Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Friday, February 17, 2023
Live Stream | Paz Pardo presents The Shamshine Blind in conversation with Leah Hampton
Feb 17 @ 6:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore

This live streamed virtual event is free but registration is required. Please click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


The Shamshine Blind

A beguiling blend of noir detective story and science fiction perfect for fans of Michael Chabon and Emily St. John Mandel, this unputdownable debut imagines a world where emotions have been weaponized, and a small-town law enforcement agent uncovers a conspiracy to take down what’s left of American democracy.

In an alternate 2009, the United States has been a second-rate power for a quarter of a century, ever since Argentina’s victory in the Falkland’s War thanks to their development of “psychopigments.” Created as weapons, these colorful chemicals can produce almost any human emotion upon contact, and they have been embraced in the US as both pharmaceutical cure-alls and popular recreational drugs. Black market traders illegally sell everything from Blackberry Purple (which causes terror) to Sunshine Yellow (which delivers happiness).

Psychopigment Enforcement Agent Kay Curtida works a beat in Daly City, just outside the ruins of San Francisco, chasing down smalltime crooks. But when an old friend shows up with a tantalizing lead on a career-making case, Curtida’s humdrum existence suddenly gets a boost. Little does she know that this case will send her down a tangled path of conspiracy and lead to an overdue reckoning with her family and with the truth of her own emotions.

Told in the voice of a funny, brooding, Latinx Sam Spade, The Shamshine Blind is “a rip-roaring beautifully crafted mash-up of cop noir, sci-fi, and alt-history that left me dazzled by its prescience and literary zing” (Leah Hampton, author of F*ckface).

Paz Pardo is an Argentine-American award-winning playwright and novelist. She received her MFA from the Michener Center for Writers, her undergraduate degree from Stanford University, and is the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship. Raised in America, she currently lives in Argentina. The Shamshine Blind is her first novel. Find out more at PazSays.com.

Leah Hampton writes about Appalachia, corpses, ecoanxiety, and smart women. She currently serves as the Environmental Humanities Fellow in Residence at the University of Idaho. Her debut collection, F*ckface and Other Stories, was released by Henry Holt and was named one of the best books of 2020 by The Paris Review, the New York Public Library, Slate, and others. A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers, she has been awarded multiple prizes and fellowships including UT-Austin’s Keene Prize for Literature and the Phillip Roth residency at the Stadler Center for Poetry. Her work has appeared in EcotoneGuernicaMcSweeneysElectric LiteraturestorySouthLitHub, and many other elsewheres. She lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Learn more at leahkhampton.com

 

CALENDAR GIRLS
Feb 17 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

By: Tim Firth
Based on the Miramax motion picture by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Director: Brandi Andrade

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Rating: Mature due to adult situations, humor, and language

Tim Firth’s hilarious play is based on the true story of eleven middle-aged women who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund in 1999. When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women’s Institute to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, assisted by hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. News of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in Yorkshire, England. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.

Underwear Comedy Party at GiGi’s Underground
Feb 17 @ 10:30 pm
GiGi's Underground

Modelface Comedy presents AVL Underground Comedy at GiGi’s Underground

Underwear Comedy Party is a stand-up comedy show featuring comedians performing in nothing but their undies. The audience is also encouraged to be in their underwear!!!

Hosted by Alyx Libby

featuring TBA

ages 21+

doors at 10pm, show at 10:30pm

Saturday, February 18, 2023
Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 18 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Feb 18 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

LEARN MORE THIS YEAR

Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Bryson City, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Collegedale, TN
  • Greenville, SC

Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!

