Influential eight: Xpress spotlights Asheville’s hidden heroes
Volume
23
/ Issue 19
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
Xpress set out to find some of the lesser-known folks who are quietly doing important work in the Asheville area. Out of a total of 41 nominations, our editorial team narrowed that number down to eight, whose profiles we share in this issue.
arts
British arena rockers The Struts play Asheville
The group's big sound invites comparisons to 1970s megastars like Queen. And two tracks were written and produced by American artist Gregg Alexander.The Big Crafty expands into a new event space
With live music, local food vendors and trademark “Craffle Giveaways,” it’s part party, part marketplace and part reunion. The winter iteration takes place on Sunday, Dec. 4, at the US…Smart bets: Fruit Bats
The band, led by singer-songwriter Eric D. Johnson, returns to The Mothlight on Sunday, Dec. 4.Smart bets: Sierra Hull
Brevard listening room 185 King Street hosts an intimate evening with the bluegrass virtuoso on Saturday, Dec. 3.New holiday play shares local stories and songs
For the show, Tom Godleski penned a pair of holiday songs, as well — something he says he’s always wanted to do. A two-song CD with those new tracks will…Smart bets: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
The fifth annual performance of the darkly surreal ballet will take place at Diana Wortham Theatre on Friday, Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3.Smart bets: David Dondero
Local rockers Minorcan will open for Dondero at The Altamont Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 1.food
Taking the hint
Small bites: Blue Ridge Food Ventures 2016 Holiday Market
The Blue Ridge Food Ventures 2016 Holiday Market offers a one-stop shop for local goods. Also, Villagers holds a bone broth workshop, Buxton Hall hosts a six-course pop-up dinner, Gypsy…Beer Scout: Oskar Blues celebrates four years in Brevard
From nonprofit work to local hires to humanitarian relief, Oskar Blues has excelled at integrating itself into the Brevard community.Manhattan project: Asheville Bar Wars returns
Asheville Bar Wars is back for its third year, inviting local imbibers to vote for their favorite Manhattan cocktail as presented by participating Asheville mixologists.From England to Asheville: Pete’s Pies comes to Lexington
Savory pies, fish and chips and English "butties" will pair with local and British brews at this new downtown English pub.living
The art of forest ‘bathing’ comes to WNC
The Japanese art of shinrin-yoku, or forest "bathing," has come to WNC. Forest guides help people experience the woods in an intentional manner, while the forest itself acts as therapist…news
WNC battles flames, considers fires’ effects
Whether triggered by climate change or normal variability in cycles of temperature and drought, recent wildfires have been some of the most extensive in living memory. With tens of thousands…Conscious party: Mama Maisha fights maternal mortality
Asheville-based nonprofit Mama Maisha, which promotes family planning, healthy pregnancies and safe deliveries in Tanzania, is holding its next benefit at Lexington Avenue Brewery on Friday, Dec. 2. Emma's Lounge…opinion
Letter writer: Let Live Coalition responds
"We hope that if people sympathize with the demise of one helpless sheep and recognize, that he or she didn't deserve to be “harvested” and “processed,” that this will carry…Letter writer: Wild Abundance looks forward to apology
" Next year, please leave us alone, and go focus your time on issues that matter like racist police brutality, factory farms, gentrification, climate change, etc."Letter writer: Science and spirituality are not mutually exclusive
"The irony is that a reductive materialist worldview is arguably what has caused humanity to view the Earth as our own personal grab bag and dumping ground in the first…In a blind
Letter writer: Opportunity scholarships offer school choice
"I want to tell these families that the Opportunity Scholarship can change their children’s lives for the better. My family is proof of that."Black lives matter: Enough is enough
"Yes, my friends, all lives do matter. But until white America realizes that black children are loved by their parents the same way you love yours, we are all in…