
arts
Prom-ised land
- by Alli MarshallThe prom, that pinnacle of the high school experience, can be more anxiety-making than memory-making. No date, the wrong date, a date who leaves with someone other than who he…Oozing liberty
- by Dane Smith"At the time I was making it, there were long nights laying awake thinking, 'What the hell are you doing? This is ridiculous," says Josh Tillman about last year's Fear…A rock in the current
- by Alli MarshallI believe that we, the listeners, best love those artists who tell us something about ourselves. About our humanness and our flaws, but also about our potential: the worth of…State of the Arts: The Philadelphia story
- by Kyle SherardYou won’t find King Charles sporting Cher’s haircut, or any other ornate, high-stepping and wig and white-tight-wearing royalty in The Philadelphia Story: Contemporary Figurative Works Drawn from the Academy. But…Smart Bets: Polly Panic
- by Xpress StaffThe cello is kind of a secret weapon. It's smooth and orchestral, but effectively emotive and surprisingly versatile. Think: Ben Sollee, Pearl and the Beard and Rasputina. And add Asheville's…Smart Bets: Warm the Bell
- by Xpress StaffLocal indie-psychedelic outfit Warm the Bell (Sean Robbins, Vickie Burick, Sam Brinkley and Rick Shore) has been busily working on debut, You Are the Sun. The album was recorded at…Calendar highlights: Spoon/Feed, Dogs and Suds, David Holt
- by WebmasterClubland features: Blue Highway, Folk Soul Revival
- by WebmasterHigh lonesome sound: Blue Highway's all star lineup is weighted with award winning pickers who’ve earned the band a place in the highest echelon of contemporary bluegrass. The Grammy-nominated quintet…
food
Building a bazaar: Asheville’s tailgate markets host global flavors
- by Emily PatrickWadadli Dessert Oasis, Ma Belle France and La Gringa Tamalera offer a taste of the world.Shout out loud
- by Emily Patrick“I grew up going to the market every week with my mother. Twice a week, we would go to the market. That’s where we would go do our food shopping.…Bicycle built for food
- by Emily PatrickTo really get the lay of the farmland, hop on your bike. The second Cycle to Farm event offers an opportunity to experience the countryside and meet local producers while…Posana adds (more) polish
- by Emily PatrickDon’t be alarmed by Posana’s image: the restaurant isn’t closing — at least, not permanently. Over the past week, it’s taken a break for renovations. “We have people sticking their…Final fire
- by Emily PatrickOver the past couple of months, Adam Hayes has added some new ingredients to his repertoire, including moonshine and Mountain Dew. The chef at the Red Stag Grill at the…Simple flower
- by Emily PatrickWhereas some first-time restaurant owners might welcome a high-profile opportunity, Kris Dietrick, the new owner of Café Azalea, is relieved to work with the small and simple. He spent most…
living
In the garden
- by WebmasterThe garden's big day Earth Day has come and gone and Mother's Day is just around the corner, but who could forget National Public Gardens Day? (It’s Friday, May 10,…
news
Are you being served?
- by Jake FrankelGrappling with their toughest budget in a decade, the Buncombe County commissioners have been debating austerity measures that would put the squeeze on many local nonprofits for the foreseeable future.…Looking for silver linings
- by Margaret WilliamsBuncombe County’s more than 1,600 nonprofits have faced a series of challenges in recent years — the Great Recession, the “new normal,” and changes to private, local, state and federal…Nonprofit spotlight: The Council on Aging of Buncombe County relies on the kindness of its community
- by Caitlin ByrdWhat do you do? Provide services, support and information to help folks with the challenges of getting older. Services range from Medicare enrollment classes to providing at-risk older adults with…Nonprofit spotlight: Women for Women’s “giving circle” reaches far and wide in WNC
- by WebmasterWomen across Western North Carolina are pooling their financial resources to fund high impact grants through the Women for Women giving circle, an initiative of The Community Foundation of Western…Nonprofit spotlight: Asheville Humane Society, Animal Compassion Network join forces
- by Jackie StarkeyA new partnership between the Asheville Humane Society and Animal Compassion Network will allow resources to be pooled in an effort to better provide for the region’s homeless animals, says…Close in miles, but worlds apart
- by Nelda HolderThe mayor of Hendersonville, just 29 miles down Interstate 26 from any-way-you-like-it Asheville, describes her city as a “sophisticated small town,” enjoying itself and its more leisurely pace while sharing…Nonprofit spotlight: Homeward Bounds grows by leaps and …
- by WebmasterHas your organization seen a significant change in revenue in recent years? We have seen a large increase in revenue over the last three years, supporting the work of ending…Nonprofit spotlight: The Community Foundation of WNC spreads assistance across the region
- by WebmasterWhat does The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina do? Established in 1978, The Community Foundation is a nonprofit that provides a permanent pool of charitable capital for the 18…Waiting for Raleigh
- by David ForbesIn early April, Wedge Brewing Company owner Tim Schaller took to the company's official Twitter account, where he criticized House Bill 488, a mandated transfer of Asheville’s water system to…Nonprofit spotlight: WNC Medical Society preps for the worst, hopes for the best
- by Caitlin ByrdAfter seeing what its CEO and Director Miriam Schwarz calls a “dramatic decline” in fundraising, the Western Carolina Medical Society has begun looking for financial resources outside the nearly $450,000…Nonprofit spotlight: OnTrack helps others navigate the financial waters
- by WebmasterHas your organization had a significant change in revenue recently? Yes. Our change is directly related to the financial crisis and mortgage crisis because, as the mortgage market was deteriorating,…Nonprofit spotlight: Potential state and federal cuts could mean big reduction in domestic-violence
- by David ForbesOn April 27, Xpress reported that a $330,000 reduction in Pisgah Legal Services' state and federal funding could leave more than 2,200 local domestic-violence victims without legal assistance. The Asheville-based…Marrying profit and positive change
- by WebmasterAsheville is no stranger to the idealistic entrepreneur. The city is fortunate to have a plethora of small, independent businesses started by individuals and partnerships whose missions see no separation…Care behind the battlefield
- by Caitlin ByrdEach night before he went to sleep in his cot in Afghanistan, Asheville resident Dustin Degman set out three sets of clothing: one for surgery, another for a normal day…
opinion
The Gospel According to Jerry
- by Jerry SternbergEditor's note: This is the eighth installment of Jerry Sternberg's "Life in Seely's Castle" saga. The earlier pieces are available at mountainx.com or gospeljerry.com (which also contains additional photos of…On the way to the Mississippi …
- by WebmasterThe Metropolitan Sewerage District quite literally spilled into the week’s news again, but with consequences beyond administrative policy. As David Forbes reported on April 30, “A malfunctioning pump at the…Energize local
- by WebmasterKudos to Xpress for the terrific April 17 issue on sustainability! I've been delighted with the recent focus on the local economy. I especially loved reading about living roofs [in…Heeere’s … Justin!
- by WebmasterNote: An earlier version of this letter misidentified the review’s author. Justin Souther’s review of Room 237, the documentary about the various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining was interesting.…Buncombe County raising taxes under disguise
- by WebmasterAt the April 13 Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Retreat, under “budget updates and discussion,” County Manager Wanda Greene's body language said it all — even her voice. Questions, or…