AVL Biz Weekly: Dec 24–31 | The Quiet Week & The Big Reset

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).

It’s that blur between Christmas and New Year’s Eve where nobody knows what day it is, how much cheese is too much cheese, calories don’t really count, and the best food-coma naps of the year.

But amidst the quiet, there’s opportunity. This issue is packed with low-pressure ways to close out 2025, whether that’s talking tech over pizza on Christmas Eve, sharpening your public speaking skills, or just enjoying some laser lights under the dome. We’ve also got the ultimate "Marketing Quickies" list to set you up for a massive January without breaking a sweat.

One quick note before you dive in: there won’t be an AVL Biz email next week. We’re taking a breather and will be back in your inbox in the new year.

Rest up, reset, and we’ll see you in 2026.

📋 On Deck This Week

• Mindset & Reflection: Vision boarding for the year ahead and finding clarity before the ball drops.

• Business: Zero-pressure networking with developers and coffee-fueled connections for entrepreneurs.

• Marketing: The "Out of Office" flex, refreshing your pinned posts, and the "Crystal Ball" email strategy.

• Fun: Laser shows, comedy nights featuring The Grinch, and Yacht Rock dance parties.

• Music: The Infamous Stringdusters, Fleetwood Mac tributes, and a New Year’s Eve yacht rock blowout.

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

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ Coders League: Low-Pressure Social Get-Together – Wed, Dec 24 · 6:30–8:30 PM (Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co | 675 Merrimon Ave · Asheville, NC)

  A laid-back hang for developers, tech pros, hobbyists, and the tech-curious who’d rather connect over pizza than panels. Hosted by the Asheville Tech Events crew at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Co, it’s welcoming, casual, and perfect for talking shop or meeting smart humans without pressure.

• 🗓️ Toastmasters Meeting – Asheville & Mountains Toastmasters – Fri, Dec 26 · 8:00–9:00 AM (900 Blythe St · Hendersonville, NC)

  A friendly, low-pressure way to sharpen your public speaking and leadership skills before the workday begins. Expect prepared speeches, real-time feedback, and fun table topics that help you sound more confident in meetings, pitches, and conversations.

• 🗓️ IBN Breakfast Club – Asheville – Fri, Dec 26 · 9:00–10:00 AM (484 Hendersonville Road)

  A straightforward, inclusive networking meetup with zero fees, zero pressure, and no membership requirements. Hosted by Incredible Business Networking of WNC at Atlanta Bread Company, it’s ideal for small business owners who want real conversations, referrals, and coffee-powered connections.

Hosting something cool?

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

💡 Marketing Quickies

1. The "Out of Office" Flex You’re likely turning on your auto-responder soon. Don’t waste that real estate. Instead of a boring "I'm away," add a P.S. link: "While I recharge, grab my free guide to [Topic]" or "Join the waitlist for January here." Collect leads while you sleep (and eat leftovers).

2. Refresh Your "Pinned" Trio Go look at your Instagram or Facebook profile. Are your pinned posts from three months ago? Unpin them. Pin these three for the New Year traffic: 1. Your best intro/bio reel. 2. Your strongest client result/testimonial. 3. Your main offer for 2026.

3. The "By The Numbers" Story Skip the long, sentimental year-in-review caption. Post a simple text graphic with fun stats from your year. Examples: "45 Websites Launched," "300 Gallons of Coffee Consumed," or "52 Friday Happy Hours." It humanizes your brand without the fluff.

4. The "Crystal Ball" Email Draft a short email for next week that predicts one trend for your industry in 2026. "Here is the one thing I think changes in [Your Industry] next year." It positions you as an expert and gives people a reason to open during a slow week.

5. The "Zero-Ask" Comment Spree Spend 10 minutes scrolling your feed. Comment on 5 partners' or clients' holiday posts. Don’t talk business. Just say "Great family photo!" or "That food looks amazing." Being a human in the comments section triggers the algorithm to show them your business posts in January.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Jazz & Soul Sessions @ YMI – Multiple Dates (YMI Cultural Center)

  A soulful live music series celebrating African American musical traditions with jazz, soul, hip-hop, and neo-soul performances by a dynamic house band and acclaimed artists in one of downtown Asheville’s most historic venues.

• 🗓️ Laser Holiday Christmas Magic – Fri, Dec 26 · 6:30–7:30 PM (Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory)

  A cozy, family-friendly laser show where classic holiday songs come alive with dazzling visuals under the planetarium dome, perfect for getting festive without braving the cold (note: flashing lights and theatrical haze).

• 🗓️ Crisp Comedy: Live in Leicester Featuring The Grinch – Fri, Dec 26 · 7:00–9:00 PM (Noble Cider & Mead Taproom, Leicester)

  A free, 18+ comedy night at Noble Cider with a rotating lineup of comics and a holiday-themed headliner playing The Grinch, perfect if you want to laugh off the post-Christmas haze with cider in hand.

