“I’d like to talk to you both…about a good opportunity for you – and your loved ones.  (insert awkward pause)  We all have dreams.  I know I do!  I’d like to talk to you about an exciting opportunity that people are talking about…”  – Karl Benson, Garden State

And now, I’d like to…

Have y’all heard about The Atlanta Food Rave?  If you are into food, you abolustely NEED to know about this very “exciting opportunity that people are talking about.”  (Thanks again, GS.)

Here’s the Q+DD on The Atlanta Food Rave:

THE EVENT:  The Atlanta Food Rave is a new high-energy event that brings together an eclectic mix of Atlanta’s finest culinary talent.  Expecting an interactive night of food, fun, cocktails and live entertainment, attendees are invited to sample chef offerings and catered fare that will be placed throughout the expansive host venue, the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery.  Adding a bit of competition to the occasion, attendees are also encouraged to vote for their favorite chef of the evening, helping him/her to win The 2010 Rave Review, an award reserved for the chef that is best in show.  The evening will also feature a premium open bar with signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty beverages, live entertainment and a number of surprises.  The menu will be revealed upon arrival and vegetarian options will be present.  A percent of the proceeds from The Atlanta Food Rave will be donated to The Atlanta Community Food Bank.

DATE & TIME:  Friday, August 27, 2010, 7-11 p.m.
 
VENUE:  Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery  (if you haven’t been before, it’s fabulous!)
                      199 Armour Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30324

The 24,000-square-foot Mason Murer Fine Art gallery has become an art and special event destination, hosting  several exhibitions a year and showcasing a wide range of work from the Southeast and around the world.  Its  unique interior has made the gallery an in-demand venue for corporate parties, non-profit fundraisers, cultural  events and the perfect location for The Atlanta Food Rave to create a delicious evening to remember for all of its  guests. 

Check it out:  www.masonmurer.com
 
FEATURED CHEFS:  The Atlanta Food Rave will give food and cocktail lovers the opportunity to mix and mingle with an eclectic group of  Atlanta-based chefs in an informal and fun atmosphere.  With a goal to showcase some of Atlanta’s best culinary  talent, this year’s chef lineup includes:

·        Chef/Owner Alex Friedman of P’cheen International Bistro & Pub
·        Executive Chef Delroy Bowen of the Georgia International Convention Center
·        Executive Chef Keira Moritz of Pacci Ristorante and AltoRex Rooftop Lounge
·        Executive Chef Lance Gummere of The Shed at Glenwood
·        Personal Chef/ Caterer Latoya Starks of Noorish Personal Chef and Catering  

GIVING BACK:  The Atlanta Food Rave is proud to donate a portion of the proceeds from the event to The Atlanta Community Food Bank.  With a mission to fight hunger by educating, empowering, and engaging the communities of Metro Atlanta and North Georgia, The Atlanta Community Food Bank currently distributes nearly two million pounds of food and other grocery items each month to more than 700 non-profit agencies and 38 counties in the Atlanta area.  Visit www.acfb.org for more information.

TICKETS:  Tickets are on sale now and are $55 per person for ages 21 and up.  Tickets are available at www.atlantafoodrave.com and 404-856-0157.  Tickets will not be sold at the door.    

PARKING:  Complimentary valet parking will be available.

FOR MORE INFO:  Visit www.atlantafoodrave.com or e-mail info@atlantafoodrave.com
                                    
This is going to be so much fun!  LK and I can’t wait! 

Come find us – we’ll be ready to party…

(one last homage to Garden State)

Hope to see you there! 

xx, L

The tone was set early by the totally rad 80’s mix compiled by one Elizabeth Ceaser (of Phliz fame) which included every memorable song from the years 1979 to 1991. We enjoyed Blow Pops and Pop Rocks (ok no Pop Rocks, but that would have been awesome.  Where do you find them, anyway?) as we jammed out to Liz’s mix

(Photobomb: Lumpy)

Ted: 80's Cowboy.

Strike a pose there's nothing to it: Vogue.

Ellen: So Strong! (PS I'd like to buy a vowel...)

If only we had any idea what was waiting for us at Sweetwater…

There were fanny packs, taffeta...

dance offs...

