For good or ill, it’s all the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s fault. Newgrass. Jamgrass. Slamgrass. Any other throw-in-the-kitchen-sink-grass. Countrified folk. Folkified country. For that matter, alt-country. The O Brother phenomenon. Johnny Cash singing “Personal Jesus.” The Grits predicated it all. It would be tough to overstate their influence on contemporary music. Though the band’s recent … Read more
Talk to Jerry Wolfe about the bruising traditional sport of Native stickball, and you’ll soon realize why it goes by the Cherokee name that means “little brother to war.” “It’s a good game. It’s a rough game,” notes Wolfe, an elder in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who played the sport as a young … Read more
During most periods of pre-Renaissance recorded history, religion was a major — and sometimes the only — topic of art. Now, apparently out of nowhere, comes a profusion of religious art in Asheville. And while it’s true that a few Asheville artists, like Carol Bomer, have made paintings about their faith for many years, the … Read more
“At the Feeder,” from Broken Pearls Hummingbirds hover to sip. …Leaves, low in the thicket, shine.How long is long,suspended in feeding time?Ruby Throats dart and are gone.Coins will cover my eyesuntil you return. — Ann Dunn As I sit down at my desk to write about Ann Dunn’s new book, I can’t help but wonder … Read more
Of note For a fistful of pennies: Asheville-based trio Red Penny Arsenal — Holiday Rd.’s Matt Anderson (guitar, vocals), Jared Rutledge (bass) and Lauren Habenict (vocals) — have recently released a four-song debut. The band, which describes its music as “a lustful symphony of intoxicating angst,” is currently selling this self-titled work for a mere … Read more
Happiness is strolling out to the garden for a handful of blueberries to decorate my breakfast cereal, a colander of crisp lettuce leaves and radishes for a luncheon salad, or a pocketful of juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes and fresh basil for a pasta sauce. One of my prime quality-of-life priorities is easy, frequent access to the … Read more
You know you want it. So go ahead: After your regal repast at The Savoy on Wednesday, April 30, order yourself the Truffles Mi Amore. It begins with a smattering of fresh fruit (strawberries, grapes, kiwi) to prime the palate. Next, the savory “cheeses” — Danish blue, creamy walnut, black truffle — to remind you … Read more
Although Wednesday is typically a slow night for dining out in Asheville, don’t chance it on April 30 (in other cities, Dining Out For Life restaurants do a booming business). Call ahead to reserve your seat at one of these 27 eateries. Asheville Independent Restaurant Association members are noted. • Anntony’s Caribbean Cafe (AIRA)1 Page … Read more
Standing in the well-appointed lobby of the Inn at Biltmore Estate, state Sen. Steve Metcalf was considering the first 15 hours of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s three-day Legislative Weekend. “You’d be surprised how many members have never been west, have never come west,” offered Metcalf. “For a lot of reasons, they don’t have … Read more
Back in February, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors approved a five-page document setting out the Chamber’s 2003 legislative agenda. During the April 10-12 Legislative Weekend, Chamber staffers used their time with legislators to emphasize these points, according to Chamber President/CEO Richard Lutovsky. Here are some of the actions the Chamber wants … Read more
