The event began unofficially over a decade ago, during Marshall’s French Broad Friday, when a few enthusiastic participants dressed up like mermaids for the festivities. They were a hit.
AVL Beer Week 2018: The Odditorium celebrates five years with new events and concoctions
“We always say, ‘It takes a village to run this place,’” says Amy Marshall, who owns the West Asheville venue with her partner, Tamy Kuper.
Smart Bets: Creative Voices for Social Justice
The showcase of works by visual artist Joseph Pearson and young writers of color takes place May 25 at the YMI Cultural Center.
Open mics in and around Asheville
There’s typically a time limit for each presenter, and some open mics have a theme or a host to usher the evening along, but what happens in front of the microphone is, truly, wide open to possibility.
Smart Bets: Norse Folk Rave
The night of adult-themed storytelling and music takes place May 18 at The Grey Eagle.
Theater review: ‘Blithe Spirit’ at Parkway Playhouse
There’s a charming vintage quality to ‘Blithe Spirit’ that truly resonates. The show is onstage though May 19.
Smart Bets: William Faulkner’s ‘The Hamlet’
Jim Stokley and Michael Sartisky perform dramatic readings from the novel on May 10 at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
Smart Bets: Hot Dog
Comedy duo The Fun Bags performs its new show three times May 10-11 at The Mothlight.
LEAF leads the charge for gender equality at music festivals
The spring festival — held Thursday, May 10, to Sunday, May 13 — features more then 20 percent women-led acts, including its headliners and the entire Lakeside main stage schedule for Friday.
Smart Bets: Talent! A Show
The star-studded benefit for Our VOICE is set for April 23 at The Mothlight.
New festival/conference examines the intersection of art and social justice
Panels discuss everything from the experience of women in media and entertainment fields to the process of turning a story into a song. Saturday night concludes with a superband made up of Ben Sollee, Big Chief Juan Pardo, Leeda “Lyric” Jones, Jaze Uries, Jacob Rodriguez and others.
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian and The Oconaluftee Indian Village prepare new exhibits
The Indian Village is right down the road from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and it is designed to show visitors what life in a traditional Cherokee village would have been like during the 18th century.
In photos: {Re}HAPPENING
The 8th {Re}HAPPENING, an annual fundraiser for Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, took place at Camp Rockmont on Saturday, March 31.
UNCA’s Arts Fest explores creative intersections
Along with exhibitions, concerts, readings, dance performances and a ceramics sale, Arts Fest also offers installations and presentations aimed at engaging students and the broader Asheville community.
Eighth {Re}HAPPENING manifests the history of Black Mountain College
“We like to look at the history and legacy of the college and connect that past work with contemporary practice,” says BMCM+AC executive director Jeff Arnal. Attendees can experience this philosophy in action at the college’s former grounds, now Camp Rockmont, on Saturday, March 31.
Power to the people: Best of WNC 2018 voting begins
With a far out feeling, voting has begun for the beloved annual Best of WNC awards. Only you can decide who’ll be feelin’ it in the new summer of love, when winners are announced this August. You have until 11:59 p.m. on the night of Saturday, April 28 to complete your ballot and make sure your voice is heard. […]
Is Asheville losing its fringe and incubator art spaces?
“The way we do ensemble-created theater, the heart of what we do is being community-minded,” says Erinn Hartley of Anam Cara Theatre Company. “It’s hard to be in a city that claims to be all about that [but where] it no longer feels like that’s even tangible.”
Smart Bets: Springtime Medieval Market
The Odditorium plays host to various demonstrations and nearly 40 artists and artisans on March 24.
Storytellers share tales to benefit Stories on Asheville’s Front Porch
On Sunday, March 18, Christian will join three other renowned tellers — David Novak, Elena Diana Miller and Donna Marie Todd — in presenting A Patchwork of Stories at the Folk Art Center.
Smart Bets: Weekend storytelling workshop
Eric Wolf leads a trio of storytelling sessions March 17-18 at Black Mountain’s Earthaven Eco-village.
Celeste Starr moves to O.Henry’s after more than 20 years performing at Scandals
After his 1994 graduation, Robb Smith left his hometown. Like a story from an independent gay movie, he jumped on a Greyhound bus bound for Asheville, where he started a new life — complete with a drag persona — with the help of an accepting uncle.