In a rush? Discover the mountain town 15 miles from Asheville with a genever and whiskey distillery, NC's smallest boutique hotel, and the best Cuban cafe.

Good Morning Reader,

Have you been watching Cúrate's Katie Button compete on the brand new television series, America's Culinary Cup, created by Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi?

Katie is such an amazing and inspiring chef - and she does it with respect, style, and class, helping other chefs and representing the best of Asheville. In her interviews, Katie mentions Helene, and I love seeing those sprawling shots of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

📺 I highly recommend watching the series every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET on CBS & Paramount+. Episode Four just aired.

And, if that Culinary Cup food makes you hungry like me, keep reading for:

• Travel guides to one of our favorite Asheville day trips and overnight destinations (emphasis on the delicious treats for our foodies)
• April and May Asheville area events
• Visiting Marshall, NC, after Helene

Asheville locals keep this little mountain town to themselves. Here's why...

Honestly? We try. Black Mountain is just 15 miles east of Asheville, and it has everything - great restaurants, local art, a lake, NC's smallest boutique hotel with Prosecco on tap (Peri Social House), and our favorite spots for a genever or whiskey cocktail, Oak & Grist.

We have two completely overhauled 2026 Black Mountain guides and one YouTube video just for you:

⛰️ Best Things To Do, Eat, & Drink in Black Mountain (+ where to stay!) - Visit a free museum, see where I buy all of my cute bear shirts and moose-doing-yoga pjs, and of course, eat all the food with us.

🍴 Unforgettable Restaurants in Black Mountain (with a cheatsheet) - Date night in a former gas station? The best pork bowl in WNC? Did someone say Thai noodles? How about those famous Foothills meats? German sausages? We love dining in Black Mountain.

🏨 Tour Peri Social House with Us - Tom and I booked The Spaulding Room at Peri Social House for a special occasion. See our historic room, and get a peek into their coffee and cocktail bar. I love love love this hotel.

A Bonus Nod To Peri Social House

📚 And, speaking of Peri Social House, I recently updated my favorite books set in hotels reading list. On the list is The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover, for which Peri Social House held a live Q&A, book signing, and a writer’s workshop. I wasn't able to attend, but I hope they host many more.

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar: Asheville Spring Events

April 2026

• April 3 - 4, 2026: Asheville Comedy Festival at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
• April 4: Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade​
• April 4: Music in the Mountains Day at The NC Arboretum
• April 11: Arbor Day Celebration at The NC Arboretum
• April 17: Downtown After 5 (Season Opener) in Asheville's Pack Square Park
• April 18: Asheville Maker Faire at Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center
• April 24 - 26: Asheville Spring Herb Festival at the WNC Ag Center, Fletcher
• April 25: Get in Gear Fest at the Adventure Center of Asheville
• April 25: Greening Up The Mountains Festival in Sylva, North Carolina
• April 30 - May 3: Cider, Wine, and Dine Weekend in Henderson County

* Asheville Bread Festival will be back in 2027.

May 2026

• Through May 3, 2026: Cider, Wine, and Dine Weekend in Henderson County
• May 2 - 3: Asheville BuskerFest (A LEAF Global Arts benefit) across Asheville
• May 6 - 9: Asheville Improv Comedy Festival​
• May 6 - 9: SpringSkunk Music Fest​
• May 8 - 10: Greenville's Artisphere​
• May 9: Fiber Day at the Folk Art Center
• May 15: Downtown After 5 (Season's Second Show) in Pack Square Park, Asheville
• May 15 - 17: Greenville Greek Festival​
• May 15 - 29: Asheville Beer Week​
• May 16: Saluda Arts Festival​
• May 22 - 24: Brevard White Squirrel Weekend​
• May 23 - 31: Grandfather Mountain Rhododendron Rambles​
• May 23 - 24: Hendersonville Garden Jubilee​
• May 23 - 24: Downtown Asheville Memorial Day Weekend Festival of the Arts​
• May 30: Deep Roots LEAF Global Arts Event at Pisgah Brewing
• May 30: WNC Whiskey Festival at the Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center

A Helene Comeback Town: Sweet Marshall, NC

Pictured above: On Your Bike matcha latte, Mal's Bar beer, Downtown Marshall business window, and Mad Co. Brew House

❤️‍🩹 Marshall, NC, was hit hard by Helene, and a year and a half later, the damage is still raw. Condemned buildings, river mud, debris. It's a lot to take in. But Marshall has something extra special: an amazing amount of heart.

A few highlights from our recent visit:​
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🍻 Our afternoon started with craft beer at Mad Co. Brew House. The Helene flood water lines in the building are shocking, but these guys are back with local brews and that delicious pizza. 🍕 We love sitting on their back deck overlooking the river.
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🚲 We finally made it into On Your Bike, with vibrant walls and furniture, a bike sales and repair shop manned by a sweet pup, and a café with healthy breakfast and lunch options, GF, Vegan, and Veggie-friendly. It was love at first sight. 🥑
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🛍️ Afterward, we dipped into The BoBo Market (which used to be a café with GF cupcakes), selling unique local art, handmade goods, and ice cream. 🍨
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🍺 Mal’s Bar called to me. Maybe it was the “cold beer + hot cougars” sign?! Am I the hot cougar?! 🤣 It sounded like the hot dog machine was rebelling, but the pool table, saddle bar seat, and deer decor were not. 🦌
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Our stomachs were pretty full, so Tom and I will be back for one of our favorites, Zadie’s, and new(er) Star Taco (remember Star Diner?) 🌮 looked excellent. We were excited to see Zuma and Main Street Comics thriving. Of course, there are many more shops and restaurants around.
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We're going back soon, and when we do, I'll have a full updated guide for you. In the meantime, if you're anywhere near Marshall, go. They need your business, and they'll make you feel like a regular.

Until then, have a great weekend and support this newsletter, our updated articles, and all of our work with a tip (via secure Stripe) here.

P.S. Sending this one out while I still can - something is making its rounds in our house...that awful C****. Wish me luck.