The Biltmore Forest home of Andie MacDowell

Photos by John Fletcher.

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Paul Hersey - Organic Armour

Paul Hersey, the tailor to the gods, goddesses, warriors and priestesses of our world works in an unassuming studio on Lyman Street in Asheville. He fashions the gold and copper breastplates, armbands, headdresses and elaborate belts that supernatural beings wear for ceremonial purposes, performances or just for really great parties.

Made with foam, latex, paint, faux jewels and a heaping dose of transformative power, Paul Hersey's "Organic Armor" is simply divine in more ways than one, and to wear it is to discover the hidden warrior-princess-tribal-punk-fairy that you never even knew lurked within you.

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Good Vibrations

Richard Hite approaches the three large gongs, kneeling reverentially and nestles in among the bells, conch shells, Tibetan temple horns and goat horns on the floor. He reaches up with a mallet, and with a feathery touch begins priming one gong with an arcing motion across the textured brass. The result is a continuous low drone that resonates deep into the skin. With his other hand he gives a second gong a glancing blow, the direct tone weaving into the undulating tones of the first.

"Playing the instrument regularly is as much a practice of my own spiritual path as anything else I do," says the 57-year-old Hite. "For me, it's a meeting with God, it's an expression of gratitude. I had a God experience the first time I heard one."

Hite and his partner of 20 years, physical therapist Susan Thompson, are living at the Embracing Simplicity Hermitage in Hendersonville while preparing for a concert at the Light Center in Black Mountain on April 25. "We don't have a plan after that," he says with astounding faith.

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This Dancin's Not Dirty

Although painful to watch, it is not criminal for Madison County's Rebecca Willis to dance which she proved after an eight year battle in court and a payoff of $275,000.

She had been banned for life in late 2000 from the Town Depot because some thought her dance moves were too provocative. Her case against the town of Marshall was dismissed, but a fourth District Court of Appeals ruling allows her to keep fighting. The ACLU contends that the dancing ban was a violation of Willis' civil rights.

Go Granny, Go! How tenacious was she to hang in there for eight long years?

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Amy Goodman In Asheville

Amy Goodman to speak May 23 in Asheville, NC

Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman will speak at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 23 at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College as part of a national tour for her new book, "Standing Up to Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times."

The talk will be held in AB-Tech's Ferguson Auditorium on the Asheville campus. Admission is $10, with proceeds going to support the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network (MAIN) and its radio station, WPVM, 103.5 FM.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Malaprops Bookstore or by calling MAIN at 828-255-0182.

Dennis Kucinich @ Malaprops

Malaprops - Sunday, November 11

6PM: Dennis Kucinich, Congressman and Presidential Candidate, will offer a public address at our store. We are honored and excited to host Dennis Kucinich, and expect this will be very well-attended, so please come early. Kucinich’s book, The Courage to Survive will be available at this event. We hope to have signed copies available, and we recommend calling or emailing ahead to reserve your copy.