Happy Hour(s) start at 5pm on Whiskey Blue’s fabulous roofdeck patio...located inside the W Hotel in Buckhead!

Hope to see you there!

xx,

L + L

PS Become a FAN of the W Hotels Atlanta HERE

Olive will be there along with her friends Lola, Cooper, and Sebastian…

Sebastian will be dressed to impress.

…and maybe you, too? Hope to see you there!

xx, L + O

Norma Jeane Baker AKA Marilyn Monroe, born 06/01/26

And in honor of Marilyn I want to tell you about two HOT cocktails I enjoyed this weekend!

1.   The Blueberry Jalapeño Margarita at Nava

Luis + Heather

Now, this couple could make ANYTHING look good, but trust me, it was.

Tequila, muddled blueberries, chopped jalapeños and lime juice…delish!

2.   Lamicha Caliente (translation: The Hot Kitty) at Ecco

Ecco is debuting a new cocktail menu and ever since I saw a photo of The Hot Kitty show up on my Facebook news feed, I knew I had to try it.

Lucky for me, Atlanta was a ghost town last weekend and we were able to waltz up to a primo place at the bar and even luckier still, we found Brent, our absolute FAVORITE bartender behind it!

Here’s the Q+DD on Lamicha Caliente:

“Lamicha Caliente: Consígalo personas juntas! We sabe, su tiempo del verano y su en el aire pero gravemente…se todo animó pero permite no añade a la humedad. Toma asiento y trata esta mezcla vinosa con puntas con vodka, chilis de calabrian y suficiente amor a la marea usted sobre.” (Translation: go see Brent, this thing was amazing.)

Basically, Ecco is house-infusing jalapeño vodka and mixing it with a white sangria base to make this amazing drink.  There’s even a little salad in it – cucumber and peppers and such…it’s almost like a health drink!

(Bonus: Brent took a stab at creating his idea of “The Quick and Dirty Dirty cocktail”…

…Patron and Kahlua.  Nice!)

So, happy birthday, Marilyn! While “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes…”

…apparently this blonde prefers a little kick in her cup!

xx, L

me + martini

But, I have three critical martini-related rules. 

(Please take note if you plan on ever ordering me a drink..)

Rule #1:  Under no circumstance do I want olives anywhere in or around my drink.  Ick!  HATE olives.  It’s a shame, too, because olives adore me…

Rule #2:  I want to be able to taste the vodka in my martini.  I am an adult – I am not 19 years old and I don’t want to be consuming mostly liqueur.  Thank you very much!  (A few too many nights at Carlos + Charlies in Puerto Vallarta put me off of sweet drinks fo’ life…)

Rule #3:  If I am drinking a martini, I’m going to be seated.  The martini glass is an incredibly poorly designed alcohol vehicle.  Further, I wear heels when I go out – but I am not great in them.  I’m telling you, I know my limitations, you do not want to be anywhere near me when I have a martini glass in my hand and I’m standing up.  I spill them when I’m sitting down!  So please bring the drink to me at a table and we won’t have to worry about our clothes making an immediate dry cleaning trip in the morning. 

Moving on…

I love Holeman + Finch.  (This all ties together, I promise.)  I just love it.  The food is excellent, the scene is superb and I really like the staff.  They are hipster w/o the grease + cut off jean shorts.  And, they are super friendly and attentive.  The high boys in the bar are my favorite location at Holeman to plop down + have a few drinks and small plates. 

holeman

So, I’m there on Friday w/ EZ, Ms. Meri + Loren (not Lauren) and we’re ordering our second round of drinks when our server informs me that my go-to-Gimlet is kind of a boring order.  I quickly assess him and realize that (1) he is wearing skinny jeans (funny + appropriate hipster-waiter attire, which I applaud) and that (2) I’m fairly certain he looks like he knows what he is talking about, so instead of taking offense – I ask for his expert advice.  I made sure he was clear re. my three martini-related rules and he said he’d run with it.  A few minutes later as we were all digging into the Holeman 10:00 p.m. burger that we’d patiently been waiting for since 8:00 p.m., our server came back to the table with my drink.  BIG problem.  He tells me there’s gin in it.  Gin??  I don’t drink GIN.  I drink VODKA!  Needless to say, I’m incredibly skeptical…

However, all it took was one magical sip to win me over.  I like gin!  Who would have thought?!

certainly not us...

