Asheville Outlets announces "Better Than Tax-Free Shopping" weekends

Asheville Outlets will hold two Better Than Tax Free Shopping Weekends this year in preparation for back-to-school. The first will take place Friday, July 29th through Sunday, July 31st. The second will be Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th. Asheville Outlets retailers will offer shoppers extra savings on already reduced prices both weekends.

“Back-to-school shopping is something most kids look forward to, but it can be a big expense for parents. Asheville Outlets retailers are doing their part to help over the next two weekends with even better than tax free savings on a lot of the items kids need for the school year,” said Sharon Morgan, General Manager, Asheville Outlets.

Participating Asheville Outlets retailers include ASICS, Bath & Body Works, Christopher & Banks, Clarks Outlet, Cole Haan, Field & Stream, Express Factory Outlet, Fragrance Outlet, francesca’s, Gap Factory Store, iSmashed NC, Kirkland’s, Maurices, New York & Company Outlet, OshKosh B’gosh, Perfumes 4 U, Talbots Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Bradley, VF Outlet, west elm OUTLET, Wilsons Leather, WorkShop Tools, Zales Outlet and more.

Stores will feature a variety of special offers and savings on must haves for back-to-school including clothing, backpacks, school supplies and athletic gear. Additionally, other items not usually included in the tax-free categories, such as jewelry and kitchenware, will also be on sale.

August financial education classes offered by OnTrack

August Financial Education Schedule
Classes are free unless noted. Pre-registration required. Call today at 255-5166.

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Manage Your Money Series - Our most popular seminar deals with the basics of budgeting, setting goals, planning spending to realize goals, saving strategies, and tracking spending.

• Monday, August 1, 8 & 15 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm
• Thursdays, August 4, 11 & 18 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm
• Saturdays, August 13 & 20 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Money Buddies (5-part series) - We know that most women really love connections and relationships, so the Money Buddy Series encourages women to capitalize on personal connections to strengthen money management skills! The Money Buddy series invites women to "bring a friend" for support and encouragement as they embark on their money mission. In the 5-session series, participants set personal goals and the classes provide the information, tools, and support to reach them! Students will also receive their Credit Report and Score for FREE. Money Buddies support one another with mutual motivation and accountability.

• Tuesdays, August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm - offered through the Women's Financial Empowerment Center

Understanding Reverse Mortgages - Learn the basics about Reverse Mortgages. This class will help you:

- Finally understand what a reverse mortgage is and how they work.

- Learn about how reverse mortgages can provide cash to homeowners over age 62.

- Understand how the loans are paid back.

- Learn about different scenarios and how a reverse mortgage can be helpful; and

- Determine if you have enough equity in your home for a reverse mortgage to be a good solution for you by getting a free estimate at the end of the class.

• Thursday, August 11 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Homebuyer Education Series - ($50.00 participant fee) Our HUD-certified course provides a step-by-step explanation of the home-buying process, a fantastic resource book, and an opportunity to interact with local real estate / lending / legal professionals so that you can make an informed decision about the biggest investment you will probably ever make. Certificate received upon completion.  

• (4-part class) Mondays and Wednesdays, August  22, 24, 29 & 31 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Understanding Credit. Get it. Keep it. Improve it.- Find out what you know about credit!  Learn what credit is, how to fix your past credit mistakes, read your credit reports, understand credit repair, and more.

• Wednesday, August 3 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm OR
• Tuesday, August 9  from 12:00 to 1:30 pm OR
• Monday, August 15 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm OR
• Friday, August 26 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Budgeting and Debt Class - A budget plan is one of the best tools for financial empowerment. Learn how income, expenses, and debt all affect a successful budget and gain tools to help you create a realistic budget. Additionally, everyone has a different solution for managing debt. This class will discuss the array of options for managing your debt.

• Tuesday, August 2 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm OR
• Monday, August 8 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm OR
• Friday, August 19 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm OR
• Thursday, August 25  from 5:30 to 7:00 pm OR
• Tuesday, August 30 from 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Going to College without Going Broke - In this class, participants will learn about the mysterious world of financial aid, where to find scholarships, student loan forgiveness and repayment options, and avoiding scams targeted to students.

• Wednesday,  August 17  from 5:30 to 7:00 pm (Guest Educator: Laura Misner/College Foundation of NC) - offered through the Women's Financial Empowerment Center
• Thursday,  August 25  from 12:00 to 1:30 pm (Guest Educator: Laura Misner/College Foundation of NC) - offered through the Women's Financial Empowerment Center

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Pre-registration required.  Call OnTrack WNC today at 255-5166.

