“The Fringe Festival is an exciting, wild ride of experiences,” says festival organizer and performer Jim Julien. From abstract-movement theater to original Claymation to puppetry set to poetry, the Fringe Festival puts edgy, out-of-the ordinary and often shocking performance art in the spotlight. Now in its seventh year, the festival continues to challenge local artists […]
Family jewels
The South may rise again, but Randol Duncan—the acrid main character of The Plunder Room (Thomas Dunne Books, 2009)—will not. Randol narrates his tale from the confines of his wheelchair, a rare paraplegic hero fashioned, in many ways, in the image of his maker. “This whole country has been plundered”: John Jeter says he “was […]
Building an Echo Mountain empire?
There’s an entertainment empire under construction in downtown Asheville. While a number of downtown buildings stand empty, at least two are undergoing extensive renovations, both spearheaded by Echo Mountain Studio’s owner, Steve Wilmans. The former Fletcher School of Dance building will be a second recording studio. Photo by Jonathan Welch. A few of the Echo […]
Edgy Mama
How many times a day do you say, or in my case, yell: “Go wash your hands!” If you’re an elementary school teacher, probably 500 times daily. If you’re a parent of smallish children, at least 200 times. I’m exaggerating, but if you’re not telling your kids to wash their freakin’ hands all the freakin’ […]
SoundTrack
DJ music, perhaps more so than any other concert experience, requires a fairly extensive pre-existing knowledge to get what’s happening on stage. There are musical genres (like drum and bass), subgenres (darkstep, drum funk), fusion genres (Raggajungle, Raggacore); the lineages of which are convoluted and highly debatable. Unlike “genre-defying” bands, DJs seems fairly comfortable with […]
Move over Michelle Obama: What’s Asheville wearing on Inauguration Day?
Asheville Street Style is keeping an eye on what locals are wearing, today and every day.
If Johnny Cash met Jack Sparrow
Brothers Eli and Scott, behind the counter of Firestorm Cafe & Books.
This weekend on a shoestring
Start the weekend early (on Thursday) and still spend less the cost of a decent six-pack with these bargain shows. Nothing over five bucks.
Laughing all the way to the Inauguration
Local comedian Tom Chalmers celebrates this week’s presidential inauguration with a special political review.
POPAsheville in all its glory
The 2009 POPAsheville has come and gone — but it will live forever in Xpress’ pictures and videos
Edgy Mama preview
Here’s a video preview of this week’s Edgy Mama column.
Sweater weather
Gigi Renee, owner of Vintage Moon (46 Commerce St., Asheville, 225-2768) wears a dress by Katwise. (Similar sweaters and dresses can be purchased at Vintage Moon, along with a well-edited collection of vintage apparel.)
Texture and Drape
Allie, visiting Asheville from Philadelphia, takes 30 minutes to get ready in the morning. She owns 25-30 pairs of shoes, her favorite perfume is Ralph Lauren Romance and her favorite clothes are three sweaters from Anthology. She likes clothes with texture and drape, and her style is influenced by her major as a Fiberist. Allie […]
Talking about “Klan Room Tableau”
Two days to catch a startling installation on the Ku Klux Klan.
Everyday Vintage
Though Jessica didn’t buy any of her vintage pieces (lovingly-worn denim jacket and patinaed campus boots) locally, variations on both items turn up in second hand stores like Madam Butterfly (102 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 250-9124), Ragtime (20 E. Walnut St., Asheville, 225-8889) and The Honeypot (86 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-0304).
Book Report: Two new places to read and how to help a great cause with old CDs
This week’s Book Report is not about what to read so much as where to read. The former Reader’s Corner reopens as Montford Books & More this Friday and Battery Park Book Exchange prepares to welcome readers in a few weeks.
This weekend on a shoestring
So what if your budget is tighter than a wool sweater after a hot-water wash cycle? You still go out on the town and catch a band or two. This week’s roundup offers one great bargain and seven free-admission shows.
Pat & Alli’s Weekly Winners
Each week Xpress reporter Alli Marshall and WOXL DJ Pat Ryan team up to bring you their entertainment suggestions.
Absinthe in Asheville
This venerable and much-mythologized liquor is now at Zambra, and Bar Beat goes to investigate: with video!
If you only own three pairs of shoes, make ‘em count…
Landscape Architect Jeff owns three pairs of shoes. His Clarks (pictured below) are his favorite thing to wear. Jeff takes 10 minutes to get ready, he does not wear cologne and his style is based on comfort. Images and profile by Anthony Bellemare.
Welcome to A&E
“All I want is a carrot cake for breakfast, and Obama.” So says Xpress staffer Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt, whose birthday happens to be Jan. 20—Inauguration Day. If you want to celebrate a new president and the change many hope he’ll bring, head over to the Inauguration Gala at the Orange Peel on Tuesday. Check out www.ashevillestreetstyle.com […]