Asheville Tool Library is located at 16 Smith Mill Rd. | Photo via Asheville Tool Library
City Editor Bethany here. Earlier this week, I found myself trying to figure out the best way to cut up a cantaloupe. As I was struggling through the rind, it hit me, “I need to take a knife skills class before I slice off a finger.” And thus, this article idea was born.
Whether you’re looking to get CPR certified or want to learn how to patch up a beloved sweater, Asheville has a lot to teach you about life... so write this down.
The Asheville Tool Library | The nonprofit organization hosts monthly classes teaching household maintenance skills for items like bikes, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and more.
In your wallet
OnTrack Financial Education + Counseling | Explore a variety of classes like understanding credit, learning foundational money habits, and homebuyer education. Psst... many of the classes are free.
Downtown After 5 | Friday, April 18, Friday, June 20, Friday, Aug. 15 | 5-10 p.m. | Pack Square Park | Free | Asheville’s beloved community concert series kicks off the season with Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast with Dirty French Broads.
Don’t Tell Comedy | 9 p.m. | Location TBA | $25 | Enjoy a night of laughs from a secret comedian at a secret location; details will be sent after tickets are purchased.
Saturday, April 19
Yoga in the Park Asheville | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | West Asheville Park | $15+ | Set your intentions for the practice before moving into the slow to moderately-paced outdoor flow.
La Luz | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | Catch the Seattle-based indie band perform its signature style of psychedelic surf rock.
Sunday, April 20
Bastet’s Meow-gical Egg Hunt! | Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | House of Black Cat Magic | Free, RSVP | Kiddos can enjoy a meowgical afternoon egg hunt with feline friends — there’s an egg hunt for kids six and under at 11 a.m., and one for kids seven and older at 2 p.m.
Easter High Tea | 2-4 p.m. | The Venue | $65 | Join for an afternoon steeped in charm, with a variety of teas you can pair with delicate pastries and tea sandwiches.
After The Storm: Green Spring Jam | 4-10 p.m. | The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage | Donation-based | Kick back for an afternoon of groovy tunes from The Dirty Bird Band and The Hypnotic Band, yummy food, and refreshing bevs — ticket sales benefit Asheville Creative Arts.
Monday, April 21
April Wine & Wigs: Perimenopause | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | Ginger’s Revenge | Free | Join the local group for a conversation about aging gracefully.
Tuesday, April 22
How to Draw Faces the Paul Choi Way | 3-5 p.m. | East Asheville Library | Free, RSVP | You might have commissioned one of Choi’s rather suggestive drawings on a night out at Shakey’s or The Barksdale, but for this class, it’s good, clean fun as you learn to sketch facial features.
Road trip: 🎶 Amos Lee headlines Appalachian Summer 2025
Presented by Appalachian State University
From intimate concerts to stunning dance performances, this is your ticket to summer done right. | Photos provided by AppState with permission/credit to Vanity Fair (Pink Martini), Sully Sullivan (Ranky Tanky), and Meagan Shuptar (Heather Headley)
Summer in the mountains, plus live music? Yes, please.
The 41st annual Appalachian Summer music + arts series returns to Boone, NC this summer, bringing four weeks of show-stopping music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts to the lush WNC mountains.
Taking place on the beautiful Appalachian State University campus June 28–July 26, the event series will feature headliners like:
Amos Lee — known for his soulful voice and chill hits like “Windows Are Rolled Down”
Joan Osborne + Lisa Loeb — “You say... I only hear what I want to,” and we want to hear this iconic duo
For when the brown bag gets a little boring, Mattie Lou’s Cafe and Bakery is now serving a delicious breakfast and lunch spread, Wednesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Start the day with loaded biscuits and breakfast tacos, and fight mid-day hunger with stacked sandwiches, salads, and bowls.
Open
Asheville Brewing Co.'s South Slope location is back up and running. And what better way to ring in the weekend than with pizza and beer? Stop by from 3 to 8 p.m. for a pie and a pilsner.
Arts
Paint us proud. The Center for Craft is the first organization to earn the distinguished One-of-a-Kind Award from the James Renwick Alliance for Craft. The center received recognition for its impact on the international craft community since its founding and for its agile response in supporting artists in Helene’s wake.
Drink
Beginning Thursday, April 24, Summit Coffee’s RAD truck will be parked outside RAD Brewing Co. every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plus, you can get a caffeine kick at all the Asheville City Soccer games this summer.
Environment
Tuesday, April 22 is Earth Day, but the sustainable celebrations are kicking off this weekend. Check out 10+ clean-ups, education opportunities, and eco-friendly events happening for the holiday.
Learn
Civics class is in session. Blue Ridge Public Radio has created a jargon-free study guide so you can follow along as Buncombe County determines its budget for FY 2026. Learn how Helene affected the budget amount, how money is organized, and the timeline for adoption. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Regional
With dry conditions persisting, the Bee Rock Creek Fire grew to 500+ acres yesterday, April 17, in the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. US Forest Service members and firefighters are working to contain the fire, as well as the Haoe fire in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness Area. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Show
The Mountain Child Advocacy Center and Leadership Asheville are teaming up for “Beyond The Screen: Protecting Children.” RSVP for this free screening of the award-winning film, “Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic,” followed by a panel discussion.*
Make your business’s upcoming event or news the talk of the town. Through AVLtoday’s self-service ad portal, you can purchase an ad in as little as five minutes. Bonus: We now offer bundles so you can get in front of more eyes for less.
Category
Sports
👟 From AVL to LA
Think you can master the course? | Photo via OSEGA
Obstacle course racing (think: the Spartan Race) will make its debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics as part of the Modern Pentathlon. Repping Team USA in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be a pipe dream because local gym OSEGA has just constructed its Triumph Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) Training Center.
The center boasts a wide range of obstacles to test your strength and endurance, not to mention your mindset. To tour the center, try out the course, and meet the team of trainers, head to the grand opening event tomorrow, April 19 from 12 to 3 p.m. If you fall head over sneakers for the sport, try out one of its OCR classes (and look out for workshops, race simulations, and competitions throughout the year).
If your kiddos are the more active and adventurous of the family, OSEGA also offers gymnastics and Ninja Warrior training classes.
The Buy
The CrossOver Bra by Honeylove feels as good as it looks. It’s beautifully made + engineered for real life wear (read: sculpting support without digging in or discomfort).
Tapas, beer, and chocolate. Quite possibly a perfect combination. Especially when the tapas are from Curate, the beer is from Burial, and the sweets are supplied by French Broad Chocolates. The ladies behind these stellar businesses are coming together for a Pintxo Party during Asheville Beer Week on Thursday, May 22. Grab tickets.
