AVL LIFE

5 Questions with Tropical Indie Rockers The Hip Abduction
The Florida-based, indie afro-pop band The Hip Abduction will be playing a free after-party this Saturday, August 19 at New Mountain Asheville. We were able to sit down with the guitarist and vocalist to learn more about the band and what to expect from the show.

Why Ignoring Race Isn’t the Solution
I read articles about how people of color are being systematically killed, discriminated against, treated poorly, living in awful conditions, are being mocked at ignorant parties, aren’t being evenly represented in the media…it bothers me.

The 2015 #MayorOfBrwegrass Has Been Chosen!
Many entered their photos, 5 were chosen as finalists, and the people got to vote and pick a winner. Congratulations to Emily Young Hopson for being 2015's Mayor Of Brewgrass! Brewgrass goes down this Saturday, September 19th.

Franny + Her Farm > An Asheville Dream
Read about how a woman turned her dream into her reality, establishing Franny's Farm – one of the amazing organic farms in our area and home to the ever-expanding Asheville Barnaroo music festival taking place September 26-27.

From Beer Belly to Six Pack
Have you seen that meme floating around the web? The one that says “Abs are cool, but have you tried craft beer?” Let it be known that you don’t always have to choose between maintaining your girlish figure and indulging at your favorite brewery!

Vote for the #MayorOfBrewgrass!
Dozens of people tagged their Instagram photos all in an attempt to become #MayorOfBrewgrass 2015. We picked the 5 finalists, and now you get to vote and decide who takes the coveted title. Brewgrass will be here before you know it!

Versona Grand Opening
I had a great opportunity to visit Versona last week. It's a new women’s clothing and accessories shop on Tunnel Road located a few doors down from Whole Foods. I enjoy seeing this part of Tunnel Road continue to grow and change.

5 Things to Know About the New Belgium Clips Beer + Film Tour
New Belgium Brewing’s annual Clips Beer & Film Tour is making the 12th stop of its 2015 circuit in Asheville this Friday, September 4. The free and family-friendly event will let you sit under the stars, take in films, and sample brews – all for charity.

Behind the Bars: The Legend That Lurks at Highland Hospital
On March 11, 1948, the striking oranges and reds that lit up the nighttime Asheville sky did not belong to the beauty of a sunset. They belonged to a fire that engulfed not only a portion of the Highland Hospital complex, but left a celebrated icon forever lost in flames.

5 Things You May Not Know About the Recent Llama Drama
In case you missed it, a llama named Phantom got loose last week in Arden, leading to a madcap three-hour chase that ultimately got the elusive pet back home safe and turned him into an impromptu media phenomenon.

Do YOU Want to be #MayorOfBrewGrass?
Do you love all things about craft brews? Do you know the difference between Pale Ale and IPA? Are you ready for the beer adventure of a lifetime? Then you just might have what it takes to be Mayor Of Brewgrass!

New + Improved Asheville Pinball Museum
This month marks the second anniversary of the Asheville Pinball Museum – and they’re in their second location! The APM moved a few months ago, to allow for more customers and just as important, more pinball machines.

#MeatlessMondays >> at VeganFest 2015
Nappy Natural Girl herself, Aisha Adams, decided to bring her family to the inaugural Asheville VeganFest on Sunday, August 16. She highlights just some of her favorite area businesses producing compassionate foods.

Looks For Less Fashion Blogger Challenge: Some Romper Saved My Life Tonight
My mission was to create an outfit from any combination of stores at the Asheville Outlets for $100 or less and then shake my blog thing about it. This is how Backstage Sass rocks a fashion challenge.

Ne-Hi Brings Their Fresh Blend of Summer Rock to the Mothlight
Chicago four-piece Ne-Hi’s songs bubble with energy not unlike those of the Paisley Underground or R.E.M., but mixed with the jangle-punk of the early Flying Nun scene.

Business Casual + My Asheville Workplace Identity
When I signed on to do the "Look for Less Challenge" with The Asheville Outlets, we were given the challenge to create a back-to-school or a professional look as we move into a new season. I love the idea.

Angela Kim + The Shape of Visibility
Designer Angela Kim explains what it means to create visibility through the various shapes of fashion and what it was like to show at the 1st ever Asheville Fashion Week.

