This is the hardware that recipients will be sporting. | Photo via NC DNCR
Gov. Josh Stein announced the six winners of the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. The awards will be presented at the Omni Grove Park Inn on Thursday, Nov. 13 — the first time the ceremony will be held outside of Raleigh. To support our region’s recovery from Helene, ticket sales from the event will be donated to the NC Community Foundation.
This year, all recipients “hail from or have made a particular impact in” WNC. So let’s learn a bit about their contributions:
Woody Platt
Recognized for his contributions in Fine Arts, Platt is a member of the WNC-based, Grammy award-winning bluegrass band, Steep Canyon Rangers. As a fly fisherman and environmentalist, he also worked with nonprofit Conserving Carolina to restore a section of the East Fork of the French Broad River.
Buddy Melton
Another bluegrass musician recognized for Fine Arts, Melton is a fiddler, singer, and founding member of Balsam Range, hailing from Haywood County. Beyond performing on some of the country’s biggest stages (including the Grand Ole Opry), he has produced multiple records exploring the musical history of the mountains.
Tarot Club | 7-9 p.m. | The Well | $20 | Tarot practitioner, author, deck creator, and artist Rebecca leads this monthly meetup, where folks of all levels and interests in tarot reading are invited to study new methods and practices.
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Gentle Tai Chi For Balance | Wednesday, Sept. 3-Wednesday, Nov. 12 | 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Dragon Phoenix | $15+ | Strengthen your muscles through intentional movement and balancing exercises.
Arbor Evenings | Wednesday, Sept. 3-Thursday, Sept. 18 | 5:30-8:30 p.m. | The North Carolina Arboretum | $20 | Sip + stroll the gardens or relax on your picnic blanket to the sounds of local musicians — the special evening music ends Thursday, Sept. 18.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Understanding the AVL Economy | 8:30-10:30 a.m. | Mojo Coworking Event Space | Free | The Asheville Entrepreneurship Week event analyzes the trends that shape our regional economy.
Goombay Festival | Thursday, Sept. 4-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Pack Square Park | Free | The fest returns to celebrate the richness and diversity of the African diaspora with a full weekend of wellness events, music, food, and ticketed activities.
Bike-in Cinema | Thursday, Sept. 4-Thursday, Sept. 25 | 7-9 p.m. | New Belgium Brewing Asheville | Free | Every Thursday in September, bike to the brewery for a flick — this week, it’s “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”
Friday, Sept. 5
Celebrating Weaverville’s 150th Anniversary | 7-8:30 p.m. | Weaverville Community Center | Free | The town is one and a half centuries old, meaning an evening of memories, stories, and music is in order.
The Fritz feat. Jonathan Lloyd & Rebekah Todd | 9 p.m. | Third Room | $25+ | The soulful psychedelic funk band is performing a special “Dark Side of The Moon” set with immersive visuals.
This Thursday, Sept. 4, Village Artist Market is hosting its grand opening celebration. Step inside the shop to find astonishing art, ceramics, jewelry, and textiles crafted by 40+ artists affected by Helene. During the event, from 4 to 7 p.m., there will be refreshments, demos, music, and of course, shopping.
Environment
RiverLink was recognized by the Tennessee River Basin Network for its science-based advocacy for natural waterways, earning a $5,000 award alongside the accolade. The health of the French Broad watershed is important to the Tennessee River as it makes its way to the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers.
Outdoors
The 16th annual West Asheville Garden Stroll is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 13. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., grab a map across from West Asheville Baptist Church and embark on a self-guided tour of 13 diverse and stunning gardens in the Falconhurst neighborhood.
Theater
There’s a new Montford Park Players show premiering this week. The cast will perform Shakespeare’s “King Lear” on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Saturday, Sept. 27. The free performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Try This
Step aside, Wordle. Thanks to local Tristan N., you have another word game to add to your daily rotation — Gibberish. You have five guesses to construct one word using the letters in the sentence, and you can only use the letters as many times as they appear in the phrase.
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The Buy
It’s finally September — that means it’s basically fall, right? Treat yourself in honor of a brand new autumn season with top-rated decor that’s all $30 or less.
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.
One of my personal favorite coffee shops and remote working spots, Cooperative Coffee, just added breakfast sandwiches to the menu. Even better, they’re served on a buttery, housemade biscuit.
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