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Ahead of the Game: Let’s Talk Taxes…

01/27/2012 in Organizing, Reminders, Vendors, What we're Doing by Lindsay | No comments

Guess what I’ve already filed?? 

Yep, you guessed it…  My 2011 taxes.  Look who’s on the ball!  (It’s me, it’s me!)

For the past few years, I’ve taken my tax info down the street to HR Block, simply out of convenience, to have one of their employees quickly chew me up and spit me out.  “See ya’ next year!” they’d say with a smile as I wrote a large check for their data entry, and moseyed out confused as to why my fairly simple tax return was so expensive.  Not this year, readers.

THIS year, I changed it up.  I’m using a firm to prep my taxes who was highly recommended to me by blog regular + close friend, Loren S.  They don’t advertise – they rely on word of mouth.  (And, we like that!)  They’ve done such an excellent job with my taxes this year, and really handled me with care.  So, I want to help ‘em out a little.

siegel & siegel, p.c.

Siegel & Siegel, P.C. is a small, family-owned firm that was started in the 1950′s by Abe Siegel.  All three of Abe’s sons became CPAs and all worked there (and still do).  Josh Halpern, my new CPA (um, do I sound fancy pants or WHAT?!), is the newest addition to the group.  He started working there in 2007, and has been a CPA since 2009.  Josh is a Georgia Bulldog (which I didn’t hold against him), and an all-around really awesome guy.

Siegel & Siegel provides accounting and tax services for individuals and small businesses.  This includes compilations (another way of saying financial statements), as well as tax services.  Many of their business clients are service-oriented (doctor, lawyer, dentist, real estate), but they can also work on any small “closely-held” businesses.  Josh had no problem at all helping a little guy (girl) like me with my super-simple tax return, either.

Clients like Siegel & Siegel because of the personal attention they receive from the firm.  They don’t have young staff for partners to hand over their clients to ”to be worked-up” and then passed back for a quick check-over and a signature.  They do the work themselves, and they each know their clients issues/ business versus having to find the staff person who worked on that client (larger firms are like this) to inquire about what is going on.  They do not bill solely based on time, so they are happy to take calls and respond to e-mails.  (Even I know that this is very old school – and I appreciate it.)  Siegel & Siegel considers itself to be a “vintage firm.”  The kind where you receive the personal attention you deserve.

Siegel & Siegel’s office is located in Sandy Springs near Roswell Road and Hammond, close to Breadwinner Cafe.  Give Josh a call.  He’s a great guy (I absolutely vouch for him), and he will very thoughtfully walk you through your taxes.  I sincerely appreciated the care with which he explained everything to me, and the speed at which he prepared my return.  If you’re looking for some tax help this year, I highly recommend Siegel & Siegel. 

P.S. Tell Josh that the Q+DD sent you!  We don’t get a kickback or anything (I can’t even imagine what it would be if we did…), but it would be nice to know that we were able to help out a really great, small business that we believe in!  :)

xx, L

Siegel & Siegel, P.C. – Josh Halpern
140 Hammond Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
404.252.6667 ext. 106
joshua@siegelcpa.com
www.siegelcpa.com

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Aria. Dinner at Buckhead’s Finest.

01/24/2012 in Appetizers, Buckhead, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

I ate too much over my birthday weekend.  FACT.

Also FACT: My most delicious meal was eaten at Aria. 

This Buckhead institution is known for its delicious food, excellent service, extensive wine list, and super-exclusive wine room table.  It’s a restaurant that I think of for celebrations.  Turning 30 was an appropriate one.  I was treated to this fantastic dinner by my fantastic friend, Gorms.  You are going to be so disgusted impressed by how much we ate!

We began our feast by polishing off Pastry Chef Kathryn King’s Warm Focaccia Bread and a glass of pinot gris.  If there was a such thing as a winter coat made out of bread – I’d want it to be this bread. 

Next up was Aria’s Creamless Celery Root Soup with black truffles and parmesan.

Potato and Goat Cheese Ravioli with lamb and mushroom bolognese and reggiano parmigiano followed.

Warm Lobster Cocktail with butter braised Maine lobster, broccoli, and black truffle potatoes were next.  This was incredibly delish!  Gorm’s favorite, in fact.

