Can we get a shell yeah?

Shellebrate NC Oyster Week in Asheville, NC

Oysters for days at Jettie Rae’s. | Photo by AVLtoday

If you’re looking for a reason to shellebrate — NC Oyster Week has officially begun. That also signals the start of our state’s oyster season, which runs from mid-October through the end of March.

Though bivalves in northern spots like Maine and Massachusetts are usually awash in the spotlight, the Cacklacky coast has pearls of its own. In fact, NC even has its own oyster trail, where hundreds of varietals of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) are represented.

To learn more about the wide world of NC oysters, we spoke with Will Cisa, Executive Chef of Jettie Rae’s. Here are a few varietals he recommends:

SageWave, Mera Brothers | “These green-gill oysters are fantastic, with a lot of cucumber and vegetal notes,” says Cisa. “They taste like that feeling when you’re at the beach and just put your head in the ocean.”
Tarheel Tiderunners, Locals Seafood | These briny, buttery, and meaty oysters are grown in the Stump Sound and are available year-round.
Carolina Dream, Locals Seafood | These medium-sized shells have a clean, grassy flavor with a sweet finish.

He also recommends any oysters from Crystal Coast.

Where to find oysters

Now you know what to look for when you’re at one of these five oyster hot spots.

Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, 143 Charlotte St.
Holeman & Finch, 77 Biltmore Ave.
Oyster House Brewing Co., 625 Haywood St.
The Lobster Trap, 35 Patton Ave.
Mother Ocean Seafood Market, 640 Merrimon Ave.

TIPS ON HOW TO EAT 'EM

Western North Carolina State Farmers Market

Click here to have your event featured.

Today

12th Annual Justice Forum | Tues., Oct. 11 | 7-8 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave. | Free | Keynote speaker Dr. Michener will explore the inequities in politics, power, and democracy in the American legal system. 🎤
Blues Traveler | Tues., Oct. 11 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave. | $35+ | Catch this American rock + jam band on its 35-year anniversary tour. 🎸
Open Folk Asheville | Tues., Oct. 11 | 7 p.m. | The Funkatorium, 147 Coxe Ave. | Free | Enjoy an intimate, open mic-style musical showcase featuring musicians from all over the country.
WNC Career Expo - Fall 2022 | Tues., Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | WNC Agricultural Center | Free | All job seekers are encouraged to attend this one-stop opportunity to meet directly with representatives from companies hiring now.

Wednesday

Ashevillians, A Local Comedy Showcase | Wed., Oct. 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St. | $10 | This local comedy showcase features up-and-coming stars plus a few local legends.

Thursday

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands | Thurs., Oct. 13-Sun., Oct. 16 | Various times | Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville | $10 | Explore the wide world of artisan crafts with this impressive showcase of contemporary + traditional works, including clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry.
Blueprint Breakfast for Dinner | Thurs., Oct. 13 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave. | $120 | Join Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity for a night of live music + creative cuisine at this affordable housing benefit.
OaxaCarolina Dinner with Chef Luis Martinez | Thurs., Oct. 13 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St. | $80+ | Chef Luis Martinez offers a food + wine pairing experience that offers the best of Oaxacan and Appalachian cuisine at this four-course dinner.

Friday

“Your Dog Here” at Down Dog presented by DSSOLVR | Fri., Oct. 14 | 5-8 p.m. | Down Dog, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd. | Free | Join the Asheville Humane Society for an evening of craft beer and dog-friendly activities at this fundraising event. 🐾

Saturday

A21 Walk For Freedom Asheville | Sat., Oct. 15 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza | Free | Join global nonprofit A21 on its annual, family-friendly walk to bring awareness and education to the public about human trafficking. 👟

We have a monthly 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.

100+ MORE EVENTS

How an AVL restaurant is saving our underwater ecosystem 🦞

Sustainable seafood practices allow you to enjoy fresh lobster and oysters without feeling shell-fish. | Photo provided by The Lobster Trap

Did you know? October is National Seafood Month and the US is recognized as a global leader in sustainable seafood for both wild-caught + farmed species.

That fact inspired restaurants like AVL’s The Lobster Trap to commit to sustainable seafood practices — and it’s keeping our underwater ecosystem alive.

