Hey Asheville, Laura + Brook here. Between the two of us, we get the privilege of sharing the news with 43,000 of readers in Asheville, daily — both through our newsletter + social feeds.

We’ve got some new faces at AVLtoday, so please allow us to re-introduce ourselves.

Meet Brook 👋

Q: You can only choose one local restaurant menu to bring with you to a deserted island — which one is it + why?

A: This is a really tough one, but my all-time, OG favorite spot will forever be the Laughing Seed Cafe. Everything on the menu is spectacular, especially those jalapeno fries, the raw manicotti, and that Sunday brunch.

Q: Describe Asheville’s personality in three words.

A: Passionate, engaged, and dedicated.

Q: You’re taking someone on a date in Asheville. Where are you going?

A: This is one I actively fantasize about, seeing as how I have had all of one actual date with my husband here on account of the fact that babysitters are nigh on impossible to come by. Assuming I could find one, I’d start at Antidote and nab a spot on the roof to dig the scene while sipping a craft cocktail or two.

Then, I’d want to wander around downtown before supper at Strada Italiano before heading to Old Europe Pastries for a few treats (plus some to take home).

Meet Laura 👋

Q: What were the last 3 things you did downtown?

A: I ate tapas for brunch at Zambra’s new patio space, checked out a rad vintage clothing pop-up hosted by the Booth Fairy Project at Bodega on Broadway + grabbed a slice of peanut butter mousse cake from Old Europe Cafe — all the ingredients of a perfect Sunday in AVL.

Q: In your opinion, what is AVL’s unofficial mascot?

A: Definitely our local black bears! It is a rite of passage to have some form of interaction with our furry pals, whether it’s on the Parkway, in a backyard or even inside your trash bin (true story).

Q: #BeTheBroker: What building in AVL do you want to see revitalized + what would you do with it?

A: It would be awesome to see some of the unoccupied/abandoned buildings in the River Arts District be transformed into apartment complexes. This is already happening at the former Asheville Cotton Mill site on Riverside Drive and I’m hopeful that this area will develop in a way that’s inviting and affordable for locals.

Question Time

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