In an uncertain world, Corduroy is building a community for the curious.

As far as I can tell, we don’t ultimately know why we’re on the planet or what we’re meant to do. But we have undeniable universal needs for connection, growth, aesthetic appreciation, laughter.

Many of us are finding it increasingly difficult to meet these needs, as technology and culture tempt us away from true, present engagement with ourselves and others.

So I named the place “Corduroy”, to evoke a friendly textural feeling I remember from being a young kid…when I asked questions unselfconsciously, knew I could do anything, and didn’t have a cell phone.

Corduroy hosts events at multiple spaces that are already cozy or we make cozy, very often with couches and floor pillows. We hold creative check-ins, intimate music performances, salon-type discussions, album-listening sessions, and interactive games for grownups. We operate on a Sliding Scale basis (you’ll usually have 3 prices to choose from).

In addition to our own happenings, we’re open to pitches.

The email list is the best way to stay in the know. But you can also follow us on Instagram.

See you soon!

BLOG / UPDATES

1/27/26

Dear Friends,

Temperatures are dropping, temperatures are rising.

We may have averted one kind of ice storm in the Asheville area, but we’re obviously in a crisis as a country.

To be sure, it’s not our first.

But this inflection point requires a real reckoning with what our values and priorities truly are, 238 years after the US founders wrote an unprecedented philosophical vision for how best to live with each other, in all our differences.

I think Corduroy is one place we can reckon. In person, from multiple angles.

The Constitution framers were full of contradictions* (see below), imperfections, hypocrisy. But I’m guessing most of us more or less agree that the vision they set into motion (signed into law!) was considered, prescient, compassionate, wise. They used power to point us closer to the best version of ourselves… not the version that says “no limits, no laws” — but the one that considers the dignity of all people and remembers that how we enforce the rule of law matters. Here’s a revisit of the Bill of Rights.

Granted, staying true to ideals is hard. Balancing a big multicultural country that’s now 136 times larger in population is really hard. But a unified family is a strong family, and if we truly hold peace highest, we’ll keep diving deep… participating in civics… talking to our sisters and brothers. We’ll bring not our reactivity, but our highest conscience to bear when we vote (here’s how/when), demonstrate (some ideas), write letters, and/or call our reps (here’s a timely way). We’ll be specific, humanizing. “Non-violent, but not timid” —MLK & the 1963 March organizers (full text here.)

I wrestle a little with the fact that in the midst of pain and strife, I put on pop shows.

But I’m quick to remember that duh, shaking my thang is one of the thangs that makes my life worth living. We have to practice thriving, lest we lose sight of what The Pursuit of Happiness even means.

So I’m inviting you to come out this Saturday afternoon, Jan 31 to One World West, where my thoughtful, embodied, life-affirming bandmates in Pink Mercury and I will do our best to improvise music, filtered thru our work-in-progress hearts and gleaned from you, our country, and the world at large. From 4-7pm. Maybe bring the kids. Or not.

Then beginning Tues eve, Feb. 3, “be the change you wish to see in the world”, to paraphrase Ghandi. Corduroy’s in-person Creative Check-in Series calls gently upon us to “Hold Ourselves Accountable.” Every week in Feb. only, central Asheville location will be emailed to attendees. Sign up here.

And on Wed, Feb 4, I will emcee the City Council candidate forum entitled “Get There” at the beloved Grey Eagle, hosted by Asheville on Bikes, Mountain True, and Strong Towns, focused on the interconnected issues of housing, mobility, resilience, and land use. Watch me bumble thru some dumb jokes (that I myself will find brilliant), and meet the candidates vying to represent your wishes for the world you live in.

*Speaking of contradictions… Lest you detect any moral superiority, you should know: climate-change-crisis devoted-me shops on plastic-wielding Amazon. Pescatarian-me can’t stand the thought of killing an animal. The same me who believes AI might crush the climate won’t give up my therapy bot on my rare-earth-metals toting iPhone. The cost of living up to my own vision is apparently currently too high psychologically for me to behave otherwise. I tentatively forgive myself for what one day will be considered heartless, irresponsible behavior… but don’t think I’m not mulling it all over, on the reg. Lots of it’s making its way into some new music I’m making. PS if you can still tolerate me, save the date… March 6 is my bday party <3 - Details to follow.