...complete with break dancing...

Amazing makeup

and lots of 80's love

Sidebar: I just don't know who I love more: Liz for putting this outfit together or Phil for wearing it...

Demon eyes courtesy of my iPhone

Miami Vice Joe

He mowed 200 yards to save my white suede outfit!

It was a GREAT night and my friends Jason and Lila, two of the organizers of this amazing party, told me they raised a HUGE chunk of change for the Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund…nice work!

Bonus: Our Electric Ladyland SAVE FERRIS coozies came in quite handy the next day as we recovered poolside, trust.

Electric Ladyland, THANKS for a great night! We can’t wait for next year!

xx, L

P.S. Do you like us?  We like you!  Please make it official by “Liking” us on Facebook!  Click here to make our day!

It is halfway through 2010 and even though it’s been a great year…if I am completely honest with you, I’ve just been feeling a little incomplete. Yes, I’ve had a nagging emptiness in my soul, a teeny tiny hole in my heart… and until recently, I just didn’t know why.  All I knew was that something was missing and I couldn’t put my finger on it…

UNTIL NOW.

Can you believe we have gone 7 months without an 80’s themed event?

I mean, I LIVE for the 80’s.

Q: Who has an 80’s themed Passover Seder? A: Lindsay and I do!

I just don’t know how I went an entire 7 months without breaking out the leg warmers and crinoline, but all is right with the world because this FRIDAY I will be attending:
I just couldn’t be more excited.

The Q+DD is this: This Friday, July 9th Electric Ladyland presents the 2nd Annual 80’s Prom (How did I miss the first one?) at the Sweetwater Brewery.  All proceeds will go to Elliott Galloway Scholarship Fund for under-privileged teenagers (which is awesome because frankly, I didn’t need a reason.)

Admission Prices:
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – $30 (first 100 purchases get their single ticket at $30 value)
Couples tickets – $30 (Two tickets at $30 each, for you and your dream date)
Stag ticket – $35 (single ticket price)
At the door – $40
At the door WITHOUT an 80’s costume – $8,675,309
Cash ONLY at the door. Credit/Debit cards accepted for presale tickets through Paypal.

Your ticket price includes Sweetwater Beer tastings and the following totally rad schedule of events:

9PM- Doors Open
9:01PM- Prom Pictures begin
9:30PM- You should be half-way to the moon
10:00PM- Timed Rubiks Cube Contest
10:30PM- Arrival on the MOON
10:45PM- Moonwalk Contest
11:00PM- Prom King and Queen will be announced
11:30PM- Break Dance Contest
Midnight- Walk of Shame
Get your tickets RIGHT NOW by clicking here and visit the Facebook invitation by clicking here.

In anticipation of my first 80’s event this year, I’ll be participating an a fun-filled night of 80’s movie bliss at Phliz’s crib on Thursday.

Phil + Liz = Phliz. Duh.

Gotta love a couple who displays 100% Theme Commitment.  I pity the fool who doesn’t.

I can only hope for a photo as cool as this one:

Total Eclipse of My Heart,
and
xx,

L

Duh

…but I must admit, I have not even cracked our current assignment, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

As one of my favorite authors, Augusten Burroughs says, “I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions.”

Luckily, my book club ladies’ love is unconditional and they didn’t appear to judge me one bit when I managed not to read a single sentence of last month’s book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, even though I hosted the club at my condo.

Luckier still, the group is comprised of some pretty spectacular chefs! So while the girls were discussing Steig, I found myself face first in all their delicious offerings.

The Club and The Carnage

There wasn’t a bad dish on my coffee table that night, so I BEGGED the girls to send me their recipes ASAP so I could share them with you now…almost a whole month later. (please refer to the Burroughs quote above.)

Anyway, better late than never!

Buffalo Chicken Dip a la Jen DiLorenzo
1. Mix: One pound chicken (cooked and shredded) and one bottle of your favorite wing sauce and layer in your oven-safe serving dish (like a Pyrex)
2. Mix: one small bottle of Ranch dressing and two blocks of cream cheese
NOTE: It mixes best if you warm the cream cheese in the microwave (be careful not to overheat!)
3.  Layer cream cheese/ranch mixture over chicken mixture
4.  Cover with shredded cheese (Jen likes Monterrey Jack).
5.  Bake at 350 until cheese is melted…and serve!

