Love & Sex: Wellness Series Part II
Volume
26
/ Issue 28
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
In Part Two of our annual wellness-themed issues, we explore the saucy state of love and sex in the mountains with articles spanning LGBTQ weddings, advice from local sex therapists, burlesque in the age of the #MeToo movement and more.
arts
Burlesque in the age of #MeToo
“I’ve always felt like it’s important to use this platform for good,” says producer Madame Onça. “This is social justice wrapped up as a party."Smart Bets: Dustbowl Revival
The “California roots orchestra” plays The Grey Eagle on Feb. 9.Seratones combine introspection and soul-rock
“Really digging into the collaborative process, I learned how a song touched by different hands becomes this really cool thing,” AJ Haynes says. “It doesn’t detract from its uniqueness.”Smart Bets: The Asheville Opry
Devils in Dust, Rebecca and the Reckoning and Tim McWilliams pay tribute to country music legends, Feb. 9 at Isis.Author Sara Lyons brings ‘Revolutionary Witchcraft’ to Asheville
The author will present her book and give a lecture at Asheville Raven & Crone on Friday, Feb. 7.Smart Bets: Peace Am I
Omileye Achikeobi-Lewis' exhibition has an opening reception Feb. 8 at The BLOCK off Biltmore.Smart Bets: Shane Mauss
The comedian, science podcaster and psychedelic advocate brings a pair of shows to the Funkatorium on Feb. 6.food
Kava and kratom culture takes root in WNC
Over the past decade, a small but dedicated scene has developed around Western North Carolina's kava and kratom bars.Small bites: Bow Chicka Wow Wow
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, French Broad Food Co-op is hosting its latest workshop focused on aphrodisiacs. Also: Asheville Mardi Gras celebrates its latest Cajun Cookoff; Green Opportunities announces…living
The dating game: Looking for love in midlife and beyond
“If you’re in a relationship, and one of you has an apartment downtown and one has a house in West Asheville, that sounds pretty perfect to me,” says Henry, who's…Author Patti Digh on making each day count
While some might find the notion morbid, author and activist Patti Digh says contemplating life as if it had a rapidly approaching expiration date actually reminds her to take care…Sexual health specialists discuss the ins and outs of their profession
Far from simply providing instructions on Kegel exercises, sexual health professionals collaborate with patients on a wide range of topics — from the physical to the emotional, the sociocultural to…Laura Juarez: Work hard, relax harder
After spending much of her working life as a consultant for Fortune 500 companies, Asheville career coach and entrepreneur Laura Juarez says that taking time to relax, unwind and detach…Dog Eat Dog
ASHEVILLE, N.C.Local LGBTQ community reconfigures weddings
For more than a decade, Jeanne Sommer of Hidden River Events has been hosting and presiding over same-sex partnership ceremonies on her farm in Swannanoa. “It doesn’t matter if it’s…movies
Screen Scene: Local film news
The Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Center plays host to a screening of "Selma" and a community discussion, Frank Thompson records a notable film commentary and more.news
Ashes to Asheville
ASHEVILLE, N.C.Asheville Archives: The great debate over sex education, 1912-18
“To what extent can sex instruction be given in the public schools?” The Asheville Gazette-News wrote on Sept. 29, 1913. According to the paper, a recent report by the United…Green in brief: Asheville declares climate emergency, Duke opens Arden gas plant
“The loss of life and damage caused by current global warming demonstrates that the Earth is already too hot for safety,” states the document approved by a 6-0 vote of…News in brief: Go Local Week announced; hotel policies recommended by land use experts
Representatives from the Urban Land Institute shared their recommendations during a Jan. 30 community meeting to aim to help city officials manage hotel development in wake of the one-year hotel…Buncombe residents seek Second Amendment “sanctuary”
Under language proposed by the N.C. Federation of Republican Men, Buncombe County would commit to using “all legal means necessary” to protect its citizens’ access to firearms. Additionally, county officials…TDA increases ad budget by $1M
As presidential hopefuls blitz the airwaves over the coming months to hook undecided voters, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority will be stepping up its own campaign. The authority’s board…Council pumps the brakes on transit discussion
Some Council members were ready to put the peddle to the metal in the search for new transit system funding on Jan. 28. Not so Council member Vijay Kapoor, who…opinion
Letters: Stop littering and save our planet!
"We are throwing trash out our windows; the trash is going in streams, which goes in a river and then the ocean. It kills turtles, dolphins, fish, seals and seabirds."Letter: Don’t let public utility spending go unchecked
"This winter, Duke Energy Carolinas is asking state utility regulators to approve a rate increase that could cost us much more starting this summer."Letter: Wells offers farming work ethic, vision
"Beyond Terry promoting land preservation and conservation stewardship, she has helped in securing broadband internet access, community programs and rural economic development."Letter: Lessons from a local patriot
"He added, 'Patriotism is doing right by your neighbors. Join the PTA, volunteer to help others, support your community, your place of worship.'"Letter: The ground-pounding din disturbing Sleepy Gap
"Sleepy Gap can be renamed 'Wake & Quake' Gap because we have new neighbors. and they can afford to violently rearrange the cliffs of Walnut Cove for a house with…Letter: Progressives, conservatives should look in mirror and dictionary
"My greater point is this: If Webster’s definition of conservatism was in reality what Mr. Mumpower and his far-right-leaning friends were adhering to, we would all be living in a…Letter: Wells values agricultural heritage, new paths
"She has worked tirelessly for our Sandy Mush community, helping to bring sorely needed access to high-speed internet to our rural valley and to honor and promote our agricultural heritage."Letter: Russian 5G disinformation campaign taking hold in Asheville
"Still, The New York Times reports that the whipping-up of concerns about 5G is the product of a targeted Russian disinformation campaign."