Plus, Home Ground Coffee Bar & Deli for sale.
 
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57º | 2% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:12 a.m. | Sunset 6:15 p.m.
 

The famous fish living just outside of Asheville

Meet the celebrity stingray living just outside the Land of the Sky
View of the outside of the aquarium with an ocean blue overhang that has two clown fish.
Crowds gathered outside the aquarium to catch a glimpse of Charlotte. | Photo by AVLtoday
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or a coral reef), the world has been captivated by the story of Charlotte the pregnant stingray. But why is she making headlines? Charlotte will soon give birth to four babies — but she hasn’t shared a tank with a male stingray in eight years. Well we’re seas-ing the opportunity to tell you all you need to know about Charlotte, because this famous fish lives at the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville.

Time for a biology lesson

Although there have been speculations of a rendezvous between Charlotte and one of the aquarium’s sharks, scientists have been quick to put those rumors to rest. The likely theory behind Charlotte’s unique pregnancy is parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction where an embryo can grow from an egg without ever being fertilized.

Another reason Charlotte is the matter of the moment? There aren’t any documented cases of parthenogenesis occurring in round stingrays, Georgia Aquarium research scientist Dr. Kady Lyons shared with AP News. But that doesn’t mean this event can be discounted.

Staff at the Aquarium & Shark Lab wrote in a Facebook post, “Just because something has not happened or has not been documented does not make it impossible. Science is discovery.”

Follow Charlotte’s journey

Charlotte is expected to give birth any day now. Keep an eye on the aquarium’s Instagram and Facebook pages to get updates on her pregnancy. And if you’re as enamored with Charlotte’s story as we are, you can pay a visit to the aquarium Wednesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. at 511 N. Main St. in Hendersonville, just about 30 minutes from downtown Asheville.
 
Events
Monday, Feb. 19
  • Magic & Karma | Monday, Feb. 19 | 6 p.m. | Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, 55 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Authors Jennifer Moorman and Love Hudson-Maggio will share about their respective novels, “The Magic is All Around” and “Karma Under Fire” in conversation with Maia Toll.
  • Sketchbook Club | Monday, Feb. 19 | 6-7 p.m. | Foundation Studios, 27 Foundy St., Ste. 10, Asheville | $10 | Bring your sketchbook and get a boost of creativity by finding inspiration with other artists and join forces to create drawings — some supplies will be available, but bring your own as well.
Tuesday, Feb. 20
Wednesday, Feb. 21
  • Performance & Stage Presence Workshop | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 5-6 p.m. | LEAF Global Arts, 19 Eagle St., Asheville | Free | Learn to captivate an audience from local funk and R&B musician Ryan “RnB” Barber as part of LEAF’s Spark the Arts artist-in-residence series.
  • Wine By the Vines Dinner Series | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 5:45 p.m. | Gemelli, 70 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville | $65 | Savor a five-course dinner with wine pairings from Italy’s northwestern Piemonte region.
Thursday, Feb. 22
  • The Learning Garden: Planning Your Vegetable Garden | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Buncombe County Extension Center, 49 Mount Carmel Rd., Asheville | Free | Mary Alice Ramsey will teach you the ins and outs of mastering vegetable gardening, from planning to seed sources.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Biz
  • Home Ground Coffee Bar & Deli is selling its space at 219 Amboy Rd. as its owner hopes to be able to spend more time with their family. The entire property, including Cascade Lounge, is up for rent, but the bar hopes to remain in the space. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Job
  • The Mountain Area Career Fair is taking over the WNC Agricultural Center’s Expo Building tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 20. Stop by from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to explore job opportunities with more than 55 employers in manufacturing, healthcare, tech + IT, and more.
Kids
  • Does your little one have a stuffed animal in need of TLC? Selected Buncombe County Public Libraries are hosting plushie repair workshops to teach sewing skills to kids ages seven to 10. The first Stitching Stuffies program is Thursday, Feb. 22 at 4:30 p.m. at Pack Memorial Library — find the full schedule.
Sports
  • Asheville City Soccer Club announced its 2024 schedule. The ball gets rolling with the first home game on Saturday, May 18 where the women’s team will take on Birmingham Legion FC. Grab a season ticket wristband to show your support at every home game.
Arts
  • The Asheville Art Museum is offering several Adult Studios this spring, allowing beginner or practicing artists to get a hands-on approach to new mediums. Explore studio classes taught by local and visiting artists, including lithography, basket weaving, and flower pressing.
Edu
  • Don’t let finances hold you (or your student) back from pursuing a degree. 95% of Mars Hill University students receive financial aid — including the many Ashevillians who take advantage of the Local Lion Promise, granting a minimum 50% tuition discount to local students. See all financial aid options.*
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Eat

Food

Chai Pani announces its relocation
Exterior of Indian street food restaurant Chai Pani in downtown Asheville. Lots of people stand waiting outside and others sit at table under yellow umbrellas.
The Indian street food spot is heading to the South Slope. | Photo by Sarah Hoski, via Chai Pani
For 15 years, the James Beard Award-winning restaurant has been housed in a small, vibrant space on Battery Park Avenue — but now, Chai Pani is on the move. After Eater Carolinas broke the news, the restaurant announced on Friday, Feb. 16 that it will be taking over 32 Banks Ave., the former home of Buxton Hall Barbecue.

The 10,000-sqft space will have three times the seating capacity of the downtown location (a relief if you’ve ever had to put your name down on Chai Pani’s waitlist), and it’s currently being transformed into “a Bollywood wedding meets Bombay Gymkhana meets Tata truck parking lot.” Once the spot is up and running, the team also plans to offer street food experiences on the weekends, chef tastings, and an expanded cocktail program. Plus, the upstairs mezzanine will house MG Mini, a revival of the defunct Wall Street party bar MG Road, to take care of guests while they wait.

The relocation is planned for late March or early April. Once Chai Pani has moved, Asheville’s second Botiwalla will open in the downtown location.
The Buy

The Buy 2.19.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)
A stylish new collar or leash from Six & Main’s collection for your dog to sport during their favorite time of day (walk time).
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Grace
From the editor
The highlight of my weekend was getting to see Charlotte swim around her tank at the Aquarium & Shark Lab. And since I’m so invested in her story, I may have to go back for another visit once her pups are born.
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