A Christmas Carol is a classic holiday tale, but local productions of the story have begun to show their age. This year, however, the Montford Park Players have refreshed their aging script, while the Parkway Playhouse examines Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol (pictured above). Launching Christmas spirits into uber-drive, the classic holiday play A Christmas Carol … Read more
A-B Tech restoration program students learn to bring life to aging interiors — and to make new interiors look like they’ve weathered a few years. photo by Blake Madden There aren’t too many places in Asheville where “trompe l’oeil” qualifies as a punch line. But on a recent weekday afternoon at A-B Tech’s Ivy Building, … Read more
Creating a debut album is a hungry task, as local rockers Pierce Edens and the Dirty Work demostrate. Despite what his singing voice suggests, Pierce Edens does not chew gravel, swallow sandpaper or have a small bass resonator lodged somewhere deep inside his chest. For years, the local songwriter says he tried to “sweeten up” … Read more
Childlike wonderment and guerrilla-marketing savvy have made Hope For Agoldensummer a force to be reckoned with on the indie-music scene. “We don’t want a traditional record deal,” announces Hope For Agoldensummer front woman Claire Campbell. It might sound like a strange statement for a band member to make — who doesn’t want to get signed? … Read more
True, its members don’t go in for after-school high jinks, appear in musical revues or travel to Hawaii much. Sure, the job description — “make studies of the area within its jurisdiction; develop and recommend policies, ordinances, administrative procedures and advise the commissioners” — might make you want to change the channel. Right now, though, … Read more
“What are we going to do when every square inch of downtown is concrete?” — Julie Brandt, People Advocating Real Conservancy “We want to maximize that three acres. Not just from an economic standpoint, but from a use standpoint for the city.” — David Payne, Power Development LLC Timber: Under current plans for the Ravenscroft … Read more
You have a right not to remain silent Doing your thing: Members of Asheville Theatre turn audience stories into drama. photo by Jonathan Welch International Human Rights Day is observed each Dec. 10 to focus attention on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The celebration dates back to 1950, when the United Nations General Assembly … Read more
It’s no news that Asheville is getting more crowded, so it’s a given that such perennially thorny issues as rezoning and large-scale development will be conspicuous at Council meetings. Throw in environmental and energy concerns, and you’re sure to make the current City Council sit up and pay attention. Meanwhile, recent events have demonstrated that … Read more
