Calendar of Events

With an even keeled delivery belying blistering takes, Norlex Belma has become one of the hottest comics working in New York City. Norlex got his start in one of the nation’s fastest growing comedy scenes, Pittsburgh, after attending Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music. Norlex now resides back home in his native Brooklyn and has performed at clubs and colleges around the country including UCB NYC, Carolines on Broadway, The Stand, New York Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club, The Comedy Studio in Boston, Pittsburgh Improv, The Grisly Pear, Zanies, The Blue Note, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, SUNY Oswego, and NYU. Norlex has opened for national headliners such as Gary Gulman, Emma Willmann, Jessica Kirson, Sam Tallent, Marina Franklin, Jermaine Fowler, The Lucas Brothers, Liza Treyger, and Rob Schneider.

In 2016, he was featured in the PBS documentary, The Comedy Confluence, detailing the rise of the Pittsburgh comedy scene.

Since then, he has been a part of the New York Comedy Festival, Red Clay Comedy Festival in Atlanta, Pittsburgh Comedy Festival, Oak City Comedy Festival in Raleigh, WDVE Comedy Festival, and the Orlando Indie Comedy Festival. In the summer of 2018, Norlex headlined Carolines on Broadway as a part of the Breakout Artist Series.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-norlex-belma-tickets-71312622975

A new spooky book just in time for Halloween.  Caitlin Donovan will present works from  her young adult book “In The way of all Flesh” a paranormal fantasy novel; October 17th at 6:30 at the Firestorm bookstore in West Asheville. There will be giveaways, snacks and a Q&A session. Donovan has written for several magazines and blogs including Cracked, Anime feminist and Epicstream. She currently lives in Asheville and is working on a new book. For more information please  visit caitlinalisedonovan.com###

– ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE BOOKS, CDs, DVDs, SIGNED BOOKS – Priced as marked. (Special 1/2 price sale on Sat.)
– BOOKENDS USED BOOK STORE – 1/2 off our usual low prices.
– COFFEE TABLE and CHILDREN’S BETTER BOOKS – Priced as marked. (Special 1/2 price sale on Sat.)
Notes:
– Credit Cards will be accepted.
– Parking: The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands will be at the U.S. Cellular Center; special parking rates will be in effect.
– Safety & Fairness Rules will be observed in Bookends. (No personal rolling carts or baskets.)

Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807

– ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLE BOOKS, CDs, DVDs, SIGNED BOOKS – Priced as marked. (Special 1/2 price sale on Sat.)
– BOOKENDS USED BOOK STORE – 1/2 off our usual low prices.
– COFFEE TABLE and CHILDREN’S BETTER BOOKS – Priced as marked. (Special 1/2 price sale on Sat.)
Notes:
– Credit Cards will be accepted.
– Parking: The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands will be at the U.S. Cellular Center; special parking rates will be in effect.
– Safety & Fairness Rules will be observed in Bookends. (No personal rolling carts or baskets.)

Jono Zalay began his standup career in Boston, while simultaneously earning his Doctorate in Neuroscience (he gave cocaine to rats). Since dropping his science hobby to pursue comedy full time, Jono has been named one of Comedy Central’s ‘Comics to Watch,’ and earned international press for his pranks on the DMV. Jono now lives in Los Angeles where he has written comedy for Fox, Amazon, and Comedy Central. He has been featured in over 30 comedy festivals around the country including Bridgetown, Big Sky, Limestone, and New York Comedy Festival.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-friday-tickets-70462791105

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-jono-zalay-saturday-tickets-70463025807

Jill Criswell, young adult fantasy author and writing instructor at USC Upstate, will lead a writing workshop for aspiring writers and hobbyists. Focusing on world-building, this workshop will help writers better understand how to add details to their story’s settings and use this as a foundation for their characters and plot. All attendees will be entered in a drawing to win a signed hardcover copy of Criswell’s novel, Beasts of the Frozen Sun.