Dark Horse Ultra 5 Mile – 25k – 50k – + Gravel Grinder Race
Feb 18 @ 9:00 am
Tryon Equestrian Center

Dark Horse Ultra

50k – 25k – 5 Mile – Gravel/Mountain Cycling Event

Tryon Equestrian Center

February 18th & 19th

Introducing our annual Dark Horse Ultra we are excited to bring runners to the amazing facilities that spread out over 200 acres of roaming land, trails, and equestrian activities. Escape your day-to-day life and enjoy a romantic getaway in South Carolina’s beautiful Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Indulge your senses with the natural beauty our lands have to offer while the normal hustle and bustle of your life fades away.
Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) is the ultimate destination for all who love horses, outdoor living, and an active lifestyle. Home of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, TIEC offers first-class facilities for equestrian events of all levels and disciplines. Located in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, NC, the competition experience is complemented by diverse onsite restaurants, a variety of shops, relaxing lodging getaways, family entertainment, and more.
Upstate Race Series – Upcoming Events HERE
Join us for one of our 30 events throughout the year. With something for everyone we have races that extend throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. From Lake Hartwell through the Foothill Mountain Range. Locations that cover all of the State Park systems into the Streets of Anderson, Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Spartanburg. We have events that offer opportunity to every level of runner looking to take on their next challenge!

Events 

  • What: 5 Mile Midnight Race, 25k, 50k, Gravel Cycling Race
  • When: February 18th & 19th (See Schedule Below)
  • Where: Tryon Equestrian Center (Farm Location)
  • 2659 Sandy Plains Rd Tryon, NC 28782
  • Packet Pickup 1 Hour Prior to your race start time near starting line
  • Overall Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the race
  • Age Group Awards will be recognized in the results tab and our point series.
  • Our Events Are
    • Walker Friendly
    • Dog Friendly

Participants Receive

  • Finisher Medal
  • Custom Race Logo Sticker
  • Upstate Ultra Sticker
  • Complimentary Race Photos
  • Camping Offered During Registration
  • Custom Race Bib
  • Upstate Race Series Crew Socks

Schedule

  • Friday
    • Camping Set Up for participants along the course will begin at 4pm=
  • Saturday
    • 50k – Saturday February 18th @ 9:00am
    • 25k – Saturday February 18th @ 9:00am
  • Sunday
    • 5 Mile Night Run @ Midnight (Sunday 12:00am) on September 25th
    • 50k Race Mountain/Gravel Cycling Event @ 10:00am
    • Introducing our annual Dark Horse Psychlo-X we are excited to bring mtb/gravel riders to the amazing facilities that spread out over hundreds of acres of roaming land, trails, and equestrian activities. Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort is the ultimate international destination for all who love horses, outdoor living and an active lifestyle.  Tryon Resort is an iconic, year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment.
  • The Race is to complete as many 4.2 mile loops as you can in 4 hours.
    • 4 hrs: Noon-4pm
    • 4.2 miles / 426′ of gain
    • 60% hard pack – 35% gravel/grass – 5% road
    • Ideal set up: MTB/Gravel tubeless 40mm

The Course Description 

  • Course preview: HERE
  • Course Map HERE
  • The course consists of a 4.2 mile loop that has 426 feet of elevation per loop. The course consists of packed dirt, a few grass sections, and a series of service gravel paths around the lake. The course will have a series of directional arrows that will be placed at all intersections. Please follow all directional arrows to stay on course.

Great Backyard Bird Count Day
Feb 18 @ 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
NC Arboretum

The Arboretum will celebrate its Great Backyard Bird Count Day with beginner bird walks, bird crafts and live bird demonstrations available to the public. This is in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count, an international effort to encourage people of all ages to report their observations of birds to help scientists learn about their populations. This program is free; however, standard non-member parking fees apply.

 

10:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Indoor Exhibitors Education Center Lobby
10:00 a.m. through 2:30 p.m. Bird Mist Netting Demonstration Bird-Friendly Garden
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Beginning Bird Walk 1 Starting at Education Center Lobby
2:30 p.m. Live Raptor Demonstration Locke Craig and Classroom 2
1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Beginning Bird Walk 2 Starting at Education Center Lobby
Land of the Sky 101 Book Club
Feb 18 @ 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Pack Memorial Library

Land of the Sky 101 is a community learning circle for those who are interested in an introduction to the history of Asheville, Buncombe County and Western North Carolina. A nine -part series of readings and discussions is modeled after the themes of the exhibit “An Incomplete History of Buncombe County” mounted in the BCSC reading room. From October 2022 through July 2023 (with a break in December) participants will explore the history of our region focusing on themes ranging from ancient history to the late 20th century revitalization of the Downtown area.

