Leonard Cohen @ Thomas Wolfe Auditorium

Repower America

Ingrid Michaelson @ the Grey Eagle

Unknown Hinson @ the Grey Eagle

Christmas at Biltmore

Trashy Mummies in Asheville

Warren G @ the Orange Peel: 'Regulate'

Happy Birthday, Rev. Billy Graham

From CBNNews.com.

From the Charlotte Observer:

Friends and family say Graham's mind is alert, but that various ailments have left him physically fragile. He relies on a walker for balance and has trouble hearing. Macular degeneration has dimmed his eyesight.

Staff members read to him from the Bible and from various newspapers. The Rev. Don Wilton of First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, S.C., where Graham is a member, visits weekly.

Graham, who preached to 210 million people in 185 countries during the heyday of his international crusades, remains an avid fan of TV newscasts and CNN's "Larry King Live." He is pursuing writing projects, namely a book on aging. Its tentative title: "Nearing Home."

Season's Greetings from WLOS, circa 1982

Here's a great photo from loyal reader Kathi. Click here to see a larger version of the photo. I'll let Kathi tell you more about it:

Hey Jason – Thought your readers might enjoy this photo I recently dug up from my days as Promotion Manager at WLOS. This was taken in 1982 (yikes) and you’ll see there are some familiar faces still there today: Darcel Grimes, Stan Pamfilis, Sherrill Barber, and recently retired Bob Caldwell. For those who’ve been around a while, there are some others people may recognize: Lisa Clark from PM Magazine, weatherman Bob Becker, anchors Deborah Furr, Jerry Mayer and Larry Wheeler. And of course, Mort Cohn!

There are plenty of off-camera staffers who are still there and in this picture, and a bunch of others like myself who used to work there and are still in town. However, but you won’t find me in this picture. I was up on a ladder directing people – this was the station’s Christmas card and it was my department’s responsibility to produce it. Longtime WLOS production man Skeet Plemmons, also a commercial photographer – and who’s still at the station – took the picture.

Cheers!

Kathi

Ashvegas reader asks: What's the latest with Sweet Rock Candy Mountain?

Here's the note from loyal reader Michael:

I've driven by the location where they are supposed to be for a while now and I just noticed that they are not open and their sign is now off the building. Have you heard if they changed their mind or the deal fell through? Their website and facebook page are still active but there doesn't seem to be any word. I know you had reported they'd be open by oct 1. Would love to know, their menu and location looked promising.

Anybody heard any new information?

Merrimon Avenue happenings: Work on the former location of The Hop has started; and sign says Sisters McMullin moving to old Domino's building

A few more tips from loyal readers and what they're seeing:

- Work has been going on at the old location of the hop on merrimon- would love to know whats being planned for that space.

- A sign in the window of the long-abandoned Domino's pizza building on North Merrimon says The Sisters McMullin Bakery is coming to that location.That's according to the signage...Anybody else heard that news?

Anybody got any details?

Waldenbooks to close store at Biltmore Square Mall

Another blow to the Biltmore Square Mall. Press release here:

As part of Borders Group's ongoing strategy to right-size its Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment and emerge with a smaller, more profitable mall chain in fiscal 2010, the retailer will close approximately 200 mall stores in January, leaving approximately 130 mall-based locations open. A list of mall stores expected to close is included in this news release and has been posted at www.borders.com/waldenstorelist.

The list is not final and is subject to change pending finalization of agreements over the coming weeks. Importantly, today's announcement regarding the mall business does not include Borders superstores or the company's seasonal mall kiosk business, which includes over 500 Day by Day Calendar Co. units, among other mall-based retail concepts.

 Store closing list here.

AvL Technologies to consolidate, expand offices in Woodfin

AvL Technologies, a real success story on the Asheville manufacturing scene, plans to consolidate its offices and facilities in the Reynolds Village development in Woodfin, the Weaverville Tribune is reporting. AvL makes satellite antennas. 

From the Weaverville Tribune:

"An Asheville manufacturer of satellite technology will relocate its offices to the Reynolds Village development in Woodfin. AvL Technologies is under contract with Reynolds Mountain and currently plans to move in the second or third quarter of of 2010," according to a company spokeswoman.

Just last month, a board approved AvL Technologies' request for $6.5 million in federal stimulus bonds. The company said it wanted the money to buy a new building and expand its business. Now we know where they're going to be located. 

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported in October that AVL Technologies owner Jim Oliver told the board approving the bonds that he employs 136 workers who make an average of $24 an hour manufacturing portable satellite antennas used by major television news networks, the U.S. military and even the White House.

