Grab your partner: Mountain Dance and Folk Festival returns
Volume
28
/ Issue 1
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Angela Wilhelm
One year after Mountain Dance and Folk Festival organizers pivoted to a digital presentation, the celebration of Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling returns to an in-person format Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 5-7, at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Hall.
arts
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival celebrates its 94th year
The long-running showcase of Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling takes place Aug. 5-7 at UNCA's Lipinsky Hall.Rock Academy and What’s Shaking? enrich young people’s lives
Dena Clark and Ryan Glass discuss their approaches to music education and the long-term benefits of learning to play instruments.Nina Simone’s legacy and influence continue to inspire
Nearly two decades after her death, musician Nina Simone remains relevant to local and national acts.New book by local author pairs WNC history with vintage postcards
At the start of COVID, local historian Mary McPhail Standaert began sending out emails to friends and family featuring tidbits of local history. She considered it a fun and creative…Around town: Local creator uses art to fight injustice
Jenna Jaffe presents Swinging the Pendulum: From Patriarchy to Empowerment, at The Refinery AVL Creator Space and Gallery. Plus: Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair returns; two new art exhibits; and a…Revised noise ordinance clears Council in 5-2 vote
The new rules will take effect Wednesday, Sept. 15.food
What’s new in food: Thirsty Monk reopens downtown location
Thirsty Monk celebrates the reopening of its downtown location. Plus, Out of the Box competition kicks off, Old Europe Pastries announces plans to move and Well Seasoned Table tops the…living
Wellness in brief: COVID-19 updates for WNC
MAHEC sees uptick in antibody infusion treatments The Asheville-based Mountain Area Health Education Center has experienced an increase in patients receiving antibody infusion treatments — the antibody cocktail called REGEN-COV…news
Asheville Archives: The city hires its first Black police officers, 1946
In 1946, at the urging of local residents, the city of Asheville hired its first two Black officers.Q&A with Demp Bradford, president of the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission
Certain activities are closely associated with Asheville: sampling local craft brews, tubing down the French Broad River, eating one’s own weight in barbecue. If Demp Bradford, president of the Asheville…Enhanced French Broad monitoring highlights water safety issues
A $25,670 grant from The Community Foundation of WNC is helping MountainTrue continue testing begun last year; eventually, the group wants to be able to give rivergoers up-to-the-minute information about…Some Asheville businesses prioritize community over tourists
Following its July 8 conversion into a private, members-only club, only North Carolina residents and their invited guests are permitted to dine at the Smoky Park Supper Club. Other area…BCTDA to allow remote public comment, prepares for board changes
Unlike Asheville and Buncombe County governments, which ended the practice of live remote comment after their return to in-person meetings, the BCTDA will continue to allow members of the public…Council debates COVID relief spending plans
Highest on city staff’s list of potential funding priorities were affordable housing, public engagement, homelessness, public and mental health, small business recovery and workforce development.opinion
Secrecy surrounding Pratt & Whitney deal raises critical issues
"Does this mean the county commissioners were dealing in the dark, even down to the $27 million tax incentive package they gave Pratt & Whitney, a $20 billion company?"Letter: Excellent care and professional service from Mission Hospital
"Despite the transitional hardships inherent in changes as large as what Mission Hospital has been experiencing, I found no evidence of any impact 'on the street' where the care is…Letter: A shoutout to leaders returning to in-person only meetings
"When people are not in the same physical space, experiencing all the facial expressions, body postures and subtle tones of voice that others in the room are privy to, we…Letter: Who needs education on police interaction?
"Knowledge of this naiveté and how it shapes our actions is at the center of critical race theory. And who to better teach than the officers who, upon responding with…Unkindest cut
Letter: Who has seniority in Asheville area?
"I also have a hard time to see the point of people complaining about the change that the influx of people bring and call upon their seniority. Who has seniority?"Letter: ‘Out-of-towners’ label leads nowhere
"That phrase is blamed for housing, traffic, education, hotels, the homeless, the price of golf and other recreation, and on and on and on."Letter: The big picture of being priced out of Asheville
"The 'housing boom' that has upended Asheville is the inevitable outcome of the same economic policies that have created historically unprecedented income inequality in this country — specifically the relentless…Myth illogical