Mountain Xpress, October 21 2009

OUR 16TH YEAR OF WEEKLY INDEPENDENT NEWS, ARTS, & EVENTS FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. 16 NO. 13 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

f o t Bes C WN

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Asheville Election Guide p. 13

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

thisweek on the cover

p. 20 Wigtastic!

The 2009 Mountain Xpress Best of WNC feature is the biggest (and dare we say best) of its kind. This year, we’ve added dozens of new categories, and thousands of readers voted to select the people, businesses, bands and places that can now rightly claim to be the best our area has to offer.

Cover design by Andrew Findley Photograph by Jonathan Welch On the cover: Danny Reed, winner of Best Tattoo Artist

news

12 hat in hand Montford Commons developer asks Asheville for $9 million

13 Asheville voting guide Xpress grills the candidates for mayor and City Council

18 the buzz WNC news briefs

arts&entertainment 100 just because Asheville gets the love with a free festival featuring Galactic, Larry Keel, Dubconscious and others

102 a little bit country Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed, Andy Friedman and the Golden Winners and the Honeycutters

features 5 Letters 7 Cartoon: Molton 10 Commentary 18 The Buzz WNC news briefs 70 Outdoors Out and about in WNC 72 Community Calendar 79 FreeWill Astrology 89 News of the Weird 90 edgy mama Parenting from the edge 91 Conscious party Benefits 92 GREEN SCENE WNC eco-news 94 Food The straight dish on local eats 98 Small Bites Local food news.

104 smart bets What to do, who to see 105 ClubLand 111 cranky hanke Movie reviews 116 Asheville Disclaimer 117 Classifieds 126 Cartoon: brent brown 127 NY Times crossword

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letters It was OK to vote on zoning before; it’s time again to Let Buncombe Vote Mr. Joe Connolly, Buncombe County attorney, informed the attendees at the Aug. 5 commissioner’s meeting that North Carolina has a law prohibiting residents from voting on the zoning issue. What he said is true, but he didn’t go far enough. In spite of this law, we did vote on zoning in 1999 and set a precedent that makes it easier to vote the next time. True, it was a nonbinding vote, but it was good seven years. How could we do this when there’s a law that says we can’t? The commissioners themselves set it up for us. All they had to do was at least make sure three of them contacted our legislators to tell them they wanted the people to vote on the zoning issue.

We now have two new commissioners on board that know very little about the county zoning issue. ... They need to review the zoning issue from the beginning to the end. If they do this, they would have to agree that taking people’s property rights away and turning them over to government control, without a vote by the people, is not right the right thing to do.

These same two commissioners, along with Bill Stanley (who has never been for zoning), could make that call to ask the legislators to let the county residents vote, and then the issue could be settled once and for all.

If the majority were to want zoning, so be

it. If the majority didn’t want zoning, let it end there and agree to abide by the vote. This would most certainly assure those three commissioners their reelection. We could vote on the issue this November, and it wouldn’t cost the taxpayers any extra money. As it stands now, our commissioners spent well over $500,000 in the past few years readying the illegal zoning they forced on us in 2007. Now they are doing it again. ...

We have two communities in the county that have been zoned voluntarily for years. The one I speak of is the Limestone Community in the Skyland area. In 2001, the commissioners held a public meeting ... in the area. Seems like Mr. Bob Ingle ... wanted to build a new store on Long Shoals Road and the commissioners wanted to hear from the people. The property owners spoke, many of them teary-eyed, for they would be forced to move. They reminded the commissioners they had zoning and were safe. They had been promised that zoning protected them from just this type of situation.

Didn’t matter how much they begged. The commissioners knew what they were going to do before they held the meeting. ... Mr. Ingle got his new store and the community protected by zoning got shafted.

I urge you to attend Let Buncombe Vote meetings in your community and visit the Web site, LetBuncombeVote.Com. — Peggy Bennett Leicester

Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 or by e-mail to letters@mountainx.com.

(Include name, address and phone number.)

xpress staff publisher & Editor: Jeff Fobes senior editor: Peter Gregutt MANAGING editor: Jon Elliston A&E editor: Rebecca Sulock MULTimEDIA EDITOR: Jason Sandford Staff writers: David Forbes, Brian Postelle A&E REPORTER & Fashion editor: Alli Marshall outdoors/gardening editor: Margaret Williams editorial assistants: Hanna Rachel Raskin, Tracy Rose Staff photographer: Jonathan Welch Clubland editor & Writer: Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt contributing writers: Jonathan Barnard, Melanie McGee Bianchi, Ursula Gullow, Anne Fitten Glenn, Whitney Shroyer EDIToRIAL INTERN: Gabe Chess Production & Design ManaGeR: Andrew Findley Advertising Production manager: Kathy Wadham Production & Design: Carrie Lare, Nathanael Roney calendar editor & supplements coordinator: Mannie Dalton Movie reviewer & Coordinator: Ken Hanke

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No tricks, just treats...

One bear attacks a human, while civilization attacks the entire WNC bear population How ironic that a “bear attack” story would make the front page of the CitizenTimes on opening day of bear-hunting season!

With the added incitement of constantly reviewing the (few) bear incidents and the declaration of record bear populations, one wonders why the Citizen-Times has declared war on Western North Carolina’s most magnificent mammal. Only a few month’s earlier, the C-T’s Adventure of the Week feature encouraged people to bring their buckets and pick blueberries ... near Craggy Gardens.

Hundreds of people collected bear food, and then, when a hungry bear attempted to take some picnic food and the area had to be closed, a bear was euthanized and it was front-page news again.

With exploding development, bad press, a food supply taken by people and hunting season, these are hard times for bears. I can only hope that N.C. Wildlife Commissioner Mike Carraway’s comments were slanted by the reporter. It disgusts me to think Carraway would willingly participate in this campaign.

The truth is that most people have never seen a bear in the wild, not even here in WNC. But we are far more likely to encounter the stray bullets during hunting season as we hike, bike, garden or just step outside to search for our daily newspapers.

Note of caution: Wear blaze orange if you have to go outside. Post “No hunting” signs on your property. Report baiting. And good luck.

— Anna James Asheville

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UNDER THE TENT DEALS For other Molton cartoons, check out our Web page at www.mountainx.com/cartoons After the recent Blue Ridge Pride festival, readers should be aware of an historical event which occurred on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 4. That event was a moving, family-friendly, interfaith worship service at First Congregational Church in Hendersonville.

It was the first worship service that specifically invited gays and straights, of all abilities, throughout the area to worship openly together. One of the preachers who is gay said with tears in her eyes that she thought she would never live to see the day when straights and gays in Western North Carolina would joyfully worship God together, which certainly happened that night. The Spirit-filled sanctuary was the inclusive setting for devout prayer, inspired preaching and magnificent music. As I sat there with adults and children who society too often disdains, it reminded me of Jesus sitting and eating with those of his culture who were marginalized.

This historical “first” mustn’t be a “last,” but a “normal” nonevent.

— Pat Argue Mills River

Manheimer: pro-Asheville, inclusive and ready to get to work I have been privileged to work with Esther Manheimber on the Jewish Community Center board for two years. During her time as chairman, she was able to facilitate the meetings with a natural ease in which everyone felt included. Esther had only one agenda and that was to support an already great organization and continue to elevate the mission. I have been impressed by her sharp legal mind and ability to succinctly work on issues.

Our City Council needs a new member who is pro-Asheville. Our Council needs a legal mind to ask the right questions. Our Council needs someone who is going to get to work and not deliberate.

Vote for Esther Manheimer on Nov. 3.

— Honor Moor Asheville

Robin Cape will bring heart, drive and expertise to City Council Robin Cape is running for reelection to

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Asheville City Council. She was having personal problems at filing time and did not think she could run, but later reconsidered and is now running as a write-in candidate.

She is not running a protest campaign.

With the support of city voters, she really can win.

Robin has been one of the strongest advocates on the Council for community, sustainability and developing the local economy. In her first term, she has built a strong voting record and a track record of accomplishment.

I think we would be lucky to have Robin back in office. And we can, if her supporters will just mark the “Write in” oval on the election ballot and print “Robin Cape” on the “Write in” line.

Cecil Bothwell and Gordon Smith are both excellent candidates for City Council. If voters would take just a moment to write in Robin Cape, we would have a Council with the heart, the drive and the expertise it will take to lead us through this crucial stage in the city’s development.

I would urge all voters to cast a vote that counts, and “Write in Robin Cape” for City Council.

— David Wheeler Asheville

Join us for the Asheville 350 gathering to cap CO2 I find it reassuring, as a recent addition to the population of Western North Carolina, that so many individuals from the region are so passionate about preserving the environment. As a recent graduate of an environmental law and policy program in Vermont, I feel that, already, I fit in among friends and advocates working to preserve the beautiful, unique surroundings of Western North Carolina. Because there are already a great number of local supporters, I think now is an ideal time to work together to create a strong voice to enhance the quality of the global environment.

As world leaders are coming together in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a plan to combat climate change, it is imperative that concerned communities gather together to show support of a strong climatechange policy. Propelled by the latest scientific evidence, many of the world’s leading climate scientists have now revised the highest safe level of CO2 to 350 parts per million.

Current plans for the treaty are much too weak to reduce our emissions to that amount, so global community involvement to support the “350 Action” is necessary to demonstrate the concern we have for our planet.

On Oct. 24, join your family, neighbors and coworkers at a gathering, 2-4 p.m., at the new park in front of Asheville City Hall to show our community’s support for a healthy planet and an environmentally responsible future.

The Asheville 350 gathering will be part of the International Day of Climate Action, one of 2,000 gatherings in over 150 countries to demand of our worldwide leaders a climate treaty that sets us on a rapid course

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

to 350 ppm. The local day of action includes children’s activities as well as opportunities to voice your personal environmental concerns/pledges. See asheville350.org for more information.

— Elizabeth Jayne Henderson Hendersonville

Mason’s Return of an Angel is in good theatrical company with its structure While I agree with some of Steven Samuels’ points in his review of Sandra Mason’s play Return of an Angel (which appeared online at mountainx.com), I think he missed the mark a bit. His primary objections were structure, lack of naturalism and unnecessary theatrical effect.

He terms Mason’s breaking of the fourth wall — with direct addresses to the audience — as more like lecture than play; yet this has been used as convention by authors and playwrights as diverse as Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Ionesco, Stoppard, Woody Allen and Thornton Wilder and many others. True, Angel does not follow conventional structure of exposition, rising action and so forth, but many modern plays and film scripts do not, such as Uhry’s Driving Miss Daisy and the greatest play of the 20th century, Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. I would include Uta Hagen’s performance in Goethe here also, one I was privileged to see. Angel is not on this level, but it is far from being a mere lecture.

I, too, believe the actual battles that must have gone on in the Old Kentucky Home must have been naturalistic scorchers, but that would make for another play. However, the effect of breaking the wall here inserts an aspect of reflection, creating a nostalgic lens through which we get an elongation of time.

(The old songs contribute to this effect.) A work must be judged by the goals it attempts to meet, and this play succeeds in meeting the standard it sets.

This is not a searing Long Days Journey Into Night, but rather a charming and emotionally involving appreciation of the contribution of a native son, one who, it seems, keeps trying to come home again.

— Charlie Baumhauer Weaverville

How do we get from kindness to animals to “let’s slaughter them”?

On any given week, you’ll find the Xpress teeming with pleas for adopting homeless dogs and cats. You’ll also find multiple ads offering to sell you pieces of dead chickens, pigs, cows etc. Such is the schizophrenic relationship between humans and animals.

Rarely, though, will you come across so much ink devoted to eating a species that many consider to be a companion animal (see “A great appearing act: Rabbit shows up on local plates,” Sept. 2). The article chronicled the growing local demand for rabbit flesh, yet the only mention of ethical considerations was to note that customers have “apparently recovered from the Easter Bunny syndrome

that struck the rabbit industry a few decades ago.” A local restaurateur referred to his presentation of rabbit corpses by saying: “They’re really cute.”

Health author Harvey Diamond highlighted the natural affinity children have for animals this way: “You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I’ll buy you a new car.” I suspect the restaurateur’s kids would find the bunnies cuter alive than dead. As they grow, children are taught to offer kindness to some species and to either take pleasure in or, at best, be indifferent to the suffering of others.

In most states, you can be charged with a felony if you are cruel to an animal. Yet many of the same states, including North Carolina, specifically exempt egregious institutional cruelties inflicted upon animals raised for food. I’ve often wondered why different societies choose to revere some species and eat others. It’s clearly not based on intelligence, since chickens score higher on cognitive function tests than do dogs or cats. And it’s wellknown that pigs are much smarter than dogs.

Cuteness must not be the criteria, as most people likely find a bunny more pleasing to the eye than, say, a bulldog.

English philosopher Jeremy Bentham said, “The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But, can they suffer?” If we seek a kinder, gentler world, why not start at the dinner table? For recipes and other information, visit www.VegCooking.com.

— Stewart David Asheville

Those who accumulate capital inherently exploit those who don’t Michael Moore’s recent movie, Capitalism: A Love Story, is an important step toward popularizing the class war, but I was disappointed that his film stopped short of attacking one key problem of capitalism head on — the problem of accumulation. He never went so far as to illustrate how capitalism’s inherent inequality of socioeconomic conditions always means an inequality of access to better socioeconomic conditions as well.

For this reason, I was left feeling that he has not criticized the capitalist system, but rather its more gross manifestations. And because of this, many viewers may leave the theater with disdain for Wall Street and casino capitalism. But I doubt the film makes any viewer question the morality of passive income, capital gains or bosses who profit from employee labor. These seemingly benign practices are rarely diagnosed as the cancer inherent to capitalist exploitation, but they affect many more people than Goldman Sachs or Citigroup. Moore implies our enemy lives in big corporate buildings in New York and Chicago, which they do, but they also live right here in Buncombe County.

— Thad Eckard Candler

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

commentary Jerry’s Gospel on two contrasting public works

by Jerry Sternburg They should put huge, bright-colored condoms on all those phallic symbols standing in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse on the old City/County Plaza to remind the public what the Pack Square Conservancy has done to the community. This $8-million project to turn a park into a park has already cost $16 million in public and private dollars, and who knows how much the merchants in the surrounding area have suffered in lost business and revenue.

Now these same folks are looking to drain our already depleted local-area charitable pool and limited taxpayer dollars to siphon off another $4 million to build a pavilion.

Hello! We have a Civic Center and a Reid Center that are both in a terrible state of decline, and for lack of facility space, our charitable shelters and social services are turning away people impacted by the recession.

This project is a monument to poor planning, poor engineering and poor financial management; and it demonstrates a woeful lack of knowledge and sophistication for building a project like this. To make matters worse, project

leaders found it necessary to go outside the area to find contractors and labor to take our money.

We’re going to have a new computer-driven fountain to replace the wonderful old fountain that adorned the square for so many decades.

The new one will be all bright and shiny, and people can play in it. Does the health department know this, and will they inspect it to make sure we put chlorine in the water? Will there be a lifeguard? Rumor has it that this fountain is already leaking.

You can bet that the first time that computer goes out and there is a $5,000 repair bill, they will go back to a plain old water pump that costs about $100.

That is kind of like taking down the leaning tower of Pisa and putting up a new shiny stainless steel obelisk on an angle.

I think the pricey underground wiring is a nice touch that makes electrical outlets available to vendors. Now those street people sleeping in the park will not be kept awake by those noisy old generators. As a matter of fact, when the park is not in use for the handful of events that will occur there, why couldn’t we make it a tent city and let the homeless plug in a heater, a microwave and maybe even a television?

It seems to me that it is time to stop pounding mud down this rat hole and squandering our precious resources. Just open the park again, declare victory and retire from the field.

In contrast

I’m not bashful about criticizing the city when I think they have done something wrong, so I think it’s only fair to give credit when city employees have gone above and beyond to

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even for the most sophisticated applicant.

Many of the laws and rules are so vague, arbitrary and ambiguous that it can cause honest differences of opinion and conflicts of interpretation between inspectors from different departments. Quite often, resolving these conflicts requires face-to-face meetings between different departments. But arranging these resolution conferences has been nearly impossible and very time-consuming for all involved, especially when the various offices are scattered throughout the city.

To consolidate all these services, staff considered Innsbruck Mall as the most promising location. However, facing serious budget constraints, Manager Jackson challenged Assistant City Manager Jeff Richardson and Public Safety Director Robert Griffin to find a cheaper solution. Being the resourceful can-do guys they are, they hit upon the brilliant idea of remodeling the way-too-spacious Public Works Building on Valley Street into a 11,000-square-foot onestop center. But they took bids on the remodel and decided that the number quoted was too expensive. So they then enlisted the help of the city inspectors themselves, most of whom are tradesmen, such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers and mechanical folks, along with other staff, who all pitched in on the remodel and made this happen.

These men and women did a yeoman’s job, and this office will serve as a model for the many contractors they serve.

They even replaced all the old-style lighting with new energy-saving lighting, which will pay for itself in a relatively short time.

They were aided and abetted by the good people at Office Environment, who made avail-

EBT

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

provide a benefit to we the taxpayers: It was an early goal of our present city manager, Gary Jackson, to consolidate all of the inspection and permitting offices into a one-stop center to expedite the process of getting approval for building projects.

It makes no difference if one is a major contractor, developer or a homeowner just attempting to do a simple remodeling project — the process is daunting. The water department is in one place, the sewer department in another place, and the electrical inspector is somewhere else. There are so many federal, state and municipal codes — along with Asheville’s Unified Development Ordinance and other various requirements — to be followed that compliance becomes extremely complicated and frustrating

able some very-high-quality furniture, partitions and carpet at distress prices, saving substantial sums of additional cost.

This energetic and cooperative group of city employees came in $20,000 under their proposed budget and, overall, saved the taxpayers some $300,000.

This new development-service center will save builders, developers and homeowners millions of dollars, and it will promote smart development and affordable housing.

Let’s give these dedicated public servants a tip of the hard hat. X Jerry Sternberg has been active on the local scene for many years. He can be reached at gospeljerry@ aol.com.

arts&entertainment Soundtrack to a city

The free Just Because You’re Asheville concert returns, expanding into a day-long festival

by Lydia See “Something about this town drew us here as musicians; now we’re going to be part of the soundtrack to this town,” says singer/ songwriter Oso Rey. It’s true that Asheville grooves to its own beat, like the snippets of buskers and the drum circle and music flowing from bars as you walk by. If a musician is lucky enough, those sound bites stay with people, and help govern the ever-changing face of the Asheville musicscape.

Rey, who now fronts roots-rock outfit Soulgrass Rebellion, said that what originally attracted him and his family to Asheville was that “The music & art scene seemed to be thriving, and had good community support around it.” After living here and playing music for a few years, Rey found his opportunity to contribute, “What I’ve realized that matters the most in this scene is that you’ve gotta put something into the community. I arrived three years ago thinking I could just show up and that would be enough. I’m glad it didn’t work out that way. That would’ve been all about hype. And hype fades, and gets shifted somewhere else. This town has taught me to slow my roll.”

But Rey won’t slow his roll too much this Saturday when he joins a heady roster of local (Thunderdrums), regional (DubConscious, Jamie McLean Band), and nationally-touring (Galactic with Corey Henry, Larry Keel with Bryon McMurry) bands. The event? The Just Because You’re Asheville (JBYA) downtown street festival: part adieu to summer, part why-the-heck-not opportunity to rock out, part thank you to and from area musicians.

Organized by Mountain Roots Management, the day-long event teams a supergroup of local businesses to pull off the day-long sixband fete. “We are blessed in this area with wonderful free events like Asheville Earth Day, Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Fest and Blue Ridge Pride, to name a very few,” says Bob Robertson partnering company AMJam Productions. “Just Because You’re Asheville tries to bring a little of all those events together, for an end-of-year celebration. As the winter months grow near, we just wanted to throw an appreciation event to all the folks of Asheville who support live music, local businesses and help make Asheville what it is.”

Roberts adds that AMJam and Mountain Roots Management also organize Asheville Earth Day — the start of the festival season which JBYA (now in its second year) bookends.

Last year’s JBYA featured Keller Williams with EOTO and Josh Phillips Folk Festival supporting. An estimated 4,000 people patronized

who:

Just Because You’re Asheville

what:

Free downtown Asheville street festival featuring Galactic, Larry Keel, Dubconscious, Jamie McLean Band, Soulgrass Rebellion and Thunderdrums

where:

Lexington Ave. between the I-240 overpass and Woodfin St.

when:

Saturday, Oct. 24 (1 p.m. to 9 p.m., free. www.jbya.org)

Just because you’re Galactic: The New Orleans funksters headline the daylong free festival.

Get ready to get down.

Larry Keel and Byron McMurry plays earlier in the day.

100 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Photo by Jon C. Hancock

the event, also showing support for the event sponsors’ chosen non-profit, the Dogwood Alliance. This year’s non-profit beneficiary, LEAF in Schools and Streets, is an educational program dedicated to providing world influenced music and arts education to the youth of communities both locally and internationally.

One change from 2008’s JBYA: A $25 VIP upgrade that includes a T-shirt and poster, private restrooms, discounted beverages and refreshments and a reserved viewing area.

VIP options like these at large free events are an affordable luxury which contribute to the longevity of the event, though the festival seems to be designed to be enjoyed thoroughly as a general admission patron. Which is to say, even the port-a-potty using, sidewalk-occupying masses are in for a good time, not to mention a serious dose of the evolving Asheville soundtrack.

It’s the wide-appeal lineup that rounds out the fun-filled day. Soulgrass Rebellion culls influences of roots, reggae and bluegrass and band members from Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, The Fly Brothers and Afromotive.

Thunderdrums is a world-beat electronica project that lives up to its name. Athens, Ga.-based DubConscious bolsters deep reggae grooves with pulsing Afrobeat. Guitarist Jamie McLean, who fronts his namesake group, gained notoriety in the new Orleansbases Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Also from New Orleans, funk outfit Galactic fotifies its hipshaking instrumentals with the jazz-tinged trombone of Corey Henry. And, no stranger to the Asheville area, Virginia bluegrass picker Larry Keel teams up with Acoustic Syndicate banjo player Bryon McMurry. (Need hip-hop in the mix? Keep rocking at the GFE afterparty at Stella Blue, 9 p.m.)

Now that’s a soundtrack. X

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A Place for Movement, Breath & Creativity

OCTOBER CLASSES AT SEC THE WEEK OF 10/25 – 10/31:

Sunday 25 • 4 – 6 pm Contact Improv Monday 26 • 7:15 pm Flow Yoga Tuesday 27 • 7:30 pm Kirtan with Sangita Devi

Wherein Brian McGee quotes Billy Joel, the Honeycutters reveal their emotional needs and Andy Friedman denies he’s a cynic

by Dane Smith The Osmonds were on to something, and their cross-genre blend (sans cheesiness) pretty well covers the lineup at the Grey Eagle Saturday.

Brooklyn’s Andy Friedman and the Golden Winners will share the stage with Asheville’s own raucous Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed and Americana jewels the Honeycutters.

Xpress caught up with all three before the show to talk about punk-rock and hugs, among other things. For the full interviews and many surprises, check mountainx.com.

The Honeycutters

Mountain Xpress: You started out as a duo, did you always write with a full band in mind?

Amanda Platt: I’ve never been really interested in doing the singer/ songwriter thing, so ever since I started writing I’ve sought out other musicians to flesh my songs out a bit. When Pete and I first started playing together we really wanted an upright bassist, and we thought that all our problems would be solved if we could only find someone to play bass with us.

Happily, we found Ian on bass and also Spencer on mandolin and Mike on drums. We like to be able to make people dance, and for a long time we’ve been shying away from playing as a duo, but now we’ve sort of rediscovered it and I actually do have a number of songs that I’ve written that are quieter and more suited to the acoustic duo setting.

Your Web site says you started out of too much coffee and not enough hugs. Are you getting more hugs now?

Pete James: We’ll never get enough hugs. We’re very emotionally unstable and needy people.

Thursday 29 • 6:30 – 8 pm Trance Dance

A night of art country, country-punk and Americana

(the alley between Broadway and Lexington)

www.sacredembodimentcenter.com

Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed

Your music is half punk rock, half country.

What are you at heart? A punk or a good ole’ boy?

McGee: Neither. I believe my good friend Billy Joel said it best, “What’s the matter with the clothes I’m wearing? Can’t you tell that your

tie’s too wide? Maybe I should buy some old tab collars? Welcome back to the age of jive.

Where have you been hidin’ out lately, honey?

You can’t dress trashy till you spend a lot of money. Everybody’s talkin’ ‘bout the new sound. Funny, but it’s still rock and roll to me.�

[Editor’s note: McGee inexplicably goes on to quote the entire rest of this song].

What is the most punk-rock thing you’ve ever done and the most country thing you’ve ever

who:

Andy Friedman and the Golden Winners, Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed, The Honeycutters

31 Carolina Lane, Asheville (828) 231-1256

from that sad but hopeful kind of part of every day life.

Your songs make me sad in a good way. Does that make sense, and is that intentional?

Platt: I think that makes sense. I feel like a lot of my favorite songs do that for me. There’s some sadness that is fulfilling and honest, so it feels good every so often. A lot of my songs come

Wednesday 28 • 6 – 8 pm Sivananda Yoga

Saturday 31 Halloween Party

They call him the “hillbilly Leonard Cohen�: Art-country troubadour Andy Friedman — also an illustrator for the New Yorker — returns to the Grey Eagle with a new band and a new sound.

what:

where:

The Grey Eagle

when:

Saturday, Oct. 24 (9 p.m. $8. www. thegreyeagle.com)

102 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Once more, with hope: The Honeycutters sing songs that make you sad, in a good way.

He once invaded Hot Topic: Brian McGee and the Hollow Speed create a new sound. photo by sandlin gaither

done?

The most punk-rock thing ever done was invading Hot Topic under the pretext that they had weapons of mass destruction. The most country thing ever done was moving to North Carolina.

You started playing shows from the bottom up, including some time busking New York.

What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever played?

One of the most interesting shows I’ve ever played took place in the desert outside of Las Vegas with Plow United. We were told to meet in the parking lot of a Whole Foods-type store.

We then caravanned with about 15 other cars out into the desert to play on a concrete slab.

Maybe the slab used to have a store or house built on it at one point. I don’t know. The show was powered by a generator and we opened for a ska band dressed in wrestling tights and face paint.

What is your favorite thing to do besides play music?

My favorite things to do are listen to music, read about music, go see live music, hang around the friendly neighborhood record store, hang out with my wife, go out for tacos, go out for ice cream, go out to art openings ... It’s hard to imagine not being a musician. I can only imagine what it must be like to do it full time.

And that is what I’m after. That is the goal.

Andy Friedman and the Golden Winners Why the new band? [Editor’s note: Friedman’s former band was the Other Failures. Sample headline: “Andy Friedman turns Failures into Winners”] Friedman: The new band comes from a desire to present a new sound and mood onstage, one that’s closer in spirit to that of the recordings than what the arrangements in the live show with The Other Failures had become. I don’t place either above the other, but after

three years of traveling with the more raucous, electric sound of The Other Failures, I naturally wanted to explore other possibilities. ... Next time I come through I might have an interpretive dance troupe.

Your songs are a bit cynical, are you?

Pessimistic, maybe, but certainly not cynical.

In my opinion, anyone who goes through the trouble of recording music, writing songs to share, and traveling the country high and low to affect audiences big and small in one way or another cannot be called a cynic. ... You may not believe it but what motivates me is to share my points of view, emotions, and stories with those who might need them.

It might be one person in a crowd of 200, but music and art offers a religious experience, and I’ve been lifted up, enlightened, and inspired by so many artists — whether in concert, on record, or in books — that I feel it’s only fair to participate, to send my stuff out there the same way and reach who it will reach. I’m not doing it for the millions of dollars that I earn by doing this, the caviar that the venues provide by the bucketload backstage, or the women (young and old) pounding at the green room door from load in to load out. All that stuff is nice, sure, but I do it for the religion and the community it provides.

What’s do you think is the most appropriate venue for your music?

Well, to be honest, a venue like The Grey Eagle is wonderful for what I do. The sound is big and great, the audience is welcoming and knows how to listen to songs, there’s a great big stage.

And they serve jambalaya not 200 feet from where the music is happening. But, really, put me in any room or rooftop or apartment where people are interested in listening, dancing, feeling the music and I will call that ideal. Not ideal: children’s birthday parties, McDonald’s, frat parties at Boston University. X Dane Smith can be reached at rocknrolldane@ gmail.com.

Turke Nov. 2 y Tours 4-28

A 90 minute joy ride through asheville with comedy and live music Ticket Prices $15 kids $22 Adults LaZoom For The Holidays!

ides R y a Holid c. 23-27 De

lazoom

See detailed schedule and order tickets online at:

www.lazoomtours.com

Or call for more information: 828.225.6932 mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 103

Coming to the

THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM with

MASERATI 6*745&#; † 1%61$'4 † 2/

smartbets Best of WNC Bash

The music? Rollicking New Orleans-style jazzboogie from Firecracker Jazz Band and red-hotand-smokin’ blues-rock from Skinny Legs and All. The entertainment? Laugh-out-loud sketch comedy from LYLAS, fun from the Montford Park Players and live-painting from Gabriel Shaffer. The food? Heavy hor d’ourves from more than a dozen of WNC’s reader-favorite restaurants. The reason? We’re celebrating the Best of WNC and all the good-time, creative, terrific and hard-working folks who make our little corner of the world so damn special. Plus, it’s all a benefit for best local do-gooder group MANNA FoodBank. Get your tickets early for $15 (at the Xpress office, 2 Wall St. in the Miles Building downtown or at the Orange Peel box office, or at the door for $17.

Beauty Queen of Leenane

N.C. Stage opens its 8th season with the unsettling and bleakly funny play The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Part psychological drama a la Hitchock, part black comedy a la Coen Brothers, Beauty Queen tells the story of Muareen and her elderly mother Mag, their dysfunctional existence together and the return of an old flame who threatens to upset the balance. Starring Carol Mayo Jenkins, who played Professor Sherwood on the TV show Fame and is now a faculty member at the University of Tennessee.

Shows Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., Oct. 21 to Nov. 8. www.ncstage.com.

Vienna Boys Choir

7XHVGD\ 1RYHPEHU ‡ SP ALSO COMING SOON: THE

The famed choir comes to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium as part of the Asheville Bravo Concerts series. The chorus performs everything from traditionals and hymns to The Beatles and Madonna. Tickets $20 to $55, students half off, at Civic Center Box Office, 2255887 or www.ticketmaster. com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23.

AVETT BROTHERS 12/31 - SOLD OUT!

Tickets available at all Ticketmaster outlets, Asheville Civic Center box office, www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000

104 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Club phone numbers are listed in Clubland in the (828) area code unless otherwise stated; more details at www. mountainx.com/clubland. Send your Smart Bet requests in to ae@mountainx.com for consideration by the Monday the week prior to publication.

clubland

where to find the clubs • what is playing • listings for venues throughout Western North Carolina Clubland rules •To qualify for a free listing, a venue must be predominately dedicated to the performing arts. Bookstores and cafés with regular open mics and musical events are also allowed.

•To limit confusion, events must be submitted by the venue owner or a representative of that venue.

•Events must be submitted in written form by e-mail (clubland@mountainx.com), fax, snail mail or hand-delivered to the Clubland Editor Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt at 2 Wall St., Room 209, Asheville, NC 28801.

Events submitted to other staff members are not assured of inclusion in Clubland.

•Clubs must hold at least TWO events per week to qualify for listing space. Any venue that is inactive in Clubland for one month will be removed.

•The Clubland Editor reserves the right to edit or exclude events or venues.

•Deadline is by noon on Monday for that Wednesday’s publication. This is a firm deadline.

Wed., October 21 Back Room

Open mic Beacon Pub

“Drinkin w/ Lincoln” Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Open mic

BoBo Gallery

Spider w/ Magdyn Osh (folk, rock, indie) Boiler Room

Vortex Cabaret (variety) Broadway’s

‘80s Night, 10pm Cancun Mexican Grill

Open mic

Curras Dom

Eleanor Underhill (singer/songwriter) Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

Zydeco dance & lessons Emerald Lounge

Reggae Resurrection Frankie Bones

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter) Garage at Biltmore

Mixed Bag Open Jam hosted by Michael Tao Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Angi West (classical, folk, vocal) w/ Joti Marra, Sarahbrown, Ryan Cox & Topher Stephens Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Handlebar

Dickey Betts & Great Southern (Southern rock) w/ True Blues

The Hookah Bar

Courtyard Gallery

Open Mic w/ Sven Hooson

Open mic w/ Jarrett Leone

Town Pump

Open Mic w/ David Bryan

Curras Dom

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Old Time Jam, 6pm

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Hump day dance party w/ The Free Flow Band

Mark Guest (jazz guitar) Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Emerald Lounge

Open jam, 8-10pm Live music w/ Screaming Jays

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Orange Peel

Waynesville Water’n Hole

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

Wedge Brewing Co.

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)

Razcal’s

Westville Pub

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Lamb Of God (heavy metal) w/ GWAR “Hits & Shits” w/ Jamie Hepler

Bluegrass jam night (band 8-10pm, open jam 10pm) Red Stag Grill

Bobby Sullivan (blues, rock, standards) Rocket Club

Marc Keller (variety)

Funk jam featuring local artists Kontici (exotic lounge)

Jammin’ w/ Funky Max

Patrick Fitzsimons (blues, folk)

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Live music w/ DJ Drea

Beacon Pub

Steak & Wine

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

The Corduroy Road (Americana, folk, rock) Live music

Mark Bumgarner (Americana, country)

Stella Blue

BoBo Gallery

Stockade Brew House

Boiler Room

Open mic

Frankie Bones

Club 828

Scandals Nightclub

The Sex Slaves (rock)

Steve Wolrab & guests (jazz, guitar)

Garage at Biltmore

Back Room

Live piano music

Five Fifty Three

Thu., October 22

“Super dance party” feat: Adam Strange & Crick Nice DJ Latin dance

Simplified (rock, acoustic)

Mirrors (garage, rock) w/ Puddin’Tang Chaos in Gotham & Left Outlet (punk-rock)

Groove Collector (rock, indie, blues) Jill Andrews (of the everybodyfields) w/ Michael Ford Jr. & The Apache Relay Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Handlebar

Igor & Red Elvises (Siberian surf rock) Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Infusions Lounge

sundays

are

Come

Pool & Board Game niGht-

out and

Play!

ThursDay, ocTober 22 Free!

Chris o’neal Band Country Blues

saTurDay, ocTober 24

merCy Creek

aGGressive Folk-roCk duo ThursDay, ocTober 29 Free!

hay suGar

roCkin’ Country Blues-Grass saTurDay, ocTober 31

halloween Party & Costume Contest with

unCle dave &

the smoky mtn. esCort serviCe skintBaCk oPens - Mon. 7:30 OPEN MIC hosted by Scott Stewart

- Tues. -

Blues Jam Featuring the

Westville All Stars hosted by Mars

- Fri. -

Trivia Night with Prizes 9pm

sMoke-Free Pub • Pool & DarTs

777 Haywood Road • 225-wPUB (9782)

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 105

Live music

Dancing w/ Darin Kohler & the Asheville Katz

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Bluegrass Jam, 9:30pm Lobster Trap

Hank Bones

±,AST STAND²

!RT #RAFT 3HOW

7.#´S ALL NEW UPSCALE !DULT 2OOM 3PORTS ,OUNGE

4UESDAY /CTOBER PM

3MALL !PPETIZER "UFFET $RINK 3PECIALS AND ,IVE -USIC WITH 3OUTHERN 3ILK

240 to Exit 8 (beside Home Depot) 831 Old Fairview Rd. • 277-7117

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Emerald Lounge

3 Foot Swagger (rock)

SCI FI w/ Medisin

“Chick Singer Showcase” hosted by Peggy Ratusz

Never Blue

Fred’s Speakeasy

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Singer/songwriter showcase

Now You See Them (indie)

Bobby Sullivan (piano)

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Dance music w/ Cliff, Zanti & Kipper

Lyndsay Wojcik (folk, soul)

The Peg Twisters (string music)

Orange Peel

Garage at Biltmore

White Horse

Soulfly w/ Prong, Cattle Decapitation & Mutiny Within

The Leigh Glass Band (blues, Americana, rock) & The Spares

Pisgah Brewing Company

Gottrocks

County Farm (bluegrass)

Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk w/ Brock Butler

Purple Onion Cafe

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Anne Coombs (jazz, swing) Root Bar No. 1

Open mic night w/ Zach (RSVP: 318-2646) Scandals Nightclub

DJ Kri (Touch Samadhi)

Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro

Singer-songwriter showcase Steak & Wine

Live piano music

Stockade Brew House

The Big Ivy Project (bluegrass, folk)

it’s time...

NFL

The 170 La Cantinetta

Dave Lugadi (smooth jazz)

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Peggy Ratusz & friends (soul, blues) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Aaron Laflace (acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter) Westville Pub

Wed. 10/21

Thur.

10/22 Fri. 10/23

Angi West, Joti Marra, Sarahbrown, Ryan Cox & more! 8pm

Jill Andrews (everybodyfields) with Michael Ford, Jr. 9pm

Erin McKeown & Jill Sobule 9pm

Chris O’Neil Band (country, blues) White Horse

Trampled By Turtles (bluegrass, folk, rock)

Sundays Open at 12 Noon We have NFL TICKET— catch all the games on our 7 big screens!

Tue. 10/27

Mike Doughty Question

Jar Show with Porter Block 8pm

Floating Action, Spinto Band, Generationals & Pepi Ginsberg 8pm

232-5800 www.thegreyeagle.com 185 Clingman Ave.

Thursday night bluegrass jam

Fri., October 23 Back Room

Pond Water Experiment (funk, jam) Barley’s Taproom

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Acoustic Swing

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Brian McGee (9pm) Sun. 10/25

Zuma Coffee

Mercy Creek (folk, roots)

SaT. D.A.N.N. Benefit with Sons of 10/24 Ralph, Laura Blackley & more (Noon)

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm BoBo Gallery

This area’s only

SPINNING POLE Just arrived: T-Shirts, Hats, etc.

Great Nightly Drink Specials Pool Tables & Games Ample Parking

(828) 298-1400

520 Swannanoa River Rd, Asheville, NC 28805 Mon. - Sat. 6:30pm - 2am

106 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Town Pump

Live music w/ singer-songwriters Union County

Red Stag Grill

The Old Fairview

Eleven on Grove

Belly dancing

Mark Keller (singer/songwriter)

Stay tuned for our new restaurant opening soon

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Mela

Razcal’s

7EDNESDAY /CTOBER "LUEGRASS WITH "OYS 'ONE 7ILD

Garry Segal & Frank Beeson (Americana, blues)

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Salsa & Mambo Dancing, 10pm-2am Dance Lessons, 10:30pm

Mercy Creek (folk, roots)

(ALLOWEEN "ASH

The Wine Cellar at the Saluda Inn

DJ Dathan & DJ Daniel’s release party (house music) Boiler Room

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Al Petteway & Amy White (Celtic, acoustic)

Sat., October 24 Back Room

Mark Bumgarner (Americana, country)

Erin McKeown (indie, pop) & Jill Sobule (singer/ songwriter)

Beacon Pub

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Richard Bucy

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Locomotive Pie (originals & blues)

Handlebar

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm

Mystic Vibrations & Jule Mango (roots, reegae) Highland Brewing Company

Habibigy (blues, soul), 4-8pm

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar BoBo Gallery

Y.M DaKid w/ Mr. Traphik (rap) Boiler Room

Holland’s Grille

Free Flight (Southern rock)

Convalescence, Machines of Sin and Sorrow, Telic & Burnstitch (metal)

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Chaser’s Nitelife

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

DJ Diva & The Lee Whitaker Band

Infusions Lounge

Club 828

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues), 7:30-10:30pm

“Back To Cool” w/ DJ A.D.Dict

Iron Horse Station

Curras Dom

Twilite Broadcasters (vintage Southern harmony)

Sherri Lynn (country)

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Decades Restaurant & Bar

Dangermuffin (Americana, roots)

42nd Street Jazz Band

Jerusalem Garden

Dock’s Restaurant

Belly dancing w/ live music

Synchro (progressive rock)

Lobster Trap

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Live music by local artists Mike’s Tavern

Taylor Martin w/ Jimbo Hasmon & The Gin Fits (indie, rock) Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Motorskills CD release party O’Malley’s On Main

Smokin’ Section (blues, Southern rock) Orange Peel

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Emerald Lounge

Vertigo Jazz Project (jazz) w/ B.P.L. (hip-hop, funk) French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Jason C. Waller

Garage at Biltmore

Caffiend Event

Afromotive (reggae, Afrobeat, funk) & Grupo Fantasma w/ DJ Bowie

Gottrocks

Picnics

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

“Celebrate the life of Minnie Smith” feat: music

by Gerald Trimble & Jason Ross Martin Purple Onion Cafe

Fred Whisken (jazz pianist) Razcal’s

West Sound (R&B) Red Room at Temptations

DJ Dday, 10:30pm-2am

Whiskey Mountain Machine D.A.N.N. Benefit feat: Laura Blackley, Sons of Ralph & Marsupial, noon Brian McGee & The Hollowspeed (country) & more, 9pm Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Havana Restaurant

Ahora Si (salsa, jazz, tropical)

The Armory w/ The Third Age & The Foolish (rock)

Red Stag Grill

Broadway’s

Rocket Club

Rich Lather and the Little Shavers w/ The Rubber Cushions

Nevada (indie, rock) w/ Groove Collector & Ezette

Infusions Lounge

Chaser’s Nitelife

Satchel’s Martini Bar

DJ Diva & The Lee Whitaker Band

DK and the Aristakatz (jazz, pop)

Jake Leg Stompers

Club 828

Steak & Wine

Seduction Sideshow (burlesque, circus sideshow, vaudeville) Club Hairspray

Freaky Friday w/ Brandi & Shorty Curras Dom

Greg Olson & Richard Graham (world, folk) Decades Restaurant & Bar

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)

Live piano music Stella Blue

Enemy Lovers (rock, indie) Straightaway Café

Kevin Scanlon (acoustic, folk) Temptations Martini Bar

Bryan Steel of East Coast Dirt, 7:30-10:30pm

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Live music

Jack Of The Wood Pub Jerusalem Garden

Belly dancing w/ live music Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Saint Solitude w/ Caught in Motion & The Cheeksters (pop, rock, soul) New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Hamell on Trial (political folk, rock) O’Malley’s On Main

clubdirectory Complete clubland directory: www.mountainx.com/clubland. Questions or errors? E-mail (clubland@mountainx.com).

The 170 La Cantinetta 687-8170 Asheville Civic Center & Thomas Wolfe Auditorium 251-5505 The Back Room (OSO) 697-6828 Barley’s Tap Room (SH) 255-0504 Beacon Pub 686-5943 The Blackbird 669-5556 Blue Mountain Pizza (OSO) 658-8777 Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center 693-0087 BoBo Gallery (OSO) 254-3426 Broadway’s (SA) 285-0400 Cancun Mexican Grill 505-3951 Chaser’s (SA) 684-3780 Club 828 252-2001 Club Hairspray (SA) 258-2027 College St. Pub (SA) 232-0809 Courtyard Gallery 273-3332 Curras Dom 253-2111 Decades Restaurant & Bar 254-0555

Diana Wortham Theater 257-4530 Dock’s Restaurant 883-4447 The Dripolator 398-0209 Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar 252-2711 Eleven on Grove 505-1612 Emerald Lounge (OSO) 232- 4372 Feed & Seed + Jamas Acoustic 216-3492 Firestorm Cafe (OSO) 255-8115 Five Fifty Three 631-3810 Frankie Bones 274-7111 Fred’s Speakeasy (SA) 281-0920 French Broad Brewery Tasting Room 277-0222 The Garage 505-2663 Gottrocks 235-5519 Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern (OSO) 232-5800 Grove House Eleven on Grove 505-1612 The Grove Park Inn 252-2711

T O

Guadalupe Cafe 586-9877 The Handlebar (864)233-6173 The Hangar (SA) 684-1213 Havana Restaurant 252-1611 Highland Brewing Company 299-3370 Holland’s Grille 298-8780 The Hookah Bar 252-1522 Infusions 665-2161 Iron Horse Station 622-0022 The Lobster Trap 350-0505 Mack Kell’s Pub & Grill 253-8805 Magnolia’s Raw Bar (ISS) 251-5211 Mela 225-8880 Mike’s Tavern 281-3096 Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill (SH) 258-1550 New French Bar Courtyard Cafe 225-6445 Never Blue 693-4646 O’Malley’s On Main 246--0898

The Orange Peel (OSO) 225-5851 Picnics 258-2858 Panther’s Paw 696-0810 Pisgah Brewing Co. 669-0190 Purple Onion Cafe 749-1179 Rankin Vault 254-4993 Razcal’s 277-7117 Red Stag Grill at the Grand Bohemian Hotel 505-2949 Rocket Club 505-2494 Root Bar No.1 299-7597 Ruby’s BBQ Shack (ISS) 299-3511 Scandals Nightclub 252-2838 Shovelhead Saloon (SA) 669-9541 Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (OSO) 586-1717 Steak & Wine / Satchel’s Martini Bar 505-3362 Stella Blue 236-2424 The Still 683-5913

Stockade Brew House 645-1300 Straightaway Cafe (OSO) 669-8856 Switzerland Cafe 765-5289 The Red Room at Temptations (SA) 252-0775 Temptations Martini Bar (SA) 252-0775 Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub 505-2129 Town Pump (SA) 669-4808 Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues (SA) 254-7072 Vaso de Vino Wine Bar & Market 687-3838 Vincenzo’s Bistro 254-4698 The Watershed 669-0777 Waynesville Water’n Hole 456-4750 Wedge Brewery 505 2792 Westville Pub (OSO) 225-9782 White Horse 669-0816 Wild Wing Cafe (SA) 253-3066 Xcapades 258-9652

S M O K E O R N O T T O S M O K E

OSO: outdoor/patio smoking only • SH: smoking hours, call clubs for specfics • ISS: indoor smoking section • SA: smoking allowed Live music w/ Justin Seymour

Mercy Creek (folk, roots)

Mon., October 26

Orange Peel

White Horse

BoBo Gallery

Pnuma Trio (electronica) w/ Zoogma

Zach Blew (blues, funk)

Richard Benjamin w/ Crunk Witch (electro-pop, tape music)

Purple Onion Cafe

Sun., October 25

Red Room at Temptations

Barley’s Taproom

DJ Spy V

The Red Light Trio (jazz)

Sugar & Gold (pop, electro, psychedelic) w/ James Husband

Red Stag Grill

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)

John Cook

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Satchel’s Martini Bar

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Fire & Desire (pop, contemporary)

Mike Doughty (indie) w/ Porter Block

Scandals Nightclub

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Rod Picott (country, folk)

Dance party w/ DJ Stratos & drag show Steak & Wine

Live piano music Stella Blue

The Two Guitars of Yasmin & Lou, 10am12:30pm Bob Zullo (guitar), 630-10:30pm Jack Of The Wood Pub

GFE (hip-hop, funk)

Irish session, 5pm Tom Waits time, late

Stockade Brew House

Lobster Trap

Open mic

Straightaway Café

Live music w/ James Richards

Chris Rhodes

Orange Peel

Broadway’s

Contra dance

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bob Zullo (guitar), 630-10:30pm Handlebar

Emry’s Reading Room feat: Lauren Groff & Deno Trakas Hangar

Open mic night w/ Aaron LaFalce Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Songwriting competition w/ Jenny Juice Razcal’s

The Oxymorons (improv comedy) Rocket Club

Switzerland Cafe

Donovan Keith (guitar)

Mountain Xpress Best of WNC Party feat: Firecracker Jazz Band (explosive jazz) w/ Skinny Legs & All (funk, blues) & more!!

Temptations Martini Bar

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Rocket Club

Sunday jazz jam

D Mack Vocal jazz session w/ Sharon LaMotte, 7:30pm

Town Pump

Scandals Nightclub

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Miss Honey Boo Pageants, midnight

Marc Keller & Company (variety)

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

The Hookah Bar

Westville Pub

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Town Pump

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues)

Live music w/ singer-songwriters

Dangermuffin (Americana, roots) Gashouse Mouse (blues)

Live music w/ Tom Coppola (early) & Marc Keller (late) Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

PJ Brunson

Westville Pub

“Vinyl at the Vault” w/ Chris Ballard

Belly dance showcase w/ live bands

Asheville Jazz Orchestra (swing, jazz) Temptations Martini Bar

Open mic w/ Pierce Edens

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Open mic w/ Scott Stewart 7:30pm Apres OM, 11pm

Pickin’ at the Pump, open acoustic jam

Tue., October 27

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Back Room

Johnny Blackwell (variety, covers) Wedge Brewing Co.

Vollie & the Leadfoot Vipers (swing)

Keith Davis (jazz, pianist) Barley’s Taproom

The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show (bluegrass)

EvEry Monday Monday night Football - 25¢ Wings | $2 draft WEdnEsday sound Extreme Karaoke 8pm Wacky Wing night 25¢ Wings & $2 draft FrIday, oct. 24th southern silk 8pm Jazz Duo $5 Long Island teas $3.50 23oz domestic draught

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Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Makia Groove (funk, reggae)

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Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Chuck Lichtenberger presents “An Evening of Jazz� with special guests

Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center

“Pianopalooza� piano concerts feat: Daniel Weiser & Karen Sams

Emerald Lounge

Reggae Resurrection

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Marc Keller & Company (variety)

BoBo Gallery

Off The Map (AVL media showcase)

Frankie Bones

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter)

Westville Pub

Blues Jam w/ Mars Fariss

Eleven on Grove

Swing & Tango lessons and dance w/ One Leg Up

Garage at Biltmore

Mixed Bag Open Jam hosted by Michael Tao

White Horse

Irish session, 6:30pm Open mike w/ Parker Brooks, 8:30pm

Emerald Lounge

Ashevegas All-Stars presents Tuesday Night Funk Jam

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Bluegrass & clogging

Handlebar

Will Ray’s Mountain Jam

Wed., October 28

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Back Room

Floating Action (other) w/ Spinto Band, Generationals & Pepi Ginsberg

Barley Boyz (covers)

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Tao Rodriguiz Seeger Band (blues)

Beacon Pub

“Drinkin w/ Lincoln�

Mike’s Tavern

Klustofuk w/ Saything (progressive, garage)

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Open mic

Guadalupe Cafe

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Open jam, 8-10pm Live music w/ Screaming Jays

Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center

Ian Moore’s Mountain Music Miscellany

“Pianopalooza� piano concerts feat: Dan von Veiser

Iron Horse Station

Open mic w/ Yorky

BoBo Gallery

Geoff Weeks

Boiler Room

DJ dance party feat: Soul Ja Byrd & L.T.P.

Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Acoustic JAMbalaya w/ Clem Watkins

‘80s Night, 10pm

Tomato Tuesday comedy open mic

Razcal’s

Open mic & poetry slam

Rocket Club

“Super dance party� feat: Adam Strange & Crick Nice DJ

Diana Wortham Theater

Scandals Nightclub

JoneSalee

Friday, OCtOBer 23

Latin dance

October 21st

Come Jam with the Jays 8-10pm Screaming Jays 10pm & All You Can Eat Oyster Night

October 22nd

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Athens Funk & Rock n’ Roll

Saturday, OCtOBer 24

Motorskills

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SundayS!

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Chasers • Club Hairspray Razcals • Shovelhead Saloon Cancun Mexican Grill FRIDAY

Razcal’s

Eleanor Underhill (singer/songwriter)

thurSday, OCtOBer 22

THURSDAY

“Hits & Shits� w/ Jamie Hepler

Curras Dom

Circo Aereo (“new circus�)

The Hookah Bar

Beacon Pub • Fred’s Speakeasy The Hangar • Temptations Martini Bar O’Malleys on Main • Infusions Holland’s Grille

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

Bobby Sullivan (blues, rock, standards)

Open mic

Rock records w/ Rob

WEDNESDAY

Black Lips (psychedelic) w/ Turbo Fruits

Red Stag Grill

Cancun Mexican Grill

Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

Decades Getaway’s (Eleven on Grove) Headlights • Mike’s Side Pocket

Halloween bash w/ Boys Gone Wild (bluegrass)

Broadway’s

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

TUESDAY

Orange Peel

Kenosha Kid (jazz, “sonic tapestry� & silent film)

Lobster Trap

Mack Kell’s • Razcals Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

Open mic

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

MONDAY

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Wild Wing Cafe

Feed and Seed

I N  T H E C L U B S

Richard Duke (folk)

Live music w/ Robert Greer

Circo Aereo (“new circus�)

KARAOKE

Firestorm Cafe and Books

Watershed

Diana Wortham Theater

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

FOOTBALL

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

3 Foot Swagger

October 23rd CD Release Party

October 24th

Saint Solitude, Caught in Motion & The Cheeksters

October 26th

Brown Bag Songwriting Competition hosted by Jenny Juice – free!

October 27th

Acoustic JAMbalaya w/ Clem Watkins Free Show & $2 Wells!

All shows at 9:30 pm unless noted 77b Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 828-258-1550 • mo.daddys@gmail.com Check out our music online! mo-daddys.com

Infusions • Mack Kell’s • Shovelhead Saloon • Stockade Brew House The 170 La Cantinetta SATURDAY Club Hairspray • Holland’s Grille Infusions • Shovelhead Saloon The Still SUNDAY College St. Pub Getaway’s (Eleven on Grove) The Hangar • Mack Kell’s Wing Cafe • Cancun Mexican Grill Steak & Wine

Live piano music

Stockade Brew House

Open mic

The Blackbird

Lyndsay Wojcik (indie, folk) The Hookah Bar

Open Mic w/ Sven Hooson Town Pump

Open Mic w/ David Bryan Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Hump day dance party w/ The Free Flow Band Vincenzo’s Bistro

Marc Keller (variety)

Waynesville Water’n Hole

Funk jam featuring local artists Wedge Brewing Co.

Kontici (exotic lounge) Westville Pub

Jammin’ w/ Funky Max

Thu., October 29 Club 828

Live music w/ DJ Drea Back Room

Paco Shipp (roots, blues) & Bill Cardine Beacon Pub

Dustin Burley Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Patrick Fitzsimons (blues, folk)

Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center

“Pianopalooza” piano concerts feat: Scott Joiner & Colette Boudreaux (singer) BoBo Gallery

Pilgrim w/ Boys of Summer (indie, electronic) Boiler Room

Fantacy Fact, Hillside Bombers & Wayfarer’s All (jazz, fusion, funk) Courtyard Gallery

Open mic w/ Jarrett Leone Curras Dom

Mark Guest (jazz guitar) Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Emerald Lounge

“9” after party feat: Count Bass D Five Fifty Three

Steve Wolrab & guests (jazz, guitar) Frankie Bones

Chris Rhodes (singer/songwriter) French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Paul Edelman (folk, soul) Garage at Biltmore

Angela Faye Martin (indie) Gottrocks

Holy Ghost Tent Revival Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

WHY? w/ AU and Serengeti & Polyphonic Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Infusions Lounge

Stella Blue

Karma To Burn w/ Vic Crown and the Force & The Poontanglers Stockade Brew House

The Big Ivy Project (bluegrass, folk) The 170 La Cantinetta

Dave Lugadi (smooth jazz)

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Sound Tribe Sector 9 (electronic, funk, jazz) w/ Maserati Town Pump

Leigh Glass Band Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Peggy Ratusz & friends (soul, blues) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Belly dancing Mike’s Tavern

Seawhistle (rock, experimental) Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Mofro after party feat: Jamie McLean Band Never Blue

Singer/songwriter showcase New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Halloween dance party & costume contest Orange Peel

JJ Grey & Mofro (blues, rock) w/ Shooter Jennings & Earl Greyhound

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm Infusions Lounge

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues), 7:30-10:30pm Iron Horse Station

Sherri Lynn & Mountain Friends (country, contemporary bluegrass) Jack Of The Wood Pub

Two Man Gentleman Band (Americana, acoustic) Jerusalem Garden

Belly dancing w/ live music

Fifty Year Flood w/ The Humbuckers (country, swing)

Hay Sugar (country, bluegrass) Zuma Coffee

Live music by local artists Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Thursday night bluegrass jam

O’Malley’s On Main

Fri., October 30

Orange Peel

Back Room

Galen Kipar Project (folk, acoustic) Beacon Pub

MUSE (variety show) Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Acoustic Swing

Blue Ridge Dining Room & Wine Bar

Chris Rhodes (r&b, blues, pop), 5:30-10pm

Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center

“Pianopalooza” feat: Jeff Little Bluegrass & The Appalachian Sound BoBo Gallery

Prince Rama of Ayodha (visual) w/ Quiet Hooves (2-step, blues) Boiler Room

Chaser’s Nitelife

Mela

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

Westville Pub

Jack Of The Wood Pub

Hank Bones

Live Bands

Lobster Trap

Groove Collector & Calm Like a Bomb (psychedelic)

Lobster Trap

Holland’s Grille

Aaron Laflace (acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter)

Live music

Menage (“sweet sultry songstress”)

Electric Blues, 6-8pm

DJ Diva & The Lee Whitaker Band Club 828

Halloween show feat: Outformaiton (rock, psychedelic) Club Hairspray

Freaky Friday w/ Brandi & Shorty Curras Dom

Greg Olson & Richard Graham (world, folk) Decades Restaurant & Bar

Dancing w/ Darin Kohler & the Asheville Katz Diana Wortham Theater

Poppy Champlin (queer queen of comedy)` Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am Eleven on Grove

Live music w/ Justin Seymour Pretty Lights w/ Dark Party feat: Eliot Lipp & Leo 123 Pisgah Brewing Company

Phuncle Sam

Purple Onion Cafe

Fred Whisken (jazz pianist) Razcal’s

West Sound (R&B) Red Room at Temptations

DJ Dday, 10:30pm-2am Red Stag Grill

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues) Rocket Club

Live music w/ Sirius.B. (Gypsy, metal, folk) & Vortex Park LaZoom Halloween Blowout feat: Now You See Them (indie) Root Bar No. 1

The Tillers

Satchel’s Martini Bar

DK and the Aristakatz (jazz, pop) Scandals Nightclub

“Freakers Bash” & drag show Steak & Wine

Live piano music Stella Blue

Nova Echo CD release party (electro, alternative) w/ Fairground Ave & Do it to Julia Straightaway Café

Every Mother’s Dream (folk, pop) Temptations Martini Bar

Bryan Steel of East Coast Dirt, 7:30-10:30pm Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Live music w/ singer-songwriters

Pisgah Brewing Company

Salsa & Mambo Dancing, 10pm-2am Dance Lessons, 10:30pm

Town Pump

Erika Jane & Remember the Bees (blues, folk) Purple Onion Cafe

Emerald Lounge

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Red June (Americana, acoustic) Razcal’s

Mark Keller (singer/songwriter) Red Stag Grill

Anne Coombs (jazz, swing) Rocket Club

Halloween party w/ Ruby Mayfield & friends

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Bobby Sullivan (piano)

Garage at Biltmore

Pretty Lights after party, details TBA

LaZoom Halloween Blowout feat: Now You See Them (indie)

Gottrocks

Root Bar No. 1

Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Kevin Scanlon (acoustic, folk) Scandals Nightclub

DJ Lucus & the Bandits

Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro

Singer-songwriter showcase Steak & Wine

Live piano music

The Malah (jam band, psychedelic) Ahleuchatistas CD release show (other) w/ Ventricles & io Grove Park Inn Great Hall

EROTIC EXOTIC? ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS WNC Ladies up close & personal

The Delta Saints (blues)

Preach Jacobs (hip-hop) CD & comic book release w/ Secret B-Sides Silver Dagger (bluegrass)

club xcapades

Vincenzo’s Bistro

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Live music w/ Zim Stewart White Horse

stephaniesid (indie)

Sat., October 31 Back Room

Halloween costume contest w/ music by the Shane Pruitt Band (blues, gospel)

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm

Barley’s Taproom

Handlebar

Beacon Pub

Steve Morse (guitar) w/ David Jacobs-Strain

Halloween party

Highland Brewing Company

Blue Mountain Pizza Cafe

Silver Machine

New Exotic Cage Stage & 3 Satellite Stages

Comfy, Casual?

Just relax in our upscale lounge and take in the views. We have one of the largest spirit selections in WNC & have great specials every night.

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(3miles west of Downtown -off Patton Ave.)

