chipping, hauling
• Leaves windrows and brush piles
• Discards biomass
• Damages nearby trees and vegetation
• Unsightly, scarred appearance
• Unsustainable
• More Expensive
Foundation Year Workshop and Information Session (pd.) Saturday, Dec. 5th 2009 from 10am-2pm, with 1 hour for brown bag lunch. Abernethy United Methodist Church, 1418 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC 28806 $25 suggested donation at the door to help us cover the instructor’s travel. Barbara comes to us from Freeport, Maine. For details please contact: Ms.Marie Davis 828-273-5647 or md79397(at)yahoo.com
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: 645-2085 or www.greattreetemple.org
Advent Conspiracy Series
• WEDNESDAYS (12/2 through 12/16), 6-7:30pm
- Longing to simplify Christmas? Land of the Sky UCC invites you to spend less, give more, connect spiritually and resurrect the joy of Christmas. Combat
Meets in the space above the French Broad Food Co-op. Suggested donation: $8/$4 students & seniors. Dec. series: “Buddha’s Secrets for Happy Holidays.” Info: 7795502 or www.meditation-innorthcarolina.org.
• WE (12/2), 7:15pm“Heartfelt Gratitude.”
Celebrate Recovery Christ-centered, biblically based recovery ministry. Weekly fellowship and support meetings deal with reallife issues, including divorce, co-dependency, anger, control, chemical dependency, sexual addictions, hurtful relationships, eating disorders, depression, and other addictive, compulsive or dysfunctional behaviors. Info: 687-1111.
• THURSDAYS, 6pm-10pm
- Evenings at Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Road, Arden.
Chabad Asheville
Jewish Asheville and WNC Chabad Lubavitch Center for Jewish Life, located at 660 Merrimon Ave. Info: www. chabadasheville.org.
• TH (12/3), 7-9pm - Lights & Miracles: A special preChanukah evening for all
• Select SUNDAYS, 6-8pmAn evening of bhajans, class on the Bhagavad-Gita and a vegetarian feast. Everyone welcome. Refer to the Web site or call for dates.
Journey Expansion Team (JET)
• THURSDAYS, 7-9pm
- An inspiration of James Ray featured on Oprah/The Secret. Join a group of likeminded people who want to share with others The Law Of Vibration and other Universal Laws. Meetings held in Fletcher/Asheville. Info: 3297145 or kimberlycroteau@yahoo. com.
Land of the Sky United Church of Christ Located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 15 Overbrook Place, in East Asheville.
• SUNDAYS, 5-6pmWomen-led, justice-focused, family-friendly, and open to all. Worship with Land of the Sky UCC. An unconditional church.
Mantras Cafe
• 1st THURSDAYS, 6:308:30pm - Bring your favorite kirtan mantras, multi-cultural chants and soul-centered music. Open mike. Sign-up 6-6:30pm. At BoBo Gallery. Free or $3 donation.
Mindfulness Meditation 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.
Sh’ma Messianic Ministries Messianic studies, Hebrew classes and Davidic dance. Studies for Jews and gentiles. Hebraic roots with biblical and basic Hebrew language. Free. Visit the Web site for updates. Info: www. shmaministries.com, 3670775 or rabbi@shmaministries.com.
• FRIDAYS - Meets in the evenings.
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.
Transmission Meditation Group
Join in this group meditation for your own personal spiritual growth, as well as the
freewillastrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
One of the greatest superpowers a human being can have is the ability to change herself in accordance with her intentions. Let’s say you’re tired of feeling shame about something there’s no good reason to feel shame about, and you decide to do whatever it takes to dissolve that shame, and you succeed in doing it. Or let’s say you no longer want to attract bad listeners and flaky collaborators into your life, and you resolve to transform that pattern, and you ultimately achieve your goal. These are acts of high magic, as amazingly wizardly as anything a shaman does. It so happens, Aries, that this superpower is especially accessible to you right now.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20)
Your story is taking a hotter and wetter and more cosmically comical turn. The splendor and the rot are all mixed up. The line between your strengths and liabilities are hair thin. But have no fear. One of your dormant talents will activate in the nick of time. Your wild guesses will shed bright light whenever the darkness creeps in. And you’ll have even more emotional intelligence than usual. P.S. If your psyche tingles like a funny bone that has been tapped, it means that unanticipated help or useful information will arrive within 12 hours.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20)
“The more you do what you want,” says Santa Fe artist Erika Wanenmacher, “the more magic happens.” And what she wants, in part, is to be surprised by how life’s random events ask to be included in her creative process. During her long walks along the irrigation ditch near her home, for example, odds and ends on the ground call to her, suggesting that she use them in her art pieces — heart-shaped rocks, miniature liquor bottles, bent spoons, parts of toys. One of her gallery pieces, “Spell Wall,” consists of amulets made from this found stuff. “I’ll make whatever I want,” Erika says. “Out of whatever I want. About whatever I want.” She’s your role model, Gemini. Borrow from her perspective. Go in quest of unexpected clues that make you feel loose and free and fertile.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22)
Needing a creative disruption in my routine, I hiked into a forest I’d never visited. The late afternoon light was wan and the wind was chilly. In places, the trail narrowed to a scruffy rut barely big enough for me to walk on, leading me to wonder if I was reading my map wrong. Three times this happened, but always the wider path resumed. Were there bobcats here? When I spied a flash of fur in the distance, I wished I’d researched that subject before I’d come. Still I pressed on. Then I came upon a single segment of a wooden fence, inexplicable in this remote area. One end of its upper slat had come loose and fallen. Moved by a whimsical urge to insert order into the
midst of my disorientation, I fixed the slat. My mood brightened, my anxiety dissipated, and the rest of my hike was filled with small epiphanies. Everything I just described, my fellow Cancerian, is an apt metaphor for your week ahead.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
I believe that in the coming weeks you’ll enjoy experiences that have an emotional resemblance to those referred to in this passage by French novelist Gustave Flaubert: “I want to cover you with love, with caresses, with ecstasy. I want to gorge you with all the joys of the flesh . . . I want you to be astonished by me, to confess to yourself that you had never even dreamed of such transports . . . When you are old, I want you to recall those few hours. I want your dry bones to quiver with joy when you think of them.” Please note, Leo, that I’m not necessarily saying the pleasures you gather in will stem from an engagement with an actual lover. They might. But your delight may also have a more mysterious origin.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
It’s not just our era that has a tormented relationship with time. Many cultures have been frustrated by its tyranny. During France’s July Revolution in 1830, for instance, rebels shot guns at public clocks. While I think that’s too extreme for you, I do recommend that you perform a ritual to empower yourself as you wrestle with the passage of the hours and days and weeks. How about smashing a cheap alarm clock with a hammer? Or spending an entire day without ever referring to a timepiece? Or taking ten deep breaths as you imagine you’re inhaling eternity and exhaling the grinding tick-tock? It’s a perfect moment to claim more freedom from temporality.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
I agree with football coach Lou Holtz, who said, “The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren’t in a very good mood.” It’s possible to work around this difficulty, however. What you have to do, before you unleash your levity, is conjure up empathy for the sourpuss in question. You should also make sure that your intention is not to mock or poke at the person, but instead offer a potential escape from his or her locked energy. By my calculations, you could be an expert at this kind of psychic judo right now. For best results, practice on yourself. Whenever you’re headed toward a negative thought or emotion, nudge yourself away with a jest or wisecrack.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Do you know what you’re really worth? Not as measured by your bank account and luxurious possessions. Not as reflected by your boss’s or parents’ or enemies’ images of you. Not as distorted by what you wish you were worth or fear you’re not worth. I’m talking about taking an illusion-free inventory of the skills
you have that are fulfilling to you and useful to others. I’m talking about your wisdom more than your knowledge, your self-love more than your popularity, your ability to be good more than to look good.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
The surest way to beat the system, my dear, is to elude it and erect your own system. The strategy most likely to leave your competitors babbling in the mirror, sweetheart, is to go completely over their heads. That doesn’t mean, darling, that you should be a remote and grandiose narcissist who listens to no one but yourself. Smile sweetly as you describe why your way is the best way, you gorgeous genius. Enlist worthy collaborators through the irresistible force of your guileless charisma.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
“A neurosis is a secret that you don’t know you are keeping,” wrote theater critic Kenneth Tynan. Your assignment is to uncover one of those secrets in yourself. It may not result in an instantaneous cure of your minor personality glitch, but it will be a potent first step that will set in motion a series of healing events. Be brave, Capricorn. I guarantee that any ugliness you might find lodged deep inside you will be entangled with surprising beauty.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Seventy percent of the world’s fresh water is locked away in Antarctica’s ice, which is 7,000 feet thick. Let’s hope it remains that way for the foreseeable future. If global warming melted that giant slab even a little, sea levels all over the planet would rise and coastal lands would be inundated. As for your frozen areas, however: I’d really like to see at least 30 percent of them thaw. Would you consider doing whatever it takes to release a mini-flood of summery feelings?
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
While walking in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I saw a huge red wooden chair on someone’s front lawn. It was big enough for a 20-foot-tall giant. An equally oversized martini glass was perched on the arm of the chair. Nearby was a sign that read, “I have flying monkeys at my command, and I’m not afraid to use them.” I assumed this scene was the handiwork of an adorable crazy person who’s an admirer of “The Wizard of Oz” mythology. I also flashed on how I could totally see you sitting in that chair. Metaphorically speaking, you too have flying monkeys at your command. I just hope you use them to accomplish good deeds, not evil ones.
Homework: Go to YouTube and watch me give some pep talks and crazed lectures. Start here: http://tinyurl.com/lyr99n
Foundation Year in Anthroposophy: January 2010- December 2011
The Foundation Studies Program in Anthroposophy and the Arts allows individuals to gain new perspectives on life and renewed impulses in their own personal and professional work. These courses provide an opportunity for persons interested in deepening their understanding of the sources of Waldorf Education and learning more about Rudolf Steiner’s Science of the Spirit. Courses combining seminar discussion and artistic activity take place in eight weekend sessions, once a month throughout the school year.
Introductory workshop will be held Saturday, December 5th, 2009
For more details, please contact: Marie Davis at 828-273-5647, or md79397@yahoo.com
healing and transformation of the planet. Info: 318-8547.
• TUESDAYS, 6:30pm
- Meditation for personal and spiritual growth.
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 Cafe
Looking for a change from the usual Sunday service? Spiritual conversation and sharing, music, meditation, coffee and pastry. Info: 645-0514, 676-6070 or unitycafe.org.
• 1st, 3rd & 5th SUNDAYS, 10am-Noon - Greenlife
Grocery Community Center, 90 Merrimon Ave.
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: 6843798, 891-8700 or www. unitync.net.
• WE (11/25), 7:30pm
- Thanksgiving Eve Communion Service. Celebrating gratitude with words and music. A potluck dessert will follow. Bring a sweet to share. Love offering.
• TH (11/26), 1pm
- Thanksgiving Day Feast. Bring a favorite dish to share. Please RSVP.
• WE (12/2), 7pm“Shifting Patterns of Guided Meditation,” with Dalia Molina. Love offering. Info: www.InstitueofTransformatio nalStudies.com.
Unity Church of Asheville
Looking for something different? Unity of Asheville explores the deeper spiritual meaning of the scriptures combined with an upbeat contemporary music program to create a joyous and sincere worship service. Come join us this Sunday and try it for yourself. Located at 130 Shelburne Rd., W. Asheville. Info: 2525010 or www.unityofasheville.com.
• SUNDAYS, 11amSpiritual Celebration Service. Windhorse Zen Community Meditation, Dharma talks, private instruction available Tuesday and Thursday evenings, residential training. Teachers: Lawson Sachter and Sunya Kjolhede. Main center: 580 Panther Branch, Alexander. City center: 12 Von Ruck Court. Call for orientation. Info: 645-8001 or www.windhorsezen.org.
• SUNDAYS, 9:30-11am
- Meditation, chanting and a Dharma talk.
• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 7-9pmMeditation and chanting.
• FRIDAYS, 5:30-7:15pm
- Meditation and chanting at the City Center.
Womyn in Ceremony
Join the group for connection, sharing, support, healing and empowerment. Meets 12 miles NW of Asheville. Info: www.RitesofPassageCouncil. com or Theresa@ RitesofPassageCouncil.com.
• SUNDAYS, 4-6pm (through 12/27) - Gathering on various Sundays.
Art
GALLERY EXHIBITS & OPENINGS
16 Patton
Gallery hours: Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm and Sun., 1-6pm (open on Sun. May-Oct. only). Info: 236-2889 or www.16patton.com.
• Through SA (1/2)Inspirations, an exhibit by Signe Grushovenko.
American Folk Art & Framing
The gallery at 64 Biltmore Ave. is open daily, representing contemporary self-taught artists and regional pottery. Info: 281-2134 or www. amerifolk.com.
• Through MO (11/30) - OuiOui Gallery: The theme for Nov. is “Dwellings.”
Art at UNCA
Art exhibits and events at the university are free, unless otherwise noted.
• Through TU (12/1) - Fibers of Recollection, an installation by UNCA senior Emily Crabtree, will be on display in the Tucker Cooke Gallery.
Art With a Purpose
• Last FRIDAYS, 6-8pm
- Mixed media art exhibit, fundraiser and domestic violence awareness event. Refreshments provided. At 32 Rosscraggon Road, in the Rosscraggon Business Park. Info: rchovey@sos. spc-asheville.org.
Asheville Area Arts Council
The Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) is at 11 Biltmore Ave. Info: 258-0710 or www.ashevillearts.com.
• Through SU (11/29) - New works by local artists Karen Noel, Stephen Geldner, Carly Dergins and Erin Brethauer, will be on display.
Asheville Gallery of Art
A co-op gallery representing 28 regional artists located at 16 College St. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm. Info: 251-5796 or www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com.
• Through MO (11/30)
- Diversity, a collection of mixed-media creations by Bill Weldner.
• TU (12/1) through TH (12/31) - New Juried Members Exhibit, featuring work by Kathryn Phillips, Joyce Schlapkohl, Maggie Robinson, Christine Dickey
Longoria, Karen Keil Brown and Marsha Balbier
Bella Vista Art Gallery
Located in Biltmore Village, next to the parking lot of Rezaz’s restaurant. Open daily. Info: 768-0246 or www.bellavistaart.com.
• Through MO (11/30)
- New paintings by August Hoerr. Feature wall artist Nathaniel Galka
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center
The center is located at 56 Broadway, and preserves the legacy of the Black Mountain College through permanent collections, educational activities and public programs. Info: 350-8484, bmcmac@ bellsouth.net or www.blackmountaincollege.org.
• Through SA (2/6) - Past Presence, an exhibition exploring five important aspects of the Black Mountain College story.
Blue Spiral 1
The gallery at 38 Biltmore Ave. is open Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm. Info: 251-0202 or www.bluespiral1.com.
• Through TH (12/31)
- Fall Salon: Sculptural glass, abstract paintings and curvilinear mixed-media wall installations from six regional artists —- Ceramic sculpture and textiles by Heather Allen-Swarttouw —- Paintings by Taiyo la Paix —- Wood-Fired Clay: Contemporary approaches to a time-honored tradition by several artists —- Basketry by Carole Hetzel, Deborah Muhl and Lee Sipe
Brevard Gallery Walks
A variety of Brevard galleries and art spots open their doors. Info: 884-2787.
• 4th FRIDAYS, 5-9pmGallery Walk.
Exhibits at the Turchin Center
Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is at 423 West King St. in Boone. Info: 262-3017 or www.tcva.org.
• Through SA (1/16)
- Plastic Flame Press, the exhibit presents a progression of designer Chris Williams’ work —- African Vailet: Olivia “Holly” Pendergast —- SAQA: 12 Voices, a traveling exhibit of the Studio Art Quilt Association.
• Through SA (2/6) - 225 F: Encaustic Encounters, featur-
ing encaustic paintings —Collective Dialogues: New work from The Collective on Depot —- Brush & Palette: Artists Unmasked, a representation of the Brush and Palette Art Club members’ works.
Forever Gallery 98 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville. Info: 236-1681.
• Through SA (11/28)Original, progressive oil and acrylic paintings. Some tattoo imagery, including traditional Japanese. Grovewood Gallery Located at 111 Grovewood Road, Asheville. Info: 2537651 or www.grovewood. com.
• Through TH (12/31) - New fiber-art wall hangings by LINT (Ladies in New Textiles) will be on display. Haen Gallery Located at 52 Biltmore Ave., downtown Asheville. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm, Sat., 11am-6pm and Sun., Noon5pm. Info: 254-8577 or www.thehaengallery.com.
• Through MO (11/30) - The Art of Photography, an exhibition of works by Kathryn Kolb. 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: 4520593 or www.haywoodarts. org.
• Through SA (1/2) - It’s A Small, Small Work, an exhibition of artwork 12 inches or smaller by WNC artists. Odyssey Gallery Exhibits work by Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts instructors and residents. Located at 236 Clingman Ave. in Asheville’s River Arts District. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am-4pm; Sat., 10am-6pm & Sun., Noon-6pm. Info: 285-0210 or www.highwaterclays.com.
• Through TH (12/24)
- Resident Clay, featuring works by Amanda Humphreys, Jaclyn Jednak, Patty Bilbro, Leslie Hinton, Beth Bond and Alex Irvine. Pack Place Gallery Located at 2 S. Pack Place Square. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm and Sun., 15pm. Info: 257-4530.
• TU (11/24) through WE (12/2) - The WNC AIDS Project will be displaying portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.
• SA (11/28), 10am-5pm - Continuous screenings of Common Threads: Stories
From the Quilt presented by the Asheville Arts Museum.
In conjunction with the WNC AIDS Project AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibit. Free.
Phil Mechanic Studios
Located at 109 Roberts St. on the corner of Clingman Ave. in the River Arts District.
Houses Flood Gallery, Pump Gallery and Nook Gallery. Info: www.philmechanicstudios.com.
• Through SA (12/5)Eide/Eidola, a solo exhibition of paintings by UNCA art professor Virginia Derryberry, will be on display in the Flood Gallery.
• Through SA (11/28)Beyond Body, a collection of monoprints by Linda Larsen, will be on display in Pump Gallery.
Push Skate Shop & Gallery
Located at 25 Patton Ave. between Stella Blue and the Kress Building. Info: 2255509 or www.pushtoyproject.com.
• Through TU (12/15) - I
Used to Be an Animal: paintings, sculpture and more by Kimberly Turley and Ted Harper.
Transylvania Heritage Museum
Located at 40 West Jordan St., Brevard. Info: 884-2347 or www.transylvaniaheritage. org.
• FR (11/27), 5-9pm - Artist reception during the Brevard 4th Friday Gallery Walk.
Upstairs Artspace
Contemporary nonprofit gallery at 49 S. Trade St. in Tryon. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 11am-5pm and by appointment. Info: 859-2828 or www.upstairsartspace.org.
• Through TH (12/24)
- The Spiritual Image in Contemporary Art and Presents of Art will be on display.
Vadim Bora Gallery
At 30 1/2 Battery Park Ave. Hours: Tues.-Sat., Noon6pm (sometimes later) and by appointment. Info: 2547959 or www.vadimborastudio.com.
• Through TH (12/3)Metamorphosis, sixth annual group exhibit of Mountain Sculptors. Info: www.mountainsculptors.org.
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 (12/5)Worldviews, selections from
the permanent collection and new acquisitions featuring works by regional, national and international artists.
• TU (12/1) through SA (12/5) - Dawn Behling
- School of Art & Design Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition.
MORE ART EXHIBITS & OPENINGS
A-B Tech Events
Info: www.abtech.edu.
• Through FR (12/18) - The Face of Appalachia: Portraits From the Mountain Farm, a photography exhibit by Tim Barnwell, will be on display in the Holly Library gallery. 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.
• Through SU (1/3)Building Small: American Folk Art Houses and Structures will be on display in the Baker Center. 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 (12/11)
- Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing, an exhibit featuring the works of 14 nationally known metalsmiths.
f/32 Photography Group Info: www.f32nc.com.
• Through MO (1/4) - An exhibit by the members of this fine photography group will be held at Deerpark on the Biltmore Estate.
First Congregational Church
Located at 20 Oak St. in downtown Asheville. “An open and affirming congregation.” Times are on Sundays from 10am- 1pm. Info: 252-8729 or www. uccasheville.org.
• SU (11/29) - Opening of the exhibit Images of the Madonna by Gary Mitchell. The exhibit will be on display through December.
Grand Bohemian Gallery
Located at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village, 11 Boston Way. Info: www.bohemianhotelasheville.com or 505-2949.
• SA (11/21) through SU (12/27) - An exhibition of landscapes of the N.C. mountains as well as scenes
of the French countryside by renowned French painter Jean Claude Roy will be on display.
Transylvania Heritage Museum
Located at 40 W. Jordan St., Brevard. Info: 884-2347 or www.transylvaniaheritage.
org.
• FR (11/27) through SA (12/19) - An exhibit of 50 vintage aluminum trees from The Aluminum Tree & Aesthetically Challenged Seasonal Ornament Museum & Research Center (ATOM) will be on display. Free, but suggested donation of $5/$2 kids. Proceeds benefit the THM. Info: 884-5304.
CLASSES, MEETINGS & ARTS-RELATED EVENTS
Attention Artists and Photographers! (pd.) Need your work Captured, Reproduced, or Printed? Digital Resolutions Group specializes in highquality large format digital photography, outstanding fine art reproduction and printing. (828) 670-5257 or visit www.ashevilledigital. com
Odyssey Center For Ceramic Arts: 9 Week Winter Classes (pd.) Winter classes offered in wheelthrowing, handbuilding, and sculpture beginning January 11 • Great holiday present, gift certificates available • Registration: (828) 285-0210 • Information: www.highwaterclays.com
Asheville NC Homecrafts
• FRIDAYS, 5:30-7pm - Sit and Knit at the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 134. Info: 350-7556 or ashevillehomecrafts@aol.com.
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center
The center is located at 56 Broadway, and preserves the legacy of the Black Mountain College through permanent collections, educational activities and public programs. Info: 350-8484, bmcmac@ bellsouth.net or www.blackmountaincollege.org.
Johanna Vanderbeek will present and discuss the films of her late husband, who made films in the ‘50s and ‘60s. $7/$5 for members and students.
Courtyard Gallery
An eclectic art and performance space located at 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332 or www.ashevillecourtyard. com.
