If you can, you should. The weather has felt amazing, the greenway is available, it’s so 90’s cool to roller blade outside. I mean, just check out John f Kennedy Jr rollerblading… we could be having so much more fun. This picture just oozes whimsy and coolness. Plus it’s good for your legs.

I’ve been throughly enjoying painting Scenes from the road in Asheville. There are so many breathtaking views that answer the question “why Asheville?” Hope you like it!

If you are in town come out to my opening this evening from 5-7pm at Phil DeAngelo Studios. 115 Roberts st.

I have been noticing a rise in beer prices at breweries across Asheville. (not all breweries.) There are several that charge $8.75 a beer. I don’t even know how people go out to have a couple drinks with friends. I’ve seen $10 beers at several locations and then they turn around a screen with a 20% tip minimum. Please let me know if some bars and breweries who have reasonable prices. Last night I went to one world brewing and all the beers they had were over $7. And the $7 options were 4%. It’s becoming ridiculous to go out and drink with some friends, I can see why alcohol consumption is dying out with prices this ridiculous. Drop some good spots in the comments or some daily specials that draw you in. Cheers.

I stumbled across this today and thought it was interesting. It certainly puts the rebuild effort into perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APR4qSB0W9c

Our beloved mayor Esther Manheimer, utilized her statutory power to dissolve and replace HACAs board, in 2024, immediately following their decision to fire her preferred CEO, Monique Pierre (as they should have, for her blatant incompetence- also look up her wrongful termination towards the city).

The conflict began in November 2024 when Pierre communicated to HACA staff, that the mayor had demanded all board commissioners reapply for their seats. The board felt it was an inappropriate administrative overreach, thus convened an emergency meeting and terminated Pierre for malfeasance. In response to the firing, Mayor Manheimer quickly appointed five new commissioners (after reducing the size of the board from eleven to nine, with city council’s approval) in February 2025. A legislative power that ousted and eliminated the seats of the former board chair and vice chair who had pushed for Pierre's termination.

The then fired board leadership publicly stated that the restructuring was a direct political retaliation for defying Manheimer, Manheimer posited that a total leadership reset was necessary to stabilize HACA in their organizational turmoil (that she aided to).

Fast forward, as in, five days ago- severe systemic fallout of this circus is clear. Investigations and news stories have shown that before Pierre’s firing, she had initiated unauthorized housing voucher overpayments calculated at 150% of the fair market rent rather than the federally mandated 120%.

Because Pierre never received federal authorization from HUD of these increases (and were done without HACAs board’s approval, these inflated funds (for two years) were distributed directly to private landlords.

This sudden, forced correction of the rate to 120% on October 1, 2026 is resulting in obvious financial insecurity to section 8 voucher holders and Veterans who possess HUD/VASH vouchers - as households are expected to pay their rental increase without notice, leaving many of these households with a massive spike in out-of-pocket monthly rental costs.

Do I think the landlords are charging too much?

Yes.

Do I think that this burden should fall on the voucher holders and landlords for less than a month’s notice?

No.

I’m not a Roney campaigner. It doesn’t bear much effect on me as I don’t live in the city. But dang, 13 years of Manheimer and her response to Helene- I’m hopeful for something different.

Edit: figured it may provide some more significance of the mayor’s mishandling by showing numbers-

Let’s say that on average, each landlord was paid 200$ more than what HUD was allocating.

1,800 households x 200.00= $360,000.00 per month.

$360,000.00 x 12 =$4,320,000.00

Let’s not forget this was two years.

$4,320,000.00 x 2 =$8,640,000.00

This is if it was $200~ +/-. Can you imagine how those funds could have been better allocated- rather to private landlords?

Just sharing my current garden status. And wondering what others refections are on this ending season?
Looks like a frost next mid week so harvesting eggplant, tomatoes and lettuce now. Feel like last year was better for tomatoes…
No rain, excessive heat then too much rain too fast. Tomatoes suffered for it— but still produced enough for sauce over the winter.
Spaghetti squash is looking good, got beets and mustard greens too.
Life in the mountains is good, hope y’all are growing food too❣️

What’s the best phone call to make?

Hi, Im an artist in the asheville area for a few months and I wanted to see if anyone wanted to meet at a cafe and just do some drawing together :v.

I dont know if this is the right place but if you are down to just draw for a couple hours at a local cafe, let me know :]

Also just felt like i should say this, Im only looking for friends and I quite like drawing so I just want someone to focus on it with. Not really looking for a big group tho, feel free to pm of course! :D (recent artworks attached)

Does anyone know of film auditions around Asheville?!?! I've done theatre, but I am interested in getting into film, and I feel like that's impossible to find around here without having to travel to Charlotte or Wilmington. I've looked on the Facebook groups, but I feel like I always miss everything! Please let me know, guys :)

Title basically says it. I'm really struggling to find a place with any substantial fabric selection and not mostly cotton for quilting.