This is huge news for Woodfin, which in the midst of a remarkable transformation. With the help of the Reynolds Mountain development, there's a new downtown being built right before our very eyes. Securing a major manufacturer such as AvL Technologies just confirms Woodfin's status as the hot spot in Buncombe County, in my mind.

Warren G is on the streets of Ashvegas today

Got this note from a loyal reader. Sweet:

ASHEVILLE — Rap legend Warren G will be in Asheville before his show at The Orange Peel tonight to greet fans.

According to an Orange Peel e-mail, Warren G will be at New York Fashions between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. The shop is at 120B Merrimon Avenue.

After that, he'll be at Arsenal Shoes and maybe a few other stops at the Asheville Mall (between 3:30 and 5:30pm).
 
Warren G got his start in the Long Beach rap scene in the early '90s, and became a household name with the smash single "Regulate," a duet with longtime friend Nate Dogg, and its accompanying album, "Regulate...G Funk Era".
 
Warren G grew up in Long Beach listening to his parents’ extensive collection of jazz, soul and funk records, also frequently hanging out at the local V.I.P. record store. He and his childhood friends Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg formed their first rap group as teens, called 213 after their area code.
 
In addition to his solo work, Warren G honed his producing skills making beats for artists such as MC Breed and 2Pac. He released a new album in September.
 
His show starts at 9 p.m. tonight.

The Costume Shoppe in Asheville is moving this weekend

Update from loyal reader JBo on The Costume Shoppe on Haywood Street in Asheville. They're moving this weekend. Thanks JBo!

The Costume Shoppe is moving this weekend to 32 North Lexington and we need to say farewell to lots of stuff!! So we are having a big sale.

Susan is such a pack rat and thinks she needs everything that someone might possibly need for a show, production or event. Well, we've talked her into letting go....just let it go!!! So, yeah, she is marking prices on everything and we aren't setting our cups or jackets down or we may never see them again!!

The sale starts Tuesday, Nov 3rd and goes all week to Saturday Nov 7th. The sale is at 243 Haywood Street and is during regular hours, 11:00 am to 7:00 pm.

You won't get another chance like this one. New things will be added everyday as she uncovers more and more great stuff.

Come on over! It will be better than the first yard sale at the old store on Broadway.

More on Waking Life, West Asheville's new micro-cafe

Here's a nice note from the owner of Waking Life, the new coffee place coming to West Asheville. He was responding to my recent blog post.

Jared, thanks for your note. Here it is:

Hey guys, this is Jared (the owner of waking life). Thanks for the interest, the guy building my counters (Louis Mattei, does a terrific job) tipped me off to this post.

I'm a 25 year-old West Asheville native looking to give the neighborhood the coffee it deserves. My tentative opening date is Nov. 16th, if all goes well with the city inspections and whatnot. I'll be offering a simple menu of espresso beverages and coffee. We're talking 6 oz. cappuccinos, fresh pourover or Chemex brewed single origin coffee, temperature-profiled espresso, etc. I'm taking coffee where microbrew is. There will be limited food items as well, but the focus is coffee.

I also really want to put some peer pressure on local businesses to treat and pay their employees better, especially in the service industry. The tremendous response I received from a simple warm craiglist "help wanted" ad has convinced me that a lot of employees in Asheville aren't being treated well. I'd like to be the standard bearer on that front and let other businesses know that it's not okay to pay your employees unlivable wages or treat them badly. Kant's categorical imperative in action, baby!

Anyways, feel free to hit me up at wakinglifeespresso (at) gmail.com if you have any questions!

A brief review of Leonard Cohen's performance in Asheville

In case you missed it, Leonard Cohen played in Asheville this past weekend. Folks are telling me that Cohen was in town from Thursday through the weekend. I hope he enjoyed our little town.

Here's a review of the much-anticipated performance by loyal reader Chall. Thank you, Chall!

We get more than our fair share of great shows in Asheville, and Leonard Cohen's appearance on Sunday evening at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium by Leonard Cohen was more than exemplary of that. The famous, and famously reclusive, legend stopped in Asheville on his current world tour--a tour that was in large part precipitated by the fact that while Cohen spent several years in a Buddhist monastery his former manager embezzled over $5,000,000, leaving him with less than $150,000 in his retirement account.

Whatever the reasons for this tour, his first in 15 years, those of us lucky enough to have a seat for the sold-out show on Sunday were treated to a stellar show almost three hours in length. And it was very much a show. Printed on the tickets was "8:00 p.m. Sharp", and indeed, at exactly 8:00 Cohen, resplendent in a dark suit and fedora, bounded out to a waiting spotlight in the center of the stage and, after receiving a standing ovation, set right into "Dance Me to the End of Love". Cohen's voice has matured beautifully, and one cannot imagine many other singers having this much depth and range as they enter their late 70's. Nevermind the stamina to carry an almost three hour, 37 song (though two of those were poems he recited sans accompaniment) show.