• SUNDAYS, 7-10pm - Free Open Studio Night. Bring sketchbooks, canvas, easel, drawing board and art sup-
plies. Work in the medium of your choice in a relaxed setting. Still life and occasional portrait modeling. Free coffee and tea. Info: 707-1859.
Self-Defense Training
• TU (12/1) - Certified selfdefense instructor seeks interested person to learn system for free. The free cost is in exchange for instructor having a training partner to practice/hone his own skills. Not only is no experience necessary; it is preferred. Info: rbw596@bellsouth.net.
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.
• THURSDAYS, Noon-3pm
- Experimental Art Group. Experimental learning and sharing water-media techniques and collage. $20 for four sessions or $6/session.
• MONDAYS, Noon-3pmOpen studio for portrait painting. Small fee for model.
ART/CRAFT
FAIRS
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: 6938504 or www.acofhc.org.
• FR (11/27) through SA (12/19) - Holiday Artists Market, featuring the work of local artists and crafters.
• FR (11/27), 5:30-8pm
- Opening reception for the Holiday Artists Market.
Hard Candy Christmas Art & Craft Show
• FR (11/27) & SA (11/28), 10am-5pm - More than 100 mountain artisans will display their wares in the Ramsey Center Arena at Western Carolina University. $3 adults/Free for children 12 and under. Info: www.mountainartisans.net or524-3405.
Henderson County Curb Market
Info: 692-8012.
• SA (11/28), 8am-2pmOle-Timey Christmas Market featuring wreaths, fresh greenery, crafts, music, carriage rides and refreshments.
Transylvania Community Arts Council
Located at 349 South Caldwell St. in Brevard.
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am-4 pm. Info: 884-2787 or www. artsofbrevard.org.
• Through FR (12/18)
- Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Sale.
Spoken & Written Word
Attention WNC Mystery Writers
WNC Mysterians critique and discussion group. For serious mystery/suspense/thriller writers. Info: 712-5570 or wncmysterians.org.
• TU (12/1), 5:45pmMeeting at the West Asheville Library on Haywood Road. Buncombe County Public Libraries
LIBRARY ABBRVIATIONSEach Library event is marked by the following location abbreviations:
BM = Black Mountain Library (105 N. Dougherty St., 250-4756)
EA = East Asheville Library (902 Tunnel Road, 250-4738)
SA = South Asheville/ Oakley Library (749 Fairview Road, 250-4754)
SS = Skyland/South Buncombe Library (260 Overlook Road, 250-6488)
WV = Weaverville Library (41 N. Main Street, 250-6482)
• MO (11/30), 6:30pm - The winning essay for the “What Books Mean to Me” contest will be announced and shared. BM
• TU (12/1) through WE (12/16) - Donations of new books for children will be accepted for the tenth annual Holiday Giving Tree. Call for details. SA
• TU (12/1), 1-3pm - Sit and Knit: A casual needlework group for all skill levels. WV —- 7pm - Book Club: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. EC —- 7pm - Book Club: Assorted short stories. Call for details. WV
• WE (12/2), 11am - Book Club: Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. WV —— 57pm - Library Knitters meet. SW —- 6-8pm - Library Knitters meet. SS
• TH (12/3), 6:30pm
- Book Club: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. EA —- 7pm
- Book Club: The Awakening by Kate Chopin. BM 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: 4525169 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 2-3 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, 11:15amFamily 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.
Osondu Booksellers
All events are held at Osondu, 184 North Main St., Waynesville, unless otherwise noted. Info: 456-8062 or www.osondubooksellers. com.
• SA (11/28), 3pm - Meet the Author: William Hart Jr., author 3,000 Miles in the Great Smokies
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. 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 MO (11/30)Deadline for the 21st Annual Memoirs Competition. $20 entry fee.
• Through MO (11/30)
- Deadline for “Changing My World Essay Contest.” $5 reading fee.
• Through WE (12/30)
- Deadline for the “Fantasy & Science Fiction Contest.” $5 reading fee.
Letters From Santa • Through FR (12/4) - Little ones can receive a free personalized letter from Santa direct from the North Pole. Visit www.buncombecounty.org/parks and look for the penguin link to the North Pole. Fill out the form and mail it to: BCPGR, 59 Woodfin Place, Asheville, 28801. Or fax it to: 250-6259. Info: 250-4260 or jay.nelson@ buncombecounty.org.
will be awarded ribbons at 6pm. Info: 652-2215.
Festivals & Gatherings
A-B Tech Classes
Registration & info: www. abtech.edu/ce.
• TH (12/3), 1-5pm“Herbal Holiday Gifts.” Herbs such as frankincense and myrrh enhance physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Learn to make easy, affordable gifts from healing herbs. $35.
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: 6938504 or www.acofhc.org.
• FR (11/27) through SA (12/19) - Holiday Artist Market. Regional artists/crafters are invited to sell their fine art, folk art and crafts to the public.
Asheville City Holiday Market
Held at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Info: mike@asapconnections.org or 348-0340.
• SA (11/28), 10am-2pm
- Support local farmers and enjoy live music performed
by Woody Pines and The Delta Blues Trio.
Asheville GreenWorks
Our area’s Keep America Beautiful affiliate, working to clean and green the community through environmental volunteer projects. Info: 254-1776, info@ashevillegreenworks.org or www. ashevillegreenworks.org.
• TH (12/3), 5-8pm - Artist’s holiday cocktail party and sale benefiting Asheville GreenWorks, featuring local artist Shelley Schenker. At Brixx Pizza, Biltmore Park. Food, drinks and art. The artist’s work can be viewed at www.magazinemosaics. com.
Christmas Parade at the Black Mountain Neuro-Medical Center
• TH (12/3), 3:30pm - The 27th annual Christmas Parade will feature the Owen High School Marching Band, floats from local schools and churches, dancers, clowns and more. The Treatment Center is located at 932 Old U.S. Highway 70. Info: 259-6771.
Festival of Trees
• TU (12/1), 7pm - Preview dessert gala at Silvermont Mansion in Brevard. $25. Tickets: 885-7286.
• WE (12/2) through SU (12/6) - “A Winter
Toddler Fun
A free group that provides an opportunity for parents to have some structured fun with their toddlers including 45 minutes of songs, stories, finger-plays, parachute play and more. To register: 213-8098 or shantisunshine@gmail.com.
• TUESDAYS, 9:30am-10:15am - Toddler Fun. At the Reuter YMCA in the Mission Hospitals Room. Call 2138098 to register.
MORE PARENTING EVENTS ONLINE
Check out the Parenting Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after December 3.
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
Wonderland” is the theme for this year’s festival. There will be some 35 decorated Christmas trees on display at the Silvermont Mansion, 364 E. Main St., Brevard. $3/Free for kids under 12. Info: 8843166.
Flat Rock Playhouse
The State Theater of North Carolina is on Hwy. 225, 3 miles south of Hendersonville. Info: 6930731 or www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
• WE (12/2) through SU (12/20) - World premiere of the holiday musical It Happened One Christmas, starring Tony Award-winning Broadway actor Jarrod Emick, will be performed. $26, with discounts available. Wed.-Sat., 7:15pm, with Wed.-Sun. matinees at 2:15pm.
Hendersonville Holiday
Lighting Celebration
• FR (11/27), 5:30-6:30pm
- There will be a carol singa-long, visits with Santa and holiday cheer at the gazebo in downtown Hendersonville. Info: 697-2022.
Holiday Events at Grove Park Inn
Located at 290 Macon Ave. in Asheville. Info: 252-2711 or www.groveparkinn.com.
• Through SU (1/3) - Entries from the 17th Annual
National Gingerbread House Competition will be on display. Community viewing is Mon.-Thurs., 10am-10pm. Holiday Events at the Grove Arcade
Info: www.grovearcade.com.
• Through SU (1/3) - Thirtyfive houses from the annual National Gingerbread House Competition will be on display.
Madison County Farmers & Artisans Market
• SATURDAYS (11/21) through (12/19), 10am-3pm
- The market will be held indoors at Fiddlesticks in Mars Hill. Info: www.buyappalachian.org.
North Asheville Holiday Tailgate Market
• SATURDAYS (through (12/19), 8am-Noon - The holiday market will be held on the UNCA college campus. Info: www.buyappalachian.org.
The Homecoming, A Smoky Mountain Christmas • TH (12/3) through SA (12/5), 7pm & SU (12/6), 4pm - The Westwood Players will perform “The Homecoming, A Smoky Mountain Christmas” at Westwood Baptist Church. Family event. Free, but donations appreciated. Info: 255-8999.
Music
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.
Black Mountain Drum Circle
• SATURDAY, 7-11pm
- Held at Ja-Vin, 115 Black Mountain Ave. All ages and skill levels welcome. A onehour beginners class will be followed by an open circle. Free.
Haywood Community Chorus
Membership is open to all interested singers; no auditions are required. Sponsored in part by The Junaluskans and the Haywood County Arts Council. Info: 452-4075 or 456-1020.
• MONDAYS, 7pm -
Rehearsal at First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville.
• TU (12/1), 7pm - Concert. Haywood County Arts Council
Musical Events
Events take place at the Performing Arts Center, 250 Pigeon St., in Waynesville, unless otherwise noted. Info: www.haywoodarts.org or 452-0593.
• SU (11/29), 3pm - The Firecracker Jazz Band will perform. $10/Free for students 18 and under.
Mountain Folkharpers
This nonprofit is devoted to folk-harp players and craftsman. Events are held at the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore. Info: http://www. mountainfolk-harpers.org.
• 4th SATURDAYSMeeting. See Web site for details.
Music at Brevard College
Events take place in the Porter Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Brevard College. Tickets & info: 884-8330.
• TU (12/1), 7:30pmBrevard College’s Chamber and Percussion Ensembles will perform in concert. The concert will feature works from classical, romantic and 20th Century repertories. Free.
Music at Mars Hill College Info: 689-1239 or www. mhc.edu.
• MO (11/30), 7:30pm - An instrumental recital featuring Rachel Dudley will be held in Broyhill Chapel.
• TH (12/3), 7:30pm - A voice recital featuring Stephen Darnell will be held in Broyhill Chapel.
Music at St. James Episcopal Church
• SU (11/29), 5pm - Enjoy advent lessons and carols featuring the St. James Choir and Montreat Scottish Pipes & Drums. Free. Located at 766 N. Main St. Hendersonville. Info: 6937458.
Night of 12-String and Slide Guitar Blues
• SA (11/28), 7pmInternationally acclaimed blues musician Paul Geremia will appear in concert at the YaYa Yoga Studio in the Cross Building, 31 Cross St., Spruce Pine. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. Tickets & info 765-6628.
Performance by Michael Reno Harrell
• SA (11/28), 8pm“Southern Appalachian Wit in Stories & Song,” will be performed at Ridge Runners Naturals, 333 N. Main Street in Waynesville. Harrell will also perform excerpts from his play My Roots Are Showing. $12. Info: www. michaelreno.com.
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: 1-866-8249547 or www.songosky.org.
• MONDAYS, 6:30-8:30pm
- Holiday Harmony. Learn how to sing selected holiday songs. With only four easy sessions, you will be ringing chords like a pro. Registration recommended. $20/$15/$10.
WCU Musical Events
Unless otherwise noted, performances are held at the Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of Western Carolina University. Tickets or info: 227-2479 or http://fapac.wcu.edu.
• TU (12/1), 7:30-10:30pm
- Jazz Concert. Enjoy 8 selections ranging from Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, to music by Charlie Parker and Jaco Pastorius.
Selections will include swing, Latin, ballad and fusion styles. Free.
Theater
Asheville Community Theatre
All performances are at 35 East Walnut St. Info & reservations: 254-1320 or www. ashevilletheatre.org.
• FR (through SU (12/6)
- The Hallelujah Girls, a joyful comedy about the feisty women of Eden Falls, will be performed. Fri. and Sat., 7:30pm with Sun. matinees at 2:30pm.
Asheville Puppetry Alliance
A nonprofit arts organization bringing quality puppet theater to WNC. Admission info: 628-9576 or www.ashevillepuppetry.org.
• SA (11/28), 11am - Hobey Ford’s Golden Rod Puppets presents the tales of The Rainbow Bridge, El Coqui and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Held at Diana Wortham Theatre. $7.
Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center
Located at 538 N. Main St. in Hendersonville. Info: 6930087 or www.BRPAC.org.
• FR (11/27) through SU (12/6) - The Gian-Carlo Menotti Christmas Musical: Amahl And The Night Visitors, produced by the Absolute Theatre Company, will be performed. Thurs.Sat., 7:30pm, and Sun., 3:30pm. $15.
Flat Rock Playhouse
The State Theater of North Carolina is on Hwy. 225, 3 miles south of Hendersonville. Info: 6930731 or www.flatrockplayhouse.org.
• TH (11/19) through SU (11/29) - YouTheatre presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the story of how an unruly bunch of siblings help everyone else rediscover the meaning of Christmas. $15/$8 students. Thur. through Sat., 7:30pm with Sat. & Sun., matinees at 2:15pm.
• WE (12/2) through SU (12/20) - World premiere of the holiday musical It Happened One Christmas, starring Tony Award-winning Broadway actor Jarrod Emick, will be performed. $26, with discounts available. Wed.-Sat., 7:15pm, with Wed.-Sun. matinees at 2:15pm.
Hendersonville Little Theatre
Located at the Barn on State St., between Kanuga and Willow Roads in Hendersonville. $14/$8 or $18/$10 for musicals. Info: 692-1082 or www.hendersonvillelittletheatre.org.
• FRIDAYS (11/20) through SUNDAYS (12/6) - The Lion in Winter, a fictional account of the war of words waged between King Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Fri. and Sat., 8:30pm with Sun. matinees at 2 pm.
Montford Park Players
Unless otherwise noted, performances are free and take place outdoors Fri.Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Hazel Robinson Amphitheater in Montford. Bring folding chair
Be careful not to let your pet in on too much celebration Thanksgiving. A plate of turkey with skin and bones can cause serious problems from obstructions to pancreatitis. Pets may love bones, but they can break teeth and lead to severe intestinal damage. Dogs will even eat the dirt that has had grease poured on, so watch disposal of scraps.
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and umbrella in case of rain. Donations accepted. Info: 254-5146 or www.montfordparkplayers.org.
• THURSDAYS (12/3) through SUNDAYS (12/13)
- The 33rd annual presentation of A Christmas Carol will be performed at the Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Ave. Shows begin at 7:30pm with a Sun. matinee on Dec. 6. $12/$8 students and seniors/$6 children.
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.
Dance
Asheville Ballroom & Dance Centre • Learn to Dance! (pd.) Groups and Privates available. For more information call (828) 274-8320. www.ashevilleballroom.com
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 non-members.
Asheville Jewish Community Center Events
up, and for adults. $15 for drop-in classes/$5 open floor sessions. Info: 654-7890.
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: 9942094 or www.ashevillemorris.us.
• MONDAYS, 5:30pm
- Women’s Garland practice held at Reid Center for Creative Art.
Southern Lights SDC
Auditions for Just Home in the Mountains
• MO (12/7), 3-5:30pm; TU (12/8), 6:30-8:30pm
- Auditions will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St., Asheville. Info: 768-2456.
• WE (12/9), 7-8:30pm
The JCC is located at 236 Charlotte St., Asheville. Info: 253-0701.
• WEDNESDAYS, 7-8pm
728 Fifth Avenue West Hendersonville, NC 28739 828-693-8416 www.matthewyoungdds.net www.iaomt.org
• FR (11/27) through SU (12/20) - Live From WVL Radio Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life will be performed. Rediscover this classic story of friendship, love and sacrifice. Thur.-Sat., 7:30pm and Sun., 2pm. One Sat., matinee will be performed on Nov. 28. $8-$20. 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.
• SA (11/28), 5-6pm - Here comes another trip back in time ... to November 1944. Join WCU Theater as they recreate a live command performance radio show to honor all G.I.s. All proceeds will go toward student scholarships.
Comedy
LYLAS Sketch Comedy Asheville’s first and only all-female sketch comedy group. Info: www.lylas.org.
• WE (12/2) through SA (12/5), 7:30pm - Maybe She’s Born With It ... Maybe It’s LYLAS will be performed at 35below at Asheville Community Theatre. $12. Tickets: www.ashevilletheatre.org or 254-1320.
• FR (12/4) & SA (12/5), 10pm - Late-night show: Oh No She Didn’t! will be performed at 35below. For mature audiences. $15.
Film
Screenings of Common Threads
• SA (11/28) - The Asheville Art Museum will present continuous screenings of Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt, profiles of six people who subsequently died of AIDS, at Pack Place Community Gallery. Portions of the AIDS Memorial Quilt will also be on display at Pack. Info: 253-3227.
- Beginning folk dance lessons. Families especially welcome —- 8-9:30pmNot-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.
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
- Adult Modern.
• TUESDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Adult Ballet.
Donation Classes at Asheville Dance Revolution Sponsored by The Cultural Development Group. At 63 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 —- 6-7:30pm - African dance with Sarah Yancey featuring live drumming. Open to all. $14.
• 4th SATURDAYS, 6:3010pm - Tap Jam. Trade tap steps and rhythms with tappers of all experience levels. Novices to advanced tappers welcome. Free.
Hunab Kru Dance Studio
The studio is devoted to the art commonly known as break dancing. Located at 4 Business Park Circle, Arden. Info: 215-3159 or bboyeducator@gmail.com.
• MONDAYS through SUNDAYS - B-boy and bgirl classes will be offered throughout the week for children ages 5-9, ages 10 and
A nonprofit square-dance club. Square dancing is friendship set to music. Info: 625-9969 or 698-4530.
• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm
- Class in Western-style square dancing at the Stoney Mountain Activity Center in Hendersonville.
Studio Zahiya Classes
Classes are held at Studio Zahiya, 41 Carolina Lane. $12 drop-in. $40 for four classes, with other discounts available. Info: 242-7595 or LisaZahiya@gmail.com.
• THURSDAYS, 5:306:30pm - Beginner belly dance for youth ages 12-16 —- 6:30-7:30pm - Bhangra! East Indian high-energy dance.
• SATURDAYS, 10-11:15am
- Intro to Odissi classical Indian dance classes with Sara Sathya. $13 drop-in.
• MONDAYS, 6-7:15pm
- Beginner foundations and fusions of Indian dance classes with Sara Sathya. $13 drop-in. Info: 989-7719 or SaraSathya@gmail.com.
• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm
- Beginner belly dance —- 7:10-8:10pm - Drills and skills.
Swing Asheville Info: www.swingasheville. com, 301-7629 or dance@ swingasheville.com.
• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm
- Beginner swing dance lessons. Lindy Hop style. $10/person per week for a 4-week series. No partner necessary. Let your inner dancer out. 11 Grove St, downtown Asheville. Class series starts the first Tuesday of every month.
Veterans of Foreign Wars
All events are held upstairs at 5 Points, 860 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Info: 693-5930.
• 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS, 6pm - Free dancing lessons —- 7pm - Live music and dancing. $7. All singles over 21 welcome. No partners needed. Finger food and sweets will be provided. No alcohol or smoking in dancing area.
- Auditions will be held at the Haywood Street Campus of Central United Methodist Church, 297 Haywood St., Asheville. Info: 768-2456.
Call for Entries for the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Parade
• Through MO (11/30)Applications should be completed and submitted to the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber office. $10 entry fee. For applictions: e-mail bmchamber@juno.com or download it from www. exploreblackmountain.com. The parade will be Dec. 5. Info: 669-2300.
Call to Artists for Flat Rock Playhouse Craft Show
• Through TU (12/1) - Artist application deadline for the first Flat Rock Playhouse Craft Show to be held in May. A juried show of fine, contemporary craft. $20 jury fee. Applications can be downloaded at www.flatrockplayhouse.org
Join Fletcher’s Christmas Parade
• Through FR (12/4) - Be a part of Fletcher’s 21st annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 12. This year’s theme: “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.” For entry forms and rules: fletcherparks.org or 687-0751.
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
consciousparty
BENEFITS CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 25
- DECEMBER 3, 2009
Asheville Affiliates Fundraisers
This group of young professionals holds fundraisers for nonprofits in Buncombe County. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, a raffle and a silent auction. Admission is $30 with RSVP/$35 at the door. Info: www.affiliatesofasheville.com.
• TH (12/3), 7-11pm - Party like it’s 1999 at the Asheville Affiliates 10th anniversary celebration. At The Venue, 21 N. Market St. Music by Asheville Jazz Orchestra and ‘90s dance party. Proceeds will benefit The WNC AIDS Project and three other nonprofits randomly chosen that evening.
Asheville GreenWorks
Our area’s Keep America Beautiful affiliate, working to clean and green the community through environmental volunteer projects. Info: 254-1776, info@ ashevillegreenworks.org or www.ashevillegreenworks.org.
• TH (12/3), 5-8pm - Artist’s holiday cocktail party and sale benefiting Asheville GreenWorks, featuring local artist Shelley Schenker. At Brixx Pizza, Biltmore Park. Food, drinks and art. The artist’s work can be viewed at www.magazinemosaics.com.
Blue Ridge Humane Society
A nonprofit organization working to improve the lives of animals in Henderson County through adoption, collaboration and community outreach. Info: www. blueridgehumane.org or 685-7107.
• TH (12/3), 11:30am-1pm - “Be An Angel,” the annual Holiday Fashion Show and Benefit Luncheon, will be held at The Club, Champion Hills. Models will be accompanied by dogs available for adoption. Tickets are $40 with $20 tax deductible and are available at the Henderson County Visitors Information Center. Info: 697-0208. Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County Basketball Game
who:
The Asheville Affiliates’ 10th anniversary event, “Party Like it’s 1999,” presented by Charlotte Street Computers. Music by the Asheville Jazz Orchestra and ‘90s dance tunes. Heavy hors d’ouvres provided by local caterers, beer by Catawaba Valley Brewery and wine by Barefoot Winery are included in the ticket price ($30 in advance/$35 at the door).
benefits:
The Affiliates, a volunteer group of young professionals that has raised more that $150,000 for various nonprofits during the past decade, will give a portion of the proceeds to the Western North Carolina AIDS Project and the rest to three nonprofits that will be randomly selected at the event.
where:
The Venue (21 N. Market St., Asheville) when:
Thursday, Dec. 3, from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.wncap.org/ affiliates.
• SA (11/28), 7pm - Brevard High School alumni basketball game at the Brevard High gym to benefit the Boys & Girls Club. Organized by Brevard High School student Glenn Palmer. $20 entry fee for players. Admission to the game: $5 adults/$3 students/ Free for kids 12 and under. Info: 885-7800.
