Artsy-Fartsy

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Well hello, Tracey Bloom!

07/16/2010 in Event Space, Events!, Midtown, What we're Watching, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Last night, I threw an event at the HIGH Museum of Art + Table 1280.  It’s an annual event that is always relatively well attended, but this year we used every single ticket NOT because there is an exciting exhibit at the HIGH right now – there’s not (cars are gone + Dali arrives mid-August) – but rather because the chef at Table 1280, Tracey Bloom, recently represented Atlanta on Top Chef  Season 7.

T. Bloom

Out of the four years I’ve thrown this event, I’ve never seen Table 1280 as packed as it was last night.  Way to go, Tracey!  We had cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the bar area, which I think is just perfect for a smaller event, and then headed back to my personal favorite room at Table 1280 (the one to the left of the entrance) for a seated dinner.

table 1280

Simply, dinner was delicious.  We had a large group of people, and the folks at my end of the table ordered some pretty yummy starters to share, of which this one was my favorite:

Serrano Ham, Manchego, Piquillo Pepper, Arugula, Breadstick  (loved!)

I also had a bite of a brisket slider and someone’s organic salad – and both were great, too.  For dinner, most of the table ordered one of three items: the wild salmon (which came very highly recommended from our fabulous server, Lynn), the pork chop and the ribeye.   Everyone raved about all three!  I knew that my salmon was very tasty, but I was floored that there was such a strong positive consensus about the food from this very opinionated group of mine.  To finish off the dinner, I had the lemon panna cotta with Georgia blueberries.  It. was. heavenly.

What was the best part of the evening you ask?  Well, let me think…meeting Tracey Bloom was kind of awesome!

!!!!!

We found her to be very personable, and we got a kick out of her Top Chef stories.  It was particularly interesting to hear about the filming of the show, as well as some tidbits regarding producer-created drama among the contestants.  Although Tracey will not reign as season 7’s “top chef,” she is doing some pretty stellar things at Table 1280.  No longer will I consider this restaurant merely a pre-HIGH Museum destination.

P.S. If you throw an event at Table 1280, make sure that you order the miniature quesadilla with chorizo and manchego + the truffle chix salad on a crostini as hors d’oeuvres.  They are really, REALLY addictive!

xx, L

Table 1280
1280 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.897.1280
www.table1280.com

Table 1280 on Urbanspoon

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Reasons to see Reasons to be Pretty

06/26/2010 in Midtown, Theatre, What we're Doing by Lauren | No comments

Greg and I are going to see Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute tomorrow night at the Alliance Hertz stage and I am excited because:

1. I love Neil LaBute. I just do.  I fell in love with his writing in college when, in a particularly great scene study class, I was given a part from The Shape of Things.  Love his writing, love his exploration of our society’s idiosyncrasies, love his humor, love his dark side, love it all.

2. The name of the theatre company is great:   Pinch n’ Ouch. I think it’s funny and cute all on it’s own, but, as a student of the Meisner acting technique, which calls for organic reactions to imaginary circumstances, I think the name is brilliant.

3. I have a really cute date :)

4. I always feel so proud of Atlanta when I visit the Woodruff Arts Center

5.  Tomorrow is closing night!  Get tickets here.

xx, L

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Either you’re indie or you’re OUTIE!

06/10/2010 in Buckhead, Midtown, Technology, What we're Doing, What we're Watching by Lauren | 3 comments

I have a strong affinity for the artsy-fartsy and if I could have it my way, I’d see all my films at the Tara and Midtown Art Cinema…and not just ‘cause they sell beer or Odwallas alongside the popcorn.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw City Island at the Tara…

It’s about a dysfunctional family living on City Island, a suburban island off the coast of the Bronx, who are all keeping secrets much more innocuous than the atrocities they assume each other are hiding.

I liked this movie, despite the fact that I usually can’t stomach this type of “one piece of missing information, otherwise everything would be fine” humor. (Three’s Company and Meet the Parents kind of stuff…gives me massive anxiety.)

However, it was funny and poignant and heart-wrenching all at the same time, there was some really nice acting (particularly by Emily Mortimer), and I LOVED the scrawny teenaged son who has a thing for large ladies. If you haven’t, go see it!   It’s cute!
Then, a few nights ago I saw “Exit Through The Gift Shop” at Midtown Art…a film I THOUGHT was going to be about the British street (graffiti) artist, Banksy.

