Petulant Rumblings In New Digs

Check out Petulant's new site.

Best of 2007

{Pic - Mountain Xpress}

Mountain Xpress, which has a killer feature article this week, also has voting for the Best of 2007 available online. You know you've been waiting for them to make it easier than putting a stamp on a letter. Here's your chance.

CLICK HERE TO GO VOTE

Charter Sucks Even Worse - Bloggers Unite

O.K. Time we got down to business.

Hangover Journals: "Charter turned off my internet AGAIN!"

Yes. They did it again. I think this is the fifth time? The entire sordid history of Charter's ineffable incompetence is here.

We need all you Asheville bloggers to let Charter know how you feel about the way they're treating our sistah bloggah. Do it today, do it tomorrow. Post about them at your sites. Email them vigorously. Burn their phones up. Jam their faxes. Let them know that if they don't fix Fliss' internet once and for all, then hundreds of local Hangover Journals lovers will be publicly hating on them for years to come.

UPDATE: Jennifer Saylor in the comments notes:

1. From the Asheville Better Business Bureau page:
Customers should contact Rozland Edgerton before filing a complaint. 828-209-2252. If this is not successful you may file a complaint on this web site or call the BBB office at 253-2393.
Contact: Rozland Edgerton, Escalation Specialist
1670 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
Phone: 800-955-7766

2. Nine pages of "significant complaints" about local Charter service from the Asheville Better Business Bureau:

3. CEO Neil Smit contact info (no email)

4. Corporate contact info

Hit And Run on Merrimon Avenue Last Night

I just missed witnessing a hit and run last night on Merrimon Avenue. I saw a shoe fly into the air a few cars in front of me, and when I got to where it happened, a man was sprawled out on the median. Many people stopped and rushed to him, but it didn't look like he survived. However, the person who hit him had heartlessly and shamefully left the scene. It was about 2:15am, so I would assume the driver had just left the bars.

This young man deserves better than that. I haven't seen anything in the local news about this, which surprises me. If anyone knows any details or if he miraculously survived, please let me know. I hope that you will all look into this story and help catch the bastard who did this.

Thank You

UPDATE: The man’s identity had not been released pending notification of family. Officers believe the man was homeless.

Police are using surveillance footage from various businesses in the area to try to track down the vehicle that first hit the man, Underwood said.

He said the video showed a small, white Chrysler – possibly a four-door Sebring model. To provide information contact the Asheville Police Department at 252-1110.

Asheville 35, Reynolds 28 (in Overtime)

Andrew and Romando at HS Sports Huddle report "Asheville High quarterback Rahkeem Morgan threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns and returned an interception for a fourth score as the Cougars staged an improbable comeback win in overtime. Morgan's 9-yard pass to Darius Harrell gave Asheville the victory. Darius Spencer led the Rockets with 91 rushing yards and two touchdowns.It is the sixth time in the last 10 years that an Asheville-Reynolds game has been decided by single digits."

---------------------------------

Folks, it was an amazing night for football last night. It was quite possibly one of the most interesting football games I've ever witnessed. Fans from both schools, from multiple eras, came to show support for their teams.

The Asheville Cougars were down 14 points in the first 4 minutes of the game, however, afterwards, under Cougar coach Danny Wilkins, AHS began to claw its way back into the game. The Rockets were brilliant last night as well, with short passes, and one amazing run after the next. Reynolds High football coach Shane Laws and his team are class acts.

I've never seen anything like it in high school ball.

Congratulations to both teams!

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Update at Asheville Citizen Times with video links as well.

Asheville sited in Web Zen

Bruisin' Ales received mention from Boing Boing in Web Zen: Potent potables. Cheers ya'll!

City Council Debate

The Citizen-Times is about to live blog the first debate of the city council candidates: www.citizen-times.com. Check it out. The debate starts at 12:30 p.m. at the North Asheville Country Club. Thirteen of the fifteen candidates plan to be there.

Free Speech Or Dangerous Distraction?

Tim Peck at Et In Arcadia Ego posted this WLOS footage to YouTube:

Blog Party Survey!

Okay, I made a nifty little survey to solve, once and for all, the great questions of our day. And here it is! Take it. Steal the link and put it on your own blog. Leave it about where you know bloggers congregate. Take it more than once in your various alternative personas. Whatever. But take the survey and take it soon! We only have - oh, wait. A month. So take your time. But do take it.

