“I look forward to reading these newsletters every morning.” - Rhianna W.
If you share a similar sentiment, we’re calling on you to support our positive, hyper-local approach to storytelling with a donation. We love you, Asheville.
🌟 The holiday host with the most
Make your own wreath with Carolina Flowers. | Photo by @carolinaflowrs
The holidays are almost upon us, and if you’re prepping to host an event, the panic may be setting in. Keep calm and merry on with our guide to hosting the holidays in style with local pride.
The invites
E-vites are easy, but real paper invitations have an old-school charm — go all out with a custom invitation from Macon York Press.
Craft a cocktail that sparkles like this one. | Photo via Golden Hour
The setup
Playlist | Add some local flavor to your playlist with these Hall of Fame artists with Asheville ties.
Drinks | Set up a build-your-own drink station, procuring spirits from a local distillery like Chemist or Eda Rhyne, beers from a local brewery, and vino from a local bottle shop like Table Wine.
Centerpieces | Plenty of local shops like Carolina Flowers (bonus: they also host wreath workshops), Flora, and Pollen can make you the perfect bouquets.
These double-smoked beef brisket (or veggie) dogs can be topped 5 different ways. Think: The Chicago, Carolina, or Japanese Terimayo Dog.
Whether you’re looking for an afternoon bite under $10 or a late-night snack, Hi-Wire has you covered. They’re slinging hot dogs all day, every day, including until 12 a.m. on Fridays + Saturdays.
The Relaxation Retreat, a new members-only spa and wellness center, is now open on a six-acre property in Leicester. Members can enjoy 24-hour access to three solariums, two patios, a sauna, and a variety of tubs. Take a virtual tour of the retreat and call or message to make a reservation.
Regional
Gov. Stein announced $14 million for 19 new small business recovery projects in WNC. Nearly $2.5 million was awarded to the City of Asheville for the restoration of Biltmore Village sidewalks, ramps, and curbs, and $979,000 was awarded to Buncombe County to reconstruct sidewalks in Swannanoa for better pedestrian connection to small businesses.
Number
49. That’s how many Buncombe County arts organizations received $2,500 to $7,500 awards from ArtsAVL through its 2025–26 Grassroots Arts Program. The grants, funded on a local, state, and federal level, can be used for program expenses and operating costs. See the awardees.
Announced
The next Outdoor Media Summit, a gathering of hundreds of the country’s top outdoor media + marketing minds, will take place here in the Land of the Sky from Sept. 28 to Sept. 30 at the Crowne Plaza Resort. The conference is expected to generate $450,000+ in direct spending
Giveaway
This holiday gift set has it all — and it could be yours. Local brands Asheville Tea Co., Devil’s Foot, Spicewalla, Pirani, Legally Addictive, French Broad Chocolate, and Poppy Handcrafted Popcorn are holding an Instagram giveaway for the ultimate bundle. Enter by Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Feel Good
Asheville native Walker Robinson has big dreams of qualifying for the Olympics — the 19-year-old learned to ski at Cataloochee Ski Area. He’s got the talent, but now he’s raising the funds to cover entry fees and travel expenses to represent Team USA.
Take a break from high-interest debt with this versatile card that offers 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Plus, there’s no annual fee + you’ll earn cash back rewards on everyday purchases. Explore the perks.*
We’ve seen a lot of stunning snaps of the Northern Lights aglow in Asheville this week, but this @fairfortunephoto’s capture of the recent Comet Lemmon above the Blue Ridge Mountains stopped us in our tracks.
The comet was visible in early morning skies in early November, and we can thank the photog for this unreal shot, because Comet Lemmon won’t be back for a good 1,000+ years.
Simplify holiday hosting with when you get everything you need at the click of a button from Omaha Steaks. Choose from dozens of top-rated options like slow-cooked ham, premium, ready-to-cook turkey, grass-fed beef, and delicious sides like scalloped potatoes, sausage and cranberry stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole to make your perfect holiday meal.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Well, I couldn’t leave you without showing you at least one photo of the aurora borealis in our area. Special thanks to reader Kristen P. for sending in this amazing picture of Olivette Farm bathed in a green and pink glow.
}})
