The former West Asheville Presbyterian Church at 690 Haywood Rd. will become the future headquarters of RSAA, to aid the organization’s mission of advancing reparative justice and community healing.
RSAA obtained the West Asheville property at the end of January when the Presbytery of Western North Carolina, the original stewards of the building, conveyed the nearly 16,000-sqft property to the nonprofit at no cost. The building sits on property that was once home to the Black congregation of Wilson’s Chapel AME Church.
RSAA’s Executive Director Torre Garrison said plans for the space remain flexible, but it will serve as a community space and resource distribution center. However, before any of these plans take shape, the building is in need of some upgrades, which is where MDS comes in.
Art in Bloom 2025: Regional Artists Gallery | Tuesday, June 3-Wednesday, June 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Black Mountain Center for the Arts | Free | The newly opened gallery exhibit exclusively features work from RAD artists — the art will inspire the floral arrangements displayed later in the month.
Wednesday, June 4
River Arts District Farmers Market | 3-6 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing | Price of purchase | Show some support on the first market day in the crew’s new permanent location after being displaced by Helene.
International Corgi Day Celebration | 3-7 p.m. | Sweeten Creek Brewing | Free | The adorable corgis of Asheville will convene to celebrate their breed at the dog-friendly brewery.
Thursday, June 5
Wings + Strings | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, Arden | Price of purchase | Enjoy your hot wings with a side of acoustic folk from Hope Griffin.
Friday, June 6
Blue Ridge Bingo “Over the Rainbow” Party | 6:30-9 p.m. | Hilltop Events Center | $20+ | Serve “Wizard of Oz” inspired glam for a lively night of bingo, prizes, and tunes to benefit Asheville FM.
Art After Dark Market | 7-9 p.m. | rEvolve buy-sell-trade | Free | Shop funky jewelry to vibrant stained glass art at this night market, complete with music, drinks, tarot readings, and a photo booth.
“Merry Wives of Windsor” | Friday, June 6-Sunday, June 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre | Free | In the Montford Park Players’ second show of the 2025 season, Shakespeare’s tale of retaliation gets a 1950s makeover.
Saturday, June 7
Pop-up Mini Craft Fair | 10 a.m. | Southern Highland Craft Guild | Free | Find the perfect gift for the father figure in your life with 25 Guild members showing off their work, from bladesmithing to woodturning.
Meet the three neighborhoods — Hominy, Chorus (active adult 55+), and Archer — each with its own vibe and charm. | Photos provided by RiverBlue
If your dream home includes easy access to trails and a vibrant, comfortable community, RiverBluechecks every box.
This 55-acre, master-planned community offers three unique neighborhoods featuring rental homes with thoughtfully designed layouts. The best part: They’re all surrounded by 25 acres of preserved nature waiting to be explored.
You’ll enjoy the best of both worlds — modern living paired with amenities like hiking trails, pickleball courts, disc golf, and access to Hominy Creek.
Zella’s Deli is making a comeback this summer after its Swannanoa shop was lost to the storm, moving in next to the Play It Again Sports on Tunnel Road — check out the new sign. In an Instagram post, the deli shared that it’s still a long-term goal to open back up in Swannanoa.
Outdoors
Roger Farmer Park got a vibrant new makeover. The new color-blocked court was designed to accommodate basketball, futsal, and roller skating. Check out the before and after pics to see the dramatic difference.
Transit
The NCDOT and City of Asheville shared early design plans for the 1.3-mile extension of the Wilma Dykeman Greenway at a meeting last week. See the designs, which would add a path from the Hill Street area to Pearson Bridge Road, connecting to the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Biz
Keeping on track with a slow but steady recovery process, unemployment in Buncombe County decreased to 4.2% in April, down 0.6% from March. The hospitality sector continues to see workforce challenges, with April’s data showing 2,400 fewer leisure and hospitality jobs than the year before. (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
Open
Cigar and cocktail bar Sticks on Broadway recently made its debut in the former Asheville Beauty Academy location. Grab a drink and find your groove at the Saturday, June 7 dance party with DJ Marvo. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Regional
The first six miles of the Ecusta Trail will open this July. This first phase of the project will connect downtown Hendersonville to Horse Shoe, opening with a Friday, July 18 ribbon-cutting ceremony. The full 19-mile trail is expected to be completed in 2027. (WLOS)
Edu
This afternoon, June 3, nearly 300 laptops will be distributed to first-generation college-bound students from across WNC. Charlotte-based nonprofit E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide) will award the technology at the East Asheville Library. Learn how to help students achieve equal access to technology across NC.
Seasonal
This month is the bee’s knees. Bee City Asheville’s Pollination Celebration is underway, highlighting the importance of the process with events throughout the month of June. But that’s not all we’re buzzing about this month. Explore the biggest events with our June Plan Ahead.
Announced
If you didn’t win our euphoria2025 Giveaway, don’t worry. While many euphoria2025 events are already sold out, there are still plenty of opportunities to indulge in the festivities. See the full lineup.*
3. That’s how many minutes it takes to learn AI skills with Superhuman AI, a newsletter filled with AI how-tos, tools, and news. Subscribe for free.*
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Events
🥾 Hot on the trail
A view from the top of Lover’s Leap on the Appalachian Trail. | Photo by Laura Hackett
This Saturday, June 7, marks the 33rd Annual National Trails Day, and we’ve rounded up a list of ways to celebrate in Asheville.
Trains and Trails Festival | Thursday, June 5 - Saturday, June 7 | Downtown Old Fort | Times vary | Prices vary | Celebrate three jam-packed days of activities including hiking, racing, live music, and a mountain bike film festival.
“Land of Blue Shadows” Author Event | Saturday, June 7 | Pack Memorial Library | 1-2 p.m. | Free, RSVP | See the legacy of George Ellison’s poetry alongside paintings and photography from his wife, Elizabeth Ellison, and daughter, Quintin Ellison as the family used art to document their lives living in the Smokey Mountains.
Hot Springs Trail Work Day | Saturday, June 7 | Hot Springs | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Free | Join the Carolina Mountain Club to help clean up storm-damaged parts of the Appalachian Trail, then cheers to your hard work at Big Pillow Brewing.
Keep your pet healthy, happy, and pampered with these top-rated products:
🐾 Vet-approved probiotic chews that support your furry friend’s gut and immune health.
💧 This no spill water bowl that’s splash-proof, non-slip, and easy to clean.
🦷 Tartar and plaque-removing dental cleaning powder that can be mixed into your pet’s kibble.
💅 An efficient and precise nail grinder with a handy LED light and three speed levels.
🐱 A rechargeable automatic feeder with customizable feeding schedules + portion sizes.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Did you see our Games module back in the newsletter this week? You can play games like word search, Sudoku (with various difficulty levels), crossword puzzles, and more. I do love Wordflower, but the crossword is my favorite. It’s a classic for a reason.
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