Read
Each month readers can choose from two selections; one light read like a novel, or groups of essays and poems, and one rigorous non-fiction read written by an expert on the subject. Pick one or both! The choice is yours!

Learn
Each session will be facilitated by a Buncombe County Special Collections librarian or special guest who will share their expert knowledge, additional resources, and set the context for the conversation.

Discuss
At least 45 minutes of each session will be set aside for group discussion. The learning circle is a place to get curious about your community and meet new friends. Come for the history, stay for the fellowship!
Click here to view a complete list of dates and titles.

Registration is limited and required. Sessions for the 2022-2023 cohort will be held at 10:30 am on the third Saturday of each month at Pack Memorial Library. Sessions run from October 2022 until July 2023. Your registration will reserve your place for all nine sessions, and we hope participants will plan to attend each meeting.  If you cannot attend a session, please let us know in advance so we may allow those on the waiting list to participate.

Sunset at the Swinging Bridge
Feb 18 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Grandfather Mountain

All Sunset at the Swinging Bridge participants will need to exit the park’s gates by 7 p.m. A picture-perfect sunset, unfortunately, cannot be guaranteed.

Tickets go on sale below at 10 a.m. Monday, January 9:

  • Adult: $40
  • Child (4-12): $24
  • Bridge Club Member: $14

This event is limited to 150 guests. If the event is sold out, a waiting list will be available.

Cancellation/Refund Policy
The majority of Grandfather Mountain events generally sell out and have a waiting list. If you cannot attend this event, please let us know. Full refunds will be given to individuals who reach out by Fri., Feb. 10. This allows time for individuals on the waiting list to make accommodations to attend the event. To cancel your registration, email [email protected] or call 828-733-2013, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

If Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation cancels the event due to inclement weather, full refunds will be given. If GMSF is to have to cancel the event, an announcement will be made by noon the day before (February 17).

CALENDAR GIRLS
Feb 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

By: Tim Firth
Based on the Miramax motion picture by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Director: Brandi Andrade

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Rating: Mature due to adult situations, humor, and language

Tim Firth’s hilarious play is based on the true story of eleven middle-aged women who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund in 1999. When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women’s Institute to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, assisted by hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. News of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in Yorkshire, England. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.

Katt Williams – 2023 and Me Tour
Feb 18 @ 8:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Comedy legend and Emmy® Award-winning actor, Katt Williams, announces his “2023 and Me” tour is coming to Bon Secours Wellness Arena on February 18 performing an all-new show following the success of his “World War III” tour. Tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Williams has earned a worldwide reputation as one of today’s top entertainers, having developed a career seeded with thousands of sold-out arenas, an expansive list of starring roles on the small screen and memorable performances in major box office hits. His latest stand-up special, “Katt Williams: World War III,” premiered May 17 on Netflix. Filmed at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, “World War III” explores the subject of conspiracy theories, delivering a realistic but humorous critique of some of the most bizarre and alarmingly prevalent theories.

Since performing his first stand-up show as a teenager, Williams has been taking the comedy world by storm. He quickly developed a unique style of standup that highlights articulate and sharp dialogue, rooted in conversations reflecting the American political landscape. By 1999, he had cultivated a loyal fan base and was performing on some of the most notable comedy stages in the nation. After conquering the stage, Williams shifted his focus into film and television. In 2002, Williams made his onscreen debut as a guest star on “NYPD Blue.” Soon after, Williams began to consistently book television appearances, before landing his first feature film role as Money Mike in “Friday After Next.” Following his breakout performance in the sequel to “Friday,” Williams captured the attention of directors, producers, and audiences in a major way, eventually racking up an extensive list of memorable onscreen appearances including “Father Figures,” “Norbit,” “Scary Movie V,” “Epic Movie,” “Bastards,” “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” “The Boondocks,” “Wild ‘n Out,” “The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2,” and his guest role in “Atlanta,” which earned him a Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.  Celebrated for his brilliance and ingenuity on stage, Williams is also known for his epic standup specials, including “The Pimp Chronicles,” “It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’,” “Katt Williams: Pimpadelic,” “American Hustle,” “Priceless: Afterlife,” “Kattpacalypse,” and the critically acclaimed “Katt Williams: Great America” on Netflix.