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 109

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

11

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110 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Halloween costume contest w/ music by Mark Bumgarner (Americana, country)

Hannah Flanagan’s

Satchel’s Martini Bar

BoBo Gallery

Havana Restaurant

Ahora Si (salsa, jazz, tropical)

Steak & Wine

“HAHAHAHAHA!” (dance party) Boiler Room

Holland’s Grille

Twist of Fate (classic rock)

Stella Blue

Halloween party Chaser’s Nitelife

Horizons at Grove Park Inn

DJ Diva & The Lee Whitaker Band

Lajos Pagony (piano), 6-10pm

Club 828

Infusions Lounge

East Coast Dirt (rock, progressive)

Halloween show feat: Outformaiton (rock, psychedelic)

Live music

Curras Dom

Belly dancing w/ live music

Mark Guest & friends (jazz-guitar ensemble) Decades Restaurant & Bar

42nd Street Jazz Band

Jerusalem Garden Mike’s Tavern

Hatemonger (grime, other) w/ The Cruxvoid Mo-Daddy’s Bar & Grill

Fire & Desire (pop, contemporary) Live piano music

Spookshow A Go-Go w/ The Go Devils & members of Crank County Daredevils Stockade Brew House

Open mic

Straightaway Café

Live music

Temptations Martini Bar

Southern Silk Duo (jazz, blues)

Tolliver’s Crossing Irish Pub

Live music w/ singer-songwriters

Dock’s Restaurant

Town Pump

Halloween party feat: Buck Naked (rock ‘n’ roll)

Halloween bash & costume contest w/ The Discordian Society (experimental, funk)

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar

New French Bar Courtyard Cafe

Tressa’s Downtown Jazz and Blues

Non-stop rock’n roll sing-a-long party show, 8pm-1am

Kings of Prussia (experimental, thrash) w/ Ocoai

Eleven on Grove

Chris Williams

Halloween party

O’Malley’s On Main Orange Peel

Silver Dagger Bluegrass Annual Halloween bash w/ The Free Flow Band (funk, soul) Vincenzo’s Bistro

Live music w/ Tom Coppola (early) & Marc Keller (late)

French Broad Brewery Tasting Room

Brushfire (“stankgrass”)

Between The Buried And Me (metal, hardcore) w/ Glass Casket, Torch Runner & Brave Young

Garage at Biltmore

Purple Onion Cafe

Halloween party feat: Dashvara, Turbo Pro Project, Gaslight Street & DJ Position

Peggy Ratusz (jazz, blues) w/ Duane Simpson & Jonathan Pearlman

Well-Bred Bakery and Cafe

Gottrocks

Red Room at Temptations

DJ Spy V

Westville Pub

Black Lungs 5th annual Halloween bash Grey Eagle Music Hall & Tavern

Red Stag Grill

Watershed

Chalwa (“return of the living dread,” reggae) Ryan Furstenbuerg (country)

Halloween w/ Unknown Hinson (psychobilly) & Lamb Handler (rock)

Robert Thomas (jazz standards, blues)

Halloween party & costume contest feat: Uncle Dave & the Smoky Mtn. Escort Service w/ Skinback

Rocket Club

White Horse

Grove Park Inn Great Hall

Snake Oil Medicine Show & Soul Driven Train (roots, jam, Americana) LaZoom Halloween Blowout feat: Now You See Them (indie)

Bill Covington (classics), 6-7pm Maddy & Masterpiece (dance band), 7-11pm Handlebar

Halloween blowout & ‘60s theme costume party feat: The Roots & Culture Prophet

Root Bar No. 1

The Surf Church

Secret Agent 23 SKIDOO, 2-3pm Mac Arnold’s Halloween party, 8pm

crankyhanke

movie reviews and listings by ken hanke

JJJJJ is the maximum rating

additional reviews by justin souther • contact xpressmovies@aol.com

pickoftheweek Where the Wild Things Are

Due to possible last-minute scheduling changes, moviegoers may want to confirm showtimes with theaters.

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. (254-1281) n

Please call the info line for updated showtimes.

District 9 (R) 7:00. 10:00 G-Force (PG) 1:00, 4:00

Carmike Cinema 10 (298-4452)

JJJJ

Director: Spike Jonze Players: Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandofini, Lauren Ambrose, Paul Dano, Chris Cooper Children’s Fantasy Rated PG

The Story: A young boy runs away from home after a fight with his mother and travels to a magical island inhabited by fantastic creatures that mirror himself and his real life.

The Lowdown: An ambitious, not entirely successful attempt to flesh out the children’s book by Maurice Sendak. Rarely less than fascinating, but somehow not quite what it seems to want to be.

I cannot honestly say that I have ever been as conflicted about a movie as I am with Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are. It’s been over two days since I watched it, and I know now only slightly more about my feelings on it than I did when I walked out of the theater. What I knew then was that it was odd and interesting.

What I didn’t know was whether I actually liked it. All that can be added to that now is that I can’t quite stop thinking about the film. That clearly says something about the movie, but I’m not sure what.

The film is an expansion of—perhaps a meditation on—Maurice Sendak’s 1963 children’s book.

Considering that the book is only about 40 pages long and has nine sentences of text, expansion was inescapable. In doing so, Jonze and co-writer Dave Eggers have stuck remarkably close to the original, while offering their own take on the material, as all the best book-to-film adaptations do.

The problem is that some of the setup feels overstated and a little tedious. Worse—at least from my perspective—it seems to want the viewer to find Max’s (Max Records, The Brothers Bloom) behavior understandable, amusing or cute. While I find some of it understandable—even touching (as in the case of his igloo being destroyed)—other aspects of it are merely appalling. By the time Max defies his mother (Catherine Keener) by jumping on the kitchen counter and screaming, “Feed me, woman!”, my feelings were that this kid was a prime candidate for a nice military school. What I’m not clear on is whether that wasn’t the film’s intent. Regardless, it took some time before I regained even marginal sympathy for the character.

His subsequent flight from home, his sea journey to the magical island where the wild things are, and his encounters with the creatures there

theaterlistings Friday, OCTOBER 23 - Thursday, OCTOBER 27

Max Records and wild-thing friend in Spike Jonze’s flawed, but fascinating Where the Wild Things Are. works far better for me than the—admittedly necessary—setup. I believed in the solidity of the creatures and I liked the way in which the film made them all reflect Max or some aspect of his life. It’s an approach that makes sense because all this is a fantasy—an internal dialogue between Max and himself. The fact that these lumbering, slightly terrifying creatures accept this little boy in a cheesy wolf suit at his word and make him their king is dead-on, as anyone who’s ever been lied to by a child knows full well. Children are always astonished when you see through an outrageous lie, so in Max’s imagination, all his guff about Vikings and special powers would be taken at face value.

The interactions with the characters are equally apt and to the point. Max sees himself as the outof-control and destructive Carol (voiced by James Gandolfini) and in so doing comes to see his own failings and to fear his inner rage. The reality of the situation—that he’s actually more like the overlooked and much put-upon Alexander (voiced by Paul Dano)—doesn’t dawn on Max or the viewer until the aftermath of a dirt-clod fight that parallels the snowball fight and destruction of Max’s igloo from the setup. The arguing between Carol and his quasi-girlfriend KW (voiced by Lauren Ambrose, Cold Souls) not only suggests the quarreling of a married couple headed for divorce, but Max’s own fears that his mother may find herself no longer able to deal with his anger and outbursts. There’s more, but that’s the basic approach.

It’s all very clever and very creative. It’s intellectually stimulating. But how much of it actually had any emotional impact? That, I think, is the

problem for me, because I only responded to it emotionally on two occasions. Otherwise, I felt strangely distanced from the proceedings—something that I think explains my lack of enthusiasm for Spike Jonze in general. His films seem to me to think too much and feel too little, and that’s what I’m left with here. Still, I think Where the Wild Things Are is an interesting, important piece of filmmaking that should be seen if only for what it attempts. Whether it achieves its aims is going to be a very personal call. Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure action and brief language. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike Cinema 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15.

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell J

Director: Bob Gosse Players: Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford, Geoff Stults, Keri Lynn Pratt, Marika Dominczyk Comedy Rated R

The Story: A womanizer takes his two best friends on an ill-fated trip to a strip club for a bachelor party.

The Lowdown: A dull attempt at R-rated comedy that’s crude in every sense of the word.

Tucker Max is a writer who has made a very modest name for himself in the world of blogging,

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D (PG) 11:30, 1:40, 3:45, 8:00, 10:00 Where the Wild Things Are (PG) 11:45, 2:25, 5:05, 7:35, 10:00 Zombieland (R) 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:45, 10:05, 12:20

Cinebarre (665-7776)

n

n

Children of All Ages (NR) 1:45, 7:15 (Fri, Sat, Tue, Thu only) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D (PG) 1:00, 3:15, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 Couples Retreat (PG-13) 1:20, 4:35, 7:05, 9:30 Fame (PG) 1:45 (no 1:45 show Fri, Sat, Tue, Thu), 4:35, 7:10 (no 1:45 show Fri, Sat, Tue, Thu), 9:40 The Final Destination (R) 1:45 (no 1:00 show Sat-Sun), 4:15, 7:05, 9:35 Children of All Ages (NR) 1:45, 7:15 (Fri, Sat, Tue, Thu only) Saw VI (R) 1:00, 1:30, 3:15, 3:45, 5:30, 5:55, 7:45, 8:15, 10:00, 10:30 (Fri-Sat only), 12:15 (Fri only) Spookley: The Square Pumpkin (G) Sat-Sun only 1:00 The Stepfather (PG-13) 1:45, 4:25, 7:10, 9:40 Toy Story 1 & 2 3-D Double Feature (G) 1:00, 4:40. 8:20 Where the Wild Things Are (PG) 1:30, 4:10, 7:00, 9:35 Whip It (PG-13) 1:15, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (PG-13) 10:55 (Fri-Sun), 1:30, 4:25, 7:30, 10:15 Couples Retreat (PG-13) 11:05 (Fri-Sun), 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:55 Law Abiding Citizen (R) 11:00 (Fri-Sun), 1:50, 4:40, 7:40, 10:25 Saw VI (R) 11:15 (Fri-Sun), 1:40, 4:35, 7:20, 9:50 Where the Wild Things Are (PG) 11:20 (Fri-Sun), 1:55, 4:20, 7:00, 9:45

n Carolina Asheville Cinema 14 (274-9500)

(500) Days of Summer (PG-13) 3:10, 10:25 (Sofa Cinema showing) Astro Boy (PG) 11:50, 2:10, 4:30, 7:15, 9:35 Bright Star (PG) 12:25, 3:45, 7:10, 9:40 (Sofa Cinema showing) Capitalism: A Love Story (R) 12:30, 3:25, 7:05, 9:50 (Sofa Cinema showing) Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (PG-13) 11:35, 2:55, 7:00, 9:35, 12:10 Couples Retreat (PG-13) 12:05, 3:15, 7:10, 9:50, 12:25 Departures (PG-13) 11:55, 7:40 (Sofa Cinema showing) The Invention of Lying (PG-13) 12:15, 3:30, 7:15, 9:30 (Sofa Cinema showing) It Might Get Loud (PG) 11:40, 2:05, 4:35, 7:25, 10:15 Law Abiding Citizen (R) 12:45, 3:30, 7:20, 9:55, 12:30 Saw VI (R) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 12:30 The Stepfather (PG-13) 11:55, 2:30, 4:50, 7:25, 9:45, 12:05

n Co-ed Cinema Brevard (883-2200)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2D (PG) 1:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed), 4:00 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu), 7:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed) Zombieland (R) 11:15 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu), 4:00 (Sat, Mon, Wed), 7:00 (Fri, Sun, Tue, Thu)

n Epic of Hendersonville (693-1146) n Fine Arts Theatre (232-1536)

Amelia (PG) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, Late show Fri-Sat only 9:30 Capitalism: A Love Story (R) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, Late show Fri-Sat only 9:50

Flatrock Cinema (697-2463) n

Adam (PG-13) 4:30

n Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 (684-1298) n United Artists Beaucatcher (2981234)

Astro Boy (PG) 1:00, 3:10, 5:30, 7:50, 10:10 Circque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant (PG-13) 1:45, 4:30, 7:30, 10:15 The Invention of Lying (PG-13) 1:40, 7:20 Julie and Julia (PG-13) 1:20, 4:10, 7:00, 9:45 Law Abiding Citizen (R) 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 10:00 Paranormal Activity (R) 1:05, 3:15, 5:25, 7:40, 9:55 Surrogates (PG-13) 4:15, 9:50 Zombieland (R) 1:10, 3:20, 5:20, 8:00, 10:05

For some theaters movie listings were not available at press time. Please contact the theater or check mountainx.com for updated information.

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 111

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(500) Days of SummerJJJJJ

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Free Session 828-216-2963 Tune In to Cranky Hankeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Movie Reviews

5:30 pm Fridays on Matt Mittanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Take a Stand.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler Comedy/Romance A young man falls in love with a woman who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share his romantic worldview, but she canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but be drawn to him. A breath of springâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even in the late summerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;(500) Days of Summer is a clever, funny and very perceptive comedy/romance thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a must-see. Rated PG-13

Capitalism: A Love Story JJJJJ

Michael Moore Activist Documentary Michael Moore takes aim at the concept of capitalism and the meltdown of the economy.

Is it propaganda? Sure. All activist documentaries are. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertaining, thought-provoking, conversationstarting propaganda. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the difference. Rated R

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs JJJ

(Voices) Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Bruce Campbell, Mr. T Animated A failure by a quack inventor leads to a machine that causes food to rain from the sky, which is all well and good until the machine starts to malfunction. Disaster strikes and things begin to get out of hand. A generally odd family film thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more bizarreâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;namely in its quirky sense of humorâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;than good. Rated PG

Couples Retreat JJ

Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Malin Akerman Romantic Comedy A group of couples head off for a vacation in a tropical paradise only to be bamboozled into couples counseling. An uninspiring romcom centered around more of the same from Vince Vaughn thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s short on insight and overlong. Rated PG-13

Departures JJJJJ

Masahiro Motoki, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Ryoku Hirosue, Kazuko Yoshiyuki Drama A former cellist ends up taking a job for an outfit that prepares the dead for cremation. Pleasurable, perceptive drama with an unusual, thought-provoking premise thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s used to explore some universal themes. Rated PG-13

Fame JJ

Kay Panabaker, Naturi Naughton, Asher Book, Collins Pennie, Paul McGill, Charles S. Dutton,

Kelsey Grammer Musical/Drama Four years spent following students at New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School for the Performing Arts. A few bright moments and a director with a nice touch when handling musical numbers canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overcome an undeveloped story with bland characters. Rated PG

The Invention of Lying JJJJJ

Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Rob Lowe, Fionnula Flanagan, Tina Fey Philosophical Comedy In a world where no one can lie, one man discovers he has this abilityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;altering both his life and the lives of everyone else.

What could have been a fairly standard high-concept comedy is transformed into something much more intriguing because of the philosophical questions it raises. Rated PG-13

It Might Get Loud JJJJ

Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White Music Documentary Three rock guitar mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;discuss their beginnings and get together to discuss their art.

A simple concept that works because the film at least offers the feeling that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing its subjects at their most unguarded. Rated PG

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell J

Matt Czuchry, Jesse Bradford, Geoff Stults, Keri Lynn Pratt, Marika Dominczyk Comedy A womanizer takes his two best friends on an ill-fated trip to a strip club for a bachelor party. A dull attempt at R-rated comedy thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crude in every sense of the word. Rated R

Law Abiding Citizen JJ

Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb Action/Thriller A seemingly ordinary man takes revenge on the justice system that let the murderer of his wife and daughter walk free. Pointlessly gory and patently absurd, the movie might have worked as pulp, except that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too full of itself to even work as mindless entertainment. Rated R

Love Happens JJJ

Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Dan Fogler, John Carroll Lynch, Martin Sheen Romantic Drama A self-help guru falls into a relationship with a florist while still dealing with the baggage of his wifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sudden death three years earlier.

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A slickly-made adult romance marred by gooey sentimentality and an inability to find the right pitch. Rated PG-13

THE SECRETS OF JONATHAN Sperry J

Gavin MacLeod, Jansen Panettiere, Robert Guillaume, Frankie Ryan Manriquez, Allen Isaacson Christian Drama An aging widower takes a group of young boys under his wing to teach them about the Bible.

Heavy-handed Bible-thumping mixed with amateurish filmmaking make for a movie that will test your credulity and your endurance. Rated PG

The September Issue JJJJ

Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, AndrÂ&#x17D; Leon Talley, Mario Testino, Sienna Miller Documentary A look inside the world of Anna Wintour and Vogue magazine as she masterminds their all-important title issue. A nicely made documentary that suffers from an impenetrable central character, but scores points with its portrait of that characterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s creative visionary associate. Rated PG-13

SĂŠraphine JJJJ

Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, Anne Bennent, GeneviÂ?ve Mnich, Nico Rogner, AdÂ&#x17D;laÂ&#x2022;de Leroux Biographical Drama Biopic about the French painter SĂŠraphine de Senlis and her patron Wilhelm Uhde. A leisurely-paced biographical drama that benefits from strong performances and a respect for the mystery of both the creative and appreciative process.

Rated NR

The Stepfather J

Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard, Sherry Stringfield Weak-Tea Thriller A serial killer marries into â&#x20AC;&#x153;perfectâ&#x20AC;? families, and when his plans go awry, resorts to murder.

Idiotic, unpardonably slow and totally lacking in thrills. Rated PG-13

Surrogates JJJ

Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, Boris Kodjoe, James Cromwell Sci-Fi/Mystery In a futuristic world where people live vicariously through robotic counterparts, murders begin to take place, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s up to a hard-nosed detective to solve the case. A cobbledtogether mix of sci-fiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest hits wrapped inside a murder mystery that never quite adds up, creating one mediocre film. Rated PG-13

Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3-D Double Feature JJJJ

(Voices) Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney Animated Adventure A group of anthropomorphic toysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who come to life when no one is lookingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;go on various adventures. The same sweet, solid family entertainment that you remember, now polished with some not-soexciting 3-D work and packaged as a double feature. Rated G

Where the Wild Things Are JJJJ

Max Records, Catherine Keener, James Gandofini, Lauren Ambrose, Paul Dano, Chris Cooper Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fantasy A young boy runs away from home after a fight with his mother and travels to a magical island inhabited by fantastic creatures that mirror himself and his real life. An ambitious, not entirely successful attempt to flesh out the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book by Maurice Sendak. Rarely less than fascinating, but somehow not quite what it seems to want to be. Rated PG

Whip It JJJJ

Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Alia Shawkat, Daniel Stern, Kristin Wiig, Drew Barrymore Female-Empowerment Comedy/Drama A teenage girl finds herself when she lies about her age and joins a rollerderby team.

Thoroughly predictable and completely successful at doing what you want such a movie to doâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but with good performances and without insulting your intelligence. Rated PG-13

Zombieland JJJJ

Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin, Bill Murray Nerd-Empowerment Zombie Comedy After a zombie plague, a group of mismatched survivors make their way through what remains of the world in search of a safe place. A pretty funny zombie comedy that gets points for reveling in its gruesomeness, decent characterizations and clever touches along the way. Rated R

startingfriday AMELIA

Take an iconic historical figure, Amelia Earhart, cast Hilary Swank in the lead, surround her with a solid cast â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston, Joe Anderson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and a respected director, Mira Nair, and what have you got? The seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first obvious bit of Oscar bait. The question then is just how much interest there is in a PG-rated biopic on Amelia Earhart. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help that the only reviewers to see the film at this point are the trades â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Variety and Hollywood Reporter â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at opposite ends of the stick. (PG) Early review samples: â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;To say that Amelia never gets off the ground would be an understatement; it barely makes it out of the hangar.â&#x20AC;? (Justin Chang, Variety) â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;The classically structured bio will appeal to grown-ups, history buffs and lovers of aeronautics, but in showing how the flier was one of the most lauded celebrities of her time, it also might appeal to youngsters.â&#x20AC;? (Ray Bennett, Hollywood Reporter)

ASTRO BOY

David Bowersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Flushed Away) sophomore effort is this first big-screen version of the venerable Japanese cartoon series Astro Boy. The voice casting is high quality â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Freddie Highmore, Nicolas Cage, Bill Nighy, Charlize Theron, Samuel L. Jackson â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and both the trades were favorably impressed. The general run of reviews from Australia (where the movie opened last week) has also been positive. While this is enticing and the nostalgia factor should be high, how much clout does Astro Boy have with the very young viewers at whom itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s aimed? (PG) Early review samples: â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Appropriately for a film about robots, efficiency is the primary virtue of Astro Boy, a well-oiled CG-animated superhero pic that makes up in competence and vitality what it lacks in originality.â&#x20AC;? (Andrew Barker, Variety)

rattling off stories of drunken frat-boy debauchery and sexual escapades. Now, three years after his novel I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell hit bookstores, the film adaptation has hit theaters. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more than your usual attempt at an R-rated raunch fest, but tarted up with some phony sentiment and recycled insight.

The filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point is unfettered offensiveness and rampant un-PC-ness, something thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theoretically supposed to be shocking and thought-provoking at the same time. In practice, however, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neither. While Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideas of women are either sexist or misogynistic (under the guise of trying to rattle the cages of the square haircuts), he still manages to be unrepentantly dull. Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;who cowrote the screenplay with first-time screenwriter Nils Parkerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;thinks he has a knack for dialogue, but really, it all ends up as a mishmash between the worst aspects of Kevin Smith with a smattering of Dennis Miller. This is unfortunate on any number of levels, especially since all anyone does the entire film is talk incessantly. None of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terribly clever, and all of Maxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insight seems to be

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finally going the big-screen, computergenerated route, the iconic Japanese hero manages to keep his innate lovability intact in a visually dynamic if overly eager-to-please family feature cobbled together with parts reclaimed from various animated classics.â&#x20AC;?

(Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter)

CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIREâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ASSISTANT

What is it with the Weitz Brothers? Chris Weitz will soon offer us New Moon, the Twilight sequel, and hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother Paul with another vampire yarn, Cirque du Freak: The Vampireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Assistant. At least this one looks like it intends to be funny â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in part anyway.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s based on a series of books (there appear to be 12 of them to date) by one Darren Shan, which is also, it seems, the name of the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main character played by Chris Massoglia (TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wanted). The main draw â&#x20AC;&#x201D; apart from vampires and werewolves â&#x20AC;&#x201D; seems to lie in the supporting cast of folks like Salma Hayek, Ken Watanabe, Willem Dafoe, Frankie Faison etc. Early reviews are mixed, but limited mostly to horror sites. (PG-13)

IT MIGHT GET LOUD

See review in â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cranky Hanke.â&#x20AC;?

SAW VI

Of course, this latest Saw entry hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been screened. Lionsgate doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Halloween and that means itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time for another entry in this apparently endless franchise.

Somehow Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a persistent rumor that Cary Elwes (from the first film) will be back. Presumably weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find out what was in the mysterious box from the last film â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not that it really matters. The trailer makes it look like the six lucky victims this round are taking a ride on the whirligig of death. Well, why not? (R)

culled from bad stand-up routines. Occasionally there are people drinking booze, some boobs or a gross-out gag (including an incredibly vile, disgusting diarrhea gag), none of which is as racy or offensive as the movie thinks, because all these things have been done before in movies that are just as bad.

Then thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the sense of self-congratulatory smugness that permeates the film. Since Max has written a movie about himself, the cinematic version of Tucker Max (TV actor Matt Czurchy) is, of course, a quick-witted, irresistibly charming scallywag. In this version of the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;based on a true storyâ&#x20AC;? events, Tucker convinces his best friend Dan (Geoff Stults, The Express) to lie to his fiancĂŠ (TV actress Keri Lynn Pratt) and take a two-hour drive to a far-off strip club for his bachelor party. Reluctantly, Dan agrees, andâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;along with their bitter, women-hating, recently dumped buddy Drew (Jesse Bradford, showing that there are fates worse than Swimfan)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;they head out, only to have everything go wrong. All of this is supposed to lead to Tucker learning the true

meaning of friendship, but Tuckerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a vile, unlikable person that it comes across as forced and phony.

The technical side of things fares no better, as the whole movie looks like it was shot for a couple of fat nickels with a borrowed camcorder. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not even sure anyone understood this stuff is theoretically supposed to be in focus. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much to recommend here, unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the type that finds the exploits of dwarf strippers or bouts of violent diarrhea uproariously funny. And in that case, have at it. Rated R for nudity, strong sexual content, including graphic dialogue throughout, language and some crude material. reviewed by Justin Souther Playing at United Artists Beaucatcher Cinema 7.

It Might Get Loud JJJJ

Director: Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) Players: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White

Music Documentary Rated PG

The Story: Three rock guitar mastersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;discuss their beginnings and get together to discuss their art.

The Lowdown: A simple concept that works because the film at least offers the feeling that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing its subjects at their most unguarded.

It might not snag Davis Guggenheim another Best Documentary Oscar, but his It Might Get Loud proves that Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White make for livelier viewing than Al Gore. Of course, that probably wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t open to serious question in the first place. What was open to question in my mind was just how well this documentary on three guitarists from different eras and with different styles would play out. The idea of putting the three of them in the same setting had merit. And Jack Whiteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim early in the film that he plans on tricking them into showing him all their secrets sounded promising. It also sounded just a little bit ominous, since it would have been easy for the proceedings to quickly devolve into three guitarists talking shop and jamming. From a non-musician standpoint, that could have proved deadly.

Thankfully, that never happens.

Guggenheimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film is cleverly structured to cut back and forth among the threeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;without emphasizing their time together till later in the filmâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;allowing each to tell his own story of how he came to be who he is and where he is. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interesting, and in some cases, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s telling. Even in the case of a performer you likely think you know pretty wellâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;like Jimmy Pageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you get a new sense of the man and his history. I had no idea, for example, that during his session-musician days Page was on the recording of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goldfingerâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;not that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever be able to tell in the midst of all those horns and Shirley Bassey. In Pageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also something of a relief to find that the man has finally stopped dyeing his white hair an improbable jet black.

The film serves as a history of each guitarist and offers a platform for each to espouse his own aesthetic notions about music and the guitar. This is interesting in ways you might not imagine, since the degree to which each is intent on making

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a strong statement about a personal aesthetic is in reverse of their ages. Jack White seems far more interested in verbalizing what he does and why he does it than is The Edge, who in turn is more interested in it than Page. Perhaps it’s a difference in personalities, but it might as easily be the expression of mellowing with age.

The scenes involving the three actually discussing things and playing together attain just the right degree of information and music without ever becoming too technical for the layman. And Guggenheim is smart enough to catch the expressions of both The Edge and White as they watch Page pick up a guitar and launch into “Whole Lotta Love.” And what a moment it is, seeing the younger men realizing that this is a moment few people will ever have. The jamming itself is surprisingly tight and never wears out its welcome. The three of them having a go at Page’s “In My Time of Dying” is, in fact, a highlight of the film. If you have any interest in one of these three performers, or even any interest in rock music in general, It Might Get Loud is essential viewing.

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, brief language and smoking. reviewed by Ken Hanke Starts Friday at Carolina Asheville Cinema 14.

Law Abiding Citizen JJ

Director: F. Gary Gray (Be Cool) Players: Jamie Foxx, Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb Action/Thriller Rated R

The Story: A seemingly ordinary man takes revenge on the justice system that let the murderer of his wife and daughter walk free.

The Lowdown: Pointlessly gory and patently absurd, the movie might have worked as pulp, except that it’s too full of itself to even work as mindless entertainment.

In some ways, I should probably be happy about Law Abiding Citizen, simply because it’s an attempt at bringing the evil genius character back into the movies. Once—with the likes of Dr. Mabuse and Fu Manchu—the cinema was rife with evil madmen. Here, we get a little bit of the same thing—an insane genius (Gerard Butler) tries, through a series of improbable evildoings, to wreak havoc on the justice system that let him down—except with all the pulpy fun taken away in exchange for a sheen of self-seriousness.

The movie would like you to think it has something on its mind, namely, what does justice really mean? And for a bit, director F. Gary Gray (Be Cool) appears to actually have something to say, when he juxtaposes a young girl’s (EmeraldAngel Young) cello recital with an inmate (Josh Stewart, The Collector) being put to death. But whatever Gray is attempting to convey about “the death penalty as spectacle” doesn’t last as he proceeds to populate the next 90 minutes of his movie with pointless gore. And in the end, the movie undercuts any point it might’ve had about the ills of vigilante justice with its own climax. None of this, however, stops the film

v i s i t o u r w e b s i te w w w. w n c g re e n b u i l d i n g . c o m

for our complete directory, green glossary, and more! call 251-1333 or email webads@mountainx.com to find out about our affordable web advertising rates 114 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

one-timeshowings Dante’s Inferno

Man Hunt

Director: Ken Russell Players: Oliver Reed, Judith Paris, Andrew Faulds, Iza Teller, Christopher Logue, Pat Ashton

Director: Fritz Lang Players: Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders, John Carradine, Roddy McDowall

JJJJJ

Biographical Drama Rated NR No, it’s not an adaptation of The Inferno, it’s Ken Russell’s biographical film about painter/poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti (Oliver Reed) and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Made in 1967, the film is the most ambitious, longest and in many ways the most daring of the films he made for the BBC. Dante’s Inferno, part of a series of Classic Cinema From Around the World, will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Courtyard Gallery, 9 Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Info: 2733332.

JJJJ

Thriller Rated NR Until I had to review it here, I’d never had much interest in Fritz Lang’s Man Hunt (1941). So I was quite surprised to find this film version of Geoffrey Household’s novel Rogue Male compelling viewing from beginning to about 30 seconds from the end.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Man Hunt at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community, 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville. (From Asheville, take I-26 to U.S. 64 West, turn right at the third light onto Thompson Street. Follow to the Lake Point Landing entrance and park in the lot on the left.)

For Cranky Hanke’s full reviews of these movies, visit www.mountainx.com/movies. from patting its own back over its self-imposed significance.

If you haven’t seen the trailer, Butler plays Clyde Shelton, a seemingly mild-mannered family man whose wife (Brooke Mills) and daughter (Ksenia Hulayev) are brutally murdered during a home invasion. When one of the culprits (Christian Stolte, Public Enemies) makes a plea deal with local D.A. Nick Rice (Jamie Foxx), Clyde is none too happy. Fast forward a decade, and Clyde’s carefully plotted revenge scheme against the Philadelphia justice system starts rolling.

As conniving revenge plots go, Clyde’s is pretty convoluted and includes not only torture, but also everything from car bombs to cell-phone guns. Not only that, but the entire plan unfolds while Clyde is stuck in prison. From here, the movie is a matter of Nick—who appears to be Clyde’s final target—trying to stop the bad guy before it’s too late.

As a premise it’s not bad, but the movie never has any fun with it, especially since Clyde’s revenge is predicated on any number of contrivances or leaps in logic and believability— something that’s only magnified by the movie’s stone-faced seriousness, which, in turn, takes a potentially entertaining foundation and turns it into a dull slog. Rated R for strong bloody brutal violence and torture, a scene of rape, and pervasive language. reviewed by Justin Souther Playing at Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Cinebarre, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15, United Artists Beaucatcher Cinema 7.

Séraphine JJJJ

Director: Martin Provost Players: Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, Anne Bennent, Genevi ve Mnich, Nico Rogner, Adéla de Leroux Biographical Drama Rated NR

The Story: Biopic about the French painter Séraphine de Senlis and her patron Wilhelm Uhde.

The Lowdown: A leisurely-paced biographical drama that benefits from strong performances and a respect for the mystery of both the creative and appreciative process.

Prior to Séraphine, I’d never heard of filmmaker Martin Provost, the stars of his film or, for that matter, the subjects of the movie, painter Séraphine Louis/Séraphine de Senlis (Yolande Moreau) and art collector/critic Wilhelm Uhde (Ulrich Tukur). As a result, I was approaching this biopic with no preconceptions—other than the slight hesitance that accompanies the prospect of the biographical genre. At its best, the biographical drama is as good and as valid a genre as any other, but there’s a tendency for such films to fall into the falsely reverential or the simplistically silly. Thankfully, Séraphine does neither, though it might be a little too slowly paced for some tastes—at least for its first 30 minutes.

The film explores the life and work of the primitive painter known as Séraphine de Senlis, especially as concerns her relationship with the man who discovered her, Wilhelm Uhde.

The first part of the film establishes a picture of Séraphine as a strange fixture in the small town of Senlis. She’s preoccupied and intensely religious, working odd jobs and spending her money on painting supplies. There are references to mental problems, but all in all she’s accepted as an eccentric figure in the town. That changes—or begins to—when Wilhelm Uhde comes to town and rents from one of her employers. Uhde—a critic and art collector known for being the first to buy paintings by Picasso and Braque and for discovering Henri Rousseau—has fled Paris due to anti-German sentiment over the looming world war.

Uhde inadvertently discovers Séraphine’s tal-

ents, and proceeds to encourage and support her painting—either in spite or because of her strangeness. There’s something fascinating about this mystical—or just plain delusional—woman who claims to be guided by her guardian angel.

The weird blend of na veté and canniness makes her impossible to decipher—both for Uhde and the viewer. One senses—as in the scene where Uhde assuages her odd jealousy by revealing his homosexuality—that Séraphine understands more than it might appear, but the film suggests more than it states. Bits of information are dropped into the mix, but they’re never put in place for you. The film forces you to read it yourself.

While the approach to the dramatic content of Séraphine is refreshing, it’s also occasionally frustrating. It’s understandable that Uhde’s support would be forcibly withdrawn due to the war, but why does it take nine years after the war and a chance notice of something in a newspaper for him to reconnect with her? The film never raises the question—nor, oddly, does Séraphine herself, though her acceptance of this probably stems from a lifetime of being accustomed to desertion and rejection. The film also fails—at least from my perspective—to completely sell the merits of her work. They’re certainly odd and occasionally disturbing, but they seem to be more curious decorations than particularly noteworthy paintings. That, however, may simply be a matter of personal taste.

Where the film scores—and scores very highly—is in the characterizations of Séraphine and Uhde, both of whom emerge as wholly formed complex creations. But they’re complete only in the sense of their innate sense of reality. The film allows them to retain a degree of mystery—suggesting that it is simply not possible for either the filmmaker or the viewer to know them any better than this. They keep their innermost selves to themselves. That—along with the excellent performances from Ulrich Tukur and especially from Yolande Moreau—is what makes the film something special. Note: If you want to catch this film in the theater, hurry, because it’ll be gone after Thursday. Not rated, but contains mature thematic material and brief nudity. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Fine Arts Theatre.

The Stepfather J

Director: Nelson McCormick (Prom Night) Players: Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley, Amber Heard, Sherry Stringfield Weak-Tea Thriller Rated PG-13

The Story: A serial killer marries into “perfect” families, and when his plans go awry, resorts to murder.

The Lowdown: Idiotic, unpardonably slow and totally lacking in thrills.

What exactly is there to be said about this utterly worthless, incredibly dull, addle-brained waste of 101 minutes except that it’s an utterly worthless, incredibly dull, addle-brained waste of 101 minutes? That pretty much says it all. The 1987 original may have been no great shakes, but it was at least amusingly subversive exploitation

trash. This, on the other hand, is simply trash that pretends to be something else. It’s kind of like the Weekly World News claiming to be the New York Times—and about as persuasive a pose.

The story line is roughly the same as the original. You have a homicidal nutcase, David Harris (Dylan Walsh, TV’s Nip Tuck), going around marrying into what he imagines to be perfect families—or families he can make “perfect.” When the families turn out not to meet his standards, he casually offs them and moves on to the next one. That’s about it. When it was made 22 years ago, it had a certain point. We were then in the age of Ronald Reagan’s 1950s Disneyfied dream of an America that never was, and the nebulous term “family values” was common coin. About the only films that tackled this topic were more or less of the exploitation variety, like Ken Russell’s Crimes of Passion (1984) and Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), along with David Lynch’s Blue Velvet (1986). Though not in the same league as those titles, the original Stepfather was part of that reaction. What we have here is a superfluous PG-13 retread—and a bad one at that.

Considering that the film tells us exactly what Harris is and establishes his modus operandi in the very first scene—a kind of TV hack director’s notion of something “chilling”—there’s not much in the way of surprise about where the movie is going. Naturally, that means it’s going to take forever to get there. So we trudge our way, through the return of wayward 22-yearold high-school junior Michael Harding (Penn Badgley, TV’s Gossip Girl) from a stint at military school, and into the arms of his 22-year-old highschool junior girlfriend, Kelly (Amber Heard, Zombieland), and that of his family. (Since both Badgley and Heard appear to have been cast for their toned physiques, count on much beef and cheesecake.)

Poor Michael finds that mom Susan (Sela Ward, The Day After Tomorrow) has hooked up with serial killer David and is rightly skeptical.

Mom, however, is dazzled. Mom is an idiot. Five seconds of David should be enough to clue in even the most vacuous specimen of humanity that the guy is trying to sell you his used car or his religion or some load of clams. Of course, the entire film only functions on the idea that no one involved is capable of anything tougher in the reasoning department than tying a shoelace. The dullest mayhem imaginable follows at the pace of a very old snail.

Some marginal amusement may be derived from the film’s climax, which feels more than a little derivative of another dreadful thriller from earlier this year, Obsessed. The manner in which The Stepfather seems to be working on a dumb thriller checklist—killer left for dead without making sure, killer disappears over edge of roof so arm can appear out of nowhere etc.—is admittedly funny, but not funny enough to outweigh the tedium. Even if you see this thing for free, you’ll be overcharged. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, mature thematic material and brief sensuality. reviewed by Ken Hanke Playing at Carmike Cinema 10, Carolina Asheville Cinema 14, Epic of Hendersonville, Regal Biltmore Grande Stadium 15.

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Could the Chamber Make a Difference In Your Business?

Come and Find Out! The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to our

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Networking Opportunities Cost Saving Programs Training Sessions Small Business Consulting Marketing Opportunities

Please call James Carter at (828) 258-6115 to RSVP or for more information. mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 115

parody/entertainment

ELECTION COVERAGE Name: Terry Bellamy (Mayoral candidate).

Political orientation: Power-crat.

Occupation: Name-taker in charge of ass-kicking.

Political experience: Yes. Endorsements: City Employees Against Access to Mayor, Foundation for Young Mayors But Not Too Young, Forces For Change Through More of the Same. During trip to Washington, received presidential fist-bump.

Name: Cecil Bothwell.

Political affiliation: Appalachian Ben Franklin.

Occupation: “I just now wrote, published and distributed a 450page book about my experience answering this question.”

Political experience: Spent years putting politicians on the same hot seat he now wishes to occupy. Misappraising county-wide demographics in 2008 County Commission campaign.

Endorsements: World Without Elevators, Self-Taught Doctors Who Live In Cities Without Borders.

Why you should trust me: “Because I’m good people, and if you haven’t been the subject of one of my books, you’re good people too.”

What most distinguishes you from your opponents? “I said it first.”

Most controversial position? “Caught

Which of your opponent’s policies do you agree with the most? “The policy of wanting to be the mayor.”

Domestic-partner benefits?

“Next question.”

Most controversial policy position: “Skip.”

Biggest issue facing the city? “In two years time, I’d like to put an Asheville mayor in every major European city in a month-long official touring capacity.”

What most distinguishes you from your opponent?

“On karaoke night, I can pull off ‘Respect’ by Arethra Franklin.”

up in the excitement of winning the primary, I tried to dissolve Congress and form an interim government.”

Then & Now: Candidate Bothwell has adopted the adage: “Off-the-Grid bathing isn’t the type of green that wins elections.”

Top legislative priority? “The reason there is only one set of carbon footprints in the sand is because my sweet composting toilet is carrying your burden on its shoulders.”

Transit: “I believe in the sustainablility of bicycling, but only downhill with the wind at your back to maximize energy savings.”

Annexation: “We should annex the Biltmore Estate, all privately held golf courses, and a table near the buffet station at Mela.”

Name: J. Neal Jackson.

Political affiliation: Seventh-Day Transit-arian.

Occupation: Owner of Eagle’s Market convenience store.

Political experience: Successfully petitioned local media to stop referring to Eagle Street business owners and residents people as “those Block people.”

Endorsements: “The Patels, who run a convenience store down the street.”

What distinguishes you from your opponents? “Do I really have to spell it out for you? I’m a Republican.”

What would you do to attract better-paying jobs to the area?

“More buses, more bus drivers. We’ll be a town of bus drivers.”

Top legislative priorities? “Investing my campaign warchest in six $20 lottery scratch-offs.”

Balancing city budget: “I can break ones, fives, tens, you name it.”

Name: Ryan Croft.

Political affiliation: “The mainstream local media would like nothing more than to pigeon-hole me.”

Political experience: I follow the 9 right-wing-radio principles of the 12 true Americanisms.

Endorsements: “The American flag that stands behind me in my campaign photo.”

What distinguishes you from your

opponents? “I can account for my whereabouts on Sept. 11, 2001.”

What would you do to attract better-paying jobs to the area? “I will call the Glenn Beck Program and get back to you ASAP with an answer.”

Transportation: “I would like to see us wrap our minds around a car-road paradigm.”

How did your placement in the primary affect your campaign? “My plan is for the Hand of God to place me on Council, so it was validating.”

#1 Voter’s Guide!

Name: Robert Edwards (Mayoral candidate).

Political orientation: “Studying up on issue, will have answer soon (but not as soon as the election).”

Occupation: Personal luggage courier, hospitality industry.

Political experience: “A bunch of older Republican kids put me up to this.

Please send for help.”

Endorsements: Ambitious Bellhop Leaders of Tomorrow, Current occupants of room #232,

Name: Gordon Smith.

Political affiliation: Preening Green Peacock Party (PGPP).

Occupation: Running for City Council since 2007-ish.

Political experience: “Posing for photos that clearly show me looking directly into The Future. Also, I was raised in a Hawaiian ghetto by 2 working-class single moms, one English, one Irish, and I brought peace to my people.”

Endorsements: John F. Kennedy. (“He uses his real name when leaving comments on my blog.”)

Why you should trust me: “Outspoken idealogical therapists have traditionally served on City Council with class, wisdom, and restraint.”

Most controversial policy Name: Carl Mumpower.

Political affiliation: Megalo-crusader-ican.

Occupation: Mentalist.

Political experience: “Years of surreal service to taxpayers and political cartoonists. Additionally, I have unintentionally helped liberal candidates raise money and win local elections.”

Endorsements: “With great humility, I confess only God and the Founding Fathers have endorsed me.”

Partner benefits? “What did everyone else say? They said ‘Yes’? No.” On his decision not to raise or spend any money during campaign: “Recent experience informs me that when I raise money, I lose.”

What distinguishes you from your

116 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Michele Scheve, Tom Scheve

position: “All written statements by political adversaries will be ‘dis-envoweled’ on sight.”

Top legislative priority?

RT @HuffPo. How did your placement in the primary affect your campaign?

“This is all about my grassroots support, so I went back to the fertilizer and planted more grass seeds.”

Annexation: “Sure, I’ve got a few minutes available. Who’s up first?”

Balancing city budget: “The city should make large loans with interest to city residents who want to up-green their homes in order to have an environmentally sustainable auction on the front step of the courthouse when they default. Also, the proletariat shall have multi-modal transportation and green jobs by December of this year or I will annex Madison County.” opponents in this election? “My opponents have catered to the respect of their peers and colleagues.”

Most controversial policy position: “Pick a position, any position.”

Top legislative priorities? “Something that involves a stake-out and publicity. I’m open to suggestions.”

Master Plan? “I am clearly not operating under the direction of a master plan, and neither should this city.”

How did your placement in the primary effect your campaign? “A poor showing forces me to push my courage button. So look out world, I have little buttons.”

Annexation: “No, and I think we should give some parts of Asheville back to the good Christian, American folks who live in the County.

But only if those Christian, American, Buncombe County bastards give us back our water rights.”

Bushwacked Late Arrivals With Trunkloads of Suitcases Who Need a Crib in the Room.

What distinguishes you from opponent? “My opponent has a chance of winning this election.”

Most controversial policy position? “Not having a policy position is one of my most controversial policy positions. Also, casually dropping the phrase ‘Hegellian dialectic and gradualism’ to reporters.”

City Budget: “I am not familiar with my stance on that subject.” Main qualifications: Not being Mayor Terry Bellamy or fellow primary candidate Shad Marsh (Far more qualified not being Bellamy).

Name: Robin Cape.

Political affiliation: Spoiler-can.

Occupation: City Council member. (“But accidentally put in my 2-week notice.”)

Endorsements: Tim Peck. The Panda Earth Tree Force (the political wing of the Armed Whale Snail Granola Resistance).

Most controversial policy position: “My taxpayer-subsidized ‘Banjos for Babies’ program.”

Top legislative priorities? “Tackling the tough issues that impede my re-election.”

Term limits for Council members? “If I win and make and maintain the decision to run for a 3rd term, no.”

How did your placement in the primary affect your campaign?

“Negatively. Not allowed to be on the primary ballot, I must now count on grassroots support to win a write-in campaign, but everyone knows grassroots supporters aren’t so g-o-o-d when it Name: Esther Manheimer.

Political affiliation: “Whatever Gordon said.”

Occupation: “I’m a full-time mother of 3, a full-time wife, and (as a hobby) I dabble in real estate law and land-use litigation.”

Political experience: Arguing before City Council on behalf of developers, distancing myself from same.

Endorsements: Jews Who Play J-Cards, Citizens Against Unscraped Skies.

What distinguishes you from your opponents? “Have you seen pictures of my opponents with your very own eyeballs?”

Most controversial policy position? “I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

Master plan? “My master plan is to not take a stance that noticeably differs from stances of my

comes to s-p-e-l-l-i-n-g.”

Balancing city budget: “I support giving interest-free loans to citizens with the biggest smiles.”

Transportation: “Picture a car powered from the methane of a single cow who wears a beret and sits in the back seat playing a dobro and looking out the window at a tree with a squirrel hole in it.”

Domestic-partner benefits? “We should provide benefits to city workers and their spouses, partners, roommates, house-guests, and friends-with-benefits-without-benefits.” opponents.”

Domestic -partner benefits? “I won’t need to recuse myself in the first place, because I want building approval criteria that allow developers to push projects through without input from City Council or concerned citizens, so no conflictsof-interest will come before me.

I’ll just handle those matters at my day job. Wait, what was the question?”

Annexation: “I’m for it, even though I’ve argued against it in a courtroom against the city of Webster. Screw that city. But for my city, when I’m off the clock?

Sure.”

marketplace

Classified Advertising Sales Team: • Tim Navaille: 828-251-1333 ext.111, tnavaille@mountainx.com • Rick Goldstein: 828-251-1333 ext.123, rgoldstein@mountainx.com • Arenda Manning: 828-251-1333 ext. 138, amanning@mountainx.com

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The Green Family Goes Green

The FAQs

realestate

p. 118

Real EstateSpotlight a paid advertising feature highlighting the best in local real estate

About Green Building Mrs. Green was recently picking out the perfect shade of green paint for Baby Green’s room. After the paint had been mixed, she peered into the can and realized that it smelled awful. The new paint made Mrs. Green turn green. “There’s no way I’m going to use this paint in the room where my baby sleeps!” she declared.

The man at the local paint store replied, “You have a keen nose, Mrs. Green. We can mix a zero-VOC paint for you that will not smell as bad.”

“VOCs” are volatile organic compounds: chemicals that are released into the air when paint or other liquid products dry. VOCs are a suspected carcinogen and can cause other major health problems, including immediate headaches and nausea. Mrs. Green definitely did not want to expose Baby Green to VOCs. So she vowed to only buy products with a low or zero VOC rating, from then on.

provided by the WNC Green Building Council www.wncgbc.org

p. 123

Asheville, with all it has to offer, the beautiful mountains, arts, local attractions, and top rated medical care, has also been known to have a higher cost of living especially in housing. Our developers had a vision over ten years ago to provide the area with quality affordable housing in great locations.

Since that time, they have built over 500 homes with Parade of Homes award winning floor plans and most recently, in 2008, were recognized by the Asheville Builders Association Parade of Homes with the award for craftsmanship.

All of the homes have very “resident friendly” floor plans ideal for first time homebuyers as well as downsizers.All homes include gas logs (standard) and gas heat and hot water.They have also been very conscious of storage space utilizing all the square footage of every home.These homes are all side by side living as opposed to glorified apartments with neighbors above and below.

Many of the value added features are not seen such as passive radon mitigation,Tyvek zip system exterior board with sealed seems, Forticel 25 year mold warranty and true stick-built construction.

Anything that makes the home safer, more efficient and more valuable is taken into consideration.

Additionally, the absence of expensive pools and clubhouses means that expense is invested in the home and also helps maintain lower association dues.

Stafford Realty was specifically created to market these homes as all of our staff is educated on our product providing all of our clients the necessary information to make a sound investment.

jobs

services

p. 120

crossword p. 127

Call Stafford Realty Today! (828) 676-0677

Growing Out of Quality Forward Membership with Asheville GreenWorks shows your loved ones you share their values!

Give the gift of membership today!

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• BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 117

Real Estate

Homes For Sale $110,000 • ATTENTION FIRST TIME BUYERS 2BR, 1BA, all new interior. Walk to UNCA. Quiet neighborhood. • Own for less than rent! 713-7606.

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$159,900 • DARLING GARDEN HOME 3BR, 2BA, 1392 sqft. Great neighborhood near downtown Hendersonville.

Recent quality construction, garage, fireplace, private patio, designer upgrades.

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$129,900 • BUNGALOW • WEST ASHEVILLE 2BR, 1BA, 804 sqft home on 0.11 acre. • Kitchen w/appliances included. WD connections. Call 1 Source Realty: 338-0525 or see www.Visit1SourceRealty.c om

$139,500 • REMODELED FARMHOUSE 2BR, 1BA. Country kitchen, oak cabinets. Tile, carpeting and hardwood floors. Covered porches. 1500 sqft.

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Located in picturesque downtown Weaverville within walking distance to the quaint Main Street shops and Lake Louise! Almost 2000sf, this home has rock accents and hardiplank exterior, three bedrooms, three full baths, hand hewn hardwood floors, upgrade carpet and tile, maple cabinets, granite bath counters, and a whirlpool tub in master bath. Upgrade appliances, fixtures and molding, three decks for nature lovers. This low maintenance, energy efficient home also features a large office/ studio space/possible 4th bedroom. Beautifully landscaped, almost one half acre NATURE lot with adjacent stream and end of the road privacy. Great neighbors.

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$194,900 • WEST ASHEVILLE BUNGALOW A classic bungalow, from the covered front porch to the back steps. 2 bedrooms, bonus room, fireplace, woodfloors, laundry in enclosed back porch, fenced backyard, carport.

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118 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

$200,000 • THE ULTIMATE IN PRIVACY One of a kind Log Cabin on 5 acres.

Located 1.6 miles up a private graveled road (4x4 needed). Very rustic, with stone wood-burning fireplace, and wrap-around porch. If remote, but reasonable drive to Asheville, is what you want then this is the property for you. Call 338-0525.

1 Source Realty.

$205,000 • BUNGALOW • NORTH ASHEVILLE Cute and cozy 2BR, 1BA, quiet neighborhood, close to everything. 5 minutes to downtown, Greenlife. • Perfect for small family, couple, or potential rental income. Hardwood floors, many recent upgrades inside and out. Large screened backporch. Large private fenced backyard w/hot tub. Built-ins, AC/heat pump/oil, and more. • Photos: http://35salemavenueashevi llenc28804.blogspot.com/ • Call (828) 260-2257.

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$239,000 • CUSTOM LOG CABIN • MARSHALL 3BR, 2BA cabin built in 2004. On 1.6 private acres, 25 minutes from Asheville.

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$250,000 • PRIVATE SETTING 3BR, 3BA home, on 1.8+ acres. Nice views from the front. Woodburning fireplace in living room with cathedral ceiling. • 2 finished bonus rooms in basement. Call 338-0525.

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$289,500 • GREEN BUILT HOME West Asheville 1431 sqft, 3BR, 2.5BA with covered porches, oak floors, bookshelves at staircase, 3 solar panels for hot water and heat boost ($7,500 tax credits), high efficiency heat pump, Icynene insulation, low-e windows, Energy Star appliances, concrete countertops, low VOC paint, rain barrels, vegetable garden, native landscaping.

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$375,000 • HAW CREEK 3BR, 2BA, 2021 sqft home.

Beautiful 1.45 acres within city limits, yet close to • Blue Ridge Parkway. Full basement, 2 car garage, newly refinished hardwood floors, 2 fireplaces, woodstove and much more!

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$89,000 • RUSTIC CABIN Owners report 100+ years old. 3BR, 2BA. Woodfloors.

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Carport. Basement. Creek view. 0.66 acres.

MLS#448548.

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New features include Google Mapping and Popular Neighborhood searches. Check it out at townandmountain.com

145 SOUTH WILLOW BROOK on 1.68 acres!

Immaculate, spacious, nearly new, approximately 2650 sqft Plus Big full expandable basement w/drive under garage! 3BR, 3BA plus extra room with bath upstairs, den, office, big open kitchen/dining/living area w/hardwood floors, master suite main level! Quiet living just 10 minutes to downtown! MLS#442912. $339,900. Call owner to see! (828) 777-4843.

HomesByOwner.com/65986

3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH NEW HOUSE • 1450 sq.ft., 9 foot ceiling, big windows, nice lot. Two minutes to Exit 21, New Stock Road, Woodfin.

221 Old Home Road.

Hardwoods, fans, stainless appliances, porch, patio, sunny kitchen. Perfect for small family. Hurry, won’t last. $185,000.

828-299-7502.

A BETTER WAY TO SELL! America/Asheville’s #1 FSBO Website with MLS, deluxe Realtor.com for Maximum global exposure! Best listing value WNC, Low Flat Fee listing, Save THOU$AND$! www.RevolutionRealty.net (828) 350-1995. www.HomesByOwner.com /Asheville

COMPACT COTTAGE COMPANY • Small “green”-built buildings usable for an enormous variety of practical applications, such as: Sleep, Work, Mother-in-law storage, Poker, Karaoke, Be in the doghouse in. From $15K-30K. compactcottages.com, 828-254-5450.

BENDING OVER BACKWARDS! For our clients! (828) 713-5337.

Search all MLS listings in 1 location:

FIND OUT WHY! Folks are calling City Real Estate for exploring the art or finding your home. Sales and Rentals handled professionally and efficiently. We help you find “Views From All Angles”.

(828) 210-2222.

AshevilleHolisticRealty.com

AshevilleCityRealEstate.com

CHARMING OLD 2BR/1BA • 8 Pelzer St. North Asheville. 1,026 sq.ft. on .21 acres. $175K. 828-450-0030.

GROVEMONT COTTAGE • MLS# 444668 Must see this cute 3BR 2BA with master suite. Priced to sell at $174,900. Please contact Jim Gallagher, 828-230-3660

KENILWORTH “ECO-CHIC” With lots of upgrades, including prairie stove, bar, built-in breakfast nook and upgraded appliances.

Second floor meditation room suspended above living area create a masterful play of space and volume. Hardwoods, custom tile and cork flooring.

Spacious master bedroom with tons of light. Great outdoor space and landscaping. Quiet end of Kenilworth, yet close to everything. $399K. Call (828) 252-7787. Crest Realty.

MOVE IN READY! 3 Bedroom 2 Bath brick home in South Asheville. House has single garage, fireplace, and spacIous sunroom. Too many updates to list. Must see! $210,000. Call 828-329-8354.

PRICE REDUCED IN WEST ASHEVILLE The craftsman details in this new HBH home are meticulous and wonderful, from river stone fireplace to custom woodwork. The kitchen is chef’s dream (cherry and granite), complete w/craftsman era breakfast nook. Heaven is truly in details w/this one. Call (828) 252-7787. Crest Realty.

PRICE REDUCED! Now completed and absolutely gorgeous! The Madrona plan from Ross Chapin, full of the craftsman details award-winning Longview Builders, Inc. is known for.

Crisp highly appointed kitchen, bonus room in master (on main), reading nook, play loft, tall windows and lots of light. Tasteful touches throughout. HBH certified. Amazing house for the money in North Asheville. Call (828) 252-7787. Crest Realty.

THE VILLAGES AT CREST MOUNTAIN Asheville’s Premier Sustainable Community! Top green builders, community gardens, orchards & vineyards, common houses, common solar, so much more. Starting in the low 200s. www.villagesatcrestmounai n.com or 828.252.7787 / info

WEST ASHEVILLE COTTAGE-BUNGALOW • 3BR, 2BA. Built 2008. All oak and tile floors. Granite kitchen. $235,000.

316-1265. 5 minutes to town.

WEST ASHEVILLE 2 Bedroom Condominium priced below market at $98,000. Attractive. Split level. Newer appliances included. Views. Pool. Ample Light. Heat Pump/AC. Canterbury Heights Complex. A Bargain! Call 253-9451.

Condos For Sale $135,000 • CLINGMAN AVENUE Between Downtown and the River Arts District. New 1BR, 1BA urban condo. Parking, storage, private balcony.

The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

Mobile Homes For Sale

$495,000 • DOWNTOWN • AMAZING VIEWS 2BR, 2BA top floor condo in the Piedmont Building. Many windows. Hardwoods, gas fireplace, elevator. Best price/sqft downtown!

MLS#435275. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663, www.recenter.com

139 LAUREL LOOP ROAD 2BR, 2BA, 1050 sqft singlewide, on 0.5 acre lot.

Permanent block foundation. Front porch, back deck. Fenced yard.

8x8 storage building. Heat pump for heat/air. Asking $77,500. Call 338-0525.

1 Source Realty.

LEXINGTON STATION Downtown condos, garage parking, wood floors, private balconies, stainless appliances, fitness center. • 3BR penthouse: $499,000.

• 2BR, 2BA: $289,900. • The Real Estate Center: (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com

@villagesatcrestmountain.com

for more info.

WALK TO DOWNTOWN • 1700 sq.ft., 4BR, 2.5BA, hardwood floors, new kitchen, deck, sun room, $199,000. Agents welcome.

828-582-7198.

TERRIFIC LOCATION DOWNTOWN • $225,000.

2BR. 2BA. Furnished, stainless steel appliances, W/D. Secure entrance/parking. Fitness center, rooftop garden. List price lower than purchase.

Brokers welcome.

251-543-6400.

*Based on 100% financing, APR 4.229% on 5 year ARM. No prepayment penalty, no balloon payment, no PMI. Rates are subject to change at any time. Based on 80% 1st mortgage of $111,920 (principal + interest) and 20% 2nd mortgage of $27,980 (interest only) APR 4.125%. Both loans are variable rate, subject to change at 5 years. Select condos only. Does not include taxes and insurance.

Nitch Real Estate: (828) 654-9394 or bricktonvillage.com

Quaint 10 Cottage Community in E. Asheville - $169,900 There’s still time to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit. Don’t miss out on this amazing development that offers 3 different floor plans with prices reduced from $189,900 to $169,900! “Lower Grassy Branch” Cottages are located near the VA Hospital, Hwy 70 amenities and the Blue Ridge Parkway in East Asheville.

Contact Trillium Properties at 828-582-5397 and view more info at LowerGrassyBranch.com.

• 3 bedrooms, 2 baths • Stick built • Open floor plans with 9’ ceilings • Kitchen appliances included • Hardiplank Exterior • Maple cabinets • Hardwood floors Directions: 70E to north on Riceville Rd, R on Old Farm School Rd, at the stop sign, turn R on Lower Grassy. mountainx.com

• BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 119

news

Yoga of Self Care Retreat with Kristin Wallace and Dr. Sid Jordan Kirtan with Anjali • November 13-15

Hat in Hand

Montford Commons developer asks Asheville for $9 million. october 13 meeting

v Montford Commons developer asks city To Register, Learn More About Us, or to Rent Our Facility:

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for $9 million loan

v Reid Center progesses v URTV gets 90-day extension while Council explores problems

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Brian Postelle When it was approved in 2007, the Montford Commons development plan earned praise for putting mixed-use development in an area of urban blight and for realizing elements of the city’s Greenway Master Plan relating to that part of town. But Vincent James from Frontier Syndicate LLC told Council at its Oct. 13 meeting that project funds are coming up short due to limits on the types of infrastructure that can be paid for with Housing and Urban Development grants. The project needs financing from the city to the tune of $9 million to proceed, he told Council.

“The project will not succeed without the help of the city and the county,” James said. That $9 million figure isn’t written in stone, he noted, explaining that the city can help determine the project’s infrastructure needs and suggest cuts.

The development is planned for the area behind the Asheville Chamber of Commerce and Isaac Dickson school and north as far as Houston Street.

Asheville’s Chief Financial Officer Ben Durant did not recommend that the city agree to what amounts to a public/private partnership, but he did ask Council to decide if staff should explore the matter.

“We think this is a good project and warrants additional analysis,” Durant said. A study, funded by the developer but conducted by the city, would provide firmer numbers. But he added, “If you give us the nod tonight, it will not commit you.”

