Concerts at St. Matthias Church

January 1 – “An Afternoon in Vienna” concert of Strauss Waltzes.
January 8 – Skylark Jazz Ensemble

Concerts are held on Sundays at 3 p.m. The historic church is located in Asheville, just off South Charlotte Street at Max Street, on the hill across from the Asheville Public Works Building (1 Dundee St.). Free will donations.

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January 3-27
Pottery Show at Black Mountain Center for the Arts
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts presents the annual BMCA Clay Studio Teacher/Student Pottery Show in the Upper Gallery at the Center at 225 W. State Street. Teachers include Geoff Bird, Will Byers, Charles Freeland and Annie Singletary. For more information call (828) 669-0930 or visit www.blackmounatinarts.org.

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Tuesday, January 3 – 6:30 p.m. Celtic Jam Session at White Horse.
Tuesday, January 3 – 6:30 p.m. Bluegrass Jam at EyeScream Ice Cream Parlor.
Tuesday, January 3 – 8:45 p.m. Open Mic at White Horse Black Mountain.
Friday, January 6 – 6 p.m. Jenne Sluder at Straightaway Cafe.
Friday, January 6 – 8 p.m. Nick Stubblefield CD Release Party at White Horse.
Saturday, January 7 – 6 p.m. Tristan LaCroix at Straightaway Cafe.
Thursday, January 12 – 2 p.m. Abigail Washburn at White Horse.
Friday, January 13 – 6 p.m. Tim Marsh at Straightaway Cafe.

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Friday, January 6
New Year, New Beginnings
Asheville Gallery of Art featured artists for January are new members Peggy Horne Taylor, Patricia Sweet-MacDonald, Carol Branton Morrow and Pat Perkerson. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition will feature paintings in a variety of media. The show will be on display through Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The gallery is located at 16 College Street in downtown Asheville. For more details call (828) 251-5796 or visit www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com.

Friday, January 6
Four Master Fiddlers
The Madison County Arts Council presents the world premiere of Four Master Fiddlers, featuring Paul Crouch, Arvil Freeman, Bobby Hicks, and Roger Howell, with Jerry Sutton and Laura Boosinger. Directed by Tony Torn. Live concert DVD screening. Free admission – two showings, 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Arts Center, 90 S. Main St., Marshall, NC. Call (828) 649-1301 or visit madisoncountyarts.com for more information.

Sunday, January 8
Roc Day
Spinners, shepards and wannabee’s invite you to a day-long spinning celebration with pot luck lunch, stone soup – bring something to add to the pot! Show and tell your fiber, roving, yarn, and craft. Spinning games and demonstrations. From 10 to 4 p.m. at Handmade in America, 125 S. Lexington, 2 blocks west of the Orange Peel on Hilliard Ave. Call (828) 252-0121.

Tuesday, January 10
Original Music Series
Featuring Bill Gerhardt on piano. Every Tuesday night, 8 p.m. FREE! This series is a place where composers can share new material and musicians can hone their reading skills by seeing the latest in modern repertoire. The first set will feature a special guest composer, and the second set will be open. The Altamont, 18 Church St. in Asheville. Phone (828) 348-5327 or visit www.myaltamont.com.

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Asheville Chamber Music Presents the innovative American Chamber Players. The ensemble’s repertoire ranges from familiar masterpieces to neglected gems, to newly commissioned American works. Extraordinary, dynamic performances.

Mozart: Quartet for Flute and Strings, D Major, K. 285
Beethoven: Quartet for Piano and Strings, Op. 16, E-flat Major
Schumann: Three Romances for Flute and Piano, Op. 94 (1849)
Brahms: Quartet for Piano and Strings, Op. 25, G Minor

The concert takes place on January 13 2012 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, located at 1 Edwin Place at Charlotte Street at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35. Students free of charge. A free pre-concert talk will be given at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNCA on Thursday, January 12 at 4 p.m. To order tickets or for more details visit www.ashevillechambermusic.org or call Pam Miller at (828) 259-3626.

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Saturday, January 14
An Evening with Leonard Hollifield & Friends
You know him, you love him. If you don’t know him, you should. If you don’t love him, you will. We are proud to host an evening with Mr Hollifield, celebrating a lifetime of music. Featuring Josh Goforth of the Lightning Bolts, and Caleb Smith of Balsam Range. Tickets $15, available at www.madisoncountyarts.com. Begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Center, 90 S. Main St., in Marshall, NC. Call (828) 649-1301.

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Asheville Community Theatre provides the full experience of preparing, developing and rehearsing for a musical production. From princes and footmen to step-sisters, this show is full of wonderful parts for young people!

Class begins Tuesday, January 17. Rehearsals are held daily Monday-Thursday afternoons March 12-23. Performances on the Mainstage, March 23 at 7:30 p.m., and March 24-25 at 2:30 p.m.

Cost for the class is $300. Pay in full two weeks before the class and save 10%. To register for the class call (828) 254-2939 x21. For more information visit the website, www.ashevilletheatre.org.

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Thursday, January 19
DePue Brothers Band
Named “Musical Family of America” by Presidential Decree in 1989, and the subject of a nationally-televised PBS documentary in 1993, The DePue Brothers Band seamlessly blend their classical virtuosi roots with other musical genres such as Bluegrass, Americana, and Folk. Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, 8 p.m. Tickets: Regular $30, Student $25, Children 12 and under $12; Student rush day-of-show (with valid I.D.) $10. Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

Saturday, January 21
Concert at Black Mountain Center for the Arts
Featuring a vibrant mixture of upbeat Gypsy Jazz, Latin, Swing and original jazz compositions with local band One Leg Up. Band members include John Stineman (guitar, vocals), Jim Tanner (Guitar), Zack Page (bass), Mike Guzalak (Clarinet, Sax) and Steve Trismen (violin, vocals). No advance tickets or reserved seats. Donation at the door: $10. Doors open at 7 p.m. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. in the old City Hall at 225 W. State Street. Call (828) 669-0930, or visit www.blackmountainarts.org.