Katt Williams: 2023 and Me tour is produced by North American Entertainment Group Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States.

Sunday, February 19, 2023
Summer Camp at Nantahala Outdoor Center Registration Open
Feb 19 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Teens at a kayak Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp is a great option for kids ages 9-17 with any skill level to learn and practice on the iconic rivers and lakes of Western North Carolina. Paddlers from beginner to advanced will receive high-quality instruction from our elite team while having fun and making friends.

 

Blue Ridge Bicycle Club: Weekly B-Pace Ride
Feb 19 @ 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
various locations

Time & loc varies, typical avg spd 15-17mph, dist 30-50mi. For weekly emails, update your profile: Hover on your name upper right; select “Profile”; under “Your website functions” click “Interests”; then check “B Pace Rides”. Leader [email protected]

Dark Horse Ultra 5 Mile – 25k – 50k – + Gravel Grinder Race
Feb 19 @ 9:00 am
Tryon Equestrian Center

Dark Horse Ultra

50k – 25k – 5 Mile – Gravel/Mountain Cycling Event

Tryon Equestrian Center

February 18th & 19th

Introducing our annual Dark Horse Ultra we are excited to bring runners to the amazing facilities that spread out over 200 acres of roaming land, trails, and equestrian activities. Escape your day-to-day life and enjoy a romantic getaway in South Carolina’s beautiful Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Indulge your senses with the natural beauty our lands have to offer while the normal hustle and bustle of your life fades away.
Tryon International Equestrian Center & Resort (TIEC) is the ultimate destination for all who love horses, outdoor living, and an active lifestyle. Home of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, TIEC offers first-class facilities for equestrian events of all levels and disciplines. Located in the Blue Ridge Foothills of Mill Spring, NC, the competition experience is complemented by diverse onsite restaurants, a variety of shops, relaxing lodging getaways, family entertainment, and more.
Upstate Race Series – Upcoming Events HERE
Join us for one of our 30 events throughout the year. With something for everyone we have races that extend throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. From Lake Hartwell through the Foothill Mountain Range. Locations that cover all of the State Park systems into the Streets of Anderson, Greenville, Travelers Rest, and Spartanburg. We have events that offer opportunity to every level of runner looking to take on their next challenge!

Events 

  • What: 5 Mile Midnight Race, 25k, 50k, Gravel Cycling Race
  • When: February 18th & 19th (See Schedule Below)
  • Where: Tryon Equestrian Center (Farm Location)
  • 2659 Sandy Plains Rd Tryon, NC 28782
  • Packet Pickup 1 Hour Prior to your race start time near starting line
  • Overall Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the race
  • Age Group Awards will be recognized in the results tab and our point series.
  • Our Events Are
    • Walker Friendly
    • Dog Friendly

Participants Receive

  • Finisher Medal
  • Custom Race Logo Sticker
  • Upstate Ultra Sticker
  • Complimentary Race Photos
  • Camping Offered During Registration
  • Custom Race Bib
  • Upstate Race Series Crew Socks

Schedule

  • Friday
    • Camping Set Up for participants along the course will begin at 4pm=
  • Saturday
    • 50k – Saturday February 18th @ 9:00am
    • 25k – Saturday February 18th @ 9:00am
  • Sunday
    • 5 Mile Night Run @ Midnight (Sunday 12:00am) on September 25th
    • 50k Race Mountain/Gravel Cycling Event @ 10:00am
    • Introducing our annual Dark Horse Psychlo-X we are excited to bring mtb/gravel riders to the amazing facilities that spread out over hundreds of acres of roaming land, trails, and equestrian activities. Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort is the ultimate international destination for all who love horses, outdoor living and an active lifestyle.  Tryon Resort is an iconic, year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment.
  • The Race is to complete as many 4.2 mile loops as you can in 4 hours.
    • 4 hrs: Noon-4pm
    • 4.2 miles / 426′ of gain
    • 60% hard pack – 35% gravel/grass – 5% road
    • Ideal set up: MTB/Gravel tubeless 40mm