For entrees, we shared the Blue Ridge Mountain Trout with sweet potatoes, black trumpet mushrooms, Maine lobster, and white corn…

…and the Painted Hills Ranch Natural Beef Short Rib with celery root whipped potatoes, tender carrots, sugar snap peas, and celery hearts.

They were cooked to perfection.  So many lovely flavors!

Dessert began with a sensational Warm Apple Tart with caramel ice cream to share…

…and ended with a delightful birthday plate of chocolate surprises!  :)

The meal was OUT OF THIS WORLD (as predicted)!  If you have something to celebrate – celebrate here.  I would also tell you to order exactly like we did.  We had such a nice variety of savory and pastry, and I really feel like it was an excellent sampling of Aria’s menu.  I’ve never heard anything negative about this restaurant, and I only have very positive praise to add!  So well done! 

Enjoy, restaurant-goers!  And, thank you Gormsie, for such a delicious night!

xx, L

Aria
490 E. Paces Ferry Rd. NE
Atlanta, Georgia  30305
404.233.7673
www.aria-atl.com

Aria on Urbanspoon

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Ritz Carlton Lodge Weekend (2 of 2): Heaven Found in the Georgia Woods

11/10/2011 in Appetizers, Chocolate, Cocktails, Event Space, Holidays, Hotels, Out of Town, Spa, Vacation, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 4 comments

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

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Ritz Carlton Lodge Weekend (1 of 2): Linger Longer Steakhouse

11/09/2011 in Guilty Pleasures, Holidays, Hotels, Out of Town, Vacation, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 1 comment

Kevin + I didn’t dress up this year for Halloween.  We didn’t go to the Florida vs. Georgia game, either.  This year, we spent the last weekend of October at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.

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.  A decidedly Southern retreat, the resort is situated in Reynolds Plantation, a 10,000-acre golf and lakefront community.

happy halloween weekend to us!

happy halloween weekend to us!

There are so many incredible things I want to tell you about the resort, but I could never fit them all into one post…  Soooooo, you’ll just have to wait for more! 

It was our very first time visiting the gorgeous property + we had the most amazing weekend!

the ritz carlton lodge

This post will focus on our f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s. dinner at the Ritz’s Linger Longer Steakhouse.

linger longer exterior

Kev + I had 9 p.m. reservations at Linger Longer, so we zipped from Atlanta to the Ritz, dropped off our car + bags at the hotel and hitched a ride to the restaurant from a super friendly Ritz Lodge driver who saved us from having to walk over in the brisk cold.  (Thanks, super friendly driver!)  When we arrived and walked into the door, I immediately felt warm.  Linger Longer’s interior is cozy-elegant and exceptionally welcoming.  It was pretty much like the warmest hug EVER.

linger longer bar

linger longer dining room

linger longer dining room

The newly rebuilt (it burned down a few years ago…) Linger Longer Steakhouse is located in the Oconee Golf Course Clubhouse adjacent to the Ritz Lodge.  Known for creating simple yet flavorful fare, Executive Chef David White has created a comforting contemporary menu of American steakhouse classics.  All seafood is overnighted directly from Boston, and meats are premium cut.  In addition, more than 20 herb varieties are grown in the resort’s on-site herb garden.  Linger Longer’s extensive wine list emphasizes reds from around the world, as well as varietals from Georgia’s own Persimmon Creek Vineyards, with more than 40 wines by the glass.  Visit Linger Longer’s menu here. 

We were impressed from the moment we walked in.  But, even more impressed with the exceptional service.  The food, oh the food!, simply sealed the deal!

It had been a long week for us both, so Kev + I started off the meal with a round of cocktails.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was the single most delicious Gimlet I’ve ever ordered!  I’m not going to tell you how many more I had over the course of the night.  I just won’t.

Shortly thereafter, we ordered up the Tuna Tartare to share.  Perfection.  Very similar to Steel’s famous Tuna Tower, Linger Longer’s tuna tartare was also best knocked over and mixed around on the plate.  The fresh tuna was accompanied by crushed avocado, soy-lime dressing and a crispy won ton.

