Around here, you can’t really talk about Arts and Crafts-era antiques — those signature simple-yet-durable pieces — without bringing up the Grove Park Inn. The stone giant perched on Sunset Mountain is intimately linked to this town’s identity. “In 1913, the Grove Park was furnished with Roycroft chairs,” relates author and historian Bruce Johnson during … Read more
For whatever reason, Latin music still maintains an aura of exoticism among even the most well-intentioned American listeners, leading to shallow misperceptions and clumsy ethnic generalizations. All too often, music from throughout Latin America is described with cliched terms like “sultry” and “lively,” descriptions that say more about the slow progress of cross-cultural understanding than … Read more
There are stories too gripping to require embroidery in the telling and crimes too heinous to be forgotten or forgiven. Terrell T. Garren’s historical novel, The Secret of War (The Reprint Company, Publishers, 2004), partakes of both. Cover notes on the volume explicitly critique Cold Mountain for its allegedly “distorted history,” and promise that this … Read more
A little more than 2,000 years ago, a loose confederation of tribal seafaring wanderers, known simply as Sea Peoples, did a fair amount of hell-raising and resistance-minded work in Egypt and other spots around the Mediterranean. The specifics of the Sea Peoples’ origins and history remain scant and largely mysterious to this day — but … Read more
News The Divine Maggees (pronounced “Maggies”) have recently ended their long East-coast search for a home here in Asheville. The No Depression-friendly all-female duo spent the first years of the new millennia based in Maine, where they garnered acclaim for their “their provocative, yet surprisingly accessible” vibe. After spending 2004 in Athens, Ga., the pair … Read more
Flavor: Californian/MexicanAmbiance: Classy yet comfortableService: Professional and personable On a recent dreary weeknight, I stepped into the inviting, cozy atmosphere of Limones, a new restaurant on Eagle Street — and was immediately enveloped by the warmth of the space. The old cherry floors and lacquered wood tables were bathed in light just strong enough to … Read more
Ask Mackensy Lunsford what her favorite food is, and for a moment she draws a blank. But then she offers an answer, of sorts. “I’m not partial, really,” she says. “I just love food. Honestly, I can’t think of a single thing you could put in front of me that I would not eat, unless … Read more
Quoth the raven: The Raven Grill opened its doors on Jan. 21. Though the weather outside was frightful, Asheville gave the new restaurant a warm reception, according to owner Greg Burgin. The Raven focuses on affordable vegetarian fare, featuring such items as homemade veggie burgers, wraps and soy shakes. The bar offers a selection of … Read more
Asheville’s historic Montford neighborhood is a living museum, rich in architectural treasures. It’s also a changing urban area that’s struggling to maintain its diversity and preserve its special character in the face of sharply rising real-estate prices and increasing nonresidential development. Amid the pressures of growth and change, however, a strong feeling of community persists; … Read more
