• Swing Asheville! | Tuesday, July 23 | 7 p.m. | Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $5-$10 | Learn the fundamentals of six-count swing before tearing up the dance floor with music from DJ Frankie B.
• “The Spontaneous Play” | Tuesday, July 23 | 7:30-9 p.m. | NC Stage Theatre, 15 Stage Ln., Asheville | $10-$15 | Experience an entirely improvised, full-length living room drama, guided by audience suggestions.

• Breaking Down Cabernet Sauvignon | Wednesday, July 24 | 3-6 p.m. | Table Wine, 1550 Hendersonville Rd., Ste. 102, Asheville | $15 | Drop in to learn about Cabernet Sauvignon + its parent grapes and to taste two pure varietals from different parts of the world.
• Summer of Science | Wednesday, July 24 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Pritchard Park, 67 Patton Ave., Asheville | Free | Have some family-friendly fun with hands-on science activities, bubbles, and noise machines presented by the Asheville Museum of Science.
• Funky Fresh Comedy | Wednesday, July 24 | 7-9 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge, 829 Riverside Dr., Ste. 100, Asheville | $7 | Laugh along to local + NYC comedians during an extra silly night of live comedy on the patio.

• Venomous Snakes of WNC | Thursday, July 25 | 1-4 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville | $55 | Sssseparate fact from fiction as Naturalist Carlton Burke discusses venomous snake encounters and snake bite first aid.
• Carolina Quiroga’s Beyond the Myth | Thursday, July 25 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Story Parlor, 227 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $10-$100 | Reflect on cultural idolization of heroes + the mythology of heroism during the final night of the Story/Arts Residency.
• Bubbles and Ballet | Thursday, July 25 | 7-7:30 p.m. | Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, 18 Biltmore Ave., Asheville | $10 | Sip on champagne while “Before the Scream” dancers warm up and the choreographer chats about the show’s creation.

• Cat Trivia | Friday, July 26 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic, 841 Haywood Rd., Asheville | $20 | Test your knowledge of feline-centric facts, win some purrrfect prizes, and support Binx’s Home for Black Cats.

• Raise a pint, because there’s a new pub in town. The Cheshire Arms opened for business in Black Mountain at 10 E. Market St., Ste. A, the site of the former Black Bear Tavern. You can settle in a snug for classic pub dishes as well as a traditional take on the Sunday roast. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

• Buncombe County is looking for members for the Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee, which will evaluate short-term rental regulations + policy, offer feedback, and present a report to the Planning Board in November. Check out the qualifications and apply by Wednesday, July 31.

• No guts, no glory... no gluten. Posana has been nominated for Best Gluten-Free Dining by the “expert panel” of USA Today’s 10Best. Explore the group of nominees that take special care of their gluten-free diners and provide delicious gluten-free options — then cast your vote by Monday, Aug. 19.

• These players are on the ball. For the first time in the club’s history, the Asheville City SC men’s team advanced to the USL2 quarterfinals, beating Brave SC in a 2-1 victory last Sunday. The Blues will play Corpus Christi FC on Friday, July 26. In the meantime, get ahead of the game with all you need to know about our local sports teams.

• Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) announced a format change, dividing its music and news services into two separate channels. Beginning Monday, Aug. 5, BPR Classic’s Key Change will turn the dial of WYQS from a music + news mix to an all-music station, while WCQS will still provide news programming. Frequencies will remain the same.

• The Asheville-Buncombe Continuum of Care, which oversees services for unhoused people, issued a request for proposals for additional low-barrier shelters in Asheville. The recommended proposal, which could include either new spaces or expansions, will be presented on Thursday, Aug. 15. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

• Thirsty? Well (or top-shelf), the wait is over — Drink Up Week has arrived. We’re celebrating our city’s vibrant beverage culture through Friday, July 26 with buzzy deals from local businesses, including a special Peach Cobbler Matcha at Odd’s Cafe and 20% off at Appalachian DiviniTEA. Find a deal + toast to Asheville entrepreneurs, mixologists, venues, and drinks.

• This hearing device is not for everyone… because not everyone wants to talk to other people. (We’re sometimes in our introvert era, too.) But if you do want to have clear conversations, meet the first hearing aid designed with conversation in mind. Bonus: It’s so small, it’s basically unnoticeable.*

Distilling a definition

• Technically, moonshine refers to any liquor made illegally. The term was first applied to liquor in 1785.
• Other names for moonshine include white lightning, hooch, firewater, rotgut — and mountain dew. And yes, Mountain Dew and moonshine were once connected. It was first made to be a mixer for whiskey, and the name was a deliberate marketing technique.
• It can be made of anything fermentable — like fruit, grains, or even milk.
• Most of the moonshine made in this area (and what you’ll buy from stores or sip in cocktails at local restaurants) is distilled from corn and unaged.