Culture

10 cool resources from Buncombe County Public Libraries

Photo courtesy of Buncombe County

Did you know February is National Library Lovers Month? In order to showcase just how much our local library has to offer, we’re sharing some rad things you can check out besides books.

First things first — you’ll need a library card. Buncombe County residents can get one for free by visiting and showing their photo ID. Pro tip: if your photo ID doesn’t include your current local address, please bring documentation showing it (like a check or utility bill).

Not a Buncombe County resident? Not a problem. All it takes is $20 per year and an in-person visit to obtain to get an out of county card.

Local attraction passes

One of the niftiest things cardholders can access? ZOOM passes, which give Buncombe County residents free access to local attractions, including the North Carolina Arboretum, the WNC Nature Center, the Asheville Museum of Science, and Asheville Community Theater. You can make one reservation per attraction every 30 days. Get all the deets on ZOOM passes here.

Laptops

All 13 Buncombe County library branches offer laptop rentals with WiFi hotspots to cardholders that are 18+ with cards in good standing.

Gardening necessities

Plan your spring garden by picking up seasonal vegetable, herb, and flower seed packets at the Black Mountain, Leicester, and Weaverville branches. Bonus: The Black Mountain branch also regularly offers free gardening courses.

Binoculars and telescopes

Want to indulge in a little birding or stargazing? You’ll need tools for that. Cardholders can check out binoculars from the North Asheville branch and find telescopes at Pack Memorial downtown.

Games

Hit up the Black Mountain branch for discs for disc golf, “Take & Play” outdoor games from Pack Memorial and Fairview branches, and the Leicester + Black Mountain branches for jigsaw puzzles. You can also get picnic baskets with a blanket and games at the Enka-Candler branch.

What perks matter the most when selecting a new credit card?

A. Travel Points
B. Points Multipliers for Categories (e.g., 2X miles on grocery and restaurant purchases)
C. Low-Interest Rate
D. Cash Back Options
E. Introductory offers (e.g., % interest, point bonus)

Congratulations to Carol D. for winning a $50 gift card to our online shop, Six & Main. Did you know you could be our next winner? Answer this week’s survey questions for a chance to score a gift card!

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Tuesday, Feb. 21

Chai: a Tasting Experience from Chai For | Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Outsider Brewing, 939 Riverside Dr, Asheville | $30 | Experience the nuances of unique chai varieties with Chai For’s founder Colin Wiseman.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

“Southern Black Chefs in the White House” with Adrian Miller | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 6-7:30 p.m. | University of North Carolina at Asheville, 1 University Heights, Asheville | Free | Attend a virtual lecture from food writer and culinary historian Adrian Miller, whose books have twice won a James Beard Award for Reference and Scholarship.
Tween Talk | Wednesday, Feb. 22 | 4-5:30 p.m. | We Rock the Spectrum , 63 Turtle Creek Dr., Asheville | $120 | Each class, which serves pre-teen girls ages 9-12, consists of a fun icebreaker activity, a meaningful discussion led by the instructor, and an exciting game.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Pie Baking Contest | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 2-4 p.m. | Grove Street Community Center, 36 Grove St., Asheville | Free | Register in advance to participate in this cooking competition that celebrates Black pie recipes.
Soul Food Supper | Thursday, Feb. 23 | 6-8 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | Free | Register in advance to attend this celebration of Stephens-Lee High School’s 100th anniversary, featuring down-home cooking like fried chicken, black-eyed peas, and sweet potato pie.

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.
The Comedy Zone | Friday, Feb. 24 | 7 p.m. | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $28 | The nation’s largest comedy club network presents a three-month series of top-notch comedians, including Shaun Jones and Jason Allen King.

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

Weather

64º | Cloudy | 16% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Rejoice, java lovers. Dripolator Coffee House has announced plans to expand into South Asheville this summer. Dripolator South is slated for Gerber Village on Hendersonville Rd. We’ll share more info as it becomes available. ☕

Civic

Buncombe County’s new ESRI StoryMap is now available. Designed to help the public learn more about local land conservation, it includes engaging photographs and data for an immersive and holistic look at the past, present, and future of land conservation. See the interactive maps here.