Avocado and Serrano Salsa a la Ellen Terchila
Ingredients:
1/2 Cucumber, diced
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped
1 red onion, diced
2 Serrano chilies, finely chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Juice of 1/2 Lime

In a large bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients.  Toss well.  Gently stir in the salt, pepper, and lime juice (take care not to let avocado get mushy!)
Serve immediately or cover and put in fridge for up to 1 day.  Return to room temp before serving.

BONUS: Ellen notes,  “I learned that this also makes a fabulous “day after” sandwich by toasting two pieces of whole grain bread, scooping on a delicious helping of the salsa, and a slice of Havarti cheese…just saying.” (You are so adorable, E)

Last but not least…

Spicy Corn + Cheese Dip a la Shanon Perry

Ingredients:
1 bar of cream cheese
1 4-5 oz package of goat cheese (S likes to get the kind that has the seasoning in it, but get what you like)
4 cups of sharp white cheddar cheese
2 regular sized cans of white corn kernels (drained)
5 fresh jalapenos – remove the ribs and the seeds, then dice into small pieces (you can obviously adjust this to your own palette)
3-4 scallions – finely chopped
S says that the following ingredients are estimates…she just likes to add and taste as she goes and suggests you do the same.
2 tsp of garlic salt
2 tsp of fresh ground pepper
1 tbsp of Mexican Chili Powder

Add cheeses and corn to an oven/microwave proof bowl. Warm in the microwave for about 2 minutes to soften the cheeses.  Stir in remaining ingredients, but keep aside enough cheddar to sprinkle over the top of the mixture.  Once you’ve sprinkled the rest of the cheddar over the top of the mixture, then put the bowl back in the microwave for about 5 minutes until the cheese is melted on top and the mixture is heated through – OR – you can place the bowl in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes or so.

Serve each of these with your favorite chip…pita chips or Fritos scoops have been tried and were proven to be a success!

I can’t tell you which was my favorite…they were ALL delicious! It’s always good to have a good go-to dip, so next time you have to bring an app or a side, try one of these!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I gotta dip! (couldn’t resist.)

xx, L

(this one is my personal favorite)

We’ll definitely keep everyone posted on the next one!

xx, L+L

WITH

at HAPPY HOUR (5-10p)

TONIGHT on the

OF

AT THE

(Please see Lindsay’s post below for more details!)

xx, L + L

Click here to buy tickets now

Click here to join the Facebook invitation

Click here for more information on Camp Twin Lakes

See you at the ZOO on May 8, 2010!

xx, L

PS for more information, please refer to my previous post here.

friend Melissa…

…has invited me as her +1 on her fabulous company’s fabulous party bus to STEEPLECHASE this weekend!

I just couldn’t be more excited. Since she extended the invitation, I have spent roughly a bazillion hours pouring over the Atlanta Steeplechase website and have found out a LOT of interesting things.  I encourage you to check if out for yourself, but I thought I would share that in addition to horse racing, there is also terrier racing (should I bring Olive?  She’s pretty speedy…) and the 46-year-old event benefits both the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine as well as the Starlight Children’s Foundation of Georgia. For more information, click here.

I can’t tell if I am more excited about hanging out with Melissa

Already a horse natural, obvi

The Mint Juleps (remember when I learned how to make them? Click here for the recipe and more info)

Or the HATS.

I mean, obviously, it’s the hats.  I can’t help myself - this falls squarely into the “costume” category so I am, of course, completely and totally obsessed with what hat to wear.  I just have no idea!   The closest I have EVER come to a horse race before now was when I was in My Fair Lady in high school.

"C’mon, Dover! Move yer bloomin’ arse!"

Additionally, I CERTAINLY don’t want to let Melissa down!  She is, after all, a woman who takes commitment to proper attire VERY seriously.  Please witness the following picture taken at a very competitive Whiffleball game in which she participated:

Not. Messing. Around.

