Newly open

Coming soon

• Show & Tell Holiday Pop-Up Shop | Friday, Dec. 22-Sunday, Dec. 24 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | Center for Craft, 67 Broadway St., Asheville | Free | Get your holiday shopping in early with the first day of the pop-up shop — more than 100 vendors and plenty of chances to find gifts for anyone on your list.
• The Biggest Plant Sale of the Year | Friday, Dec. 22 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Art Garden AVL, 191 Lyman St., #316, Asheville | Free | Stop by for the last day of the sale and the perfect green thumb gifts — 20% off all plants.

• Classical Guitar Holiday Show | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 6 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Ste. D, Asheville | $40 | Hear compositions by Andy Jurik with vocals from Rachel Hansbury and flamenco from Jake Mossman — send an email to reserve seats, which includes a holiday buffet.
• What’s This? A Spooky Christmas Comedy Show | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 10 p.m. | DSSOLVR, 63 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville | Channel your inner Jack Skellington for an equal parts spooky and merry comedy showcase on Christmas Eve eve.

• Public Tour: Romare Bearden | Sunday, Dec. 24 | 2-3 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | Free with admission | Join one of the Museum’s educators for a guided tour of the Romare Bearden “Ways of Working” exhibit, highlighting the artist’s works on paper.

• Mashup Mondays Christmas Edition | Monday, Dec. 25 | 8-11 p.m. | One World Brewing - West Asheville, 520 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10 | Don your favorite pajamas and get ready to dance to funk + soul on Christmas Day.

• Archetype Brewing owners announced that the final day of operation for Archetype Brewing + Kitchen on the South Slope will be Saturday, Dec. 30. The Tap Lounge + Venue on Broadway Street will also close on an undetermined date, citing several issues including rising costs. At this time, the original West Asheville location will remain open.

• The North Carolina Department of Transportation released the WNC Passenger Rail Feasibility Study that examines the costs, ridership, and revenue of passenger rail service connecting Asheville to passenger rail services in Salisbury. The study estimates as many as 550,000 riders and $10.9 million in revenue per year. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

• She’s got it down to a science. UNC Asheville Professor of Chemistry Amanda Wolfe was one of eight recipients of the 2023 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award and its $75,000 grant, which recognizes those in the chemical sciences with a high standard of scholarship and commitment to undergraduate education.

• What’s all the buzz about? Buncombe County is teaming up with Bee City USA Asheville to share an introduction to pollinators. The program will take place on four dates throughout 2024 and focus on the importance of pollination + habitats as well as pollinator identification. The first talk will be Wednesday, Jan. 24 at the Fairview Public Library.

• NC House Bill 125 will now require bars that serve temperature-controlled food to meet the same inspection standards as restaurants. Bars can still have garnishes or unopened packages like chips, but health department permits for food service are now needed for any food that needs time or temperature control. (Axios Charlotte)

• The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce will be kicking off its 2024 Smart Series with a talk on Monday Morning Leadership. On Wednesday, Jan. 10, Meredith Campbell, owner of Express Employment Professionals, will share eight insights from David Cottrell’s “Monday Morning Leadership.” Register now.

• During the Blue Ridge Rising Two-State Summit at the beginning of this month, more than 130 regional leaders gathered to discuss strategies for unifying and strengthening communities around the Parkway. Strategies included advancing connector trails + greenways and identifying dark sky areas. The action plan will be finalized in early 2024.

• Love writing as much as we do? Join the Great Smokies Writers Program to try your hand at multiple forms of creative writing, led by published writers and experienced teachers. Five-week and 10-week courses start as early as late January. See courses + register.*

• Celebrate your baby’s birth-day with a team who strives to provide the best care during one of the most memorable days of your life. From supportive to minimal intervention, Mission Health offers a safe and healing environment for both mom and baby. Get to know their state-of-the-art Labor and Delivery facility.*

• Have you checked on your HVAC recently? Preventive maintenance twice a year extends the life of your unit and keeps it running happily + efficiently. See the thorough maintenance checklist + get an estimate (before it breaks down).*

• Well, this is officially our last News Note of 2023. Thank you to our AVLtoday community for staying connected with us this year. If you want to support us in 2024, consider becoming a member — you’ll support us directly and keep these newsletters coming. Until next year, folks.