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 11, 2022
Valentines: Heart Filled Skies At PARI
Feb 11 all-day
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

What’s more romantic than gazing at the stars deep in the night?? Grab your sweetheart and join PARI for a romantic Valentines evening getaway and leave with stars in your eyes. PARI astronomers will share our dark skies and point out objects such as the Heart Cluster and love story constellations like Princess Andromeda and the Warrior Perseus. This package includes an overnight cabin stay, evening viewing with PARI astronomers at our historic, mountaintop, Internationally Certified Dark Sky Park, a pre-packaged dinner on Friday and breakfast on Saturday, a bottle of wine and a Valentine rose in your room. This event is limited to 8 couples. Registration is required!

AM Power Hour + Ribbon Cutting
Feb 11 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am
McIntyre Elder Law

Enjoy a more productive day by meeting prospective customers at the start of your day. You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client, or simply get a foot in the door for connecting again later at another Chamber event. AM Power Hour is great if you are an early bird or can’t make our after-hours networking events.
We will also be celebrating McIntyre Elder Law’s Grand Opening in Henderson County with a Ribbon Cutting!
Nominations are Now Being Accepted for the 15th Annual ATHENA of Henderson County Award
Feb 11 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

Vanessa Mintz 0507

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Pardee UNC Health Care, Optimum/Morris Broadband, and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance are pleased to announce the 15th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award in Henderson County in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz. Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award, which will be presented at the Professional Women’s Luncheon in May to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way, and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Founded over 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers. ATHENA’s flagship program, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program, has honored over 6000 women leaders from hundreds of cities and eight countries since its inception in 1982.

Vanessa Y. Mintz brought the ATHENA award to Henderson County in 2008 and she embodied the values underlying ATHENA Vanessas Vision

International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities, and our government. Reflective of a quote attributed to Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there”, the ATHENA Leadership Award honors and illuminates the leaders and leadership styles of individuals others would emulate.

The program is facilitated locally by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a licensed ATHENA host organization. Nominations are sought throughout the community. Recipients are selected by a diverse group of out-of-town professional judges, based on Athena leadership criteria.

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients hail from all professional sectors. The award’s rich history, international scope, and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive. Past Henderson County ATHENA Recipients Include:

Kathy Streeter Morgan (2021)

Barbara Volk, City of Hendersonville (2020)

Barb Morgan, Project Dignity of WNC (2019)

Lee Henderson Hill, Community Foundation of Henderson County (2018)

Roxanna Pepper, Children & Family Resource Center (2017)

Judy Stroud, State Farm Insurance (2016)

Judith Long, Free Clinics (2015)

Caroline Long, St. Gerard House (2014)

Annie Fritschner, First United Methodist Church (2013)

Myra Grant, Pardee Hospital Foundation (2012)

Joyce Mason, Four Seasons Compassion for Life (2011)

Pat Shepherd, Pat’s School of Dance (2010)

Ragan Ward, Carolina Alliance Bank (2009)

Robin Reed, Bares It All (2008)

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients are presented a hand-cast, bronzed and crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage, and wisdom of ATHENA Recipients.

Valentine’s Day Weekend Comedy Show
Feb 11 @ 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Legends Club at TIEC

Valentine's Day Weekend at Tryon Resort

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend at Tryon Resort and treat yourself (and your significant other!) to a full roster of can’t-miss events. Join us Friday, February 11 for Comedy Night presented by Comedy Zone, one of TWO shows you can catch while celebrating Valentine’s Day Weekend with us.

Comedian Bios:

Johnny Millwater: 

Johnny Millwater has devoted his life to making people laugh. Johnny’s extraordinary use of language, rapid-fire delivery and old-school showmanship make his shows fun, hilarious and unforgettable!

Jason Allen King:

Jason Allen King is a comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker, and bird watcher from Charlotte, NC. Exploiting his own peculiar personal experiences, family, and relationships (or lack thereof), King’s comedy offers a unique perspective on familiar situations. A northerner who’s been living in the south too long, he has endeared himself to audiences across the country pushing boundaries through a positive and sharp spin on observations and self-deprecation.

