There is a black hole in the local arts community. Yesterday, Asheville artist and River Arts District visionary John Payne died after suffering a massive stroke. He was 58.

Didn’t get your advance ticket to the Lake Eden Arts Festival? We have some bad news for you.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to tell us what you think about them. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to tell us what you think about them. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to tell us what you think about them. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to tell us what you think about them. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to tell us what you think about them. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax goes to that great Keep on the Borderlands in the Sky, and local gaming store owner talks about his legacy.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Recent highlights from the Xpress discussion forums.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Although online for less than a month, the MountainX.com forums have become quite the internet hangout for our readers. Here are a few recent highlights.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide. All we ask is that you listen with an open mind.

Although the MountainX.com forums have only been online for a little over a week, plenty of interesting discussions have already started. This is our weekly forum recap for the week of Dec. 26.

Here’s the idea: Each week, we pick three local musical acts, link to a site where you can listen to their songs for free, then ask you to spend a few moments of your time to tell us what you think about them. Some may be great, others may be middling or awful — that’s for you to decide — all we ask is that you listen with an open mind.