9/28/25

All/most shows are secret pop-ups! Once you buy a ticket on the site, you’ll be emailed the address (some comfy location) morning-of-event. Unless indicated, address will be within Asheville city limits. Be sure you’re on the email list (above) to stay in the loop.

7/24/25

We’re officially doing secret pop-up shows, in central Asheville, NC, USA! First one is outdoors in a cozy setting, on Aug. 1. Tickets and info here!

4/2/25

On March 31, the Creative Check-in group helped move everything out of the Asheville Guitar Pedals space, in 2.5 hours! So we’ve popped down the first incarnation of our beautiful 3-month experiment. 50 events in the space! I’m a little wistful, but so proud of what we pulled off, and now that we really know Corduroy’s vibe and the potential of this community, I’m eager to move on to the next phase, where we pop up more occasionally but with just as much vibe and spirit (and maybe an extra layer of intrigue, given the secret speakeasy nature of the whole thing?). JOIN THE EMAIL LIST to learn about secret shows, now in the works! — xo, Steph

3/11/25

Only a few events left in the current space!

Be sure to JOIN THE EMAIL LIST to be included in communications as we go underground. This will be the best and most direct way to stay in the loop about secret shows and events.

3/11/25

Hello, everyone!

I just counted, and the Corduroy pop-up lounge experiment has hosted 40 events so far… holy cow! It’s been a wild and cozy ride.

Sad to see the lounge pop down? This just in…

Corduroy will soon undergo a metamorphosis!

At the end of March, we’ll move out of the Asheville Guitar Pedals location (we luv u, AGP), but instead of going away, we’re merely going into speakeasy mode.

We’ll continue the Monday Mindfulness Exercise & Creative Check-in, and we’ll keep doing evening events (but eve events will happen on a more occasional basis). The Corduroy experience lives on… but will take place in secret (cozy, central) locations! So be sure to stay on the email list for developments and info.

This new M.O. will give me more time to pursue my other projects, while continuing to develop this dream of a vibrant, curious community that has already grown around the lounge over the course of the winter. Thanks for riding with me thru another (hopefully compelling) twist in the Corduroy tale (or, ahem..“wale”).

Meanwhile…

There are 10 dreamy events to go at our beautiful location inside Asheville Guitar Pedals. Tomorrow (Thurs), my band, Pink Mercury, will do something it’s never done before: improvise to Academy-Award-Winning film The Red Balloon. On the 20th, Talented healers Allie and Madelyn will lead an amazing 2-part Lounge Yoga and Sound Bath Extravaganza. Our last live music salon (3/22) will be an adventurous Ambient Experimental Music Night. Accomplished thinkers Gordon and Laura will help us blow our own creative minds with their special exercise, Magnum Opus, on the 25th. Plus, Wednesday night Script Reading will continue until the end of the month, and Creative Check-in/Mindfulness will be rolling right thru all the changes.

I look forward to seeing you in the remaining March days for these wonderful events, or if for no other reason than to come take a photo inside this pretty space… and I can’t wait to see you in a secret space in April and beyond, when Corduroy goes speakeasy.

See you soon!

Love,

Steph

2/28/25

Dear Friends,

The Corduroy pop-up experience thus far has been fulfilling, fun, enlightening! The space has become more beautiful with every new person who brings in their idiosyncratic, shoes-off, curious energy.

Crazy as it sounds, in a way, given this liveliness, Corduroy was designed as an experiment, and the question of when to “pop back down” is always in the air, given my full-time voice acting job and shows. As spring peeks into our city, with its promise and potential and increased activity, it feels like it’s time. I’ll be pivoting to other creative projects, while keeping the pilot light on for Corduroy to light up and thrive once again, in the same or a different location, when the time again feels right.

So don’t snooze… you have until the end of March, 2025, to lounge with us, creative check-in with us, script-read with us, and play with us, and we have some of the most creative stuff yet in the works or already on the calendar! Hope to see you. Stay tuned… events are being added all the time.

Love!

Stephanie

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In an uncertain world, Corduroy is building a community for the curious.

Many of us are finding it increasingly difficult to meet these needs, as technology and culture tempt us away from true, present engagement with ourselves and others.

In addition to our own happenings, we’re open to pitches.

The email list is the best way to stay in the know. But you can also follow us on Instagram.

See you soon!