This…is awesome. Honda released the full-legnth version of their amazing Superbowl ad today:
I’m getting SO excited for Commercials and Buffalo Wing Dip Day the Superbowl!
xx, L
You are currently browsing articles tagged day drinking.
Yep, canned sparkling wine. And, is it cute or WHAT?
I went to an industry event at the Biltmore Ballrooms on Tuesday and one of the vendors had these at their table. I was probably slightly too excited about the cute pink cans + I definitely took more than one…
Here’s the Q+DD (from the interwebs) on Sofia Blanc de Blancs Canned Sparkling Wine:
Niebaum-Coppola Winery, owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola, wanted to sell its Sofia blanc de blancs sparkling wine — named for daughter and fellow director Sofia — in a 187 ml serving, just big enough for one drinker’s thirst and a neat way to enjoy sparkling wine without opening a full-size bottle. For years, champagne and other sparkling wines have been served up in 187 ml bottles (about six ounces, or a quarter of a full bottle) known among wine types as splits. Coppola wanted to sell a split of Sofia, but couldn’t find anyone to package it in small bottles with corks of the same quality as their full-sized offering, which has been bottled since at least 1999.
Other ideas weren’t terribly appealing — a bottle with a screwcap looked too much like those airline single-servings; not bad, but not the hip image the winery wanted for Sofia Then they contemplated the can. “The more we kind of played with the idea, the more we warmed up to it,” said Erle Martin, president of Niebaum-Coppola. “We realized we could make a can very cool and very elegant.”
Part of the plan has been to market Sofia not merely as premium wine without a bottle but as a clubgoers’ drink: ordered by name, easy to hold at a bar and ideal for resort poolsides where glass is a no-no. Niebaum-Coppola’s intention is to target drinkers of beer or alcopops, those fruity mixes like Smirnoff Ice that have supplanted wine coolers as the choice for sweet-palated drinkers. The cans are meant to appeal to what Martin has described as a “Sex in the City” crowd: sophisticated female city-dwellers, from just over drinking age up to their mid-30s. It’s a different audience than most wine drinkers. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/)
After doing some light online research, I realized that Sofia blanc de blancs has been around for a while in the mini cans, SO I might be a little slow to the game. Whatever the case, I’m still excited about it! These little cans of sparking happiness are seriously super cute + have fully caught my attention. (Move over PBR…)
JUST love! 
xx, L
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, celebrities!, day drinking, don't judge, Festive, I'm just saying..., LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, Moxie? We got it., newsworthy, oh so hipster, PLU, The Happiest Hour, Things that are awesome..., things that are hysterical, Things we love!, very important people, wine-O, WineTime, Yowza.
Last month, Kevin and I took an incredible vacation. So incredible, in fact, I think it should be on everyone’s bucket list.
We drove the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) from Los Angeles to Napa. It was a trip that had been on my bucket list for a while, and we thought it was appropriate for our ENGAGEMENTMOON! Breathtaking scenery, lots + lots of fantastic wine, and not great cell phone service. Yes, please! So, we did some master planning, packed our bags for a nine day trip, and flew to L.A.
We stayed in L.A. for two days and had an excellent dinner at Wood + Vine in West Hollywood, perused the extensive Studio City Farmer’s Market, did some light hiking in Fryman Canyon…
…and toasted the start of our trip with the Wolkoves at the infamous Chateau Marmont hotel with a few rounds of kir royales.
Then, we hit the road for sunny Santa Barbara. We cut over to the PCH and finally had an ocean view! 
In Santa Barbara, we chilled at Stearns Wharf, had dinner at Brophy Brothers, and wondered how it is that some people get to live in such an exquisitely gorgeous city…
We skipped to neighboring Los Olivos, to wine taste in the adorable, quaint city where Sideways was filmed. We filled our day with stops at various tasting rooms: Saarloos + Sons, Alta Maria Vineyards, Coquelicot Estate Vineyards, and lunch at Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe.
