07.17.2023

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Today’s Forecast

42º | Cloudy | 0% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:40 a.m. | Sunset 5:30 p.m.

♻️ How to cut back on single-use plastic

How to reduce your use of single-use plastic

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?” | Photo via The City of Asheville

In case you missed it, Asheville is in the process of reducing single-use plastic. While we aren’t quite at the point of banning plastic bags, the movement has made some major strides. So far the City Council has:

Prohibited the use of plastic bags for leaf + brush disposal. Starting Tuesday, Aug. 1, residents will need to use biodegradable paper yard waste bags or reusable containers for brush disposal. Learn more.
Surveyed over 6,700 individuals on the Plastic Reduction Community survey. Recommendations from that input will be made in the fall of 2023.
Opened a survey for businesses that use plastic and styrofoam. Take the business survey.

But how can you reduce your personal plastic use? We’ve got a couple of tips for you:

Stock up on tote bags. We like this organic cotton tote featuring local artist Ivy-Grace Partin.
Shop zero waste and refill stores. Local shops like To the Brim and Ware AVL reduce product packaging waste by allowing you to refill containers rather than buying new ones.
Shop at a local farmers market. Products here often use less plastic packaging — just don’t forget to bring your aforementioned tote bag.
Swap out plastic bottles for reusable ones. This stackable steel tumbler from Asheville-based brand Pirani will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours.
Be clear on what you can and can’t recycle. Use this recycling guide from The City of Asheville to make sure you’re putting items in the correct bins.

Events

Monday, July 17

Summertime Charcuterie Workshop at Catawba | Monday, July 17 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Catawba Brewing Company South Slope Asheville, 32 Banks Ave., Asheville | $65 | Take your entertaining skills to the next level and learn the art of charcuterie creation.
Modelface Comedy Presents: Bobcat Goldthwait | Monday, July 17 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., Asheville | $30-$35 | Settle in for a show from this writer, director, actor, voice actor, and veteran stand-up comedian.

Tuesday, July 18

Guided Trail Walk | Tuesday, July 18-Tuesday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville | Free | Get an in-depth look at the North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the help of a trained guide.

Wednesday, July 19

Tea and Poetry Workshop | Wednesday, July 19 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Dobra Tea, 1011 Tunnel Rd., Ste. 180, Asheville | $15 | Practice your poetry skills (and have a nice brew) with author Josh Lerman.

Thursday, July 20

Park Rhythms Summer Concert Series | Thursday, July 20-Thursday, Aug. 17 | 7-9 p.m. | Veterans Park, 10 Veterans Park Dr., Black Mountain | Free | Bring blankets and chairs to enjoy live music from LYRIC.
Love Shine Play Festival | Thursday, July 20-Sunday, July 23 | Times vary | Pack Square Park, 80 Court Plaza, Asheville | $27-$525 | Spend four days focusing on health and wellness with specialized course, hiking and SUP excursions, concerts, and a market.

Friday, July 21

Sidewalk Clearance Sale | Friday, July 21-Saturday, July 22 | Times vary | Enza Home Furnishings and Mattress Gallery, 25 Long Shoals Rd., Arden | Free | Save up to 70% on select items for your living room, dining room, bedroom + office during Enza Home Furnishings and Mattress Gallery’s Sidewalk Clearance Sale.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Western North Carolina State Farmers Market

Arts

Asheville’s craft tradition returns for its 76th year

The Magruder Glass Booth at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.

Discover 100+ local makers at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. | Photo by Diana Gates

For 76 years, 100+ artists from the Southeast have gathered to showcase their traditional and contemporary works of clay, wood, glass, and more during the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.

Hosted by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and presented by the artists themselves, this tradition is Downtown Asheville’s longest-running craft celebration.

The Craft Fair will return to Harrah’s Cherokee Center Thursday, July 20-Sunday, July 23 with:

Shopping
Live music
Craft demonstrations
A jewelry competition
Educational booths

Buy tickets ($10) to join the tradition

News Notes

Civic

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County will be releasing the draft Pack Square Plaza Vision Plan on Friday, July 21 for public review + feedback. Public sessions on July 28 and 29 will be held for the community to learn about the plan. The plan outlines short-term improvements and a long-term vision.

Eat

Facing nighttime cravings but you’re staring at “closed” signs? Taco Boy has come to the rescue with its new late-night menu. They’ll be serving food until 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday — including an Adult Happy Meal (two tacos, a beer, a tequila shot, and of course, a surprise toy).

Read

Join James T. Costa, professor and author of “Radical by Nature,” on Friday, July 21 at the NC Arboretum to learn about the life of Victorian naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. The event, hosted by Malaprop’s Bookstore and the NC Arboretum, is free but requires registration.

Award

The TC Roberson girls swimming and diving team‘s skills in the water aren’t the only way this team excels. They also ranked No. 1 in the Team Scholar Awards with the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association — with each of the 18 team members having at least a 4.0 GPA. (Asheville Citizen Times)

Edu

ApSeed Early Childhood Education is helping students start the school year off the right way. The organization provided tablets to underprivileged children ages 3-5 in Buncombe County to set them up for a successful start to kindergarten. The tablets include apps and games designed for learning numbers, the alphabet, and sounds. (WLOS)

Number

1 million. As of June 28, that’s how many hours MB HAYNES Corporation has worked without a lost time injury — a remarkable achievement that demonstrates MB HAYNES’ unwavering dedication to the well-being of its employees + commitment to creating a safe work environment.*

Featured Home

Boasting phenomenal views you should see for yourself, this 3 BD, 3 BA log cabin sits on 3.75 acres and offers a wraparound porch with a covered area. The home features main and upper-level bedrooms, plus a fully-finished basement that provides two additional bedrooms, a full bathroom + a bonus space.*

Cause

S.O.S — it’s time to Save Our Summer with The Blood Connection. Blood centers usually struggle to collect enough during the summer months, with July being the hardest. For helping the blood supply, donors receive $60 in rewards (drives may vary). Learn more + donate.*

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

As of yesterday, I’m now a dog owner. I’ll be using our guide to 30 dog-friendly places in Asheville to show little miss Oreo around her new home.

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