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!

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.

Singer-songwriter James McCartney is currently in the midst of a 47-date U.S. tour in support of his new album, “Me.” He plays The Altamont Theatre on Tuesday, May 28. Risa Binder opens.

The Asheville Code for America Brigade has released an app exploring Asheville’s annual budget.

Sitting here, staring at my computer screen while not really watching—off to the side— a movie even I don’t recognize on TCM, I find my mind wandering into the realm of considering the state of film criticism in our media-saturated world—and I’m not all that happy by what I see. But it’s less the criticism that bothers me than the way the moviegoing public seems to be taking it.

While noting that much of its fate remains in the hands of the state legislature, at a special meeting this morning Asheville City Council gave staff the go-ahead to start drafting a budget based on a plan that calls for a 1 cent property tax increase and assumes the city and county may consolidate their parks and recreation operations by January.

Take in some electronic music by Shueh-li Ong (pictured) and many others at the Asheville Electro-Music Festival, stop by the Twin Rivers Media Festival and honor our country’s veterans this weekend. Podcast hosted by Ms. Amandi of Asheville Free Media’s Bombshell-ter Radio.

Ritter and The Royal City Band played a 20-song set in Asheville this week. It was the group’s first performance in two-and-a-half years. Photos by Rich Orris.

As the weather heats up, soon there will be more options to cool down.

Local religious leaders will gather in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse May 20 to protest the impacts of state legislation on low-income and minority citizens.

The local Americana band will perform at Isis on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18. Click through for information on how to win tickets.

This weekend brings outdoor festivals, farm tours, gardening, music and more. As always, Xpress highlights the best in low-cost weekend events.

Passing a new budget resolution and agreeing to hire additional legal counsel were the two top items at Wednesday’s meeting of the board of the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. The $40-million budget reflects a $16.7 million capital improvement investment and a 2.5 percent rate increase for domestic users.

As dozens of young children played in downtown Asheville’s interactive water fountain, more than 50 adults criticized state legislation they say could jeopardize the future of educators, North Carolinians and the lives of the children playing in the nearby fountain. (Photo by Max Cooper)

As far as fresh produce is concerned, Cera McGinn and Mallory McCoy want to see more people living hand to mouth — putting the seed in the ground and nurturing it until the last bite has been taken. The pair are co-owners of Ramble and Root, a consulting and installation service for do-it-yourself, organic vegetable landscaping.