Christmas Auction
• MO (11/30) - The Polk County Red Cross will hold a Christmas auction that will include a stay at Lake James, tickets to Dollywood, restaurant gift certificates and more. Info: 894-2700.
FENCE Events
The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located in Tryon. Free. Info: 859-9021 or www.fence.org.
• SA (11/28), 9am-4pm - Holiday Barn Tour: Visit seven of the most beautiful equestrian sites in the Foothills area. $10/$5 children/Free for kids 5 and under. All proceeds benefit FENCE’s nature education and outdoor recreation programs
Haywood County Arts Council’s FUNd Party Series
Pick up a FUNd Party book at 86 N. Main St. in Waynesville or call 452-0593 for details on events and reservations. Proceeds benefit the Haywood County Arts Council.
• MO (12/14), 7pm - Celebrate the holidays with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the home of Wells and Kathy Greeley, and see how a designer decorates space for the Christmas season. $25. Register by Dec. 1
MORE BENEFITS EVENTS ONLINE
Check out the Benefits Calendar online at www. mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after December 3.
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
The green news pipeline greenscene
News from around the region lands in the Xpress inbox via various routes each week, from old-fashioned e-mail to TweetDeck (a handy tool for tracking 140-character updates) to a message from a BlackBerry-toting concerned citizen. Here are a few standout tweeted tips:
Appeals court overturns trout stream variance in Yancey County
The North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission wrongly granted a variance that allowed Mountain Air Development Corp. to take down trees, clear other vegetation and otherwise disrupt a large swath of protected trout waters in Yancey County six years ago while building a golf course, the state Court of Appeals ruled on Nov. 17.
A group of Yancey residents has been fighting the development since its first phase was built in 1996, explains Hope Taylor, director of the nonprofit Clean Water for North Carolina (see “Mountain Air, Mountain Water,” Feb. 12, 2003, Xpress). The latest court battle began in 2003, when the commission — part of the state Division of Land Resources — granted the variance. That decision exempted Mountain
Air from adhering to a 1973 state statute that prohibits land disturbance within a 25-footwide buffer zone on designated trout streams. Mountain Air removed trees and tree canopy along almost 3,000 feet of Banks Creek, cleared all vegetation along 160 feet, diverted a portion of the trout-protected stream through a pipe system, and then started constructing a fairway.
In seeking the variance, Mountain Air had maintained that the disturbance would be both minimal and temporary. “It’s not temporary if you’re putting a stream in a pipe,” says Taylor. “It’s no longer a trout stream.” Clean Water joined two Yancey County residents who live in or near Banks Creek, Nancy Hensley and Diane Kent, to challenge the state’s decision on the variance.
A Superior Court judge upheld the variance in 2008, but the petitioners appealed, and the case was heard in Appeals Court last May. Two of the Appeals Court’s three judges have now ruled in Clean Water’s favor, determining that the disturbance was not temporary or minimal and, further, that “enclosing a trout water within nearly 2,000 feet of pipe cannot comply with the ultimate legislative intent of the trout water provision included in [state statutes for] the protection of trout populations and habitat.”
But since one judge dissented, Mountain Air has the right to appeal, says Julie Youngman of the Southern Environmental Law Center, the nonprofit that represented Clean Water in the case. “If [it’s] not a unanimous decision, then whoever lost has an automatic right of appeal,” she explains. Mountain Air has until mid-December to file an appeal, which would send the case to the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Green projects in Tennessee gain recognition, more funding
Oak Ridge National Laboratory will be putting the world’s fastest supercomputer to work
ECO CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER 25 - DECEMBER 3, 2009
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. West, Hendersonville. Info: 692-0385 or www.eco-wnc.org.
• TH (12/3) - Enjoy an urban walk in Hendersonville with Walk Wise, Drive Smart. Info: 457-6166 or www. walk-wise.org.
The Social Impact of the New Green Economy
• TH (12/3), 6-9pm - Learn about the work of Asheville Green Opportunities and how your green-oriented
on climate change. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is one of nearly 40 research organizations to get booked for some data-crunching time on Jaguar, which recently edged out IBM’s Roadrunner supercomputer as the world’s No. 1 speed machine. Jaguar has a theoretical peak velocity of 2.33 petaflops (in other words, more than 2,000 trillion calculations per second; the actual, tested speed that put Jaguar ahead of Roadrunner was 1.759 petaflops). Earlier in 2008, the computing beast underwent a $19.9 million upgrade funded by federal economic-stimulus money. “This machine is at the intersection of better climatechange science and energy-technology policy,” says Thomas Zacharia, deputy director for science and technology at Oak Ridge.
The NOAA, which has offices in Asheville, plans to use Jaguar to help develop high-resolution models to predict climate change. (For more information on the supercomputer, see www.nccs.gov/jaguar.)
Meanwhile, the University of Tennessee’s Biofuels Initiative has been awarded $2.35 million to expand its ongoing research on switchgrass as a nonfood-crop alternative to cornbased ethanol. The award will help the initiative — a public/private partnership involving the university and companies such as Genera Energy — add 1,000 acres of switchgrass to the
business can be involved in this unique program. At Mountain BizWorks, 153 S. Lexington Ave. $5. Info: www.greenopportunities.org.
MORE ECO EVENTS ONLINE
Check out the Eco Calendar online at www.mountainx. com/events for info on events happening after December 3.
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
nearly 6,000 already slated to be grown next year by local farmers near Knoxville, Tenn., by 2010 (this year, local farmers produced nearly 3,000 acres for the project). The new funding will support relevant research, such as comparing the large-scale production of different switchgrass varieties and evaluating preprocessing techniques.
FLS Energy wins green business grant
FLS Energy Inc. has been awarded a 2009 North Carolina Green Business Fund grant, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced Nov. 18 during the state’s Energy Policy Council meeting at N.C. State University. The Green Business Fund is supported by federal recovery dollars through the N.C. Energy Office’s State Energy Program.
The $95,000 grant will help FLS Energy commercialize and market its Easy Solar Kits, which provide low-cost, solar-thermal technology to homeowners and residential developers. The trademarked kits integrate solar modules into an easy-to-install system that can provide 75 percent or more of homeowners’ hot-water needs, say the folks at the Asheville-based company.
Send your environmental news to mvwilliams@ mountainx.com or call 251-1333, ext. 152.
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Chai Pani food
So very Asheville
by Hanna Rachel Raskin
understanding of not just what Asheville diners like to eat, but how and why they like to eat it.
If you’ve somehow managed not to get to Chai Pani yet, here’s what you need to know about the supremely energetic Indian street-food eatery: The place was so popular its first week that its owners were forced to close their doors, turn customers away and spend a few days figuring out how they were going to handle the crowds, which exceeded their expectations by a whopping 300 percent.
“We were looking for a soft opening,” sighs Molly Irani, who opened Chai Pani with her husband Meherwan. “We had to double our staff instantly.”
There’s been plenty for the restaurant’s enlarged cast of busy cooks and cashiers to do: Eager customers have kept on coming, an impressive number of them on a daily basis. What makes Chai Pani work is the Iranis’ precise
To blatantly stereotype Asheville eaters (which is, of course, something that your average openminded Asheville denizen would never, ever do), they like having lots of choices, which is why they’re crazy about the whole build-your-own burrito thing. They’re rather uncomfortable bossing anyone around, which means counter service is always good. They like vegetables better than meat, and like locally grown, organic vegetables best of all. Finally, they don’t like to spend too much on food.
The Iranis made sure Chai Pani hit on all counts, smartly styling it after popular local spots that epitomize dining out in Asheville: “The goal was to create fantastic food, but we felt what people needed was the best possible food at the lowest possible price,” Molly Irani says. “As a mother, I really appreciate places like Mamacita’s
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
NFL FOOTBALL
and 12 Bones, where it’s fun and casual.”
Irani’s maternal instincts apparently extended to Chai Pani’s vast and remarkably affordable menu (of more than 40 items listed, only five exceed the $6.50 mark).
On another front, when the restaurant first opened, most of the dishes were purged of anything approaching standard levels of spice, because Irani worried that diners, unaccustomed to Indian ways of eating, would be put off by anything too peppery. For once, the Iranis had their customer base pegged wrong. While eaters of all ages and culinary backgrounds patronize Chai Pani, Meherwan Irani reports a surprising number of them are familiar with Indian street food and like it hot. With its proper spice restored, Chai Pani’s soul-satisfying food seems to have found its stride. Everything I sampled when I last visited the restaurant was fresh and interesting and beautiful to look at. But the adjective that best describes Chai Pani’s food is “balanced.”
I’m thinking here of the samosa cholle, featuring a flaky samosa set upon a bowl of garbanzo stew. Like fried green tomatoes and spinach dip, samosas are a perfectly good food that’s been doomed to near-irrelevancy in this country by shortcutting chefs. Frozen samosas — often indistinguishable from frozen pasties, frozen empanadas and every other frozen ethnic stuffed pie — are typically leaden and greasy. Not so the delicate samosas at Chai Pani.
Chai Pani’s samosas are stuffed with pillowy mounds of potato, creating a lovely sensation of softness. But the supple samosa is counterbalanced by the more-engagingly textured stew, which is dabbed with green and red chutneys for an appealing avalanche of color.
“Food is supposed to be very textured, which people forget when they eat crummy North Indian food,” Meherwan Irani says.
While Chai Pani’s menu is long, its ingredient list is short: “It’s part of how we’re able to make food affordable,” Meherwan Irani says. “We crossutilize ingredients, and sometimes people don’t even realize it’s the same thing.”
Potatoes reappear on a traditional sandwich that’s so startlingly Midwestern, I began to wonder whether there are many Lutherans in Bombay. According to the menu, Pav Bhaji is a “spicy potato and mixed vegetable hash, served on a warm bun.” OK. But here’s how I’d describe the dish to my fellow Michiganders: Crock-Potstew vegetables squished on a sweet King’s Hawaiian roll. It’s delicious, as is a companion farmer’s cheese sandwich Meherwan Irani rightly calls “an Indian slider.”
The most popular sandwich on the menu is a Kathi Kabab, perhaps because folks latch onto the familiar word “kabab” (which, in this case, doesn’t denote any skewers) or perhaps because it’s so rewardingly good. The kabab is a wrap of salty chicken, touched with ginger and studded with brittle split lentils. Best of all, the inside of the sandwich is slippery with egg. Indian vendors, Meherwan Irani says, often slather the egg wash on the outside of the kabab, but he didn’t want to make things too messy.
Sticking to foods that could conceivably be eaten while standing up was important to Meherwan Irani, but Molly Irani persuaded him to add an elaborate thali presentation to the menu. Meherwan Irani was initially resistant, arguing the classic family dinner had no place at a street-centric eatery. But Molly Irani insisted customers wanted comfort food.
“The thalis are so popular, I’m glad we did them,” Meherwan Irani concedes.
And it’s not just the textures see-sawing their way to a pleasing equilibrium: The stew’s spices play out against the sweetness of the homemade yogurt. The heat of the beans greets the chill of the chutney. Every plate at Chai Pani swings like a pendulum.
“We didn’t set out to create an Ayuvedic restaurant, but a lot of Indian food is grounded in Ayurvedic principles,” explains Molly Irani, referring to the traditional medicine system that stresses alignment.
Indeed, the only dish I wouldn’t race to try again at Chai Pani was a spinach salad that lacked the components for the complexity so integral to everything else on the menu. While the greens, lightly pickled beets and tomatoes were all impeccably fresh, the “less is more” injunction just doesn’t hold when the kitchen has such steady control over all its ingredients.
In the salad column, I greatly preferred a corn bhel, with its sprightly niblets of sweet corn bumping and grinding against an acidic limecumin dressing. The dish is traditionally made with puffed rice, but Irani’s version is a terrifically rich translation. The salad is sprinkled with bits of puri, the flour crisps that make cameos all over Chai Pani’s menu, so there’s a bit of a crunch contrasting with the warm chunks of potatoes in the garden-harvest mix of onions, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Remember those potatoes from the samosas?
There’s a vegetarian and nonvegetarian thali special each day, although so many eaters have expressed interest in trying both that Molly Irani is contemplating creating a combo she’s currently calling “The Hungry Man Thali.” While the showcased ingredient changes — I tried a sweet curried tilapia and a cumin-heavy cauliflower — the thali plate always includes rice, yogurt, chutney, bread and an addictive hot pickle that’s one of the few things not made inhouse. Meherwan Irani’s mother, who helped train the cooks, devoted 48 hours to making a batch of pickles that was gone within days of the restaurant’s opening. The Iranis now import their pickles from India (although they do make their own hot sauce, a sweet paste of local peppers with a faint after-burn. I especially liked it on the pakoras, a tangle of cleanly fried squash, cauliflower and onions).
With so many components, the thalis are a tough to-go order. The Iranis just this month solved the packaging conundrum by introducing Indian stainless-steel lunchbox containers and offering discounts to customers who bring in their “tiffin” for a thali refill.
The Iranis say Chai Pani isn’t perfected yet; once they get it exactly right, Meherwan Irani says, “The long-term plan is to duplicate this in other towns. But we feel really lucky to start in Asheville.” Asheville eaters, gifted a restaurant so neatly tailored to them, presumably feel pretty lucky too.
smallbites
ASAP: Good news for sustainability-minded carnivores: ASAP has made local meat its product of the month for December, meaning partner restaurants will feature Western North Carolina-grown meats on their menus. In the meantime, collaborating restaurants are busily making use of November’s product, winter squash. Over at West End Bakery (pictured), for example, the vegetable is showing up in pumpkin pies, pumpkin bars, Long Island cheese squash soup and salads. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit www.asapconnections.org.
ASHEVILLE INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION:
The Asheville Independent Restaurant has resurrected its Main Course Dining Program, doing away with a coupon book that featured various offers from member restaurants. While participating restaurants last year dreamt up an array of promotions ranging from “free coffee with breakfast” deals to gift certificate vouchers that could be claimed after eating a full-price meal, this year’s deals are all the same: Buy one entrée, get one free. The package includes BOGO coupons for 18 locally owned eateries, including Mela, fig, Corner Kitchen, Savoy and Frankie Bones. “For only $50, diners can enjoy $600 worth of savings at some of the finest and most unique restaurants in our community,” says AIR president Kevin Schwartz. To purchase a package, visit www. airasheville.org.
FRED’S SPEAKEASY: After two months of renovations, Fred’s Speakeasy, at 122 College St. in Asheville, has reopened with a new look and new offerings. There’s now food on the menu, including small pizzas done in the style of Fiore’s, the street-level restaurant above Fred’s that’s owned by the same
family. Owner Anthony Cerrato says Fred’s lineup of local entertainments and karaoke will be returning shortly. Call 281-0920 for more information.
TUPELO HONEY: Tupelo Honey may be known to tourists as Rachael Ray’s favorite place for a sweet-potato pancake, but it’s gaining local notoriety for issuing one of the most massive cattle calls for food-and-beverage staff that the town’s seen in some time. The restaurant is vowing to hire 70 people to open its new South Asheville location at 1829 Hendersonville Road.
“We take great pride in our employee community,” owner Steve Frabitore is quoted as saying in a release announcing the three-day job fair (Nov. 30 through Dec. 2).
Available positions include manager, server, host, prep cook, line cook and dishwasher. For a job application and more information about the hiring event — including job requirements and interview times for specific positions — visit www.tupelohoneycafe. com.
SOUTHERN HIGHLAND CRAFT GUILD:
Having sold countless wooden serving spoons and ceramic trivets, the Southern Highland Craft Guild is now pitching a book of recipes submitted by member artists, staff and volunteers. According to spokeswoman April Nance, the cookbook, titled Artful Eating, includes 500 entrees, side dishes and desserts. The $18.95 book is available at the Folk Arts Center and Guild Craft; it can also be purchased online at www.craftguild.org.
“The members and friends of the Southern Highland Craft Guild are a diverse group and you need look no further than Artful Eating to prove it,” Nance writes.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
Tuesday night fever?
arts&entertainment
Fun’s not reserved for the weekends — during the week, WNC boasts a full lineup of dances, jam sessions, open mics and boogie nights
by A lli Marshall
The holiday season is just about here, which means all the usual cheer, gift wrapping, caroling, sugar consumption, goodwill toward men and five weeks of quality time spent with family and friends. Guest are great and all, but sometimes a pleasant Tuesday evening morphs into a painful eternity over the Scrabble board.
Or, maybe you — like a significant portion of the Asheville population — work in the service industry and Tuesday is your Friday.
Never fear: Local clubs, restaurants and listening rooms offer plenty of weeknight activities, many of which are early hours and low-cost or free.
Events are geared toward kids, adults, musicians, dancers, wallflowers, comedy fans and people who just want to watch other people get crazy. Can’t decide? Try ‘em all. We highly recommend that you check out the complete listings of weekly events in Xpress ’ Clubland, cause there are too many to mention here.
Monday
Contra dance is similar to square dance but without the square formations or the cutesy, his ‘n hers outfits. Performed in long lines, dancers get to allamand left, do-si-do and gypsy (a sexy spin that requires locked eyes and zero physical contact) to smokin’ oldtime/roots music bands. Get some exercise, meet people, have fun. 8 p.m. at the Grey Eagle. $6. www.oldfarmersball.com or www.thegreyeagle. com.
Mo Daddy’s is home of the Brown Bag Songwriting Competition , hosted by Jenny Greer. Singer/songwriters pay $3 to perform two original songs. The cash gets stashed in a paper bag; three celebrity judges listen to all the crooning and, at the end of the night, award the kitty to the best songwriter. The final competition takes place on Monday, Dec. 7; Friday, Dec. 11 is a showcase of all the season’s winners. 8-11 p.m. at Mo Daddy’s. $3 to enter; sign up at 7:45 p.m. 258-1550.
Billed as “Asheville’s hometown open mic ,” this weekly event is both an opportunity for musicians to test drive new material and find an audience, and to jam with one of the area’s hardest working singer/songwriters: Pierce Edens . Edens, who usually fronts his gritty Americana outfit The Dirty Work, is also an itinerant solo performer with a faithful following. He acts as host for the Temptations open mic, but is apt to play his own tunes as well. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Temptations’ Red Room in downtown Asheville. www.temptationsredroom.com.
and fourth Tuesdays) jams at Laurey’s Catering and Gourmet to Go provides a casual atmosphere for musicians of all skill levels (at least in the ukulele jam, led by Kon Tiki’s Lin Luellyn, beginners are in the majority) to learn a few chords and pick a few tunes. Plus, Laurey’s deli-style counter stays open til 8 p.m., providing delectable munchies. 5:30-8 p.m. at Laurey’s in downtown Asheville. Free. www.laureysyum. com.
Think you can dance? Try swing or tango on Tuesday nights at Eleven on Grove, the upstairs part of the downtown Grove House. There are 6 and 7 p.m. dance lessons, followed by live music for you to test your new skills. Also, the venue boasts salsa and mambo dances on Friday evenings, with free lessons at 10:30 p.m. Newbies and experts alike get together to sweat a little and get down. www.elevenongrove.com.
Bob Hinkle, owner of White Horse Black Mountain, describes the weekly Irish jam like this: “It’s a group of as many as 20 who all show up every week. Fiddlers, guitarists, pipers: Everything it takes to make an authentic Celtic sound.” Though the music is exacting and practitioners strive for traditional accuracy, beginners will find the jam a great place to listen and learn, while intermediate to advanced players are welcome to contribute to the sound. “I’ve never seen anyone turned away,” Hinkle says. Worth noting: The Irish jam is followed by the White Horse open mic at 8:45 p.m. when area singer/songwriters try out new material. 6:30-8:30 p.m. at White Horse Black Mountain. No cover. www.whitehorseblackmountain.com.
Dedicated to preserving and advancing the big band jazz tradition, the 17-piece Asheville Jazz Orchestra performs everything from swing-era classics to new works by local composers. The group regularly plays educational festivals, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get down club-style. In fact, this past August saw the band’s one year anniversary performing Monday nights at West Asheville’s Rocket Club. 9-11 p.m. at the Rocket Club. $5. www. ashevillejazz.org.
Tuesday
If family night sounds a little too kid specific, relax. Asheville Pizza’s version offers a little something for everyone. Food and beer for the parents, board games, the Balloon Guy and free sundaes for kids. 5-8 p.m at the Asheville Pizza Company’s Merrimon Avenue location. www. ashevillepizza.com.
Brand new jams: The alternating old-time (first and third Tuesdays) and ukulele (second
Will Ray’s Mountain Jam is, according to Feed & Seed owner Phillip Trees, “a best-kept secret.” It’s also a bit of a coup for the area: When guitarist Will Ray of The Hellecasters relocated to Asheville, he wanted to give something back to the community. So he created the root music-based jam where he and his house band (Sons of Ralph’s Lewis brothers) perform a handful of songs. After that, musicians can sign up to join the band for two songs. “David Holt showed up last week,” Trees reveals. The old-time musician and TV host performed on steel guitar. On another occasion an audience member requested “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” and got to play it along with Ray’s stellar lineup. 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Feed & Seed in Fletcher. No cover, donations go to the house band. www. feedandseednc.com.
Songwriters in the Round is not exactly a new concept, but it is a new weekly installation at Jack of the Wood. (Other offerings at Jack of the Wood include a Thursday bluegrass jam and a Sunday Celtic jam; some jams have
Dancing the weeknight away: Top, Wednesday is ‘80s night at Broadway’s. Below, contra dancing at the Grey Eagle, a Monday-night institution.
TOP PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH, BOTTOM PHOTO BY JOSHUA COLE
beyond.
been going for 12 years). Music booker Peggy Ratusz, a performer herself, realized that so many local singer/songwriters were vying for just a handful of gigs at Jack, that adding the weeknight event gave up-and-coming musicians a platform while also providing a traditional music-and-socializing atmosphere for pub patrons.
“Every now and then somebody gets it right and just stops the moment,” says owner Joe Eckert. For him, it was a recent song by Leigh Glass. How the new weekly session works is, two male and two female singer/songwriters — often players who’ve never worked together before — are selected by Ratusz. They each take a turn playing an original tune, though there
WELCH
are no collaborations on stage. The Songwriters in the Round evenings mean with four performers on stage, there’s probably a perfect song for every listener — and it’s strictly local. “We’ve always been about local music,” says Eckert. And there’s crossover with another popular songwriting competition: The Dec. 15 installment will bring the winners of November’s Brown Bag Songwriter’s Competition at Mo Daddy’s. For performers looking to participate in the Jack of the Wood songwriter nights, contact Ratusz at music@jackofthewood.com. 8-10 p.m. at Jack of the Wood. Tips encouraged.
