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Gypsy Queen Cuisine Review: Those Sweet Shawarmas
I would like to think I have a leg (albeit a short one) to stand on when talking about Lebanese food. I grew up outside of Detroit, which is home to the largest Lebanese population in the country. It was commonplace for us to regularly eat shawarma, falafel, and more fresh, warm pita than any one person should eat. Fast-forward to my 20s in South Carolina, and I realized that there was close to nothing in the way of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern food. Southern food had its place, but I would get homesick for the food I was used to in Detroit, and I’d make sure any return trip home…
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20 Fun Bachelorette Party Ideas and Activities in Asheville
There are many fun ways to celebrate a bachelorette party weekend in Asheville. From pole dancing and tarot readings to fantastic spas, drag shows, and outdoor adventures, you will love mixing and matching these activities to create the perfect, unforgettable bachelorette getaway! Having a bachelorette party in Asheville is a growing trend. If you are wondering why, think about an outstanding food scene, a rich nightlife culture, more breweries per capita than any other city in the country, spectacular mountain scenery, lots of shops, and some of the friendliest folks you’ll ever meet. Also, Asheville is small, with a population of less than 100,000, so you will only have to…
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12 Must-Visit LGBTQ+-Owned Businesses in Asheville
Supporting LGBTQ+ businesses is one of the most influential ways to create more inclusive and diverse communities. We all need to shop for things, so why not do it intentionally to make the change we want to see in the world? When purchasing goods or services from an LGBTQ+-owned business, you are creating an economic impact – which is great in a community that might face workplace discrimination – and a social impact by fostering a culture of acceptance and a more diverse society. Spending your money at an LGBTQ+-owned business creates more jobs within the community of gay people and allies. It also increases representation, visibility, and the feeling…
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French Broad Chocolate Lounge Review: All About Cacao
In what I assume was a bit of a cosmic joke, I spent a week in Asheville when I was a young and chipper 20-year-old. It was mere months before I could legally partake in the (then very young) brewery scene or wander into a bar with my college roommate, who was also hanging out for the week here. But we discovered, just blocks away from our hostel, the perfect spot for people who couldn’t legally drink but who wanted to have a destination in the evening: the French Broad Chocolate Lounge. There was something so special about walking into the sweet, crowded little shop and breathing in the wildly delicious…
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The 10 Best Organic and Locally-Sourced Restaurants in Asheville
Eating organic has become a popular choice for many individuals, and the Asheville area is full of organic and locally-sourced eateries to satisfy a variety of taste buds. After all, Asheville loves all things natural and offers a ton of ways to help preserve the local ecosystem we’ve come to know and love. There are many reasons why Asheville locals and tourists may opt for cleaner eating options, including the health benefits, environmental sustainability, and the strong desire to support local farmers. As the awareness of these factors continues to grow, so does the popularity of organic food choices in Asheville. For organic and local-eating enthusiasts, Asheville’s dining options are…
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Twisted Laurel Restaurant Review: Both Roots and Wings
The warmth gets you when you first step into Twisted Laurel – this is the quintessential lunch and dinner spot, equally comfortable giving you a quick sandwich meal as they are plating up a gourmet salmon for you to feast upon on a special occasion. It used to be my in-laws’ go-to spot for a chill but fun New Year’s Eve, and as the new year approaches (as I start this review, anyway), I am thinking a lot about tradition, about how the areas in and around Asheville are always in cycles of welcoming the new and commemorating the old – Twisted Laurel is a great example of a venture…
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Well Played Board Game Cafe Review: Back to Basics
It’s no secret that board games have taken off over the last decade. No longer are we stuck with the small cache of 10 games to choose from like previous generations. With games like Exploding Kittens becoming the most backed Kickstarter of the time and the hashtag “board games” having over 5 billion views on TikTok, it’s safe to say, despite a world being overtaken by electronics and people using FaceTime with one another, board games are back in a big way. Well Played Board Game Cafe has answered the call, and whether it’s the classics or the new, trendy, and maybe obscure, chances are they’ve got the thing you…
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The 14 Best Family-Friendly Restaurants in Asheville
No one really needs to read yet another parent rant about the challenges of teaching a child how to behave in public, I’m sure, but anyone who has had a spirited child under the age of 6 or 7 will know the struggle that is growing the skill of being in public. While some select few children are ready to sit still and quiet at restaurants the first time they try, many children will experience restaurants as a source of excitement and overwhelmingness for quite a while before they can participate in a truly polite way. In the meantime, they really can’t get better if they can’t practice! As a…
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Taco Temple Review: Your Go-To Taqueria in Asheville
The prevalence of fast food, even in Asheville, can be tempting for anyone who has a busy day and not a lot of time to plan what they want to eat. Having a go-to order at one of your local fast-food places may be the difference between fitting in soccer practice, homework, and nutrition before bed! However, for me, the fast-food options near me tend to have low appeal for nutrition, and I end up being annoyed at myself that I didn’t bother to spend the extra few bucks and get takeout from a local place. It’s a value here in Asheville – if I can manage to eat local…
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10 Uniquely Asheville Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
Valentine’s Day means a lot of different things to different people. For people who aren’t in a romantic relationship, it ranges from being just another day to an annoying reminder that you’d like a romantic relationship to a celebration of all things friendship and community. If you’re in the early stages of love, it can be a really big deal to get Valentine’s Day “right,” though more and more, I think people recognize that how we treat each other all the time matters more than a shower of gifts and experiences on one February evening. Finally, there are long-term romances that sometimes become just daily life, with Valentine’s Day as…