Visit me today at Mountain X!

I'm writing here today! It's my first PAID parenting column, and a bit of a test run for the newspaper's blog, so click on over and let's get the par-tay going!

Thanks for the support. Happy Monday!

(crossposted from Edgy Mama)

Charter Sucks

mygothlaundry tells you why.

How I Got Arrested for Holding an IMPEACH Sign

Jonas Phillips of Asheville writes "I am writing to tell you about an abuse of power in Asheville, NC by a police sergeant.

I occasionally stand on an interstate overpass near my place of work in the mornings and hold a sign that says 'IMPEACH BUSH / CHENEY'.

On Wednesday August 15, I was standing alone with my sign for about 10 minutes, when I was approached by Police Officer Russell Crisp. He asked me how long I was planning to stay there and I told him just a few more minutes because I had to go to work at 8:00. He asked for my ID and I obliged. I asked him if I was doing something wrong, and he said that his Sergeant was on the way and he was going to wait for him. SO, I went back to my sign holding over the interstate.

A few minutes later Sergeant Randy Riddle showed up with a paper in his hand. He spoke briefly to Crisp, then walked over to me and told me to put down my sign, put my hands behind my back, and that I was under arrest! I was shocked and almost thought he was joking until he told me again to put down the sign and put my hands behind me and I was under arrest. So I peacefully agreed and he cuffed me. I asked him why I was being arrested, he told me I was in violation County Ordinance 16-2, (the print out in his hand that he didn't bother to read to me or show me.) He told me I was obstructing the sidewalk. I told him I was not and that officer Crisp had witnessed a guy walk by me moments before.

Riddle yelled at me, "You were obstructing the sidewalk!" and "I'm sick of this shit!" then he said, "Here's your 15 minutes of fame buddy!" I looked back to see his name plate and he said in a mean condescending tone, "Yea, that's 'Sergeant Riddle' get it right!" He then put me in Officer Crisp's police car. Riddle took my sign with him and I was taken downtown and booked by Crisp. I was never read my Miranda rights..."

Read the rest of the article!

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This is getting ridiculous, Asheville!

Here is the email address and phone number of Sgt. Riddle's boss

Lt. David Rutledge, Commander

drutledge@ashevillenc.gov

(828) 251-4088

Extravablogapalooathon....etc, etc

I ran into Screwy last night and we started talking about the extravablog party shindig. Now Screwy has some fine fangled fancy ideas about having first drinks and then dinner and then partyin' on into the night. Which, if this was a wedding, would be fine. But it's not. A wedding. I think. It's another kind of beast entirely. So. This is the thread where we discuss exactly and precisely what we want from this confusingly named annual event. Me, I'm pushing for just one party. At one place. So that people don't have to move about and, most importantly, the host of the proposed late night event gets to participate in all of it. As one of the proposed hostesses, I feel strongly on this point, because if y'all think you can go out for drinks and then have a nice dinner while I'm frantically cleaning the house and setting up for a big late party, then you are completely out of your mind and when you show up I might throw things at you. Also, we all know how people have this tendency to flake off at those events with more than one chapter.

We can have this party at my house BUT 1) there's no parking in my neighborhood and 2) if it rains we're screwed and 3) we want you bloggers who don't usually come out to come out and there is some feeling that that's more likely if we use a sort of neutral location as opposed to my house. By neutral I mean public. Like Asheville Brewing Company or something. Sure, it will cramp the ritualistic blogger sacrifice but, you know, anything to get y'all out of your dens and into the public eye. So those are my feelings. What are yours? How do you want this party to shape up? You have to come, you know. It's required. So let us know what you want!

Ya'll Welcome: Suit Don't Fit

Photograph by Zen, Asheville NC

There is a new asheville blogger about, Suit Don't Fit. Check out Salem's latest post: Top Ten Vegetarian Restaurants in Asheville, NC

It’s hard out there for a vegetarian.

I don’t eat vegetarian but my wife does. Often you’ll find us out to dinner, me with a burger in front of me and her with the vegetarian special. Used to be that was all you could find at restaurants. Meat eaters would have the whole menu to choose from and vegetarians could pick either pasta or the vegetarian special.