• 🗓️ Game Over: End of Year Comedy – Sun, Dec 28 · 7:00–9:00 PM (Rad Brewing Co)

  Wrap up the year with a night of sharp stand-up from local and regional comedians as Modelface Comedy turns the chaos of the past 365 days into laughs at Rad Brewing (18+, $15).

• 🗓️ Whole Vision: Manifesting for 2026 – Tue, Dec 30 · 6:30–8:00 PM (Energetic Experiences)

  A cozy, intention-setting gathering featuring meditation, vision boards, and creative ritual to help you clarify what you’re calling in for 2026, hosted by Senseful Wellness & Yoga in a supportive, reflective space.

• 🗓️ New Year’s Eve at Pillar Rooftop Bar – Wed, Dec 31 · 6:00 PM–1:00 AM (Pillar Rooftop Bar)

  Ring in the New Year with live music, rooftop views, festive drinks, and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, making this a high-energy downtown Asheville option for celebrating in style.

• 🗓️ New Year’s Eve Lunch – Outback Steakhouse – Wed, Dec 31 · 12:30–2:30 PM (Outback Steakhouse)

  Kick off New Year’s Eve early with a relaxed group lunch featuring holiday specials, festive cocktails, and classic Outback comfort food, perfect for celebrating without staying out past dark.

• 🗓️ Reelin’ In The Years: New Year’s Yacht Rock Dance Party – Wed, Dec 31 · 9:00 PM–1:00 AM (One World Brewing West)

  Sail into 2026 with a feel-good yacht rock dance party celebrating Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, and more, plus a free champagne toast at midnight and a stacked lineup of local all-stars.

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Aug 27–Sep14)

• Tell Me Lies — The Fleetwood Mac Experience — Fri, Dec 26 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Dawes Boss — Fri, Dec 26 · 8 PM @ The One Stop

• Cosmic Charlie — High Energy Grateful Dead from Athens — Fri, Dec 26 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Falcon 5 — Fri, Dec 26 · 10 PM @ The One Stop

• Chalwa Roots — Sat, Dec 27 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Nirvani — A Nirvana Tribute Experience — Sat, Dec 27 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Cheeksters + Doss Church and the Unholy Noise — Sat, Dec 27 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Ryan Roots — Sat, Dec 27 · 8 PM @ The One Stop

• Natalie Brooke & Abby Bryant — Sat, Dec 27 · 8 PM @ French Broad River Indoor

• Rhiannon Music Showcase (feat. Sam Trio, Dredlok, Maxfield, Mercury & Noto) — Sat, Dec 27 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Sunday Jam: Spiro & Friends — Sun, Dec 28 · 4 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Women to the Front & Friends — Year End Blues Bash — Sun, Dec 28 · 7 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Mersiv — Sun, Dec 28 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Shakedown Sunday — Sun, Dec 28 · 8 PM @ The One Stop

• The Infamous Stringdusters — Tue, Dec 30 · 7 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Billy Jonas Band — “Welcome the New Year!” Family Concert — Wed, Dec 31 · 1 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Jerry’s Dead – New Year’s Eve Celebration — Wed, Dec 31 · 8 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Sneaky What Future Joy NYE Party — Wed, Dec 31 · 9 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Graham Moore — Wed, Dec 31 · 9 PM @ The One Stop

• Pura Sangre Party (with Bombón Band & Mountain View) — Wed, Jan 1 · 6 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Coyote Rodeo with The Miller Sisters — Fri, Jan 2 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Love You: A Benefit for Jamaica — Sat, Jan 3 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Rock ’n’ Roll Hangover (featuring Andrew Hearn, Jesse Velvet, and more) — Sat, Jan 3 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Sunday Jam – Tury Black & Friends — Sun, Jan 4 · 4 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Fracaso Elías — Tue, Jan 7 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Charlie Starr — Thu, Jan 8 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Sonnyside Stringband — Fri, Jan 9 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Cactus Jack & The Drinks — Fri, Jan 9 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Caverns of Gold Showcase Benefit — Fri, Jan 9 · 8 PM @ The Orange Peel

• The Get Right Band & Supalight — Summer in the Winter Beach Bash — Fri, Jan 9 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Gill Francis — Fri, Jan 9 · 8 PM @ The One Stop

• The Last Revel — Fri, Jan 9 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Alien Funk Academy — Fri, Jan 9 · 10 PM @ The One Stop

• String Plug — Sat, Jan 10 · 7 PM @ Pisgah Brewing Company

• Maggie Antone & The Rhinestones — Sat, Jan 10 · 8 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Sunnyside Stringband — Sat, Jan 10 · 8 PM @ The One Stop

• Winter Jam (feat. Kait Halen & Friends, My Gal Monday, Mellon Swells & Julia) — Sat, Jan 10 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Ondara Presents: The Jet Stone Conspiracy — Sun, Jan 11 · 7 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Winter Jam (feat. Lloyd Mashup, Big Fun, Henry’s Pocket & Coyote Rodeo) — Sun, Jan 11 · 8 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

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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