Prohibition-era estate reveals secrets to public this October

From a press release: Prohibition-era estate reveals secrets to public this October, by Anne Chesky Smith Black Mountain, NC. – July 24, 2014 – Nestled in the Swannanoa Valley of western North Carolina sits a winding Tudor-style country manor house. Known as “In-the-Oaks,” the 24,000 square foot home was built in the early 1920s for Franklin Silas […]

Profiles in suspicion: A book’s cover does tell you something

I just finished reading your long story on burglary in Asheville (“Home Sweet Target,” July 2 Xpress). What stood out most for me, because of its unexpectedness, was the caution against profiling from Sean Davis, identified in the story as a “community resource officer” for the Asheville Police Department. You quote him as saying, “In no way does race, gender, sexual orientation or religion make an individual suspicious.” This was in the context of advising citizens to be vigilant for suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

A Dip in Time: Retro poolwear makes a splash

Photography by Zaire Kacz Story by Melanie McGee Bianchi Styling by Sara Fields Before thong swimsuits, fringed half-shirts and other travesties of the modern seascape, beach beauties dressed with an eye for silhouette, achieving a certain sun-drenched élan. Figure-enhancing swimsuits, leisure-class sunglasses and an ankle-kissing caftan all nod to mid-century beach culture. And because of […]

Asheville yogis partners with Sierra Club to highlight coal dangers

From the Sierra Club: On Satuday, July 12, local activist group Yogis Beyond Coal joined with Sierra Club to co-host an event in Pack Square Park in Asheville, highlighting community concerns with the local coal-fired power plant. The gathering, called Move for the Movement, sought to underscore that healthy living and clean energy are two sides of […]

Ananda Hair Salon’s “A Moment in Time” show pairs hair, fashion, makeup and history

Photos and captions by Morgan Ford If hair is the afterthought of most runway shows, Ananda Hair Salon’s upcoming fashion production, “A Moment in Time,” flips that idea on its well-coiffed head. The show, from which all proceeds benefit HandMade in America, takes place on Sunday, June 15, at The Millroom. Ananda’s stylists paired their […]

Geek squad: Local heroes and superheroe­s join forces for GeekOut Asheville

by John Granatino  johngrntn@gmail.com Here’s what TV would have us believe about geeks: They live sheltered lives away from the public eye, stay up all night reading “Firefly” forums and only visit each other under the fluorescent light of a “Star Trek” convention. But while they may actually do those things, today’s geeks (nerds, Trekkies, techies) […]

South Asheville resident approaches CTS board of directors; calls for immediate cleanup

South Asheville Resident Approaches CTS Board of Directors; Calls on Immediate Cleanup   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–   In an unprecedented move a South Asheville resident, who attributes his children’s cancers to trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure from the CTS of Asheville site, drove nearly 700 miles to Illinois and approached CTS executives in person at their annual shareholders […]

Asheville Ballet’s Cinderella

Review by Mark-Ellis Bennett Last weekend Asheville Ballet staged Cinderella, the largest production of its 50-plus year history. Prokofiev’s powerful score, the stunning choreography and colorful new costumes and sets were enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience of all ages. According to Asheville Ballet’s artistic director, Ann Dunn, the company spent nearly a year rehearsing and […]