The bonbons almost look too good to eat. | Photo by Grace Bishop
While we can’t necessarily prove it, there’s a good chance Beyoncé has eaten chocolates crafted by local chocolatier Timothy Maguire. And she might again at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards this Sunday. For several years now, Timothy Maguire Chocolates has provided the confections that occupy the dressing rooms of VIP attendees and sweetened the swag bags handed out to guests.
Music’s Biggest Night isn’t the only national stage where his chocolates have had the spotlight. Since entering the business, he’s also made treats for the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and the Met Gala — Timothy Maguire Chocolates is even the official chocolatier of the Country Music Awards.
The savory beginnings
Before practicing pastry, Maguire first ventured into the culinary world. He began working in restaurants as a dishwasher in his small hometown on Long Island as young as 10 years old and followed his passion to Johnson & Wales University. Maguire found his love for pastry in the early 1990s at the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant Chez Panisse.
Friday Sip & Shop | 4-6 p.m. | Grove Arcade | Free | Every Friday through the end of February, stroll through the storefronts with a glass of bubbly in hand.
Bite Nite - Dumplings | 5:30-8 p.m. | Botanist & Barrel Tasting Bar + Bottle Shop | Free | Sip on rare pours and snack on small plates at the casual, monthly foodie night — this time, it’s all about the dumplings.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Assembly Required Designer Toy Expo | Saturday, Feb. 1-Sunday, Feb. 2 | Times vary | Battery Park Hall | $6+ | These aren’t your kid’s LEGO creations — more than 50 designers, toy artists, and collectors will showcase their pop surrealist sculptures at this annual expo.
Tyler Ramsey | The Grey Eagle | $25.86+ | The WNC-based singer-songwriter will play a show, one year after the release of his latest album, “New Lost Ages.”
Sunday, Feb. 2
Jazz Sundays | 2:30-4:30 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge | Free | Kick back with a ginger beer and take in the tunes of the weekly jazz jam hosted by Jason DeCristofaro.
Comedy for Community | 6:30 p.m. | Catawba Brewing | $19+ | Local comedians will take the stage for a night of laughs supporting the Hot Springs Library.
Monday, Feb. 3
Produce Market | 12-1:30 p.m. | Blunt Pretzels, Swannanoa | Free | The nonprofit continues to provide fresh, healthy food to the community at no cost.
Tuesday, Feb. 4
“Life Be Lifin’” Starring Monét X Change | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $51+ | The drag queen, R&B singer, actress, and comedian will perform her latest one-woman show, a coming-of-age tale filled with dark humor.
Tennis legends Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Jessica Pegula, and Emma Navarro, and celebrities Jeff Probst, Pete Wentz, Esai Morales, and Michael Kosta, will play mix-and-match mic’d-up short singles and doubles sets.
The event starts at 2:30 p.m. and will also feature family-friendly activities and a live DJ.
All proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction, which goes live on Jan. 28, will be donated to local nonprofit organizations, including the Always Asheville Fund, the Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Asheville + Buncombe County, and the Asheville Tennis Association.
Deuce yourself a favor and grab tickets before they sell out. Can’t attend the event, but still want to support our community? Find more ways to donate and participate online.
The Crooked Creek wildfire has been 100% contained after burning 220 acres according to McDowell County Emergency Management’s latest update — no injuries or fatalities were reported. The North Fork wildfire’s latest update states it has burned 200 acres with 20% containment, although “no structures are threatened at this time.”
Civic
Explore Buncombe Recovers, a newly launched website from Buncombe County providing one place for up-to-date info on recovery-related progress, programs, and rebuilding efforts. Click through the tabs to find detailed info on topics like debris, economic recovery, and community meetings.
Coming Soon
The owners of Färməsē, the underground cocktail bar located underneath the now-closed Dilbar, will take over the space from the Indian street food spot. A name hasn’t been announced, but expect a casual, farm-to-table concept, slated to open in mid-April. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Community
Through a partnership between Southside Community Farm and the City of Asheville, a new free fridge is open at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center. Learn more about increasing food access in the community at a free fridge info session tomorrow, Feb. 1 at 11 a.m.
Outdoors
Earlier this week, we learned that one city-owned pool will be open this summer. We know it’s a bit early to talk summer plans, but if you want to take a dip, all five Buncombe County pools are set to reopen this Memorial Day.
Try This
The Asheville Mule— a delicious combination of citrus, ginger, and raising money for our local hospitality industry. Head downtown to The Lobster Trap to sip + support.*
Biz
Breaking biz news.Electronic Office, a technology solutions company headquartered in Asheville for more than 40 years, recently acquired Reliant Data Solutions, an IT Managed Services Provider (MSP) based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Learn more about the local acquisition.*
Shop
Save time (and your hands) with these kitchen hacks: This jar opener is great for arthritic joints, while this chicken shredder does the hard shredding work for you.*
The Buy
The Buy
An organic face scrub and mask with over 10,000 five-star reviews. It’s crafted with manuka honey, orange peel, cehami, and aloe vera to hydrate, brighten, moisturize, and smooth for clearer and more youthful skin.
Would it be wild to say that I think Hail Mary was made for me? The restaurant opened in the former Tastee Diner this week, and I already can’t wait to go back. Picture this... A matcha Shirley Temple. Potentially the best French dip I’ve ever had. A crew that seems to match my intense love of ranch. Photos of my fav pop girlies adorning the walls, like Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion. My favorite childhood dessert, the dirt cup. The girls who get it, get it.
Answered
Answered
What’s a great book you’ve read lately?
You can pick up some of these titles at Malaprop’s.
Photo by AVLtoday
When we shared some local book clubs earlier this week, we asked you to tell us what you’ve been reading lately. If you’re in a reading rut, check out these books locals love.
“It’s an in-depth look into the life of Japanese photographer George Masa that reveals new info that was previously unknown. It’s also a look into the culture of Asheville during the 1920s.” — Keely K.
“He brings a universe of science to a level we can all understand. He reminds us of how utterly unlikely and amazing all life is and how infinitesimally small we are!” — Janet T.
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