Side note: Isn’t this chair at Saarloos + Sons amazing?!
On our way out of the city, we couldn’t resist driving by Neverland Ranch, which was a stone’s throw from Los Olivos.
Yep, we did that.
The next day it was onward + upward to Big Sur with a quick stop in the city of Cambria. On the way, we got to see nesting elephant seals…
Take some photos of our gorgeous surroundings…
And, seriously keep our eyes on the road as the drive got increasingly white-knuckled.
I usually fall asleep pretty quickly on roadtrips, but I was WIDE awake as the PCH drive became steeper and more mountainous. We were literally driving 35 – 40 MPH on a road carved out of the side of a mountain. To our left was the expansive Pacific Ocean…no guard rail between us and the water. It was exhilarating. We patted ourselves on our backs a number of times for planning the trip from South to North instead of the opposite, which would have put us on the outside of the road even closer to the ocean. Take note.
It was difficult to capture the gorgeous drive on my iPhone camera, but I tried…
I tried again with my real camera once we got into Big Sur for the night and I met some deer just hanging out - grazing and such – at the Post Ranch Inn.
We stayed at the Glen Oaks in Big Sur, which was perfect for us, but we didn’t want to be in our room very much. There was SOOOOO much to see and do in this gorgeous city: walk around Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, meals at Big Sur Bakery, and drinks at the edge of a cliff at Post Ranch Inn’s restaurant: Sierra Mar.
It was my favorite stop along the PCH.
From there, we drove over a series of bridges like these (how did someone build this?!) to get to Carmel.
Fun fact: Clint Eastwood is a former mayor of Carmel.
We saw the Carmel Mission, had a delicious Greek lunch at Dametra Cafe, and walked around the adorable shops in Carmel before we headed to Pebble Beach.
Pebble Beach was GORGEOUS! We did the 17-Mile Drive which took us by massive mansions, the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and The Links at Spanish Bay.
Kevin was in h.e.a.v.e.n. at Pebble Beach.
We also got to see the famous Lone Cypress.
We headed into Monterey for the night, but not before visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I pet a shark, and I made friends with their octopus. It was a successful visit.
For dinner, Kev had his first In-and-Out Burger experience. In full disclosure, I was satisfied – but he was pretty seriously underwhelmed. Oh well, at least he can cross it off of his “to do” list now!
The next morning, we drove through Santa Cruz and stopped at the beach-front boardwalk on our way to Half Moon Bay. The boardwalk was pretty deserted since it was early in the morning on a chilly day, but at least now I can cross that off MY “to do” list.
A short while later, we arrived at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay. JUST look at this place…
It was, hands down, the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed in.
It was so hard to leave the next morning. It looked like it was on the edge of the world. Perched on a cliff overlooking the endless ocean – we were in paradise. We spent a large portion of the day in Half Moon Bay’s “downtown” area wine tasting and eating our way from one end of the strip to the other at Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company, Sushi Main Street, and Pasta Moon. When we got back to the hotel, we sat outside our balcony with our personal (outside!) fireplace warming our feet, finishing a bottle of wine, and listening to the ocean. Absolutely incredible.
I will always remember this hotel stay.
The next morning, it was off to San Fran where we cut through the city + drove over THIS bad boy. (Kev, who is slightly weary of heights, was pretty proud of himself.)
We arrived in Sausalito and had the most delicious lunch at a restaurant on the pier called Fish. We were only there for a few hours, but Kev will tell everyone that Sausalito was his favorite city because of this meal. Go there. GO THERE.
To work off our enormous lunch, we drove to Muir Woods National Monument for a hike through the park’s towering redwood forest. We sang Woody Guthrie pretty much the entire time…
These things are just unbelievable. Seeing redwoods should be a must for everyone at some point.
We spent our last two days in California wine tasting in Napa and Yountville. We had both been to Napa before, but we definitely wanted to visit again and try out a few new wineries.