One time she went through a McDonalds drive through and asked for a Quarter Pounder with no meat. No cheese? said the guy. He’d heard hear correctly, he just couldn’t figure out what she could possibly mean. It took her five minutes to explain that she wanted the bread, the cheese, the pickles, the onions, the ketchup - everything that came on the sandwich, she just didn’t want the meat. Okay, got it, said the guy. She pulled up to the window, paid, drove off, and opened her bag to find only the meat patty in there, nothing else.

Things are a little better these days. People are a little less confused by vegetarians and they have a much better range of options. Here now are some of the best places for vegetarians to eat in Asheville.

1. Rosetta’s Kitchen - very casual hippie type place. The buddha bowl is the best and lives up to its name in terms of size too. And they have nice little homemade desserts in the window.

2. Mela - indian cuisine. The lunch buffet is very affordable and the food is great. Favorites are the raita and the mango chutney.

3. Laughing Seed - vegetarian fine dining. Order the pakoras and get one of their fresh juice drinks with it - I like carrot juice with a little ginger.

4. La Carreta - tex-mex. The vegetarian combo never disappoints and they have very cheap giant mugs of beer.

5. Zambra - spanish tapas and fine wine. The corn chowder is the best I’ve ever tried and also great albondigas.

6. Mellow Mushroom - pizza place with a psychedelic decor. The magical mystery tour pizza has pesto, spinach, mozzarella, feta, portabella mushrooms and a few jalapenos. You gonna like.

7. Apollo Flame - greek bistro. Giant greek salad with tzatziki sauce. You’ll want to keep eating but won’t be able to finish this salad; it never gets any smaller.

8. Salsa’s - caribbean-mexican. Order the nachos - they’ll come in a giant tortilla bowl with three sauces of your choosing - there’s no wrong choice.

9. Jack of the Wood - irish style pub. Their veggie burger is great. And of course they serve the Green Man IPA.

10. Season’s - restaurant at Highland Lake Inn resort, just outside Hendersonville. Okay, so this isn’t technically in Asheville but it’s real close. The fried green tomatoes and their Sunday brunch make the trip worthwhile. And they have their own gardens and even a few goats right there. (Disclosure: this is where we got married. My wife took one look at the place and said - this is where we’re getting married and not only that, we’re gonna move to Asheville so we can live near it.)

So that’s our list. We were a little surprised by how many more vegetarian options Asheville has compared to New York - even though we’ve only lived here a little over a year. I’m sure there’s hidden treasures tucked away, waiting to be discovered. So to everyone out there: what are some of your favorites?

There are some other excellent posts on Suit Don't Fit. Ya'll stop by and say hey, Salem's got something to say!

Any know of any other good vegetarian friendly restaurants?

I like Earth Fare cafeteria and Early Girl Eatery, but my favorite vegetarian dish has got to be at Tupelo Honey: Fried Green Tomatoes over Goat Cheese Grits with a side of Pickled Okra

September 29, 2007 - BlogAsheville Celebrates

Extravablogiversapaloozathon 2007 will take place on September 29th, come rain or shine, hell or high water, feast or famine.

On September 1st I'll post a call for nominations here. If you're too excited to wait, then you can:

(1) Refer to this post, which lists last year's categories and winners.
(2) Start reading all these fantastic bloggers we've got on our sidebars.
(3) Make a few notes, especially regarding the most difficult nominating category - "Best Post"
(4) Keep 'em in your head until September 1st, or drop your early favorites in this comment thread.
(5) Read Ash's wrap-up of last year's fete, and check out mygothlaundry's photos to get you in the mood.

Prizes will be awarded the same way they were last year. Everyone who comes needs to bring a wrapped gift. These gifts will serve as the prizes. Uptown and I got an awesome pair of mugs from Kyle and Jennifer, and I won the George W. Bush refrigerator magnet set thanks to Jim Jenkins.

Lots more details to come. I'll try to have it all nailed down by the 1st.

We've got a lot to celebrate. Exciting.

Extravablogiversapaloozathon 2007

I know I've posted a couple of false starts on this inevitable event, but now it's time to make it happen.

Extravablogiversapaloozathon 2007 will take place, and this is how we'll do it:

On a Saturday night in September, we'll have a three part celebration of all things BlogAsheville.

Part One from 4-5:30pm will be hanging out, having cocktails or coffee, and inviting anyone who's ever been curious to "Meet the Bloggers". Invite your readers and the blogcurious.

Part Two from 6pm-8:30pm will be dinner and the BlogAsheville Blog Awards. Only folks who come to dinner will be able to vote, but everyone will get to make nominations.