Bio: Jill Criswell is a writer of young adult fantasy. Born and raised in the swamps of northeastern Florida, she earned degrees in English and Psychology and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida. Her greatest passion, besides reading and writing, is traveling the world; she’s visited fifty countries across six continents, falling in love with places like Iceland, Namibia, and Cambodia. She works as a university English teacher and lives in South Carolina, near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and daughter (who is named after a volcano in Iceland). Beasts of the Frozen Sun, the first book in the Frozen Sun trilogy, is her debut novel.

Registration is required for this event!

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Known for whip-quick wit and rollicking improvisations, Sam Tallent is one of the sharpest, most original rising talents in comedy today. Fresh off his New Faces debut at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, Sam has been called “the absurd voice of a surreal generation” by the Denver Post, and, when not maintaining a “Black Flag esque tour schedule” (Savage Henry Magazine), Sam has worked alongside many of the biggest names in comedy, including Russel Peters, Ron White, Dave Chappelle, Doug Stanhope, Dana Carvey and Hannibal Buress. He recently won his battle on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, and was seen on VICELAND’s Flophouse as well as the Chris Gethard Show. His writing has been published on VICE.com. His debut novel, “Running the Light”, will be available this fall wherever fine books are sold. He lives in Denver with his wife and dog.

Featuring Steve Vanderploeg

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-sam-tallent-friday-tickets-70464738931

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-sam-tallent-saturday-tickets-70464921477

Adam Mamawala is a stand-up comedian based out of New York City. Named one of Funny or Die’s “Top 30 Under 30: Comedians to Watch”, Adam has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, BET and SeeSo, and his debut album One of the Good Ones debuted at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts in December of 2017. Adam has headlined over 200 colleges across more than 35 states and his recent festival appearances include the NBC/Second City Breakout Comedy Festival, Laughing Skull Comedy Festival, and New York Comedy Festival. Adam has been a freelance contributor to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update and a writer for Someecards.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
FRIDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adam-mamawala-at-lazoom-friday-tickets-70464738931

SATURDAY: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adam-mamawala-at-lazoom-saturday-tickets-70464921477

It’s our favorite time of year again! (Who are we kidding? We love to celebrate Geekiness ALL times of the year!)

We are happy to invite all of our Nerd Sanctuary family & friends to ComicFest 2019 Morgan’s Comics style! FREE Comics, Candy, Locally Baked Treats, Costume Contest, Local Artists & two musical Performances.

The Costume Contest is at 6:30- tell your friends!

**We have hundreds of limited edition, rare & Chase POPS! instock.
***We have many different prizes & promotions going for that day! Games & Contests- please message us or come by for details.

The Friends of the Library, Immediate Theatre Project, and Asheville Community Theatre present “The Belle of Amherst” by William Luce, adapted and performed by Sybil Rosen, an award-winning novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and actress.

A funny, wise, poignant, one-woman show that takes us into the vivid heart and mind of America’s favorite poet, Emily Dickinson.

The two performances are a fundraiser where proceeds benefit the Friends of Pack Memorial Library and the Whitesburg, GA Public Library.

Suggested donation: $10.

Everyone is welcome.No ticket required.

The second performance of this show will be Monday, October 28 at 6pm.

*Presented with permission from the Dramatist Play Service

Join the Friends of the North Carolina Room and researcher Benjamin Porter as he shares information about long-time Asheville-based photographer Herbert Pelton, famous for his panoramic shots of the city in a time of rapid change and modernization. 

Come into Malaprop’s for a Halloween séance with authors Dale Bailey, Nathan Ballingrud (pictured), Jake Bible, and Alexandra Duncan, sharing new stories transmitted from beyond the grave.

