AVL Biz Weekly, Oct 29 - Nov 5 | Google Wins, Costume Crawls, & Your Next Big Connection

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,

It’s Halloween, my favorite holiday, and not just because candy corn is back — yeah, I’m one of those people.

Here’s my costume from a few years back:

So what’re you dressing up as, you heathens? 😂 👻

Now on to the events…

📋 On Deck

• Business Events: Fix Your Google Profile in 90 Minutes, Artist Finance Workshop, Real-Talk Networking, & LevelUp for Teens.

• Marketing Quickies: 5 Asheville-Fluent Tips on using local phrases, maximizing festivals, and turning customers into storytellers.

• Fun Around Town: 3 Costume-Required Parties (Axe Throwing, Bar Crawls, & a Pink Lady Ghost Party), Comedy, and Cookie Decorating.

• Bands & Shows: Legendary Here Come The Mummies + 10 other live music picks for every mood.

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

🗓️ Business Events

• 🗓️ Get Your Asheville/WNC Business Found on Google – Wed, Oct 29 · 9–10:30 AM (Ernest Co-Warehousing + Co-Working, 135 Sweeten Creek Rd, AVL)

  Turn “near me” searches into real calls. In this hands-on workshop with Jason De Los Santos, local service businesses will tune up their Google Business Profile, boost reviews, and leave with a 30-day plan that actually sticks.

• 🗓️ Connect@ The Village Porch – Halloween Party! – Wed, Oct 29 · 5:30–8 PM (The Village Porch, 61 N Merrimon Ave, AVL)

  PROpel AVL’s annual Halloween bash brings the costumes, brews, and karaoke back to North Asheville. Expect spooky networking, a costume contest, and just enough weirdness to keep it interesting.

• 🗓️ Wise & Young Entrepreneur Networking Event – Sun, Nov 2 · 6–10 PM (The Third Room, 46 Wall St, AVL)

  Not your typical mixer. This potluck-style night brings entrepreneurs and creatives together for interactive networking games, raffles, and real conversation. Hosted by El Turco Media’s Irem Rama — it’s global energy with Asheville heart.

• 🗓️ The Art of Financial Freedom: A Free Workshop for Asheville Artists – Mon, Nov 3 · 5:30–6:30 PM (The Radical, 95 Roberts St, AVL)

  Artists, meet your money. Realtor and potter Kristin Schoonover hosts this free session on mastering cash flow, planning for the future, and building smart financial habits — all without the jargon. Perfect for creatives ready to turn passion into stability.

• 🗓️ Asheville Business Breakfast: Real Connections, Real Conversations – Wed, Nov 5 · 8:30–10 AM (Abuela’s Little Kitchen, 8 Long Shoals Rd, Arden)

  Casual, guided conversation over breakfast for local owners, freelancers, and remote workers. No pitch blasts, no pressure — just real talk, new ideas, and one connection worth following up on.

• 🗓️ Business Planning Clinic Prep – Wed, Nov 5 · 2–3 PM (48 Grove St, AVL)

  Get your goals in gear. Keller Williams’ J Michael leads a hands-on prep session to organize your financials, leads, and targets before the full Business Planning Clinic on Nov 12. It’s one hour of clarity for a more focused 2025.

• 🗓️ LevelUp: Monthly Workshops for Teens & Young Adults – Wed, Nov 5 · 5–6:30 PM (Goodwill Career Center, 1616 Patton Ave, AVL)

  Free dinner and life skills in one go. Goodwill’s LevelUp series helps teens and young adults build confidence in money management, self-care, and communication — with hands-on activities and a side of community.

Hosting something cool?

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

💡 Marketing Quickies

1. Go where your people already hang out.

   Bring a pop-up table or sample to one of Asheville’s markets, or an invite-only market. It could be a great combination of sales + branding.

2. Speak fluent Asheville.

   Swap “limited-time offer” for “small batch,” “crafted in the mountains,” or “locally loved.” The right words remind folks you’re part of this place, not just doing business in it.

3. Turn customers into storytellers.

   Ask happy locals to tag you with a photo from your shop, brewery, or booth using #MadeInAVL or #AshevilleLife. Then feature them in your next post or email.

4. Make your reviews local gold.

   Screenshot one great Google or Yelp review each week and share it with a short thank-you. It reminds Asheville folks that supporting small really matters.

5. Ride the festival wave.

   When LEAF, Goombay, or an art walk is happening, post something that connects to it — even if it’s just a themed drink or playlist. Locals love a brand that celebrates what’s happening around town.

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 🗓️ Costume Contest & Dart Night – Wed, Oct 29 · 6–9 PM (Dirty Jack’s Bar, 23 Buxton Ave, AVL)

  Throw darts, show off your costume, and maybe win a prize in this laid-back, beer-fueled night of fun hosted by the Asheville Darts Meetup.

• 🗓️ Here Come The Mummies – Wed, Oct 29 · 6:30 PM (Sierra Nevada Amphitheater, 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River)

  Get funky with the legendary 5,000-year-old band Here Come The Mummies as they bring their outrageous, high-energy “terrifying funk from beyond the grave” to Sierra Nevada for a Halloween week throwdown.