We tasted at Darioush Winery, Hess Collection, and Swanson Vineyards. They were all fantastic in their own right - each so wonderfully different from the other. Lunches at Mustard’s Grill and Oakville Grocery helped us to cut through some of the wine with delicious local eats. Dinner at Morimoto Napa was fantastic, as well. And, Chef Morimoto was there! Naturally, I was in total paparazzi mode…
We splurged on the tasting menu, and we agreed that it was one of the best meal decisions we made throughout the entire trip. Napa was the perfect way to end our vacation. We flew out of SFO this next morning.
Driving the PCH is a phenomenal way to see some of California’s most gorgeous cities. We didn’t get car sick on the windy drive + Kevin never got bored with our surroundings or plans. If we had recorded a soundtrack of our conversations in the car throughout the drive it would have sounded something like this on repeat:
Lindsay (passenger): Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!
Kevin (driver): WHAT??
Lindsay: I CAN’T believe what I’m seeing!/ Did you see that?!/ Oh wow!
Kevin: I can’t look or I’ll drive off of the cliff…
Lindsay: Eh, I’ll take a picture.
(Repeat)
We were a captive audience to California’s beauty. We will tell our kids about it one day – I know this for sure. Do this trip. Do it. It’s nothing short of amazing.
xx, L
Tags: california!, careful cowboy!, country road - take me home, day drinking, Hurray for gorgeous weather!, I'm just saying..., incredibly bold statements, Kevin!, LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, Mrs. Wolkove, PCH, PLU, put this on your bucket list!, ROADTRIPPIN', Things that are awesome..., vay-cay, wine-O, wise words
So, continuing from yesterday… Kevin + I spent Halloween weekend at the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.
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
Tags: "i like sports and i don't care who knows", beach, Beauty is as beauty does., blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, careful cowboy!, clean plate club, comfort food, day drinking, don't judge, fancy pants, Gorms, Hurray for gorgeous weather!, I'm just saying..., Kevin!, LMR, luxe luxe, Moxie? We got it., PLU, see and be seen, spa-la-la-la-la, splurge!, sugar rush!, Table for Two, Things that are awesome..., Things that are GORG, Things we love!, vay-cay, working on my fitness, Yowza.
Hooray for fall! Hooray for chili! Hooray for Cabbagetown! Hooray for Chomp and Stomp weekend! (It’s really as simple as that.)
One of Atlanta’s greatest festivals is this weekend, y’all!
Here’s the Q+DD on Chomp and Stomp:
Cabbagetown’s blue collar history is well-known in Atlanta. Once an old mill workers’ neighborhood, the area now is more known for its trendy boutiques and bohemian lifestyle. Chomp and Stomp combines Cabbagetown’s roots with traditional blue grass music and a chili cook off. Enjoy the pleasant fall air and traditional music of the area while eating some competition-worthy chili. If you are so inclined, there is also a 5k race that kicks off the festival. This event is just another reason why Atlanta is known as the hostess city of the South!
Timing: Saturday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
$$$: Only $5 per Spoon for Chili!
Location Info: Cabbagetown is WHERE, exactly??
Music Scoop: Let’s get our stomp on, shall we?!
Location Info: Cabbagetown is WHERE, exactly??
Music Scoop: Let’s get our stomp on, shall we?!
2010 Winners: Chili Masters
This is such a fun event w/ so much personality that you WILL NOT want to miss! (Sadly, I’ve been out of town for it over the past two years… Tragic.)
But, here are a few of our pics from Chomp and Stomp ’09:
It’s supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, too! Be there or be square, Atlantans. And FYI, get there early – sometimes the chili runs out. Happy Chomp and Stomp weekend!
xx, L
Tags: Beef., beer goggles, blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, careful cowboy!, Christine!, comfort food, day drinking, don't judge, EZ, Festive, Hurray for gorgeous weather!, I'm just saying..., LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, Moxie? We got it., ms. meredith, oh so hipster, people watching, PLU, see and be seen, Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, You Can Find Me in the A, Yowza.
Next up on The Q+DD Bartender Challenge is none other than the amazing Eric Aarons of Ecco!
