Mountain Xpress

01/09/2025

Our latest issue is out and available at newsstands. Along with our cover story on Asheville Quits, a local Ni****ne Anonymous program, this week's issue also features:

- 💲An in-depth look at the financial challenges services workers are experiencing, post-Helene

- 👨‍🎓 The lessons educators have taken into their classrooms from the ongoing recovery efforts

- ❤️‍🩹 A look at the Barnardsville community, three months after the storm

- 🧑‍🎨 Bender Gallery's upcoming exhibit spotlighting displaced RAD artists

- 🎼 Dirty Logic's upcoming hometown show

- And more!

01/07/2025

Attention local teens, kids and educators: The deadline for submitting entries for the 2025 Mountain Xpress Kids Issues is coming up. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 31.

Each March, Xpress publishes two Kids Issues to highlight the creative work of our local K-12 students. The issues offer a great way to both engage students and also bring some positive attention to the schools. The theme for this year's issues is “Who or what inspires you?” and we would love for your students to participate.

You can find all the information about the contest, including submission guidelines and how to enter in the link below:

Attention, local kids and teens: Who or what inspires you? What is the most inspirational thing you experienced in the last year? Who is your hero? Once you have an idea, it’s time to get creative, then share your work for possible publication in Xpress’ Kids Issues! The theme for 2025 is “Who...

01/03/2025

Our annual Humor Issue has arrived. Which means if you’ve been contemplating the shenanigans that await downtown Asheville’s 24/7 single-stall restroom (also known as the Portland Loo) in 2025 … well, you’re in luck. 

Yes, that’s right! This week’s issue is loaded to the brim with bold predictions for 2025, questionable relationship advice, an exploration into the mysterious graffiti artist known only as Dadbod and, of course, an in-depth look at our area’s prepper community and how they’re doing in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. 

Naturally, none of the information presented within this week’s Humor section is truthful, accurate or real. So please keep this in mind as you laugh, cringe and/or chuckle at any given piece. And, if you happen to be a local representative or industry leader featured in the Humor Issue, just know it’s all in good fun. 

I want to give a big thanks to contributing writers Edwin Arnaudin, Eric Brown and Cayla Clark for penning the majority of the laughs. Our design team also did an amazing job creating graphics to accompany many of the stories' ridiculous scenarios. And cartoonist Brent Brown brought his A-game yet again with this year's cover and comic strip.

We'll put the jokes aside in next week's issue. But for now, we hope you enjoy and appreciate a little laughter to start off the new year. 

Cheers, 

Thomas Calder, managing editor

📸 By Gina Smith
Cover by

12/19/2024

Every year, Xpress publishes its annual Give!Local Guide — a campaign to raise funds and awareness for 52 worthy local nonprofits while making philanthropy simple, fun and rewarding.

This year's run concludes Tuesday, Dec. 31, which means there is still time to give.

As our community continues to recover from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene — unprecedented in so many ways — we encourage our readers who are in a position to help to join forces and dig deep. The needs this year may be greater than in previous years, and by giving together, we can make a difference. Please visit givelocalguide.org today. 

Oh, and it's worth noting that those who donate $25 or more qualify for a voucher book of coupons good at local businesses.

I'd like to thank our sponsors, Ingles and First Bank, for supporting the Give!Local initiative. And thanks to all who have or plan to donate.

Happy holidays,

— Lisa Watters, Give!Local coordinator

12/17/2024

Every December, Xpress acknowledges our planet’s latest journey around the sun with our annual Year in Review. In past editions, the tradition has involved a series of questions on a variety of local topics directed at a large number of community members and elected leaders.

But this time around we switched things up, creating a month-by-month recap to spotlight the people and events that made headlines in 2024. In part, we figured it might help folks remember what life was like before Tropical Storm Helene's disastrous arrival and unforgiving impact on Western North Carolina. 

Of course, you’ll also find that the final three months of Xpress' Year in Review showcases our community’s ongoing resilience and support of one another during these difficult and challenging times.

