Calendar of Events

You can’t beat a walk with a friend over good conversation. So, why not take a walk with lots of friends and a history expert to boot? Buncombe County Libraries is excited to announce its Strolling Through History program focused on getting you moving while taking in some experiential history. “Each one of the strolls is a little different. We’ll talk about the evolution of the architecture, famous (or not quite so famous) residents, important events, and more,” explains Pack Memorial Librarian Katherine Calhoun Cutshall. “On our Haywood Street stroll, we talked about how the street has seen two major rebirths and discussed the careers of two WWI nurses who grew up on the street while it was mostly residential.”

Pack Librarians are always looking for innovative ways to showcase the library’s portfolio of initiatives and resources. “The North Carolina Room is a hidden gem in our library system, so programs like Strolling Through History bring the collection to the streets of downtown while showing off resources and programs in a fun new way,” notes Katherine. And of course, exercising your muscles and social skills are important at any age

So, how can you get involved with the monthly Strolling Through History? There are two versions: one for elder adults and one for babies and their caregivers. If you’re interested in participating, the elder adults strolls are the third Friday of every month, and the babies and caretakers strolls are the third Wednesday of every month (except July). All strolls will meet at Pack Memorial Library at 10:30 a.m., and participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring water to stay hydrated. Registration is required. 

There’s more to grant writing than just “writing.” A lot more.

This half-day workshop covers the basics of foundation grant research and grant writing. You’ll learn how to find your best prospects and write your own grant proposals.

This workshop combines lecture, group discussion, and hands-on activities to reinforce course material.

The focus of this workshop is foundation grants.
(State and federal grants are not part of this program.)

Performances Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Celebrate hit songs made famous by Elvis Presley at the Flat Rock Playhouse in the upcoming production, All Shook Up! A famous Broadway musical hit, All Shook Up combines the hilarity of Shakespearean comedies, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the rock & roll music of Elvis Presley. In a musical presentation akin to Godspell and Footloose, this jukebox musical tells the story of a small-town girl with big dreams, a stick-in-the-mud mayor who has squashed any fun in her town, and the surprise visit of a leather-jacketed, guitar-playing, hip-swinging stranger. Experience the magic of rock & roll, gospel, romance, mistaken identities alongside Broadway-caliber musical numbers and hits such as, “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

In this interactive workshop, you will discover empowering insights about your financial life, gain tools and practices to shift your money life into prosperity, create a new inspiring perspective on marketing & sales, and learn the most important thing to focus on that will generate income. 
 
Jen Aly is a bridge between the financial & business world and artists & creatives. She started her first of 7 businesses 15 years ago, has learned a lot the hard way, has filed bankruptcy, and has more than tripled her income within 3 years. She boot-strapped an Asheville-based jewelry design business that has grown every year since its start in 2013. Jen is determined to banish the notion of the “starving artist” through empowering creatives in money and business via coaching, workshops, and community.
 
This workshop is free for AAAC members, $5 for Non-members. 

You know you need to write great fundraising letters. But how, exactly, do you do that?

Fundraising is an art and a science, and your appeal letter needs to reflect both. You need to understand what motivates donors, how to get them to give – and get them to give more.

Inspired by some of the biggest names in the nonprofit sector (including Tom Ahern, Jeff Brooks, Penelope Burk, Roger Craver, Kay Sprinkel Grace, Simone Joyaux and Jerry Panas), this half-day program will help you understand what donors want – and why.

Participants will leave with conversation starters and actionable ideas to take back to other staff and board members.

There’s more than Chunky Monkey and New York Super Fudge Chunk in downtown Asheville’s Ben & Jerry’s this summer.

Art created by Vance Elementary School fifth grade students of art educator Robbie Lipe is now on display on the brick walls opposite the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The exhibit depicts the students’ interpretation of the artist Kehinde Wiley and the contemporary portraits he creates inspired by traditional Baroque paintings. It will be featured through the end of the summer.

