Mid-February I crave homegrown corn. Creamy, rich, scraped-corn kernels baked with butter, salt and pepper, just like my grandma used to make. The corn was so rich and fresh she didn’t need to add milk or cream. But I look outside and see my field snowed under. Corn revels in warmth, and my mountainside ground … Read more
“I’m of the opinion that the book is no longer mine once I quit writing it,” says Sarah Addison Allen, author of the just-released novel, The Sugar Queen (Bantam, 2008). It seems that Allen is not only willing to let her creative work become public property (ideologically, that is: the copyright still stands), she thinks … Read more
Most musicians, when initially taking up their primary instrument of choice, are drawn to some romantic notion that the object invokes. The guitar, for instance, is generally viewed as modern music’s iconic and defining instrument. But for Galen Kipar, however, it was just a tool to achieve a grander vision. Small-scale symphony: The Galen Kipar … Read more
A May 6 article in The Guardian of Manchester, England, offers a chilling glimpse of massive toxic dumps in Ghana, where heaps of discarded computers, televisions and other electronic waste from the United States and Western Europe wind up. Thousands of tons of such trash—commonly called e-waste—are illegally shipped there from the developed world, laden … Read more
The must-see work in the Asheville Art Museum’s latest exhibition, Time is of the Essence: Contemporary Landscape Art, is the film Hidden Inside Mountains by Laurie Anderson. Ken Fandell’s striking photo collage, “All the Skies Above.” Yes, that Laurie Anderson, the performance artist of 1980s “O Superman” fame. But fans of the pioneering musician know … Read more
There’s something stylish about a homemade lunch: It’s healthy, it makes good use of groceries and reduces the dining-out budget (not to mention the number of takeout cartons). But carrying lunch in vintage Tupperware or a ratty shopping bag isn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Remember how much fun it was to carry your Dukes of Hazzard … Read more
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the “new” Pack Memorial Library building on Haywood Street in downtown Asheville. Those few of us remaining who worked in the Pack Square structure that now houses the Asheville Art Museum are still prone to refer to the current library facility as the “new” building, despite the fact … Read more
Like capri-length pants, the “ladies first” edict is always stylish, in my opinion. This should hold true in any restaurant, whether its tables are set with plastic forks or with crystal goblets. But today’s emphasis on trendy atmosphere and table flipping often trumps the classic rules of service. Seeking to understand the current flavor of … Read more
The suspense didn’t last long, but that wasn’t due to any lack of candidates in the Democratic primary for the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. It’s just that the results came in so fast there was hardly any time for the tension to build among the nine contenders and others tracking the returns. Within two … Read more
Sleuths in the garden: The Botanical Gardens at Asheville will start its kids’ series, Garden Science Investigation (GSI), on Saturday, May 17, with a program called “A Habitat’s a Home.” The series, intended for ages 5 to 11, aims to encourage children’s observation and investigative skills in the natural world. Cost is $7 per child … Read more
