In a rush? We are starting to update our 2025 Asheville events calendar.

Happy New Year Reader,

We've been a bit quieter than usual over here at Uncorked Asheville, and I'm hoping to get back to our regular emails soon. It doesn't help that as I write this, it's snowing and power has been surging. We rang in the new year largely in the dark too, and we just ordered a generator. Helene weakened the trees around us so any bit of wind or ice has been more dangerous than is typical. The snow is pretty, though. Tom even built a snowman.

In December, I finally received a long overdue hyperthyroidism diagnosis. Asheville has one endocrinology office - who I'm still waiting to see. I couldn't even stand to brush my teeth, and my resting heart rate sat around 127. It's affecting my eyes and flared my ulcerative colitis. I had 6 doctors appts across two weeks. I'm hoping to get into Duke in Durham for everything health related; it's been a challenge here in the mountains. But, this is why I've been MIA. Who knew your thyroid could affect literally everything in your body!?

However, we've been trying to get out to support and enjoy our local businesses, heading to Weaverville and Black Mountain. If you follow us on Facebook, you know we've been enjoying Weaverville's Maggie B's for wine and sandwiches and Black Mountain's Cousins Cuban Cafe. We had a delicious dinner at one of our Asheville favorites, Leo's House of Thirst. This winter, I plan on living at Weaverville's AllGood Coffee with vegan pastries from Back Porch Baking Co.

We also finally had the emotional courage to walk the RAD Riverwalk in Asheville's River Arts District. Months later, the damage is still unfathomable, but I'm happy to see some places slowly re-opening like Baby Bull and French Broad Chocolate Factory. You can walk much of the riverwalk although a few parts washed into the French Broad River.

Upcoming Asheville Events

I've been working hard on updating our Asheville events calendar. A lot of dates are still pending, and I noticed a few usual events aren't happening in 2025.

These are just a few I was able to round up for January and February. Please feel free to send me any more that are annual events and festivals.

January 2025

• January 9 - 19: Greenville, SC Restaurant Week​
• January 21 - January 27: Asheville Restaurant Week (January & February dates)
• January 25: Asheville Hot Chocolate Races​
• January 27: Maggie Valley Ice Festival​
• January 30 - February 2: Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend in Haywood County

February 2025

• Through February 2: Visit Haywood Ice Fest Weekend in Haywood County
• February 15: The Great Outhouse Races in Sapphire, NC
• February 16: Frostbite Races (10K, 5K, 1 Mile) in Fletcher, NC
• February 18 - 24: Asheville Restaurant Week (January & February dates)

There will be no Asheville Celtic Festival in 2025.

Lady Whistledown of Asheville

Let me start this section saying that I love Asheville, and I am so hopeful for this city post-Helene. But, it's not all sunshine and rosé - and parts of the city, its people, and its businesses are struggling.

FEMA estimates that about 43% of businesses fail to reopen and survive after a natural disaster. And, we can't forget how many are still recovering from the pandemic.

Tom and I have been out a lot this past week, talking to owners & staff, hearing whispers of how bad business has been. Many missed out on peak tourist season. Others saw that initial burst of community love immediately following Helene, which has died down.

I recently received a Facebook comment about ELDR closing - and have been seeing this sentiment more and more: "so they're just throwing in the towel?? Everyone is in the same boat, cleaning up and rebuilding takes Time!"

I'm not sure everyone understands that part of Asheville, especially the River Arts District and Biltmore Village, still look like the apocalypse; we've had progress and it's wonderful, but there is so much clean up left. And for a while, if you remember, we had no cellular service or power. Then, no potable water for 52 days. People couldn’t reopen because of damage to businesses, their homes, and their employees’ homes. Many of us were displaced for weeks to months. Some never came back. Service industry workers were and are forced to move, being without steady or stable work and due to the high cost of living here.

While closed, expenses have not stopped (leases, insurance, etc). People have to pay their personal and business bills. Missing tourist season was devastating for many - my own business included. January & February are going to be rough and very quiet. We are sadly going to lose more businesses, and no one is just "throwing in the towel" lightly. Hopefully, we’ll see some of our favorite owners and chefs open up somewhere else. Not everyone can do this. Asheville is getting new businesses too, and I can only imagine how hard that is following a disaster. We look forward to patronizing all of them and sharing with you.

On top of this, I've seen many online comments this 2025 from people saying, "please don't tell people about this great place; locals only, no tourists." We have a lot of keyboard warriors in our FB groups and on Reddit - but very few are actual business owners here. And I can tell you, our business owners are not anti-, ya know, business. Now is not the time.

Asheville is "open," and we need visitors. I'd say, yes, I love sitting in a half empty restaurant - which is happening a lot this month - having it all to ourselves, but I don't. Because I know that doesn't sustain a business. Half the businesses we moved here for are gone already. I'd rather have to make a reservation at my favorite place than see it go under because I selfishly want it to myself. It's not the same as overcrowding a hiking trail. We cannot keep losing our businesses.

So, please, share your favorites, promote them, and patronize them when and if you can. Donate to nonprofits helping the community, and if nothing else, giving a FB post a like is free and still helps get businesses seen.

With that said, here's what's new (and closing) in Asheville:

• As announced across social media channels, ELDR is permanently closing. They sat across from the Grove Park Inn in that gorgeous little storybook cottage, serving up great brunch and cocktails along with regular meals. I posted a throwback to our many meals there here on Facebook.
• There has been a lot of tea and angst about Asheville Brewing Company (ABC) vs The Orange Peel, who is suing ABC. As we await more information, Rabbit Rabbit will now be Asheville Yards. There are a few news articles, a Reddit thread, and loads of comments all over Facebook from the community.
• The Radical Hotel in the River Arts District has reopened.
• Tastee Diner has new ownership and is becoming Hail Mary.
• Beloved Bouchon announced their move to become "Creperie Bouchon." Rendezvous will remain the same. I'll miss cozy Bouchon, and I'm hoping for some vegan crepes.
• Rosetta's vegan soul food restaurant has pivoted into a disaster relief kitchen to help people eat post-Helene (including serving meat).
• Joey's Bagels opened another location on Merrimon Ave. We have to head over to the new spot. We frequent their other locations on our way to the Hendersonville wineries with takeout lunch sandwiches.
• Posana announced that they'll be opening a second location in Biltmore Park Town Square. They are aiming for Spring 2025.
• Potential New Boyfriend opened on Haywood Road a bit ago, and everyone is obsessed. They offer gourmet desserts, great tunes, and, I've heard, an excellent wine list.
• Little Pearl Asheville announced they will not re-open.
• Asheville's Bold Rock location closed permanently.

Upcoming

In 2025, we are trying to visit places we haven't gotten to yet to share with you. I've been paused on updating the actual website as things are still changing so quickly here.

As always, if you appreciated this newsletter, a Facebook post, or an article, say thanks with a small tip here.