Returning veterans face many challenges, but isolation and a lack of purpose can be two of the most powerful obstacles to a happy civilian life. Two local farming programs are offering veterans the opportunity not only to grow food, but to find a place for themselves in their new community.
arts
Xpress editor Alli Marshall muses on the rocker-writer dynamic in debut novel
How to Talk to Rockstars follows main character and music journalist Bryn Thompson as she attempts to navigate the rocker-writer symbiosis (or antibiosis at times).Smart bets: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
You don't have to be a fan of throwbacks to like this New York City-based collective. The group, created by pianist/composer/arranger Scott Bradlee, takes pop tracks and reworks them as…NewSong gives big chances to small musical acts
NewSong is probably best-known for its annual songwriter competition, The NewSong Contest. The winner walks away with a prize package aimed at taking a career to the next level: a…Smart bets: Fred Thomas
Opening track “Every Song Sung to a Dog” sets the frenetically creative tone for Fred Thomas' latest solo album All Are Saved, reminding listeners of the artistic value in heartfelt…Smart bets: Mountain Spirit Coffeehouse’s 10th anniversary
Prolific local musician Chris Rosser is compiling an anniversary CD to commemorate the occasion and boost event proceeds, which benefit the LEAF Schools and Streets program and Unitarian Universalist Congregation…Greatest twists: Malcolm Holcombe re-records 16 songs for new album
When most musicians accumulate enough popular songs to warrant a greatest hits album, they simply gather the studio versions of those tracks, present them in an order they see fit…Smart bets: Rupert Wates
Wates' catalog, for example, ranges from folk-inspired albums to down-tempo ballads and most recently, theatrically delivered (and slightly off-kilter) musical tale-telling.Jeff Daniels’ musical fallback plan becomes his second (or third) career
Daniels is fully engaged as a television and film actor, playwright and as a touring and recording musician-songwriter. His latest album, Days Like These, is his sixth.food
The MacNeill Uncorked: Local wineries partner for the nation’s second wine train tour
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad recently partnered with the French Broad Vignerons to host the MacNeill Uncorked, a wine dinner that rolls from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge and…Small Bites: Soda Papa
Soda Papa debuts handmade drinks, Salt & Smoke brings another food partnership to Burial Beer, local pizza makers get set for a showdown at Pizza Pan-demonium and former Red Stag…Beer Scout: Green Man’s Mike Karnowski to open brewery
Karnowski is leaving the red-hot Slope to build a brewery of his own with his wife, Gabe, in Weaverville. “My brewery will be in a cool old firehouse right behind…living
Western Carolina Medical Society tackles physician burnout
Doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and other medical professionals are getting burned out, and the Asheville-based physicians organization Western Carolina Medical Society has taken notice.Conscious Party: Hands-on Science
The Colburn Earth Sciences Museum, currently located on Pack Square in the Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center, will be moving to the Callen Center on the corner of…On a mission: Getting to the root of what veterans in transition need
Transitioning from the mission-driven military to ordinary civilian life is often when vets slip into unemployment, depression or homelessness. But two farming programs in WNC are working to give veterans…movies
Screen scene: Local film news
The investigative documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret returns to Asheville, a Kickstarter campaign launches for a Cullowhee film and Mechanical Eye Microcinema invites all interested parties to share their short…news
Letter writer: $25 million project aims to improve Asheville’s water supply dam
"I can see how your reader interpreted the 2014 Water Quality report to suggest that Schnabel Engineering is doing a $25 million study. We have engaged Schnabel over the past…Cash cows: How national and state parks boost N.C. communities
To many Western North Carolina residents, the region’s parks and recreational areas represent a chance to experience our state’s natural beauty and preserve its rich history. But what’s often overlooked…Will new hotels overwhelm Asheville’s carrying capacity?
Asheville currently has about 7,200 hotel and motel rooms that are subject to the 4 percent occupancy tax levied on room sales. And if all of those current hotel projects…Letter writer: Bill creates opossum free-for-all
"Kudos to cartoonist Brent Brown for nailing the absurdity of the legislature’s opossum bill debacle."Letter writer: City of Asheville’s restrictions help cause homelessness
"Mayor Manheimer really failed to answer Penley's question — what is Asheville doing about veteran homelessness?"GMOs: Yes or no? Local restaurants seek to meet demand for non-GMO foods
Chipotle Mexican Grill became the first national restaurant chain to ban genetically modified ingredients from its menu. But while the company has made headlines across the U.S. for its bold…Bicycle tourism: a growing factor in Western North Carolina
May flowers are here, bringing National Bike Month along for the ride. In anticipation of future tourists on bikes, a coalition of organizations in the western counties gave them a…Letter writer: Homeward Bound of WNC works to house homeless veterans
"I’m glad to see community members raising questions about what we are doing to end veteran homelessness in Buncombe County. No one who has served our country should be left…Letter writer: We need Michael Jordan’s minor league basketball team in Asheville
"This is huge news and a great opportunity for Asheville and Western North Carolina."opinion
Letter writer: Xpress editors and your critics: How big are your shoes?
"I want to start off by saying that I don’t read the Mountain Xpress very much. I have better things to do."Flimsy-Flam
Letter writer: Open-mic nights should be part of Best of WNC poll
"Many music lovers love this sort of venue (listeners as well as performers), and there seem to be quite a few in the greater Asheville area."Letter writer: Franklin Graham’s attack on gay X-men character is ridiculous
"Will the man say and do anything to get his name in the paper?"