The Bar of Soap Laundromat and bar holds its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 10. Sean McNeal's new business on Merrimon Avenue (in a shopping plaza that once housed various bagel shops and mineral galleries) includes all manner of ways to while away the time while taking advantage of the laundry facilities, from drinking local … Read more
The United Way of Asheville Buncombe oversees and helps coordinate a wide array of charitable efforts. While they aren't engaged in any holiday-specific efforts themselves, through their Hands On Asheville-Buncombe project, the United Way has compiled an updated list of worthy causes that need donations and volunteers over the holidays. At http://www.handsonasheville.org/hoab_holiday, Ashevilleans can find … Read more
In early November, Asheville police arrested Helen Roberts for passing out Occupy Asheville fliers, claiming she was violating a city ordinance. But the charges against Roberts were quickly dropped, and City Attorney Bob Oast explained that the ordinance deals only with commercial activity — not handing out political fliers in public spaces. “It shall be … Read more
While its status as the “hap-happiest season of all” is debatable, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve are easily in the running for the bus-busiest of all. But it doesn’t have to be all errand-running, package-wrapping, pie-baking, Santa-costume-renting, tree-decorating, carol-singing and menorah lighting. Save a little time to be entertained, whether by a … Read more
In light of the misrepresentations and downright untruths that are being spread about the events of Nov. 15 in downtown Bakersville, I thought I would share some “truths” about the event. The truth: The N.C. legislature recently voted to allow the voters of the state to amend the state constitution to include a legal definition … Read more
“As someone who is born different, and performs on stage, my goal is to make it better for kids who are growing up like I grew up,” says Black Scorpion, the creative director of The 999 Eyes Freakshow & Surreal Sideshow. Scorpion gave himself that name in part because of a genetic abnormality that makes … Read more
On Nov. 15, the Mitchell County Gay Straight Alliance held its first meeting at the Bakersville Library. On the street outside, dozens of people came to demonstrate. Some people said they were concerned we are promoting homosexual clubs in the schools. One person asked if gay people are trying to force their lifestyle on others. … Read more
For more than 20 years, Amy Ray has been known as one half of the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls — two women whose music is built around counterpoint harmonies, catchy melodies and an activist spirit. Together, they’ve dropped 14 studio albums (including this year’s independent release, Beauty Queen Sister), four live albums and earned a … Read more
After several years of living in the "Five Points" neighborhood and walking downtown as much as possible, I am still amazed that the sidewalk going from hereto Lexington Avenue is still in the same condition it has always been in. Unfortunately, this Thanksgiving, a man was killed in the heart of this treacherous stretch of … Read more
Viva DeConcini plays Pisgah Brewing on Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. The Pitch: She’s the blond Joan Jett here to bring her scorching guitar licks all the way from NYC. And it’s free. And hearing loss is inevitable anyway. The Buzz: She calls herself “The Guitar Sorceress of the Lower East Side.” WNEW radio … Read more
