08.04.2023

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

🌿 Partner with public pollinator gardens

Partner with public spaces for pollinator garden certification

Peeples-Dawn Chávez Joyce Brown Kim Williams plant a pollinator garden in a RAD meadow.jpg

This program takes a little teamwork. | Photo by Gary Peeples

Asheville’s green spaces are certainly a beautiful part of the city’s landscape, but they can serve an even greater purpose — much-needed habitats for the local pollinator population. Thanks to a partnership between Asheville GreenWorks + the City of Asheville, residents can certify gardens on city land as pollinator habitats.

Phyllis Stiles, GreenWorks board member and founder of the national Bee City USA program, says the vision has always been to “shift notions of landscaping from neat and tidy to practices that support biodiversity” and is grateful that the City of Asheville is “willing to work with residents to create pollinator habitats on city-owned land that is not intensely managed by the City. Every little bit of habitat matters when you’re talking about insects.”

How it works

Even if you don’t own your own land or have your own garden, you can step up to contribute to spaces that help pollinators thrive. Partner with your kids’ school, the park up the street, or local library to get a Native Pollinator Garden Certification. Residents or groups can submit an application online noting that the garden is on city land.

This public habitat program is a new collaboration and currently applies only to existing gardens on public land. Soon GreenWorks will be expanding the program to include an application for residents looking to plant a new pollinator garden on city land.

Greenworks planting-Peeples-Bryan Tompkins with tray of plants8.jpg — GreenWorks takes on big projects, but small gardens still have an impact.
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Photo by Paul King

What it means

GreenWorks has been involved in large-scale pollinator habitat projects that take years of work and dozens of volunteers — like the RAD HAB and the pollinator meadow on Wilma Dykeman Greenway — but certification and impact don’t require this scale. There are several required elements, but there are tiers of certification so that anyone can get involved, even if the public space is only a container garden in front of your local fire station.

Why it’s important

“Insects are the little things that run the world,” says Phyllis, “but 40% of the world’s insect pollinators are at risk of extinction. Since 90% of the world’s flowering plants rely on pollinators to reproduce, they’re kind of a big deal.”

Events

Friday, Aug. 4

Kurt Vile | Friday, Aug. 4 | 6 p.m. | The Meadow at Highland Brewing, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville | $20-$40 | See the AVLFest headliner perform indie-rock tunes with support from Gummy — AVLFest weekend passholders get a $20 ticket.
Skate Night | Friday, Aug. 4 | 6-10 p.m. | Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd., Asheville | Free | Bounce, rock, skate, and roll at this free event — some skates available to borrow, but bringing your own is recommended.
Sunset Mountaintop Yoga | Friday, Aug. 4 | 6:45-9:45 p.m. | Bearwallow Mountain Trail, 4854 Bearwallow Mountain Rd., Hendersonville | $65 | Bask in the glowing light at the end of the day, and practice your yoga with an incredible view.

Saturday, Aug. 5

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.
Introduction to Falconry | Saturday, Aug. 5, Saturday, Aug. 19, Saturday, Sept. 2 | 1 p.m. | Carolina Avian Research and Education, 109 Olivia Trace Dr., Fletcher | $45 | Get an in-depth look at the sport while you meet a few birds up close.
Don’t Tell Comedy | Saturday, Aug. 5 | 8 p.m. | River Arts District, Asheville | You never quite know what’s in store here except for great comedy and a good time — exact location revealed with ticket purchase.

Sunday, Aug. 6

“The Princess Bride” | Sunday, Aug. 6 | 4:30 p.m. | Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave., Asheville | Free | See the movie, and bring school supplies to benefit the Asheville City Schools Foundation.
Jazz Fest | Sunday, Aug. 6, Sunday, Aug. 13 | 1:30-4:30 p.m. | One World Brewing - West Asheville, 520 Haywood Rd., Asheville | Celebrate the world of modern jazz during this weekly set — featuring both a guest artist and musicians of all levels.

