Not as funny as the classic, now-defunct "Die Hipster" blog but still funny.

http://filthyhippies.blogspot.com/

The highlight of one of our trips was to witness a shirtless homeless man crawling on all fours, projectile vomit on the side walk, in the middle of the day. Was at this over/ under pass.

That looks suspiciously like S. Lexington Avenue (I-240 overhead). If so, then yeah, a long-time area for vagrants to hang out. Twenty-some years ago there used to be a dive bar just north of your photo that "normal" people did not patronize...just the hardcore bums who'd panhandle the shopping end of the street then go down and get a buzz and come back. In the window as a single neon sign that said, "BEER" because that's all that place served. .

Good times.

On the other side of the street was a short, curved steep street that went up to the rear of the Civic Center (Hiawassee St.). It was where the hookers worked. A seedy motel on that street was where most of them took the Johns. The cops used to do stings there all the time. The WNC Air Quality Agency is now located there.

Good times.

Cadillac

Ashevill has always been home to some weirdos but this guy is their king: Brother Christopher aka "The Mad Monk of Montford"

Here he is giving some sort of "performance" in Pritchard Park.

http://www.journeyamerica.org/People/The-Mad-Monk-of-Montford/i-rnq5hsF

His hair appears to be one giant blonde-grey dreadlock.

Asheville is know as the "Freak Capitol of the World" and the "San Francisco of the east". Go downtown and you will understand why. LOL

it's a trade off. the hippie/hipster/weirdo crowd here is frustrating yes

however, without their influence the food and beer wouldn't be what it is.

i'm not a big fan of the transplants, but it keeps my wife's business booming......  

it's definitely interesting here, but I do wish the transplants would have a bit more respect for those actually from here

When I relocated "South of the Border" in 1993, Asheville's redevelopment had only recently begun. Pritchard Park was nothing more than a bus stop and hangout for a few vagrants.

The hippie/liberal faction of Asheville has never much cared for the more conservative population who live in outlying areas.

first trip to Asheville I was like so this is where all the ASU graduates move to

they have good beers downtown, the panhandlers are just a pain in the ass, and the hippies are cute for about 30 seconds and then you notice how bad they smell

only good thing?

The panhandlers and hippies are not inside Wicked Weeds or Thirsty Monks

It's all fun and games until the trust funds run out.

I used to lift weights (12 oz. at a time) at both Mitchell's Pub (north end) and Mack Kells (Tunnel Road). Mitchell's closed years ago but Mack Kells is still doing it. Neither were hippie hangouts.

Mitchells was a good bar.
thursday night $5 crab legs
I worked at grove park inn, and we would all go there and get silly

My favorite was wing night.  The wife and I went at least every other Tuesday from 2004 till they closed.

I warmed the bar stools there from 1990 until 1993. Does that make me a plank-owner?

Over the summer I drove out west. I was supposed to spend my first night in Asheville. After eating my dinner I decided to just spend a few more hours in the car to make it to Knoxville. I didn't  want to spend anymore time in such a weird, hipstery place.