“Ben & Jerry’s is excited about showcasing art from the community inside our scoop shop,” said general manager Chris Carter. “Making use of our walls to show what local artists are creating complements our social mission — to be actively involved in the places we live and do business. I hope this is the first of many art exhibits on our walls.”

Carter gave all the credit for the exhibit to Ms. Lipe, who teaches kindergarten through 5th-grade students at Vance Elementary. She was named the North Carolina Arts Educators Association “Art Educator of the Year” in 2017-2018.

Ben & Jerry’s is located at 19 Haywood Street. Current hours are Monday-Thursday 12 pm to 10 pm; Friday 12 pm – 11 pm; Saturday 11:30 am – 11 pm; Sunday 11:30 am – 10 pm.

For more information, call Carter at 310-601-6247.

 View the workshop agenda and full info online.  

NC DEACS and CRA are partnering August 13-15 for a series of workshops to launch the #RecycleRightNC campaign. The workshops will detail plans for a 10-week state-wide anti-contamination campaign AND show you how to participate in your community too!  #RecycleRightNC is the culmination of a year’s worth of work with MRFs, local haulers, and local governments to create common objectives with unified messaging to reduce recycling contamination in NC.

It’s a fact. If you want to raise more money, you need to keep more of your donors.

21st century fundraising is all about retention. You need to understand what makes donors give – and what makes them want to give to you.

This fast-paced, half-day program will help you understand why donors give – and how to get them to give to you again and again.

Participants will leave with conversation starters and actionable ideas to take back to other staff and board members.

Performances Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Celebrate hit songs made famous by Elvis Presley at the Flat Rock Playhouse in the upcoming production, All Shook Up! A famous Broadway musical hit, All Shook Up combines the hilarity of Shakespearean comedies, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the rock & roll music of Elvis Presley. In a musical presentation akin to Godspell and Footloose, this jukebox musical tells the story of a small-town girl with big dreams, a stick-in-the-mud mayor who has squashed any fun in her town, and the surprise visit of a leather-jacketed, guitar-playing, hip-swinging stranger. Experience the magic of rock & roll, gospel, romance, mistaken identities alongside Broadway-caliber musical numbers and hits such as, “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

Providing the highest level of customer service is how businesses attract and maintain customers in the hospitality industry. When people are spending money on entertainment, dining experiences or are tourists visiting a new region, they want to have positive and memorable experiences. This workshop will review eight commandments of customer care, which provide a basis for exceptional customer service at the five star level. The highest level of customer service should also be extended to internal customers, since our internal customer satisfaction correlates to external service and how all employees treat buying customers.

Participants will learn:

• How to use exceptional internal and external service to create an eternal customer, which will tie-in with the overall goal of the organization or event.
• To apply the eight commandments to their own organization and/or event team
• How to assess their current level of customer service and move their service to the next level

Instructor:

Susan Fouts, Ed.D, Executive Director, WCU Educational Outreach
Susan Fouts has been an evangelist for premium customer service for over 20 years. She has created systems that deliver exceptional customer service training for industries as diverse as plastics manufacturers to arts councils. Her approach to customer service training includes being a secret shopper, and hiring other secret shoppers to analyze the overall consumer experience. Susan holds an undergraduate degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, a Master’s Degree in Business and a Doctorate in Education. Her customer service philosophy guides her work, and her greatest joy at work comes from the unexpected thank you note she receives from a satisfied customer.

There’s more than Chunky Monkey and New York Super Fudge Chunk in downtown Asheville’s Ben & Jerry’s this summer.

Art created by Vance Elementary School fifth grade students of art educator Robbie Lipe is now on display on the brick walls opposite the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The exhibit depicts the students’ interpretation of the artist Kehinde Wiley and the contemporary portraits he creates inspired by traditional Baroque paintings. It will be featured through the end of the summer.

“Ben & Jerry’s is excited about showcasing art from the community inside our scoop shop,” said general manager Chris Carter. “Making use of our walls to show what local artists are creating complements our social mission — to be actively involved in the places we live and do business. I hope this is the first of many art exhibits on our walls.”