We devoured it and quickly moved on to the Linger Longer Loaded Wedge Salad: bacon, tomato + maytag blue cheese.  It was also very tasty.

Entree time!  Kev and I both ordered 9 Ounce Filet Mignon Oscars.  The Oscar add-on tops off the filet with crab fondue, asparagus + bearnaise sauce.  I selected Potatoes Lyonnaise as my side.

Kev opted for the Garlic Steak Fries.  (Gotta love him!)  :)

Both of our filets were totally OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Kev said that his was “the best steak he’s had in Georgia,” and I kinda have to agree with him.  They were delicious!  And, the Oscar add-on is absolutely the way to go.

For dessert, we ordered the White Chocolate Souffle.  It was spectacular.  That’s all I can say.  I don’t care how full you are; you have got to order it! 

Everything was so fantastic – we really didn’t want the meal to end.  And, it didn’t!  Our server brought over Peach Cotton Candy on a Stick as a final special treat.  What a whimsical way to finish off such an exquisite dinner!  We really enjoyed that special touch.

We went into dinner knowing that the meal would be good – heck it’s the Ritz - but we had no idea HOW good.  Kev and I were floored – and we agreed that we would surely make the drive in from Atlanta to eat there again! 

Close to midnight, we had the friendly driver scoop us from the restaurant and bring us back to the hotel so that we could officially check in for the weekend.  When we finally made it into our room, we were greeted with a few thoughtful surprises from our beloved Gorms!  (Thanks, Gorms!)

By this point, we weren’t sure how the weekend could get much better than the incredible meal we just ate, but the truth is that dinner was merely the tip of the iceberg! 

More to come, more to come… 

xx, L

Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
Linger Longer Steakhouse
1 Lake Oconee Trail
Greensboro, Georgia  30642
706.467.7196
http://ow.ly/7osh7

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The Man Formerly Known As “Slick”

09/23/2011 in For Men, PSAs, We can BLOG! by Lindsay | 8 comments

Being LK or my significant other is not an easy task.  Not only do our men need to be game for packed social schedules – evenings filled with dinners, drinks, events + schmoozing; but also they absolutely have to be social media-friendly. 

Just ask Greg!  We’re a lot to keep up with…

Slick and I started dating shortly before LK and I created the Q+DD.  He loved the idea and fully supported us…

“hey! what a great idea!”

…until I made it clear to him that we would be using our names and posting an excessive amount of personal photos on it.

"wait - what??"

Slick was in a pickle.  He wanted to be part of the Q+DD, but he didn’t want his every move tracked and posted on the Internets.  Naturally, LK and I (excessive Facebook, Twitter + Foursquare users) had difficulty comprehending Slick’s privacy concerns, but we had to respect his wishes.

After much deliberation, we reached a compromise.  We would use pictures of him, but under the pseudonym: Slick.  He was down with it.

For the past two years + some change, Slick has been a regular on the blog. 

Enjoying fancy meals…

medieval times

Entertaining the locals…

chateau elan

Kissing babies…

Riding dinos…
 

fernbank museum of natural history

All the time under the clever disguise of “Slick”…
 

…so that he could support us while also feeling like he maintained some privacy + could keep it professional at work, etc. 

UNTIL NOW. 

Slick is tired of his alias.  He’s grown weary of people referring to him as “Slick” in public settings.  He’s now fully embraced his social media presence (+ trusts that we are not going to use our blog-writing-powers to humiliate him) and he is ready to let everyone know who he REALLY is!

"i'm ready, world!"

Slick, dear readers, is in fact KEVIN (Kev for short)!

KEVIN.  KEVIN.  KEVIN.  Finally!!

So, there you go.  Thanks for being such a great sport, Kev!

We heart you, babe.  :)

xx, L

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More on Burgers…

09/13/2011 in Midtown, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 3 comments

NYC’s 5 Napkin Burger recently opened in Nikimoto’s (R.I.P.) old spot on 10th and Piedmont in Midtown.  I must admit that my patience is once again wearing pretty thin with all of the fancy-pants burger joints opening all over town - enough already, I say – we have more than enough!  Just like cupcakes are no longer sexy to me ( well hellooooo french macaroons – you’re lookin’ good), my desire to eat a hamburger has pretty much been satifsied.  However, I tried 5 Napkin TWICE last week out of sheer convenience to my office and a little bit of curiosity about how it pulls off both burgers and sushi. 

