by Julia Ott Berg –

Velvet & Lace – a women-centric event held at recently-opened Buxton Hall Barbecue will focus on celebrating the talented females within Asheville’s vibrant bar scene.

For this exciting six-part event series, Buxton’s own Kelly Vormelker and Sam Pennington have teamed up to create a night of females, fire, music and cocktails, channeled through the lens of The Craft and Stevie Nicks. Think witchcraft, white doves and black magic.

Mary Kelley, a.k.a. DJ Dr. Filth, will be spinning dark classics, and Rose Hecht will bring photo booth fun. Food will be served alongside the delicious cocktails; rumor has it that Buxton Hall chef and pitmaster Elliott Moss will barbecue a goat, which is not to be missed!

Beginning Thursday, December 3, 2015, Velvet & Lace will take place on the first Thursday of the month for the next six months. For each event, Velvet & Lace will host a different female bartender currently working in Asheville. The decidedly dark theme showcases craft cocktails made by these talented ladies, with a focus on smoke, fire, herbs, elixirs and tinctures.

Vormelker and Pennington are finalizing the lineup, so stay tuned! Thirsty guests can expect heavy hitters from Buxton Hall and MG Road to show up, such as Leah Peacock, Sarah Cousler, Jennifer Moss, Erin Hawley and Mary Kelley, as well as female bartenders from hot Asheville cocktail spots.

10% of sales will be donated to Our VOICE, an organization that serves all individuals in Buncombe County affected by sexual assault and abuse through counseling, advocacy and education.

LINEUP:

• 12/3: Sam Pennington & Kelly Vormelker (Kick Off Party)
• 1/7: Katey Ryder of Sovereign Remedies
• 2/3: Shannon McGaughey of Bull & Beggar
• 3/3: Erin Hawley of MG Road
• 4/7: Andrea Seng of Imperial Life
• 5/5: Kristen Oxtoby of Burial Beer, Kelley Vormelker & Sam Pennington (This is also Cinco de Mayo, so expect a big party)

This event was inspired by the simple fact that female bartenders are outnumbered in Asheville. While it is a very accepting place, bartending is still largely seen as a man’s job. The goal of Velvet & Lace is to overlook any negative stigma around this truth and simply celebrate the amazingly talented women working within Asheville’s bar scene.

Each event will be sexy, mysterious and empowering. In addition, 10% of sales will be donated to Our VOICE, which serves all individuals in Buncombe County affected by sexual assault and abuse through counseling, advocacy and education.

If You Go: Velvet & Lace, a celebration of the female presence in Asheville’s bar scene. Once a month, over the course of six months, always on the first Thursday of the month. Each event runs form 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Buxton Hall Barbecue, 32 Banks Avenue, South Slope of Asheville.