Photo via the Asheville Airport

What to know

• Peak hours | According to an Asheville Airport spokesperson, peak hours fluctuate depending on the flight schedule. This November, peak hours usually occur from 6-8 a.m., then again from 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. The airport does not track TSA wait times, but recommends arriving two hours before your flight to be safe.
• Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, this map of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
• Food and drink | The Blue Ridge Trading + Tavern serves breakfast biscuits, sandwiches, salads, and coffee drinks. There’s also Cinnabon and Auntie Anne’s pretzels available.
• Reminder | By May 3, 2023, you will need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US.
• Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.

How early do you get to the airport before a flight?

• Wild Ponies | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Isis Music Hall, 743 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $20 | Jam to poetic guitar ballads from Rod Picott, paired with the honky-tonk tunes of the Wild Ponies.
• Christine Havirilla | Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr. Ste. D, Asheville | $15 | This roots + folk artist blends soft yet gritty vocals with raw and passionate guitar loops.

• An Evening on Broadway | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 5:30-8 p.m. | Downtown Asheville, 52-67 Broadway St., Asheville | Free | Spend an evening exploring the Broadway Arts District with ambient soundscapes, refreshments, an art exhibit, and a craft project.
• The JLloyd MashUp: “A Tribute To Paul Simon” | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 8:30-11 p.m. | The Main Stage, 743 Haywood Rd., Asheville |$15 | JLloyd MashUp pays tribute to the legendary Paul Simon with a full set of his songs from throughout his career.

• AVL Revue: Festival Night | Friday, Nov. 18 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $20 | This month’s variety show features performers who represent five local festivals, including Asheville Fringe Festival, Magnetic Theatre, and Music Video Asheville.
• The Red Clay Strays | Friday, Nov. 18 | 7 p.m. | Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $18-$22 | Born and bred in the red dirt clay of south Alabama, this band blends Southern ballads with classic country and gospel-fed soul.
• East Asheville Holiday Market | Friday, Nov. 18 | 2:30-5:30 p.m. | Groce United Methodist Church, 954 Tunnel Rd., Asheville | Free | Get a head start on your holiday gift shopping at this seasonally-themed market, which includes craft vendors, bakers, and plenty of produce.*
• Place and Wonder @ Tyger Tyger Gallery | Friday, Nov. 18 | 5-8 p.m. | Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St., Asheville | Free | Meet the five artists featured in the latest Tyger Tyger exhibitions, which explores depictions and transcriptions of space through landscape, memory, and narrative.*

• Climbing Film Festival | Saturday, Nov. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | Riveter, 701 Old Fanning Bridge Rd., Asheville | $20-$30 | Watch films about female athletes, producers + regional climbing stories — there will also be food trucks, a libation station, and raffle drawings.

• 43º | Partly cloudy | 10% chance of rain

• Asheville Crafted Edge, a high-end knife + kitchen supply shop, is officially open for business in downtown Asheville (6 Eagle St.). The store is open daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Pro tip: Be sure to check out the knife-making demos. 🔪

• Help Asheville shape the future of Pack Square Plaza by participating in these public engagement opportunities. In-person focus groups, site tours, and other input opportunities will run Thursday, Dec. 1-Saturday, Dec. 3. There will also be virtual meetings in mid-December.

• Interested in sampling the Filipino fare we highlighted earlier this season? Master BBQ will host another pop-up this Saturday, Nov. 19, 2-7 p.m. at Outsider Brewing Co. Expect dishes like lumpia, grilled meat skewers, and crispy greens. 🍖

• Two local companies, Biscuit Head and Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn, won big at Garden & Gun’s Made In The South Awards. Biscuit Head’s Buttermilk Biscuit Mix earned first place in the food category, with the Poppy x Spicewalla Popcorn earning the runner-up spot.

• Congrats to local subscription company The RiderBox on making Gear Junkie’s “30 Best Gifts Under $30.” Interested in getting or gifting one? Check out the special edition Holiday RunnerBox.

• Asheville ecologist and author Lloyd Raleigh has released his debut novel "Welcome to the Free World.” The dystopian story follows a 23-year-old who lives in a “violent world forever altered by climate change” and an AI-altered metaverse. Read more. 📖 (Mountain Xpress)

• Want to focus more on your friends, family, or flings? Local business Juniper has launched a monthly date planning service for locals. The service books activities, creates itineraries, and sends out curated invitations. Learn more.

• Did you know this is your last chance to share your Black Friday deals with our AVLtoday readers? Promote your business with us by submitting a deal to be included in our Fri., Nov. 25 newsletter. Pricing varies by market + must be submitted by today, Wed., Nov. 16.

• 62% of surveyors (read: 90 people) correctly answered that by 2030, more than two-thirds of wealth in the US will be held by women. Learn how PNC Private Bank applies a gender-specific lens to wealth planning and investing, considering barriers that might prevent women from opportunities to build + preserve wealth.*

• Psst — Thanksgiving is next Thursday, Nov. 24. If you’re planning to serve turkey, don’t forget that a meat thermometer is essential to avoiding a potential case of food poisoning. Try this waterproof digital meat thermometer with 53,000+ five star reviews or splurge on this smart meat thermometer that connects to your phone via Bluetooth.*