Even more of what’s going around.
-Have you seen our Soundcheck AVL series? It’s a video series of interviews and performances by musicians, poets and other performers, hosted by AshvegasDotCom music contributor Caleb Calhoun. Here’s the latest installment, an interview with Asheville songstress Jane Kramer. Stay tuned for lots more fun stuff.
-There’s a free software coding course being offered from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at Anthroware at The Hatch, 45 S. French Broad Ave., in downtown Asheville. More:
Ever thought about building your own website or apps? What about a career as a developer? The Iron Yard Coding Academy is offering a Free Crash Course in Coding at the Hatch Thursday night. All you need to do is show up with a laptop and we’ll provide drinks, snacks, and instruction. You can read more and RSVP here. Directions: Enter the front doors by the Hatch sign. Walk toward the back then go right at the first hallway. Make a left at the end of the hall and enter the suite.
-The Bernstein Family Christmas Spectacular, the annual Christmas comedy staged by The Magnetic Theatre, is losing cast member Kirby Gibson, who is moving to Chicago in April. The theater is hosting auditions for Kirby’s replacement on March 4. Auditions will be held from 1-5 p.m. at Magnetic 375 on Depot Street in the River Arts District. Please sign up for a slot and bring a headshot, resume, and prepare a 60-second comedic monologue and 30-seconds of an acapella song. Sides will be provided. The show requires rehearsal availability weeknights and some weekends beginning October 28th, and shows running through December 22cd. This is a paid gig through a percentage of the box office in shares.
-Foothills Meats has announced the hiring of Dave Kane as executive chef. In this new position, Kane will be at the helm of the production butchery and will oversee all culinary aspects of the veteran, local meat company, according to a press release. Here’s more:
Kane will be responsible for all menus, meat fabrication and processing for Foothills programs including the Catering Division, the Meat Share CSA, the Food Truck at Hi Wire’s Big Top as well as an ambitious new project.
“Dave’s dedication to local food is well known in Asheville and beyond. His culinary style and ethos fit perfectly with what Foothills has espoused for over 15 years. Dave is ready to take our food to a new level,” says Foothills Owner and General Manager Casey McKissick. “Consider our Meat Share CSA program: where else can you get such an array of fine, locally sourced meat products, created by a professional chef, in your own home twice monthly? That’s pretty amazing.”
Chef Kane brings 14 years of experience in the culinary industry, having most recently served as Chef de Cuisine at Asheville’s Rhubarb since 2013 and, prior to that, at Cucina 24. “I’ve been so fortunate to work for and learn from culinary innovators like John Fleer at Rhubarb and Brian Canipelli at Cucina 24. I’ve always been drawn to Foothills’ concept and Casey’s dedication to local sourcing and whole animal butchery. We have some very exciting things going on at Foothills, and I look forward to advancing the mission.”
Originally from Maryland, Dave spent his early years on the cattle and sheep farm his father managed. Raised by a one-time cowboy father and a lifelong Francophile mother with a deep love of classic French food and cooking, he was instilled with an appreciation for every aspect of the food system. Dave’s academic background and degree in Environmental Studies inspired him to use his passion for food to better the world around him and his commitment to transparent sourcing and supporting local food systems. Chef Kane can be contacted at dave@foothillslocalmeats.com.
-The Day Without Immigrants strike is planned for Thursday. Anyone in Asheville taking part?
-Word on the street: Marsha Stickford, the city of Asheville’s neighborhood services coordinator, is retiring.
-Organizers of the Tiny House Street Festival, set for April 21-23 in Pink Hill, N.C., is looking to drum up interest for the event around the state. Here’s more info.
Western North Carolina has been at the forefront of both the modern tiny house movement as well as the small house movement. It hasn’t been that long ago that Asheville made way for ADUs (accessory dwelling units) legally. Since that time the idea of living smaller and more intentional has been amplified throughout the state. The Village of Wildflowers in Flat Rock has gained tremendous popularity, RV parks in Eastern Carolina are filling up with longer-term occupants, living in RVs, park models, and other non-traditional homes. That is exactly why our state-centric festival has gained in popularity since the fall. The small town of Pink Hill is gearing up for quite a celebration beginning with our three co-sponsors: Pink Hill Pharmacy, Chef & the Farmer, and Mother Earth Brewery.
We will be showcasing 12 professionally built tiny homes from all over the state and just beyond our state lines. Our featured builder, Perch & Nest, is from Winston-Salem. We will be featuring 16 speakers (2 keynotes and 2 featured) who represent a cross-section of published authors, television hosts, real estate experts, builders, and more. Our two featured speakers are Jewel Pearson and Laura M. LaVoie. We have vendors representing a number of cottage industries surrounding the modern tiny house movement. Attendees can enjoy food from 5 food trucks, representing a cross-section of North Carolina.