Part Three from 9pm until the end will be the bash at the home of a lucky and as-yet-unidentified Asheville blogger.

You can come to any or all of the events and bring your family and friends.

In addition to all the bloggers at BlogAsheville, I'll be inviting the intrepid bloggers from the Asheville Citizen-Times and Mountain Xpress. Congressman Heath Shuler, a blogger himself, will also be invited. When you receive an invitation in your email box, please RSVP ASAP, so arrangements can be made for the dinner location.

I'm asking everyone to tell me in the comments or via email -

(1) Which date? September 15 or September 29;
(2) What awards categories should we use?

Extravablogiversapaloozathon 2007 is a recognition of our talents, our community, and our growing numbers. It's a chance to fall in love all over again.

Fairy Blog Mother: Easy Bake Coven

If Ashvegas is the godfather of Asheville bloggers, then Susan at Easy Bake Coven is certainly our fairy blog mother.

At the 2006 Extravablogiversapaloozathon, she won a BlogAsheville award for:


Blogger I'd Most Like to Have a Beer With

Susan of Easy Bake Coven


Blogging since 2002, she has become a true leader in the blog community. Where Easy Bake Coven is her main blog, Susan participates in a number of other blog communities, such as Around Asheville, Blog Asheville, Every Women is a Goddess, and Blog Sisters to name a few.

Around Asheville is a great way to keep your pulse on happenings in Asheville.

Personally, I think she has one of the nicest layouts of any Blogasheville blog!

Anyhoo, this loveletter goes out to Susan at Easy Bake Coven; Blog on, sister!

Meteors Over Asheville This Weekend

Tonight (Saturday) and Sunday mark the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower, the best and brightest of the annual showers. According to Earth and Sky, at its peak this shower can produce 60 meteors an hour. The best watching is after midnight, but if that's too late for you 10PM may be early enough for some meteors.

If you want to watch the show overhead, you really just need two things: a clear view of the eastern sky and a spot to watch from. You don't need binoculars. Dark country skies free from city lights are best (light pollution makes meteors harder to see), but the word from some sources is that the show this year will be bright enough to enjoy from a suburban back yard.

You won't want to stand for an hour craning your neck back to look up at the sky. Set yourself up on a truck bed, car top, blanket or lounge chair. Mosquito repellent is probably not a bad idea. BTW neither is a few beers, a bottle of wine or some snacks.

For you early birds, Sunday is supposed to be the best watching, in the hours before dawn.

More about the shower here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4784645.stm

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/11jul_greatperseids.htm?list54843

Those who plan to host a meteor-watching party are invited to leave a comment...

John Waters coming to Ashvegas

Crossposted from Ashvegas:

*Cinema Legend John Waters to Speak at UNC Asheville September 19*
*Waters' Films Screened September 12-18*

John Waters, the man who perfected cinematic camp, will discuss his work and wild approach to creativity at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium. The filmmaking legend launches UNC Asheville's 2007-08 Distinguished Speakers Series.

A native of Baltimore, Waters made his first film "Hag in a Black Leather Jacket" at age 18. Though it was shown only once in a beatnik coffee house, it launched his career. Waters has gone on to make 15 more films, including such cult classics as "Pink Flamingos," "Hairspray" and "Cecil B. DeMented." Waters helped solidify the career of his childhood best friend, drag queen Divine, as well as Johnny Depp, who starred in his 1990 film "Cry Baby."

In addition to filmmaking, Waters has acted in a number of movies, including his own, and has appeared on popular television shows, such as "The Simpsons," "My Name is Earl" and "Frasier." He has a regular role as the Groom Reaper on "'Til Death Do Us Part."

General admission tickets are $30. Because of the high demand of tickets for this event, all patrons are limited to purchasing just two tickets. Tickets go on sale September 10. To reserve tickets by phone, call UNC Asheville's Highsmith University Union Box Office at 828/232-5000. For information about purchasing group tickets, call 828/251-6991. If the event is not sold out, local students will be able to purchase $10 tickets with school ID cards at the door the night of the talk.

Prior to his talk, UNC Asheville will host a John Waters Film Festival. Four of Waters' best-loved films will be shown at 8 p.m. in UNC Asheville's Humanities Lecture Hall. Discussions will follow. Admission is $5 cash or check at the door. Films in the series include: "Polyester" on Wednesday, Sept. 12; "Hairspray" on Thursday, Sept. 13; "Cry Baby" on Monday, Sept. 17; and "Serial Mom" on Tuesday, Sept. 18.