Perhaps first order of business should be to decide on my hat personality and go from there? So may options!

Am I a GLAM hat person?
A PRETTY hat person?

A FUNKY hat person?
A WHIMSICAL hat person?  
An OVER-THE-TOP hat person?

Or a TOTALLY WEIRD, WHAT-IS-SHE-WEARING, COMPLETELY ECCENTRIC hat person?
I just don’t know, and Steeplechase is SATURDAY!

Any ideas???

xx, L

P.S. See you at the races!  Thanks again, Meliss!

monet has nothing on me...

I was outside of the Perimeter almost all weekend.  I get disoriented OTP and I’m not obsessed with driving behind slow-moving minivans, but I will tell you WHAT – I would go back to Dunwoody absolutely anytime for Sips n Strokes!  We went for Loren (not Lauren’s) birthday and it was so much fun!

the birthday girl

Sips n Strokes is an instructional painting class.  Picture Bob Ross minus serious afro minus just sitting and watching him paint on TV plus a classroom full of women (and man – there was a singular man present) plus BYO wine + beer + snacks plus you leave with your very own work of art! 

Here’s the Q+DD on Sips n Strokes:

All you need to do to attend a class is visit the Sips n Strokes website @ www.sipsnstrokes.com.  Peruse the calendar and select a class you’d like to attend, keeping in mind that you paint something different in each class.  I attended a class where we were shown how to draw a pink flower.  You reserve a spot in the class (the Dunwoody location can fit up to 55 people) with your credit card.  Classes range in cost from $25 – $45.  You can cancel your reservation without being charged if you do it more than 24 hours in advance.  You pay for the class when you arrive for it.  You are instructed to select paints and sit at a stool in front of an easel with a canvas.  As you sit and watch the instructor, you following along with your paints on your canvas.  At the end of the class, you take your creation home with you!  It’s pretty simple.

Still not getting it?  Our night in pictures will help…

If you are looking at these pictures and think that what we did looks difficult at all, you couldn’t be more incorrect.  I went into the class with zero confidence in my artistic ability to reproduce what the instructor was doing on stage.  Believe me, it’s so much easier than it looks!  The instructor really walks you, step by step, through the process and Sips n Strokes employees canvas the store ready to help you if you need a bit more direction or assistance with your artwork.

Sips n Strokes is perfect for a girl’s night out, as part of a bachelorette party or shower, birthday party or for no other purpose than to just paint with friends!

Here’s the best news of all: They are opening a location in Buckhead soon!  So, throw on an apron + harness your inner Georgia O’Keefe and head over to Sips n Strokes for a class ASAP! 

xx, L

Sips n Strokes
Dunwoody Village Shopping Center
5525 Chamblee Dunwoody Road
Dunwoody, GA  30338
678.954.8399
www.sipsnstrokes.com

view of the sun showers @ piedmont park from the luckyfest tent

…we threw on green accessories + ventured out to LuckyFest @ Piedmont Park! 

It was a little bit crowded.

erin making her way through the crowd

There was a LOT of mud.

erin in massive mud puddle w/ a leprechan?

But, we’re seasoned Spiral Entertainment party goers – so a little weather wasn’t going to cramp our style! 

Here’s our afternoon in pictures:

we got the golden tickets! how? well, we told them we were all lauren kraselsky!!

slick + co.

in prep for luckyfest, jackie + christine ran 10 miles. i prepped by sipping cocktails w/ erin...

KILT-spotting!

(they were excited because they spotted the delta flight attendant who does the pre-flight instructional video)

We were our own paparazzi…  Such a fun day!

The REAL St. Patty’s Day, however, is on Wednesday!  Celebrate @ Fado’s Irish Pub in Buckhead w/ Q 100 + The Bert Show. 

Tickets here:  http://www.ticketalternative.com/Events/10421.aspx

I took a day off from work for St. Pat’s last year and went with the little brother to celebrate @ Fado’s.  We had a blast!  And, I can safely say that it’s the only place to be on Wednesday. 

st. pat's '09 @ fado's

Erin go bragh!  Here’s to St. Patty’s 2010!!

xx, L