Thursday, July 21
• Learn to work with your environment to produce food and enrich your surroundings as Freeskool Asheville, a local “cooperative teaching and learning network organized by and for the community,” presents a course on urban permaculture at the Pearson Garden, 408 Pearson Drive in Montford. 7 p.m. Free.
• Orienteering is a “family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain,” according to Wikipedia. This weekend, try your hand at navigating the Southern Appalachian terrain as Blue Ridge Parkway Rangers host a free, family-friendly course on orienteering at the Parkway Visitor Center, MP 384. Registration required. Info: 298-5330.
•“Experience the sad life of Lolita the killer whale, who has been caught in a net of lies for over three decades,” reads a release for this heartbreaking documentary. “Littered with haunting images and painful sound bites, Lolita: Slave to Entertainment offers audiences an engaging peek behind closed doors, exposing an entire industry of injustices, greed and lies. Make no mistakes, this is no Free Willy, there is no Hollywood ending here. This provocative and revealing must-see documentary uniquely addresses man’s relationship with wildlife. It speaks not only to animal lovers and activists, but to anyone at all who may have been duped by marine theme park propaganda. In fact, this is the film that an entire industry would rather you not see. And whether you like it or not, Lolita: Slave To Entertainment is assured to ignite conversation — if not heated debate.” Learn more as Firestorm Cafe (48 Commerce Street, 255-8115) hosts a free screening of the film. 8 p.m.
• Cobra Horse has practically no information available on its website, but the local quartet’s adrenaline-fueled rock ‘n’ roll speaks for itself. The band’s pounding rhythms, driving bass and fuzz-laden guitar riffs are far more telling than any bio could hope to be. Catch Cobra Horse at The LAB (39 North Lexington Avenue, 252-0212) with Test Match. 10 p.m. $5.
Photo by Lisa Haefner
Friday, July 22
• Having shoes is something that most of us take for granted. However, thousands of Americans struggle without this most basic comfort every day. Do your part to help when Appalachian Vintner (2B Huntsman Place, 505-7500) hosts a benefit for the SoleMates Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides recycled shoes to those in need. The event will include a wine, beer and food tasting and music by local electronic producer dep. 7-10 p.m. $5 with pair of shoes to donate.
• “Traditionally untraditional,” begins Sanctum Sully‘s bio “…or maybe it’s untraditionally traditional. Bluegrass bands struggle daily with this handle that has been used to describe their music and their style — especially bands claiming Asheville, North Carolina as home base. Sanctum Sully thankfully deviates mightily from said agenda. While fully capable of wrangling a helluva version of ‘John Hardy,’ they’d much prefer to punch you in the gut with potent and powerfully written original songs.” Strap on your body armor and head over to Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, 669-0190) to hear for yourself. 9 p.m. $6.
• “After many years of band experience in all kinds of music, the members of The Monterreys have united for the sheer enjoyment of playing,” according to the Charlotte-based surf rock outfit. “The Monterreys blend some fun tunes that explore surf, spy, cop show, spaghetti Western, Latin and lounge.” The band plays Altamont Brewing Company (1042 Haywood Road, 575-2400) with The Aqualads. 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 23
• “The Cradle of Forestry invites the public to enjoy a program about the 1915 Climax logging locomotive on display at the Cradle,” according to a release for Train History Day. “Visitors will learn about the locomotive and explore the rich history of a time when many livelihoods depended on logging trains winding their way through the forest coves of Western North Carolina.” The event will include presentations by train historian Jerry Ledford and hands-on demonstrations by members of the Asheville chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free with $5 admission to The Cradle of Forestry.
• According to the synopsis for Pocket Guide to Riches: A Formula to Create Money On a Consistent Basis, “Susie Greene shares insights of attracting money through an honest, genuine, sometimes humorous collection of inspiring stories and personal experiences. She reveals how to partner with this Invisible Creative Force that works with us on a consistent basis to delight us with every single thing we want in life, including money! It provides powerful, practical tools to be used towards the success of abundance and living a life of freedom.” Sounds good, right? Hear the author share her personal tips at Malaprops Bookstore (55 Haywood Street, 254-6734). 1 p.m. Free.
• Shoegaze has been making a comeback in Asheville lately, as evidenced by the Asheville FM program devoted entirely to the dreamy, effects-heavy genre, Straight Gaze, and a string of recent performances by local and national shoegaze purveyors. This weekend, the latest edition to the local scene, Knives and Daggers, will celebrate the release it’s debut LP, a soaring, string-driven take on the popular ‘80s genre, with a performance at The LAB (39 North Lexington Avenue, 252-0212). Soft Opening and Jason Smith open. 10 p.m. $5.
Kind of disappointing that Malaprops would host an author of a self-published rewriting of discredited psuedo-magic-mumbo-jumbo from 1995. The real “Secret” is that magical-mind-wealth is not only passe, but it’s hurtful to those who through no fault of their own happen to be struggling through hard times. Susie Greene should be ashamed of herself, and probably is based on the fact that there is no biographical information available on her.