Recommended diversions
“No Country For Old Men” There’s a whole list of movies (films?) I’ve seen that I respected, on many levels…
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Jim and Rhonda do it different
Jim Lauderdale: The Bluegrass Diaries If you recognize the name, little more needs to be said. Long one of the…
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Peace in the valley: Franklin photographer Bill Lea captures beauty and history of Cades Cove in new book
For nature photographer Bill Lea, Cades Cove is heaven on earth.
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“3:10 To Yuma” Russell Crowe as vicious murder Ben Wade and Christian Bale as Dan Evans, a farmer hired to…
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A rowdy good time at some familiar stomping grounds
Reverend Horton Heat: Reverend Organdrum Maybe all that needs to be said is that somewhere around three and a half…
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Taking it to the street: Waynesville Public Art Commission seeks to promote cultural heritage with downtown art project
By Michael Beadle What would New York City be without its Statue of Liberty? Picture St. Louis without its Gateway…
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Recommended diversions
Since in this age of home video, I seldom get to see many of the best movies of any given…
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Shine on you crazy Miners
By Chris Cooper A few years ago there was this gangly guy with a mop of shaggy blonde hair sitting…
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All that brass: WCU’s Trumpet Festival is quickly becoming an international affair
By Michael Beadle Brad Ulrich was 10 years old when he began playing the trumpet. He’d started with the guitar…
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Stew recipes
Upcountry Carolina Beef Hash 5 lbs lean beef, cut up for stew 1 1/2 lbs large onions diced 1 lb…
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‘Rainbows’ plays as Radiohead should
There was an interesting coincidence on July 11, 2006. Thom Yorke released Eraser to mixed reviews, and the same day…
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Southern Comfort Food
By Michael Beadle Long before the days of microwaves and fast food meals, there was the slow-cooked stew, a Southern…
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Skinny Dip, Carl Hiaasen This 512-page novel is a fast read that unfolds like a movie, painting a vivid picture…
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Christmas Eve dinner Not the particular food, per se, but the tradition. In our home it’s Lori’s homemade lasagna, and…
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Warren Haynes’ 19th Annual Christmas Jam — mostly
By Chris Cooper Before getting started, let me say that I completely missed Grace Potter’s performance at the Christmas Jam.…
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Recommended diversions
Flight Of The Conchords on DVD Two discs of complete silliness from Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, New Zealand’s “not…
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Hand-made history for the Christmas tree: Local potter helps Waynesville museum through sale of ornaments
By Michael Beadle Terry Painter and his wife Anita love collecting ornaments for their Christmas tree each year, but they…
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Recommended diversions
Into Great Silence The Carthusian monks of Grande Chartreuse, regarded as one of the most austere monasteries in the world,…
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It’s Grammy season ... do you care?
We’re rapidly approaching that part of the year referred to endearingly as “Grammy Season.” This is the time when we…
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Sounds like Christmas ...
By Chris Cooper There are folks that get into full holiday mode, displaying their favorite snowman and fir tree embroidered…
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Recommended diversions
Before The Devil Knows Your Dead I’m a little surprised that this gem of a movie is not getting more…
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An artist’s journey: Landscape artist Craig Forrest brings his love of art full circle
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer It’s almost as though one can hear the creaking sighs of the old, hand-hammered…
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Our secret places: Phenomena exhibit honors personal stories and Lee Smith novel
By Michael Beadle So many of us have what Waynesville librarian Kathy Olsen calls “thing stories.”