Fresh off the taping of his Dry Comedy Special and a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, King is back touring the country. He has opened for renowned comedians like Preacher Lawson, Fortune Feimster, Rob Schneider, Christopher Titus, Colin Quinn, and Dave Attell. He was voted Charlotte’s Favorite Comedian by Elevate Lifestyle Magazine, featured in It’s A Southern Thing’s One of 15 Southern Comics to Watch and Best of the Fest at the Burbank Comedy Festival. King is the host of The Comedy Zone Podcast. He also writes and stars in the popular video series “George & Monty,” which was invited to screen at the L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival.

Saturday, February 12, 2022
Black Legacy Month at the Library
Feb 12 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.

Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.

When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.

Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Black Legacy Month Reading List

Books for Families to Share

My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham

This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard

Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons

My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin

M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose

Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade

Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker

Chapter Books For Older Kids

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Blended by Sharon Draper

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

New Kid by Jerry Craft

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Books for Teens

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden

Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi

Books for Adults

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

The Yellow House by Sarah Broom

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy

All About Love by bell hooks

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Food Vendor Applications for 2022 Events Available Now
Feb 12 all-day
online

The Asheville Downtown Association is now accepting applications for food vending at our 2022 events. These include Downtown After 5, the Independence Day Celebration and Asheville Oktoberfest.

Applications are due Friday, February 25 at 5pm.

Go On A Blind Date With a Book at the Library This February
Feb 12 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.

The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.

Henderson County Tourism Grants
Feb 12 all-day
online
The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA) is excited to announce that its tourism grant program is returning, with a goal of awarding several hundred thousand dollars to as many tourism-related Henderson County for-profit and nonprofit organizations who apply for funding as possible.
If your organization is interested in learning more about any of the grants that will be made available by the HCTDA for 2022-2023, you are invited to attend the Tourism Conference or to an informational meeting on Wednesday, January 26th at Cascades Mountain Resort, located at 201 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792, where you may drop in anytime from 3-4:30 pm.
The funds, which must be used for tourism-related projects, will be available in three categories: Destination Marketing Grants, Destination Event Grants, and Capital Project Grants.
Applications will be accepted from February 1- 28, 2022. Grant award decisions will be made in spring 2022 by the HCTDA Board members.
Join the team: Hiring a RiverCamp Counselor
Feb 12 all-day
online w/ River Link

Join the team: Hiring a RiverCamp Counselor

We are now hiring for our summer camp counselor position. Come spend the summer on the river with some awesome kids and prepare them to be the next generation of river stewards. Click below to learn more.

Position description and application instructions.

Sunday, February 13, 2022
Adopt a Cute Critter
Feb 13 all-day
online

Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 2.56.49 PM.png

Looking for an unusual Valentine gift for the foxy animal lover in your life? You still have time to adopt a river otter, red panda, red fox or skunk for that special someone on Valentine’s Day! Now through February 15, your $50 or $100 adoption of one of these four animals comes with some French Broad Chocolate and supports our beloved WNC Nature Center.

Black Legacy Month at the Library
Feb 13 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.

Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.

When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.

Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Black Legacy Month Reading List

Books for Families to Share

My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham

This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard

Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons

My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin

M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose

Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade

Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker

Chapter Books For Older Kids

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Blended by Sharon Draper

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

New Kid by Jerry Craft

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Books for Teens

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden

Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi

Books for Adults

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

The Yellow House by Sarah Broom

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy

All About Love by bell hooks

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Food Vendor Applications for 2022 Events Available Now
Feb 13 all-day
online

The Asheville Downtown Association is now accepting applications for food vending at our 2022 events. These include Downtown After 5, the Independence Day Celebration and Asheville Oktoberfest.

Applications are due Friday, February 25 at 5pm.

Go On A Blind Date With a Book at the Library This February
Feb 13 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.

The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.