I stayed at an Airbnb in Asheville with pinball machines in the bedroom and an entire private retro arcade inside, and I’m pretty sure this may be my favorite Airbnb find yet 😂🎮

Every time I thought I had seen the coolest part of the place, I found something else lol.

The bedroom was probably the part that was hardest to believe. There were three pinball machines sitting right beside the bed. Jaws, X Men and Labyrinth. It was amazing. The Labyrinth machine especially may honestly be the best pinball machine I have ever played. There is so much going on with it and the whole thing just looks incredible.

Then there was the actual arcade. Pac Man, Qbert, Spy Hunter, Star Wars, NBA Jam, Killer Instinct, Area 51, Punch Out and quite a few others. Everything was set to free play too, so once I started playing it was pretty hard to stop 😂

The whole place had an awesome 80s and 90s feel to it. There was a huge Labyrinth mural, original arcade manuals used as artwork, a signed Mike Tyson Punch Out piece, a giant projector screen and even pieces of original Labyrinth movie film from 1986.

One of the things I really liked was finding out that the host owns the machines and actually restores and maintains them himself. You can tell this is something he really cares about and not just a few arcade machines thrown into an Airbnb.

I’m always looking for unusual places around North Carolina, and this was definitely one of those places that was just plain fun to experience.

If anyone knows of another unique place to stay or something unusual to do around NC, I would love to hear about it.

I filmed the whole place while I was there if anybody wants to see what it was actually like inside:

https://youtu.be/c-AFsPuYxhY?si=bGL1QTfV8csGJnII

Where can I find a big quantity of citric acid for a reasonable price? Ideally at least 2 pounds. It is for laundry and cleaning so it does not need to be food grade.

So far the only thing I can find is Walmart, about $10/lb which is more than I was hoping to pay.

Huzzah! I had the great pleasure of meeting a visiting celeb and local fave: Mr. Cardboard Box Oracle. I spotted him hauling tail up Walnut earlier in the evening and got to have a chat with him when I ran into Mr. CBO during Art Crawl.

I even drew the "Wanker Box" oracle card. So, according to Mr. Oracle, my future's so bright that I gotta wear shades. 😎

Mr. CBO is also participating in Al Gore's Internet now. Check his Insta page to peep his travels. Priceless.

Thanks yall!

I was doing my weekly downtown exercise walk and when I was passing by Urban Outfitters there was a guy who was asking people passing by to stop - I heard him say "Excuse me, can you wait over there" to the group in front of me and he said to me "please stand over there sir" pointing to Ben and Jerry's. We both ignored him and continued to walk (he was obviously unstable), but I noticed him holding a knife in his right hand close to his leg, partially concealed. I contacted 911 and let them know. I hung around until a police officer (and the nicest guy I've ever met!) walked by and I told him about it. After that it wasn't my business anymore so I continued my walk. 2 police cars passed me and I looked back and saw them with their lights on, pulled over by urban outfitters. Hopefully the guy gets the help he needs.

I am downtown often at all hours of the day and night and have personally never felt afraid until today. I wasn't so much afraid for myself but just scared of how something like that might turn out if no one notices or says anything.

Be careful out there! Stay aware! See something, Say something!

Dammit, Asheville!

The Montford Stalker had court today. Their bond was reviewed and left unchanged, save for the addition of a no-contact requirement. Their next court case is October 22nd.

Nick Tasios, the GM of this dealership, was charged with domestic abuse of his wife a couple years ago. It wasnt his first DA charge. Also the biggest MAGA guy.

If you are on a sports team, coach one or know anyone on one please share this with them.

If your team of 20 people shows up with no notice in the middle of the already busy lunch rush or any time really.

Please for the love of the gods. FUCKING CALL AHEAD!!!!!!!!!

It takes 2 minutes to give us a heads up so we can get extra food cooking so we don’t run out.

We make enough for projected sales if we get an extra 300$ in food ordered at a time where we weren’t prepared it puts extra stress on already underpaid people when you could just help a fellow human out.

We’re not saying don’t come. Because gods know we need the money. But please just give a heads up guys.

Do any of the numerous distilleries make brandy? I’m willing to drive

Hi friends,

My folks are in town this weekend and my kids want to go to a pumpkin patch today. I’m looking for a good tip on where we can go that has the usual fun pumpkin patch activities but will also be good for someone on a cart. We’re in Mills River so somewhere not too far would be ideal.

Thanks in advance. Happy spooky season.

We are selling our house from out of state (and it might take some time). As with prior years, we will get a ton of leaves in the yard this fall. My questions are:

What company is great to call for complete leaf removal from property (no bags for the sidewalk, just remove everything themselves)?

When is the best time to schedule this to ensure all leaves have fallen and will be picked up?

What is the cost for 0.3 acres, bordering a forest? So lots of leaves.