Promises, promises

Like the noisemakers, champagne and fireworks of New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day has its set of traditions: Eating black-eyed peas and collard greens (for luck and prosperity) and ticking off a hopeful list of resolutions. And then a week or a month later, there’s another grand tradition: Breaking all those well-intended resolutions. Well, not this year! Xpress has tapped local resources and experts for some doable goals and simple steps to make them work. Pick a few and give them a try. Our sources tell us that small steps and reasonable expectations are key — so is enjoying yourself, so we added in plenty of socializing, friend-making, dancing, trivia-answering, tattoo-getting, zip-lining, adventure-having fun to the list. (All addresses are in Asheville, unless otherwise noted.)

Read more

The Buncombe County Library system provides not only lots of reading material, but plenty of opportunities to read and discuss with fellow bookworms. The Weaverville Afternoon Book Club (Weaverville Library, 41 N. Main St.) discusses I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou on Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 3 p.m.; Swannanoa Book Club (Swannanoa Library,
101 West Charleston St.) discusses Cutting for Stone by Abraham A. Verghese on Thursday, Jan. 6, at 7 p.m.; Leicester Book Club (Leicester Library, 1561 Alexander Road) discusses The Painted Drum by Louise Erdrich on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m.; Fairview Afternoon Book Club (Fairview Library, 1 Taylor Road) discusses Zeitoun by Dave Eggers on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m.; North Asheville Book Club (North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Ave.) discusses The Help by Kathryn Stockett on Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 2 p.m. More info at buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/library.

Local bookstores also hold reading and book-discussion events. Malaprop's hosts the Malaprop's Bookclub, which discusses a work of fiction on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and the Bridging Differences Bookclub on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Visit malaprops.com/book-clubs for the current reading selection. Accent on Books hosts the AOB Reading Group, which meets next on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. More info at accentonbooks.com.

Write more

There are a number of local groups for writers of all genres and skill levels. Consider: Accent on Books hosts a Writer's Support Group that meets next on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. (accentonbooks.com); WNC Mysterians (wncmysterians.org) was established in 2009 "for serious mystery, suspense & thriller writers" and meets next at Books-A-Million (136 S. Tunnel Road) on Thursday, Jan. 13, 5:45 p.m.; The Asheville Writing Enthusiasts group — AWE — (davidpereda.com/awe.html) is for "Anyone who has a sincere interest and passion for writing" and meets first Saturdays (with guest speakers) and third Saturdays (with critiques) of each month, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the boardroom at Pack Place (2 S. Pack Square); Tell It Like It Is Writing Classes for women are held on Wednesdays from 1-3:30 p.m. near the VA Hospital in East Asheville and cost $240 for six weeks (clarityworksonline.com/classes/tell-it-writing-class).

Is poetry more your style? Try out a poetry open mic. Poetry at the Pulp is a monthly event co-hosted by Asheville Poetry Review and Asheville Wordfest and held at Pulp (below the Orange Peel, 103 Hilliard Ave.) the first Wednesday of the month, 7-9:30 p.m. (facebook.com/AshevillePulp). Firestorm Cafe & Books (48 Commerce St.) also holds a monthly poetry open mic. Check firestormcafe.com for the January date.

Save money

"Craft a commitment that is both specific and measurable," says Laurie Knowles, director of education at OnTrack. The financial education and consulting nonprofit United Way agency offers counseling sessions and classes on financial topics. According to Knowles, a major stumbling block to accomplishing a goal to save money is being too global — instead of saying, "I want to save some money," try, "I want to save $1,000 in 2011." Then break that amount into increments, such as a monthly sum to deposit into a savings account.

OnTrack offers a new year-oriented "Making A New Money Start" class (goal setting and budgeting will be covered) on Thursday, Jan. 6. For women only, the free, six-part "Money Buddies" series begins Thursday, Jan. 13. The monthly "Manage Your Money" series for February kicks off Monday, Feb. 7. Info at ontrackwnc.org.

Get fit

The Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes of daily exercise to maintain a healthy weight and 60 minutes to lose weight. But how to get started? "Set a realistic goal and find an activity you love," says Health & Fitness Director Susan MacDonald of the YWCA of Asheville. Then, find a place you love to work out — for some people it's outside. MacDonald suggests the mall for a wintertime workout — and a buddy or trainer to "give you a level of accountability."

