Holiday Magic: Local shops offer gifts to delight
Volume
25
/ Issue 20
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Courtesy of the Omni Grove Park Inn
Need help getting in the holiday spirit? A stroll through WNC’s many specialty shops may jump-start the jolly. On the cover: National Gingerbread House Competition third-place teen winner Chloe Jennings’ creation.
arts
Dave Desmelik and an Army of Love share a benefit album at The Grey Eagle
The Penrose-based Americana artist teams with Amanda Anne Platt, Andrew Scotchie, Shannon Whitworth and other WNC notables to raise awareness about pediatric illness.Smart Bets: JD McPherson
McPherson brings his “Rock ’n Roll Christmas Tour” to The Grey Eagle on Dec. 8.Warren Haynes Christmas Jam marks its 30th anniversary
To commemorate the jam’s 30th anniversary, this year’s festival will be spread across two nights at the U.S. Cellular Center. “This will only be the third time we’ve done that,”…Smart Bets: Krish Mohan
The Indian standup comedian brings his new show to Fleetwood's on Dec. 8.Curated holiday markets offer gift-buying alternatives
Curious about holiday markets? Check out these pop-ups planned around Asheville.Exhibition spotlights the work of local nonwhite artists
"Asheville Through Brown Eyes," with work by Joseph Pearson, Jenny Pickens, Valeria Watson, Noel Jefferson, James Love, Viola Spells and Cleaster Cotton, opens Friday, Dec. 7, in the Asheville Area…Smart Bets: The Nutcracker
Asheville Ballet's take on the seasonal favorite returns to Diana Wortham Theatre, Dec. 7-9.Theater review: ‘The Lion in Winter’ by Brevard Little Theatre
For the Plantagenets family in 1183 England, led by Henry II (portrayed by actor and Xpress contributor Kai Elijah Hamilton), the political is personal.Smart Bets: An Appalachian Christmas Carol
The local historical twist on the Dickens classic will be performed Dec. 6-8 at the Vance Birthplace.food
Beer Scout: Asheville’s homebrew shops adjust to life in Beer City
Asheville Brewers Supply and Fifth Season Gardening Co. stand alone on the local homebrew supply front.Niche markets: Asheville is fertile ground for growing specialty food shops
Three local specialty food shop owners agree that Asheville offers a friendly environment for starting and growing unique, food-focused businesses.Small Bites: The Hop heads to Black Mountain
This week, The Hop Ice Cream gets set to open a new store in Black Mountain, Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Festival is on the calendar for September 2019, Bold…living
Business is booming at the region’s independently owned pet shops
As an independent pet retailer, “Business is good,” says Jenna Wilson, who owns Patton Avenue Pet Co.’s three outlets. Other locally owned pet suppliers agree: WNC pet owners want the…movies
Screen scene: Local film news
Sierra Nevada hosts the Backcountry Film Festival, Pack Library commemorates the WWI Centennial with a documentary about Paris' American Hospital and more.news
Asheville Archives: The city celebrates its specialty shops, 1890
Between 1880 and 1890, Asheville's population grew by over 350 percent. With an influx of new blood came plenty of new businesses as well.From practical to crafty to offbeat, local retailers offer gift options in WNC
Give Amazon.com a rest — Western North Carolina is full of small, independent retailers, where the only thing cookie-cutter is the display of, well, cookie cutters.Local garden supply stores keep Asheville growing
Grigg Sheffield, owner of L.O.T.U.S Urban Farm and Garden Supply, opened his shop 6 years ago and says that the biggest trend he sees is that the consumer base is…CBD business budding across WNC, nation
Are CBD businesses — which are exploding across WNC and elsewhere — laying down the tracks, preparing for an expansion into legal marijuana? The answer depends on whom you ask.…Airbnb involvement could mark turning point in homestay discussions
In its first known formal engagement with Asheville, Airbnb sent two of its representatives to an Oct. 23 discussion of homestay regulations sponsored by the Homestay Network, a local group…News in brief: Parking fines to go up in new year
Asheville City Council will hear public comment on two proposed hotel projects and an economic development incentive grant at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 11. City parking fines will rise…Asheville City Council explores new sales, food and beverage taxes
A quarter-cent sales tax on all purchases in Buncombe County would be earmarked for transit improvements, as required by state law, while a 1 percent tax on prepared foods and…opinion
Letter: Syringe exchanges save lives
"I applaud Shannon Spencer’s efforts to save lives."Letter: Grateful that death sentence was lifted
"It might surprise you to know that North Carolina still has the sixth-largest death row population in the nation — 140 men and women — and that Buncombe County has…Letter: Does Asheville’s Visitor Center reflect diversity?
"I recently walked around the whole area and found only one African-American face, and that was on one brochure, of what seemed like hundreds, for a county assistance agency. What…No room for the inn: The Gospel According to Jerry
"The city allowed the builder to go through all the expensive steps required to get total approval from all regulatory agencies, and then several Council members announced their intent to…