In a rush? Start with our Weaverville day tripping itinerary.

Good Morning Reader,

We've enjoyed a lovely fake spring 🌷 with 80-degree temperatures, followed by rain, snow, & hail all in one week ❄️. Not to mention those beautiful, evil, and invasive Bradford Pears are blooming. Achoo.

✨ A couple of Asheville updates to kick off your weekend: ✨

• I received a press release announcing that All Day Darling, currently operating in quaint Montford, is breaking ground on a second location. The new spot is expected to open in 2027 at 567 Fairview Road in Asheville’s Oakley neighborhood: "The new location will feature an expanded dinner menu and a full bar, catering to the neighborhood, plus even more of the bakery items the restaurant is known for." Find All Day Darling on our breakfast favorites list.
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• The owners of Murasaki and Maguro are transforming the former La Carreta on Merrimon Ave. into an Asian-themed restaurant. These are two terrific and beloved restaurants for sushi and ramen. By now, I think you all know we live on this side of town, so I am thrilled.

‼️ And once the new restaurant opens, keep driving north to Weaverville...

Meet Weaverville: Asheville's Quieter, Equally Lovable Neighbor

Weaverville doesn't get nearly enough credit. Just a short drive from Asheville, it has Lake Louise, a walkable downtown, Stoney Knob Cafe 🍔, a surprisingly good craft beer scene 🍻, and that rare small-town feeling that's getting harder to find ⛰️.

I updated three guides for you to make the most of the area.

• 🎨 Weaverville Itinerary, featuring the best things to do and where to shop for cool local art
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• ☕️ Restaurants in Weaverville by Mealtime, showcasing our local favorites for date night, coffee, and a budget-friendly lunch
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• 🍺 A Guide to Weaverville's Craft Brewery Scene, with a breakdown of when to go, what to expect, and who else is close by when you want to avoid the Asheville brewery chaos

Banner Elk Is Calling (Alpacas Included)

🦙 In our last newsletter, we showcased our favorite things to do in Banner Elk, including where to eat, stay, and shop. A Christmas shop? Book Exchange? Woolly worms? Beautiful wineries? 🎄

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar: Asheville Events This Early Spring

• 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
• April 4: Dillsboro Easter Hat Parade
• 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

From The Uncorked Librarian: What We're Reading

🇮🇳 Armchair travel starts here: Read my favorite books set in India.

👻 Into something spookier? Our favorite ghost novels for adults reading list includes a title by an Asheville author...

🥛 I got an early look at Caro Claire Burke's Yesteryear - sharp, biting political fiction with an ✨ Anne Hathaway ✨ movie adaptation on the way. Read my full review on Facebook here.

🗣️ And if you're a book club geek like me, we're doing a casual group read of Charlotte McConaghy's Wild Dark Shore the weekend of May 30th in Uncorked Readers. It's one of the most talked-about climate fiction novels of 2025. Come discuss it with us.

A Donut Shop With Pasta For Breakfast?

I had to laugh, and then cry a little. An AI-written article ranking near the top of DuckDuckGo for "best breakfast in Asheville" listed Hole Doughnuts alongside a stock (or AI) image of pasta with marinara sauce. At a donut shop. For breakfast. (Don't get me wrong, Tom will 100% eat chocolate cake for breakfast...)

It didn't stop there. The piece was full of burgers, pizza, and pasta images attached to restaurants that don't serve any of those things, and it was outranking nearly every local site that actually knows Asheville.

This is why real, local media matters. If our newsletters, guides, and reviews have helped you plan a trip, find a great meal, or discover something new, we'd love your support. You can leave a tip here, or simply send a friend directly to www.UncorkedAsheville.com. Word of mouth (from actual humans) still beats the algorithm. 💕

We cannot wait for real spring over here! 🌺 Happy weekend!