“Rooted in the Mountains,” a conference that explores the intersection of Western and native traditions that’s now in its eighth year, will take place at Western Carolina University on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 28-29, and includes a trip to the sacred site of Kituwah, the Cherokee “mother town.”
Each week, Xpress highlights notable WNC crowdsourcing initiatives that may inspire readers to become new faces in the crowd. This week features the first album by local band Hustle Souls, a new location for Urban Dharma, and Poetry Cabaret’s reflections on performing at Capital Fringe Festival.
Just three days before Monday’s rally in Asheville’s Pack Square Park to oppose the U.S. Senate’s version of a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Lindsay Furst, a local teacher and activist, went to a coffee shop with her fellow organizers who shared her lack of sleep, she told the crowd in front of […]
While many don’t seem to object to the Gideons’ handing out Bibles to graduating high school seniors outside the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, others say the practice is incompatible with policies that strive to keep education and religion separate.
Writing your resolutions can be tough, and keeping them can even tougher. Asheville wellness practitioners offer their resolutions and intentions as a way to inspire community members and remind them of the local support, education and opportunities to stay healthy and motivated throughout the year.
Check out this list of weekend highlights and visit the Mountain Xpress Community Calendar for a complete list of weekend events! EXHIBITIONS ‘we’re not who we thought we were’ at Ramp Studio Gallery 821 Riverside Drive Through SA (12/31) – we’re not who we thought we were, exhibition of the multimedia sculpture by Jameid Ferrin. […]
“You have to take time to look at yourself, look at your spirit and where you come from, and let the spirit guide your interests and love.”
Where do people turn when faith runs dry and they start to question what they believe? A number of Asheville-based faith leaders say those who experience doubt aren’t alone, and freely admit to struggling with faith in their own lives.
“You could say I was hungry for the truth without even realizing I was searching for it,” says Western North Carolina native Joseph (Yusuf) Gantt, “and that led to a journey of maybe 10 or 15 years in which I finally recognized Islam. It satisfied my hunger.” Two of Gantt’s family members, his mother and […]
Expressive movement is a prominent and growing phenomenon in Asheville. While dance church is one of the largest regular gatherings, there is at least one expressive movement event every day of the week.
At Asheville’s Hanukkah celebrations, potato pancakes, doughnuts and other fried foods symbolize the ancient miracle of the oil that lasted eight days in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The holiday season is in full swing, and there’s so many celebratory possibilities that it would be easy to miss out on something big — lights shows, a trolley tour, a naughty elf and good music are all on the list.
In the wake of the Nov. 8 election, local faith leaders representing many different denominations and religions are seeking answers and providing guidance for their congregations.
With Veterans Day fast approaching, the customary forms of American celebration will be prominently on display: parades through city streets, moments of silence briefly interrupting broadcast media, solemn ceremonies at landmarks across the country, special discounts at restaurants and shops. Beyond those symbolic gestures, however, stands a large and growing need to support the many […]
FRIDAY Downtown Asheville First Friday Art Walks downtownashevilleartdistrict.org 1st FRIDAYS, 5-8pm – Downtown Asheville museums and galleries open doors to visitors. Visit the website for participating venues and full details. Free to attend. Culture Vulture Film Festival 692-8062, saveculture.org FR (11/4), 6pm – Proceeds from this film festival benefit the Center for Cultural Preservation. $25. Held […]
Last week, Urban Dharma, the Tibetan Buddhist Center on Page Street in downtown Asheville, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a week-long schedule of programs, including the construction of a special Vasudhārā sand mandala. In Tibetan Buddhism, Vasudhārā is the deity of abundance, openheartedness, generosity and magnanimity. Throughout the week, the Asheville community was invited to watch […]
The Dakotas may be far from Asheville, but many WNC locals have traveled to the Standing Rock Sioux reservation since protests began there in late August over a disputed oil pipeline that crosses tribal lands. Others in Asheville have donated money or supplies to support the tribe’s efforts to block construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.
From zombie walks to train shows, family festival to art openings – this weekend has no shortage of exciting events! Check out this list of weekend highlights and visit the Mountain Xpress Community Calendar for a complete list of weekend events! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 Autumn Rails Train Show FR (10/7), noon-7pm & SA (10/8), 10am-4pm – Autumn […]
In an effort to bring together and celebrate different faiths, the event marks the completion of a sand mandala highlights food traditions from various religions.
Andrew Scotchie is a steady force in the local music scene. Frontman of Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats, Scotchie is one of the most active touring musicians in town and the founder and coordinator of Asheville Barnaroo Music Festival, a three-day event held at Franny’s Farm in Leicester. “First and foremost, it’s a big […]
One of Asheville’s newest activities embraces dance, yoga, shamanic ritual, pilgrimage and community connection, says local astrologer Virginia Rosenberg. It’s called Qoya (pronounced COY-uh), and “the guiding principle is there is no way you can do it wrong,” she says. ‘Qoya,’ which means ‘queen’ in Quechuan, a pre-Incan language in Peru, captures the empowerment women […]