This month we have our first ever Nerd Nite double feature presentation, featuring a guest flying all the way from Boston to deliver an analysis of gentrification through the lens of horror films. Plus we’ve got hauntings, creepy facts, and urban legends about Asheville. Which ones are just folk tales, and which ones should keep you up at night? Find out October 8th!
Thursday, October 8th, 2026 doors 6pm, show 7pm at River Arts District Brewing Co.
Pre-sale tickets $10, door $15 (cash or Venmo). Get your pre-sale tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/nerd-nite-october-2026
This month’s lineup:
Jenny Bowen
Reported Hauntings in Asheville’s History
If you’ve ever taken a local ghost tour, you’ve probably heard a lot of made-up urban legends, with many of those tall tales created in just the last 20 years! But there is so much of our local history that is far stranger than fiction, yet many of these fascinating and true stories have been largely forgotten. Step into the dark side of Asheville’s past as we dispel at least one prevalent myth and explore three documented sites of local tragedy – including a curse tied to the oldest oak tree in Buncombe County, a botched double execution in what’s currently known as the UNC-A Woods, and the reportedly bizarre hauntings surrounding “Hell’s Half Acre” on Eagle Street.
Jenny Bowen (she/they) is a local photographer, historian, folklore enthusiast, and archivist at Buncombe County Special Collections. A resident of Asheville since the early-1990s, she has spent decades uncovering some of the darker, forgotten stories of Western North Carolina’s past. Through rigorous archival research and a healthy appreciation for the unexplained, she brings real local history back to life—not as sensationalized myths, but as documented events rooted deeply in the foundations and struggles of early Asheville. Email for tour inquiries:
Josh Lown
Understanding Gentrification Through Horror Films
A stalking shape disrupts the monotony of a small suburban town; A wealthy recluse from a far away land sneaks into the city to suck the life out of its inhabitants; A group of teens in public housing must fight back against an intrusion of aliens attempting to push them out. In every horror film, the built environment exists as its own character, giving the viewer context and shaping how the characters interact with one another. The changing social, economic, and built environment – what scholars often refer to as gentrification – can often feel as its own act of horror and violence upon residents experiencing these changes. Giving examples of films through time, we’re going to explore how it is only through horror that we can truly understand the impact of this often slippery concept of gentrification.
Josh Lown is a postdoctoral research fellow at Boston University’s Initiative on Cities whose work digs into the relationship between climate justice and gentrification. He takes an activist-scholar approach to his research, filling the role of community organizer, neighbor, and researcher in his work. At any and all opportunity, he spends his time convincing people about the importance of horror films in understanding all aspects of humanity, including his research. In his free time, you’ll find him at a hardcore show or walking the neighborhood with his family, keeping an eye out for unwanted agents of the state.
With your host, Von
This month’s Star Trek mini-feature: Sub Rosa (aka the one where Beverly Crusher f*cks a ghost)
After a few months of respite, Star Trek features are back with a bang (heh heh). This month, we’ll look at the most infamous episode in Star Trek history: the one where Beverly f*cks a space ghost. Whatever you do, DINNAE LEIT THA CANDEL!
Von claims this show for the Romulan Empire. (IG: @nerdniteAVL)