Finch Grocery is reopening just a stone’s throw away from its OG location in Biltmore Village this fall — and to toast to the new, larger gathering space, Finch is launching a Cookbook Club.
What better way to celebrate than by cooking from Ina Garten’s 2001 “Barefoot Contessa Parties?” Whip up a dish from the book to share on the patio on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. How easy is that?
During the event, Finch will have retail and grocery items for sale, and Scout Boutique will have a stunning selection of vintage home goods and table decor.
I’ll be there with the Sour Cream Coffee Cake. And I’ll use good vanilla, just like Ina taught me.
Events
Events
Wednesday, Sept. 3
Nothing About Us Without Us | 5-9 p.m. | The Mule | Free | Experts from the WNC AIDS Project and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine will present how involving the community in the research process has improved health outcomes for Appalachia’s marginalized communities.
Lucero | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $36 | The alt-country rock band will play its 2005 album, “Nobody’s Darlings,” with support from singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Jim Norton: Now You Know | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $28+ | The author, podcaster, actor, and comic is stopping in Asheville on his “Now You Know” comedy tour.
Friday, Sept. 5
Fall for Love Weekend Adoption Event | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Asheville Humane Society Adoption Center | Free | Find a companion during the special three-day adoption event, where fees will be waived.
Downtown Asheville Gallery Walk | Friday, Sept. 5, Friday, Oct. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | Gallery Melange | Free | Every first Friday, take your time wandering through downtown’s galleries, appreciating the work of local artists.
“Miss Julie” | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Attic Salt Theatre Company | $20 | The company returns with an adaptation of a Strindberg classic, following Miss Julie and her servant through a struggle of desire and ambition.
Saturday, Sept. 6
The Art of Yoga: Fall Series | Saturday, Sept. 6-Saturday, Dec. 6 | 9:30-11 a.m. | Asheville Art Museum | $15 | Take care of your mind and body with a yoga session and a thoughtful guided viewing of one of the museum’s current exhibitions.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor | 7 p.m. | Pisgah Brewing | $46 | The Canadian post-rock band has been releasing albums since 1997, including the popular “Lift Your Skinny Fists like Antennas to Heaven.”
Sunday, Sept. 7
103.3 Asheville FM Record Fair | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville | $10+ | Add to your record collection all while supporting the community radio station.
A new pan-Asian restaurant, Jazmin, will open this fall in the former Mayfel’s location on College Street downtown. It’s the sister restaurant to Andaaz, which is slated to reopen in the Cambria Hotel on Page Avenue by the end of the year. (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Eat
Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar is taking up residence in the recently shuttered Cracker Barrel on Tunnel Road. The Japanese restaurant’s former Biltmore Village location was badly damaged by Helene. The new spot is expected to open in summer 2026.
Civic
City councilmember Kim Roney announced her bid for mayor on social media. This is Roney’s second campaign for mayor. Incumbent Esther Manheimer is also running. The primary election will be on Tuesday, March 3.
Announced
The Asheville Downtown Association and the City of Asheville announced that the Holiday Parade will return this year on Saturday, Nov. 22. The theme “Toyshop Whimsy” will inspire parade floats and other programming, including Winter Lights displays and the Winter Window Display Contest.
Community
Buncombe County has begun compiling a list of Helene anniversary events as we near one year since the storm. Explore the commemorative activities, like an art show, symposium, and history talk.
Festival
If you’re interested in joining a krewe for the next Asheville Mardi Gras parade (or even starting your own), here’s your chance. The volunteer group is hosting a meet and greet this Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Burial’s South Slope brewery for anyone interested in participating.
Try This
This fall’s biggest fashion trend? Shopping sustainably. Whether your closet needs a refresh or you’re looking for a fall decor DIY project, stop by Goodwill first. Bonus:Get $5 off when you spend $25 or more at the newly reopened Tunnel Road location — offer ends Sunday, Sept. 14.*
Real Estate
Meet Chorus Asheville — a 55+ active adult community just minutes from downtown. Now leasing, it offers stylish studio to two-bedroom apartments, wellness-focused amenities, and endless ways to connect (think: pickleball, yoga, social events, and more). Schedule a tour.*
Biz
“Straightforward, transparent, and low stress.” That’s how one business described our self-service ad portal. No sales pressure. No hidden fees. Just you, your message, and the tools to get it out there — your way. Get started.
Coming Soon
Drum roll please. AVLtoday’s Best launches on Sept. 15, which means you get the chance to tell us your fave local businesses. Get ready to cast your nominations and stay tuned for when polls open.
Category
City
Spirit strikes South Tunnel twice
The retailer is known for temporarily setting up shop in vacant storefronts. | Photo via 6AM City
Spirit Halloween has come back to haunt Tunnel Road, dressing up vacant storefronts. The seasonal chain isn’t a stranger to Asheville, but this year, we’re getting two stores — and for some reason, they’re scarily close to each other.
One Spirit Halloween will open this month in the former Bed Bath & Beyond at 83 S. Tunnel Rd., and the other will follow suit in the neighboring shopping plaza in the former Joann Fabrics at 80 S. Tunnel Rd.
We think homemade costumes are cooler anyway, so if you’re planning on dressing up, these local shops have plenty of unique threads to help with your look:
Asheville Dispensary and Plant Bar are expanding beyond West Asheville to open Nightshade, a non-alcoholic social lounge in the former Catawba Brewing space on the South Slope.
The new spot promises zero-proof cocktails and elixirs, a BASSBOSS soundsystem, and plenty of DJ sets and live shows.
Nightshade will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, Sept. 13. Follow along for more announcements from the lounge.
Your go-to item for upping fall runs and workouts: a top-selling weighted strength training vest. Choose from six pounds up to 30 pounds and add the weighted vest to runs, classes, or gym sessions to enhance calorie burning, improve your core, and increase muscle gains.
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.
My Halloween costume hall of fame includes a popcorn box (with butter yellow balloons stuck to my head, of course) and Flo from Progressive insurance (with a particularly voluminous hairdo), but this year I’m thinking about dressing up as something especially scary for Ashevillians...
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