Ready to try a gym? The YWCA offers a range of programs, from water aerobics and Tai Chi to popular cardio dance classes and Pilates. Says Membership Coordinator Carol Severance, "We're real people, all sizes and shapes. We don't have too many 'Spandex' folks, but we do have a couple." According to Severance and MacDonald, the YW focus on the new and out-of-condition, with adaptive equipment and classes. They recommend new exercises, trying a variety of options, and then sticking to those classes and instructors you most enjoy.

Want to give it a try? The YWCA offers free enrollment through Monday, Jan. 31. Info at ywcaofasheville.org, or contact Severance at 254-7206, ext. 105 or carol.severance@ywcaofasheville.org.

Volunteer

It's easy to want to lend a hand or join a community-service project; what's tricky is making the time to do so. Hands On Asheville-Buncombe understands that and has added a pledge to volunteers in 2011 on its home page. "When they pledge, we’ll give them the option of getting quarterly reminders from us … so they don't forget about their goal halfway through the year," says Sarah Wohlmuth, agency director. "People seem to get busier by the year … trying to juggle families, jobs, volunteering etc. Our model of flexible projects makes it possible for even the busiest people to fit volunteering into their lives. We surveyed Hands On volunteers last year and found that 93 percent preferred signing up for 'one-time' projects as they were able, vs. making a long-term commitment to a specific project or agency."

At Hands On, many projects last just two to three hours and don’t require a long-term commitment. There are even projects that can be done from home. New project "Teacher's Pet," which supports elementary students in Asheville City Schools, has both short-term volunteer dates and a portable, e-mail component for those who want to work on their own schedule. Learn more at handsonasheville.org.

Buy local

"Local Independent Businesses recycle more money back into the local economy and give greater support to a community’s nonprofit and civic needs," says the website for Asheville Grown Business Alliance. "They are better positioned to respond to the special needs of the community and more tied to the community’s future." So supporting local businesses makes sense — but how to get started?

First, visit ashevillegrown.wordpress.com and peruse the list of supporters for ideas on where to buy crafts (Asheville Etsy Street Team), flowers (Lady Luck Flower Farm), drinks (Wedge Brewery), eats (Tupelo Honey), T-shirts (On A Roll) and more. Check out Asheville Grown's Facebook page at facebook.com/ashevillegrown for updates on local business happenings like trunk shows, openings, craft fairs, sales and shopping events.

Drive less

So you want to spend less time in your car? Asheville On Bikes (ashevilleonbikes.com) is a local organization dedicated to making cycling in and around Asheville more convenient and safe. AOB lobbies for infrastructure (bike lanes) and holds events like group-riding events (often in costume), as well as providing free bicycle corrals at festivals for those who want to cycle without the hassle of finding a bike rack.

City busses are equipped with bike racks, so on cold days cyclists can get a lift at least part of their way. And, with a little planning, riding the bus can be a cost-effective way to cut down on driving. According to information on ashevillenc.gov/residents/transportation/city_bus, "Asheville Transit provides bus service throughout the City of Asheville and other local areas with 24 bus routes running from 6 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Routes originate from the Transit Center, located at 49 Coxe Ave. in downtown Asheville (next to the U.S. Post Office)." Adult cash fare on the bus is $1; an annual pass is $220. Monthly passes and 11-ride books are also available. Seniors, students, the disabled and medicare recipients qualify for discounted fares.

Eat local food

"ASAP’s mission is to help local farms thrive, link farmers to markets and supporters and build healthy communities through connections to local food," says Maggie Cramer, communications coordinator for Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP). Here's how to get more local food into your diet: Shop at a tailgate market. "Our region is home to dozens of bustling markets that offer everything from fresh produce, meats and dairy products to flowers, homemade household cleaners, handcrafted soaps, jewelry and much more," says Cramer. "You could even set a number and pledge to visit x number of the area’s exciting tailgates in x weeks. Want another tailgate challenge? Try pledging to spend a certain dollar amount each week at area farmers markets during the season (April through December)."

Cramer also suggests "getting your friends on board and starting a weekly local food potluck. Each person can bring a dish made with local items from their CSA, neighborhood tailgate market or area grocery store." And, speaking of CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), subscribing to one means that, during the growing season, each week you'll receive a share of locally grown produce — that means fruits and veggies, but also other products like eggs and honey, depending on the farm. Find farms that offer CSA subscriptions at buyappalachian.org. "January is the perfect time to subscribe, as many farms sell out of their subscriptions by the time spring rolls around," says Cramer. "In our area, you can also subscribe to a winter CSA through Winter Sun Farms and Blue Ridge Food Ventures. Once a month from December through March, members … receive fruits and vegetables from local farms frozen at their peak of freshness."