Council voted 6-0 to conduct the study. (Council member Robin Cape was absent, attending a conference on climate change.)

Reid-ing between the lines

So far this year, the Reid Center has come to Council four times. In January Council approved ambitious rebuild plans for the community center officially known as the W.C. Reid Center for Creative Arts. Those plans were scaled back in August when the city lost a state grant for the project. That, in turn, reignited a debate about whether to renovate or replace the existing structure, which was resolved in September when Council voted to rebuild.

The current plan calls for a three-phase construction plan for a new facility that will contain a theater — a crucial part of the new vision for the center that played a key role in fundraising — as

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

well as a gymnasium and classrooms. But the discussion on Oct. 13, which preceded a vote to fund phase one, exposed lingering doubts and concerns weighing on Council members.

The first phase will cost approximately $2 million, Durant said, and includes construction of the theater. The city currently has $150,000 left over from $600,00 budgeted for planning on the project.

Combining that money with $732,000 in pledges from private donors still leaves the project only about half way there. Durant said the gap can be filled by taking on a $1.1 million loan. The city’s burden, he said, would amount to $10,000 in debt service annually.

The problem, said Mayor Terry Bellamy, was that Council’s approval of phase one of the project did not seal the deal for the entire three-phase build-out. That, she said, will leave it vulnerable to the whims of future councils and unforeseeable changes in funding.

Although the project was scaled back in August when the city backed out of a grant process, some Council members worried that the cost of the all three phases seemed headed back to the original estimate of $8 million.

“We started with $8 million and it looks like we have crept right back up to it,” said Council member Bill Russell.

Jane Matthews, whose architecture firm Matthews Architecture is leading the design process, denied that figure was on the table, noting she was only seeking approval for the $2 million needed for phase one. The cost of the entire build out, she said, has not been finalized.

But with phases one and two tagged at $5.3 million and with a pool included in phase three, Mumpower argued that $8 million seems a reasonable estimate. Moving forward without that money accounted for, he said, is a risky prospect.

“We’re going down a very expensive dead end,” he said. “I think we are making a mistake to walk away from the existing facility.”

Bellamy, who in past discussions strongly urged renovating the existing facility, now said Council was past that point. She suggested looking into what price the city could get for the existing building to offset new construction costs. City Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Director Roderick Simmons said he was planning to gather community input regarding the fate of the building, but Bellamy said that selling it could help secure future phases. (The new facility will be located on another part of the property from the existing building so that the old gymnasium can remain open during construction.)

The Mayor also asked that an amendment be made to the motion directing city staff to present quarterly updates on funding opportunities for phases two and three.

Vice Mayor Jan Davis urged pushing forward, saying, “We owe a debt to this community.”

Asheville resident Sophie Dixon supported that sentiment.

“We’ve got to do something,” Dixon said. “We talk these things to death. Someone has to stand up for these children. We’ve got to take hold of this and complete it.”

The motion to approve the master plan and take on the $1.1 million in financing passed 4-2 with Russell and Mumpower voting no.

Treading lightly on URTV

The public-access channel URTV operates with very little governmental oversight but relies on contracts with Asheville and Buncombe County to receive funds from Charter cable bills in the county.

The city contract is up in November, but recent friction within the organization has caused Council and the Boards and Commissions Committee to approach a new contract warily.

Presenting a plan that came out of a Boards and Commissions Committee meeting earlier that day, City Attorney Bob Oast suggested that Council extend the current contract for 90 days while the committee examines URTV’s operations.

“We know there are some issues that need to be addressed,” Oast said. Those include open-meeting and notification polices, as well as procedures for dismissing members from the the station’s board.

“We’ve received a lot of comment from URTV that it has become factionalized. And there are definitely some transparency issues,” Davis said.

“They are having a big problem managing themselves.”

Davis added that a recent letter from the station’s attorney in response to an earlier query by Council was “not really a response.”

By design, city government has no oversight of the channel, but it does appoint two members to the URTV board and signs the contract that appropriates the station’s funding, which comes from local cable bills. Since July, when the URTV squabble first landed in front of Council as that body sought to appoint a new URTV board member (a task that might finally be accomplished on Oct. 27), some Council members have noted that the only leverage the city has over the station is to decline to renew its contract. URTV gets about $45,000 a year though the agreement.

The city’s contract with Charter expires next year, which is another reason to give the contract a good look, Davis told Xpress.

The 90-day extension means that URTV will get operating funds to continue for the upcoming quarter. “I think we really want URTV to be a success,” Davis said at the meeting. “This is our sincere way of saying we are behind URTV.” X Brian Postelle can be reached at 251-1333, ext. 153 or at bpostelle@mountainx.com{

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$125,000 • HOT SPRINGS Level 0.89 acre property borders state stocked trout stream Spring Creek.

Private. Beautiful meadow and woods. Perfect for mountain or rental cabin.

MLS#448649. (828) 6223518. Mountain Home Properties. $80,000 • PRIVATE 2 ACRE LOT With good views.

Current 5 bedroom septic permit and well permit on file. Call 338-0525.

1 Source Realty.

1.01 ACRE Unimproved vacant lot. 9381 Double Island Road, Green Mountain, Yancey County.

Call 1-888-285-0008, ext 2775. RE:275654.

1.21 ACRE LOT in this private gated community with 28 acres of common area, hiking trails, and longrange views. Access to the Pisgah National Forest and the Catawba Falls, for which the development is named. Just 15 minutes to Black Mountain, 20 minutes to Fairview, and 30 minutes to Asheville. Asking $65,500. Call 338-0525.

1 Source Realty.

1.55 ACRES • FAIRVIEW Wooded lot. Paved dead end street. Septic approved.

Asking $45,000. Call 338-0525. 1 Source Realty.

2.0 ACRE In the Cane Creek Valley. Well and 4 bedroom septic already installed.

Asking $100,000. Call 338-0525. 1 Source Realty.

28.75 ACRES • FAIRVIEW Nice property. Views from the top and lots of possibilities! Asking $330,000. Call 338-0525.

1 Source Realty.

4.3 ACRES BUNCOMBE COUNTY • Beautifully private. Build near creek or on mountaintop. Raw land has recent survey and septic permit. $57K. (828) 669-7483.

46.73 +/- ACRES • LAND AUCTIONS Thursday, October 22, 6pm, Lenoir, NC. Caldwell County.

Residential, Development, Investment. • In city limits, less than 3 miles to downtown. Offered Divided HBC. United Country: 1-800-711-9175 or (919) 545-0412. Rogers Auctioneers, Inc. Lic#5726.

10% Buyer’s Premium. View full details online!

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LEICESTER • Beautiful lot, mountain views. Ideal homesite. Quiet upscale neighborhood. Six miles to Patton Ave. .57 acre. 22 Goughes Branch Rd. Only $26K. Agent: 828-423-1349.

120 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

MONTFORD • .19 acre lot located on Westover Drive.

Private, wooded. Just outside of historic district.

Neighborhood has great mix of historic and modern homes. $68,500. Partial owner financing available.

828-337-0228.

Real Estate Services

$895 LOCAL FLAT FEE BROKER Full MLS Exposure And Traditional Broker Service You can still sell yourself and Pay NO COMMISSION! Top 15 Realtor, Asheville BOR. Dolly M. Moore 828-230-7550 Homesellingservice.net

Home Services

Lawn & Garden NATURAL CRAFT • Finished Grading • Drainage Issues • Erosion Control • Fall Planting • Mulching.

Fully insured. Call: 828-507-2055.

Heating & Cooling MAYBERRY HEATING AND COOLING INC • Service • Repairs • Replacements AC/Heat Pumps • Gas/Oil Furnaces • New Construction/Renovations • Indoor Air Quality Products.

(828) 658-9145.

Upholstery UPHOLSTERY AND RESTORATION Quality and friendly custom restoration services for all your upholstery needs. • Auto • Home. Free estimates.

(828) 776-8220.

Kitchen & Bath ELK MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATES We specialize in • re-fitting Bathrooms and Kitchens and finishing Basements • adding Garages, Porches and • Sunrooms. • Professional education and experience.

Call (828) 242-1950 or (for all our information): elkmountainassociates.com

Painting 1 DAY ROOM TRANSFORMATION Custom painting, decorative finishes, wallpaper installation/removal.

• 15 years experience.

• Meticulous • Timely • Reasonable. Heather, (828) 215-4365. Custom Home Interior Accents.

Cleaning HOUSEKEEPER/PERSONAL ASSISTANT has an opening to work for you. Call (828) 216-4592

General Services GET RESULTS! “When we started advertising, we quickly determined that our best response was from our inexpensive ad in the Mountain Xpress Classifieds! Thanks for 10 years, Asheville.” Dale Mayberry, Mayberry Heating and Cooling, Inc. You too, can benefit from advertising in Mountain Xpress. Call today! (828) 251-1333.

HOME WATER LEAKS A Problem? Excellent leak detection! Lasting correction! Experience!

References!

Call 828-273-5271.

THE-DO-IT-ALL-GUY • 20 years experience.

Impeccable references. Full house renovations to small jobs check list. Carpentry, electrical, painting, flooring.

David Hunt: 828-283-1700.

TSUNAMI POWER WASHING • Hot and cold power washing. Site clean up. Residential and Commercial. Call John, 828-242-5616.

Commercial Listings

Commercial Property COMMERCIAL FOR SALE • Downtown, Coxe Avenue, newer building, ground floor office/retail w/onsite parking, $349,000.

• Downtown, brick building w/high ceilings, roll up doors, concrete floors, $330,000.

• Gateway to Broadway Corridor, 3 buildings, 2 lots, home to many new developments, just reduced! $950,000.

• The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE: For sale. Renovated 1,227 sqft office building. $259,900. Call G/M Property Group, 828-281-4024. jmenk@gmproperty.com

Business Rentals

RELIABLE REPAIRS! Quality work! All types maintenance/repair, indoor/outdoor. • Excellent water leak detection/correction! • Wind damaged shingle/roof repair! 38 years experience!

Responsible! Honest!

Harmonious! References!

Call Brad, you’ll be Glad!

(828) 273-5271.

DOWNTOWN Coxe Avenue, newer building, groundlevel retail with walking traffic. $1500/month. Call The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com DOWNTOWN Ground-floor retail w/courtyard on Lexington Avenue.

Approximately 2982 sqft, hardwood floors, newer building. $2000/month. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com HISTORIC MILES BUILDING Downtown Asheville. Offices available. High ceilings and hardwood floors. Great space. 828-242-5456.

200 SQ.FT. OFFICE SPACE • Available in a creative, fun and professional work space for freelancers and small business owners. $500/month with no long term commitment. Includes utilities, hi-speed wireless internet and parking. We are a 2 minute walk to Greenlife, a 5 minute walk to downtown, and steps to the new Dripolator. http://locomotivity.com.

828-414-3590.

LEXINGTON LOFTS Renovated restaurant and retail spaces between 1100-2000 sqft on Lexington and Rankin Avenues w/competitive lease rates; ready for upfit mid-2010. The Real Estate Center, (828) 255-4663. www.recenter.com NICE SUBURBAN OFFICES South of Airport, Hwy 280.

4,400 sqft. freestanding building. Possible office/live-in. Approximately $3,000/month.

HENDERSONVILLE ROAD Close to Asheville. Deluxe suite of offices, 160, 280 sqft. Ample parking. Cheap!

828-216-6066.

RIVER DISTRICT 6,000 sqft shell - artists; flexible uses.

Owner will upfit for Class A office. Call G/M Property Group, 828-281-4024. jmenk@gmproperty.com

Services

Computer COMPUTER SERVICE AT YOUR DOORSTEP We Come To You! • PC and Mac • Slow computer? We’ll speed it up. • Repairs • Upgrades • Networking • Tutoring. Senior Citizen/Nonprofit Discounts.

Call Christopher’s Computers, 828-670-9800.

Member Better Business Bureau of WNC. christopherscomputers.com

Home ALCA REMODELING • Specializing in hardwood floors, bathrooms, kitchens, decks, trim, electrical, carpentry, pressure cleaning, general maintenance. References.

Alan, 828-656-8375.

ATTRACTIVE, 2,000 SQ,FT. DOWNTOWN OFFICE • 55 Grove Street. Four offices, break room, large reception area. Below market at $11/ sq. ft. Ample parking nearby. Practical and beautiful. Call (828) 253-9451.

BE ON BUSY TUNNEL ROAD! Anchor space to starter space available from 300 sqft to 3500 sqft. Great for Medical, Office or Studio use. Contact (828) 215-2865 for showings.

DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE: For lease. Retail and office suites, 222 to 2,964 sqft.

Very prominent locations.

Call G/M Property Group, 828-281-4024. jmenk@gmproperty.com

$325/MONTH CANTON; $450/MONTH CANDLER Nice, renovated 1BR apartments; minutes from downtown Asheville. No smoking; no pets.

Call (828) 337-5447.

2-3BR, 1.5BA NORTH • 30 Clairmont. Close to shopping and dining. Water included. $635$655/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

$695/MONTH • FALL SPECIAL East • 2BR, 2BA. Riverside setting. Beautiful views. Covered parking.

Deck. All appliances, including WD. Storage.

Large closets. Pet friendly.

776-4940.

2BR, 1BA DOWNTOWN • 138 Biltmore Ave. $915/month. A/C, cats okay.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

1 FREE MONTH! (w/contract). Live, work and play downtown. • Studio: $545/month. • 1BR: $650/month.

Call (828) 691-6555.

1-2BR, 1-2BA, ARDEN, Glen Beale, *2nd month free*, $575-$675/month, 828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com 1-2BR, 2BA, SOUTH Skyland Heights, $495$595/month, 828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com 1, 2, 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS From $525$1500. • Huge selection! • Pet friendly.

(828) 251-9966.

Alpha-Real-Estate.com

1 MONTH FREE! (W/12 month lease). River Arts Studios starting at $180/month, includes utilities. Call 250-9700 or e-mail: rega@charterinternet.com

Handy Man HIRE A HUSBAND Handyman Services. 25 years professional experience, quality, reliability. References available. Free estimates.

Insured. Stephen Houpis, (828) 280-2254.

DOWNTOWN OFFICE • Corner private entry on Biltmore Ave. by BUS to 2nd floor with charming brick and old forest wood open design with kitchen & bath, parking, 17 ft. of closet office supply, signage. $1,500/month +.

828 230-0755

Rentals

Rooms For Rent DOWNTOWN • SINGLE ROOM The Gray Rock Inn, 100 Biltmore Avenue, near French Broad Food Co-op. • Weekly rates, $105/week.

References, security deposit required. John: 230-4021.

1BR - NORTH ASHEVILLE • $750/month, utilities included. 1 mile from UNCA. Walk to Greenlife. Great neighborhood!

(828) 423-0341. libertycondo3@gmail.com 1BR FURNISHED Near A-B Tech. Suitable for a serious student. • No smoking/pets.

References, 1 year lease. $295/month plus deposit.

Call between 8am-6pm: (828) 252-7179.

1BR VICTORIANMONTFORD • Living room, sun room, hardwoods, gas heat. $625/month, year lease. Security deposit, credit check. Sorry, no dogs. For appointment call Elizabeth Graham, 828-253-6800.

1BR, 1BA CENTRAL • 15 Grindstaff. Carpet/vinyl. $525/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA MONTFORD • 333 Cumberland Ave. Tile floors, high ceilings. $595$625/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA NORTH • 12 Golf St. $665/month. Hardwood floors, gas heat.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 1BR, 1BA NORTH • 7 Banbury Cross. $525/month. Hardwood floors, high ceilings.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1BA MONTFORD • 346 Montford Ave. $650/month. Hardwood floors, gas heat.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA NORTH • 198 Kimberly Ave. $850/month.

Patio, lawn. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA NORTH • 304 Charlotte St. Carpet, car port. $650/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA NORTH • 53 Maney Ave. $875/month.

Hardwood floors, fireplace.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA WEST • 9 King Arthur. Dishwasher, baseboard heat. $625/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA WEST • 92 Appalachian Way. $895/month. Harwood floors, W/D connections.

828-53-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1BA, HENDERSONVILLE, 2010 LAUREL PARK, coin-op laundry, $675/month, 828-693-8069, www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR/2BA, ARDEN • 216 Weston, A/C, W/D hookups. $795/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1BA, NORTH, 365 Weaverville, w/d hookups, $475-$595/month, 828-693-8069, www.leslieandassoc.com

3BR, 1BA NORTH • 22 Westall. Close to UNCA. Water included. $695/month.

828-253-1517. wwwleslieandassoc.com

2BR, 2BA CONDO Fireplace, deck, washer/dryer. Nice pool!

Close to town. Great winter views. $925/month, includes condo fee and water. (828) 712-1675.

2BR, 2BA EAST • 2484 Riceville Rd. Open floor plan, porch. $615/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 2BA HENDERSONVILLE • 407 Fourth Ave. W. Hardwood floors, fireplace. $625/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 2BA SWANNANOA • 746 Bee Tree Lake Rd. $675/month. W/D, dishwasher. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR. 1.5BA HENDERSOVILLE • 912 Hillcrest. W/D connections, 2 car garage. $595/month.

828-693-8069. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR/1.5BA NORTH • 265 Charlotte, hardwood floors, coin-op laundry. $850/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1BA, EAST, 7 LINDSEY, A/C, W/D hookups, $595/month, 828-693-8069, www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR/1BA EAST • 1746 Tunnel, W/D hookups, A/C, $595/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR, 1BA, EAST, 119 Liberty, a/c, w/d hookups, $625/month, 828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com

2BR/1BA WEST • 257 Sandhill, A/C, W/D hookups. $715/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

3BR, 2BA EAST • 126 Aurora Dr. Carpet, W/D hookups. $825/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 3BR, 2BA, NORTH, 81 LAKESHORE, A/C, coin-op laundry, deck, $725/month, 828-253-1517, www.leslieandassoc.com A HOME IN THE MOUNTAINS • GREAT PRICE! Live in a beautiful, green, conveniently located scenic resort-style community! • Fireplaces • Heated pool • Fitness Center and more. Call (828) 687-0638. kensingtonplaceapts.com ACTON WOODS APARTMENTS • Beautiful 2BR, 2BA, loft, $850/month. • 2BR, 2BA, $750. Include gas log fireplace, water, storage.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty

AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1 Very private 2BR apartment in Haw Creek near Tunnel Road. WD connections.

Convenient to mall, downtown and medical center. Private drive. Lease, security deposit, references required. Utilities separate.

• No pets please. $625/month.

Call (828) 350-1400.

BLACK MOUNTAIN • 2BR, 1BA. Heatpump, central air, W/D connection. Nice area.

Only $595/month.

828-252-4334.

BLACK MOUNTAIN Nicely renovated (new: bath, kitchen), 1BR, sunroom, dining room. 10’ ceilings, abundance of natural light.

Hardwood floors. Short walk to downtown. • $660/month includes heat, water. Smoke free.

280-5449.

CENTRAL • 1BR. Heat and water provided. $620/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty.

CENTRAL • S. French Broad Ave. 1BR, 1BA, office. $615 per month.

828-350-9400.

DUPLEX • 66 Linden Ave. 2BR, 1BA. Large living room. Office space. Some furniture. Quiet and safe. No pets. $750/month. $750/deposit.

828-253-4494.

EMD <EH L;HO BEM CEDJ>BO F7OC;DJI 9B?D=C7D 7L;DK; BE< JI • 1 & 2 BR Condominiums • Close to downtown • Nine foot ceilings

The area’s largest selection of Rental Homes under one roof.

Tel: (828) 650-6880 Toll Free (800) 789-1135 x 6880 PO Box 580, 2602 Hendersonville Road, Arden, NC 28704

www.tonsofrentals.com

“CITY LIVING AT ITS BEST”

%VFRW 4RLQW :LOODJH SPACIOUS APARTMENT HOMES

Apartments For Rent

1BR/1BA NORTH • 83 Edgemont, water included. $495/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

2 MONTHS FREE RENT!!

1BR, 1BA EAST • 7 Violet Hills. Hardwood floors, dishwasher. $515/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

1BR/1BA, EAST • 314 Fairview, porch, $575/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

828-274-8990 www.ascotpoint-apts.com

• Energy Star and NC HealthyBuilt Home certified • Private Balconies

Own for only $650/month Includes Mortgage, Taxes & Association Fees

;BA C EKDJ7? D JEMD>EC ; I Own for as low as $700/month

Includes mortgage, taxes and association fees. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Less than 4 miles from downtown Asheville and minutes from UNCA.

(Selected units only, limited time offer)

mountainx.com

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• BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 121

EFFICIENCY APARTMENT • Available immediately. 289 E Chestnut ST. Ground floor units available, $450/month. No pets.

828-350-9400.

GET QUALITY RESULTS! I received calls from a lot of high quality renters, as opposed to other publications I’ve tried. I will continue to advertise with Mountain Xpress. Patricia H. You too, can find the ideal renter, just call us!

(828) 251-1333. Mountain Xpress Classified Marketplace.

GLEN BRIDGE APARTMENTS • 1BR, 1BA. $450/month. Includes water/garbage. Small complex in Arden. Move in special with one year lease. arcagencyasheville.com.

828-350-9400.

HENDERSONVILLE • 1BR, 1BA. Walking distance to Main St. Includes water.

Only $425/month.

828-252-4334.

HENDERSONVILLE 1BR studio apartment. Walking distance to Main Street.

Includes water. Only $385/month. 828-252-4334 HISTORIC MONTFORD • Elegant, romantic apartment. Formal living room, dining room, 1 or 2 bedroom. Balcony, hardwoods, gas heat. Sorry, no dogs. 1 cat okay. $795/month.

828-253-6800.

NEAR A-B TECH 1BR for individual. No smoking/pets. $400/month. Deposit. 1 year lease. Off street parking. References.

Background check.

252-7179, 8am-6pm.

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES Off Merrimon. Walking distance to town. • 1BR: $495/month. • 2BR, 1BA: $525/month. • 3BR, 1BA: $625/month. Includes water. 828-252-4334.

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES Off Merrimon. Walking distance to town. • 1BR: $495/month. • 2BR, 1BA: $525/month. • 3BR, 1BA: $625/month. Includes water. 828-252-4334 NORTH FOREST APARTMENTS 2BR, 2BA. Beautiful complex, built 2002. Safe and secure.

Close to I-26/UNCA, North Asheville. • $600/month.

778-6809. www.delkandson.com OFF CHARLOTTE ST • Clean, furnished, weekly apartments. Efficiency and rooms. Includes wireless, laundry, off-street parking.

Secure building. Walk to downtown and busline.

828-232-1042.

STUDIO/1BA NORTH • 82 Merrimon, hardwood floors, $575/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

STUDIO/1BA NORTH • Fall Special! 85 Merrimon, all utilities included. Furnished. $550/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

Mobile Homes For Rent GAY FRIENDLY MOBILE1BR, bonus room, WD, DW. Private. 20 minutes West. Non-smoker. $500/month. Mike: 226-9998.

HAW CREEK Convenient location, good school district. 3BR, 2BA mobile home. Fenced. Nonsmoking.

• Some pets ok. $750/month, $750 deposit.

(828) 299-8623. str72@charter.net WAYNESVILLE 2BR, 1BA mobile home on a private lot. Nonsmoking. Some pets ok. $400/month, $250 deposit. Water and septic included. 828-505-6879, or waspnc@charter.net WEST ASHEVILLE • 2BR, 2BA mobile home. In very nice park. Like new. In city and on bus line close to town. Only $615/month.

828-252-4334.

Condos/ Townhomes For Rent 2BR, 2.5BA TOWN HOME • E. Asheville. Garage, washer/dryer included.

Small pet ok. $1100/month + 1st, last, security.

828-335-3752. heidilfisher@hotmail.com 2BR, 2BA CONDO Fireplace, deck, washer/dryer. Nice pool!

Close to town. Great winter views. • $925/month, including condo fee and water. (828) 712-1675.

3BR, 2.5BA FLETCHER TOWNHOME • Very clean townhouse with patio, garage, fireplace, appliances, and w/d hookup. $900/month. Call Dale at 828-231-9409 or 828-890-3282.

3BR, 2BA CONDO • Top floor, private wooded view in Biltmore Lake area.

Clubhouse/pool/gym. Wood burning fireplace. W/D included. $500 off first month’s rent! Inquiries email 400VistaLake@gmail.com

A F F OR DA BL E E N TA LS LS R EN LARGE INVENTORY OF RENTALS WITH 1 YEAR LEASES

Great Rentals in West Asheville, North Asheville, Woodfin, Black Mountain & Hendersonville NOR TH MOBILES LIKE NEW A S HEVILLE TO W NH OUSE S Off Merrimon Ave.

1 BR/1 BA ............... $495 2BR/1 BA ................ $525 3BR/1BA ................. $625 Walking distance to town, incl. water

ACCEPTING SECTION 8 NOW! In quiet, very nice park.

3BR, 2BA. ............................ $ 6 2 5 / M O NTH 2BR, 2BA. .......................... $61 5 / M O NTH

BLACK MOUNTAIN 2 BR, 1BA apartment.

Heat pump with central air, washer/dryer connections.

Also includes water.

$625/MONTH

HENDERSONVILLE 1BR, 1BA apar ment with new berber carpet. Small deck with sliding glass door. Walking distance to Main Street. Includes water.

$4 2 5 / M O NTH

CALL AAA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC 828.252.4334 EMAIL: WNCRENTALS@YAHOO.COM

122 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

3BR, 2BA • Top floor condo with high vaulted ceilings throughout. Approx. 1292 sq.ft. plus large, private deck. Stainless steel appliances, front load W/D, granite counters, wooded view. Includes garage, water. Available early December. $1100/month for leases beginning before Dec 15. For info: escape2wnc@yahoo.com or 828-423-9588.

3BR, 2BA • Top floor condo with high vaulted ceilings throughout. Approx. 1292 sq.ft. plus large, private deck. Stainless steel appliances, front load W/D, granite counters, wooded view. Includes garage, water. Available midNovember. $1150/month for leases beginning before Dec 15. For info: escape2wnc@yahoo.com or 828-423-9588.

BEVERLY TOWNHOUSE • Between downtown and Biltmore village. 2BR, 1BA. Hardwood floors, newly painted, modern lighting and updated kitchen with Corian countertops, washer/dryer. End unit with quiet green and gardening space. $118,000 (828) 545-3163.

MOUNTAIN TOP CONDO Beaucatcher Mountain.

Mountaintop pool, fireplace, new kitchen. Breathtaking mountain views. Just in time for leaf season. 14 ft gable ceiling. Washer/Dryer included. Closest Mountain to downtown. Flexible move in date. Looking for 1 year agreement. Pictures available on email or facebook. Dogs and cats considered after meeting your four footed friend. 2nd story. 1 month security and 1st month rent to move in.

Must see! This is a stylish place. Available for showings. $995/month.

828-505-0553. I will return messages. If you need a furnished condo please call to discuss. Possibly an option.

2BR/1BA WEST • 31 Ridgeway, Garage. W/D hookups. $795/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

NORTH ASHEVILLE TOWNHOMES Off Merrimon. Walking distance to town. • 1BR: $495/month. • 2BR, 1BA: $525/month. • 3BR, 1BA: $625/month. Includes water. 828-252-4334

3BR, 2BA • 1800sq.ft. on .5 acre. Walk to Reynolds HS. Garage, storage/workshop, fireplace. Consider small pets. No smoking. Available 10/10/09. $1325/month.

828-712-5559.

WINDSWEPT VIEWS • 2BR, 2BA. One lower unit for $750/month. arcagencyasheville.com 828-350-9400.

3BR/2BA EAST • 155 Onteora, near shopping. $845/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

Homes For Rent

3BR/2BA NORTH • 16 Knoll Ridge. A/C, W/D hookups. $1060/month.

828-253-151. www.leslieandassoc.com

1ST CALL US! 2, 3 and 4BR homes from $700-2500. • Pet friendly. • Huge selection! (828) 251-9966 Alpha-Real-Estate.com 2BR, 1.5 BA CENTRAL • 156 St. Dunstan/ Sunroom, hardwood floors. $1065/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

DOWNTOWN LUXURY CONDO • 2BR, 2BA. Two blocks from Pack Square, corner SW facing. 12’ ceiling. Eleven huge windows, exposed brick, oak floors, and gourmet kitchen. Indoor parking. $2,000/month furnished, $1800/month unfurnished.

Year lease. Bright Star Realty, 828-301-8033.

DOWNTOWN LUXURY CONDOS Brand new loft in historic 52 Biltmore Avenue Building. 1BR, 1.5BA with 250 sqft 2nd floor mezzanine. Gourmet kitchen, oak floors, exposed brick, modular lighting, large windows, W/D, concrete, granite, stone, stainless upgrades. Indoor parking. Best Downtown location; walk to anything. $1,250/month. Year lease.

828-301-8033 or 954-684-1300. Oxford Ventures FLETCHER • 2BR, 1.5BA townhouse available for immediate rental. Very nice unit with one car garage.

Duplex style living, very convenient to I-26 and south Asheville shopping/restaurants. One small pet considered. $800 per month. 828-350-9400.

2BR, 1BA • CHUNNS COVE DUPLEX $750/month. Call (828) 253-0758. Carver Realty 2BR, 1BA FLETCHER • 2 Pearson. Fireplace, A/C. $795/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA NORTH • 69 Rice Branch. Fireplace, rear deck. 828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 2BR, 1BA OAKLEY • Garage apt. $750/month, water included. Large deck, beautiful views, large fenced backyard, oak floors, W/D hookups, new appliances. Great neighborhood. No pets.

828-274-7109.

2BR, 1BA WEST ASHEVILLE • 5 minutes to downtown. Security deposit required. $550/month.

David, 777-0385.

2BR, 1BA • Good, well-kept home. Quiet street, hardwood floors. $700/month plus deposit.

Call 828-266-1291.

3BR, 1BA WEST • 39 Ridgeway. Oak floors, garage. $895/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com 3BR, 2BA NORTH ASHEVILLE • $1,175/month. Rustic 1936 Cape Cod. Walk to restaurants like Asheville Pizza on Merrimon. W/D hook-up, W/D rental available. Gas heat. ACwindow-units for bedrooms.

Small pet w/deposit.

Available 9/28. northashevillehouse @gmail.com

4BR, 2BA WEST • 10 Friendly Way. Gas logs, garage. $1195/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com ALL AREAS - HOUSES FOR RENT. Browse thousands of rental listings with photos and maps. Advertise your rental home for free! Visit: RealRentals.com (AAN CAN) ARDEN, OAK FOREST • 3BR, 2BA with full basement/garage. Nice area. Reduced to $1100/month. $30 application fee.

828-350-9400. arcagencyasheville.com ARDEN • 3 homes available from $950/month. Great layouts. 828-350-9400. arcagencyasheville.com ASHEVILLE AREA RENTALS $550$1950/month. • 1-East. • 3-West. • 3-North. • 3South. • Century 21 Mountain Lifestyles: (828) 684-2640, ext 17.

For more details: www.DebMarshall.com BEACON VILLAGE • SWANNANOA 2-3BR, 1BA, hardwood floors, oil heat, WD connections. Fenced yard. • Pets considered. $750/month. Deposit.

References. 301-0151.

2BR, 2.5BA WEST • 445 Sand Hill. Fireplace, deck. $950/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

BEAVERDAM • NORTH ASHEVILLE 3BR, 2BA, hardwood floors throughout.

WD connections. • Garage w/attic storage. • Additional carport. Fenced yard. $1150/month.

(828) 301-0151.

2BR, 2BA WEST • 40 Hudson. Gas logs, A/C. $895/month.

828-253-1517. www.leslieandassoc.com

BILTMORE PARK. 4BR, 2.5 BA, 2,200 sqft, Rent for $2,100. 4BR, 3.5BA $2500.

Carver Realty, 828-253-0758.

BUNGALOW • WEST ASHEVILLE 2BR, 1BA with bonus room on sunny corner lot in quiet neighborhood. Hardwood floor in living room; fireplace, WD connections, partial basement for storage. • Pets negotiable. $900/month includes lawn maintenance; security deposit. Call 10am-7 pm: (828) 582-1001.

CANDLER • ENKA VILLAGE 3BR, 1BA. $900/month. 1 year lease. Great home in charming neighborhood. 5 minutes to I-40. Updated bath. Big kitchen with all appliances. Washer/dryer. 1 car garage. New oil/heat pump furnace, central AC. • Cats ok. • We check credit and rental histories. Photos at: acmehomeandland.com/ products.html • Call (828) 298-1212 or email manager@acmehomeandl and.com CANDLER • 3BR, 3BA. Private. $1,275. Call 828-253-0758. Carver Realty CHARMING 2BR, 1BA Close to Beaver Lake, UNCA and downtown. 1,026 sq.ft.

Big yard. Mountain views.

Pets welcome! $800/month.

828-450-0030.

CUTE AND COMFY Walk to downtown or UNC-A. 1BR, 1BA cottage; open living room/kitchen area; fenced yard, WD connections. • Pets negotiable. Security deposit; $650/month. Call 10am-7pm: (828) 582-1001.

EAST • NEAR WARREN WILSON 2BR, 1BA. Secluded. 2 decks. Nice yard. 686-5634.

HOUSES FOR RENT • Browse thousands of rental listings with photos and maps. Advertise your rental home for free. Visit www.RealRentals.com.

(AAN CAN) MALVERN HILLS • WEST 2BR, 1BA: 170 Arthur Road.

1000 sqft, hardwood floors, fireplace, WD connection, AC, basement, large attic.

Garage, big beautiful yard, great neighborhood! Pets considered. $800/month.

1 year lease. 252-3334.

MARS HILL • 3BR, 1BA. Wonderful views. Walk to Mars Hill campus. $850/month.

828-350-9400.

MARS HILL • Close to downtown. Cute Bungalow.

3 BR/1BA, MBR with deck on main level. 795/month + utilities. 828-458-6791. wnchorses@aol.com NORTH ASHEVILLE • Great Views! Updated, 3BR, 2BA. Living, dining, den, fireplace, hobby room, storage, central air/heat, built-ins, washer/dryer, new flooring, vanities, fridge, paint, ceiling fans. Cul-desac street. 828-712-0271. $1500/month plus equal deposit. Kattipatt@aol.com.

OAKLEY • Cozy 2BR, 1BA. Hardwood floors, ceiling fans, large kitchen, W/D. Very clean shed. Pets ok. $750/month.

828-242-5456.

NORTH 2BR, 1BA • Hardwood floors, full basement, oil heat. $900/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty

OFF THE HOOK! We got a great response from our ad for our Rental house in the Mountain Xpress! The phone rang off the hook! Thanks, Ander, owner, Design Painting. Get your Apartment or House rented quickly and affordably. Call (828) 251-1333.

Mountain Xpress Classified Marketplace.

WEST • 2BR, 1BA. Fenced lot. $750/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty

PEARSON BRIDGE • 3BR, 2BA. $925/month. Call 828-253-0758. Carver Realty

BEAUTIFUL LOG CABIN Sleeps 5, handicap accessible. Near Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC. (828) 231-4504 or 277-1492. bennie14@bellsouth.net

RIVERFRONT MOUNTAIN CABIN • Enjoy this very private mountain oasis from the waterfront deck for only $900/month.

336-504-9888. arthursorenleonard @gmail.com. www.rockyrivercabin.com SOUTH OAK FORREST 4 BR, 2BA $1,500. Call Carver Realty 828-253-0758.

SOUTH, DEANWOOD 3BR, 2.5BA, $1,175/month. Call (828) 253-0758. Carver Realty SOUTH • Off Hendersonville Rd. 2BR, 1BA. $725/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty.

SWANNANOA • 3BR, 2BA. Cherry Blossom Cove, $850/month. Newer home.

Move in special: 2nd month free to qualified applicants with one year lease term. arcagencyasheville.com 828-350-9400.

SWANNANOA • 3BR, 2BA. Cherry Blossom Cove, $850/month. Newer home.

Move in special: 2nd month free to qualified applicants with one year lease term. arcagencyasheville.com 828-350-9400.

WEAVERVILLE/BARNARDS VILLE • Available immediately. 2BR with office. Views on 1 acre. No pets considered. $795/month.

828-350-9400.

WEST ASHEVILLE • 2BR/1BA. $925/month.

Cozy and bright. Central A/C, new appliances. W/D. Large private backyard.

Pets considered. 185 Appalachian Way. appway185@yahoo.com WEST • 2BR, 1BA. $550/month.

828-253-0758. Carver Realty.

WOODLAND HILLS • North Asheville • 2 Master BRs, 3BA plus bonus office room.

Mature landscaping on private 1.5 acres with fenced area. Double garage, W/D • $1250/month + deposit lease and references (828) 232-5547 • (828) 712-5548.

Vacation Rentals A BEACH HOUSE At Folly.

The legendary dog-friendly Rosie’s Ocean View and Kudzu’s Cottage now booking now booking for oyster season!

Call (828) 216-7908. www.kudzurose.com

Roommates 20 Miles to Asheville Mature, semi-retired (female preferred) roommate wanted to share secluded mountain cabin.

Free room and board and food for someone who can spend time at cabin.

Smoking ok.

(828) 622-3360.

Female roommate needed: 2BR2BA E.Asheville condo.

Nonsmoker, no pets, rent $375 plus 1/2 of utilities, deposit/references. Erin, after 3pm, (828)296-9408.

Female Roommate W Asheville 2 BR 2 BA your 1/2 $500 + utilities. Fenced yard. No drugs or drama please. Kathy 828-707-1017 Irwin Hills: Male seeking same to share 2BR, 2BA mobile home. $350/month includes utilities. Own transportation necessary.

Call 216-9257.

Quiet and Flexible Roommate $250, 1/4 util. 2 roommies, 1 dog. Your room also access to bath.

Renovated farmhouse in town, Weaverville Call!

337-6202.

Roommate Wanted Von Ruck Estate off Baird and Charlotte Street. $360 utilities included, large bedroom with its own entranceway, share living area with 53 year-old male freethinker, sorry no pets, 828-242-6323 Xeroid@Live.com Roommate Looking to share my condo with a room-mate. rent $500. own bedroom & bath. jeffmende@yahoo.com

3BR/1BA house w/ 30’s females. WiFi, W/D, hardwoods, quiet, clean. 1 cat & may consider cat. $450 includes utilities. culturalcreativevision @gmail.com

Roommates • Long term employed single mom, excellent rental history. With adorable child need housing. At lower cost Asheville area Kathleen51601@aol.com

Arden. Furnished room, beautiful/private setting.

Organic garden. Chemicalfree household. Seeking responsible, clean roommate(s). No pets. $395/month, utilities included. No lease.

(828) 687-2390.

Share 4BR/2BA House Candler large yard, deck, hot tub, private setting, grill, w/d, $400 includes utilities no pets 828-670-6364.

Arden Private home (lake/walking trails) 1BR/bath/W/D. No smoking inside/no pets/no drugs/no alcohol 400+utilities/cable tv call 828-651-8720 Barnardsville, $350 all inclusive, no smoking, 4wd needed, country setting, 30 mins from Asheville, Call Jeff (828) 231-0372 Black Mountain Houseshare in furnished 2BR, 1BA home, 1 mile to downtown. Kitchen, living, deck, AC, WD, cable. Clean, honest and responsible only. $350/month, deposit.

Jim: 423-4952.

Black Mountain: 2 rooms with bath. Nice, quiet, 1 mile from downtown. WD, cable, wifi, no pets.

Smoking ok. $50/month includes utilities. 423-4952.

East Asheville, available now, $350 plus 1/2 of electricity bill.

828-582-0908 Tanya.

Leave me a message.

Share Fully Furnished Apartment in Swannanoa with friendly, easygoing roommate. Less than a mile from Warren Wilson College. $325. Please contact: aaronroyle@gmail.com West Asheville Homeshare. $450/month; $450 deposit and share of utilities. Sorry, no pets. Call 727-564-2703

West Asheville Great location. $390, lots of storage, large basement, big yard, 1 1/2 bath, w/d, wireless, hardwood floors, call Ryan- 607-227-4436

jobs

Women Seeking Rental Young professional female seeking 1br, 1ba. Pref near downtown. No pets, nonsmoker. Negotiable lease opt. Call Rae 691-1148

Administrative/ Office

Employment

General

Employment Opportunities

BOMBARDED WITH CALLS! “We’ve literally been bombarded with calls from the employment ads we’ve placed in Mountain Xpress. It’s allowed us to carefully screen our applicants to find just the right employees that help our business grow.” Shay Amber, Manager, Pristine Clean. • What more can we say? Mountain Xpress Classifieds get results! Call 251-1333 Get results and grow your business!

• Call (828) 225-6122 or

CAB DRIVERS Needed at Blue Bird; call JT 258-8331.

Drivers needed at Yellow Cab; call Buster at 253-3311.

visit: biltmore.com

Skilled Labor/ Trades AUTO GLASS AND

OFFICE ASSISTANT • Immediate need for clerical support seeking opportunity for advancement. Requires time management skills, attention to detail, excellent verbal and written skills.

Answer phones, schedule appointments for sales staff in multiple locations. Must be able to work independently and be dependable. Some computer skills required, sales background a plus.

Fax resume with pay requirements to: 828-254-0446.

RESIDENTIAL GLASS

Salon/ Spa

INSTALLER NEEDED •

A STYLIST For busy Organic salon, North Asheville. Clientele preferred, full-time, flexible hours, experienced, selfmotivated. thewaterlily@mac.com (828) 505-3288. The Water Lily Wellness Salon.

MinImum 5 yrs experience.

Must have valid NC drivers license and must provide own tools. Pay DOE. We offer health insurance,

FIND QUALITY EMPLOYEES FAST! We found more than a dozen highly qualified job applicants in less than a week with just a single classified ad in the Mountain Express. • Chris Dennen, PhD, President of Innovative Healing Inc. • Your business can quickly and affordably find the right employee. Call 251-1333, Mountain Xpress Marketplace!

401K, paid vacation and

HIRE QUALITY EMPLOYEES “Our employment advertisements with the Mountain Xpress garner far more educated and qualified applicants than any other publication we have used. The difference is visible in the phone calls, applications and resumes.”

Howard Stafford, Owner, Princess Anne Hotel. • Thank you, Howard. Your business can benefit by advertising for your next employee in Mountain Xpress Classifieds. Call 251-1333.

License Required. Excellent

sick leave. Wholesale Glass and Mirror • 419 Haywood Rd, Asheville.

GUTTER INSTALLER • Immediate employment for established company. Must be experienced. Drivers pay and benefits.

828-654-0036.

AVEDA AND BUMBLE SALON AND SPA Seeking experienced stylists with clientele.

High level of professionalism. Benefits and educational opportunities! email resume to: kelly@ismspa.com HAIR STYLIST Two stylists with clientele preferred.

Great location: Off Charlotte Street, Asheville. Plenty parking. Contact Fredia, 258-9558 or 776-4761.

Illusions Day Spa

MASSAGE THERAPISTS Minimum 1 year experience. Bring resume in person to either location: 59 Haywood Street, downtown Asheville (253-3222) or 2 Town Square, Biltmore Park (687-8760). Sensibilities MANICURIST • We are looking for someone to perform manicures and pedicures only. Busy downtown salon expanding.

We will train the right person. Will be offering organic services. Please bring resume in person to: 58 College St. No phone calls please.

Sales/ Marketing MAKE MONEY TALKING ON THE PHONE! Local company is hiring now! Call 398-0165 to schedule an interview. Equal Opportunity Employer.

SALES PROS • Time to get paid what you are worth AND have a life. Call 1-888-700-4916.

Restaurant/ Food “150 CALLS! At some point, I was hoping they’d stop! The best vehicle for finding quality employees, and advertising your business.” Russell, The Skyclub. Your business can benefit with low cost, efficient advertising. Call 251-1333. Mountain Xpress Marketplace Classifieds.

APOLLO FLAME • WAITSTAFF Full-time needed. Fast, friendly atmosphere. Apply in person between 2pm-4pm, 485 Hendersonville Road.

274-3582.

BARTENDER • SERVER Part-time for evenings.

Great pay: $5.15$6.50/hour plus tips.

Flexible hours. 665-2161. • Apply in person: Holiday Inn Plaza, 435 Smokey Park Highway. Infusions Lounge.

KITCHEN PREP STAFF • Edible Arrangements in West Asheville hiring food prep and design staff. call 252-1550 or email nc296@dofruit.com

Now hiring for the following job opportunities : Human Resources Coordinator

NOW HIRING

Earn $65k, $50k, $40k GM, Co-Manager, Assistant Manager We currently have managers making this and need more for expansion.

One year salaried restaurant management experience required.

Fax resume to 336-431-0873

Help Others while

Helping Yourself

DONATE PLASMA, EARN COMPENSATION Plasma Biological Services

Part time. Experienced individual needed to coordinate hiring, orientation and benefits for non-profit agency. Requirements include: documented skills in organization, oral and written communication and Microsoft Office. Knowledge of employment laws including FMLA and COBRA coverage preferred.

Executive Assistant Part time. Candidate must be personable, self-directed, detailoriented and present self professionally. Requirements include: documented skills in organization, oral and written communication and Microsoft Office. A strong work ethic and high expectations of self are mandatory.

Kitchen Assistant Full-time experienced kitchen assistant needed. Duties will include food prep, food portioning and clean up for all meals served as well as assisting the kitchen manager as needed. Interest in fresh local foods a plus. Pay based on experience, benefits and training provided. Must be available 7am-4:00pm.

Classroom Substitutes Needed Candidates should have experience working with children ages 0-5. Flexibility and dependability very important. A high school diploma or GED is required. Completion of Early Childhood Education Credential preferred. Must be available to work between the hours of 7:30am-5:30pm Monday–Friday.

Equal Opportunity Employer

(828) 252-9967 interstatebloodbank.com

mountainx.com

Please submit application and resume at www.macfc.org

• BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 123

MOUNTAIN X JAMS! As a growing business that relies on the face put forward by our employees, Mountain Xpress Classifieds is where we turn to find them. The volume of high-quality applicants replying to our ads can be hard to choose from, and it is always worth our investment. Thanks Mountain X! Rebecca and Charlie, owners, Tomato Jam Cafe.

PART TIME SERVER Please apply in person: 19 Broadway, Asheville.

Wasabi Restaurant

Medical/ Health Care LOOKING FOR PRIVATE DUTY CNAs with good work ethics and compassion to care for two elderly individuals (assistance with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light house work, transportation as needed to doctor’s appt. or errands, and companion care). Must have CNA license, valid driver’s license and pass background check. $10/hour. Part-time and full-time available. day, night and weekends available. Send resumes to weelspac@gmail.com

Human Services CASE MANAGEMENT POSITION Bachelors Degree in Human Services and 2 years experience with individuals with developmental disabilities required. Email resume to gbyrd@libertycornerent.co m or drop it off at 147 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC, 28801.

COMMUNITY AGENCY • Is seeking master’s level clinicians to lead 3 person In-Home teams.

Provisionally licensed clinicians in NC or board eligible clinicians in NC may apply. If interested, please email thinshaw@umhs.net COMMUNITY AGENCY • Is seeking School-Based therapist to provide therapy to children and adolescents in a school setting.

Experience working with children and families preferred. Must have an active NC License (LPC or LCSW) or be NC Board eligible to apply.

Compensation is on a fee for service basis. If interested, please email resume to thinshaw@umhs.net DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL For more information: (828) 299-3636. Mountain Area Residential Facilities, Inc.

FAMILIES TOGETHER INC. Now hiring for Mental Health Professionals in Brevard, Asheville and Polk county offices. Positions available: Day Treatment, and Family Service Coordinator. Please visit our website www.familiestogether.net and email resume to sstevenson @familiestogether.net

FAMILIES TOGETHER INC. Now hiring for our Day Treatment Programs in Transylvania and Polk Counties. Candidates will have a minimum of a bachelors degree and experience with at risk youth. Email resume to humanresources @familiestogether.net • www.familiestogether.net

FAMILIES TOGETHER INC. Now hiring for Qualified Professionals in Buncombe and Transylvania Counties to provide in home and community based mental health services to children and families. Email resume to humanresources @familiestogether.net • www.familiestogether.net

FAMILIES TOGETHER, INC., Adult Services is now hiring for a Community Support Team Lead to serve Henderson and Transylvania Counties. Candidates will have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Human Services and one year experience working with the adult population. FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours, room for advancement, health benefits, and an innovative culture.

Candidates should email resumes to humanresources @familiestogether.net

JOIN OUR EMPLOYEE FAMILY AND SHARE IN OUR MANY BENEFITS INCLUDING: Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Paid Vacation • Paid Sick Leave 6 Paid holidays per year • Free City Bus Pass Employee Cafeteria (free meals) Free Uniforms and Laundering • Free use of Sports Complex Retirement Plan (GPRP) • 401(k)

SOME OF OUR OPENINGS INCLUDE: • Restaurant Manager • Restaurant Chef • Servers • Laundry Staff • Massage Therapist • Nail Technician • Front Desk Agent • IT Manager • Spa Concierge • Spa Café Manager For a complete list of our openings, visit our website, www.groveparkinn.com, or you may apply in person, Monday through Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm, Saturday 8:00am-4:00pm in Human Resources at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804, (828) 252-2711, ext. 2083. EOE Drug Free Workplace. Add Grove Park Inn Jobs as a friend on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at: Grove Park Inn Job. 124 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Professional/ Management

FAMILIES TOGETHER, INC., is now hiring licensed professionals for IIHS Clinical Leads in Buncombe, Henderson, Mitchell, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties. • Qualified candidates will include LPC’s, LCSW’s, LMFT’s, LCAS’s, PLCSW’s, or Board Eligible Counselors. FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours, room for advancement, health benefits, and an innovative culture.

Candidates should email resumes to: humanresources @familiestogether.net

FAMILIES TOGETHER, INC., is now hiring licensed professionals for OPT in Buncombe, Mitchell, and Yancey Counties. Qualified candidates will include LPC’s, LCSW’s, LMFT’s, LCAS’s, PLCSW’s, or Board Eligible Counselors. FTI provides a positive work environment, flexible hours, room for advancement, health benefits, and an innovative culture.

Candidates would be providing OPT within our JJTC program. JJTC is a specialized platform designed to meet the judicial, clinical and restorative needs of court involved youth, their families, and the communities in which they live. JJTC is unique in its clinical approach, structure and cross-agency collaboration. Candidates should email resumes to humanresources @familiestogether.net

FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES OF NC. Now hiring licensed therapists for their Rutherford office.

NC license and minimum one year child experience required. Health, dental and paid time off available.

Email resume to mswann@fpscorp.com.

FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES OF TRYON In Polk County FPS has immediate openings for Licensed Clinical Social Workers and Licensed Professional Counselors to provide individual and group therapy for adults and children with mental health needs. Please email resumes to lmorrison@fpscorp.com FOUR CIRCLES RECOVERY CENTER • A wilderness therapy facility working with young adults with substance abuse (ages 1828) is looking for a licensed therapist to work with clients and their families through the recovery process. Provides individual, group and family therapy, participates in treatment and after-care planning.

Requirements: MA or MS in counseling, psychology or social work. LCAS, LPC or LCSW required. Please email cover letter and resume to jobs@fourcirclesrecovery.co m, subject: “therapist.”

MAKE A DIFFERENCE NC Mentor is looking for foster parents in Buncombe, Henderson, Polk, Transylvania, and Rutherford counties. Be a hero in your community and open your home to a child in need. We provide training, 24 hour support, and a generous stipend.

Please call Nicole at 828696-2667 ext 14. Together we can make a difference in our community. Visit our web site at www.ncmentor.com • Do you know someone who is interested in becoming a therapeutic foster parent?

PARKWAY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • Has an immediate opening in our Asheville Office for a F/T Licensed Clinician experienced with MH/SA and SA group. LPC, LCSW, LCAS and other Licensed Clinicians should apply. Job requires some evening work. Experience with LME and M/caid consumers a plus. Excellent benefits and salary. Send resume to slayton@parkwaybh.com

Psychiatrist Assertive Community Treatment Team. Please contact Joe Ferrara, joe.ferrara @meridianbhs.org Haywood/Buncombe County RN Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have four years of psychiatric nursing experience.

Please contact Mason Youell, mason.youell @meridianbhs.org QMHP Assertive Community Treatment Team.

Must have mental health degree and two years of experience working with adults with mental illness.

Please contact Mason Youell, mason.youell @meridianbhs.org Vocational Specialist Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have mental health degree and two years of experience working with adults with mental illness. Please contact Mason Youell, mason.youell@meridianbhs. org Jackson/Macon/Clay County Team Leader Assertive Community Treatment Team. Must have master’s degree and be licensed eligible. Please contact Ben Haffey, ben.haffey @meridianbhs.org Cherokee/Clay/Graham County Therapist/Team Leader: Child and Family Services.

Masters degree and license eligible.

Please contact David Hutchinson at david.hutchinson @meridianbhs.org Team Leader: Adult Recovery Education Center.

Masters or Doctoral Level Clinician. Must be licensed or license-eligible. Please contact Julie Durham-Defee at julie.durhamdefee@meridianbhs.org • For further information and to complete an application, visit our website: www.meridianbhs.org

THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE (TFC) PROGRAM COORDINATOR Position requires: Obtaining and maintaining of licensure, recruitment and training of foster parents, and management and oversight of the new FTI TFC program. Candidates will have a minimum of: a bachelors degree in human services, and 2 years experience in the mental health field, and 2 years experience in program management and licensure oversight preferably in NC. Salary range from 40-50k base, with benefits and unique incentives. Please contact humanresources @familiestogether.net

LIFESPAN • Has an immediate opening for a Program Director to coordinate, oversee and supervise activities and staff in our Waynesville Enrichment Program.

Bachelor’s degree in human services, special education, or related field with at least 5 years experience supervising and managing a program or department, in the field of developmental disabilities. Qualified Professional status required. Competitive compensation and benefits package. Please apply online at http://jobs.lifespanservices. org; send application by fax to the Executive Director, LifeSpan, 704-944-5102.

EOE WATER JUSTICE ORGANIZER Asheville or Durham office of progressive nonprofit Clean Water for NC. seeks a full time person for community outreach, issue research, database and social media.

Spanish fluency preferred.

Email hope@cwfnc.org for full description. Deadline: Nov. 3.

Teaching/ Education ANATOMY • PHYSIOLOGY • PATHOLOGY INSTRUCTOR Part-time position for a dynamic and talented teacher for our beautiful massage school.

Must be educated in the sciences. $30/hour of instruction. Email resume/references to audra@centerformassage.c om or mail to Center for Massage, 530 Upper Flat Creek Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787.

LEAD TEACHER For a TK class (4 and 5 year olds) in Hot Springs. NCECC required. BA in BK preferred, plus at least 2 years experience, or the credential plus 5 years experience. Forward resume to info@hsclc.org.

For more info about our programs: www.hsclc.org ONSITE SPANISH SPEAKING NANNY • To start, need three days a week for 12 hour days from 6:20 am to 7:30 pm. In January 2010 I need a fulltime live-in nanny. West Asheville home, with light housework duties. I have a bilingual 3 year old girl and 1 1/2 year old son. Must have good references and prefer Christian woman.

Please call 828-713-5295.

YMCA OF WESTERN NC • Afterschool Program Opportunities $7.25 $13/hour Please visit our web site for details: www.ymcawnc.org

Employment Services

2009 • DON’T JUST SURVIVE • Thrive! Snelling delivers results with staffing expertise that connects people and businesses with the power to thrive! snelling.com/asheville/ application UNDERCOVER SHOPPERS Get paid to shop. Retail and dining establishments need undercover clients to judge quality and customer service. Earn up to $100/day. Please call 1-800-720-0576.

Announcements 80’s Movie Night Hosted

by The Gate Student Ministries Center Saturday October 24th 7-9:30pm.

Join us as we flash back to the 80’s with a special showing of the classic The Neverending Story. Free popcorn. Drinks and snacks for sale. Open to Jr. High, High School & College-aged students. 3871B Sweeten Creek Rd. Arden, NC 28704.

Visit us online at myspace.com/thegatestude ntministries. Call 273-1731 for more info.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Bodywork **ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE MASSAGE!** Perfect pressure! Caring, intuitive, professional therapist. Tranquil sanctuary just 3 blocks from Greenlife & downtown! Reasonable rates, Open Mon thru Sat., 9am to 7 p.m. by appt. only Brett Rodgers LMBT #7557. www.vitalitymassage.net (828) 255-4785.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every week for $1200. No adult ads. Call Rick at 202-289-8484.

(AAN CAN) ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every week for $1200. No adult ads. Call Mountain Xpress Classifieds at (828) 251-1333. (AAN CAN)

Business Opportunities Classes & Workshops BEST HOME-BASED BUSINESS EVER! It’s fun; it’s simple; it’s lucrative. To hear 3-minute message, call 1-866-257-3105, code 1.

HOLIDAY HARMONY LESSONS Song O’Sky Chorus presents Holiday Harmony: 4 personalized barbershop craft learning sessions. More details, call toll free 1-866-824-9547 or www.songosky.org

BIZ OP • Want to purchase minerals and other oil/gas interest. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

LEARN VIETNAMESE/ASIAN COOKING • Tired of the same old food? Learn to prepare healthy and nutritious food. seasiancookingeasy.com

#1 AFFORDABLE COMMUNITY CONSCIOUS MASSAGE CENTER Best rates in town! $29/hour. • 20 Wonderful Therapists to choose from. Therapeutic Massage: • Deep Tissue • Swedish • Sports • Trigger Point. Also offering: • Acupressure • Energy Work • Reflexology • Classes.

Call now for your appointment: • 10 Biltmore Plaza, 505-7088. Asheville. thecosmicgroove.com BEST MASSAGE IN ASHEVILLE Deep tissue, sports massage, Swedish, esalen. Available in/out. Jim Haggerty, LMBT# 7659. Call (828) 545-9700. www.jhmassage.com

MASSAGE AND HOLISTIC HEALTH TREATMENTS • This is a clean, conscious, holistic practice located inside a beautiful Healing arts studio downtown.

Ayurveda - Deep Tissue Hot Stone - Shiatsu to schedule an appointment please call (828)-333-2717.

Lauren Barta; NC LMBT # 7219 consciousnessishealing.com MASSAGE/MLD Therapeutic Massage.

Manual Lymph Drainage.

Lymphedema Treatment. $45/hour or sliding scale for financial hardship. 16+ years experience.

828-299-4105. NC License #146. www.uhealth.net SHOJI SPA & LODGE • 7 DAYS A WEEK Looking for the best therapist in town—- or a cheap massage? Soak in your outdoor hot tub; experience the invigorating cold plunge; then get the massage of your life! 26 massage therapists.

299-0999. www.shojiretreats.com STAY RELAXED. Massage therapy at your home/office.

1/2 or 1-hour appointments. Call Sarah Whiteside, LMBT#4741, (828) 279-1050. sarahsgolf@charter.net THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY Patricia O’Sullivan LMT #7113. 828-275-5497.

Counseling Services COMPASSIONATE COUNSELING. Licensed, 25 years experience healing childhood issues, relational conflict, anxiety, depression, anger management, substance abuse. Medicaid, BC/BS. Affordable sliding fee. Guy Morganstein, LPC. 828-337-7549.

F[ji e\ j^[ M[[a Adopt a Friend • Save a Life

Louise Female/Spayed Retriever, Labrador/Mix 8 years I.D. #8083938

$2 OFF FIRST CUT* Convenient • Affordable M-F 8am - 6pm • 8am - 4pm Sat

3 Full-time Barbers - Less Wait!

3473 Hendersonville Road • 684-7589 SERVICE BARBERING *with this ad - limited offer

AMR

MEDIA SERVICES

Dee Dee Female Domestic Shorthair/Mix 4 months ID # 8884703 Pokie Female/Spayed Beagle/Mix 6 years I.D. #7441962

Audio and Video Recording of Musical, Instructional and Literary Sources Performance & Public Speaking Enhancement Tools

7i^[l_bb[ >kcWd[ IeY_[jo

828-335-9316 • amrmediastudio.com • Visa/MC

Buncombe County Friends For Animals, Inc.

mountainx.com

72 Lee’s Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 253-6807 • AshevilleHumane.org

• BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 125

Vehicles For Sale

Autos HELP MAX FIND HIS FOREVER HOME Max is a Dachshund who would love to be your dog. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a nonprofit dog and cat rescue group that is dedicated to helping abandoned dogs and cats find their forever homes. Adoption fee, $125; all animals are spayed/neutered, up to date on shots and microchipped.

Visit www.bwar.org or call 458-7778.

Sweet Girl Gentle, spayed female bloodhound/plott mix in need of good home.

Good with kids, needs more attention than we can give.

Call 828-669-0106.

