December 26th, 2019

Greetings from Carrboro,

They appear like clockwork this time of year. So many in fact that they scare Carrboro’s rather large deer population back into the woods. Like some rare flower that blooms once each year, an inordinate number of awkward extended families suddenly blossom on the streets of my neighborhood the week after Christmas. It’s a tad disconcerting. They wander in loose packs, zombie-like, driven from the sofa by some toxic cocktail of fudge, leftovers, and Netflix fatigue.

And it’s definitely a this-is-good-for-us-dammit stroll masked as buoyant fun-fun-fun spontaneity. You know, the kind of obligatory foray into nature replete with a collective familial joy usually reserved for flossing. Ah, tradition. And guilt. Inevitably there’s the eldest male sauntering in front, hands behind his back and a peppy maternal figure just behind festooned with a Christmas sweater. Teenagers sullenly drag well behind, pissed that mom wouldn’t let them bring their phones. Only Rover seems decidedly pleased with the holiday jaunt. Definitely no lords-a-leaping to be seen. Or any of the other Christmas minions. Some traditions just never die. Even when they should.

But there are traditions worth holding on to year after year. One of our favorites is New Year’s Day brunch. It’s an old southern tradition — collard greens for wealth, black-eyed peas for luck, and smoked pork for health. And it’s pretty damn delicious. Especially here. Our State Magazine certainly agrees. We serve from 11:00-2:00 on New Year’s Day. And there will be plenty of our usual brunch menu items available as well. Reservations are heartily recommended. Starting 2020 on the right foot, so to speak, seems like a very good idea. Don’t worry, you can order extra greens.

Another great tradition is New Year’s Eve dinner at the restaurant. It’s always one of the most festive nights of the year. For good reason. Lobster pot pie. Grilled veal chops with crabmeat and Béarnaise. Oysters on the 1/2 shell. Pan-seared duck with quince and parsnips. Barrel-aged Negronis and Manhattans. And, of course, all the Acme classics. So much deliciousness. What better way to say goodbye to 2019. And, yes, reservations are recommended.

So many traditions, so little time.

Believe it or not, it looks as though we will be serving outside on the patio both this Friday and Saturday nights. Amazing. We will definitely have the heaters running. It should be a lot of fun. I have a strong feeling that Santa and Mrs. Claus could use a night on the town.

Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The staff at Acme look forward to serving you soon.

Cheers,
The Staff at Acme
Reservations: online or 919 929 2263