As a recap, the Ritz Lodge is located in Northern Georgia, just 75 miles east of Atlanta on the shores of Lake Oconee – Georgia’s second largest lake.  Luxury merges with quintessential Southern hospitality at the stunning 251-room resort.  Nestled in the woods, the Ritz Lodge is surrounded by water on three sides, offering commanding lake views.  Draped in beds of ivy and edged by towering pines, blooming crepe myrtles and colorful caladiums, the five-story main building fronts the glistening lake, while six separate lakeside cottages and a presidential house with four master suites overlooks the Oconee Golf Course.  Lodge guests have full access to a complete gamut of activities and amenities, including a state-of-the-art Spa, tennis, two swimming pools, two full-service marinas, hiking trails and 99 holes of championship-caliber golf.

model view of the lake oconee area

We arrived late on Friday evening, but just in time to have the most delicious dinner at Linger Longer Steakhouse.  We checked in, grabbed another drink at the Lobby Lounge bar, and then headed upstairs to check out our room. 

When we woke up in the morning, we realized that we were on Club Level (holla!).  And, we had a private terrace with an outstanding lakeside view! 

Check out THIS gorgeousness:

ritz carlton lodge

room w/ a view

We spent a significant amount of the morning sitting on our balcony staring at our breathtaking view of Lake Oconee and the Ritz Lodge grounds.  It was the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.

When our hunger finally got the better of us, we walked over to Club to get some grub (I totally recommend staying on Club Level*) + then we went out exploring. 

*Club Level: The Ritz Carlton Club Level features both deluxe guest rooms and suites, with a spacious lounge and personal concierge and staff, as well as four complimentary food and beverage offerings daily: continental breakfast, a light snack, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails + evening cordials.  The Club Level is accessible only with a special key.

Just look at how magnificent the property is:

the set up for chiminea dining

heated infinity pool overlooking lake oconee (my favorite part of the whole property)

hot tub

We were overtaken by our beautiful surroundings + so many amazing amenities.  We walked a bit further, and then Kev dropped me off at the Ritz Lodge Spa for my Long Winter’s Nap treatment. 

The Spa is an adventure in and of itself.  An expansive 26,000 square feet, the Ritz Lodge Spa is adjacent to the hotel and features 19 private treatment rooms, one couples spa suite, four wet treatment rooms – including one hydrotherapy room – male and female relaxation areas with lockers and changing facilities, an indoor lap pool, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, a relaxation terrace, a full-service salon + a spa boutique.  Named one of America’s top resort spas by Conde Nast Traveler, this state-of-the-art sanctuary offers more than 90 health and wellness treatments, many of them utilizing ingredients indigenous to the area, such as rosemary, pine, fir and geranium, and extracts gleaned from gemstones such as smithsonite and malachite.

Here’s a peek inside:

spa lobby

spa pool

spa relaxation lounge

It was heavenly, to say the least.

My treatment, the Long Winter’s Nap, was perfect for the chilly October afternoon.  Here’s the description: A blend of essential oils add to this traditional hot stone massage to create a relaxed dream-like state, melting away stress and muscle tension.  Continue the sweet dreams with a nap that enhances the repair process.  Um, yes, I’ll take two!  (Kidding.)  It was SO enjoyable – I definitely recommend.

By the time I left the Spa it was pushing up to the Florida vs. Georgia game, so Kev + I scooted over to Gaby’s by the Lake to stake out seats. 

Gaby’s is a newly-renovated outdoor venue offering sweeping views of Lake Oconee, as well as a full menu of casual favorites and cocktails throughout the day.  Guests are seated at the water’s edge and can catch a spectacular sunset most evenings.  “Come-as-you-are” attire for lunch and dinner.

As soon as we walked in, we fell in love with Gaby’s.  It was so open and casual, and had large TV screens over the bar for us to watch the game.  I’m OBSESSED with Gaby’s chairs - incredibly comfortable and such a cool design!

We ordered beers + the housemade potato chips with bourbon BBQ, blue cheese and Vidalia onion dips.  The bartender also threw in a bowl of boiled peanuts.  We were set.

We met some friendly folks at the bar who were also rooting for the Gators + we became fast friends.  However, Kev couldn’t bear to see his Gators lose, so we eventually closed out our bill and decided to head back to Club to see what was going on in there. 

We stopped to take this picture along the way:

We ate dinner in Club, poured some wine + headed downstairs to the campfire for 8:00 p.m. S’mores!  All the kids staying at the resort (and Kevin and I, naturally) got in line to prepare our special evening snack over the campfire.  We had such a fun time doing this + pretending that we also had a kid around somewhere making s’mores…  Kids at heart?!  Yeaaaaaaa! 