That isn't to say the show didn't have a few low points: I am not convinced I'll ever be able to listen to "Boogie Street" and think of it as a good song; and there were a few more saxaphone solos than this reviewer would have preferred, but these details pale in comparison to the captivating performance that Cohen exhibited. He danced across the stage, he addressed verses to other band members, sometimes several per song, creating a sort of schizophrenic music conversation that was completely fascinating. The backing band was composed of music industry veterans such as Roscoe Beck and Bob Metzger, all of whom did Cohen's music justice. The elaborate lighting design also enhanced the show--Cohen's touring entourage includes two buses and four tractor-trailers--quite well, and the sound technicians were impeccable. I often hear people complain about the sound quality of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, but this show demonstrated that, in the hands of a capable sound technician, a show can sound fantastic in the auditorium.

Not knowing if Leonard Cohen will ever pass this way again, I doubt that anyone who saw the show on Sunday will be disappointed in their memories of seeing him perform live.

---Chall Gray

Asheville Vaudeville offers cool performances at the BeBe Theatre for a great cause

Loyal reader Jennifer pointed me Asheville Vaudeville's page on Facebook recently, and here's what I learned: that I need to check them out. More:

Asheville Vaudeville
1st Thursdays at 7:30
BeBe

Asheville's monthly dose of cabaret, juggling, short plays,
magic-acts, and more returns! Featuring local artists such as:
 
Cookie LaRue!
Tom the Magician!
Vendetta Creme!
Forty Fingers and the Missing Tooth!
Sophie the Amazing Dog!
Jim Julien and The New Delicious!
Bretian the Hungarian Accordionist!
Julie Becton Gillum and Co.!
Lindsey Pruitt (Half-woman, half-violin, all amazing)!
Britta Filter!
Comedic Sketches by Thomas Butler!
and hosted by... Brian Sneeden!
 
$12.00 advance tickets on sale at Malaprop's Bookstore and Cafe.
$15.00 at the door.
 
Remember: Asheville Vaudeville is a charity organization and gives A
THIRD of all ticket prices to benefit Manna Food Bank, voted #1
do-gooder group by the Mountain Xpress' "Best Of" 2009. Every ten
dollars we raise feeds 25 people, which means 500 meals for every
sold-out performance!
 
Come: be entertained! Feed hungry people! Feed hungry artists!

RiverLink planning two waterway clean-ups this weekend

Press release here:

Asheville, NC - RiverLink Adopt-a-Stream Teams are conducting two cleanups this weekend - come out and join them in making a difference to cleanup the French Broad River!

Saturday, November 7th 10am - join the Underground Church team for their cleanup of the Swannanoa River along Thompson St.  Meet at the intersection of Glendale and Thompson St.  All cleanup supplies will be provided including safety vests, gloves, trash bags and pick up litter sticks. 

Sunday November 8th 8:30am - join the UNCA Outdoors Program team for their cleanup of Hominy Creek.  Meet in the Hominy Creek Park parking lot at the end of Hominy Creek Rd.  All cleanup supplies will be provided including safety vests, gloves, trash bags and pick up litter sticks.

To participate in one or both of these cleanups, please RSVP by Friday noon November 6th to Rachel Doebber, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, at volunteer@riverlink.org or 828-252-8474 ext. 118

RiverLink is looking for waterways and Adopt-a-Stream teams to adopt and cleanup at least twice a year.  RiverLink will provide all cleanup supplies, help arrange for media coverage and recruit volunteers to help out.  If you know of a waterway that is in need of cleaning, please contact Rachel Doebber, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, at volunteer@riverlink.org or 828-252-8474 ext. 118 with exact location of waterway including parallel streets and nearby intersections.

Come join the over 500 active volunteers to cleanup and protect the French Broad River - one of the world's oldest rivers right in our own backyard!  Volunteer Information Sessions are the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10am & 5pm at RiverLink offices with the next one being November 11th.  To attend, please RSVP to Rachel Doebber, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator volunteer@riverlink.org or (828) 252-8474 ext. 118

Sign up for our email newsletter list to keep informed of all of our exciting events and volunteer opportunities by going to our website www.riverlink.org and clicking on the newsletter button at the top.

The Avett Brothers aka the Three Amigos

A little Halloween fun from the Avett Brothers. Great!