As soon as you walk into Shoji Retreats, a local mountaintop spa, the owners want to make sure that when you walk out afterward, you’ve experienced bliss. And the winners are: Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Rick Lutovsky gets ready to honor six local firms at the “We’re for Business” awards Feb. 20. Photo … Read more
According to the Boulder, Colo.-based Outdoor Industry Association, eight of 10 Americans engaging in outdoor recreational activities such as kayaking and rock climbing are white. In other words, one could presume that an African-American or Latino teen from Asheville or Charlotte would not be likely to don a PFD or climbing harness. Equipment is costly; … Read more
Flavor: High-end bistro Ambiance: Looks like the “after” on a kitchen makeover show The thoroughly appealing notion behind StoveTrotters, the chi-chi bistro that opened last September at the location of the former Polar Bar on the outskirts of Biltmore Village, is that its meals are meant to satisfy the palate and stimulate the mind. While … Read more
It’s time we turn our attention again to that most scintillating of documents, the Buncombe County Public Libraries Annual Report. Check it out: A scene from the stacks in Pack Memorial Library. According to a new report, the Buncombe County branch libraries checked out some 1.5 million items in the past two years. Photo By … Read more
If you’ve properly celebrated North Carolina Sweet Potato Month (aka February), your recipe box is likely brimming with preparation techniques for the beta-carotene-loaded taters. Fortunately for you, the NC SweetPotato cq Commission is soliciting entries for its first-ever recipe contest. First-place winners in the soup, salad, sides and sweets categories will each claim a $500 … Read more
Camp axle grind: Asheville Parks and Recreation is offering a spring break skateboard “camp” at the Food Lion Skate Park from March 24 to 28. The clinic is open to skaters of all skill levels and ages 6 to 15. It’s a chance for beginning skaters to bone up on basics and more advanced skaters … Read more
Green is the new white, when it comes to ecologically minded matrimony. Martha Stewart Weddings-touted Portovert.com lists sustainable couture bridal gowns by the likes of Annatarian and Olivia Luca. Luxe fabric choices include fair-trade hand-woven silk organza, soy knit and Hempcel. “Grace” pleated wedding gown: Organic-cotton jersey with floral embroidery, a center inset of cascading … Read more
At a recent meeting at the local firehouse concerning contamination around the CTS site, a perceived health threat seemed to make people lose rational thought. From data gathered by the Environmental Protection Agency so far, the site’s major groundwater and air contaminant is trichloroethylene (TCE), listed on the material safety data sheet (MSDS) as a … Read more
V is for vindication of the female voice. I appreciate the insistence that violence against women be taken seriously, and I even celebrate the activist undertones of Jenna Ashley Robinson’s [commentary] [“V Is for Violating Modesty and Dignity,” Feb. 13], which offered valuable resources for those interested in taking a stand against gender-based violence … … Read more
Thank goodness, someone actually had the nerve to tell it like it really is. Jenna Ashley Robinson is right on the mark about V-Day and The Vagina Monologues [” V Is for Violating Modesty and Dignity,” Commentary, Feb. 13]. I’ve been waiting a long time to read such an article. As a health-care provider for … Read more