Henderson County Tourism Grants
Feb 13 all-day
online
The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA) is excited to announce that its tourism grant program is returning, with a goal of awarding several hundred thousand dollars to as many tourism-related Henderson County for-profit and nonprofit organizations who apply for funding as possible.
If your organization is interested in learning more about any of the grants that will be made available by the HCTDA for 2022-2023, you are invited to attend the Tourism Conference or to an informational meeting on Wednesday, January 26th at Cascades Mountain Resort, located at 201 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792, where you may drop in anytime from 3-4:30 pm.
The funds, which must be used for tourism-related projects, will be available in three categories: Destination Marketing Grants, Destination Event Grants, and Capital Project Grants.
Applications will be accepted from February 1- 28, 2022. Grant award decisions will be made in spring 2022 by the HCTDA Board members.
Join the team: Hiring a RiverCamp Counselor
Feb 13 all-day
online w/ River Link

Join the team: Hiring a RiverCamp Counselor

We are now hiring for our summer camp counselor position. Come spend the summer on the river with some awesome kids and prepare them to be the next generation of river stewards. Click below to learn more.

Position description and application instructions.

Shades of Rosé Gin Cocktail Kit: Dozen Roses
Feb 13 all-day
online w/ Cultivated Cocktails
Nonna’s New World Gnocchi Dinner Theater at Franny’s Farmacy South Slope
Feb 13 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Franny's Farmacy South Slope

Nonna's New World Gnocchi Dinner Theater at Franny's Farmacy South Slope

Do you love Gnocchi? Traditional neo-gnocchi no more! Come be a part of Nonna’s New World, where the ingredients are characters and the evening is multi-sensory.

Join us for a 4-course, interactive dinner theater, “Valentine’s Day Eve”, event on Sunday, February 13th, at the newest Franny’s Farmacy dispensary, Corporate headquarters, Canna Cafe, and special event venue in the South Slope District of Asheville.

This one-of-a-kind dining experience is from 6:00-8:00pm and will showcase selections of the newly released Franny’s Farm Foods line including Pasta & Prana’s gluten-free gnocchi along with other creative dishes featuring local ingredients such as Asheville Microgreens – all to be enjoyed during a performance of “Nonna’s New World Gnocchi”, a comedic yet informative storytelling journey of transformation and Italian tradition.

It stars performer and writer Summer Minerva as “Nonna”, producer Vinny Bonanno, Sound Artist Joel, and more, along with chef, wordsmith, Yogi and creator of Pasta & Prana, Mike Ptaszek, creating the dishes (vegetarian options available!). Delicious mocktails, new Chakra Teas, and CannaCafe coffees are included, but diners are also welcome to BYOB.

 

Tickets are $85 each or 2 for $150

(not including tax + gratuity)

A portion of proceeds will go to Utopian Seed Project, a hands in the earth non-profit committed to trialing crops and varieties in the Southeast to support diversity in food and farming. This visionary organization strives to create food security in the face of climate change through diverse and regenerative agriculture.

 

The health and wellness of Franny’s Farmacy’s staff, its customers, and community remains the company’s top priority. Franny’s Farmacy dispensaries will continue to follow CDC guidance along with State and County mandates currently requiring that all employees and customers wear face coverings while at the stores.

——————————

Writer: Summer Minerva

Producer: Vinny “Vignette” Bonanno

Actors: Cecil Baldwin, Erika Charbeneau, Summer Minerva, Vinny “Vignette” Bonanno

Musical Artist: Joel Karabo Elliott

 

Vignette Visions Productions is led by Vinny ‘Vignette’ Bonanno. Vinny sees the collaboration in our daily interactions as opportunities to lift each other up…”together we shine brighter”. From busking in New York City to curating sensory-stimulating experiences, Vinny organizes groups and teams to activate spaces and shift perspectives!

Vinny is also an internationally trained yoga teacher with 200-hour Vinyasa and 200-hour Katonah yoga certifications, guiding his clients to greater mobility and pain reduction by customizing ancient yoga techniques and inspiring personal daily practice with gentle accountability. “Be available to explore!”