Spiritual A SPIRITUAL MENTOR Nina Anin. Wherever you are, by phone: (828) 253-7472 or email: asknina@excite.com

Natural Alternatives HOLISTIC IRIDOLOGY® Fascinating detailed Iris Analysis, Bio-Chemistry Analysis, Cardiovascular Screening, and Meridian Kinesiology for ‘Total Health Assessment’ with effective Natural and Holistic Therapies, BioDetoxification programs, Advanced Energy Healing.

Call Jane Smolnik, ND, Iridologist at (828) 777JANE (5263) for appointment or visit UltimateHealing.com

Musicians’ Xchange

Musical Services AMR STUDIO Audio mastering, mixing and recording. • Musical, literary and instructional services. • Tunable performance room, on-site video available. Visa/MC. (828) 335-9316. amrmediastudio.com ASHEVILLE’S WHITEWATER RECORDING Full service studio services since 1987. • Mastering • Mixing and Recording. • CD/DVD duplication at the best prices. (828) 684-8284 whitewaterrecording.com PIANO-GUITAR-DRUMSBASS-MANDOLIN-BANJOSINGING Learn what you/your child wants to learn. Knowledgeable, flexible, enthusiastic instructor. 828-242-5032.

SPECIALIZED SINGING LESSONS AND VOICE COACHING • In a real recording studio with separate vocal and control rooms. Offering audition, gig, showcase and tour prep. Learn endurance techniques and increase range. Gain studio experience and broaden vocal skills. All levels.

Experienced teacher. $35/hour. Terry (828) 674-6417.

Equipment For Sale Beautiful carved wooden flute with gold designs, in the case. Excellent condition. $18. Crys/Dan 828-505-3368 or crystallineruby@yahoo.com.

See photohttp://asheville.craigslist.org /msg/1291159784.html Complete 5-pc Viking drum kit. Includes stands, hardware, throne, sticks. $325.00 828-778-2498 Fusion Drum Set: 3003 Force Sonar. Honeymaple, 5 piece. $350. Call 290-8506.

New Djembe Beautiful drum with carved rose/treble clef design on body. $275. Call Crys/Dan 828-505-3368. Great holiday gift! See http://asheville.craigslist.org /msg/1291154104.html for picture.

Musicians’ Bulletin Acoustic Duo 40 something ex-pro guitarist/singer looking for like minded performer(must have chops, no solo singers please) To work up acoustic set. eclectic mix. 299-0598

Lead Guitar Player Wanted Working blues and r&b project looking for funky lead player. Call 828 231 2901 Need Upright or Fender Bassist Mature age and attitude wanted to add personality and style to our largely original existing mix.

423-0154 Transgengendered Blues Guitarist seeks to form band. www.myspace.com/gabriell ecrow (828) 505-1395

Pet Xchange

Lost Pets LOST CAT Beaucatcher Mountain/Kenilworth. Male orange tabby, purple collar with tag, has address and phone. Missing Tuesday, September 22. Please call 606-0499.

LOST YOUR PET? FOUND A PET? Call Asheville Humane Society, (828) 253-6807, to fill out a missing or found pet report. Visit 72 Lee’s Creek Road, Asheville. ashevillehumane.org

Pets for Adoption

A LOYAL COMPANION Murray, a Shepherd mix, might be the one for you.

Call Brother Wolf Canine Rescue at 808-9435 for more information or visit www.bwcr.org Boxer/Pit Mix: Seeks kind, loving home due to owner’s schedule. Good natured, playful, well trained. All shots. Microchipped, neutered. Small adoption fee. No cats. Loves other dogs. 676-9991.

Clyde of Handsomeville Ready! Clyde was found on a 2 foot chain. 2 yo pit bull, free to great home. Must have fence. 450-7736 FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE! Cats, dogs, & other small animals available for adoption at Asheville Humane Society • 72 Lee’s Creek Road • Asheville, NC • (828) 253-6807 ashevillehumane.org

BLACK AND TAN DOG Did you lose your family pet? I found a dog near the Weaverville Quarry. Call & describe to claim. 828-2755079

Drummer Auditions We are pipapelli, the only celtic bagpipe rocking blues band in the world! myspace.com/pipapelli

Found Cat Gerber Village area, Hendersonville rd.

Black cat, fluffy black tail.

Male. He is very friendly but scared. 843-693-4423

Guitarist Seeks Rocking bass and drums wanted.

Excellent guitarist forming band. Call Chris 828 649 - 3346

Sweet Orange Cat Very orange, very fluffy, very friendly & vocal orange cat found near London Rd. Call 551-0854

126 OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 •

GET LUCKY! Lucky is a Norwegian Elkhound who is searching for a loving home. He is 8 years old and left homeless since his owner died. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a nonprofit dog and cat rescue group that is dedicated to helping abandoned dogs and cats find their forever homes. The adoption fee is $125; all animals are spayed/neutered, up to date on shots and microchipped.

Visit www.bwar.org or call 458-7778.

mountainx.com

1983 Mazda B2200 (Bio)Diesel 254k, runs good. Has had lots of work done, good tires, needs new starter (I have the part) $1400 828-242-2533 1984 Toyota Camry - Body and interior in pretty good shape. Needs work. Good for some one who likes to work on cars. $600 obo.

Contact (828)280-5771 1991 Ford Crown Victoria: White four door, 5.0 engine, runs great, 93,000 miles.

Some body damage. $1000.

Call 216-9257.

1995 Toyota Corolla DX 106,500 mi., auto, a/c, cruise, srs, alarm, tint, power everything. Clean & very reliable. 30/40 mpg. $2,500. 828 680 9836 1998 DODGE STRATUS Burgundy Stratus-in very good condition.3200.00 828-280-1387 Ask for Lynn

TRIXIE is a Heeler mix puppy who is searching for her forever home. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is a non-profit dog and cat rescue group that is dedicated to helping abandoned dogs and cats find their forever homes.

The adoption fee is $125; all animals are spayed/neutered, up to date on shots and microchipped.

Visit www.bwar.org or call 458-7778.

Pet Services ASHEVILLE PET SITTERS Dependable, loving care while you’re away.

Reasonable rates. Call Sandy Ochsenreiter, (828) 258-0942 or 215-7232.

DOG GIRL AT LARGE Dog training and behavior modification. All positive reinforcement. Sitting services for all creatures.

Call Heather 404.788.2085 or doggrrly@yahoo.com

Found Pets

Found Box Turtle I found a box turtle in the middle of the street, West Asheville.

551-358-8468.

Sweet Kittens Need to find home for kittens ASAP. One male orange, one female grey, and two calico females. Call 828-279-1982

1979 Ford F-100 Pickup 300/6. 3 on the tree. New vinyl seat. Good work truck. $2,500 OBO. (828) 505-3752. OK to leave a message.

LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE! End cruel and dangerous constant chaining of dogs in NC! Lobby your state reps to reintroduce legislation addressing dog chaining.

For information, contacts and downloads, visit www.crittersong.org

2001 VW Jetta TDI BioDiesel Green run on biodiesel for 4 years. 5 speed, 130,000 miles. $6,800 Call Sean 828 337 5819

Trucks/Vans /SUVs 1979 FORD F-100 300 inline 6. three on the tree.

Clear title. Good work truck.

828-505-3752 Ford F-150 2007 12K miles, 2 wheel drive.

Excellent condition. $10,500. 273-9545.

Honda Pilot EX-L, 2005 Excellent condition, fully loaded, silver. 61,400 miles. $14,500/obo (below KBB).

Contact: nbcamp@gmail.com (pics available) or 404.375.7222 - Nick.

For Sale

Antiques & Collectibles 2 Antique Royal Typewriters circa 1930-40. one works great, other has broken catch.

828-545-7044 after 6pm. $150obo

Tools & Machinery 2005 Bobcat T300 Track Skid Steer, 3 Attachments included, Price $4200, Need to sell fast, contact: b4n35g@gmail.com 980-225-0482

Clothing VINTAGE In a big wicker trunk Shoes, boots, dresses, gloves, hats, lingerie, beaded, Go-Go, leather, denim and Victorian. $250 for all. Firm.

650-6404.

Furniture ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Solid wood, light golden oak. 2 shelves on top.

Spacious drawers on bottom w/doors. $150. • Sharp 27” color TV: $100.

Works great! Call (828) 232-5777.

MATTRESSES Pillow-top: queen $250, king $350 • Extra firm: queen $175, king $275 • Full: $150 • Twin: $99. New, in plastic.

828-277-2500.

Firewood Firewood Oak cut, split and delivered. 16” or 18” lengths. $60 1 face cord, $120 2 face cords, $170 full cord. Hickory firewood for heating, camping, cooking. 828-668-3158.

Medical Supplies DELUXE MASSAGE TABLE Very high quality. Extra options. Like new. Paid over $700, asking $375. Call (828) 215-6744.

Motorcycles/ Scooters

General Merchandise

1988 Kawasaki 454 LTD, Great shape, New chain.

Runs Great, awesome in mountain curves. $1300 OBO Call DJ@ 828-242-4126 or djdjdj242@yahoo.com

Kyocera 130 watt panel with a junction box 56” x 25.7” x 1.4”26 lbs. Comes with 30 feet of cable and a SunSaver 10 (10 amp charge controller). $475.

Automotive Services

Singer Sewing Machine Fashion Mate 360 model in cabinet. Good condition, nothing fancy. It works. $10.00. Call 232-0905

WE’LL FIX IT AUTOMOTIVE • Honda and Acura repair.

Half price repair and service. ASE and factory certified. Located in the Weaverville area. Please call 828-275-6063 for appointment.

Wanted Wanted Treeless Saddle please email me finestkindfarms @hotmail.com

Sales

Yard Sales Huge Benefit Yard Sale Saturday Oct.24,8am-3pm; TrinityUnited Methodist Church-back-parkinglot,587 Haywood Rd.WestAsheville; Turn onto Balm Grove Rd. between FamilyDollar and church.

Must see.

Sat/Sun Oct 24 & 25 56 Murdock Ave. North Asheville 8am. Unvented carosene and gas heaters, furniture,dishes, household items and lots more. Info 215-7306.

SATURDAY • WEAVERVILLE October 24, 8am-5pm. 920 Barnardsville Hwy, #58. I26, exit 15, 3.2 miles, turn left, next driveway past the church. Go up long driveway. Directions: 626-3016 THIS SATURDAY • 8AM-1PM Historic Manor Inn parking lot, Charlotte Street to Cherokee Road, Asheville. Quality furniture galore: Thomasville, Drexel.

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Across? (touch-me-not) 15 The Jetsons’ dog ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 18 Whistler’s whistle 19 From what place E S C R O W A M A J B B Q 23 Circulation line S E L E N A G O T O E A U 25 Part of IUD T R E E E X P E R T S S A O 26 Namely D I A S E N S E D T 27 Coeur d’___, F R E E E N T E R P R I S E Idaho S E X O H A R A S 29 Bill who said of his A M I E T H A N S C R T S TV monologues D O N T S E E E Y E T O E Y E “It’s all been satiM S G R N E S T L E D R S rized for your protection” I H E A R D L A I 31 Hit, of a sort T E N N E S S E E E R N I E E S C W W W D M Z S 32 How you might respond to an W A R K L E E E X H I B I T offensive remark A D A O V E R E U G E N E 33 Styles S O L N I P S R H O D E S

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34 Aid in show-andtell

47 “Apologies!”

49 Sharpen

36 Swenson of “Benson”

52 Glove material

38 Scout unit

54 Hardly Mr. Cool

41 Marinara sauce ingredient

55 Battle town of 1944

42 Gives over for safekeeping

56 “Heads ___, tails …”

57 Gold rush locale of 1898-99 58 Some distance away 59 Fake 61 Words in a ratio 62 Poet Teasdale 63 Washstand vessel 65 That, to Juanita

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• OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 127

A S HEVILLE G ENERAL E L ECTION GUIDE

2009 Asheville general election voter guide We ask the questions and you cast the votes

Brian Postelle In a typical election season, the Xpress voter guide would simply feature the six Council and two mayoral candidates that are on the ballot for the Asheville general election. But things are more complicated this year.

Three days after the primary’s 7,113 ballots were cast, fourth-place finisher Kelly Miller bowed out of the race. Since the Buncombe Board of Elections had not yet certified the primary totals at the time of Miller’s departure, it determined that Carl Mumpower and J. Neal Jackson, who placed fifth and sixth in votes, would move up to fourth and fifth place, and that seventh-place finisher Ryan Croft would now be the sixth name on the ballot. (The top three slots were cleanly

taken by Cecil Bothwell, Gordon Smith and Esther Manheimer.)

Then there’s incumbent Robin Cape, who is mounting a write-in bid for reelection.

Although there are six names on the ballot for Council, there are also three blank spaces where voters can write in names. (To execute such a vote, fill in the adjacent bubble and write in the candidate’s name. And, no, you can’t write the same name three times.) Cape did not appear in our primary voter guide because there was no place on that ballot for write-ins. With that option appearing on the general ballot, we have included Cape due to her status as an incumbent.

On the mayoral front, incumbent Mayor Terry Bellamy is facing newcomer Robert Edwards, who survived the primaries

despite garnering only about a fifth of the votes that Bellamy did.

Early voting for all of Buncombe County’s municipal elections began Oct. 14 at the Board of Elections and continues through the 31st. To help gin up more voter participation, early voting will also be possible beginning Oct. 24 at four new locations: the North Asheville Library, the South Buncombe Library, the West Asheville Library and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department Building on Gashes Creek Road.

All that brings us to election day proper, Nov. 3, when three Council candidates and one Mayoral candidate will make the cut.

To help make the decision easier, here’s the 2009 Xpress voter guide. X

The 2009 Mountain Xpress Holiday Art Contest Call to artists – young and old!

Get out those art supplies and submit your holiday-themed artwork to the Xpress by Friday, Nov. 20 If you do, you could win the opportunity to…

• Have your art appear in color inside one of our December holiday guides, which will publish on Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16!

• Have your art displayed at Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s studio in downtown Asheville (20 Commerce St.) from Friday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 20!

There will be a free, open-to-the-public reception for Xpress’ holiday art show Friday, Dec. 18, from 6 to 7 p.m. with treats and entertainment. Stick around after the reception for Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s opening night of Poetry in Motion: A Light in the Attic and More starting at 7:30 p.m. This seasonal production for all ages will celebrate the poetry of Shel Silverstein, and will also be performed Saturday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3 p.m. For Poetry in Motion ticket info, visit www.acdt.org.

To enter the Xpress Holiday Art Contest, here’s what you do: Create holiday-inspired art within a squarish space (9.5” H x 10.25” W) and keep the colors bright!

The following mediums will work best in print: watercolor, acrylic, crayons, colored pencils or pastels (no graphite pencil, please). Entries must be received at the Xpress no later than Friday, Nov. 20. All artwork must have a completed registration form affixed to the back. Don’t forget to include a SASE if you’d like your artwork returned!

Come Be Inspired

Send or hand deliver artwork to: Mountain Xpress Holiday Art Contest, 2 Wall St., Asheville, N.C. 28801

Registration Form

Wedding Inspirations

Name ___________________________________________ Address __________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Are you 18 or older? ____ If under 18, what’s your age? _____ Parent or guardian’s name_____________________________ 2008 artwork by: Alyssa Wadham

bridal boutique Wedding Gowns – Bridesmaid & Special Occasion – Prom 171 charlotte street • asheville, nc 28801 828-253-3012 • www.weddinginsp.com

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

13

campaign funds

I-26 connector

How much money have you raised for your campaign?

Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?

What resolution would you like to see for the I-26 connector?

What is the best route for Should height limits be addressing the city’s homeless- implemented for new conness problem? struction in the city? Why or why not?

Occupation: small-business owner Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Six years as a councilwoman and four years as mayor Endorsements: Sierra Club, Asheville Firefighters Association

Total: $25,072 Top three: Tony Fraga, $4,000; Craig Madison, $1,600; Rusty Pulliam, $1,000

As this is still a fluid situation, we must continue working with Metropolitan Planning Organization, staff of North Carolina Department of Transportation and North Carolina Department of Transportation Board of Directors. This has hung over us for 20 years, but I’ll continue fighting for the most communityfriendly design possible.

Continue to implement the Ten-Year Plan to end Chronic Homelessness and continue to work for living-wage jobs and affordable housing.

The city of Asheville currently has height limits on construction in certain areas of the city. Expansion should be limited to development that is not out of bulk, scale or character with the surrounding uses and structures.

Occupation: night auditor at hotel Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: none Endorsements: none listed

Total: $32 Top three: Buncombe County Republican Women’s Club, $22; Jason Lee, $10

I am hesitant to wholly commit to any one specific course of action prematurely; however, my main focus being fiscal responsibility, I would stick primarily (to the dismay of many) to a plan that is economical to taxpayers in this stressed time.

Throwing programs and money at a problem will never solve it outright, and instead of chasing the symptoms, we need to treat the individual by using encouragement while still requiring accountability, utilizing worker programs (“jobs Americans won’t do”), and incentives along with specific worker requirements and limits to benefits.

Personally, I am against further regulating private industry and business; however, issues such as this require more input and possibly a referendum on the next ballot. How better to understand the Asheville constituency?

ashevillemayor

Terry M. Bellamy

Robert Edwards

ashevillecitycouncil

Cecil Bothwell

Occupation: builder, writer and publisher Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Avl Precinct 3 chair; treasurer PARCPAC (federal PAC); candidate for Buncombe Commissioners, 2008; co-founder the Avl Coalition-2005; co-chair Dean for America (Avl), 2004; founding member The Progressive Project; founder Rolling Thunder (Avl), 2003; cofounder SpareChange? (Avl), 2003; WNC coordinator, Cynthia Brown for U.S. Senate, 2002 Endorsements: Asheville Chapter of NOW, Asheville Fire Fighters Association, People Advocating Real Conservancy, Sierra Club, UNCA College Democrats, WNC Central Labor Council, more listed at cecilbothwell.wordpress.com

Occupation: musician, business and property owner Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Four years on Asheville City Council, two years on Woodfin Water Board Endorsements: Sierra Club

I-26 connector

How much money have you raised for your campaign?

Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?

What resolution would you like to see for the I-26 connector?

What is the best route for Should height limits be addressing the city’s homeless- implemented for new conness problem? struction in the city? Why or why not?

Total: $21,000 Top three: Mary Fishman, $550; $500 each from Mark Noble, Charlie Thomas and John Wilson

NC DOT remains stuck in 20thcentury planning. Automobile use is decreasing. NC DOT imagines increases and won’t consider climate change or rising fuel prices. Federal money requires local input. We should demand 55 mph and six-lane maximum, which drops the project’s footprint and the impact on local neighborhoods.

“Housing first” as part of the 10 Year Plan is helping. The number of homeless will increase due to the recession and international macro-economic policies. We need to encourage and help fund volunteer efforts like Room in the Inn, soup kitchen and meal programs, and Vets’ Quarters.

The best argument for height limits is the viewscape from downtown. We all love the mountains, else we would have all moved to someplace where walking and building were more convenient.

Height limits will help us preserve the mountain views that matter so much to residents and tourists alike.

Total: $13,000 in cash and $3,500 in-kind Top three: Mack Pearsall, $2,000; Janice Pearsall, $2,000; Sheri Kahn, $1,000

I support 4B as the best choice for our community but recognize that there are problems with the design that must be remedied to make this proposal meet the original intent. A redesigned 4B incorporates elements that in the long run makes 1-26 a community asset, not a liability.

The 10-year plan to end homelessness is making an impact and should be continued. As a member of the City’s Housing and Community Development Committee I have supported the coordination of these efforts across service providers for better effectiveness. Recently, AARA funds were directed to reduce further homelessness.

The downtown master plan discussed this issue in length and has recommendations for height limits in different areas of downtown.

The adoption and implementation of the downtown master plan can provide the assurance for property owners and community residents alike by codifying these rules for development in downtown.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

homelessness

height limits

campaign funds

Robin Cape 14

homelessness

height limits

DMP oversight

pack park buffer

room tax

conflicts of interest

what question?

your vote

What oversight should Council delegate to other boards/commissions with the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan?

Should Council reconsider a development buffer around Pack Square Park? Why or why not?

Should Asheville be allowed to increase or dedicate part of its room tax to make infrastructure improvements? Why or why not?

What associations or business dealings would cause you to ask to be recused for conflict of interest if they came up in Council deliberation?

What question would you like to ask to any other candidate and to whom would you ask it?

Which other candidates will you be voting for?

Council is ultimately responsible for the implementation of this plan, but I feel it is important to regularly seek input of citizens and the various associated boards and committees.

Council will reconsider the issue of development around Pack Square Park as part of the Downtown Master Plan implementation process. It is a high priority area and is recognized as such by Council and the Downtown Master Plan

The state General Assembly should allow Asheville to dedicate part of room taxes towards infrastructure and civic center improvements and/or performing arts hall developments. Promotions used by private businesses to draw tourists to Asheville promise a quality experience. This funding can help ensure they get it.

Currently, I do not have any associations or business dealings that would cause me to be recused due to conflict of interest.

I believe it is most appropriate for the voters of Asheville to continue to ask questions of all the candidates and vote according to their responses.

In keeping with my unique, inclusive, consensus building process, I feel maintaining my right to private balloting best serves my needs and the needs of the citizens of Asheville.

The potential for misplaced powers to biased boards/ commissions gives me great pause. Focus should be placed on finding true outside opinion that centers on what is best for all constituents, not what is politically convenient or partial to special interests.

I am unfamiliar at this time. A balance must be made between pleasurable aesthetics and business growth and interest.

The deciding factor for me would be what the taxpayers stand to gain or lose by this buffer.

As a hotel employee I see firsthand the reactions people have to our already hiked room taxes, in addition to our sales tax, and it’s not pretty. I also don’t understand why we have to play deceptive games; if we need more infrastructure taxes then raise infrastructure tax!

I have no “business dealings” which would create a scandal.

I am an employee so I suppose that makes me beholden to businesses since they do give me a job … wait, two jobs!

Mrs. Bellamy, you voted to Carl Mumpower, Ryan add four early voting sites and Croft and J. Neal Jackson argued with Mumpower that it was not an unfair vote to help re-elect yourself, but you have raised $30,000 and can easily staff the four sites vs. your challengers who all filed under $3,000.

Should you have abstained?

DMP oversight

pack park buffer

room tax

conflicts of interest

what question?

your vote

What oversight should Council delegate to other boards/commissions with the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan?

Should Council reconsider a development buffer around Pack Square Park? Why or why not?

Should Asheville be allowed to increase or dedicate part of its room tax to make infrastructure improvements? Why or why not?

What associations or business dealings would cause you to ask to be recused for conflict of interest if they came up in Council deliberation?

What question would you like to ask to any other candidate and to whom would you ask it?

Which other candidates will you be voting for?

Council shouldn’t delegate oversight, only evaluation of compliance. The buck stops with Council because Council offers the direct voice of the people.

Clearer rules can make life easier for both developers and Council — with early public information about big projects — but we should not abdicate citizen oversight via elected representatives.

After expenditure of millions of dollars of city and county money on the long-delayed reconstruction of Pack Square we should definitely implement a development buffer. It will be a thorny issue, but we can fashion a policy that will both permit reasonable development and respect the public interest.

ABSOLUTELY! All room-tax receipts in Asheville go to the Chamber of Commerce to advertise Asheville. Other cities in NC get part of their room tax for city projects. Here all of that tax goes directly to the Chamber of Commerce, a private corporation.

Tourist dollars should support local infrastructure.

None. I see no possible benefit to me in any conceivable matter before Council beyond cleaner air, cleaner streets, less traffic congestion, greener jobs and other benefits that should accrue to everyone. If, against all odds, a maverick cash cow ambled my way, I would seek recusal per state law.

Carl Mumpower: Why do you believe that drug prohibition policies which have failed for over 100 years will suddenly work in Asheville in 2009?

Esther and Gordon.

I support the recommendations in the master plan that allow projects that meet all the requirements and criteria that the community has agreed would be good for downtown to bypass the lengthy and expensive council review process. Any project that does not meet these criteria should be reviewed

by Council.

A development buffer around Pack Square is a mechanism for ensuring that the park and the surrounding business and property owners are protected from future projects that would devalue or overshadow those properties. It would not prohibit development but place an opportunity for review over projects in that area.

I think an increase in the room tax to be used for local capital improvements to city infrastructure would be a valuable and reasonable use of room tax and meet the standards set for this tax. We would need the support of state legislators to get this option.

I own property in downtown Weaverville and am not currently doing any business that would be affected by city decisions. Should the city contract with any company or project that I would be consulting with, I would recuse myself from those deliberations.

I think that the candidates are utilizing public forums and their campaign PR to tell the community what they believe important community issues are and how they would like to address those issues. I do not have any other questions to ask of them.

As a private citizen I retain my right of privacy for my personal voting choices.

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

15

campaign funds

I-26 connector

How much money have you raised for your campaign?

Who are your top three donors, and how much has each contributed?

What resolution would you like to see for the I-26 connector?

What is the best route for Should height limits be addressing the city’s homeless- implemented for new conness problem? struction in the city? Why or why not?

Occupation: Engineering consultant and graphic artist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: WNC 912 Project Coordinator Endorsements: “I did not pursue any. I spent my time meeting the fine folks of Asheville and refining my positions.”

Total: $964.39 Top three: Kathie Lack, $100; Jerry Rutherford, $100; Buncombe County Republican Men’s Club, $100

The final design needs to be very nicely drivable, efficient and safe. In terms of the impact on the city and property values, the worst thing we can do is accept a design that does not drive well, is difficult to access or raises safety concerns.

Access to mental-health services. Acute homelessness is not a financial problem, it is a mental-health problem and should be addressed compassionately as such.

Height limits are useful in an engineering sense. However, if a dynamic and historically groundbreaking architectural and engineering design comes before the Council that answers for any construction impacts that large projects carry with them — and provides for our future verticaldevelopment needs — I will be for it.

Occupation: owner, Eagle’s Market convenience store Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: current member of the Transit Commission and Board of Adjustment; volunteered on political campaigns for Charles Carter, Steve Metcalf, Ralph Campbell, Judge Jim Wynn, Judge Wanda Bryant and Dan Blue, assisted in November elections, 2000 to present Endorsements: none listed

Total: $1,800 Top three: J.Neal Jackson, $1,200; Don Yelton, $200; Buncombe County Men’s Republican Group, $100

Whichever plan is chosen, there will be winners and losers with this connector. I also know that this discussion has been going on for nearly 20 years now. The ultimate decision lies with the DOT, but we can make recommendations. I wish the project gets started so we can move forward.

The best route is understanding, education and action. Most people do not want to be homeless. We need to offer counseling and treatment for addiction and educate our homeless that it is alright to improve your quality of life with job training, coaching and support.

No. I believe in the rights of property owners. If you take a close look at our downtown there are a variety of old and new buildings working in harmony.

Occupation: land-use and realestate litigation attorney Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: none Endorsements: Council members Jan Davis and Brownie Newman, Sierra Club, Asheville Firefighters Association

Total: Approximately $21,300 (including in-kind donations) Top three: Carolyn Coward, $850; Roy Davis, Larry McDevitt and Ron Manheimer, $800 each

I support the Asheville Design Center’s plan for the I-26 connector because it enhances rather than hinders our unique “community.”

“Community” is hard to quantify but easy to destroy. The ADC’s plan fosters community by connecting disconnected areas of town with walkable, bikeable, liveable corridors enhanced with bike lanes, greenways and trees.

Asheville’s plan to end homelessness seeks to end homelessness in Asheville by the year 2015. The plan calls for increased affordable housing and other services. However, a vital component should be increased health care services.

With the input of our citizens, the City must codify all the development standards needed to preserve Asheville. These standards could include requirements regarding height restrictions, green building standards, affordable housing, fees to support sidewalks and greenways, and other standards necessary to preserve Asheville’s community and our quality of life.

Occupation: psychologist Party affiliation: Republican Political experience: eight years on Asheville City Council, two years as vice mayor Endorsements: “Occasionally, I have someone come up and whisper something like, ‘Don’t tell anybody, but I am a liberal and I appreciate what you are trying to do.’ Does that count?”

I am resistant to the “Buy America Plan” that elects most public officials. That is why I refused PAC and party money during my last run and any contributions during this election. Besides, after eight years of persistent Mountain X ridicule, people know my name and what I stand for.

None — every resolution to date, despite denials, has resulted in delays and further confusion.

DOT in Raleigh and Washington are going to make this decision and in a bankrupt America, costs are likely to guide the outcome more than our personal preferences. I remain interested in signature bridge potentials.

Not with unsustainable social engineering models like the “Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness” that duplicate the failures of the sixties “War on Poverty.” Our homeless population consists of authentic victims, the mentally ill, the unemployed, criminals, vagrants, drug addicts, and social predators. Each group calls for different action strategies.

No — we can build up or out and up makes more sense.

Current ordinances work. The Ellington on the side of the hill was approved because it was reasonably compatible and scaled to existing downtown structures. The Fraga project and the twin towers failed because they were not.

Occupation: child and family therapist Party affiliation: Democrat Political experience: Advocated for clean energy in the Woodfin diesel-powerplant controversy; led a coalition to return our public land on Pack Square last summer; lobbied in Raleigh as mental-ealth advocate; created voter guides in ’06, ’07, and ’08; volunteer coordinator for Holly Jones.

Endorsements: Holly Jones, Leni Sitnick, Sierra Club, Patsy Keever

Total: Roughly $24,000 Top three: Shelley Pereda Camp, $1,510; Errington Thompson, Mack Persall and Greg Lucas, $1,000 each; Veronika Gunter, $770

To meet the needs of our city, the Connector must: 1) Connect west Asheville to downtown; 2) separate local and interstate traffic; 3) be 55 mph through town, reducing the flyover bridges threatening to shadow Montford; 4) preserve Burton Street Community.

We need to get it done right.

As a member of the City/County Homelessness Advisory Board, I’m well aware of the depth of the problem and the importance of continuing the 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. This program has had incredible successes by creating coalitions of providers, tracking key data and housing the homeless.

Yes. I’m a big proponent of density and infill in order to reach our sustainability aspirations, but we must also preserve the charm of downtown and our neighborhoods. Shadowing neighborhoods and downtown streets diminishes the quality of life for our residents. Setbacks and height limits can keep our downtown beautiful.

ashevillecitycouncil

Ryan D. Croft

J. Neal Jackson

Esther Manheimer

Carl Mumpower

Gordon Smith 16

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

homelessness

height limits

DMP oversight

pack park buffer

room tax

conflicts of interest

what question?

your vote

What oversight should Council delegate to other boards/commissions with the adoption of the Downtown Master Plan?

Should Council reconsider a development buffer around Pack Square Park? Why or why not?

Should Asheville be allowed to increase or dedicate part of its room tax to make infrastructure improvements? Why or why not?

What associations or business dealings would cause you to ask to be recused for conflict of interest if they came up in Council deliberation?

What question would you like to ask to any other candidate and to whom would you ask it?

Which other candidates will you be voting for?

Boards and commissions should develop plans down to the detail to be approved by the Council.

Fractal delegation of tedious administrative and planning chores is efficient.

No. This kind of domain ownership is borderline fascistic.

The Council is a protector of the public trust, not an oligarchy with power to create “palace courtyard” policies.

Tourism is a top industry for us, a virtual life stream for our delicate economy. Any savings we can provide tourists will have an affect on whether folks room inside our city or in the outskirts of the county. Tax increases tend to decrease an economic activity.

I have no attachment to special interest groups or businesses.

I am clear to involve myself fully with no hidden agenda.

Bothwell: Your water policy will increase daily living expenses. Families need to use more water per household.

Why would you develop a policy that hurts families, moms and children? Why didn’t you think about the affects of your policies first?

No comment. I respect the private decisions of others, and appreciate to keep my choices private as well.

None.

No. Once again, I believe in the rights of property owners.

Yes. Our city is running a deficit None. and needs more funds. We live in a tourist town, and they use our infrastructure, and tourists are not going to mind or even notice a few cents increase. The tourists are going to visit regardless, and we need to improve our infrastructure.

I believe all of the candidates have been asked enough questions to know where they stand.

J. Neal Jackson, J. Neal Jackson and J.Neal Jackson.

I just want you to understand that who I vote for is my private and personal decision.

After overwhelming community input, months of study, numerous committee meetings and public hearings, the Downtown Master Plan, which I support, was adopted. For projects over 175,000 square feet (and some smaller), the DMP recommends oversight from the Technical Review Committee, the Downtown Commission, Planning and Zoning and City Council.

The buffer around Pack Square Park was presented as a stop gap measure while the ordinances enacting the Downtown Master Plan are being drafted.

At this point it would be duplicative to adopt both the buffer and the DMP as both equally protect the park, but the DMP includes all of downtown.

The issue of increasing or decreasing taxes should not be addressed by looking narrowly at one type of tax. Rather, I favor a policy of consistently avoiding regressive taxes, while continuing to move toward a fee-based revenue structure. Regressive taxes unfairly impact lower income families by creating unnecessary hardship.

I would recuse myself from any matter before Council involving my firm, Van Winkle. I would and must also recuse myself from Council’s closed sessions with the city’s attorney concerning litigation involving my firm and the city. In addition, I cannot profit from any matter from which I recuse myself.

None. I have had ample opportunity, as we blaze the collective campaign trail, to ask each candidate all the questions I have.

Cecil Bothwell and Gordon Smith.

I like keeping power in the hands of people — like me — who can be hired and fired through voter action.

Authorities have power without accountability. The heavy hand of the DMP will be a stifling influence on creative downtown development — the antithesis of what Asheville is about.

No — we have too many rules as is and new ordinances should be a reaction to patterns not isolated instances. There is no pattern here and the system worked in stopping what I believe was a misguided misappropriation of public park lands. It’s time to celebrate — not legislate.

Yes — if for no other reason than fairness. Just as our local representatives in Raleigh have stolen control of the city water system, they persist in approving room tax revenue for every other city in North Carolina but Asheville. I have a persisting interest in seeing Asheville treated fairly.

None — but I do request recusal from bad/illegal process, such as the recent vote by the Council to change election procedures in the middle of the election cycle.

I have no obligations to special interests, party power brokers, moneyed influences, or anything else that would create conflicts of interest.

Addressed to the candidates who practice such: Does it bother you to seduce voters by pretending to be all things to all people? For those voters repeatedly disappointed in the difference between candidates before and after they are elected, look to this common practice for revealing character insights.

Sorry Mountain X, but there is a reason that voting booths are private. Besides, what makes you so sure I will vote for myself? I am not even sure my wife is going to vote for me.

Boards and commissions should review downtown projects for their adherence to our new form-based ordinances, and Council ought to have final oversight based on the broad community interest. Public input into any development needs to take place early in the process, and there must be a citizens’ appeal process.

Yes. As we saw last year with the Parkside debacle, we must be proactive to ensure our public land is protected. When the Downtown Master Plan is enacted, we can include a permanent buffer.

Yes. Asheville ought to have a room tax similar to other North Carolina cities, and the revenue raised ought to be directed to infrastructure like greenways, sidewalks and the Civic Center.

None. My professional life as a child and family therapist is entirely separate from my political life. I do not anticipate any circumstance requiring my recusal.

I’ve been attending forums with all of the candidates and have had my questions answered. I would like to use this space to wish Kelly Miller and his wife the best as they go through a difficult battle.

I will vote for those candidates who demonstrate a commitment to passing the Affordable Housing Plan of 2008, raising the bar on energy efficiency and implementing a comprehensive multimodal transportation network.

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

17

thebuzz

wnc news briefs

The end of Parkside: Coleman withdraws condo project

Dog Training In Your Home

828-254-4DOG

The battle over a controversial proposed condo building on formerly public parkland has officially ended, as a representative of developer Stewart Coleman informed city staff on Oct. 8 that he is withdrawing the proposed Parkside project so that he can open a tavern in the Hayes & Hopson Building.

“We would like to withdraw the permit for the Level II project so that we may proceed with construction under the permit ... for the restaurant uplift,” reads a letter from Ross Franklin of S.B. Coleman Construction to Assistant Planning Director Shannon Tuch. To build Parkside, Coleman would have torn down the Hayes & Hopson Building and combined its site with the piece of disputed parkland.

The letter puts a quiet end to the fight over the controversial condominium project that involved a (still ongoing) lawsuit, protests, petition drives and calls for both city and county governments to stop the project.

Coleman announced in early August that he would renovate the 1890s-era Hayes & Hopson Building as a tavern and restaurant. He also declared that “Parkside is on hold for the time being, but that doesn’t mean it’s dead.”

But on Aug. 12, the city informed Coleman

that he could keep a permit for Parkside or for the tavern, but not both. City rules allow only one open permit per property. The letter makes it clear that Coleman’s company has chosen to pursue the tavern over the planned nine-story condominium.

“I have nothing to say,” Coleman told Xpress about the withdrawal of his Parkside plans.

“What we’re thinking about now is retail, food and beverage instead of wholesale condominiums.”

The controversy began in 2006, when the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners quietly sold an alleyway and a piece of public parkland to Coleman without a public hearing. It turned out, however, that the public had plenty to say about the move, with critics of the project accusing the commissioners of making a back-room deal for the developer’s benefit.

Then-Commissioner (now Chair) David Gantt announced that “we screwed up” by making the sale.

Protests formed around a magnolia tree that Coleman would have cut down. The heirs of George Pack, the philanthropist who donated the land to the county in the early 20th century, hit Coleman and the county with a lawsuit asserting that the sale was illegal. Activists petitioned both the commissioners and Asheville City Council to seize the property through eminent domain. Buying the land back from Coleman — or a land swap — was also considered.

Some of those activists are celebrating the news.

“We’re thrilled,” exclaimed Dixie Deerman, one of the protesters who participated in a vigil under the threatened magnolia tree. “We’re glad he’s done the right thing.”

Preservation of the Hayes & Hopson building was likewise a happy outcome, she said, but the fact that the Parkside project got so far along indicated that the city’s development rules need an overhaul.

Local preservationist Bill Wescott was similarly pleased.

“This is really good news,” he said, both of halting Parkside and preserving Hayes & Hopson. “Back in May, we [Wescott and two other preservationists] took Coleman on a tour of the building and tried to convince him it was worth saving. This [the tavern] is a good use of that space. The building is a solid example of a certain type of before-the-turn-of-the-century architecture.”

In September 2008, the Parkside project ran into its first major roadblock when Superior Court Judge Marlene Hyatt ruled in favor of the Pack heirs. While the ruling left the land in Coleman’s hands, it declared that the parkland must remain in public use — meaning no condos. Coleman, though not the county, appealed the decision.

Now, however, Coleman has decided to go in a different direction — at least for the time being. Ironically, considering that the lawsuit filed by Pack’s heirs played a key role in halting Parkside, he’s calling his new bar Pack’s Tavern.

— David Forbes

Give Your Deck a Winter Coat!

Pressure Wash (mildew removal) & Sealant/paint, Deck Construction & Repair

(828) 231-5883 It’s Not Too Late! “it’s cheaper to maintain a deck than to replace one” 18

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

State commission sanctions Mission Hospitals over workers’ compensation claims

New Life Journal ends production

An official for a state commission that oversees the handling of workers’ compensation claims has referred a recent case involving a former registered nurse at Mission Hospitals to the N.C. Attorney General’s office for further investigation. It’s an unusual move spurred by what the official, in his Sept. 22 decision on the case, said was an “established pattern and practice of bad faith in administering workers’ compensation claims.”

In a written statement, a hospital spokeswoman said the hospital can’t make a statement regarding the allegations because litigation is ongoing. “Mission has not been notified of any investigation by the Department of Insurance or Attorney General’s office, but remains willing and looks forward to cooperating with any such investigation,” she said.

The most recent case had its start on Feb. 26, 2008, according to records on file with the N.C. Industrial Commission. That day, Terry Cawthorn reported a back injury after helping to move a patient from a gurney to a bed. At the time, Cawthorn was 47 years old and had worked for more than 20 years at Mission. Cawthorn’s average weekly wages were $1,456.98, and should have yielded compensation pay of $786 a week, according to the records.

The hospital denied Cawthorn’s claim, contending that since neither Cawthorn nor the patient she was assisting had slipped, tripped or fallen, her claim did not qualify for coverage. In making that finding, Mission’s claims adjustor knowingly made a false statement “to mislead plaintiff and deny her workers’ compensation benefits,” according to the records.

Thomas F. Ramer, the Asheville attorney who represented Cawthorn, said the commission’s decision was significant, and he cited other workers’ compensation cases dating back to 2002 in which Mission Hospitals had been found to be engaging in bad faith in the handling of workers’ compensation claims.

“Over the past seven years, Mission has been sanctioned by seven separate judges at the Industrial Commission,” Ramer wrote in a letter to Xpress.

“These sanctions have been affirmed by five of the seven appellate judges at the commission. This evidences the pervasive pattern of Mission and not just some single judge who didn’t like them.”

The Industrial Commission oversees disputes about pay and compensation when an employee in North Carolina reports a work-

New Life Journal, a monthly Asheville publication that focuses on green living and natural healing, recently alerted advertisers that it was closing due to the economy.

“It is with great sadness and difficulty that I write ... to inform you that due to current economic circumstances I must discontinue the publication and distribution of New Life Journal,” Publisher Kim Riggins announced in a September e-mail.

“The downturn of the economy over the past year has taken its toll and I see no way to continue business as usual. Please accept my sincere wish that you are able to succeed and weather the storm.”

Mountain Xpress was unable to reach Riggins for comment.

— Jason Sandford

related medical issue. Deputy commissioners travel the state to hear the disputes and decide claims, which can be appealed to the full commission and then on to the N.C. Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court.

Cawthorn reported the injury to her supervisors, who sent the case up the chain of command and to the hospital’s in-house adjuster, according to commission records. Cawthorn continued to work, and reported three other subsequent back injuries in March and May of 2008. Cawthorn, who had been moved to light duty, had back surgery in August 2008. On Sept. 9, 2009, the hospital notified Cawthorn that light-duty work “was no longer being made available to her and she was taken out of work as of that date,” according to the records. Cawthorn had another back surgery in December 2008.

Deputy Commissioner George T. Glenn II, who found in favor of Cawthorn, wrote that Mission officials intentionally disregarded their own reports of Cawthorn’s injury, as well as testimony before the commission and other evidence. Those actions were “unreasonable and based on stubborn, unfounded litigiousness,” Glenn wrote.

In his decision, Glenn went on to explain that Mission has a history of cases before the commission in which the hospital has been “found to have unreasonably denied workers’ compensation” and has been “sanctioned” to pay the workers’ attorneys’ fees.

The Cawthorn case continues the hospital’s “established pattern and practice of bad faith in administering workers’ compensation claims,” Glenn wrote.

Glenn awarded Cawthorn compensation of $786 a week for the period beginning Sept. 10, 2008 and “continuing until further order of the commission.” He also ordered the hospital to pay for related medical treatment, as well as attorneys’ fees.

Asheville Attorney David Gantt, who has successfully represented Mission workers before the Industrial Commission in past cases, said workers’ compensation disputes “really do hit a very weak and vulnerable part of our society. The real tragedy of it is that Mission is supposed to help people, and here they’re denying their own workers’ claims.”

Go to www.mountainx.com/xpressfiles to read the full Industrial Commission decision in the case of Terry Cawthorn and Mission Hospitals.

—Jason Sandford

R.I.P. NLJ: The final issue of New Life Journal, a monthly Asheville-based publication that has gone out of business. photo by Jonathan welch

election09 Campaign Calendar Thursday, Oct. 15: Early voting begins for all Buncombe municipal elections at the Buncombe Board of Elections, 189 College St. Wednesday, Oct. 21: Xpress publishes its general election voter guide for the Asheville City Council and mayoral elections.

Thursday, Oct. 22: The Council for Independent Business Owners hosts a forum for Asheville City Council and mayoral candidates, noon at Magnolia’s, 26 Walnut St. Thursday, Oct. 22: The Black Mountain News hosts a candidate forum for Black Mountain Board of Alderman candidates, 7 p.m. at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 W. State St. Thursday, Oct. 22: WENOCA (Sierra Club) forum for Asheville City Council and mayoral candidates, 7 p.m., Jewish Community Center of Asheville, 236 Charlotte St. Friday, Oct. 23: Pumpkin carving and bonfire to support Asheville City Council candidate Cecil Bothwell. Kid-friendly, cider and cook-

ies, you bring pumpkin, 6 p.m. at Hanger Hall, 31 Park Ave. Saturday, Oct. 24: Early voting for Buncombe County municipal elections begins at four remote locations: North Asheville Library, 1030 Merrimon Avenue; South Buncombe Library, 260 Overlook Road; Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Dept., 70 Gashes Creek Road; and West Asheville Library, 942 Haywood Road.

Friday, Oct. 30: Get There Asheville early voting event. Meet at 5 p.m. at Pritchard Park to walk, bike or bus to the polls. Meet-up follows at Asheville Pizza and Brewing, 77 Coxe Ave. Saturday, Oct. 31: Last day of early voting for Buncombe general election.

Tuesday, Nov. 3: General election for all Buncombe municipal elections.

Please send all campaign-related event information for races within Buncombe County to bpostelle@ mountainx.com or call 251-1333, ext. 153.

— Brian Postelle

Professional Parenting, a program of Appalachian Family Innovations, is seeking foster and adoptive families interested in providing homes for children in need.

Be part of a Miracle.

Call and learn how we’re different. 828-236-2877

www.professionalparentingnc.org mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

19

bestofwnc Purple reign

Xpress readers have spoken, choosing their favorites for this year’s expanded, wig-clad Best of WNC You might want to grab a cup of coffee from Izzy’s (this year’s winner for Best Coffee Shop) before you begin perusing the Xpress 2009 Best of WNC results, because there are a whopping 194 categories to check out. We’ve added categories to our Drinks section, our Arts & Entertainment section, our Uniquely Asheville section — really, to practically every section. And we’ve created allnew regional categories to better emphasize the “WNC” in our Best of WNC roundup.

There are a lot of new winners, though many old favorites remain just that. Congratulations to all the winners and a special shout out to new Hall of Famers (winners who have won their category for four consecutive years) — you all help make WNC our special part of the world.

Many thanks to all of you who voted. Maybe the additional categories sparked more interest, or maybe the purple wigs in this year’s Best of WNC advertising piqued your curiosity; whatever the case, more Xpress readers voted in this year’s Best of WNC poll than ever before. Read on to find out who won what — and to see some of this year’s winners in purple wigs!

— M.D.

best of wnc coordinator mannie dalton editors jon elliston, mannie dalton photography Jonathan welch WEBmaster jason shope writers alli marshall, rebecca sulock, mannie dalton, aiyanna sezak-blatt, jason sandford, jon elliston, brian postelle, david forbes, margaret williams, anne-fitten glenn, hanna raskin, jake frankel wigs kim’s wig center

skinny legs and all best local band nobody’s heard of yet

Party with us on Sunday, Oct. 25 Xpress’ Best of WNC Bash celebrates reader-picked winners Back in the day, Xpress rewarded its reader-voted Best of WNC winners with (curb your enthusiasm) a plaque. That’s cool and all, but most of us would agree that nothing says “Congratulations!” quite like a big fat party. So, last year Xpress got thinking, not only is the Best of WNC winners circle populated by talented folks, but when we’re talking musicians, artists, dancers, chefs, bakers and brew masters, we’re pretty much talking about a ready-made celebration. Food, drink and entertainment: The only missing ingredient is an audience to enjoy the revelry.

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BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

That’s where you come in. For all of your hard work voting in that seemingly endless online poll (2009 brought an unprecedented number of categories), you deserve a chance to reap the rewards. The 2nd annual Best of WNC Bash is slated for the Orange Peel on Sunday, Oct. 25. It’s a full evening (6-11 p.m.) of dancing, snacking and plenty of surprises.

Here’s what’s in store: Best band nobody’s heard of yet Skinny Legs and All brings the blues and classic rock with a heavy-hitting sound far beyond their tender years. (In case you didn’t know,

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

this accolade-garnering group is all teenaged, but you’d never know it to hear vocalist Jesse Barry howl the Bill Withers jam “Use Me.”) Explosively hot jazz act Firecracker Jazz Band (best blues/jazz/soul Hall of Famer) brings its high energy New Orleans-inspired sound to the stage. Tubas, banjos, cornets, oh my! At the top of its game, Firecracker recently released the smokin’ album Red Hot Jazz; the group’s Best of WNC party set promises to be ablaze.

Other entertainment will be provided by the likes of Montford Park Players (a fight scene!)

LYLAS (all-female comedy!) and irreverant antics by best drag performer winner Cookie LaRue, who will also MC the event.

Is all this upcoming excitement making you hungry? Local eateries including The Lobster Trap, Mela, Doc Chey’s, Jersey Mikes, Mamacita’s, Asheville Brewing Company,

Rosetta’s Kitchen, Jack of the Wood, City Bakery Cafe, Wasabi, Laughing Seed, Tomato Cucina Latina and The French Broad Chocolate Lounge will all serve up tasty treats.

There’s a raffle, a slide show, art by Gabriel Shaffer and more on the bill, but perhaps the best part of all this best-ness is that the evening benefits best do-gooder group MANNA FoodBank. A barrel will be available at the event to collect canned and nonperishable food items; proceeds from the event will also be donated to MANNA. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door and can be purchased at the Orange Peel box office and the Mountain Xpress office at 2 Wall St. in downtown Asheville.

More information at www.theorangepeel. net; e-mail us at ae@mountainx.com or call 251-1333.

— A.M.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

s i t s e W est!

B e h t

#1 Breakfast / Brunch Sunny Point Café (Hall of Fame) 626 Haywood Rd. • 252-0055

#1 Car Repair Organic Mechanic (Hall of Fame) 568 Haywood Rd. • 255-2628

#1 Burger Bugermeister’s

697 Haywood Rd. • 225-2920

#1 Alternative Healing Center for Holistic Medicine

#1 Tattoo Artist Danny Reed of Hot Stuff Tattoo

779 Haywood Rd. • 505-3174

428C Haywood Rd. • 251-6040

#1 Hair Salon Beauty Parade (Hall of Fame)

#1 Video Store Orbit DVD (Hall of Fame)

783 Haywood Rd. • 257-4073

#1 Wine Store Hops & Vines

797 Haywood Rd. • 252-5275

#1 Dive & Hipster Bar The Admiral 400 Haywood Rd. • 252-2541

#1 Coffee Shop Izzy’s Coffee Den/ Izzy’s Coffee House 74 N. Lexington Ave. & 373 Haywood Rd. • 258-2004

783 1/2 Haywood Rd. • 251-1337

INFUSION Hair Studio

#1 Stylist Shane Blankenship of Infusion 797 Haywood Rd. • 254-1545

#1 Italian Nona Mia

807 Patton Ave. • 505-2028

#1 Record Shop Harvest Records (Hall of Fame) 415 Haywood Rd. • 258-2999

T h a n k Yo u A s h e v i l l e f o r Vo t i n g u s # 1 !

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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besteats

Asheville Location 5 Riverside Drive in the River Arts District Mon-Fri 11am-4pm 253-4499

Arden Location

3578 Sweeten Creek Rd. Near BB Barns Nursery Tues-Sat 11am-4pm Carry Out Till 6pm 687-1395

Best BBQ in WNC 2006 • 2007 2008 • 2009

WOW!

Thanks Again Asheville & Western North Carolina...

We’re Thrilled to Have you at Our Tables!

(828) 22

687-1395

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

asiana best chinese Bakery 1. City Bakery Cafe

In a few short years, Sunny Point has evolved from a funky neighborhood hangout to a highly respected breakfast, lunch and dinner destination.

88 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-4289 and 60 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-4426 2. Early Girl Eatery City Bakery offers Asheville a veritable world’s 8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292 fair of bread, lining their shelves with challah on Fridays and stollen at Christmas. But it’s 3. Over Easy Cafe the everyday loaves that catapulted the bakery 32 Broadway, Asheville, 236-3533 into the Hall of Fame and prompted countless Burger local eateries to serve their sandwiches on City Bakery sourdough.

1. Burgermeister 697 Haywood Road, Asheville, 225-2920 2. West End Bakery & Cafe The burgers are gosh darn good -— especially 757 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-9378 when topped with horseradish and banana pep3. Short Street Cakes pers for the ever-popular DT preparation — but 225 Haywood Road, Asheville, 505-4822 Burgermeisters rightly belongs in the diner category: The restaurant’s personable staff, late Barbecue hours and spot-on food to close a night spent 1. 12 Bones Smokehouse drinking are almost as endearing as the juicy 5 Riverside Drive, Asheville, 253-4499 and beef patties. Almost.

3578 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, 687-1395 2. Five Guys Burgers & Fries 12 Bones Smokehouse, while not usually lumped 1838 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277with such high-cotton spots as the Biltmore 3894 Estate and the Grove Park Inn, shares with those other Asheville institutions the distinction 3. Fuddruckers of having been visited by a president: Barack 130 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-2161 Obama proved he knew as much about pork as Burrito policy with his campaign stop at the River Arts District eatery, where even the salad is larded 1. Mamacita’s with ‘cue.

77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080 Mamacita’s practices the “build your own bur2. Luella’s Barbecue rito” model, so you can have yours just the way 501 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 505-RIBS you like it. And the housemade pico de gallo, 3. ED Boudreaux’s Bayou Bar-B-Que freshly chopped tomatoes and just-sliced jala48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-5812 peños behind the glass at this consistently delicious downtown taqueria keep us coming back.

Breakfast/brunch

1. Sunny Point

626 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-0055

2. Urban Burrito

640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 251-1921 and 129 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville, 298-9802

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Thank You

Please accept our appreciation & sincere thanks for letting us serve you.

Sometimes in the rush of business we fail to say “Thanks” loud enough. But be sure your patronage is never taken for granted, our aim is to Please & Satisfy you.

“To Serve You Is A Real Privilege.”

Thanks, John & Susan Poulos

owned and operated by the poulos and pappas family since 1974 BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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ultimate ice cream best ice cream 3. TIE Lucky Otter

General Tso’s and white sauce.

3. TIE Papa’s & Beer

37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

630 Haywood Road, Asheville, 253-9595 1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-9070; 17 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-2204; and 1821 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, 692-9915

Caterer 1. Laurey’s Catering

Wendy H. Outland (“WHO”) established her consulting business in 2004, after completing the Foundations Program at Mountain BizWorks. With more than 20 years of museum, public art and gallery experience (Blue Spiral 1 manager, 1991-2003), she coaches visual artists in career development, juries exhibitions and festivals, presents workshops and helps galleries and arts organizations function more effectively.

To date, WHO KNOWS ART has done business in 18 states with individual artists and organizations including HandMade in America, Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Odyssey Center of Ceramic Arts, River District Artists, Southern Highland Craft Guild, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Greenville County Museum of Art, Spartanburg County Museum of Art, The University School of Nashville, Ohio Designer Craftsmen, and Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA).

Upcoming Workshops in Asheville: From Surviving to Thriving: Sales Techniques for the Holiday Season, Wed., Oct 28, 6-8pm; call Naomi at Mountain Bizworks, 828-253-2834 ext. 27 for details. Galleries 101, Sat., Nov. 7, 9-11am; email info@whoknowsart.biz for details.

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3. Tupelo Honey Cafe

Cheap lunch 1. Mamacita’s

77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080 See description under “Best Burrito.”

2. Doc Chey’s Noodle House

37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

3. Loretta’s

27 Patton Ave., Asheville, 253-3747

Encourage • Enlighten • Empower OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Diner/home-style

2. 28806 Catering

404 E. State St., Black Mountain, 669-5100

info@whoknowsart.biz www.whoknowsart.biz

4 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-7098 and 1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2770108

1. Moose Cafe

3. Red Radish

828.231.5355

3. China Palace

67 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-1500 Does it count as a culinary irony that Laurey Masterton, the local restaurateur who arguably does the most of any area chef to reduce food miles, is being lauded for her mobile-food operation? Maybe. But irony takes a backseat to the sumptuous pimento-cheese spread and cumin-shrimp skewers that are synonymous with elegance at upscale Asheville affairs.

109 Broadway, Asheville, 252-5664

P.O. Box 1382 Asheville, NC 28802

2. Doc Chey’s Noodle House

Chinese

570 Brevard Road, Asheville, 255-0920 Moose Cafe may be new to the Xpress Hall of Fame, but that’s about all that’s novel at this proudly timeless comfort-food institution where the biscuits are fluffy, fried chicken is crispy and portions are reliably large.

2. Early Girl Eatery

8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292 12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

Favorite restaurant 1. Mela Indian Restaurant

70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8880 If you need evidence that local residents are infatuated with Asian cuisine, it’s right here.

Of course, Mela doesn’t just rest on its ethnic laurels: It serves mighty good curries, spicy vindaloos and lovely naan.

2. Tupelo Honey Cafe

12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

3. TIE The Admiral

400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541

1. Asiana Grand Buffet

153 Smokey Park Highway, Asheville, 667-0410 and 1968 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 654-8879 The listing for Chinese restaurants in the Asheville phone book is short, even by Southern standards. Still, the overall Chinese resto acreage is probably on par with major Northern cities, thanks to the Goliath that is Asiana Grand Buffet, local diners’ top choice for egg rolls,

3. TIE Papa’s and Beer

1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-9070; 17 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-2204; and 1821 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, 692-9915

Fine dining 1. Rezaz Mediterranean Cuisine

28 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-1510 Rezaz surely belongs in the fine-dining category

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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by virtue of its serious wine list, but the Biltmore Village favorite doesn’t suffer from the stuffiness that plagues so many highfalutin specialoccasion spots. Its Med-leaning menu is dashed with a welcome quirkiness and experimental spirit.

2. Table

48 College St., Asheville, 254-8980

3. Savoy

641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-1077

Greek 1. Apollo Flame Bistro

156 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-5001

3. Flying Frog Cafe

1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 254-9411

Italian 1. Nona Mia Italian Kitchen

807 Patton Ave., Asheville, 505-2029 Nona Mia’s deep-dish nails the classically Italian ethos that calls for simple dishes made with fresh ingredients, served in a setting infused with love.

2. Pomodoros Greek & Italian

1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 299-3032 485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-3582 3. Carrabba’s Italian Grill and 1025 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-0080 10 Buckstone Place, Asheville, 281-2300 and If Asheville really wants to ward off a corporate332 Rockwood Road, Arden, 654-8411 franchise invasion, it needs more independently owned eateries like the bustling Apollo Flame, Japanese celebrated for its family-friendly atmosphere and prices: $6.95 buys you a dinner entrée, salad 1. Wasabi 19 Broadway, Asheville, 225-2551 and bread.

Wasabi, one of three eateries owned by the Chen 2. Three Brothers Restaurant family, has Xpress readers agreeing that super183 Haywood St., Asheville, 253-4971 fresh ingredients and street-front seating make 3. Pomodoros Greek & Italian the downtown venue the crab in their California 1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 299-3032 roll, the fry in their tempura and the wasabi in their soy.

Ice cream

1. Ultimate Ice Cream Company

Thanks for Voting us into the Hall of Fame!

2. TIE Heiwa Shokudo

87 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-7761 1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-1234 2. TIE Green Tea Ultimate’s plain vanilla is at the upper end of 2 Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, 252-8300 the decadent scale, which vaults its ice creams made with local beer and bacon into the self- 3. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant indulgence stratosphere. It’s worth noting that 2 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 252-7885 third-place finisher Two Spoons serves nothing but Ultimate Ice Cream, so Ultimate’s high-qual- Late-night munchies ity product shows up here twice.

1. Rosetta’s Kitchen 111 Broadway or 116 N. Lexington Ave., 2. TIE Marble Slab Creamery Asheville, 232-0738 14 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-5579 and 1840 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277For the tourists who come to gawk at Asheville’s 0575 drum circles and gape at its dreadlocked denizens, Rosetta’s menu is proof that the town 2. TIE Hop Ice Cream Shop is unredeemably weird — in the right way.

640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-2224 “Peanut butter tofu? Nutritional yeast gravy?

3. Two Spoons Ice Cream I’d never eat that,” they might chirp. If so, their 721 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5155 loss. Thanks to Rosetta’s, Asheville diners can, and do — until 3 a.m.

Indian

1. Mela Indian Restaurant

70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8880 See description under “Favorite Restaurant.”

2. India Garden

2. 51 Grill

51 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-1670

3. Taco Bell

Various locations (www.tacobell.com)

828-252-7291 • www.antiquetobaccobarn.net 26

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BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

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the nod as Best Bartender.

Thanks for Voting Us One of the Best

2. Evan Smith at Nova 3. Janae Zoeller at Scully’s Signature Dine and Drink Sub shop/deli/sandwiches 1. Jersey Mike’s Subs

Various locations (www.jerseymikes.com) Jersey Mike’s is the only full-fledged franchise that snuck onto the gold-medal platform this year, suggesting even Xpress readers have a soft spot for corporate-issued good bread and highquality cold cuts.

