The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery’s Christmas decorations include many wreaths and Christmas trees. Kristen Wile/UP

Q: Where are the best holiday treats around town?
Justin: This time of year is fun for bakers and pastry chefs. I would recommend Wentworth & Fenn, Moonbox Bakery, and Batchmaker. I would also keep an eye out for restaurants doing holiday bakery boxes or special desserts — places that come to mind are Leah & Louise, The Goodyear House, 300 East, and The Fig Tree.
Kristen: On top of what Justin mentioned, I spotted a fantastic ornament made of chocolate at 20 Degrees Chocolates the other day. I also love Sweet Spot Studio’s cookie kits, which are now available in winter themes.

Q: What are some places that do a great job decorating their dining rooms for Christmas?
Kristen: It will be interesting to see whether restaurants can splurge on trees this year. I think The Fig Tree does the best job of this, especially since the restaurant is in an old house. The mantels are always adorned with greenery and ornaments, and the banisters are beautifully lit and wrapped with evergreen boughs, too. Their decorations are already up, if you need your holiday cheer ASAP. BackStage Lounge, the cocktail bar behind SouthBound, is looking quite festive right now. I’ve always loved how Olde Mecklenburg Brewery looks at Christmastime, too — though it’s hard to say whether they plan to spend as much on Christmas trees this year. The brewery caught a lot of bad attention recently when an event crowded beyond Covid-19 guidelines. However, OMB’s leadership seems to have learned from the experience: the brewery closed through the weekend due to a staff member testing positive for Covid-19, according to the Business Journal.

Q: I missed out on the cocktail kits. Will you be doing another round?
Kristen: The answer is most likely yes! We’re not yet sure whether we’ll do another round of old-fashioneds with different bartenders, or do a different cocktail altogether. Stay tuned!