Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Ashvegas has a reputation for attracting its fair share of the fringe element. In fact, there’s such a strong underground current that it can’t remain underground anymore. Eclectic Ashvegas has popped out into the bright light of day all over the place over the last 10 to 15 years. Those unique qualities, in fact, are what people say they like best about our little spot on the globe.
Great personalities have bubbled up along the way, too. And we can’t think of an Ashvegas iconoclast who left more of an impression on us over the last decade than did Mickey Mahaffey. Mickey was so “out” he was in, and five years ago ran for mayor in a campaign that formalized elements that still run through this town.
Here’s what Mickey said about running for mayor in 2001:
Our slogan is ‘Community – Not Commodity’… There are many people in our area that would like to sell Asheville as a commodity. But we’re not for sale. We are a community of people who want to live and flourish and grow and give our healing out, give our love out so that all people of all races, all makes, all shapes and sizes can live together in this place in harmony.
Mickey is from Hendersonville and grew up there and in Ashvegas. He moved to Ashvegas, lived in an apartment and worked in the kitchen at Beanstreets and hung out. Then in the late 1990s, Mickey purposefully lived “homefree.” He did away with personal possessions and essentially lived as a homeless person.
Mickey couldn’t help but be politically active, and he attended every city council meeting for about three years straight. That’s where his cult of personality began to build. The trustafarian kids in town found him to be a kindred spirit and went to him for counsel. The real homeless bums found a kindred spirit and went to him for compassion. Even parts of the Ashvegas glitterati, that had come in from the cold decades ago, saw Mickey as a kindred spirit, as someone really living the hippie ideal that they just talked about, but had given up after the Woodstock party.
Mickey got 1,000 votes for mayor. He didn’t win office, but he did win over the city.
Now there’s a film screening at the Asheville Film Festival this weekend that will show us another aspect of Mickey Mahaffey’s wonderful life. It’s called Wander Down, and it tells the story of Mickey’s interest in Mexico. We don’t know much more. Check it out on the Web, or just go to the damn movie. We’re certain you won’t be disappointed.
As you know, we at Ashvegas love to pimp movies we haven’t seen. So we’re telling you to go see this. Because we know Mickey and we love Mickey and we’re glad Mickey is (somewhat) back on the scene. Go see it.
Here are the details:
Movie screeing at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Fine Arts Theater on Biltmore Ave.
Free party at Broadway’s (113 Broadway) from 7-9 p.m. It’s to celebrate local film, and all independent filmmakers and film buffs are invited.
Brian Sarzyinski wrote us and asked us to give a shout out. Brian says tickets for the screening must be purchased in advance at the Pack Place Box office or by visiting ashevillefilmfeestival.com.
Brian, thanks for your note and wish Mickey good luck! We’ll be out of town this weekend, but we’ll be thinking about you guys. Can we buy a copy of the flick somewhere? Thanks!