We went back up to Club, poured some more wine (don’t judge), changed into our swimsuits + ran down to the hot tub to spend the next few hours hanging out outside and enjoying our last night on the property.

In the morning, we were both feeling pretty gluttonous.  So, we decided to go for a walk on the Oconee Trail after breakfast in Club. 

Our walk was eventful. 

We got about 5 miles of exercise on the winding trail…

We saw the leaves turning on the towering Georgia pine trees…

Kev whittled a walking stick (that now calls our condo balcony home)…

And, we plotted how we could stay at the Ritz Lodge F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!! 

(We couldn’t come up with a way…  We are already dying to go back.)

It was so hard to leave, but it only took us about an hour and a half to get back to Atlanta + now we have such great memories from our relaxing weekend in the Georgia woods. 

If you haven’t been to the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation – you absolutely MUST go!  There is so much to do there; perfect for adults and kids alike.  The Ritz Lodge is a relaxing Southern paradise that makes you feel so far away from your worries and stressors, but it’s merely a 75-mile drive from Atlanta!  Visit soon! 

Oh, also, (as if there isn’t enough to do there already) the Ritz Lodge is building an ice skating rink on property for winter!  More info here: WINTER AT THE RITZ LODGE.

xx, L

Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
1 Lake Oconee Trail
Greensboro, Georgia  30642
706.467.7196
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation/Default.htm

The finest chefs in Atlanta are preparing food for you to sample. The line-up currently includes:

•   Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s

•   Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia

•   Shaun Doty of Yeah! Burger

•   Jay Swift of 4th and Swift

•   Hugh Acheson of Empire State South

•   Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen

•   Duane Nutter of One Flew South

•   Brian Jones of the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta

•   Joe Truex of Watershed

•   Joshua Hopkins of Abattoir

•   Ron Eyester of Rosebud

•   Scott Serpas of Serpas

•   Pano Karatassos of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

•   Frederico Castellucci of Iberian Pig…and more to come!

 

As if that wasn’t enough, some of your favorite food trucks will also be on hand to be sure that all of your food cravings are satisfied.

 

Tours of the old Sears building will be provided during the party on a first-come first-serve basis.

Ponce City Market, a two million square-foot structure, is an adaptive reuse development that when revitalized will house a mix of retail, dining, office + residential space.  A landmark structure at the crossroads of Midtown, Poncey Highland, Old Fourth Ward + Virginia Highland, situated along the Atlanta Beltline transit corridor, Ponce City Market is perfectly positioned to become a hub among its neighboring communities, and a vibrant reflection of the diversity that makes each of those neighborhoods authentic and distinct.  It is a development borne of integrity, one that is destined to emerge as Atlanta’s next great urban experience.

This all sounds amazing, but for me The Indigo Girls performing takes the CAKE!

indigo girls

I am going to DC this weekend + will unfortunately miss PatP, but I would absolutely be there if I was going to be in town! 

Find out more about the event here: PARTY AT PONCE. 

Ticket info here: GET ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE HOT!

Party on, Atlanta. 

xx, L

Here’s a recap of my Music Midtown experience: 

the black keys

what's better than one funnel cake??

love.

I have a feeling that Music Midtown is here to stay, people! 

In the mood for some more music?  Well, you’re in LUCK.  One of my favorite bands, Austin-based Ghostland Observatory, will be in Atlanta preforming at the Masquerade on Wednesday, October 5!

ghostland observatory

I first saw Ghostland live at Austin City Limits Music Festival (’09) playing with the University of Texas Marching Band for a few songs.  It. was. INCREDIBLE!  Anyway, they are electro-rock-funk-ish or kinda elecro-dance-soul-rock: hard to put into a box, but they have a really great, unique sound + I can guarantee that they put on an awesome live show with lots of lasers and stuff. 

For iTunes research, check out these Ghostland albums: delete.delete.i.eat.meat and Robotique Majestique.  Codename: Rondo is their newest, but I like the previous two better.

If that’s not enough to convince you, GO’s lead singer has an impressive set of braids he rocks out on stage.  You’ll def want to check them out… They’re sorta mesmerizing.  (You can kinda see below.)

