For months, the Asheville Busker’s Collective has tried to deal with city staff in good faith to find common ground. But the latest busking proposal is more restrictive than ever, and will hurt our local culture and livelihoods Above: The Stillwater Hobos performing in a still from Erin Derham’s movie

Locals gather to mark the end of slavery in Asheville and educate about oft-forgotten history at a site that’s still the topic of debate and controversy today Above: local activist and poet DeWayne Barton speaks at the From Slavery to Freedom teach-in and event. Photo by Fred Meyer. On Sunday, April

The historian and UNCA professor on African-Americans in WNC, facing the reality of American tragedy and the importance of power and democracy in public spaces Above: Darin Waters speaking at a Martin Luther King Day event at Kenilworth Presbyterian. Photo by Max Cooper. From informing Ashevillians about the reality of

An e-cigarette ban, delayed public hearings, repairing the Vance Monument and background checks for school board members in an unusually short Asheville City Council meeting Above: Council member Jan Davis, file photo by Max Cooper. “Short” is a relative term when it comes to Asheville City Council meetings. A lot’s

As another piece of public space might be named after a private organization, Ashevillians are again set to debate exactly who gets to name what in our changing city Above: a rendering of the area in front of the Asheville Art Museum, which might be renamed “SECU plaza” in return

The annual topless “rally” is an overhyped farce. But the reaction from government and business leaders is far, far worse. Above: One of the topless rally attendees — and onlookers — at the 2011 event. Photo by Max Cooper. It’s that time again. Every year (for the past three), the

Behind downtown’s shortened and disappearing benches is a struggle about the future of the city’s public space By David Forbes On Walnut Street, there exists a particularly odd bench, one that attracts comments from locals and tourists alike. It’s clearly supposed to be, well, a bench, but it’s far too