The Course Description 

  • Course preview: HERE
  • Course Map HERE
  • The course consists of a 4.2 mile loop that has 426 feet of elevation per loop. The course consists of packed dirt, a few grass sections, and a series of service gravel paths around the lake. The course will have a series of directional arrows that will be placed at all intersections. Please follow all directional arrows to stay on course.

Kolo Bike Park $10 Sunday Fundays
Feb 19 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Kolo Bike Park

Join us on Sundays this Fall and Winter for $10 to ride Kolo Bike Park on over 125 acres beside Downtown Asheville!  Enjoy pump tracks, skills area, trails, skinnys, berms, table tops and much more! Littleville is also included for our youngest shredders. Rentals not included.

Reservations not required. Call for conditions: 828.225.2921.

Frostbite 5K, 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run
Feb 19 @ 1:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Lelia Patterson Center

Join us for the 31st Annual Frostbite, the oldest and largest footrace in Henderson County! This in-person running event (with a virtual option) offers a 5K, 10K, and 1 Mile Fun Run, so there’s something for the entire family. The Frostbite races begin and finish at the Lelia Patterson Center in Fletcher, North Carolina. Both the 10k and 5k courses provide views of Hutch Mountain and are on hilly to challenging terrain, with some moderate inclines. The flat and fast 1-mile course, makes this premier racing event an opportunity for all running levels and ages to participate together.

CALENDAR GIRLS
Feb 19 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Hendersonville Theatre

By: Tim Firth
Based on the Miramax motion picture by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Director: Brandi Andrade

Approximate Run Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes
Rating: Mature due to adult situations, humor, and language

Tim Firth’s hilarious play is based on the true story of eleven middle-aged women who famously posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund in 1999. When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They persuade four friends and fellow members of the Women’s Institute to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, assisted by hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. News of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in Yorkshire, England. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie’s friendship is put to the test under the strain of their new-found fame.

Monday, February 20, 2023
Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 20 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
Summer Camp at Nantahala Outdoor Center Registration Open
Feb 20 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Teens at a kayak Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp is a great option for kids ages 9-17 with any skill level to learn and practice on the iconic rivers and lakes of Western North Carolina. Paddlers from beginner to advanced will receive high-quality instruction from our elite team while having fun and making friends.

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 21 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
Summer Camp at Nantahala Outdoor Center Registration Open
Feb 21 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Teens at a kayak Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp is a great option for kids ages 9-17 with any skill level to learn and practice on the iconic rivers and lakes of Western North Carolina. Paddlers from beginner to advanced will receive high-quality instruction from our elite team while having fun and making friends.

 

Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Feb 21 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

LEARN MORE THIS YEAR

Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Bryson City, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Collegedale, TN
  • Greenville, SC

Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!

Live Stream | James R. Hagerty presents Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer’s Guide to Telling Your Story
Feb 21 @ 6:00 pm
online w/ Malaprop's Bookstore

This live streamed virtual event is free but registration is required. Please click here to register. The link required to attend will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

If you decide to attend and to purchase books, we ask that you purchase from Malaprop’s. When you do this you make it possible for us to continue hosting author events and you keep more dollars in our community. You may also support our work by purchasing a gift card or making a donation of any amount below. Thank you!


