Hoofing it from DC to NYC
“The simple act of walking and taking in what I saw and puzzling over what I encountered as I went. The…
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'Doc Watson: A Life in Music'
Eddie Huffman will share his new book, “Doc Watson: A Life in Music.” and also be accompanied by musician Jerad…
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Pigeon Community ‘Storytellers Series’
The Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center in Waynesville has recently announced its 2025 “Pigeon Community Conversations with Storytellers Series.”
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HART presents ‘An Unexpected Song’
A stage production of “An Unexpected Song” will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 21-22, 28-29 and 2 p.m. March…
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Ready for “Fat Burger Month”?
Filled with some of Haywood County’s “juiciest, most mouthwatering burgers,” “Fat Burger Month” will run through April 6 in Waynesville,…
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WCU faculty art showcase
Featuring works from faculty artisans at Western Carolina University, the 2025 School of Art & Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition will…
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Want to learn contra dancing?
An evening of old-time dancing (contras, rounds, squares and mixers) will be held from 7-9 a.m. Thursday, March 20, at…
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It just keeps gettin’ better: Country legends Lonestar to play Franklin
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was pretty much impossible to not hear or be aware of the…
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Is our therapeutic culture damaging children?
Search online for “are more teens today suffering emotional problems,” and a boatload of websites pop to your command. Explore a…
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Blues in the 21st: A conversation with Jimmy Vivino
When it comes to the vast, vibrant landscape of American blues guitarists, few six-string aces have had as varied and…
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'Tip Toe High Wire': Sierra Hull rolls into WNC
Even though singer-songwriter Sierra Hull is an award-winning mandolin virtuoso — and one who’s toured the globe relentlessly for the better…
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Collect books, like precious pearls
When it comes to reading, I can tend to be “the bigger, the better” type reader. I search for thick…
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Want to join the Haywood Community Band?
The Haywood Community Band is a welcoming haven for musicians of all skill levels rekindling their love of creating powerful…
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Rocky Allen showcase in Macon
Collectors of paintings and drawings by Macon County resident/artist Ernest “Rocky” Harvey Allen, Jr. will be exhibiting their “Rocky” pieces…
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To here from there: 'An Appalachian Evening' welcomes Missy Raines
With her latest album, “Highlander,” bluegrass/Americana icon Missy Raines takes inventory of where she stands at this current juncture in…
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War, God and children: Two unusual books
The adage “There are no atheists in foxholes” catches our attention, but is too broad and imprecise for universal application.
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NC Arts Council awards Helene grants
The North Carolina Arts Council has awarded $915,000 to nonprofit arts organizations in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.…
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Gentry, Hill to present new works
Kristen Gentry and Halle Hill will read from and discuss their story collections, “Mama Said” and “Good Women,” at 6…
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‘Fire Up the Arts’
Pisgah High School’s art department is in need of a working kiln, leaving students without the opportunity to explore ceramics…
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Blow the tannery whistle: Margaret Siler and the Sand Town Cherokees
By 1818, despite a growing number of settlers in the region west of the Balsams and along the Little Tennessee…
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New book documents black experience in Appalachia
“Affrilachia: Testimonies,” by Chris Aluka Berry sets out to document the Black experience in Appalachia. The book is a historical…
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Live with a SEAL, and salute the first president
My oldest son runs ultra-marathons from time to time, whereas for me, an ultra-marathon is staying awake from 3 a.m.…
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Lean into the blue: Town Mountain celebrates 20 years
It’s safe to say that the whirlwind sounds and vibrant tones of Town Mountain (now referred to as “Americana”) were…
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Brad Thor’s ‘Shadow of Doubt’ didn’t delight
In Brad Thor’s thriller “Shadow of Doubt” (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 2024, 368 pages), the Russians are possibly threatening a nuclear…
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Blow the tannery whistle: Wid Medford, bear hunter
Back in the late 1880s, two remarkable men, Wilbur Zeigler and Ben Grosscup, visited Western North Carolina for the express…
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Becoming aware of ‘emotional neglect’
I’ve always been a fan of psychology, especially when it comes in the form of self-help. Many times I have…
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Coming home: Following his departure from Balsam Range, Buddy Melton looks ahead
At age 55, Buddy Melton decided to make a major change in his life, which resulted in his recent departure…
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‘Stories of the Saraha’ paints a vivid picture
Early in the 1970s, while living and working in Spain, Chen Maoping read a story in “National Geographic” about the…
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Interested in theatre?
Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville has announced the launch of its “Spring Semester Theatre Classes,” which will run…
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Poet sets a new path for humanity
“In time, maybe the land will decide.” Scott T. Starbuck is an award-winning poet, career fisherman, climate activist and longtime…
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Encouraging the gift of a snail mail note
There’s no fool like an old fool. Allow me to serve as a prototype of that adage. I’m old, three…
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WNC’s storytelling spirit finds a home in new film project
A local hero comes home to Western North Carolina for the first time in 20 years, potentially reigniting a longtime feud…
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Till the wheels fall off: A conversation with Charlie Starr
Amid this modern era of rock music, Blackberry Smoke is the absolute epitome of what it means to plug in…
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Lessons from a reimagined winter fairy tale
When you’re a child, this time of year is full of magic and wonder. As you get older, the holidays…
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A class act: HART celebrates milestone, looks ahead
It’s Sunday afternoon. And while many are either watching professional football on a glowing TV somewhere or simply trying to…
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From book monsters to nuclear war
For all sorts of reasons, mostly having to do with research, the last two weeks brought more reading than usual…
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Heart of the arts
You sure as heck can pack a lot into 365 days, especially when it comes to the immensely vibrant arts…
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Real perspectives from a fictional Russian
The ever growing stack of my “to-read” books has had Amor Towles’ “A Gentleman in Moscow” for about a year…
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A year in review: The best albums of 2024
Editor’s Note: Since August 2012, Garret K. Woodward has held the position of arts and entertainment editor for The Smoky…
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Blow the tannery whistle: Foxfire Christmas: traditions and superstitions
Back in the 1980s, when I was telling stories in the Cope Crest Conference Center in Tiger, Georgia, I heard…
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Desperate times, desperate measures
It’s spring of 1941 and Britain stands alone against Hitler’s Germany. The British aircraft dropping their bombs on German military…
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Here’s to inspiration?
“What are you reading after the election?” a friend asked me last week. She asked me because she had picked…
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Heart is the hero: A conversation with Oliver Wood
Since its formation in 2004, The Wood Brothers have become one of the premier, marquee acts in the vast sonic…
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Blow the tannery whistle: A tale of two Abrahams
I remember a day in March when I was in the seventh grade. We were on the second floor of the…
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Get in the holiday spirit
• “The Merry Buccaneers Holiday Heist” stage production will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 22-23 at the Swain Arts…
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The Parton sisters’ cookbook
About 10 years ago, Dolly Parton became one of my heroines. It wasn’t her music, or her movies, or her…
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Mountain power: Hundreds of artists come together for 'Caverns of Gold' album
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, there has been numerous initiatives put forth by local Western North Carolina musicians to…
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‘Rock for Relief’ raises over $32K
The recent “Rock for Relief: A WNC Flood Benefit Festival” was able to garner more than $32,000 in its one-day…
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An inside look at life in a Christian convent
If you ever wondered what it would be like to live as a monk or a nun, this book delves…
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Being kind: A conversation with Larry Keel
When it comes to bluegrass guitar pickin’-n-grinnin’ — hell, acoustic guitar playing, in general — one name high atop the…
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