Celebrate the Best of WNC, Part One
- Volume 28
- / Issue 7
Cover Design Credit:
Scott Southwick
Cover Photography Credit:
Mountain Xpress’ 27th annual Best of WNC has arrived. This week’s issue features the first half of our 500-plus winners. Be sure to grab next week’s issue as well to discover who else took home first-place finishes.
arts
WECAN Man project spotlights diverse neighborhood
JP Chalarca discusses his new oral history project, which tells the stories of people who live and work in the West End Clingman Avenue Neighborhood.Local artist honors Black female domestic workers
In 16 paintings, local artist Connie Bostic pays tribute to the many local Black women who cared for white children in the first half of the 20th century.Artists retrace historic route, mount conservation benefit show
The nonprofit Preserving a Picturesque America hosts a benefit art sale and exhibition that reinterprets scenes from the historic Buncombe Turnpike.Around town: Pride stays visible with Pack Square art project
Blue Ridge Pride installs art project in Pack Square Park. Plus, Art in Autumn returns to Weaverville, the Southern Highland Craft Guild celebrates Appalachian heritage, and Pan Harmonia plans Asheville…
food
What’s new in food: Rowan perks up Broadway with new coffee shop
Rowan Coffee opens on Broadway, Bhramari Brewing Co. hosts Above the Clouds Festival, La Tapería debuts in Black Mountain and more local food news.
living
Mental health falters during pandemic
Briefly, it seemed like the coronavirus pandemic had turned a corner. “People were starting to feel a little bit optimistic this summer,” says Ariel Shumaker, an Asheville therapist in private…
news
Asheville Archives: Residents protest new construction on public land, 1891
Local resident E.J. Armstrong began work on constructing a pavilion on Court Square (today's Pack Square) in 1891. The initial project was met without resistance; but as the size of…Q&A with Bigfoot hunter Joneric Bruner
Joneric Bruner and his father, John, are at the heart of Marion's beloved WNC Bigfoot Festival.Asheville Motor Speedway’s legacy endures
More than two decades after the speedway closed, some of its most passionate supporters gauge the historical significance of "The River," as well as the opportunities available to modern racing…Contested Woodfin election driven by development concerns
Eight candidates are vying for three seats on the governing body for the town of roughly 8,000 people to the northwest of Asheville. Challengers and incumbents alike agree that concerns…Dogwood Health Trust releases mid-year report, seeks input on grants
Janice Brumit, Dogwood’s board chair, said the nonprofit is on track to invest $65 million in housing, education, economic opportunity and health and wellness by the end of 2021.Mixed-use development could come to Ferry Road
While the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners did not make a formal commitment to any plan for the 137-acre site, several members expressed a desire for denser development focused on…
opinion
Letter: Meaningful change can start with alternative education
"Early childhood education offers a better model of learning that honors and develops the whole human, but in later grades, schooling is equipped for an industrial world that no longer…Letter: With libraries (and other projects), start with the people
"Stop building things from the top down! Start with a foundation! The foundation of a district is its people."It’s long past time we ended pointless wars
"Veterans have earned the care the Charles George affords them, but how much better would it be if we pursued peace and didn’t ask our citizens to participate in military…Letter: Arguments against Raytheon plant fall flat
"How far must one live from Gaffney, S.C., in order to avoid culpability for spelling and grammatical errors committed by Bic pens?"Letter: Modernize but don’t close branch libraries
"Please keep our small local branches and modernize them for future use!"Letter: Capital of WNC has problems
"Moving out of this mess in 30 days. Y’all can have it. Going somewhere clean and quiet."Letter: New, consolidated library would better serve community
"Our community deserves all that the others have. It is up to each of us to embrace the future, even if it means change."Letter: Why did property taxes go up so much?
"The overall tax rate did go down some, but due to my taxable value going up — my total taxes are up 13.76%, and I’m sure theirs also significantly went…