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Trischka doubles the pleasure with modern banjo greats
By Chris Cooper It hardly needs to be said that the banjo has taken major leaps in the hands of…
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Recommended diversions
“The Santaland Diaries” If you’re reading this, you may already be too late — get thee right now to a…
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Films that change the world: Local activist movie club gathers people for education, discussion on a host of social, economic and environmental issues
By Michael Beadle For the longest time, Buffy Queen and John Buckley wanted to share their love of movies with…
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Surreptitious sounds
By Chris Cooper Every so often a few releases slip beneath the radar, or at least my radar. Massachusetts based…
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Recommended diversions
Omnivore’s Dilemma What should we eat for dinner? Do we buy organic? Do we grow our own food? Should we…
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Krauss and Plant deliver no less than expected
By Chris Cooper It’s not such an odd pairing when you think about it; two voices as recognizable as these,…
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Faces of Neighbors: Photography exhibit focuses on the lives of local migrant workers
By Michael Beadle When nurse Josie Ellis set out to take pictures of Hispanic migrant families several years ago, she…
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Recommended diversions
Ski season Count me among those who continue to be like a kid at Christmas when it’s the beginning of…
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Ever-evolving, always surprising
By Chris Cooper Mountain Heart released a fantastic album last year with Wide Open, demonstrating a remarkable ability to make…
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Island music in the mountains: Western Carolina University’s gamelan orchestra helps share the music of Malaysian culture
By Michael Beadle A few days before Halloween, strange sounds were coming from room 451 in the Coulter Building on…
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Recommended diversions
Going to the movies Every now a then a great batch of movies is released, calling me to the movie…
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Halloween Ramblings, 2007
There’s a connection between being a musician and Halloween that goes beyond the obvious skulls/pumpkins/fake blood/heavy metal stereotype, at least…
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Highlands sets the table for a fall feast: Inaugural gathering of gastronomes holds great promise for the plateau
By Michael Beadle Indulge in a seven-course meal that includes roasted pheasant, foie gras and braised wild boar. Sip award-winning…
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Recommended diversions
Brian Regan Live! Whether you purchase this CD or simply Google Brian Regan on your computer, you will find yourself…
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Recommended diversions
“Away From Her” Based on the great short story “The Bear Came Over The Mountain” by the ever-amazing Alice Munro,…
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Something Pumpkin this way rolls ...
By Michael Beadle Carve ‘em. Cook ‘em. Turn ‘em into glowing faces. There’s plenty you can do with this year’s…
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Halloween recipes
Pumpkin Nut Bread 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon each salt and baking soda 1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ginger and…
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Sharon Jones conjures up the heart of soul
By Chris Cooper Sharon Jones and her amazing band of funk/soul revivalists were responsible for one of the happiest musical…
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Recommended diversions
Rock On: An Office Power Ballad Written by Dan Kennedy, this venture into life in the corporate music business isn’t…
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A labor of love: Skipper Russell’s Cold Mountain Corn Maize raises support for cancer research
By Sarah Kucharski • Staff Writer Bright yellow sunflowers ring the edges of Skipper Russell’s Cold Mountain Corn Maize in…
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Ex Tempore: Impromptu excellence
By Chris Cooper I first heard Johnny Irion years ago at a little venue in Charlotte. He was performing with…
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Recommended diversions
The Green Book Looking for more ways to help save energy costs and be more environmentally responsible? Check out this…
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Art for all ages: Studio 598 in downtown Sylva offers on-going art classes for youth and adults
By Michael Beadle Making a mess never looked so fun. It’s Friday morning at Studio 598 in downtown Sylva, and…
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Happy to be here: David Holt headlines Oct. 14 Bridge Park Project fundraiser
By Chris Cooper David Holt is a happy guy. In a recent phone (cell phone, no less) conversation as he…
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Hoss: clawing their way to the top
Bands just have to stick with it. Whether on the grand scale of being a signed, touring group or one…
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Recommended diversions
Raising Sand Duet albums are about as original as cheeseburgers, but this one has stayed in my car’s disc player…
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Where pots (and a cat) are thrown: The Flying Cat Studio is one of 20 Haywood County art studios that will host open house events this weekend
By Michael Beadle If you’re lucky enough to visit the Flying Cat Studio just off U.S. 276 in Jonathan Creek,…
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