Love in the city of lights

"We wanted to do a quintessentially American story," says Ann Dunn, director and choreographer of the Asheville Ballet, describing the impulse that inspired the company's upcoming performance. A light bulb of possibilities went off when co-choreographer Lyle Laney suggested An American in Paris: "It was like, 'Ding,'" says Dunn, "That's a great idea!" Lovestruck: "It […]

A walk through time

On a recent bright-but-windy Sunday afternoon, local-history enthusiast Robert Goodson led about 20 people through two of the oldest cemeteries in Black Mountain. Sponsored by the Swannanoa Valley Museum, the tour of Tabernacle and Ingram cemeteries brought to life the pioneers who settled in the area after the Revolutionary War, painting a vivid picture of […]

The Dirt

A cucumber plant weaves its way across the garden bed, wrapping its curly tendrils around a pepper plant I grew from seed. Above the pushy cucurbit, a black-eyed Susan bobs in the wind. Its bright-yellow petals have finally emerged, and I can't help but coo over it. Green tomatoes, water-heavy and streaked with a ripening […]