Once a year, area bloggers come together in person. Get ready for the third annual Extravablogiversapaloozathon and 2008 BlogAsheville Awards.

The Asheville area unemployment rate jumped yet again in July, though the increase was less than in most of the rest of the state.

Buncombe County clerk of superior court Robert H. “Bob” Christy Jr., who for the past 18 years has overseen the administrative end of tremendous growth in the court system, has announced his retirement.

Trade used denim toward during this month-long event. (The used jeans benefit moms and teens in WNC’s Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.)

Judge Marlene Hyatt has ruled in favor of the Pack family’s lawsuit against the Parkside land sale, according to attorneys on both sides. However, further hearings may be necessary to determine the exact status of the property.

Award-winning poet Glenis Redmond returns with her third full-length collection of poetry.

Buncombe County Commissioner Chair Nathan Ramsey and his challenger for the spot, Vice Chair David Gantt, kept the tone mostly civil in a forum earlier today, but also exchanged barbs about each other’s records on the Parkside controversy, zoning and taxes.

While Stewart Coleman‘s controversial Parkside condominium project remains in flux pending a court decision, City Council on Aug. 26 took action on another piece of property behind Coleman’s that could one day become the site for a mixed-use development, the centerpiece of which would be a long-sought state-of-the-art performing-arts center.

Each week Xpress reporter Alli Marshall and WOXL DJ Pat Ryan team up to bring you their entertainment suggestions.

On her blog, Husband Wanted, Mari Ainsworth puts out a cyber-call for a mate.

This week, Bar Beat is featuring some of the tastiest beverages in town for these last weeks of summer. 

Here’s a preview of the upcoming edition of Mountain Xpress.

After more than two hours of argument from attorneys representing the Pack heirs, developer Stewart Coleman and Buncombe County, Judge Marlene Hyatt announced that she would closely review the case’s documents before coming back with a ruling on the legality of the Parkside land sale later this week.

Highlights from the August 19 work session.