By  Bob Larbey
Directed by Mark Colbenson
Feichter Studio

Step into the world of Cooper and Aylott, residents of “Paradise House” retirement home, as they plot their escape and navigate the rocky road of aging with humor, grace, and… trepidation. Watch as Cooper charmingly flirts with his nurse, engages in witty banter with the cleaning lady, and attempts to bridge the gap with his somewhat estranged daughter. Don’t miss out on this uplifting winter production—it’s a celebration of life, love, and the enduring spirit that connects us all.

Rated PG-13

Hendersonville Theatre welcomes back Asheville Americana band, Amanda Anne Platt & the Honeycutters to its Hometown Sound Music Series in February. Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters’s music is nuanced, bringing insight and wit to the stories Platt tells through songwriting. Lyrically driven, the country roots music often inspires introspection, whether it be about life on the road, heartache, or hope. There is an empathetic and charming wit ingrained in songwriting. She has a knack for accessing a deep well of emotion and applying it to her songwriting, whether she is writing from her own experiences or immersing herself in the melody of emotions in another person’s life.

Performing along with Platt, The Honeycutters are Matt Smith (pedal steel and electric guitars), Kevin Williams (keys/vocals), Rick Cooper (bass/vocals), and Evan Martin (drums/vocals). The band is currently on tour supporting their sixth studio album, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, released in February 2022 on Organic Records.

See more about AAPH at www.honeycutters.com.

Raised in Michigan and now based in Nashville, GRAMMY Award-winning Billy Strings is known as one of music’s most compelling artists. Most recently, he unveiled “California Sober,” a collaboration with legendary artist Willie Nelson—his first release since partnering with venerable label, Reprise Records.

The collaboration follows Strings’ most recent full-length album, Me/And/Dad, which was released last fall and features Strings alongside his dad, Terry Barber. The product of a longtime dream, the record features new versions of fourteen bluegrass and country classics that the two have been playing together since Strings was a young child.

Since his 2017 debut, Strings has been awarded Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards, Artist of the Year at the 2022 and 2023 Americana Music Awards, Entertainer of the Year at the 2021, 2022 and 2023 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Best New Headliner at the 2022 Pollstar Awards, Breakthrough Artist of the Pandemic at the 2021 Pollstar Awards and has performed on the 64th GRAMMY Awards, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” PBS’ “Austin City Limits,” “Bluegrass Underground” as well as countless sold-out tour dates world-wide.

Flyin’ West is a  compelling, crowd-pleasing drama by esteemed playwright Pearl Cleage. Set in the 1890s, the story unfolds in the historic town of Nicodemus, Kansas, one of the many all-black towns established in the American West following the Civil War. Through the eyes of four African-American women, the play delves into their journey of resilience and aspiration as they navigate their lives against the backdrop of the harsh realities of the frontier and the societal constraints of the era. With themes of community, racial pride, and female empowerment, Flyin’ West is a powerful portrayal of the determination and grit of black pioneers, offering audiences a captivating glimpse into an often overlooked chapter of American history.

A talkback with the cast & crew of Flyin’ West will be held following the performances on February 11th and 18th.

In the tradition of The Vagina Monologues and For Colored Girls…, The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks, and Curls is a collection of monologues and scenes exploring the often complex relationship Black women have with their hair. From Afros to braids, weddings, and funerals, falling in love to grieving a loss, these stories serve as a powerful reminder that for Black women in particular, hair is both deeply personal and political. These heartbreaking, heartwarming, and hilarious stories will take audiences on an unparalleled journey into the world of Black womanhood.

Purchase the Different Strokes! 23-24 Season 4 Production Package! Buy two tickets to each production and get two additional half-price tickets to every show in your package. Purchase your 4 Production Package through the link below and then call the box office at 828-257-4530, ext 1, to purchase your half price tickets.

Wesley Schulz, conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
Anna Clyne: Masquerade
Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

Wynton Marsalis’ Violin Concerto is a showstopping piece that vibrates with energy at the intersection of jazz and classical music, a fusion genre often referred to as “Third Stream.” A native of Kentucky and highly-acclaimed fiddler as well as a classical virtuoso, GRAMMY nominated violinist Tessa Lark is the perfect artist to bring this piece to Greenville. Fusion is where this violin luminary lives.

In addition to being written for a huge orchestra of around 90 musicians, Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique stands out for the full-on macabre it provokes. Inspired by the composer’s romantic obsession with a Shakespeare actress, this Gothic-style piece’s most obvious literary counterpart is the work of Edgar Allan Poe.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR & GUEST ARTIST

Within this space, a dream will be induced taking you into a state of consciousness that can bring about immense healing in your conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. The cave will transform into a “Nidra Nest” with zero gravity chairs, blankets, and bolsters to fully support you, whether sitting or lying down, for the entire experience. Release stuck emotions, rest, and rejuvenate! Join Reiki Master Teacher and Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Kate Wargo of Woven Light LLC in a soothing Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) practice guiding you into the “in between”; that space between being awake and being asleep.
$56 per person
This is a pre-purchased ticket to an event, your ticket is not refundable once purchased. *Please be mindful of your volume as you move about our entire space, as others are in healing sessions.

https://ashevillesaltcave.com/event/yoga-nidra/

Make a beeline to The Draftsman after the Billy Strings concert for a night of funk and fun. We’ll keep the party going with live music from Supatight, classic arcade games, and drink specials until midnight! Purchase your tickets on Eventbrite.