Ecco is a seasonally-inspired European restaurant in Midtown that LK + I frequent. It’s also cooked up quite a reputation recently for its celebrity customers… The food is fantastic, the wine is out of this world – and the bar, in particular, is one of our favorite places to hang out + people watch. So naturally, we HAD to interview Eric for The Quick + Dirty Dirty Bartender Challenge!
Eric, who is originally from DC, started working in the hotel and restaurant biz while in college. He began bartending in 1983 + enjoyed it so much he’s stuck with it since. Simply, bartending makes our lovely Eric happy. He joined the Fifth Group in 2005, and he helped open Ecco with the company in 2006. Eric is a trainer for Fifth Group, which keeps him super busy, but he makes sure to take four days off every month to travel and visit friends + family. This month, he’s headed to Anna Maria Island off the coast of Florida for some well-deserved R&R!
Now, if you do the math (he started bartending in 1983…), Eric’s age may suprise you. But let us tell Y’ALL, he looks f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c. Witness:
So, LK + I DRILLED him for his secret to fabulousness: lots of H2O, lots of rest, a glass of wine every night, sunscreen twice a day + working out six or seven days a week. (Eric teaches spinning at local gyms.)
Chit-chatting with Eric is always splendid, but finally it was time to get down to business with…
THE DIRTY DIRTY DOZEN QUESTIONS
1 – Please state your name + place of employment for the record.
Eric Aarons. Head bartender at Ecco.
2 – What’s your drink?
Most often wine. But if I do have a cocktail, it’s a Hanger One martini – straight up, extra dry, extra cold, with a twist.
3 – What drink do you hate to be asked to make?
Any variation on one of my signature cocktails. They are my creations. Please don’t insult me by rewriting my recipes.
4 – What’s the best story you’ve heard in your bar?
I’ve been behind the bar for twenty-nine years. I could write volumes. A true professional keeps those stories confidential.
5 – Describe your clientele in three words.
Sexy. Savvy. Fun.
6 – If you’re not drinking at Ecco, where are you drinking?
At home. Sitting on my balcony. With my dog, Buddy, in my lap. Taking in the Midtown skyline.
buddy!
7 – If your bar was personified in a celebrity, who would it be?
George Clooney. Sexy (again). Stylish. Talented.
8 – Imagine you were stranded on a desert island + wanted to start a bar from scratch. You can bring 4 bottles and 1 type of glass. What would they be?
Three bottles of H2O for survival. One bottle of grain alcohol to light a fire, send smoke signals + get rescued! You can keep the glass – I ain’t stayin’!!
9 – Currently, what is the most popular drink at your bar?
“GiGi Says…” I just won a national contest with this cocktail: http://www.hangarone.com/blimp-tour/entry/14. It is my spin on a ginger gimlet.
(Side note: LK + I looooove “GiGi Says…”)
10 – What is your favorite area of town?
Midtown. It’s where I live, work + play.
11 – What is your secret weapon?
Depends on my target. I have an arsenal…
12 – The name of the cocktail is “The Quick + Dirty Dirty.” What’s in it?
Hanger One vodka martini with juice from San Agostino olives topped with a medley of three delicious olives all imported from Italy: San Agostino, Gaeta + Calabrese.
Thanks so much to Eric for participating in The Quick + Dirty Dirty Bartender Challenge! Visit him soon at Ecco – and wave to us at the bar. (Odds are LK + I will be sitting there sippin’ our “GiGi Says…”)
WHO’S NEXT???
Do you have a recommendation for our next contender? Are you a mixologist we need to meet?
E-mail us at thequickanddirtydirty@gmail.com or tweet us up at @Lindsaywhat44 + @LaurenKAtlanta!