IG: @stretchinginpublic

website: stretchinginpublic.com

 

Summer Minerva (she/they) is a researcher, performer, public speaker, and educator, as well as multilingual (Ital/Span/Port).

Summer currently has a book under contract with SUNY Academic: Italian Trans Geographies- an anthology of trans narratives from Italy and the Italian diaspora. Her feature documentary, Summer Within, is an autobiographical account of her quest for belonging via the femminielli of Napoli. Both groundbreaking works are to be released in 2022.

Summer is a trained actor and has appeared in several off-broadway plays and award-winning independent films. She is the resident emcee at The Generations Project, her intergenerational LGBTQ+ storytelling organization

IG: @iamsummerminerva

Website: summerminerva.com

 

Contact us for more information!

[email protected]

Russ Wilson and his Famous Orchestra present Music For Lovers Only!
Feb 13 @ 7:30 pm
Isis Music Hall

Screen Shot 2022-02-10 at 8.55.36 AM.png

In the “old days” people used to dress up and go out to some place that had great music, great cocktails and great food. It was not just another night out. It was an EVENT! A time to put on your finest threads and spend an evening with the one you love (or meet the one you love!) in some classy joint. You dined and enjoyed the music. It was a night of style, class and (most importantly) romance!

Russ Wilson And His Famous Orchestra present A Vintage Valentine. An Evening of Style, Class and Romance.
Russ and his All Star Orchestra will play the beautiful love songs of 20’s, 30’s & 40’s.

Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis Music Hall. Reservations are highly recommended.

Reserved Seat Tickets are available with Dinner reservations – You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 to make dinner reservations and secure those tickets.

General Admission Tickets are available for the main stage balcony only. Seating in the balcony is first come, first serve. Dinner service is NOT currently being offered for general admission tickets.; drink service is available at the downstairs bar on the main floor.

Currently, Only General Admission Tickets are available on line

You must call the venue at 828-575-2737 for Reserve Seat Tickets and to make dinner reservations.

Monday, February 14, 2022
2022 Issues Survey, It’s Vital We Hear From Your Downtown Business
Feb 14 all-day
online
Twice each year, we survey our membership and the downtown business community. Surveys are an important tool in gathering feedback from our members. The results will be presented at our State of Downtown Luncheon on Tuesday, March 8.

The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. This survey is focused on downtown businesses. We want to hear from owners and employees alike, so please share with your staff. **We hope to work with partners to develop at survey for residents later in the year.

Access the survey here.

Survey data is shared with City Council, County Commission and appropriate staff. It is also discussed at meetings with partners and other organizations working towards solutions. It’s important that we hear from as many businesses as possible.

Adopt a Cute Critter
Feb 14 all-day
online

Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 2.56.49 PM.png

Looking for an unusual Valentine gift for the foxy animal lover in your life? You still have time to adopt a river otter, red panda, red fox or skunk for that special someone on Valentine’s Day! Now through February 15, your $50 or $100 adoption of one of these four animals comes with some French Broad Chocolate and supports our beloved WNC Nature Center.

Black Legacy Month at the Library
Feb 14 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

In February, we honor and recognize Black Legacy Month at Buncombe County Public Libraries. We will be celebrating throughout February through several online events, staff-curated booklists, and a collection of online resources and exhibits.

Virtual book clubs will discuss On Girlhood by Glory Edim and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. You can register for either book club on the library calendar.

When you visit your library, look for special Black Legacy Month displays and book selections.

Below, you will find our Librarians’ reading list highlighting Black authors that include selections for all ages.