Saturday, January 21
Werner & Wilcox
Join incredible singer-songwriters Susan Werner and David Wilcox as they share a lively musical conversation from the stage. Easily sliding from jazz to folk and pop, Werner & Wilcox draw audiences in with their respective skill, wit and charm. Mainstage Music Series, Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, 8 p.m. Tickets: Regular $30, Student $25, Children 12 and under $12; Student rush day-of-show (with valid I.D.) $10. Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

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Saturday, January 21
Feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable and often socially conscious music. A soulful eclectic Americana mix, infused with elements of cajun/zydeco, rock, folk, reggae, and country. Donna the Buffalo is one of the industry’s most diverse roots-music bands. Donna The Buffalo at the Orange Peel. Doors open 8 p.m., concert at 10 p.m. Ages 18+, Tickets: $18 adv., $20 at the door. 101 Biltmore Ave. in Asheville. Phone (828) 225-5851 or visit www.theorangepeel.net.

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Thursday, January 26
Listen to This: Stories in Performance
Hosted by Tom Chalmers in 35below at 7:30 p.m. Join Asheville’s number one comedian as he hosts true stories told by local comedians, actors and people just like you. Recent performers have included musician Woody Wood and comedian Greg Brown. All tickets $10. For more information visit the Asheville Community Theatre web site at www.ashevilletheatre.org.

Saturday January 28
Selected Shorts
Television, stage and screen stars Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker are coming to Asheville to perform in Selected Shorts: Lots of Laughs with host Isaiah Sheffer. Mainstage Theatre Series, Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place, 8 p.m. Regular $35; Student $30; Student Rush day-of-the-show $10 (with valid I.D.) Tickets/Info: (828) 257-4530 or online at www.dwtheatre.com.

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Logo Design Contest
Deadline: January 14, 2012
Attention all graphic designers: the North Carolina Natural Products Association (NCNPA) is hosting a logo design contest. The prize is $250 if you submit the winning logo design, plus we will give you recognition on our website for your winning design.

Our guidelines are simple:
-Start with our older logo and refresh/redesign it, keeping in mind our organization and its mission.
-Make sure the design can be legible from 20 feet if printed in color or black & white on a 4 inch x 4 inch paper.
-A round or oval design would be preferred to a square or rectangle shape.
-The final artwork resolution should be 600-1000 dpi.
-If selected, your design becomes a trademark and the property of NCNPA.
Submit your design to us before January 14, 2012. We will review all submissions and announce the winners following our Board of Directors meeting on January 19, 2012. You can see our current logo and read about our organization on our temporary website: http://sites.google.com/site/NCNaturalProductsAssociation.

Need to escape the blustery winter climate of the mountains? Visit Havana Restaurant in downtown Asheville for some tropical warmth, sweet sangria, delicious latin food, and colorful travel photography by Sara Shea.

The brilliant colors of Sara Shea’s travel photography bring to life exotic scenes including the turquoise waters and pristine beaches surrounding the British Virgin Islands, pastel sea-side homes of old San Juan, jungle landscapes of El Yunque Rainforest in Puerto Rico, birds and wildlife from Ecuador’s Amazon Rainforest, volcanos from the Andes Mountain Range in Quito, Ecuador, even bullfights from Otovalo, Ecuador.

The exhibit runs through January 31, 2012. “Havana Restaurant is the only spot to find authentic latin cuisine in Asheville. I am honored to have my Caribbean photography series featured in such an ideal location,” says Shea.

Havana – Comida Latina, 1 Battle Square, downtown Asheville. Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more details phone (828) 252-1611 or visit www.havanaasheville.com.

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Every Tuesday – Irish Session at 6:30 p.m.
Come join us each and every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and listen to the sounds of fiddles, flutes, guitars, harps, bodhrans and more as regional musicians gather in a circle to share songs and tunes from Ireland and Scotland. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy the music of the British Isles which directly influenced the development of the music of southern Appalachia. Bring a friend and enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer in the tradition of an Irish Pub. No cover charge.

Every Tuesday – Open Mic at 8:45 p.m.
You never know who is going to show up to perform on open mic night at the White Horse. We’ve had participants of all ages, and on many occasions we’ve had seasoned performers from other parts of the country drop by to share a song or two.
Come enjoy the sounds of rising stars, aspiring hopefuls and seasoned songsters in an encouraging and supportive environment where all are enouraged to share their talents and push themselves to new musical adventures. No cover charge.

White Horse Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Rd. (828) 669-0816, www.whitehorseblackmountain.com

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February 17-18
Neuse River Music Fest
www.lenoircc.edu, or (252) 233-6865.

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Monday & Thursday Evenings
Open Drawing
Live Model for Figure Drawing, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. $7 (Adults) $5 (Students). The Fine Arts League of the Carolinas, a non-profit Art School, 362 Depot Street, Asheville, NC. For more information call (828) 252-5050 or visit www.FineArtsLeague.org.

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Creatures Café
Alcohol free music venue and café featuring live entertainment, amazing desserts, and an inspiring art gallery. Awesome desserts, delicious snacks, 23 bottled sodas, mocktails, an a full espresso bar.

Tuesdays: singer songwriter showcase.
Wednesdays: get your dance on at salsa night.
Thursdays: holy hip hop.
Fridays & Saturdays: live bands and entertainment.

Creaures Café, 81 Patton Ave, Downtown Asheville.
Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Details at (828) 254-3636, or visit www.creaturescafe.com