Maybe we’ll see YOU next on The Q+DD Bartender Challenge!
xx, L+L
Ecco
40 7th Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.347.9555
www.ecco-atlanta.com
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, celebrities!, day drinking, I'm just saying..., Lets hear it for the boys, midtown mavens, Moxie? We got it., PLU, q+, Q+DD Bartender Challenge, Q+DD friends, see and be seen, Table for Two, Things that are awesome..., very important people, wine-O, You Can Find Me in the A
ATTENTION all Auburn fans: A friend of our dear friend, M. Reynolds, started an awesome company that you need to know about – Toomers Rolls!
But first, I need to give everyone else a little Auburn 411…
The intersection of Magnolia Avenue + College Street in Auburn, which marks the transition from downtown Auburn to the university campus, is known as Toomer’s Corner. Hanging over the corner are two massive old-growth oak trees, and whenever there is cause for celebration in the Auburn community, the trees are festooned with toilet paper. (Oooh, I like the word “festooned.”) The TP rolling of oak trees started in the early 1990s after the power lines were moved under ground. Traditionally only used as a way to celebrate football victories, in recent years it has become a way to celebrate anything good that happens concerning Auburn. (www.wikipedia.com)
toomer's corner
Here’s the Q+DD on Toomers Rolls:
Toomer’s scarves were developed by an Auburn graduate and her Georgia Tech pal from business school. They are made out of soft “scarf-like” material that will keep you wrapped in spirit while watching an Auburn game…home or away!
Wrapped around a replica of a cardboard toilet paper roll + featuring fine stitching mimicking toilet paper perforation seams, these scarves give a nod to Auburn University’s famous winning tradition while preserving the delicate Toomer’s Oaks!
LK + I are Texas fans, but since Texas is in a different conference we feel like we can jump on the Toomers Rolls bandwagon!
who's got school spirit??
We just love scarves (esp. scarves worn in summer), we totally support small businesses, we think toilet paper is v. necessary, and we’re on-board with anything M. Reynolds is about! (P.S. She’s the adorbs model on the far left of the photo above.)
Get your Toomers Rolls here, War Eagles: GO AUBURN! Follow Toomers Rolls on Facebook!
And, good luck this season!
xx, L
Tags: "i like sports and i don't care who knows", big girl sports, blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, careful cowboy!, day drinking, don't judge, fashion, Festive, I'm just saying..., LMR, m. reynolds, SEC, support local businesses!, Texas Texas yeehaw!, The South, Things that are awesome..., Trend Alert, very important people
Put on your party hats, people, for Party at Ponce on Saturday, October 1!
Party at Ponce is a kickoff for Ponce City Market and celebration of Green Street Properties 10th Anniversary, benefiting the Atlanta Beltline Partnership and Georgia Organics. This once-in-a-lifetime party will include musical performances by The Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins + Francine Reed.
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
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, clean plate club, comfort food, day drinking, Festive, from the farm, Going Green!, I'm just saying..., More culture than frozen yogurt!, Moxie? We got it., oh so hipster, people watching, PLU, see and be seen, Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, very important people, You Can Find Me in the A
I had the greatest time this weekend at Music Midtown! And, what a gorgeous day for it, too! The Black Keys were really awesome to see live, and while I could totally pass on Cage the Elephant, Coldplay was well worth the wait. Really enjoyed them + thought their R.E.M. tribute was special.
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.
- the heaven room at the masquerade
Check out Ghostland Observatory on 10/5 – it’s going to be a stellar show. AND, AND, AND…I’ll be there! Yeaaaaaaaaaer! Yep, that just happened.
xx, L
The Masquerade
695 North Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.577.8178
http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/
Tags: Anne Marie!, becoming the caseys, blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, careful cowboy!, comfort food, day drinking, don't judge, funny people, I'm just saying..., Lets hear it for the boys, LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, Moxie? We got it., music to my ears!, oh so hipster, piedmont park, PLU, Ridiculous., see and be seen, sugar rush!, Texas Texas yeehaw!, Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, very important people, You Can Find Me in the A, Yowza.
Hooray! It’s Music Midtown time, Atlantans!
We’re getting our pre-party on + are heading to Piedmont Park really soon!