Fight For Your Right to Vote
The Orange Peel is hosting a dance party on Friday, August 14 to raise funds for Democracy NC fighting to protect the voting rights of all North Carolinians. Grab some friends and your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie for Democracy.

Asheville's First Ever Fashion Week: This is Why We Can Totally Have Nice Things
The music is booming, the soundsystem in The Millroom pleasingly righteous. But I’m not here for a gig or to have drinks with some hot drummer I just met. It’s Asheville’s nascent Fashion Week.

Asheville Ink > Meet the Artist: Shannon Schober
Local artist Shannon Schober shares his history as a tattoo artist and the stories he's inked along the way as well as personal inspiration, with roots of American tattoo tracing back to a WNC textile worker.

5 Things To Know About the 5Point Film Festival
The 5Point Film Festival is making its Asheville debut August 14-15 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium and promises to be more than just films about the outdoors. Lean more about what this unique event is all about and why you should check it out.

#MeatlessMonday >> Neo Burrito
The food is good. I mean, it tastes good, but the ingredients themselves are good for you too. Neo Burrito only offers ingredients that are locally grown and/or organic. Another plus is the food is still very reasonably priced.

Psych Pop Band Ancient Warfare Play The Mothlight August 5
Kentucky bred band, Ancient Warefare, is making their Asheville debut this week, in promotion of their new LP. In anticipation of their show coming up on Wednesday, I was able to ask them a few questions to get to know them and their music a little better.

#MeatlessMonday >> Medea’s Espresso & Juice Bar
Have you ever been to Medea’s in South Asheville? It is a cozy little cafe-style juice bar located off of Long Shoals Road. If not, you should definitively try incorporating it in your “Meatless Monday.” Medea’s is great for so many reasons.

Asheville Fashion Week's Youngest Designer >> Tricia Ellis
Tricia Ellis, the youngest designer in the inaugural Asheville Fashion Week, will be presenting her first line, a collection of ten looks all stitched and designed entirely by her. Find out her inspiration and what this opportunity means to her.

The Business of KatDog Couture
What do you get when you bring mass customization and private labels to a local level? Fashion designer Kati Foster may have found the answer by putting a twist on mass customization and private labels by taking them down to a local level.

West Africans + Asheville Locals = Dance Party For All
Fiending for some cultural diversity this summer? Well, in the next few weeks there are some amazing African musicians from the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, and Burkina Faso performing with Asheville musicians from Toubab Krewe and Zansa.

Dear Moog...Love, Asheville
Thanks for the $14 mil­lion in eco­nomic activity. But, maybe Asheville would be even more thank­ful if Moog would have planned for the future and cre­ated an Asheville-appropriate event that could have been su­ccess­ful year after year.

#MeatlessMonday >> Your neighborhood Ingles
I wouldn’t have suggested “Meatless Monday” if snacks weren’t involved. I don’t know about you, but I am all about the snackage. I like grown people snacks though. Carrot sticks w/dressing or 12 grapes and apple slices don’t do anything for my hunger or attitude.

Futuristic Sexy Soul Sound: An Interview with BomBassic
Asheville's BomBassic is on the threshold of greatness as the word continues to spread about their performances. I sat down with the guys to talk about the trajectory of their relationship, the development of their sound, and all of the exciting things on the horizon for them.

LEAF's Funky Cocktail Crawl
From July 17-31, the LEAF Funky Cocktail Crawl is bringing the groove back to Asheville. Each participating restaurant or bar is competing to create the most far-out cocktail this side of funky town - and YOU get to determine who wins.

Asheville Featured in New Video
In this latest video from the Climate Listening Project we aim to encourage the kind dialogue which Pope Francis recently called for. Communities of faith have a significant role at the heart of many of these conversations and hopefully this video can help kick-start meaningful dialogues.

Greetings + Such
First, it’s probably best to introduce a few things about myself and why I’m doing this: I was born in Asheville and raised 45 minutes away in a town called Brevard. To be honest, I hated living in Brevard and fled as early as possible to go live in and travel throughout various countries.

#MeatlessMonday >> Elements Real Food
Have you heard of Elements Real Food on Liberty Avenue? They specialize in cold pressed juice, smoothies, superfood nut milks, raw vegan food and desserts. It is one of the freshest vegan spots in Asheville.

