Small Bites

Standard Pizza Co.: Jim Coleman, who recently opened a New York-style pizza joint on Haywood Road, insists there's "nothing too fancy" about his pies. But, if pressed, Coleman will talk about an available topping that's anything but standard. "We do put bananas on pizza," Coleman says. "That's kind of weird." Photo by Jonathan Welch Coleman […]

Talking peace, preparing for war

The juxtaposition of President Obama's receiving a Nobel Prize for peace and his decision to continue the war in Afghanistan and send 30,000 more troops there brought to my mind one of Berthold Brecht's searing statements: "When the generals talk peace, they are preparing for war." — Eileen Walkenstein Asheville

Cranky Hanke’s Screening Room: In search of new Christmas traditions

None of the traditional answers for Christmas fare were appealng to me. (Much as I love Darren McGavin, I think I’m prepared to forego A Christmas Story for the rest of this life.) Even less traditional fare was quite right either. Even my standard of The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) wasn’t doing it for me, so I started casting about in my mind for possible new traditional Christmas fare.

This weekend on a shoestring

It’s a light week, entertainment-wise, because most of you will be hangin with the fam, OD-ing on eggnog and watching “A Christmas Story” on repeat. But, rest assured, before anyone’s eye gets put out with a Red Ryder BB gun, there are local shows in the works. At budget prices. And yes, Virginia, even on Christmas night. (Bonus: Dawn of the Dude — pictured — plays a not-to-be-missed farewell show.)

The right profile

Racial profiling — or even just the possibility of it — by those charged with upholding the law is an extremely sensitive issue, involving questions of potential prejudice, abuse of power and hidden motives. For law-enforcement personnel, trying to gauge whether illegal activity is taking place — often in stressful or ambiguous situations with the […]