See y’all there! EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!
xx, L
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, celebrities!, day drinking, Festive, I'm just saying..., LMR, Moxie? We got it., music to my ears!, oh so hipster, piedmont park, PLU, see and be seen, Sorry not sorry., Things that are awesome..., Things we love!, You Can Find Me in the A
Break out the lederhosen, y’all, because Oktoberfest is upon us!
For something new and different: Spiral goes international! We’re holding German Oktoberfest at an Irish pub! (One world. One love, guys.)
Saturday, October 1st from 6PM till close.
Tickets are available at www.spiralentertainment.com
USE CODE LKFEST FOR $3 OFF!
Here’s the rundown of events:
6:00PM: Live Music on the outdoor stage starts with Astral Freaks
8:00PM: Games…
BRATWURST EATING CONTEST (sexy, I know)
STRONGMAN STEIN HOLDING COMPETITION (yowza!)
BEER CHUGGING (...has now become a competitive sport, apparently!)
9:15PM: get your Bono on with U2 cover band Desire
xx, L
Tags: blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol, careful cowboy!, Costumes + Parties, day drinking, don't judge, Festive, LKfest, Ridiculous., Spiral discount code, You Can Find Me in the A, Yowza.
Slick + I road-tripped to Asheville, NC, this weekend to spend time with his family. On the way home from our fun weekend in Ashe-town, I was able to manipulate him into “stopping by” the Biltmore Estate. Four hours later on the way back to Atlanta, all we could talk about was how truly magnificent the estate was – the house, the grounds, the gardens, etc. All were absolutely breathtaking!
- the biltmore estate – asheville, nc
Slick said that the lawn leading up to the Biltmore House was the “single greatest football-playing yard” he’d ever seen…
For those unfamiliar with the Biltmore Estate, here’s the Q+DD:
The Biltmore is a Châteauesque-styled mansion in Asheville, North Carolina. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States at 135,000 square feet with 250 rooms. Still owned by one of Vanderbilt’s descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age.
On Christmas Eve 1895, George W. Vanderbilt officially opened the Biltmore House. Three years later, he brought his bride Edith Stuyvesant Dresser to the Biltmore, and in 1900, their only child Cornelia was born there. After Vanderbilt’s death is 1914, Edith and Cornelia continued to call the Biltmore their home, with Edith assuming the management of the estate. In 1942, Cornelia married the Honorable John Francis Amherst Cecil, and they lived and entertained in the Biltmore House. In response to requests to increase area tourism during the Depression and to bring in money to preserve the estate, the Cecils opened their house to the public in 1930.
The mountain views from the Biltmore House are pretty outstanding, too.
After thoroughly touring the house, Slick + I walked around a few of the Biltmore gardens. The gorgeous weather didn’t hurt one bit, either… Below are pictures from our stroll through the Italian garden, the shrub garden, the walled garden + the rose garden.
To cool off a bit from all of our walking + to cap off our visit, we drove to the award-winning Biltmore Winery to test out a few of their signature wines. Although we skipped the winery tour, we were happy as clams at the tasting counter – and very pleasantly surprised about how good the wines were!
Our favorites were: Biltmore Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc de Noir (Lindsay) + Biltmore Limited Release Chenin Blanc (Slick).
I am SO glad that we decided to visit the Biltmore while we were in Asheville! Although we could have easily spent a full day there, we saw + did quite a bit within the four hours we were on the property. I highly, highly recommend taking a trip to visit the Biltmore. It’s gorgeous, romantic, incredibly fascinating (historically + architecturally), AND it’s only a short 3.5 hours away from Atlanta!
Truly amazing.
xx, L
Tags: Beauty is as beauty does., country road - take me home, day drinking, I'm just saying..., JAX, LMR, More culture than frozen yogurt!, ROADTRIPPIN', see and be seen, slick, Things that are awesome..., Things that are GORG, Things we love!, vay-cay, wine-O, Yowza.
Readers’ Choice:
Best Local Blog + Best Local Bloggers