2. Two Guys Olde Style Hoagies

602 haywood rd. • 828-350-1167 westashevilleyoga.com

132 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-9955

3. Subway

Various locations (www.subway.com)

Sweets/chocolate 1. French Broad Chocolate Lounge

laurey’s catering best caterer Latin American/Mexican 1. Papa’s & Beer

FRANK’S NY DELI

1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-9070; 17 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-2204; and 1821 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, 692-9915 If priests heard culinary confessions, they’d probably soon tire of hearing about Papa’s & Beer, the exquisitely good Cali-Mex eatery that locals can’t stop patronizing. Even the most disciplined diners have gone on Papa’s & Beer benders, returning night after night to partake of the restaurant’s house-made salsas, plump grilled shrimp and rich tortas.

2. Tomato Cocina Latina

1455 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5046

3. Salsa Mexican Caribbean Food

6 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-9805

Outdoor dining 1. Mellow Mushroom featuring

Gourmet Sandwiches Salads • Soups The Best Quiche in WNC! We Bake Our Own Breads!

Boar’s Head Meats & Cheeses

Deli Platters for your Holiday Parties Catering • Pick-Up Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm, Sat: 10am-5pm 3732 Sweeten Creek Rd., Arden

828-687-7474

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50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800 Mellow Mushroom offers quintessential al fresco dining, designed to be leisurely and situated in prime people-watching territory.

2. Carmel’s Restaurant & Bar

1 Page Ave., Asheville, 252-8730

3. Sunny Point

626 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-0055

Pizza 1. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company

675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-1281 and 77 Coxe Ave., Asheville, 255-4077 To be fair to the other Best of WNC winners, there’s no such thing as a sewn-up category in this survey. But there are a few highly competitive categories, of which pizza leads the pack in the Eats section.

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company edges out the also-runs with its delectable pies, garnished with such seemingly improbable toppings as pesto, portabellas and gorgonzola cheese.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

2. Marco’s Pizzeria

946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1854 Hendersonville Road, 277-0004

3. TIE Mellow Mushroom

50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800

3. TIE Circle in the Square

640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5442

10 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 252-4181 French Broad Chocolate Lounge owners Dan and Jael Rattigan have astutely localized something as seemingly exotic as chocolate, handmaking delicately delicious truffles spiked with WNC-grown berries and locally roasted coffee.

And for non-truffle fans, the shop’s display case is always stocked with salted caramels, macaroons and intensely flavored chocolate-nib brownies.

2. Chocolate Fetish

36 Haywood St., Asheville, 258-2353

Restaurant still needed in Asheville 3. Kilwin’s Chocolates Ice Cream 26 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 252-2639; 116 1. Ethiopian So it’s been a bad year to be opening a new restaurant, which means we’re not really blaming anyone for the continued lack of an Ethiopian eatery, Vietnamese café or Jewish-style deli, all three of which finished first, second and third respectively in last year’s “Restaurant Still Needed” category. But if you happen to be a banker, and if someone happens to mention injera to you, please, please, please make that loan. Thank you.

W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-6119; and 506 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 698-9794

2. Vietnamese 3. Jewish-style deli

2. Noi’s Thai Kitchen

Seafood 1. The Lobster Trap

35 Patton Ave., Asheville, 350-0505 What’s better than a tray of freshly shucked oysters, salty steamed clams and a fat lobster just pulled from the ocean? A pint of beer with which to wash it all down, which is why the Trap this year rolled out its Oyster House Brewing operation, crafting beers that complete the seafood experience.

Thai 1. Thai Basil

1 Page Ave., Suite 151, Asheville, 258-0036 and 227 W. State St., Black Mountain, 6644322 Thai Basil’s Grove Arcade location means diners can savor the scenery along with the satays.

535 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 251-1960

3. Doc Chey’s Noodle House

37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

Vegetarian 1. Laughing Seed Cafe

105 River Hills Road, Asheville, 298-6530

40 Wall St., Asheville, 252-3445 If a restaurant is consistently voted the best vegetarian eatery in a town named the nation’s best vegetarian small city by GoVeg.com, does that make it the best vegetarian restaurant in the country? Judging by the taste of Laughing Seed’s classic tofu barbecue roll-ups and Harmony Bowl, probably so.

3. Red Lobster

2. Rosetta’s Kitchen

2. Bonefish Grill

Various locations (www.redlobster.com)

Server 1. Kathy Taylor at Usual Suspects Years of steady, professional service have won Taylor many a regular and many a fan. And not only did she win this category — Taylor also got

111 Broadway or 116 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-0738

3. Early Girl Eatery

8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292 — H.R.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Thank you for voting us #1 Sub Shop - Sandwiches There is a Jersey Mike’s in your neighborhood — come see why we are #1 1341 Parkwood Rd. Suite 103 Asheville, NC 28806 (828) 271-4612

674 Merrimon Ave. Unit A Asheville, NC 28804 (828) 255-5551

1550 Hendersonville Rd. #116 Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 277-1514

River Hills Shops 104A River Hills Rd. Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 298-6453

200 College St. Suite 110 Downtown Asheville, NC 28802 (828) 252-7980

300 Airport Rd. Suite 70 Arden, NC 28704 (828) 684-4266

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestdrinks

rankin vault best cocktails /upscale bar Favorite bar

11 Grove St., Asheville, 252-2838 This nightclub brags that it’s the state’s “hottest 1. Jack of the Wood dance club.” With drag shows and a large dance 95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445 floor, it’s famous as a local mainstay and now Longtime local favorite Jack of the Wood’s Green officially WNC’s favorite GLBT bar.

Man Beer, Irish-style pub food, trivia nights and 2. Club Hairspray live performances are a combination that’s won 38 N. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 258-2027 our readers’ hearts.

2. TIE Usual Suspects

791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

2. TIE The Admiral

400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541

3. TIE Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge 7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993

3. TIE Westville Pub

777 Haywood Road, Asheville, 225-9782

3. TIE Thirsty Monk

92 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5470 and 1836 Hendersonville Road, Gerber Village, Asheville, 505-4564

3. Smokey’s After Dark

18 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2155

Hipster bar 1. The Admiral

400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541 See description under “Best Dive Bar.”

2. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993

3. BoBo Gallery

22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426

Sports bar 1. Wild Wings

Dive bar 1. The Admiral

161 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-3066 The local branch of this Southeastern chain boasts endless Buffalo wings, food, beer and sports.

2. Broadway’s

3. TIE Baylee’s Steakhouse Sports Theatre

400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541 Since it opened in 2007, The Admiral has tried, 2. Bier Garden along with fine dining, for a dive-bar feel.

46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002 Apparently, they’ve succeeded, as the West Asheville hotspot convincingly won this new 3. TIE Northside Grill 853 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-2349 category.

113 Broadway or 120 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 285-0400

3. Fred’s Speakeasy

122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920

Gay bar 1. Scandals 30

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

1636 Hendersonville Road #21, Asheville, 2746640

Upscale bar 1. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993 The Vault’s 1930s speakeasy feel — right down to the old liquor prescriptions on the bathroom walls BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

N at u ra l

Ba by St ore

Voted Best-Of-WNC 2009

Thank You! Thank You!

for voting us your favorite for 2 years in a row.

We are thrilled to serve the Western North Carolina community.

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— is a hit with diners and drinkers alike.

2. Sky Bar

18 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-6998

3. TIE Frog Bar

1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-4857

3. TIE Usual Suspects

791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

3. TIE Santé

1 Page Ave., Suite 305, Asheville, 254-8188

Bartender 1. Kathy Taylor at Usual Suspects See description under “Best Server.”

2. Jackson Zoeller at Bier Garden 3. TIE The Cliff at BoBo Gallery 3. TIE Chris Towe at The Admiral Barista 1. Margaret Gibbs at Dynamite Roasting Company

4HANKS FOR VOTING US # !LTERNATIVE (EALING #ENTER Nancy Hyton, Acupuncturist and Herbalist

Robert Kochka, Massage Therapist

Michele Stageman, Massage Therapist

Kate Vermeer Wilson, Certified Rolfer

There’s a lot more to being a great barista than just knowing how to brew java: For starters, there’s finessing the finicky espresso machine and remembering customer orders (all Cheers-like).

Margaret Gibbs (wife of Dynamite’s co-owner, Josh Gibbs) is known for making a good coffee drink every time, but also for her smile and her interest in the community. And, says Josh, the iced vanilla “Marga-Latte” (named for the barista) “drives people crazy.”

2. Ross Gentry at Izzy’s 3. Amber Arthur at Izzy’s Beer selection 1. Barley’s Taproom

located between Orbit DVD & Westville Pub

See description under “Best Upscale Bar.”

2. Frog Bar

1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-4857

3. Usual Suspects

791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

Coffee shop 1. Izzy’s Coffee Den/Izzy’s Coffee House

74 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 258-2004 and 373 Haywood Road, Asheville, 258-2004 The style and intimacy of both Izzy’s locations — not to mention the coffee — draw an artistic crowd that keeps coming back for refills.

42 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-0504 Barley’s massive beer selection (on two floors, 2. Dripolator Coffeehouse no less) keeps this downtown pub a perennial 190 Broadway #102, Asheville, 398-0209 and 221 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-0999 favorite.

2. Thirsty Monk

92 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-5470 and 1836 Hendersonville Road, Gerber Village, Asheville, 505-4564

3. Bier Garden

46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002

779 Haywood Road • West Asheville 828-505-3174 • CenterHolistic.com

pisgah brewing best local brewery

Cocktails 1. Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge

7 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 254-4993

3. Starbucks

Various locations (www.starbucks.com)

Locally brewed beer

3. Wedge Iron Rail IPA Local brewery 1. Pisgah Brewing Company Black Mountain-based Pisgah Brewing remains at the top of the heap among local breweries. The undeniable winner: WNC’s beer lovers. www.pisgahbrewing.com

2. Wedge Brewing Company www.wedgebrewing.com

3. Highland Brewing Company www.highlandbrewing.com

Wine selection 1. Santé

1 Page Ave., Suite 305, Asheville, 254-8188 A self-described mid-life crisis project by several California émigrés and wine lovers, Santé’s everchanging, ever-refined wine selection makes it a local favorite.

1. Pisgah Pale Ale

2. Hops and Vines

Beer competition in Asheville remains tight — this is Beer City, USA, after all — but this year’s local favorite is Pisgah Brewing Company’s Pale Ale.

3. Zambra

2. Highland Gaelic Ale

797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275 85 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 232-1060 — D.F.

Thank You, Asheville for Voting Me #1 This Year & Among the Top Picks the Last 4 Years!

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828-335-0675 • kcortellucci@yahoo.com 32

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

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BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestarts&entertainment Local art gallery

1. Jen Bowen/Faces of Asheville

www.jennybowen.com At first glance, the Faces of Asheville project 38 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 251-0202 gave city residents a chance to play who’s who Popular year after year, Blue Spiral 1 continues with the photography exhibit’s subject matter. (since opening in 1991) to impress. Three floors But, on closer inspection, the collection of porhouse every medium of visual art, from avant- traits of our neighbors, coworkers, friends and garde installations to placid landscape paint- family somehow gave us a deeper look into the ings. OK, so the gallery doesn’t offer cheese lives of the people we all see every day. cubes during art crawls, but hey, it’s a feast for 2. TIE Ursula Gullow the eyes, right? www.ursulagullow.com

1. Blue Spiral 1

2. The Satellite Gallery

55 Broadway, Asheville, 350-9940

3. BoBo Gallery

22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426

Local visual artist 1. Gabriel Shaffer

www.gabrielshaffer.com What with his super-saturated colors, collage techniques, archetype-meets-super hero figures and rainbow-flooded first chakras, Shaffer creates a world of possible alter-egos. Or potential storylines. Or postmodern totems. Or inexplicable cool. That his art is collected far beyond the Asheville city limits is far less surprising than the wonderful images Shaffer continues to manifest.

2. TIE Rose Candela

www.rosecandelastudio.com

3. TIE Jonas Gerard www.jonasgeraRoadcom

3. TIE Stu Helm

www.cheesygraphics.com

Local band: blues/jazz/soul 1. Firecracker Jazz Band

www.firecrackerjazz.com Better than a mere night of music, Firecracker Jazz Band also provides its listeners with a journey both to Dixieland and back in time to released this year, Firecracker’s as explosive as the Jelly Roll Morton/Bix Beiderbeck heyday ever. of energetic, party-inducing jazz. With 15 years 2. Skinny Legs and All of playing under its belt and with Red Hot Band www.myspace.com/skinnylegsandallband

firecracker jazz band best jazz

3. Peggy Ratusz

www.myspace.com/peggyratusz2

My upcoming local shows are:

• “Before Astral” selected drawings, Eclipse Salon, November-December • The Big Crafty, December 6, 2009 • “Fiat Lux” Blue Spiral 1, January 7-March 27, 2010

Gabriel Shaffer • www.gabrielshaffer.com 828-280-7904 • Viewing By Appointment Only

34

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Local band: country/alt-country 1. The Trainwreks

www.myspace.com/thetrainwreks Having pioneered their own “dirty tonk” sound, The Trainwreks barreled onto the local music scene a couple years back, garnering not only Xpress reader raves (this is their third win) but accolades for debut album Ready to Die. According to the band’s MySpace page, a new record is in progress.

2. Pierce Edens & The Dirty Work www.pierceedens.com

3. TIE Dave Desmelik www.davedesmelik.com

3. TIE The Honeycutters

www.myspace.com/thehoneycutters

www.davedesmelik.com

Local band: old-time/bluegrass 1. Sons of Ralph

www.sonsofralph.com This local tradition recently released a new CD — When I Find Time — proving that patriarch Ralph Lewis on vocals and mandolin has still got it. Sons Marty and Don flesh out the band with other key players and a catalog of songs that range from sweetly sentimental to footstomping and fiery.

2. TIE Steep Canyon Rangers www.steepcanyon.com

2. TIE Brushfire Stankgrass

www.myspace.com/brushfirestankgrass

3. TIE Town Mountain www.townmountain.net

3. TIE Buncombe Turnpike

www.myspace.com/buncombeturnpike

Local band: hip-hop 1. GFE

www.granolafunk.com Granola Funk Express dates back to the early ‘90s, when members busked and played any 1. Josh Phillips Folk Festival stage they could book. Now a steady core www.myspace.com/joshphillipsfolk Josh Phillips (formerly of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty remains, and these players have proven themBand) crafts positive, feel-good indie-folk and selves as solo artists as well (Secret Agent 23 still gets those booties shakin’. Last year’s release, Skidoo, Josh Blake’s Big Money Band and Foul Wicker, set the ball rolling for a slew of shows Mouth Jerk among them). This year’s Bele Chere and festival appearances. Phillips also posts some set — amazingly, the group’s first at the festival pretty hilarious tweets: “Did you know that the — saw them in top form. sun wears Chuck Norris tan lotion?”

2. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo www.secretagent23skidoo.com 2. Now You See Them www.myspace.com/nowyouseethem 3. Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band www.bootyband.com 3. Dave Desmelik

Local band: folk

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

35

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

terpsicorps best local dance company Local band: rock 1. Sirius.B

www.siriusbmusic.com How the self-proclaimed “Absurdist Gypsy Metal Folk Funk Punk” outfit took top billing in the rock category is as much of a mystery as the white-dwarf star from whence the band takes its name. Besides a raucous version of “Bella Ciao,” the band boasts great hats, an 8-track debut and fairly regular appearances at BoBo Gallery.

Local band: indie 1. stephaniesid

2. Reigning Sound

www.stephaniesid.com “Bullet Train,” the single from stephaniesid’s latest release, Warm People, has been getting a lot of airplay on local radio (not to mention NPR’s World Cafe). What’s striking is how the synth-pop hit sounds like it could have been revived from the best of the New Wave vault, or culled from an indie-film soundtrack. But vocalist/songwriter/fashionista Stephanie Morgan has time-out-of-mind effect.

3. Custard Pie

www.siriusbmusic.com

www.myspace.com/reigningsoundfans www.myspace.com/custardpieasheville

2. Sirius.B

3. Floating Action

www.floatingaction.com

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Local band: experimental 1. TIE Sirius.B

www.siriusbmusic.com See description under “Best Local Band: Rock.”

1. TIE Ahleuchatistas

www.ahleuchatistas.com Overheard at a recent Ahleuchatistas show: “It’s not easy music to listen to, but it sure is interesting.” That sort of sums up the punk-meets-jazzmeets-math rock of this avant-garde trio. From sonic assault to intricate guitar work to fat, tribal rhythms, Ahleuchatistas can venture in any direction, only to turn on a dime and alter the soundscape. This is more than performance; it’s performance art.

1. TIE Arundas

www.myspace.com/arundas Arundas is a world-music collective with a mystical undercurrent. The group, started by multiinstrumentalist Alex Caruso, tends to stick to an alternate account of its inception (“Sala founded Arundas after some years of forest dwelling and wandering here and there”). But that works, since an Arundas concert is a meditative and transporting experience.

2. TIE Sonmi Suite

www.myspace.com/sonmi

2. TIE Speedsquare

www.speedsquaremusic.com

3. TIE Free Planet Radio www.freeplanetradio.com

3. TIE Ventricles

www.myspace.com/ventriclessound

Local band: metal 1. Kings of Prussia

www.myspace.com/kingsofprussia While the members of Kings of Prussia tend to keep a low profile (blurry photos, skeleton costumes, a pig mask), they are perfectly clear about their sound. Able to craft a wistfully lovely melody, Kings of Prussia likes to deconstruct its own dreamy rock and crisp percussion with experimental instrumentation and fierce thrash.

2. Temptation’s Wings

www.myspace.com/temptationswingswnc

3. TIE Shadow of a Destroyer

www.myspace.com/shadowofthedestroyer

3. TIE Soft Opening

www.myspace.com/softopening

3. TIE As Sick As Us

www.myspace.com/assickasus

Local band: punk 1. Just Die!

www.myspace.com/justdiehardcore Just as the band’s name suggests a certain abandonment of niceties, so does this group’s sound.

Grinding guitars, driving percussion and lyrics that scream more than sing, Just Die! is punk incarnate. And yet tracks from the band’s new 7-inch (releasing this week) also offer some catchy hooks and melodic background vocals to balance the energetic hardcore.

2. TIE Nasty Ponies

www.myspace.com/nastyponies

2. TIE Wooden Toothe

www.myspace.com/woodentoothe

3. The Go Devils

www.myspace.com/thegodevils666

Local band nobody’s heard of yet 1. Skinny Legs and All

www.myspace.com/skinnylegsandallband Named for a Tom Robbins novel published well before anyone in this band was born, Skinny Legs and All seems at home with songs, sounds and ideas from a bygone era. Though the group is made of teens, they all perform with maturity beyond their years, with singer Jesse Barry belting out “The Thrill is Gone” like a young Janis Joplin.

2. Buster

www.myspace.com/bustertunes

3. Osaka Pearl

www.osakapearl.com

Local busker/street performer 1. Silver drummer girl More than a mere street act, the silver drummer girl (a New Orleans transplant) is a local celebrity. She has her own month on the Freaks of Asheville 2010 calendar. Why do people love this particular busker? Maybe because she’s both musician and statue, and she rewards tips with a perfectly executed snare roll.

2. TIE “Dylan kid” Preston Cooper 2. TIE Bryshen/Brett Brothwell 3. Now You See Them www.myspace.com/nowyouseethem

3. Bobby Sax Local singer/songwriter 1. Tyler Ramsey

www.myspace.com/tylerramseymusic Of late, musician Tyler Ramsey has spent a good deal of time on the road as a guitarist (and video star: search YouTube for “No One’s Gonna Love You”) with Band of Horses. But back in June, he told Xpress he was planning to hole up in a cabin and work on new solo material. Can’t wait to see how he follows up gems like “Time Machine” and “A Long Dream.”

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2. TIE Kellin Watson www.kellinwatson.com

• Save money

2. TIE Nikki Talley

www.myspace.com/nikkitalley

• All natural green technology

3. Eliza Lynn

• Absorbs sound

www.elizalynn.com

Local DJ (non-radio) 1. DJ Bowie

www.myspace.com/soundbowie Not only is DJ Bowie half Dutch, but he has a mashup entitled “Crunkmuffin Breakfast.” Talk about your balanced diet. Bowie’s own musical consumption is pretty balanced, too, from ultramodern beats and spacey electronica to the kind of old-school, deep-cut soul and R&B tracks that prove he’s done his research.

2. TIE DJ Football

• 25 year manufacturer’s warranty • Zero maintenance • Biocide and Fungicide • Worry Free!

• Helps control pests in attic • Fire resistant • May qualify for Federal Tax Credit

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE Asheville: 828-253-3816 / 828-232-1338 • Hendersonville: 828-693-3384 • Waynesville: 828-456-3729 Brevard: 828-884-4011 • Spruce Pine: 828-765-0543

www.myspace.com/djf00tball

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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We Take Pride in Providing the Freshest Ingredients for Our Customers!

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

cookie larue best local drag performer 2. TIE DJ Brett Rock

www.collapseablestudios.com

3. Selector Cleofus

www.hifiverecording.com

www.myspace.com/brettrockdj www.myspace.com/cleofuswilliams

Local recording studio 1. Echo Mountain

www.echomountain.net Locally unparalleled in terms of its massive space, gear and amenities, the relatively new Echo Mountain has already birthed albums by the Avett Brothers (with uber-producer Rick Rubin), Band of Horses and myriad excellent local bands. Their emerging empire will soon include a brewery and live-music venue.

2. Collapseable Recording Studios

3. Hi-Five Recording

Local dance company 1. Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance

www.terpsicorps.org An ingenious concept, Terpsicorps taps the talents of professional dancers from national companies during their off-season. This gives Asheville a top-notch ballet company each summer, and also allows creative director Heather Maloy to showcase her innovative choreography, while also colluding with local musicians (for more on that, see best “Live Show of 2009: Dance”).

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Thank You for Voting Us #1 hers and home boutique 415 Haywood Road 828.257.4007 custom-boutique.com

T H A N K Y O U

TO: All Our Lovely Customers

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BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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2. Asheville Contemporay Dance Theatre www.acdt.org

3. Asheville Ballet

Local video store 1. Orbit DVD

783 1/2 Haywood Road, Asheville, 251-1337 Two of the three winners in this category are under the same ownership: Orbit DVD and TV Local poet/author Eye Video Emporium. Congrats and thanks to Marc McCloud and his team for providing 1. Glenis Redmond www.glenisredmond.com WNC with enough rare indie films and mainA repeat Hall of Famer, Redmond continues to stream must-sees to fulfill all our movie-watchgain well-deserved praise and awards for her ing needs. moving verse and passionate performances. 2. Rosebud Video Congrats to Asheville’s reigning poetry queen 197 Charlotte St., Asheville, 250-9500 for retaining her crown. www.ashevilleballet.com

2. Graham Hackett/Catalyst POETIX www.poetixonline.com

3. Allan Wolf

www.allanwolf.com

Local graffiti artist 1. MOMS This mysterious gang of talented graffiti artists consists of “mostly pregnant dreadlocked ladies and single gutter punk moms,” claims a professed member of the crew under the condition of anonymity — though he is clearly not a member of the demographic he describes. Either way, they’ve clearly made their mark.

2. Ishmael 3. None/they’re vandals/they should be in jail/don’t encourage this Local stage company 1. North Carolina Stage Company

Local drag performer 1. Cookie LaRue Better known as Asheville’s best “irritainer,” Cookie LaRue makes no bones about her love of “Liza Minnelli-type substances” and bastardized folk songs (“Blowin’ in the Winds”).

Recently completing the one-woman show Can You Dig It? (a live recreation of her 1972 Emmy-winning TV special), LaRue is reportedly at work on her new CD: Cookie LaRue: My Greates-tits.

2. Verba S. Deo 3. TIE Celeste Starr 3. TIE China Local trivia night 1. Jack of the Wood

2. Asheville Community Theatre 3. Montford Park Players

777 Haywood Road, Asheville, 225-9782

www.ashevilletheatre.org

www.montfordparkplayers.org

Local filmmaker 1. Chris Bower

2. Westville Pub

3. Mellow Mushroom

50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800

Local karaoke night

www.wewontbowdown.com After gaining indie cred for his sci-fi epic Moon Europa, Chris Bower has been hard at work on We Won’t Bow Down, a documentary about the Mardi Gras Indians. Although still trying to raise money to complete the project, raw footage has been screened at local events to rave reviews.

1. Fred’s Speakeasy

2. Chusy Jardine

2. TIE Temptations & the Red Room

3. Paul Schattel

2. TIE Mack Kells Pub & Grill

www.chusy.com

www.harrowbeauty.com

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

108 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-2123

95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445 Trivia night at Jack of the Wood offers enough competition to make the game intellectually interesting and enough drinking to make it fun. Cheers to Jack of the Wood and its regular patrons for making this weekly game the right combination of friendly and fierce.

www.ncstage.org Housed in an intimate and classy downtown theatre, the North Carolina Stage Company wins again for another stellar season of quality dramas, classics and comedies. Bravo.

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3. TV Eye Video Emporium

122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920 Calling itself “the only smoky dive left in downtown Asheville” on its PBR-checkered MySpace page, the host of this weekly Wednesday night gathering promises to “transform you into a Karaoke Maniac.” Watch out — apparently the legions of those he’s converted are vast.

5A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-0775 160 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 253-8805

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

3. TIE Club Hairspray

38 N. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 258-2027

3. TIE Northside Bar & Grill

853 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-2349

Movie theater 1. Asheville Fine Arts Theatre

36 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 232-1536 Despite competition from several new theaters in the area (Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 makes its debut at number 3), our favorite place to see movies remains downtown’s Fine Arts Theatre.

And for good reason: Nowhere else in the area offers the quality indie films on which this nicely renovated theatre has built its outstanding reputation.

2. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company

675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-1281

3. TIE Cinebarre

800 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-7776

3. TIE Regal Cinemas Biltmore Grande Stadium 15 292 Thetford Street, Asheville, 684-1298

Place to hear live music 1. The Orange Peel

101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-5851 This nationally hailed venue is only matched in the unprecedented quality of the acts that play there by the unprecedented size of its massive ceiling fan. Already a Hall of Famer, the Orange Peel is ramping things up with the soon-to-be completed addition of an outdoor patio and a downstairs liquor bar.

2. The Grey Eagle

185 Clingman Ave., Asheville, 232-5800

3. Jack of the Wood

95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445

Place to dance 1. Scandals Nightclub

11 Grove St., Asheville, 252-2838 Not quite a Hall of Famer yet, but well on its way; if you’re open-minded and late-night dancing is your thing, this is your place.

2. The Orange Peel

101 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-5851

3. The Grey Eagle

Live show of 2009: dance 1. Recession Blues by Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance This show’s featured performance, a collaboration with Asheville’s Firecracker Jazz Band, balanced resonant themes of the current recession with athletic modern dance and a healthy dose of humor. Plus, it served as a fundraiser for Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Mission. Our hats are off.

2. Beastie Boys at the Orange Peel, June 10, 2009 3. TIE Phish at the Asheville Civic Center, June 9, 2009 3. TIE Who’s Bad Michael Jackson tribute at the Emerald Lounge, July 9, 2009 and at the Orange Peel, July 31, 2009 3. TIE ABSFest June 12-14, 2009 Live show of 2009: music 1. Beastie Boys at the Orange Peel, June 10, 2009

Thank You for Voting Us #1!

HOLY GUACAMOLE! $5 Burritos of any type during our first hour of business from 11am - Noon (dine in only)

For fans lucky enough to get tickets (they sold out in seconds), it was a dream come true: a chance to see one of the biggest hip-hop/pop/ funk/punk groups of their generation at an intimate hometown club. The 70,000+ fans who braved the mud and perils of Bonnaroo to see them a few days later must have been jealous.

2. Phish at the Asheville Civic Center, June 9, 2009 3. Sirius.B multiple times, multiple locations Live show of 2009: theater 1. Midsummer Night’s Dream by the Montford Park Players Consistently placing in the top three in this category for several years now, the Montford Park Players offer North Carolina’s longest running Shakespeare festival, performing several major productions every summer.

2. What’s LYLAS got to do with it? by LYLAS 3: TIE Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead at N.C. Stage Company 3. TIE The Santaland Diaries at Asheville Community Theatre — A.M. and J.F.

77 A Biltmore Avenue Downtown Asheville • 255-8080 www.mamacitasgrill.com

185 Clingman Ave., Asheville, 232-5800

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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ashley â&#x20AC;&#x153;bad ashâ&#x20AC;? davis local radio personality Local arts writer 1. Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress

He watches all the movies â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or damn near all of them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to. Despite the nickname, Xpressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; own Ken â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crankyâ&#x20AC;? Hanke is a delightful gent with an unquenchable yen for cinema.

2. Alli Marshall, Mountain Xpress 3. Rebecca Sulock, Mountain Xpress Local radio personality 1. Ashley â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bad Ashâ&#x20AC;? Davis, 98.1 The River/105.9 The Mountain They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call her â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bad Ashâ&#x20AC;? for nothinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Perhaps Davis says it best on a staff profile on The Mountainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web site: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take any crap, period. I love to play pool and party. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always balls to the wall. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no in between, either nothing at all or to the extreme.â&#x20AC;?

2. Matt Mittan, 570 WWNC 3. TIE Laura Blackley, 88.7 WNCW 3. TIE Martin Anderson, 88.7 WNCW

Westgate Shopping Center â&#x20AC;˘ Asheville 253-3020 â&#x20AC;˘ www.silverarmadillo.com 42

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC â&#x20AC;˘ mountainx.com

CafĂŠ to locally produced gems like This Old Porch, the stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings keep us coming back for more.

2. WCQS 88.1 3. 98.1 The River Local print reporter 1. John Boyle, Asheville Citizen-Times

Boyle, aka â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Answer Man,â&#x20AC;? is a self-effacing wiseacre whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a heck of a reporter and columnist. Contacted with the news of his win, he remarked: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m pleasantly surprised and a bit humbled, really, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still going to ask for one big-ass raise â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or just to keep my job.â&#x20AC;?

2. Susan Reinhardt, Asheville CitizenTimes 3. Jason Sandford, Mountain Xpress Local blog 1. Ashvegas

ashvegas.squarespace.com Want the cyber-skinny on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moving and shaking in Asheville? Look no farther than Ashvegas, an oft-updated blog by veteran Local radio station local journalist (and Xpress multimedia editor) Jason Sandford. Probing and profiling all 1. WNCW 88.7 Spindale-based WNCW, a perennial favorite things Asheville, the site is one more reason among Xpress readers, dials in thousands of that what happens in Ashvegas, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stay listeners with an eclectic mix of news and in Ashvegas. tunes. From syndicated programs like World BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

2. Scrutiny Hooligans scrutinyhooligans.us

3. TIE Edgy Mama edgymama.com

3. TIE My Life in Cake

shortstreetcakes.blogspot.com

Local Twitterer 1. Jeff Fobes (@fobes) Some 11 months after he started using Twitter — the micro-blogging program that lets you send out 140-character dispatches with abandon — Mountain Xpress publisher Jeff Fobes has tweeted and re-tweeted more that 9,000 news bits. He’s also spearheaded Xpress’ Twitter experiments and innovations, enlisting citizen journalists in the mix.

2. TIE Bruisin’ Ales/Julie Atallah (@bruisinales) 2. TIE Jose Ibarra (@h0zae) 3. TIE Diamond Thieves Body Piercing (@DiamondThieves1) 3. TIE Wendy Lou (@itswendylou) Local Web site 1. Mountain Xpress

www.mountainx.com Aw, shucks — we’re blushing. And we’re really proud of Xpress Webmaster Jason Shope and Web Assistant Patrick Conant. These guys don’t stop — and you should see what they’re working on now!

2. Ashvegas

ashvegas.squarespace.com

3. TIE Asheville Now www.ashevillenow.com

3. TIE Ashville Citizen-Times www.citizen-times.com

Most overreported story 1. Death of Michael Jackson R.I.P., M.J. We’ll say no more.

2. URTV 3. Swine flu Most underreported story 1. TIE Local crime 1. TIE Health care/insurance/reform

jeff fobes best local twitterer 2. TIE WNC Woman www.wnc-woman.com

Xpress hears your cry: Look for more coverage of these issues in the year to come.

2. TIE Bold Life

2. TIE Education-budget cuts 2. TIE Death of Farrah Fawcett 3. TIE Local economy 3. TIE Homelessness 3. TIE The long-in-the-works Pack Square Park

3. TIE Blue Ridge Outdoors

Free newspaper other than Xpress

www.boldlife.com

www.blueridgeoutdoors.com

3. TIE New Life Journal Gone, but not forgotten

Favorite feature in Xpress 1. TIE Asheville Disclaimer 1. TIE News of the Weird

One’s a nationally syndicated column of weird-but-true stories. The other’s a homewww.take5online.com grown parody page that makes local life seem Tucked into each Thursday edition of the a whole lot funnier.

Asheville Citizen-Times, take 5 offers a quick but wide-reaching survey of the entertainment 2. Cranky Hanke/movie reviews week ahead.

3. Free Will Astrology

1. take 5

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Least-favorite feature in Xpress 1. Asheville Disclaimer Evidently the “Finest Page in All the Land” is not for everyone.

2. Edgy Mama 3. Cranky Hanke/movie reviews Feature Xpress needs to add 1. Local sports We cede part of this beat to other publications, but we’re still in the game: Look for Xpress to keep reporting on outdoor and quirky sports.

2. TIE Advice column 2. TIE Savage Love 3. TIE More puzzles 3. TIE Gay/lesbian news — J.E.

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestoutdoors Bike Ride: Mountain 1. Bent Creek 1. While Bent Creek was established in 1925 for conducting research on silvicultural practices (forestry stuff), it boasts a mix of old logging roads, singletrack routes, gardens and a lake. And it’s close to town. What more could you want?

2. DuPont State Forest 3. Blue Ridge Parkway Bike ride: road 1. Blue Ridge Parkway Even on a rainy day, you’ll find cyclists pumping up the Parkway’s steep climbs or whizzing downhill. One recent Saturday, a hungry cyclist had pulled over and was scarfing blueberries off a bush hanging from the roadside cliff.

blue ridge parkway best bike ride/place to hike/place to picnic

2. Town Mountain 3. Riverside Drive Event: cycling 1. Fletcher Flyer

3. Chamber Challenge

www.blueridgebicycleclub.org www.ashevillechamber.org Even if you don’t know what a full-century ride is, this event offers races and routes suitable for a vari- Place to car camp ety of skill levels, all set in the scenic, rolling hills of 1. North Mills River Campground Henderson County.

Reservations are needed — four days in advance 2. Assault on Mt. Mitchell — for this popular spot, which offers riverside www.freewheelers.info camping as well as access to some fine back-country trout fishing.

3. TIE Hot Doggett www.mhc.edu/hotdoggett 2. Pisgah National Forest

3. TIE French Broad Classic

www.frenchbroadcyclingclassic.com

Event: running

Place to backcountry camp

1. Bele Chere 5K

THE (GOOD) NEWS: since the day we opened our doors, you have voted us one of the best salons for 4 years in a row! thanks, and we love you mucho!! biltmore courtyard 828.277.4070 m-sat 10-6 ilovewink.com (new site soon!)

3. TIE Hot Springs Campground 3. TIE Davidson River Campground

www.ashevilletrackclub.org This July, the Bele Chere 5K celebrated its 30th anniversary, with 1,385 runners participating in a race that, for once, wasn’t plagued by rain at the starting line.

2. Asheville Citizen-Times Half Marathon www.citizen-times.com

1. Shining Rock Wilderness Area

Too many great trails to list! The Mountains-to-Sea Trail parallels much of the Parkway; just pick a spot with place to park and head off into the woods for a respite from civilization.

2. Pisgah National Forest 3. Graveyard Fields Place to paddle/kayak 1. French Broad River [Hall of Fame] Just last year, the ol’ Broad registered her lowestever river levels (since the first records were noted in 1895, at least). Then in late September, she passed the flood stage. She’s temperamental, but you love her anyway.

2. Green River 3. Nantahala River

2. Pisgah National Forest 3. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

1. Blue Ridge Parkway

Trivia: Shining Rock was designated a wild area in 1964, becoming one of the original areas of the National Wilderness System created that same year. And almost every route in its steep rocky terrain is rated as difficult.

Service Barber Shop 44

Place to hike

Place to picnic Favorite picnic spots on the Parkway include Crabtree Meadows, north of Craggy Gardens. Or plopping a blanket down at the parking lot at the Devil’s Courthouse and letting that be the backdrop for your dining pleasure.

2. Craggy Gardens 3. Biltmore Estate Place to walk/run 1. Carrier Park Carrier Park is one of Asheville’s hidden gems, where the whole family can relax and have fun.

The park features easy walking/biking trails, the “mellow” drome (the old racetrack), picnic shelters, a cool playground and even shuffleboard.

2. Beaver Lake 3. Bent Creek — M.W.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestpersonalservices Alternative healing center

whisperer. Enough said.

2. Echo Harding at Infusion Hair Studio

1. Center for Holistic Medicine

797 Haywood Rd, Asheville, 254-1545

779 Haywood Road, Asheville, 505-3174 Upon returning from the Center for Holistic Medicine after her very first acupuncture treatment, a fellow Xpresser reported, “It turns out, I like getting needles stuck in my face.” Congratulations, Center for Holistic Medicine, for that’s a heady accomplishment.

3. TIE Christine DiBenedetto at Wink Heads & Threads 18 Brook St. #103, Asheville, 277-4070

3. TIE Terra Marshall at Beauty Parade 783 Haywood Road, Asheville, 257-4073

3. TIE Sarah Carpenter at Lola Salon

2. Asheville Community Acupuncture

60 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 236-3456

378 Haywood Road, Asheville, 777-8804

Tattoo artist

3. TIE Source for Well Being

411 W. State St., Black Mountain, 669-8800

1. Danny Reed at Hot Stuff Tattoo

3. TIE Chinese Acupuncture and Herbology Clinic

428-C Haywood Road, Asheville, 251-6040 Xpress’ own tatted diva, Marissa Williams, has this to say about Danny Reed: “Formally of Empire Tattoo, [he] opened his own shop in West Asheville called Hot Stuff Tattoo earlier this year.

His vibrant, traditional work adorns much of the skin of the area, so it’s no surprise he was voted number one.”

369 Montford Ave., Asheville, 258-9016

Car repair 1. Organic Mechanic

568 Haywood Road, Asheville, 255-2628 Customer Naomi Langsner says, “I am inspired by [Organic Mechanic’s] commitment to the environment that they thoroughly demonstrated with the build out of their new space. They have created a nice environment that is welcoming and respectful. As a woman, this can be hard to come by at typical car shops.” Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Organic Mechanic!

2. Mike Byer Auto & Truck Repair

135 Coxe Ave., Asheville, 258-0548

3. Xpertech Car Care

1295 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-3612

Computer repair 1. Charlotte Street Computers

252 Charlotte St., Asheville, 225-6600; 101 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 209-6600; and 300 Airport Road, Arden, 651-6600 This marks the seventh year in a row Charlotte Street Computers has won the top spot for “Computer Repair.” Clearly, Xpress readers turn to Charlotte Street in times of computer need. And understandably so: They’re friendly and good at what they do.

2. Sassy’s Computer Repair

1457 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-0853

3. Christopher’s Computers

306 Stone Ridge Blvd., Asheville, 670-9800

Place to work out 1. YMCA

2. Miss Kitty Love at Liquid Dragon Art Studio 66 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-2518

3. Tiffany Lemeaux at Freaks & Geeks Tattoo Sideshow 745 Haywood Road, Asheville, 254-4429

kat cortellucci best massage therapist 3. YWCA

185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 254-7206

Hair salon 1. Beauty Parade

1. Man’s Ruin Tattoo, Piercing & Art Gallery

660 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-6660 next year, 2009, NUMBER 1!!!!” Well, cheers, Kat This nationally recognized studio boasts an allfemale staff, the most piercing jewelry in WNC — this year you did indeed top the list. and more than 50,000 tattoo designs. And an art 2. Kim Cantor Iamurri at Cadence Body gallery. The Hall-of-Famer studio recently moved Contouring & Health Spa to a new bigger location (still on Merrimon), 542 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 242-8384 where it’s sure to continue making its mark.

783 Haywood Road, Asheville, 257-4073 3. Isabelle Guzman This funky full-service West Asheville salon with 70 Woodfin Place, Suite 6B West, Asheville, distinctive retro decor has a loyal fan base: The 215-6765 Beauty Parade has been voted number one by Xpress readers for five years straight. “Cute’s OK, Spa but I’d rather be fabulous!” is the salon’s motto.

1. Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa Beauty Parade, you are fabulous!

290 Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711 2. Adorn Salon & Boutique Treat yourself to a day at the Grove Park Inn spa, 82 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8828 and you’ll experience ultimate pampering, not to mention pools upon pools, waterfalls and even 3. TIE Wink Heads & Threads Boutique underwater music (no joke). and Salon 18 Brook St. #103, Asheville, 277-4070 2. Sensibilities Natural Bodycare 59 Haywood St., Asheville, 253-3222 and 2 3. TIE The Blue Ribbon Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 687-8760 506 Haywood Road, Asheville, 251-4288

Various locations (www.ymcawnc.org) Massage therapist If you’re not a member of the YMCA, odds are you know someone who is. Not only do many area 1. Kat Cortellucci at Transformative Touch residents stay fit by working out at the Y’s several Massage WNC branches, by doing so, they’re also support- Flat Iron Building, Suite 601, Asheville, 335ing a human-services organization that has served 0675 WNC for more than 150 years. Congrats.

After coming in second in last year’s Best of WNC 2. The Rush Fitness Complex poll, Kat posted the following message to her 1047 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5285 and 1818 MySpace page: “Thanx for The Votes in Best of Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-6448 WNC 2008. 2. Kat. That’s number 2 in the Xpress ...

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Tattoo/piercing studio

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

3. Shoji Retreats

96 Avondale Heights Road, Asheville, 299-1999

Stylist 1. Shane Blankenship at Infusion Hair Studio

2. TIE Hot Stuff Tattoo

428 Haywood Road, Asheville, 251-6040

2. TIE Empire Tattoo

83 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-8282

3. Freaks & Geeks Tattoo Sideshow

745 Haywood Road, Asheville, 254-4429

Yoga studio 1. Asheville Yoga Center

239 S. Liberty St., Asheville, 254-0380 The Asheville Yoga Center continues its winning streak: AYC won best yoga studio in 2008 and one of its teachers, Shala Worsley, won best yoga teacher in 2007. The popular center offers everything from “hot” yoga (the heat in the studio is cranked up) to affordable community classes to yoga for kids.

2. West Asheville Yoga

602 Haywood Road, Asheville, 350-1167 797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 254-1545 “If there are horse whispers and dog whispers, 3. Namaste Yoga and Healing Center 74A Cumberland Circle, Asheville, 252-8149 then Shane is a hair whisperer. He just gets hair.”

— M.D. So says Shane devotee Anna Woodruff, whose fiancé Adam Masters turned her on to said hair BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

ÆJ^Wdai" 7i^[l_bb[ Ç (Mary, Dave, Erika & Sarah)

J^Wda oek Nfh[ii H[WZ[hi \eh Lej_d] Ki$$$ 8[ij Jeo Ijeh[ WdZ \eh (& o[Whi e\ \kd shop online: www.dancingbeartoys.com 144 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC • 255-8697 418 N. Main St., Hendersonville, NC • 693 -4500 BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

47

besthunting&gathering 415A Haywood Road, Asheville, 257-4007

Antiques store

3. Goodwill

1. Antique Tobacco Barn

Various locations (www.goodwillnwnc.org)

75 Swannanoa Road, Asheville, 252-7291 Boasting an eclectic collection of antique furniture, crafts and gifts — stored in a 25-year-old, 77,000-foot historic barn — the Antique Tobacco Barn is a paradise for treasure hunters, well deserving of its Hall-of-Famer status.

Clothing: consignment or vintage 1. Goodwill

Various locations (www.goodwillnwnc.org) See description under “Best Clothing: Men’s.”

2. ScreenDoor

2. TIE Enchanted Forrest

3. TIE Oddfellows Antique Warehouse

2. TIE Honeypot

235 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 236-0688

115 Fairview Road, Asheville, 277-3667 124 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, 3507800

86 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-0304

3. TIE Lexington Park Antiques

72 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 255-7573

3. Hip Replacements

65 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 253-3070

Environmentally friendly store

Arts supply store

1. Greenlife Grocery

70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440 See description under “Best Grocery”.

1. True Blue Art Supply

30 Haywood St., Asheville, 251-0028 In a city brimming with artists, True Blue Art Supply is the go-to store for high-quality supplies. Bursting with paint, brushes, colored paper and easels galore, the colorful shop has remained at the top of their category since 2005.

2. Michaels Arts and Crafts

299 Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, 2990183

3. A.C. Moore

800 Fairview Road, Asheville, 299-0777

Bike shop 1. Liberty Bikes

hickory nut gap best local farm Clothing: men’s 1. Goodwill

Various locations (www.goodwillnwnc.org) Few clothing stores achieve the affordable, dogooder status of Goodwill, where community donations are sold for single-digit prices, and proceeds benefit a charitable organization committed to job training. Fun and responsible shopping proves to be the Best of WNC for both the Men’s and Vintage clothing categories.

1378 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2742. Hunk (recently renamed parlour) 2453 Offering a wide selection of road and mountain 9 W. Walnut St., Asheville, 253-4044 bikes, plus weekly community rides, commuter safety tips-and-tricks and bicycle-maintenance classes, Liberty Bikes supports both the sport and the lifestyle of cycling, claiming first place in this fiercely competitive category.

3. Union

18 Haywood St., Asheville, 259-3300

Clothing: women’s 1. Minx

64 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-5680 Undefeated champion since 2005, the Minx boutique is lined with chic apparel, accessories and shoes for women. Since opening in 2001, the shop has clearly accomplished its goal to “clothe, adorn, empower and provide to the women of Asheville.”

2. Custom Boutique

66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, 253-7656 and 1856 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2100100

Local farm 1. Hickory Nut Gap Farm

www.hickorynutgapfarm.com On Hickory Nut Gap Farm you’ll find “pigs in the woods, cows [in the] pasture eating grass and clover, drinking spring water and living the good life,” as the farm’s Web site notes. The fourth-generation family farm is dedicated to sustainable agricultural practices and is proud to supply the WNC community with ethically raised meat.

3. Warren Wilson College Farm www.warren-wilson.edu/~farm/

Garden supply/nursery

3. Youngblood

1. B.B. Barns

233 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 251-4686

3377 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, 650-7300 If you’ve got a green thumb, you’ve got to love B.B. Barns’ broad selection of plant material, says company spokesman Michael Coyle. That, combined with a range of services and a relentless focus on implementing customer feedback, means the company is never stagnant, Coyle says.

Bookstore 1. Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe

55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734 Malaprop’s Bookstore/Café — lined with indie publications and bestsellers alike — is a meeting ground for bookworms and writers of all genres.

The cozy bookstore hosts poetry readings, writing groups, book clubs and author events, while serving up beverages and scrumptious treats.

2. Jesse Israel and Sons Garden Center 570 Brevard Road, Asheville, 254-2671

3. Reems Creek Valley Nursery

2. Barnes & Noble

70 Monticello Road, Weaverville, 645-3937

3 S. Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-7335 and 33 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 687-0681

48

3. Earth Fare

www.flyingcloudfarm.net

610 Haywood Road, Asheville, 253-2800

67 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 253-8654

51 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 258-1901

2. Flying Cloud Farm

2. Pro Bikes

3. Downtown Books and News

2. Nest Organics

Gift shop

octopus garden best head shop

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

1. L.O.F.T. of Asheville

53 Broadway, Asheville, 259-9303

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Charlotte Street animal hoSpital We appreciate your continued loyalty THANKS! and trust as we keep your furry For voting us #1 in WNC family members happy & healthy! from 2003-2009

208 Charlotte St. • CharlotteStreetAnimal Hospital.com • 232-0440

UIBOLT!!

T! GPS!OBNJOH!VBT!B FT! POF!PG!ZPVS!G W JO!XOD"" ORBIT DVD West Asheville 783½ Haywood Rd. • 251-1337

!

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Open 7 Days

12 noon - 11 pm

TV EYE Video Emporium Downtown 108 N. Lexington Avenue • 254-2123

Nuevo Prices! All New releases & others for just $2!

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

49

l.o.f.t. best gift shop With so many tchotchkes to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin in describing the whimsy of offerings at L.O.F.T., which stands for “lost objects, found treasures.” Just go and let serendipity be your guide.

2. Ten Thousand Villages

10 College St., Asheville, 254-8374 and 303 Lookout Road, Montreat, 669-1406

3. TIE Willow’s Dream

210 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 225-5922

3. TIE Mast General Store

15 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 232-1883

Grocery 1. Greenlife Grocery

70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440 What can you say about a grocery store that has everything? “We are honored to be recognized by the readers of the Mountain Xpress as the best local grocery store in WNC for the fifth year in a row,” says store manager Sam Wharton.

2. Earth Fare

63 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-5088 With a custom-design shop and a variety of jewelry that can serve the $50 spender and the $50,000 spender, Jewels That Dance simply knows bling. “We really put our heart into everything we do,” says store manager Marlene Clevenger.

2. blue goldsmiths

1 Swan St., Asheville, 277-2583

3. Wick and Greene Fine Jewelry

121 Patton Ave., Asheville, 253-1805

Local fashion designer 1. R. Brooke Priddy

Ship to Shore, www.shiptoshoreshop.com Dream-like elegance distinguishes dressmaker and designer R. Brooke Priddy’s captivating style. From her West Asheville studio, Ship to Shore, Priddy brings fashion into the “the realm of living sculpture,” creating custom garments for women, special occasions and local performance artists.

66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, 253-7656 and 1856 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2100100

2. TIE Sarabeth Larrimore

3. Ingles

2. TIE Constance Ensner

Various locations (www.ingles-markets.com)

Head shop 1. Octopus Garden

Unabashed apparel, www.unabashedapparel. com Constance Boutique, www.constanceboutique. com

3. TIE Moe Erin Donnelly

Sew Moe, www.sewmoe.com 80 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-4980 3. TIE Myah Hubbell and 1062 Patton Ave., Asheville, 232-6030 Recyclone, www.myspace.com/therealrecyclone There’s a simple mantra you should keep in mind when shopping Octopus Garden: Smoke Record shop ‘em if you got ‘em.

2. Wonderland

33 Patton Ave., Asheville, 225-5035

3. Instant Karma

78 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 285-8999

Jewelry store 1. Jewels That Dance 50

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

1. Harvest Records

415-B Haywood Road, Asheville, 258-2999 Co-owners Matt Schnable and Mark Capon recently celebrated their store’s fifth anniversary. With an eclectic stock of unique titles, as well as art openings and music shows, Schnable says they’ll keep taking chances: “Asheville has a continuous drive to support people who are working hard to take care of them.”

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

1. Tops For Shoes

3. TIE Craft Fair of the Southern

27 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-6721 Highlands Ever heard of a shoe store being a tourist attrac- www.southernhighlandguild.org tion? For locals and out-of-towners alike, Tops 3. TIE Bele Chere For Shoes is, quite simply, a downtown institu- www.belecherefestival.com tion that offers great selection and good prices.

2. Discount Shoes

1266 Brevard Road, Asheville, 667-0085

3. Diamond Brand Outdoors

2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 684-6262

Tailgate/farmers market 1. North Asheville Tailgate Market

tops for shoes best shoe store 2. Karmasonics

19 Biltmore Ave., 259-9949

3. Static Age Records

82 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3232

Musical instrument shop 1. Musician’s Workshop

319 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-1249 Becky Dosier and her husband Frank have owned Musician’s Workshop for 32 years. They sell instruments. They install home theaters.

They offer music lessons. And they have not one, but two luthiers on hand for repairs. “We only have one store because we want to do it right,” Dosier says.

2. Smashing Guitars

103 Broadway, Asheville, 259-3600

3. Acoustic Corner

105 Montreat Road, Black Mountain, 6695162

Outdoor-gear shop 1. Diamond Brand Outdoors

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

1. Bruisin’ Ales

66 Broadway, Asheville, 252-8999 With more than 800 brews to choose from, Bruisin’ Ales brings the many flavors of world beer to the mountains of North Carolina.

Specializing in Belgians and American craft brews, this beer-only boutique is a new champion in the Best of WNC poll.

Held at UNC-Asheville, lower level of parking lot C, 622-3654 This market, run by vendors/farmers, has been 2. Hops and Vines offering fresh, locally grown food for 29 years. 797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275 “We have among the best farmers in the area,” 3. TIE Greenlife Grocery says market co-manager Julie Mansfield, farm- 70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5440 ers driven to provide customers with the highest quality food. Add customers “who come 3. TIE Ingles through in thick and thin,” and you’ve got a Various locations (www.ingles-markets.com) formula for success, Mansfield says.

Wine store

2. Asheville City Market

161 S. Charlotte St., Asheville, 236-1282 and 31 Schenck Parkway, Asheville, 348-0340

3. West Asheville Tailgate Market

Held in the parking lot between West End Bakery and Café and the Grove Corner Market on Haywood Road, 281-9099

2623 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 684-6262 Arts/craft fair It’s pretty basic: You don’t go hiking, backpacking, camping or paddling around Western 1. The Big Crafty North Carolina without first checking the gear www.thebigcrafty.com Celebrating homemade art and crafts of all at Diamond Brand. inspirations, The Big Crafty is a juried, inde2. Black Dome Mountain Sports pendent craft fair featuring more than 100 local 140 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 251-2001 artists and crafters. Plus, live demos, DJs, food 3. Frugal Backpacker and a raffle; it’s the art lovers’ social event of 2621 Hendersonville Road, Arden, 209-1530 the year.

Shoe store

Beer store

2. Village Art and Craft Fair

1. Hops and Vines

797 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-5275 “We have killer wines at a great price,” says store owner Alex Buerckholtz, summing up his two-year-old store’s approach to attracting customers. Every wine is hand-selected for inclusion in the store, and customers get treated with respect, Buerckholtz says. “We try to let them think for themselves, and if they want advice or more information, we try to help them.”

2. The Wine Guy

555 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-6500 and 1200 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2771120

3. Asheville Wine Market

65 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-0060 — A.S.B. and J.S.

www.biltmorevillage.com/craft_fair.htm

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

51

bestkids Congratulations To All Best of WNC Winners!

jewish community center best day care Clothing: kids

236 Charlotte St., Asheville, 253-0701 Also known as the Shalom Children’s Center, 1. The Littlest Birds the JCC has long been a haven for quality 647 Haywood Road, Asheville, 253-4747 child care in the area. “It’s definitely the peoAn emphasis on local families and all-natural ple who work here that make it special,” says products makes The Littlest Birds a popular early childhood director Caroline Martin.

West Asheville spot, according to co-owner “Some of our teachers have been here for 23 Sonja Hernandez. She and Allison Walker or 24 years. They love kids.” opened the business 2 1/2 years ago, offering 2. TIE YWCA of Asheville new and used baby and kid stuff, from cloth 185 S. French Broad Ave., Asheville, 254diapers to clothing to accessories and toys.

7206

2. Just Ducky Originals

10 All Souls Crescent, Biltmore Village, Asheville, 277-7084

3. Children’s Trading Post

633 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5432

2. TIE Mountain Area Child and Family Center

2586 Riceville Road, Asheville, 298-0808; 3 Town Square Blvd., Asheville, 687-1882; and 69 Pisgah Highway, Candler, 670-7300

3. Casa dei Bambini

Day care 1. Asheville Jewish Community Center

818 Haywood Road, Asheville, 254-2272

Thanks Asheville for Voting Us

Best Beer Selection!

Live Music Every Tuesday & Sunday • 55 Taps • Billiards & Darts 42 Biltmore Ave. Downtown Asheville - 255-0504 - BArleystAproom.com - mon-sAt 11:30Am-?/sun 12-12 52

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Kid-friendly restaurant 1. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company

Junior Naturalist program and more, make the WNC Nature Center a great place to learn about WNCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wild life.

2. The Health Adventure

675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-1281 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville, 254-6373 and 77 Coxe Ave., Asheville, 255-4077 3. N.C. Arboretum â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a local place where parents can come 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, socialize after work, have a beer, and feed 665-2492 and entertain their kids,â&#x20AC;? says co-owner Leigh Lewis. Tuesday nights are designated Entertainer family nights and include The Balloon Guy 1. Secret Agent 23 Skidoo and free ice-cream sundaes. www.secretagent23skidoo.com 2. TIE Mellow Mushroom Kid-hop artist 23 Skidoo describes his music 50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800 as, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a fun-house mirror of the Asheville 2. TIE Chuck E. Cheese scene.â&#x20AC;? He adds that his album, Easy, remixed 104 River Hills Road, Asheville, 299-3750 and re-released in July, keeps selling, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s touring up and down the East coast. See 3. TIE Fuddruckers him perform at White Horse Black Mountain 130 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-2161 on Saturday, Oct. 31.

3. TIE Papaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Beer

1000 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-9070; 17 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-2204; and 1821 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville, 692-9915

Place to entertain kids 1. Ashevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fun Depot

7 Roberts Road, Asheville, 277-2386 This â&#x20AC;&#x153;family playgroundâ&#x20AC;? contains 64,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor games, including laser tag, go-carts, batting cages and more. Just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get lost.

2. The Health Adventure

2 S. Pack Square, Asheville, 254-6373

3. WNC Nature Center

75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, 298-5600

Place to learn outside of school 1. WNC Nature Center

4HANK YOU LOYAL READERS 9OU KICK ASS !SHVEGAS LOVES YOU

2. Billy Jonas

www.billyjonas.com

3. Jolly Balloon Smiths Balloon line: 680-1066

Toy store 1. Dancing Bear

144 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 255-8697 and 418 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 693-4500 Family business Dancing Bear offers toys for all ages, not just for kids. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Also, people can come in and play. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not pressured to buy,â&#x20AC;? says Sarah Evers, who owns the two locations with sister Erika Evers and their parents Mary and Dave Evers.

2. Toy Box of Asheville

793 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-8697

3. Enviro Depot

www.ashvegas.com The Village On Haywood

A mixed use development in the heart of West Asheville

Gone, but not forgotten

75 Gashes Creek Road, Asheville, 298-5600 Year-round programs for kids, plus summer camps (which always sell out quickly), a

Specializing in rumors of news

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A.F.G.

Only 3 Residential Units Left

Offering High-Quality Early Care & Education â&#x20AC;˘ Serving Children Prenatal to Pre-K of all Socio-Economic and Ability Levels â&#x20AC;˘ Early Head Start â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rainbow In My Tummyâ&#x20AC;? Healthy Food Nutrition program â&#x20AC;˘ New Classroom Opening â&#x20AC;˘ Limited Toddler Spaces Available â&#x20AC;˘ 2 locations - Candler and East Asheville

2586 Riceville Road, Asheville, NC 28805 (828) 298-0808 â&#x20AC;˘ www.macfc.org BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

â&#x20AC;˘ Featuring commercial/retail space â&#x20AC;˘ Only 5 minutes to downtown Asheville starting at $169/square foot â&#x20AC;˘ In the midst of great shops in West â&#x20AC;˘ One to three bedroom condos starting Asheville in the $140â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;˘ Green/healthy built Paul Ellis

Phone: 828-255-4663 Cell: 828-545-9002 paulellis@recenter.com Fax: 877-813-2591 60 McCormick Place, Asheville, NC 28801 www.recenter.com

mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

53

bestpets

you work, i’ll play best pet kennel Animal shelter/rescue center 1. Asheville Humane Society

72 Lee’s Creek Road, Asheville, 253-6807 “The Asheville Humane Society is in the process of building a new adoption center to house even more animals and provide them with the best care. They have a compassionate staff and dedicated volunteers. All of these things make them the best at what they do!” says long-time volunteer Barry Silverstein.

2. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

31 Glendale Ave., Asheville, 505-3440

3. Animal Compassion Network

803 Fairview St., Asheville, 274-3647

Pet kennel 1. You Work, I’ll Play Dog Daycare

Pet-supply store 1. PetSmart

150 Bleachery Blvd., Asheville, 298-5670 and 3 McKenna Road, Arden, 681-5343 PetSmart is one of the top retailers of pet food and supplies in the U.S., and the two Asheville-area locations also offer a veterinary clinic, PetsHotel/Doggie Daycare, grooming, training and animal adoptions.

