06.20.2024

Today’s Forecast

85º | 7% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:14 a.m. | Sunset 8:48 p.m.

City Hall’s chimes could sound once again

City hall’s chimes could sound once again

An up close view of the chimes. | Photo via City of Asheville

If you wandered downtown the week of May 20, for a moment you may have heard a brief but once-familiar sound of chimes coming from Asheville City Hall.

Musician Michael Luchtan has a wealth of experience in restoring and maintaining historical instruments. About 10-12 years ago, Luchtan first inquired about restoring the City Hall chimes so artists could play original compositions. And after some recent experimentation and help from pianists Andrew Fletcher and Jamar Woods, it seems his vision could soon become a reality.

city hall chimes 1.png — Andrew Fletcher and Michael Luchtan study the musical paper roll.
|
Photo via City of Asheville

A brief history

Made by instrument manufacturing company J.C. Deagan, the chimes are historically known as the Peace Chimes.

A group of county mothers in an auxiliary group of the American Legion pushed for the chimes to be installed as a memorial to their sons who died during WWI. In 1927, a community fundraiser began with donation boxes at city and county schools — ultimately, it collected $5,000, enough to buy the 10-chime set. Then, in 1932, the chimes were installed atop Asheville City Hall.

The chimes played until the 1960s, when the old BB&T building instead began playing recorded sounds of chimes, which continued through the 1980s. Soon after that, there was an effort to restore the chimes, which came to fruition in the late 1990s.

city hall chimes 2.png — Michael Luchtan and Jamar Woods assess the keyboard.
|
Photo via City of Asheville

Revitalizing the chimes

The chimes can be played in two ways. The first is manually on a keyboard housed in what Luchtan describes as an “unromantic mechanical closet” on the fifth floor. The second is through a player mechanism — metal arms trace along a roll of paper with perforations, causing an electrical charge that makes the chime ring.

Luchtan, Fletcher, and Woods created a new roll, along with the help of mylar, Photoshop, and fabric fusion tape. “And then I just used an X-acto knife to carve out my composition to make those little holes. I just loved that physical act of writing the music,” Luchtan said.

See what else is in score

Events

Thursday, June 20

Hippie Dippie Summer Social | Thursday, June 20 | 6-9 p.m. | Haiku I Do, 26 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville | $13-$26 | Treat yourself to experiences, from meditation workshops to nail art stations, and make new friends.
Trivia Night | Thursday, June 20 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Noble Cider & Mead Taproom and Production Facility, 356 New Leicester Hwy., Asheville | Free | Gather your friends to test your knowledge and see if your team comes out on top — follow the link to get three clues to the night’s questions.

Friday, June 21

Taylor’s Wave Groundbreaking | Friday, June 21 | 4-5 p.m. | Future Home of Woodfin Greenway-Blueway and Taylor’s Wave, 1476 Riverside Park, Woodfin | Free | Celebrate the beginning of the construction of the highly anticipated, world-class Whitewater Wave.
Downtown After 5 | Friday, June 21 | 5-9 p.m. | North Lexington Avenue, Asheville | Free | Enjoy music from Lyric and Sierra Green & The Giants, explore crafts and goods from BIPOC vendors, dine on food from Black-owned food trucks, and learn about community nonprofits.
Pride Party Drag Show | Friday, June 21 | 8-11:45 p.m. | Hi-Wire Biltmore Village, 2A Huntsman Pl., Asheville | $15 | See mesmerizing performances from Jasmine Summers, Jayden James Starr, Calcutta, and Marceline Mashic during a night hosted by Brenda the Drag Queen.

Saturday, June 22

Puzzle Palooza | Saturday, June 22 | 1-4:30 p.m. | Burton Street Community Center, 134 Burton St., Asheville | $5 | Compete against other teams of two to complete a 500-piece puzzle — bring your old puzzles to swap with others.

