AVL Biz Weekly: Dec 10–Dec 16, AI Agents, Goal Setting & Holiday Hustle

Welcome to AVL BIZ Weekly—your local cheat sheet for what’s happening in Asheville’s small business + creative scenes.

Each week: hand-picked events, marketing ideas that actually work, and a little local flavor to keep things fun.

My name's Jason and I'm writing this (connect with me here).

Hey friends,

Everybody I talk to is saying, “Where the hell did this year go?” December always sneaks up like it’s been waiting around a corner, and suddenly we’re all trying to finish projects, plan for next year, and keep ourselves from dissolving into sugar-cookie dust.

So this week I pulled together a mix of events, quick marketing wins, and fun things around Asheville that make the last stretch of the year feel a little lighter. Use what helps, ignore the rest.

Let’s finish the year strong, Asheville.

📋 On Deck This Week

• Business Connections: Getting cozy with AI, goal-setting with coffee, open coding sessions, and real estate vision boarding.

• Marketing Quickies: Scarcity tactics, turning reviews into Reels, and the "Holiday Bounce-Back."

• Fun Around Town: Ice skating at the Yards, board game nights, Anime-Fest, and Christmas pop-up bars.

• Bands & Shows: Futurebirds, Led Zeppelin tributes, Thievery Corporation, and holiday spectaculars.

🙋 Want your biz featured in front of a few really smart AVL business owners? Email me for details

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ OK, AI Is Kinda Scaring Me… But I Kinda Like It (Part 2) – Wed, Dec 10 · 5:30–7:30 PM (One World Brewing West, 520 Haywood Rd)

  A beginner-friendly, bar-side deep dive into GPTs and AI agents that can actually take action for you; expect a welcoming crowd, a half hour of warm-up socializing, and plenty of “aha” moments whether you’re AI-curious or already building tools. $10 cover (or $2 off with advance Venmo payment), with the Digital Nomads crew hosting and maybe even some pizza in the mix.

• 🗓️ GoalLab Workshop – Sat, Dec 13 · 9:00–10:30 AM (The Rhu, 10 S Lexington Ave)

  A warm, goal-minded latte meetup for anyone looking to recharge their momentum; expect easy conversation, shared wins, fresh ideas, and a friendly crowd that loves swapping books, podcasts, and practical ways to make progress feel doable.

• 🗓️ Code with Asheville: Open Project + Co-Work Day – Sat, Dec 13 · 11:00 AM–2:00 PM (Hi-Wire Brewing Big Top, 2A Huntsman Pl)

  A laid-back, maker-friendly coworking session where developers, tinkerers, and helpers of all skill levels dive into personal or community projects; expect a quick round of goals, collaborative energy, and plenty of room to get unstuck or finally make progress on that thing you’ve been meaning to build.

• 🗓️ Agents Helping Agents: Vision Board Experience – Tue, Dec 17 · 9:30–11:00 AM (216 Asheland Ave)

  A collaborative, creativity-forward meetup for real estate pros who want to map out their 2026 goals with intention; expect vision boards, good energy, and a supportive community focused on growth, service, and building a business that actually feels aligned.

Hosting something cool?

📬 Hit reply and tell me what you think. Or share an event!

💡 Marketing Quickies

1. Run a “Last-Minute Booking” Slot

   Pick one day next week and open one extra appointment, service slot, or consult. Announce it on Stories with “One spot just opened 👀.” Scarcity drives action way more than a discount ever will.

2. Turn Your Best Review into a Post (and a Reel)

   Screenshot a glowing customer review, drop it into Canva with your brand colors, and add a quick 5-second voiceover reading the highlight. It’s social proof × content creation — done in under 10 minutes.

3. Add a “Holiday Bounce-Back” Freebie

   Give December buyers a small January perk: a mini consult, a checklist, or a resource. Not a coupon — a nudge. Customers love a reason to re-engage after the holiday fog lifts.

4. Host a 24-Hour Story Poll

   Ask something simple like “What’s your biggest goal for 2026?” or “Which product should we bring back in January?” It boosts engagement, surfaces customer intel, and gives you ready-made content ideas.

5. Audit Your Top Link

   Check your Link in Bio, linktree, or website hero button. Is it pointing to the #1 action you want right now? Swap it to something seasonally relevant: booking link, gift card, or your Holiday Guide. Micro-adjustments = more clicks.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Holiday Market + Optional Ice Skating @ Asheville Yards – Wed, Dec 10 · 5:30–9:00 PM (Asheville Yards, 75 Coxe Ave)

  A cozy, festive night with live music, a local artisan market, warm drinks, and the option to glide under the lights on the outdoor ice rink.

• 🗓️ Holiday Dinner Party at Laila – Wed, Dec 10 · 6:30–9:00 PM (Laila Asheville, 77 Biltmore Ave )

  A warm, festive dinner with vegan-friendly options, good conversation, and an optional $30 gift swap for anyone craving holiday connection over great Indian food.

• 🗓️ Cake + Sip: Christmas Edition – Thu, Dec 12 · 6:00–8:00 PM (Bebop Bottle Shop, 723 Haywood Road )

  A cozy, creative night out where you’ll decorate your own holiday cake with guided help, enjoy festive sips and bites, and mingle with a fun, adult crowd.