I mean it when I say that this was the best drink I’ve had in my life.  It was like flying.  Like a day at the beach.  Like winning a new car on The Price is Right!!  

"one dollar, bob!"

The drink was an AVIATION.  Sayonara, Gimlet, you’ve officially been replaced…

behold its majesty

My old partner in crime, Mindy, is in town and last night we cooked dinner for her family, and then scooted over to Ormsby’s.  We were there for one drink + a meet up w/ the famous FB, when I heard the Aviation summoning me from Holeman.  So, at 11:00 p.m. on a Monday night we headed to Holeman for a late night burger + a few Aviations.  I’m addicted. 

It really is the most amazing drink.  You don’t taste the gin too much, it’s not too sweet at all and it’s surprisingly refreshing.   (“it’s magically delicious!”)

mindy + me + martini = perfection. (math is fun!)

You have to try an Aviation immediately.  Order it @ Holeman tonight.  Seriously!  Or, learn how to make it yourself + impress your friends:

Ingredients:

2 oz of Gin
1/4 oz Maraschino Liqueur
1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Dash of Creme de Violette (optional)
Flamed Lemon Peel for Garnish (optional)

Directions:

Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled w/ ice
Shake shake shake…
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
Garnish
Sip + Enjoy!

How to Make an Aviation Video: http://bit.ly/93rnBF

If this isn’t love, I don’t know what is.

xx, L

Holeman & Finch Public House
2277 Peachtree Road NE Ste. B
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.948.1175
www.holeman-finch.com

Varsity Team.

…and last night at Saskatoon was the night, my friends.

OK so the Q+DD on Saskatoon is this: It’s a wild game restaurant located in the Alexan on Pharr Road (in the space where ill-fated Spondivits and Harry Bisset’s once were…) Think hunter’s lodge: über masculine, warm and cozy. Soft jazz playing, fires roaring, lighting fixtures adorned with antlers, and deer heads on the wood paneled walls. The menu is chock full of wild boar, elk, ostrich and the like. I even tried my first fried alligator! (This thrilled Lindsay: “I’m so glad we can be a part of this!”)

And hey, we like antlers!

Anyway, our table consisted of the two of us, our +1s (Linds brought Steph Cheeseman and I had Doc Hollywood in tow) and our new best friend Alison Abby, a fabulous freelance writer whom we met last night.

They brought us several appetizers to sample, and I have to say – we all really enjoyed the food we tried. Of course, wild game was the main protein in each dish, and they were all very creative as well as delicious!

The real purpose of our visit last night was to provide feedback on their cocktail menu. We tasted everything from the Saskatoon Sling (a variation of the Singapore Sling) to the Espresso Martini (cinnamon-y and not too dessert-y! Our favorite by far.) For the most part, we all thought the specialty cocktails were a little sweet (and perhaps tropical?) for our taste BUT we were there to help them tweak, and I’m sure they will. (Also, in the interest of full disclosure, Lindsay and I are pretty straightforward in our cocktail preferences. Any more than 2 ingredients and we’re raising an eyebrow and I have never seen the Doc drink anything but scotch. Ever.) So if you’re a specialty cocktail type of person, you may totally disagree with our evaluation. IJS.

Additionally, the GM seems pretty passionate about having an impressive, yet affordable wine list and the wait staff was just lovely…and happy to pour me a vodka on the rocks after all was said and done. (With 3 nice, big, fat queen-sized olives. DK always told me you can judge a bar by the size of their olives...)

My verdict on Saskatoon is this: I think it’s a pretty interesting addition to Buckhead’s restaurant scene and if you enjoy that type of atmosphere, (or if you’re in the mood to envision yourself as a ski bunny taking a break from the slopes!) I would encourage you to try it for yourself.