And, the show is at the Masquerade on North Ave.  Not only have I never been to that venue before, but also I usually drive faster down North when I pass it because it reminds me of a haunted house or something out of a bad episode of Law & Order. 

the masquerade

However, I just Sherlock Holmes-ed Wikipedia.com and while the Masquerade looks like a pile of sticks from the street, the venue actually has a lot of history + the inside of it seems fairly reasonable.

xx, L

The Masquerade
695 North Ave NE
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.577.8178
http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/

All the info you need is on the flier, but here’s the Q+DD just in case…

WHAT: 2nd Annual Bottoms Up for Crohn’s + Colitis
WHO: Benefits the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation of America
WHERE: CosmoLava (Midtown)
WHEN: Saturday, August 20th, 7:00 p.m.
WHATCHA GET: Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, four drink tickets, a silent auction + music spinning from Atlanta’s own DJ Lil’ Stephen.
TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS: Bottoms UP!

Sounds like a fantastic evening!  CosmoLava is a pretty sweet location for a charity event, too.  See you party-people there! 

xx, L

(*Note: The Q+DD does not condone this behavior…but still gets a kick out of it.) 

Alternate Post Titles:
“Don’t Drink + Dino”
“Prehistoric Party Animals”
“Quickest Way to Getting Kicked Out of a Museum/ Wedding Party”
“Tequila + Pterodactyls”
“Raptor NOT Rapture”
“Jurassic Jackasses”

Please do not play with the dinos.  But if you do, make sure that you wear a tux.  (Let’s at least show a little respect, folks…)

xx, L

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30307
404.929.6300
http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/

I could go to this wedding a million times over!  Highlights included (but were certainly not limited to): the absolutely perfect weather, the bride’s spectacular dress, the Smile Booth, the bride + groom DJing (see Sam above) + the overall kitschy-ness of the event.  It was all simply amazing.

Sam + Jess’s special day was my first Park Tavern wedding and I have to admit that there’s really nothing else like it.  Such a great space!  Click here for info about planning a wedding at Park Tavern: Tie the Knot on 10th.

Well done, Sam + Jess, and many, many congratulations!  Slick + I loved celebrating with y’all!  Wishing you guys a lifetime of happiness starting with an awesome honeymoon.  Live it UP! 

xx, L

But before we return to our regularly scheduled LK programming, I have a BIG THANK YOU for everyone involved with, everyone who donated to, everyone who supported and everyone who attended Camp Dance. I couldn’t even begin to start naming names – but just know I appreciate you so much.

It was INCREDIBLE.  Absolutely incredible.

I loved everything. The switch from the Zoo to the World of Coke was a game-changer – everything was so fun and peppy and whimsical and the WoC staff was INCREDIBLE.

The caterer was Bold American (I heart you, Mo!) who knocked our “camp” theme out of the PARK with  mini-fluffer nutter sammies, brie grilled cheeses, loaded baked potatoes, sliders and the clear winner of the night – CORN DOGS.

The corn dog is the new tater tot

and the desserts – oh the desserts!  I don’t even know where to start.  Witness:

I think everyone had an amazing time – I know I did because I was so busy dancing, I didn’t take a single picture. Thank goodness Greg was there!  Here are a few snaps:

G + me before the party started (dress is Halston Heritage)

Cutie Jona Sheer mixing a cocktail in "Taste It"

people filing into the WoC

M.F.E.O.

Proof.

Party people in the house.

Kraselsky women (and Dr. Amy) on the dance floor

Handsome men everywhere!

"The Beverly" and vodka, anyone?

It’s looking like we raised in the neighborhood of $85K for Camp Twin Lakes and we couldn’t be more excited!

Thanks again to everyone!  I can’t WAIT for next year….

xx, L

The caterer is making bazillions of tiny grilled cheeses, the band is tuning up, and the World of Coke is getting ready for the BEST PARTY OF THE YEAR! (do you have your tickets?)

(Personally – I want to know what it’s like to mix a cocktail with any Coke product from anywhere around the world!)

It’s been an incredible ride chairing the event this year and I have SO appreciated all the love and support. Particularly from my bloggy buddies:

ATL Events (Thanks, Wendy!)
Chicks In Atlanta (Thanks, Becky!)
Date Night Mag (Thanks, Jaime!)
Buckhead Betty…On a Budget (Thanks, Katherine!)
The Social Butterfly (Thanks, Jaimi!)
Daily Candy (Thanks, Hess!)
AOL Atlanta’s Best (Thanks again, Hess!)

