Ashvegas Hot Sheet: The Madd Maxx Kinda Creepy Xmas Art Show opens in downtown Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Ashvegas: The City You Love. The News You Want.More of what’s going around:

-Madd Maxx Presents Double Shot: The Annual Kinda Creepy Xmas Art Show opens Friday at Izzy’s Coffee Den and across the street at Downtown Books and News. Asheville artist Max Feist has curated the show, which includes about 20 local artists. Maxx tells me this is the fourth or fifth year for the show, which features several artists who don’t show much but who are more than deserving, artists such as James Ward, Marissa Z and Joshua Norman. There will be tarot card readings, music by Chris head and Desperate Measures, and more. From the FB event page:

Madd Maxx presents Double Shot: the annual kinda creepy christmas artshow. The opening is for both Izzy’s and Downtwn books and news and features over twenty of some of the best artists Asheville has to offer. There will be music by Chris Head and Desperate Measures as well as snacks and booze. Come out and support great local art and pick up a holiday gift or two for those folks in your life who appreciate the non traditional.

-The East West Holiday Pop Up Shop starts this weekend at 278 Haywood Road. From a release:

Our four day holiday pop up shop features unique handmade goods from local makers, artists, and crafters in a variety of categories. From ceramics, jewelry, leather goods, bath & body, kidsware, sweet treats and more, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list. See website for hours.

-The annual keg drop at Thirsty Monk in Biltmore Park is set. Here’s the press release:

Last year saw a festive crowd of hundreds ring in the New Year in Biltmore Park, and for a third year, Thirsty Monk is excited to announce its popular Keg Drop Celebration once more. The golden keg will be lit up and glowing on New Year’s Eve, and easily visible from the traffic circle as visitors enter Biltmore Park. At midnight the keg will descend, and the bar will tap a fresh keg of Highland Brewing Cold Mountain Winter Ale to ring in the new year.

“We’ve seen this event grow each year, and we’re really excited to do it again,” says Thirsty Monk VP, Chall Gray. In the past two years, the keg drop celebration has garnered local and national attention from multiple media outlets.“New York City drops a ball, Atlanta drops a peach, Miami drops an orange, and in Asheville, we drop a keg! Come join us!” Gray adds.

The Keg Drop Celebration is free to attend, and ample parking is available for guests. There will also be menu specials for the occasion.

As Asheville’s immense craft brewing reputation has continued to grow in 2015, with opening of Sierra Nevada in Mills River and New Belgium beginning its brewing operations in the River Arts District, Thirsty Monk’s keg drop is a beacon for the beginning of yet another exciting year for the growing prestige of its local brewing industry, and the city of Asheville.

-The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians opened a new casino in Western North Carolina in October and I completely missed it. The folks at yonderdaily.com wonder if it will pay off for Cherokee County. A sample:

Only time will tell whether being home to an Indian gaming casino is good rural strategy for a western North Carolina county of 27,141. Cherokee County has a 17.8 percent poverty rate and a per capita income ($18,340 in 2013 dollars) about a third of the national rate.

Opening day at the 90,000-square-foot gaming room of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River and Casino near Murphy in western North Carolina, photographed from halfway up the escalator to the 300-room hotel. Photo by Lorraine Bennett.
Opening day at the 90,000-square-foot gaming room of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River and Casino near Murphy in western North Carolina, photographed from halfway up the escalator to the 300-room hotel. Photo by Lorraine Bennett.
The locals’ embrace seems lukewarm at best. We are nine-year Cherokee County residents (after retiring from media in Atlanta) and are involved in church and non-profit activities. During our two hours in the casino on opening day, the only locals we recognized were a pair of friendly, elderly women wearing “Clay-Cherokee Senior Games” T-shirts.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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1 Comment

  1. Damond December 4, 2015

    Actually the East West Pop Up is next weekend Dec 10-13. Should be fun.

    Reply

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