From traditional paintings, jewelry, wood, pottery, and glass, to unique photography, furniture, clothing, and mixed media art; the idea behind Artisanville is to have something for everyone to appreciate and to take home.
Artisanville invites its guests to investigate and explore our unique items during a two-day long fine art and craft show. With over 175 regional and national artists—each handpicked and personally invited to the event— this show promises to surprise and entrance you. Visitors can interact with artisans, see live art demos, purchase beautiful artwork, or simply enjoy the craftsmanship behind each piece. When in need of a break, art lovers can also relax, get a drink or snack, listen to live music and log into the Internet at the new Art Patron Lounge area. There are even free drawings for “Artisanville bucks” to spend at the show. Be sure not to miss ARTISANVILLE…the newest Fine Art/Fine Craft Show coming to Greenville, SC!

Kelly McInerney has been on the cult podcasts Doug Loves Movies, Getting Doug With High and Doug Stanhope’s podcast. She has been featured on Funny or Die and at clubs throughout the country and North America including Comedy Works, Improv and Punchline. Kelly also been invited to many comedy festivals including Blue Whale Comedy Fest in Tulsa, OK and the Memphis Comedy Fest. You can also check out more info at www.kellymcinerney.net

Jon Durnell grew up in the mean streets of a beautiful suburban community in Nashville, TN. He has performed in colleges, coffeehouses, dive bars, fancy bars, theaters, comedy clubs, backyards, abandoned/condemned buildings, and skateboard shops across the USA. Jon has appeared on Comedy Central and LATV Network. He has also been in many comedy festivals including CROM, Beast Village, Memphis Comedy Fest and Laughing Skull.

Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-kelly-mcinerney-jon-durnell-tickets-72174809799

All femme comedy showcase at Fleetwood’s. This time we have killer comics from all over North Carolina and Georgia!

Featuring Callan McDowell, Lily Campbell, Ol Saheemz, Alyx Libby and Kelsey Rosen!
Hosted by Brittany Spruill

Sponsored by Hi-Wire Brewing and BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair*

Two shows, 7pm & 9pm
Tickets $10, VIP $15

Early Show
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eyes-up-here-comedy-early-show-tickets-76393191091
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-ticket-eyes-up-here-comedy-early-show-vip-tickets-76393463907

Late Show
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eyes-up-here-comedy-late-show-tickets-76393750765
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vip-tickets-eyes-up-here-comedy-late-show-vip-tickets-76394196097

*VIP tickets receive a BRÖÖ gift bag worth $15

Chanel Ali is a standup comedian who blossomed on the Philadelphia circuit before moving to New York City in 2015. Her stage presence and story teller style make her a crowd favorite as she covers her upbringing, her world view and life as a comedian who doubles as a polite person in real life. She was been featured on the following shows:
– MTVs Girl Code 2018
– Laff Mobs Laugh Tracks on Tru TV 2019
– Food Network Digital Series Food Debate

Chanel has opened for nationally touring comedians like Howard Russell, Marc Maron and Michael Che.

Featuring Petey Smith McDowell

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-chanel-ali-tickets-71314853647

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

A very special Thanksgiving show!

An only child with OCD, Paul Hooper channels his dysfunction into a cathartic harangue. That’s a real flowery and obnoxious way of saying he complains in a funny way. Anyway, this native of Charlotte, North Carolina, now residing in New York City, has been featured on Gotham Comedy Live on AXS TV, Red Eye with Tom Shillue, at the HBO Comedy Festival in Vegas, Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon, the Boston Comedy Festival, Michael Moore and Jeff Garlin’s Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival, the Vancouver Comedy Fest and was a finalist in the 30th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition. A seasoned headliner, Paul has performed in forty two states and ten countries, including two armed forces tours. HIs debut solo album, “Tense and Uncomfortable” is available on Stand Up! Records, and iTunes.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-paul-hooper-tickets-71315441405

Join us for the 5th annual big 2 day event!
(formerly Asheville Flea For Y’all / Holiday Flea For Y’all)

A must-do for antiquers, vintage collectors, art seekers and sellers. The finest vintage picking around, local handmade art and objects, people watching, collecting, and connecting with over 100 local and regional vendors and artists.

