It’s an exciting time for the coordinators of Time for Our Power! Women Bringing Change to the World, a Southeastern regional conference slated for June of 2008 at the Asheville Civic Center. That’s because they recently got word that a high-profile activist/celebrity will appear as the keynote speaker of the event. Organizers Patty Levesque, Lisa … Read more
Some time ago, chickens came to live outside the apartments at 85 Starnes Ave., located off Flint Street two blocks north of the Asheville Civic Center. Several generations later, and against long odds, chickens persist at the address. By day they forage in the soil beneath a row of hemlocks, occasionally stepping out for some … Read more
A June 11 presentation at the Asheville Design Center on the group’s alternative plan for the much-disputed Interstate 26 connector drew a visit from N.C. Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett. A host of other public officials also attended the unpublicized meeting, including state Reps. Susan Fisher and Bruce Goforth, state Sen. Tom Apodaca, Asheville Mayor Terry … Read more
In the story of a concoction known as stone soup, an entire community is coaxed into providing a bit of food each to create a hearty meal for all. In that spirit comes the Stone Soup Summer Solstice Gathering, a catchall of area arts, crafts, dance and what-have-you in West Asheville. Free summer festival, anyone?: … Read more
“Slippery little rascal” fans flames of Richmond Hill debate A slippery debate: The discovery of a Southern Zigzag Salamander in Richmond Hill Park sparked a round of e-mails debating whether the urban forest is an appropriate location for a National Guard Armory. Courtesy R.D. Bartlett This past April, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologist Lori … Read more
Last month, the Smashing Pumpkins announced their unprecedented nine-show residency at the Orange Peel, which will take place in late June and early July. And club manager Liz Whalen’s phone began ringing almost the next minute. They’re heeeeere: For the nine Asheville shows, original Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan (vocals/lead guitar/vision), above, and drummer Jimmy … Read more
Almost as big as the buzz about the Smashing Pumpkins reunion and tour is the rumble (make that grumble) about the sold-out Orange Peel shows, to which few local fans were able to score tickets. In a post on the Xpress Web site, on May 21 Steve Shanafelt gave the club’s owners an opportunity to … Read more
The successful historical novel is a bit like a traditional patchwork quilt, composed of bits and remnants of material pieced together to create something new. Aunt Sally’s dress fabric meets Jimmy’s suit and Mama’s curtains and those matching shirts Sis made for the twins: Each piece brings its own stories, and the whole assemblage becomes … Read more
It’s hard enough for a craftsperson to sell work to clients concerned about whether the piece goes well with their couch. Standing up against McMansions: These sprightly fellows are a detail of “Evolution,” a work by Black Mountain metal sculptor Julia Burr. It’s even harder when the craftsperson is selling the couch. To help craftspeople … Read more
Catch A Falling Star Carolina Star is gearing up for the end of its first season. From what I gather, the show went under a lot of people’s radars, which is actually something of a shame, because it actually has a homegrown, good-idea-if-six-years-too-late kind of charm. In essence, Carolina Star is like a local version … Read more