Carter gave all the credit for the exhibit to Ms. Lipe, who teaches kindergarten through 5th-grade students at Vance Elementary. She was named the North Carolina Arts Educators Association “Art Educator of the Year” in 2017-2018.

Ben & Jerry’s is located at 19 Haywood Street. Current hours are Monday-Thursday 12 pm to 10 pm; Friday 12 pm – 11 pm; Saturday 11:30 am – 11 pm; Sunday 11:30 am – 10 pm.

For more information, call Carter at 310-601-6247.

You can’t beat a walk with a friend over good conversation. So, why not take a walk with lots of friends and a history expert to boot? Buncombe County Libraries is excited to announce its Strolling Through History program focused on getting you moving while taking in some experiential history. “Each one of the strolls is a little different. We’ll talk about the evolution of the architecture, famous (or not quite so famous) residents, important events, and more,” explains Pack Memorial Librarian Katherine Calhoun Cutshall. “On our Haywood Street stroll, we talked about how the street has seen two major rebirths and discussed the careers of two WWI nurses who grew up on the street while it was mostly residential.”

Pack Librarians are always looking for innovative ways to showcase the library’s portfolio of initiatives and resources. “The North Carolina Room is a hidden gem in our library system, so programs like Strolling Through History bring the collection to the streets of downtown while showing off resources and programs in a fun new way,” notes Katherine. And of course, exercising your muscles and social skills are important at any age

So, how can you get involved with the monthly Strolling Through History? There are two versions: one for elder adults and one for babies and their caregivers. If you’re interested in participating, the elder adults strolls are the third Friday of every month, and the babies and caretakers strolls are the third Wednesday of every month (except July). All strolls will meet at Pack Memorial Library at 10:30 a.m., and participants should wear comfortable shoes and bring water to stay hydrated. Registration is required. 

Performances Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Celebrate hit songs made famous by Elvis Presley at the Flat Rock Playhouse in the upcoming production, All Shook Up! A famous Broadway musical hit, All Shook Up combines the hilarity of Shakespearean comedies, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the rock & roll music of Elvis Presley. In a musical presentation akin to Godspell and Footloose, this jukebox musical tells the story of a small-town girl with big dreams, a stick-in-the-mud mayor who has squashed any fun in her town, and the surprise visit of a leather-jacketed, guitar-playing, hip-swinging stranger. Experience the magic of rock & roll, gospel, romance, mistaken identities alongside Broadway-caliber musical numbers and hits such as, “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

Love, Linda is a one-woman musical about Linda Lee Thomas, the glamorous spouse and driving force behind renowned American songwriter Cole Porter. The story of their unconventional 35-year marriage interweaves with innovative arrangements of Porter’s timeless music and clever lyrics to create the compelling narrative of Love, Linda.

In the course of the show, Linda takes us behind the glitter of their sensational social life, sharing intimate, and at times heartbreaking moments, such as the dashed dreams of having a child, Cole’s occasional hurtful sexual escapades, his crippling horse accident and her own failing health. To quote Linda from the show, their journey together was far from “a picture-perfect postcard”, but by the end of her story, she has definitively made the case that “just because a love between two people may be difficult to define, that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.”

Love, Linda is directed by Misty Theisen and stars Karen Covington-Yow.

Seating is limited for this show!

“A drama that’s not just a departure but a revelation” – Variety

Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until the tragic death of their son turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting apart. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet journey from a place of uncertainty to a new reality, as they find themselves and each other. In the end, there is always hope. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize.

We are so excited to work with director Stephanie Hickling Beckman on this production. Stephanie is the Founder and Managing Artistic Director of Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective and has directed several times in 35below. She
shares that “Rabbit Hole has been categorized as a play about parents navigating the loss of a child. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent to me that while the polarizing incident serves as a catalyst for grief, the play can’t be defined by the tragedy that occurs eight months before the opening scene. Rabbit Hole is instead a story about how a family, each in their own way, navigates a life-changing event.”
 

Do you use native plants in your landscape?

