Mountain Xpress is the keen-eyed, eloquent voice of the Asheville metro area (pop. 225,000) and surrounding southern Appalachian counties, providing an indispensable guide for residents and visitors alike. We focus on local politics, civic issues and the area's vibrant arts-and-entertainment scene -- reporting the news with a magazine flair. Our opinion section offers a popular forum for the debate of local issues, thanks in large part to the lively submissions of our readers, who constitute a diverse blend of the region's most active and independent-minded residents. We also publish the area's most comprehensive calendar --- a one-stop guide to what's happening in the region. While the bulk of our readers are 25-to-49 years old, Mountain Xpress is read by a diverse audience that includes a 21 percent readership over age 60. Our readers are, primarily, active professionals who enjoy a greater-than-average amount of leisure time. The paper's editorial goal is to provide a forum for debate and to help citizens of all political persuasions play an active part in the community.