arts
Here come the boys (and girls)
It’s the region’s most epic display of hip-hop culture, and it’s gonna be bigtime. This Saturday, b-boys and b-girls from seven states will congregate at the Asheville JCC for a…Assume the piano
The Asheville Chamber Music Series has been raising funds for a new piano throughout the year. “Well, I shouldn’t say a new piano,” says Richard Wrightson, president of ACMS. “It…A vision of America
There's something inherently American about the songwriting of Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley. A deep longing for freedom, the inquisitive fearlessness of exploration and a stoic realism on matters of the…Running on full
It's one thing to channel the cool, dusty, boots-and-aviators California country rock of the '70s, filtered through a 21st-century aesthetic. It’s really something to effortlessly evoke that Laurel Canyon sound…“Follow the leads until something feels right”
Charles Frazier seems bemused that his new novel, Nightwoods, has been described as a backwoods thriller or Appalachian gothic with a touch of Flannery O’Connor. To be honest, he says,…Sister Swagger
For a bunch of self-proclaimed slack-asses, Kovacs and the Polar Bear have sure had a stellar year: headlining The Grey Eagle, high-profile gigs opening for Tyler Ramsey and War On…Pop Quiz
1. Why did The Milk Carton Kids decide to make their live album, Retrospect, available as a free download? a. Mercury was in retrograde. b. Their focus group suggested a…Weekly Picks
Join the WNC Green Building Council for an hour of green trivia at Posana Cafe, 1 Biltmore Ave., on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 5:45 p.m. Questions will cover general knowledge…Smart Bets: Honey Holler at Craft Fair of Southern Highlands
This one's a twofer. First, it's the biannual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, from Thursday, Oct. 20-Sunday, Oct. 23. (10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; $8…Smart Bets: Hello Hugo CD release
Local experimental/instrumental outfit Hello Hugo is Rosser Douglas, Nick Prather, Reid Weigner and Justin Holt. Douglas, Prather and Holt made up the band Seawhistle before Hello Hugo's inception. They describe…Smart Bets: Asheville Zombie Walk
It's not every day that you come across an event that is both family-friendly and "dripping with fake blood and shambling." Well, the day (Saturday, Oct. 22) has arrived, and…Smart Bets: Asheville Bookfest
From kids' books to hard hitting political topics, there's a book for every type of reader. Which is great, but what's even better is meeting the authors behind the books.…food
Have a very local Halloween
Find a last-minute jack-o-lantern at area farmers tailgate markets through this weekend. Hugh Wright of Arbor Studios is even slated to offer pre-carved, porch-ready pumpkins at Asheville City Market Saturday.…Pumpkin by the Pint
This time of year, Michael Porterfield’s farm turns into one giant pumpkin patch. He grows other cool-weather crops now, too — from carrots to radishes — at New Sprout Organic…Small Bites: The chef of Cúrate talks about hosting Bourdain and her next apprenticeship
Anthony Bourdain's Saturday, Nov. 5 appearance at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium is approaching. After the speaking event, Cúrate will host 125 people for a private, ticketed book-signing featuring Bourdain and…Small Bites: Ruth’s Chris location under construction in south Asheville
You may have heard that the upscale steakhouse Ruth's Chris is coming to Biltmore Village, offering another answer to a question posed by visiting parents citywide: Where do I get…Small Bites: Falderal Winery offers DIY wine-making, along with wines made on site
A fascination with fermentation started early for Paul Kovacich, co-owner of Falderal Winery in Hendersonville. Kovacich says he began experimenting with the alchemy of sugars and yeast as a boy,…Linked in, market-style
Want to connect with other local food lovers? Check out ASAP’s new community site, which makes its full launch this fall(http://www.FromHere.org). Its goal? To serve as a central online space…Talking turkey (and honey and beef and … )
It’s never too soon to start thinking of your Thanksgiving turkey. Many farmers will offer sign-up sheets at their tailgate booth in the coming weeks, so be sure to get…Fall for Local Food
How do we love thee, fall? Let us count the ways: local apples, beets, cheese, greens, lettuce, meats, pumpkins, radishes, turnips, winter squash … We could go on and on.…living
The birds of autumn paradise
What: Grab a pair of binoculars and take a bird-watching stroll through the beautiful fall foliage of James Lake State Park. With more than 100 species of birds migrating through…news
School or scandal?