2. Asheville Pet Supply

1451 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-2054

3. Pet Supplies Plus

1856 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 2778020

Veterinarian 1. Charlotte Street Animal Hospital

677A Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-1010 Owners Jill and Jason Lydic have been working with animals (including exotic pets) for more than 16 years. “We have a good knowledge of canine behavior. We’re always supervising the dogs and working to create a very safe play area for them,” says Jill. The business offers doggie day care and boarding for up to 36 dogs per day.

208 Charlotte St., Asheville, 232-0440 This animal hospital has been taking great care of Asheville’s pets for more than 11 years.

“They’re kind, kind, kind,” says one local pet owner. The hospital also offers classes and workshops, from puppy socialization to pet massage.

2. At Play with Sparky

3. Pet Vet

542 Short McDowell St., Asheville, 2545772

3. Happy Tails Country Club

2. Animal Hospital of North Asheville 1 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, 253-3393 2 Hansel Ave., Asheville, 232-9990 — A.F.G.

1984 Cane Creek Road, Fletcher, 628-8510

54

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

bestswannanoa&blackmtn Art gallery 1. Seven Sisters Craft Gallery

3198 U.S. Hwy. 70 West, Black Mountain, 243-4085

3. TIE Lake Tomahawk

117 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-5107 Black Mountain is known as an arts-and-crafs 3. TIE Warren Wilson College destination largely thanks to Seven Sisters. 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, 298Opened in 1981, it was taken over in 2002 by 3325 Andrea McFadyen, who tries to keep a blend of Restaurant “modern and whimsical and fun” submissions from regional artists.

1. My Father’s Pizza 110 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4944 2. Black Mountain Center for the Arts In the heart of Black Mountain, tucked away 225 W State St., Black Mountain, 669-0930 from the high-traffic shopping strip, My Father’s 3. Pisgah Brewing Company Pizza has been around long enough to become a 150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, 669standby for the town’s hungry hordes. Serving 2491 salads and specials, the restaurant stresses that it is not only a pizza place (even though their Local institution pizza is enough to carry the reputation).

1. Warren Wilson College

701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, 2983325 Chances are you know someone who went to Warren Wilson College. For years, the college has been seeding the region with its alumni.

The school also sends its students into the community for service projects and hosts the famous Old Farmers Ball contra dance every week.

2. The Town Pump Tavern

2. The Morning Glory Cafe

6 E. Market St., Black Mountain, 669-6212

3. TIE Ole Guacamole

100 S. Ridgeway Road, Black Mountain, 6690550

3. TIE Okie Dokie Smokehouse

2375 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, 6860050 — B.P.

my father’s pizza best restaurant

135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808

3. TIE Pisgah Brewing Company

150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, 6692491

3. TIE Dripolator Coffeehouse

221 W State St., Black Mountain, 669-0999

Music venue 1. White Horse Black Mountain

105-C Montreat Road, Black Mountain, 6698305 It’s a tall order to come to Black Mountain, where the Grey Eagle began and the Town Pump has reigned for decades, open a new music venue and be voted best in less than a year. Kim Hughes and Bob Hinkle did it. The venue opens onto the street via a huge garage, yet maintains the intimacy needed in a premier acoustic room.

Thanks for Voting NC Stage BEST Stage Company in Western NC for 4 Years Running!

Come experience live professional theatre in Downtown Asheville for an incredible night on the town...

2. The Town Pump Tavern

by Martin McDonagh

135 Cherry St., Black Mountain, 669-4808

3. Pisgah Brewing Company

150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, 6692491

Place to get a great mountain view

October 21- November 8, 2009 Tickets Starting at $16

1. Lookout Mountain Some of WNC’s favorite overlooks are popular because of their accessibility by car, but this rock outcropping overlooking the Blue Ridge is a gem because you have to hike the beautiful Montreat College trails to get to the top.

2. Dynamite Roasting Company Deck BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Opening tonight with a Pay-What-You-Can Night!

Call or visit us on the web for tix! www.ncstage.org • 828.239.0263 mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

55

L6H67> Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

bestwoodfin& weaverville

Brought to you By the owners of IchIBan Japanese steakhouse & kanpaI sushI thaI

WINNER! BEST SUSHI 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Open 7 days for Lunch & Dinner

19 Broadway • downtown 225-2551

taqueria fast best cheap lunch Artist

2. TIE Mangum Pottery

1. Rob and Beth Mangum

2. TIE Well-Bred Bakery www.mangumpottery.com Rob and Beth Mangum make everything from 26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300 cups and vases to ceramic instruments in their 3. TIE Sanctuary of Stuff downtown Weaverville studio, where they are 116 N. Woodfin Ave., Asheville, 255-8388 a local favorite.

2. Taiyo La Paix

www.taiyolapaix.com

3. TIE Diane English

Located in the heart of downtown Weaverville, this local coffee shop, bakery and munching spot is the local denizens’ favorite hang out.

26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300

www.miyagallery.com

2. Blue Mountain Pizza

55 N. Main St., Weaverville, 658-8777 175 Weaverville Highway, Weaverville, 6454282 3. Lake Louise This small family-owned restaurant has been dishing out authentic Central Mexcian cuisine Restaurant at low prices for four years and making fans 1. Stoney Knob Cafe around the area.

337 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, 645-3309 2. Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe On the outskirts of Weaverville, Stoney Knob 26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300 offers a Greek-tinged dining experience that has proven to be the toast of the town.

3. Blue Mountain Pizza 55 N. Main St., Weaverville, 658-8777 2. Blue Mountain Pizza 55 N. Main St., Weaverville, 658-8777

1. Miya Gallery

20 N. Main St., Weaverville, 658-9655 This fine arts gallery, part of Weaverville’s main drag, is home to work by a range of local folk artists.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Neighborhood gathering spot 1. Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe

Local shop

56

6 Central Ave., Weaverville, 484-9842

3. TIE Jennifer Jenkins

1. Taqueria Fast

Lunch: 11:30 - 3 Mon.-Fri. • 12 -3 Sat. & Sun. • Dinner: 5 - 10 Sun.-Thur. • 5 - 10:30 Fri. & Sat.

3. TIE Pistil and Stamen

www.greatcosmichappyass.com

Cheap lunch

(828) 225-8885 • 3 Biltmore Ave., Asheville

16 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-4929

3. Curras Dom

72 Weaverville Highway, Asheville, 253-2111 — D.F.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

bestmarshall &hotsprings

zuma best music venue/restaurant Festival 1. French Broad River Festival

Located on Highway 25/70 in Marshall, 6493031

Restaurant www.frenchbroadriverfestival.com As one FBRFestival-goer puts it: The lineup’s 1. Zuma Coffee terrific, the vibe is friendly but not over-crowd- 7 N. Main St., Marshall, 649-1617 ed and there’s space enough to do your thing, See description under “Music Venue.” whether that’s dancing, rafting or just hanging 2. Bacchus Bistro out by the river.

18 N. Main St., Marshall, 649-0000 2. Bluff Mountain Festival

www.madisoncountyarts.com

3. Trailfest

www.hotspringsnc.org

Music venue 1. Zuma Coffee

7 N. Main St., Marshall, 649-1617 Smack in the center of Marshall’s sweet downtown sits Zuma. The local gathering place offers coffee, live music, dessert and catching-up space.

Boasting a warm interior and even warmer owners, it’s hard to imagine the Marshall landscape without it.

2. Madison County Arts Council

90 S. Main St., Marshall, 649-1301

3. Iron Horse Station

24 S. Andrews Ave., Hot Springs, 622-0022

Place to camp 1. Hot Springs Campground A few blocks from town and a few steps from the Appalachian Trail, the Hot Springs Campground’s got sweet riverfront spots, lovely mountain views and is within an easy walk to the diners, bars and outdoor outfitters in town proper.

2. Max Patch 3. TIE Along the AT 3. TIE Rocky Bluff Campground — R.S.

3. The Depot

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestwaynesville&canton Art gallery

Music venue

1. Twigs and Leaves Gallery

98 N. Main St., Waynesville, 456-1940 Twigs and Leaves is a colorful art gallery featuring rustic furniture, paintings, photography and art inspired by the beauty of the Appalachian mountains. Representing more than 160 regional artists and crafters, the gallery is a perfect place to pick up “a piece of art that echoes the wonder of nature.”

2. Textures Gallery

142 N. Main St., Waynesville, 452-0058

3. Ridge Runner Naturals

33 N. Main St., Waynesville, 456-3003

Local musician/group 1. Balsam Range

www.rafehollister.com

3. A.C.E.

www.myspace.com/freerockin

190 N. Main St., Waynesville, 400-0382 Open late every night of the week — and really late on Fridays and Saturdays — Headlights is not only a great place to hear live music, but it also serves up some classic all-American fare.

1. TIE Pickin’ in the Park

Held outside at Canton Recreation Park, 6463411 Every Friday evening from June until Labor Day, folks gather at Canton Recreational Park to hear tunes by bluegrass or old-time bands and watch a clogging team in action. It’s good ol’ mountain fun.

1. TIE Folkmoot USA

www.balsamrange.com Influenced by the rich musical heritage of the Southeast, Balsam Range blends bluegrass with gospel music and folk ballads. True to their Carolina roots, this talented quintet claims first place in the best “Local Musician/Group” category in Waynesville/Canton. Congratulations!

2. Rafe Hollister

1. TIE Headlights Bar & Grill

www.folkmootusa.org Headquartered in Waynesville, this two-weeklong festival features performances of folk music and dance from around the world, workshops, a parade and more.

1. TIE O’Malley’s On Main Pub & Grill

83 Asheville Highway, Sylva, 631-0554 This Irish sports bar/restaurant offers plenty to entertain. In addition to live music, the pub has 16 TVs, three pool tables, video golf, video bowling and trivia. All that and a late-night dinner menu.

Thanks WNC for voting us

“Best Do-Gooder” for 2 years in a row!

We appreciate your generosity, time, and commitment to helping feed our neighbors in need.

Involving, educating, and uniting people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina.

627 Swannanoa River Road Asheville, North Carolina 28805 828-299-FOOD (3663) www.MANNAFoodBank.org

twigs & leaves best art gallery Restaurant 1. The Sweet Onion

39 Miller St., Waynesville, 456-5559 Serving upscale Southern specials like Ranch Fettuccine Alfredo, steak paired with shrimp scampi, and unique, Asian-inspired fusions like the BBQ Pork Egg Rolls appetizer, The Sweet Onion is a restaurant that runs on delicious innovation. With elegant meals and a casualdining atmosphere, this Waynesville eatery is one hotspot.

2. Nick and Nate’s Pizzeria

11 N. Main St., Waynesville, 452-0027

3. Maggie’s Galley Oyster Bar

Swimmin’ hole 1. Sunburst The West Fork Pigeon River flows past the Sunburst Campground area, which lies where the Shining Rock and Middle Prong wilderness areas meet. There you’ll find plenty of swimming holes to explore, with water temperatures that will get your heart rate up.

2. Waynesville Recreation Center

550 Vance St., Waynesville, 456-2030

3. Mease Hole — A.S.B. and M.D.

49 Howell Mill Road, Waynesville, 456-8945

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

+NOW 4HYSELF !S 3OUL 0EOPLE JUST LIKE YOU have been practicing this form of self-alignment for thousands of years.

3IMPLE CHANGES in the way you live now will make a huge difference.

9OU WILL BE HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER when you learn how to stay connected with positive energy.

We host weekly meditational and educational meetings for the WNC community. Everyone is welcome and there is never a charge. Meetings are held at 44 Pinnacle Point in East Asheville, near the WNC Nature Center.

One of the Best of WNC 2009 for Computer Repair

Introductory Class : Saturday, Oct. 24 6-9pm at

Unitarian Universalist Church

1 Edwin Place, Asheville, NC 28801 (off Charlotte St., North of Downtown) Meetings are always free.

To learn more or to register call Dede at (828) 545-4147.

Sant Baljit Singh teaches the meditation practice that we enjoy. He teaches to anyone interested in making their lives better through living it better.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

59

bestbrevard Sensibilities Loves Asheville!

We are honored that you have trusted us for 10 years with your health and wellness

Thank you for your support! aUggU[Y ZUW]U`g bU]`g []Zh WYfh]Z]WUhYg 8ckbhckb. )- <UmkccX Gh" ,&,"&)'"'&&&

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hob nob best restaurant Art gallery 1. Red Wolf Gallery

8 E. Main St., Brevard, 862-8620 Featuring a host of local, national and regional artisans and craftspeople, the Red Wolf Gallery is easy to find on East Main Street.

2. Bluewood Gallery

36 W. Jordan St., Brevard, 883-4142

3. Gallery on Main

36 E. Main St., Brevard, 885-7299

Local musician/group 1. Steep Canyon Rangers

setting: an old house, with a sweet patio.

2. Square Roots

33 Times Arcade, Brevard, 884-6171

3. Sora Japanese Restaurant

91 Forest Gate Drive, Pisgah Forest, 883-9808

Music venue 1. Brevard Music Center

1000 Probart St., Brevard, 884-2011 Bringing in big names like organist Cameron Carpenter last year and pianist Olga Kern this year, the Brevard Music Center is a treasure for WNC music lovers. There may be no lovelier venue than the covered, open-air-on-the-sides Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium.

www.steepcanyon.com The boys have come far winning the bluegrass 2. The Porter Center for Performing Arts at competition at the 2002 Mountain State Fair Brevard College (nabbing the opening slot for Earl Scruggs in the 1 Brevard College Drive, Brevard, 884-8330 process). Rangerland means the whole United States these days, with the band traveling the 3. Jordan Street Pub festival circuit, winning awards in Nashville 48 W. Jordan St., Brevard, 883-2558 and playing venues such as, oh, Carnegie Hall Outdoor spot with the actor/playwright/comedian/banjo player Steve Martin. But the Rangers know their 1. TIE DuPont State Forest roots, and still put on their beloved Mountain 1. TIE Pisgah National Forest Song Festival in Brevard each year.

Brevard’s long been known as the Land of 2. Dave Desmelik Waterfalls, and DuPont and Pisgah are a couple www.davedesmelik.com of inspired places to view them. The two forests are playgrounds for outdoor-lovers of all sorts: 3. Shannon Whitworth hikers, bikers, tubers, canoers, bird-watchers, www.myspace.com/shannonwhitworth rock climbers and those with a serious love of Restaurant fresh air.

1. Hob Nob

192 W. Main St., Brevard, 966-4662 Warm and cozy, laidback but kinda upscale, too, Hob Nob offers delightful food in an intimate

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

2. Looking Glass Falls 3. Davidson River — R.S.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

bestsylva& cullowhee

city lights best craft/gift store Craft/gift store 1. City Lights Bookstore

3 E. Jackson St., Sylva, 586-9499 “If you consider books a really great gift, then I guess we earned it!” says City Lights owner Joyce Moore. Since she bought the shop in 1986, it has been a backbone for local and regional authors, many of whom have performed readings there. On Nov. 14, the store will host the Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair.

2. TIE Oaks Gallery

29 Craft Circle, Sylva, 586-6542

2. TIE It’s By Nature

678 W. Main St., Sylva, 631-3020

3. Tuckasegee Trading Company

7987 Hwy. 107, Cullowhee, 293-1514

Place to get beer 1. Heinzelmannchen Brewery

545 Mill St., Sylva, 631-4466 The Heinzelmannchen is a gnome-like creature that sneaks around the Black Forest at night.

It was like such a sprite that, in 2004, a brewery arrived in Sylva. German-born brewmaster Dieter Kuhn makes traditional German styles that have now dominated the western-most areas of WNC.

2. Guadalupe Cafe

606 W. Main St., Sylva, 586-9877

3. TIE O’Malley’s On Main Pub & Grill

628 E. Main St., Sylva, 586-1717

Restaurant 1. LuLu’s On Main

612 W. Main St., Sylva, 586-8989 Back when it was still a surprise to find gourmet dining in the Smoky Mountains, LuLu’s was serving it up and making headlines in magazines like Southern Living and travel guides like Fodor’s. Since then, the restaurant has continued fusing tastes and pleaing crowds, with dishes like the Raspberry Rum Pork Loin.

2. Guadalupe Cafe

606 W. Main St., Sylva, 586-9877

3. Spring Street Cafe

3 E. Jackson St., Sylva, 586-1800

Saturday-night hangout 1. Guadalupe Cafe

606 W. Main St., Sylva, 586-9877 With bands starting around 10 p.m., a rotating art exhibit, a deck looking out over Sylva’s Main Street and a late-night kitchen, Guadalupe Cafe has what Saturday-night revelers look for. Plus, they have goat burgers. “People go crazy for them,” says bartender Eli Hashemi.

2. O’Malley’s On Main Pub & Grill

83 Asheville Highway, Sylva, 631-0554

3. Soul Infusion Tea House

628 E. Main St., Sylva, 586-1717

83 Asheville Highway, Sylva, 631-0554

— B.P.

3. TIE Soul Infusion Tea House BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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bestcelo& sprucepine& burnsville Art gallery 1. Toe River Arts Council

Thanks, Asheville, for voting us ”Best Art Supply Store” Five Years Running!

102 W. Main St., Burnsville, 682-7215, and 269 Oak Ave., Spruce Pine, 765-0520 Serving residents of Mitchell and Yancey counties, the Toe River Arts Council is dedicated to “education and communication in the arts.” Hosting gallery exhibitions, studio strolls, community programs and K-5 education programs for children, the council is a valued community resource, earning first place as the region’s best art gallery.

2. Penland School of Crafts Gallery 67 Doras Trail, Penland, 765-6211

3. Design Gallery

7 S. Main St. #1A, Burnsville, 678-9869

Fishin’ hole 1. South Toe River “The South Toe Rive is absolutely beautiful,” exclaims dedicated kayaker and Xpress staffer Jeff Tallman. “With 100-year-old farm houses perched along the river, it feels as if you’ve stepped back in time, and you can kayak and fish for miles on end.”

2. Cane River 3. Pensacola River

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Picnic spot 1. Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area Coves of hardwood trees, the grassy meadow of Deep Gap and the proud South Toe River converge at the Carolina Hemlocks Recreation Area, where nature lovers flock to camp, fish, hike and enjoy the natural beauty of WNC.

2. Toe River 3. Mount Mitchell State Park Restaurant 1. The Garden Deli

107 Town Square, Burnsville, 682-3946 The Garden Deli is a family-owned restaurant serving up big deli sandwiches at bargain prices. With charming outdoor seating, the delicatessen is a perfect place to satisfy cravings for New York-style subs, while sitting in a “garden mountain” atmosphere.

2. Knife and Fork

61 Locust St., Spruce Pine, 765-1511

3. Hilltop Restaurant

109 W. Main St., Burnsville, 678-9123 — A.S.B.

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

bestflatrock&hendersonville Art gallery 1. Hand in Hand Gallery

2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 6977719 Where better to begin a gallery than as an artist studio? Jeweler Molly Sharp and potter David Voorhees did just that nearly 13 years ago.

Their own studios have long since been relocated to make way for a variety of Southeastern artists, many of whom are members of the storied Southern Highland Craft Guild.

3. Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center

538 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 693-0087

Restaurant 1. TIE West First Wood-Fired Pizza

508 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 698-0601

101-B W. First Ave., Hendersonville, 6931080 It is part of the pizza gospel that if you want a great pie, start with the crust. So to turn up the pizza, you turn to a baker. West First was started by two bakers, and they put a personal touch on crusts, breads and handmade pasta.

The establishment has received universally glowing reviews.

3. Wickwire Fine & Folk Art Gallery

1. TIE Umi Japanese Fine Dining

2. Silver Fox Gallery

330 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 692-6222

Festival 1. N.C. Apple Festival

633 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 698-8048 If every town needs a pizza joint, every WNC town needs a sushi place. For two years, Umi Japanese Fine Dining has been filling that need and filling stomachs with sushi, tempura and bento boxes.

www.ncapplefestival.org There are few things more down home than a street fair, and the apple is as good a reason 2. Flight Wood Grill & Wine Bar as any to throw a festival. The North Carolina 401 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 694-1030 Apple Festival, which celebrated its 63rd year 3. Hannah Flanagan’s Pub this September, puts all of the all-American 300 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 696-1665 pieces together right in the heart of N.C.’s big— B.P. gest apple-producing area.

2. Flat Rock Music Festival

www.flatrockmusicfestival.com

3. Garden Jubilee

www.historichendersonville.org/garden_jubilee.htm

Little-known attraction 1. Carl Sandburg Home

81 Carl Sandburg Lane, Flat Rock, 693-4178 In 1945, the writer, poet and historian moved to 264 acres of Flat Rock countryside he named “Connemara” and spent the last 22 years of his life there. Today, the house and grounds are open for touring, and many of his books and papers are still on display.

2. Jump Off Rock

www.historichendersonville.org/jump_off_ rock.htm

3. Flat Rock Playhouse

2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 6930731

IF

Xpress had an UPSCALE ADULT BOUTIQUE

category I bet we would have won!

– WNC’s Largest Upscale Adult Boutique –

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Music venue

(1 per customer) • Hurry - Expires Halloween Night

1. Back Room at the Flat Rock Wine Shoppe

2702 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 6976828 With a capacity of only 100, the Back Room is what they call “intimate.” But that’s what owner David Brannock thinks brings an impressive list of local and touring acts back again and again. “True musicians want to play to people who want to listen,” he says. The venue turned 4 years old last month.

2. Flat Rock Playhouse

carl sandburg home best little-known attraction

* Our Cop & Love Bug costumes pictured here*

A Proud Mountain Xpress Advertiser for 8 Years!

Go Team Xpress - Congratz on your 15th Anniversary

2661 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, 6930731 BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Where Adult Dreams Come True

Sun-Thur 8am-12 Midnight | Fri & Sat 8am-3am

828-684-8250

2334 Hendersonville Rd. (Hwy. 25) (3 Blocks N. of Airport Rd. • Near Dairy Queen)

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

63

bestuniquelyasheville Asheville’s best-kept secret 1. Not telling With so much media attention on our little bohemian enclave, it’s no wonder Ashevilleans don’t want to give away any more secrets.

Everyone from the New York Times to AARP Magazine to Rolling Stone wants to let the country at large know how fun/freaky/happy/New Age/vegetarian-friendly we are, and the best spots to experience the aforementioned virtues. Despite the litany of reports, Asheville’s top-secret info is safe for now — Xpress readers aren’t telling.

2. TIE The Admiral

400 Haywood Road, Asheville, 252-2541

2. TIE Shoji Spa & Lodge

96 Avondale Heights Road, Asheville, 2990999

3. Sky Bar

18 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-6998

B&B/boutique hotel 1. Grand Bohemian Hotel

across from the Biltmore’s gates, one finds the rustic-yet-glamorous Grand Bohemian hotel, the high-class hunting lodge-inspired boutique hotel that opened earlier this year featuring the Red Stag grill, its own art gallery and too many amenities to list.

Tally-ho!

2. Princess Anne Hotel

301 E. Chestnut St., Asheville, 258-0986

3. TIE Black Walnut Bed & Breakfast 288 Montford Ave., Asheville, 254-3878

3. TIE The 1889 WhiteGate Inn & Cottage

173 E. Chestnut St., Asheville, 253-2553

Local eyesore 1. TIE BB&T building in downtown Asheville So it’s a bit, um, rectangular. And that shade of brown is oh-so-1965. But the BB&T (originally the Northwestern Bank) builders were looking ahead: An early ad for the 18-story structure says “Proof of our confidence in Asheville’s great future.”

11 Boston Way, Asheville, 505-2949 Guests at the Grand Bohemian might feel 1. TIE Staples on Merrimon Avenue as though they’ve wandered into a luxu- If only the BB&T building could have decorarious outpost of the Biltmore Estate. Just tive plants winding up its sides, such as the ones Staples eventually added to its boxy

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828-684-3532 • www.smileysfleamarkets.com 64

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

carl mumpower best villain (and 2nd-best politician) Merrimon Avenue structure.

2. Pack Square construction 3. Graffiti Local politician 1. Terry Bellamy This year marks Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy’s induction into the Best of WNC Hall of Fame. In fact, she’s won best “Local Politician” every year since her inauguration. In our world full of polarizing politics and back-and-forth screaming, that’s quite an accomplishment.

2. Carl Mumpower 3. Gordon Smith

Local villain 1. Carl Mumpower Apparently the nontraditional politicking (showing up at jamband concerts to look for drugs, calling the I.C.E. about illegal immigrants allegedly working at a local plant) isn’t paying off in widespread goodwill for the self-titled “mountain maverick” (who did, we should mention, finish as the second-best local politician). Can’t a Council member just say no to envirojackers and socialists (and, um, marijuana) these days?

Yeesh.

2. Stewart Coleman 3. Bobby Medford

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Thanks Again, Asheville

Look for our NEW CD – in local stores now!

Come out and see us soon! www.sonsofralph.com

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

65

Thanks WNC for voting me “Best Of” 2009.

New CD

Onlooker

Local music festival 1. Bele Chere

www.belecherefestival.com The oldest and biggest is this year’s best, and it’s no wonder: When Bele Chere takes over downtown, the music, art and fun are inescapable.

2. Lake Eden Arts Festival

available at davedesmelik.com and at live shows.

www.theleaf.com

3. Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival www.lexfestasheville.com

I appreciate you! -Dave Desmelik Everyday Americana Music

Local nonmusic festival 1. Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival

www.lexfestasheville.com Man with birdcage on head? Yes. Fire-dancers and bike jousters? Check. Three stages of alllocal music, plus costumed revelers, songwriter jam sessions, delicious street food and eclectic mayhem of all sorts? That would be LAAFF.

2. Bele Chere

www.belecherefestival.com

3. Brewgrass

www.brewgrassfestival.com

Bumper sticker 1. Keep Asheville Weird Our town has long been a bastion of quirkiness, and Xpress readers aim to strengthen the fort.

The freak flags are flying overhead; long may they wave.

2. TIE Don’t Move Here 2. TIE We Still Lay 3. Local Food: Thousands of Miles Fresher Unsung hero 1. Teachers at large Remember a teacher who sparked your attention, changed the way you thought, showed you something new that stuck with you? Or just maybe you have one now. Maybe it’s time to drop a note and let them know how important they are — let’s remedy the “unsung” part of the award here.

2. TIE Tom Godleski (teacher’s assistant at Claxton Elementary School) 2. TIE Cecil Bothwell 3. Jenny Bowen

bb&t building best eyesore Reason to live in Asheville 1. Mountains

• Real estate investor since 1985 • Rental property manager since 1985 • Broker - Keller Williams Realty • Board member - Mountain Housing Opportunities

Whether you hike up ‘em, bike on ‘em, camp in ‘em or just look at ‘em, it’s hard to deny the beauty and serene power of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

2. People/Diversity 3. Beauty Reason to leave Asheville 1. Lack of jobs

For the Best in Real Estate Services, Count On:

Paula Leatherwood • 828-215-4625

PaulaLeatherwood.com • PaulaLeatherwood@gmail.com 66

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Yes, it’s true: Lack of jobs has often been a problem here, and a grueling recession hasn’t made things any easier. But townies are getting creative with busking, craft-making and the ever-popular holding-down-of-three-or-more-

retail-and-food-service jobs at a time.

2. Cost of living 3. Tourists Neighborhood 1. West Asheville West Ashevillians are fierce lovers of their land, from its bars to its bike shop to its bakery to its breakfast joints. Nabes get together for potlucks, crafty street fairs, tailgate markets and even parking-lot rockabilly festivals.

Montford? Who can afford it? These days, Xpress readers say West is best.

2. Montford 3. North Asheville

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

Mountain Xpress presents

#FTU PG 8/$

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Celebrate the best of Western North Carolina as decided by Mountain Xpress readers

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From more than a dozen Best of WNC winning restaurants

And Beer Specials from:

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Skinny

Leg

s & All PLUS Performances by: Cookie LaRue, Montford Park Players, LYLAS and live painting by Gabriel Shaffer

Massive Raffle with prizes from tons of Best of WNC winners sponsored by the East-West Collective!

Benefits MANNA FoodBank so bring your canned goods! $15/$17 at the door. Tickets available at the Orange Peel Box Office www.theorangepeel.net or at Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St., Ste. 212

www.mountainx.com/bestof/bash BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC â&#x20AC;˘ OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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Place to get your car towed 1. Downtown Asheville Often you see them, circling the block, lurking for unsuspecting tourists unfamiliar with the ironclad rules of many a downtown parking lot. Earlier this year, one towing company got in trouble for dragging off cars that had already paid to park. The lesson? Read the signs, use the city garages, and when in doubt, don’t assume your car will be there upon return.

2. Parking lot adjacent to 144 Biltmore Ave. in downtown Asheville 3. Lexington Avenue (Lexington Village Lot)

our good voters, this one’s somewhat baffling.

With three city garages offering the first hour free and a number of side streets that are barely utilized, do we need more downtown parking more than we need, oh, a renovated Civic Center? As someone who works downtown, this editor harbors a not-so-secret desire to close the whole area to most types of traffic and run a shuttle around.

2. Bike lanes 3. More green space Local do-gooder group

1. MANNA FoodBank Swannanoa River Road, Asheville, 299Thing local government SHOULD do 623 3663

1. Bike lanes

For all its progressive ways, Asheville hasn’t made great strides toward bike lanes. In fact, it can be a positively frightening town for cyclists.

Our climate is changing, and our dependency on foreign oil is causing a lot of problems. Plus, it’s just plain fun and healthy to ride a bike.

Xpress readers are asking: Could we please get with the program on making it safe to cycle?

2. Sidewalks 3. TIE Finish Pack Square construction 3. TIE Clean up the city Thing downtown Asheville needs

Since starting in the basement of Eliada Homes in 1982, MANNA has become a community stronghold. In the midst of a wrenching recession, MANNA has worked even harder to provide food for Western North Carolina’s hungry. A $10 donation can provide food for 25 meals, according to the nonprofit’s Web site.

And if you’re looking to be extra sure your charitable giving is being wisely spent, the agency includes links to its tax records.

2. RiverLink

170 Lyman St., Asheville, 252-8474

3. Asheville GreenWorks

357 Depot St., Asheville, 254-1776 — R.S.

1. More parking Oh dear, though ‘tis not my job to question

landscape construction

828-507-2055

Offering award-winning creative design & quality installation throughout Western NC for nearly 20 years.

Full landscape service for home & business with references available.

• Boulder Walls • Stack Stone • Stone Steps • Benches

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

• Fences • Bridges • Railings • Arbors

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME: winners who have won 4 or more years in a row

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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outdoors

Following the forks in the ears at local corn mazes

by Jonathan Poston The last time I was lost in a cornfield, I earned a billion superficial skin nicks while running through the field’s sharp-edged, leafy clutches.

Though I’m now less prone to such boyhood misadventures, my 7-year-old daughter, Maeve, recently inspired me to take a fall corn-maze excursion in Western North Carolina.

Our first stop was “Castle in the Corn,” a new fundraiser event for Eliada Homes for Children in Asheville. This maze squiggles its way through 10 acres of corn and offers three levels of difficulty: 2.2-mile Dragon’s Lair, 1-mile Queen’s Path, and 10-minute Kid’s Maze. All feature checkpoint stations that let participants reorient themselves and punch out corresponding numbers on detailed handheld maps.

We zoomed through the first route, and although I laughed at my jokes about the dragons that must be out there waddling around through the wide rows, Maeve got bored quickly and raced on without me. While I stopped frequently to check the map for landmark clues, she scouted out dead ends and other labyrinth-like trickeries, yelling, “We found it!” each time she spied a checkpoint. After spending nearly two hours peeling back

Before entering the corn, a visitor asked if a head count would be taken to make sure the whole group made it out. Blue Ridge corn-maze owner Taylor Mackey deadpanned that if they didn’t make it out alive, he’d bury the bodies and sell off their cars. the mysteries of the first two mazes, Maeve went through the last one alone.

That little girl was having fun and wanting more, while I was wondering where the real adventure was. Everything just seemed so neat, safe and organized that I felt a little disappointed that we didn’t have to slay some beast or fight even a couple of stray razor-sharp corn leaves.

So we headed to the Blue Ridge Corn Maze, which for the past 10 years has cropped up each fall on a six-acre field about four miles outside of Brevard. Taylor Mackey, an Appalachian native, greeted us at the ticket table, which sat under an overhang shelter that extended out from an opendoored, parked school bus with flat tires. He uses the space as an office and the table to welcome and orient visitors to the maze. In the background, fiddles dueled furiously under a big white tent where Mackey was staging a benefit for a local girl struggling with a severe and rare form of epilepsy.

One single, large, laminated map lay across the table, along with some creased clue cards, in case anybody wanted them. But when one visitor asked if there were maps to accompany the clue cards, Mackey said flatly, “What fun would that be.” Another visitor, from a sizable group of tourists, stopped just before entering the corn and asked if a head count would be taken to make sure the whole group made it out. Mackey deadpanned that if they didn’t make it out alive, he’d bury the bodies and sell off their cars.

With an awkward shift, and perhaps hoping the maze operator was joking, the group entered the field of “Corn-fusion,” as Mackey likes to call it.

Although he chuckled a little between jokes to visitors, the glint in his eye and no-nonsense cock of his head plainly expressed that all who entered would do so at their own risk and without any handholding.

When I looked around and called for Maeve to come on, she yelled from

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Where o’ where to go? Seven-year-old Maeve ponders the clues at a local corn maze. photo by Jonathan Poston

afar — along with the 10 other kids who sat waving at me from the passing hay-ride wagon. Once I finally fetched her — and the cake she had just won in the adjacent festivities — we entered the boggy field with caution. “This isn’t like the other one, Daddy,” she said.

Definitely not: I was fast getting scraped up by the drying corn stalks and tripped up by clods of dirt. Flashbacks to that scary boyhood run nipped at my consciousness. And I worried that the rain — apparently unceasing in WNC these days — might start up again and completely flood the already marshy field. As it was, the rows were ominously close together and dark.

Even the shorter and easier route that we chose from the available two seemed tough, so when we finally saw the light of the exit, my heart lightened.

Maeve, on the other hand, went right back in. She found that she loved “mazing” so much that she would have done it over and over had I not forced her to depart. Asked which she liked best, Maeve replied that while both were great, the Blue Ridge was scariest. And if you don’t take her word for it, take mine, and get a little stalked with fear.

Both Castle in the Corn ( www.eliada.org ) and Blue Ridge ( www.blueridgecornmaze.com ) will be open until the end of October. Each has a scheduled haunting for Halloween too. Admission at Eliada is $8 for adults, $5 for children (5-12), and free for kids under 5. Blue Ridge admission is $7 for ages 13 and up, $5 for children ages 6-12, and free to those under 5. X Jonathan Poston lives near Asheville.

outdoorscalendar Calendar for October 21 - 29, 2009 Blue Ridge Bicycle Club Encourages safe and responsible recreational bicycling in the WNC area. To find out more about the club and its ongoing advocacy efforts, or to see a complete club calendar, visit www.blueridgebicycleclub.org.

• THURSDAYS - Fletcher Blue Sky Road Ride. Departs promptly at 9:15am. Route and meeting place vary.

No one will be left behind. Call or e-mail for details or if weather is questionable: 696-0877 or JohnL9@ MorrisBB.net.

• SATURDAYS - Gary Arthur Ledges Park Road Ride.

Departs in the a.m. from Ledges Park, located 6.5 miles off UNCA exit on I-26. Ride north along the French Broad River to Marshall for coffee, then return via Ivy Hill. Email for departure time: jbyrdlaw@charter.net.

• SUNDAYS - Folk Art Center Road Ride. Departs in the p.m. from the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This is a show-n-go ride, meaning there may not be a ride leader. Call or email for departure time: 713-8504 or billcrownover@bellsouth.net.

Blue Ridge Parkway Hikes Led by Blue Ridge Parkway rangers.

• FR (10/23), 10am - An easy to moderate hike to the site of Rattlesnake Lodge. Call for exact meeting location.

Bring water, wear walking shoes, and be prepared for changeable weather. Info: 298-5330, ext. 304, or 3503822, ext. 209.

Carolina Mountain Club CMC fosters the enjoyment of the mountains of WNC and adjoining regions and encourages the conservation of our natural resources, through an extensive schedule of hikes and a program of trail building and maintenance. $20 per year, family memberships $30 per year. Newcomers must call the leader before the hike. Info: www.carolinamtnclub.org.

• WE (10/21), 9am - Bee Tree Gap to Glassmine Falls.

Info: 692-0116.

• SA (10/24), 8am - MST: Buckeye Gap to NC 215. Info: 476-0010.

• SU (10/25), 9am - Bent Creek Loop. Info: 236-0192 —- 12:30pm - Pink Beds - Barnett Branch - Cradle of Forestry Loop. Info: 698-7119.

• WE (10/28), 8:30am - Bad Fork: Chestnut Cove Overlook. Info: 883-2447.

Events at REI Located at 31 Schenck Parkway. Info: 687-0918 or www.rei.com/asheville.

• SA (10/24), Noon-4pm - Inspired by Ken Burns’ documentary about national parks? Come to “Get Involved,” an informative meeting with local nonprofit groups who steward local parks and recreational areas —- 4pm “National Parks Conservation Association Presentation,” a discussion about the opportunities and challenges that national parks face. Free.

• WE (10/28), 7pm - Walt Weber will give a slide presentation about his book Trail Profiles and Maps from

the Great Smokies to Mount Mitchell and Beyond. Book sales will benefit the Carolina Mountain Club. Registration encouraged. Free.

Friends of Panthertown Work Day Volunteers are needed to maintain trails in Panthertown Valley. No previous experience necessary. Info: 526-9938, ext. 258, www.j-mca.org or friends. of.panthertown@gmail.com.

• SA (10/24), 9:30am - Meet at the Salt Rock trailhead.

Bring a backpack with lunch, water, work gloves and rain gear.

Pigeon Valley Bassmasters All interested anglers in the community in WNC, Upstate S.C., East Tennessee and NE Georgia are invited to attend and share fishing ideas. Invitational tournaments are held throughout the area. Info: 884-2846 or middlefork2846@ gmail.com.

• 2nd MONDAYS, 7pm - Meeting at the Canton Library.

Pisgah Center for Wildlife Located in Pisgah National Forest, 10 miles from Brevard off of US Hwy. 276 N. Programs are free, but registration is required. Info: 877-4423 or www.ncwildlife.org.

• TU (10/20) through TH (10/22), 6-9:30pm - Hunter Safety Education Course. This course covers hunter responsibility, wildlife conservation and management, firearms, wildlife identification, survival and more.

• FR (10/23), 9-11am - Nature Nuts presents “Wood Ducks.” Learn about the wood duck’s remarkable comeback and find out what is still being done to ensure their future populations. For ages 4-7. Free. Registration required.

• SA (10/24), 9am-Noon - “Hunting Basics,” an introductory program on regulations, equipment and safety concerns. Does not qualify as Hunter Safety Education certification. For ages 8 and up. Spaces are limited and registration is required.

Swannanoa Valley Museum Located at 223 W. State St., Black Mountain. Info: 6699566 or www.swannanoavalleymuseum.org.

• WE (10/21) - Day Camp for Grown-Ups: Cataloochee Ranch and Valley. Meet in Black Mountain and caravan to Cataloochee.

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Located on 2 acres 5 miles from Asheville I-40 (exit 59) Call for details (828) 299-9989

EXERCISE YOUR WRITE TO VOTE

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MORE OUTDOORS EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Outdoors Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after October 29.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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calendar

your guide to community events, classes, concerts & galleries

Community Events & Workshops • Social & Shared-Interest Groups • Government & Politics • Seniors & Retirees • Animals • Technology • Business & Careers • Volunteering • Health Programs & Support Groups Calendar C a t e g o r i e s : Helplines • Sports Groups & Activities • Kids • Spirituality • Arts • Spoken & Written Word • Food • Festivals & Gatherings • Music • Theater • Comedy • Film • Dance • Auditions & Call to Artists Calendar for October 21 - 29, 2009 Unless otherwise stated, events take place in Asheville, and phone numbers are in the 828 area code.

Day-by-day calendar is online Want to find out everything that’s happening today — or tomorrow, or any day of the week? Go to www. mountainx.com/events.

Weekday Abbreviations: SU = Sunday, MO = Monday, TU = Tuesday, WE = Wednesday, TH = Thursday, FR = Friday, SA = Saturday

Community Events & Workshops Aromatherapy Workshop (pd.) Oct 24th and 25th “Aromatherapy and Essential Oils in Practice” Join aromatherapy consultant and retired neu-

roscientist, Joie Power, Ph.D., for an in-depth seminar that combines scientific data, practical clinical techniques and a holistic approach that honors body, mind and spirit.

828-835-2231. www.aromatherapy-school.com Alzheimer’s Association Mountain Area Conference • TH (10/29), 8am-4pm - The 25th annual conference titled “Examining the Journey: Facing the Challenges of Memory Loss” will be held at the First Baptist Church of Waynesville, 100 S. Main St. Info: 254-7363, (800) 888-6671 or www.alz. org/northcarolina.

Asheville ABC Series “Assembling Ideas, Building our Futures, Connecting Communities.”

Info: www.ashevilleabc. com.

• SU (10/25), 6-8pm - “Chamber of Commerce,

Calendar deadlines:

*FREE and PAID listings - Wednesday, 5 p.m.

(7 days prior to publication) Can’t find your group’s listing?

Due to the abundance of great things to do in our area, we only have the space in print to focus on timely events. Our print calendar now covers an eight-day range. For a complete directory of all Community Calendar groups and upcoming events, please visit www.mountainx.com/events..

Calendar Information In order to qualify for a free listing, an event must cost no more than $40 to attend and be sponsored by and/or benefit a nonprofit.

If an event benefits a business, it’s a paid listing.

If you wish to submit an event for Clubland (our free live music listings), please e-mail clubland@mountainx.com.

Free Listings To submit a free listing: * Online submission form (best): http://www.mountainx.com/ events/submission * E-mail (second best): calendar@mountainx.com * Fax (next best): (828) 251-1311, Attn: Free Calendar * Mail: Free Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 * In person: Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), second floor, downtown Asheville.

Please limit your submission to 40 words or less.

Questions? Call (828) 251-1333, ext. 365.

Paid Listings Paid listings lead the calendar sections in which they are placed, and are marked (pd.).

To submit a paid listing, send it to our Classified Department by any of the following methods. Be sure to include your phone number, for billing purposes. * E-mail: marketplace@mountainx.com. * Fax: (828) 251-1311, Attn: Commercial Calendar * Mail: Commercial Calendar, Mountain Xpress, P.O. Box 144, Asheville, NC 28802 * In person: Classified Dept., Mountain Xpress, 2 Wall St. (the Miles Building), Ste. 214, downtown Asheville.

Questions? Call our Classified Department at (828) 251-1333, ext. 335.

72

Alternative Business collaborations, HUB Project & connecting to pre-existing organizations.” Held at Rosetta’s Kitchen.

Beth Israel Annual Rummage Sale • SU & MO (10/25 & 26), 8am-4pm - The sale will be held at Beth Israel Synagogue, 229 Murdoch Ave., Asheville, across from Weaver Park. Huge selection of recycled treasures for adults and kids: household items, clothes, books, furniture and more.

Info: 252-8431.

Discussion of Peace, Current Wars, Torture & the Banking Industries • FR (10/23), 7-9pm - “Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan and Col. Robert Bowman USAF retired will give a lecture at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Cindy’s son Casey died in Iraq. Info: Jim@P-e-ac-e.org.

Galilean Nights Star Gaze • FR & SA (10/23 & 24), 7:45-11:30pm - As part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the Astronomy Club of Asheville will have telescopes set up on the UNCA Quad. Weather permitting, you will be able to observe the planets and the stars.

Mercy For Animals A nonprofit animal advocacy organization dedicated to establishing and defending the rights of all animals, focusing primarily on farmed animal advocacy and promoting crueltyfree food choices. Info: 231-6859 or kaylaw@ mercyforanimals.org.

• MO (10/26), 7pm - Free presentation by Dr. Amy Lanou of UNCA and The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, who will discuss information from her new book, Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis at Westgate Earth Fare’s community room.

N.C. Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing Located at 12 Barbetta Dr., just past Biltmore Square Mall. Info: 665-8733 or judith.pittillo@ncmail.net.

• WE (11/4), Noon-1pm - “How to survive the holidays when hearing is difficult.” RSVP by Oct. 28.

Public Lectures & Events at UNCA Events are free unless otherwise noted.

• WE (10/21), 3:45pm - “The Freudian Psychoanalysis as a Model for Overcoming the Duality of Natural and Human Science,” with Dr. Richard Theisen Simanke in Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall.

• TH (10/22), Noon2pm - Climate expert Ahira Sanchez-Lugo, currently working at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, will give a presentation at the Intercultural Center, located on the lower level of Highsmith University Union. Info: 251-6585.

• FR (10/23), 11:25am - Humanities Lectures: “Enlightening China and Japan: Western Imperialism in Asia,” with Dr. Cynthia Ho in Lipinsky Auditorium and “Sexuality, Gender and Identity,” with Dr. John McClain in the Humanities Lecture Hall.

• SA (10/24), 10am-2pm - The third annual Math Literacy Summit, featuring an address by keynote speaker and mathematician William Velez, will be held at the Highsmith University Union. Workshops will follow Velez’s address and are aimed at K-12 teachers, parents and students. Refreshments and childcare provided. Info: 232-5192 or www.unca. edu/aim.

• MO (10/26), 11:25am - Humanities Lectures: “Ancient Philosophy,” with Dr. Brian Hook in the Humanities Lecture Hall and “Reformations,” with Dr. Gary Ettari in Lipinsky Auditorium.

Salvation Army Info: 253-4723.

• Through FR (10/23), 9am-3pm - Applications for assistance will be offered for Angle Tree Gifts for children, Holiday Food Boxes and Gifts from the Toy Shop at the Salvation Army Community Center, 750 Haywood Rd. Please call for an appointment.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

weeklypicks Events are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery 86 presents Natural Perspectives, a photography exhibit

wed by Vietnam vet George Schober beginning Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 14. Join the

artist for a reception Nov. 6 that will include a performance by the Voices in the Laurel Children’s Choir in celebration of Veterans Day. Info: 452-0593.

Stop in at the first annual Arts for Life arts-and-crafts market Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. and

thur Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 30 Cedarcliff Road in Biltmore Forest.

Proceeds will go to support Arts for Life, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of kids battling serious illnesses. Info: www.aflnc.org.

fri

Head to the WNC Agricultural Center this weekend for the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, featuring animals, crafters, workshops and more. The fair will begin Friday, Oct. 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will continue Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25. $3/free for kids 13 and under. Info: www. saffsite.org.

sat

Join the Asheville 350 gathering on the International Day of Climate Action Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the park in front of Asheville City Hall. There will be family-friendly activities, an address by keynote speakers Robin Cape, Isaac Coleman and Mary Olson, and a group photo, which will act as a “visual petition” to diplomats and delegates the world over. Info: www.asheville350.org.

sun Children ages 3 and up and their guardians are invited to a story time featuring Halloween tales

and activities Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop, 19 Wall St., Asheville.

Costumes encouraged. Info: 232-2228.

mon Visionaries, homeschoolers, activists, spiritualists and folks of all walks of life are invited to share ideas and wisdom at Koinonia’s Potluck Monday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. Be a part of fostering an evolved local and global community. Bring a dish to share. Info: 333-2000.

tue

The UNCA Craft Campus presents Carl Powell, a stained glass artist, for as part of the Meet the Maker lecture series Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1:30 p.m. at UNCA’s Owen Hall, room 237. The series aims to generate awareness of contemporary craft practices. Info: 250-2392.

Silent Walk & Candlelight Vigil Commemorating National Domestic Violence Awareness Month • TH (10/22), 5pm - The silent walk to honor victims of domestic violence will begin and end at Pritchard Park. A community potluck and candlelight vigil will follow at the YWCA of Asheville. Bring a dish to share. Info: 2542968, ext. 12 or cprice@ helpmateonline.org.

Talks & Presentations at WCU These public lectures, readings and events at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee are free unless otherwise noted. Info: 227-2303.

• WE (10/21), 11:45am - Luncheon Series: Gathering and reception followed by a buffet lunch —- 12:15pm - “The Honors Path: Developing Intellectual Talent for U.S. Success in a Flat World,” led by Brian Railsback, Dean of the Honors College. $10.50.

WNC Agricultural Center

Hosts agricultural events, horse shows and farmrelated competitions.

Located at 1301 Fanning Bridge Rd. in Fletcher.

Info: 687-1414.

• TH (10/22) through SU (10/25), 8am-5pm - Fall Harvest Days and Antique Engine & Tractor Show, featuring antique tractor pulls and swap meets, demos and more.

• FR & SA (10/23 & 24), 9am-6pm & SU (10/25), 9am-4pm - Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, featuring animals, crafters, workshops and more.

WNC Nonprofit Pathways Info: www.nonprofitpathways.org.

• MO (10/26), 3:306:30pm - Nonprofit Leadership Forum: “Sea Change! How Nonprofits Around the Country and in WNC Are Adapting to the New Economic Environment,” featuring keynote speaker Peter York, a networking reception and more. $15.

Social & SharedInterest Groups 11:11 Discussion and Discovery Group Forming • Do you see 11:11 all the time, in the oddest of places? Have you talked with anyone about it? A discussion group is forming to share and compare experiences, thoughts and feelings for those who are having this experience. The group will plan an event for Nov. 11. Info: 1111asheville@gmail.com.

Ardent Toastmasters Club Afraid to speak in public?

Want to practice your speaking skills in a fun and supportive environment?

Meets at Zona Lofts, 162 Coxe Ave., in downtown Asheville. Info: 225-8680 or www.toastmasters. org/websiteApps/.

• Alternate THURSDAYS, 5:30pm - Meeting.

Arise & Shine Toastmasters Ready to overcome your fear of public speaking and to enhance your communication and leadership skills? This group provides

a friendly environment in which to do so. Guests have no obligation to join.

Info: 776-5076.

• THURSDAYS, 7:30am - Meets at UNCA’s Highsmith Student Union.

Asheville Homeless Network Meetings take place at Firestorm Cafe & Books in downtown Asheville. Info: 552-0505.

• THURSDAYS, 2pm - All homeless people and interested citizens are welcome.

Asheville Lesbian Brunch Club Info: www.meetup.com/ Asheville-Lesbian-BrunchClub or Asheville-LesbianBrunch-Club-list@meetup. com.

• SUNDAYS - Be a part of creating positive community every Sunday.

Blue Ridge Toastmasters Club Meets once a week to enhance speaking skills both formal and impromptu. Part of an international proven program that takes you through the steps with fun along the way.

Network with interesting people of all ages and professions. Info: www. blueridgetm.org or 5051375.

• MONDAYS, 12:201:30pm - Meeting.

Canasta Canasta anyone? Come join a friendly group of men and women who love to play for the fun of it. Info: 665-2810 or 251-0520.

• TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS, Noon-3pm - Canasta.

Eliada Home • SA (10/24) - Eliada Home for Children Haunted Corn Maze social outing.

Firestorm Cafe & Books Located at 48 Commerce St., Asheville. Info: 2558115 or www.firestormcafe.com.

• TH (10/22), 7pm “Social Networkers Unite,” a comical and interactive presentation supporting the novel Saffire_21 by Alexandra Lander.

Koinonia Monday Night Potlucks • MONDAYS, 6-10pm - Potluck. The gathering invites visionaries, homeschoolers, activists, spiritualists and folks of all walks of life to share ideas and wisdom.

Be a part of fostering an evolved local and global community. Change begins within us. Info: 333-2000.

Scrabble Club Come play America’s favorite word game SCRABBLE. Info: 2528154.

• SUNDAYS, 1-5pm Meets at Books-A-Million in Asheville. We have all the gear; just bring your vocabulary. No dues the first six months.

The New Friends Meetup Interested in meeting new people for friendship, fun, romance, activities, and learning new things?

Info: www.meetup.com/ Asheville-New-FriendsMeetup.

• WEEKLY - Meets at a bar/restaurant.

WNC Pilots’ Association Dedicated to promoting flying safety and aviation education for both local pilots and the general public. Info: 553-9676 or goneav8in@bellsouth.net.

• SA (10/24) & SU (10/25), 10am-5pm Annual leaf flights, flown by experienced volunteer pilots, provide aerial tours of the Asheville area for passengers to view the changing foliage and

local attractions. $30/$15 children. Meet at the general Aviation area of the Asheville Airport. All proceeds support WNCPA’s education programs.

Youth OUTright A weekly discussion group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 14-20. Each week a new topic and activity will be led by at least two trained facilitators. Straight allies (ages 14-20) are also welcome. Info: www. youthoutright.org.

• FRIDAYS, 6:30-9pm - Meets at the Jefferson House, adjacent to the Unitarian Universalist Church (corner of Edwin and Charlotte Streets) at 21 Edwin Pl.

Government & Politics City of Asheville Public Meetings Info: www.ashevillenc. gov.

• 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 3-5pm - The Sustainable Advisory Committee on Energy and the Environment meets in room 109A in the Public Works Building, 161 S. Charlotte St. Info: 2716141.

Henderson County Republican Men’s Club • WE (10/28), 7:30-9am The club will host a panel discussion with the candidates for Hendersonville Town Council at the The Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville.

Meet-and-Greet With Robin Cape • TH (10/22), 5:30-7pm Meet-and-greet with Robin Cape for Asheville City Council at the Dripolator, 190 Broadway. Coffee, beer and wine. Info: 3980209.

Seniors & Retirees Henderson County Senior Softball League The league is always looking for new players, age 50 and older. Weather permitting, they play yearround. Info: 698-3448 or www.LJRsoftball.com.

• TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS - Morning games at Jackson Park in Hendersonville.

Lakeview Senior Center 401 S. Laurel Circle, Black Mountain. Info: 669-8610.

• TH (10/22), Noon - Van Clan to the J.H. Hillcrest

Apple Orchard. Enjoy a hay ride, storytelling, apple picking and more. $11.

• THURSDAYS (10/22 through 11/19), 11amNoon - Fall Prevention Classes will be held to keep you safely on your feet. Free.

• MO (10/26), 10:15am12:30pm - Take a trip to Full Moon Farm Wolf Rescue. Tour the farm, hear stories and meet the wolves. $5 donation per person, plus $3 for gas.

• TU (10/27), 10am - Hike the Rainbow to Lookout trail in Montreat, a hard 2.5 mile hike.

Outdoor Adventure For Seniors With Asheville Park & Rec The Asheville Parks and Recreation has lots of outdoor adventure opportunities. For more information or to register, contact Christen McNamara at 251-4029 or outdoorprograms@ashevillenc.gov.

• FR (10/23), 9:30am - Senior Trek: Rattlesnake Lodge Trail. A 2.6 mile hike through the forest. $2. Meet at the Recreation Office, 72 Gashes Creek Road.

Animals ChainFree Asheville A nonprofit, all-volunteer effort dedicated to improving the welfare of dogs living outdoors on chains and in pens in Asheville and Buncombe County.

Info: www.chainfreeasheville.org or 450-7736.

• SUNDAYS, 11am-3pm - Come help a chained dog experience freedom.

No experience necessary. Meets 4 times a month within Asheville or Buncombe County to build a fence for a chained dog.

Halloween Pet Parade • SA (10/24), 3pm - The Halloween Pet Parade will be held in downtown Black Mountain and is sponsored by Bone-A-Fide Bakery. Info: 669-0706.

Rabies Vaccination Clinic • SA (10/24), 2-4:30pm - Offered by Community Partnership for Pets and Henderson County Animal Services at the National Guard Armory, 2025 Spartanburg Hwy., E. Flat Rock. Bring dogs on leads and cats in carriers. $7 per pet. Info: 693-5172.

Transylvania Animal Alliance Group For information about T.A.A.G., or donations of time or resources, 9663166, taagwags@citcom.

net, www.taagwags.org or www.taag.petfinder.com.

• SATURDAYS, 11am4pm - Adoption Days at PETsMART on Airport Road in Arden. View adoptable animals on the Web site.

Technology Basic Computer Classes Opportunity House in Hendersonville offers basic computer classes including: Basic Skills I, Basic Skills II, Basic Skills III, Internet I, Internet II and E-Mail. Courses in MS Word and MS Excel can be scheduled with enough interest. $30 members/$40 nonmembers. To register: 692-0575.

• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 9:30-11am or 11:30am-1pm - Classes.

Business & Careers A-B Tech Classes Registration & info: www. abtech.edu/ce.

• WE (10/21), 5:308:30pm - A free class on maximizing interview skills will be held in Pines 212, Asheville Campus. Learn how to curb nervousness and instill confidence during job interviews.

Register: 254-1921, ext.

333 or 334.

Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Located at 36 Montford Ave. Info: 258-6101 or www.ashevillechamber. org.

• TH (10/22) - Business hot tips training sessions: “Meet the Media.” During this panel discussion with local TV, magazine and newspaper media you can learn how best to get your news noticed and featured. $20. Info: chensley@ashevillechamber.org.

Asheville SCORE Counselors to Small Business If your business could use some help, SCORE is the place to start. Free and confidential. To make an appointment: 271-4786.

Our offices are located in the Federal Building, 151 Patton Ave., Rm. 259.

Veterans may attend any SCORE seminar at no charge. Info: www.ashevillescore.org.

• SA (10/24), 8:30amNoon - “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: A Business Law Primer.”

Get answers to legal questions. At the Small

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Business Center, Rm. 2046, on the A-B Tech Enka Campus. $30 at the door. To register: 2741142 or visit the Web site.

Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce • TH (10/22), 5-7pm - Business After Hours: Social and networking event with First Citizens Bank. Info: 669-2300 or bmchamber@juno.com.

Media Career Workshop • TU (10/27), 9am - Future journalists from area high schools can hone their skills and meet media experts at UNCA’s Media Career Workshop, held in the Highsmith University Union.

Registration now open for students and teachers from across WNC. $10, includes lunch. Info: 2325027.

Mountain BizWorks Workshops Mountain BizWorks is located at 153 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville.

Info: 253-2834 or www. mountainbizworks.org.

• WE (10/28), 6pm - “From Surviving to Thriving: Sales Techniques for the Holiday Season.”

Learn ideas, tips and techniques from Wendy H. Outland, a local art pro, on how to make the most of your art sales process. $25. RSVP by Oct. 26: naomi@mountainbizworks.org or ext. 27.

Public Relations Association of WNC Info: www.prawnc.org.

• 4th FRIDAYS, 11:30am1pm - Networking and luncheon with other public relations pros. $15/$25 nonmembers.

Volunteering Administrative Support Needed • OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling needs extra office administrative support.

Volunteers are needed to assist with various office tasks. The volunteer must be available during OnTrack’s regular business hours (8am5:30pm). Info: 210-4956 or tarag@ontrackwnc.org.

Ashevillage Institute (AVI) Nonprofit eco-urban education center and living laboratory for sustainable solutions. Info or to RSVP: 225-8820, info@ashevillage.org or www.ashevillage.org.

• MONDAYS through SATURDAYS, 9am-5pm - Volunteer days and potluck lunch. Volunteers

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

needed in: gardening, permaculture, stonework, carpentry, marketing, administration, fundraising and business development.

Asheville City Schools Foundation Seeking Academic Coaches (tutors/mentors) to support students by assisting them with a variety of tasks that support educational success. One hr/wk min., for one school year, in your choice of school or after school program. Training provided.

Info: 350-6135, terri. wells@asheville.k12.nc.us or www.acsf.org.

• MONDAYS through FRIDAYS, 8:30am-5pm Academic coaching in the schools or at after-school programs, once a week.

Bountiful Cities Project A nonprofit that creates, manages and, in some cases, owns community gardens on Asheville’s urban land. Info: 2574000 or info@bountifulcitiesproject.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 38:30pm - Community Garden Workdays.

Volunteers appreciated at Pearson Drive garden located in the Montford neighborhood. Info: 2738151 or 257-4000 and leave a message.

Catholic Social Services n Volunteers are needed throughout the week. Info: 255-0146.

• WEDNESDAYS, 1-4pm - Direct Assistance Day. Help sort clothing, shelve food, pack bags of food and more. Call for details.

Eliada’s “Castle in the Corn” Maze • Through SA (10/31) - Volunteer for Eliada Homes for Children’s “Castle in the Corn” Maze, which will be open Fridays through Sundays.

Volunteers get two free admission passes and a snack. Info: 254-5356, ext. 113 or www.castleinthecorn.com/volunteer.

Graffiti Removal Action Teams Join Asheville GreenWorks in combating graffiti vandalism in our community.

Removing quickly and keeping covered is the best way to reduce graffiti.

Info: 254-1776.

• THURSDAYS - Graffiti removal.

