What we talked about in July👇

It’s nearly August, folks. And what a sweet time it has been. ☀️ As we savor the last bits of summer, let’s look back on our favorite topics from the last month.

Top conversations

The deets on Delta-8, aka ‘marijuana lite’

You Ashevillians really lived up to your “green” reputation with your keen interest in Delta-8, the legal cannabis plant product. Nearly 24,000 of you clicked on this article, making it the most-read article on our website.

The absolute best French fries

In honor of National French Fry Day, we paid homage to the humble potato in its finest form: sliced, fried, and salted to perfection. We’re glad to know that your love for these fries does not lie.

Shipping container buildings

We broke down the pros + cons of using repurposed metal shipping containers for the creation of local homes + other buildings, and y’all were here for it.

Top clicked links

Esri’s Tapestry Map

You were super interested to learn more about your neighborhood trends via Esri’s interactive Tapestry map. Pssst, if you’re confused accessing the map: scroll about halfway down the page to where it says “explore your zip code” to begin.

A guide to Asheville, NC’s most marvelous murals

Sometimes inspirational, sometimes provocative, and always just plain cool, we made a guide to the city’s most marvelous murals.

Must-try fried chicken sandwiches

We’re not surprised that Asheville’s fried chicken sandwiches got so many clicks — but we are nonetheless thrilled that so many of you now know exactly where to go for a juicy, crispy + tender chicken fix.

Top comments

On Asheville’s fireworks display

"This is all real I assure you all 😂. Like @bsundheim said. It’s a long exposure to capture all of them." — @justintclark

On firefly names

“Been going with ‘glitter bugs’ lately” — @nicholsharingstories

On our local celebrity snake Sutra

"Is this soft serve fro-yo?" — @theslowexotic

#MUSTDO

Try This

Cat Video Fest | Fri., July 30-Sun., Aug. 1 | 11:30 a.m. | Grail Moviehouse, 17 Foundy St. | $12 | A compilation reel of hilarious cat clips + help raise money for local cats in need. 🐱

Show

Sane Voids | Fri., July 30 | 9 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave. | $12 | Psychedelic inspired hard rock. 🎶
The Old Chevrolette Set | Fri., July 30 | 8-10:30 p.m. | Weihaus, 86 Patton Ave | $5 | A honky tonkin, classic country party. Proof of vaccination required. 🤠

Biz

NC IDEA Fall 2021 Grants Information Session | Fri., July 30 | 8:30-10 a.m. | The Hatch Building, 45 S. French Broad Ave. | Free | Learn about the NC IDEA grant review process, network with the team and other founders + meet some previous grant awardees. 📝

Saturday

Stu Helm's Punk Rock Hot Dog's Competition | Sat., July 31 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Asheville Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St. | $50 | Try hotdogs created and curated by local chefs + support the Asheville Masonic Temple fundraiser. 🌭
Southside Community Garden Party and Farmers Market | Sat., July 31 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Edington Center, 133 Livingston St. | Free | Support + celebrate local black farmers and artisans. 🥕
Fishing Festival | Sat., July 31 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Bold Rock Mills River, 72 School House Rd. | Free | Enjoy the inaugural fest and a slew of local vendors including Wehrloom Asheville Meadery, Carolina Bee Farm + The Groovy Flower. 🎣
The American Songbag | Sat., July 31 | 7 p.m. | | The Center for Arts & Entertainment, 125 S. Main St., Hendersonville | $26+ | Enjoy a selection of pieces by Anton Dvorak, William Grant Still, Nina Simone + more. 🎶

Sunday

Asheville Drag Brunch | Sun., Aug. 1 | 2 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $25+ | Support Youth OUTright with family-friendly drag queens. 💋
2021 Awards Night & "Best Of" Screening | Sun., Aug. 1 | 5 p.m. | The Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Ave. | $15 | Check out the top short films of the 48 Hour Film Festival. 🎬

Find more of the weekend’s local events in our August PlanAhead.

