January 25, 2022 - Mocktails, Bob Dylan + Outhouse Races

Hello Friday.

February 04 2022

Why stop at Dry January? There are plenty of local restaurants + bars serving up handcrafted, booze-free cocktails year-round. Here are some of our favorite sips that will get you lit sans spirits.

This drink is just so incredibly lovely. I Photo Insert Name

Jazz Hands I Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway St.

Do you love a beverage that’s almost too pretty to drink? This mocktail, created by Little Jumbo’s head bartender, features almond-flavored syrup, orgeat, lemon, lavender bitters, cardamom, Seedlip Drinks’ citrus alcohol-free spirits, and is garnished with a strawberry.

Happy L’il Cloud I The Buchi Bar, 116 N. Lexington Ave.

Everyone loves happy l’il clouds, and this one tastes as sublime as Bob Ross’ look. Made with rich coconut cream, orange dreamsicle syrup, burlesque bitters, and cherry juice, it’s so good you’ll want to drink it all year. Want even more booze-free Buchi drinks? Check out seven of its mocktail recipes, or stop into the bar itself and enjoy a flight of flavors.

Don’t you just want to jump in and drink your way out? I Photo via @devilsfootbrew

The Red Herring I Goldfinch Cocktails & Kitchen, 122 Cherry St., Black Mountain

Tired of winter? Toss back a glass of straight liquid sunshine with this mocktail which highlights the sweet taste of summer cherries by blending simple syrup, muddled mint + sparkling cherry limeade from Devil’s Foot. Oh, and you can make it yourself thanks to the recipe.

The Ginger Peach Spritz I The Montford Rooftop Bar, 199 Haywood St.

Sweet, tart, and a little bit spicy, this drink features Devil’s Foot sparkling peach lemonade for some festive bubbles. Oh, and if you’re not feeling like being social and sipping it from The Montford’s scenic rooftop bar, you can opt to whip up this drink at home. Get the recipe.

TWO MORE MUST-TRY MOCKTAILS HERE

Pass this story around to all your sober + sober-curious friends + family.

EVENTS

Today

American Spiritual Ensemble | Tues., Jan. 25 | 7:30 p.m. | Wortham Center, 18 Biltmore Ave. | $42 | Watch a dynamic and soul-stirring repertoire of songs that highlights the Black experience.

Wednesday

Weird Art Welcome Party | Wed., Jan. 26 | 7-9:30 p.m. | Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway St. | Free | Celebrate artist Wade Asa’s latest four-eyed, mystical art installation.
Ryley Walker | Wed., Jan. 26 | 7 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $15 | Rock out with the unembellished, bluesy tunes of this midwestern artist. 🎸
Pop-Up Game Nights | Wed., Jan. 26 | 7 p.m.-12 a.m. | Asheville Beauty Academy, 28 Broadway St. | $5 | Play from a large selection of classic board games. 🎲
Intro to QuickBooks Online | Wed., Jan. 26 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Virtual | $25 | Mountain BizWorks presents an overview of QuickBooks and the different subscription levels + dashboards.

Thursday

WomanUP Celebration | Thurs., Jan. 27 | 8-10 a.m. | Crowne Plaza Resort – Expo Center, 1 Resort Dr. | $50+ | Honor the creativity of women in business and hear a keynote speech Deliberate Creativity: Innovate to Thrive from Dr. Amy Climer.
Railroad Earth | Thurs., Jan. 27 | 8 p.m. | The Orange Peel | $29 | Listen to these bluegrass-inspired artists from New Jersey. 🎶
Jeremy Boger and The Golden Eagles: Albums Release Show | Thurs., Jan. 27 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $10 | Celebrate this hometown Americana band’s latest EP release.

Plan Ahead

K-8th grade open house | Fri., Feb. 4 | 9:15-10:30 a.m. | The Learning Community School, 1220 Bee Tree Rd., Swannanoa | Free | Learn about the blend of rigorous academics, hands-on learning, outdoor education, service learning + more — virtual and in-person options available.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

THERE’S STILL FUN TO BE HAD

JOB

Join one of the fastest-growing job fields in Asheville

Aeroflow Healthcare has entry-level through experienced job openings with opportunities in human resources, sales, customer service, marketing, and more | Photo via Pexels

Fiction: All healthcare positions take place inside a hospital.

Fact: Employment in healthcare is projected to add 2.6 million jobs nationally and grow 16% from 2020 to 2030 — much faster than the average for all occupations.

Enter: Aeroflow Healthcare.

