Enjoy arts + eats at State of the Arts Brunch

What to expect from the inaugural State of the Arts Brunch in Asheville, NC

The State of the Arts Brunch will bring the varied members of our local arts community together. | Photo by @matty.media

The Asheville Area Arts Council’s inaugural State of the Arts Brunch will take place Wed., Nov. 2 from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at The Orange Peel. The ticketed brunch ($45) event offers local artists and arts advocates a way to celebrate our broader creative community.

The event includes featured speakers Mayor Esther Manheimer and Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Chair Brownie Newman, along with the presentation of the 2022 John Cram Arts Leadership Award. Additionally, the event will highlight four important pieces of research:

The Creative Jobs Report. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on things like job totals through the end of 2021. “We will be looking at the projected totals for 2022, including where jobs and sales went,” says Katie Cornell, Executive Director of the Asheville Area Arts Council.
The WNC Creative Manufacturing Study. This report will offer highlights of the creative manufacturing scene across the Asheville metro. Findings will be published in early 2023.
The Outdoor Events Impact Report. An update to the 2017 study, this piece explores the community impact of the benefits Asheville’s outdoor events provide to participating nonprofits. It’s expected to wrap up next month.
The Arts and Economic Prosperity Report. Get a glimpse of the sixth iteration of this study with Americans for the Arts, which examines the economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture sector. Its findings will be complete in October 2023.

Want to support our local creative sector? Become an arts ally member of the Arts Council. Membership costs go to fund the council’s work in arts advocacy, public art, and services for creatives.

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Today

Perccollider - Lights Out for a More Bird-Friendly Asheville | Thurs., Oct. 20 | 10 a.m. | The Collider, 1 Haywood St. | Free | Learn about ways to enhance our community’s bird-friendliness. 🐦
THE MOTH Presents: Asheville StorySLAM – “Grown” | Thurs., Oct. 20 | 7:30-11:30 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $15 | Come listen (or tell) a polished, five-minute story about the highs and lows of adulthood at this themed-story slam.
Spring Flower Bulb Sale | Thurs., Oct. 20-Sun., Oct. 23 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Flourish Flower Farm, 34 Heavens Above | Free entry | Shop from an array of spring flower bulbs, including anemone + specialty daffodils and tulips. 🌼

Friday

Edible Asheville Artisanal Cheese Farm Tour | Fri., Oct. 21 | 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | 44 S. Lexington Ave. | $112 | Transportation is provided to and from this guided tour featuring local cheese makers, paired with a visit to a local winery. 🧀
Friday Farmstand | Fri., Oct. 21 | 3-7 p.m. | Peace Gardens, 47 Bryant St. | Free entry | Pay what you can for locally and organically grown produce at this farmstand that operates on the honor system. 🥬
Southeastern Animal and Fiber Festival | Fri., Oct. 21-Sun., Oct. 23 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | WNC Ag Center | $5| Enjoy workshops, demonstrations, various vendors, and sheep and goat shows at this annual festival. 🧶
Wolf Howl | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6-8 p.m. | WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd.| $30 | Ages 14 and up will learn about red and gray wolves, as well as witness their iconic howls. 🐺

Saturday

Asheville Drag Brunch: Night Brunch FUNdraiser | Sat., Oct. 22 | 7 p.m. | Biscuit Head South, 1994 Hendersonville Rd. | $30+ | End the day with brunch, a drink, and a drag show while supporting local nonprofit UMOJA 501(c)3.
Chili Hot Dog Eating Competition | Sat., Oct. 22 | 12:30-6 p.m. | Dalton’s Distillery, 251 Biltmore Ave. | $10 to compete | A competition to see who can eat the most hot dogs (and buns) in three minutes; the winner will receive a $200 prize. 🌭

Sunday

Meadow Market at Highland Brewing | Sun., Oct. 23 | 1-6 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Ste. 200 | Free | Explore a fun and seasonal rotation of local bakers, makers, and artisans.

