Neil Gaiman: Back in Asheville

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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According to author Neil Gaiman (the man behind the Sandman series of graphic novels and books including Coraline, The Graveyard Book and Good Omens), Gaiman’s son, Michael, will be married this weekend in Asheville to a native Ashevillean.

The NYT bestselling, Newbery- and Hugo award-winning author, who was just here last month as part of the sold-out Unchained Tour, also recently mentioned he might sign or read in Asheville soon.

Should we expect a guerilla signing in October, like his musician wife Amanda Palmer did during her guerilla downtown concert/Moog visit day in Asheville in November 2009? Here’s hoping.

Regardless, below is a guide for rock-star food and fun in Asheville, with the wedding guests in mind. Many years of wedded bliss to the happy couple, safe travels to all, and may the weather be fine and the mountains beautiful on the family’s wedding weekend.

Join in the conversation and comment: How can Asheville welcome creative-class royalty like Gaiman and Palmer, who have so many local fans? 

What shouldn’t the wedding guests miss while they’re in town?

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For sushi lovers in Asheville

Wasabi downtown

Heiwa Shokudo also downtown, organic and hand-rolled sushi, plus great tuna poki

Ichiban, South Asheville, where the Japanese businesspeople eat when in town

Bookstores and libraries of Asheville

Malaprop’s, of course

Pack Library, just down from Malaprop’s, is our downtown library

Gluten-free/vegetarian good eats in Asheville

Asheville is heaven for healthy eaters and vegetarians of all stripes. For GF pescetarians like Gaiman, we recommend:

Posana Cafe, Asheville’s completely GF restaurant. EVERYTHING is gluten-free, down to the beer, the desserts and even the breakfast menu, which includes pancakes.

Our great Indian and Thai restaurants, including Mela, Kathmandu, Suwana’s Thai Orchid and Thai Basil (Chai Pani Indian street food also delicious, but has fewer GF options)

Rosetta’s Cafe is a great vegetarian restauant with GF options and a KILLER dessert case, and the delicious Plant is vegan (Moby and Dennis Kucinich are fans)

The Greenlife/Whole Foods hot bar (healthy buffet with nice salad bar, fish, tofu and other good eats) is a good choice when on the go

Rock star food and fun in Asheville

Breakfast/brunch: Over Easy OR Sunny Point OR Chorizo (Chorizo is good for GF eaters) OR Limones

Lunch: Tacos at White Duck Taco (also try the Mexican pot-de-creme and peach sangria) OR BBQ at 12 Bones (open weekdays only; vegetable plate available)

Dinner at the Admiral  OR tapas at Curate

Sunset drinks at Skybar (great rooftop city views)

Dessert at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge OR The Hop Ice Cream

In between:

Bargain-hunting and shopping on North Lexington Ave. in downtown Asheville: Great selection of books, vintage clothing, costumes, records, tattoo shops and more

Harvest Records indie record store, favorite of Asheville guests Billy Bragg and Brian Eno

A fall walk through Riverside Cemetery (Asheville’s 19th-century graveyard, 87 acres of rolling hills, trees and gardens) OR the grounds of the Biltmore Estate

LaZoom bus tour (it’s hysterical and fun for groups)

Beats Antique Saturday night at the Orange Peel

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Share your own suggestions below.

 

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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4 Comments

  1. Sarah October 1, 2012

    12 Bones’ veggie plate is limited, I think. Some of the vegetables you’d want are cooked with animals, so that’s something to consider when promising a veg plate.

    And no love for Veg Heads drive thru? If I were a rockstar wedding guest, I would want to know about the Merrimon place, even if it is kind of a haul in traffic. What other towns have vegetarian drive thrus that don’t use microwaves or fryers?

    Reply

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