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Life hacks every Ashevillian should know

11 life hacks every Ashevillian should know
Asheville-historic-downtown-avltoday-@justintclark
Have more life hacks? Chime in on the convo via Instagram. | Photo by @justintclark
Living in Asheville is generally a grand time, but that doesn’t mean we’re immune to parking woes, long lines, and other pedestrian hassles.

Enter: These 11 life hacks from our neighbors on R/Asheville and Instagram to help make life a little easier.

1. “You can get ZOOM passes if you’re a library card member.” - R/yodelayodelay

2. “Get a Go Local card.” — @sheekgardens

3. “Go to the actual [French Broad] Chocolate Factory instead of standing in the line downtown.” — @almacurran

4. “The Asheville Tool Library.” — @meg_reilley_photography

5. “The Blue Ridge Parkway is almost always closed in the winter… to cars. Want to ride your bike on the Parkway but don’t have a death wish? Do it on a 60 degree day in February. You can check what sections are open and closed on the BRP website.” — R/JARL_OF_ASHEVILLE

6. “A good number of people who move to Asheville buy hiking gear, kayaks, SUPboards and such, then only use them a few times. On Craigslist and GearSwap you can find good deals...” — @jellywoodchuck.

7. "[You get a] free cup of coffee when you purchase a bag of Summit Coffee beans.” — @wheninasheville

8. “Know which lane to stay in on the Bowen Bridge so you don’t die.” — @abandonedwnc

9. “Get used to eating dinner early. Like 5 p.m. early. That way when you go out to eat, you can usually get a table right away.” — @MetaverseSleep

10. “Asheville has an app that you can report potholes and other things on. I’ve seen in some local Facebook groups where folks have had success submitting tickets, and seeing results from the city using it.” — R/Punkadunk_booboo

11. “The Westgate Wormhole.” — R/brooke_heaton (This means using the Westgate Plaza exit on I-240, but not actually exiting the highway, to skip a bit of Patton Ave. traffic.)

Speaking of life hacks... we’re on the prowl for the best lunch deals in Asheville. Know of one that costs $10 or less? Hit the button below to let us know.
PLEASE, WE'RE HUNGRY
ENZA Home Furnishing

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Friday, Feb. 24
  • Edible Park Work and Learn Day | Friday, Feb. 24 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | Free | Volunteer at the oldest community food forest in Asheville.
  • What a Beautiful Buzz | Friday, Feb. 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Honey & the Hive, 23 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville | $45 | This pop-up meal will feature local cheeses and honey-themed small bites alongside meads from Noble Cider and juns from Shanti Elixirs.
  • Are You Ready For It?: A Taylor Swift Dance Party | Friday, Feb. 24-Saturday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $20 | Swifties, rejoice — this dance party features all of Taylor’s hits, plus a costume contest, lipsync battle + photo booth.*
Saturday, Feb. 25
  • The Great Pottery Throwdown | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 6-9 p.m. | Odyssey Clayworks, 236 Clingman Ave., Asheville | Free | Area potters will go head-to-head in ceramics challenges — attendees can vote on the winning potters, bid on pieces in a silent auction, take part in a raffle, and enjoy light refreshments.
Sunday, Feb. 26
  • Chili Cook-off | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12-4 p.m. | Wicked Weed West, 145 Jacob Holm Wy., Candler | Free | Sign up by Monday, Feb. 20 to participate in the competition — or just show up to taste all of the entries and enjoy live music from Stephen Evans.
Monday, Feb. 27
  • Burger Night | Monday, Feb. 27 | 4-8 p.m. | Biltmore Village Production Facility & Taproom - Asheville, 2A Huntsman Pl., Asheville | Free | Get a double cheeseburger, hot tallow fries, and ice-cold pint of beer for $12.
  • Ticket to Ride Tournament | Monday, Feb. 27 | 6-9 p.m. | Well Played Board Game Cafe, 162 Coxe Ave., Asheville | $5-$7 | Compete with 20 fellow board game enthusiasts.
Tuesday, Feb. 28
  • Punch Bucket Lit | Tuesday, Feb. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Cellarest Beer Project, 395 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Free | Fiction writer Alex McWalters and author Tessa Fontaine will headline this month’s reading.
Wednesday, March 1
  • Winter Works | Wednesday, Mar. 1 | 7 p.m. | Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $16-$25 | See contemporary and neoclassical dance from the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville.
Thursday, March 2