MORE OF THIS WEEKEND'S EVENTS HERE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

88º | Partly cloudy | 19% chance of rain

Civic

Asheville City Council voted 5-2 to approve a modified version of the proposed noise ordinance. The new sound limits for downtown (with permitted exceptions) will be 72 decibels during the day (about the sound of a vacuum cleaner) and decrease after 11 p.m. The new rules will take effect Wed., Sept. 15. 🔊 (Mountain Xpress)
The City of Asheville has vacancies for the African-American Heritage Commission, Board of Electrical Examiners, Buncombe TDA, Historic Resources Commission, Transit Committee, Housing Authority, Human Relations Commission + more. Applications are due by Mon., Aug. 9 at 5 p.m.

ComingSoon

New Origin Brewing (131 Thompson St.), a new startup brewery southeast of the Kenilworth neighborhood, will open on Fri., Aug. 6. The 1,500 sqft space will include a small taproom where folks can sample creations from brewer Dan Juhnke. There will also be the option to purchase cans. 🍺

Coronavirus

COVID-19 hospitalizations are on the rise at Mission Health and, according to WLOS, it’s creating concern among hospital leaders. As of July 29, Mission Health has 56 COVID-19 patients system-wide. Just 3 weeks ago, there were only 7 hospitalized patients system-wide.
Check out the latest COVID-19 stats for NC from the Department of Health and Human Services here. As of Thursday afternoon, 18,681 cases and 327 deaths have been reported in Buncombe County. See more Buncombe County-specific info here.

State

Yesterday, Gov. Cooper issued a new executive order requiring state employees in Cabinet agencies to show proof of vaccination. Unvaccinated employees must be tested weekly + will be required to wear a mask. Cooper also encourages businesses and schools to follow the new CDC guidelines.

WaterCooler

We’re so proud of local Olympian Evy Leibfarth, who made it to the semifinals in women’s slalom canoe. Evy battled stifling Tokyo heat to place in sixth and seventh respectively in her first 2 runs; however, after placing no. 18 on July 19, she was unable to advance to the finals, which was ultimately won by Australia.

Edu

A-B Tech will offer a new cyber forensics certification course this fall. Pete Kennedy, Chair of the Computer Technologies program, says that the field is expected to grow over 30% by 2029, and would be a promising career option. Find more information. 💻 (WLOS)

DYK

The Judaculla Rock, a 240 sqft boulder near Cullowhee (~ an hour west), is covered in curious carvings which are ~thousands of years old. While archaeologists aren’t entirely sure, the leading theory is that it served as a 3-D map of local terrain for the native Cherokee settlement. 🪨 (Mountain Xpress)

Arts

Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Montford Park Players will open The Sword in the Stone at Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre (90 Gay St.). The Arthurian legend follows a young King Arthur and the wizard Merlin on a family-friendly adventure. Performances take place Fri.-Sun. and run through Aug. 28. Reserve your free ticket. 🎭

Job

Love brand storytelling? Have a communications background? Want to write paid content that’s actually worth reading? 6AM City is still accepting applications for our Branded Content Creator position. This remote role will generate creative campaign strategies and write content for clients across all soon-to-be 24 markets. See details + apply before it’s closed.

Travel

Meet Campspot, a website (and mobile app) that makes it easy to book your next camping trip. From RV parks to cabins to glamp-sites, users can find + book all in one place while enjoying Campspot’s lowest price guarantee. 🏕️ Ⓟ

Wellness

OLLY makes benefit-based supplements that are just as effective as they are delightful + delicious so that you can pursue good health without compromise. Ⓟ

FeaturedJob

Maintenance Technician | Pegasus Residential | Job requirements include customer service skills, enthusiasm, and proficiency in the areas of plumbing, painting, electrical, HVAC, pool maintenance, drywall + minor carpentry (or an aptitude to learn these skills). Ⓟ