Apply Now!
https://goo.gl/forms/AzV10VIe1806UX4g1

$5 adult admission Kids FREE!

Dan Perlman is a stand-up comedian and writer from New York City. Dan was recently named one of the 2018 New Faces in stand-up at Montreal Just For Laughs and headlined Caroline’s on Broadway. Most recently, Dan co-starred/wrote/directed the award-winning comedy series, Flatbush Misdemeanors, which became Oscar-qualified after winning the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short at the 2018 Florida Film Festival. Dan created and wrote an animated series, That’s My Bus!, which received a pilot order from FOX. Dan has appeared on TruTV, MTV2, and as a cast member on MTV’s Vidiots. As a writer-filmmaker, he has had four projects featured in the New York Television Festival. On radio, Dan was a writer for SiriusXM’s Bennington and Comedy Contributor for Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk Radio. Dan wrote for the 2017-19 WGA Awards, for hosts including Roy Wood Jr. and Lewis Black. As a stand-up, Dan’s festival credits include Montreal Just For Laughs, New York Comedy Festival, SF Sketchfest, and Limestone Comedy Fest.

Featuring Cody Daniel Hughes

Tickets $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comey-at-fleetwoods-dan-perlman-tickets-73202371263

Comedians Jessica Michelle Singleton and Buddy Hutton have been friends for nearly a decade. They work together. They live together. They cannot f*cking stand each other.

Come laugh at them on the #PlatonicEnemies Tour!

Internationally touring comedy phenom, Jessica Michelle Singleton has gained worldwide fans with her live headlining performances from North America and Europe to Africa and Asia, as well as her debut comedy album “Please. Don’t. Leave. Me.” which reached #1 on iTunes and was considered for the “Best Comedy Album” Grammy.

Jessica Michelle is a Paid Regular at The World Famous Comedy Store where she can be seen performing whenever she’s in Los Angeles between touring and she’s the idiot host of her popular podcast, “Ignorance is #Blessed”. She is a recurring guest on The Stephanie Miller Show on Free Speech TV and Sirius XM. Her comedy can be heard regularly on Sirius XM’s Raw Dog Comedy Channel and she has been a featured guest on Playboy TV’s “Talking Dirty” and Ari Shaffir’s “Skeptic Tank”.

JMS was the first English speaking female to perform at the prestigious Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland. Recently, JMS completed a 9 city sold out European tour on the heels of the debut of her critically-acclaimed one woman show, “Codependent Arising”, (a hilariously unique and emotional immersive experience about her real life experience at a 10 day silent meditation) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

JMS co-hosts several series’ on the DumbWits comedy network along with Buddy Hutton including “Slob Ross” a live drinking (drunken) art show, and the popular series “Twitch Makes A Movie”, a live-stream interactive sketch show that utilizes viewers suggestions to create, write, shoot and release a tiny movie in 5 hours.

Jessica Michelle Singleton has a unique style of comedy which delivers in a stream of consciousness flow, combining introspective observations and vulnerable personal stories coupled with ideas from what some people refer to as a hyperactive, weird and slightly deranged imagination to make people laugh so hard they cry at things they didn’t even know they could smile about.

Featuring: Buddy Hutton
Buddy Hutton is the co-host of DumbWits comedy network series’ “Twitch Makes A Movie” and “Slob Ross” as well as a producer, writer, director, cinematographer, comic, actor, editor, graphic artist, host, dog dad and anything else he thinks will make his mother proud of him. He has worked with CBS, Warner Brothers, IGN and he runs his own production company Hutton Media. ARE YOU F***ING HAPPY MOM?! … I’ll call you as soon as the show is over.
Hosted by Becca Steinhoff

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-jessica-michelle-singleton-tickets-79807238599

Comedians Jessica Michelle Singleton and Buddy Hutton have been friends for nearly a decade. They work together. They live together. They cannot f*cking stand each other.