Part open mic, part “The Gong Show,” Tomato Tuesdays are an audience participa-
The Tuesday night funk jam at Emerald Lounge draws all stars in the Asheville scene and
PHOTO BY JONATHAN
The popular brown-bag songwriting competition is a relatively new event at Mo Daddy’s on Monday nights, and it’s been drawing big crowds.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
Hunt
tory comedy event. Stand up comedians get a set amount of time to perform. If the comic runs long, the audience can throw a tomato (relax, they’re stuffed) at a gong set up on stage. The audience can also toss tomatoes early, but there’s a price: The tomato thrower has to buy the offed comedian a drink. Everyone is welcome to perform or watch. 8 p.m. at the New French Bar. $3 gets you in + a basket of tomatoes.
Hosted by local musician Mars Farris , Bluesday Tuesday has turned out more than a few good blues licks. Local singer/songwriter Dave Wendelin just released a debut album with songs inspired by the jam session. Tween guitar prodigy Zeppelin Murray cut his teeth (perhaps literally) at the jams. 9:30 p.m. at Westville Pub. www.westvillepub.com.
You may not have known that Asheville has its own weekly Funk Jam, but the smokin’ session (featuring members of the Asheville Horns, Strut, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and Laura Reed & Deep Pockets) happens each Tuesday. Sometimes a touring musician makes a showing (check out YouTube for video of Zach Deputy setting in earlier this year); sometimes it’s just the cream of the crop of local artists, laying down deep grooves and bawdy beats. 10 p.m. at Emerald Lounge. www.myspace. com/emeraldlounge.
Looking for jazz in all the wrong places? Try Tressa’s on Tuesdays with Chuck Lichtenburger’s regular “Evening of Jazz ” event, featuring a bevy of special guests and taking on the music of different jazz greats every week (think: Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock). Free. www.tressasdowntownjazzandblues.com.
Wednesday
According to the group’s MySpace page, “The Screaming Js boogie the night away.” In-person reports confirm this. An open jam starts things off from 8-10 p.m., followed by celebratory mayhem with the Js. A super group
of sorts, the Js include the Blue Rags’ Jake Hollifield, Mike Gray and Henry Westmoreland from Firecracker Jazz Band, Mad Tea Party’s Jason Krekel, and J.P. Hess of the Greenfields. The evening brings an interesting mix of deep cuts from ragtime and old blues to country and rockabilly, all given a Screaming Js spin. Wear your dancing shoes. 8 p.m. at Mo Daddy’s. Free. www.myspace.com/screamingjaysday.
Sweaty dancing, synth pop, that one song by Modern English... it’s more than a Wednesday night happening, it’s an institution. It’s also Asheville’s longest-running ‘80s night. In fact, this particular ‘80s night has been running since not all that long after the 1980s ended, and somehow remains packed, sweaty and a place to see and be seen. 10 p.m. at Broadway’s. 285-0400.
Thursday
The bluegrass jam at Marshall’s Zuma Coffee is noteworthy enough to be listed among BluegrassBanjo.org’s jam locations. Bobby Hicks (formerly of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys; currently the fiddler with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder) is a regular at the sessions — such a regular, in fact, that a Zuma’s representative insisted “He’s here every week unless he’s out of town.” Hicks has a following, too — expect a crowd of up to 20 musicians packing Zuma’s modest space. Want to eat first? Aim to arrive by 6:30 p.m. to order dinner. 7 p.m. at Zuma on Main Street in Marshall. zumacoffee.blogspot.com or 649-1617.
Strains of exotic music, the scent of toasted cumin, spicy chutneys and cool lassi drinks — what better to accompany an evening of India dining than live belly dancing? Mela Indian restaurant thought the same thing. Sure, Bollywood films go a long way toward setting the far-flung/well traveled mood, but Mela goes a step farther with musicians and dancers performing one night each week. 7:30 p.m. at Mela www.melaasheville.com or 225-8880.
Come early for the Tuesday Irish jam at White Horse Black Mountain; stay for the open mic.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN WELCH
It’s too easy to feel good with the Dave Rawlings Machine
Longtime Gillian Welch/Old Crow Medicine Show/Conor Oberst collaborator cranks up a new album
by Brian Mc G ee
From the Big Pink campfire sing-a-long of “Ruby” to the sheer solitude of “I Hear Them All,” the Dave Rawlings Machine takes you from Harlem to the San Francisco Bay with an album that could only be made by traversing the highways and rooftops of America.
Rawlings is best known for his long-standing partnership with Gillian Welch, and as the unofficial sixth member of the Old Crow Medicine Show (OCMS). The guitarist, producer, singer and songwriter has just released the long-anticipated album, A Friend Of A Friend , under the appropriately named Dave Rawlings Machine. Although the machine on this album may be driven by Rawlings and Welch, the gears are made up of OCMS and a handful of L.A. musicians that includes Benmont Tench.
A Friend Of A Friend seamlessly forges the ghosts of Jesse Fuller and Mississippi John Hurt. The album features a country-honk version of “To Be Young,” the song Rawlings co-penned with Ryan Adams, and still leaves some familiar Welch/Rawlings landscape. And to top it off, the great ‘60s string arranger Jimmie Haskell created a gorgeous bed of sound on “Bells Of Harlem” and “Ruby,” for Rawlings reedy unshaven voice to lie upon.
Xpress caught up with Dave Rawlings on his way up to Washington, D.C.
Going big: Dave Rawlings has long sung harmony with spartan folkstress Gillian Welch. His new album has the roles reversed, and features a full band and lavish, clever arrangements.
D escribe the moment when you decided that this record was going to be made. Rawlings: You know, there were a few moments that contributed to this finally happening. The first one was probably a few years ago when we decided to play a show at the Newport Folk Festival under my name, to try out a few new Gillian songs and not drop
them into her whole show. And then while we were rehearsing for that, Gillian and I both noticed that we thought my voice had mellowed out a little, and maybe got a little richer over time, and it seemed a little better than it used to be for singing lead.
I think the next thing that happened was, I played a brief tour with Conor Oberst play-
PHOTO BY MARK SELIGER
ing lead guitar. One night one of the opening bands didn’t show up, and it happened to be a show that Gillian had come up just to watch. Conor asked me if I wanted to open the show and I said, “Well sure.” So using his band we played a forty-minute set. It was weird, because the audience didn’t seem to even know that I didn’t have a record or had never sung any of these songs before.
So, I had some older songs and covers and when a few more songs got written, it seemed like maybe there was enough material for me to start making a record. But it was never a done deal until the moment that there were nine songs and forty minutes, and we thought, “Well, I guess this is good enough to put out.” (laughs)
How do the co-written songs come about, outside of your writing with Gillian? It depends. Ryan (Adams) started singing “To Be Young” at a party that we were at in my house in Nashville, and we both worked on it right then and there. That was something that happened in the room at the moment, though he definitely sang the first part. “I Hear Them All” is a song that Ketch had started and then we worked on it together. And between Gillian and I, a majority of the time it is something that she had started.
Had I not heard Old Crow’s version of “I Hear Them All” first, I would have thought they learned the song from your version, as if it was the original.
Oh that’s funny. It’s interesting, because when Ketch and I were writing it, I was singing it a lot, and I wasn’t finger picking it, but I was singing it gently. I love the version we cut with them, but I did want to make it sound like the first version. So I’m glad that it translated. That’s the version you do before you arrange it. It was a strange thing, I had some vision when I thought about going in to record it by myself, that I wanted the microphones to be sideways, as opposed to up and down. I’d seen old pictures and footage of people in the ‘60s with the mics going sideways with pantyhose around them for windscreens. An d I thought, “I want to try and get that sound.” So that’s what I did. I went to the 7-Eleven and got pantyhose. The guy looked at me really weird and thought I was going to rob a bank.
S o what is next between you and Gillian Welch?
Her record is partially done and we’re going to get that out in the new year. And then I don’t know what we’ll do after that. I got a couple things in the can for a new Machine release, so we’ll start working on that, and try to hopefully increase the pace at which we’ve been putting out records quite a bit in the next couple years.
Brian McGee fronts the country-punk outfit Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed. Read the full interview online at mountainx.com.
You run and you die or you stand and you fight
The intensity of Joe Buck comes to Stella Blue
by Dane Smith
Joe Buck is pissed.
Our future looks grim, and it’s all your fault. The media controls your mind, and they’ve sold you a meaningless world of corporate consumerism that is decimating the values and traditions of America. But you’re too apathetic to notice.
“I’m at war,” he shouts through the phone. “War against ignorance, war against apathy, war against people that want to kill any form of personal expression. So it’s easy to find inspiration. Because they’re everywhere.”
He would prefer to be singing beautiful songs of love and peace. He doesn’t want the apocalyptic predictions of his songs to come true. But, Buck says, he’s obligated to write about what he sees. And Joe Buck sees some scary stuff.
“I know my music is really dark,” he admits, “but if I had it my way I’d be playing the most beautiful, soaring music in the world glorifying God,” he adds, unconvincingly. “That’s not where it’s at. So this is what you get. This isn’t what I want to do. But this is what I have to do. It’s the only thing I can do as an artist that makes me believe in it.”
What you get is the wirey, scowling, mohawked one-man-band that is Joe Buck Yourself, the notorious former guitarist of Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers. And this punk infused, demonic rock and country hybrid known as Hellbilly is unlike anything that’s ever claimed a common ancestry with Hank Williams, who Buck cites as
who:
Joe Buck Yourself what:
Bona fide evil one-man band where: Stella Blue when:
Verse after frantic verse find Buck — whose sunken face and piercing eyes look every bit the part of a doomsday prophet — doubling on guitar and bass drum, growling about drugs, demons, destruction and death. On tracks like “Demon in My Head,” “Planet Seeth” and “I Want Revenge” Buck revels in the dark side, and it’s hard to believe he isn’t enjoying himself.
In fact, it’s downright impossible. But again, Buck is quick to point out that the ultimate message is positive, sort of.
“A lot of times I write about bad shit that happens, but it’s because bad shit happens to everybody. It’s about how you handle it, whether you run and you die or you stand up and fight. I
may paint a pretty dark picture, but at the end of it there’s always somebody getting kicked in the face ... and it ain’t me.”
In person, the songs are even more intense, as Buck rocks and sways to the pounding beat of his bass drum and snarls at the cheering crowds who scream along and pound their fists to his dire predictions of our looming demise. This is not the hokey spectacle of a one-man-band that initially comes to mind, the kind with an accordion and harmonica, wires running from a cluster of instruments to a guy in a bowler hat on the street corner. This is in-your-face, pure adrenaline, plain and simple. Buck, guitar and drum.
“You ain’t seen nothing like this before,” he insists. “I mean, there’s one man bands and shit like that, but I make them look stupid. I kick band’s asses. And it’s like shooting fish in a barrel now, because bands all suck. Those other motherf---ers don’t believe what they’re saying. They’re playing at them. I play for them.”
But Buck is no populist champion of the everyman. While his real beef is with the powers-at-be, he acknowledges the public’s role in homogenizing American culture and allowing
themselves to be duped. “There ain’t no South left,” he says regretfully. “No country values, no country morals, no country people.
“My people used to be the salt of the earth,” Buck continues. “Now we’re the f---ing scum of the earth. They all waddle their fat f---ing asses to the f---ing McDonalds then waddle their asses to Wal-Mart to fill their carts up with all this benign shit, then they go put on their Toby Keith records to fill their minds with benign shit. I hate it. We’re better than that.”
Though it’s sometimes hard to make it out within the doom and gloom of his lyrics, Buck still believes things can be salvaged. If he didn’t, there’d be no point singing about it. And as long as there is hope, Joe Buck will be in your face screaming about it.
“As long as I feel effective and relevant I’ll continue,” Buck says. “But when the day comes I’m not, hopefully I’ll know. And if I go past it, hopefully somebody will just put a bullet in my head because I couldn’t do it myself.”
Dane Smith can be reached at rocknrolldane@ gmail.com.
his “hero.”
Rage against the machine: Buck, former guitarist for Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers, says he’s at war against ignorance and apathy.
There’s much to be thankful for around here, ‘tis true. Having lived in drier and more stoic towns, we’re grateful that there’s always somewhere fun to go and something fun to do.
For example, the list of new places opening up and/or getting renovated keeps getting longer. Fred’s Speakeasy recently reopened after a serious remodel, much to the happiness of regulars who’d been scattered during its close. Here’s a report from one Fred’s lover on the new place (still located below Fiore’s on College Street). “It is not dive-y, at all. They’ve even changed their name from Fred’s Speakeasy to Fred’s Courtyard Grill and Pub
The renovations include a newly tiled floor, a new ceiling (you can no longer see the vents and wires and whatnot) with ceiling fans, a new flat screen TV and wall paneling. So, well, it feels like you are drinking in someone’s finished, bar-themed basement. Or an airport lounge, I couldn’t decide. Needless to say, it didn’t have the same feeling as before, as it was almost, maybe ... too sterile? Fortunately, though, it still features the same faces, and that’s a great thing. The people made it anyway. But if I may suggest one addition, it would be to add an old jukebox. The ability to choose is way more fun than XM.”
Along with Fred’s, there’s the new, cosmopolitan Sazerac (on Broadway, run by former Orange Peel managers Jack and Lesley Groetsch ), the friendly Craggie Brewing (the Battery Hill Bitter is terrific; the owners are great community supporters), the revamped Old Fairview Southern Kitchen (formerly Razcal’s, and featuring live music and comedy nightly), Funny Business Comedy Club below the S&W Building, The Blackbird in Black Mountain, the upcoming Lexington Avenue Brewery (can’t wait), and the Orange Peel’s yet-to-be-named downstairs club (coming soon).
Another thing to be thankful for? That colorful characters like bandleader Russ Wilson put together evenings like Russ Wilson’s Art Deco Revue, a swinging event featuring big band jazz, designed to recreate an evening in a 1920s nightclub. Just the thing to dance off some of those Thanksgiving calories. We couldn’t tell you about it better than Wilson himself, who’s packed a monster lineup into the gala evening:
Decline of WNC rides again, above. Below, bandleader Russ Wilson, of Russ Wilson’s Art Deco Revue.
“With a cast of thousands, in Technicolor and Panavision, all dancing, all singing. Here’s the star roster for your approval: Music for the entire evening by Spats Mahoney and his Spitshine Boys (and Spats may
actually show up); our society chanteuse, the lovely and talented Carol Duermit; our silly songstress, the lovely and talented Wendy Loomis; those lovely, leggy dancing girls The Tacky Annies; and the fabulous swing dance troupe the Swing Asheville Lindy Hoppers
“Bringing a touch of exotica to the evening will be the Hawaiian group Kon Tiki. For something completely different, we bring you the fabulous, gorgeous, magnificent, tremendously talented Miss Cookie La Rue, and of course your dashing, debonair, immaculately dress Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Me.
“Vintage dress encouraged. If vintage is not your thing, formal dress or business attire is acceptable. If you are not dressed accordingly, lovely Virginia, our gorgeous door girl, will throw you out. Watch out, she’s been lifting weights.” The Art Deco Revue is 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 at Eleven on Grove. $15.
We also love that people who don’t even live in town still support live music here. Thank you, Bob Rest, for the brand spankin’ new declineradio.com, a Web site dedicated to independent WNC bands past and present. Rest is best-known for co-producing the Decline of Western North Carolina compilations of the late ‘90s, which he revived in a series of shows over Bele Chere weekend (they were packed, and rawked).
Rest has preserved some important relics from the days when Lexington Avenue and the rest of downtown was still curious and a little sinister, with a different sort of nervy charm. He’s still got loads of tapes, DATs, mini-VCR tapes and 7” records. So far, in a feat of technological savvy, he’s transferred 109 songs to the Web site, with plans for many more — including current bands.
As a promoter (he and Milton Carter created the Decline empire) Rest helped build parts of that late ‘90s music scene, and damned if we’re not gonna remember it. Along with the music itself, he boasts an archive of posters, flyers, zines and T-shirts. He’s put some of that on the site, too. Come celebrate the further Decline of WNC at a Saturday, Nov. 28 show at Stella Blue. Rest’s new punk-rock band Everything Falls Apart will play with Hoss (featuring former members of Tripod) and Glaze. For the low price of $5.
“As long as there is an internet, Decline will never die,” Rest promises.
Goodwill Disgruntling junker’sblues
It’s Fall, a transitional time for the junker. As the salad days of yard sales, warm flea market mornings and spring cleanouts lead into the hoarding, barren days of winter, the junker can go through weeks at a time without a decent “score,” which leads to withdrawal, the jitters, anxiety. Which is just my schmaltzy way of saying that I’m going through a dry spell and it’s driving me nuts.
It happens sometimes —- all the good junk eludes you. Someone else hits the yard sale you didn’t bother driving out to and scores a complete set of Mars Attacks trading cards or a lovely Heywood-Wakefield lazy susan coffee table, and in sets frustration.
In such a climate, junkers, a primitive nomadic community with many superstitions, look for something to blame. In my case, my ire is directed towards one of the principal totems of the industry — that behemoth that towers over us all, smiling its beneficent half smile in back-lit blue, black and white — the Goodwill.
Why rage against your fellow man when you can rail against the gods?
Goodwill is a giant presence on the junker landscape, indoctrinating many into the cheap and easy joys of the game, providing a constant source of new material and a beacon of hope around every corner. And while their massive presence is a cause for celebration for many (I know junkers who shudder in pleasure like kids seeing a McDonald’s sign whenever they see that familiar GOODWILL font), I am beginning to resist their ubiquity. Junking is a small world (better, I maintain, than a mall world) and I’m
beginning to think that Goodwill is messing with the ecosystem.
I want to make it clear that I am talking about Goodwill as a retail experience. Its efforts as a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is providing employment opportunities to the needy are outside of the purview of this column and shall not be commented on further, other than to say it’s not easy having some badwill towards Goodwill. I feel like I’m biting the hand that feeds the world.
But to my eyes Goodwill is threatening to take over the thrift store “scene” entirely, driving out “mom and pop” shops and turning thrifting into one fluorescent-lit, neatly aisled slow trudge to the checkout line. My teenage sister-in-law sees a thrift store of any type and says, “Oh look, there’s a Goodwill,” like someone might say, “Give me a Kleenex,” when they’d be perfectly happy to accept a tissue.
Howls of indignation greet the opening of a Starbucks or an Urban Outfitters, but does anyone complain if a new Goodwill opens, concerned that it might have a negative impact on the ABCCM Thrift or Hospice Treasures? Nope, those shops’ stock could slip in quality and consistency while everyone blithely stocks and supports Will-Mart. You can drive a 30-mile route starting in West Asheville and end up in Hendersonville and hit six Goodwills along the way. It seems to me the net effect of all of these stores is that the product that comes in to the donation centers gets spread too thin, bringing down the quality of goods at each individual shop. I mean, how am I going to scoop up all the good junk on a Monday morning
by Whitney Shroyer
if I have to make six stops to do it!?
That last statement is of course tongue-in-cheek — Goodwill is under no obligation to provide product to a junker so he or she can make a living. But consider this: If it’s Goodwill’s stated mission to create jobs, then it shouldn’t ignore the self-employed whose livelihood is recycling junk. Are Goodwill’s forays into Ebay and their own on-line auction site, shopgoodwill.com, enough of a profit-base to counteract the impact on the junker culture in general?
All these elements work together to mess with the ecosystem. And we don’t know the end result. Unlike the Greenhouse effect, the science isn’t in on the Goodwill effect. But when the junk world collapses do we want the response to this inconvenient speculation to be, “I had no idea!?”
This is probably my long cultivated suspicion of corporate culture butting up against my own loyalty to the Goodwill brand, causing cognitive dissonance in my junk-deprived brain. But, once again strictly in terms of the retail thrift store landscape, is nonprofit corporate culture any better than for-profit corporate culture, at least at a local level? And most importantly for my own tenuous grasp on reality — am I the only guy asking these questions?
cultivate the inner power of silence through meditation,
ILLUSTRATION BY NATHANAEL RONEY
artillery
The power of the unconscious, on display in mixed-media
Emily Crabtree has splayed out her memories through visually abstract explorations of markmaking and paper-cutting for a contemplative exhibition called Fibers of Recollection
by Ursula Gullow
The show demonstrates Crabtree’s varied skills: drawing, painting and mixed media sculpture. Creating the pieces over some months allowed Crabtree to let the work evolve, rather than planning the finished outcome. Using what she refers to as “informed intuition,” she had to trust that her unconscious thoughts would be the ultimate content of each piece.
“It’s not completely random, though; I’m definitely applying my knowledge of design elements and drawing to everything I do,” she says.
“I’d get into this space where I would just be working and working and I’d be remembering things,” says Crabtree, a BFA student at UNCA. “The memories would be in that space with me as I was working.” Her stream of consciousness was influencing her marks and shapes. Pointing to a heavy dark form that snakes in and out of one of her paintings, she laughs. “When I painted that I was really frustrated about something.”
“Unraveled Space,” a 6-foot by 7-foot canvas filled with winding shapes, forms and gestures, was the first piece Crabtree produced for the show. Discouraged by the small paintings she was making at the time, Crabtree pinned a large canvas onto her wall and began painting directly onto the canvas without much thought. “It was exciting because of the size of it. It really consumed my space; I could really get into the painting when I was working on it.”
Most impressive is the site-specific installation of cut paper that bares the same title as the exhibition. Fibers of Recollection appears as a visual wave of textures and patterns that meander across an entire wall in the gallery. Twentyfour yards of white, gray and black paper has been carefully cut with intricate organic shapes that gracefully flow into each other in overlapping waves and loops. Light cast onto the piece
intuition: Emily Crabtree allowed the
current show, Fibers of Recollection, to manifest from memories and unconscious thoughts.
produces shadows that contribute to an overall depth to the piece, for an end result that is greater than the sum of its parts.
To produce this installation Crabtree was awarded a $500 UNCA research grant to buy materials and construct the piece. Influenced by artists such as Eva Hess, she began cutting elaborate patterns into the paper, a medium Crabtree enjoys for its texture and approachability. “Cutting the paper is really natural for me,” she says. “I use to felt my son’s toys, so I’m used to slow and tedious work. It takes a lot of patience.”
Other pieces in the exhibition challenge the concept of linear time and space. “The Forgetting Series” explores memories through overlapping vellum pages of ink splashes and
drawings. Viewers are invited to touch the work and upon doing so one sees underlying forms appear beneath their finger.