Meet more people and have more fun

Break out the Parcheesi: Blitzkrieg Game Night is "a board game night co-sponsored by Firestorm Café & Books and Blitzkrieg Games. Bring your favorite game or come to play someone else's." Check firestormcafe.com for the January date.

Kipper's Totally Rad Trivia Night (kipperstrivia.com) is held every Monday, 9 p.m. at Broadway's (120 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville) and, according to its website, "focuses on pop culture from the ‘80s onwards. That means movies, music, TV, comic books, video games, celebrity gossip and a healthy dose of the weird, wacky and profane." Other local trivia nights include Quizzo at Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Ave.) on Mondays from 8-10 p.m., and Westville Pub (777 Haywood Road) hosts a trivia night every Friday, 9 p.m.-midnight.

For a noncompetitive, but still thought-provoking social outing, try Asheville Green Drinks, which meets Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. at Craggie Brewing (197 Hilliard Ave.). The group is "a social drinking and networking event that connects communities with discussions around sustainability, the environment, social justice, media and action." For more info, visit ashevillegreendrinks.com.

Or mix exercise and slick dance moves with your socializing at any number of dance nights. Try Tango, swing, Zumba and Zydeco at the Grove House (11 Grove St.) — check elevenongrove.com for dates and times. Contra dances are held at the Grey Eagle (185 Clingman Ave.) on Mondays at 8 p.m. and at Warren Wilson College's Bryson Gym (701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, oldfarmersball.com) on Thursdays at 8 p.m. For more local dance groups, clubs, workshops, performances and resources, visit danceasheville.com.

Finally, for dance and movement with less direction and more of a spiritual feel, consider the Asheville Movement Collective, which seeks to inspire "authenticity and healthy community through free-form dance." The group meets Sunday mornings at 9 and 11 a.m. at Studio 11 (11 Richland St.) and Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Terpsicorp Studio in the Wedge Building (123 Roberts St.). Info at ashevillemovementcollective.org.

Go green

Contrary to the “it’s not easy being green” refrain, an environmentally minded lifestyle is well within reach. Small steps first: Carry a reusable cloth or string bag with you to reduce plastic-bag consumption, keep a travel mug handy to cut down on to-go cups, and brown-bag your lunch in a cute carrier that will put your elementary school-era Dukes of Hazzard lunch box to shame (Nest Organics at 51 North Lexington Ave. is a great place to look for eco basics).

Ready to take a bigger step? According to Sundance Power Systems’ website (sundancepower.com), residential solar panels are “More affordable than ever … Generous government incentives, the ability to sell your own energy, and increased resale value on your home all add up to a sound investment.”

On the automobile front, biodiesel stations have increased from just a few half-a-decade ago, to 10 supported by local biofuel producer and distributor Blue Ridge Biofuels. Go to blueridgebiofuels.com/products/pump-locations.html for a list and map of pump locations. Also, electric-car charging stations are in the works, thanks to a $500,000 federal grant that will fund 25 charging stations around Asheville in the next year. Anderson Nissan (629 Brevard Road) is taking pre-orders on electric cars for this spring.

Learn something new

"'Know thyself,' said the old philosopher, 'improve thyself,' saith the new." — Edward Bulwer-Lytton

To that end, consider mastering a language, a skill, a craft or a recipe for a really delicious Bundt cake. A-B Tech's continuing-education program includes offerings in art, dance, food, music, practical skills (upholstery, sewing, quilting, residential landscaping, picture framing), special interest (writing, fitness, motorcycle safety, personal finance) and languages, all for bargain prices. Starting in January, embark on a 10-week beginners course of French, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish or American Sign Language, all for $59 each. Or, learn to raise chickens in your own backyard (a two-and-a-half-hour course is offered Friday, Feb. 4, and Wednesday, Feb. 23, for $39). Or, bone up on the basics of stock options and trading (six-week course begins Wednesday, Jan. 26, for $59). Or, learn the art of cake decorating (eight-week course begins Monday, Jan. 24, for $59). More info at abtech.edu.

Speaking of cakes, Log Cabin Workshops (at 111 Bell Road, Haw Creek) offers pioneer-cooking classes. "You’ll think you’re in granny’s kitchen as you tie on a vintage feed-sack apron and bake up pies, biscuits, our garden veggies and more using retro kitchen gadgets, mixers, bowls and a 1928 Home Comfort wood cookstove," says the website. Vegetarian substitutions are available. E-mail Barbara Swell at swellcookin@hotmail.com for upcoming classes, or join the informal "Aunt Barb's Wednesday Night Supper Club" on Jan. 15, 6-9 p.m. "Made-from-Scratch Soups & Biscuits" is the topic, bring a notebook to write down recipes, wine or a beverage to share, and $10 for materials. Info at nativeground.com/log-cabin-cooking-classes.html.