YOURS TRULY
Someday, your life story is likely to be boiled down to a few lines. If you leave things to chance, your obituary is almost sure to be solemn, formulaic, and full of errors—an obligatory final chapter written in haste by others. James R. Hagerty, longtime obit writer for The Wall Street Journal, knows how to get the job done right: Do it yourself, starting now, while you still can.  In this heartfelt and reassuring guide, Hagerty explains how to preserve your personal history—from crafting a brief obituary for newspapers and websites, to a more thoughtful and detailed mini-memoir for those close to you. Through his personal stories, on-the-job anecdotes, and insights, you will learn what to include, what to leave out, and how to provide historical context, record oral histories and make the most of details, all with candor and wit. Best of all, you’ll find that reviewing your life story helps you think about what you’re doing with your time on Earth and whether you’re on the right path. It isn’t too late to improve the narrative with a stronger ending. Telling your story your way can be the best gift you ever give to friends and loved ones—and yourself.

James R. (Bob) Hagerty, who grew up in North Dakota, has been a staff reporter and editor for The Wall Street Journal for more than 40 years in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For the past seven years, he has written nearly 1,000 obituaries as the WSJ’s lead obituary writer. His guide to writing life stories, Yours Truly, grew out of that work as he noticed that many telling details and anecdotes are lost when people die. His advice: Don’t leave it to friends and families to sum up your life. For all their good intentions, they’re almost certain to make a hash of it. He also urges people to help others preserve their stories before it’s too late.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 22 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi
Summer Camp at Nantahala Outdoor Center Registration Open
Feb 22 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

Teens at a kayak Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp is a great option for kids ages 9-17 with any skill level to learn and practice on the iconic rivers and lakes of Western North Carolina. Paddlers from beginner to advanced will receive high-quality instruction from our elite team while having fun and making friends.

 

Wilderness Medicine + Survival Skills at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Feb 22 all-day
Nantahala Outdoor Center

LEARN MORE THIS YEAR

Brush up on your wilderness medicine or learn new survival skills! SOLO Southeast & NOC are offering over 200 courses in 2023 and classes in locations across the southeast.

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Bryson City, NC
  • Chattanooga, TN
  • Collegedale, TN
  • Greenville, SC

Find your next course with SOLO Southeast and be prepared for the unexpected!

“Southern Black Chefs in the White House” with Adrian Miller
Feb 22 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Highsmith Student Union, Blue Ridge Room (202/203)

Adrian Miller will give a lecture entitled “Southern Black Chefs in the White House” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room on February 22, 2023 as part of the Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor Speaker Series, “Diverse Roots at the Common Table: Culinary Conversations in the American South.” Adrian is a culinary historian whose books have twice won a James Beard Award for Reference and Scholarship; he was recently featured in High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, a Netflix documentary based on Jessica Harris’s book by the same name. He also served as a special assistant to the president under the Clinton Administration, and served as the deputy director of the President’s Initiative for One America.

Books will be available for purchase at the event through Malaprop’s Bookstore.

Attendees who wish to attend via Zoom may pre-register here.

For more information, contact Erica Abrams Locklear at [email protected].


Accessibility

UNC Asheville is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. If you have any questions about access or to request reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this event, please contact the Event Organizer (see below). Advance notice is necessary to arrange for accessibility needs.

Visitor Parking

Visitors may park in faculty/staff and non-resident All Permit lots from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends, holidays, and campus breaks. Visitors are not permitted to park in resident student lots at any time.
Prior to 5pm, any visitor (regardless of their reason for visit) need to adhere to the current practices listed on the parking website. Get your visitor parking permit here

Hybrid | UNCA presents “Southern Black Chefs in the White House” with Adrian Miller
Feb 22 @ 6:00 pm
UNC Asheville Highsmith Student Union Blue Ridge Room

Adrian Miller will give a lecture entitled “Southern Black Chefs in the White House” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Room on February 22, 2023 as part of the Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor Speaker Series, “Diverse Roots at the Common Table: Culinary Conversations in the American South.” Adrian is a culinary historian whose books have twice won a James Beard Award for Reference and Scholarship; he was recently featured in High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America, a Netflix documentary based on Jessica Harris’s book by the same name. He also served as a special assistant to the president under the Clinton Administration, and served as the deputy director of the President’s Initiative for One America.

This is a free event. In-person seating is open to the public. 

Attendees who wish to attend via Zoom may pre-register HERE.