The next event in the Speakers' Series is an evening with acclaimed sustainable-design architect Michael Singer on October 24.

For more information, call 828/251-6991 or click on www.unca.edu/culturalarts/.

Seems like everybody's got a John Waters story. What's yours?

Attention Asheville Tourists

Crossposted from SheWhoEats

"Since we are about to enter the height of tourist season here in our fair mountain town, I thought I would post the ultimate three-day Asheville epicurean experience. For this post I focused on foods and locales that are quintessentially “Asheville.” Sometimes I feel I’m living in a cultural wasteland, but other times I remember, if I leave, these are the amazing places I will visit in my dreams. If you come visit me here, this is where we will go, except we would also go to eat Indian food, but I’ll save that for another post."

Friday Afternoon- 12 Bones. Just repeat this mantra: The line is worth it, the line is worth it. Because a thirty-minute wait is nothing compared to all the years of your life you’ve spent waiting to try the best BBQ ever!!! Although, I’m mostly happy to get a plate of the incredible sides such as corn pudding and buttery green beans with an RC Cola.

Friday Early Evening- Catch the sunset and a high-priced drink at the Grove Park Inn Terrace for the best view of the city anywhere, and the cheesiest piano lounge.

Friday Night- For your first dinner, I would recommend Mexican/Carribean/Ashevillean restaurant Salsa’s. Famed local chef Hector Diaz’s first foray into Asheville fusion, which has preceded four other restaurants of varied styles, is still my favorite one of them all. Try fitting a giant empanada stuffed with local: pumpkin, goat cheese, wild boar, kale, beets, corn, and other unimaginable delights into your mouth. It’ll never happen. But somehow, the controlled chaos creates a perfect symmetry by time it reaches your taste buds. Do all this while sipping the best Mojito in town. And give your leftovers to the homeless dude who will kindly attack you within five minutes upon your exiting this establishment.

Friday Late Night- For dessert and drinks, try Old Europe. My favorite choices here are the key lime pie (seriously) and the chocolate hot dog. I can’t remember the real name for this dessert, but it’s a long tube of chocolate nestled in two light, flaky, buttery, almond cookies. Looks like a hot dog to me. The drinks are pretty, and the atmosphere is gorgeous.

Friday LateLate Night- Jack of the Wood. If you’re hungry by now, you’re in luck because this bar features some of the most delicious pub food I’ve sampled. Cheese and Chutney and all the wonderful salad options are some of my favorites, but the fish and chips wins every time. Everyone except for me loves the beer selection, the music is often outstanding, and the whole ambiance has it’s finger right smack dab in the middle of that “Asheville” thing I keep mentioning.

Saturday Morning- The Moose Cafe. This was the first restaurant I ever found in Asheville. The Moose Cafe has been here longer than me, Gourmet Grrl, which is a long time in Ashevilletime. Their sweet tea is among the best I’ve ever had anywhere, the apple butter is to die for, and the buttery biscuits are bigger than my head. Get a seat by the window and you can see the Biltmore Inn.

Saturday Lunch- Papa’s and Beer. I know the MountainX Food Writer has already showered compliments all over the head of this newer Mexican joint, but she’s dead right. Rarely have I enjoyed fresher Mexican food. Honestly, you cannot lose with a single dish here, although I would recommend the Enchiladas Mexicanas with shredded tender and perfectly cooked beef, or the yummy baja fish tacos. Who knew rice could be this stupendous!?

Saturday Snack- Ultimate Ice Cream. Simply among the best ice cream I have ever tasted anywhere in the United States. Plus, you’ll get to see East Asheville, which you would probably miss otherwise. You could go here on your way back from the Folk Art Center, I guess.

Saturday Night- La Caterina Trattoria. This is my favorite spot for romance, celebration, comfort, and good plain fun. My partner-in-crime and I end up here on birthdays, anniversaries, and bad Mondays. I have been to Italy, and I am here to say this restaurant holds its own against most of the trattorias we visited there. The antipasti salumi is outstanding, the pasta carbonara is the best I’ve found stateside, and the wine selection is among the best in Asheville. You will not regret the formidable bill, I promise.