“The work pays homage to the fact that you can cover up feelings and block out memories, but actually everything is still there, “ says Crabtree. “You can pinpoint the moments you want to see clearly and everything else is hazy.”
Fibers of Recollection hangs through Dec. 1 at Tucker Gallery in Owen Hall on the UNCA campus. Crabtree will give a talk at the gallery on Tuesday, Dec. 1, as part of UNCA’s research grant recipient’s symposium. Check the public events calendar at www.unca.edu for more info about the symposium and upcoming
exhibits at UNCA.
Informed
work in her
smartbets
Holly Golightly
Brit songstress Holly Golightly borrows her name from that iconic film character brought to life by Audrey Hepburn, but where Hepburn was a lovable goof, Golightly is all darkly minimal cool and sultry suave. a former member of the all-girl garage band Thee Headcoatees, Golightly embarked on a solo career in 1995, performing with the White Stripes and on the soundtrack to Broken Flowers. With her backing band the Brokeoffs, she performs lushly retro soul, blues, country and rockabilly. Stella Blue with Pavane and Galliard on Friday, Nov. 27. 9 p.m. $8 advance / $10 doors. myspacecom/stellabluelive.
Adam Strange art show
You probably know Adam Strange from his vocal contributions to hip-hop group GFE; he’s also a talented graphic designer (posters, CD covers, logos) — a skill that translates to fine art. Strange sells his pieces through his MySpace and Facebook pages as well as local galleries. Check out his most recent works at Izzy’s Coffee Den (74 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville): Themes include pop culture, Rubik’s Cubes and joysticks, and new work will be hung to replace sold pieces. Tuesday, Dec. 1 through Thursday, Dec. 31.
Learn Herbal Medicine
It’s a Wonderful Life
In 2006, N.C. Stage Company and Immediate Theatre Project started a tradition: an annual performance of the bittersweet drama It’s A Wonderful Life, done vintage radio-style. The show takes place in a scant 25-by-10 foot space but manages to weave a larger-than-life spell, and the radio broadcast actually pauses for commercial breaks. This year the show is set to tour from Chicago to Miami. N.C. Stage, Friday, Nov. 27-Sunday, Dec. 20. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $8-$20. ncstage.org.
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.
clubland
where to find the clubs • what is playing • listings for venues throughout Western North Carolina
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WED., NOVEMBER 25
Asheville Civic Center
Finding Nemo (Disney on Ice)
Back Room
Open mic
Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe
Open mic
BoBo Gallery
Arundas (world-beat)
Broadway’s ‘80s Night, 10pm
Club 828
Hip-hop open mic
Curras Dom
Eleanor Underhill (singer/songwriter)
Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar
Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am
Emerald Lounge
Reggae Resurrection
Frankie Bones
Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)
Grove Park Inn Great Hall
Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm
Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm
Handlebar
The Piedmont Boys (honky-tonk) w/ Whiskeydick & Josh Montgomery
Horizons at Grove Park Inn
Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm
Jack Of The Wood Pub
Old Time Jam, 6pm
Old Fairview Southern Kitchen
The DeLa Project (cello, guitar), 5-7pm Bluegrass Jam, 7:30pm
Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge
“Hits & Shits” w/ Jamie Hepler
Red Stag Grill
Bobby Sullivan (blues, rock, standards)
Rocket Club
“Super dance party” feat: Adam Strange &
Crick Nice DJ
Scandals Nightclub
Latin dance
Steak & Wine
Live piano music
Straightaway Café
Screech Owl Serenade (country duo)
Temptations Martini Bar
Piano entertainment feat: Will Little, Billy Sheeran & Aaron LaFalce
The Blackbird
Dave Desmelik (Americana)
The Hookah Bar
Open Mic w/ Sven Hooson
Town Pump
Bote (folk, Celtic, rock)
Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues
Hump day dance party w/ The Free Flow Band
Vincenzo’s Bistro
Marc Keller (variety)
THU., NOVEMBER 26
PLEASE CALL ALL VENUES TO CONFIRM HOLIDAY HOURS OF OPERATION
Beacon Pub
Live music
Club 828
Freaky Thursdays w/ DJ Ra & Mack Brown
Courtyard Gallery
Open mic w/ Jarrett Leone
Curras Dom
Mark Guest (jazz guitar)
Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar
Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am
Chuck Lichtenberger presents “An Evening of Jazz” with special guests
Vincenzo’s Bistro
Marc Keller & Company (variety)
Watershed
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
High Windy (bluegrass)
WED., DECEMBER 2
Back Room
Pocket Pocket
Beacon Pub • Fred’s Speakeasy The Hangar • Infusions O’Malleys on Main • Holland’s Grille
Club Hairspray • Holland’s Grille Infusions • Shovelhead Saloon The Still Infusions • Mack Kell’s • Shovelhead Saloon • Stockade Brew House The 170 La Cantinetta T H URSDAY Cancun Mexican Grill • Chasers Temptations Martini Bar • Razcals Shovelhead Saloon • Club Hairspray
FRIDAY
College St. Pub
Getaway’s (Eleven on Grove) The Hangar • Mack Kell’s Wing Cafe • Cancun Mexican Grill
Greenville record fair (vinyl, disc & music market)
Havana Restaurant
Ahora Si (salsa, jazz, tropical)
Horizons at Grove Park Inn
Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm
Infusions Lounge
Live music
Jack Of The Wood Pub
Habibigy (folk, rock, blues, jazz)
Jerusalem Garden
Belly dancing w/ live music
New French Bar Courtyard Cafe
These Magnificent Tapeworms (garage, surf) w/ The Atkins Riot! & No Shoulders
Old Fairview Southern Kitchen
Ashleigh Caudill & friends
Orange Peel
Pelican (instrumental, rock) w/ Black Cobra & Disappearer
Pisgah Brewing Company
Brushfire Stankgrass
Red Room at Temptations
DJ Spy V
Red Stag Grill
Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)
Rock Bottom Sports Bar & Grill
Live music
Rocket Club
Sons of Ralph (Americana, bluegrass) w/ Rafe
Hollister (Southern rock)
Satchel’s Martini Bar
Fire & Desire (pop, contemporary)
Scandals Nightclub
Dance party w/ DJ Stratos & drag show
Steak & Wine
Live piano music
Stella Blue
“Mobstresses of Beat” dance party & light show
Stockade Brew House Open mic
Straightaway Café
Dave Foraker (Americana, blues)
Temptations Martini Bar
Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues)
The Hookah Bar
The Luxury Spirit w/ Pavane and Galliard & Real Local Singles
Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub Live music w/ singer-songwriters
Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues
Gas House Mouse (blues)
Vincenzo’s Bistro Live music w/ Tom Coppola (early) & Marc Keller (late)
Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe
Greg Borom (pop, rock)
Westville Pub
Graham Parsons & Gene Clark Tribute
White Horse
Afromotive (Afrobeat, dance, funk)
Wild Wing Cafe
Good Speed (high energy rock, pop)
crankyhanke
is the maximum rating
pickoftheweek
A SERIOUS MAN
DIRECTOR: JOEL AND ETHAN COEN
PLAYERS: MICHAEL STUHLBARG, RICHARD KIND, FRED MELAMED, SARI LENNICK, AARON WOLFF, ALAN MANDELL
BLACK-COMEDY PARABLE RATED R
The Story: A Midwestern college professor searches for answers as his life spins out of control.
The Lowdown: An almost painfully black comedy about the search for meaning where meaning may not exist. Yes, it’s a comedy, but the laughs are bitter ones and the tone will be off-putting for some. At the end of Love and Death (1975) Woody Allen concludes that if God exists, while he may not be evil, he could be termed an underachiever. The Coen Brothers seem less inclined to let the Old Boy off so lightly in their very dark comedy A Serious Man—a work that searches for meaning in a life seemingly devoid of meaning, except for the possibility that God (or “Hashem” as he’s called in the Jewish faith) doesn’t like the life. The life in question belongs to Larry Gopnick (stage actor Michael Stuhlbarg), and the film charts what can only be called his descent into an increasingly mystifying personal hell.
A Serious Man offers the appearance of being drawn from the Coens’ own childhood. It’s set in suburban Minneapolis in 1967 and is awash in the details of that period. Is it autobiographical? Seemingly it isn’t in any specific way, but the film is more interested in posing questions than answering them, so even if it were autobiographical, I doubt the Coens would tell us. Let’s just say that this 1967 modern-day variant on the Book of Job is informed by their childhood, and leave it at that. And while the film is very specifically Jewish, there’s a universal quality to it all in its depiction of the time in which the story takes place.
Starting with a strange, possibly connected prologue set in a shtetl where a man (Allen Lewis Rickman) inadvertently invites what may or may not be a dybbuk (Fyvush Finkel) into his home, thereby possibly ensuring the doom of his wife (Yelena Schmulenson) and himself—the film then moves to Larry Gopnick’s story. We meet Larry in his seemingly normal life. He has a job as a physics professor, a wife, Judith (Sari Lennick), two kids, Danny (Aaron Wolff) and Sarah (Jessica McManus), and a bland house in suburbia—right down to the screen door with the family initial festooning its aluminum frame. Everything is as standard and as tacky as 1967 could be. Only nothing is right.
Larry’s wife is leaving him for another man,
movie reviews and listings by ken hanke additional reviews by justin souther • contact xpressmovies@aol.com
Sy Ableman (Fred Melamed), and wants Larry to move into the Jolly Roger Motel. Tenure at his job is threatened by anonymous letters. His son is a pothead who has signed up with the Columbia House Record Club under his father’s name and runs up a bill (this is so 1967). His daughter steals money for a nose job. His brother Arthur (Richard Kind) has moved in and seems disinclined to leave—even if it means staying at the Jolly Roger. To make matters worse, Sy Ableman wants to be friends with him, the woman next door wants to have sex with him, and the neighbor on the other side of his house are anti-Semitic rednecks. Oh, yes, there’s also a failed Korean student who is trying to both bribe him for a better grade and destroy him at the same time.
Not surprisingly, Larry goes to his spiritual leaders seeking some kind of answer as to why all this is happening to him and what it means. This proves of no value whatsoever. There’s no profundity to be found there and even less comfort. The most profound thing in the film—and it’s hardly comforting—comes in the form of rock lyrics. It is significant that these lyrics appear several times in the film, but Larry never hears them (except maybe in a dream). Where is all this leading? Well, mostly it leads to ever-bleaker comedy and the posing of more questions of the sort that are good for discussion long after the movie is over—and none of which should really be addressed until you see the film.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about A Serious Man stems from its sense of being a personal work—to an almost alarming degree. It’s one thing that the Coens have made the film for no other reason than because they wanted
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25 - THURSDAY, DEC. 3
Due to possible last-minute scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.
ASHEVILLE PIZZA & BREWING CO. (254-1281)
Please call the info line for updated showtimes.
Starts Friday Astro Boy (PG) 1:00, 4:00
Invention of Lying (PG-13) 7:00
Zombieland (R) 10:00
CARMIKE CINEMA 10 (298-4452)
Chicken Foot (NR) Tue Dec 1 only 7:30 Couples Retreat (PG-13) 1:20 (No 1:20 show Sat-Sun), 4:35, 7:05, 9:30 My Little Pony (G) Sat-Sun only 1:00
The Men Who Stare at Goats (R) 1:15, 3:25, 5:35, 7:45, 9:55
Michael Jackson: This Is It (PG) 4:00, 9:20 Ninja Assassin (R) 1:25, 3:50, 7:15, 9:45 Old Dogs (PG-13) 1:00, 1:30, 3:10, 3:40, 5:20, 5:50, 7:30, 8:00, 9:40, 10:10 Pirate Radio (R) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00 (no 7:00 show on Tue Dec 1), 9:45 Planet 51 (PG) 1:45, 4:35, 7:05, 9:30
to—and they’ve done so because they could. It’s something else again that they’ve ended up with a movie that doesn’t court your favor. In short, A Serious Man simply doesn’t care whether or not you like it—and a lot of people won’t like it. (I’m a bit surprised by the number of people who don’t “get” the ending, though.) In part, I think that’s exactly why I do like it: The “take it or leave it” attitude is refreshing. Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity and brief violence. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Fine Arts Theatre.
THE BLIND SIDE
DIRECTOR: JOHN LEE HANCOCK (THE ALAMO) PLAYERS: SANDRA BULLOCK, QUINTON AARON, TIM MCGRAW, RAY MCKINNON, KATHY BATES, JAE HEAD FACT-BASED UPLIFTING SPORTS DRAMA RATED PG-13
The Story: Fact-based story of Michael Oher, a poor black kid adopted by an upscale white family.
The Lowdown: A manipulative, but effective, uplifting sports drama that benefits from a strong cast, but never escapes a sense of condescension and questionable messages.
John Lee Hancock’s The Blind Side is the kind of film that works on you while you’re watching it—even if you suspect it shouldn’t—but is finally like a second helping of dessert that leaves you feeling ever so slightly sick afterwards, espe-
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) 1:00, 2:00, 4:00, 5:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:50 Where the Wild Things Are (PG) 1:00, 7:00
Thanksgiving only: 1:25, 4:30, 7:25, 10:20 The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (R) 11:25, 2:10, 4:55, 7:40, 10:35 Thanksgiving only: 1:30, 4:20, 7:40, 10:35 A Christmas Carol 3-D (PG) 11:35 (no 1:35 Thanksgiving Day), 2:00, 4:30, 7:10, 9:40 Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) 1:15 (Thanksgiving Day only), 2:15 (no 2:15 Thanksgiving Day only), 4:30, 7:20, 9:35 The Men Who Stare at Goats (R) 11:30 (No 11:30 show Thanksgiving Day), 1:50, 4:05, 7:35, 9:50
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) 11:45, 2:30, 3:15, 5:10, 7:10, 7:55, 10:00, 10:30 Thanksgiving Day only: 1:00, 1:30, 3:50, 4:20, 7:10, 7:55, 10:00, 10:30 CINEBARRE (665-7776) 2012 (PG-13)
12:00, 3:35, 7:15, 10:35
The Blind Side (PG-13) 10:30, 1:30, 4:30, 7:35, 10:25 Ninja Assassin (R) 11:15, 1:55, 4:35, 7:45, 10:00 Old Dogs (PG) 11:20, 1:45, 4:25, 7:30, 9:55
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (PG-13) 10:15, 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10:30 CO-ED CINEMA BREVARD (883-2200)
The Blind Side (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00 EPIC OF HENDERSONVILLE (693-1146)
FINE ARTS THEATRE (232-1536)
An Education (PG-13) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show FriSat only 9:40
A Serious Man (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late show Fri-Sat 9:30 FLATROCK CINEMA (697-2463) Amelia (PG) 1:00 (Fri-Sun), 4:00 The Men Who Stare at Goats (R) 7:00 REGAL BILTMORE GRANDE STADIUM 15 (684-1298)
UNITED ARTISTS BEAUCATCHER (298-1234) 2012 (PG-13) 12:10, 12:40, 3:35, 4:05, 7:00, 7:30, Late show Fri-Sat only 10:25 The Blind Side (PG-13) 12:40, 3:50, 7:20, 10:15 The Box (PG-13) 2:15, 7:50
A Christmas Carol 3-D (PG) 12:00, 2:20, 4:40, 7:10, 9:30
A Christmas Carol 2-D (PG) 12:30, 2:50, 5:10, 7:40, 10:00 Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) 12:20, 2:30, 4:50, 8:00, 10:10 Paranormal Activity (R) 12:00, 5:00, 10:30
Larry Gopnick (Michael Stuhlbarg) is comforted by no less than his wife’s new boyfriend (Fred Melamed) in the Coen Brothers’ dark comedy A Serious Man.
nowplaying
AMELIA
HILARY SWANK, RICHARD GERE, EWAN MCGREGOR, CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON, JOE ANDERSON
Biopic Biopic of Amelia Earhart structured as ashbacks during her nal ight in 1937. A glossy, supercial bio that won’t frighten the horses, but might put them to sleep. Rated PG
THE BLIND SIDE
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 bene ts from a strong cast, but never escapes a sense of condescension and questionable messages. Rated PG-13
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
JIM CARREY, GARY OLDMAN, COLIN FIRTH, BOB HOSKINS, ROBIN WRIGHT PENN, FIONNULA FLANAGAN
Re-Animated Christmas Story Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas ghost story gets the Disney treatment. An overblown, but occasionally interesting, version of the story that often seems more like a theme-park ride than a serious attempt at telling the tale. Rated PG
COUPLES RETREAT
VINCE VAUGHN, JON FAVREAU, JASON BATEMAN, FAIZON LOVE, MALIN AKERMAN
Romantic Comedy A group of couples head off for a vacation in a tropical paradise only to be bamboozled into couples counseling. An uninspiring romcom centered around more of the same from Vince Vaughn that’s short on insight and overlong. Rated PG-13
AN EDUCATION
CAREY MULLIGAN, PETER SARSGAARD, ALFRED MOLINA, OLIVIA WILLIAMS, DOMINIC COOPER, ROSAMUND PIKE
Coming-of-Age Comedy/Drama A 16-year-old schoolgirl embarks on a romance with a somewhat mysterious 30-plus-year-old man. A star-making performance from Carey Mulligan, a human and witty screenplay, and beautifully modulated direction make
cially when you start unraveling its messages. The fact that it’s made with some degree of skill by writer/director Hancock and played with even more skill by most of its cast does nothing to mitigate the overall feeling of condescension and shameless manipulation. It may be the most effective shameless manipulation money can buy, but it’s still shameless manipulation.
The film is based on the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron, Be Kind Rewind), a poor, virtually orphaned black kid who gets adopted by a wealthy white family and goes on to football glory. It’s surefire crowd-pleaser material, the sort that always has been no matter what form it has appeared in. The kicker here is that it’s true—albeit undoubtedly Hollywoodized, simplified and homogenized. It’s a professionally done tale of the uplifting variety—no different, at bottom, than when Cary Grant and Betsy Drake adopted sullen, physically-challenged Clifford Tatum Jr. and taught him how to be a part of a family in Room for One More (1952). Oh, wait, that was fact-based, too, come to think of it.
The major difference, of course, is that what we have here is an upscale white family adopting a black kid—and that difference is compounded by the fact that it’s an upscale white
this an unusually accomplished coming-of-age story.
Rated PG-13
LAW ABIDING CITIZEN
JAMIE FOXX, GERARD BUTLER, COLM MEANEY, BRUCE MCGILL, LESLIE BIBB
Action/Thriller A seemingly ordinary man takes revenge on the justice system that let the murderer of his wife and daughter walk free. Pointlessly gory and patently absurd, the movie might have worked as pulp, except that it’s too full of itself to even work as mindless entertainment. Rated R
THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS
GEORGE CLOONEY, EWAN MCGREGOR, JEFF BRIDGES, KEVIN SPACEY, STEPHEN LANG
Satirical Comedy A fact-based—at least in part—comedy about the U.S. Army’s experiments in the use of psychic powers. An enjoyable, often very funny lm that never quite crosses the line to be the de ning satire it seems to have had in mind. Rated R
MICHAEL JACKSON’S THIS IS IT
MICHAEL JACKSON, KENNY ORTEGA
Music Documentary A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Michael Jackson’s This Is It show that was nearly ready to be performed at the time of Jackson’s death. While your taste for this will depend almost entirely on your fondness or lack thereof for Michael Jackson, the lm itself is an intriguing look at his creative process. Rated PG
PIRATE RADIO
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, BILL NIGHY, RHYS IFANS, KENNETH BRANAGH, TOM STURRIDGE, NICK FROST
Comedy With Music The story of renegade broadcasters operating from a ship off the coast of Great Britain in 1966. An altogether splendid period piece about camaraderie and rock music with great performers, a killer sound track and a screenplay that’s as warm as it is witty. Rated R PLANET 51
(VOICES) DWAYNE JOHNSON, JESSICA BIEL, JUSTIN LONG, GARY OLDMAN, SEAN WILLIAM SCOTT, JOHN CLEESE
Animated Adventure An American astronaut lands
family of card-carrying NRA-member Christian Republicans. Not only do they adopt a black kid, but they also hire a tutor (Kathy Bates)—a Democrat—to help raise his grades so he can get a football scholarship. Well, why not? There are enough movies out there that work on liberal guilt; it’s high time conservatives have one they can call their own, I suppose. The problem with the whole thing is that it all seems just a bit hollow and condescending, no matter how many times Hancock drops in lines (never really backed up) about how Michael is changing the family, instead of the other way around. OK, so he gets them to eat Thanksgiving dinner at a table like a family rather than watch football while eating.
What makes the movie work is mostly in the acting. People always seem so shocked when Sandra Bullock pulls off a credible dramatic performance, but she’s done it before—not so much like in the overrated Crash (2004), but in the under-seen Infamous (2006) and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002). For that matter, she’s done it better, but here she’s been given one of those “strong-willed” characters with a sharp tongue that immediately grabs everyone’s attention. Oh, she’s good at it, but it almost seems too calculated and easy. On the other hand, country
on an alien planet, only to be feared by the natives as a brain-eating monster. A pointless exercise in the loud, frantic and juvenile—even by the standards of a kids’ picture. Rated PG
A SERIOUS MAN
MICHAEL STUHLBARG, RICHARD KIND, FRED MELAMED, SARI LENNICK, AARON WOLFF, ALAN MANDELL
Black-Comedy Parable A Midwestern college professor searches for answers as his life spins out of control. An almost painfully black comedy about the search for meaning where meaning may not exist. Yes, it’s a comedy, but the laughs are bitter ones and the tone will be off-putting for some. Rated R 2012
JOHN CUSACK, CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, AMANDA PEET, DANNY GLOVER, THANDIE NEWTON, OLIVER PLATT
Mega-Budget Disaster-thon Roland Emmerich’s take on what happens when the Mayan calendar runs out. Grotesquely overlong and overproduced, but if you want to see the world end without actually being there, it’ll probably ll the bill. Rated PG-13
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON
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 rst one, but it may be even dumber in its attempt to go for the world’s record in moping teens. Rated PG-13 WHERE THE WILD
THINGS ARE
MAX RECORDS, CATHERINE KEENER, JAMES GANDOFINI, LAUREN AMBROSE, PAUL DANO, CHRIS COOPER
Children’s Fantasy A young boy runs away from home after a ght with his mother and travels to a magical island inhabited by fantastic creatures that mirror himself and his real life. An ambitious, not entirely successful attempt to esh out the children’s book by Maurice Sendak. Rarely less than fascinating, but somehow not quite what it seems to want to be. Rated PG
singer Tim McGraw breezes through the film on laid-back charm—and the wisdom of knowing there’s no sense in trying to out-act the star. That leaves Quentin Aaron as Michael, who manages to convey much more in his expressions than the screenplay offers him.
