Cheers to Leo’s on its nomination. | Photo via Leo’s House of Thirst
Yesterday, the semifinalists for the 2025 James Beard Awards were announced, and four fine local chefs and restaurants were recognized. Let’s dig into the spots in the running for the renowned accolades.
Dissen is at the helm of the farm-to-table restaurant where seasonal ingredients rule the menu. You might also remember The Market Place earning a nod for Outstanding Restaurant during last year’s semifinalist announcement. Dine on the fresh fare with a tasting menu during Asheville Restaurant Week, happening now.
Nominated for: Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
The cozy Haywood Road wine bar secured its first nomination this year. Leo’s offers a vast wine list with selections from across the globe, plus plenty of zero-proof options — your server can help you find the best pairing to complement the excellent food menu. Pro tip: Treat yourself to the prix fixe lunch, Friday-Sunday.
Golden Folk Sessions | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | Pay what you can | Six artists will perform three-song sets that celebrate the origins of folk music.
Poetry Open Mic | 8-11 p.m. | Sovereign Kava | Free | Try your hand at poetry or listen to the words of other locals at this weekly event.
Friday, Jan. 24
Asheville Drag Dinner | 7-8:30 p.m. | Highland Brewing Company- Event Space | $10+ | Dine with queens impersonating celebs from Dolly to Madonna at this high-energy dinner supporting BeLoved Asheville.
Slow Runner + Moon Bride | 8-10 p.m. | Citizen Vinyl | $15+ | Hear the WNC-based Americana singer play from the record he made as the winner of the NewSong Music Songwriting Competition.
Sun Goblin Presents: Soup For You | 9 p.m. | Burger Bar | $5+ | Listen close to Sun Goblin’s lyrics and you’ll hear a winter tale told — plus, there will be free soup.
Saturday, Jan. 25
Hot Chocolate Races | 8-11 a.m. | Isaac Dickson Elementary School | $20+ | Choose from a 5K, 10K, kid’s hill climb, or marshmallow dash, and lace up your sneakers to support the Isaac Dickson PTO.
The Whale’s Winter Festival | 1-4 p.m. | The Whale — West Asheville | Free | Leave the winter blues behind as you sip on a brew, shop from local vendors, play games, and jam out to music.
Board Game Swap Meet | 2 p.m. | Well Played | Free | Trade some games with other enthusiasts to refresh your collection.
Writers at Home | 6-8 p.m. | Story Parlor | Free | Great Smokies Writing Program faculty will perform a reading — plus, the new program director will be unveiled.
At its Tuesday, Jan. 21 meeting, Buncombe County Commissioners approved $17.6 million in FY25 budget cuts due to Helene’s financial impacts, including a $4.69 million education budget reduction. During the meeting, commissioners also approved $624,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to be distributed to Asheville residents for rental assistance.
Biz
Poppy Hand-Crafted Popcorn CEO Ginger Frank is a finalist in the Entrepreneur of Impact competition. Reciprocate your love for Poppy by voting for Frank — the winner earns $25,000 to grow their business, a session with Daymond John from “Shark Tank,” and a feature in Forbes magazine.
Open
French bistro Bouchon has officially reopened as Crêperie Bouchon, a casual counter-service concept specializing in crepes. Stop by the North Lexington Avenue spot Wednesday through Sunday to taste the new menu.
Number
$2,076,176. That’s how much the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund awarded to local nonprofits last week alone. Since the beginning of October, the Foundation has distributed more than $20 million to aid recovery efforts across WNC — donate to the fund.
Community
Beginning Thursday, Feb. 13, Buncombe County will host the One Buncombe Helene Recovery Series, four sessions designed to connect residents with support resources and get one-on-one help with individual needs. See the schedule for all four sessions.
Concert
Synth pop band Future Islands is kicking off Burial’s 2025 Summer Camp Outdoor Concert Series on Friday, May 23 at Forestry Camp. Local presale launches today, Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. (use code SUMMERCAMP25) and the general sale launches tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Trending
Since opening in late summer, Switchyards has been an ultra-popular coworking spot. But for the first time since opening, the coworking club no longer has a waitlist for membership. Join the club to see what the 24-hour South Slope spot is all about.
Outdoors
More than 60 miles of trails in Pisgah National Forest’s Grandfather Ranger District have reopened for exploring post-Helene. Add that to the 85 miles previously opened and now nearly half of the district has reopened. Among the newly reopened trails is the popular Catawba Falls — see an interactive map of open trails.
Yes, healthy grocery shopping can be easy and affordable. Meet Thrive Market, where healthy living is simple. Get groceries for the whole family delivered to your door, free from 1,000+ harmful ingredients. Join to save 30% on your first order and claim a free gift worth $60.*
Health
Weight Loss by Hers is a holistic program crafted by experts in weight loss, nutrition, and psychology. Receive personalized treatment plans tailored to your goals by a medical professional, along with access to GLP-1 medications starting at $165 per month with a 12-month plan.*
Wellness
Discover unparalleled speech clarity with this advanced, state-of-the-art hearing aid. With crystal-clear sound and a sleek, discreet German design, those experiencing hearing impairment can enjoy clear speech with minimum background distractions, even in the noisiest environments. Try the 45-day, no-risk trial.*
After weeks of planning, Friends of Buncombe County Special Collections is launching “Come Hell or High Water,” a crowdsourcing memory project allowing residents to share their personal stories, photos, videos, audio recordings, and other digital materials to document the impact of Helene in our community.
Beyond personal accounts, the project will also include scientific and environmental data explaining Helene’s impact, along with historical context regarding previous local natural disasters, like the Great Flood of 1916.
“Our hope is that by building this archive, we will create an opportunity to reflect on our shared trauma, and create a space for community healing,” said Project Coordinator Emily Cadmus.
Single use face towels. Real talk: those washcloths you’ve used for years are likely harboring bacteria and roughing up your delicate moisture barrier. Go for a hygienic, gentler alternative with Sky Organics hypoallergenic face towels, made from 100% renewable plant fiber.
Put a concert on your calendar. The Orange Peel is currently offering $8.28 off various concerts through mid-March for folks with WNC zip codes. Check out some of the featured shows, like Soccer Mommy and Tim Heidecker.
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