Plus, two national nods for local businesses.
 
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83º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:53 a.m. | Sunset 8:06 p.m.

 

Preserving community history

A scrapbook page with eight old photos of people in the 1930s and 1940s
This scrapbook, showing life in the Burton Street neighborhood in the 1930s + 40s, is Cutshall’s favorite piece of the collection. | Annette Pearson Cotton Scrapbook, MS403.001A, Buncombe County Special Collections
In 2019, the staff of Buncombe County Special Collections (BCSC) recognized a gap in their archive. This collection has been home to historical photographs, books, letters, maps, art, and other archival materials about our area ever since its forerunner, the Sondley Library, was bequeathed to the City of Asheville in 1931.

Back then, its contents were the personal library of Foster Alexander Sondley, a local attorney and historian. Now — after decades of merges, expansions, moves, modernizations, and working to correct the history of BCSC — the collection is much more than that. But even though there are thousands of materials within the archive, staff saw that it failed to reflect Buncombe County’s African American community. So the Black Asheville History Project was born.

“It’s important that everyone in our community can see themselves in our collections,” says Collection Manager Katherine Cutshall.

Three scrapbook photos of men in the 1930s and 1940s walking down the street.

The Asheville of decades past is captured in the collection materials.

|

Annette Pearson Cotton Scrapbook, MS403.001A, Buncombe County Special Collections

Progress on preservation

The original goal of the project was to ensure that at least 25% of the BCSC catalog related to the history of African American people locally and regionally, with a projected completion in 2025. However, in the last several years, the team decided they needed a less abstract metric, one that would allow them to estimate accurate numbers.

The new collecting goal is that “at least 25% of all new materials brought into the collection reflect the lives and experiences of historically marginalized groups (i.e. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks, women, working-class people).” Because of the shortage of BIPOC stories specifically, though, the focus of the preservation efforts is still Asheville’s Black communities.

In 2022 and 2023, that goal was exceeded. About 40% of all new material was related to historically marginalized groups.

But the work is far from over — click below to learn how to get involved.
 
 
Events
 
Thursday, April 18
  • Educators Night Out | Thursday, April 18 | 4-8 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville | Free for educators | K-12 educators, administrators, and teaching artists can unwind, socialize, and explore the museum — advance registration is encouraged.
  • The Silver Doors | Thursday, April 18 | 7 p.m. | Eulogy, 10 Buxton Ave., Asheville | $8 | Celebrate the psychedelic rock band’s new genre-bending LP, with support from Rugg and Cincinnati’s In The Pines.
Friday, April 19
  • Wine Tasting | Friday, April 19 | 5-8 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St., Ste. 110, Asheville | Free | Join 12th generation Austrian winemaker Christoph Hoch for his wines’ first Asheville appearance.
  • Interactive Murder Mystery Night: Saints & Sinners | Friday, April 19 | 7-9 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr., Ste. 100, Asheville | $30 | Step into an enigmatic world for a cloak-and-dagger affair — advance registration is required.
  • Opening Reception: “I will tell you mine” Group Exhibition | Friday, April 19 | 6-8 p.m. | Tyger Tyger Gallery, 191 Lyman St., #144, Asheville | Free | “I will tell you mine” from the Tyger Tyger Gallery features stunning paper works by 27 artists curated through an open call earlier this year.*
Saturday, April 20
  • Local Cloth FiberFest | Saturday, April 20 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | WNC Farmer’s Market, 570 Brevard Rd., Asheville | Free | Browse the offerings of local fiber farmers, like wool, mohair, angora, and goods handmade from the fiber.
  • Dog Pawty & Adoption Event | Saturday, April 20 | 1-3 p.m. | Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St., Asheville | Free | Bring your (leashed) four-legged friends to enjoy refreshments + music and to meet adoptable pets from Mountain Pet Rescue.
  • Just Incense Comedy Showcase | Saturday, April 20 | 10:30-11:50 p.m. | DSSOLVR, 63 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville | $15-$18 | Celebrate 4/20 the NC way with CBD, incense, and sets from three comics (plus, some products from Blue Ridge Hemp).
Sunday, April 21
  • Running of the Goats 5k & Nature Walk | Sunday, April 21 | 7:30-10 a.m. | WNC Nature Center, 75 Gashes Creek Rd., Asheville | $25-$45 | Reach for the finish line of a goat-adjacent run, then enjoy a post-race party, costume contest, and more.
  • Trail Running Film Festival | Sunday, April 21 | 4-8 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $25-$30 | Be inspired by the world of trail running and outdoor exploration, whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the adventure.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Food

