Local notables share their go-to mottos for the coming year. Do you have a slogan or mantra for 2013? Let us know in the comments field.

Local notables share their go-to mottos for the coming year. Do you have a slogan or mantra for 2013? Let us know in the comments field.
The Dec. 5 cover story, “No Easy Answers: Lexington Avenue’s Uncertain Future,” which explored the state of affairs on the last, northern block of the street, proved to be aptly titled. Many readers responded. Here are their letters, along with Xpress’ response, links to the original story and a report on the followup meeting with Lexington Avenue retailers. (Photo of North Lexington Avenue by night by Max Cooper)
On Saturday, Nov. 17, join Mountain Xpress, the Grey Eagle and a superlative crew of local luminaries to celebrate the Best of WNC. (Pictured: No. 1 hip-hoppers Crazy Horse & Colston, with MC Wampus.) Photo by Bill Rhodes
On Saturday, Nov. 17, please join Mountain Xpress and Grey Eagle (#2 music venue) for a celebration of all things Best of WNC! The confetti of festivities includes music, comedy, trivia, a drag show and more! A portion of the proceeds from the evening benefit the top-three nonprofit organizations: Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, MANNA FoodBank and Asheville-Area Habitat for Humanity.
The Asheville Symphony Chorus performs the seasonally apt “Music of Eternal Light” at Central United Methodist Church on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. ASC’s new music director, Michael Lancaster, conducts two dramatic choral works: Maurice Duruflé‘s Requiem and Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna. Both solemnize the passing season and winter’s approach while announcing the inevitable return of light and the rebirth of a new year. (Photo of Morten Lauridsen from Peermusic Classical)
The Asheville Art Museum’s 2012 Pianoforte Concert Series continues on Sunday, Oct. 21, with pianist Michelle Cann. Ever wonder what happens to those brilliant, good-natured teen musicians you hear on NPR’s “From the Top?” Cann was one of them, back in 2007, when she was 18. The AAM offers the chance to experience where such promise leads. (Photo from the artist’s Facebook page.)
(This post contains a slideshow.) On Oct. 14 from 3 to 6 p.m., downtown played host to the Asheville Area Arts Council’s annual plein air festival, City of 1,000 Easels, “a self-guided walking tour of visual artists at work in outdoor locations in downtown Asheville,” according to AAAC’s website. “Visual artists working in any media are invited to set up a miniature outdoor studio to create work live in front of an audience of passers-by.” (Pictured: Sienna Ferguson)
… at least until 2013. It is the last day to vote for your favorites in the 2012 Best of WNC readers’ poll. And what a difference a day makes … unless you don’t vote, in which case the thousands of ballots we’ve already received will call the shots. Voting ends tomorrow, Aug. 22, at midnight. Don’t miss out! Make your legends real: Vote!
It’s true. We had to call to make sure. The Battery Park Indian street-food café will give a free chai to anyone who votes in Mountain Xpress’ Best of WNC poll, which closes Wednesday, Aug. 22. We swear we didn’t put them up to it.
You’ve got seven days to vote for your favorite local legends. If you haven’t started your ballot, visit http://www.bestofwnc.com to get going. If you already started a ballot, be sure to finish by Wednesday, Aug. 22 to get your votes counted!
Time for taste In the 2010 Best of WNC poll, Mountain Xpress readers named “Jewish Deli” one of Asheville's still-needed restaurants. The next January, Viva Deli opened at 625 Haywood Road. After 2011's votes were tallied, Viva tied for first place in the “Sub Shop/Deli/Sandwiches” category and a New York-style deli was no longer on […]
The now 30-year-old Malaprop’s Bookstore and Café has introduced a new roaster for a new decade. After many years of serving Waynesville-based Smoky Mountain Roasters, the café welcomes Mountain Air Roasting, an Asheville-based company with a lofty, if considerate motto: “It is our our mission to give you the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had, every morning.”
On the heels of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra’s recent announcement of its 2012-2013 season, Music Director Daniel Meyer will throw the first pitch at the Asheville Tourists game on Wednesday, Aug. 1. Read on for ASO season information and an entertaining example of sports-meets-classical-music courtesy of Peter Schickele. (Pictured: ASO’s principal violist, Kara Poorbaugh, who performs Vaughan Williams’ “Flos Campi” on April 20, 2013. Photo by Michael Morel)
Did you have trouble with the Best of WNC poll this past weekend? Are you trying to log in to your saved poll, but encounter error messages? Xpress used a new survey program this year, and we’ve got the glitches cleaned up. Read on if you experienced problems. If you’re voting for the first time, it should be calm waters from here on out.
To scale, Lexington Avenue Brewery may be as crowded as Bele Chere tonight — but guitarist Shane Perlowin should be audible still. He plays in the front room from 6 to 9 p.m.
Who can forget last year’s Bele Chere Hats? Complete with original theme song! Let us revisit last-year’s lids as a reminder to cover up this year.
It’s Best of Western North Carolina 2012: Local Legends. Voting began July 27, and runs through Aug. 22. Go to bestofwnc.com to vote for your favorite Local Legends.
As part of its weeklong Grand Opening Celebration, downtown Buddhist center Urban Dharma hosted the “Vast and Noble Heart Sand Mandala.” The ritual involves the extremely precise construction of Tibetan Buddhist iconography using colored sand. (Photo by Max Cooper)
The July 11 cover story, “Clown College,” mischaracterized the status of the Garage at Biltmore. Although Toy Boat Community Art Space now occupies 101 Fairview Road, the Garage will continue to hold events at the space, according to owner Chris Hart.