Hands On AshevilleBuncombe Choose the volunteer opportunity that works for you. Youth are welcome to volunteer on many projects with adult super-

vision. Info: www.handsonasheville.org or call 2-1-1. Visit the Web site to sign up for a project.

• TH (10/22), 5:307:30pm - Cook and serve a meal for 15-25 women and children who are part of New Choices, an empowerment program for displaced homemakers in need of counseling and assistance —- 6-8pm - Help MANNA prepare “Packs for Kids,” backpack-sized parcels of food that will be distributed to students from low-income families.

• THURSDAYS (10/22 & 29), 4-6pm - Assist with unpacking and pricing merchandise for Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit, fair-trade retail store that sells handcrafted items made by artisans in more than 30 developing countries.

• SA (10/24), 10:3011:30am - Make a Difference Day: Help keep someone warm by making “draft stoppers” (stuffed fabric tubes that are placed at the bottom ofa door), which will be donated to individuals and families. Held at the YWCA of Asheville —- 35pm - Help make “lovies” blankets for premature babies served by Mission Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Instructions provided.

• SU (10/25), 2-4pm - Knit-n-Give: Make hats for newborns served by the Health Center’s Community Health Program.

Men and Women Wanted Big Brothers Big Sisters is holding a back-to-school volunteer recruitment drive. Mentors share outings twice a month with youth from single-parent homes. Volunteers also needed to mentor during the 2009-10 school year.

Info: 253-1470 or www. bbbswnc.org.

• TH (10/22), Noon - Information Session for interested volunteers will be held at the United Way Building, S. French Broad Ave., Rm. 213.

SCORE Recruiting for Women • Local business women need coaches. Are you a woman with management background? If so, SCORE has the opportunity for you to share that knowledge with budding entrepreneurs. Info: 367-1446.

The Lord’s Acre A Faith Garden Project organized and sponsored

by local churches and volunteers who have come together to help provide food for families in need.

Located in Fairview. Info: www.thelordsacre.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 6-8pm & SATURDAYS, 8-11am Volunteers are needed.

WNC AIDS Project Info: www.wncap.org or 252-7489. n Donations will be accepted for the Candelabra Ball fundraising auction. Jewelry, collectables, art, local services, antiques and more are needed. Info: Kenneth. d.wilson@att.net or pamsiekman@earthlink.net.

Health Programs & Support Groups Morning Exercise Line Dance Classes (pd.) 9am-10am, Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting September 15 and 17. Information: (828) 274-8320. • Call or drop in for great fun and fitness! Asheville Ballroom & Dance Centre.

Professional Help For Overshoppers/ Overspenders (pd.) Stop the pain of Overshopping and Overspending • Discover triggers and cues • Learn specific tools, strategies and techniques • Break the cycle of overspending • Overcome the urge to splurge during the holiday season • Develop mindfulness in making decisions. • Individual or 12 session group format available. Call 231-2107 or email: empowering. solutions@yahoo.com Reap The Benefits Of Healthy Living • This Friday (pd.) Community Open House, October 23, 4:306:30pm, 411 West State Street, Suite B, downtown Black Mountain.

• Network Spinal Analysis • Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Anat Baniel Method • Chinese Herbalology • Craniosacral, Massage, Music Therapies. • Feldenkrais Method • Lypossage • Medical Massage • Occupational, Pelvic Health Therapies • Thai Massage. (828) 669-8800. www.sourceforwellbeing.com Shoji Spa Discounts and Events (pd.) • Locals Discount: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. • SPArty: Wednesday evenings, 6-8 p.m. Drinks, food and

music, free. 828-2990999. www.shojiretreats. com A-B Tech Classes Registration & info: www. abtech.edu/ce.

• TH (10/22), 6-9pm “Healing from the Kitchen Cupboard.” Find out how to use basic kitchen pantry staples to care for you and your family.

Experience making herbal remedies. $35.

• FR (10/23), 10am-1pm - “Sweeteners.” In this class, the pros and cons of the various sweeteners will be explored to enable you to make more informed choices. $35.

Adult Children of Alcoholics • 1st, 3rd & 5th MONDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Open 12-step meeting at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Rear entrance, first room on the left. Info: 298-6600 or maybloomer@yahoo.com.

Adult Children Of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families ACOAs continue “survival” behaviors they had as children, which no longer serve them as adults.

Come learn how to grow in recovery and become the person you are meant to be through this 12-step fellowship. Info: 5459648.

• FRIDAYS, 7-8:30pm Meets at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave., Asheville.

Al-Anon Al-Anon is a support group for the family and friends of alcoholics.

More than 33 groups are available in the WNC area.

Info: 800-286-1326 or www.wnc-alanon.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 12:151:15pm - Step study: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot between Church and Y. Info: 686-8131.

• THURSDAYS, 7pm - Discussion meeting for parents of children with addictions: West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road, across from Ingles. Info: 2426197.

• FRIDAYS, 8pm - The Lambda (GLBT) group of Al-Anon is a gay-friendly support group for families and friends of alcoholics, and holds their weekly candlelight meeting at All Souls Cathedral, 3 Angle St. Info: 670-6277 (until 9pm).

• FRIDAYS, 12:301:30pm - Discussion meeting: First Baptist

Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot between Church and Y. Info: 6868131.

• FRIDAYS, 6:30pm - Discussion meeting for couples only: All Souls Cathedral, 3 Angle St. Info: 676-0485.

• SATURDAYS, 10am Al-Anon North: Meeting at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. • SATURDAYS, 10am - Saturday Serenity at St Mary’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Charlotte and Macon. Beginners welcome.

• SATURDAYS, Noon - Weaverville discussion meeting at First Baptist Church on N. Main St., next to the library. Enter via side glass doors.

• SUNDAYS, 5-6pm Discussion meeting: West Asheville Presbyterian Church, 690 Haywood Road. Info: 281-1566.

• MONDAYS, 12-1pm Discussion meeting: First Baptist Church, 5 Oak St. Park in the back of lot between Church and Y. Info: 686-8131.

• TUESDAYS, 7pm Discussion meeting: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Art of Intimacy Practice Group Learn life-changing communication and relationship skills, drawing from the work of Brad Blanton (Radical Honesty), Marshal Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication), Susan Campbell (Getting Real), John Bradshaw (Homecoming) and others. By donation. Info: 254-5613 or www.centerforsacredsexuality.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7:309:30pm - Meeting.

Autism: Recovery Is Possible • FR (10/23), 2-4pm - Free lecture at Coleman Place, Suite 202, 36 Montford Ave., Asheville.

Featured speaker: Kristin Selby Gonzalez, national spokesperson for autism. Learn about diet, enzymes, biomedical, living toxin-free and play therapy. Info: www.autismnationwide.org.

BirthNetwork of WNC A nonprofit promoting wellness-focused childbirth. Meetings are held at the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville, 1800 Four Seasons Blvd., in the Pardee Education Center.

Free. Info: birthnetworkof-

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wnc@gmail.com or www. birthnetwork.org. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27) 7-8pm Monthly meeting: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Birthing Under an Illusion,â&#x20AC;? a humorous look at media myths of birth.

CarePartners Hospice Bereavement Offers one-on-one grief counseling, support groups, grief education classes, a monthly grief support newsletter and semi-annual memorial services (available to anyone who is suffering a loss through death).

Located at 68 Sweeten Creek Road., Asheville.

Call 251-0126 to set up an initial visit with a counselor. â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS (monthly) - Suicide Loss Group meets. â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS - Good Grief Support Groups meet. â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS - ChildLoss Support Groups meet. â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAYS & TUESDAYS - Grief Education Classes.

Dealing Creatively With Death â&#x20AC;˘ MO (10/26), 2pm â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dealing Creatively With Death: Home Funerals & Natural Burial,â&#x20AC;? a panel discussion at the Henderson County Public Library. Featured speakers include Caroline Yongue, Carol Motley and Steve Westin. Free. Info: 6690260.

DivorceCare â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS, 6:157:30pm - DivorceCare, a video seminar and support group featuring nationally recognized experts on divorce and recovery topics, including â&#x20AC;&#x153;Facing my Anger,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Facing my Lonelinessâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forgiveness.â&#x20AC;? Childcare provided. Info: 254-4688 or www.mountcarmelonline.org.

Dual Recovery Group Group meets at the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church House, 117 Montreat Road. For individuals who have a chemical dependency, emotional, and/or psychiatric illness and need support. A 12-step based program. Info: 357-8403. â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 8pm Group meets.

Eating Disorders Individuals are welcome to come to one or all of the support group meetings.

Info: 337-4685 or www. thecenternc.org.

â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS, 78pm - Support group for adults at T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating, 297 Haywood St. Free.

Events at Montreat College Events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), 11am-3pm - Red Cross Blood Drive in Gaither Fellowship Hall.

Info: gildernewee@montreat.edu.

Events at Pardee Hospital All programs held at the Pardee Health Education Center in the Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville.

Free, but registration and appointments required unless otherwise noted.

To register or for info: www.pardeehospital.org or 692-4600. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/21), 10am-1pm - Diabetes Awareness Day: Blood sugar, pressure and foot health screenings will be offered.

Plus, professionals will be available to answer questions. Registration not required. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 12:302pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Partial Knee Replacement,â&#x20AC;? a discussion with Brian Seng, D.O., with Hendersonville Orthopaedics. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), Noon-1pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Common Causes of Thumb Pain,â&#x20AC;? with David Napoli, M.D., with Blue Ridge Bone & Joint.

Food Addicts Anonymous A fellowship of men and women who are willing to recover from the disease of food addiction. Sharing experiences and hope with others allows participants to recover from the disease one day at a time.

All are welcome. Info: 242-3717. â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAYS, Noon1pm & FRIDAYS, 7-8pm - Meetings at Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Road, Asheville.

Health Events at Earth Fare South Located at 1856 Hendersonville Rd. Events are free, unless otherwise noted. Info: 210-0100. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/21), 6:30pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Healing Relationships,â&#x20AC;? learn this unique brainbased therapy as applied to relationships.

Registration required. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/22), 6:30pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hormone Connection,â&#x20AC;? with Dr. Parker. Learn about the common connections between PMS, enlarged prostate and heart problems.

Health Events at UNCA â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 11:30pm - Fabulous Fridays Lecture Series: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is Your Balance Sheet in Order for Your New Physical Year?â&#x20AC;? A discussion with Ellen Garrison in the Reuter Center. Free.

Henderson County Red Cross Red Cross holds classes in CPR and First Aid for infants, children and adults; Standard First Aid in Spanish; Babysitter Training; Pet First Aid. Located at 203 Second Ave. East, Hendersonville.

Info: 693-5605. : Blood Drive dates and locations are listed below.

Appointment and ID required. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/28), 6:30-11am & 12:30-5pm - Pardee Hospital, in the Jamison Conference Room, 800 N. Justice St. Info: judy.

Bolster@PardeeHospital. org or 696-4225. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/29), 9am1:30pm - Blue Ridge Community College, 180 West Campus Dr., Flat Rock. Info: 694-1805.

Hep C Hope of WNC Group meetings and educational sessions to help those with Hepatitis C learn the skills necessary to cope with their illness, and to lend support through every phase of the disease, including liver transplantation. Info: 254-0590 or www.hepchope.org. â&#x20AC;˘ 4th MONDAYS, 6pm - Meetings are held at MAHEC, 501 Biltmore Ave. There will be an open forum to discuss Hepatitis C. Everyone is welcome.

K.A.R.E. Support Groups Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advocacy Resource Effort offers several ongoing support groups. Info: 456-8995. â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS, 5:307:30pm - Single Parents Support Group. Dinner and childcare provided.

At First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. Call ext.

201 for more info.

Living Healthy with Diabetes/Sugar â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS (through 11/10), 9:30am-1pm - Take charge and enjoy a better quality of life with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Diabetes SelfManagement.â&#x20AC;? This free and interactive workshop can help you choose foods for health, increase your fitness and more.

Registration: 251-7438 or rebecca@landofsky.org.

Moms Supporting Moms

â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS, Noon or 6:30pm - Peer support for moms struggling with depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum. Connect with other mothers and community resources. Meets at the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resource Center. Info: 213-8241.

Directions: 213-8246.

Mountain Area Memory Walk â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 1-4pm Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the move to end Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Join teams from across WNC in the Mountain Area Memory Walk at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Asheville.

Info: 254-7363 or www. memorywalk09.kintera. org/mountainarea.

Narcotics Anonymous A fellowship of recovering addicts that can help those afflicted get clean and stay clean through a 12-step program. The group focuses on recovering from the disease of addiction rather than any particular drug. For WNC NA meeting schedules and info: www.wncana.net.

Helpline: (866) 925-2148. â&#x20AC;˘ DAILY - Please call for location details.

Natural Alternatives for Flu Prevention â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), Noon12:30pm - Looking for natural alternatives for flu prevention? Join in an educational discussion titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keeping You & Your Family Healthy This Winter.â&#x20AC;? Held at 3 Woodfin Ave. Free. Info: www.wellnessinasheville. com.

Overcomers Recovery Support Group A Christian-based 12step recovery program.

Provides a spiritual plan of recovery for people struggling with life-controlling problems. Meetings are held at 32 Rosscraggon Road. All are welcome.

Info: rchovey@sos.spcasheville.org. â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS, 7-8pm - Meeting.

Overeaters Anonymous A fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating.

This 12-step program welcomes everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. Meetings are one hour unless noted. â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS, Noon - Asheville: Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Rd. (S. 25 at Yorkshire). Info: 298-1899.

• SATURDAYS, 9:30am - Black Mountain: Carver Parks & Recreation Center, 101 Carver Ave. off Blue Ridge Road. Open relapse and recovery mtg.

Info: 669-0986.

• MONDAYS, 6:30pm - Hendersonville: Balfour United Meth. Church, 2567 Asheville Hwy. (Hwy. 25). Open mtg.

Info: 1-800-580-4761.

• MONDAYS, 5:15pm - Asheville: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Beginners mtg. Info: 277-8185.

• MONDAYS, 6pm - Asheville: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Open mtg. Info: 2778185.

• TUESDAYS, 10:30amNoon - Asheville: Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Ave. at Ottari.

Open BBSS mtg. Info: 280-2213.

S-Anon For those affected by someone else’s sexual behavior. Info: 545-4287 or 606-6803.

• WEEKLY - Three meetings are available per week.

S-Anon Meetings S-Anon is a 12-step recovery program for partners, family and friends of sexaholics. We share our experience, strength and hope to help solve our common problems.

Meetings held weekly in Asheville, Fletcher and Waynesville. Call confidential voice mail for information: 258-5117.

• WEEKLY - Three meetings are available per week.

Sex Addicts Anonymous A fellowship of men and women recovering from addictive sexual behavior (physical and/or emotional). Meetings are held in downtown Asheville.

Info: 800-477-8191 (live person Mon.-Fri. 11am7pm) or 348-0284 to leave a local message for a return call.

• SUNDAYS, 7pm Meeting.

Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous SLAA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women who have a desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction. Meetings are held in downtown Asheville. Open to all sexual orientations.

Info: AshevilleSLAA@ gmail.com.

• SATURDAYS, 10am - First Congregational

United Church of Christ, 20 Oak St. Sexaholics Anonymous SA is a 12-step fellowship of men and women recovering from compulsive patterns of lust, romance, destructive relationships, sexual thoughts or sexual behavior. Call confidential voice mail 681-9250 or e-mail saasheville@gmail. com. Info: www.orgsites. com/nc/saasheville/.

• DAILY - Asheville meetings.

Support Groups Sessions are led by Charlene Galvin, a board certified Chaplain. Love offering. Info: 329-3187 or chargalvin@hotmail. com.

• THURSDAYS, 1011:30am - Living with Life Limiting Illness —- 1:303pm - Caregivers Support Group.

There Is No Incurable • TH (10/29), 7-9pm - A group of medical doctors from the U.S. and Europe will lecture on inconceivable healings. Teaching of Bruno Groening. The experts will present healing reports. At the Cathedral of All Souls, 3 Angle St., Biltmore Village.

Info: 393-0630.

Understanding Healthcare Reform 2009 Events will be held in the Reuter Center, Manheimer Room, on the UNCA college campus. Info: 2325181. All events are free and open to the public.

• TH (10/29), 4:306:30pm - An inter-generational forum, designed to provide information on health care reform legislation to the general public, will be held. Plus, a panel of local representatives will discuss the insurance industry, the question of universal coverage and more.

Helplines For Xpress’ list of helplines, visit www. mountainx.com/events/ category/helplines.

Garden Garden Composters • Rain Barrels (pd.) Asheville GreenWorks (Quality Forward), Asheville’s Keep America Beautiful, sells Garden Composters and Rain Barrels in the Green Goods Shop at 357 Depot Street. • 2 kinds of composters: an 11 cubic foot square stacked model for $85 and a 7 cubic foot

tumbler that makes compost faster and looks cool for $175. • Rain Barrels are 65 gallons, are easy to install, and cost $135.

• All are made of 100% recycled plastic. • All sales benefit plantings in Asheville and Buncombe County. For more information, call 254-1776 or stop on by 357 Depot Street or visit: www.ashevillegreenworks.org Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms At Home (pd.) Hands-on workshop for success in home mushroom cultivation.

Training covers best tools and techniques for growing Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms, plus foraging delicious wild edibles.

Register: (828) 713-1043 / tmagruder@charter.net Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms At Home (pd.) Hands-on workshop for success in home mushroom cultivation.

Training covers best tools and techniques for growing Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms, plus foraging delicious wild edibles. Date: Saturday, Oct 31, 2009 Time: 9:00AM - 1:00PM Cost: $55 advance $65 door. Location: Synergy Center, #6 Lookout Rd. E., Asheville, NC 28805 Directions: http://www. synergycenter.us.

Register: (828) 713-1043 / tmagruder@charter.net Events at The Bullington Center This nonprofit horticultural learning center is in Hendersonville. Info: 698-6104 or www.bullingtoncenter.org.

• WE (10/21), 3-4:30pm - “Interpreting Soils,” a program to help home gardeners demystify the topic of soils, with Ron Gehl. $12.

Ikenobo Ikebana Society The Blue Ridge Chapter of Ikenobo Ikebana Society (Japanese Flower Arranging) is a nonprofit organization that meets monthly at St. John’s in the Wilderness Parish House (Rt. #225 South & Rutledge Rd.) in Flat Rock. Yearly membership is available. Info: 6960967.

• TH & FR (10/29 & 30) - Fall workshop with teacher/Sensei Muriel Scrivner, who will teach Japanese flower arranging in several styles.

N.C. Arboretum Events

The Arboretum hosts a variety of educational programs. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free with parking fee ($6/vehicle). No parking fees on Tuesdays. Info: 665-2492 or www.ncarboretum.org.

• FR (10/23), 6:308:30pm - “Sculpture: The Soul of Hardscape,” an educational program on stone sculpture and landscape design with artist DJ Garrity. $11/$14 nonmembers.

Regional Tailgate Markets For tailgate listings, visit www.mountainx. com/events and click on “Garden.” For more information, including the exact start and end dates of markets, contact the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project: 2361282 or www.buyappalachian.org.

Sports Groups & Activities Diamond Brand Running Groups (pd.) Every Wednesday at 6 pm. Choose from a beginner group which runs 3 - 4 miles or intermediate group which runs 6 - 7 miles. The Oct. 7th and 14th runs will be at Fletcher Park, meet by the park shelter. Runs on the 21st and 28th are on the Mountains to Sea to trail.

Meet by the trail entrance at the intersection of 74.

For more info contact Sarah at smerrell@diamondbrand.com.

Fall Diva Night at Diamond Brand (pd.) Thurs, Oct. 15th, 7 pm to 9 pm. Benefiting Casting for Recovery.

Give-aways, refreshments, massages, wine, raffles and a fashion show. For more information, contact Sarah at smerrell@diamondbrand.com.

Subaru Frontcountry Tour (pd.) Saturday, October 24, 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday, October 25, 12 PM - 5 PM at REI. Free event. Taste camp food samples, enjoy demonstrations and presentations, give us your feedback on the newest outdoor products. Receive a $20 gift card by test driving a new Outback, and more! Info: www.rei. com/asheville.

Asheville Masters Swimming Competitive, fitness and triathlon swimmers welcome. Info: www.ashevillemasters.com

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Open House Thursday, Nov. 5th 6:30 - 8 pm.

Meet the teachers, administrators, and parents.

Tour the campus.

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Preschool through high school 90 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, NC. 28801 828-259-3653 www.odysseycommunity.org 78

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 5:45-7:15am - Practice at Asheville School.

• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 5:457:15am & SATURDAYS, 7-9am - Coached practices at Warren Wilson College.

Disc Golf Check the kiosk at Richmond Hill Park for events and nearby tournaments. Info: 680-9626 or www.wncdiscgolf.com.

• MONDAYS, 5:30pm Doubles at Black Mountain Park.

Pickleball It’s like playing ping pong on a tennis court. For all ages. $1 per session.

Paddles and balls are provided. Info: 350-2058.

• MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS, 9-11am Meets at Stephens-Lee Rec Center, 30 George Washington Carver St. (take S. Charlotte to Max St.).

Sports at UNCA Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public. Info: 251-6459.

• SA (10/24), 7pm - UNCA Volleyball vs.

Radford in the Justice Center. $5. Info: 2516459.

• TU (10/27), 7pm - UNCA Volleyball vs.

Presbyterian at the Justice Center. $5. Info: 2516459.

Waynesville Parks and Recreation Info: 456-2030 or recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.

• FR (10/23), 10am-Noon - Skate Park Demo Day featuring music, contests and prizes. Open to all ages. Elbow, knee pads and helmets required.

Free.

Waynesville Recreation Center Located at 550 Vance St. in Waynesville. Info: 456-2030 or recyouth@ townofwaynesville.org.

• Through TU (12/1) - The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will offer swim lesson courses for all ages in both Oct. and Nov.: “Moms and Tots,” “Jellyfish,” “Dolphin” and “Shark.” Call or e-mail recaquatics@ townofwaynesville.org to register.

Women’s Indoor Trainer Sessions • MONDAYS, 6:15pm - Youngblood’s Trainer

Sessions. Bring your own trainer; no roller, please.

A few indoor trainers will be available for loan/rent ($10). Begin your winter conditioning program.

Info: amy@golightlydesigns.com or tdrews@ trainright.com.

Kids Kid’s Halloween Program at Diamond Brand, (pd.) Saturday, Oct. 31st at 11 am at Diamond Brand Outdoors in Arden.

Gary Eblen will tell spooky stories and kids can make their own Trick or Treat bag. We’ll have treats for the kids and the best costume wins a $100 gift card. For more info, contact Gary at geblen@ diamondbrand.com.

At The Health Adventure Free first Wed. of every month from 3-5pm.

Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am5pm & Sun., 1-5pm. $8.50 adults/$7.50 students & seniors/$6 kids 2-11. Program info or to RSVP: 254-6373, ext. 324. Info: www.thehealthadventure.org.

• Through SU (1/3) - Explore the good, the bad and the ugly at Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body. Explore why your body produces mushy, oozy, crusty and stinky gunk at this educational exhibition.

Celebration Singers of Asheville Community children’s chorus for ages 7-14. For audition/performance info: 230-5778 or www.singasheville.org.

• THURSDAYS, 6:307:45pm - Children’s chorus rehearsal at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak St., downtown Asheville.

Earth Scouts for Kids Earth Scouts is an environmental education group that is fun and empowering. Kids ages 4 and up learn plant identification, medicine making and earth skills.

• THURSDAYS, 6-7pm - Meets at One World Healing Arts Institute, 2 Sulphur Springs Road, Asheville. Parents welcome. $10.

Events for Kids at Spellbound Spellbound Children’s Bookshop is located at 19 Wall St., in downtown Asheville. Info: 232-2228 or www.spellboundchildrensbookshop.com.

• SU (10/25), 1pm - Story time for children ages 3 and up featuring Halloween stories and activities. Costumes welcome.

Green Halloween Hullabaloo • SA (10/24), 2-4pm - This Halloween event for children will feature trick-or-treating, a monster mash march and more. Hosted at both Earth Fare stores, 1856 Hendersonville Road and at the Westgate Shopping Center. Free, but participants must come in costume. Info: 210-0100.

Hands On! Gallery This children’s gallery is located at 318 North Main St. in Hendersonville.

Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am5pm. Admission is $5, with discounts available on certain days. Info: 697-8333 or www.handsonwnc.org.

• WE (10/21) - Harvest Club. Combines music, games, art and hands-on activities designed to engage children in healthy eating habits and caring for a garden. For ages 25. $15/$12 for members.

Registration required.

• FR (10/23), 10:3011:15am - Friday Morning Movement. Focuses on improving coordination, motor skills and balance through yoga elements, games and music. For children ages 3-5. $10/$8 members. Registration required.

Haunted Lagoon • SA (10/24), Noon-3pm - The 8th annual “Haunted Lagoon” and costume contest will be held at the Zeugner Center pool, 90 Springside Road. Plus, face painting, crafts, prizes and Halloween treats. Bring a swimsuit for the “lagoon” and a bag for goodies. Registration for the costume contest begins at 12:15pm. $2 to swim, plus a can of food for MANNA. Info: 6845072 or Teri.Gentile@ buncombecounty.org.

Tea Parties at the SmithMcDowell House A hands-on program that brings American history to life. Each party includes a different lesson, snacks, tea and craft activity.

For children 7 and up. $25/$20. Please make reservations one week prior to the program desired. Reservations & info: 253-9231 or www. wnchistory.org.

• SA (11/7), 11am - Native American Tea

Party. Author Janet Shaw will share stories about Kaya, from the American Girl Series. Refreshments will be served.

Transylvania Heritage Museum Located at 40 West Jordan St., Brevard. Info: 884-2347 or www.transylvaniaheritage.org.

• SA (10/24), 5:45-7pm Mystery party for the kids. $5. RSVP. Waynesville Parks and Recreation Info: 456-2030 or recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.

• FR (10/23), 8am4pm - Youth Disc Golf Tournament: Youth ages 10 and over are welcome play in this relaxed tournament.

Prizes will be awarded. $5/$10 nonmembers.

Pack lunch, snacks and water. Register: 456-9207 or oldarmory@townofwaynesville.org.

• MO (10/26), 8am-4pm - Day Hike for Kids: Youths age 10 and older are invited on a 5.5-mile hike to look at the fall foliage. Transportation provided. Parents welcome. $5/$10 nonmembers.

Pack lunch, snacks and water. Register: 4569207 or oldarmory@ townofwaynesville.org —8-5:30pm - Day Camp of Kids. Pack a lunch, two snacks, tennis shoes and swimming items. $20/$35 nonmembers. Info: 4562030 or email recyouth@ townofwaynesville.org.

Waynesville Recreation Center Dances Info: 456-2030 or recyouth@townofwaynesville. org.

• FR (10/23), 7-9pm - Dance for 3-5 graders at the Old Armory Rec Center. $7.

Spirituality 20th Of Each Month • Heal Yourself And Mother Earth (pd.) Participate in worldwide long-distance group EssenceWork TM sessions. • Registration deadline: 15th of each month. • Private sessions, please call Lania Desmond: (828) 2361230 or www.soulpoint. com/essence-work.html Astro-Counseling (pd.) Licensed counselor and accredited professional astrologer uses your chart when counseling for additional insight into yourself, your relationships and life directions. Readings also

ARIES (March 21-April 19) “The clouds are the most fertile part of the sky,” writes Guy Murchie in his book The Seven Mysteries of Life. Microbes with short life cycles live there in abundance, “eating, breathing, excreting, floating, swimming, competing, reproducing.” Next time you look up at a puffy cumulus, see it as a large city that hosts a teeming host of living things. Speaking of invisible fecundity, let’s turn our attention to you. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you are largely unaware of how much creative energy has been building up within you. Your homework is to tap into it and unleash it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

My friend Alcea, the pagan priestess who leads group rituals, is a responsible sort who has humble respect for the power of the spirit realms. She thinks there can be value in seeking help from the beings who dwell on the other side of the veil, but you’ve got to be careful.

They can be as clueless and misguided as the less evolved characters who live on the material plane. That’s why Alcea is especially impeccable around this time of year, when the veil between the worlds is thinner and our dimension is more accessible to the spirits. Having said all that as a caveat, Taurus, I want to let you know that this would be an excellent time for you to call on the help of your most intelligent, interesting, and loving ancestors.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

“He who loves 50 people has 50 woes,” said Buddha. “He who loves no one has no woes.”

Even if you agree with this sour observation, I urge you to override the warning it implies.

Now, more than ever, you can and should attract rich benefits into your life by expanding the frontiers of your empathy — even if it means you will feel the hurts of others more deeply. And what exactly are those rich benefits? Here’s one: Getting close-up views of the ways people suffer will help you avoid suffering like that yourself in the future.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

In the film Postcards from the Edge, the character played by Meryl Streep made a monumental declaration: “Instant gratification takes too long.” I know exactly what she meant.

Sometimes I wish I could have what I want before I have to endure even a moment of frustrated longing. I bring this up, my fellow Cancerian, because in the coming week we may get our yearnings satisfied before we fully express them. Of course, there could be a downside to this situation: Since the magic will be materializing so quickly, you’d better be very sure you really want what you even start to wish for.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Cement is the most common human-made material in the world. Combined with water to

make concrete, it is a fundamental ingredient in many buildings and roads. And yet no one knew its precise structure until recently. Then a group of scientists figured out that its strength comes not from its orderliness but rather from its messiness. At the atomic level, cement’s molecules display both regular geometric patterns and areas of random variation. It’s in these chaotic areas that water molecules bind with the cement, creating a structure that’s both flexible and robust. This is the kind of foundation I urge you to work on in the coming weeks, Leo — a configuration that will endure exactly because it has a lot of give.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

In my dream last night, the High Priestess from the Tarot deck came to life and gave me the following message: “Tell Virgos that when their deep hunger starts to stir, they should not eat from the bowl of delicious seeds. That meager meal would not satisfy their deep hunger.

Rather, they should plant those seeds and let them grow up. The resulting harvest will satisfy their deep hunger.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

It’s an excellent time to see if you can remove some of the neurotic twitches from your erotic itches. For example, you could use all your ingenuity to talk yourself out of the silly guilt you feel for having a certain idiosyncratic desire — a desire that, if acted out, would hurt no one, and that is therefore, by definition, healthy.

Here’s another possibility: You could invoke the full powers of your imagination as you free yourself from things that prevent you from experiencing maximum pleasure, like old wounds, simmering anger, rank egotism, and limiting beliefs.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

The astrological vibes suggest that you open yourself wide, try everything, and give freely. I urge you to adapt as your motto an exhortation that once came out of the mouth of the sevenyear-old cartoon character Dennis the Menace: “Hey! Wake up! Let’s go everywhere and do everything!” More than any other phase in many moons, Scorpio, this is your moment to make YES your battle cry. The world is asking you to be bigger than the old you, wilder than five blood oaths put together, and as strong as the full moon rising over a mountain.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

The average middle class person alive today has more goodies than the kings and queens of times past. In fact, even during this time of economic retrenchment, most of us have a higher standard of living than 99 percent of all the humans who’ve ever walked the planet. In pointing this out, I don’t mean to discount the suffering of those who’ve lost their jobs and homes. But I think it’s helpful to keep our collective deprivations in perspective. Similarly, I like to remember that no matter how much our personal trials may test us, they are more bear-

able than, say, the tribulations of the generation that lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Keep this in mind, Sagittarius.

As you wander in the limbo between the end of one chapter of your life story and the beginning of the next chapter, it’ll really help to stay conscious of how blessed you are. Halloween costume suggestion: a saint tending to the needs of the dispossessed and underprivileged.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

It’s prime time for intense and momentous social events. Of the gatherings you may attend, I hope you’ll find at least one that fits the following descriptions: 1. a warm fluidic web of catalytic energy where you awaken to new possibilities about how to create close alliances; 2. a sweet, jangly uproar where you encounter a strange attractor — a freaky influence that makes the hair on the back of your neck rise and lights up the fertile parts of your imagination; 3. a sacred party where you get a novel vision of how to connect with the divine realms more viscerally. Halloween costume suggestion: something that incorporates a hub, wheel, or web.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

The members of the congregation at St. Peterat-Gowts Church in Lincoln, England had a minor crisis a few years ago. For years, they had prayed to a very old stone sculpture they assumed was a likeness of the Virgin Mary.

Then a nosy archaeologist came poking around and informed them that the figure was actually Arimanius, the god of the underworld in the ancient Mithraic religion. I encourage you to make sure you’re not under a comparable misimpression, Aquarius. This is an excellent time, astrologically speaking, for you to seek the help of higher powers, but it’s crucial that you direct your invocations to the right source.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Some of history’s worst tyrants have been terrified by kittens. Napoleon, Genghis Khan, and Mussolini all had ailurophobia, a morbid and irrational fear of domestic felines. Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were also discombobulated by cats. I bring this up, Pisces, because it reminds me of a certain situation in your life. I’m betting that a pushy or domineering influence that distorts your emotions will soon be susceptible to being spooked by a seemingly harmless little thing. Maybe you could turn this into a permanent advantage.

How skilled are you at purring? © Copyright 2009 Rob Brezsny

Homework: Your assignment is to find, create, or arrange to be in the path of an experience that makes you cry for joy. Report results to FreeWillAstrology.com.

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available. Christy Gunther, MA. (828)258-3229.

Creating Your Sacred Space (pd.) Classes are here at “A Far Away Place.”

Cost is $25.00 per person class is and hour long Date: October 28, 2009 at 6:00 pm. Why a Sacred Space Class? It is important that you create a space that is conducive to meditation, worship and use of divining tools.

Come to a fun, informal class that will look at different belief systems and how best to honor your path by making a sacred space. For more info: 828-252-1891.

Faerie Pathway Readings (pd.) Guidance from faeries, guardian angels, and spirit guides to help you rediscover the magic in your life. Faerie workshops also available.

(828) 645-2674. www. davidswing.com Goddess/Gods: Teachings For The Modern Nobility (pd.) • May 2, Chapel Hill. 10am-1pm. Celtic Gods and Goddess. • May 6: Asheville. An empowering year-long workshop series for modern people to access ancient wisdom today.

(Quetzalcoatl, Tonantzin to name a few). $20/session, includes all materials. You must call to confirm. • Zoe: (828) 284-0975. www.mayanrecordkeeper.com Meditating With Horses At Horse Sense • This Thursday

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(pd.) (No horse or meditation experience necessary) Horse Sense of the Carolinas is hosting a series of meditating with horses sessions, Thursdays, October 22 and 29 and November 5 and 12. Enjoy the peace and quiet of country life as the sun sets over the hills. Horses are masters of being in the present moment; allow them to share this gift with you.

Join us for the unique opportunity to move with intention and mindfulness in the company of horses. $20/session. Registration/ Information: 683-7304 or www.horsesenseotc.com Tarot Card Class by Kathleen (pd.) Reading Tarot Cards past what the instruction book says. Learn how to work with your cards Taught in a one on one atmosphere Classes are here at “A Far Away Place.” Cost is $25.00 per person class is and hour and 1/2 long Please bring your cards. If you do not own Tarot Cards, we will work on finding the right ones for you.

Date: October 21, 2009 at 6:00 pm (Please come 15 min. early to be shown to our classroom.) For more info: 828-252-1891.

Tuesday Afternoons • Study • Meditation • Great Tree Zen Temple (pd.) Study: 3:30pm • Meditation: 5:30pm. 679 Lower Flat Creek Road, Alexander. Love offering.

More information: 645-

2085 or www.greattreetemple.org A Mountain Mindfulness Sangha Part of the World Community of Mindful Living, inspired by the teachings of THICH NHAT HANH, the group practices mindfulness as the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. Practicing with a “sangha” (a community) can bring both joy and support. All are invited. Info & directions: mountainmindfulness@ gmail.com, 684-7359 or 299-9382.

• TH (10/22) - “Five Mindfulness Trainings,” a group discussion.

• TH (10/29) - Creative night. Come and be surprised.

An Evening With Spirit All are welcome to communion with Spirit and channel messages. Held at the White Horse in Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Road. No latecomers. Love offering.

Info: 713-2439.

• SUNDAYS, 6-9pm - Evening events will be lead by Theo Salvucci.

An Evening With Spirit • MONDAYS, 6-8pm - All are welcome to a communion with Spirit and channeled messages, held at the White Horse in Black Mountain, 105C Montreat Road. No latecomers.

Love offering. Info: 7132439.

Asheville Center for Transcendental Meditation

Transcend the busy, active mind—effortlessly—for peace, bliss and full awakening of creative intelligence. The most effective, extensively researched meditation.

Revitalizes mind/body, relieves worry and anxiety, improves brain functioning. Free Introduction.

Info: 254-4350 or www. meditationasheville.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7:15pm - At the Asheville TM Center, 165 E. Chestnut.

Asheville Friends of Astrology Info: 628-4007 or www. ashevillefriendsofastrology.org.

• TU (10/27), 7pm Meeting in the community room at the Westgate Earth Fare. Julian Venables will present a lecture on the fixed star Regulus, which is located at 29 Leo. Love donation.

Asheville Satsang With Gangaji Info: 216-7051 or nckristinenelson@yahoo.com.

• SUNDAYS, 7pm - Discover true fulfillment. Silent sitting and video satsang with Western spiritual teacher Gangaji. New location at Servanthood House, 156 East Chestnut St., near Greenlife.

Awakening Practices Study the works of Eckhart Tolle and put words into action through meditation and discussion. Info: Trey@QueDox. com.

• 2nd & 4th THURSDAYS, 7-9pm - Meets at the

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Enka-Candler Library meeting room.

Buddhist Meditation and Discussion Meets in the space above the French Broad Food Co-op. Suggested donation: $8. Oct./Nov. series: Wisdom, the Great Teacher, a six-week series on shaping our future.

Info: 779-5502 or www. meditation-in-northcarolina.org.

• WE (10/21), 7:15pm - “How to Be Lucky.”

• WE (10/28), 7:15pm “Believing is Seeing.”

Celebrate Recovery Christ-centered, biblically based recovery ministry.

Weekly fellowship and support meetings deal with real-life issues, including divorce, codependency, anger, control, chemical dependency, sexual addictions, hurtful relationships, eating disorders, depression, and other addictive, compulsive or dysfunctional behaviors. Info: 687-1111.

• THURSDAYS, 6pm10pm - Evenings at Biltmore Baptist Church, 35 Clayton Road, Arden.

Coalition of Earth Religions Events Info: 230-5069 or www. ceres-wnc.org.

• 4th WEDNESDAYS Meeting at the Earth Fare Community Room. Call for details.

Compassionate Communication Practice Group Learn ways to create understanding and clar-

ity in your relationships, work, and community by practicing compassionate communication. Group uses a model developed

by Marshall Rosenberg in his book Nonviolent Communication, A Language of Life. Free.

Info: 252-0538 or www. ashevilleccc.com.

• 2nd & 4th THURSDAYS, 5-6:15pm - Practice group for newcomers and experienced practitioners.

Hare Krsna Sunday Feast Meets above the French Broad Food Co-op, 90 Biltmore Ave. Info: www. highthinkingsimpleliving. org or 586-3919.

• Select SUNDAYS, 6-8pm - An evening of bhajans, class on the Bhagavad-Gita and a vegetarian feast. Everyone welcome. Refer to the website or call for dates.

Informational Lecture: Healing on the Spiritual Path • TH (10/29), 7-8:30pm - Dr. Vogelsberger from Germany will lecture on Bruno Groening’s work and teachings about the healing energy that is available to everyone. At the Cathedral of All Souls, 3 Angle St., Biltmore Village. Info: 393-0630.

Journey Expansion Team (JET) • THURSDAYS, 7-9pm - An inspiration of James Ray featured on Oprah/ The Secret. Join a group of like-minded people who want to share with others The Law Of Vibration and other Universal

Laws. Meetings held in Fletcher/Asheville. Info: 329-7145 or kimberlycroteau@yahoo. com.

Land of the Sky United Church of Christ Located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 15 Overbrook Place, in East Asheville.

• WE (10/21), 5:30pm - Weekly book circle. The group is currently reading A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer.

• SUNDAYS, 5-6pm - Women-led, justicefocused, family-friendly, and open to all. Worship with Land of the Sky UCC. An unconditional church.

Mindfulness Meditation Class Explore the miracle of healing into life through deepened stillness and presence. With consciousness teacher and columnist Bill Walz. Info: 258-3241 or www.billwalz.com.

• SA (10/24), 7-9:30pm - Autumn evening satsang at the Friends Meeting House. Explore issues of personal, psychological and spiritual concerns in an evening of deepening meditation, question and answer. Bring your questions. Donation.

• MONDAYS, 7-8pm - Meditation class with lesson and discussions in contemporary Zen living. At the Asheville Friends Meeting House at 227 Edgewood Ave. (off Merrimon Ave.). Donation.

Modern-Day Meditation Class For Young Adults • TUESDAYS, 7:309:30pm - Class. For ages 18-35. Safe space to let down walls, release pent up emotion, get in touch with a truer part of yourself. Free. Info: 301-7892.

Mother Grove Events Info: 230-5069, info@ mothergroveavl.org or mothergroveavl.org.

• TH (10/22), 7pm - As part of Earth Religions Awareness Month, Mother Grove presents “Earth Mind, Earth Heart: Four Seekers Discuss Earth Religions in the 21st Century.” Hosted by Accent on Books, 854 Merrimon Ave. Love offering.

Mountain Zen Practice Center Ending suffering through the practice of Conscious Compassionate Awareness. Located at 156 E. Chestnut St. Info: 253-4621 or www.mountainzen.org. Orientation required for newcomers.

• TUESDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Meditation and discussion.

Mystic Gatherings Share in the community of those who are governed both by logic and observing signs around them: gut, spirit, intuition or whatever That is. Bring your stories and experiences. Gatherings are dynamic and diverse and range from topics such as changes in our society to defining moments in

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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life and much more. Info: 206-2009.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Meeting.

Psychic Development Class • 2nd & 4th WEDNESDAYS, 7-8:30pm - Develop your intuition in a stress-free environment. Everyone will have an opportunity to read and to be read. Love donation accepted. Info: 255-8304.

Sh’ma Messianic Ministries Messianic studies, Hebrew classes and Davidic dance. Studies for Jews and gentiles.

Hebraic roots with biblical and basic Hebrew language. Free. Visit the Web site for updates.

Info: www.shmaministries.com, 367-0775 or rabbi@shmaministries. com.

• FRIDAYS - Meets in the evenings.

Sojourner Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) A congregation in formation. The goal is provide a caring, non-threatening environment for the exploration of Christian spirituality. Info: www. sojournerchurch.org.

• SUNDAYS, 9:30am - Worship —- 10:30am - Fellowship. Lower floor of Morningside Baptist

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Church, 14 Mineral Springs Road, Asheville.

Soup and Soul: Exploring Progressive Images of God • WE (10/21), 5:30-7pm - Join Land of the Sky UCC for a potluck followed by a creative exploration of images of God for adults and kids (in separate spaces). Soup provided; side dish or desserts welcome. Info: 242-0268.

Transmission Meditation Group Join in this group meditation for your own personal spiritual growth, as well as the healing and transformation of the planet.

Info: 318-8547.

• TUESDAYS, 6:30pm - Meditation for personal and spiritual growth.

Unity Cafe Looking for a change from the usual Sunday service?

Spiritual conversation and sharing, music, meditation, coffee and pastry.

Info: 645-0514 or 6766070.

• 1st, 3rd & 5th SUNDAYS, 10am-Noon - Greenlife Grocery Community Center, 90 Merrimon Ave. Unity Center Events Celebrate joyful, mindful living in a church with

heart. Contemporary music by Lytingale and The Unitic Band. Located at 2041 Old Fanning Bridge Rd. Info: 6843798, 891-8700 or www. unitync.net.

• WE (10/21), 7pm - “Awakening Heaven: Seven Sacred Lights of Aramaic Yeshua,” with Dale Allen Hoffman. $25 suggested love offering.

Info: www.daleallenhoffman.com.

• WE (10/28), 7pm - Pam Yount will lead a workshop focusing on her book Wismatic, a mother’s oracle of the loss of her son to the AIDS virus.

Info: www.wismatic.com.

Love offering.

Unity Church of Asheville Looking for something different? Unity of Asheville explores the deeper spiritual meaning of the scriptures combined with an upbeat contemporary music program to create a joyous and sincere worship service. Come join us this Sunday and try it for yourself. Located at 130 Shelburne Rd., W. Asheville. Info: 252-5010 or www.unityofasheville. com.

• SUNDAYS, 11am - Spiritual Celebration Service.

Why Should Christians Care About Peace?

• SA (10/24), 9:30am3pm - Workshop with Dr. Myron and Esther Augsburger. Explore Jesus’ teachings on peace living and global dimensions of God’s love. Afternoon session: “A View of Art on War and Peace.” At Asheville Mennonite Church.

Freewill offering/$5 lunch.

To register: Taesch@ infionline.net or 6282293.

Womyn in Ceremony Join the group for connection, sharing, support, healing and empowerment. Meets 12 miles NW of Asheville. Info: www.

RitesofPassageCouncil. com or Theresa@ RitesofPassageCouncil. com.

• SUNDAYS, 4-6pm (through 12/27) Gathering on various Sundays.

Art Gallery Exhibits & Openings 16 Patton

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Gallery hours: Tues.-Sat., 11am-6pm and Sun., 16pm (open on Sun. MayOct. only). Info: 236-2889 or www.16patton.com.

• SA (10/10) through SA (11/14) - Here and Now, a plein air landscape exhibit by John Mac Kah. American Folk Art & Framing The gallery at 64 Biltmore Ave. is open daily, representing contemporary self-taught artists and regional pottery. Info: 281-2134 or www.amerifolk.com.

• Through FR (10/23) - Glimpses Through the Prism, work by Alabama self-taught painter Lucy Hunnicutt.

Art at UNCA Art exhibits and events at the university are free, unless otherwise noted.

• WE (10/14) through SA (11/14) - Human Rites: the body and blood, contemporary Cherokee baskets by Luzene Hill will be on display in Highsmith University Union Gallery.

• Through FR (10/30) - Gathering Places, Cherokee Basket Weaving and the Environment will be on display in Blowers Gallery.

• FR (10/23), 7-9pm - An opening reception for Conjuration, a photography exhibition by UNCA senior Jay Englebach, will be held in Owen Hall, on the second floor gallery.

Art League of Henderson County The ALHC meets and shows exhibits at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Hwy. (25N) in downtown Hendersonville.

Info: 692-0575 or www. artleague.net.

• Through TH (11/5) - An exhibit of works by Chloe Boehm and Bettye Paden will be on display in the the Grace Etheredge Room.

Arts Council of Henderson County D. Samuel Neill Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 1-5pm and Sat., 1-4pm. Located at 538 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, Hendersonville.

Info: 693-8504 or www. acofhc.org.

• Through SA (11/31) - To celebrate the Halloween season, the council presents an exhibition of puppets from the Eberle Puppet Players.

• FR (10/23), 5:30-8pm - Opening reception for City of Four Seasons in Two Dimensions. Cash

awards will be presented to the winners of this juried show.

• FR (10/23) through FR (11/20) - The juried and judged exhibit City of Four Seasons in Two Dimensions - Traditions: Henderson County will be on display.

Asheville Area Arts Council The Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) is at 11 Biltmore Ave. Info: 2580710 or www.ashevillearts.com.

• Through SU (11/1) - New work by Jeremy Graves, Grant Penny, Sharon Trammel and Vadim Bora.

Asheville Gallery of Art A co-op gallery representing 28 regional artists located at 16 College St. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am5:30pm and Sun.: 1-4pm.

Info: 251-5796 or www. ashevillegallery-of-art. com.

• Through SA (10/31) - The Colors of Country, a collection of oil paintings

by Judy Rentner.

Bella Vista Art Gallery Located in Biltmore Village, next to the parking lot of Rezaz’s restaurant.

Open daily. Info: 768-

0246 or www.bellavistaart.com.

• Through SA (10/31) - New artist Patsy Gilbert and feature wall artist Nathaniel Galka.

Black Mountain Center for the Arts Located in the renovated Old City Hall at 225 West State St. in Black Mountain. Gallery Hours: Mon.-Wed. & Fri., 10am-5pm (closed Sat. during winter months).

Info: 669-0930 or www.

BlackMountainArts.org.

• Through FR (11/13) - The annual juried art show by the Appalachian Pastel Society will be on display in the Upper Gallery.

BoBo Gallery Located at 22 Lexington Ave., Asheville. Info: 2543426.

• Through TU (11/10) - Weighting, an exhibit of work by David Zaig.

Curated by Ben Betsalel.

Brevard Gallery Walks A variety of Brevard galleries and art spots open their doors. Info: 8842787.

• 4th FRIDAYS, 5-9pm - Gallery Walk.

Echo Gallery at Biltmore Park Grand Opening

• FR (10/23), 6-9pm - New co-op art gallery with work in a variety of media. First exhibition features work by member artists Barbara Fisher, Genie Maples, Lori Theriault, Susan Webb Lee, Laurie McCarriar and Anna Koloseike. Info: 687-7761.

Grovewood Gallery Located at 111 Grovewood Road, Asheville. Info: 253-7651 or www.grovewood.com.

• Through SU (11/1) - New Works: Murals, a solo exhibition by Robert Crystal. In addition to the large murals, Crystal’s handmade, functional and decorative pottery will also be on display.

Haen Gallery Located at 52 Biltmore Ave., downtown Asheville.

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am6pm, Sat., 11am-6pm and Sun., Noon-5pm.

Info: 254-8577 or www. thehaengallery.com.

• SA (10/24) through MO (11/30) - The Art of Photography, an exhibition of works by Kathryn Kolb.

• SA (10/24), 5:307:30pm - Opening reception for The Art of Photography. Artists

Kathryn Kolb will be in attendance.

Haywood County Arts Council The HCAC sponsors a variety of art-related events in Waynesville and Haywood County. Unless otherwise noted, showings take place at HCAC’s Gallery 86 (86 North Main St.) in Waynesville. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm.

Info: 452-0593 or www. haywoodarts.org.

• WE (10/21) through SA (11/14) - Natural Perspectives, a photography exhibition by Vietnam Veteran George Schober.

Madison County Arts Council Exhibits Located at 90 S. Main St. in Marshall. Info: 6491301.

• FR (10/9) through SA (10/31) - Seeing Through the Eye of a Hummingbird, an exhibit of nature photography

by Connie Toops will be on display in Mezzanine Gallery.

Montreat College’s Hamilton Gallery Located on the mezzanine level of L. Nelson Bell Library on the campus of Montreat College. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9am-4pm. Info: 669-8012 ext. 3641.

• Through SA (10/31) - A solo exhibition by Jim Southerland will be on display.

Odyssey Gallery Exhibits work by Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts instructors and residents.

Located at 236 Clingman Ave. in Asheville’s River Arts District. Hours: Mon.Fri., 10am-4pm; Sat., 10am-6pm & Sun., Noon6pm. Info: 285-0210 or www.highwaterclays.com.

• Through SA (10/31) - Figuratively Speaking, a group exhibition featuring the works of Anna Koloseike, Kat McIver, Fran Welch, Joanna Fireman, Adele Macy, Blue Fire MacMahon and Susan Musialowski.

Push Skate Shop & Gallery Located at 25 Patton Ave. between Stella Blue and the Kress Building. Info: 225-5509 or www.pushtoyproject.com.

• FR (10/16) through TU (11/3) - The Arts of Darkness, a ghastly group show featuring the terrifying talents of local Asheville artists.

Silver Fox Gallery Located at 508 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Info:

698-0601 or www.silverfoxonline.com.

• FR (10/2) through SA (10/31) - Fused with Fire, an exhibition of paintings

by Sue Fazio, will be on display.

The Bender Gallery Located at 57 Haywood St., Asheville. Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 10am-5pm; Fri. & Sat., 10am-7pm; and Sun., Noon-5pm.

Info: www.thebendergallery.com or 225-6625.

• Through SA (10/31) - Glass sculptures by Toland Sand.

Toe River Arts Council The TRAC Center Gallery is at 269 Oak Ave. in Spruce Pine. Hours: Tues.-Sat., 10am-5pm.

The Burnsville TRAC Gallery is at 102 W. Main St. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10am-5pm. Spruce Pine info: 765-0520. Burnsville info: 682-7215. General info: www.toeriverarts. org.

• Through SA (11/7) - Fall Celebration of the Arts, a juried competition/ invitational exhibit, will be on display at the TRAC Center.

Transylvania Community Arts Council Located at 349 South Caldwell St. in Brevard.

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am-4 pm. Info: 884-2787 or www.artsofbrevard.org.

• Through FR (11/6) Behind the Lens, an exhibition featuring Brevard area photographers Tom Nebbia, Sean Parrish and John Allen.

Upstairs Artspace Contemporary nonprofit gallery at 49 S. Trade St. in Tryon. Hours: Tues.Sat., 11am-5pm and by appointment. Info: 8592828 or www.upstairsartspace.org.

• Through SA (10/24) - New Perspectives: Artists of Abstract Alliance and Child: Being and Remembering, two group exhibitions, will be on display.

Visual Art at ASU Exhibits take place at Appalachian State University’s Catherine J. Smith Gallery in Farthing Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Info: 2627338.

• Through MO (11/16) - Extra Medium, an exhibit

by Daniel Eatock.

WCU Exhibits Unless otherwise noted, exhibits are held at the Fine Art Museum, Fine & Performing Arts Center on

the campus of Western Carolina University.

Hours: Tues.-Fri., 10am4pm & Sat., 1-4pm.

Suggested donation: $5 family/$3 person. Info: 227-2553 or www.fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

• Through SA (12/5) - Worldviews, selections from the permanent collection and new acquisitions featuring works by regional, national and international artists.

• TH (10/22) through SA (11/7) - School of Art & Design - Bachelor of Fine Arts Student Portfolio Exhibition.

• TH (10/22), 4-6pm Reception for Bachelor of Fine Arts Student Portfolio Exhibition.

More Art Exhibits & Openings Abstract Paintings: Home Viewing • SA (10/24), 5-8pm - View 40+ abstract paintings and cards during an Open House at a North Asheville home, located one mile north of downtown. For a preview: www.flickr.com/photos/ abstracts. Info: 350-9300.

Art at Ananda Hair Studio The salon, located at 22 Broadway, hosts rotating

art exhibits. Info: 2321017.

• Through SA (11/14) - Architectural Dynamics, abstract paintings by local artist Joyce Cole will be on display.

Art at the N.C. Arboretum Works by members of the Asheville Quilt Guild and regional artists are on display daily in The Visitor Education Center.

Info: 665-2492 or www. ncarboretum.org.

• Through SU (11/1) - H. Douglas Pratt and John C. Sill’s BIRDS: The Science of Illustration. The exhibit celebrates the art and science of birds.

Art in the Airport Gallery Located on the pre-security side of the Asheville Regional Airport terminal.

Open to the public during the airport’s hours of operation. Info: art@ flyavl.com or www.flyavl. com.

• Through TU (10/27) - More than 30 original pieces of artwork by nine local artists will be on display.

Blue Ridge Community College Info: www.blueridge.edu.

• FR (10/9) through MO (11/9) - First Annual Art Faculty Exhibit at the Blue

Ridge Conference Hall in the Technology Education and Development Center.

Info: 694-1688.

Carolina Nature Photographers Association Info: www.cnpa-asheville. org.

• TU (10/6) through MO (11/2) - The fifth annual juried Southern Appalachian Flora, Fauna and Landscape group exhibit will be on display at the Pack Place gallery, 2 S. Pack Square, Asheville.

• Through SU (11/15) - Celebrating Nature Through Photography, images from the N.C. Arboretum and WNC will be on display at the N.C. Arboretum.

Center For Craft, Creativity and Design Located at the Kellogg Conference Center, 11 Broyles Road. in Hendersonville. Info: 8902050 or www.craftscreativitydesign.org.

• Through FR (12/11) - Different Tempers: Jewelry & Blacksmithing, an exhibit featuring the works of 14 nationally known metalsmiths.

Center for Diversity Education

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

83

Galaya

Readings ~ Coaching

Intuitive Consultations â&#x20AC;˘ Relationship â&#x20AC;˘ Health â&#x20AC;˘ Career â&#x20AC;˘ Animal

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1-888-326-0403

Do You Want to Learn More About Your Jewish Faith?

Basic Judaism classes for Jewish adults seeking a new spiritual path.

Thursday Evenings November through April Hosted by Congregation Beth HaTephila More information at 253-4911

and Champagne Bar two floors of used & new books â&#x20AC;Śand one floor of wines, beers & champagnes dog-friendly patio Downtown, across from north entrance of the Grove Arcade 1 Battle Square, Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 252-0020 exchanging books and wine daily

SUSHI japanese kitchen & sushi bar

9EC; 9;B;8H7J; EKH + #O;7H 7DD?L;HI7HO

7BB BKD9> IF;9?7BI '& E<< ' + E<< OEKH :?DD;H J?9A;J (excludes alcohol - from 11/01 -11/07 only.)

The Center is on the UNCA campus, at 222 Zageir Hall. Info: 2325024 or www.diversityed. org. â&#x20AC;˘ Through FR (10/30) - Forever Free: Abraham Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey to Emancipation, a national traveling exhibit will be on display at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. Craft Campus at UNCA Located at 1 University Heights, Asheville. Info: 250-2392 or www.unca. edu/craftcampus. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), 1:30pm - Meet the Maker Lecture Series: Carl Powell, stained glass artist. This series aims to generate awareness of contemporary craft practices. At UNCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Owen Hall, Rm. 237 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;- 6-8pm - UNCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Craft Campus Meet the Maker series travels to the studio of Carl Powell, stained glass artist.

Powell will have an open studio and reception at his studio at Grovewood Gallery.

Events at First Congregational United Church of Christ Located at 20 Oak St., Asheville. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/28) through MO (11/23) - Our Saints of God will be on display.

First Congregational Church Located at 20 Oak St. in downtown Asheville. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An open and affirming congregation.â&#x20AC;? Info: 2528729 or www.uccasheville.org. â&#x20AC;˘ Through TU (10/27) - Images of The Divine Feminine, an exhibition by Gaetana Friedman. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/28) through MO (11/23) - The exhibit Our Saints of God will be on display.

Classes, Meetings & Arts-Related Events

lunch specials starting at $5.95 4 V T I J r 4 B T I J N J r . B L J 3 P M M T r 7 F H F U B S J B O 5FNQVSB r 5FSJZBLJ r )JCBDIJ r ,BUTV

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC â&#x20AC;˘ mountainx.com

Attention Artists and Photographers! (pd.) Need your work Captured, Reproduced, or Printed? Digital Resolutions Group specializes in high-quality large format digital photography, outstanding fine art reproduction and printing. (828) 670-5257 or visit www.ashevilledigital.com A Slice of Hendersonville â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), Noon3:30pm - The Public Art Display fundraiser, luncheon and auction will be held in Hendersonville.

Info: 697-2022.

Art at the N.C. Arboretum

Works by members of the Asheville Quilt Guild and regional artists are on display daily in The Visitor Education Center.

Info: 665-2492 or www. ncarboretum.org. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 6:308:30pm - Stone sculptor and artist D.J. Garrity will present â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sculpture: The Soul of Hardscape,â&#x20AC;? a pictorial exploration of the unique qualities that threedimensional art brings to a landscape. A Q&A session will follow. $9 members/$12 public.

Arts Council of Henderson County D. Samuel Neill Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 1-5pm and Sat., 1-4pm. Located at 538 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, Hendersonville.

Info: 693-8504 or www. acofhc.org. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/29), 5:307:30pm - The Board of Directors of The Arts Council of Henderson County invites arts and cultural nonprofit organizations and businesses to attend a meeting and reception at the council.

RSVP. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/29), 5:307:30pm - The Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Henderson County invites arts and cultural nonprofit organizations and businesses to attend a meeting and reception at the council.

RSVP. Asheville Art Museum The museum is in Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Center on Pack Square. Hours: Tues.-Sat. from 10am-5pm and Sun. from 1-5pm. Free the 1st Wed. of every month from 3-5pm. Info: 253-3227. $6/$5. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), Noon-1pm - Art Break: Cherokee Carvers: Tradition Renewed.

Asheville Chapter of the Church of Craft Info: http://churchofcraft. org. â&#x20AC;˘ Last SUNDAYS, 1-4pm - Meets at Short Street Cakes, 225 Haywood Rd. Info: 505-4822.

Asheville NC Homecrafts â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAYS, 5:30-7pm - Sit and Knit. Free sit and knit at the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Ave., Suite 134.

Info: 350-7556 or ashevillehomecrafts@aol.com.

