Persian inspiration • Who he is: Avery Duncan • What he’s wearing: Baggy pants made from a skirt with a knot. “They look like Aladdin pants,” Avery explains. Local fashionistas Christie and Garth, photographed by Jonathan Welch Try this on While message tees aren’t for everyone (it’s sort of like paying Gap or Abercrombie to … Read more
As neighborhoods organize to discourage traffic on their streets, the general population is subjected to more and more abuse. In my ongoing quest to become neighborhood man of the year, I want to talk about traffic calming. When I think of traffic calming, I am reminded of a childhood song: “Here we go loop de … Read more
Better to stoke the public’s fear of immigrants than to talk about poverty and health care. The recently released Census Bureau numbers ought to ignite a state policy debate about health care, poverty and family income, but don’t count on it. Those issues don’t seem to find their way into many of the campaign speeches … Read more
Free bus, no service In these times of high gas prices and poor air quality, I choose to forego owning a car and take public transit. For nine years, I have been able to make this work, but lately I find it an inconvenience. On the evening of Aug. 31, a friend drove me to … Read more
Campaign calendar • Fri, Oct. 13: The League of Women Voters and the 28th Judicial District Bar will hold a forum for judicial candidates at 4 p.m. in the fifth-floor courtroom of the Buncombe County Courthouse. The nonpartisan races covered are as follows: associate justice, Supreme Court (Judge Robin Hudson vs. Judge Ann Marie Calabria, … Read more
“This would be a frivolous, environmentally unsound road.” — Asheville resident Julie Brandt, protesting the proposed paving of N.C. 197 near Barnardsville Gotta hand it to ’em: Opponents of paving N.C. 197 gesticulate during the commisioners’ meeting. photo by Jonathan Welch A 4.5-mile stretch of North Fork Road, aka N.C. 197, links Buncombe and Yancey … Read more
Political activism is alive and well among Asheville/Buncombe’s substantial cohort of conservatives and libertarians. Organized by groups such as the Buncombe County Republican Action Club, given voice by outlets such as The Asheville Tribune and conservative blogs, and energized by the efforts of individual activists, these folks tend to oppose what many see as the … Read more
As election season moves into high gear, the focus tends to be on the two main political parties and their candidates. But while that approach makes sense, it overlooks some key facets of this unique community. Asheville is often viewed as a liberal city, both politically and culturally. A majority of current City Council members … Read more
Silver threads among the gold (foliage): On Friday, Oct. 20, Asheville Parks and Recreation will sponsor a Senior Treks hike on the Rattlesnake Lodge Trail, which spurs from the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville. The hike is 2.6 miles with a 500-foot elevation change. Make sure you bring lunch, water, good walking shoes and … Read more
What a deal: Paddler Marie Graven shows off her find. photo by Anna Ferguson If you’re like me, you break out in a sweat whenever a new gear catalog arrives. But since I don’t have a bazillion dollars to spend on such stuff, leafing through those glossy pages sparks desires my pocketbook can’t satisfy. So … Read more