I ordered wrong.

JenBen and I met at 5N for lunch and were seated almost immediately.  We had made a reservation, but the space seemed large enough to accommodate lunchtime drop-ins.  We inspected 5N’s menu, closely investigating the burger and sushi offerings, and we both ended up ordering the 5 Napkin Veggie Burger w/ Sweet Potato Fries.  5N’s VB comes with housemade 5N sauce, b&b pickles, lettuce, and a tomato on a multi-grain roll.

I will very honestly report that the veggie burger was not great.  It tasted and strongly smelled of beets and almost the entire burger fell apart as soon as I took a bite into it.  I was unsuccessful in trying to mash together the red veggie crumbles all over my plate, so I stabbed at the burger with my fork.  I did not enjoy it.  And, I’m pretty sure I used 40 napkins (not 5) since the burger disintegrated and there was food all over the table.

I did, however, really like the sweet potato fries!  They were the best of both fry-loving worlds: crispy AND soft at the same time.  Frankly, they were delicious enough to redeem the meal a bit.

While I was certainly underwhelmed by my first experience, I decided to give 5N one more chance.  I felt silly judging a restaurant specializing in meat burgers on their veggie burger alone.  So, Rosh and I lunched at 5N on Friday and decided to tackle its specialties.

It was a gorgeous day and we asked to sit on 5N’s patio.  Although I did not find the patio chairs to be particularly comfortable, I personally preferred sitting outside to dining inside of the restaurant.  10th and Piedmont is an excellent place to people watch and catch some rays.  :)

Rosh and I started off sharing the Southwestern Sushi Roll: spicy yellowtail, cilantro, chayote, scallion, soy wrapper, jalapeno + tobiko.  It was incredibly fresh and very, very tasty – perfect for sitting on a patio on a pretty day!  We were really pleased.

For our entree, we split the massive Burger for 2: 1 pound of custom ground beef, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, b&b pickles, and 5N sauce. 

Here it is in all its meaty glory:

I’m proud to report that we finished the entire burger!  Hooray for us!  Finishing the enormous burger led us into a fairly deep conversation about food displacement along the lines of “say – hypothetically, of course – that I just ate 1/2 a pound of beef…does that mean that I weigh 1/2 a pound more?”  Yikes…

We found room for 5N’s Sweet Potato Fries (which Rosh also loved) and a Tomato, Avocado, Cotija Salad. 

I am so happy that I went back to 5N to try their meat burger and sushi – what they are really all about!  I was surprisingly impressed with both.  Although, I do have to admit that I only used 3 napkins this time.

I will reiterate again that I’m over the fancy-pants burger craze, BUT I urge you to try 5 Napkin.  (Yes, I did that in the same sentence).  If you try 5N, make sure that you order the sushi and/or meat burgers – NOT the veggie.  And, let me know if you do, in fact, use 5 napkins.  I’m pretty literal over here, folks… 

xx, L

5 Napkin Burger
990 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.685.0777
www.5napkinburger.com/midtown-atlanta/

Five Napkin Burger on Urbanspoon

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Fancy Summer Snow Cones @ the Ritz Downtown

06/22/2011 in Cocktails, Downtown, Guilty Pleasures, Happy Hour, Hotels, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Odds are that you’ve already heard the shaved ice scoop about the fancy summer snow cones at the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta (Downtown) from Atlanta Magazine and Daily Candy, but the Q+DD would also like to jump on that train…

Every day from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Atlanta Grill or Lumen lobby bar at the Ritz Downtown, chef Brian Jones is offering boozy snow cone cocktails for $12!   These sweet summer treats are made with locally sourced fruit purees.  And, here’s what you can expect to see on the menu:

Watermelon with Lime + Anejo Tequila
Passion Fruit with Lemon + Bourbon
Blackberry with Honey + Moonshine  (yep, you read that right!)

