Day: May 21, 2013
Asheville cedes Beer City USA title to Grand Rapids
After a four-year winning streak, Asheville lost its Beer City USA title to Grand Rapids, Mich., according to poll results released May 13. Conducted by craft-beer guru Charlie Papazian, the unscientific online poll showed Grand Rapids winning decisively with 27,005 votes. Kalamazoo, Mich., came in second with 11,150 votes, and Asheville placed third, with 10,075. … Read more
There for you
It’s hard to talk about Melissa James Gibson’s This, mainly because the title is tricky, and the subject matter is prickly. Not that the play doesn’t deserve buzz — reviews use words like “tart” and phrases such as “melancholy comedy” and “quirky cult appeal.” There’s emotional depth and sparkling dialogue. “There’s one scene in particular … Read more
The pour-fect match
Perky pints Julie Atallah of Bruisin’ Ales recommends herbal beers for pairing Bison Brewing’s Honey Basil Ale Once a seasonal beer, the California-based brewery started producing it year-round due to its popularity. Trade Winds Tripel This Belgian-style brew pairs sweetness with a touch of Thai Basil at the finish. Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale Can you taste … Read more
Are we still Beer City?
Talking Asheville Beer “This past September, we drove clear across the country leaving one amazing beer city (Seattle) for another. Why Asheville? This is a true beer community … local beer culture is supported by bars and restaurants that almost exclusively offer local beers, community members that are enthusiastic and interested helping small businesses thrive, … Read more
String It Up
According to the production credits, “26 Minutes” was created almost entirely on violin. Apart from guitar and bass parts, every other sound featured in the piece — the band Divine Circles’ contribution to a recently released split cassette with Villages — was created by Meghan Mulhearn, using only the small stringed instrument known best for … Read more
Halotherapy, health and healing
A bed of cotton candy-pink crystals shift underfoot as you walk toward one of seven reclining chairs, complete with pillow and fleece blanket. The crystals are salt, and the entire room is filled with them: Large rocks form a mosaic on the walls, and tiny stones fill a net along the ceiling, interspersed with small … Read more
Lunch on the loose
Lunch — say it aloud. It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue; more like, it does a belly flop. It’s a mundane word for an equally mundane meal—that is, if you’re eating PB&J with celery sticks at your desk. But lunch can be so full of possibility. It’s a break in the day that shouldn’t … Read more
Creating a future from the past
Recently, while enjoying the best chicken ever, I remembered that the bowl it was roasted in was a Bele Chere purchase last year. It got me thinking about the recent developments concerning the festival. My piece was created by an artist who designs pottery that is beautiful and functional. The utilitarian nature of the cookware … Read more
Cold front
As mountain towns go, Asheville is far from the coldest. In January, the city’s most frigid month, the highs hover around 47 degrees, with average lows of about 28. Invest in some sweaters and a few heavy coats, and you’re good to go. But for Chandra Shukla, who moved to Asheville from San Francisco five … Read more
