Think you could make it through a night in Asheville’s wilds? If your survival skills need a little brushing up, or maybe you’re still mastering the basics, look no further than local hands-on classes teaching you how to reconnect with nature + live sustainably off the land.
No Taste Like Home's Alan Muskat puts the fun in fungi. I Photo courtesy of No Taste Like Home
No Taste Like Home
- The most popular option offered by this nature education organization is the Foraging Tour, a guided ramble to find wild fruits, nuts, greens + sometimes even mushrooms. It features on-site tasting with an option for a local restaurant to cook up your finds. Anyone else thinking this would make a great holiday gift? The company also offers a Morel + Ramp tour and a Wild Food Immersion, a 10-week course about edible plants + medicine in nature.
Wild Abundance
- Wild Abundance specializes in teaching natural-world skills “foundational to human culture for millennia.” Enrollment for a virtual Hide Tanning Course is open through Dec. 1, with an upcoming New Year’s sale to enroll in next year’s online + in-person classes. Pro tip: The in-person classes tend to fill up quickly, so get on the waitlist now for courses like the four-day Survival Skills Class offered next spring.
Firefly Gathering
- For those looking for an immersive, multi-day experience, the annual Firefly Gathering at Deerfields in Mills River brings together learners + instructors for over 300 classes like making herbal medicine, food preservation, and more. Next year’s gathering takes place July 7-12, with first tickets going on sale New Year’s Eve. Other ongoing classes here.
Holistic Survival School
Foraging in nature is always more fun with a friend — share this story with a fellow free spirit.
Which survival skill do you feel most confident in?
- Building a fire
- Finding edible berries to eat
- Tanning a hide
- Making my own bow
Today
- Pint Night | Tues., Nov. 23 | 3-9 p.m. | Archetype Brewing, 265 Haywood Rd. | $4 | Enjoy a $4 core beer. 🍻
- Puke Pop-up | Tues., Nov. 23 | 5 p.m.-12 a.m. | The Odditorium, 1045 Haywood Rd. | Various prices | Join to eat Stu Helm and Chef Ben Hester’s unique dishes, including the “gut bomb burrito” and “dumpster dive salad.” 🌯
- Sippin’ Santa Pop-Up Cocktail Bar | Tues., Nov. 23-Sat., Jan. 1, 2022 | Various times | Montford Rooftop Bar | Free | Kitschy, festive décor and a tiki-themed cocktail menu with a rooftop view. 🎅
- Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tues., Nov. 23-Wed., Nov. 24 | 6 p.m. | Rabbit Rabbit, 75 Coxe Ave. | Free | Enjoy this classic movie for free. 🎥
- Functional Agility Training | Tues., Nov. 23 | 4:15-7:15 p.m. | Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Rd. | Free | Join the Asheville Fit Tribe Group for a 60-minute functional agility workout.👟
Wednesday
- Friends Trivia Night | Wed., Nov. 24 | 6 p.m. | Bold Rock Hard Cider, 72 School House Rd., Mills River | Free | Test your knowledge on the iconic TV show Friends.
- Heart of the Matter Meditation | Wed., Nov. 24 | 7-9 p.m. | Virtual | Donation based | Register to attend this meditation class suitable for all experience levels.
- Virtual Rise and Write-In | Wed., Nov. 24 | 9-10 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Register to connect with other writers and start writing a novel. ✍️
Thursday
- South Asheville Turkey Trot 5K | Thurs., Nov. 25 | 9 a.m. | Biltmore Park Town Square, Town Square Blvd. | $20+ | Attend this classic tradition benefiting Sheep Dog Impact Assistance. 🦃
- Thanksgiving at Lake Logan | Thurs., Nov. 25 | 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. | Lake Logan, 25 Wormy Chestnut Ln., Canton | $35 | Eat and drink by the lake this Thanksgiving.
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.
Do you ever just want to get away? City Editor Brook here, and I managed to experience that revitalized feeling without venturing far during a recent visit to Biltmore. Maybe best of all, I discovered all the perks of being an Annual Passholder — just in time for the holidays.
Biltmore’s grandeur really must be seen to be believed | Photo by the AVLtoday team
What we tried (with pricing):
The Walled Garden was full of thousands of multi-hued mums that practically glowed. One perk of being an Annual Passholder is access to the estate before and after regular opening hours, so I didn't feel rushed while exploring.
The Conservatory brimmed with lush plants + flowers, and I was positively enthralled. As an Annual Passholder, I get unlimited daytime visits to the estate year-round, so I can return anytime I want without paying the $66 daytime admission fee. Pro tip: Annual Passes (normally $249) are on sale for $199 through Dec. 21. (Hint: These make a great Christmas or Hanukkah gift.)*
Weather
- 44º | Sunny | 3% chance of rain
Civic
- Buncombe County Government offices will be closed Nov. 25-26. Additionally, Buncombe County Parks, Buncombe County Landfill and Transfer Station + Waste Pro will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. All libraries will be closed Nov. 25-29. 📆
Announced
- The North Carolina Outward Bound School has launched a fellowship for BIPOC staff. Designed for folks that have been historically excluded from the outdoor professional community, participants in the 6-month paid position can plan to work in the roles of Field Instructor or Logistics Coordinator. Apply.
Development
- Developers have submitted plans for 45 new townhomes in West Asheville. The project’s plans include 15 two-story buildings on over 8 wooded acres, as well as a single road connecting to Selwyn Rd. The project will head to the city's Technical Review Committee on Dec. 6. 🏗️ (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Arts
- The WNC Historical Association has announced five finalists for the 2021 Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award: Mary Othella Burnette, Wayne Caldwell, Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, Vicki Lane + Matthew Wimberley. The winner will receive a $2,500 prize during a virtual event Thurs., Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Register. 📚
Eat
- The time is always right for mashed potatoes. And if you’re looking for a new recipe to try this holiday, look no further than Miss Mary — chef at Haywood Street Congregation’s Downtown Welcome Table. She’s sharing her recipe for Garlic Mashed Potatoes here and it looks incredible. 🥔
- Not feeling turkey this Thanksgiving? The Trashy Vegan Food Truck will be giving away free burgers + fries from 12-4 p.m. (or until supplies run out) at Fleetwood’s (496 Haywood Rd.) We think that is super cool. 🍔
Watch
- To commemorate World AIDS Day on Wed., Dec. 1, WNCAP is partnering with the Asheville Art Museum and NYC-based Visual AIDS with a special exhibit + screening. The new documentary ENDURING CARE will play throughout the day, and the installation includes local community members and their tales of life with HIV.
Trending
- Hey all you cool cats + kittens. Former Oklahoma zookeeper and star of the Netflix documentary series “Tiger King,” Joe Exotic has been transferred to a North Carolina medical facility for federal inmates following his cancer diagnosis. (WRAL)
Home
- Did you know that even the smallest traces of heavy metal in your drinking water can cause long-term health issues? Fortunately, your local plumber can help test your water quality to make sure it’s safe. Learn more.🚰*
Biz
- There's a reason over 3 million people start their day with Morning Brew, the daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Morning Brew knows how to keep readers informed + entertained — for free. Check it out.*
Featured Home
A local family prepared pet-friendly Thanksgiving meals for the homeless dogs + cats currently in the care of the Asheville Humane Society. This is the third year in a row the family has done this, and in that time they’ve created more than 300 meals.
While the series of pics is heartwarming, what we love best is the love + generosity this family has shown the animals. Wanna help? Check out how to support AHS here. 🐾
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AVLtoday Team
Editorial: Brook, Laura, Sarah, Erin
Sales: Helen
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