Dang, Ritz-Carlton, you sure are sexy this summer!  I CAN’T WAIT to try these!!  :)

xx, L

Ritz-Carlton Atlanta (Downtown)
181 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta, GA  30303
404.659.0400
http://www.ritzcarlton.com

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Roses are Red + Reservations are Already Running Out!

01/24/2011 in Buckhead, Holidays, Reminders, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 3 comments

I really love V-Day.

i love...love!

As y’all may remember from last year, Valentine’s Day (sweetheart candy + ruby red roses) falls right into my top five favorite holidays list, alongside St. Patty’s Day (green beer + socially acceptable pinching), Halloween (hot costumes + candy…again), Thanksgiving (turduckens + unlimited football) and New Year’s Eve (champagne + horrendously overpriced parties). 

Call me brainwashed – whatever – but I’m totally buying what Hallmark is selling.  I love everything about this holiday!  Chalky conversation hearts, under-clothed babies with bows + arrows, oversized V-day cards, pristine red + pink roses…I’m pretty much down for it ALL.

Why am I already talking about V-Day when it’s still January??  Because…YOU NEED A RESERVATION.  NOW!  Slick + I tried to make ours last night at Chops + they only had 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. seatings.  We called in a favor to get the ripe 7:30 p.m. timeslot that we were hoping for, but MAN, restaurants must be filling up like crazy by now!  I don’t know about you, but a Monday night V-Day dinner @ 6:30 p.m./ 9:30 p.m. sounds like a solid no-go to me.  I guess it’s naive of me to say, but I didn’t realize that people made V-Day reservations so far in advance…

Sooooooo, make your reservation ASAP!  If you need a reliable restaurant recommendation, here are a few special 3-course prix fixe menus (can’t escape the prix fixe menu on V-Day – you just can’t) at some of my favorite Fifth Group standbys:

SOUTH CITY KITCHEN - MIDTOWN
$39.95 3-course prix fixe menu* http://southcitykitchen.com/midtown/child/menus/events.htm
Reservations at http://opentable.com/south-city-kitchen or 404.873.7358

LA TAVOLA
$49 3-course prix fixe menu* http://latavolatrattoria.com/child/menus/vd2011.htm
Reservations at http://opentable.com/la-tavola-trattoria or 404.873.5430

ECCO
$50 3-course prix fixe menu* http://ecco-atlanta.com/child/menus/events.htm
Reservations at http://opentable.com/ecco or 404.347.9555

*Prices are per person and do not include alcohol, tax or gratuity.

Don’t delay – make your V-Day dinner reservation TODAY!  (I’m like a walking infomercial…)

xx, L

Fifth Group Restaurants:  http://www.fifthgroup.com/

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The Ritz Carlton Holiday Experience.

12/10/2010 in Buckhead, Cocktails, Holidays, Hotels, Spa, Vendors, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 7 comments

My friend, Jessica Gorman, is flat out amazing.  She is a concierge at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead, and has worked for the hotel in various positions for over six years.  (They love her there.)  Her job has always sounded pretty amazing to me.  While the hours aren’t necessarily typical, the function she serves for the hotel + its guests is critical.  She’s a lady who can get. things. done.  Even her friends rely on her for it, as she’s very successfully planned + made sure that everything was perfect for several of their marriage proposals + bachelorette parties at various Ritz properties.

Jess regularly helps hotel guests decide where they want to go for dinner + make reservations, arrange for transportation, get their hands on theatre/ symphony/ various show tickets, plan a fun day in Atlanta, impress a significant other with thoughtful surprises, etc.  She’s like your fairy godmother, but clad in a crisp Ritz Carlton uniform.

To help me better understand what she does day-to-day, Jess invited me to join her for the Ritz’s Holiday Sunday Brunch + an afternoon at the new Ritz Carlton Spa, Buckhead.  (!!!) 

Don’t mind if I do…

I’ve been to the Ritz’s Lobby Lounge a few times for drinks, but I’ve never been to the hotel during the holidays.  It was like a Christmas explosion!  You felt warm + festive the minute you set foot inside.

Jess set up the menorah + lit/ blessed the candles with a few guests throughout each night of Hanukkah!

