A public hearing will be held concerning historic-landmark designation of the Richard Sharp Smith House (located in Chunns Cove) during the regular meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners next Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 4:30 p.m.
Author: Cecil Bothwell
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Players inject life into dying dog
In last week’s preview of enigmatic theatre company’s world premier of Athena, I wrote that it “demands special effects that can’t reasonably be expected to work in the NCSC black box space.” Either I jinxed them, or some wag on the crew decided to pull a plug for my benefit.
Garden Journal
At play with DNA: Dr. Randy Gardner of the NC State University’s Department of Horticultural Science is conducting a study comparing the production of two heirloom tomatoes with two new heirloom-type hybrids he developed. The public is invited to have a look at his results on Monday, Aug. 27, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at […]
Still warm from the garden
Tomatoes are at their glorious peak right now, with farmers’ tailgate-market vendors offering dozens of varieties. Wherever you are in the Asheville area, this week will offer a delicious opportunity to taste tomatoes, with six markets offering special events.
Victims’ assistance comes to Asheville
The North Carolina Victim Assistance Network will host its 21st annual training conference in Asheville from Aug. 28 to 30. Attendees will include local, state and federal criminal-justice and law-enforcement professionals, victim -elated service providers, surviving victims of rape, elder abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse, and family members of homicide and DWI crash victims.
Smither does it again
Acoustic blues guitarist Chris Smither laid them in the aisles, again, at the Grey Eagle on Thursday night.
Kickin’ up a song
It would be easy to dismiss the Buckerettes, Asheville’s only cowgirl band, as a novelty act. Unless you’ve heard them, that is.
“King Kong building” passes one more go
The Ellington, a 23-story “boutique” hotel proposed for a site fronting on Biltmore Avenue, Aston Place and South Lexington Avenue, received unanimous approval from Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission at its Aug. 1 monthly meeting. On deco: The Ellington Hotel, whose style is labeled neo-deco by its architect, could become Asheville’s tallest building if current […]
Living on the cheap
Newcomers and old-timers alike report it is increasingly difficult to find affordable housing in the Asheville area. The city’s Planning and Development Department reports that Asheville’s home prices are higher, both relative to incomes and in absolute terms, than any other metropolitan area in North Carolina. The city of Asheville, the Affordable Housing Coalition of […]
Dog tired
Take six adults and a geriatric golden retriever named Athena, and you’ve got the makings of enigmatic theatre company’s new production, Athena, by local playwright Lucia Del Vecchio. Described as offbeat and triumphant, the play’s world premiere is part of the North Carolina Stage Company’s Catalyst Series. Headed for the doghouse: Has the enigmatic theatre […]
Garden Journal
A little night music: The N.C. Arboretum continues its Twilight Tuesday events with music from the Silverwood Trio on Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening includes a guided tour of the gardens at dusk, light refreshments from the Savory Thyme Café and a stroll through the Arboretum’s indoor and outdoor art […]
Dead in the water (agreement)
A flurry of activity by Asheville City Council and the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners proved fruitless in resolving the ongoing municipal water war. The two bodies were reacting to a bill advanced in Raleigh by the local legislative delegation that could only go forward if Asheville dropped its legal challenge to the state concerning the Sullivan Act.
Bombs bursting in Richmond Hill park?
Multiple sources have told Xpress of a series of loud explosions in the Richmond Hill area on Wednesday, July 25, at around 10 p.m. Did you hear anything? We’re trying to locate the source of the noise.
Ellington gets thumbs up from P&Z
The Ellington Hotel, a 23-story “boutique” hotel proposed for a site fronting on Biltmore Avenue, Aston Place and South Lexington Avenue, received unanimous approval from the city of Asheville’s Planning and Zoning Commission at its meeting Wednesday night.
Still coming around the mountain
The oldest-time mountain man I’ve known in my decades hereabouts was Joe Gilliam, down in Broad River Township. One time I was telling him about my hike to a jumbled rocky promontory known as The Pinnacles, down where Buncombe and Henderson and Rutherford counties all tangle in sort of a no-man’s—or, more to the point—no-tax-assessor’s […]
Stop and grow the roses
Edmund Burke must have had a bit of the gardener about him. The author, orator, political theorist and philosopher once said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” Burke’s observation frequently crosses my mind when I can spare only a few minutes for weeding or […]
Garden Journal
Federal shot in the arm: The massive farm bill currently being debated on the U.S. House floor will include millions of dollars to benefit one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing industries: the nurseries that cultivate shrubs, flowers and sod for the state’s ever-growing population. In the past, such bills highlighted row crops such as cotton, corn […]
Grove Arcade moves to oust Ali Baba
The executive board of the Grove Arcade Public Market Foundation has decided to evict the Ali Baba restaurant, which is owned by Ali Sherif. At issue is the question of whether cooking is permitted in the unvented unit rented by Sherif, who has been ordered to vacate by Aug. 8.
Buncombe commissioners admit nothing following secret session
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners met in emergency session Monday night to discuss possible resolution of the county’s long-running battle with Asheville concerning water. No public action ensued, but Chairman Nathan Ramsey announced that the board will reconvene for a second special session on at 7 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, in Council Chambers.
No bullets at Bele Chere
Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan said his department was prepared for the worst on Saturday, July 28, due to threats of gang violence. That didn’t happen, but 89 unrelated arrests were made.
Pack Square Park land sale: “We screwed up.”
A little-noted sale of county-owned land adjacent to the Asheville City Hall has belatedly drawn heavy criticism from both local media and community activists. A piece of the park:Buncombe County sold a parcel that includes most of the grassy triangle on the left, including a magnolia and other trees, to Black Dog Realty. Photo by […]