The rest of the cast is pretty much reduced to types—ranging from the wisecracking kid, to the Teacher Who Made a Difference, to the friends who don’t understand, to you name it. Do they work? Yes, within their limitations, they work just fine while they’re on-screen. That’s how such characters got to be types in the first place. But to what end—other than making the viewer feel uplifted—is all this? What message is being conveyed by a movie about a kid who escaped from the ghetto and avoided becoming a part of it by “just closing his eyes” to what was going on around him (his mother’s instructions so he wouldn’t see bad things)? I’m not sure, but it leaves me uneasy to say the least. Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drugs and sexual references.
reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande 15.
startingwednesday
THE BOONDOCK SAINTS II: ALL SAINTS DAY
Ten years after his cult hit The Boondock Saints, Troy Duffy returns with The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day. (Perhaps Mr. Duffy’s range is limited.) Also back are stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus and Billy Connolly, but is this a film people have been clamoring for? The story line has the McManus Brothers (Flanery and Reedus) returning to Boston to seek vengeance on the guys who murdered their priest. Early word has not been very kind. (R)
Early review samples:
• “Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day is an idiotic ode to macho horseshite (to employ an ancient Irish word). (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times)
• “Apparently the world has been waiting for another cartoonishly violent, broadly comic Boston Irish Catholic vigilante action movie with gay overtones.” (Mike Hale, New York Times)
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
It’s the new Wes Anderson film, which may be all that movie fans in Asheville need to know. This handmade - honest-to-goodness stopframe animation - adaptation of Roald Dahl’s children’s book looks both gorgeous and delightful to judge by the trailer. Heavy-hitter voice talent comes from George Clooney and Meryl Streep, but having Anderson familiars like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Willem Dafoe, Michael Gambon and, of course, Owen Wilson adds an appropriate touch. Early reviews tend toward the ecstatic - some even suggesting that this gives Up a run for its money as best animated film of the year. (PG)
Early review samples:
• “Featuring puppets instead of people, Anderson’s frames have never felt so teeming, so magically alive.” (David Edelstein, New York Magazine)
PLANET 51
DIRECTOR: JORGE BLANCO, JAVIER ABAD AND MARCOS MARTINEZ
PLAYERS: (VOICES) DWAYNE JOHNSON, JESSICA BIEL, JUSTIN LONG, GARY OLDMAN, SEAN WILLIAM SCOTT, JOHN CLEESE
ANIMATED ADVENTURE RATED PG
The Story: An American astronaut lands on an alien planet, only to be feared by the natives as a brain-eating monster.
The Lowdown: A pointless exercise in the loud, frantic and juvenile—even by the standards of a kids’ picture. Restraint means not doing something despite the fact you can. For instance, if you have $60 million lying around, you can certainly spend it on making a cartoon, but then again, maybe there are better things to be spending it on than a loud, crass animated movie such as Planet 51.
• “The film achieves a feel that is at once coarse-grained and elegant, antiquated and the height of fashion.” (Todd McCarthy, Variety)
NINJA ASSASSIN
OK, so we’ve got James McTeigue (V for Vendetta ) directing, and we’ve got the Wachowski Brothers producing a chopsocky opus starring Korean pop star Rain and the sadly underused Naomie Harris ( 28 Days Later). It’s somewhat unclear whether the title refers to a ninja, who is an assassin, or someone who assassinates ninjas. It likely doesn’t matter. Expect stylish and utterly preposterous action scenes with lots of blood. (R)
Early review samples
• “It is indeed filled with lots of ninjas who are constantly at each other’s throats with all manner of sharp implements.” (Ethan Alter, Hollywood Reporter)
• “Working again with the Wachowski brothers as producers, director James McTeigue delivers a lower-brow, somewhat livelier work than the team’s V for Vendetta.” (Rob Nelson, Variety)
OLD DOGS
Hoping to cash in on the popularity of his Wild Hogs, Walt Becker returns with the cleverly matched title of Old Dogs - and he’s brought John Travolta back with him, though Tim Allen and Martin Lawrence have been replaced with Robin Williams and Seth Green. Sounds like a wash. The humor this time stems from Williams being stuck with 6-year-old twins. Naturally, he ropes his best friend (Travolta) into helping take care of the tykes. Hilarity is supposed to ensue. It looks pretty grim and will probably make a fortune. No, it hasn’t been screened for critics. (PG)
This movie is yet another case of just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
The onslaught of technology has made the creation of animated films simpler and faster, which in turn has opened the floodgates for all shapes and sizes of animated mediocrity to come tumbling out. A lot of times, this just adds up to the plain old awful and perfunctory (for the four people who watched Delgo (2008), you know what I mean). In the case of Planet 51, you get a good smattering of the crummy and pointless, but with some added idiocy to help make sure you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
The setup is simple: It’s a basic alien-invasionmeets-cultural-misunderstanding scenario (think E.T. (1982)), but in reverse. We start off on an alien world full of green, antennae-sporting, pants-less creatures that are not too far removed culturally from the whitewashed American ‘50s. Here, we meet Lem (Justin Long), a teenage space alien with a good job and hopes of finding love with local sweetheart Neera (Jessica Biel). Lem’s life
is seemingly perfect—at least in his mind—until he runs into a cocky blowhard American astronaut named Chuck Baker (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), who is exploring Lem’s planet. Chuck, being the alien in this situation, finds himself a hunted man by the local military, and it’s up to Lem to—reluctantly—help out Chuck.
Planet 51 then becomes your usual stock buddy adventure/comedy. Honestly, it could’ve been workable, but there’s a complete lack of tact that drags the movie down. Most of the film is frenzied and loud, but not in any imaginative, energetic kind of way, more like an ADHDafflicted youngster hopped up on Mountain Dew. The jokes range from the cheesy to the lame and feel like they should be accompanied by a laugh track. And that’s when the movie is trying to be highbrow.
Aside from Pixar, finding the requisite toilet humor in a children’s movie is no surprise, and Planet 51 is no different, except here they try to push the envelope. Never before have I seen a movie that skips the scatology and goes straight for the rear end. I mean, there are multiple—as in more than one—scenes involving the use of corks for the prevention of alien probing. None of it’s funny, but I can’t even call it offensive or off-putting. Odd is about as far as I can go. For anyone in dire need of an animation fix, please, just go pick up a copy of Up and see how this kind of thing should be done. Rated PG for mild sci-fi action and some suggestive humor.
reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike Cinema 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande 15.
NEW MOO N
DIRECTOR: CH RIS W EITZ ( THE GOLDEN COMPASS )
PLAYERS: KRISTEN S TEWART, R OBERT PATTINSON, T AYLOR
L AUTNER, B ILLY B UR K E, MIC H AEL SH EEN
T EE N R O M A N CE/ H ORROR/FA N TASY R ATE D PG -13
The Story: More teencentric romantic entanglements among the supernatural set and one whiny girl.
The Lowdown: 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.
If further evidence was needed (and it really wasn’t) to support H.L. Mencken’s assertion that “no one ever went broke by underestimating the taste of the American public,” the opening weekend take of $140 million for The Twilight Saga: New Moon is that evidence. The fact that Chris Weitz (who made the wonderful About a Boy and the better-than-its-reputation The Golden Compass) manages to bring some actual style to this second entry in the series might be construed as a plus. Yes, it results in a better made film, but it doesn’t change the fact that the material is dreadful. In fact, it may even make that more obvious. At least Catherine Hardwicke’s direction of Twilight (2008) was as drab as the movie itself, putting the two on an even keel—a very low one, but even.
I’d actually like to believe that Weitz’s approach to the film was to treat it as a bad joke and play up its awfulness in a subversive manner—while collecting a huge paycheck, I’m sure. Perhaps Weitz sees himself here as the Douglas Sirk of teen romance/horror, making fun of the material at hand in the manner Sirk supposedly did with his 1950s soap operas. There’s some evidence to support this. Having Michael Sheen play the big-cheese vampire in the campiest possible tone suggests the possibility, as do the ridiculous movie posters in the theater shown in the film. And then there’s no way I can imagine the Rastafarian vampire (Edi Gathegi) running away from CGI werewolves in fast motion was meant to be taken seriously. (All it needs is “Feet don’t fail me
now” on the sound track.)
The problem is that none of this keeps the film from being a tedious morass of emo goo that goes on for 130 seemingly interminable minutes. Even the amusing gay werewolf subtext—with Jake (Taylor Lautner proving that his acting peaked four years ago in The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl ) dumping Bella (Kristen Stewart) to be his real werewolf self (“it’s not a lifestyle choice”) by hanging out with a bunch of beefed-up shirtless boys— is only mildly diverting. You’re still left with about 20-minutes worth of story that mostly keeps going by reels and reels of moping from Bella and Edward (Robert Pattinson). To pad this out, the two have more mood swings and changes of heart than the entire cast of Gone With the Wind
This might work better if either actor had any charisma, or if their attraction to each other made any sense. I guess Bella’s all hot and bothered over Edward because he can walk in “romantic” slow motion whenever he enters a scene. The appeal of this 17-year-old sulk-addict for a guy who’s been around for 109 years is another matter. Perhaps as the hero of Weitz’s About a Boy (2002) claimed of himself, Edward really is that shallow. No matter, the movie assumes we accept their passionate love for each other. But after all, this is a movie that asks us to accept the idea of vampires that sparkle in the sunlight and manage to pass for humans even though covered in white pancake makeup, exhibiting incredible strength and wearing absurdly obvious contact lenses. Oh, yeah, it also exists in a world where no one seems to wonder what this beefy werewolf boy is doing wandering around in a pair of shorts and nothing else in the chilly north woods. ( I want to know where he got the shorts after he turned back into human form. Do werewolves have a secret marsupial-like pouch to hold a change of clothing?)
Of course, it matters not one whit what I—or anyone else—has to say about New Moon so far as Twilight fans are concerned. They not only will flock to the damned thing, they’ve already done so and are likely to go for a second dose of prefab swoonery. Complaining about it is futile, but it’s impossible not to wonder how its legions of fans don’t realize how brutally dull and slow it all is—except when it’s unintentionally funny. Then again, you don’t suppose it’s paced this way to allow time for the
one-time showings
MAHLER
DIRECTOR: KEN RUSSELL
PLAYERS: ROBERT POWELL, GEORGINA HALE, LEE MONTAGUE, ROSALIE CRUTCHLEY, ANTONIA ELLIS
BIOGRAPHICAL MUSIC/DRAMA RATED PG
Is Mahler (1974) the best of Ken Russell’s composer biographies? I’m inclined to say yes. But even if it isn’t, it’s undoubtedly one of the finest films ever made on the life of a composer—or indeed any artist.
Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Mahler at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St., in downtown Asheville. Info: 273-3332.
ZELIG
DIRECTOR: WOODY ALLEN
PLAYERS: WOODY ALLEN, MIA FARROW, PATRICK HORGAN, JOHN BUCKWALTER
COMEDY RATED PG
If we must have bogus documentaries, they should all be made by Woody Allen. This one was made in 1983.
The Hendersonville Film Society will show Zelig at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.
For Cranky Hanke’s full reviews of these movies, visit www.mountainx.com/movies.
fans to text each other—“OMG, Edward is so hot”—without losing track of the plot, do you? It could be the latest word in the devolution of movies. Rated PG-13 for some violence and action. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike Cinema 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande 15.
The Green Family Goes Green
The FAQs About Green Building
Mrs. Green began to wonder how ef cient her family’s house was and thought about getting a home-energy audit to nd out.
Home-energy audits measure how much energy a house uses and what can be improved to reduce energy use. You can do your own energy audit by looking at the past 12 months of your energy bills (available online through many utilities) and by using the Energy Star Yardstick to compare your house with other similar houses across the country (see www.energystar.gov).
You can also have a home-energy audit done by a professional Home Energy Rater (HERS Rater). In this type of audit, the HERS Rater comes to your house and uses diagnostic tools to evaluate how airtight your building envelope and duct work are. This service usually costs about $300, depending on house size.
So Mrs. Green called up a HERS rater she knew in town.
in downtown
Living downtown Asheville has never been easier! 60 North Market is the premier downtown condominium located next to The Thomas Wolfe Memorial on Market Street. 60 North Market is situated in the heart of it all with 85 restaurants, theaters, cafes and local galleries just outside its door. The property offers the lock and leave lifestyle many desire in a second home as well as great amenity areas for residents to take advantage of year round.
60 North Market offers gallery lofts facing Market Walk with private ground floor patios. A variety of floor plans remain with 1 bedrooms starting from $259,900, 2 bedrooms from $499,900 and spectacular 2 level penthouse homes from $779,900. Sizes range from 700 square feet up to 2,000 square feet. Each unit features floor to ceiling glass windows, stainless steel appliances
and granite countertops. The building also has a club room, a rooftop terrace and a health-club quality fitness center.
Sales and marketing is being handled through Coldwell Banker NRT Development Advisors, one of the market leaders in the sales and marketing of condominiums, lofts, luxury high-rises, single family and town home communities. The sales center is located at 60 North Market Street and is open daily. Be sure to stop in and see the 4 new designer model homes, with a style for every preference. With over 70 percent sold, these homes will not last long!
Real Estate
Homes For Sale
$159,900 • DARLING GARDEN HOME 3BR,2BA, 1392 sqft.Great neighborhood near downtown Hendersonville.Recent quality construction,garage, fireplace,private patio, designer upgrades. MLS#451875.Below tax value! 809A South Whitted. (828) 274-5059.• 40+ photos: www.JoyProperties.com
$208,000 NORTH ASHEVILLE • One story home on a private,level lot in Stoneybrook.Split Bedroom floor plan,plenty of natural light,vaulted ceilings with many recent upgrades and modern improvements. Conveniently located at 19 Marlwood Court,Asheville NC 28804.FSBO,828 242 0749.
$234,000 • WEAVERVILLE
Greatroom living! 3BR,2.5BA, 1784 sqft on 0.93 acre! • Built 2001.Very popular subdivision.• Convenient to Asheville.Covered front porch.• Huge garage/workshop.By owner. By appointment: (828) 768-6180. mjgc21@charter.net
$238,000 IN RIVER STONE
Excellent floor plan.Master on main,large family room upstairs.Fenced yard in rear. Pool community.Call The Armour Team of Keller Williams:(828) 771-2336. www.wesellmtnhomes.com
$245,000 IN LAWSON RIDGE Fantastic family home.4BR, 4BA.Great mountain views. Full,unfinished basement. Call The Armour Team of Keller Williams at (828) 771-2336. www.wesellmtnhomes.com
$379,000 • PRIVATE CONTEMPORARY 3BR, 2.5BA,open floorplan,great light,hardwood and ceramic tile floors,deck off master,2zoned heat,0.8 acres w/private pond.
MLS#451208.The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com
$420,000 • BEAUTIFUL EAST ASHEVILLE 3BR, 2.5BA,private lot in upscale Buffalo Mountain neighborhood,12 minutes to downtown.Recent renovations throughout, including brand new hardwood and bamboo floors. MLS#452517.• Kasey Gignilliat,(828) 280-5996. Prudential Lifestyle Realty
10,000 HOMES • 1 ADDRESS! Search virtually all MLS listings.Visit www.KWBrent.com
1000’s OF ASHEVILLE HOMES! On our user friendly property search.New features include Google Mapping and Popular Neighborhood searches. Check it out at townandmountain.com
1315 HYMAN AVENUE • HENDERSONVILLE MLS#453026.Arguably the best value in Hendersonville. Amazing opportunity! This house offers a lot of space and endless possibilities...it pays for itself:2 rental apartments in basement. Seller must sell and will consider All Offers (sold in “as-is condition”).$219,500. Contact Valeria Wyda with DWELL/EcoHouse Realty for details:(828) 230-3680. DWELLinAsheville.com
1910 RENOVATED PARSONAGE North Asheville. Historic charm,designer influences,modern luxury. 3BR,2BA.• Stainless/granite kitchen.• Original floors: marble,carpet,bamboo. MLS#453138.• Gas fireplaces.Stained glass. $289,000.• 628-9651.
1920’s DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE CHARMER 3BR, 1BA; 2 story brick w/covered front porch.1200 sqft; new roof; tile and hardwood floors; recently remodeled kitchen.$209,000.LaNita Cloninger:210-3258. www.beverly-hanks.com/ 447894
1920’s TRADITIONAL • MARSHALL $300,000. Renovated 4BR home on a professionally landscaped 0.69 acre.Private hilltop setting,mountain and valley views,gardens.A short stroll to downtown Marshall art studios,shops,cafés.22 minutes to Asheville. MLS#453891. Call (828) 255-7530. appalachianrealty.com
1929 BUNGALOW HOUSE For sale by owner.Walk to UNCA! Updated kitchen with new appliances.Updated bathroom with original clawfoot tub.Hardwood floors throughout.2BR,1BA. 979sq.ft.$185,000. (828) 242-7968
3 BEDROOM,2 BATH NEW HOUSE • 1450 sq.ft.,9 foot ceiling,big windows,nice lot. Two minutes to Exit 21,New Stock Road,Woodfin.221 Old Home Road.Hardwoods, fans,stainless appliances, porch,patio,sunny kitchen. Perfect for small family. Hurry,won’t last.$185,000. 828-299-7502.
AFFORDABLE MODULAR HOMES
• NC Healthy Built Certified • Built Within 90 Days • Land/Home Packages for All Budgets. (828) 215-9064. www.123modulars.com
BENDING OVER BACKWARDS! For our clients! (828) 713-5337. Search all MLS listings in 1 location: AshevilleHolisticRealty.com
CITY SANCTUARY - OAKLEY • Privacy on 2/3 acres with extra lot.2BR,1BA bungalow. Large LR with fireplace, skylight.Heart pine floors. Huge kitchen.New roof, paint,deck.Raised beds, beautiful trees.Garage/shed. $195,000.828-713-9617.
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 $15K30K.compactcottages.com, 828-254-5450.
FOR SALE BY OWNER
$199,000.Energy Efficient Eco Home.2 bedroom,2 bath custom designed home on 1.26 acres.Decks.1350 sq. ft.Call 828-649-1172 for appointment.
LEASE TO OWN • 1700 sq.ft.,4BR,2.5BA,hardwood floors,new kitchen,deck,sun room,walk to downtown. $199,000.Agents welcome. 828-582-7198.
THE VILLAGES AT CREST
MOUNTAIN Asheville’s Premier Sustainable Community! Top green builders,community gardens, orchards & vineyards, common houses,common solar,so much more.Starting in the low 200s. www.villagesatcrestmounain. com or 828.252.7787 / info@villagesatcrestmountain .com for more info.
Condos For Sale
$135,000 • CLINGMAN
AVENUE Between Downtown and the River Arts District. New 1BR,1BA urban condo. Parking,storage,private balcony.The Real Estate Center,(828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com
A GREAT TIME TO BUY A CONDO Tax credit has been extended! Let’s talk about condos.Call Clark: (828) 779-9000. Asheville Investment Properties.
DOWNTOWN KRESS
BUILDING Custom Condo in the historic Kress Building.2 PINs,adjoining spiral staircase.Original maple floors,private balconies,high ceilings.• $525,000, lease/purchase also available for $1800/month. MLS#423787.The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com
HISTORIC S&W CONDOS
New condos in the heart of downtown in historic art deco building.3rd and 4th floor units w/elevator access and city or mountain views.From $290,000.The Real Estate Center:(828) 255-4663, www.recenter.com • info@recenter.com
LEXINGTON STATION
Downtown high-end condos on Lexington Ave.Hardwood floors,stainless appliances,balconies,fitness center,parking.3BR penthouse:$525,000 • 1BR: $185,000.• The Real Estate Center:(828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com
*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
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.
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.
Kitchen & Bath
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
Painting
1 DAY ROOM
TRANSFORMATION Custom painting,decorative finishes, wallpaper installation/removal.• 15 years experience.• Meticulous • Timely • Reasonable.Heather, (828) 215-4365. Custom Home Interior Accents.
Cleaning
HOUSEKEEPER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT has an opening to work for you.Call (828) 216-4592
General Services
HOME WATER LEAKS A Problem? Excellent leak detection! Lasting correction! Experience! References! Call 828-273-5271.
Handy Man
HIRE A HUSBAND Handyman Services.25 years professional experience, quality,reliability.References available.Free estimates. Insured.Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.
RELIABLE REPAIRS! Quality work! All types maintenance/repair, indoor/outdoor.• Excellent water leak detection/correction! • Wind damaged shingle/roof repair! 38 years experience! Responsible! Honest! Harmonious! References! Call Brad,you’ll be Glad! (828) 273-5271.
Services 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
NEED A WEBSITE? Take your business to the next level with a custom WEB DESIGN. Call:828-398-4723.Portfolio: www.webheadservice.com
Commercial Listings
Businesses For Sale
SPACIOUS HAIR SALON • Good opportunity for owner/operator.Turn-key business.5 stations.Like new equipment.Private room for massage therapy.Plenty of parking.(828) 232-5711.
Commercial Property
12,000 SQFT INCREDIBLE BUILDING • WEST ASHEVILLE For sale or lease, all or part,triple net.Long term lease.Includes 3000 sqft dance room:12 work rooms underneath,5 office spaces,7 bathrooms (3 full) and a • huge 3500 sqft loft Apartment above,with pool, hot tub,stainless commercial kitchen,gas fireplace,wet bar,etc.• Serious inquires only.(828) 259-3663.
COMMERCIAL FOR SALE
• Downtown,old fashioned building w/character on busy 0.25 acre corner,reduced, $675,000.
• Downtown,brick building w/high ceilings,roll-up doors, concrete floors,$330,000.
• The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com
Business Rentals
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
12,000 SQFT INCREDIBLE BUILDING
ASHEVILLE For sale or lease, all or part,triple net.Long term lease.Includes 3000 sqft dance room:12 work rooms underneath,5 office spaces,7 bathrooms (3 full) and a • huge 3500 sqft loft Apartment above,with pool, hot tub,stainless commercial kitchen,gas fireplace,wet bar,etc.• Serious inquires only.(828) 259-3663.
18 ORANGE,DOWNTOWN
OFFICE SPACE Across from Staples.1,325 sqft,entire first floor,large kitchen/bath, $1,295/month,water and electric included.Available Oct.1.By appointment: 828-273-3765.