I am incredibly grateful to our news team for combing through our 2024 coverage to help make this happen. And I want to give a big shoutout to our design team for going all in on reimagining what our paper could look like. Because, let me tell you, this week’s Year in Review is like nothing you’ve previously seen in our publication.

Be sure to grab a copy, as it truly is a wonderful way to remember what we’ve been through as a community. It hasn’t been an easy year — neither pre- nor post-Helene. But we’ve had our moments of triumph and joy, just as we’ve had our share of devastation and loss.

Through it all, I’ll tell you this: There’s no other community I’d rather be a part of as we march ahead into the next chapter of this often strange, sometimes beautiful and always complicated journey that is the collective human experience.

Thanks for helping make Asheville what it is,

-- Thomas Calder, managing editor

12/08/2024

Check out some of the many wonderful performances from yesterday's Black Mountain Christmas Parade.

12/05/2024

In this week's Arts & Culture section, Edwin Arnaudin provides an update on Marquee. The space, which opened three years ago in the River Arts District's Foundation Studios community, was home to more than 300 artists, makers, antique dealers and small-business owners. Submerged by 15 feet of water during the storm, nearly all of Marquee's inventory was compromised, lost or destroyed.

But Robert Nicholas, the shop's co-founder and owner, says he's not ready to throw in the towel on either the business or its location. “I've heard from so many of the artists and vendors who've said, 'I'll be the first to sign up [if you reopen]',” he tells Xpress. “It's been very encouraging.”  

Grab this week's issue for more.

📸 by .calder

12/03/2024

Across Asheville, retailers and artists are collaborating to create innovative pop-up events to support local shops displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. On this week’s cover, Abigail Riley, left, co-owner of the Biltmore Village business Finch Grocery, is pictured with Wall Street retailer Hannah Schauer, general manager of L’Optique. Finch Grocery, demolished by flooding, is operating inside Schauer’s business as part of Miracle on Wall Street. 

In this issue, you'll also find:

Destroyed athletic facilities leave local sports leagues searching for new homes

Asheville businesses pick up the pieces post-Helene

Carmen Atwater discusses the impact Helene has had on local bees

Mission Health permanently shutters Asheville Specialty Hospital

Grab your copy today.

Cover 📸 by

12/02/2024

Attention, local kids and teens: Who or what inspires you? What is the most inspirational thing you experienced in the last year? Who is your hero?

Once you have an idea, it’s time to get creative, then share your work for possible publication in Xpress’ Kids Issues! The theme for 2025 is “Who or what inspires you?”

Each March, Mountain Xpress publishes the colorful, engaging work of Western North Carolina’s K-12 students. There is no fee to enter for possible publication, and the deadline for submissions is Friday, Jan. 31.

See website for more details. For additional questions, email [email protected], and one of our staffers will get back in touch.

11/27/2024

Our latest issue is out now. Grab a free copy today.

11/22/2024

Happy Friday, WNC.

11/20/2024

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) sent out a press release noting that their team has released the orphaned female bear who went viral earlier this year when a group of people were filmed pulling the creature out of a tree in order to hug and take selfies with the cub. It is illegal in North Carolina to possess or keep a black bear cub. According to the press release, this was the ninth cub rehabilitated and released by NCWRC in 2024.

11/19/2024

Our latest issue is out now. Along with updates on post-Helene recovery, it includes several stories about local nonprofits.

Be sure to grab a copy today.

📸 by

11/12/2024

Our latest issue is on newsstands now.

Of course, we are also now offering home delivery. This is a great way to stay informed AND support local, community-focused journalism.

See our website for more info.

11/10/2024

The community came out today to celebrate the River Arts District. The celebration continues tomorrow.

11/05/2024

Polls close at 7:30 p.m. If you need info on local races or general voting info, head to our website.

10/31/2024

Downtown Asheville is hosting a Halloween Block Party tonight, 4-7 p.m. Throughout the district, local businesses will be handing out candy to trick-or-treaters. are already out delivering goods.

Parking remains free in all city garages and on-street parking spaces.