Day: September 14, 2010
Apple gleaning, beer floats and the closing of Ophelias
An apple a day When it's apple season in Western North Carolina, there's no avoiding it. Hendersonville just held its festival celebrating the fruit, and Waynesville has one too. Hickory Nut Forest in Hickory Nut Gorge is gearing up for itsown festival as well. AppleFest, a free, family-friendly event, will be held on Saturday, Sept. … Read more
An apple abundance
Hopefully you’ve managed to go pickin’ this apple season. If not, now's the time — or at least time to find baskets of juicy, crisp local apples at your farmers market. What can you do with the abundance of fruit? Local chefs and bakers suggest pies, cobblers, crisps, tarts, jams, chips, cider and applesauce for … Read more
Sonic boon
Half a century is a long time if you're talking about a savings bond maturing, a bottle of Bordeaux aging or a marriage lasting. Not so long if you're talking about the age of a nation, a supposed Ming Dynasty vase or a Redwood tree. So when it comes to a symphony orchestra, how old … Read more
Big enough for ya?
There’s a really large pumpkin at the N.C. Mountain State Fair this year. It’s not your average pie-making or Halloween-carving job for the yard. It’s a 600-plus pound vegetable that had to be carefully raised from its growing patch in Fletcher with a special lifting ring, then loaded onto a wooden pallet and gently set … Read more
Buncombe schools can do better teaching our children to eat healthy
My son has just started kindergarten in the Buncombe County Schools system, and [he’s] loving it so far. I went and ate lunch with him for the first time today to meet his friends and to start to get a feel for the teachers and the general environment in his school. He brings his lunch … Read more
Ricochet bounces film back to Asheville
Local movie buffs and buff-ettes can breathe a sigh of relief: The film festival has bounced back in town with the Ricochet Film Festival. The city-sponsored Asheville Film Festival announced a hiatus this year, but friends and fellow film freaks Michael Knox and David Forbes have come to the proverbial rescue. Ricochet will launch its … Read more
Don’t “unschool”; instead, light a fire in children’s minds
I would like to thank Hannah Layosa (“Free Range: Arrested Development,” Aug. 25 Xpress, Letters], for writing about her experiences with unschooling. Sharing our childhood experiences, both positive and negative, helps us to see “through the eyes of a child” and shape an education that best meets children's needs. It is interesting that the author … Read more
Soul scientist
"If Howlin' Wolf doesn't move you, that's pretty much the end of the conversation," says British-born, New York-based electro-soul performer Jamie Lidell. Really, late Mississippi blues singer Howlin' Wolf is the beginning of the conversation when it comes to Lidell, whose own sonic journey touches on a childhood love of Prince, early forays into techno, … Read more
Keever will blend mountain heritage with today’s new energies
As a relatively new member of the Western North Carolina community, but with a lifelong interest in the well-being of our country, I have endeavored to acquaint myself with the candidates running for office in the N.C. House. I am impressed with Patsy Keever. From the moment one meets Patsy, one is struck by her … Read more