Join us on August 3rd at 10 am for a workshop on Gardening with Native Plants given by Debbie Green, Black Mountain resident and Buncombe County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer at the Black Mountain Library, 105 N. Dougherty Street.

Learn about the benefits of choosing plants native to our area to reduce maintenance while attracting pollinators and wildlife to your garden. Many natives are easy to share from plant divisions and seeds, making them budget-friendly choices for enhancing your home’s curb appeal.

This hour long presentation is free and sponsored by Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library and Buncombe County Extension Master Garden Volunteers. We welcome you to be apart of our growing community!

There’s more than Chunky Monkey and New York Super Fudge Chunk in downtown Asheville’s Ben & Jerry’s this summer.

Art created by Vance Elementary School fifth grade students of art educator Robbie Lipe is now on display on the brick walls opposite the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. The exhibit depicts the students’ interpretation of the artist Kehinde Wiley and the contemporary portraits he creates inspired by traditional Baroque paintings. It will be featured through the end of the summer.

“Ben & Jerry’s is excited about showcasing art from the community inside our scoop shop,” said general manager Chris Carter. “Making use of our walls to show what local artists are creating complements our social mission — to be actively involved in the places we live and do business. I hope this is the first of many art exhibits on our walls.”

Carter gave all the credit for the exhibit to Ms. Lipe, who teaches kindergarten through 5th-grade students at Vance Elementary. She was named the North Carolina Arts Educators Association “Art Educator of the Year” in 2017-2018.

Ben & Jerry’s is located at 19 Haywood Street. Current hours are Monday-Thursday 12 pm to 10 pm; Friday 12 pm – 11 pm; Saturday 11:30 am – 11 pm; Sunday 11:30 am – 10 pm.

For more information, call Carter at 310-601-6247.

Performances Wednesday and Thursday at 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Celebrate hit songs made famous by Elvis Presley at the Flat Rock Playhouse in the upcoming production, All Shook Up! A famous Broadway musical hit, All Shook Up combines the hilarity of Shakespearean comedies, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with the rock & roll music of Elvis Presley. In a musical presentation akin to Godspell and Footloose, this jukebox musical tells the story of a small-town girl with big dreams, a stick-in-the-mud mayor who has squashed any fun in her town, and the surprise visit of a leather-jacketed, guitar-playing, hip-swinging stranger. Experience the magic of rock & roll, gospel, romance, mistaken identities alongside Broadway-caliber musical numbers and hits such as, “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

Love, Linda is a one-woman musical about Linda Lee Thomas, the glamorous spouse and driving force behind renowned American songwriter Cole Porter. The story of their unconventional 35-year marriage interweaves with innovative arrangements of Porter’s timeless music and clever lyrics to create the compelling narrative of Love, Linda.

In the course of the show, Linda takes us behind the glitter of their sensational social life, sharing intimate, and at times heartbreaking moments, such as the dashed dreams of having a child, Cole’s occasional hurtful sexual escapades, his crippling horse accident and her own failing health. To quote Linda from the show, their journey together was far from “a picture-perfect postcard”, but by the end of her story, she has definitively made the case that “just because a love between two people may be difficult to define, that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.”

Love, Linda is directed by Misty Theisen and stars Karen Covington-Yow.

Seating is limited for this show!

“A drama that’s not just a departure but a revelation” – Variety

Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until the tragic death of their son turns their world upside down and leaves the couple drifting apart. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet journey from a place of uncertainty to a new reality, as they find themselves and each other. In the end, there is always hope. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize.

We are so excited to work with director Stephanie Hickling Beckman on this production. Stephanie is the Founder and Managing Artistic Director of Different Strokes Performing Arts Collective and has directed several times in 35below. She
shares that “Rabbit Hole has been categorized as a play about parents navigating the loss of a child. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent to me that while the polarizing incident serves as a catalyst for grief, the play can’t be defined by the tragedy that occurs eight months before the opening scene. Rabbit Hole is instead a story about how a family, each in their own way, navigates a life-changing event.”