Bonus: FYI, Saskatoon is a city located in central Saskatchewan, Canada and I find Saskatchewan really, REALLY fun to say.

Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan…Saskatchewan…

xx, L

PS. Thanks for the folks at Melissa Libby for the invite!

Saskatoon
(404) 891-1911
360 Pharr Road
Atlanta, GA 30305

After a nice group dinner that LK planned at Pura Vida in the Highlands on Saturday evening + an adorable little meet and greet with this former Top Chef contestant…

Hector Santiago - Pura Vida, Atlanta

Him + Us

… Slick and I made our way back to Buckhead, but we weren’t quite ready to go home.  We didn’t want to skip over to East Andrews and as a personal rule I never go to Moondogs, Peachtree Tavern and the like…so I thought it would be the perfect crisp winter night to finally see what Beluga was all about.  As usual, I was right on.

Beluga Martini Bar, situated across from Sambuca and Bones on Piedmont right before the Peachtree intersection, is quite a gem.  Upon arrival, we valeted Slick’s hot rod and paid a little cover for him to get into the bar.  I think charging cover to go anywhere in Atlanta is kind of ridiculous (who do the bars + clubs think we are – Miami?  No.), so I walked in with a degree of attitude that I immediately dropped once I saw what lied in store for me inside the renovated house Beluga calls home. 

Live jazz, red fringe lampshades, velvet couches and a creative martini menu.  SOLD. 

This place couldn’t have been more me.  I loved the loungy + upscale feeling of the bar – but there was still so much energy.  Slick and I explored the different rooms and decided on a highboy near the back bar to plant ourselves for the rest of the evening. 

What incredible people watching!  Most of the crowd was over 30 – many closer to 50.  Lots of plastic surgery and salt + pepper haired gentlemen smoking cigars.  (Note:  The ceilings are low so the cigar smoke is always a little in your face.  My clothes and hair reeked when I got home, but otherwise it didn’t really bother me.)  Patrons strictly obeyed Beluga’s dress code with plunging necklines and turtlenecks + sport coats - even some “sunglasses at night,” which are among my favorite evening accessories that I’d never wear but love to see on other people.  Most importantly, the drinks were stiff and well-made. 

Not one to ever turn down a martini…

… I ordered a vodka gimlet that was divine.  Slick had his usual dirty martini and was pleased, as well.  A few cocktails later, we decided it was time to head home.  Had we not eaten our weight in delicious + authentic tapas and shared a pitcher of the best sangria in town (I heart you, Pura Vida. xx.) prior to our arrival at Beluga, I would have liked to stay later because it seemed like the party was just getting going when we left around 1:00 a.m. 

If you are like me and have seen the neon blue “Beluga” sign from Piedmont, but never been inside – GO.  It was really fun and a nice spot to break up the predictable Buckhead bar scene.  While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it as a spot to find your Prince Charming, I would definitely suggest Beluga for a girl’s night out or a hot date.  It’s places like this that make me appreciate getting a little older. 

xx, L

Beluga Martini Bar
3115 Piedmont Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.869.1090
www.belugamartinibar.com

Pura Vida
656 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30306
404.870.9797
www.puravidatapas.com

Here’s the Q+DD on The SGM from Bethenny’s website:

The Skinnygirl™ Margarita On the Rocks
What you’ll need:
* 2 oz of Clear Premium Tequila (count 1, 2 while you pour, no need for measuring)
* Tiny splash of Orange Liquor (I prefer Triple Sec)
* Juice of 4 Fresh Lime Wedges
Combine all ingredients over a glass of ice and garnish with a lime wedge

Clearly, this woman is a genius.

Self-proclaimed “Health Foodie,” Bethenny is now a celebrity natural food chef and has penned several health food books, including Skinnygirl Dish, a recipe book for your “naturally skinny” life which she will be promoting this THURSDAY, January 14th, right here in Atlanta!  (Brought to you by Atlanta Magazine and the MJCC…and all coordinated by my spectacular friend “Celebrity” Staci Weininger!)

