The pink and brown walls, simple cake pan décor, and cases filed with goodies immediately told me that I was in the right place for a sweet tooth cure. I stumbled across this little gem during my stay in Jonesborough and I couldn’t be happier about it. Another Touch Bakery has a girly flare with true southern hospitality. I could smell a combination of sweet buttercream and rich chocolate over my shoulder. How could I ever choose? Dreamy cream cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies bigger than my head, and other bright goodies were calling my name. So. Many. Options. In the midst of gazing at this sweet tooth paradise, I remembered I had actually come in for lunch and not dessert. The lady behind the counter greeted me with a warm smile and a “so glad you stopped in, what can I get you, hun?” She made me feel as if I stepped into her home for a dinner with family and friends. I choose the white buffalo chicken panini, it just looked too tasty to pass up. She then explained that dessert came with my meal- I was esthetic to say the least. After contemplation, I decided on an oversized red velvet cupcake. Luckily, before temptation could win, she brought my Panini to the table. It was piping hot with melting cheese oozing out the side. It smelled fresh and delicious and it tasted even better. As I was leaving Another Touch I smiled, knowing sincere hospitality and handmade food like this is a rare find. I nibbled on the cupcake and decided to save half for later. The cream cheese icing was some of the best I’ve ever had, it was undeniably made from scratch. The cupcake was simply perfect, just like the bakery.

If there’s one place in this town that makes me wish I were born in a different decade, it’s JJ’s Eatery and Ice Cream. I’m an ice cream lover anyway and am always looking for a new place to stop – this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Usually, in modern ice creameries, the ice cream is served in paper cups or a cone of some kind; gone are the days when it’s scooped into a glass dish. At JJ’s however, that’s just how it comes. They’ve got the classic milkshake and float glasses and two sizes of bowls for ice cream. I chose my favorite: chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, complete with a cherry on top. I couldn’t help but notice the old-fashioned soda pop bar with stools. The pinks, teals, whites, and silvers decorated the entire shop. The tables had small vases of fresh flowers and the chairs looked like they were straight from an old diner. Towards the back was an awesome wall graphic, and beside it, a glass-front refrigerator complete with glass bottle soda. I felt like all I was missing was a poodle skirt. Although I didn’t try anything except their ice cream, they served burgers, hot dogs, Philly’s, fries, salads, and both hot and cold sandwiches.  Their menu was hand written on the wall above a classic black and white checkered floor. You could tell they took great care in keeping the quality of the diner top notch. As I peered out the window, older gentleman passed walking two dogs. A mom pushed a stroller by. Two businessmen appeared to be walking to lunch or a meeting. It was as though I had slipped into a little piece of the past, and the rest of the world continued as normal. The next time you’re looking to stop, and slow life down for a moment, JJ’s Eatery and Ice Cream is certainly the place to go. It is truly the cherry on top of a beautifully nostalgic town. No poodle skirt required.  

Every woman dreams of the perfect setting for her wedding and I was certainly no different. After months of searching, a friend told me about a wedding she had attended at Storybrook Farm in Jonesborough.

She went on and on about how beautiful it was so I just had to check it out. Making the short trip to Jonesborough, which is such a charming and beautiful town, it took me all of two minutes to fall completely in love with the venue. And after meeting the owners, John and Diane Vogt, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that this was where I was getting married.