ATTENTION HOLISTIC
PRACTITIONERS Heavy traffic.• Office and treatment space available in Arden holistic practice.• Hendersonville Road. Chiropractor relocating.Call 687-0506.
BE ON BUSY TUNNEL ROAD! Anchor space to starter space available from 300 sqft to 3500 sqft.Great for Medical, Office or Studio use.Contact (828) 215-2865 for showings.
BUSY BUSINESS
Space available on Smokey Park Highway,approximately 700 sqft.Great visibility! $700/month.Call (828) 215-2865 for showings.
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 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
DOWNTOWN Private and quaint office space with views.Get your Espresso and a paper next door.Only $1,200/month and 1 year lease or more.Bernie, 828 230-0755.
GREAT LOCATION • High traffic retail/restaurant building.Downtown Hendersonville.4,000 sq.ft. with lots of private parking. $2800 month 828-685-0601.
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
17 TO 57 ACRES • HILLTOP HOMESITE Long range views,stream, wooded,very nice rural area,private.• No restrictions.• $6500/acre. Call (828) 287-3555.
NICE SUBURBAN OFFICES
South of Airport,Hwy 280. 4,400 sqft.freestanding building.Possible office/livein.Approximately $3,000/month.
HENDERSONVILLE ROAD
Close to Asheville.Deluxe suite of offices,160,280 sqft. Ample parking.Cheap! 828-216-6066.
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
• 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
North.2BR,2BA,new carpet, 800 sqft,2 levels,WD,off street parking.Deck,yard and • pets ok! $750/month includes water. Call (828) 279-3926.
BLACK MOUNTAIN • 1BR, duplex.1 yr old.D/W disposal,W/D hookups, 600sq.ft.$625/month. 713-2467.
BRIGHT SUNNY VICTORIAN - MONTFORD • 1BR. Hardwood floors throughout, large LR and BR,gas heat, lots of closet space, washer/dryer.$675/month. Good credit,references, security deposit,year lease required.Quiet pet considered with fee.For appt: Elizabeth Graham 253-6800.
CENTRAL • 1BR.Heat and water provided.$620/month. 828-253-0758. Carver Realty
CLOSE TO I-26/UNCA 2BR, 2BA.Beautiful complex,built 2002.Safe and secure.North Asheville.• $700/month.Call 778-6809. www.delkandson.com
CUTE LITTLE RV FOR SALE • On beautiful wooded lot in Woodfin.RV,$2000.Lot rent, $300/month.919-260-5734.
DUPLEX • HENDERSONVILLE 2BR.• WD connections.Fenced backyard.Very convenient, close to downtown. $525/month includes water. 423-5160.
DUPLEX • NORTH • UNCA 2BR,1BA w/bonus room. Walk downtown.1300 sqft, central HVAC,hardwood floors,WD,off street parking. Deck,yard.• Pets ok. $1200/month includes water. Call (828) 279-3926.
EFFICIENCY APARTMENT • Available immediately.289 E Chestnut ST.Ground floor units available,$450/month. No pets.828-350-9400.
FURNISHED COTTAGE • MARSHALL Very private.20 minutes to Asheville. Completely renovated 2BR. Hardwood floors,all appliances,WD. Garage/workshop available.• No pets.$825/month. (828) 658-1000.
GLEN BRIDGE APARTMENTS • 1BR,1BA.$450/month. Includes water/garbage. Small complex in Arden. Move in special with one year lease. www.arcagencyasheville.com 828-350-9400.
GROVE PARK INN AREA 1BR apartments and Cottages. Starting at $525/month. Walking distance to downtown.More information, call (828) 255-8458.
LEICESTER • Available immediately.1BR with office. $550/month.828-350-9400. www.arcagencyasheville.com
MONTFORD - CHARMING SPACIOUS 1BR With sunroom off kitchen,large LR,hardwood floors,gas heat $685/month.Credit check, references,security deposit, year’s lease required.Quiet pet considered with fee.For appt:Elizabeth Graham 253-6800.
NEWLY RENOVATED - WEST ASHEVILLE 1BR.$700/month includes utilities, cable/internet.New appliances.Clawfoot tub with shower,hardwood/tile floors. Off-street parking.Available Jan 5.450-4535.
NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES •Special• Off Merrimon.Walking distance to town.• 2BR,1BA. $495/month.Includes water. 828-252-4334
NORTH ASHEVILLE • 2BR, 1BA.Heat pump,central air. W/D connection.Close to Beaver Lake.$545/month. 828-252-4334.
NORTH • 1BR.Hardwood floors.$500/month. 828-253-0758. Carver Realty
STUDIO/1BA NORTH • 82 Merrimon,hardwood floors, $505/month.828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com
STUDIO • South.Forestdale. 2BR,1BA.A/C.2nd month rent FREE.$560$695/month.828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com
SWEETEN CREEK RD. Kensington Place. $680/month.1BR/1BA.Move in by Dec 30.Cathedral ceilings,W/D included.Must rent until 9/2010.Excellent location.Call Graham 828553-6436.Come see.
TWO APARTMENTS IN CANDLER • $450$495/MONTH Landscape/farm work trade negotiable.Large 1BR.16 miles from Downtown.Pets considered.Call (828) 215-1923 or (828) 667-0120.
UNFURNISHED 1,2,3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS • Available in West Asheville. Water,garbage included. Washer/dryer connections available.$529.00 -$649.00. Call 828-252-9882. rbaker@orionra.com
WALK TO MISSION! Nice, ground level,1BR,1BA, hardwood floors.Off-street parking.Heat and water furnished.$625/month.$625 security deposit.Contact Tom, 828-230-7296.
STUDIO/1BA NORTH • Fall Special! 85 Merrimon,all utilities included.Furnished. $550/month.828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com Mobile Homes For Rent
OFF CHARLOTTE ST • Clean, furnished,weekly apartments.Efficiency and rooms.Includes wireless, laundry,off-street parking. Secure building.Walk to downtown and busline. 828-232-1042.
WEST ASHEVILLE • 2BR, 2BA mobile home.In very nice park.Like new.In city and on bus line close to town.Only $595/month. 828-252-4334.
BLACK MOUNTAIN • 2BR, 1BA.Heatpump,central air, W/D connection.Nice area. Only $545/month. 828-252-4334.
GET QUALITY RESULTS! I received calls from a lot of high quality renters,as opposed to other publications I’ve tried.I will continue to advertise with Mountain Xpress.Patricia H.You too, can find the ideal renter,just call us! (828) 251-1333. Mountain Xpress Classified Marketplace.
WEST ASHEVILLE • 3BR, 2BA near downtown.W/D connection.Excellent condition.$595/month. 828-252-4334.
2 MONTHS FREE!* (on 13 month lease term) on 1,2 and 3BR condos.• A beautiful community with fitness center,pool, playground,business center and car wash.* (Move-in month free and following month).•• Hurry,offer ends December 31,2009.• Call Seasons at Biltmore Lake: (828) 670-9009 for more details or visit: www.ownseasons.com
3BR/2BA South Asheville. Carrington Place off Sweeten Creek Road.1,450 square feet of living.Washer/dryer hook-ups,central A/C,gas fireplace,modern kitchen, patio,garage.References, security deposit,and lease required.$1,100/month. genek2@charter.net (828) 231-8836.
ARDEN • Beautiful 2 bedroom,2 bathroom condo. 15 minutes to downtown Asheville and Hendersonvill. Full appliances,W/D,gas fireplace.Screened in porch, large storage closet. Swimming pool.$750/month. First month free with one year lease.Call 954-822-5885.
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
FLETCHER/MILLS RIVER • Townhouse for rent.2BR, 2.5BA.Basement,garage. Close to I26.$900/month. Call Robin at 828 768-1343.
FLETCHER • 2BR,1.5BA townhouse available for immediate rental.Very nice unit with one car garage. Duplex style living,very convenient to I-26 and south Asheville shopping/restaurants.One small pet considered.$800 per month.828-350-9400.
NORTH ASHEVILLE
TOWNHOMES •Special• Off Merrimon.Walking distance to town.2BR,1BA. $495/month.Includes water. 828-252-4334
SOUTH ASHEVILLE • 2BR, 2BA condo.Like new. Heatpump,central air,W/D connection,W/D available if needed.D/W,disposal.Deck. Only $745/month. 828-230-6357.
Homes For Rent
175 CANDLER SCHOOL ROAD • CANDLER 2BR,2BA. Cute farmhouse with garage/shop.$900/month. City Real Estate: (828) 210-2222. ashevillecityrealestate.com
179 HOUSTON CIRCLE • MONTFORD 2BR,1BA.Cute, clean,private.Convenient to I-240,downtown and UNCA. $825/month.City Real Estate: (828) 210-2222. ashevillecityrealsestae.com
1920’s BUNGALOW • DOWNTOWN WEAVERVILLE • Month to month.3BR,2BA, fireplace.Fenced yard.• Pets considered.• No smoking. $1295/month. Call (252) 633-8809.
1999 FURNISHED MONTFORD COTTAGE 2BR, 2BA,1600 sqft.Walk downtown.• Deck,patio, plenty closets.• No smokers/pets.$1500/month plus utilities.• Solid references! (828) 777-1014.
1ST CALL US! 2,3 and 4BR homes from $700-2500.• Pet friendly.• Huge selection! (828) 251-9966 Alpha-Real-Estate.com
20 MINUTES NORTH OF ASHEVILLE 3BR,2BA,1.5 acres.Clean and spacious. WD connections.Private, beautiful setting.Deck, garden space.$850/month. Call evenings:658-1718.
2BR,1BA NORTH • 42 Hollywood.$850/month. Porches,hardwood floors. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com
2BR,1BA NORTH • 69 Rice Branch.Fireplace,rear deck. 828-253-1517.$950/month. www.leslieandassoc.com
2BR,2BA - Haw Creek • Walk to library.Renovated kitchen,home office,gas heat/ac,includes W/D,yard service.$875/month.828258-3303,828-231-8010.
3BR,1BA BRICK RANCH • Kenilworth,Reynolds School District.Full basement,formal dining room,large living room with fireplace.Kitchen with all appliances.Large yard, paved driveway. $1000/month. 828-628-9912.
3BR,1BA WEST • 39 Ridgeway.Oak floors,garage. $895/month.828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com
3BR,2BA LOG HOME with basement.Hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings.36’ front porch.15 minutes from Weaverville; 25 minutes from Asheville.$985/month.Pets considered. Call 828-649-1170.
4BR,2BA WEST • 10 Friendly Way.Gas logs, garage.$1195/month. 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: www.RealRentals.com (AAN CAN)
ARDEN,OAK FOREST • 3BR, 2BA with full basement/garage.Nice area. Reduced to $1050/month. $30 application fee. 828-350-9400. www.arcagencyasheville.com
ARDEN • 1 home available from $895/month.Great layouts.828-350-9400. www.arcagencyasheville.com
ASHEVILLE AREA RENTALS
$550-$1950/month.• 1East.• 3-West.• 3-North.• 3-South.• Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles: (828) 684-2640,ext 17.For more details: www.DebraMarshall.com
ASHEVILLE • 2 story carriage house with 1 BR loft. 1.5 BA.Hardwood floors,tile. Heat pump and central air. W/D connection.Completely renovated.Excellent condition.Lots of character. Water and high-speed internet included. $785/month.Steve, 828-273-9545.
BILTMORE LAKE • CANDLER 2BR,2BA.Beaverdam Road. Total remodel,all new everything! $765/month.City Real Estate (828) 210-2222. ashevillecityrealestate.com
BILTMORE PARK.4BR,2.5 BA,2,200 sqft,Rent for $1,950.Carver Realty, 828-253-0758.
BULL CREEK LOG HOME
Beautiful new construction! Available January 1.1500+ sqft,3BR,2BA,WD, woodstove.Large secluded lot on creek.• Lots of light • very clean! $1200/month. 301-3299.
BUNGALOW • WEST
ASHEVILLE 2BR,1BA with bonus room on sunny corner lot in quiet neighborhood. Hardwood floor in living room; fireplace,WD connections,partial basement for storage.• Pets negotiable.$900/month includes lawn maintenance; security deposit.Call 10am-7 pm:(828) 582-1001.
CANDLER • ENKA VILLAGE 3BR,1BA.$800/month.1 year lease.Great home in charming neighborhood.5 minutes to I-40.Updated bath.Big kitchen with all appliances.Washer/dryer.1 car garage.New oil/heat pump furnace,central AC.• Cats ok.• We check credit and rental histories.Photos at: www.acmehomeandland.com /products.html • Call (828) 298-1212 or email manager @acmehomeandland.com
CHUNNS COVE Available December 15.Beautifully renovated home,1600+ sqft, 3BR,3BA,hardwood/tile floors throughout,WD.2 car garage,large deck overlooking wooded yard with brook.Very peaceful! $1495/month.301-3299.
HAW CREEK • 3BR,2.5BA.2 car garage,7 years old,2000 sq.ft.,gas heat,AC,D/W, disposal.$1,500/month. 713-2467.
HOUSES FOR RENT
• Browse thousands of rental listings with photos and maps.Advertise your rental home for free.Visit www.RealRentals.com.(AAN CAN)
NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES •Special• Off Merrimon.Walking distance to town.2BR,1BA. $495/month.Includes water. 828-252-4334.
NORTH • 2BR,1BA. $825/month.828-253-0758. Carver Realty
OFF THE HOOK! We got a great response from our ad for our Rental house in the Mountain Xpress! The phone rang off the hook! Thanks,Ander,owner, Design Painting.Get your Apartment or House rented quickly and affordably.Call (828) 251-1333. Mountain Xpress Classified Marketplace
QUIET HOME - SWANNANOA
• 3BR,3BA.1300 sq.ft.Ash floors,heat pump with Vermont casting stove and propane back-up.1 car garage.Spring water.Creek in back.10 minutes to I40, 25 minutes to Asheville.No smoking,no pets. $1300/month,annual lease. 828-669-2219.
RENT OR LEASE WITH OPTION TO BUY Nicely renovated 2BR,1BA,850 sqft in great,quiet neighborhood on 1 acre.Low energy bills. WD.• 15 minutes to downtown,near Biltmore Square Mall.Large trees,2 decks.• Next to National Forest.• $750/month.First and security.• Pets considered.Call Cindy: (828) 777-7678. cindy7graham@yahoo.com
SMALL TOWN MOUNTAIN HOME • 2 BR,2BA,W/D,air, private deck with views and jacuzzi.$1000/month.Call 828-273-0324.
SOUTH • Off Hendersonville Rd.2BR,1BA.$700/month. Carver
SOUTHCHASE • 3BR,2.5BA. Gas heat,2 car garage,nice neighborhood.$1250/month. 828-253-0758. Carver Realty
WEAVERVILLE/BARNARDSV
ILLE • Available immediately. 2BR with office.Views on 1 acre.No pets considered. $795/month.828-350-9400.
WEST ASHEVILLE • BUNGALOW Short walk to Haywood Road shops,pubs, etc.from 34 Tanglewood Drive and 5 minutes from downtown Asheville.Super clean,move-in ready! Available now! 2BR,1BA w/Jacuzzi tub.Central heating and AC,hardwood floors,kitchen appliances, washer/dryer,fenced backyard,one car garage, and basement storage.House interior about 950 sqft.Nicely painted,window treatments, and lots of storage.• No pets/smoking.Proof of employment required. Minimum one year lease preferred.$925/month,first and security deposit.If interested,please phone (828)350-7975.
WEST ASHEVILLE 2BR,1BA • Quiet street,mountain views.Hardwood floors,slate tile,large picture window. Fenced yard.$700/month plus deposit.Call 720-266-1291.
WEST ASHEVILLE Clean 2BR,2BA home.Desirable Peace Street.$875/month.• Pets ok with deposit.Call Phoenix Property: (828) 771-2390.
WEST • 2BR,1BA. $550/month.828-253-0758. Carver Realty
WOODLAND HILLS • North Asheville.Perfect for family or roommates.2 Master B/R suites with built ins/baths plus bonus room wiith bath. Large kitchen.Living room with fireplace.Mature landscaping on 1.5 acres with fenced area,2 car garage,W/D.$1150/month, deposit,lease and references. (828) 232-5547 • (828) 712-5548.
JUPITER/BARNARDSVILLE • 2BR,1BA.Office,heat pump, new windows.$795/month. www.arcagencyasheville.com
Vacation Rentals
A BEACH HOUSE At Folly.The legendary dog-friendly Rosie’s Ocean View and Kudzu’s Cottage now booking now booking for oyster season! Call (828) 216-7908. www.kudzurose.com
BEAUTIFUL LOG CABIN Sleeps 5,handicap accessible.Near Warren Wilson College,Asheville,NC. (828) 231-4504 or 277-1492. bennie14@bellsouth.net
Roommates
3BR/2BA on 15 acres
$345/month.Candler. Furnished room,queen bed, share utilities,Hot tub, Internet,1st/last/security. Large deck for entertaining, Pictures available.712-8082 Candy.
3rd Roommate needed for 3BR 2BA West Asheville homeshare in tranquil location.$450/month; $450 deposit.Sorry,no pets.Call 727-564-2703.
Arden Quiet/convenient location.No pets/smoking (indoors),prefer female roomy.$425 all utilities except phone included. Contact Lauren @phaetondreams@bellsouth. net or 828-777-2007
Gorgeous Montford Apt Share Downtown location, spacious rooms,hardwood floors,front porch, washer/dryer,vegetarian kitchen.Seeking friendly, clean,mature housemate! $390 plus some utilities.
Looking for Responsible, Quiet Roommate • Clean housemate.No additional pets but must be dog friendly. $450.00/month includes utilities,Direct TV and wireless internet. 828-216-1722.
Majestic Available Dec.1 $415/month.Large BR in central West Asheville. Walking distance to everything! 5BR,2BA,W/D, dishwasher,and awesome people. annafinkelson@gmail.com
Private Home in Barnardsville Beautiful country surroundings.Pets accepted.All included $350: Jeff 231-0372
Roommate Wanted Responsible adult to share newer mobile home in Candler.$325 plus $200 deposit plus 1/2 electric. Private bath,w/d,central air. (828)423-6718.Room can be furnished
NORTH 2BR,1BA • Hardwood floors,full basement,oil heat. $800/month.828-253-0758. Carver Realty
Share 4BR/2BA House Candler.Large yard,deck,hot tub,grill,firepit,plus guesthouse for friends, mountain views,private setting.$400/month includes utilities,no pets. 828-670-6463.
Share Home $450 negotiable.Quiet,private, furnished bedroom w/bath. Washer/dryer/cable/ internet/utilities included. Country setting w/mountain views just 3 miles southeast Asheville city limits. 828-779-7958
West Asheville Great Location.W/D,large back yard,basement,1 1/2 bath, storage,1 guy 1 girl live here. $390+,Ryan 607-227-4436
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)
APPOINTMENT SETTER Set health insurance appointments for local agent. • Hourly rate plus commission for appointments set.A persistent person with a good phone voice should average between $10 and $15/hour after commissions. Part-time,flexible hours, working from home.Stuart: (828) 301-6898.
CAB DRIVERS Needed at Blue Bird; call JT 258-8331. Drivers needed at Yellow Cab; call Buster at 253-3311.
HIRE QUALITY EMPLOYEES
“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.”Howard Stafford, Owner,Princess Anne Hotel.• Thank you,Howard.Your business can benefit by advertising for your next employee in Mountain Xpress Classifieds.Call 251-1333.
MOTIVATED LOT MAINTENANCE PERSON needed for fast-paced car lot. Part time,Monday-Saturday. Must possess a valid NC driver license and be over the age of 19.Apply in person at 1098 Patton Avenue, Tuesday-Thursday,10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Employment Opportunities • Call (828) 225-6122 or visit: biltmore.com
Skilled Labor/ Trades
SMALL CUSTOM CABINET/FURNITURE SHOP
In Fletcher has an immediate position for qualified craftsperson.Must be clean, dependable,and have a strong work ethic.F/T. Compensation based upon experience.Reply with letter of intent and resume to rob@ra-woodinteriors.com
Administrative/ Office
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Needed to manage donor database, accounts payable,and other office duties for Hendersonville non-profit. Part time.Must have strong computer skills; prefer knowledge of DonorPerfect. Email resume to brhsdirector@gmail.com
ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
Part-time.Responsibilities include management of student inquiries,admissions applications and interviews and alumni services.Must have a warm and engaging personality,have excellent communication skills and be detail oriented.Must have measurable customer service based experience and be computer fluent.25-30 hours/week plus one Saturday/month.$10/hour for 90-day training/trial period, then $12/hour thereafter. Position may grow into a fulltime,salaried position with benefits.• Resume to director@centerformassage.c om or Center for Massage, 530 Upper Flat Creek Road, Weaverville,NC 28787.
CAROLINA OUTREACH is looking for administrative help,answering phones, filing.Requires good phone and people skills, organizational skills,and independence.Hours 9am1pm M-F.Familiarity with mental health and HIPPA a plus.Send cover letter and resume to westernregion @carolinaoutreach.com
CLIENT SERVICES Part-time position in veterinary hospital. Looking for a service-oriented individual with a cheerful, mature personality and compassion for animals. Ability to greet clients,handle computer tasks and answer multi-phone lines simultaneously with a smile is a must! Learn veterinary software to make appointments,generate invoices,check in and out patients and provide daily record keeping.Hours include rotating Saturdays.Send cover letter and resume with 3 references to:White Oak Veterinary Hospital,Attn: Donna Howland,3336 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher,NC 28732 or info@whiteoakvet.net
Salon/ Spa
A STYLIST For busy Organic salon,North Asheville. Clientele preferred.Flexible hours.Experienced,selfmotivated.Supportive environment. thewaterlily@mac.com • (828) 505-3288. The Water Lily Wellness Salon
BOOTH RENTAL AVAILABLE
• For chic and friendly downtown Bumble and bumble salon.Fun atmosphere with creative and conscientious colleagues. Please email info@eclipseasheville.com or call 828-285-0019 for more details and to set up an interview.
HOT SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA • Hot Springs NC is now hiring dual trained Massage Therapist / Estheticians,with North Carolina License,to offer combination massage/esthetics treatments.Please apply in person at 315 Bridge Street Hot Springs,NC MondayFriday 9:a.m.- 5 p.m.
