NSA Meeting & AI Hottakes, Plus Jerry’s Birthday Bash — AVL Biz Weekly Jul 31–Aug 10

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

Each Wednesday, I send out 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).

📋 On Deck

• 📅 Strategic Networking: AI hot‑takes and pro‑speaker meetups.

• 💡 Marketing You’ll Actually Do: Hyper‑local pages, review automation and video tours.

• 🎉 Your Social Calendar: Fika (what?), fun runs, paddle boarding and comedy.

• 🎸 The Best of AVL Music: Jerry Garcia tributes, Tuxedo Junction, Deer Tick & more.

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

👋 Hey there!

Every now and then Asheville serves up a perfect blend of brains and banter. This week, you can argue the ethics of AI, swap stories with pro speakers, sip mimosas at a Swedish‑style fika, and then groove to a Jerry Garcia tribute under the stars.

Let’s dive in.

📅 Business Events (Jul 31–Aug 10)

These aren’t your average chamber mixers. These are where partnerships start, deals get sparked, and you actually enjoy yourself.

• 📅 NSA‑WNC Meeting hosted by ACNC – Thu, Jul 31 · 10 AM–12 PM @ 216 Asheland Ave

  Professional speakers and trainers gather for networking and best‑practice sharing. Perfect if you make a living on stage (or want to).

• 📅 Code with Asheville: AI Hottakes – Thu, Jul 31 · 6–8 PM @ Haywood Famous, West Asheville

  Join local developers to debate AI ethics, inevitability and use cases. Show up with questions and hot takes.

• 📅 Entrepreneurs Living the Dream: Increase Your Belief in Your Business – Tue, Aug 5 · 4–5:15 PM @ Hatch AVL

  Strengthen your founder mindset in this workshop blending reflection, goal‑setting and community support.

• 📅 Asheville Business Summit – Tue, Sept 23 · 9 AM–4 PM @ Wortham Center

  A day of keynotes, panels and workshops for entrepreneurs and leaders. Early‑bird tickets available through Aug 9.

Hosting something cool?

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

💡 Marketing Quickies

• 🎥 Show Your Space. Post a 30‑second video tour of your studio, shop or office. People love seeing where the magic happens and it humanizes your brand.

• 📍 Hyper‑Local Pages. Create a landing page for each neighborhood you serve (e.g., “Accounting in West Asheville”). It boosts local SEO and shows you’re part of the community.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Spotlight Success. Turn a testimonial into a mini‑case study: outline the client’s challenge, your solution and their result. Stories convert better than bullet points.

• ⭐️ Automate Reviews. Set up a post‑project email with a direct Google review link. Not sure how? Watch a quick video I made showing you how to easily share Google Review links: https://youtu.be/HlFqCGepBu0?si=mlAycYqDgqd00pRa .

🎉 Fun Stuff Around AVL

• 📅 Open Oven Brunch & Bakery Fika Meetup – Thu, Jul 31 · 10 AM–12 PM @ Black Mountain

  Meet over homemade sourdough muffins, benedicts and mimosas. Slow down, sip coffee and connect.

• 📅 Thursday Run w/ Asheville Runners – Thu, Jul 31 · 6 PM @ Olde London Road

  Run 1, 3 or 6 miles and stay for beers and soccer tennis after. All paces welcome.

• 📅 Dinner at Tenango’s Mexican Restaurant – Senior Singles Fun Bunch – Fri, Aug 1 · 6–8 PM @ Flat Rock

  Enjoy puffy tacos and mega margaritas with fellow 55+ singles.

• 📅 The Ins & Outs of Stand‑Up Paddle Boarding (Beginner Level) – Sat, Aug 2 · 1–2:30 PM @ Lake Junaluska

  Learn paddle‑board basics with hands‑on instruction. All gear provided.

• 📅 Asheville Back‑to‑School Craft & Vendor Market – Sat & Sun, Aug 2–3 · 10 AM–4 PM @ Tanger Outlets

  Kick off the school year with local crafts, supplies and treats.

• 📅 Freshen Up Comedy Open Mic – Sun, Aug 3 · 7–9 PM @ VOWL Bar (DSSOLVR Brewing)

  Bring new material or cheer on local comics at this free open mic.

🎧 Bands on the Horizon (Jul 31–Aug 10)

• Tuxedo Junction – Jul 31 @ Pisgah Brewing (variety band; no cover).

• Jerry Garcia Birthday Celebration w/ Jerry’s Dead – Aug 1 @ Pisgah Brewing (Grateful Dead tribute).

• Pisgah Sunday Jam – Aug 3 @ Pisgah Brewing (6:30–9 PM; free).

• 5J Barrow – Aug 6 @ Pisgah Brewing (soulful acoustic duo).

• Deer Tick with Twain – Aug 7 @ Pisgah Brewing (alt‑country; tickets required).

• Brother Fat – Aug 8 @ Pisgah Brewing (funk/rock; free).

• Acoustic Corner 25th Anniversary Celebration – Aug 10 @ Pisgah Brewing (multi‑act showcase).

That’s all for this week!

🎯 Got a win you’re proud of? A weird niche you’re thriving in? A tiny business doing big things? Tell me; I might feature it.

Until next week,

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