Gina Smith

Asheville

Food Editor and Writer at Mountain Xpress

Asheville eastsider, coordinator @abfoodpolicy, features editor @edibleavl, parent, other stuff

Featured in: Favicon

edibleasheville.com Favicon

tripadvisor.com Favicon

patch.com

eater.com

idc.com

jeffbullas.com Favicon

mountainx.com Favicon

ibelieve.com Favicon

my-indiana-home.com Favicon

carolinas.eater.com

Articles

When a Tree Falls: Artists craft beauty from Helene’s downed trees

3 days ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith |Kay West |Morgan Sykes |Brent Brown

When a Tree Falls: Artists craft beauty from Helene’s downed trees Volume / Issue Cover Design Credit: Scott Southwick Cover Photography Credit: Caleb Johnson In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, Liisa Andreassen founded Echoes of the Forest, a nonprofit that transforms fallen trees into public art to memorialize nature and support community healing in the region. The project brings together local artists and woodworkers to create sculptures and installations from salvaged wood....
What’s new in food: A fundraiser to support Zillicoah Beer Co.’s recovery

3 days ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

What’s new in food: A fundraiser to support Zillicoah Beer Co.’s recovery Design by Scott Southwick In this week’s local food news: Appalachian Vintner will host an event on Friday, May 15, to help Zillicoah Beer Co. get back on its feet after Tropical Storm Helene destroyed its facility.
Showing Up for the RAD: Artists debut new events

1 week ago | mountainx.com | Edwin Arnaudin |Kay West |Christopher Arbor |Gina Smith

Showing Up for the RAD: Artists debut new events Volume / Issue Cover Design Credit: Scott Southwick Cover Photography Credit: Caleb Johnson The RAD Renaissance event takes place Saturday, May 10. The gathering is a celebration of the district’s arts community, as well as its collective renewal and resilience in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene. The celebration is also the first of many new initiatives the district has planned for 2025....
What’s new in food: Mother’s Day brunches and Best Bloomin’ Beverage Contest

1 week ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

What’s new in food: Mother’s Day brunches and Best Bloomin’ Beverage Contest Design by Scott Southwick In this week’s local food news: Area restaurants are offering special brunch menus for Mother’s Day.
Marshall Magic: Downtown prepares to reopen

2 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Thomas Calder |Kay West |Gina Smith |Brooke Randle

Marshall Magic: Downtown prepares to reopen Volume / Issue April 30, 2025 Cover Design Credit: Scott Southwick Cover Photography Credit: Caleb Johnson In Marshall, businesses up and down Main Street are scrambling to open in time for Marshall Magic Days, a downtown festival that organizers are billing as an “open house” showcasing the area’s recovery progress. The multiday happening runs Thursday-Sunday, May 1-4....
What’s new in food: DayTrip’s relaunch and Asheville Vegan Market

2 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

What’s new in food: DayTrip’s relaunch and Asheville Vegan Market Design by Scott Southwick In this week’s local food news: After losing its original space to flooding from Tropical Storm Helene, 1970s-themed bar DayTrip reopens in a much larger location.
Asheville celebrates 4/20 with hemp events and infused foods

4 weeks ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

Sunday, April 20 — aka 4/20 — is known to many as the annual day for celebrating cannabis and hemp culture. Xpress joins the party this year with the paper’s first dedicated roundup of local hemp and cannabis news and events. True to its name, WagWorld Pub in Fletcher is a dog-friendly bar with its own 1-acre, off-leash dog park. But canine companions will have to stay home for WagWorld’s inaugural HempFest event, Friday-Sunday, April 18-20.
What’s new in food: Two WNC chefs shortlisted for James Beard Awards

1 month ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

What’s new in food: Two WNC chefs shortlisted for James Beard Awards Design by Scott Southwick In this week’s local food news: Two Western North Carolina chefs are on the list of finalists for this year’s James Beard Awards. Plus, Asheville Proper rolls out lunch service this week, foraging adventures and rustic French dinners in Madison County, Cúrate announces a beer collaboration and special Catalan dishes and the Michelin Guide comes to WNC.
Art brings healing to Asheville creatives and community

1 month ago | mountainx.com | Gina Smith

A photo of a clown inside a gutted building holding a cluster of candy-colored balloons. A black-and-white sketch of a house with water pouring from its windows. An artist’s portrait of her own anguished face juxtaposed with written memories of an all-too-fresh disaster. These works are among the deluge of art generated by Western North Carolina creatives in the months since Tropical Storm Helene tore its brutal path through the mountains last September.
Send in the Clowns: Artists process Helene’s impact through new projects

1 month ago | mountainx.com | Edwin Arnaudin |Gina Smith |Kay West |Greg Parlier

Send in the Clowns: Artists process Helene’s impact through new projects Volume / Issue April 9, 2025 Cover Design Credit: Scott Southwick Cover Photography Credit: Leanna Echeverri/Leche Photography In the months since Tropical Storm Helene, Western North Carolina artists have leveraged their creativity to both interpret and heal from the disaster, producing works such as this week’s cover photo. In turn, Helene-inspired artwork is helping the local community collectively process...