Conscious party: Free Planet Radio to perform at Hadaya Toys’ fundraiser for Syrian refugee children

The candlelit evening will also feature photos, spoken word and several short video presentations depicting previous aid trips taken by Hadaya’s founders; a silent auction of gift cards to local businesses; and Habibi baklava, Roots hummus and other refreshments.

Small bites: Poppy Handcrafte­d Popcorn celebrates one year

Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn is offering fans free popcorn and more during the company’s first anniversary celebration. Meanwhile Standard Pizza Co., has a new downtown location; Asheville’s gluten-less population convenes for an educational event; Black Mountain Ciderworks is throwing a Halloween bash and Bomba is rolling out a multi-cultural menu.

Small bites: Taste of Our Carolina Foothills festival nears

An upcoming foodie event in Tryon highlights culinary delights from the Carolina foothills. Asheville eaters, on the other hand, can check out WNC Garlic Fest, Posana’s benefit dinner for ASAP’s Growing Minds Program, Ashley English’s canning class or Wild Wing Café’s stein-holding competition. Plus, food writer Jonathan Ammons talks about one of his favorite Asheville restaurant appetizers.

Waking Life Espresso takes a lesson from the beer world

By borrowing the flash-chilling process from beer brewers, Waking Life Espresso co-owners Jared Rutledge and Jacob Owens say they’ve perfected the art of iced-coffee. Now the two are making strides to get their product into more and more hands, by selling online, signing a larger scale distribution deal and scoping out a second location in East Asheville.