MANAGER AND STYLISTS
Our full-service salons are in high-traffic areas that offer walk-ins and a chance for you to build a clientele fast. Part-time and full-time positions available.Managers also have the great opportunity of still working behind the chair.This is for Hair Plus at Blue Ridge Mall, Hendersonville,NC.Please contact Patrick at (888) 888-7778 ext.41746 for further information. www.regissalons.com
Sales/ Marketing
HOW TO GET A SALES
JOB
YOU’LL LOVE • Apply for a career-advancing opportunity at COMBINED INSURANCE and you’re on your way to a sales job you’ll love to go to every day.7000 employees worldwide and 89 years in business attest to this fact. We invest in you through paid training,comprehensive corporate benefits,and competitive compensation up to $65K annually depending upon position.We have 2 positions available immediately.To find out more information on this job you may love,please forward your resume to: richard.winter @combined.com
LOCAL WHOLESALE
COMPANY • 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, and have good attention to detail.Benefits include competitive pay,comfortable atmosphere with 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 • Time to get paid what you are worth AND have a life.
Call 1-888-700-4916.
THE WNC RELOCATION GUIDE is seeking an outstanding sales professional.The person in this role must be able to demonstrate excellent selling, negotiation,communication, and problem solving skills in a very competitive,high paced business environment. You must be success oriented and have great customer service skills.Print Advertising Sales,TV,or Radio Sales experience is a MUST! Qualified candidate will work from their home office setting local appointments via telephone and email.We offer a salary and a very generous commission structure,Health Benefits,and a 401K.This is a GREAT career opportunity for the right person.Please email cover letter and resume to:reloadmin@bellsouth.net www.RelocationGuide.biz
Restaurant/ Food
BARTENDER • SERVER
Part-time for evenings.Great pay:$5.15-$6.50/hour plus tips.Flexible hours.6652161.• Apply in person: Holiday Inn Plaza,435 Smokey Park Highway. Infusions Lounge
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 high-quality 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.
Hotel/ Hospitality
FRONT DESK CLERKS
Needed at Downtown Inn. Apply at 120 Patton Ave.
Medical/ Health Care
RECEPTIONIST/PATIENT ACCOUNT MANAGER • Great Place To Work!
Become an integral member of our busy,well established chiropractic clinic.Full time,support staff position.Must have excellent communication and customer service skills as well as good analytical abilities.Medical billing knowledge desirable.$10-11.50/hr to start,depending on experience.Raise after 30 days.Benefits include chiropractic care and insurance contribution. Send cover letter and resume to:River Ridge Chiropractic,Attn:Patryce 802 Fairview Rd.,Suite 1200,Asheville,NC 28803 email: riverridgechiropractic. patryce@gmail.com
FAMILIES TOGETHER INC.
Now hiring for our Day Treatment Programs in Transylvania and Polk Counties.Candidates will have a minimum of a bachelors degree and experience with at risk youth. Email resume tohumanresources @familiestogether.net • www.familiestogether.net
FAMILIES TOGETHER INC. Now hiring for Qualified Professionals in Buncombe and Transylvania Counties to provide in home and community based mental health services to children and families.Email resume tohumanresources @familiestogether.net • www.familiestogether.net
FAMILIES TOGETHER,INC., Adult Services is now hiring for a Community Support Team Lead to serve Henderson and Transylvania Counties.Candidates will have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Human Services and one year experience working with the adult population.FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours,room for advancement,health benefits,and an innovative culture.Candidates should email resumes to humanresources @familiestogether.net
FAMILIES TOGETHER,INC., is now hiring licensed professionals for IIHS Clinical Leads in Buncombe, Henderson,Mitchell, Transylvania,and Yancey Counties.• Qualified candidates will include LPC’s, LCSW’s,LMFT’s,LCAS’s, PLCSW’s,or Board Eligible Counselors.FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours,room for advancement,health benefits,and an innovative culture.Candidates should email resumes to: humanresources @familiestogether.net
FAMILY PRESERVATION
SERVICES OF ASHEVILLE is seeking licensed therapists to provide mental health services to children and families.Email csimpson@fpscorp.com
FAMILY SERVICE WORKER
Accounts Payable
FAMILIES TOGETHER,INC., is now hiring licensed professionals for OPT in Buncombe,Mitchell,and Yancey Counties.Qualified candidates will include LPC’s, LCSW’s,LMFT’s,LCAS’s, PLCSW’s,or Board Eligible Counselors.FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours,room for advancement,health benefits,and an innovative culture.Candidates would be providing OPT within our JJTC program.JJTC is a specialized platform designed to meet the judicial,clinical and restorative needs of court involved youth,their families, and the communities in which they live.JJTC is unique in its clinical approach,structure and cross-agency collaboration. Candidates should email resumes to humanresources @familiestogether.net
FAMILY PRESERVATION
SERVICES OF HENDERSONVILLE has immediate openings for Licensed Clinical Social Workers,Licensed Professional Counselors and Provisional or Board Eligible candidates to provide therapy to adults and/or children.
Please email resumes to wfhoward@fpscorp.com
To recruit and provide advocacy services to families with preschool aged children for a Head Start program. Candidates for this position should possess knowledge of strength-based perspectives in working with families, serves as a liaison among Head Start families,staff,and community supports. Candidates must also exhibit individual initiative,problem solving and follow-up skills, and are comfortable with multi-tasking and working as a part of a team.Requires professional communication skills,both written and verbal,ability to set priorities, work independently,prepare clear and concise records and exercise flexibility. Knowledge of word processing and data base programs a plus.4 year degree in a Human Service field or an AA degree with at least 3 years experience required.Fluent in English required,Bilingual helpful. Must possess a valid NC driver’s license; pass physical,drug screen and background checks.• Excellent benefits.Salary Range:$13.10-$15.78/hour.
• Send resume and cover letter with work references and phone numbers to: Human Resources Manager 25 Gaston Street,Asheville NC,28801.Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.Open until filled.EOE and DFWP.
Technician Jackson County. Process accounts payable invoices and miscellaneous billing.Must have excellent computer skills,experience with Excel and Word. Associate degree in accounting or business,or at least three years of experience with accounts payable on a computerized accounting system required. Please contact Kim Woodley, kim.woodley@meridianbhs.org Cherokee/Clay/Graham CountyTherapist/Team Leader Child and Family Services.Masters degree and license eligible.Please contact David Hutchinson at david.hutchinson@meridianbhs.org Team Leader Adult Recovery Education Center.Masters or Doctoral Level Clinician.Must be licensed or licenseeligible.Please contact Julie Durham-Defee at julie.durhamdefee@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 • For further information and to complete an application,visit our website: www.meridianbhs.org
LCAS/CSAC Office space and clients available.Also Bilingual (Spanish) Counselor with NC Addiction credential CSAC/LCAS.Call Bruce: 777-3755.
THE MEDIATION CENTER FAMILY VISITATION PROGRAM is seeking a person to monitor supervised visits.See www.mediatebuncombe.org/ openings for application instructions.
Teaching/ Education
SUNDAY PRESCHOOL
TEACHER AND NURSERY TEACHER for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville.Continuous Sundays 8:30am-1:00pm. Must have relevant experience and references. Background check required. Send cover letter and resume to uucachildcare@yahoo.com
WARREN WILSON COLLEGE
• Seeks an individual to fill a temporary,one semester faculty position in Environmental Studies and Biology.See www.warrenwilson.edu/~humres/position s_faculty.php for additional information.
YMCA OF WESTERN NC • Afterschool Program Opportunities $7.25$13/hour Please visit our web site for details: www.ymcawnc.org
Career Training
EARN $75 - $200/HOUR • Media Makeup Artist Training. Ad,TV,Film,Fashion.One week class.Stable job in weak economy.Details at http://www.AwardMakeUpSc hool.com 310-364-0665. (AAN CAN).
Employment Services
Business Opportunities
$6000/MONTH • PART-TIME Alkaline Ionized Water. National Environmental Company seeking 5-10 people.Work from home. Local training.Ted and Chris Belz:(828) 989-6057.• See our website,please register at capture page,look at videos,testimonials,and income potential. YourIonizedWater.com/ Realtors
BEST HOME-BASED BUSINESS EVER! It’s fun; it’s simple; it’s lucrative.To hear 3-minute message,call 1-866-257-3105,code 1.
BIZ OP • Want to purchase minerals and other oil/gas interest.Send details to:PO Box 13557,Denver,CO 80201
ECOTRIPS FOR SALE For innovative,green transportation system featuring electric vehicles for local shuttle service.Unique and established business model needs an imaginative entrepreneur who wants to expand this groundbreaking idea and can focus time and energy to its unlimited potential.Serious inquiries only.For more info go to www.ecotripsasheville.com or email to info@ecotripsasheville.com
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)
TOUR THE FARM December 12.Meet the horses and therapists and learn more about our programs. Reservations: (828) 683-7304.
WOMEN,Earn $18k-$30k for 6 egg donations with the largest,most experienced Agency in US.Call: 800-444-7119 or to apply online visit: www.theworldeggbank.com (AAN CAN)
Classes & Workshops
LEARN VIETNAMESE/ASIAN COOKING • Tired of the same old food? Learn to prepare healthy and nutritious food. seasiancookingeasy.com
BEST MASSAGE IN ASHEVILLE Deep tissue, sports massage,Swedish, esalen.Available in/out.Jim Haggerty,LMBT# 7659.Call (828) 545-9700. www.jhmassage.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; experience the invigorating cold plunge; then get the massage of your life! 26 massage therapists. 299-0999. www.shojiretreats.com
STAY RELAXED. Massage therapy at your home/office. 1/2 or 1-hour appointments. Call Sarah Whiteside, LMBT#4741, (828) 279-1050. sarahsgolf@charter.net
THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY Patricia O’Sullivan LMT #7113.828-275-5497.
FAMILIES TOGETHER, INC.Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Program Coordinator. Position requires:Obtaining and maintaining of licensure, recruitment and training of foster parents,and management and oversight of the new FTI TFC program. Candidates will have a minimum of:a bachelors degree in human services, and 2 years experience in the mental health field,and 2 years experience in program management and licensure oversight preferably in NC. Salary range from 40-50k base,with benefits and unique incentives.Please contact humanresources @familiestogether.net
FAMILY PRESERVATION
SERVICES OF TRYON In Polk
County FPS has immediate openings for Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors to provide individual and group therapy for adults and children with mental health needs.Please email resumes to lmorrison@fpscorp.com
Haywood/Buncombe CountyRN: Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have four years of psychiatric nursing experience.Please contact Mason Youell, mason.youell@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 Mason Youell, mason.youell@meridianbhs.org Vocational Specialist Assertive Community Treatment Team.Must have mental health degree and two years of experience working with adults with mental illness.Please contact Mason Youell, mason.youell@meridianbhs.org
Jackson/Macon/Clay CountyTeam Leader Assertive Community Treatment Team.Must have master’s degree and be license eligible.Please contact Ben Haffey, ben.haffey@meridianbhs.org continued on next column
WNC GROUP HOMES FOR AUTISTIC PERSONS is recruiting for full time and part time direct care posItions.Applications available at 28 Pisgahview Ave,Asheville,or at www.wncgrouphomes.org or call Gaby at 828-274-8368. WNC Group Homes is proud to be a drug free workplace.
Professional/ Management
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EnergyXchange is a nonprofit community based organization whose mission is to apply the use of renewable resources and practices for educational opportunities and economic development in the fields of art and horticulture.Job description and application process on the website: www.energyxchange.org
FULL CHARGE OFFICE
MANAGER Needed immediately,full charge bookkeeper and payroll using Quick Books,experienced with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge data base system,very organized and focused professional needed who could earn up to $30,000/year plus paid vacations,health care and pension.• Resume,cover letter,salary history, references to:PO Box 144, Asheville,NC 28802 • Attn: Office Manager/Tim.No phone calls,please.
2009 • DON’T JUST SURVIVE • Thrive! Snelling delivers results with staffing expertise that connects people and businesses with the power to thrive! snelling.com/asheville/ application
HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Fast,affordable & accredited. Free brochure.Call now! 1-800-532-6546 Ext.97 continentalacademy.com (AAN CAN)
RESUME WRITING • CAREER SERVICES Let us enhance and amplify your job search! • Next Step Career Services:(410) 382-9021 • www.nscareerservices.com
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.
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every week for $1200.No adult ads.Call Rick at 202-289-8484.(AAN CAN)
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)
An Evening of Strings Benefit concert,Featuring internationally acclaimed celtic violinist Jamie Laval. Dec.8th Erwin High auditorium 7pm.Proceeds to the Erwin Strings program.
CONSTRUCTION LOGIC
General Contractor.Notice, request MBE subcontractor and suppliers bid for the following projects: Swannanoa 4-H Cabins, bidding Dec 3,2009 at 3 pm For plan info call Tom Beck: (828) 243-1196.
FREE CUT!* (With color purchase*) See Stylist Kristen at Studio Chavarria, downtown Asheville. 236-9191.*Bring in this ad; limited time offer.
Looking for Sanctuary Rental Bright/positive 28 yr. old seeks room/apartment to rent W.Ash.Clean,organized, eco minded conscious w/ sweet dog 831-420-7347 Danny
NEED A PLACE TO MAKE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS? MEET FUN PEOPLE? Earthspeak Arts Studio,375 Depot St.Fridays thru Sundays wechurlik@verizon.net 828-678-9038.
Mind,Body,Spirit
Bodywork
**ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE MASSAGE-GIFT CERTIFICATES!** $35/hour. Perfect pressure! Caring, intuitive,professional therapist.Tranquil sanctuary just 3 blocks from Greenlife & downtown! Open Mon thru Sat.,9am to 7 p.m.by appt. only.Brett Rodgers LMBT #7557. www.vitalitymassage.net (828) 255-4785.
#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
ZEN GARDEN • Creative healing massage therapy combining many modalities.$25/half hour. Membership discount. Suzannah, 828-333-0555.LMBT 5773.
Spiritual
A SPIRITUAL MENTOR Nina Anin.Wherever you are,by phone:(828) 253-7472 or email: asknina@excite.com
Natural Alternatives
HOLISTIC IRIDOLOGY® Fascinating detailed Iris Analysis,Bio-Chemistry Analysis,Cardiovascular Screening,and Meridian Kinesiology for ‘Total Health Assessment’ with effective Natural and Holistic Therapies,Bio-Detoxification programs,Advanced Energy Healing.Call Jane Smolnik, ND,Iridologist at (828) 777-JANE (5263) for appointment or visit www.UltimateHealing.com
Musicians’ Xchange Musical Services
AMR STUDIO Audio mastering,mixing and recording.• Musical,literary and instructional services.• Tunable performance room, on-site video available. Visa/MC.(828) 335-9316. www.amrmediastudio.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
PIANO-GUITAR-DRUMSBASS-MANDOLIN-BANJOSINGING Learn what you/your child wants to learn Knowledgeable, flexible, enthusiastic instructor. 828-242-5032
Equipment For Sale
1919 Gibson L1: Round hole arch top w/original case $1200. Plays and sounds great Great condition 350-7929
Electric Guitar and Small Amp Good for beginner or intermediate player, easy to play, sounds great, 296-0107
Hardshell Case for large bodied bass guitar, very good condition, $50 296-0107
Musicians’ Bulletin
Drummer Needed for Rockin’ Blues band www.myspace.com/pipapelli 828.883.5662 828.458.3542
Drummer Wanted Vocals a must Corporate gigs and weddings Once or twice a month. Top 40 and Pop. deanl41@gmail.com
Drummer Responsible, dedicated, mature drummer looking for weekly rehearsals leading to occasional gigs, Festivals, Bar Gigs, Corporate Gigs Howard hrichwood@aol.com
Experienced Drummer All styles, prefer jazz (828) 877-2413
Female Musician looking for other females for songwriting/recording Indie Rock, Rock, Folk Rock, Experimental Contact for more details. dvenus4@gmail.com
Musician Seeks Band Bass Player 30 years-blues, country, bluegrass, rock. willrowe@tmo.blackberry.net 803-463-1389
New to the Strip Guitarist seeks other seekers.Influences: Tortoise, Akron Family, Tom Waits, etc Much experience, many songs ashoneeleven@mac.com
Seeking Drummer RocknRoll couple seeking drummer for fun and improv/recording, more if it works out. Have studio/electronic drum set Bring sticks wyrdwulf@gmail.com
Zeppelin ‘Esque Band Putting together band highly influenced by Led Zeppelin Vocals, guitar bass and drums needed
Pets for Adoption
ABBY IS WAITING! Abby is a Schipperke mix who is searching for a loving home For more info, contact Brother Wolf Animal Rescue at 808-9435 or visit www.bwar.org
ADORABLE KITTENS • 7 male and 1 female orange tabby kittens 6-7 months old rescued and ready for adoption Playful and affectionate Spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, treated for worms/fleas House trained Will get along with children, other cats and dogs Adoption fee goes to Brother Wolf Cat Rescue Program to cover costs Call Kelly 828 242 4691 (Black Mountain)
Pet Xchange
Lost Pets
$1000 REWARD • YORKSHIRE TERRIER Tallulah vanished September 16, 2009 Black and tan, approximately 4 lbs • Child devastated! (919) 475-2067. lesliepopleslie@aol.com
A LOST OR FOUND PET? Free service. If you have lost or found a pet in WNC, post your listing here: www.lostpetswnc.org
Grey and White Cat • “Grey” is adult shorthaired male, grey with white chest, stomach and feet Has grey smudge on pink noseREWARD!!! (828) 581-0190.
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
Two Free Baby Guinea Pigs to good homes. Born October 17, brown and white One male, one female Call 550-1857
Zebra Finches Free, adorable 2 males Tom, 505-0203.
Pet Services
ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you’re away Reasonable rates Call Sandy Ochsenreiter, (828) 258-0942 or 215-7232.
LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE! End cruel and dangerous constant chaining of dogs in NC! Lobby your state reps to reintroduce legislation addressing dog chaining For information, contacts and downloads, visit www.crittersong.org
Vehicles For Sale
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
HELP HONEY HAVE HOME! Honey is a Terrier mix puppy who is searching for a loving home For more info, contact Brother Wolf Animal Rescue at 808-9435 or visit www.bwar.org
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
KITTENS for Adoption- No Fee Short and Long haired Spayed/Neutered. No fee adoption Application required Contact Friends2Ferals at TNRCatCatcher@yahoo.com or 803-553-7919 Located in Asheville
Loving Chow/Retriever Mix
Cute, gentle, loyal dog Found on Airport Road on 10/22 Free to good loving home Call 828-450-3412.
Recreational Vehicles
2005 Airstream International price $4600, 28 ft, Sleeping capacity: 6, details and 100 pictures: wc68uk9@msn.com/ 919-287-2459
Automotive Services
$20
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 828-2756063 for appointment
For Sale
Autos
2002 Volkswagon Jetta GLS
$5,500, 95,000 miles, 5Speed Power windows/locks CD player. Needs a regular maintenance tune-up, but otherwise in great condition saeggett@gmail.com
Harley-Davidson Softail FLSTF Fatboy, fast sale $4600 contact: fft3z8@msn.com, All Chrome, Low miles, 919-869-1824.
Antiques & Collectibles
Ancient Roman/Greek Sculptures Variety of ancient Roman/Greek reproduction statues/wall friezes, urns for sale Excellent condition Great buys! Am relocating. Bob (828) 989-1133
Appliances
Two Empire Direct Vent Wall Furnaces, dv-215-7sg Asking $500, were $800 new each Clean, quiet, costefficient, natural/lp gas 458-7778, janinebitz@yahoo.com
Computers
Video Editing System VT5 Professional digital video edit system Complete package w/2 LCD monitors $5,995 (828) 287-3555.
Electronics
27” RCA TV in excellent condition $80 contact at moonmadness@charter.net
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)
Sony Cybershot digital camera $15; Screen “flickers” but takes good pics. USB cord, 16mb Memory Stick, manual included. wendy_mc84@yahoo.com
Clothing
Brand New Formal Dress Halter style, knee-length, wine color Never worn, tags attached Sz 12 Paid $130, will take $50 Pix avail wendy_mc84@yahoo.com
The New York Times Crossword
Edited by Will Shortz No.1021
ACROSS
1 “Whew!”
4 “___ ears!”
9 Weasel-like animal
14 Santa ___,Calif.
15 Big name in skin care
16 Saintly glows
17 Oversimplifies, as educational standards
19 Council of ___, 1545-63
20 Flying A competitor
21 A.E.F.’s conflict
22 Dragon-slaying saint
23 Club official
26 Archangel in Daniel
29 Judge in an impeachment trial
33 Not quite up yet
34 Bud holder, of sorts
35 Ab ___ (from the start)
36 Ballet rail
37 Frank McCourt memoir
38 Barrio quaffs
40 Noted 1945 photo site, briefly
41 It might get a 4.0 A.P.R.
42 Ad music
43 French newspaper since 1944
46 Mississippi’s capital
47 Proof of purchase
49 ““Häägar the Horrible””creator Dik
52 Part of a geisha’s attire
53 Cries of surprise
57 North African capital
58 Job for a dummy?
60 Quick-footed
61 Pilgrimage destination
62 Draft pick?
63 Heroic acts
64 Bob Marley’s ““___ the Sheriff””
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE
65 Genre for 1- & 22-Across, 22- & 26Across, 26- & 46-Across and 46- & 49-Across
DOWN
1 Expressed, as a farewell
2 Cross to bear 3 Thanksgiving dish
4 Those with clout
5 Hump day, to an office worker
6 Affirmation
7 Explorer with Sacagawea
8 PC-linking system
9 Lustrous cloth
10 Dawn goddess
11 Uncle Remus title
12 January 1 song word
13 90°°from sur
18 “Oh, ___!” (Pooh expression)
22 Dharma’s sitcom spouse
24 5K, for one
25 A Swiss Army knife has lots of them
26 1999 Exxon merger partner
27 Blown away
28 PC backup medium
30 Picker-uppers
31 Convex molding
32 Baseball’s Al aka the Hebrew Hammer
34 Sportage automaker
37 Cheshire cat’s place
38 End of a Caesarean boast
39 Place to dip a quill
Puzzle by Peter A.Collins
41 Out of work
42 Guadalajara’s state
44 Ruby’s live-TV victim
45 City on the Loire with a quarter million people
46 ““Goldberg Variations”” composer, in brief
48 Results of abrasion
49 Thin nail
50 Latest thing
51 Best New American Play award
54 Jalopy
55 Where the traitorous Vidkun Quisling lived
56 1/12 of a recovery program
58 Early 10th-century year
59 It may be felt on your head
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.