If you’re unfamiliar with Banksy, I encourage you do to a little research.  He’s far too interesting for a Q+DD explanation. Check his blog out here and his art website out here.  But…..here are some of his more popular pieces:

(I love you, Maura.)

Anyway, as I mentioned, I thought the film was going to be a documentary of his work…which I was really excited about because a) he is notoriously reclusive and b) street art is very hard to document, of course, since it is technically vandalism.

What I found, however, was that this was not really a movie about Banksy, but rather about a man named Thierry Guetta, a Frenchman with a camera and an obsession for the craft.  So it was a film by Banksy about Guetta trying to make a film about Banksy… get it? “Prankumentary” is what they’re calling it.

Guetta films thousands of hours of footage of Banksy and countless other famous (infamous?) street artists including his own cousin, Invader, and Shepard Fairey (you know him. He is responsible for this:
Eventually, Guetta decides he is ALSO a street artist himself. Going by the alias “Mr. Brain Wash,” Guetta starts tagging, and almost immediately stages his own art installation filled with “blatant knockoffs and cut-and-paste pop trash” and Banksy’s message becomes clear.

The film was brilliant; I just wish we had seen more Banksy! He was rarely on camera, and when he was, he was hooded and his voice was disguised.

The Voice Disguiser. A la The Bert Show.

I don’t think that he’ll be making any appearances on Larry King anytime soon, either.  He is quoted as saying, “The film is the end of my public life rather than the beginning.” Bummer.

Obviously, I recommend it. (Bonus: there’s a Foursquare badge associated with the movie:

To get it, simply shout “Banksy” when you check in to Midtown Art,…thanks Mark!)

Gah, I am so artsy! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go unwrap the DVD I just ordered from Amazon: The Sweetest Thing with Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, and Selma Blair…a classic piece of American cinematography if you ask me.

xx, L

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Total Show (Festival?) Stoppers.

06/07/2010 in Festivals, Guilty Pleasures, Highlands, Vendors!, What we're Doing, What we're Listening To, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

Slick and I made it down to Summerfest in the Virginia Highlands on Saturday to walk around the artist’s booths, listen to some great tunes, party at our friend Neal’s place and sweat our you-know-whats off.  (Why is it that Summerfest always falls on the absolute hottest day of the summer?!) 

We had a great time!  The three main festival highlights for me were:

3 - Seeing Bob Schneider for FREE on the Summerfest Main Stage!

the best.

2 – Cheesecake-on-a-stick-dipped-in-chocolate-and-sprinkles.  (ohhhh yeaaaaa.)

not for festival-beginners...

1 - Lorri Honeycutt’s Big World Photo.  BWP was my favorite vendor, by far, this year at Summerfest!  Lorri absolutely stole the show with her unique + whimsical photos.  She’s so talented – and is from Austin, so that certainly didn’t hurt!  I had no problem with taking a 15 minute break from desperately seeking shade + cold beverages at Summerfest to peruse her booth and admire her creative brilliance.  Love!

Definitely check her out:  www.bigworldphoto.com
BWP slogan:  “Art that makes you think, then smile.”  :)

(her store in NC)

Do I really have to wait 365 days until next year’s Summerfest?!  Ugh…

P.S.  The awesome reader who spotted me at Bob’s show and came over to say “hello” - YOU rock.  Thanks for making my afternoon!!

xx, L

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Oh, Go Jump In the Lake…

05/06/2010 in Festivals, Gifts, Vendors!, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | No comments

I share a condo in Midtown with my roomie + landlord, Paige, and we’re actually approaching our four year anniversary of living together.

happy almost anniv., p!

In ‘06, I moved my stuff into Paige’s fully furnished + decorated home.  Not a bad deal for me at all – I only had my bedroom and bathroom to handle.  We have very different personal style regarding home furnishings, but it’s never bothered me.  However, one day, I definitely look forward to decorating a condo or house of my own, and when I do, I hope that this vendor I found at the Inman Park Festival is still going strong.  (Yikes, there were a lot of commas in that sentence…)

Of the hundreds of vendors at the Inman Park Festival this year, Go Jump In The Lake was my favorite.  Their rustic, cedar signs can be custom made or you can browse their online selection here:  http://www.mapledriveworkshop.com/

slick liked them, too...

Love!  The signs are perfect for a lake, mountain or beach house, an urban cottage or a rustic patio.  (Also, they’d make a fun housewarming gift!)  Sadly, I have no free space or actual need for any of their adorable signs at the moment, but I’m definitely stocking GJITL away in my trusty mental filing cabinet for when I do!

