Justice is keeping an ear out for a companion. | Photo via Asheville Humane Society
The cat’s out of the bag. Last week, Asheville Humane Society released its 2023 Impact Report, which reflects on its year of work both by the numbers and through the eyes of the people and animals it served.
In 2023, the organization provided 61,330 pounds of food, gave 7,437 animals supportive services, and facilitated 3,054 adoptions. The organization’s 780 volunteers spent 14,246 hours doing everything from kennel cleaning to animal enrichment — and that doesn’t include the hours spent with 468 fosters. The organization also launched the Mobile Medical Unit, which gave 244 surgeries.
That’s a pretty big year of pretty big numbers, but the Asheville Humane Society is only one of the area organizations dedicated to helping the local animal population. So just in case this report inspired you to be a part of the 2024 stats, we’ve done some digging on a few local animal shelters and some adoptable pets looking for purrfect parents to give them a second chance.
Dark City Poets Society: Poetry Night | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Oak and Grist Distilling Company, 1556 Grovestone Rd., Black Mountain | Free | Share a few poems of your own or sit back and have a drink for a good cause — $1 from each classic cocktail sale is donated to Friends of the Black Mountain Library.
The Beauty Boost Dinner Date | Tuesday, Feb. 20 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian South, 1981 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville | Free | Connect with new friends (and enjoy good food) during this casual meet-up opportunity.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
D.I. Wine Night and Paint & Sip | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 5-7 p.m. | Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, 135 Coxe Ave., Asheville | $35 | Pour yourself a glass from a half-priced bottle of wine, and learn basic watercolor skills from local artist Kelly Reese — supplies are provided.
Citizen Swing | Wednesday, Feb. 21 | 6 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O’Henry Ave., Asheville | Free | Sip on classic cocktails, listen to old jazz vinyl, and see performances from local jazz talents Connor Law and Will Boyd.
Thursday, Feb. 22
AVL Food Series: Pop-Up with Chef Michelle Bailey | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | $30-$97.50 | Celebrate our culinary culture and community spirit at the first iteration of this new dining series.
Black Experience Book Club | Thursday, Feb. 22 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Noir Collective AVL, 39 S. Market St., Ste. C, Asheville | Free | Join the club for a discussion of Victor LaValle’s fantasy horror novel, “The Changeling.”
Friday, Feb. 23
Crisp Comedy | Friday, Feb. 23 | 7-9 p.m. | Noble Cider & Mead Taproom and Production Facility, 356 New Leicester Hwy., Asheville | Free | Grab a seat and a cider for fresh laughs with headliner Isaiah Pringle.
Saturday, Feb. 24
Atelier Maison & Co. Wedding Faire | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 12-5 p.m. | Atelier Maison & Co., 121 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | $15-$25 | Connect with top-tier wedding vendors + enjoy demos, tastings, and more at the Atelier Maison Wedding Faire on Feb 24, 12-5 p.m. Sip sparkling wine while learning about the art of the perfect wedding.*
Say bye-bye to dry skin with our list of skincare products. | Photo provided by Six & Main
Is dry skin making you feel frustrated during these winter months? Don’t worry, our online shop (Six & Main) features hydrating skincare products essential for weathering cold temperatures.
Step into a world of self-care as you explore a curated selection of winter skincare essentials, leaving your skin refreshed and revitalized.
Clean your face with the Purifying Face Wash by Roosevelt Supply Co. With added organic fruit extracts and activated charcoal, you’re sure to clean off the toughest dirt and grime without being harsh on your skin.
Exfoliate your skin using the Las Flores | Mini Hydrate + Brighten Duo, which is a powerful formula by Esteli that gently exfoliates and nourishes, leaving your skin looking and feeling refreshed.
Go with the flow. Fitness-focused yoga studio Flow at Foundy is hosting its grand opening at 4 Foundy St., Ste. 10 on Saturday, March 2 with DJ Molly Parti, snacks, and drinks — plus, free classes will be offered all weekend. You’ll need to sign up to join in a class, but the party is open for everyone.
Arts
ArtsAVL surveyed Asheville City Council candidates about the local creative economy. Get a picture of their thoughts on topics like affordable artist housing, a food + beverage tax, Business Improvement Districts, and more. See the full survey.
Closing
After reviewing the 38 county library facilities, Buncombe County announced that it will close the Swannanoa Library on Saturday, June 29. The decision was made because the library required $635,000 in repairs to continue providing regular operations. After the closing, library resources will be reallocated.
Outdoors
Camping fees might be getting in-tents. The National Park Service is seeking public comment on potential fee changes for certain Blue Ridge Parkway frontcountry and backcountry camping sites, shower fees, and dump station services. You can see the fee increase details and submit comments through Friday, March 15. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Family
Don’t be kept in the dark. Asheville Parks and Recreation is hosting the inaugural Light the Night Bike Ride, a free, family-friendly event to educate the community on bike safety. You can stop by Carrier Park on Saturday, March 23 to earn spoke light lights and glow-in-the-dark accessories — then finish the evening with a group glow cycle.
Job
Ready to build a career? Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity is looking for a Pre-Purchase Homeownership Counselor, who is responsible for leading the Pre-Purchase Homeowner Education and Counseling Program and helping homeowners with matters of sweat equity, estate plans, and more. Learn about the position and apply.
Home
You might be closer to complete energy independence than you think. Thanks to recent rebates + existing tax credits, eligible NC homeowners can save more than 50% on a new solar + battery system. That means no more outages, and goodbye to rising grid rates. See how convenient installation can be.*
Travel
A friendly reminder to book spring + summer vacations (they’re just around the corner). Looking for privacy? This beachfront Bahamas cottage is perfect for two. Prefer the mountains? Book this newly built Gatlinburg, TN cabin. Want beach time? Walk to St. Simons, GA’s shore from this Vrbo that’s also a treehouse.*
Pets
No dog left behind
30+ dog-friendly places in Asheville
A pair of pups doing their thing at Cellarest Beer Project. | Photo by @cellarestbeerproject
Now that you’ve adopted a new best friend (thanks to one of the above organizations), you’re going to want to take them everywhere.
Whether you’re in need of a drinking paw-tner at a local brewery, want to walk to a market, or feel like spending an evening dining out, well bone appétit. Get ready to dig into this guide for just a few dog-friendly businesses around the 828.
🐾 Breweries
Sweeten Creek Brewing, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd.
This brewery loves dogs so much that it opened its very own 8,000-sqft private dog park (but dogs are welcome in the taproom too). There’s also a beach volleyball court and Bear’s BBQ on-site.
🐾 Restaurants
Posana, 1 Biltmore Ave.
This gluten-free restaurant goes above and beyond for its four-legged guests, with a special menu that includes chicken and rice, doggie biscuits, and a seasonal doggie ice cream. If you really want your pet to soak up the experience, you can also get them a “Bowser Beer” — patio dining only.
Top-rated microfiber pillowcases, because you deserve new, soft pillowcases to sleep on at night. We like how these are wrinkle free (no ironing needed) and are super soft to the touch.
This town has some unbeatable dining out options for dinner, but this week, I’ve been on the hunt for a good lunch spot for a special occasion. And by pure coincidence (truly — not just for the narrative structure of this section), Eater Carolinas shared “11 Asheville Lunch Spots For Midday Eats.” With everything from burgers to barbecue, it might make my search a little easier.
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