Hit the trails to do some good. | Photo by Seyl Park
Help clean up your favorite hiking spot. Through a partnership with the US Forest Service, The Pisgah Conservancy is hosting its annual Pisgah Project Day on Saturday, April 26.
The event harnesses volunteer help to finish more than 20 improvement projects in the Pisgah Ranger District before visitation peaks from May to October — and this year’s event is all the more meaningful as work continues to restore the forest from Helene’s devastation.
Projects include trail maintenance, fence repair, invasive plant removal, trash clean up, native planting, and gardening, all with guidance from Pisgah Conservancy and USFS staff. Pick your project preference and share special skills when you register.
Last year, 425+ volunteers completed 25 projects during the one-day cleanup. Volunteers even began a multi-phase rehabilitation project on the Estatoe trail, which wrapped up just over a week ago.
Register forthis year’s Pisgah Project Day by Monday, April 21.. Once the day’s work wraps up, raise a glass at the after-party at Oskar Blues Brewery.
Events
Events
Wednesday, April 9
Save Your Public Lands Network & Learn | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company | Free | Local, regional, and national organizations will present info about conservation, advocacy, and volunteer opportunities.
Tarot Community Circle | Wednesday, April 9, Wednesday, April 30 | 6-7 p.m. | House of Black Cat Magic | $15 | Join the circle for an hour of discussion and practice reading — just bring a deck and a notebook.
Thursday, April 10
Billy Jonas “Bridging Divides” Album Release | 7-10 p.m. | AyurPrana Listening Room | $26 | The Asheville-based musician describes his new songs as “an acoustic apothecary,” designed to heal — hear the tracks live and the stories behind them.
Tasting Thursday | 6-8 p.m. | Bebop Bottle Shop | Free | Head to the new bottle shop to talk all things wine as you sip on picks from the shop’s favorite distributors.
Friday, April 11
Tell Me Lies | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $25 | Be transported back to the 70s as the band covers the eclectic and magical sounds of Fleetwood Mac.
An Artful Journey: Recent Exhibitions on Women Artists | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Black Mountain Center for the Arts | $25 | Art historian Julianna Caro will give a lecture on how famed artists Rachel Ruysch, Suzanne Valadon, and Elizabeth Catlett each navigated the art world in their respective time periods.
Saturday, April 12
Inaugural Gardening Club Meeting | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Pack Memorial Library | Free | Join Pack Memorial Library and gardeners of all levels in giving its garden plot some TLC.
Truck City AVL | 1-4 p.m. | Tanger Outlets | Free | Kids and adults can get an up-close look at the utility trucks, buses, and construction vehicles that keep our city moving — quiet hour is from 1-2 p.m. for folks with sensory sensitivities.
2025 Springtoberfest | 1-5 p.m. | White Labs Brewing Co. | Free | The brewery is bringing all the fun of Oktoberfest to April with new beer releases, food specials, and Bavarian folk from Das Oompapas.
Cultivated Cocktails will close its downtown tasting room and lounge on Monday, April 21, citing financial losses from Helene. The distillery’s tavern location in Fairview will remain open for food and signature cocktails. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Community
Thousands of tulips are in bloom at Swannanoa’s Grovemont Park thanks to the work of resident and tulip grower Marco Rozenbroek. Using his industry connections, Rozenbroek helped secure a donation of 10,000 flower bulbs from European company DutchGrown. See the blooms serve as symbols of hope. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
State
The clock is ticking to secure your REAL ID before the Wednesday, May 7 deadline, and some NCDMVs are extending hours to meet demand. The Patton Avenue DMV will be open at 7 a.m. Monday-Friday, an hour earlier than usual. Appointments are filling up fast. (WLOS)
Civic
Buncombe County’s Permits and Inspections, Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality, and Environmental Health departments have officially moved to 35 Woodfin St. and resumed operations, expanding the Buncombe County Government Services Center. The move is part of a comprehensive facilities plan to maximize existing space.
Job
More than 80 employers will be at the WNC Career Expo, presented by NCWorks and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Stop by the WNC Ag Center today, April 9, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to explore career opportunities. See the list of participating employers.
Award
Explore Asheville has extended the deadline to apply for its new Hospitality Scholarship, offering $2,500 annually to current or future students interested in pursuing hospitality or a related field. Applications are due by Monday, April 14 at 5 p.m.
Featured Home
Built with a foundation system that allows for surrounding mountain views even on a steep slope, this engineering beauty in Montreat features tree-surrounded living to enjoy all seasons, plus access to hiking trails + to town. Peek inside.*
Go green this spring by switching to a solar + battery-powered home with help from Electrify Asheville-Buncombe. Schedule a free Home Energy Navigator consultation to start your clean energy journey and be part of the Home Energy Resilience Cooperative.*
Finance
We know you’re smart (you subscribe to AVLtoday, after all), but we all have our blind spots when it comes to spending. Here are the 11 dumbest things smart people waste money on.*
Free parking is available in the lot directly across the street. | Photo via AVLtoday
Six months after Helene, resources from Buncombe County have transitioned from short-term federal disaster relief to a long-term, locally curated recovery model.
Driving the progress is the opening of the county’s Helene Resource Center (HRC), an office in downtown Asheville serving as a central hub for residents to continue to access recovery resources in a “survivor-focused setting,” according to a press release from Buncombe County.
The HRC replaces FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers throughout the county, with the final center in Fairview set to close on Friday, April 11. All services from these disaster centers will transition to the HRC by April 14.
Any resident impacted by the storm can access resources at the HRC, including FEMA individual assistance, private property debris removal, small business association loans, and more.
The HRC is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Buy
The Buy
We all want the best for our pets, and premium care can come at a premium cost. With pet insurance, you can reduce the strain on your budget, whether it’s for treating a chronic condition or an unexpected emergency.*
Last week, I asked y’all where you’d want to see Asheville’s take on the viral coffee rave trend. We received plenty of stellar ideas, including turning BattleCat, Ultra, and PennyCup’s downtown cafe into an early morning party. Rowan’s West Asheville cafe may be new to the scene, but the large layout would be perfect for a dance floor.
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