Books will be available for purchase at the event through Malaprop’s Bookstore and may also be ordered online below.

For more information, contact Erica Abrams Locklear at [email protected].


Accessibility

UNC Asheville is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. If you have any questions about access or to request reasonable accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in this event, please contact the Event Organizer (see below). Advance notice is necessary to arrange for accessibility needs.

Visitor Parking

Visitors may park in faculty/staff and non-resident All Permit lots from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends, holidays, and campus breaks. Visitors are not permitted to park in resident student lots at any time. Find a campus map here.
Prior to 5pm, any visitor (regardless of their reason for visit) need to adhere to the current practices listed on the parking website. Get your visitor parking permit here.

Foodie Book Club
Feb 22 @ 7:00 pm
online

Foodie Book Club

A book club for home cooks, foodies, industry folks, and anyone in-between.  We will be focusing on all sorts of food writing. Somethemes will be (but not limited to): food critics, chef memoirs, wine, food history, and food politics.

The Foodie group meets virtually on the last Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. (EST), beginning in June 2022.  Please email [email protected] for the Zoom meeting info.

Thursday, February 23, 2023
Celebrate Black Legacy Month
Feb 23 all-day
Buncombe County Libraires

Join us throughout February as we celebrate Black Legacy Month with programs and events for all ages! In addition to the programs listed below, we will have special story times and exhibits at most of our libraries.

  • Bright Star Touring Theatre: African Folktales – February 1 at 4pm at the Weaverville Library (for children ages 3 and up)
  • Book Club: Jazz by Toni Morrison – Thursday, February 2 a 3pm at the Weaverville Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – Tuesday, February 7 at 6pm
  • Book Club: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict Tuesday, February 14 at 1pm at the Leicester Library
  • Book Club: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland – February 16 at 2:30pm at the Skyland/South Buncombe Library
  • Book Club: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – February 21 at 7pm at the Fairview Library
  • Black Experience Book Club: The Furrows by Namwali Serpell – February 23 at 6:30pm at the Noir Collective, co-sponsored by the East Asheville library

Drop by your local library and check us out. Email or call if you have any questions.

Our librarians have also put together a Black Legacy Month reading list for all ages.

Black Legacy Month Reading List 2023

Books for Adults

Adult Fiction

  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library edited by Glory Edim
  • What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harries
  • Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James
  • The Love Songs of W.E.B. Dubois by Honoree Fannone Jeffers
  • How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemison
  • Deacon King Kong by James McBride
  • Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
  • Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall
  • The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
  • Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
  • Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
  • Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson

Adult nonfiction

  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
  • Carefree Black Girls: A Celebration of Black women in Popular Culture by Zeba Blay
  • The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
  • Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby*
  • The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
  • All That She Carried by Tiya Miles
  • Please Don’t Sit On My Bed In Your Outside Clothes by Phoebe Robinson*
  • You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin*
  • Counting Descent by Clint Smith
  • The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • Here For It by R. Eric Thomas*
  • Koshersoul: the faith and food journey of an African American Jew by Michael W. Twitty

*especially good on audio because the authors read their work!

Picture books for families to share

  • My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis
  • Only the Best: The Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner
  • My N.C. From A to Z by Michelle Lanier
  • Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep by JaNay Brown-Wood
  • Curls by Ruth Forman
  • Fly by Brittany J. Thurman
  • Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
  • Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens
  • Bright Brown Baby, A Treasury by Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

Chapter books for older kids

  • Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. BaptistBlended by Sharon Draper
  • Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor
  • Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
  • Tristan Strong Trilogy (Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and Tristan Strong Keeps Punching) by Kwame Mbalia
  • From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
  • Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia
  • Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
  • Operation Sisterhood by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
  • The Door of No Return by Alexander Kwame

Books for teens

  • Quincredible by Rodney Barnes
  • The Legendborn Cycle (Legendborn and Bloodmarked) by Tracy Deonn
  • All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
  • You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
  • Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson
  • Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
  • Ain’t Burned All the Bright by Jason Reynolds
  • Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
  • On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
  • Okoye to the People by Ibi Zoboi