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

Black Legacy Month Reading List

Books for Families to Share

My Heart Flies Open by Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Electric Slide and Kai by Kelly J. Baptist

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham

This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes

Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Hubbard

Recognize! An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons

My Hair Is Magic by M.L. Marroquin

M is for Melanin by Tiffany Rose

Exquisite: the Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Buckingham Slade

Nina: a Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd

Dream Street by Tricia Elam Walker

Chapter Books For Older Kids

Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Blended by Sharon Draper

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

New Kid by Jerry Craft

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood edited by Kwame Mbalia

Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Books for Teens

The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

March by John Lewis and Andrew Ayden

Revolution in Our Time: the Black Panther’s Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

Loving vs. Virginia by Patricia Powell

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi

Books for Adults

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

The Yellow House by Sarah Broom

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

You Are Your Best Thing edited by Tarana Burke

Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Soul City: Race, Equality, and the Lost Dream of an American Utopia by Thomas Healy

All About Love by bell hooks

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women that Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Disha Philyaw

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Food Vendor Applications for 2022 Events Available Now
Feb 14 all-day
online

The Asheville Downtown Association is now accepting applications for food vending at our 2022 events. These include Downtown After 5, the Independence Day Celebration and Asheville Oktoberfest.

Applications are due Friday, February 25 at 5pm.

Go On A Blind Date With a Book at the Library This February
Feb 14 all-day
Buncombe County Libraries

Buncombe County Public Libraries is playing matchmaker in February as Blind Date with a Book returns. The blind date books are easy to spot; they’ll be the ones with the paper-wrapped book covers. Check one out and take it home. Remember, don’t judge a book by its cover, and you might fall in love with a new author, genre, or series you hadn’t tried before.

The Fairview, Swannanoa, Pack, Black Mountain, Leicester, and North Asheville Libraries will be happy to set you up on your blind date anytime in February.

Henderson County Tourism Grants
Feb 14 all-day
online
The Henderson County Tourism Development Authority (HCTDA) is excited to announce that its tourism grant program is returning, with a goal of awarding several hundred thousand dollars to as many tourism-related Henderson County for-profit and nonprofit organizations who apply for funding as possible.
If your organization is interested in learning more about any of the grants that will be made available by the HCTDA for 2022-2023, you are invited to attend the Tourism Conference or to an informational meeting on Wednesday, January 26th at Cascades Mountain Resort, located at 201 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792, where you may drop in anytime from 3-4:30 pm.
The funds, which must be used for tourism-related projects, will be available in three categories: Destination Marketing Grants, Destination Event Grants, and Capital Project Grants.
Applications will be accepted from February 1- 28, 2022. Grant award decisions will be made in spring 2022 by the HCTDA Board members.
Shades of Rosé Gin Cocktail Kit: Dozen Roses
Feb 14 all-day
online w/ Cultivated Cocktails
Nominations are Now Being Accepted for the 15th Annual ATHENA of Henderson County Award
Feb 14 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
online

Vanessa Mintz 0507

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Pardee UNC Health Care, Optimum/Morris Broadband, and Judy Stroud/State Farm Insurance are pleased to announce the 15th Annual ATHENA Leadership Award in Henderson County in memory of Vanessa Y. Mintz. Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award, which will be presented at the Professional Women’s Luncheon in May to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way, and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Founded over 30 years ago, ATHENA International is a women’s leadership organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through the programs it administers. ATHENA’s flagship program, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program, has honored over 6000 women leaders from hundreds of cities and eight countries since its inception in 1982.

Vanessa Y. Mintz brought the ATHENA award to Henderson County in 2008 and she embodied the values underlying ATHENA Vanessas Vision

International’s philosophy of incorporating the talent and expertise of women into the leadership of our businesses, our communities, and our government. Reflective of a quote attributed to Plato, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there”, the ATHENA Leadership Award honors and illuminates the leaders and leadership styles of individuals others would emulate.

The program is facilitated locally by the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, a licensed ATHENA host organization. Nominations are sought throughout the community. Recipients are selected by a diverse group of out-of-town professional judges, based on Athena leadership criteria.

