Community Calendar

Join us as we welcome Fall and explore portions of Riverside Cemetery, piecing together fact and fiction by highlighting many of the folks that inspired various characters in Wolfe’s works, as well as other notable Ashevillians.
The tour will begin at the front gate of Riverside Cemetery. Parking is available along Birch Street and near the gate. Plan for a two-hour leisurely paced tour!
Tickets are $10/person and must be purchased in advance online:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/buried-lives-a-thomas-wolfe-riverside-cemetery-tour

“A good salon is a circle where truth shows up in stories, where hearts and the messy, beautiful business of being human finds its voice—Linda-Marie Barrett's Creating a Salon lights the lantern for those ready to host that kind of magic.” -Mary Gauthier, author of Saved by a Song

Linda-Marie Barrett, author of Creating a Salon, will be in conversation with Firestorm collective member and book club host Esmé Joy to discuss the importance of creating spaces for meaningful conversation. During challenging times like these, bringing community together in intentional gatherings can be very supportive, and even life-changing. Join us for tips on starting or enhancing your own salon or book club.

Linda-Marie Barrett is a writer, editor, and steward of a whimsical garden guarded by gnomes. She is the executive director of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA). From 1988-2017, she worked at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, where she wore many hats, including author events manager, general manager, and co-owner. She is a contributor to Spinning Toward the Sun: Essays on Writing, Resilience, and the Creative Life, an anthology benefiting the recovery of Asheville, NC after Hurricane Helene.

Esmé Joy has been slinging radical books at Firestorm since 2019. She lovingly tends multiple recurring social spaces at Firestorm including the monthly craft night, queer horror book club, and body talk study group.

Endangered Impressions: a collection of drawings highlighting nature threatened by the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan

This is your chance to snag a masterpiece with heart! These one-of-a-kind works–created by fellow supporters– might just become your next favorite wall art and a daily reminder to stand strong for the places we all love to call home.

The online art auction will kick off at 3 pm on Sunday, August 24th, and will run until 11:45 pm on Friday, September 20th. Winners will be contacted the week of September 22nd. Don’t want to wait to take home your favorite piece? Check out the “Buy Now” options. All proceeds will benefit MountainTrue.

Art is framed in re-used frames to embrace a more sustainable approach.

Join Seth Kauffman (of Floating Action) and Black Mountain poet, Clint Bowman, for an evening of music and poetry at Oak & Grist Distillery. This free event will follow a community river cleanup along the Swannanoa River.

Turn up the volume at Moxy 🎶 Our DJ Nights bring the beats, the cocktails, and the vibes. Guaranteed good times, no cover required.

A workshop and collaborative space dedicated to moving off platforms like Spotify, Google, and others that are exploiting our community and the environment.
Please bring your own phone and/or laptop to the workshop to follow along!

This event will focus on the collective experience of capitalist techno-fascism rather than personal experiences of vulnerability (though sharing is welcome). Planned physical activity will be limited to operating your own devices. We will be reading from a projected presentation (contact Firestorm to let the facilitator know if you have any related accommodation needs). Information will be also shared using the PA system, so we will hopefully hear each other clearly.

Since we will all have our tech with us, please remember to use discretion when discussing any sensitive information.
Anticipated Agenda

Ice-breaker/warm-up, if desired by group
Group discussion on what everyone knows about what these companies will do with our data, our money, the money they make from selling our data, and the environment
Presentation (15 minutes or so) and sharing of alternative platforms, as well as ways to transfer your information
Activity for self-organization in continuing this process and encouraging others
Co-working time to make the switch!

We’re a little 4-piece indie band out of Charlotte, NC. Comprised of members: Trevor Wallace, Rhett Duckworth, Caleb Funderburk and Zack Nell.

Shelf Life started a few years ago as a simple passion project that has grown into something the band deeply believes in. Our music was born from a desire to help listeners, and themselves, accept the inevitable doom we all face- offering a soundtrack for those moments when you need a reminder that you’re not alone, or just a tune to help you roll with life’s punches. We’ve crafted our own sound, melding the ethereal vibes of indie pop with the raw energy of hard and alt-rock. Whether you’re into something light and breezy, or crave something with a bit more edge, we hope our music strikes a chord with you, no matter where you come from musically.

All throughout September, guests are invited to join the mountain’s naturalists as they count and celebrate the annual spectacle of fall raptor migration. Participants can observe the migration from viewing locations on Linville Peak (across the Mile High Swinging Bridge) and Half Moon Overlook (the first major overlook when entering the park). Included with admission.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area announces Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitation at Mars Landing Galleries in Mars Hill, NC, from July 2 through September 28, 2025. The exhibit brings together the exceptional talents of 33 artists featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, showcasing the vibrant artistic landscape of Western North Carolina.

The artistic spirit of Southern Appalachia, deeply rooted in its stunning natural environment, will be on full display. From the intricate details of pottery to the masterful craftsmanship of woodworking, the exhibition will feature 60 pieces spanning a diverse range of traditional mediums, including fiber art, printmaking, metalworking (including jewelry), and basketry. This celebration of local artistry comes at a crucial time, as Hurricane Helene impacted many artists. Artists participating are from the central and western sections of BRNHA’s 25-county footprint, encompassing the NC mountains and the Qualla Boundary.

Celebrate World Peace Day with an evening of heartfelt music, meaningful connection, and rich storytelling at Groove for Good — a special Songwriters in the Round gathering where four acclaimed artists share the stage, swap songs, and reflect on the moments that shaped their music, benefitting LEAF Global.

This is more than a concert — it’s an intimate, in-the-moment exchange of ideas and emotions between artists and audience alike. Expect laughter, deep thoughts, spontaneous harmonies, and powerful songs that speak to peace, unity, and the human experience.

Joining us for this unforgettable performance are celebrated songwriters David LaMotte, Caroline Aiken, Annie Wenz, and Todd Hoke — four powerful voices whose music and presence promise to stir the soul and spark meaningful reflection.From folk and blues to roots and Americana, these acclaimed singer-songwriters will take you on a musical journey filled with heart, humor, and harmony.

Let music be the language of peace. Groove for Good — four artists, one stage, one world.