BF will be at Steel restaurant in Midtown from 7:30 – 10:30.  Click here for tickets to meet + greet and sample some of her new recipes and of course, enjoy a Skinnygirl Marg or two

I wonder if while she’s at Steel she’ll come up with a Skinnygirl Tuna Tower?

A girl can only dream…

xx, L

1/2 Asian Productions presents The 17th Annual Atlanta Santa Claus Pub Crawl on Saturday, December 5th, 2009.  Each year has been loaded with good cheer and this year it appears that there will be more Santas than ever before!  This Saturday, Master Santa will kick it off again in Midtown.  Everything starts at Santa’s Atlanta workshop (Front Page News) at 4:45 p.m.

Atlanta Santas!

Just like previous years, Santa/Christmas costumes are mandatory!

Santa suits can be purchased at any Wal-Mart or Kmart for approx. $25.  This is a high quality suit that should last you until last call…  Of course, they encourage you to be CREATIVE and come up with any other type of Christmas costume, too. 

In the spirit of Santa, they ask that everyone brings one unwrapped toy to the event to be donated to Toys for Tots.  It will only cost you $5-$10, but it will be priceless to a young child on Christmas Day.  The collection for toys will be at Front Page News.

GREEN WRIST BAND SCHEDULE
4:30 p.m.:  Front Page News
6:00 p.m.:  Twisted Taco
7:00 p.m.:  Leopard Lounge
8:00 p.m.:  Sutra Lounge
9:00 p.m.:  Cosmo/Lava
10:00 p.m.:  Flip Flops
11:00 p.m.:  Opera

RED WRIST BAND SCHEDULE
4:30 p.m.:  Front Page News
6:00 p.m.:  Leopard Lounge
7:00 p.m.:  Twisted Taco
8:00 p.m.:  Flip Flops
9:00 p.m.:  Sutra Lounge
10:00 p.m.:  Cosmo/Lava
11:00 p.m.:  Opera

Official Atlanta Santa site: www.atlantasantapubcrawl.com

Trust me – it just doesn’t get any better than this…

xx, L

But when I met Seth for a little post-show cocktail last night at Holeman, he suggested I try Square One organic vodka, so I did. (As far as I’m concerned, a suggestion from Seth may as well be a commandment. Dude has never, ever steered me wrong. Fact.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have found a winner!
It was deliiiiiiicious.

Here’s the Q+DD: Square One organic vodka is made right here in the United States (based in Northern California, made from scratch in a small family distillery in Idaho) with spring water from the Teton mountains and organically certified North Dakota and Montana-grown rye. The ingredients are so super-pure that the vodka only has to be distilled once, so you get the freshest, cleanest-tasting, yummiest vodka in your little cocktail glass.

BONUS: they are a woman-owned, environmentally-friendly company. You know how I love that kind of thing

Read what founder Allison Evanow has to say about the packaging:

“The packaging had to reflect Square One’s philosophy of eco-conscious sophistication. That’s why the distinct square bottle is not frosted [a process that calls for some serious chemicals!] and the label is now printed on paper made from bamboo, bagasse and cotton, all sustainably grown and renewable fiber sources. And once the bottle is empty the label easily peels off so the bottle can enjoy a second life as a vase or other container.”

Fabulous!

You’ve gotta check out their website. It’s exquisite. They even have a page with amazing-looking cocktail recipes!

Bottoms up! (for the environment, y’all!)

xx, L

Available at:
Tower Liquor
2161 Piedmont Rd #A
Atlanta, GA 30324
As well as several other retailers and restaurants in Atlanta.

“I only drink champagne…when I’m happy and when I’m sad.  Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone.  When I have company, I consider it obligatory.  I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am.  Otherwise, I never touch it…unless I’m thirsty.”

- Lily Bollinger, Ouotiation from Daily Mail – October 17, 1961

Gosh Lily, it’s like you’re in my head…  Amazing!

Happy Friday -and a big L’Shana Tova to all my Heebs!  Dana, CK and I plan to bring in the JNY – the wrong way - at Ecco (my fav!) tonight with a few of these bad boys:

Happy JNY!

xx, L