The hotel’s engineers created this impressive holiday train set display.

The pastry chef whipped up this precious gingerbread house, which is stationed next to hot apple cider beside the hotel’s registration desk.

After spending a significant amount of time admiring the hotel’s luxurious holiday decorations, we made our way over to The Cafe to start putting some of that holiday cheer into our stomachs.

As anticipated, the brunch spread was absolutely unbelievable!  Here’s a peek of a few of their over 50 brunch selections from traditional breakfast favorites to an array of seasonal desserts created by the hotel’s elite culinary team…

Everything looked + smelled DELICIOUS!  I could hardly fit it all on one plate…and I tried.  So, I went back for seconds.  Here’s my first plate.

And, my second.

During brunch, Jess went into detail about her responsibilities at the hotel, and how she frequently collaborates with folks in various departments at the Ritz to ensure that their guests have a truly incredible experience.  Meanwhile, The Cafe manager, Brian Willoughby, approached our table with a bubbling red martini filled with something very exciting-looking!

Jess had done some research + found out that my favorite alcoholic drink is an Aviation.  She informed Brian before our brunch, and he worked with the bartenders to whip up the Ritz Carlton’s very own version of my fancy martini + surprised me with it!  I was shocked!  Jess does stuff like this every day for guests, but it made me feel like a SUPERSTAR!

We stayed at brunch for quite a while, chatting away + finishing up our delicious meal.  On our way out of The Cafe, we walked through the Lobby Lounge, which was being set up for the hotel’s Holiday Afternoon Tea. 

It’s one of the Ritz’s most popular traditions.  Santa oversees the festivities, including musical entertainment + caroling by the Dickens Singers.  It looked lovely.

Then, we ran into HIM!  :)

He was a fantastic Santa!  I just love the ones w/ real beards.

Finally, it was spa time.  (My favorite time!)  We headed upstairs to the hotel’s new spa + were pleasantly greeted by our treatment specialists who presented each of us with a very cute bag of organic dark chocolate-covered almonds. 

They led us back to our respective treatment rooms where we were instructed to change into our robes + slippers and meet back up in a common area to relax + sip champagne.  (There was not a doubt in my mind that Jess had arranged for this…)

And, again…don’t mind if I do!

Off of the Spa’s extensive Holiday Spa Treatment list, I selected the Cinnamon Vanilla Scrub: Indulge the senses with holiday aromas of vanilla and cinnamon along with brown sugar and honey to exfoliate and hydrate the skin.  This experience leaves the skin incredibly silky and soft.  Ninety minute service includes a full body massage.

Jess opted for the Warm Vanilla Bean Massage: Take some time out of the busy holiday season to relax and unwind with a customized massage filled with delicate notes of vanilla.

Both of us were in HEAVEN.  The treatments were absolutely amazing!  It was very, very difficult to leave when they were over – so instead, we went back to the common area + sat around for another hour chatting + sipping champagne.  HEAVEN.

On the way out of the hotel, Jess walked me into the Gift Shop to show me what the hotel had to offer guests at a moment’s notice + I spotted my #1 favorite candle EVER – The Ritz’s Signature Pomegranate Citrus candle!

My first roommate in Atlanta had a few of these + used to burn them all the time.  It is truly an outstanding candle + I always talk about how great it is to anyone associated with the hotel.  However I didn’t get to oogle it for long, because Jess pulled me out of the Gift Shop to introduce me to two celebrities staying at the hotel…

These were the best-behaved dogs I’ve ever met!  Definitely Ritz Carlton-quality.  They were very popular, too, with a number of people getting in line for photos with them!  (They handled the paparazzi very well…)

Sadly, it was time to leave.  Our WONDERFUL day had come to a close. 

OH – Did I mention that Jess arranged for me to get picked up + dropped off in Midtown by the spectacular chauffeur, Mr. Gary Weaver?  Well, she did.

The license plate was my favorite…

RCMB #1 = Ritz Carlton Mercedes Benz #1  :)

As we got into the car, Jess presented me with a bag full of incredibly thoughtful gifts from the hotel + Spa – one of which was the pomegranate candle!  (This was just another example of the arrangements she makes for guests.)  I was so excited about the candle + have been burning it at home all week long!