Holiday Liquor + Dance Party > Summer Luau Edition
What started as a bunch of college buddies getting together to throw a Holiday party in a garage has grown into what some have called "The Best Dance Party in Asheville," and it's having a Summer Luau Edition.

RBTS WIN Likely to Win My Heart @ Isis July 11
The sonic lovechild of Javier Bolea and Cliff B. Worsham, RBTS WIN, formed in 2008 and soon found a groove that reflected both their shared musical interests as well as their distinctive origins. They bring their electro-soul back home when they play Isis on July 11.

Dispatches From the B.A.D. | Kevin Miyazaki @ Window (Re/production | Re/presentation)
Over the course of two days (July 8th + 9th), Milwaukee artist Kevin Miyazaki will create a series of portraits of members of the Asheville community, which will be formed into a gridded composite image to be on view from July 10 through October 30, 2015.

Educating the Next Generation of Brewers
Get to know Brewmaster and Professor at AB Tech’s Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast, Jeff "Puff" Irvin, whose goals include developing mind control, becoming a Bond villain, and placing students all over the country so he can always have free beer.

Mela Hosting Benefit for Local Teacher
Upon learning of her stark cancer diagnosis, Mela restaurant regular Laurie Joens approached owner Anoop Krishnan with a request to host a benefit in the endless effort to raise money for medical expenses related to her ongoing cancer treatment.

#MeatlessMonday >> Plant in Asheville
Meatless Monday can be chic and ethical if you have reservations at Plant. Plant was recently named by PETA as one of the best vegan restaurants, and it has received similar accolades from Men’s Journal and Lusty Vegan...I literally jumped for joy when Plant invited my family out for dinner.

MISPRINTS: A Group Exhibition @ the Asheville Area Arts Council
The Asheville Area Arts Council is hosting "MISPRINTS: A Group Exploration into Printmaking, Craft, and Design" curated by and featuring Andy Herod along with 16 other Asheville area artists and crafts people. The opening reception is Friday, July 3rd.

Brewing Up A Storm with Katie Smith
At 23, she became one of Asheville's youngest brewers, inspired by a family love of beer and the local scene paved by Highland Brewing. Learn about Katie Smith of Twin Leaf Brewing in Asheville's South Slope.

BomBassic Headlines BEAT LIFE @ the Mothlight June 27
BomBassic headlines this month’s BEAT LIFE show at The Mothlight, happening on June 27. The evening promises to be another experience to remember brought to you by the Asheville Beat Tape Collective, a group of artists and producers who are at the forefront of innovation in sound.

UPDATE > King Sunny Adé Show Cancelled
The King Sunny Adé​ show that was scheduled for Wednesday, June 24 at New Mountain has unfortunately been cancelled leaving lovers of African music heartbroken. Check out the original post about his music, legacy, and about the show that truly should have been.

Jaga Jazzist Plays New Mountain Tuesday June 23
Ultimately unclassifiable, Jaga Jazzist's music, which has been alternately regarded as nu jazz, acid jazz, electronica, and post-rock, is infectious. Characterized by the creative melding of sounds across genres, performances are energetic, virtuosic, and not to be missed.

Let's Agree
That you have one day to respond to a text without becoming dead to the recipient; one hour for a sext, half-hour for a sext with nude attached; allowances made for legitimate excuses such as being actually on fire.

People Have the Answers, So Listen: Tap Into the Creative Capacity of Your Organization
On June 19, there will be a one day workshop meant to provide a hands-on introduction and overview for both practitioners and organizations in Asheville interested in learning how Dynamic Facilitation can stimulate creative conversations across differences.

How To: 5 Bear Safety Tips
The recent bear attack involving campers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a stark reminder that black bears aren't the cuddly critters they're sometimes mistaken for. Here are some tips we can all put into practice to promote safety as we enjoy the mountains!

CUSSES to Rock The Odditorium June 14
CUSSES is a trio of musicians with one main goal; to play really loud music. This Georgia based band brings their bold mix of metal and grunge to The Odditorium on June 14. Get ready to rock your face off.

"The Merchant of Asheville" at The Magnetic Theatre
In its new “locally sourced comedy,” The Magnetic Theatre is again daring, experimental, and thought-provoking. 'The Merchant of Asheville' runs through July 4 at the company's new permanent home, Magnetic 375.