Saturday Late Night- Zambra. If you’re still hungry or just looking for a good time, head down to Zambra, where pretty people and Moorish architecture unite for a truly sensual experience. I also happen to think Zambra offers the best martini selection in town, so you won’t want to miss out.

Saturday Late Late Night- BoBo. I hesitate to tell the tourists about my favorite bar in Asheville, but since you won’t be back crowding my mojo every night, I guess I’ll make an exception. Bo Bo is the most diverse experience in town, I think. Local artists are featured on every surface, the drinks are reasonable, and the live music or dj is usually worth the cover.

Sunday Morning- Tupelo Honey. ” Asheville” cuisine is defined by restaurants like this one. Since you’ll still be full from the day before, you won’t mind waiting in line for another batch of lovely biscuits, gourmet fried chicken, and a fabulous veggie platter at very reasonable prices. The coffee rocks, too.

Sunday Afternoon- Noodle Shop. I just have to give a shout-out to my favorite chinese in Asheville, The Noodle Shop. I believe they try to give everyone an authentic experience, so I often hear groans from tourists who were looking for nothing more than a pile of fried rice under a pile of candy-fried mystery meat. I recommend: Pad Thai, Spicy Won Ton Soup, the Mongolian Beef and Sweet and Spicy Pork and Beef Specials, and I’ll sometimes go for their eggplant dish.

Sunday Dinner: The Laughing Seed. I honestly have mixed feelings about their menu selection, but it’s absolutely a local staple that must not go untapped on your Asheville adventure. My favorite dishes are the Fireside Focaccia Melt and . . . actually that’s it. That’s pretty much all I’ll order which is why I only eat there in the winter, when it’s on their regular menu.

There you have it: The three day Asheville Food Tour. I have only one question for your addition to this, dear reader. Where can folks find the best coffee in Asheville? Any suggestions?

The Park That Asheville Forgot

Jennifer Saylor gives us an essay in words and pictures of George Washington Carver Edible Park. Here's an excerpt:

"My friend Rowan and I go there often and have been struck by two things.

One, the park is beautiful and a good place to visit.

Two, it is in absolutely desperate need of attention.

When you go there, you can gather nigella seeds, snack on sweet grape tomatoes and pick a bouquet of mint and sweet peas for your living room. Just watch out for condom wrappers, broken glass, whiskey bottles and holes in the boardwalk big enough to catch an unwary ankle."

Go read the whole thing!

Viva Ashvegas

Crossposted from Scrutiny Hooligans:



Yes, I know this is Viva Las Vegas, but Elvis is dead and I couldnt get him to sing Ashvegas.


We'd would like to give shoutout to Ashvegas, who runs what we consider the premier blog on the state of all things Asheville. His coverage of our good town is unparalleled among local bloggers, and we highly recommend his flickr page when looking for pictures of Asheville. From his coverage of Bele Chere this year to things less grand but still part of our town's history, Ash is there to cover it.

From his site:

"Some have called it the Paris of the South. The Sedona of the Southern Highlands. An island in a sea of insanity.

It is what you make it. And almost everyone agrees that it's a great place to live. I hope this little blog can reflect some of what goes on in our little corner of the world."

Ash was a founding member of the Blogasheville community and has been blogging's tireless advocate. With the help of the effervescent Edgy Mama, he started Flasheville, an online writing community dedicated to wringing the written word from local writers. If you are looking for information about happenings in Asheville, your first stop should be Ashvegas.



On the internet, blogs come and go, disappearing into the primal digital ooze. Not Ashvegas. He's the godfather of Asheville bloggers, our "mountain cultural and political superhero."

Paris of the South! Show him some love!

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We'll be writing more loveletters to local bloggers on a regular basis in order to give everyone their propers.

Goodbye, Interstate Motel Sign

One of Asheville's most (in)famous landmarks is coming down tomorrow morning @ 9:00. That's right - the Interstate Motel sign, standing for a full four years after the joint was razed to make room for condos, is going the way the Innsbruck Theater, the Dreamland Drive-In, and Beaucatcher Mountain.

The Asheville Citizen-Times has the story here.

Bliss & I will be there, raising a glass (a cup of coffee, more accurately) and bidding farewell to a genuinely sleazy, somewhat embarrassing yet memorable and important piece of Asheville history.

Anyone have any Intercourse Interstate Motel stories? Please share, but only if you're sure that the statute of limitations has run out. :)

(UPDATE: There's video of the removal plus a photo slideshow @ Scrutiny Hooligans)