Views of the night sky go for miles at PARI. | Photo by Tim Reaves
Deep in the heart of Pisgah National Forest, there’s a historic space research station with ties to NASA — and it’s one of only two International Dark Sky-certified Parks in North Carolina.
We’re talking about the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) — an isolated 200+ acre area that first opened in 1963 as NASA’s Rosman Tracking Station.
In 1967, its 26-meter radio telescope received one of the world’s first color photos of the full Earth from space, as well as a TV transmission. And for decades, the station played a vital role in the space program, communicating with satellites and manned space flights such as Project Gemini and Project Apollo as they passed over the East Coast.
During the Cold War, the station came under control of The Department of Defense and was used mainly to intercept Russian satellite communications — as a cheeky joke, one of the telescopes had a smiley face painted on it to keep things “friendly.”
When the Department of Defense closed the facility in 1995, the Rosman Station appeared to be at the end of its rope, with the federal government proposing to dismantle it. But just in the nick of time (1998, to be exact) NC residents Don and Jo Cline stepped in and purchased the site, thus creating the PARI we know today.
Since then, a staff of professional astronomers, engineers, and other scientists have tended to this non-profit, adding features like the optical telescope, solar power, and two high-precision photographic plate scanners named “GAMMA-I and GAMMA-II” along the way.
Additionally, if you’d like to support PARI’s mission of inspiring the next generation of scientists, the nonprofit has recently launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign — contribute here.
Music Video Asheville Awards | Wed., Oct. 5 | 5 p.m. | Salvage Station | $12+ | The 14th annual iteration of this event includes red carpet photos, entertainment, and an afterparty. 📹
Music To Your Ears | Wed., Oct. 5 | 7 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr. Ste. D | $10 |Attendees will chat about the legacy of key tracks from John Lennon’s Rock ‘N’ Roll LP with local journalist Bill Kopp + hear from special guest Jay Bergen, the author of “Lennon, the Mobster & the Lawyer.”
Thursday
Fall Color Photography Webinar | Thurs., Oct. 6 | 11 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Register to get celebrated photographer J. Scott Graham’s tips for finding + capturing fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway. 🍁
Friday
Death Cab for Cutie: Asphalt Meadows Tour | Fri., Oct. 7 | 7 p.m. | Rabbit Rabbit | $50+ | This American alternative rock band is best known for early 2000s hits like “I Will Follow You into the Dark” and “Soul Meets Body.”
Cassia Pop-up | Fri., Oct. 7 | 4-8:30 p.m. | DSSOLVR, 63 N. Lexington Ave. | Free entry | Celebrate the arrival of the weekend with fresh Asian-inspired fare including firecracker shrimp, steamed buns, and smoky pork noodle soup. 🍜
CellarFest | Fri., Oct. 7-Sun., Oct. 9 | Hours vary | Cellarest Beer Project, 395 Haywood Rd. | Free | The second annual event includes collaborative brews, special releases, live music, and festive eats. 🍺
Friday
Appalachia Day | Fri., Oct. 7 | 6-9 p.m. | Hickory Nut Gap Farm | Free | Celebrate Hickory Nut Gap Farm + Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy with live music, delicious food, and plenty of cold beer.
Saturday
Bascom Lamar Lunsford Mountain Music Festival | Sat., Oct. 8 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Mars Hill University on the Lunsford Commons, 100 Athletic St. | Free | This all-day festival (and the second longest-running folk festival in WNC) celebrates regional music and dance traditions.*
Plan Ahead
12th Annual Justice Forum | Tues., Oct. 11 | 7 p.m. | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts or streaming online | Free (registration required) | Free and open to the public, Pisgah Legal’s 12th Annual Justice Forum features keynote speaker Dr. Jamila Michener, a professor at Cornell who studies poverty, racism, and public policy with a particular focus on health and housing.*
The Enneagram and our Spirituality | Fri., Oct. 14-Sat., Oct. 15 | 4-6 p.m. | St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 219 Chunn’s Cove Rd. | $125-150 | This in-depth Enneagram introductory workshop explores the intersection of our personality and spirituality as participants learn the patterns and gifts of each of the nine Enneagram types.*
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
The City of Asheville is considering the designation of Walton Street Park as a historic landmark. There will be public hearings from the Historic Resources Commission + City Council, both of which the public can attend — see the schedule. Community members can also email their comments by Tues. Oct. 11. 🏢 (Mountain Xpress)
A community engagement session to discuss the proposed Woodfin Greenway will be on Thurs., Oct. 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the French Broad River Academy — those interested should come prepared with comments and questions. RSVP online. 🌳
Open
Want a taste of something new?The Guild is now open in North Asheville, following its soft launch on Sun., Oct. 2. The restaurant functions as a bar, grill + arcade, and will be open to all ages until 11 p.m. daily — past then, only 21+ patrons will be allowed inside. 🍹 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Eat
Calling all foodies. The Capital Club of Asheville (82 Patton Ave. Ste. 800) is hosting a rooftop brunch pop-up on Sun., Oct. 9. Doors will open at 11 a.m and the food will be served a la carte. The event is first come first served, so tickets will not be available in advance. 🍳
Rhubarb will now offer Tuesday Table, a weekly event that offers a three course + family style meal, reminiscent of thecommunal Sunday Suppers the restaurant hosted prior to the pandemic. Guests can book tables for 1-8 people and are welcome to view menus online in advance. 🍽
Read
Hey bookworms — the 27th issue of the Great Smokies Reviewhas been released online. The publication is a product of the Great Smokies Writing Program + the University of North Carolina Asheville and includes poetry, interviews, nonfiction pieces, and photography. 📚
Biz
Elkamet, a manufacturing plant based in East Flat Rock, has announced a $4.6 million expansion. This is the company’s fourth expansion in four years and it expects to add five new positions with an average annual wage of $53,100. (Blue Ridge Now)
ICYMI
The results are in:Buncombe County Election Services has announced that the winner of the “I Voted” sticker design contest is 10-year-old Polly Crutchfield — head to the polls on Tues. Nov. 8 to get yours. Find where you can vote. 🗳
Regional
The groundbreaking for an $80 million industrial park is taking place this week. The project includes four buildings and 654,216 sqft of industrial space. Construction is expected to wrap up in the late summer of 2023. (Blue Ridge Now)
Holiday
Yesterday evening saw the beginning of Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement” and holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Those who observe will refrain from eating or drinking until nightfall today. May you have an easy fast.
The Word
Triple Negative Breast Cancer. A type of breast cancer associated with a mutation of an inherited gene that creates a higher risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. Are you at risk? Hear one woman’s story of discovering she had the gene — and how a routine mammogram caught the diagnosis early.*
Home
Did you know? Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GCFI) are a small feature that can help ensure the safety of your home’s electrical system. Read: If someone touches or throws water into an outlet, a GFCI will save them from a shock. Learn more about how they work. 🔌 *
Learn
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A section of Liberty Street, pictured on the left, is closed down for the party. | Photo by Fletching Drone Photography
We appreciate how excited y’all were about the roundup of October festivals we shared last week — and extra kudos to those who were generous enough to fill us in on seven more festivals happening during this most jovial month of October.
Show your love for wild creatures large and small at this educational + family-friendly festival. There will also be live music, photo booths, food, and plenty of local vendors.
Celebrate the harvest season with live music, food, games, and fun for the entire family at this historic festival which was formerly known as the “Buncombe County and District Colored Agricultural Fair.”
Celebrate Indigenous culture at this inaugural festival, featuring live mural paintings of native culture throughout the city, graffiti installations, a film screening + a market featuring intertribal makers from WNC and beyond.
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