Come laugh at them on the #PlatonicEnemies Tour!

Internationally touring comedy phenom, Jessica Michelle Singleton has gained worldwide fans with her live headlining performances from North America and Europe to Africa and Asia, as well as her debut comedy album “Please. Don’t. Leave. Me.” which reached #1 on iTunes and was considered for the “Best Comedy Album” Grammy.

Jessica Michelle is a Paid Regular at The World Famous Comedy Store where she can be seen performing whenever she’s in Los Angeles between touring and she’s the idiot host of her popular podcast, “Ignorance is #Blessed”. She is a recurring guest on The Stephanie Miller Show on Free Speech TV and Sirius XM. Her comedy can be heard regularly on Sirius XM’s Raw Dog Comedy Channel and she has been a featured guest on Playboy TV’s “Talking Dirty” and Ari Shaffir’s “Skeptic Tank”.

JMS was the first English speaking female to perform at the prestigious Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland. Recently, JMS completed a 9 city sold out European tour on the heels of the debut of her critically-acclaimed one woman show, “Codependent Arising”, (a hilariously unique and emotional immersive experience about her real life experience at a 10 day silent meditation) at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

JMS co-hosts several series’ on the DumbWits comedy network along with Buddy Hutton including “Slob Ross” a live drinking (drunken) art show, and the popular series “Twitch Makes A Movie”, a live-stream interactive sketch show that utilizes viewers suggestions to create, write, shoot and release a tiny movie in 5 hours.

Jessica Michelle Singleton has a unique style of comedy which delivers in a stream of consciousness flow, combining introspective observations and vulnerable personal stories coupled with ideas from what some people refer to as a hyperactive, weird and slightly deranged imagination to make people laugh so hard they cry at things they didn’t even know they could smile about.

Featuring: Buddy Hutton
Buddy Hutton is the co-host of DumbWits comedy network series’ “Twitch Makes A Movie” and “Slob Ross” as well as a producer, writer, director, cinematographer, comic, actor, editor, graphic artist, host, dog dad and anything else he thinks will make his mother proud of him. He has worked with CBS, Warner Brothers, IGN and he runs his own production company Hutton Media. ARE YOU F***ING HAPPY MOM?! … I’ll call you as soon as the show is over.
Hosted by Becca Steinhoff

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-jessica-michelle-singleton-tickets-79807238599

The super hilarious and Asheville favorite Blaire Postman is back with another group of fantastic femme comics from Washington D.C. for two silly and slightly festive nights of comedy at LaZoom.
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair

Tickets $12, VIP* $18
FRIDAY
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-friday-tickets-80609133087
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-friday-vip-tickets-80609417939

SATURDAY
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-saturday-tickets-81867749643
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-saturday-vip-tickets-81869087645

*VIP tickets come with VIP seating and a BRÖÖ product gift bag!

The super hilarious and Asheville favorite Blaire Postman is back with another group of fantastic femme comics from Washington D.C. for two silly and slightly festive nights of comedy at LaZoom.
Sponsored by BRÖÖ Craft Beer Hair

Tickets $12, VIP* $18
FRIDAY
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-friday-tickets-80609133087
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-friday-vip-tickets-80609417939

SATURDAY
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-saturday-tickets-81867749643
VIP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-white-boobs-a-jug-band-comedy-christmas-saturday-vip-tickets-81869087645

*VIP tickets come with VIP seating and a BRÖÖ product gift bag!

Flutist Kate Steinbeck performs with early music masters, Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba, and Barbara Weiss, harpsichord. Music of JS Bach, GP Telemann and Wilhelmine von Bayreuth, older sister of Frederick the Great, Emperor of Prussia. Wilhelmine, also known as Princess of Prussia, lived from 1709 until 1758, was a gifted composer and lutenist.

Free admission: Donations encouraged!

Proceeds to benefit Beloved Asheville and Bountiful Baroque