Buncombe County’s residents, especially those living in and at the edge of poverty, have been able to access valuable, life-saving emergency assistance benefits through Eblen Charities. For many years now, Eblen Charities has partnered with Buncombe County Health and Human Services (BCHHS) to administer the Emergency Assistance, Crisis Intervention, and Low Income Energy Assistance programs. Due to an increase in need from our neighbors and challenges with processing benefits between state and partner agency systems, BCHHS transitioned the administration of these programs from Eblen Charities to the County on November 13, 2023.

We recognize that this a change for our community as Eblen Charities has provided this assistance for many years and has been a vital resource for our neighbors in crisis. BCHHS began answering calls and processing online applications on November 13, 2023. Beginning December 1, 2023, with the start of Low Income Energy Assistance application processing, BCHHS will start taking in-person requests at 40 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville.

Low Income Energy Assistance provides a one-time annual vendor payment to help eligible families pay their heating expense. Households containing a person age 60 or older or disabled receiving services can apply starting December 1, 2023. All households can apply starting January 1, 2024. Low Income Energy Assistance applications are accepted until March 31, 2024 or until funds are exhausted.

To qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet income requirements.
• Be responsible for its heating costs.

The Crisis Intervention Program serves individuals and families who are experiencing or are in danger of experiencing a heating- or cooling-related crisis.

To qualify for the Crisis Intervention Program, households that meet the following criteria may be eligible:

• Have at least one U.S. citizen or non-citizen who meets the eligibility criteria.
• Meet the income requirements.
• Have an energy related crisis.
• Have a utility statement that shows how much is owed to alleviate the crisis.

For those who have previously received Low Income Energy Assistance Program assistance, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will begin notifying eligible households by mail beginning November 19, 2023. Households will have 10 days to report any changes to their household. Applicants can report changes by contacting the BCHHS office or by making changes to the form that was mailed to you and return it to BCHHS, located at 40 Coxe Ave. in Downtown Asheville. If no changes are reported, the information from last year will be used to process this year’s automated Low Income Energy Assistance payment.

If you are interested in applying for these Energy Assistance benefits, you can quickly apply online at www.epass.nc.gov. If you would like to apply over the phone, have general questions about energy assistance, or need to check on the status of your case, please call us at (828) 250-6330. Beginning December 1, 2023, you may also visit us in person at 40 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville. Please bring your parking ticket with you inside of the building for free parking.

Buncombe County also will administer Emergency Assistance, which Buncombe County Social Work Services distributes as funds become available to our community. To apply for Emergency Assistance, go online to epass.nc.gov, call Buncombe County at 828-250-6330, or apply in person at 40 Coxe Ave.

BCHHS will continue to partner with Eblen Charities to assist families and individuals in our community during times of crisis and hardship. For more information on the services that are available in our community, visit www.buncombecounty.org/hhs.

Baker Exhibit Center

In an age of complex environmental challenges, why not look to the ingenuity of nature for solutions? The forms, patterns, and processes found in the natural world—refined by 3.8 billion years of evolution—can inspire our design of everything from clothing to skyscrapers. This approach to innovation, called biomimicry, is becoming increasingly popular.

Nature’s Blueprints is supported in part by The North Carolina Arboretum Society, The Laurel of Asheville, RomanticAsheville.com Travel Guide, and Smoky Mountain Living Magazine.

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

• Parking Fees
  • Personal/Standard Vehicle (up to 20′ long): $20
  • Large vehicles (21′-29′ long): $60
  • Busses and Oversize Vehicles (30′ long+): $125
  • Members: Free

  Apart from the parking fee, there is no other admission charge to enter the Arboretum or our facilities, except in the case of advertised ticketed events.

Located within the wildly-popular and botanically beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains, The North Carolina Arboretum offers more than 10 miles of hiking trails that connect to many other area attractions such as Lake Powhatan, the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors of all ages and abilities can enjoy their hiking experience at the Arboretum as trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult challenge levels. All trails are dog-friendly and visitors are asked to adhere to the proper waste disposing procedures for pets.

Part of a running group that would like to use the Arboretum as a starting point or parking location? Please review our Running Group Guidance and email [email protected] with any questions.

OUR ANNUAL SHOW  IS BACK IN FEBRUARY 2023

DONT MISS THE 53rd  UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA COIN SHOW