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###

Kevin O’Brien is Brooklyn based comedian, DJ, writer, and overall expressionist. A regular at clubs and colleges across the country he has opened for some of the biggest names in comedy from Dave Chappelle to Irene from “The Real World.” He has been featured on Viceland, the A.V. Club, and NPR. His comedy has been described as, “Very funny, very depressing” by Youtube commenter Ssgt Griggs. He has also appeared at a number of festivals including TruTv’s High Plains Comedy Festival, Laughing Devil Comedy Festival, and Fest in Gainesville.

Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lazoom-comedy-kevin-obrien-tickets-70194548785

– 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

D.C. native, John Conroy, brings an everyman’s attitude to smart, sharply written material that runs the gamut from shrewd observations to social satire.
Over the next few years he made a rapid transition from opener to headliner, playing hundreds of shows each year and touring the top clubs throughout the country. Conroy is a jovial iconoclast whose good-humored but aggressive act makes a lasting impression.

Tickets $7 advance, $10 day of
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-john-conroy-tickets-71543148483

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!

Thursday night 10/24
Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic!
Hosted by Cody Hughes
Featuring Ryan Cox

Doors 8:30p/9:00p show
$5 members/$2 for year membership

Professional and Newbie comics
Comics get in free (+free membership)
Free snacks/drink specials

Comics sign up at door or email [email protected]
New comics to venue get 3-5m
Regular comics get as much time as available. Look for light

Contact Michele at [email protected] for more info/sign up early or request a feature (paid 20m)

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

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

William Ray Engvall Jr. is an American comedian and actor best known for his work as a stand-up comic, his signature “Here’s Your Sign” bit, and as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy group.

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

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

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.

BRANDIE POSEY Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, Brandie Posey is a stand up comedian, writer and producer who now calls LA’s comedy scene home. She has been featured as a performer at the Bentzen Ball, New York Comedy Festival, RIOT Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, FEST in Gainesville, Bridgetown Comedy Festival, High Plains in Denver, among many others. She has opened for all of your favorite comics, including Kyle Kinane, Maria Bamford and the legendary punk band Against Me! Brandie has appeared on MTV, E! and Comedy Central. She made her feature film debut in the indie dark comedy, “The Worst Year Of My Life” directed by Jonathan Smith and her first stand up record Opinion Cave debuted at #1 on iTunes & #12 on Billboard.com. Brandie’s comedic style has been described as a “Riot Grrl on acid”.

Brandie tours the country, headlining every dark corner with a microphone that will have her – from a basement in Whitesburg, KY to the stages of the Kennedy Center (twice!). She is the co-creator & host of Picture This!, the popular comedy-animation show with consistently sold out shows in Los Angeles & New York. In 2018 Picture This! shot a pilot for TruTV in partnership with Page Hurwitz & Wanda Sykes’ Push It Productions. At the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre & The Hollywood Improv, Brandie co-hosts Lady to Lady alongside Barbara Gray & Tess Barker. Lady to Lady is also a celebrated weekly podcast with over 7 million downloads & loyal fans around the world.

Tickets $10
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-at-fleetwoods-lisa-curry-brandie-posey-tickets-71705806999

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.