It was such a spectacular day.  Thank you so much, Jess, for showing me the Ritz Carlton holiday experience!  You are an incredible concierge + friend!

If you are a Ritz kind-of-person, I definitely suggest checking out the Spa’s holiday treatment list + visiting the hotel for their Holiday Sunday Brunch or Afternoon Tea!  The hotel also offers a Children’s Nutcracker Tea, Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Brunch, Christmas Dinner, New Year’s Eve Dinner + New Year’s Day Brunch.  Reservations are required, so book early!

FINALLY, this is my favorite thing I heard about during my day @ the hotel…

Give your child a personal visit from Santa!  Overnight guests may surprise their child with an unexpected visit from Santa on selected evenings in December.  Santa will knock on the guestroom door at a pre-set time, spend a couple of enchanting minutes with the child + leave a treat-filled stocking.  Santa Tuck-ins are offered the evenings of December 11, 17 + 18 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  $50 per visit + includes a stocking.  (Jess, of course, makes these arrangements.)

This really is the life.  Made possible by your fabulous Ritz Carlton concierge, Jessica Gorman.

xx, L

The Ritz Carlton – Buckhead
Jessica Gorman, Concierge
3434 Peachtree Road, NE
Atlanta, GA  30326
404.237.2700
www.ritzcarlton.com

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And…I JOINED!

12/07/2010 in Dallas, Exercise, Health, Holidays, Maintenence, Midtown, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 7 comments

As I mentioned in my post-Thanksgiving post, I decided not to wait until New Year’s to make my resolution + start working out like a crazy woman until an eventual (+ predictable) burnout mid-February.  Instead, after gorging myself on turkey + other delicious T. Day treats, I made an appointment to check out Exhale Gym in the Loews Atlanta Hotel.

Here’s the Q+DD on Exhale:

In the heart of trendy and eclectic Midtown Atlanta, you will find respite in an urban oasis. Located on the “Midtown Mile” on the seventh floor of the Loews Atlanta Hotel, this 22,500 square foot spa features 15 therapy rooms; two generous Core Fusion and yoga studios; a chic nail bar and pedicure alcove overlooking Peachtree Street; a mind + body gym offering cardiovascular equipment and a full line of strength equipment by Lifefitness, treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, stationary bikes, Star Trac, Kinesis; a co-ed hammam; and a well-being boutique featuring yoga wear, skin care products, and giftables.  Exhale’s transformational offerings include body therapies, facials, acupuncture and healing modalities, Core Fusion, Core Cycling class with Core Fusion principles, and yoga classes.

Exhale is located in a number of major cities, but is new to Atlanta.  My Dallas girlfriends swear by Exhale’s signature Core Fusion classes, which combine the disciplines of core conditioning, pilates, the Lotte Berk Method, interval cardio training + yoga to produce long, lean muscles + an athletic body.  I’d heard about how fantastic the Core Fusion + yoga classes are at Exhale, but wasn’t sure how I could try them out unless I had time during a trip home to Dallas.  What a great gift to Atlanta to have Exhale finally here!

As I kept hearing more + more about Core Fusion, it really sounded like something I’d enjoy.  Heidi Klum + Cameron Diaz are members of Exhale in New York and L.A. + frequent Core Fusion classes.  Their incredibly-toned bodies are pretty hard to ignore…

So, I got in touch with Anne-Marie Berte, Manager of Guest Experience @ Exhale, and she signed me up for a Core Fusion Open class.  I talked Rosh into joining me.

Below are a few pictures of Exhale Atlanta.

And, these are good examples of what our class was like…

Look easy?  Think again…

Within the first THREE minutes of the class, I was dripping with sweat + looked over at Roshal with crazy eyes not sure about what I’d gotten us into…  I knew the class was going to be intense, but I had no idea what I was in for!  Unlike my experiences in yoga + pilates classes, I was really getting a work out in the Core Fusion class – a cardio workout, too.  From the minute the class started it was very fast paced.  The instructor was really good – stern, but also very nice.  And, she didn’t make you feel discouraged at all when she was walking around readjusting our positioning while we were doing certain movements.