Sunday, June 23

USA vs. Bolivia | Sunday, June 23 | 5 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | Free | See the US men’s national team play against Bolivia in the Copa América tournament.

Even more to do this week

Click here to have your event featured.

Plan Ahead

Snag tix to PBR Tryon (before they sell out)

A person in a helmet riding a bull inside a pen with fans and onlookers watching.

Want to make an action-filled weekend of it? Onsite lodging is available, too. | Photo provided by Tryon International Equestrian Center

Get ready for high-energy fun as PBR^® Tryon returns to Tryon International in Mill Spring, NC Friday, June 21-Saturday, June 22.

The action-packed Professional Bull Riders event includes a star-studded showdown between some of the world’s best bull riders — plus live music, pyrotechnics, kids activities, and a free car show Friday afternoon.

Tickets start at $30 and include both single-day + weekend packages, plus several VIP options. But be forewarned — tickets are expected to sell out.

Snag tix before they’re gone

News Notes

Opening

Up for a DayTrip? The new coffee shop, bar, and bodega is slated to open in August at 219 Amboy Rd., the former site of Cascade Lounge and Home Ground Coffee Bar. Plus, it will be the permanent home for Boy Howdy’s crispy, cheesy smash burgers.

Civic

At its Tuesday, June 18 meeting, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved its FY2025 budget with a 51.76-cent property tax rate. That’s .59 cents less than the recommended rate, but still 1.96 cents more than FY2024.

Outdoors

Put your eyes on the skies. The full Strawberry Moon will be visible on the night of Friday, June 21 (the day after the Summer Solstice). At 9:08 p.m., the Strawberry Moon will look its brightest, appearing extra large with an orange hue.

Try This

The George Masa Foundation launched its inaugural Youth Conservation Photography Prize. Students ages 11-18 can submit photos reflecting the beauty and challenges of our environment, in the categories of wildlife, landscape, water, climate change, and sustainable practices. Find more info + enter.

Cause

The Shelter Dog Transport Alliance is hosting a fundraising event on Saturday, June 30 at RAD Brewing Co., where you can watch artist Andy Herod paint a mural on the shelter’s van in real time. Expect live music, raffle prizes, and of course, plenty of adoptable pets to love on.

Job

Higher education isn’t for everyone (and have you seen tuition lately?) Luckily, Apprenticeship Programs offer an alternative path to a rewarding + productive career — and some even let you earn while you learn. Here’s what that looks like.*

Featured Home

Wide windows and warm hardwood floors give this delightful Montford cottage a friendly + inviting atmosphere. Plus, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better location. See what we mean?*

Eat

Food

Chef Katie Button’s tips for creating tasty tapas

Be on your way to the perfect pan con tomate. | Photo by Evan Sung via Button Meana Group

Gather round the table. Today, June 20, just so happens to be World Tapas Day, and if you’re constantly craving the delicious small plates from Cúrate and La Bodega, you’re in luck. We’re sharing James Beard Award-winning chef Katie Button’s pro tips for crafting your own tapas celebration at home.

Make a plan

“Planning a tapas menu can be intimidating because it feels like you have to cook a million different dishes,” Button says. The trick is to keep it simple. Start with a charcuterie board or the uncomplicated pan con tomate (tomato bread), then build on that with a simple, refreshing gazpacho and focus your time on one dish, like a tortilla Española.

Prep is your friend

Back to that plan. Choose tapas you can prep ahead of your guests’ arrival. But if you want to add an interactive element to your tapas party, Button suggests you “enlist the help of your friends.” She recommends guests help squeeze tomatoes for pan con tomate.

Two more tips + a recipe

The Buy

The Buy 6.20.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A dependable, comfortable running short — like Lululemon’s Hotty Hot High-Rised Lined Shorts (are those fun summer colors we see?).

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Grace

From the editor

Do you love the stylish design of There There? Yes? Glad we’re on the same page. You can give your space the same cozy, modern feel with There There’s new interior consulting services.

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY