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Where have I been?

28 Feb

So, I’ve been kind of MIA… Ok, a lot MIA. That’s because a lot has happened while I was gone.

Let’s see: I got engaged, planned a wedding, started a new job, got married, went on a honeymoon, reorganized the house, hosted my first Thanksgiving and Christmas, rang in the new year, and took a few trips with friends (skiing) and the hubs (LA). Whew!

Now that I’m finally starting to feel like I’m settled in (key word being ‘starting’), it’s time to get back to blogging. A lot has also happened in Atlanta since my last post: Restaurant openings and closings, holiday celebrations, swanky parties to attend. As I’m easing back into it, I’ll fill you in on my favorite new tapas place, a tucked away jewelry shop, and all the city happenings.

I’m also making a few changes to the blog, like a home page redesign and a new section (I figure it’s only fitting to keep you posted on all my married life adventures), so stay tuned. And thanks in advance for your patience while I work out all the kinks!

 
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Fave Five: Summer in the City

05 Jul

Summers in Atlanta are HOT. Between near 100 degree daily temperatures and random summer showers, the weather is extremely humid in Atlanta. That’s why my summer to-do list involves activities that can take place on the water, at night, or indoors. These activities usually also include some sort of alcoholic beverage.

Shootin’ the Hooch
There’s no better way to beat the heat than to grab your friends and float down the Chattahoochee River in a tube (or kayak or canoe) with a beer in hand. All you need is a waterproof backpack for snacks and drinks and some sunscreen. Find out rental costs for tubes/canoes/kayaks here. 

 

 

 

Drive-In Movie Theaters
That’s right—an old school drive-in. As in, watching a movie on a jumbo screen under the stars from your own car, complete with air conditioning and potentially a good ole’ make out session. Check out which movies are screening this summer at the Starlight Drive In.

 

 

Rooftop Pool Parties
Lounging poolside at a posh hotel, sipping a swanky cocktail and people watching while the DJ spins the latest tunes? Yes, please! Head to Wetbar at the W Hotel downtown Atlanta for the JetSet 2.0 party. RSVP here.

 

 

 

The Abundance of Festivals
Atlanta hosts lots of festivals in its many parks throughout the summer: the Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and SweetWater 420 Fest are only a few that draw huge crowds from around the city. Ones you can still look forward to:
Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival on July 17
Festival on Ponce on July 23-24
To Live & Dine in Atlanta on August 11
German Bierfest Atlanta on August 27

 

Local Home Brews
Atlantans are finally catching on to the joy of home brews—it’s cheap, fun, and (most of the time) more delicious than buying beer at the liquor store. One homebrewing couple turned their hobby into the Wrecking Bar Brewpub (in Little Five Points). Set up in the basement of an early 20th-century Victorian house, the brewpub opened on Father’s day and serves only in-hosue brewed beer, which is stored in casks near the private 20-seat “Cellar.” Currently, there are six homebrews on tap, accompanied by a delicious food menu.

 
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Weekend To-Do List

17 Jun

The Mansion on Peachtree

Not sure what to do this weekend? Here are some ideas:

Movies in the Garden
What: a classic movie (tonight: The West Side Story) screened in the English Garden of a posh Atlanta hotel
Where: The Mansion on Peachtree (3376 Peachtree Road, Atlanta GA 30326)
When: Friday, June 17, 7pm—pre-screening reception, 8pm—film
Why: Because you want a fancy date-night with your southern gentleman/belle
Cost: $40 a ticket, which includes two drinks, hors d’oeuvres and parking. Reservations are required and admission is 21+

Midsummer Music & Food Festival
What: Music and food festival
Where: Candler Park (585 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, GA 30307)
When: Saturday, June 18, 12-11pm
Why: Because you get to see bands like Ponderosa, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and Dr. Dog, and eat yummy treats from the food trucks, fry stands, and cupcake carts
Cost: FREE

Snow Cone Cocktails at Ritz Carlton
What: Watermelon, lime, and anejo tequila; passion fruit, lemon, and bourbon; or blackberry, honey, and moonshine snow cones!
Where: The Ritz Carlton Atlanta (downtown: 181 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303)
When: 2-9pm daily
Why: Because nothing beats the Atlanta heat better and a snow cone—a boozy one, that is
Cost: $12 a cocktail

 
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Posted in Fads, Field, Food, Fun

 

My New Favorite Drink

16 Jun

…is tequila. But not just any kind of tequila—Casa Dragones to be exact.

You: Surprise, surprise. You talk about your love of margaritas all the time.
Me:   True, but here’s the kicker: it is a sipping tequila—as in served at room temperature and comes in a flute.
You: And it actually tastes good?   
Me:   Delicious! It’s 100% blue agave, platinum tequila, and it’s super smooth.
You: Better than Patron?
Me:   Way better. I mean, you could toss Casa Dragones back with salt and lime, but then you’d be missing out on the actual delicious taste.
You: And how did you find out about this new tequila?
Me:   I tasted it at an intimate gathering at the Quinones room at Bacchanalia a few weeks ago. The tequila was accompanied by a menu of light pairings, including tuna tataki, asparagus soup, and foie gras and crostini bites, put together by Chef Anne Quatrano. I even got a chance to chat with the Maestro Tequilero herself.
You: Lucky bitch. Thanks for the invite, by the way. I’m intrigued—where can I buy it?
Me:   1-877-Spirits.com. The super cool part is that Casa Dragones is a limited edition tequila, meaning that each bottle is signed and engraved by hand. Neat, huh? Although, this kind of personal attention will set you back a pretty penny…
You: Good think I’m in the mood to splurge on something!

THE VERDICT: I’m hooked!

 
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Posted in Currently Obsessed With

 

RA Sushi’s “Nicky’s Week”

01 Jun

RA Sushi

You’ve always wanted to donate to a good cause. Too bad your long work hours and a packed social calendar leave little time to volunteer your, well, time. And those same long work hours still don’t put enough zeroes in your bank account to make a significant contribution to said good cause (especially after that cute pair of shoes and that delicious dinner at the latest swanky eatery last week—just being honest).

Good thing Nicky’s Week is here at RA Sushi. Through this Saturday, June 4th, you can feel good about devouring the fresh, yummy tuna tataki and shrimp nigiri, knowing every penny you spend is going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Nicky’s Week is inspired by the nephew of one of RA Sushi’s founders—13-year-old Nicholas “Nicky” Mailliard, who lost his battle with brain cancer in 2005. Since then, the restaurant has dedicated this week to Nicky to raise awareness and funds for St. Jude with a special menu—edamame, Tootsy Maki, tuna tataki, shrimp nigiri, pork gyoza, chicken yakitori, and select beverages. The restaurant donates 100% of the proceeds from the Nicky’s Week menu to St. Jude’s, and since 2005, they’ve raised more than $700, 000 for the hospital.

The food is truly delicious. I went to RA Sushi a couple of months ago and was blown away by the new, redesigned menu. The seafood is very fresh and the menu is modern and will impress even the most squeamish of eaters (my favorites were the shishiso peppers, which came with the most amazing sauce, and the Viva Las Vegas roll—crab, cream cheese, and tuna with sweet eel sauce). The best part is that the total bill won’t break your bank, even if you indulge in a couple of their outstanding alcoholic libations.

THE VERDICT: Consider this your dedication of time and money to a good cause. You can also follow RA Sushi on Twitter and re-tweet their Nicky’s Week posts (#NickysWeek) for a chance to win free sushi for a year (contest ends at midnight on June 4).

 
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Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

20 May

AF&WF Chefs

This weekend, you must check out the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival—aka Southern Foodie Heaven. The best chefs, mixologists, and sommeliers from around the region have already gathered in the capital of the south to wow you with their talents. The festival started yesterday and goes through this Sunday, May 22, in Midtown.

What can you expect? Oh, only the best southern flavors–think barbecue and fried goodness from award-winning chefs, original preparations of fresh, locally grown veggies, and wine and spirit tastings from around the globe. You can stop by an interactive seminar to hear cooking tips from the pros and watch elaborate cocktail demonstrations. Or sit down to a formal dinner and mingle with Atlanta VIP’s, like at the celebrated New Orleans Chef Adolfo Garcia’s Basque dinner this Saturday at Ecco (my favorite Atlanta restaurant!)

What will this cost you? Your firstborn—well, close enough. Ticket prices range from $75 day passes for tasting tents and street carts to $225 day passes, which get you into seminars, demonstrations and panels as well as tastings. You save 10% when purchasing a $500 3 day pass for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Or, if you have the cash, splurge on the all-access 3 day connoisseur pass priced at $2,500, which includes dinner with Top Chef Michelle Bernstein and a party at Chef Kevin Rathbun’s home, among other events. Go big or go home, right?

THE VERDICT: Sure, it’s pricy, but think of all the incredible food and cocktails you’ll taste, all the famous chefs you’ll meet, and the amazing experience you’ll never forget. I went to a preview event for AF&WF last year—trust me, this is not an event you want to miss. See you this weekend!

 
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Cinco de Drinko

04 May

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

One of my favorite holidays is finally here—Cinco de Mayo! This day has a special place in my heart for the same reasons many other Americans love this holiday—yummy guac, gooey queso, and frozen margaritas! Celebrating this holiday seems so easy and enjoyable, yet some factors never fail to spoil the fun.   

In years past, I, like many fellow Mexican food lovers, have gone to a Mexican restaurant to enjoy the traditional fair, which only resulted in a three hour wait for a table, getting way too drunk on an empty stomach, and eating way too many chips and salsa to make up for it. (You can read all about my last year’s misadventure here).

So this year, I’m avoiding all things negative—crowds, mariachi bands, watered down queso (it’s just never as good on May 5th as on any other day)—and heading to a place that serves up amazing frozen drinks, including margaritas. I’m going to Flip Flops—a midtown bar known for its casual, beachy atmosphere, despite being in the heart of Atlanta, and the aforementioned concoctions. I’m hoping the nearby taqueria Tin Lizzy’s attracts all the crowds, so I can enjoy celebrating this glorious day with my friends, without feeling like sardines in a can.

THE VERDICT: I’ll let you know.

 
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Happy Birthday, The Atlantan!

22 Apr

The Atlantan 5th Anniv Party

One of Atlanta’s premier magazines, The Atlantan, turned 5 this week. To celebrate, the staff threw a fabulous party at a posh venue with delectable bites, creative cocktails, and talented musicians. What else would you expect from the leader in modern luxury?

Fans and readers of the magazine partied in the Grand Atrium at 200 Peachtree—a gorgeous new venue downtown Atlanta. After walking the red carpet, my friend and I grabbed the night’s signature Fuze cocktails and started to make our rounds. We strolled by models wearing beautiful gowns from Saks Fifth Avenue and grabbed some polenta, cocktail shrimp, and sliders catered by A Legendary Event. Upstairs, we spotted local celebrities playing casino games (to benefit Atlanta Women’s Foundation) while the DJ was spinning dance-worthy tunes.

About halfway through the party, Atlanta-based Christina Perri and British-born James Blunt took the stage—both performances were a huge crowd pleaser. And of course, my friend and I couldn’t walk away without snapping a few silly pictures in the photo booth. Check out my gallery below.

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Currently Obsessed with: Bagel Thins

11 Apr

Ham & Swiss bagel thin

There’s a certain level of comfort in consistency. Like finding a brow lady who always arches your brows just right. Or a coffee shop where the barista knows your name and your exact drink order. When it comes to breakfast, I tend to always get the same thing from my favorite bagel place (Einstein’s Bros. Bagels): asiago bagel, toasted, with honey almond cream cheese and vanilla hazelnut coffee. This morning, however, I was feeling adventurous (or maybe the beautiful ad poster actually did its job) and decided to try a bagel thin Panini. Best decision of the day.

These new bagel thins are pretty healthy for you too. They have fewer calories than a regular bagel (and still taste delicious) and come with egg whites and your choice of toppings. I got the ham and swiss on an everything bagel thin—very flavorful and only 350 calories. Compared to the 420-calorie Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit or the 520-calorie Dunkin Donuts bacon-egg-and-cheese croissant, I say my 350-calorie bagel thin is a pretty healthy breakfast option. You can also choose from the bacon and cheddar with country pepper schmear bagel thin (390 cals), turkey sausage with salsa (only 230 cals!), and asparagus, mushroom, and swiss (280 cals).

THE VERDICT: I’m not usually one to promote a national franchise, but this deal from Einstein’s Bros. Bagels is worth checking out–it’s yummy, healthy, and affordable.

 
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GO TEAM BLAIS!

30 Mar

Chef Richard Blais

I’ve never tried to hide it—I’ve been rooting for Richard Blais to win “Top Chef All Stars” this entire season. And it all comes down to tonight—the season finale is finally here.

I hope Richard blows Mike Isabella out of the water in tonight’s challenge! Cheering him on with me will be 500 of my closest friends—all #teamblais and FLIP fans—at the Top Chef All Stars Finale Viewing Party. The fun kicks off at 8:30pm at The Buckhead Theater. The entry is free and there’s a cash bar for drinks. In case you missed last week’s episode, it will re-air at 9pm, and the finale will air at 10pm. I can’t wait to see Blais claim the title that’s eluded them all–Top Chef. GO TEAM BLAIS!

THE VERDICT: The Buckhead Theatre is located at 3110 Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA. Don’t come hungry—make sure to grab some food before hand (perhaps at Flip Burger Boutique?). Hurry up and RSVP for this event on Facebook, as space is limited. Your time… starts NOW.

 
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