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

Buy furniture featured in the 2022 Parade of Homes

Presented by an AVLtoday Partner

Although the Parade of Homes is over, there’s still time to view (and purchase) the pieces that Enza staged in the home at 462 Kimberly Ave. built by Buchanan Construction. | Photo by Ryan Theede

Did you know? Enza Home Furnishings & Mattress Gallery assisted in staging the home at 462 Kimberly Ave. for the 2022 Parade of Homes with select pieces. While the event is over, the featured items are available for purchase — and shoppers get an additional 20% off prices through the end of October (hello, chic new sofa).

See furniture in-store at 25 Long Shoals Rd. in Arden Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 🛋️*

SHOP BEAUTIFULLY-CRAFTED FURNITURE

Weather

59º | Partly cloudy | 3% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Calling all pickleball fans. There’s a new shop for pickleball paddles and accessories coming to town: Single Double Pickleball. The online business is slated to open in December of this year. That’s all we know for now, but we’ll share more info when we get it. 🏸

Civic

During its Tues., Oct. 18 meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Know someone who needs help? Contact the Family Justice Center or local nonprofit Helpmate’s 24-hour hotline for assistance.
Buncombe County’s Justice Services department has been awarded two federal grants totaling more than $2.2 million. The money will be used to boost the County’s various treatment courts and help reduce violent crime through intervention support and prevention programs. 💰

State

Early voting for North Carolina residents begins today, Thurs., Oct. 20 from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Click here to find your voting location — and check out our guide to Asheville City Council candidates. 🗳️

Community

There’s another place in town to drop off food scraps for composting. The newest location, at West Asheville Library (942 Haywood Rd.), opened last month. See the county’s four free residential compost drop-off locations.

Regional

Nearly 380,000 households in WNC do not have a solid internet connection, due to a lack of access to fiber-optic broadband. This means many residents are unable to access vital services like telehealth appointments. Learn how residents are navigating telehealth without reliable internet. 💻 (Carolina Public Press)

Eat

Just in time for soup season, the WNC-based business Miso Master has shared its recipe for traditional miso soup. Dig in. 🍲

Shop

With holiday get-togethers just around the corner, a sturdy and stylish serving tray is a must. We love this one from Etsy because it can be personalized with your stain of choice and custom text. Bonus: You can even add handles or a lazy susan turntable.*

Learn

Did you know? Babbel offers multiple ways to learn a new language (think: lessons, podcasts, videos, and live online classes). AVLtoday readers can choose from 14 languages with lessons that focus on practical, everyday phrases — plus useful tips and cultural knowledge to better understand the words they’re learning. Me encanta. 🗺️ *

Featured Deal

Curious about CBD, ready for sophisticated smokeware, or looking to relax? Garden Party, Asheville’s boutique hemp shop, is offering 15% off their CBD, hemp + home products with code: AVL2DAY through Sun., Oct. 23.*

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

This is a wolfdog appreciation post

A look at WNC’s Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary

wnc-wolfdog-sanctuary-full-moon-farm-avltoday

Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary is WNC’s only sanctuary for wolfdogs who are unable to survive in the wild. | Photo by AVLtoday

Did you know National Wolf Awareness Week runs Sun., Oct. 16-Sat., Oct. 22?

That also means it’s an ideal time to highlight a magical spot in WNC where you can witness, interact with, and even adopt dogs with recent wolf heritage: Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary.

Most wolfdogs at the sanctuary were acquired through joint efforts between animal control, wildlife regulatory agencies + wolfdog rescues. Many of them are adoptable (Full Moon does not charge adoption fees). Pro tip: wolfdogs are illegal in the city of Asheville, but legal in Buncombe County.

Howling to support the cause? Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary always needs volunteers, and you can donate, sponsor a wolfdog, or purchase merchandise.

DEVOUR MORE FACTS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: If you’re looking for a rewarding volunteer experience, I can’t say enough good things about the folks and animals at Full Moon Farm Wolfdog Sanctuary. It’s truly a magical, heart-filling experience.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get the scoop on this weekend’s Intertribal Graffiti Jam.

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.

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