By Eryk Pruitt
Hillsborough is, at heart, a literary town, which means that around here, telling stories is practically a requirement. At Yonder, we like to do our part by hosting the quarterly Noir at the Bar, where we sling drinks while eight regional and local crime writers perform their pieces to a packed room. But we round out those lineups with authors from out-of-town—folks like S.A. Cosby, David Joy, and Mike McCrary—which leaves me with a responsibility I take dead serious: showing off the weird, wonderful soul of this little town.
When our guest room is full, I steer visiting authors toward the local short-term rentals. Where else can you crash for a couple of nights in a legit historic mill house in West Hillsborough, rent a cottage on the banks of the Eno, hide out in a treetop loft, or tuck away inside a full-on writer’s retreat inside a converted neighborhood grocery store? It’s the perfect sample of Hillsborough’s character: eccentric, historic, and delightfully offbeat.
Once everyone is settled in, I like to start with lunch at Big Bob’s City Grill. Housed in a nondescript brick building off Highway 70, it’s easily one of Hillsborough’s greatest unsung culinary treasures. But don’t be fooled by the exterior; the food coming out of that kitchen is no joke.
I’ve personally dubbed their burger the best in North Carolina—you can’t go wrong with either the Carolina or the Duke—but you better not even try to finish it. It’s the size of a hubcap and the staff loves to open the go-box in front of you just to watch your eyes go wide. Skip the fries and go for the mac-and-cheese with fried okra, because they are THE TRUTH. And do NOT try and eat it all. That’s what the fridge is for back in your room.
Time to walk off that burger. Head over to Leland Little, a world-class auction house designed by Richard Gurlitz.
Wander through this beautiful gallery filled with natural light and collections of fine art, antique furniture, rare vintage jewelry, estate silver, and (my favorite part) collectible spirits. And if something really catches their eye, your out-of-town guests can always bid on it and figure out how to explain it later to their spouse.
You might still be recovering from Big Bob’s, but bringing an out-of-state author to North Carolina without getting proper pit-cooked meat is an offense punishable by law. The hickory-smoked pork at Hillsborough BBQ Company over in the west end can hold their own against barbecue anywhere in the state, but there’s also brisket, chicken, ribs, and whatever specials they’ve got chalked on the board. Order what you what; I’m not here to tell you how to live your life.
Then, naturally, I’m taking you downtown for a nightcap at Yonder.
We keep the calendar pretty packed, so there’s almost always something going down, but I love bringing visitors in for one of our music residencies, like the punk-grass madness of the Tan & Sober Gentlemen or the swinging smoothness of Katharine Whalen (yeah, of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame) and her JazzSquad. Or maybe you just walk in and discover something you might have never expected.
There’s nothing quite like sending a visiting author back home with a full belly, a slight buzz, and a recharged imagination. But this is just my version of showing someone around our quirky little town. One of the great things about living somewhere with so many writers is that every one of us has their own version of it. So consider this just the beginning.
Keep your eyes on this space because there are more Hillsborough authors lined up to give you their own tour! I can’t wait to see where they take you.
 Sponsored by Visit Hillsborough and highlighting some of the best our town on the Eno has to offer! Hillsborough has charm, history and plenty to discover whether you’re just visiting or looking to call one of North Carolina’s best towns home.Â
