Mark Delk, the new chair of the Buncombe County Republican Party in the wake of Mike Harrison‘s sudden resignation from the post, plans to take the high road in his approach to recent disgruntlement in local GOP ranks. “None of us [has] a monopoly on truth,” Delk said in an e-mail to Xpress. Thus, he … Read more
A list of unanswered questions has stalled the Asheville Downtown Commission’s ruling on the Ellington, a proposed 23-story luxury hotel and condominium building planned for 35 Biltmore Ave. Oversized or right for the skyline?: One of the developers’ renditions of what Asheville would look like if the Ellington Hotel were built. The structure is depicted … Read more
Who was Wilma Dykeman? It’s more than a rhetorical question. For many, her name reaches only as far as the banks of the French Broad, the river she lived near all her life and illuminated in her first book, 1955’s The French Broad. Dalai Mama! The French Broad author hangs out with His Holiness. But … Read more
In Georgian England, wit could trump even wallet in determining one’s eligibility for courtship. And physical appearance, though rarely a dealmaker, was always mentioned first. She bangs: Lily Allen doesn’t take rejection lightly. In her debut album Smile, she skewers a loutish ex-boyfriend with revealing songs like “Not Big.” Consider Jane Austen’s iconic character Emma … Read more
Artists have painted self-portraits since medieval times, but Taiyo la Paix literally throws himself into his work. Taiyo la Paix’s “Pearl of the Deep Seas,” oil on canvas. Married and quickly divorced right out of college, la Paix says he went through a rough time with family obligations and had no time or energy for … Read more
For The Hold Steady, revamping their bar-band image doesn’t mean resorting to good behavior. The Hold Steady: They’re an American band. When you’re not as young as you used to be, it’s more about creative consumption. “The big thing I’ve learned is … not to drink until about 10 minutes before we go on, and … Read more
• Though silent-film star Louise Brooks is widely associated with the flapper-era bob haircut, it was actually dancer Irene Castle who cropped her hair for convenience in 1915, sparking a trend. The highly controversial chop (after centuries of elaborate long ‘dos) eventually became the go-to style for women of all ages and hair types and, … Read more
Who Cares That You’ve Never Heard Of Them: Their Album Is Finished! That’s right, local pop-punkers Scattered Rivalry are finally ready to release their debut album, the interestingly named Prayer In Bad Weather. Should you care? Maybe, if you find yourself nostalgic for the days when local bands like Bro-9 and Junior Varsity made ripples … Read more
• Whodunit? Who wrote the anonymous letter to city inspectors citing code violations in River District studios? Gentrification raises its ugly head once more. • Summer color runs rampant in the galleries just now: Ruth Ilg at Asheville Gallery of Art and Tim Lewis at Iris Photo + Digital Imaging both play with strong color … Read more
Few places are as packed with secrecy and discovery as “Rosman station,” as it was long called. Now the people who have worked at this remarkable facility are holding their first reunion, and everyone’s invited. The biggest ears in WNC: At PARI’s 200-acre campus, giant radio antennae and other advanced instruments take students to the … Read more