We have a calendar filled with events and 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

8 benefits of investing in a home air purifier
A woman relaxing on the couch
Improving indoor air quality can improve your overall health. | Photo provided by MB HAYNES
Did you know? Poor air quality in your home can make you sick. In fact, indoor air can be up to five times as polluted as outdoor air, especially during the colder months when we’re inside more.

One way to achieve better air quality is by using air purifiers to refresh stale air. This reduces one’s chances of health issues caused by indoor pollutants, which can trigger respiratory infections, neurological problems, or aggravate symptoms in asthma sufferers.

Not convinced? Here are eight benefits of installing an air purifier in your home:
  • Reduces the chances of airborne illnesses
  • Relieves symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma
  • Improves sleep
  • Neutralizes unpleasant odors
  • Eliminates harmful chemicals from indoor environments
  • Removes harmful radon
  • Eliminates hazardous asbestos particles
  • Can increase life expectancy
Pro tip: MB HAYNES is currently offering a special on air purifiers. Learn more or by calling (828) 254-6141. Breathe a little easier, Asheville.*
CLEAN AIR THIS WAY

Weather
  • 62º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Open
  • Little D’s, a casual neighborhood joint from the owners of Asheville Proper, has opened in North Asheville at 952 Merrimon Ave. The menu includes a combination of seasonally-rotated meats and veggie-forward offerings — see Eater’s review for more details. 🍔
Development
  • Tageos, a global maker of radio-frequency identification inlays and tags, has announced it will open its first US manufacturing facility in Hendersonville. The company plans to invest $35 million in this move, creating 92 new jobs with an average annual wage of $67,000.
Concert
  • American indie band Fleet Foxes has announced it will perform at Rabbit Rabbit on Friday, June 23 as part of its 2023 Shore Tour. Tickets are now on sale. 🪕
Business
  • Wanna expand your network? Check out Venture Asheville’s Talent Jam on Wednesday, March 15 at The Mule. There will be folks pitching their talent to the audience and companies seeking to add new talent to their teams. Register in advance to attend.
Regional
  • WNC pastry chef April Franqueza is set to appear on the Food Network baking series, “Spring Baking Championship.” The show premieres Monday, March 6 at 8 p.m. on Food Network and discovery+. 🥐 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Cause
  • A group of local cyclists are selling raffle tickets for a custom Valentine bicycle to raise money for an Asheville resident battling cancer. Tickets are $10 each and the drawing will be held Saturday, April 1.
Ashevillian
  • Happy birthday, AVLtoday member Stacey N. We hope your special day is filled with all of your favorite things in Asheville! Did you know when you become an AVLtoday member, you’ll get a birthday shoutout, too? Join today. 🎉
Finance
Number
  • 55°. That’s the optimal temperature for storing wine. So unless you enjoy keeping your humble abode chilled year round, we recommend buying a wine fridge to foster favorable conditions for long-term aging. Our pick: this sleek wine fridge with touch-panel control and capacity for 24 bottles. Cheers. 🍷 *
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6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: You’ll perk up at this news, coffee fans. Flowermouth Coffee, a new roaster in town, is hosting a tasting + pastry pairing on Saturday, Feb. 25, 12-2 p.m. at 96 Weaverville Rd. Sadly, I am busy and can’t attend — but I’m hoping one of y’all will check it out and report back.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Don’t miss Asheville’s finest gas station eats, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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