In this week’s Elitist Bastards Go To The Movies podcast, Mountain Xpress film critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther are joined by Orbit DVD and TV Eye Video Emporium owner Marc McCloud to discuss Another Earth, Apollo 18, The Debt, The Devil’s Double, Seven Days in Utopia, Shark Night 3D and Terri.
This weekend we had the pleasure of vending at the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival (LAAFF). I must say that it was the most fun we’ve had in quite some time. …
North Carolinians recently joined the nationwide celebration of Great Outdoors Week, honoring our state’s public lands and their vital contributions to public health, recreation and the environment. But what’s sometimes overlooked is the importance of these treasures to North Carolina's economy. Getting people outdoors is a growing business here, accounting for more than $7.5 billion […]
Got those change-of-season allergies? It’s no coincidence that WNC’s apple season officially kicks off when the sniffles start — a local apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? If you didn’t get your fall supply at the North Carolina Apple Festival earlier this month, don’t worry. September is all about apples in ASAP’s Get […]
I believe the value of the arts in society is to uplift the human spirit. Uplifting would describe my experience at the Asheville Area Arts Council Turquoise Ball, held at the Orange Peel Aug. 27. The Ball was so much more than a fundraising event. From the moment I entered the Peel, I was mesmerized […]
When I read the Aug. 17 Xpress article about the City Council candidates, I immediately noticed TJ Thomasson [“And Then There Were Nine”]. I thought, “Great! A gay candidate that can represent me.” My excitement over the prospect of a young gay man on City Council led me to look deeper into what this candidate […]
“It’s a really humbling experience to live and work among people that are in developing countries and struggling in very basic ways,” notes Asheville resident Cindy Threlkeld, a two-time Peace Corps volunteer. “When you first get started, you think you know — you’re an American, you’re educated, you want to give back. And then you […]
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Organicfest, a celebration of "all things organic and green.” Debi Athos, the founder and director of the festival, says that she's excited to host the event in its original location, the Roger McGuire Green at Pack Square Park downtown in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse and Asheville […]
In life, we grow from our shortcomings and our mistakes, and I believe that we carry these experiences and become better people from life's trials and tribulations. The research into my past does reveal mistakes that I made — mistakes from my past, and I own them. The events noted by the letter writer are […]
Michael Gira, leader of influential experimental rock band Swans, has been giving interviews for the better part of 30 years. Started in 1982, Swans, which reunited last year, won critical raves and a robust underground following for their rich, ominous sound before disbanding in 1997. Gira spent the next 13 years working with Angels of […]
I'm sure many of your readers, like myself, bank at Asheville Savings Bank, our wonderful Mutual bank, owned by the depositors, and very community-minded. For 15 years I've received excellent service there. (Maybe because I'm an owner?) The current board of directors, however, would like to change that, by making the bank a corporation listed […]
Today, Apache Dropout deals out some of the most vivid psychedelic scuzz around, but at its inception, the Bloomington, Ind., outfit was a country unit. Well, at least in theory. Sonny Alexander started the project as a solo acoustic affair in 2007. Soon he added Nathan Warrick on violin, who eventually shifted to bass. About […]
As a 14-year-old who lives near Asheville, I am utterly disgusted with the quality of the music on the radio. Even Charleston, S.C., has better music and they are a conservative town! The rock stations only play songs that have been served up so many times it makes me want to bang my head against […]
There’s no ignoring apple season around here. Taligate markets are loaded with them, and restaurant menus burst with the fruit (thanks in part to ASAP’s Get Local initiative). The North Carolina Apple Festival was held Labor Day weekend in Hendersonville; Waynesville holds its apple festival in October for the fall harvest season. And on Saturday, […]
Imagine you live in a world that is so close, but you cannot touch it. Imagine a world that makes you feel less than valid. Imagine life through the eyes of those that live in wheelchairs. Try getting around our beautiful city. Talk about frustrating. I am one of those people. I cannot get into […]
If you’ve ever poured a beer on your head, you know this nectar’s not only good for drinking — it can give your hair body and shine. Beer contains protein, B vitamins and natural silicon — all of which promote healthy hair. But, let’s face it, beer straight from the fridge to your head can […]
Do you feel that your government, from the local level, all the way to Raleigh and Washington, D.C., has your best interests at heart? Do you feel that they spend your money in a completely open and honest manner, with accountability for each decision and every dollar? Do you feel that they run for election […]
On Monday, Sept. 12, Zambra tapas bar in downtown Asheville will feature a special nose-to-tail dining experience with chef Adam Bannasch. The event — open to the public — is a mixer presented as part of the Carolina Meat Institute Workshop, a collaboration between NC Choices and A-B Tech's highly regarded culinary arts program. For […]
The Suspect: Xiu Xiu This California experimental art-rock outfit has been challenging and entertaining audiences for almost 10 years. Fronted by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart, the band’s most recent video (which featured band member Angela Seo vomiting on Stewart) made quite a splatter on the Internet. Can Be Found: Grey Eagle on Friday, Sept. 9 at […]
Join humanities lecturer Ann Dunn for "What Middle Ages: The Golden Age of Muslim Civilization" on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 11:25 a.m. Held at UNCA's Lipinsky Auditorium. Info: humanities.unca.edu or 251-6808. "Celebrate the innovation and entrepreneurship that is driving current successes and future opportunities for clean, renewable energy" at Clean Energy in the Mountains on […]
What: Hike with the Swannanoa Valley Museum group to see the ruins of the Alexander Farm and the grave marker of Samuel Davidson, the first settler west of the Blue Ridge, who was killed by Cherokee Indians in the 1780s. The hike is easy, with lots of historical interpretation by Bill Alexander, a descendant of […]