Outdoors

The US Forest Service has released its management plan for the Nantahala + Pisgah national forests. The plan includes a strategy to restore the area’s ecological integrity, as well as prioritizes sustainable recreation. It will take effect next month and guide management for the next two decades.🌲 (Carolina Public Press)

Travel

Beginning Friday, May 26, travelers using Asheville Regional Airport will have a new direct flight to choose from. Allegiant Airlines will offer direct flights to Phoenix, AZ. To commemorate the occasion, Allegiant will offer one-way fares starting at $69. ✈️(WLOS)

Eat

Chef Katie Button has shared her recipe for All i Oli, aka Spanish mayo. The simple, delicious condiment is made with rich extra virgin olive and garlic for a spread that’s ideal for sandwiches, veggies, or atop paella.
Every dinner’s a party when the food tastes good. Home Chef’s meal kit delivery service takes the stress out of mealtimes with fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe cards, delivered right to your door. Order your first box — for 75% off.*

Learn

UNC Asheville’s Queer Studies Conference returns to campus on Friday, March 24-Sunday, March. 26. The biennial event includes workshops and presentations from scholars, artists, and activists. Open to the public, the event is free with a suggested donation of $20+. Register.

Try This

Tomorrow is National Margarita Day. Celebrate with Simple Time Mixers by sipping on the Margarita Bundle or the Margarita Madness 3-Pack. Will that be salt or sugar on the rim? 🍹

Edu

UNC Asheville Environmental Studies Major Abby Sgan recently had an out-of-this-world experience when she interned at NASA. Sgan spent 10 weeks last summer participating in NASA’s Applied Sciences’ DEVELOP National Program, which addresses environmental and public policy issues through interdisciplinary research projects. See what she learned. 🌎 *

Featured Space

Calling all agribusinesses owners: Market Shop C at the WNC Farmers Market has an opening for a retail and wholesale store front. The building offers 500 sqft of selling space with a 40 sqft of office, shipping + receiving docks. Call (828) 463-6015 to schedule a tour. 🧑‍🌾 *

Concert

Grammy-winning country music star and SC native Darius Rucker will be headlining Upcountry Fiber’s charity concert, Southern Fried Circuit, on Friday, July 28 at the Anderson Civic Center (3027 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Anderson). Profits will go to the Upcountry Fiber Foundation to support local charities in Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Grab tickets. *

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4 extraordinary Black entrepreneurs

TBT: Four historic African-American entrepreneurs in Asheville, NC

E-W-Pearson-Burton-Street-entrepreneur-Asheville-AVLtoday

E.W. Pearson | Photo courtesy of NC Collection, Pack Memorial Library

Ask many people about the history of entrepreneurship and development here in Asheville, and some familiar names come to mind — George Vanderbilt, E.W. Grove, Rafael Guastavino, Douglas Ellington. But many community founders and entrepreneurs of color also left lasting legacies, even though there is far less written about them.

Read on to meet — or revisit — four of these remarkable Ashevillians.

Isaac Dickson

Dickson came to Asheville in 1870. Six years later, he bought land near modern-day Charlotte St. and rented properties on the land to freedmen — the area was known as Dicksontown.

In the 1890s, Dickson and Edward Stephens, another Black entrepreneur and developer, worked together to help build the YMI Cultural Center in Asheville’s Block neighborhood.

Dickson also supported the creation of the public school system here, through generous donations and actively sitting on the school board. Isaac Dickson Elementary bears his name.

3 MORE LEADERS

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Brook.

Editor’s pick: Fun fact I’m proud to share? I presented some of my original undergraduate research at UNC Asheville’s first -ever Queer Studies Conference in 1998.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Scope out Charlotte’s food and drink scene.

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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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