07.24.2024

Today’s Forecast

81º | 50% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:32 a.m. | Sunset 8:40 p.m.

Third time’s the charm

Finding your third place in Asheville

A dog sits at a picnic table with four people

Any place that feels easy can be your third place (and your dog’s too). | Photo via @wagbar.dogpark

Do you have a third place around Asheville? Take a moment to reflect. Besides your home (first space) and workplace (second space), where do you go throughout the week? Whose faces do you see and who do you talk to when you go there? Is the vibe at this space easy? Do you look forward to going and feel welcome?

If you could easily picture this space + answered “yes” to the ease of the gathering, congratulations — you’ve found a third place in your community. If you couldn’t, that’s okay. We’ll give you some ideas for finding one around Asheville.

What is a third place?

Ray Oldenburg, sociologist and author of “The Great Good Place,” shares that third places — public, informal gathering spaces that you frequent in your community (think: coffee shops, parks, libraries, bookstores, salons... etc.) — are important for many reasons, but particularly for promoting social vitality + a sense of community.

Good things come in threes

These spaces can take many forms, but we’ve gathered just a few to get you started on your search.

The Nerd Dungeon, 505 New Leicester Hwy.
This safe space is here for all nerds to come together for events like Super Smash Bros and Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments or tabletop role-playing games. Plus, Elder Dragon Coffee is inside, so you can sip a drink while playing games or relaxing with friends.

Wagbar, 320 Merrimon Ave.
If you and your four-legged pal are a package deal, the social vibe of this off-leash dog park and bar combo makes it a perfect third place.

Asheville Community Yoga, 8 Brookdale Rd.
Whether you’re new to the practice or an experienced yogi, this is a great spot to find some zen in a warm, welcoming environment. Pro tip: All of the yoga studios in our city would make a great third place.

Harvest Records, 415 Haywood Rd., Ste. B
Connect with the community while browsing records and talking tunes.

Click on the button below if you need more third place inspiration — our followers shared some of the spaces around Asheville where they’ve found their communities.

Easy as one-two-three

Asked

What quality takes priority when you’re choosing a third place?

A. Lively community interaction (e.g. a social group)
B. Peace and quiet (e.g. a library)
C. Natural surroundings (e.g. a park)
D. Creative expression (e.g. a dance class)

Tell us about your happy place

Events

Wednesday, July 24

Lunch + Learn | Wednesday, July 24 | 12:30-2:30 p.m. | AmeriHealth Caritas NC, 216 Asheland Ave., Asheville | Free, RSVP | Join the Racial Coalition of Asheville to discuss community, connection, and culture with Michael Hayes of Umoja.
Beginner Ballroom Classes | Wednesday, July 24 | 6-6:50 p.m. | Stephens-Lee Community Center, 30 George Washington Carver Ave., Asheville | $12 | Put on your dancing shoes to learn the fundamentals of styles like waltz, tango, foxtrot, and more — no partner necessary.

Thursday, July 25

Love Shine Play Yoga Festival | Thursday, July 25-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | Various locations, Asheville | $0-$445 | Immerse yourself in a weekend of yoga classes, meditation, talks, hikes, and market offerings at venues around town.
“Megalodons, Mermaids, and Climate Change” | Thursday, July 25 | 5:30-7 p.m. | The Collider, 1 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Meet marine scientist Ellen Prager and meteorologist Dave Jones for a sneak peek of their book on the facts + fictions of science.
You’re Under Citizen’s Arrest | Thursday, July 25 | 8 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl, 14 O. Henry Ave., Asheville | $15-$18 | Listen to stories, songs, and stand-up around true tales of taking the law into your own hands.

Friday, July 26

Retro Technology Discovery Day | Friday, July 26 | 3-5 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Experience old tech (or just feel the nostalgia) with live demos, retro video games, and hands-on activities.
Cúrate Cider Release | Friday, July 26 | 4-6 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop, 32 Broadway St., Ste. 110, Asheville | Free | Get a taste of the beloved local restaurant’s newly released cider, paired with some complimentary pintxo.
“Destination Moon” | Friday, July 26-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Times vary | Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St., Asheville | $15-$20 | Watch Truly’s story come to life as she deals with fear and illness by writing, reading, and communicating with an unseen radio voice in the night.

Saturday, July 27

Field Day | Saturday, July 27 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin St., Asheville | Free | Gather your little ones for a day of team games, like the water balloon toss, three-legged race, long jump, and more.
“Disability on the Spectrum” | Saturday, July 27 | 1-2:15 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St., Asheville | Free | Watch the documentary from local disability advocate and artist Priya Ray of DIYAbled, then stick around for a Q+A with the filmmaker.

Plan a midweek pick-me-up

Click here to have your event featured.

Travel

⚽️ Heading to Columbia, SC for Rivals in Red?

