Hello Thursday.
March 28 2024
Green burials aren’t new, but the topic is experiencing a resurgence in popularity in the 828. Just last month, Warren Wilson College environmental education professor Mallory McDuff released Our Last Best Act: Planning for the End of Our Lives to Protect the People and Places We Love, which examines the growing diversity of end-of-life choices in WNC, namely green burials.
Green burials minimize environmental impact. I Photo courtesy of Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
A decorated coffin. I Photo courtesy of Carolina Memorial Sanctuary
Wanna be more intentional about interment? Listen to Mallory McDuff discuss green burial in WNC — tune in to the Jan. 12 episode of Slumber Party on Asheville FM 103.3 featuring AVLtoday alum + 6AM City superstar Ali McGhee.
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Today
- Ribbon Cutting for Marquee | Thurs., Jan. 13 | 4-7 p.m. | Marquee, 36 Foundy St. | Free | Join for the grand opening of this design-centric marketplace of highly-curated, regional vendors.✂️
- African American Music Traditions in WNC | Thurs., Jan. 13 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Dr. William Turner and Dr. Ted Olson discuss African American musical contributions to WNC.
Friday
- Sly Grog Benefit | Fri., Jan. 14 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle | $8 | Enjoy performances by Call The Next Witness, John Kirby, The New Seniors, and CAM GIRL + help raise money to reopen the Sly Grog. 🎸
Saturday
- Goat Yoga - Morning Session | Sat., Jan. 15 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | 22 Franny's Farm Rd., Leicester | $25 | Yoga + goats – what more could you want? 🐐
- Saturday Meows with MPR AVL | Sat., Jan. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | PetSmart, 150 Bleachery Blvd. | Free | Come adopt a new furry friend. 🐱
Sunday
- Benefit for Sly Grog Lounge | Sun., Jan 16 | 4-8 p.m. | Leaf Global Arts, 19 Eagle St. | $15 | A benefit event with comedy, music, and puppetry. 🎵
- Sports: Get A Good Look World Tour | Sun., Jan 16 | 8 p.m. | The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave. | $17 | This band blurs the lines between synth-pop, indie-funk, and psychedelic rock. 🎶
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.
Weather
- 51º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
- Prepare for a possible winter storm on Jan. 15-16 — that’s the advice of local meteorologists. Current models predict nothing over an inch of snow, but it’s possible that conditions could intensify over the next few days. ❄️ (Asheville Citizen-Times)
Announced
- Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsey’s first food hall, The Gordon Ramsay Food Market, is headed to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Expected to open early this year, it will feature both casual dining restaurants + grab-and-go items that utilize local ingredients from Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Spicewalla, Joyce Farms + more. 🍽️ (Restaurant Hospitality)
Civic
- Asheville City Council has voted to enter a $7.75 million contract with Harper Corp. General Contractors for the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Center Expansion Project. The contract includes a new outdoor pool, solar power installation, and an expanded gymnasium. Construction is slated to begin this spring and conclude by summer 2023.
- Wanna make a positive difference in your community? The Junior League of Asheville invites you to join its organization of women dedicated to volunteerism and community betterment. Interested? Check out its spring new member experience, which begins Mon., Jan. 31. Email for more info. 💻
Eat
- Locals know Josh Michael as one of Asheville’s radio hosts, but not everyone is aware that this fourth-generation Italian-American is also a beast in the kitchen. He’s sharing his Pop Pop’s recipe for Sunday gravy, aka a hearty meat + veggie-filled tomato sauce typically served over pasta. Dig in here. 🍝 (Edible Asheville)
Arts
- Flat Rock Playhouse has announced its lineup for the 2022 season and we must say, it looks pretty great. Featuring popular productions including West Side Story and Mamma Mia! as well as music from greats like Neil Diamond + Elton John, this lineup is music to our ears. Get season subscriptions.
Health
- Citing a “very rapid increase” in positive COVID-19 infections rates + hospitalizations, local health officials are encouraging folks to “limit interactions” with others where possible. Need a vaccine? Find locations and availability info here. 💉 (Asheville Citizen-Times)
State
- The NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission has awarded over $4 million in grants to agricultural + economic initiatives across the state. In WNC, recipients include the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, Mountain Valleys Resource Conservation and Development Council, Western North Carolina Agricultural Options, and Waynesville Public Market. 💰 (Smoky Mountain News)
Read
- Calling all true crime fanatics. In her latest book, “Murder in the Mountains: Historic True Crime in Western North Carolina,” local author Nadia Dean explores 10 grisly regional crimes that expose how our interpretation of the law is shaped by cultural norms. 📙 (Mountain Xpress)
Asked
- Reader Mary P. has asked us for help finding a venue for a birthday party. Her needs? A large + affordable indoor rental space with an option to go outdoors. The space doesn’t need to be a restaurant, because the event will be catered. Please send your suggestions here. 🎉
Listen
- UNC Asheville’s Department of Management and Accountancy recently released a new podcast: “Conversations for the Curious Mind.” Episodes feature UNC Asheville faculty across academic disciplines, as well as professionals and industry leaders, engaging in critical conversations. 🎧*
Giveaway
- The Lobster Trap + Better Thymes are teaming up to prove just how well hot sauce and seafood go together with an Instagram giveaway, giving folks a chance to win a Lobster Trap gift certificate and a sample pack of Better Thymes hot sauces.🔥*
*This paid content, brought to you by our advertising partners, helps make this newsletter free.
“Stained with Glass: Vitreograph Prints from the Studio of Harvey K. Littleton” opened yesterday at the Asheville Art Museum.
Featuring makers who worked with Littleton, known as the father of the studio glass movement, the new exhibition showcases pieces created through a process of etched glass, ink, and paper. The result is a wholly unique and innovative exhibition that’s reminiscent of stained glass and gives a nod to WNC’s studio glass roots. Check it out now through May 23.
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Editor's Pick: We love that y'all are hungry for local history. Some of the folks you told us you want to learn more about include Cox (of Cox Ave) Ashland (of Ashland Ave), Col. John Patton, J. Craig Madison + William Holland Thomas. Stay tuned, dear readers.
Missed yesterday's newsletter? Get acquainted with photographer George Masa, aka the Ansel Adams of Appalachia.
AVLtoday Team
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Sales: Helen
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