The massive building at 37 N. Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville was recently purchased for $2.6 million by Cleo River, LLC. And the adjoining Lexington Avenue Brewery plans to lease space in the building to expand operations, reports co-owner Steve Wilmans.
It was a bad week for the Buncombe County Republican Party. In an online post, Xpress reported that "Rappelling 9/11 Fundraiser Creates Fallout for GOP." At the event, participants were invited to rappel down a 90-foot tower at the Bee Tree Fire Station and donors were asked to contribute $100 per rappel to raise money […]
The Sept. 21 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners included a report on the region’s public transportation systems and a resolution to endorse permanent federal protection of the Craggy Wilderness Study Area in Pisgah National Forest. This post includes an update on actions taken by the board.
It was a bad week for the Buncombe County Republican Party. The party and its chairman, Chad Nesbitt, were harshly criticized for a 9/11 fundraiser and an associated video; the Board of Elections found their highly publicized complaints over an early voting site to be based on faulty information; and Asheville City Councilman Bill Russell left the party, citing its “antics that demonize people” and “political games.”
In this video interview, Xpress reporter Jake Frankel speaks with Republican General Assembly District 115 candidate Mark Crawford about his background, his views on the environment, education and jobs, and how he differs from his Democratic opponent, Rep. Patsy Keever.
No action was taken at a Thursday evening, Sept. 16, emergency meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Elections after it clarified that the door of Rep. Heath Shuler’s congressional office was 25 feet away from the door of a planned early-voting location at 199 College St. in downtown Asheville. The board called the meeting in response to complaints by the Buncombe County GOP that the proximity of the two offices could possibly violate state law that requires a buffer zone between voting sites and election-related activity.
In this video, Xpress beer columnist Anne Fitten Glenn (aka, Brewgasm) drinks a few pints with Barleys owner Jimi Rentz and they chat about this weekend’s Brewgrass Festival. The event takes place Saturday, Sept. 18, at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Asheville and will showcase more than 120 different beers and performances by The Infamous Stringdusters, G2, Buncombe Turnpike and more.
Yesterday afternoon, Sept.15, Patsy Keever was sworn in to represent District 115 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed the Democrat to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Bruce Goforth earlier this summer after Keever beat him in the primary. This post includes a video of the ceremony and a video interview with her conducted shortly thereafter.
Last Saturday’s wet weather didn’t dampen spirits at the Rastafari Ancient Living Arts & Kulture Festival in Black Mountain. The day was headlined by a Holy Trinity of sets by Ras Michael, Damian and Stephen Marley, and Bunny Wailer, each of whom contributed to what was likely the best reggae festival WNC has ever seen.
• Oct. 8 public hearing on steep-slopes policy • Elingburg, Thomas appointed to Parks & Rec board Discuss Special Needs Registry Topping the agenda for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners’ Sept. 7 meeting was a report on the county's energy costs and carbon footprint. Delivered by Brad Ellington of the General Services Department, the […]
As temperatures cool down, campaign season has started heating up. In a recent online post, Xpress reported, "Buncombe GOP Fires First Video Salvo." The blog includes a video produced by the Buncombe County Republican Party in which Chair Chad Nesbitt asserts, “In order to defend ourselves against socialistic terrorism, we need to have a large […]
A look at the latest news from the campaign trail: Nesbitt takes aim at socialistic terrorism; Shuler and Miller try to paint themselves as Washington outsiders; Keever gets jump on claiming State House seat; and Buncombe sheriff’s candidates face off.
The spirit of unity behind the Black Mountain Asheville Rastafari Collective runs deep. So deep, in fact, that the small local group was able to unite some of the biggest names in reggae — Bunny Wailer, Damian and Stephen Marley, and Ras Michael — to share the stage for the first time ever. The collective […]
In a passionate display of concern for pedestrian safety, more than 250 residents packed a special City Council meeting called to address the lack of sidewalks in east Asheville. About 150 more were turned away from the Aug. 31 session after fire marshals deemed Groce United Methodist Church’s Asbury Hall to have reached full capacity. […]
On tap for the Sept. 7 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners: A report on the county’s carbon footprint and energy usage, an update on zoning policy, and a pair of board appointments to the Parks, Greenways and Recreation Advisory Board. To keep up with the meeting via Twitter, follow Xpress reporter Jake Frankel at #avlgov (or click this article to see the live feed).
Thanks to all the folks who came by the Xpress booth to get their photos taken at yesterday’s Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival. Here’s a slide show of some of the shots.
At an Aug. 26 luncheon sponsored by the Council of Independent Business Owners, Rep. Heath Shuler emphasized his credentials as a moderate "Blue Dog" Democrat who’s willing to buck both parties to do what he thinks is best for the country. Touting his efforts to bring jobs to the region, lower the deficit and reinstate […]
Taking the plunge In a death-defying leap of adrenaline-fueled faith, Asheville pro-kayaker Pat Keller recently survived a purposeful plunge over 90-foot-high Linville Falls in Avery County. In "Asheville Kayaker Makes Illegal Trip Down Linville Falls," The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that the ride was likely the first-ever descent of the triple-tiered falls in a kayak. Keller, […]
The TEDxAsheville multimedia conference happens today, Sat. Aug. 29. This post contains a live video stream of the event, which is being held at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville starting at 5 p.m.
A look at what’s been making headlines this week: Kayaking down Linville Falls, animals around WNC, shuffleboard, stolen meat and more.
If you’re wondering what all the hoopla about TED and TEDxAsheville is (much less, what the monikers mean), ask local youth. They’re putting on a sister event to the second-annual local conference: TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, a free, four-hour multimedia conference scheduled for today, Saturday, Aug. 28. This post contains a live video stream of the event, which is being held at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville.
