Culture

On the 12th day of Christmas, Asheville sent to me... 🎶

• Fall Noir: Out of the Past | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 3-5:30 p.m. | North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave., Asheville | Free | Screen and discuss classic noir films while enjoying light refreshments.
• Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: Steely Dan’s Can’t Buy a Thrill | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Asheville | $10 | Gather with music enthusiasts to discuss the groundbreaking 1972 Steely Dan album “Can’t Buy a Thrill.”
• Chunky Shrapnel - King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Live Movie Premiere | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 8 p.m. | Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St., Asheville | $10 | Check out King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s feature length, immersive live music documentary.
• Ink Meets Paper: An Exhibition by the Asheville Printmakers Group | Wednesday, Dec. 7-Friday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Weizenblatt Gallery, Moore Fine Arts Building, Mars Hill University, 79 Cascade St., Mars Hill | Free | Catch the last few days of this exhibit showcasing the depth and breadth of printmaking in the Asheville area through the work of 26 artists.*
• VICARIO Cocoa Inferno arrives | Now-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | VICARIO Tasting Room, Micro-Distillery, and Farm, 800 Old Jones Rd., Greer | $15 | Visit the VICARIO Farm and Distillery and experience our award winning liqueurs and gin (by appointment only Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).*

• Nose to Tail Nourishment | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 6 p.m. | Cultura, 147 Coxe Ave., Asheville | $100 | Enjoy five courses from Chef Meredith Leigh made with whole ingredients to showcase the importance of sustainable food ecosystems.
• Slice Of Life Comedy Open Mic | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $15 | Laugh at Cliff Cash’s incisive riffs on everything from greed and war to death and divorce.

• Winter Wonder Walk | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 18 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Adventure Center of Asheville, 85 Expo Dr., Asheville | $18-$40 | This immersive story-walk takes guests on a quest through the kingdom of Winterland to find Jack Frost and stop a terrible blizzard.
• Shitter’s Full-Pop-Up Run/Walk | Friday, Dec. 9 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Biltmore Park Town Square, 1 Town Square Blvd., Asheville | Free | Join this group for for a full moon run or walk through Biltmore Park to admire holiday lights.

• Online Pilates Class | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Get stretched out and relaxed without leaving your house with this beginner-friendly online class from Alexis of Cisco Pilates Asheville.

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• 66º | Showers | 54% chance of rain

• The Pure & Proper has opened its doors at 114 E. State St. in downtown Black Mountain. The cozy all-day restaurant is housed in a former 1940s Pure Oil Station and serves up fresh and hearty fare like venison stew + crispy chicken oysters. 🍽️

• $8 million. That’s the amount that System Logistics – Vertique plans to invest in its Asheville operations at Vista Industrial Park. The investments will include a new 75,000-sq ft manufacturing building, installation of electric vehicle charging stations, and 37 new positions.

• The Asheville City Board of Education has voted to move forward with a plan to use the vacant Asheville Primary School building as a temporary winter shelter for the homeless community. A group of local churches is requesting the space, which will be available for use from January through March. (WLOS)

• The Bitter Southerner has released its list of the Best Southern Albums of 2022. Ashevillian Angel Olsen came in at the number one spot with her album, Big Time. Also noteworthy? Local MJ Lenderman’s record Boat Songs came in at number nine. Let’s hear it for these local musicians. 🎤

• What makes Asheville such a successful place for craft beer? Men’s Journal spoke with local breweries + businesses — including Highland Brewing Co., Burial Beer Co., and Asheville Adventure Company — for insight. From the water to the people, see what they discovered. 🍺

• Looking for a hearty winter salad? We’re bowled over by Chef Katie Button’s winter farro salad. It features a variety of textures, including chewy farro and caramelized roasted veggies, plus sweet and savory flavors. Get the recipe. 🥗

• Want to surprise your artistically-inclined friend or family member this holiday season with an original, experience-based gift? Here’s an idea: A gift certificate for a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. The school offers 850+ weekend and week-long classes year-round. Call (828) 837-2775 to purchase a gift certificate. 🎁 *

• Did you know blood donors always make Santa’s Nice List? Donate blood this December at The Blood Connection, and you’ll be entered to win a variety of prizes — including a five-night vacation rental on the SC coast. Sign us up. 🩸 *

• Searching for the perfect stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift? Everyone on your gift list (even the crabby friend) will love being treated to delicious seafood and crafty cocktails with a gift card to The Lobster Trap. 🦞 *

• This stunning + spacious log cabin nestled within the private 1,100-acre Yellowtop Mountain Estates offers breathtaking year-round views. Featuring natural cherry and curly maple cabinets, quartz countertops, and a large two-car garage, this pristine mountain home provides plenty of peace and quiet. Bonus: The property allows short term rentals. 🏡 *

• Got a coffee lover in your family? We can almost guarantee these two products are on their wish list — the Fellow Stagg Electric Kettle and the Fellow Pour Over Coffee Set. Both strike the perfect balance of form and function. Psst — don’t forget the matching travel mug. ☕ *

• North America’s most common Christmas tree – and the one mostly grown in WNC – is the Fraser fir. It represents more than 99.4% of all species grown here.
• The first Frasers to be sold commercially as Christmas trees came from federal forest land on NC’s Roan Mountain in the 1950s.
• Fraser firs are the sole fir tree indigenous to the Great Smoky Mountains, and can only be found in Southern Appalachia at elevations above 3,900 feet. They provide important habitat for rare animals + plants.
• More than 20% of all the country’s Christmas trees come from NC, making us the second largest producer of Christmas trees in the country (after Oregon).
• Fraser firs have been chosen as the official White House Christmas tree 14 times — more than any other state.
• They can grow up to 55 feet in the wild.