• 🗓️ Halloween Cookie Decorating at 12 Bones – Thu, Oct 30 · 6–8 PM (12 Bones Brewing, 2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden)

  Get festive and flex your sweet tooth with a fun night of Halloween-themed cookie decorating, craft brews, and costume-friendly creativity.

• 🗓️ The Pink Lady Party – Thu, Oct 30 · 7–10 PM (Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar, The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave, Asheville)

  Sip themed cocktails, enjoy tarot readings, and dance to live dueling pianos at this elegant Halloween bash inspired by the Grove Park Inn’s legendary ghost.

• 🗓️ The Official Halloween Bar Crawl – Fri, Oct 31 · 4 PM–Midnight (Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden, 284 Lyman St, Asheville)

  Round up your boo crew for a two-day bar-hopping bash packed with spooky cocktails, costume contests, and killer after-parties across Asheville’s best bars.

• 🗓️ Asheville Day of the Dead Bar Crawl – Día de Muertos – Sat, Nov 1 · 4–10 PM (Urban Orchard Cider Co., 24 Buxton Ave, Asheville)

  Celebrate life and honor loved ones with a vibrant Día de Muertos–themed bar crawl featuring colorful costumes, lively music, and festive drinks across Asheville’s top bars.

• 🗓️ Big 10 Sports Club of Asheville – Sat, Nov 1 · 7–10 PM (Hickory Tavern, 30 Town Square Blvd, Asheville)

  Catch the game, cheer on your team, and connect with fellow college football fans at this laid-back meetup for Big Ten enthusiasts and sports lovers of all stripes.

• 🗓️ A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories – Sat, Nov 1 · 7:30 PM (Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W State St, Black Mountain)

  Settle in for an evening of heartfelt and humorous storytelling as Connie Regan-Blake’s students share true tales that celebrate life’s twists and turns.

• 🗓️ Hell Hounds: Dark and Dirty Comedy Show – Sat, Nov 1 · 10–11:30 PM (The Hound, 2 Tunnel Rd, Asheville)

  Buckle up for an NC-17 night of no-holds-barred laughs as Modelface Comedy brings the South’s filthiest comics to The Hound for a wickedly funny late show.

• 🗓️ Tomahawks & Flannel: AVLNOLES at Axeville – Sun, Nov 2 · 1–3 PM (Axeville Axe Throwing Club, 99 New Leicester Hwy #20, Asheville)

  Throw on your favorite flannel and join the Asheville Seminoles Club for an afternoon of axe-throwing, friendly competition, and laid-back lumberjack vibes.

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Aug 27–Sep14)

• Grace Helbig – “Let Me Get This Off My Chest” — Wed, Oct 29 · 7:30 PM @ The Orange Peel

• Bombargo w/ The Dirty Turkeys — Wed, Oct 29 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Sound of Sirens — Wed, Oct 29 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Chaparelle w/ Ramsey Thornton — Thu, Oct 30 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall

• The Beths w/ Phoebe Rings — Thu, Oct 30 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• A.G. Hammond — Thu, Oct 30 · 9:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Zach & Colby — Fri, Oct 31 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Nick Shoulders: Universe of Battle Tour — Fri, Oct 31 · 8:00 PM @ The Grey Eagle Music Hall (Opening act varies, kept main act)

• Kitchen Dwellers w/ Fireside Collective — Fri, Oct 31 · 8:00 PM @ The Orange Peel

• North Mississippi Allstars w/ Datrian Johnson & Isaac Hadden — Fri, Oct 31 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall (Consolidated opening acts)

• Coyote Rodeo — Fri, Oct 31 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• DJ McNice Presents: "CharlestheFirst vs CloZee" Set with teathyme — Sat, Nov 1 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Gordon Sterling and The People — Sat, Nov 1 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• THE GREY EAGLE & BOTTLENECK PRESENTS: BLUEGRASS BRUNCH with LAUREL CANYON — Sun, Nov 2 · 11:30 AM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• THE GREY EAGLE & BOTTLENECK PRESENTS: BLUEGRASS BRUNCH with GHOST SUGAR — Sun, Nov 2 · 1:30 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Shakedown Sunday's — Sun, Nov 2 · 8:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Early Tuesday Jam — Tue, Nov 4 · 7:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Uncle Lenny's Krazy Karaoke — Tue, Nov 4 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Night Cap — Wed, Nov 5 · 8:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• THE GREY EAGLE & BOTTLENECK PRESENTS: GRASSY THURSDAZE with DARREN NICHOLSON AND THE COUNTRY GRASS MESSENGERS — Thu, Nov 6 · 8:00 PM @ Grey Eagle Music Hall

• Florencia and The Feeling — Thu, Nov 6 · 9:00 PM @ The One Stop

• John Ferrara Solo — Fri, Nov 7 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Madilyn Mei with Amelia Day — Fri, Nov 7 · 8:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall (Sold Out per search)

• Mono Means One — Fri, Nov 7 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Riyen Roots — Sat, Nov 8 · 6:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons with Magnolia Boulevard — Sat, Nov 8 · 9:00 PM @ Asheville Music Hall

• Muscle Tough — Sat, Nov 8 · 10:00 PM @ The One Stop

• Mo Lowda & the Humble – Tailing the Ghost Tour with French Cassettes — Sun, Nov 9 · 8:00 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

What did you think of today's email?
Great! 👏 | Meh 🫤 | Terrible 👎