And check us out on almost every event listing in town: Creative Loafing, 91.9 FM WCLK, Access Atlanta, Atlanta Buzz, Going.com, Eventful, Yelp, Patch.com Buckhead, Zvents, Entertainment.Georgia.com, Atlanta INtown

I’m just ready for the event to GET HERE so we can PARTY!

If you haven’t gotten your tickets already, click HERE for tickets!

If you can’t come, you’re dead to me. No, not really. (Spring weekends are tough!)  I do hope that you’ll consider making a donation, though!

Remember: every single dollar counts. Just $10 will sponsor a child’s 3 meals for the day, $35 will sponsor maintenance of the pool for a day, $75 will feed an entire cabin lunch, $85 sponsors one full day of horseback riding, $250 provides 10 life jackets for the canoeing program, $550 will sponsor an entire week of camp for a child, $1000 will sponsor a shade tree at camp Will-A-Way, and so on….  Whatever your budget, you can make a BIG impact in the life of a very deserving child.

No pressure, of COURSE – but if you would like to - please consider making a donation.  You can view my personal page by clicking here: http://bit.ly/CampDanceLauren

Thank you, thank you thank you THANK YOU!

xx, L

P.S. to our loyal and wonderful readers - thanks for bearing with me these last few weeks and months!  Back to normal ASAP after Saturday! (DK is coming in town and I’m taking the day off to have a spa/shopping day on Monday.  I’m sure I’ll have LOTS to tell…)

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

I’ve used the Fernbank’s atrium and Star Gallery for events I’ve thrown (think Real Housewives of Atlanta wedding – but corporate) + visited numerous exhibits…

slick + me at one of my fernbank events

…but my favorite excuse to head over to the museum is for their Friday night Martinis + IMAX event!

In my humble opinion, it’s the perfect place to spend a Friday evening with friends or on a date.  Think drinks (not just martinis…they have wine, mixed drinks + beer, too), food, jazz music + an amazing atmosphere, all followed by a 45-ish minute IMAX.  To top it all off, you get to hang out with a 123-foot Argentinosaurus (largest dino ever classified)!  It’s perfection, I’m telling you. 

Here’s a peek at what Martinis + IMAX looks like on the earlier end of the evening + later on:

If heading to the Fernbank for drinks, yummy eats + to listen to music doesn’t sound appealing to you, seeing an IMAX is a pretty spectacular experience in and of itself.  They are so super interesting, you get to bring your drinks into the theatre with you + it’s only about 45 minutes long.  Perfect timing if you ask me.

Last Friday, Brittany S. + I went on a little friend date to Martinis + IMAX to see Tornado Alley.  Ever since I saw Twister when I was a kid, I’ve been a little obsessed with tornadoes and really did not want to miss this IMAX.  It was incredibly intense + just plain AWESOME!!  (Definitely worthy of two exclamation points.)

And much to my great surprise, Bill Paxton (from Twister) was the narrator for Tornado Alley!  I was pretty tickled about that…and I’m sure that Brittany S. confirmed her classification of me as a total + complete nerd.  Not going to even try to refute that.

I realize that tornadoes might not be quite as exciting for everyone else as they are for me, in which case here’s a list of other IMAX-esssss (what in the world is the plural of IMAX?!)at a variety of times that you can catch TONIGHT at the Fernbank…after a martini or three!  (Not judging.)

Hope y’all enjoy it as much as I do!  Happy Fernbank Friday! 

xx, L

Fernbank Museum of Natural History
767 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA  30307
404.929.6300
http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/

The rehearsal dinner was at the Peachtree Club, on top of the 999 Building, and we met the bridal party and friends for drinks and dessert following.   If someone can think of something better than enjoying a cocktail, a Swedish Fish, and this view…

…I wish they would tell me what because I can’t think of much.

The wedding was outdoors at Greystone in Piedmont Park and though I felt I had been there before from Lindsay’s awesome post (see it HERE) this was my first time to experience this remarkable venue for myself!

Greystone's east facade

You know how I love a good wedding!  I recycled a dress, but got to take these bad boys for their inaugural spin:

Badgley Mischka. Style: Lissa. Color: Platinum.

Jen looked absolutely stunning in a J.Crew bridal gown, the bridesmaids wore g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s. dresses by Carol Hannah (Charleston native and my Project Runway all-time fave)

and Sun in My Belly knocked it of the park with the catering!

We after-partied with the happy couple at Einstein’s on Juniper…

2nd Grand Entrance of the evening!

(where I may or may not have had a slider or two…) and I woke up just dying to share this fantastic weekend with our readers!

Congratulations Jen and Pat…and thanks for a lovely weekend!

xx, L