Drop by drop

Oscar Wong sent all of it down the drain. All 6,000 gallons of it. Every drop — 193-1/2 barrels, or 375 pint glasses — of perfectly decent beer flushed away. It was 1994, and the fledgling Highland Brewing Co. was struggling to stay alive in the cramped, dank basement below Barley's Tap Room on Biltmore […]

New climate institute ramps up in Asheville

A newly established climate research partnership partially based in Asheville will begin working on projects this fall with an urgent focus: developing accurate, long-range climate-change forecasts. The Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, announced May 27, will work as a nationwide collaboration of researchers and institutions. The institute will have a working site in Asheville […]

Crafting new markets

A group of local entrepreneurs is banding together to promote a new and existing street and craft markets in Asheville. Organizers hope the effort to promote affordable, locally made arts and crafts will draw shoppers and tourists while supporting emerging artists and others struggling during the current recession. Craft works: A group of Asheville entrepreneurs […]

Askville

Let’s get one thing clear from the start: Cara Oshiver is selling poles. Pole-dancing poles. Portable pole-dancing poles. Cara Oshiver When the 30-year-old walked into the Mountain Xpress offices recently looking for someone to tell her story, though, it was her sincerity more than her sales pitch that grabbed our attention. Oshiver wants nothing less […]

Inspiratio­nal speakers wanted for Asheville edition of TED talks

Asheville fans of a California-based conference that shines a spotlight on fascinating ideas and inspiring thinkers have begun planning a similar one-day event here. TED (technology, entertainment, design), a California-based nonprofit, has sponsored a conference highlighting interesting speakers since 1984. The idea is simple: Spread great ideas and change the world. And the original focus […]

HATCH Asheville revisited

Aimed at building the creative-arts community and mentoring young professionals, last month’s HATCH Asheville festival was a success, according to organizers and attendees alike. But as with any first-year event, there’s also room for improvement, they say. HATCH without a hitch: Last month’s HATCH Asheville festival, designed to boost the region’s creative economy and bring […]