Has this happened to you? You’re in the library or (worse) the bookstore, and your child approaches full of enthusiasm for a book that turns out to be a graphic novel. As a parent of an 8-year-old, I know I’ve been there, and I’ve talked to quite a few parents who seem gun-shy about spending money for something their son or daughter will read in less than an hour. Or which might contain inappropriate material.
Asheville (by way of Burlington, VT) singer-songwriter, Matt Townsend, recently made his first music video. Tariq Zeidan, a local filmmaker, directed.
Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors released an in-depth report examining the hunger and homelessness situations in 25 cities across the country, including Asheville. The report found that the city has serious issues with low wages, unaffordable housing, poverty, and the number of domestic violence survivors who end up homeless. Increases in homelessness are modest, but more families are homeless. The report also highlighted some local organizations doing “exemplary” work on the issues but predicted that coming social service cuts could make the situations on both fronts more dire.
MG Road got punked last Monday night. Monster movie posters were slapped on the walls, the lights were covered in red filters, two round red Chinese lanterns were hung above the tables near the front windows and the soundtrack was decidedly more raucous than relaxing.
A festive musical spirit reigned last night as Christmas Jam stretched into the wee hours, with Widespread Panic closing things down at around 4 a.m. This post features a slide show of photos from the concerts. (photo by Nick King)
The singer-songwriter will be playing with Bo Ramsey at The Grey Eagle on Saturday, Dec. 21. Photo by Sandy Dyas.
Last week, Charlotte/Raleigh/Philadelphia-based Balsa Gliders blew through town for an all-too-brief visit. Before the band’s energetic set at The Odditorium, they talked about keeping the creative impetus going and remaining current in the regional music scene. Click through for the video interview and exclusive performance. Photo by The Balsa Gliders on Instagram.
Newspaper boxes are back in the news, with a downtown business owner saying this week that he saw city of Asheville workers removing boxes from a downtown sidewalk late one night, and this morning, some Downtown Commission members questioning the right of newspapers to place their boxes downtown with any legal protection.
This weekend is all about hemp, samba and visions of sugar plum cookies. Podcast hosted by Theresa Amandi of Asheville Free Media’s Bombshell-ter Radio.
A group of citizens will deliver a petition to regional supermarket chain Ingles asking the store to label genetically modified food products.
More than 120 films were submitted for the National Film Challenge. The jury narrowed that list to 15 currently being considered for Audience Choice voting. Among them is “Joint Effort” by Asheville team Gorilla with a Mustache. Voting is open through Wednesday, Dec. 18.
“A Girl and A Gun: Asheville Artists Cope With Love and Death,” a group exhibition, curated by Taiyo La Paix, opens today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Asheville Area Arts Council.
If every art gallery in Asheville had synchronized first-Friday art openings, we’d never get to half of the shows. Fortunately, there’s room to breath. Two exhibitions opening in the River Arts District this Friday, Dec. 13, help to round out the 2013 arts calendar with an unlikely ceramics/street art combination at Ananda West Salon, and a sampling of 40 of Asheville’s finest painters, printers and makers packed into the Asheville Area Arts Council.
The Downtown Holiday Windows Contest, held by the Asheville Downtown Association, features an annual theme: this year’s is “Light up the holidays.”
Leading up to the 2013 Christmas Jam, we’re running a series of Q&A interviews with some of the performing artists. Here, we talk to saxophonist Ron Holloway.
The Are We Eating Fishy Food? Tour parked its caravan of five “GMO art cars” outside the French Broad Food Co-op this afternoon in order to raise awareness about GMO labeling. The vehicles are fitted with 300-pound, roof-mounted sculptures of “fishy”-looking produce. Asheville is the second-to-last stop on the activists’ 6,083-mile journey from Seattle to New York City.
Geraldine’s Bakery will celebrate its recent opening with an open-house event 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Geraldine’s, located in the former spot of Sisters McMullen Bakery on Merrimon Avenue, opened its doors on Nov. 18 after owner Fred Dehlow, a second-generation baker from New York, bought the business from Andrea McMullen.
The holidays mean decadence. Fatty foods proliferate, bank accounts go negative and children risk becoming spoiled. In the spirit of overindulgence, Asheville can now add fresh Maine lobster to the holiday table. Especially since this well-armored delicacy is now available fresher and at a cheaper price than in area grocery stores.
Leading up to the 2013 Christmas Jam, we’re running a series of Q&A interviews with some of the performing artists. Here, we talk to saxophonist Bill Evans.
About 150 community leaders gathered Dec. 11 to discuss Asheville’s strengths as a tourism destination, learn about new projects in the works, and share ideas for the future.
