arts
Smart Bets: Mike Lawrence
Comedian Mike Lawrence kicks off a new comedy series, Funny Business at The Mill Room on Friday, Nov. 1. Want to win a pair of tickets? Look for this post…Fright night done right
Halloween falls on a Thursday this year, making it hard to plan a party. But we’re sticklers for celebrating on the actual date: No early birthday presents for us, no…Endless spew
[Editor’s note: Gwar is a satirical, crude, heavy-metal band that performs and interviews in character. Readers sensitive to profanity and disturbing images and themes may wish to avoid this article.]…Farm out
Didn’t make it to Bonnaroo this year? There’s still time to check out Barnaroo, a locally produced festival and Western North Carolina’s only youth-run music event. Barnaroo was created in…Smart Bets: Ann Patchett
Nashville-based writer Ann Patchett has authored six novels. But her most recent book is a memoir: This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage. It's "a very real love story,…State of the Arts: Paradox, propaganda and persuasion
There are roughly 200 connections between Asheville and the Iranian Revolution. Really. It just so happens that one of the largest privately held collections of posters from the revolution, nearly…Smart Bets: Dr. Dog
Although they live in Philadelphia, indie-rockers Dr. Dog are pretty much honorary Asheville residents. The band makes a WNC stop annually-ish (sometimes more often, like when they headlined Bele Chere…Smart Bets: Weaverville Art Safari
While you’re not likely to spot any zebras or giraffes on this safari (maybe a bear or two), there’s no shortage of arts and crafts to be found. More than…Smart Bets: Bulgogi
Self-proclaimed "terrified child dance punk" act Bulgogi is the brainchild of Tim Tsurutani, formerly of Chicago's CAW! CAW! Tsurutani not only enjoyed his time in Asheville last year, he recorded…Smart Bets: Mipso
"The idea for Mipso arose out of freshman year daydreaming at UNC Chapel Hill," says the bio for the roots-inspired trio. "After the usual band-making delays — Jacob took a…Smart Bets: Circle Takes the Square and B. Dolan
The Odditorium scores one of the most unique lineups this week, with prog-punk visionaries Circle Takes the Square sharing a bill with spoken-word/hip-hop artist B. Dolan. The pairing is called…Smart Bets: Daniel Coston
Photographer (and Xpress contributor) Daniel Coston was a magazine writer until one day, when the staff photographer wasn't available, Coston stepped behind the lens. That happy accident led to many…Calendar highlights: WNC Pottery Fest, Cashore Marionettes, Smokey Mountain Brass Quartet
Clubland features: Dia de los muertos, Brushfire Stankgrass and Toubab Krewe
food
The real deal
Have you ever thought of owning a food truck? The freedom! The creativity! The possibilities! True, but there are also: Regulations! Tight spaces! And burnout! We caught up with two…And cider for all
Local cider-makers are ready to unveil themselves at the first CiderFest, an event that promises to celebrate the sweet flavors of fall, while benefiting green and sustainable building practices in…Onward, New Belgium
After an eight-month delay, New Belgium Brewing will resume site work in November on its Asheville facility on Craven Street in the River Arts District. The holdup stirred local rumors…Late-night bites
Correspondent Michael Franco continues his exploration of dining options on the late-night scene. This installment takes a look at the after-hours offerings at Isis Restaurant & Music Hall. Isis Restaurant…SMALL BITES: All Souls Pizza
Nearly four months after its summer opening, All Souls Pizza has taken its promised plunge into lunch service and is forging ahead with some community-oriented projects as well. The lunch…SMALL BITES: Mayfel’s
Those who want to keep that otherwordly spirit alive past Halloween can grab their votive candles and sugar skulls and head on down to the back courtyard at Mayfel's on…SMALL BITES: Underbelly
Good food isn’t all Mike Moore has been cooking up in the kitchens of Seven Sows Bourbon and Larder, and the Blind Pig supper club. Underbelly, a food and Southern-culture…news
Confusion about federal health-care law persists in WNC
They came with notepads, folders and pamphlets, and many of the more than 100 people who attended the Council on Aging of Buncombe County’s first information session about the Affordable…Apothecary to close Nov. 1
After operating for 14 months in downtown Asheville, the Apothecary is closing its doors Nov. 1. Located at the corner of Eagle and Market streets in the historic YMI Cultural…One full evening
Anyone entering Asheville’s City Hall on the afternoon of Oct. 22 would have encountered a busy, bustling scene. A Boy Scout troop, a parcel of UNCA staff (including Chancellor Anne…Hero worship
Editor’s note: In a series of articles, Cameron Huntley is exploring a particular niche in the area’s economy: comic book and gaming stores. In this installment, he chronicles the passing…opinion
Expanded Medicaid
Masking a Problem
Asheville Disclaimer 10/30/13
Don Yelton bridges political divideFor a walkable Charlotte Street
Jerry Sternberg’s column “Charlotte’s Web” [Oct. 16 Xpress] is a shortsighted condemnation of those supporting efforts to improve conditions on Charlotte Street. Rather than “a continuing strategy … to keep…Mitchell’s county seat — and Yancey’s zombie-proof redoubt
The researcher involved in your profile of Spruce Pine, Burnsville and Celo [Oct. 16 Xpress] was mistaken in declaring Spruce Pine the county seat of Mitchell County. That honor went…Don’t like Asheville government? Vote.
Don’t like what is going on in Asheville city government? Vote to change it. However, don’t complain after Nov. 5 if you didn’t take the time to vote. Esther Manheimer,…If satisfied with the status quo, don’t vote
Satisfied that Asheville’s financial liquidity (fund balance) decreased from 2004-10 by 53.3 percent ($23.9 million to $11.2 million)? Satisfied that the total debt for its noncurrent liabilities increased from 2007-12…Renters deserve protection from mold
I am responding to your comprehensive article “Breaking the Mold” [Oct. 16 Xpress]. The descriptions of the problems that the tenants endured, including hidden and visible mold, odors, damage, etc.…Full confidence in Manheimer
As someone who cares deeply about Asheville and its future, it's with great pleasure that I announce my support for Esther Manheimer as the next mayor of the city of…Have a joke on me
Jokes are a great way to relieve stress. Life can be hard, and humor can help us through trying times. I love jokes and I want to share them with…A dissent on ‘Captain Phillips’ review
Imagine Karl Rove or Dick Cheney as a leading man in Hollywood. Now, in this frame of mind, try to imagine Justin Souther writing a coherent, perceptive review of a…Public nudity not a civil right
As a new North Carolina resident, I found Jeff Johnson of Alabama's belief that female, public partial-nudity is a "civil right" to be questionable [see letter, “Cancel Asheville’s Topless Summit,”…National spotlight
Local conservative activist Don Yelton set off a firestorm when he appeared on national television Oct. 23 and made comments that were construed as racist by viewers across the country.…