This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, Dec. 13

• From an event page for the Arcade Art and Fashion Show, “Come join us for our first ever Art and Fashion show at Arcade, which will include two bars, music, appetizers and a fun winter wonderland theme to help jump-start the season. We are looking forward to showcasing a number of very talented local artists and designers throughout the evening in a very intimate setting. At 8 p.m. we will kick off the fashion show with DJ Franky, who will continue spinning music for the rest of the evening. This event is a benefit for Hemophilia of North Carolina, an organization helping supply those suffering from this disease with medication and healthcare.” 130 College St. Free; donations encouraged.

• From Fountainhead Bookstore, “Acclaimed poet, novelist and former professor Fred Chappell will be with us on Thursday, Dec. 13th. Born in Canton, N.C., Chappell is the author of more than a dozen books of poetry, a handful of novels and short story collections and two books of critical prose. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Bollingen Award, the Aiken Taylor Award, an award from the National Academy of Arts and Letters and the best foreign book prize from the Academie Française. And Fred Chappell was named North Carolina Poet Laureate in 1997, a position he held until 2002.” 408 N Main  St., Hendersonville. 5 p.m. $5 ticket can be redeemed as a coupon on the night of the event.

• Apothecary, 39 S. Market St., presents an evening “of Asheville greats” featuring Melon Sugar, Pilgrim (Xpress’ own Jaye Bartell) and Holy Holy Vine. More on the artists from an event page:

“Melon Sugar: New compositions crafted by Dailey Toliver, Molly Burch, Luke Norton and Ryan Oslance. DREAM TEAM!

Pilgrim: Jaye Bartell’s baritone conjures deep, masculine feelings. He runs with folks as diverse as Angels of Light and Nick Cave — giving us that important reminder ‘that we feel bad [only] because we feel bad.’

Holy Holy Vine: The lush, gorgeous song-craft of Flora Wolpert Checknoff. Supported by the strings of Slow Loris (aka Erica Schinasi, Frank Meadows and David Grubba). Tunes that help us feel the beauty of the place we live in.”

9 p.m. $5 suggested donation.

Friday, Dec. 14

• The Shambhala Meditation Center, 19 Westwood Place, hosts Allison Zopel, author of The Angel Inside. More on Zopel from a release for the book, “Allison Zopel shares her revealing story in The Angel Inside: A Young Woman’s Healing Journey Through Coma and Brain Injury. Her book is a multi-sensory description of what it was like to be in a coma from the inside looking out, on a mental, emotional, physical and spiritual level, how she was able to heal, her evolving relationship with God, as well as how we can be of better assistance to people in need of care. Filled with descriptive illustrations, poetry, drawings and journal entries to God while in the coma, Allison makes her way through a remarkable journey and returns to life to help others who may be trapped inside and voiceless. Allison is currently speaking with people about her experience, using her book as educational material, to help share about the different levels of consciousness between unconscious and conscious in a coma, as well as our powerful ability to heal. The healing music that she composed while in the coma is available on her website.” 7 p.m. Free; donations benefit the Return to Life Foundation.

• Local author Barbie Angell will read from her new book of children’s poetry, Roasting Questions, at The Hop, 721 Haywood Road. 7 p.m. Free.

• Tired of watching others get all the attention? Wall Street Coffee House invites performers of all genres to share their work during its weekly Friday open mic at 62 Wall St. Hosted by Jeremiah Greer. 9-11 p.m. Free.

Saturday, Dec. 15

• Dripolator Coffee Bar, 190 Broadway St., celebrates its rebranding as High Five Coffee Bar with music, food, coffee brewing demonstrations, chair massages and prizes. More, from an event page, “Join us at the formerly known as ‘Dripolator Coffee Bar’ and meet the new face of who we’ve always been! We’ll be unveiling new menus, locally commissioned art and more custom seating designed for our space. Some of your favorite local businesses will join us — enjoy treats and samples from Short Street Cakes, Dobra Tea, Chop Shop, Buchi kombucha and chair massages by White Sage Massage Therapy! Any donations for the festivities go to support Homeward Bound, an organization focused on ending homelessness in Asheville through permanent housing.” 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

• “On Saturday, Dec. 15th at 2 p.m., Tyler Kinnear, a Vancouver-based sound artist and Cullowhee native, will lead a soundwalk through downtown Sylva,” begins an event page by City Lights Bookstore. “A soundwalk is a silent group walk led along a planned route to experience a location’s ambiance and underlying rhythms. Participants are invited to actively listen to the ‘music’ of the environment. The walk will begin and end at City Lights Bookstore and last until 3:30 p.m. For questions please call the bookstore at 586-9499.” 3 E. Jackson St., Sylva.   

• The Thomas Wolfe Memorial, 52 N. Market St., hosts a Candlelight Victorian Christmas tour and open house, “reminiscent of the Victorian era at the Old Kentucky Home.” The event includes an appearance by Santa, cider and sweets, craft making and harp songs by Primrose, a local women’s music group. 5-8 p.m. Tours at 5 and 5:30pm for $10/$8 open house.

• Club Hairspray/Club Remix host a fundraiser for Blue Ridge Pride, featuring a drag performance by Miss Blue Ridge Pride 2012 and more. 38 N. French Broad Ave. 8 p.m.-2:30 a.m. $10.