Best of WNC 2023 Awards, Part One
Volume
30
/ Issue 5
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
Don’t be late to this Alice in Wonderland-themed Best Of WNC tea party! In the first part of our annual awards, you’ll find local champions in arts & entertainment, shopping, personal services, kids and much more.
arts
Look Homeward: Wiley Cash on popular misconceptions of the hillbilly stereotype
New York Times bestselling author, Wiley Cash, joins Xpress for our recurring feature on the life and literary works of Thomas Wolfe.Best Medicine with Morgan Marie: We’ve made it a year, folks!
Local comedian Morgan Marie revisits highlights from Best Medicine's first year.Playbill Picks: Upcoming local theater highlights
If you're a fan of local theater, Western North Carolina offers plenty of options.Around town: A decade at Studio A
Studio A at Pink Dog Creative celebrates ten years. Plus, a festival celebrating Earl Scruggs; a local author's new book about her great-grandfather's Civil War experience; and more.‘We need the Wolfe’: City and arts leaders discuss renovation options for Asheville’s shuttered auditorium
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer led a chorus of support for the 83-year-old city landmark, which was forced to close temporarily July 5 after its heating, ventilation and air conditioning units…food
What’s new in food: Indian street food arrives in West Asheville
Meherwan Irani opens Botiwalla in West Asheville. Plus, WNC wins at the NCRLA Chef Showdown; the 77th North Carolina Apple Festival; and more.living
Wildfires cast a pall over local gardens
Wildfires screen sunlight, affecting plants photosynthesis. Another downside of the fires is it can keep some gardeners inside just when their gardens need them. Find out how to garden safely…‘Blitz build’ scheduled for BeLoved Village
BeLoved Asheville co-director Amy Cantrell speaks with Xpress about the health impacts of housing insecurity, combatting isolation and her role as the architect of an intentional community.news
Newly appointed Elections Board members share similar goals
As the newest appointees to the Buncombe County Board of Elections, Stein, a registered Democrat, and Braine, a registered Republican, are both impressed with the security and organization of Buncombe’s…Why some WNC home-schoolers participate in public school sports (and some don’t)
Haywood County home-schooler Celeste Riddle has a few reasons to be excited about her decision to take two classes at Pisgah High School this year. For one thing, she’s never…Panhandling ordinance amendments pass first Council vote
City Council approved two technical amendments to Asheville’s panhandling ordinance at its Aug. 22 meeting. It passed 6-1, with Council member Kim Roney as the single opposing vote.opinion
Letter: Looking for local election news amid the clutter
"Every four years at this time, I get very aggravated by the tendency of next year’s hopeless presidential elections to displace and suppress coverage of this year’s local elections, in…Letter: Danger to Asheville from nuclear weapons
"WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility is working on Oppenheimer’s problem."Letter: Celebrate local visions of world peace
"Celebrations like the International Day of Peace are efforts to overcome misunderstandings — not against people, but against misplaced fear, war-making, lack of awareness and experience."Bad sports
Letter: Don’t try to ‘save the honeybees’
"Honeybees are best described as 'livestock' and, like so many other animal husbandry practices, are supplanting native species."Letter: Voucher change would hurt public education
"The end result will further dismantle public education, where learning is already under attack."Pet friendly