• 🗓️ Opening Night: Dashing Through the Snow – Thu, Dec 11 · 7:30–9:30 PM (Hendersonville Little Theatre, 229 S Washington St)

  A cozy, small-theatre opening night for a warm, zany holiday comedy packed with quirky characters and feel-good laughs for anyone who loves festive live performance.

• 🗓️ Asheville Anime-Fest – Fri, Dec 13 · 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Haywood Park Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection, 1 Battery Park Avenue)

  A full day of anime-loving chaos and delight with screenings, panels, cosplay, and community vibes for fans of every fandom level.

• 🗓️ Kellin Watson & Friends’ Holiday Special (feat. Aaron Price) – Fri, Dec 13 · 7:30–9:00 PM (Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State Street )

  A cozy, throwback-style holiday variety show packed with music, laughs, surprise guests, and the warm, Appalachian-rooted charm of Kellin Watson and Aaron Price.

• 🗓️ Pocketful of Gold (Led Zeppelin Experience) – Fri, Dec 12 · 8:00–11:00 PM (Pisgah Brewing Company 2948 US Hwy 70, Black Mountain)

  A high-energy night of Zeppelin-inspired rock as Pocketful of Gold brings two powerhouse sets to Pisgah’s taproom, perfect for singing, dancing, and kicking off a big music weekend.

• 🗓️ Pi-Squared Pizza Hangout – Sat, Dec 13 · 6:30–8:00 PM (Pi-Squared Pizza, 1972 Haywood Rd, Hendersonville)

  A friendly, low-key dinner meetup for social eaters who want to swap stories over great pizza, salads, and cold drinks with plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

• 🗓️ Big 10 Sports Club of Asheville – Sat, Dec 13 · 7:00–10:00 PM (Hickory Tavern, 30 Town Square Blvd)

  A spirited, football-filled hang for Big 10 fans and sports lovers of all stripes, blending game-day energy with a friendly crowd that also rallies around local charity projects.

• 🗓️ Christmas Mosaic Workshop – Sun, Dec 14 · 8:00 AM–8:00 PM (Comfort Suites Biltmore Mall, 890 Brevard Rd — multiple session times available)

  A festive, hands-on mosaic workshop where you’ll craft a Turkish-style candle holder or lamp while enjoying treats, creativity, and a perfect excuse to make a handmade holiday gift.

• 🗓️ Christmas Pop-Up Bar at The Golden Pineapple – Tue, Dec 16 · 6:00–8:00 PM (The Golden Pineapple, 503 Haywood Rd)

  A delightfully over-the-top holiday escape where Miracle transforms The Golden Pineapple into a kitschy, twinkle-lit Christmas cocktail wonderland with festive drinks and full-on seasonal vibes.

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Aug 27–Sep14)

• Eilen Jewell — Wed, Dec 10 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Futurebirds — Thu, Dec 11 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Mike Cooley (of Drive-By Truckers) — Thu, Dec 11 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Bumpin Uglies w/ Joey Harkum & The Ries Brothers — Thu, Dec 11 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Pocketful of Gold (Led Zeppelin Experience) — Fri, Dec 12 · 8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing

• The Secret Sisters — Fri, Dec 12 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• The 70’s Christmas Yarn Ball w/ Cruz Contreras — Fri, Dec 12 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Whitechapel w/ Bodysnatcher, AngelMaker, Disevnolded Tyrant — Sat, Dec 13 · 6:55 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Sam Burchfield — Sat, Dec 13 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Kellin Watson & Friends Holiday Special (feat. Aaron Price) — Sat, Dec 13 · 7:30 PM @ Black Mountain Center for the Arts

• Golden Folk Sessions — Sat, Dec 13 · 7 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters Holiday Spectacular — Sat, Dec 13 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Holiday Funk w/ Hustle Souls — Sat, Dec 13 · 9 PM @ The One Stop

• Jessica Kirson (Comedy, not a band) — Sun, Dec 14 @ The Orange Peel

• The 502s Christmas Show — Sun, Dec 14 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Mersiv w/ Hairitage, Fryar — Sun, Dec 14 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Thievery Corporation — Thu, Dec 18 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Thievery Corporation — Fri, Dec 19 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel (Sold Out)

• DJ Honey — Fri, Dec 19 · 9 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Burlesque Brunch — Sat, Dec 20 · 12 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• Dayton Johnson & The Family Tree’s Annual Soulful Christmas — Sun, Dec 21 · 8 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• 8th Annual Trolley La La La ft. Brody Hunt & The Stallion Knights — Mon, Dec 22 · 6 PM @ The Grey Eagle

• KID HOP HOORAY! — Fri, Dec 26 · 10 AM @ The Orange Peel (All ages DJ dance event — optional include)

Want your biz in front of smart AVL owners & creators? Reply with what you’re up to and we’ll see if it’s a fit.

Until next week,

Jason De Los Santos
Pixelated Stories Digital Marketing
(828) 585-4293

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