A look at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC.

Columbia, SC is welcoming soccer fans to the sports-loving city with friendly locals, cold drinks, delicious cuisine, and more. | Photo by Forrest Clonts

Make it your goal to live like a local while you’re in Columbia for Rivals in Red: Manchester United vs Liverpool FC. Here’s what to do before and after the match:

Fuel up with breakfast at The Gourmet Shop or The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli.
Celebrate all Soda City has to offer at the inaugural 803 Day Festival, or check out the Columbia Museum of Art.
Grab post-game drinks and bites at The Robinson Room or Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Alehouse.

Won’t be at Williams-Brice Stadium? Watch the game at Market on Main or The British Bulldog Pub.

Explore more to do in Columbia

News Notes

Traffic

Hit the brakes. Tonight through tomorrow, July 25, portions of I-26 will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. to accommodate construction on the widening projects. Take a look at the section schedule and detours. (WLOS)

Arts

ArtsAVL is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 Artist Support Grant. Grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 will be awarded to artists in all disciplines — from music and film to literature and visual mediums. Get the big picture of the grant, and apply by Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Transit

Safety is along for the ride. Asheville on Bikes shared the results of the initial Merrimon Road Diet study, which examined metrics of safety, mobility, and volume pre- and post-lane conversion. The findings included a 23% decrease in total collisions, a 3-5 mph decrease in motor vehicle speeds, and a 269% increase in cycling.

Festival

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is looking for your outside-the-box art — whether that’s intimate dance pieces, subversive films, stories of space cowboys, or puppets having mental breakdowns. Applications are open for the 2025 festival, which will take place in March. Submit your work for consideration by Monday, Sept. 30.

Drink

Yesterday, we asked you what name you’d give to a beer inspired by our city — so we’re spotlighting a couple labels we loved. Reader Francia L. evoked summer relaxation with “Floatin’ on the River,” while Jeremy B. paid homage to culinary canine companions with “Dogs in Restaurants.” Let us know what your AVL brew would be, and we’ll share a few more.

Try This

Learn a lifelong skill with your partner or best friend at the John C. Campbell Folk School, offering hundreds of weeklong + weekend classes on everything from beadwork and basket weaving to southern square dancing.*

Job

Here’s a unique program for those looking to get into the healthcare industry: Mission Health recently announced a new apprenticeship program that gets individuals certified as a Medical Assistant in just 12 weeks. Learn about Accelerate MA — not only offering paid training, but also benefits.*

Biz

Safety standards are often a reliable indicator of a well-run construction company. That’s why it’s no surprise that MB HAYNES recently won five awards from the North Carolina Department of Labor for its outstanding workplace environment. See how they secured the coveted “Million Hour Award.”*

Featured Home

This 3-bed, 2-bath Morganton home starts at $350,000 + features a two-car garage on a spacious, private lot. Take a look.*

Drink

☕️ Find a spirit-free sip

20+ sober-friendly or alcohol-free places for a drink in Asheville

Settle in for a quiet cup at Dobra Tea. | Photo by @love.madiiii

Although Beer City, USA loves its booze, Drink Up Week isn’t all about alcohol — and there’s no shortage of creative and delicious spirit-free bevs around the city.

So we’ve gathered a few alcohol-free places, sober-friendly spaces, and well-stocked bottle shops around Asheville.

Alcohol-free spaces

The Pot Stirred, 191 Lyman St., Ste. 320 | Located upstairs in the Art Garden, this LGBTQ+ and women-owned space celebrates plant medicine with drinks like mushroom coffee, herbal + CBD tea, and housemade plant-based milks. Bonus: There are also gourmet donuts.

Haywood Famous, 508 Haywood Rd. | Okay, it hasn’t opened yet, but we’re counting down the days. The Cuban coffee shop will stay open late to be a hub for sober nightlife and inclusive community hangs.

Café Canna, 487 Haywood Rd. | This CBD-focused, nonalcoholic bar + hole-in-the-wall gem shares a location with the Haywood Quick Stop.

15+ more sober-friendly spots

The Buy

The Buy 7.24.24 (Affiliate)

The perfect shoe for the rest of summer: Birkenstock’s waterproof slide sandal, which comes in bright and cute colors like purple fog, coral peach, and popcorn.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Molly

From the editor

It’s been too long since we’ve had an episode of “Super Niche Science News with Molly” (still taking recommendations for a catchier title) — so it’s high time for another installment. More than 100 years ago, a pathogenic fungus called Cryphonectria parasitica (chestnut blight) killed billions of American chestnuts, and for 40 years, the Asheville-based American Chestnut Foundation has been working to return the tree to its native range. Last week, alongside Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment, the foundation published research that will provide specific targets for conservation and inform planting environments. Now the movement for blight-resistant American chestnuts can keep growing.

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