August is upon us

Wednesday, Aug. 1, is a big day. First of the month? Dog days of summer? We’re not sure why, we just know there a bunch of events scheduled that shouldn’t be missed: A YA author event, a new wave show and Jerry Garcia’s birthday are among the options. (There’s a ticket giveaway, too!)

The Hunger Games red carpet, WNC-style

Editor’s note: Xpress sent local young-adult author Stephanie Perkins to cover the very hush-hush red carpet preview of The Hunger Games on Wednesday. Perkins was the perfect corespondent because, not only does she get young adult fiction, she was also chosen as an extra in the Hunger Games movie, filmed in Western N.C. Unfortunately, due to her busy writing schedule, Perkins had to back out of filming; luckily for us, she was available to catch the early viewing. Photo from the Asheville Citizen-Times website.

This weekend on a shoestring

The weather’s getting nippy, but it’s still a great time to get out and check out some events that won’t break the (piggy) bank. From winter gardening and holiday shopping to local authors and uplifting musical performances, this weekend’s got everything you need to lure you out of the house on the cheap. And as always, leave us a comment if you’ve got any more low-cost events you’d like to share.