So cute!  :)

xx, L

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Atlanta FESTIVALS!

04/15/2010 in Events!, Festivals, What we're Listening To by Lauren | 3 comments

I’m so excited about the Sweetwater 420 Fest in Candler Park and the Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park this weekend!  

Here’s the Q+DD on SW420F: This 6 year old event is basically a two-day music and arts festival held to better the Candler Park Community by “inspiring positive change and through ongoing community outreach.”  Admission is free, and you can purchase a wristband for a mere $5 to sample some brewskis.

There’s an awesome band lineup (click here to see.) Seth says (SETH SAYS!) his FAVORITE bands are playing Sunday afternoon and the word on the street is the Dirty Dozen Brass Band is not to be missed.

Thanks, E!

Additionally, lots of local artists, a 5K (click here), and an opportunity to get in touch with local, regional, and national non-profits as well and find out how you can take earth friendly practices back to your community and homes.  FAB!

And the Q+DD on the 74th Annual Dogwood Festival:

One of Atlanta’s oldest festivals and in my beloved Piedmont Park! Not only will there be awesome music and food, but Dogwood is one of the biggest and most diverse juried arts festivals in the country! All kinds of artsy-craftsy types and independent genius artists will be in attendance…more than 250 of them! SO excited.
Hit up Dogwood tomorrow from noon until 9pm, Saturday 10am – 9pm, and Sunday 10am – 5pm.

There’s few things I love more than shopping for tchochkies (and priceless works of art!) day drinking, live entertainment, and Atlanta’s AMAZING parks!

Oh yes, my friends.  It is FESTIVAL SEASON. Next weekend:  INMAN PARK FEST!

See you in the park(s)!

Sorry, Olive. No pups allowed!

xx, L

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I’m an Artist!

03/30/2010 in Parties, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 2 comments

(Not really.  Well, not at all…)  But I pretended that I was on Friday!

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

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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

03/03/2010 in Events!, PSAs, Random Musings, What we're Doing, What we're Reading by Lauren | 4 comments

Did you know that yesterday was dear ol’ Dr. Seuss’s birthday? Well, it was.

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on 03/02/04!

Throughout my whole life, I have ALWAYS been a big Dr. Seuss fan, I’m sure we all were at one point or another, right?  I mean, whose childhood didn’t include The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, or Green Eggs and Ham?

Usual Suspect.

Sidebar: remember when Season 5 Top Chef contender Carla made Green Eggs and Ham during a quickfire challenge?



Don’t you think she kinda looks a little like a resident of Whoville?:

Coincidence? I think not...

Hootie-hoo, Carla! (I love you.)

I digress.

As I was saying, somehow Dr. Seuss always finds his way into my life at every stage. Some of my earliest memories are of my superawesome dad making up tunes to the silly songs in The Cat in the Hat Songbook…

Plinker Plunker!

…and as a suddenly environmentally-conscious 5th grader, I wrote what I considered to be a very moving paper on The Lorax.  Sometimes, riiiiight around wine-time, DK will dig it up to embarrass the heck out of me.

"I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues!"

The Good Doctor Seuss even followed me to college when DK gave me a copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go as I settled into my dorm room at the University of Texas.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

Oh, and let’s not forget about Seussical the Musical (!!!) which opened on Broadway in 2000!  (…just to be sure that eeeeeeeevery last one of my tender little heartstrings were played upon…)

"Just tell yourself, duckie, you're really quite lucky!"

Then, when I moved to NYC myself, I met a wonderful guy named Andrew who educated me on the lost art of Dr. Seuss:

From www.drseussart.com: “Dr. Seuss single-handedly forged a new genre of art that falls somewhere between the Surrealist Movement of the early 20th Century and the inspired nonsense of a precocious child’s classroom doodles.”

Andrew had a truly mesmerizing (not to mention enormous) landscape painting in his apartment and I came to learn that Seuss not only worked in illustrations and paint, but also bronze sculpture and “unorthodox taxidermy”

Even now, as a full-fledged adult (scary.), I often find myself considering the wise words of Dr. Seuss.  Check it:

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.”

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

And finally, my favorite (my sister’s favorite too):

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Bringing it all full-circle for me, next Saturday my very, very dear friends Jess and Adam will be celebrating the first birthday of THE MOST ADORABLE CHILDREN EVER, otherwise known as their kids, my pseudo niece and nephew, Eli and Alexa, with a Seuss-themed birthday party…where the twin guests of honor will appear as Thing 1 and Thing 2!