Best of all, I felt like we were focused throughout the entire hour on the areas I always want to work the most – thighs, glutes, tricepts, etc.  I was shaking by the end of the class, but I felt amazing.  Afterwards, Anne-Marie gave us a tour of the rest of the gym, which sealed the deal for me.  The workout equipment – really everything – was top of the line + incredible.  This is hands down the nicest gym I’ve ever worked out in.

Over the next two days, my body felt like jelly.  It made me feel a little better, though, to find out that the Open class we attended was not the “beginner” class.  I probably needed the Basic class first, but I did enjoy the challenge + getting thrown right into Core Fusion.

There’s a variety of Core Fusion classes available at Exhale:  Basic, Open, Advanced, Core Fusion Cardio, Core Fusion Exhale, Core Fusion Sport, Core Fusion Thighs + Gluteals, Core Fusion Yoga + Core Cycling.  For more information on the classes click HERE.

So, I joined.  (Rosh did, too!)  I felt so great after the class + was really excited to find a workout option that combined so many of my favorites (yoga + pilates + core conditioning).  It’s going to be a long road for me – I was admittedly pretty pathetic in the Open class - but I welcome the challenge, and I can’t think of a better investment than my health + joining a gym I am motivated to go to multiple times a week.

It’s always more fun to workout when you have buddies joining you!  So, if any of this sounds good to you – contact Anne-Marie Berte (e-mail below) for information regarding a complimentary class, a $40 week of transformation + Exhale’s holiday specials.  And, don’t forget that Exhale is a spa, too! 

xx, L

Exhale Atlanta
Anne-Marie Berte, Manager of Guest Experience: amberte@exhalespa.com
1065 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.720.5000
http://www.exhalespa.com/Locations/GAtlanta/Default.aspx

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Post-Turkey + Pre-Resolution

11/29/2010 in Exercise, Florida, Health, Holidays, Vacation by Lindsay | 1 comment

Slick + I had a great 80 degrees Thanksgiving in JAX!  (Hope you all had a good one, too!)

We didn’t win the annual Thanksgiving cookie competition, but we came close w/ our pumpkin cake balls.

We ate a ton over the past week.  A ton.  So, I’ve started to really consider my waistline.  And, I think I am going to need a workout routine change.

Over the next month, I am set to try out these two local gyms:

Urban Body Studios - For their yoga + pilates classes.  And, maybe even to rub elbows w/ The Vampire Diaries cast who has been reported to workout there…
730 Ponce de Leon Place
Atlanta, GA  30306
404.201.7994
http://urbanbodyfitness.com/

Exhale Atlanta - For their Core Fusion classes.  My Dallas girlfriends swear by it.
1065 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.720.5000
http://www.exhalespa.com/Locations/GAtlanta/Default.aspx

I’ll report back – esp. if I meet Ian Somerhalder during a yoga class @ Urban Body!  New Year’s resolutions never stick, so might as well start early…

xx, L

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Don’t Miss Cirque’s OVO!

11/16/2010 in Events, Midtown, PSAs, Theatre, Westside, What we're Doing, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | No comments

Le Grand Chapiteau (the big top) is back in town!

Atlantic Station

Cirque du Soleil has returned to Atlanta through December 19th with its spectacular (I appreciate any opportunity to use that word) new show: OVO! 

The Q+DD on Cirque’s OVO:

OVO is a head-long rush into a colourful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement.  The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.  It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye.

OVO is overflowing with contrasts.  The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic.  And, as the sun rises on a bright new day the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.

Ticket Info Here:  ATLANTA LOVES CIRQUE!

Slick + I went to see Cirque in Atlanta on one of our very first dates almost two years ago, and it was a so much fun!  A very special date to remember!  (Ever since I saw “O” in Vegas, I’ve been a total sucker for Cirque.)  :)

AND…I think it would be super amazing to surprise your special someone with tickets!  Invite him/her to dinner @ Nan on Spring + 17th or Geisha House in Atlantic Station + then head on over to the show.  SURPRISE!  Now that’s a date that’s sure to impress!  Trust.

Welcome back, Cirque.  We’re thrilled to have you in the A!

xx, L

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