Lurphy DePalma Larry Halstead is a tech nerd with an affinity for arts & sports. Reppin' the hard streets of South Asheville for almost 15 years. He's made this city home and has vowed to never stop fighting to keep it as weird & unique as possible.







1

From Tony “Beer Guy” Kiss, happy news on the beer front: Vadim Bora Russian Imperial Stout arrives Friday.

A specialty brew from the Wedge, the former Raspberry Russian Imperial Stout was renamed for the late Asheville artist Vadim Bora, who passed away unexpectedly last year. Bora, a native of Russia and reputedly a lover of dark beer, was a Wedge Brewing regular.

Creamy, dark and notoriously delicious, Bora’s namesake is a high-gravity seasonal winter brew available only at the Wedge.

From Kiss on Facebook:

One of Western North Carolina’s great brews is just days from arriving. Wedge Brewing will release this year’s Vadim Bora Russian raspberry Imperial stout on Friday at the brewery, 125 B Roberts St. in the River Arts District. This is truly yummy stuff, served on nitrogen, which gives is a smooth creamy touch like Guinness stout. About 500 gallons were made, and it will be only be available at the brewery. Because it’s on nitrogen, there are no take-home growler bottles.

Bora’s public art can be seen on Wall Street, home of his popular metal cat sculptures. His last commission was a life-sized bronze for the Biltmore House.

More about Bora’s international art legacy:

Museums retaining Vadim Bora’s paintings and sculptures in their permanent collections are: the Ministry of Culture Collection, Moscow, Russia; North Ossetia Museum of Art, Vladikavkaz, Russia; the Spartanburg Museum of Art, Spartanburg, SC; and the Anderson Arts Center, Anderson, SC. Corporate collections include: the BBC, London, England; The Financial Times, London, England. Other public and private commissions by the artist are located in: Charlotte, NC; Moscow, Russia; Berlin, Germany; Amsterdam, Holland; St. Louis, MO; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Fort Wayne, IN; Indianapolis, IN; Atlanta, GA; Denver, CO; and Washington, D.C. His public works of art grace the streets, museums and institutions of Asheville, Fort Wayne, Kansas City, Atlanta, and Vladikavkaz, Russia.

Bora was buried in Asheville’s 19th-century Riverside Cemetery, where fellow Asheville heroes William Sydney Porter (O. Henry) and Thomas Wolfe are also buried.