As one of the fastest-growing companies in WNC with cutting-edge technology and top-tier patient support, Aeroflow Healthcare has both entry-level + experienced job opportunities available and expects to add 100+ new positions in 2022 in areas including:

IT
Marketing
Finance
Sales
Customer Service*

SEE CURRENT OPENINGS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

47º | Mostly cloudy | 8% chance of rain

Announced

The one + only Bob Dylan is returning to Asheville. On Sat., April 2, the singer-songwriter and winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature will perform at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Wanna go? Set an alarm and get your hands on tix when they go on sale Fri., Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. 🎟️

Civic

The City of Asheville will discuss food permitting for large groups in today’s Public Safety meeting. You can learn more about this conversation here + join the discussion at 11 a.m.
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority will meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. via Zoom. On the agenda: financial reports for November + December 2021, Finance Committee appointments, and an update from the Asheville Regional Airport. Requests for public comment are due by 12 p.m. today.

Development

The City’s Design Review Committee has approved a small, four story hotel to be built near the Basilica of St. Lawrence. Originally proposed as a condominium project, it’s dubbed the 123 Haywood Project because it’s planned for 123 Haywood St. (just east of the I-240 East on ramp). 🏗️ (WLOS)

Number

$2.8 million. That’s the cost of the upcoming Johnston Boulevard project, which will bring roughly 4,500 ft. of new sidewalk to West Asheville + increase pedestrian connection to local schools. Running from Patton Avenue to Iona Circle near Roger Farmer Memorial Park, it’s expected to be completed later this year. (WLOS)

Active

Have you herd the news? Registration for the WNC Nature Center’s Running of the Goats 5K and Nature Walk opens today. The second annual event also offers a virtual option and a costume contest. The top finishers and top three costume winners will also receive prizes. 🐐

Legacy

Conservationist and founder of nonprofit RiverLink Karen Cragnolin has died. She is credited as pioneering the revitalization of the French Broad River + the River Arts District, as well as for helping establish Carrier and French Broad River parks, the Wilma Dykeman Greenway, and the planned Karen Cragnolin Park. (Asheville Citizen-Times)

Ranked

Asheville has ranked tenth in TripAdvisor’s US Trending Destinations. Our city earned high marks for its natural beauty, deliciously sustainable local food scene, and high number of farmers markets + microbreweries. When you’re hot, you’re hot.

Pets

If you’ve ever wanted a family portrait with your pups, now’s your chance. The second annual Furr-Ever Valentine event returns to Ginger’s Revenge Sat., Feb. 12-Sun., Feb. 13. Depending on the package, suggested donations are $10 and $15. Best of all? All donations go to support the Asheville Humane Society. 🐶

Regional

As the Town of Canton looks to rebuild town facilities damaged by flooding last August, its focus is on all-abilities playgrounds. After the town’s playground at Recreation Park suffered serious damage, city leaders are looking to enlarge + improve playground facilities for Haywood County’s estimated 1,000 special needs children. (Smoky Mountain News)

Arts

Want to make a pair of comfy, custom leather kicks for yourself? John C. Campbell Folk School is hosting shoemaking classes Sun., March 13-Sat., March 19 + Sun., April 24-Fri., April 29. Call 1-800-FOLK-SCH to register. 👞*

Featured Job

Enza HOME Furnishings and Bedding is looking to fill a Furniture Sales and Design role. This position requires an experienced salesperson who understands the concept of turning a customer into a client. Email your resume to [email protected] or bring your resume during store hours to apply.*

Featured Home

Private and unique cabin duo on 8+ acres in gorgeous Old Fort area | 2 BD, 2 BA | $799,000 | This property includes two cabins — the first could be a personal residence while the second could be a business (complete with a reception area + offices).*

*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.

POST OF THE DAY

Master of the outhouse

📸 @discoverjacksonnc

Ever wondered what it’s like to race an outhouse down a ski slope? If you hadn’t before, we bet you are now. Get your chance come Sat., Feb. 19 from 3-4 p.m. when the Sapphire Valley Resort holds its annual Outhouse Race, where competitors “drag race” homemade, colorfully decorated outhouses downhill on skis.

Outhouses can be as simple or elaborate as you want, and the rules are simple: two people push the outhouse, while another sits inside on the throne.

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THE WRAP

Editor’s pick: Want even more Buchi mocktail (or cocktail) action? May we suggest the AVLtoday team’s very own original drink: The Apple-achian.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get the scoop on Buncombe’s 2043 Comprehensive Plan.