All classes listed are held at OnTrack WNC offices - 50 South French Broad Ave. Second Floor

Center for Creavity, Craft & Design celebrates 20th anniversary

On August 11 from 7-10 pm, The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design (CCCD) celebrates 20 years of service to emerging artists, researchers, scholars, and the public with its 20th Anniversary Celebration & Benefit.

Guests will convene at CCCD's historic 67 Broadway Street building in downtown Asheville, to explore four uniquely themed floors filled with art installations, live music, craft food, and specialty beverages. The event features local cuisine provided by Posana, Gan Shan Station, and Foothills Local Meats. Mayor Esther Manheimer will welcome guests and the 55-member host committee, led by Robyn Horn of the Windgate Charitable Foundation and Libba Evans who is the former Secretary of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. Benefit tickets begin at $50 for young adults (under 35) and $100 for the general public.

Three distinct Back to the Drawing Board installations by artists Jay Fox and Ellie Richards (Penland, NC), Brice Garrett (Brooklyn, NY), an Chris Watts (High Point, NC) allow guests a one-of-a kind experience working with the artists on hands-on projects or experiencing a site-specific immersive installation. Two of the three projects will continue on Friday and Saturday August 12 - 13, free and open to the public from 12 - 6 pm.

"We are planning a one-of-a-kind event in celebration of the history of CCCD while embracing the cultural community and artists who make Asheville and Western North Carolina the location that it is known for today," says Stephanie Moore, Executive Director.

Throughout the building, guests will preview a future Makerspace with live music by the Reggie Sullivan Band, experience the exhibition Warped featuring textiles inspired by sound, and enjoy a contemporary lounge created by Mobilia and Four Corners Home. Ticketed guests will also receive a commemorative vessel created by East Fork Pottery.

EVENT DETAILS

Date and Time: Thursday, August 11, 2016, 7 - 10 pm

Location: The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, 67 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Ages 21+

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit: cccdnow.org/20years.

Leadership support for CCCD's 20^th Anniversary Celebration generously provided by Aceto Law Office P.A., Blue Spiral 1/Bellagio/Fine Arts Theater, Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP, Posana, Gan Shan Station, Foothills Local Meats, French Broad Chocolates, Daniels Graphics, and Capital at Play magazine.

Pulitzer prize-winning "Crimes of the Heart" opens at ACT - Aug. 12th

Lenny, Meg and Babe Magrath are three Southern sisters with very different personalities and lives who have just reunited due to unfortunate circumstances: Babe is out on bail after shooting her husband in the stomach. Crimes of the Heart is warm-hearted, irreverent, zany and brilliantly imaginative comedy – and it’s opening next at Asheville Community Theatre. The comedy will open at the downtown theatre on Friday, August 12 and run through Sunday, August 28, 2016 with performances on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.  Tickets are available online, over the phone, or in person at the Asheville Community Theatre Box Office.

“This show has been a personal favorite of mine for years,” said Susan Harper, Executive Director of Asheville Community Theatre. “The way that these sisters talk with each other rings so true. You just can’t help but laugh when they laugh, and cry when they cry.” 

In Crimes of the Heart, three young Mississippi sisters have reunited to support the youngest sister, who has just shot her husband in the stomach. Each sister struggles with the unfamiliarity of being back together again. The play is the story of how these sisters escape the past to seize the future – with a telling that is true, touching, and consistently hilarious. 

Crimes of the Heart was written by Beth Henley. It premiered in 1979 at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, had a sold-out run Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club, and transferred to Broadway in November 1981. The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1981. A movie version was released in 1986 starring Jessica Lange, Diane Keaton, and Sissy Spacek. 

Asheville Community Theatre’s production of Crimes of the Heart is directed by Eric Mills and stars a cast of 6 community members, 3 of whom are making their ACT Mainstage debuts! The Magrath sisters are played by Julianne Arnall (Lenny), Reeni Lindblom Dowd (Meg), and Sarah Billings (Babe). Alex Foote plays their cousin Chick, William Stamey plays Meg’s ex-boyfriend Doc, and David Dowd returns to the ACT stage as Babe’s lawyer Barnette. 

Opening Weekend features a deal on tickets – all adult, senior, and student tickets for all three Opening Weekend performances are only $18.00. Other Opening Weekend perks include complimentary champagne on Opening Night, complimentary chocolate on Saturday night, and a talk-back with the cast and crew after the Sunday matinee.

For more information about Crimes of the Heart or about Asheville Community Theatre, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.