ASHEVILLE – A new craft cocktail bar makes a splash downtown; a tropical island-inspired pop-up bar is reintroduced to chase the winter blues away; new restaurants join a two-week food extravaganza; eateries and drinkeries aim to attract new customers for a romantic night out; and door-to-door cookie sales begin.
Färməsē Asheville cocktail lounge opens
Färməsē Asheville, a cocktail lounge pronounced “pharmacy,” will celebrate its grand opening from 5 p.m.-2 a.m. on Jan. 17 at 5 Biltmore Ave., Suite 1 downtown.
Layla Neuroth, who opened the underground bar with her husband Justin, said the farm-to-table craft cocktails are made with in-house syrups and shrubs and prepared using technical methods.
A handcrafted cocktail at Färməsē Asheville, a cocktail lounge, now open at 5 Biltmore Ave. downtown.
“I tried to bring to the table a culinary experience through beverage,” Neuroth said.
Färməsē Asheville is open daily from 4-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Stop in for craft drinks and dance to deejayed music every Friday and Saturday. More entertainment and planned experiences are live band performances, social mixers, and food and beverage pairing tastings.
“We wanted to capture good medicine for the soul and that’s more than just a drink,” Neuroth said.
For more, visit the Facebook page and Facebook event page.
Tropical bar winter escape
Little Jumbo’s wintertime bar concept has returned for a second year, offering a tropical island-inspired respite made complete with themed drinks.
Tropilachia Club, a monthlong pop-up bar, will run from Jan. 30-Feb. 28 at Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway Ave. ― look for the pink and green neon sign in the window.
Tropilachia Club, a monthlong pop-up bar, will run from Jan. 30-Feb. 28 at Little Jumbo, 241 Broadway Ave.
The neighborhood cocktail lounge will become an immersive beachy getaway with a bamboo palapa hut, special lighting, themed decor ― like seashell accents and maritime paintings ― and bamboo furniture.
Tropilachia Club bartenders will wear floral bar uniforms.
The temporary bar menu will complete the transformation with more than a dozen tropical drinks curated by longtime lead bartender Millita Gonzalez.
Negroni Vice is made with pineapple-infused vermouth and strawberry-infused Campari. Jungle Cat is a bourbon-based sipping cocktail prepared with guava, pineapple and banana.
Billy Cardine & Bill Bares will perform steelpan music on opening night.
Guests are welcome to dress according to the tropical theme but not required. For more, visit littlejumbobar.com and follow @littlejumbobar on Instagram.
Restaurant discounts, special menus
Asheville Restaurant Week’s first event week will be Jan. 21-27.
The annual dining experience has been extended to a second week, Feb. 18-24, supporting restaurants post-Tropical Storm Helene.
More participating restaurants have joined the growing list that has more than 50 local businesses to offer special pricing and menus ― some menus will change per event week.
The Montford Rooftop Bar’s Asheville Restaurant Week menu specials will include bacon wrapped chorizo stuffed dates for $14.
Soprana Rooftop Cucina at Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown will offer a prix fixe menu special that includes salads, pizzettes, and desserts for $30 per person.
The Montford Rooftop Bar will offer “date night” menu specials, including signature craft cocktails and shared plates.
View the full list of participating restaurants and their menus and deals at ashevillerestaurantweek.com.
Valentine’s Day restaurant deals, date ideas
Spread the love for Asheville restaurants by dining at a local business this Valentine’s Day.
Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse will offer “lover’s specials” from Feb. 14-16 with a menu including salmon served with crispy rice and smoked trout roe and a Hickory Nut Gap skirt steak topped with crispy onions and buttery truffle. A full à la carte menu, bar walk-in seating and three themed signature cocktails for $14 each will be available.
Find more places to visit and create memories with significant others, family and friends at Explore Asheville’s date night event guide at exploreasheville.com/date-night-events.
Girls Scouts cookie season
Girl Scouts cookie season is kicking off with Walk-About Week, charging scouts to exercise their entrepreneur cookie marketing skills by walking through neighborhoods with a parent or other adult.
“Walk-About Week is a tradition that allows Girl Scouts to connect with their community while building the customer base for their girl-led business,” Jeannie Brown, senior direct of product program of Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont said in a news release. “This initiative typically lasts one week, but we’ve extended the fun this year until January 25 due to the winter weather.”
Girl Scout cookie season has begun with Walk-About Week, in which members sell cookies door-to-door in neighborhoods.
The participating scouts may earn a patch or win an ice cream party for the troop.
According to the Girls Scouts, all cookie sales revenue goes to the local council and troops, which they may use for initiatives like community improvement projects or to donate to a worthy cause.
To locate and purchase Girl Scout cookies visit girlscoutsp2p.org/en/cookies.html. For updates and news, text “Cookies” to 59618.
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Farm-to-table, tropical island cocktail lounge openings, more news