Amid continuing tough economic conditions, A-B Tech is asking Buncombe County residents for help. On Nov. 8, voters will weigh in on a quarter-cent sales-tax increase to fund capital improvements…State your occupation
Asheville City Council Oct. 11, 2011 meeting City scraps community-media initiative Waneta Street rezoning narrowly approved It wasn't on the agenda, but the Occupy Asheville demonstrators who packed the Asheville…The Beat: A prime event
On a rainy primary Tuesday, Asheville voters came out in record-low numbers, handing candidates Marc Hunt, Chris Pelly and Lael Gray the most votes while eliminating Tim Peck and TJ…opinion
Side Effects
Weekly Asheville Disclaimer Page: 11/02/11
ELECTION COVERAGEVillains
Just say no
Asheville's high-power public-radio station, WCQS-FM, has applied to the Federal Communications Commission to renew its license. If granted, it will be eight years before the license comes up for renewal…Best Of primary-care physicians work at Our Family Doctor
In the Best of WNC, Volume 2, in the Best Primary Care Physician category, we mistakenly associated Drs. Jodi Schwab and Meredith Polansky with Ravenscroft Family Health Center. Schwab and…CTS is not about politics — it’s about people and the environment
I think it’s only fair and just to actually look at the facts that escaped Mr. Ramsey in his letter in the Oct. 5 Xpress [“Don Yelton, Problem Solvent”]. I…Kudos to WCU professor and Stuttering Foundation for promoting speech therapy
a href=“http://www.stutteringhelp.org”I enjoyed your [Oct. 6 online] article "WCU Professor's Passion for Helping People Who Stutter Leads to Penning a Textbook," not only because it discussed WCU Professor David Shapiro…Duke Energy’s rate increase will affect WNC
Asheville residents may not be aware or care about Duke Energy’s proposed rate hikes for North Carolina homes, businesses, and municipal governments. They should be, especially if and when Duke…Where does Hartley live (and vote)?
Roger Hartley's Oct. 5 letter to Xpress raised a question [“Vote for Marc Hunt — I Already Did”]. Mr. Hartley noted he was "pleased to have voted early in the…Xpress’ coverage of comedy in Asheville is laughable
Thanks to the tireless efforts of many local standup comics (some of which write for this very paper’s “Asheville Disclaimer”), we now live in a city where you can go…Look beyond the surface for decision on A-B Tech referendum
Of course everyone wants better schools, including Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, but the question is what A-B Tech really needs and whether or not the current referendum is the best…We need universal health care; we need Cecil Bothwell in Congress
Last March, I realized everyone’s worst nightmare when a doctor diagnosed my 44-year-old husband, Ben, with a 10-centimeter colo-rectal tumor. Ben had low risk factors. We were stunned and heartbroken.…Forrester, the Klan and Hitler: brothers under the skin?
Hate-spewing bigots in churches and politics use the Bible to explain away contempt for certain segments of society — most commonly blacks and homosexuals. Likewise, Adolf Hitler used Mein Kampf…We need Jan Davis on Asheville City Council
Jan Davis is needed on City Council. He is a thoughtful, fair and strong leader for Asheville. He loves Asheville. He has the ability to listen to all points of…Trick or treat!
Action through Inaction
Weekly Asheville Disclaimer Page: 10/19/11
• Hotel Indigo guests evacuated for fire; forced to acknowledge hotel’s trendy architecture prior to re-admittance • “Occupy Asheville” moniker co-opted by AVL Chamber of Commerce, AVL Convention & Visitors…Filling in the frame
Editor’s note: November is National Home Care & Hospice Month. A longer version of this essay won honorable mention in a national competition sponsored by the National Hospice and Palliative…Letters to the editor
Cliffs project sits on planning precipice The Nov. 15 “County Commission Report” [“This Place Was a Dump,” Xpress] exposed a potential problem in our region: a Buncombe County Planning Board…