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients hail from all professional sectors. The award’s rich history, international scope, and emphasis on mentorship make this award unique and amongst the most prestigious leadership awards one can receive. Past Henderson County ATHENA Recipients Include:

Kathy Streeter Morgan (2021)

Barbara Volk, City of Hendersonville (2020)

Barb Morgan, Project Dignity of WNC (2019)

Lee Henderson Hill, Community Foundation of Henderson County (2018)

Roxanna Pepper, Children & Family Resource Center (2017)

Judy Stroud, State Farm Insurance (2016)

Judith Long, Free Clinics (2015)

Caroline Long, St. Gerard House (2014)

Annie Fritschner, First United Methodist Church (2013)

Myra Grant, Pardee Hospital Foundation (2012)

Joyce Mason, Four Seasons Compassion for Life (2011)

Pat Shepherd, Pat’s School of Dance (2010)

Ragan Ward, Carolina Alliance Bank (2009)

Robin Reed, Bares It All (2008)

ATHENA Leadership Award Recipients are presented a hand-cast, bronzed and crystal sculpture that symbolizes the strength, courage, and wisdom of ATHENA Recipients.

Valentine’s at The Grove Arcade
Feb 14 @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
The Grove Arcade

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Spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one at the Grove ArcadeFlora Diva will be selling handpicked flowers and arrangements all day! Marc Keller will be playing a variety of guitar instrumentals and vocal music all day. They will also have their very own Catalina Rose doing hand-written couple’s poetry for free. This is a multi-day event taking place Feb 12-14th so take your Valentine to one of the most architecturally romantic places in town. No cover.

Valentine Dessert Art at Posana
Feb 14 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Posana

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pecial V-day dessert alert: Our friends at Posana have outdone themselves with this Lavender Honey Cake with pomegranate mousse, orange curd, chocolate almond meringue kisses, Earl Grey honey gel, and fresh pomegranate arils.

Mystery Book Club
Feb 14 @ 7:00 pm
online

The club will meet virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you are interested in attending, please email [email protected] for instructions about how to attend the club event.  

Join host Tena Frank for Malaprop’s Mystery Book Club! Click here to see a full schedule of what the club is reading. Club attendees get 10% off the book at Malaprop’s!

The club meets at Malaprop’s on the second Monday of every month at 7:00 pm.

Event date:
Monday, January 10, 2022 – 7:00pm
Monday, February 14, 2022 – 7:00pm
Monday, March 14, 2022 – 7:00pm
Monday, April 11, 2022 – 7:00pm
Valentine’s Day Weekend Comedy Show
Feb 14 @ 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Legends Club at TIEC

Valentine's Day Weekend at Tryon Resort

Celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend at Tryon Resort and treat yourself (and your significant other!) to a full roster of can’t-miss events. Join us Friday, February 11 for Comedy Night presented by Comedy Zone, one of TWO shows you can catch while celebrating Valentine’s Day Weekend with us.

Comedian Bios:

Johnny Millwater: 

Johnny Millwater has devoted his life to making people laugh. Johnny’s extraordinary use of language, rapid-fire delivery and old-school showmanship make his shows fun, hilarious and unforgettable!

Jason Allen King:

Jason Allen King is a comedian, writer, actor, filmmaker, and bird watcher from Charlotte, NC. Exploiting his own peculiar personal experiences, family, and relationships (or lack thereof), King’s comedy offers a unique perspective on familiar situations. A northerner who’s been living in the south too long, he has endeared himself to audiences across the country pushing boundaries through a positive and sharp spin on observations and self-deprecation.

Fresh off the taping of his Dry Comedy Special and a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, King is back touring the country. He has opened for renowned comedians like Preacher Lawson, Fortune Feimster, Rob Schneider, Christopher Titus, Colin Quinn, and Dave Attell. He was voted Charlotte’s Favorite Comedian by Elevate Lifestyle Magazine, featured in It’s A Southern Thing’s One of 15 Southern Comics to Watch and Best of the Fest at the Burbank Comedy Festival. King is the host of The Comedy Zone Podcast. He also writes and stars in the popular video series “George & Monty,” which was invited to screen at the L.A. Comedy Shorts Festival.