Asheville: The Times Bar, Juked, Cúrate

Dress: Bougainvillea Daydream Dress by Effie's Heart

Cardigan: The Limited, thrifted

Tights: Snag

Shoes: Fluevog, Bellevue: Pearl Hart

Earring: etXarte

Necklace: Colleen Toland

Bracelet: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I loved the color combination in this dress...Effie's Heart is always so good. I had this from Gwynnie Bee a few years back...size 2x then, small now...I didn't buy it because I knew my size was still changing...& I recently found it on Poshmark.

I adore this ruffled cardigan I found thrifting...I usually prefer ones that button...but this is perfect as is & just gives me a little coverage for sleeveless dresses.

My second time wearing these Fluevog heels I found on Poshmark...it turns out cream & black are a useful color combination & I'm not going to paint them after all. 

I wasn't completely happy with my jewelry with this outfit...this time or last time...I don't have the right accessories for this dress...how?!

We spent one night in Paducah, Kentucky in the most charming Airbnb...so colorful & creative. We got up in the morning & headed to Etcetera for coffee...we got a Sea Salt & Caramel Mocha & a Créme Brûlée Breve...really great. Paducah is a cute little town & since we are so in love with freight house, I know we'll be back to explore more. 

Driving to Asheville, NC...there was a fire in the mountains that was really slowing traffic down...there were firefighters spraying it...I'd never seen that before. We settled into our Airbnb in the River Arts District & headed over to a host recommended restaurant nearby...All Souls Pizza. It appealed to us because they grind their own flour & use all local ingredients...it was good, but very basic...we nearly ordered 2, but glad we split this one. I liked this German Shepard painting from the 70s in the bathroom. 

After dinner...we headed over to The Times Bar...super cute...there weren't any seats left inside though, but luckily it was nice enough to enjoy one of their outside tables. 

Extremely creative cocktail menu...we like different, but there were a few drinks that we weren't brave enough to try. David ordered The Floor is Guava (guava, lime, ginger, underberg, rum, orange flower water) & I got a Spelljammer (blackberry-lemon granita, allspice dram, italicus bergamot, creme de mure, cava)...this came with granita in the middle of the glass & a spoon to mix it in or eat it with...this drink was delightful.Round 2...David got an Espresso Martini which came with 2 macaroons...I have tried & tried to like macaroons & just find them uninteresting...but not these...these were amazing. I chose a Half Nelson (bourbon, zucca, maraschino, sherry, angostura, lavender & orange bitters), but did not care for it...so David took it back to the bartender & traded it for another of my first drink. We had just enough time to take a stroll over to the theatre for a reading of Juked. I wasn't sure what to expect with this, but it was the only theatre going on while we were there, so we took a chance, also, it was $10. Two theatre companies in Asheville partnered up to give emerging black playwrights a chance at getting their work developed & performed. Their description of this play by Mildred Inez Lewis: Juked is a retelling of Sophocles' tragedy Electra. This version is set in 1950s Asheville, & the "kingdom" is a chain of drink houses (private homes offering illegal alcohol) owned by the well-off African-American Memnon family. Juked examines the relationship between Electra, her mother, & her sister, & asks what happens after tragedy- how do we recover? It was amazing...we got to talk to the playwright after & she was lovely (she complimented our style). They are going to put the play on in February of 2025 & I'd really like to come back to see it fully realized. I also want to bring it to the attention of APT because it would be perfect for them to perform in their indoor space.After the play, we wandered over to Cúrate. This Spanish tapas restaurant was at the top of our list of places to try...but reservations were booked several weeks out, so our plan was to show up at opening one night. We inquired at the front desk if this was going to be the best way for us to dine there...& they told us no. So, David asked...what about now? It was 9:30 & near closing...they said yes!I was totally unprepared for this & underdressed (for me) since I wore an outfit I could comfortably drive in for hours. We got the best table in the house...in an alcove in front of the window with no tables around us. We ordered food before drinks so we could get it all in before the kitchen closed. First up, Croquetas de Jamón (traditional creamy Iberico ham fritters) & Berenjenas con Miel (fried eggplant drizzled in honey from honey + the hive, rosemary). Against our better judgement, we ordered both of their sangria's (mine is just SO good, nothing compares favorably). La Sueca Sangria Roja (fresh & fruity blend of garnacha & Tempranillo macerated with citrus, stone, & red fruits) for David & Cava Sangria (Perelada cava, cognac, gin, triple sec, & fruit) for me. It was good, not great. But the food was outstanding.Next to the table, Vieiras (seared scallops served with charred leeks & confit potatoes), Pulpo a la Gallega (warm Galician-style octopus with sea salt, olive oil, Spanish paprika, & Yukon gold potato puree), & Rossejat (thin noodles prepared paella-style, squid in its ink, shellfish stock, aioli & salsa verde- the essence of the ocean). That squid pasta was divine...we'd never had anything like it. And our final plates, Carrilleras con Mongetes (braised Iberian pork cheeks, heirloom white beans, pork glace) & Almejas 'a la Catalana' (clammer Dave's SC clams, cabbage, salchichón, white wine broth of tomato, Nora pepper, nuts with toasted baguette)...so much food...but we wanted to try it all. Second round of cocktails,  Hombro Frio (tequila, mezcal, china china, lime juice, pumpkin syrup, peychaud's bitters) & Medianoche en Valencia (Torres 15 yr amaro nonino, curaçao, Pedro Ximénez, mole & orange bitters). And as if we weren't already stuffed, dessert...Espuma de Chocolate (warm chocolate mousse, candied hazelnuts, Pedro Ximenez cherry sorbet). I'm so happy we got to dine at Cúrate...it wasn't as good as freight house, but it was completely different than anything we have in Madison. A wonderful 1st day in Asheville. Back at home...just in time for snow & to go to our realtor's Christmas party to cut down our tree...

This was a really good Santa...he kept giving us hugs, but not in a creepy way. Ho ho ho.