February is National Library Lovers Month, and here in Asheville,we like big books + we cannot lie, so today we are sharing 50 local little free libraries with you. If you haven’t heard of the Little Free Library movement before, it is a nonprofit working to build community + create a love of reading by supporting neighborhood book exchanges all over the world.
Every year, millions of books are exchanged through the Little Free Library program, which increases access to books for readers of every age + demographic. They are also working to fill book deserts + have donated 1,000+ libraries through the program.
These book boxes work on the honor system, the books are free to take, and you can donate your own books for others to enjoy as well – and because these boxes are curated by members of the community from all ages and walks of life, you are sure to find a smorgasbord of literary delight.
Little libraries aren’t just unique on the inside either – they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. These libraries can be as simple as a box to hold books or as complex as the 13 story treehouse built by local wood artist Brian Monteleone you see above.
The Little Free Library website also has a map feature that allows you to see all of the locations in your area, which is useful because sometimes the address listed isn’t exact and you may need to explore the area a bit for the exact location. You’ll find these book boxes on street corners, in front yards, and even in community gardens.
And while many of these little libraries are run by individuals, there is a cluster in Asheville + the greater Buncombe County area run by The POP Project, an Asheville-based 501(c)3 nonprofit working tocreate greater access to books.
Send this list to a friend so they can *book it* to their nearest little library.
NEWS NOTES
Weather ○ 57º | Sunny |2% chance of rain
Announced ○ Earlier this year, we told you that Rosetta Buan, founder of longtime vegetarian eatery Rosetta’s Kitchen, planned to open a brand new eatery (with a whole new concept) at 68 N. Lexington Ave. this spring. As of now, we know the name: Water Street, a nod to Lexington Ave.’s former name. We’ll keep you posted as we know more. 🌊
Coronavirus ○ Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Monday afternoon, 15,068 cases and 287 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info, including waitlist numbers and vaccines distributed, here. ○ Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children is a rare COVID-19 complication that doctors believe only affectschildren around the ages of nine and 12. The condition can be fatal, as well as show up months after a mild or asymptomatic case of COVID-19. Read about a local family’s experience with the condition. (WLOS)
Civic ○ City Council will decide today whether or not to pass a law to allow a referendum allowing Asheville voters to decide on a ¼ sales tax. The proposed sales tax would go to transit, allowing the city to increase service to residents. Check out the meeting agenda here + register for the Zoom meeting, which starts at 9 a.m., here. 🚍
Arts ○ Creative Mornings is hosting WNC-based artists Lydia See + CoCo Villa on Fri., Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. for Divergent Practice: Archives, Art, and Representation, a talk on how art works to transform lives, uplift underrepresented legacies, and contribute to justice movements. Learn more about the February speakers + register here. 🎨
Ranked ○ Asheville has been ranked no. five on Rent’s Top 50 Cities for Chefs. Factors used to create this list include population, cost of grocery items, specialty grocers, food markets, and local restaurants.The list cites our “excellent craft brews and comforting Southern fare” and calls out our 35 non-chain restaurants per 10,000 residents. Congrats to our sister market, GVLtoday, for ranking no. one on the list. 🏆
Holiday ○ Purim, the Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman (an Achaemenid Persian Empire official) begins at sunset on Thurs., Feb. 25, and ends at nightfall on Fri., Feb. 26. Purim is celebrated by enjoying a feast known as a seudat Purim, exchanging gifts of food and drink known as mishloach manot, + reciting the Scroll of Esther (kriat ha-megillah). The Asheville Jewish Community Center is hosting a mishloach manot basket sale through Friday – you can buy yours here. ✡️
State ○ Are you a dolphin lover? NC House member Bobby Hanig has re-introduced a bill to name the bottlenose dolphin as the state’s official marine mammal. Bottlenose dolphins are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act + are well loved on the coast. The goal of the bill is to honor the mammal + bring a smile during the pandemic. 🐬 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Wellness ○ Fall asleep faster, sleep longer + wake up refreshed (yes, please). PhD-formulated and non-habit-forming, Proper’s natural ingredients are clinically-proven to be effective but won’t knock you out or make you groggy. Try the Discovery Trial Pack to sample five unique formulas, and get 10% off with code TODAY. 💤 Ⓟ
On Mon. night, The Lazy Diamond(4 Woodfin St.) announced they were closing the doors of the beloved dive bar after seven years, citing the difficulty of surviving both short + long-term with outdoor-only service.They opened in December of 2014 and were beloved for their live acts, karaoke nights, and vinyl-spinning DJ sets, as well as helping keep Asheville weird.
According to the post, this isn’t the end of The Lazy Diamond, just goodbye for now. Want to visit one final time? The farewell party will take place Wed., Feb. 24 from 4-9 p.m., and Trashy Vegan will be on hand for sustenance. Don’t forget your mask.
What are your favorite memories of The Lazy Diamond? Share them with us here.💎
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Talk ○ Black History Lessons on Famous Quotes| Tues., Feb. 23 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Review famous quotes written by Black authors with My Sistah Taught Me That. 💬 ○ LitCafe| Tues., Feb. 23 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual | $5 | Ann Miller Woodford discusses her book, When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African American People in Far Western North Carolina. 📖
Cause ○ Blood Drive| Tues., Feb. 23 | 1-6 p.m. | Reserve at Asheville, 11 Asheville Springs Cir. | Free | Donate blood + receive a $20 VISA gift card. 💉
Learn ○ Ennea-WHAT? Intro to the Enneagram| Tues., Feb. 23-Mar. 23 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Virtual | $299 | Center for Spiritual Wisdom Director Rob Field + Spiritual Director Paula Benton co-lead a five-week online introduction to the Enneagram. 🧠 ○ Crossing the Line- An Actor/Director Study| Tues., Feb. 23 | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Virtual | $375 | The Asheville School of Film holds a six-week course on trust, boundaries, and more between directors + actors. 🎭
PlanAhead ○The Book Club Play: Live on Zoom| Wed., Mar. 3 – Sun., Mar 21 | Wed.-Sat. at 7:30 p.m. + Sun. at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual | $25 | Life and literature collide in this smart comedy about books and the people who love them. Ⓟ
Find more of this week’s local events in our February PlanAhead.
Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in any mentioned events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.
Susy Chandler + Courtney Brown discussing current issues at Lenoir-Rhyne’s Center for Graduate Studies of Asheville | Photo by Michael Dempsey
Interested in advancing equity + inclusivity in your workplace and community?
Registration is openforLenoir-Rhyne University’s Equity & Diversity Institute (LREDI), offering tools and strategies necessary to lead social change. The program has trained equity advocates from several states + the local community, allcommitted to a positive future.
There are also monthly free, virtual “Folding Chair” sessions. Registrants can meet with LREDI students + faculty to discuss equity issues related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identification. Ⓟ
Answered: When it comes topump tracks, y’all have feelings: 47% of you said you’d totally use one, while 45% said you wouldn’t. The rest of you (3%) said you already used the ones we have in the area, while 5% said you might use them in the future.
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