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After considering this "Ash(e)vegas" thing, I must say the whole thing is stupid, and a waste of time. I have never once heard any local person use the term, in fact have never heard the word "Ashvegas" used outside of this ‘blog’. The word is senseless, and the whole thing seems very juvenile to me.
Well, after thinking about it for a while, I have come to the decision that the term "Ashvegas", (and even writing about it) is a joke. I have never heard anyone use the word even once, have never seen it in print outside of this ‘blog’, it doesn’t really make any sense, it sounds juvenile; something a 12 year old would say in an effort to appear cool, and is just a bunch of nothing. The whole "Ash(e)vegas" thing is a total waste of time, and I’m wondering why I’m even commenting on it. Totally stupid.
A-town born and raised represent. Completely agreed with the original post by "born in memorial". The homegrown in their 20′ & 30’s did make this town. In response to "don’t care who birthed you", I’d keep that opinion to yourself. You really have no idea what you’re talking about unless you were raised here for which it seems unlikely considering what you’ve had to say.
The one thing if any that our generation of home towners can be given credit for is for "keeping it real" when at so many times this city has been influenced by unknowing outsiders.
Whether you see or know any of us, we are the ones who continue to keep the foundation of our proud city strong. Our bond is bigger than any throughout the city.
Grew up in Asheville from age 4 to 18. Graduated HS and left in 1976. Never heard the term Ashvegas until I ran across this blog 4 yrs ago when I was returning for a 30th HS reunion.
Dude, you were were born in 1980? I’m old enough to be your ancestor. And who is this "founder" you are talking about? Was his last name Ville?
Hey, Ash. I don’t care what you call your blog or how you spell it. I’m just glad you do what you do. I’ve never thought of "Ashvegas" as a disrespectful term; in fact, I’ve always thought of it as a funny, clever, affectionate way of referring to the local scene.
I think it’s a healthier way to think of Asheville than, say, regarding it as the private kingdom of people who just happened to be born here.
I’ve heard from multiple people that the term originated in Knoxville (er, Knoxvegas that is), and was picked up here for similar reasons. Much like "Keep Asheville weird" was lifted from Austin. Part of me doubts the term was thrown around in the 1970s here in Asheville. Or the ’80s. It seems more likely that it came about during Vegas’ extensive marketing and branding efforts of the late ’90s and onward. Finally, you "old-timers" from the 80s and early 90s didn’t do jack to make this place one thing or the other. Every town in America had a scene as interesting as Asheville during those times. But you were young then and it blew your young minds to drink in the one bar in town or smoke cigarettes outside the one coffeeshop, and this has become your ‘best era ever.’ Your crappy non-existant scene of yesteryear didn’t make this a mecca — the geographic location and beauty made it a mecca, and it’s been booming and busting since the 1800s as a tourist town. A lot of the late-30s/early-40s crowd around here thinks they ‘kept it real’ back then, but they just lived here during a cyclical bust, and once it started booming again, it did it on its own. You think everyone moved here to hang out with your idealized version of your 17-year-old self at Vincent’s Ear or the Green Door (wow-wee, a poetry open mic!) — please. I guess you installed the National Forests and the rivers and the mountains while you were at it. This place only gets better with each passing year. Walk downtown and tell me you’d trade it for your Awesome 1980s in WNC.
Glad to have brought this topic out in the light where it should be. Not hating on the title of your site (although I would change it if I had the capabilities) but rather in relation to what Ricky Party stated below….
"The fact remains it is the affluent 20s/early 30s non-locals who’ve moved here on their family’s trust-funds who are really the ones behind the assimilation (to the point of redundancy) of the phrase into our local language."
These trust funders along with other outsiders who have moved to Asheville to capitalize on the cool culture that has been created by its founder seems to be the representing faction of "Ashvegas" users. No disrespect to the replier and writer of this blog but my knowledge of people in this town extends far beyond those in my age range whom most likely helped my folks change my diaper. I’ve never heard any of them (and this is a rather large #) use this term to refer to Asheville. Never have I heard any of the originals (this is a very large # too) refer to the ville as Ashvegas.
Therefore the current use of "Ashvegas" can be attributed to all the imports over the years (from 2000′ forward) who have moved to this wonderful city following its rise from my generations build. And don’t get me wrong, nothing wrong with imports but they need to know this IS NOT ASHVEGAS.
Next time im home I might just p*ss in the mouth of the next person I hear using this term as I’m walking down the street.
The name is fine for this blog. But please, spell it with an "e" to reflect it to the correct spelling of our city. Without doubt, it should be ASHEVEGAS.
I, too, was born, raised, and came back to raise in Asheville. And I don’t have a problem with how you want to spell your blog name, Vegas.
Lighten up, loves. Too many other things to worry about, dontcha think?? Let’s start with fraud in the Asheville City HR dept.
This is such an example of the attitude that grates on me, and it has really just been in the last 10 years. Please, my lovely Ashevillians, save your judgments for something worthwhile. And let’s have an inclusive–rather than exclusive–culture. THAT is the real Asheville.
I am also a native born at Memorial Mission, and I agree that Ashevegas is a term from when I was a kid and downtown was blighted.
But for the record, since we’re on the subject, I don’t like how you spell it as Ashvegas and not Ashevegas. This is mainly born from the fact that I don’t like when people spell our town as "Ashville" I suppose.
Also, can I get in on this strong bond? We should start a club.
This is a good local news blog that I enjoy reading. BUT, it has always bothered me that the spelling of the blog is not in synch with the spelling of the city it reflects. It would be so much better as "Ashevegas".
Call it whatever. But, to end the name of any city with "Vegas" is rather juvenile. It’s a moniker that doesn’t resonate well with most folks I don’t think the name is very graceful or respectful of our city’s real name and it’s especially bad that it isn’t even spelled to reflect the city’s correct, and too often misspelled name. It would have been so much better spelled with the "E".
ASHEVEGAS…..Now, That’s more like it!
"Ashvegas" is a fine name for the blog, and I think it fits OK in that context, but I have to agree with the sentiment of the original post in that it’s gotten to the point where it makes me cringe to hear someone refer to our town using that word. Whether or not it was someone who grew up around here who originally coined the phrase is almost beside the point. The fact remains it is the affluent 20s/early 30s non-locals who’ve moved here on their family’s trust-funds who are really the ones behind the assimilation (to the point of redundancy) of the phrase into our local language. Gag.
you’re pardoned, saltandlight.
in short: Ashvegas was once an ironic reference to a nowhere town with boarded-up storefronts and a pissant existence. want to party in Ashvegas? good luck.
but the town grew. people noticed its charms. it started living up to its Ashvegas monitor. before the recession, in fact, it was verging on becoming the worst form of its reference.
people tag "vegas" on the end of weaver or nash or whatever little burb. it is what it is.
What exactly is this "Ashvegas" thing all about?
You’ll have to pardon me, I’ve only lived here for
23 years.
Ash — I think you’ve become a force :).
I remember that from long ago too! Gawd I’m old ;-(