Precious!

But if you’d like to have your OWN Seuss celebration, you’re in luck.  On SUNDAY, MARCH 21st the Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum, will be hosting a “Seussian” Birthday Party in conjunction with their fascinating exhibition, “Dr. Seuss Goes to War…and More!”, a collection of Ted Grisel’s WWII political cartoons.

showing now through 08/31/10

Click here for details.

So, HAPPY 106th BIRTHDAY, Dr. Seuss… from the Q+DD!

oh, and happy 1st birthday, A + E! Aunt LK loves you!

Oh, the places you'll go!

xx, L

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Coiffure and Canvas

02/26/2010 in Events! by Lauren | No comments

Y’all…there is an art gallery…INSIDE MY HAIR SALON.

Yes, it’s true. Since 2004, Studio Todd G has also been the home of the E•Weber Gallery, which showcases gorgeous artwork by local, regional and international artists.

I love it because it gives me something nice to look at instead of my Blackberry or the inside of a Cosmopolitan Magazine while I sit with 54lbs of foil on my head. Usually when I am there, I am laser-focused on my hair. Everything else is secondary. (Dead serious about my highlights; not apologizing for it.)

Tonight and Sunday, however, the artwork will take the lead!

The show is tonight, February 26th from 6:30-9:30p and Sunday, February 28th from 12:00-5:00p.

I’m not going to tell you what to do, but you know? I think you should go. Great art, great prices, great people.

You can visit the website here, the Facebook page here, and the blog here

Happy Friday, y’all!

xx, L

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One Night Only!

10/15/2009 in Events!, What we're Doing by Lauren | No comments

Does anyone else’s mind immediately jump to “Dream Girls” when they hear that phrase?

One night only! One night only!

One night only! One night only!

No?

Ok, well, for one night only, this Saturday, October 17th, SCAD will be holding a photography exhibition at Atlantic Station (Atlantic Drive + 18th Street, directly above Doc Greens.) from 6-10PM.
scadphotography
From the SCAD Photography Exhibition blog:

Come to the SCAD Atlanta Photography Exhibition – this is a juried show with over 100 photographers, students, faculty, staff & alumni participating with a variety of photographic based works.

This photographic event is held in conjunction with Atlanta Celebrates Photography and the Society of Photographic Educators Southeastern Annual Conference.

The event was co-curated by Judith Pishnery, Marlene Hawthrone-Thomas, Deidre Tyree Smith, Taylor Lupton, Gabrielle Sirkin, Jennifer Jacoby and Eric Mason.

Exhibition Space provided by Atlantic Station. Refreshments provided by the 19th Street Cafe, Boneheads and Rosa Mexicana.
SCAD_ATLCEL_Invitation_2009
xx, L

PS. Thanks Foodie Buddha!

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Do It Yourself!

07/21/2009 in Gifts, Highlands, Parties, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 4 comments

Wired & Fired (www.wiredfired.com) is an adorable pottery painting shop in the heart of the Virginia Highlands.  Ever since I moved to Atlanta, I’ve enjoyed hitting it up with girlfriends and colleagues.  I love that it is on one of the most fun strips in the Highlands and now my office is almost completely ceramic…so no sudden moves. 
Wired & Fired

Wired & Fired

 But, here’s my sad story: Although my very first job (age 14 – thank you, thank you) was at a pottery painting store in Dallas AND my mommy dearest used to manage it (this is a family interest, obv.), I am TERRIBLE at it.  Really, it’s quite sad.  Some find it relaxing to select a cute piece of pottery, imagine a creative design for it and paint away – I find it incredibly stressful. 
BUT, Wired & Fired keeps drawing me back.  The W&F staff is always really patient with me and the store is BYOB & F, so a glass of wine helps to calm me down and steady my Bob Ross painting-hand.
 
Last week, I went to Wired & Fired with colleagues and picked up a flier for their Ladies Night! 
Here’s the Q+DD: Every Tuesday night from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. all ladies paint for 1/2 price studio time (only $4 per hour).
 
Wired & Fired will let you reserve their entire space if you have a large enough group event.  You are welcome to bring in food and wine anytime (as shown below).  And, I think it makes for a really creative date!
IMG_4733
 
IMG_4732
Here is my masterpiece from last week:
TA DA!

TA DA!

 
Wired & Fired
994 Virginia Avenue NE
Atlanta, GA  30306
404.885.1326
 
xx, L

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