Someone’s gotta give

“Our mission is to get people on the dance floor,” the members of the Free Flow Band proclaimed during a recent interview, almost in unison. And if you’ve seen them…

In December 2009 Chatham County Line was set to hit Asheville on the first-ever tour of their annual holiday show. The morning before the gig, banjo player Chandler Holt received…

For those of you familiar with Severn Eaton’s work, leave behind your expectations. Eaton makes his debut at PUSH Skateshop and Gallery with a new exhibition titled See What Inspired…

Though "Multi-cultural Holiday Concert & Celebration" may be a long title, it's sure to pack a wallop of fun. After all, the Monday, Dec. 19 "upbeat, innovative, whimsical family show"…

Local trip-hop outfit Paper Tiger announces its last show for 2011 — this is the one to make lest those 2012 predictions come true. (And even if the Mayans were…

Need to kick start your Christmas spirit? Balladeer and storyteller Sheila Kay Adams (a seventh-generation ballad singer from Madison County) performs "an evening of Southern Appalachian Mountains Christmas stories, traditional…

According to his bio, stand-up comic Seaton Smith is "a lover of bacon and beer. He applies a smooth charisma to a layer of explosive energy, topped off with unforgettable…

The Suspect: Norma Jean This Christian metal-core band formerly known as Luti-Kriss has been playing together since 1997, though the band’s only original remaining member is guitarist, Chris Day. They’ve…

Learn about one of the world's oldest forms of meditation as the West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road, hosts a documentary screening and Q&A session about Vipassana on Wednesday, Dec.…

I'm standing in an urban oasis. Under bright grow lights, Thai, Genovese and Italian sweet basil grow surprisingly big and almost impossibly green. The low trickle of the hydroponic system…

For home delivery, we recommend checking out Swallow Soup, a seasonal local soup-delivery service. The service is run by Mary Kelley, a local mother and entrepreneur who wanted to start…

Crêperie Bouchon has plenty of scratch-made soups available for your cold-weather needs. The eatery offers a French onion soup daily, as well as a vegetarian chili. At least two other…

Has it been awhile since you've visited The Noodle Shop? Try it again, especially if you have seasonal sinus issues. For that affliction, Xpress prescribes a bowl of Dan Dan…

Valet Gourmet is at your beck and call seven days a week. The Asheville-based delivery service brings soup (and other good things to eat) straight to your door from a…

Though the next growing season may seem far away, our area is still turning out plenty of local goods. Top on the list is local meat, the focus of ASAP’s…

What: Conditions aren't the best this early in the season, but after after so many months of going without, schussing down the slopes is a blast. And there's no need…

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners Dec. 6, 2011 meeting Board supports conservation easements Camp House designated local historic landmark a href=”“After nearly a year of contentious debate on the issue,…

Asheville City Council Dec. 6, 2011 meeting Manheimer named vice mayor Davis back for third term The Asheville City Council chamber was packed, and many heads bowed as the Rev.…

Perhaps it’s the season that turns our thoughts toward giving — toys for needy children and warm winter coats for the homeless. Or maybe it’s the heartbreak of hard times…

Even when we’re feeling warm and fuzzy and inspired to do good, we often gravitate toward certain categories of people in need while overlooking others. The following two groups offer…

Too many people in the Asheville area and across Western North Carolina lack jobs, a home or even food to eat (the Asheville metro area is the seventh-hardest-hit in the…

Jobs remain in short supply in Western North Carolina, as the brunt of the economic downturn continues to be felt throughout the Asheville area. Whether it’s through training, job placement…

The work that local nonprofits and volunteers do to help stray and abandoned animals is a matter of life and death. And while there's no shortage of groups trying to…

Schools teach more than basic skills — they (hopefully) prepare the students to deal with the realities of life beyond the campus — in part by helping people in need…

With dozens of groups and literally thousands of volunteers doing the work that, increasingly, public agencies lack the resources to do, we couldn’t hope to name them all. And when…

Volunteers are the lifeblood of pretty much every group featured in these pages. Every effort helps, but here are a few notable local volunteer. TJ Hooper His family agreed to…

Bob Moog Foundation “There’s a misconception in Asheville that the Bob Moog Foundation is part of Moog Music. We’re a small, independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by Bob's family and colleagues;…

• Five days later, Warren Haynes Christmas Jam still going strong Big blues-rock number coming up in final set once Phil Lesh has been resuscitated • Popularity of Asheville’s local…

In the Dec. 7 Xpress story, “They’ve Got the Golden Ticket,” we reported that the French Broad Chocolate Lounge will receive grant money to install solar equipment to the roof…

I am writing to share my sadness over the recent death of Asheville business owner, teacher and friend, Paul Thorpe. Paul died completely unexpectedly on Saturday, Dec. 3, while working…

Now that we have had a pedestrian fatality on Broadway, I ask City Council to take this request for a pedestrian crosswalk(s) between I-240 and Chestnut Street seriously. This stretch…

I find mountainx.com confusing, with its colors/words/items everywhere. For some of us, less is more and clarity and simplicity rule the day. The page is cluttered with topics and colors.…

Thanks for the beautiful cover photo and the article about Montford Park Players' production of A Christmas Carol ["An Old Tale with a Heightened Malevolence," Dec. 7 Xpress]. I wish to…