The Lobster Trap partners with the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch program which promotes thoughtfully sourced seafood + environmentally-responsible fisheries across the country. Read: Fresh fish available in the for-sea-able future. 🦞 *

SEA WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT

Weather

68º | Mostly sunny |10% chance of rain

Opening

Asheville Sports Club, a new addition to the South Slope, will celebrate its grand opening on Sat., Oct. 15, from 3-10 p.m. There will be a pickleball tournament, music, pick-up basketball, and plenty of swag + prizes. 🏓

Civic

The city has commissioned an $85,000 study to help identify “missing middle housing” solutions. Examples of this type of housing include townhomes, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, and triplexes. The study will start in January 2023 and wrap up around early 2024. 🧩 (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Biz

The trend of remote work in Buncombe County is continuing to grow. In 2021, 20.2% of Asheville workers had a remote job — that’s 2.3% higher than the national average. Read more about how this trend impacts our community. 💻 (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Travel

Sick of taking off your shoes at the airport? There will be a TSA PreCheck enrollment service stationed at the Asheville Regional Airport from Mon., Oct. 31-Mon., Nov. 11. Pre-register for an appointment. ✈️

Arts

Congrats to Story Parlor’s newest artist-in-residence: Meta Commerse, a local author and “word medicine woman.” During her residency, Meta will present a two-part creative investigation of resistance, healing, and finding voice through the power of story. Learn more.
You can now explore the Asheville Art Museum with the click of a button. About 20% of the museum’s collection of 20th- and 21st-century American art has been digitized + can be viewed online. The museum plans to add more pieces every quarter.

Ashevillians

Four local lineworkers — Keith Griffin, Jay Tipton, Keifer Ewart + Jordan McCarson — will compete at the International Lineman’s Rodeo on Sat., Oct. 15. The rodeo takes place in Overland Park, KS and features the best lineworkers from all over the world. ⚡ (Mountain Xpress)

Asked

Do you know of any venues that offer dancing and music on a weekly basis? We’re putting together a guide of where to dance every night of the week in Asheville, and we’d love your help. Share your rec with us via email.

DYK

Did you know you can set up shop in our online retail store? We’re looking to support local brands in our AVLtoday shop. We want to work with you. Send us an email to get started.

Seasonal

Mark your calendars, Asheville — Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum returns next month. From Fri., Nov. 18-Sat., Dec. 31, be enchanted by the open-air walk-through spectacle, including the 50-ft Tree of Light + new glowing additions. 🌟 *

Trending

Fast-track those holiday shopping plans. For the first time, Amazon is hosting a second Prime Day with the Prime Early Access Sale running today, Oct. 11 and tomorrow, Oct. 12. Snag tech like earbuds or kitchen appliances at Black Friday prices — 45 days in advance.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Bonjour to Asheville Sister Cities Month

The city proclaims October as Asheville Sister Cities Month

A view from the Chateau in Saumur. | Photo courtesy of Sergey Ashmarin

At today’s Asheville City Council meeting, one of the items on the agenda will have international significance.

Officials plan to declare October as “Asheville City Sisters Month,” in honor of our city’s seven international pals, which span from Dunkeld & Birnam, Scotland to Saumur, France.

Since its inception in the early 1990s, the nonprofit Asheville Sister Cities has helped preserve and encourage Asheville’s relationship with the following cities:

The ultimate goal of the program is to promote international awareness, cultural knowledge + peace through global friendship. And to encourage this result, Asheville Sister Cities hosts international film screenings, performances, travel opportunities, food and wine tastings, and beyond.

Want to get involved? Check out the calendar for upcoming events — we’ve got our eyes on the 30th Anniversary Celebration and Robert Burns Night Supper.

Which sister city are you most drawn to? And why?

A. Vladikavkaz, Russia
B. San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
C. Saumur, France
D. Karpenisi, Greece
E. Valladolid, Mexico
F. Osogbo, Nigeria
G. Dunkeld & Birnam, Scotland

LET US KNOW

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: Over the weekend, I had the chance to try Cultura’s new tasting menu. The dishes were unforgettable — from the bresaola with fermented melon to the homey beans and smoked pork (which used zapoteca beans from Tequio Foods).

Even more remarkable, though, was the clear influence that the menu has taken from the eclectic + diverse array of chefs who have cooked in Cultura’s kitchen throughout the Cultivated Community Dinner Series.

If you haven’t visited since the reopening (or ever) — I highly recommend checking it out.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out our ultimate brunch guide, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?