Greetings from Carrboro,

My father would be 93 on Monday. Hard to believe. I can still distinctly remember his 50th birthday – a milestone that I have long since stumbled over – and thinking to myself that he was getting old. It was a surprise party that featured a very large, very ugly, hand-painted concrete squirrel as some kind of mascot. Go figure. I mean, this was the ‘80s.

There was a joke involved that all the adults understood. At 14, I knew enough not to ask. And even though a decent chunk of its tail was broken off that day when it was dropped in transit between a car and our front stoop, the garish statue somehow remained in our side yard until my mother moved out of that house 10 years ago. Hell, it could still be there. Moving that rodent was not easy.

But I also remember that everyone had a good time. A really good time. And whether it’s nature or nurture or both, it’s pretty obvious why I love to throw a party. The fact is that my parents met on a stage; they were clearly entertainers. A lot of people say that running a restaurant is like throwing a dinner party 300+ nights a year. And I won’t disagree. But the parties my parents loved were a tad more rambunctious. With more friends. More laughter. A tad more like the Rosé Soirée.

So I guess it makes sense that our annual deep dive into the pink drink would coincide with my dad’s birthday. Over a 100 bottles of rosé is never a bad thing. Am I wrong? But when food and friends and the right soundtrack are added to the mix, it gets a whole lot better. It’s this Sunday afternoon, April 28th, 3pm-6pm, at Atlas. Tickets are $35. With that, each person gets 3 glasses of any of the many rosés that we’re pouring (and lots of other tastes) and a full swing at all the yummy snacks Acme will be providing. There will be strawberry sangria to tempt you as well as our oh-so talented bar team – if the spirit moves you in a different direction. Think of the Rosé Soirée as day-drinking that just got a serious upgrade.

To honor my dad, we will have a celebratory squirrel – the Pink Squirrel cocktail – just for the occasion. Definitely easier to carry than the one made of concrete. And that’s no joke.

The Sunday brunch bonanza continues this week. Every brunch entree is $10. It’s the weekend; raisin bran just doesn’t cut it.

This weekend @ Acme: Soft shell crabs! Cowboy steaks. Local asparagus. Strawberry cobbler a la mode. Flash-fried flounder. Chocolate mousse. Ice-cold martinis. Southern mushroom pie. Acme wedge salad. Blackened salmon. Tuna crudo. Shooting Point oysters on the half shell. Peel and eat NC shrimp. Acme smashburgers. Calamari salad. Pork tenderloin Marbella. Crab cakes. Acme Gumbo. Honey pie with preserved summer plums. Pecan-crusted fried chicken. Strawberry margaritas. Brussels sprouts. Acme cornbread. Forever roasted pig. And patio dining every damn day. It doesn’t get much better.

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

Cheers,

The Staff at Acme