Stymied
Volume
17
/ Issue 50
Cover Design Credit:
Nathanael RoneyCover Photography Credit:
070611coverlarge.jpgarts
Life in the Busk Lane
Busking. You may not be familiar with the term, but if you’re in downtown Asheville between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. during the warmer months, you must be familiar with…Talk show
You may know The Psychedelic Furs as a seminal post-punk ‘80s band. You may recall their brooding British sound, falling just on the edgy side of pop, strangely at odds…Have songs, won’t travel
When R. Stevie Moore is known at all, he’s known primarily as a studio rat. That is, he has more than 400 albums to his credit. No, that’s not a…Smart Bets: Paris of the South Flea Market
It's been awhile since the Dreamland Flea Market was just a quick drive for local bargain hunters. But an even more wonderful world of kitsch, craft and ephemera is readying…Smart Bets: Toubab Krewe
Now that local road warriors Toubab Krewe (the five-piece band that so seamlessly blends American and West African sounds) has mastered the festival circuit, it seems only fitting that they…Smart Bets: Drunken Prayer
It's that time of year again: When Morgan Christopher Geer, former Asheville-based frontman of hard-driving The Merle and country noir The Unholy Trio, comes back into town and plays a…Smart Bets: Witness for the Prosecution
"A wealthy widow is found murdered and a man stands accused. His only hope is the testimony of his wife, but she has some secrets of her own." No, it's…Dave Desmelik’s open journal-style songwriting
With an old-looking Guild guitar and a smattering of people sitting down drinking local microbrews, Dave Desmelik took the stage at the French Broad Brewery on a warm Thursday evening.…Attack, decay, sustain, release
Attack, decay, sustain, release: Those four control parameters have helped create the shape of modern electronic music through what’s called envelope generators. Bob Moog didn’t invent them, but their inclusion…The Profiler
The Suspect: Mia Borders In 2010, USA Today called Borders one of New Orleans’ Jazz Fest’s “hidden surprises,” and her debut there was nationally broadcast. She wowed the crowd in…Weekly Picks
Firestorm Cafe & Books, 48 Commerce St., in downtown Asheville, hosts "Night Against Nukes!," a show and informational session featuring local activists and a performance by Ash Devine, on Wednesday,…food
Food truck quotables
"My passion for food plays a huge part in my life. To look at people, see the contentment in their eyes and their bellies — I want that. And this…Food truck debate still rolling
Should the city allow food trucks in Asheville’s central business district? The question has turned into a fiery debate, with fierce opinions on both sides. After nearly a year of…Small Bites: Booming food scene addition
Who says that the economy is faltering? Well, lots of financial analysts and such. But to take a look at our local restaurant scene, you'd never know it. The Green…Summer beer drinking — local-style
Folks often ask me which local beers I like to drink. The answer is that there are too many to name — and it depends on the season. Like lots…living
Outdoors: Go down to the river
Just a few short steps from the city streets, outdoor adventures await you. Canoe, kayak, tube or raft down the French Broad River or play the disc-golf course at Richmond…Get your hop on
Feeling hoppy? On Saturday, July 16, from 9 to 11 a.m., visit the "hop yard" at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station in Mills River. The aim is to provide…news
Stymied
Editor’s note: Some names have been changed to protect people interviewed for this story and their families. For most 23-year-olds at UNCA, the recently concluded spring semester was a rite…River getaway
Pack: a large cooler of all your favorite foods to grill and eat outside. (Cost: depends on your taste buds and stomach size) Drift: down one, two or more miles…If you buy it, they will come
After weeks of speculation about a pending deal with an unnamed private company, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved one of the largest real estate purchases in the county's…TV or not TV?
In the wake of the WNC Community Media Center’s recent demise, Asheville City Council members are teaming up with the Buncombe County commissioners to lay the groundwork for the future…The Beat: An inside job
Buncombe County buys former Volvo plant. County sells Volvo plant to the Linamar Corp., a Canadian manufacturer, the following year. Asheville gives Linamar $2.2 million in incentives over four years.…WNC Wellness review
Asheville named a top-10 yoga-friendly city in August 2011 issue of Yoga Journal "The news hasn't been added to Yoga Journal's online site, but folks online are talking about it…Green Scene: Good news, bad news
Women in several Western North Carolina counties aren't living as long as they used to. The details come in a new report, “Falling Behind: Life Expectancy in U.S. Counties from…Wellness: Local medical society goes regional
It's time for a change. Founded in 1885, the Buncombe Medical Society and its members have weathered many changes in the healthcare industry and in their own membership. At one…opinion
One on One with D. G. Martin
About 10 years ago, I compiled a list of the most important events in 20th-century North Carolina history. This seemed like a good time to reassess, but I’m sticking with…Kudos to Nelda Holder on home rule
Kudos to Nelda Holder for her column on home rule, pointing out how the N.C. Democratic Party is merely getting a taste of its own medicine [“You Say Po-tay-to,” June…In pursuit of liberty
From my point of view, all legislators, City Council members and [Buncombe] county commissioners are merely employees of The People, since we hire them (by voting) and pay their salaries…Marc Hunt is a practical visionary
Marc Hunt is a community visionary with practical business and financial skills that are needed on our City Council. He has a deep love for our Asheville community and its…Marijuana legalization is a manifold win
It's time to legalize marijuana. Let the druggies switch to marijuana and tax it. Let Philip Morris, et al, put the cartels out of business. Let North Carolina tobacco farmers…Local towing policy is a racket
My son did a favor for a friend [recently] by offering a ride from an apartment complex in north Asheville called the Grove. When leaving, he discovered his car had…The Grove responds
We [at the Grove apartments] are sorry that we have upset the letter writer her son. Our towing policy is for the benefit of our residents. We want them to…The Cockman Family is a Shindig staple
I appreciate the June 29 Xpress article about Shindig on the Green [“Mountain Values”]. However, I take strong exception to the paragraph about The Cockmans. The writer, after interviewing Glenn…Clean up our community
I too am offended by the trashy digital billboard on Merrimon [“Fight the Digital Billboard,” June 29 Xpress]. I am asking other members of our community to also write a…License Plate Decisions
DUI Technology
Weekly Asheville Disclaimer Page: 07/06/11
• Wal-Mart sexism suit thrown out by Supreme Court to be re-filed as pant suit • Police lab tests on mystery substance reveal total numbness in tongue, gums; general feeling…