In a rush? Read our brand new Banner Elk itinerary.

Good Morning Reader,

Tom's newer barber messaged him the day before his appointment to cancel, noting he had moved salons, more than doubled his prices, and was now charging $70 starting for a men's haircut - and $70 more per hour after that. It all felt very Asheville...

We had to laugh; those prices are honestly ludicrous, and my friends in NYC and Boston don't even pay that. As you say in the South, though, bless his heart.

Needless to say, off to Great Clips Tom went for a solid $20 buzz. Living in a tourist/destination is just...extra special...sometimes.

What you'll find in this newsletter: the 3 B's & more

• Our brand new Banner Elk itinerary
• Breakfast in Asheville
• Brunch in Asheville

Our Top Recommendations for Banner Elk

What do two 'retired' youth service librarians do for fun when they meet up across state lines?

📚 Look for all things books, alpacas...and tummy-friendly foods: My friend was the only other library staff member who would bring her own lunch to meetings. We bonded over how we couldn't eat things like regular pizza. 🦙

October was a gorgeous time to visit Banner Elk - right before the Woolly Worm Festival, with vibrant foliage and mild weather.

Tom and I have since returned for day trips and other nearby overnights, as Banner Elk is only a 1.5-hour drive from Asheville. See where you can eat a giant sandwich, buy my favorite candles, and pet a donkey.

🎥 There’s a video at the very end. 📚

Where We Get Brunch in Asheville

Oooof, let's just say that breakfast and brunch are rough when your body is flaring up. I hadn't updated our brunch article since 2024 (ekkk!), and in that time, more than 60% of the places on our list had either closed or stopped serving brunch. It was heartbreaking to see all at once.

Helene didn't help, and many places are only offering seasonal brunch (meaning peak tourist season).

So, if you are looking for a steady and delicious weekend brunch in Asheville, where can you go in 2026?

We still love Haywood Common, Jerusalem Garden Café, Leo’s House of Thirst, and more, including a Black Mountain favorite. These are the restaurants that Tom and I most frequent for jazzy tunes, brunch classics, and twists on favorites.

Where To Get The Best Breakfast In Asheville

I recently had to get bloodwork at our very...interesting...Quest office. If you know, you know. 🤯

Afterward, Tom and I dropped into Biscuit Head, which is one of the only places with GF/vegan biscuits. People either love them or don't, but they've won us over in recent years.

We also enjoy breakfast spots like All Day Darling (Montford), Pulp & Sprout (North Asheville), and The Smokin’ Onion (West Asheville).

Upcoming Asheville Events

Plan your March in Asheville:

• March 15 - March 22, 2026: The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival​
• March 21: Asheville Marathon & Half​
• March 26: Luminere opens at Biltmore
• March 27 – 29: Asheville Orchid Festival at The NC Arboretum

A Recent Book I Loved

On The Uncorked Librarian, travel across India with these Hindu mythology books and movies about India. I also had to share a book that I absolutely loved:

Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman

Plot: When Henry and Grace lose their life partners in a plane crash and to cancer, respectively, they must find happiness and love again without betraying the past. Did the past also betray them?

On the day of her husband’s funeral, Grace takes the kids to adopt a dog, and soon after, she becomes 'grief friends' with Henry, thanks to their meddling moms. Check the trigger warnings.

Why I Loved It: From the authentic tone and laugh-out-loud, relatable humor to Harry Styles the dog and the mice situation, I could not put this one down. Henry has a gem relationship with Grace's children, and I adore Ian and Bella’s personalities.

Just one quote that made me laugh literally out loud: Henry to Grace, “How are you so fast? Your legs are half as long as mine!”

Grace: “I’m a liberal American woman, Henry! I’m fueled by rage!”

The Christmas movie tie-in is the cherry on top, and everything about this story is hard and devastating but also cozy-sincere and so hopeful. Their family and friend group reminds me of every good TV sitcom. Grab a copy on Bookshop (affiliate link).

Say Thanks With A Tip

Support our food model getting an Asheville haircut (just kidding). Your reader donations make a huge difference. Leave a small tip here using secure Stripe.