Events at Earth Fare South Located at 1856 Hendersonville Rd. Info: 210-0100. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/28), 5pm - Basic paper-making workshop for adults and

children. Learn the basic techniques of hand papermaking using corn husks and egg cartons. Suitable for kids ages 4 and up. $12 for one parent and one child. Registration required.

Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League Classes are held at the studio, 999 W. Old Rt. 70, Black Mountain. Info: svfal.info@gmail.com or www.svfal.org. â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS, Noon3pm - Experimental Art Group. Experimental learning and sharing water-media techniques and collage. $20 for four sessions or $6/session. â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAYS, 10am-1pm - Open studio for figure drawing. Small fee for model. â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAYS, Noon-3pm - Open studio for portrait painting. Small fee for model. â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAYS (through 11/24) - Art with Lorelle Bacon. Adults 1-3pm and youth 3:30-5pm. All levels welcome. $15/class.

Registration required.

Transylvania Heritage Museum Located at 40 West Jordan St., Brevard. Info: 884-2347 or www.transylvaniaheritage.org. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 5-9pm 4th Friday Gallery Walk.

Art/Craft Fairs Asheville Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market Held June through October in the parking lot across from Rosettaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen at 93 N. Lexington Ave. Info: rosettastarshine@gmail. com. â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAYS, 11am-4pm - Search for art, crafts and homemade items made

by Asheville artists at this flea-market style market.

ColorFest, Art of the Blue Ridge â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 10am-4pm - Downtown Sylva will be host to some of the most accomplished fine artists in WNC creating their works of art for everyone to witness. Plus, music by local musicians. Info: 293-2239.

Greenlife Grocery Arts Market Located at 70 Merrimon Ave. Info: 254-5440. â&#x20AC;˘ SATURDAYS, 11am6pm - Browse the wares of local and regional artists on the grass at Greenlife Grocery.

Spoken & Written Word Asheville Gay Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Book Club â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/21), 7:459:15pm - Monthly meeting. JD Salingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel Catcher in the Rye will be discussed at the home of Rick Perryman, 75 Thompson St., Unit D, Mica Village. Info: ashevillegaymensbookclub@ yahoogroups.com Buncombe County Public Libraries LIBRARY ABBRVIATIONS - Each Library event is marked by the following location abbreviations: n BM = Black Mountain Library (105 N. Dougherty St., 250-4756) n LE = Leicester Library (1561 Alexander Road, 250-6480) n PM = Pack Memorial Library (67 Haywood Street, 250-4700) n SS = Skyland/South Buncombe Library (260 Overlook Road, 2506488) n SW = Swannanoa Library (101 West Charleston Street, 2506486) n WV = Weaverville Library (41 N. Main Street, 250-6482) â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/21), 5pm - Library Knitters meet.

SW â&#x20AC;&#x201D;- 3-5pm - Library Knitters meet. SS. â&#x20AC;˘ Through FR (10/30) - Forever Free: Abraham Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journey to Emancipation will be on display. PM. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/22), 6pm â&#x20AC;&#x153;Colored Confederates,â&#x20AC;? a presentation about African Americans in the Confederate army during the Civil War, with Earl Ijames. PM. â&#x20AC;˘ MO (10/26), 6:30pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Staging Your Home to Sell.â&#x20AC;? Learn inexpensive design techniques. BM â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), 6:30pm - Library Knitters meet. LE â&#x20AC;&#x201D;- 7pm - Library Knitters meet. BM. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/28), 4pm - School Age Book Club and a Haunted Library Costume Party for children ages 6-11. There will be spooky activities and snacks. WV. Courageous Words â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 5:307pm - Intergenerational Writing Workshop at Montford Books & More, 31 Montford Ave. Bring words to life. $10/Free for Littles in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Info: 285-8805.

Crystal Visions Bookstore Located at 5426 Asheville Hwy., Hendersonville.

Info: 687-1193.

• TH (10/22), 7pm - A free presentation on “Exploring the New Frequencies of Healing.”

Events at Malaprop’s The bookstore and cafe at 55 Haywood St. hosts visiting authors for talks and book signings. Info: 254-6734 or www.malaprops.com.

• WE (10/21), 7pm Literary Trivia Night.

• TH (10/22), 7pm - David Magee will read from and sign copies of his book The Education of Mr. Mayfield: An Unusual Story of Social Change at Ole Miss.

• FR (10/23), 3:30pm - William Ferris will sign copies of his book Give My Poor Heart Ease: Voices of the Mississippi Blues —- 7pm - Padgett Powell will read from and sign copies of his novel Interrogative Mood.

• SA (10/24), 1pm - Ellie Waters Kaffeeklatch will discuss and sign copies of her book Kibou: The Travis Waters Story —- 2pm - Jan Collins and Jan Warner will discuss their book Next Steps: A Practical Guide to Planning for the Best Half of Your Life —- 7pm - Ron Rash will read form and sign copies of his novel Serena.

• SU (10/25), 1pm - Readings by Marianne Gingher, Pam Duncan, Katherine Min and Lawrence Naumoff, featured authors in Long Story Short: Flash Fiction by Sixty-Five of North Carolina’s Finest Writers —- 3pm - James Latimore will sign copies of his book Book Woman: A Cancer Journal.

• TU (10/27), 7pm - “Self Publishing,” a panel discussion with local editor Elana Kann, designer Kasey Gruen, self-published author Brian Lee Knopp and published poet Emoke B’Racz.

• TH (10/29), 7pm - Steven Aimone will discuss his book Live & Learn: Expressive Drawing.

FENCE Events The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located in Tryon. Free. Info: 8599021 or www.fence.org.

• SU (10/25), 4pm Armchair Travelers Series: Herbalist and environmental educator June Ellen Bradley will lead listeners

on a world tour of nature’s medicine cabinet. Free.

For Accomplished Asheville Writers Seeking other serious writers for critique group.

Mostly fiction and nonfiction. Info: 658-8217.

• Alternate THURSDAYS, 6:30pm - Group meets.

Haywood County Public Library System The main branch is located at 678 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. The county system includes branches in Canton, Maggie Valley, Fines Creek and Cruso.

Info: 452-5169 or www. haywoodlibrary.org.

• WEDNESDAYS, 1:30pm - Ready 4 Learning. A story time designed for 4 and 5 year olds with a focus on kindergarten readiness. This story time runs Sept.-May. • WEDNESDAYS, 11am - Family story time for children of all ages. We will read books, sing songs, learn finger plays and more.

• THURSDAYS, 11am - Movers & Shakers. This story time for active 2-3 year olds incorporates dance, physical activity, songs and age-appropriate books.

• TUESDAYS, 11am - Family story time at the Fines Creek Branch Library. We will read books, tell stories, learn songs and finger plays, and do a simple craft.

Info: 627-0146.

• TUESDAYS, 11:15am - Family story time for children of all ages at the Canton Branch Library.

We will read books, listen to songs, and learn finger plays. Info: 648-2924.

Literary Events at UNCA Events are free unless noted. Tickets & info: 232-5000.

• TH (10/22), 12:30pm - UNCA Faculty Authors Series: Amy Lanou will give a presentation in Special Collections, third floor of Ramsey Library.

Free.

Meet the Author Events Author William A. Hart Jr. has hiked, fished, and camped in the Smokey Mountains National Park for more than 40 years.

He will share stories and read from his book 3,000 Miles in the Great Smokies at various locations in WNC. Free. Info: www.historypress.net.

• FR (10/23) - Reading at Mountain Lore Books & More, 408 N. Main St., in Hendersonville. Info: 693-5096.

Osondu Booksellers All events are held at Osondu, 184 North Main St., Waynesville, unless otherwise noted. Info: 456-8062 or www.osondubooksellers.com.

• SA (10/24), 3pm Meet the Author: Edward Kesgen, the author of To Charlie with Love.

• TU (10/27), 5pm - Ron Rash will discuss his book Serena —- 7pm All Gender All Genre Book Club. Ron Rash will join this book club to discuss Serena.

Food Madison County Arts Council Events MCAC is located at 90 S. Main St. in Marshall. Info: 649-1301 or www.madisoncountyarts.com.

• SATURDAYS (through 10/24) - The public is invited to attend a traditional sorghum syrup-making event at Doubletree Farm. The syrup will be slow cooked over a fire. Bring a picnic and musical instruments.

RSVP: 380-0756.

Festivals & Gatherings Fairview Fall Festival & Poker Run • SA (10/24), 10am10pm - Festivities include live entertainment, games, BBQ and family fun at the Cane Creek Station, 1538 Cane Creek Road.

The Poker Run will begin at 10am with registration held at Acme Motorcycles, 1508 Charlotte Hwy. Info: 651-8720, 628 6315 or ursusmysticus@charter. net.

Fall Festival and Oktoberfest • SA (10/24), 3-7:30pm - Games, food, live music and a German meal at 6pm. At Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Asheville. Call for meal ticket price: 252-1795 or 281-8182. Info: www. emmanuellutheran.info.

Halloween Events at the Waynesville Rec. Center Located at 550 Vance St. Info: 456-2030 or recyouth@townofwaynesville. org.

• SA (10/24), 7-9pm - Swim n’ Scream: Watch the motion picture Monster House while playing in the pool and getting into the Halloween spirit. Held at the Waynesville Rec. Center. $5. Open to all ages.

Ninjutsu Dojo Halloween Bash • SA (10/24), 3pm Family activities, ninja kid games and more. At 6pm the Kasumi Yama Dojo will give a performance showcasing Japanese weapons. At 7pm live music with The Secret B Sides, a ninja costume contest and more.

Camping is welcome.

Held at at Craigfields Farm and Gathering Place. $10/$5 kids. Directions: www.craigfieldsasheville. com. Info: www.kasumiyamabujinkan.com or 280-0624.

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair • FR & SA (10/23 & 24), 9am-6pm & SU (10/25), 9am-4pm - Sheep, Angora goat, llama and alpaca shows; weaving, felting, spinning, dyeing and knitting workshops and demos; vendors with fiber-art supplies and garments. $3. At the WNC Agricultural Center. Info: 891-6045.

Zombie Bake Sale and Casting Call • SA (10/24), 9am6:30pm - At Lake Julian shelter #2. Zombies needed for a locally made Web series. Call 7123352 for details or e-mail Wassalake@gmail.com.

Percentage of proceeds from bake sale will be donated to Hearts With Hands.

Organic local healthy homestyle breakfast and lunch all day. expires -03/10/09 Mon. - Sat., 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.• Sun., 9 a.m.

2 p.m.

(828) 254-2224 www.risenshinecafe.com • 828.254.4122

“A taste of Asheville, Under One Roof!”

Circle In The Square c The Hop c Great Clips ´ Rise ‘n Shine Cafe c Urban Burrito c Creme Zen Sushi c Hands On Spa c Asheville Realty Cartridge World

Music African Drumming With Billy Zanski at Skinny Beats Drum Shop, 4 Eagle St., downtown Asheville.

Drums provided. No experience necessary.

Suggested donation $10 per class. Drop-ins welcome. Info: 768-2826.

• WEDNESDAYS, 6-7pm - Beginners.

• SUNDAYS, 1-2pm Intermediates —- 2-3pm - Beginners.

Biltmore Park An outdoor concert series held at Biltmore Park Town Square, in the amphitheater. Free. Info: www.biltmorepark.com.

• SA (10/24), 7-9pm - Bluegrass singer Robin Rogers will perform.

Events at First Baptist Church Located at 5 Oak St. (corner of Charlotte St. and I-240) in downtown Asheville. All events are free unless otherwise noted. Info: www.fbca.net or 252-4781.

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201 Charlotte Street, Asheville • (828) 236-0032 www.newdawnmidwifery.com

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â&#x20AC;˘ SU (10/25), 3pm - The UNCA University Singers will perform in concert.

Donations welcome.

French Broad Ukulele Club All levels of Ukulele players welcome. Info: ukelin@gmail.com. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), 5:30pm - Meet-and-greet â&#x20AC;&#x201D;- 68pm - Learn a few songs and discuss the future of the club. Meet at Laureyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catering, 67 Biltmore Ave. Haywood Community Chorus Membership is open to all interested singers; no auditions are required.

Sponsored in part by The Junaluskans and the Haywood County Arts Council. Info: 452-4075 or 456-1020. â&#x20AC;˘ MONDAYS, 7pm Rehearsal at First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville.

Hendersonville Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 6:30pm - The Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choir will perform a concert at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2101 Kanuga Road. $5 adults/$2.50 children. Info: 696-4968 or www.hendersonvillechorale.com.

Hendersonville Community Band Info: 696-2118 or www. hcbmusic.com. â&#x20AC;˘ TU (10/27), 7:30pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;By Popular Request,â&#x20AC;?

HCBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s musical response to its recent audience survey. At Blue Ridge Community Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blue Ridge Conference Hall, 180 W. Campus Dr., Flat Rock. $10/Free for students.

Mountain Folkharpers This nonprofit is devoted to folk-harp players and craftsman. Events are held at the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore. Info: http://www.mountainfolkharpers.org. â&#x20AC;˘ 4th SATURDAYS Meeting. See Web site for details.

Music at Mars Hill College Info: 689-1239 or www. mhc.edu. â&#x20AC;˘ FR (10/23), 7:30pm An organ recital featuring Kelly Groom will be held in Moore Auditorium. â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 11am - The MHC Choir and Alumni Choir will perform a concert in Broyhill Chapel.

Music at UNCA Concerts are held in Lipinsky Auditorium, unless otherwise noted.

Tickets & info: 232-5000. â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/22), 7:30pm - The UNCA Jazz Combos

will perform in concert. $5/Free for students. Info: 251-6432. â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 8pm Daniel Bernard Roumain will perform in concert. $20/$15 faculty & staff/$6 students. Info: 232-5000.

Music at WCU â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/29), 8pm - Fabolous with Lyfe Jennings at the Ramsey Center. Tickets & info: http://ramsey.wcu.edu or 227-7677. Arena Seats: $16 general public/$10 students. Floor Seats: $20 general public/$15 students. Day of show: Arena seats: $16/Floor seats: $20.

Musical Events at Jubilee!

Located at 46 Wall St., downtown Asheville. Info: www.jubileecommunity. org. â&#x20AC;˘ SU (10/25), 7:30pm Peter Mayer will perform a concert of folk/love songs focusing on â&#x20AC;&#x153;interconnectedness and the human journey.â&#x20AC;? $15.

Phil Mechanic Studios Located at 109 Roberts St. on the corner of Clingman Ave. in the River Arts District. Houses Flood Gallery, Pump Gallery and Nook Gallery.

Info: www.philmechanicstudios.com. â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 7-10pm - Detroit singer/songwriter Jozef (Jotown) Slanda will perform in the Railroad Library at Phil Mechanic.

Shtick to Singing â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 7:30-9pm - Hilarious and harmonious annual show from the Land of the Sky Chorus with special guest quartet Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sing!. At Diana Wortham Theatre. $18 advance/$20 at the door/Free for kids 12 and under. Info: www.ashevillebarbershop.com or (866) 290-7269.

St. Matthias Musical Performances These classical music concerts take place at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Asheville, 1 Dundee St. (off South Charlotte). Info: 252-0643. â&#x20AC;˘ SU (10/25), 3pm Tenor Van-Anthony Hall will present a concert of American art songs and arias. Free-will donations for the artists and for the restoration of the church. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Standing Stillâ&#x20AC;?

Homecoming Singing â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 6-8pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Standing Still,â&#x20AC;? a local Southern Gospel group will celebrate its second annual Homecoming

Singing. Everyone is welcome to come to this free event at North Asheville Baptist Church.

Symphony for United Nations Asheville Event â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 8pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;World in Harmonyâ&#x20AC;? concert at Warren Wilson Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chapel. Music from the countries of Ashevilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sister Cities, as well as the U.S. Plus, readings by reps from the Sister Cities, the Warren Wilson Folk Choir, dancers and more. Reception at 7pm. A free-will offering will be taken.

The Marshall Auricular Hour Performances are held at The French Broad Institute, 68 N. Main St., Marshall. Info: 649-0099. â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 7pm Keith Flynn and The Holy Men will perform. $12/$8 students.

WCU Musical Event â&#x20AC;˘ TH (10/29), 8pm Mario Gaetano, professor of percussion at Western Carolina University, will present a recital of original works in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the campus of WCU. Free.

Info: 227-7242.

WNC Jazz Society Performances held at Diana Wortham Theatre.

Ticket prices: $22 members/$30 nonmembers/$10 students.

Tickets: 257-4530. Info: 687-0407, www.wncjazzsociety.org or bo@ wncjazzsociety.org. â&#x20AC;˘ SU (10/25), 7pm - Gina Sicilia and Dave Gross Blues Band will perform, featuring harpist Dennis Gruenling. Pre-concert reception at 6:15pm.

Theater A-B Tech Drama Club The club sponsors and produces a variety of productions, performances, workshops and lectures.

Reservations & info: 254-1921, ext. 890 or pcarver@abtech.edu. â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS (10/22) through SATURDAYS (10/31) - Skeered??, an evening of ghost stories and hauntings with an Appalachian twist, will be performed at the Carriage House Theatre. All performances begin at 7:30pm, with a 2:30pm matinee only on Halloween. $3 A-B Tech students & staff/$5 area students/$10.

Asheville Playback Theatre Improvisational theater based on audience membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; true stories. All

stories welcomed. $10/$5 students & seniors. No one turned away for lack of funds. Info: www.ashevilleplayback.org. â&#x20AC;˘ SA (10/24), 8pm - â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stories of our Dance With Sustainability,â&#x20AC;? will be performed at Ferguson Auditorium, A-B Tech.

Corpus Theatre Collective The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is to present challenging new theatre and authentic interpretations of existing plays. â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS (10/15) through SATURDAYS (10/24), 7:30pm - 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane will be performed at the BeBe Theatre, 20 Commerce St. There will be a matinee performance at 2pm on Sun., Oct. 18. $10 students/$15.

Not recommended for children.

Events at 35below This black box theater is located underneath Asheville Community Theatre at 35 Walnut St. Info: 254-1320 or www. ashevilletheatre.org. â&#x20AC;˘ THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS (through 10/24), 7:30pm - I Am My Own Wife, the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life German transvestite who survived both the Nazi and East German Communist regimes.

Flat Rock Playhouse The State Theater of North Carolina is on Hwy. 225, 3 miles south of Hendersonville. Info: 6930731 or www.flatrockplayhouse.org. â&#x20AC;˘ WE (10/21) through SU (11/1) - The Woman in Black will be performed.

Showings begin at 8:15pm Wed.-Sat., with 2:15pm matinees Thur.Sun. $30, with discounts available.

NC Stage Company Performances are at 33 Haywood St. (entrance on Walnut St., across from Zambraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, in downtown Asheville). Info: 239-0263 or www.ncstage.org. â&#x20AC;˘ WEDNESDAYS (10/21) through SUNDAYS (11/8) - The Beauty Queen of Leenane will be performed. Wed.Sat., 7:30pm with Sun. matinees at 2pm. Opening night is â&#x20AC;&#x153;pay what you can night,â&#x20AC;? $6 min. donation.

Performances at Diana Wortham Theatre For ticket information or more details: 257-4530 or www.dwtheatre.com.

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• TU & WE (10/20 & 21), 8-10pm - L.A. Theatre Works in War of the Worlds and The Lost World, a double bill of chills, thrills and great literature. Two masterpieces of science fiction and adventure. $35.

• TU & WE (10/27 & 28), 8-10pm - Circo Aereo on its first U.S. tour.

Finland’s imaginative and inventive Circo Aereo brings its contemporary “New Circus” genre to Asheville. $35.

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‘80s Movie Night • SA (10/24), 7-9:30pm - The Gate Student Ministries Center will host a special showing of The Neverending Story. Pizza $1/slice.

Free popcorn. Drinks and snacks for sale. Open to junior high and older students. At 3871B Sweeten Creek Rd., Arden. Info: myspace.com/thegatestudentministries or 2731731.

Black Mountain Center for the Arts Located in the renovated Old City Hall at 225 West State St. in Black Mountain. Gallery Hours: Mon.-Wed. & Fri., 10am-5pm (closed Sat. during winter months).

Info: 669-0930 or www.

BlackMountainArts.org.

• SA (10/24), 7:30pm - Showing of Fully Awake: Black Mountain College, a documentary about the experimental college. Filmmakers Cathryn Davis Zommer and Neeley House are from WNC. $10.

Movies at the Asheville Art Museum Located at 2 S. Pack Square. Showings are free with membership or museum admission. Info: 253-3227 or www.ashevilleart.org.

• TH (10/29), 7pm - Screening of Herb and Dorothy at the Fine Arts Theatre. About the collecting career of New Yorkers Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a postal clerk and librarian, who managed to build a very important art collection. $8/$10.

Dance Asheville Ballroom & Dance Centre • Learn to Dance! (pd.) Groups and Privates available. For more information call (828) 274-8320. www.ashevilleballroom.com

Argentine Tango Dancers of all levels welcome. Info: www.tangoasheville.com.

• SATURDAYS, 7:3010pm - Filo Milongas at 1155 Tunnel Rd. $5.

• SUNDAYS (except 1st), 7-10pm - Practica at North Asheville Recreation Center, 37 E. Larchmont Road.

Classes at Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre Classes are by donation and on a drop-in basis.

Classes are held at the New Studio of Dance, 20 Commerce St. in downtown Asheville. Info: www.acdt.org or 2542621.

• TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Adult Modern.

• TUESDAYS, 6-7:30pm - Adult Ballet.

Dance Events at ASU Performances take place at Appalachian State University’s Farthing Auditorium, unless otherwise noted. Ticket prices increase at the door on show nights. Info: (800) 841-ARTS(2787) or www. pas.appstate.edu.

• TH (10/22), 8pm - The Martha Graham Dance Company will perform. $20 adults/$18 seniors/$10 students.

Donation Classes at Asheville Dance Revolution Sponsored by The Cultural Development Group. At 63 Brook St. Info: 277-6777 or ashevilledancerevolution@gmail.com.

• TUESDAYS, 8-9:15pm - Beginning/Intermediate Adult Jazz.

• FRIDAYS, 4-5pm - Boys Dance Combo Class. This is for boys interested in dance. The class touches on all styles of dance for the male dancer —- 67:30pm - African dance with Sarah Yancey featuring live drumming. Open to all. $14.

• 4th SATURDAYS, 6:3010pm - Tap Jam. Trade tap steps and rhythms with tappers of all experience levels. Novices to advanced tappers welcome. Free.

Morris Dancing Learn English traditional Morris dances and become a member of one of three local teams as a dancer or musician. Music instruction provided to experienced musicians.

Free. Info: 994-2094 or www.ashevillemorris.us.

• MONDAYS, 5:30pm Women’s Garland practice

held at Reid Center for Creative Art. Southern Lights SDC A nonprofit square-dance club. Square dancing is friendship set to music.

Info: 625-9969 or 6984530.

• WEDNESDAYS, 7pm - Class in Western-style square dancing at the Stoney Mountain Activity Center in Hendersonville.

Studio Zahiya Classes Classes are held at Studio Zahiya, 41 Carolina Lane. $12 drop-in. $40 for four classes, with other discounts available. Info: 242-7595 or LisaZahiya@ gmail.com.

• THURSDAYS, 5:306:30pm - Beginner belly dance for youth ages 12-16 —- 6:30-7:30pm - Bhangra! East Indian high-energy dance.

• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Beginner belly dance —- 7:10-8:10pm - Drills and skills.

Swing Asheville Info: www.swingasheville.com, 301-7629 or dance@swingasheville. com.

• TUESDAYS, 6-7pm - Beginner swing dance lessons in the Lindy Hop style. $10 per person per week for four weeks. No partner necessary. Let your inner dancer out.

At Eleven on Grove, 11 Grove St. in downtown Asheville. Classes start the first Tuesday of the month.

Veterans of Foreign Wars All events are held upstairs at 5 Points, 860 N. Main St., Hendersonville. Info: 6935930.

• 2nd & 4th SATURDAYS, 7pm - Live music and dancing. $7. All singles over 21 welcome. No partners needed. Finger food and sweets will be provided. No alcohol or smoking in dancing area.

Auditions & Call to Artists Annual Mountain Xpress Holiday Art Contest Have your holiday-themed artwork appear in color inside one of Xpress’ holiday guides (Dec. 2, 9 & 16) and/or be on display at Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre’s downtown studio in Dec. Info: mdalton@mountainx.com.

• Through FR (11/20) Create holiday-inspired art within a squarish space (9.5” H x 10/25” W) and keep the colors bright.

Include name, address, phone, age (if under 18) and parent or guardian’s name (if applicable) with submission. Send or hand deliver art to: 2 Wall St., Asheville, N.C., 28801.

Asheville Area Arts Council The Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) is at 11 Biltmore Ave. Info: 2580710 or www.ashevillearts.com.

• Through FR (10/23) Deadline for 2010 gallery applications. Selections for exhibits are recommended by the AAAC’s Gallery Committee and approved by its Board of Directors. All artists must be at least 18 years old and residents of WNC. Application available online.

Call for Artists for Holiday Market • The third annual Arts and Crafts Holiday Market at Beech Glen Community Center will be held Nov. 7.

Seeking local artists and crafters who would like to participate. Info: 6895117 or 689-2112.

Call to Artists, Crafters and Makers for The Big Crafty Holiday Event • Through TH (10/22) - Application deadline for The Big Crafty on Dec. 6. The holiday event will be held at Pack Place. Sponsored by the Asheville Art Museum.

Apply now at www.thebigcrafty.com.

HOPE • Through FR (10/30) - Call to all artists: Create art from recycled or reused materials on the theme “Hope that we can unite Asheville to comprehensively address homelessness.” Info: AshevilleUnited@gmail. com or 255-5164.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest • Through SA (10/24) - Seeking creative, family-friendly pumpkins.

Pumpkins that are carved will not be accepted.

All pumpkins will be on display at Fatz Cafe on Smokey Park Hwy. through Halloween night.

Info: 665-9950.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)2511333, ext. 365

newsoftheweird Lead story The human brain’s 100 billion neurons may have such specific functions that a few electrically charge only upon recognition of a single celebrity, such as Oprah Winfrey or Bill Clinton. UCLA researchers, studying the healthy cells of pre-op epilepsy patients, inadvertently discovered this unusual property, which apparently varies with individuals but remains internally consistent, whether the celebrity is represented by picture, name or sound. Patients were presented “hundreds of stimuli,” one researcher told The Wall Street Journal in October, but “the neuron would respond to only one or two.” For example, neurons were found that reacted only to to Jennifer Aniston, only to “The Simpsons,” only to Mother Teresa.

The Continuing Crisis

• In 2002, following an acrimonious family debate, the head of late baseball slugger Ted Williams was cryogenically frozen, in the hope that science will some day learn how to revive dead people. An employee of the Arizona lab that stores the head recently disclosed some inside shenanigans, according to a September report in the New York Daily News. According to the employee, to keep Williams’ head from sticking to the inside of its storage carton, the head was placed on an empty Bumble Bee tuna fish can inside the container, but the can itself then stuck to the head and had to be whacked off with a monkey wrench.

(Since the lab’s work is secretive, only firstperson reports are likely to emerge on this story.)

• High-Maintenance Goddesses: In Ahmedabad District, India, in September, Ramveer Singh Baghel, 35, sliced off his tongue as an offering to the goddess Amba.

His sacrifice made him an instant deity in the local temple, delaying his trip to the hospital. And two weeks later, in a village in Bargarh District, India, a 19-year-old woman cut out her tongue, hoping, she

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said, that the Shiva temple’s resident goddess would halt the woman’s imminent arranged marriage and allow her to pick someone closer to her age.

• Adventure in the Bush: In June, after a monitored, endangered marsupial (a “woylie”) was killed in West Australia, scientists set out to recover the expensive radio collar transmitter it was wearing, but as they approached the signal, a 6-foot-long python swallowed the woylie and collar.

The scientists captured the snake, intending to wait for the collar to pass through, but poachers broke into the Department of Environment and Conservation’s shelter and stole the python, surely intending to sell it. According to a June report in The West Australian, the scientists, aided by authorities, eventually picked up the radio transmissions again, arrested one poacher, and freed the snake from its impending life of captivity.

• In a delicate, two-hour procedure at a hospital in Newport Beach, Calif., in September, firefighters carefully sawed off the inch-thick metal dumbbell-tightening ring into which a man had inserted his penis three days earlier. He told surgeons his plan was to lengthen the organ, to, as he put it, “make me the chief of my tribe.” By the time he got to the hospital, his member was swollen to more than twice its normal size, and sawing the ring off (without cutting the skin) was the only way to save it.

Bright Ideas

• The mayor of the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret, faced with an overcrowded highway D909 through town, “solved” the problem recently by making the street one-way, sending traffic speedily into the adjacent town of Clichy-la-Garenne.

Read News of the Weird daily with Chuck Shepherd at www.weirduniverse.net.

Send items to weirdnews@earthlink.net or PO Box 18737, Tampa FL 33679

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That city’s mayor (a political rival of the Levallois-Perret mayor) reacted by making his portion of D909 one-way back toward Levallois-Perret, creating a dilemma at the city limit. Other authorities are working to resolve the impasse.

• Chutzpah! In the tiny east Texas town of Tenaha, police allegedly extorted traveling motorists by subjecting them to bogus traffic stops, perhaps finding small amounts of drugs, and then offering to forgo prosecution if the motorists would forfeit their cars and other property. The forfeited items were then sold to fund a special police recreation account. Last year, the ACLU of Texas filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against both the police and local prosecutor Lynda Russell, and in September 2009, Russell asked the state attorney general if she could pay her legal expenses from the alleged extorted recreation account.

Hyperactive Seniors • (1) Ella Orko, 86, was arrested in Chicago in August (her 61st arrest) and charged with shoplifting $252 worth of groceries and sundries (including anti-wrinkle cream). (2) Earlier this year, Richard Ramsey, 77, finally fulfilled a dream he said he’d had since age 13: He surgically became a woman.

He had been living occasionally as Renee Ramsey following a 20-year military career, partly spent as a Green Beret.

Fine Points of the Law

• Judge James Morley dismissed animal cruelty charges in September against former Moorestown, N.J., police officer Robert Melia Jr., who had been caught in 2006 attempting to sexually gratify himself using calves’ mouths. Because the state has no anti-bestiality statute, Melia was charged with animal “cruelty,” but Judge Morley said he was uncertain whether the acts were “cruel” or merely confusing. He reasoned that calves would normally recognize an appendage in their mouths as the prelude to food. If the calf could speak, said Judge Morley, it might merely say, “Where’s the milk? I’m not getting any milk.”

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mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

89

edgymama

parenting from the edge by Anne Fitten Glenn

All hail Wimpy Kid October 12 was a hugely important day for our family.

It wasn’t an anniversary or a birthday. Nobody got braces or stitches. October 12 was important because it was the release day for Jeff Kinney’s new book, Dog Days, the fourth in his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

My family discovered Kinney’s books several months ago — long after most of the 9-12-year-old set — and we’ve become Wimpy Kid addicts. These books are the first young adult books that speak to all four of us — kids and adults alike.

We’re so into Wimpy Kid that we’ve been talking about Oct. 12 like it was the day of the second coming. Both kids were home sick on the release day (strange how that happened), but not so sick that they couldn’t talk me into driving down to Accent on Books to buy a just-out-of-the-box copy of Dog Days.

I agreed only after I told the kids we were buying only one copy, and they’d have to read it together and/or share it.

Which totally didn’t work. They were fighting over the book before we left the store, and I had to confiscate it until we got home. They managed to read the first 40 or so pages side by side on the sofa (adorable) before the fighting broke out again (not adorable).

Ultimately, I let them trade off the book every 15 minutes until bedtime. Then I gave in and bought another copy the next day — both finished the book that afternoon, then started re-

reading it. My girl said, “It’s the best Wimpy Kid book ever!”

E-spouse is so hooked on the books that he had a Wimpy Kid nightmare. He dreamt that the new book had different illustrations than the expressive stick figures drawn by Kinney. “It was horrible,” E-spouse said.

So what’s the appeal of this series? Kinney’s made being a wimp hip. Most kids aren’t wizards or demi-gods. Many of us are nerdy, wimpy kids (or adults), though even in our worst moments, we’re not as self-centered as Kinney’s main character, middle-schooler Greg Heffley.

Greg’s the penultimate wimpy kid. Which is part of what makes us love him and laugh at his antics — he’s not a great role model and he’s morally iffy. He always takes the easy way out, but in the most hilarious ways possible — like letting his best friend take the blame for his screw-ups or ruining the school play to get revenge on the girl playing Dorothy.

All Greg wants to do is play video games, eat potato chips, and sleep, but life keeps getting in the way.

I caught up with our family’s answer to Elvis, author Jeff Kinney, via e-mail just after Dog Days was released, when the book already had pushed Dan Brown out of first place on Amazon’s Best Seller list.

Edgy Mama: How old are your kids, and do they read your books?

How do you think they feel about having Dad write about kid/parent

conflicts?

My sons are four and six, so they’re not really ready for my books yet. But they’re very curious. My wife has read my older son the books with some heavy editing. I think my sons think it’s neat that their dad is an author, but they’ve never known me to be anything else, so I think it will be a while before they realize this is unusual. I’m sure they’ll be careful about what they do or say for fear that it might end up in a book.

How do you balance writing, working and parenting? Or do you?

I don’t. I think that anyone who is successful in one venture is probably failing in some other part of their life. That’s true for me. I’m constantly trying to pick what I’m going to fail at next.

What are some of your favorite kid/young adult books?

I loved Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing when I was younger, and A Spell for Chameleon when I was older. I wish there had been more humorous writing when I was younger, because I would have eaten it up!

Buy Dog Days at locally-owned bookstores Accent on Books, Malaprop’s or Spellbound Children’s Bookshop.

For more on Kinney and the Wimpy Kid books, visit www. wimpykid.com. X

Anne Fitten “Edgy Mama” Glenn writes about a number of subjects, including parenting, at www.edgymama.com.

Parenting Calendar for October 21 - 29, 2009 Attention Parents (pd.) Do you have children who struggle learning to control their emotions or behavior? Children who don’t seem to pay attention in school? • We invite you to hear about a new technology that’s making it possible to train children (or adults) to be more attentive, more productive and more in control, by simply playing a video game. • This technology (called Neurofeedback) is being employed in schools, clinics, by NASA, in the Olympics and in World Cup trainings and can help your child create lasting change. Call (828) 281-2299, for more info or our schedule of upcoming public seminars, ask for Dr Ellis. Focus Centers of Asheville.

Crisis Counseling • Multicultural/ Diverse Lifestyles (pd.) • Teens • Young Adults/Adults • Eclectic/diverse therapy: Cognitive-Behavioral, Equine, Afro-centric, Parent Coordination/ Mediation. • Tracy Keene, LPC, 828-318-3991, tracy@

Planned Parenthood is for Everyone.

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First Visits

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• We See Men! • We Offer Sick Visits & Physicals!

• We Can Get You in Same Day/Week • We Accept Health Insurance & Medicaid!

• We Provide Teen Discounts!

Check us out online at: www.pphsinc.org 603 Biltmore Ave. Asheville, NC • 828-252-7928

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KeeneCounseling.com • 13 1/2 Eagle Street, Suite P, Asheville, 28801. www.KeeneCounseling.com Internet Safety: How To Keep Your Kids Safe • MO (10/26), 6-7pm - The Healing Place will host a free workshop to teach parents how to keep their children safe on the Internet. The presentation will be held at the Hendersonville Library. Info: 692-0495.

Legacy of Hope at First Congregational United Church of Christ • SA (10/24), 9am-1pm - Nationally recognized teen and family issues expert Susie Vanderlip will portray 8 different youth and adult characters as they address addictions, grief, sexuality and more. The show has been performed in front of 1 million teens. $12/$15 per family. Info: 252-8729.

Toddler Fun A free group that provides an opportunity for parents to have some structured fun with their toddlers including 45 minutes of songs, stories,

(ANDED "ODYWORK FOR !CCELERATED (EALING Medical QiGong Chinese Orthopedic Massage Chi Nei Tsang and much more…

finger-plays, parachute play and more. To register: 213-8098 or shantisunshine@gmail.com.

• TUESDAYS, 9:30am-10:15am - Toddler Fun. At the Reuter YMCA in the Mission Hospitals Room. Call 213-8098 to register.

MORE PARENTING EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Parenting Calendar online at www.mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after October 29.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m. WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

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Reduce • Reuse • Recycle fun fundraisers

From moonshine to fine wine: An evening at Harrah’s for The Rathbun Center Tucked away on a woody Kenilworth Knoll, you’ll find one of the country’s premier hospital-hospitality homes, but chances are good that many Buncombe residents don’t know it exists.

The Rathbun Center provides a home-awayfrom-home for non-Buncombe guests whose loved ones are undergoing intensive treatment and care at nearby Asheville-area hospitals.

Each year, more than 3,000 guests stay at the center, nestled in the Kenilworth woods and

designed to look, feel and operate like a large home. A long waiting list isn’t unusual, so in demand are its free services. With that in mind, the nonprofit center plans to add five rooms to the lower level of the house. And to raise money for the expansion, there’s a fundraiser event: an overnight stay at Harrah’s Casino on Friday, Nov. 6, for an evening of wine tasting, live entertainment, fine hors d’oeuvres and “other palate tempters.”

Benefits Calendar for October 21 - 29, 2009

• FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS (through 10/31), dark-Midnight The trail is located at I-26, exit 5 Campobello, 875 Christopher Road. $10 admission. Proceeds will go to benefit the operations fund of the American Red Cross, Polk County. Info: 289-4191 or 894-2700.

Doubles Tennis Tournament & Benefit • FR (10/23) through SU (10/25) - The first annual tournament, featuring men’s, ladies’ and mixed doubles, will be held at Hendersonville Racquet Club, 88 Oak Creek Ln. Proceeds benefit Hands On!, Hendersonville’s children’s museum.

Register: 693-0040 or www.hendersonvilleracquetclub.com.

Eblen-Kimmel Charities Info: 255-3066 or www.eblencharities.org.

• MO (10/26) - Eblen-Kimmel benefit at 131 Main Restaurant in Biltmore Park. Funds raised will go to help families in their time of need this winter. Info: ext. 11 or sriddle@eblencharities.org.

FENCE Events The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center is located in Tryon.

Free. Info: 859-9021 or www.fence.org.

• FR (10/23) - 25th anniversary gala: “Top Hats and High Boots.” An evening of dining and dancing accompanied by music from Woody Cowan and The Melody Makers and Bill Hague’s The Minor Adjustment.

Fundraiser for Isaac Dickson Elementary • WE (10/21), 6-7:30pm - “Setting Your Kids Up for Success with Feng Shui,” a fundraising seminar for parents. All proceeds will go to Isaac Dickson. Leslie Grotenhuis from Asheville Feng Shui will offer down-to-earth solutions for creating a supportive environment for kids. $20. Info: Leslie@ Ashevillefengshui.com.

Mountain Area Memory Walk • SA (10/24), 1-4pm - Be on the move to end Alzheimer’s.

Join teams from all across WNC in the Mountain Area Memory Walk to benefit the Western Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Info: www.memorywalk09.kintera. org/MountainArea.

The Hunt for Red October A citywide scavenger hunt supporting the Asheville Mountain Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. $25. Register: www.redcrosswnc.org.

• SA (10/24), 10am - Scavenger Hunt: Collect items by solving clues and complete activities around the City of Asheville.

Winners will receive great prizes —- 2:30pm - Oktoberfest Celebration at the Red Cross Chapter headquarters, 100 Edgewood Road.

Used Cell Phone Drive • Through SA (10/31) - Collection boxes at the Lakeview Senior Center, Carver Community Center, Black Mountain Town Hall and the Chamber of Commerce. Through Cellular Recycler, used cell phones will be recycled and 90% of what each phone is worth will go to Lakeview Senior Center programs. Info: 669-8610.

World Cafe Benefit Dinner & Silent Auction

American Cancer Society Relay for Life • SA (10/24), 10am-2pm - 2010 Weaverville Relay Kick Off: Bikers S.O.S. Show or Swap Meet at North Buncombe Middle School. $10 bike show. $10 swap booth. Door prizes, raffle, 50/50, balloons, live music and more. Info: 683-4401 or 768-4401.

Arts Council of Henderson County D. Samuel Neill Gallery hours: Tues.-Fri., 1-5pm and Sat., 1-4pm. Located at 538 N. Main St., 2nd Floor, Hendersonville.

Info: 693-8504 or www.acofhc.org.

• SU (10/25), 4-7pm - Chili-in Out by the Lake fall fundraiser at the Highland Lake Lodge and Spa. Food, entertainment, paddle boating and more. Call or visit the council for tickets.

Proceeds benefit council programming.

Arts For Life A nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives and healthcare experiences of children and adolescents battling cancer and other serious illnesses. Info: www.aflnc.org.

• TH (10/22), 4-8pm & FR & SA (10/23 & 24), 10am-6pm - First annual Arts and Crafts Market at 30 Cedarcliff Road in Biltmore Forest to raise funds for Arts For Life. Pottery, textiles, jewelry and many other art-and-craft items.

Band Aid for DANN • SA (10/24), 1-4pm - A fundraiser at the Grey Eagle Tavern for the Differently Abled News Network. Musicians who are differently abled will share the stage with some of Asheville’s most popular performers: Sons of Ralph, Laura Blackley, Eddie Mahaffey and others. $12. Info: www.dann.cc.

Benefit Yard Sale for Africa Vulnerable Children Project • SA (10/24), 8am-3pm - Huge yard sale to help feed children in Zambia at Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Rd., West Asheville. Turn on to Balm Grove Road between church and Family Dollar. Info: www.livingcompassion.org.

Benefits for Eliada Info: www.eliada.org.

• Through SA (10/31) - “The Castle in the Corn” maze will feature 3 levels of difficulty, family attractions, a hay bale maze for toddlers and more. Open Fri., 4-9pm; Sat., 10am-9pm; and Sun., Noon-6pm. $8/$5 for kids ages 5-12. Info: www. castleinthecorn.com.

• SA (10/24), 9am-1pm - Third Annual Monster Dash 5K. Runners will pass through the “haunted orchard,” an old cemetery, and along the spooky trail before crossing the spider-web finish line. Runners are encouraged to wear familyfriendly costumes. $20. Proceeds will benefit the children and families served by Eliada. Info: www.eliada.org/race.

Children & Family Resource Center of Henderson County Info: www.childrenandfamily.org or 698-0674.

• SA (10/24) - 10th Annual Harvest Dinner With the Stars at the Kenmure Country Club. 6pm - Social hour and cocktails —- 7pm - Dinner. Entertainment will showcase the talent of Henderson County youth. Plus, a live auction. Call for tickets.

Dark Wood Hollow Haunted Trail

Renew!

Tickets are $200 per package, per couple ($250 at the door) and include two tickets to the event, overnight accommodations and transportation for two between a partnered hotel and the event.

For ticket info, call Karen Hultin at The Rathbun, 251-0595. The first $100 is tax-deductible.

— Margaret Williams

• SU (10/25), 5-8:30pm - Join WNC Returned Peace Corps volunteers for a dinner and silent auction at Grace Episcopal, 871 Merrimon Ave. Food by Chef Michael Gentry and a Latin dance demo by Maria and Hector. $20/$10 kids under 12.

Proceeds will go to projects of current PC volunteers from N.C. Info: 658-1748.

MORE BENEFITS EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Benefits Calendar online at www.mountainx. com/events for info on events happening after October 29.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m. WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

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Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat. 12 ‘til about 4 Season ends October 31st 12 Wall St., Asheville • 828-251-0057 www.paultaylorsandals.com

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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greenscene

environmental news by Margaret Williams

Plastic, climate-action filmfest and e-waste Hamming it up for plastic

Did you know that every second, 100 plastic bottles are thrown away in North Carolina? And that one in five plastic bottles doesn’t get recycled? Those are just two reasons state legislators passed a bill that bans plastic bottles from landfills. The law took affect on Oct. 1, and during the following week a few North Buncombe High School students came up with their own way of spreading the word: They creatively adorned themselves with plastic bottles under the premise that when someone asked, “Why are you wearing those bottles on your head?” they’d get a chance to educate.

“We already have a great recycling program here that includes plastic bottles,” says teacher Kay McLeod. “But now it must include all of our plastic bottles.” The school had to develop new collection methods and get the word out, she adds. Later this month, some students will partner with BlackHawk Recycling to make a video for school broadcast.

In related news, the city of Asheville is trying to spread the word that there’s “no need to look at the bottom for the recycling symbol and number. Just remember — the neck must be smaller than the base. Please remove the lid before you recycle.” Plastic tubs — such as yogurt and margarine containers, food trays, deli containers, plant trays, plant pots, plastic furniture, or toys — can’t go into your recycling bins. City officials suggest recycling your clean No. 5 plastic containers by dropping them off at the Greenlife Grocery, which is participating in the Preserve Gimme 5 program, a Boston-based effort to collect No. 5 plastics and turn them into new products such as cutting boards.

For more information on Gimme 5, go to www.preserveproducts. com/gimme5/.

Climate action and films

Climate, water, energy and activism will be the topics du jour at the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival in Asheville on Friday, Oct. 23 at UNC-Asheville.

The event will feature a selection of award-winning short films, including All Points South (which details the environmental threats posed by the paper-manufacturing industry in Chile), Water Front (which examines privatized water issues in Michigan) and Burning the Future: Coal in America.

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and are available at the UNCA Student Environmental Center, Clean Water for N.C. (29 ½ Page Ave.), Diamond Brand Outdoors (2623 Hendersonville Road), West End Bakery (757 Haywood Road) and Luella’s BBQ (501 Merrimon Ave.). For more information about the Oct. 24 event at City Hall, get on the newsletter for updates by e-mailing asheville350@gmail.com with “Subscribe” in your subject line, or check out these links: • Global Web site: www.350.org • Local: www.asheville350.org • Global Twitter: http://twitter.com/350 • Local Twitter: http://twitter.com/avl350 • Global FaceBook: www.facebook.com/350.org • Local http://bit.ly/avl350

Bring us your e-waste

Buncombe County Solid Waste and the Arden Wal-Mart are sponsoring a free electronic-waste recycling event on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Arden WalMart parking lot (60 Airport Road). E-Waste items accepted include TVs, monitors, computers and components, wiring and more. (But be aware: The county can’t accept household appliances, microwaves, smoke detectors, furniture, chemicals, or household or car batteries.)

Many electronic items contain hazardous materials — heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury, for example. In fact, because of the toxins found in many of Plastic hams: North Buncombe High School students Lowell these electronic devices, the Buncombe County Landfill Capobianco and Brian Clubb ham it up to raise awareness only collects unwanted electronic equipment from resiabout a new state law banning plastic in landfills. dents on most Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (the service is free photo courtesy N. Buncombe High with proof of residency, but business owners are assessed a fee and must call ahead). Various components used in electronic equipment, such as glass, metals and plastic, can “Most people don’t realize what an enormous impact the actually be recycled into other products. E-waste also conenergy industry has on North Carolina’s waters,” says tains such valuable materials as gold, platinum and silver, Gracia O’Neill, assistant director of Clean Water for N.C., all of which can be recovered by recyclers, thus creating an a nonprofit that is co-hosting the film event. She men- economic benefit from recycling e-waste material. tions recent findings about toxins seeping from coal-ash Any Buncombe County business, school, government retaining ponds in the state, urging residents and students agency, organization or resident is welcome to bring alike to attend the event, which will also feature speakers unwanted electronic equipment to the Oct. 24 event. If you such as local civil-rights activist Isaac Coleman and anti- have any questions, call Leslie O’Connor at 301-1946 or nuclear-power activist Mary Olson.

Kristy Smith at 250-5473. X The event also jump-starts the International Day of Climate Action, which in Asheville will include a rally at Send your environmental news to mvwilliams@mountainx.

City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Tickets for the film event are $10 (or $5 with student I.D.) com or call 251-1333, ext. 152.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

Eco Calendar for October 21 - 29, 2009 Asheville GreenWorks Our area’s Keep America Beautiful affiliate, working to clean and green the community through environmental volunteer projects. Info: 254-1776, info@ashevillegreenworks.org or www.ashevillegreenworks.org.

• TUESDAYS (through 11/24), Noon Lunchtime Litter Walks. Meet at Pritchard Park.

We’ll choose a new route each time to pick up litter for a one-hour period. Supplies are provided. Call or e-mail volunteers@ashevillegreenworks.org.

City Seeks Participation in Recycling Contest • Through SA (10/31) - The City of Asheville is participating in the “Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge,” competing with cities of the same size for up to $5,000 in awards. Help the city win by recycling aluminum cans in bins and at the recycling drop-off centers. Info: 2511122 or www.ashevillenc.gov/sanitation.

ECO Events The Environmental and Conservation Organization is dedicated to preserving the natural heritage of Henderson County and the mountain region as an effective voice of the environment. Located at 121 Third Ave. West, Hendersonville. Info: 692-0385 or www.ecownc.org.

• SA (10/24), 2pm - ECO Annual Meeting for Members and Friends at Historic Johnson Farm.

The afternoon will start with a hike, followed by a town-hall discussion with ECO staff and board members and a vote for ECO’s future board.

Electronic Waste Recycling Event • SA (10/24), 9am-3pm - Buncombe County businesses, schools, government agencies and/or residents are welcome to bring unwanted electronic equipment to the Arden Wal-Mart, 60 Airport Road, for free recycling. E-Waste items include: TVs, computers, wiring and more. Info: 250-5473.

Green Building Seminars Free and open to the public. Info: 215-9064.

• Last SUNDAYS, 2-4pm - Seminar at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville. Free refreshments provided. Call to RSVP. International 350 Project/Climate Action Events The 350 Project is about citizens joining together to urge world leaders to take bold steps to reduce carbon emissions (350 parts per million is the most carbon dioxide we can safely have in the atmosphere: The current CO2 concentration is approaching 390 ppm). Info: www.asheville350.org or www.350.org.

• FR (10/23), 7pm - Ten short films will be featured at the 2009 Wild and Scenic Environmental

Film Festival. Topics will include global environmental justice, the impact of energy production and more. Held in UNCA’s Humanities Lecture Hall. $10/$5 students. Info: www.cwfnc.org or 251-1291.

• SA (10/24), 2-4pm - An Asheville 350 gathering will be held in the park in front of Asheville City Hall (one of more than 1,850 simultaneous events in happening in 150 countries). Their will be family-friendly activities, an address by keynote speakers Robin Cape, Isaac Coleman and Mary Olson, and a group photo, which will act as a “visual petition” to diplomats and delegates the world over.

Mountain WILD The mission of Mountain WILD is to preserve and increase wildlife and the wildlife habitat of the WNC mountains through stewardship, education, conservation and restoration of natural resources. Meetings are held at the WNC Nature Center classroom and are free and open to all ages. Info: 338-0035 or info@mountainwild.org.

• TU (10/27), 7-8:30pm - Gary Kauffman, National Forest Service botanist/ecologist, will describe the diverse number of botanical products harvested from the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests for medicinal, culinary, horicultural and decorative use. Hear about recent regulatory changes, monitoring activities, restoration and possible management.

Wild Birds Unlimited Events Located at 1997 Hendersonville Road, Asheville.

Info: 687-9433 or www.asheville.wbu.com.

• SA (10/24), 8am - Birdwalk at the Orchard, Altapass, in Mitchell County. Meet at the Loops Overlook, milepost 328. Info: CrabillV@aol.com —- 9am - Transylvania County Bird Club’s fall birdwalk. Info: mbarg@citcom.net.

WNC Nature Center Located at 75 Gashes Creek Rd. Hours: 10am5pm daily. Admission: $8/$6 Asheville City residents/$4 kids. Info: 298-5600 or www. wildwnc.org.

• SA (10/24), 1-8pm - Howl-O-Ween. Enjoy warm cider, snacks, crafts, a costume contest, the creepy crawler cabin and slithering stories. $6.

MORE ECO EVENTS ONLINE

Check out the Eco Calendar online at www. mountainx.com/events for info on events happening after October 29.

CALENDAR DEADLINE

The deadline for free and paid listings is 5 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, one week prior to publication.

Questions? Call (828)251-1333, ext. 365

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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food

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ BEST OF WNC â&#x20AC;˘ mountainx.com

Deceptively pretty mass-produced desserts have done a great job raising dinersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also corroded their sugarcoated instincts.

In the late 1980s, a certain ubiquitous restaurant-supply company started hawking fully loaded cheesecakes and candy-stuccoed tortes. (Remember Snickers Pie?) It looked great under glass: Every mathematically presliced piece was exactly the same size as the last. And, thanks to pork lard and heaps of preservatives, it stayed â&#x20AC;&#x153;freshâ&#x20AC;? forever. The artful fondant swirls and buttercream rosettes never melted.

Such fancy-dessert wholesalers gradually expanded and updated their repertoire, so chain and indie eateries alike can today pass off these ersatz confections as house specialties. But factory-prepared goodies, no matter how pretty, are also pretty tasteless. It takes only one bite of an authentic dessert to reorient oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taste buds to the real thing.

Enter Roz Taubman, owner of The Black Bird Restaurant, an upscale farm-to-tablestyle tavern in Black Mountain. Taubmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been running restaurants for 30 years, but her background as a pastry chef continues to flavor her establishments. Her creations have been featured in Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines, and although The Black Bird has only been open about two months, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s already experienced large parties making return visits just for dessert.

The Black Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Southern Custard Coconut Cake is positively gothic, golden-flavored and rich enough to make one cast about for a fainting couch. Lighter appetites will favor the wholesome hat trick dubbed Apple, Pear and Sour Cherry Crisp, which tastes as fresh and seasonal as it sounds.

But profoundly afflicted sweet tooths like mine can only go for Taubmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning Triple Mocha Mousse Torte, which unfolds like a good story in masterfully plotted layers of density, with a lushly impenetrable deep-chocolate-pastry-crust finale.

Taubman admits her situation is unique.

Because sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the owner, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s willing to come in at 6 a.m. and work her magic until the rest of the Black Bird crew, including executive chef Bobby Buggia, arrives to start prepping lunch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay someone to do what I do,â&#x20AC;? she points out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labor-intensive, and it costs a lot of money, which is why so many restaurants rely on frozen desserts. Also, most executive chefs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like making pastry. But I think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sad state. The exceptional restaurant should emphasize pastry as much as entrĂŠes.â&#x20AC;?

Chef Vincent Donatelli, a 27-year veteran of resort-level dining, including a stint at Orlandoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Universal Studios, heads the Baking and Pastry portion of A-B Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning culinary program. Via e-mail between classes, the local instructor shares his own thoughts on the vagaries of the industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over the last 10 to 15 years, quite a

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mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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We Bring the World To Your Table Istanbul, Cairo, Lebanon & The Holy Land THe Best Fresh Seafood & Steaks Ever!

Downtown Asheville • 78 Patton Ave. (828)254-0255 • www.jerusalemgardencafe.com

7DWLVI\ =RXU 7HQVHV Fresh ingredients, authentic recipes Elegant dining that’s relaxed & affordable Lunch buffet offered 7 days/week Full bar & Indian beers 156 S. Tunnel Rd. (Overlook Village across from Best Buy) 298-5001 • IndiaGardenOnline.com • Open 7 days for lunch & dinner

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Lunch: 11:30 - 3 Mon.-Fri. • 12 -3 Sat. & Sun. • Dinner: 5 - 10 Sun.-Thur. • 5 - 10:30 Fri. & Sat.

• Healthy choices – like brown rice and soy bean paper for sushi rolls • We use only fresh local produce • Big selection of sake • FREE birthday dessert

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OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009 • BEST OF WNC • mountainx.com

few smaller operations have not required the services of pastry chefs because of the cost factor,” he agrees. “There have been quite a few companies that have produced and made available frozen desserts and breads.”

Chef Donatelli even says that “some of these products are very good.”

However, so many eateries have relied on these services that he now believes restaurants “are getting tired of the same items being sold by purveyors with very little variety to make their [place] different.” Shifts in upscale eating now have foodies favoring “lighter, airy, unique and different flavors, [desserts that] incorporate culinary food and herb ingredients, along with utilizing local ingredients.”

Another major trend is the natural-foods supermarket, where the push for fresh/local/ sophisticated competes with the inherent complexities of retail. In Asheville, Greenlife Grocery and both Earth Fares display a handsome array of desserts in their respective pastry cases. But the Raspberry Pots de Creme and Ginger Florentine cookies aren’t designed as a last course to be savored after a leisurely dinner. They’re made to move — the top items in a stack of carryout containers toted by savvy gourmands on the run.

The results are sometimes right-on, sometimes a little off. (Blandness was the most common fault in the six desserts I sampled.)

Standouts include Greenlife’s ether-light Chocolate Mint Mousse Cake, which also happens to be gluten-free, and a particularly memorable Orange Truffle torte made at the West Asheville Earth Fare. Pat Burns, who works at the latter venue, reveals that a few of the store’s desserts come from regional wholesalers. But such products must adhere to the grocery store’s healthy-food ethics, which means they’re free of preservatives or artificial ingredients.

Even the pressures of volume output won’t alter certain standards, he says, explaining: “We never sell anything that isn’t absolutely part of our ideology.” And starting this fall, adds Burns, just about everything — includ-

ing seasonal fruit pies — will be made inhouse.

Another challenge is answering the needs of the healthy shopper while still keeping desserts, well, desserty. Put another way: Does spelt carrot cake really belong in the same case as tiramisu?

“We like to think we maintain a good compromise,” says Burns. And Donatelli tips the debate with a light touch: “Something simple and fresh, done right, will always catch my eye and palate.”

According to Taubman, “Good food should go through every course. It’s always proven a success story for me.” X Melanie McGee Bianchi writes for a number of regional and national outlets. She has always wanted to be a pastry chef, but is unable to compute fractions in her head.

The Black Bird Restaurant: A New American Tavern

Upscale-casual/regional. 10 East Market St., Black Mountain; open Tue.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (Bar open late.) Sunday brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 669-5556. www. theblackbirdrestaurant.com

Earth Fare Market & Café

Natural-foods supermarket. 66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, open daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m., (828) 253-7656; 1856 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, open Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sun. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 210-0100. www.earthfare.com

Greenlife Grocery

Natural-foods supermarket.

70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville; open daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m. 254-5440. www.greenlifegrocery.com

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FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATE LOUNGE: With so many chocolate lovers looking to linger at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, which has emerged as the downtown-Asheville dessert place since the demise of Old Europe, the café had little choice but to add more seating. French Broad’s second floor, featuring nearly three-dozen additional seats, debuted last month. Owners Jael and Dan Rattigan also plan to soon furnish an adjoining rear room as a private dining area.

But no matter where patrons are seated, the Rattigans are hoping they’ll take advantage of the café’s newest menu item: espresso. While the restaurant has always offered French-press coffee, it recently added a Marzocco espresso maker to its inventory, so customers can now order cappuccinos and lattes to match their brownies and truffles.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge, at 10 S. Lexington Ave., is open Sunday, 1 to 9 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight. For more information, call 252-4181.

BUFFALO WILD WINGS: A fried-chicken-wing chain with a stated aim of establishing 1,000 outlets nationwide is moving one store closer to its goal with the opening of an Asheville location. Buffalo Wild Wings, a 27-year-old franchise headquartered in Minneapolis, has hung its shingle outside the 4 Tunnel Road building previously occupied by Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchen. According to its Web site, Buffalo Wild Wings — affectionately

known to fans as B-Dub’s — annually serves 62 million wings in 14 signature flavors, including parmesan garlic, Asian zing and mango habanero.

RAW FOOD: Raw, raw, raw! That might just be the rallying cry of raw-food guru Matt Monarch and his new bride, Angela Stokes-Monarch, whose Web site proclaims she lost 160 pounds by switching to a raw-foods diet. The Monarchs will be the couple-in-residence at an upcoming “raw food extravaganza” in Asheville, jointly hosted by local businesses Selina Naturally and UliMana. In addition to lectures by the couple, the evening program on Friday, Oct. 30, includes a rawfood dinner catered by Greenlife and an afterparty with music by Arundas. The extravaganza, at 4 Celtic Drive in Arden, runs from 4 to 11 p.m.; tickets for the entire event are $50, with tickets for the post-dinner portion of the program available at half price. For reservations, call 867-7258.

GROVE PARK INN: Gingerbread houses aren’t just for oohing, ahhing and — eventually — eating: The Grove Park Inn this year is coordinating an educational tour around its holiday gingerbread-house competition, taking guests “behind the scenes” to learn more about gingerbread construction. The “Stories of Gingerbread” tour will be offered Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., starting Nov. 23. The ticket price of $10 for adults and $5 for children includes a commemorative lapel pin. For reservations, call 252-2711, ext. 4094.

Send your food news to food@mountainx.com

mountainx.com • BEST OF WNC • OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 27, 2009

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