Five rotating images of Highland beer, the owners, and crowds enjoying the brewery.
Get a hand-signed DIPA bottle from founder Oscar Wong + all kinds of exclusive party perks with a VIP ticket. | Photos provided by Highland Brewing
Cheers to 30 years.

Family-owned Highland Brewing started in 1994 in a basement with refurbished dairy equipment, and has since become a beloved brand spanning four states — even being named “The South’s Best Brewery” by Southern Living in 2023.

So what’s left to do but celebrate?

Highland is pulling out all the stops for this major milestone in the form of a week-long anniversary celebration running April 28-May 5. Events include:
 
News Notes
 
Announced
  • Buncombe County made the call to transition nonemergency calls for the Asheville Police Department, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management Services, and after-hours Department of Social Services to machine learning technology. Starting as soon as Monday, May 6, callers will start with a machine, then be transferred to a live call-taker.
Ranked
Featured
  • We can’t hide our excitement. The “TODAY Show” gave a shoutout to Wrong Way River Lodge & Cabins as one of five “hidden gem destinations to book for your next summer getaway.” The clip mentions the campground’s sustainability, affordability, and city-adjacent location.
Community
  • The Language Access Collaborative presented an update on Buncombe County’s first Language Access Plan to the Buncombe County Commission. The project found that Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian were the most frequently encountered languages and will begin implementing recommendations to improve language services.
Civic
Arts
  • Do your part to decorate the city. The City of Asheville put out a call for an artist or designer to reimagine and replace station seven on the Asheville Urban Trail. The new Art Deco Masterpiece will be incorporated into the outdoor dining area of the S&W Building. Submit your application by Monday, May 13.
Development
  • The Buncombe County Affordable Housing Subcommittee reviewed six applications for affordable housing construction loans + grants totaling $21 million. Commissioners are expected to make funding recommendations at the Tuesday, April 23 meeting. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Health
  • Did you know breast cancer patients have the option to have breast reconstruction surgery at the time of a mastectomy? Not only does this decrease the number of surgeries to one, but also helps women move past the cancer stage and into recovery sooner. Learn more.*
 
 
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Finance
 

Finance

Man wearing blue shirt and green jacket sits on bench, facing camera
Considering hiring a financial advisor? Here’s what you need to know beforehand. | Photo provided by SmartAsset
A financial advisor could help you best determine if you’re on track to meet your long-term financial goals. This expert could help you establish a plan that factors your assets and taxes into your overall retirement and estate-planning goals.

How much money should you have before hiring a financial advisor? Find out the level of liquid assets at which an advisor’s benefits potentially outweigh the costs.
 
The Buy
 
Four neutral throw pillow covers, all for $24.99. We love: The price point + how you can choose which neutral tones best suit your living space — gold-neutral, cream-neutral, or navy-neutral.
 
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The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor
I can’t resist a rooftop — there’s something particularly special about drinking and eating (and every once in a while, midday working) with a beautiful, sky-high view. Well Asheville Rooftop Bar Tours is pairing rooftop views with artistic views through a new tour in partnership with the Asheville Art Museum. The tour will include a stop at the museum’s rooftop cafe as well as access to the not-open-to-the-public North Wing. Plus, two more rooftop bars with ties to the art community. Tours will be on Thursdays, beginning May 2.
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