It’s time to vote in this year’s Best of WNC reader survey. We moved the unveiling of winners from October to August, so the time to vote is now! As spring leans toward summer and the days grow longer, we’re offering twice as many categories to match the abundance of the season, and the brilliance of what makes life in WNC the best. Voting has started!

Smoky Mountain Center unanimously adopts a management agreement with Western Highlands Network. According to board members from both organizations, Western Highlands will likely adopt the same legal document at its 8:30 a.m. meeting tomorrow, May 24. (Photo of Western Highlands interim CEO Charlie Schoenheit by Caitlin Byrd)

It’s commonly said that housing’s hard to find in Asheville. Numbers from the U.S. Census and elsewhere shine a light on exactly how hard.

No one was seriously injured when an out of control trolley struck a trashcan and lamppost on the corner of Haywood Street and Battery Park Avenue Thursday afternoon, coming to rest against the awning of the historic Miles building, which houses the Mountain Xpress offices.

Asheville’s winters inspired Xambuca’s trilogy of arctic-based concept albums. Come in from the late-May heat tonight, when Xambuca plays The Apothecary with Thomas Dimuzio, Mark Hosler and Bank of Christ. Doors at 9 p.m.

The local country/Americana band recently played a standout two-night run at Isis. Photos by Gabe Spencer.

Today, May 23, a group of local restaurants are coming together to celebrate what would’ve been Bob Moog’s 79th birthday by donating a portion of sales to the Bob Moog Foundation.

Festivals dominate this weekend’s entertainment scene, from burlesque and gardening to white squirrels and sports. As always, Xpress brings you the best in low-cost weekend events.

Today, May 23, is Bob Moog Day in Asheville, honoring the legendary instrument inventor on what would’ve been his 79th birthday.

The North Carolina General Assembly has begun its end-of-session wrestling to reconcile Gov. Pat McCrory’s $20.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 and the Senate’s own $20.58 plan and priorities. Meanwhile, some of the nearly 600 bills still alive after crossover are filtering through Statehouse committees.

In an angry public letter, state House Finance Chair Rep. Robert Brawley has given up his chairmanship, alleging that Speaker Thom Tillis has engaged in unethical behavior and accuses him of hypocrisy on conflicts with cities and towns, specifically mentioning legislation focusing on Asheville.

The jam band plays a Memorial Day weekend show in Black Mounatin and Xpress will give away a pair of tickets to the event.

The monthly free summer music series kicks off this Friday and to sweeten the deal, free shuttle service is provided from downtown and the River Arts District. Photo of Mary Frances by David Oppenheimer.

Jon Snover thought he’d found his dream job at a fuel-cell company in 2001 — and that, as lead chemist for the company, he was going to change the world by developing advanced technology to solve society’s energy crisis

Standing on the veranda of the wooden house she dreamed into a reality nearly 20 years before, Adelaide Key announced she will now share her vision to house families and caregivers with Mission Foundation. (Photo of Adelaide Key and Bruce Thorsen by Caitlin Byrd)

You know it’s a pretty dire week when the thing I’m most looking forward to is Fast & Furious 6. (And you can imagine how much it pains me to type those words.) There’s not even a single new art title to brighten the weekend (no, last Friday’s ActionFest offering, Java Heat, going to a full run doesn’t count) — merely three mainstream movies I find it hard to get jazzed about. These are the conditions that prevail.

The Louisiana-based, egg-centric brunch restaurant could open as early as September.

Local environmental groups are trying to mobilize opponents to Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike to show up at six public hearings held over the next few months, including in Franklin and Marion.

Asheville native Elliot Heller (aka DJ Equal) is based in New York City but returns to WNC on Friday, May 24 for a show at Club Tetrus. RBTS WIN also performs a DJ set as Brutal Wizards. In advance, Heller talks to us about his career, the New York scene, how he finds new music, and his travel tips.

Carolina Day School will explore the pressures of high school overachievement at a screening of Race to Nowhere on Wednesday, May 22.

With Asheville garnering significantly less votes in the annual Beer City USA online poll than it did in 2012, does that mean our hearts are no longer in our pint glasses? Have we lost our Beer City spirit? Or with MLive reporting that Grand Rapids tourism marketers waged a highly organized campaign, maybe it’s more of a reflection on our commerce officials? Whatever the case, local residents shared their thoughts on a variety of online mediums this week, expressing everything from disappointment to good riddance.

Amid the lawsuits and budget wrangling, Asheville City Council elections are approaching. There’s something clearly missing in the media speculation about who will run and win: electronic versions of ancient Chinese prophecy. Here’s what my I-Ching phone app says about each campaign, along with some agricultural and marital advice.

Click through for a video interview with and exclusive performance by The Felice Brothers.

The Nashville-based roots trio played The Grey Eagle last weekend. They performed a version of “My Dog Can’t Bark” for Xpress.