If you're not into parlez-vous-ing Français or whipping up a batch of biscuits, you might be in the mood to knit or sew: The Drygoods Shop (474 Haywood Road) offers plenty of classes on those and other handy skills. Check the calendar at thedrygoodsshop.blogspot.com.

Do something spontaneous

What have you been considering (and putting off) for years? You don't need a bucket list to accomplish those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Make 2011 the year to take the leap. Perhaps literally.

Navitat Canopy Adventures (navitat.com) opens for the season on April 1 with "10 zip lines, from 120 to over 1,100 feet in length" and "two rappelling experiences, two suspended sky bridges, three short hikes." The three-and-a-half hour tours on over a mile of suspended cable are fun and safe and promise not only an adrenaline rush but an up-close learning experience about the environment.

Want to keep your feet on the ground? How about getting your rush from the stage? A number of local theatre companies have regular casting calls for performances. Asheville Community Theatre's auditions are open to the community, and upcoming shows include Arsenic and Old Lace (auditions Tuesday, Feb. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m.), Dixie Swim Club (Tuesday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 6, 6-8 p.m.) and Honky Tonk Angels (Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, 6-8 p.m.). Info at ashevilletheatre.org/auditions.html. Or take acting lessons — The Stella Adler Studio of Acting (stellaadler-asheville.com) "is now accepting interviews for its Spring adult and youth (ages 15 and up) Core Technique Acting Programs."

Or, if you really want to up your spontaneity ante, go for a tattoo. Asheville has lots of tattoo artists and studios from which to choose. In 2010, Xpress readers named Danny Reed at Hot Stuff Tattoo (428-C Haywood Road), Kitty Love at Liquid Dragon (66 N. Lexington Ave.) and Tiffany Lemeaux at Freaks & Geeks Tattoo Sideshow (745 Haywood Road) among their favorites.

Go outside

If your goal is to spend more time in the great outdoors, WNC is the place to do it. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has more than 800 miles of maintained trails and entry is free. Need a hiking buddy? Groups abound, such as The Carolina Mountain Club (carolinamtnclub.com) which, at more than 80 years old, boasts the claim of "the oldest Hiking and Trail Maintaining Club in Western N.C." Memberships run $20 individual/$30 family and includes a subscription to Let’s Go, the club's quarterly newsletter and hiking schedule.

Looking to do good in the great outdoors? Conservation efforts provide exercise and camaraderie, while benefitting the environment. Nonprofit RiverLink (riverlink.org) has, since 1987, spearheaded "the economic and environmental revitalization of the French Broad River and its tributaries as a place to live, work and play." Volunteer information sessions are held the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the RiverLink offices (170 Lyman St.).

Reap outdoor rewards as part of a community garden. The Bountiful Cities Project (bountifulcitiesproject.org) offers a number of ways to get your hands dirty, from working in a community garden plot to joining workdays and workshops. And — for a different sort of planting experience — Asheville Greenworks (ashevillegreenworks.org) needs volunteers for myriad beautification projects, including planting trees and flowers along streets and in city parks.

Go inside

The dark and chilly days of winter might not inspire long walks or porch parties, but they do set the tone for inner pursuits like yoga, meditation or a spiritual practice. Many yoga studios around Asheville offer free yoga classes several times a year (at Lighten Up Yoga — lightenupyoga.com — the next one is Saturday, Jan. 22) so prospective students can try out the studio. Asheville Community Yoga (ashevillecommunityyoga.com) offers free classes all the time (they do accept donations).

A number of meditation groups meet in and around Asheville — check Xpress' Community Calendar (mountainx.com/events) to find the right one for you. Or try a free session at The Heart Sanctuary (heartsanctuary.org) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Kirtan (for those who need something more dynamic than silent, seated meditation) is call-and-response devotional chanting based on Hindu tradition. Sangita Devi (sangitadevi.com) leads a popular ongoing kirtan (with music provided by local talent) at the Sacred Embodiment Center (31 Carolina Lane) on Tuesdays from 7:30-9 p.m. $5-$15 donation.

— Alli Marshall can be reached at amarshall@mountainx.com.