Much has been written of Aimee Mann. She dropped out of Berklee College of Music and then went on to build one of the most intellectual music careers to date. She first rose to fame as the platinum-haired front woman of ‘80s pop-band ‘Til Tuesday, only to reject the world of big labels and top-40 … Read more
If there is a common thread running through the local music scene, it may be the modern twist on indigenous mountain music. That's one jumping-off point for newcomers Red June, who release their debut, Remember Me Well, this week. All three members are experienced players: John Miller (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Natalya Weinstein (fiddle, vocals) … Read more
The sixth annual Black & White Gala is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the YWCA of Asheville. “First and foremost, the Gala is a dance party,” says Ami Worthen, the YWCA’s marketing director. “People are there to have fun and to dance with all kinds of people who they might not normally be … Read more
This year marks a number of milestones for several Asheville music institutions. The Asheville Symphony Orchestra began its 50th season last week, and this week, the Asheville Area Piano Forum performs its 10th Fall Benefit concert at the Diana Wortham Theater. The latter celebrates the performance of music, while benefiting further generations of musicians. In … Read more
Xeriscaping is becoming more and more popular — but what is it? The word xeros is Greek for “dry.” And “scaping,” obviously, comes from landscaping. Add them together and you get xeriscaping. You likely get the idea, too. Xeriscaping is a landscaping concept that allows for the minimization of water use in the garden. One … Read more
As one of the smallest systems in our region, the Asheville City Schools enjoy certain advantages. One is that even small-scale projects can make a big difference for this diverse student body, which is really representative of our entire community. Here are some of the exciting initiatives already under way. Reforming schools from within A … Read more
Cell tower ordinance revised; residential component postponed Chiaromonte continues protest Asheville may soon begin implementing energy-efficiency improvements in everything from streetlights to city buildings. City Council voted Sept. 14 to use $250,000 in federal stimulus funds to secure a $3.5 million bond issue that would pay for the upgrades. The stimulus funds would help the … Read more
The men who chair the local Democratic and Republican Party organizations are a study in contrasts. Charles Carter and Chad Nesbitt couldn’t be more different — in their manner and their respective approaches to this year’s campaigns. But in many ways, both have come to personify the organizations they lead. Here’s a closer look at … Read more
Walking the streets of Asheville on a cooling September afternoon, Joe Minicozzi points out parked cars bearing handicapped placards. Under state law, people with disabilities can park for free in unmetered on-street spaces; currently, the city doesn’t ticket or charge even those parking in metered spots. Minicozzi is executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association, … Read more
It was a bad week for the Buncombe County Republican Party. In an online post, Xpress reported that "Rappelling 9/11 Fundraiser Creates Fallout for GOP." At the event, participants were invited to rappel down a 90-foot tower at the Bee Tree Fire Station and donors were asked to contribute $100 per rappel to raise money … Read more
