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Get cooking

• The Asheville Kitchen | 384 Merrimon Ave. | Hone individual cooking and baking skills, learn to create full dinner menus, or attend a perfect-for-date-night dinner for two class.
• Asheville Mountain Kitchen | 332 E. Sondley Dr. | The full culinary calendar covers everything from Indian, Italian, or Moroccan cuisines to the principles of clean eating.
• Cottage Cooking | 40 Barnard Ave. | In classes all about collaboration, you’ll meet a new friends while you cook great meals together.
• Dogwood Cottage Baking | 175 Weaverville Rd., Ste. V | Perfect your pies and your pastas with classes in savory and sweet baking.

Be creative

• 310 Art | 191 Lyman St., Ste. 310 | The art gallery + educational space will introduce you to the world of fine art — like oils, wax, and watercolor.
• ArtPlay | 372 Depot St., Ste. 44 | Let the RAD spirit fuel your creativity with classes in watercolor, mixed media, and more.
• Fired Up! Creative Lounge | 26 Wall St. | Learn to throw on the pottery wheel or put paintbrush to clay to add a little flair.
• Local Cloth | 408 Depot St., Ste. 100 | Get acquainted with the fiber arts — fabric dying, stitched collages, even paper making.

• Asheville Outlets Summerfest Carnival | Wednesday, Aug. 2-Sunday, Aug. 6 | Times vary | Asheville Outlets, 800 Brevard Rd., Asheville | $25 | Classic fair fun abounds — carnival rides, games, and plenty of funnel cake to go around.
• Music to Your Ears Discussion Series | Wednesday, Aug. 2 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr. Ste. D, Asheville | $10 | Bill Kopp, author and music journalist, and Damon Goldman, leader of Tom Petty tribute band Somewhat Petty, will lead this month’s discussion on the legendary group.

• Disbudding Dahlias for Better Blooms | Thursday, Aug. 3 | 10-11:30 a.m. | NC Cooperative Extension, 49 Mount Carmel Rd., Asheville | Free | Brush up on your gardening skills during this Learning Garden workshop.
• Tales From All Over the Place | Thursday, Aug. 3 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Weaverville Community Center, 60 Lakeshore Dr., Weaverville | Free | Prepare to be entertained and delighted by WNC storytellers as they share both personal and traditional tales.

• Seussical Jr. | Friday, Aug. 4 | Times vary | Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville | $5-$12 | Your favorite Dr. Seuss characters are about to spring off the page and onto the stage.
• Light Up the Night 5K | Friday, Aug. 4 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Carrier Park, 225 Amboy Rd., Asheville | $25 | Gear up for this glow-in-the-dark, night-time run benefiting Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.
• Drag Music Bingo | Friday, Aug. 4 | 7-9 p.m. | Highland Brewing Downtown Taproom, 56 Patton Ave., Asheville | Dance along while you show off your trivia skills during this event hosted by Bearded Lady Divine.

• Summer Bouquet Workshop - Make & Take | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Reems Creek Nursery, 76 Monticello Rd., Weaverville | Brighten up your home with a few blooms and the help with local floral designer Rachel Brownlee.
• BMC Dance | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. | Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, 120 College St., Asheville | $10-$15 | Get some insight into the world of dance during this series of performances and conversations.
• Caturday Crafternoon | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 12-4 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St., Asheville | $30 | Cat lovers and craft lovers alike are invited to an afternoon making your very own cat rice heat pad.

• The City of Asheville’s Capital Projects Department wants to hear from you. The city is looking for feedback on the Downtown Public Restroom project, which aims to offer a safe and round-the-clock accessible public restroom. The public meeting will be on Thursday, Aug. 10, 3-6 p.m. at the Collider Overlook Lounge in the Wells Fargo building.

• After a successful start, Biltmore Farms is extending its weekly farmers market through Aug. 17. The market — where you can find seasonal produce, flowers, eggs, handmade goods, and lots more — happens on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Biltmore Park Town Square.

• No need to spend your usual hours lying on your couch watching cat videos on the Internet. Now you can turn that pastime into a communal experience. Aided by submissions and the Internet’s best, Grail Moviehouse will present Cat Video Fest 2023 on Aug. 4-10. A portion of the proceeds benefit Asheville Cat Weirdos Emergency Fund.

• Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity’s 12th annual ReStore ReUse Contest is now accepting submissions. Show off your DIY skills through furniture, art, renovations, and more — as long as you use mostly reused building materials. Submissions are accepted until Saturday, Sept. 30, and winners will be announced in October.

• The Restoration Hotel has launched Pours on the Porch, a new monthly seasonal beer sampling out in the open air. Take a seat on the Exchange Patio and sip the evening away at the inaugural event on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• No time for cat naps here — local feral felines are finding employment. Sister Kitten Animal Rescue has started its Working Cat Program, helping feral cats find owners to give them an outdoor home and a job in pest control. It’s a natural way to combat pests in homes, businesses, and farms and give new life to an animal in need. (WLOS)

• Hosted by the Utopian Seed Project, the Trial to Table Summer Series asks local chefs to create dishes inspired by the crops and varieties from the Project’s farm trials — and celebrates the delicious results. The next event will happen at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage on Saturday, Aug. 19.

• Your HVAC should be serviced four times a year — fact or fiction? See the answer.*

• Four Sigmatic’s organic protein powder is the ultimate smoothie booster. It contains 18 grams of protein and 1500 milligrams of adaptogens per serving — nourishing your mind + body.

• Searching for the perfect luggage set that’s both lightweight + durable? We love this set for its polycarbonate shell and quiet double spinner wheels.

• Slice and serve your favorite meats + cheeses on this sleek yet durable maple wood cutting board. Bonus: It’s preconditioned with beeswax, linseed, and lemon oil.

• It’s time to treat your fur baby with a product worth barking about. Check out the Martingale Collar in peach + gold from Major Darling.