Monday, Aug. 7

Imagination Monday with Asheville Parks & Recreation | Monday, Aug. 7 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Hummingbird Park, 97 Starnes Ave., Asheville | Free | Let the little ones explore blocks, tunnels, and open-play games.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Finance

This free app earns you ~$340/year in cash back on gas, dining, and groceries

$1 million cash back is being earned by users each week from purchases from 50,000 locations in all 50 states through Upside. | Photos via Pexels

A free app for earning cash back on gas, dining, and groceries that works on top of our other cash back programs? Yes, please.

Upside rewards (real) cash back at 50,000 restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores — with the average frequent user earning $340 per year. (Maybe more if you take advantage of their referral program.)

Ashevillians who download it now get an extra 25 cents per gallon on their first fill-up with code AVL25.

Cash in on your everyday purchases

News Notes

Civic

If you don’t have identification for voting, never fear. You can now stop by the Buncombe County Board of Elections to receive a free photo ID card — no special documents needed. You’ll just provide some basic info, get your photo taken, then receive your card right there.

Ranked

No. 15. That’s where Asheville landed in Travel + Leisure’s annual Best Cities in the US contest. The restaurant scene, architecture and history, live music, and the city’s funky vibe all helped secure its place on the list. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Outdoors

Some of us aren’t ready to give up summer. Asheville Sport & Social Club feels the same way, so the club is teaming up with Devil’s Foot Beverages to present the Summer Breeze Games at The Mule on Saturday, Aug. 26, 1-5 p.m. Don your Hawaiian shirt for limbo, water balloons, and more. Register now.

Arts

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival 2024 is accepting applications for performances of all lengths and installations until Saturday, Sept. 30. The festival, which will take place next March, showcases art that steps beyond the mainstream, is a little adventurous, and embraces the edges of experience.

Drink

Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar was tired of searching for tinned fish-drink pairings — so with the help of Fonta Flora Brewery, the team launched One For The Fishes and Pocket Lunch, beverages designed for a seaworthy menu. Try the drinks with a tasting menu on during a special event on Thursday, Aug. 24, 6-8 p.m.

Concert

Oak and Grist Distilling Company in Black Mountain is launching a live music + food truck series on Fridays and Saturdays during August and September. The event will kick off tonight, Friday, Aug. 4, with grub from Mother’s Pizza and tunes by Clara Hathaway.

Plan Ahead

Local playwright Monica McDaniel will be debuting “Riding Hood” on Friday, Sept. 8 at the UNCA’s Carol Belk Theatre and Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr. Southside Community Center. Set right here in Asheville, the play will examine Black identity, young love, and familial bonds.

Edu

Mars Hill University’s program offerings are growing. Aspiring doctors, graphic designers, web developers, wildlife biologists, pharmacists, zookeepers, and more can take advantage of newly-offered, modernized, or expanded degrees and programs launching this Fall. See what’s new + apply (classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 29).*

Job

We’re hiring a Branded Copywriter. This team member will directly support the strategy, creation, and placement of branded content campaigns for 6AM City’s clients, including creating dynamic content (including written articles and social) within the 6AM tone and style. Learn more + apply.

Eat

Prove your local food love with a name change

Prove your love for local food with a name change

Burgers from Baby Bull could earn our name-change devotion. | Photo by AVLtoday

Subway is looking for a number one fan, and there’s a pretty radical requirement for that moniker — legally change your name to “Subway.” Yes, we’re serious. Its Name Change Challenge asks you to agree to change your first name if you’re randomly chosen from those who enter. The winner will be treated to sandwiches for life.

We love a good sandwich as much as the next person, but we’re not sure we’re quite that devoted to the Subway lifestyle to make the change. Now Asheville’s local restaurant scene? That might just have us filling out the paperwork.

Editor Molly would consider going by “Contrada” if it meant a pizza-for-life agreement. If endless deviled eggs were on the table, just call her “Leo’s” (which almost works out, name-wise).

Editor Grace would rather be “Baby Bull,” just to get her fill of double cheeseburgers. It’s fitting since she’s a Taurus (and admittedly stubborn).

What local restaurant name would you consider changing your name to? Let us know in this survey.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

My sister is coming to visit next week and put me in charge of her vacation itinerary. Since her home base is NYC, her only stipulation was “outside as much as possible.” Our guides to local parks and hiking have made planning so much easier.

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