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2012 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (2/8 – 2/29)

01/30/2012 in Events, Festivals, PSAs, What we're Watching by Lindsay | No comments

Get your tickets, folks, it’s almost time for the 12th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF)!

The AJFF is a 22-day cinematic exploration of Jewish life, culture, and history.  Seeking to use the power of film to both entertain and educate, AJFF challenges conventional perspectives on complex and challenging issues facing both the Jewish and global communities.

Founded in 2000, AJFF ranks as the largest film festival in Atlanta, and second largest Jewish film festival in the United States, having attracted an audience of more than 26,000 moviegoers in 2011.  This year, the festival will feature an international collection of 70 narrative and documentary films that explore the Jewish experience.  Screenings are supplemented by guest appearances with filmmakers, actors, authors, academics, and other expert speakers.

The festival runs from Wednesday, February 8 – Wednesday, February 29.

This year will be my first to attend the AJFF, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the movies I selected!  I plan to see…

RABIES  (Rabies is playing during the Young Professionals Night at Strip and Regal Atlantic Station.)

Hot off the international film festival circuit, Rabies is the ultimate popcorn flick—a sexy survivalist thriller, a campy, clever whodunit, a devilishly fun heart stopper, and the first horror movie from Israel.  Subverting expectations at every turn, the action opens in a remote forest as a guilt-ridden brother and sister flee home only to become ensnared in the trap of a psychopathic serial killer.  Rescue efforts soon involve a group of unsuspecting tennis players, a grizzled park ranger and his dog, and a pair of rogue cops.  An impressive cast of Israel’s top talent is gradually drawn into a whirlwind of dark secrets, mix-ups and bloody mayhem.  Describing Rabies as a twisted parable on fear and rage in Israeli society, first-time directors Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado shot this slick homage to American B-movies in just 19 days on a shoestring budget.

rabies

THE APPLE PUSHERS

The Apple Pushers is the uplifting story of immigrant street cart vendors and an urban initiative to bring nutritional food to those who need it most.  Attempting to address a lack of access to fresh and affordable produce, New York City launched an experiment in which “Green Carts” bearing fruits and vegetables would be deployed to “food deserts,” low-income neighborhoods where obesity rates are skyrocketing.  In the face of entrenched political opposition, immigrant small business owners (including a Russian Jew who fled anti-Semitism) align with health advocates to take on this tough task with dignity and sacrifice, overcoming extraordinary challenges to carve out an economic niche.  Narrated by Oscar nominee Edward Norton, The Apple Pushers chronicles public-private efforts to mitigate a national health crisis through the intersection of entrepreneurship and the American Dream.

the apple pushers

Also, don’t forget about the special 25th anniversary screening of Dirty Dancing on Sunday, February 12!  :)

Click here for a complete list of movies: 2012 AJFF Roll Call!

Reserve tickets here: So many AJFF movies…so little time!

So, grab some popcorn + get ready for the 2012 AJFF!  It’s going to be the greatest one yet! 

xx, L

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Sofia Blanc de Blancs Canned Sparkling Wine!

01/13/2012 in Cocktails, Guilty Pleasures, Random Musings, Where we're Eating by Lindsay | 2 comments

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

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What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

12/30/2011 in Holidays, What we're Listening To by Lindsay | 2 comments

I’m obsessed with this.  With both of them.  With her tiara.  With the song.  With it all. 

Totally made my morning.

Enjoy + happy, happy New Year!  :)

xx, L

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Spend NYE with Yacht Rock Revue!

12/29/2011 in Entertaining, Events, Holidays, Midtown, Parties, Random Musings, Vacation, We can BLOG!, What we're Doing by Lindsay | No comments

Each year, Kev and I spend New Years Eve with these fine-lookin’ folks:

Two years ago, we celebrated in Orlando at Disney for my very first visit.

Last year, we trekked out to Kansas City to watch the ball drop.  An excellent time was had.

THIS year, Kev + I are the hosts and we’re ringing in the New Year in Atlanta!  (Expectations are high.)  Sooooo, we’ve decided to celebrate with Yacht Rock at Park Tavern!

If you’ve ever seen Yacht Rock perform, you KNOW that we’re in for a great time!

And, Park Tavern is an awesome place to celebrate any holiday.  PT always throws a solid party…

NYE with Yacht Rock is an all-inclusive event.  Drinks and food are covered all night and into the wee hours of the morning.  There will be live music with Yacht Rock Revue & Atlanta’s best DJ spinning in the Piedmont Room overlooking the Midtown skyline.

Highlights include:
- Open bar: premium liquor, beer, wine and champagne
- Live music + NYE countdown with Yacht Rock Revue
- Gourmet food including hors d’ouvres, carving station, NYE specialties along with plenty of sides + salads to keep your energy up and dancing into the New Year.
- Sushi display
- Toast & get toasty with smores for dessert
- Midnight breakfast buffet including all your favorites + fresh Krispy Kreme donuts
- Photo booth
- NYE favors
- Champagne toast at midnight
- Coat check

This party is where it’s at on Saturday, so get your tickets NOW: NYE w/ Yacht Rock Revue!

***BONUS***  LOOK FOR ME AT PARK TAVERN totally rockin’ out to Yacht Rock…

…and I will give a fist pump + one of these super rad Q+DD koozies to the first three people who wish me a “HAPPY QUICK + DIRTY DIRTY NEW YEAR!”

Your drinks have never looked so fashionable…  I can’t think of a better way to toast 2012!

Q+DD koozies: so hot right now.

See y’all at Park Tavern!  Wishing a fun NYE to all!  :)

xx, L

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Parties and Promo Codes!

12/22/2011 in Deals + Steals, Hotels, Parties by Lauren | No comments

Happy holidays everyone!  ‘Tis the season for overindulging and what better way to celebrate the season than with these 2 fabulous upcoming parties?  Better yet – a hookup for discounted tix!

1. Bagel Bash 2011

 

Kosher Chameleon will continue the time-honored tradition of gathering single people who, on the night before Christmas, aren’t caroling, drinking hot wassal or um… cooking a ham… for a little dancing, a little schmoozing, and of course, some bagels. 

Also featuring DJ Jazzy “Bagelsteingoldbaumschwartzberg” and lots of cash bars.

A message from your grandma: “Go!  What else are you doing?  G-d forbid you might meet someone!  Oy gavalt!”

Use promo code KraselskyBagel for $5 off your ticket!  Click HERE to get yours now.

2.  Spiral New Years’ Eve: The Kings Ball

 

Ring in 2012 Spiral style at the Kings Ball!  Spiral pays homage to the Big Easy at it’s annual new year’s party this year at Westin Atlanta North in Perimeter  (OTP?  No big D!) featuring:

  • 6 different party areas including the Grand Ballroom
  • 5.5 hours of OPEN BAR (and plenty of ‘em to avoid lines!)
  • Gourmet catered buffet with carving stations, pasta, mini Spanish Wraps, a “fancy shmancy” baked potato bar, veggies and desserts
  • Dance the night away with Cover Band MOBY DICK (80’s and 90’s dance music)  and then DJ Jazzy J and DJ Wats spinning a mix of 80’s, 90’s, Top 40, Hip Hop, Classic Rock till 2:30AM
  • Laser Light Show  (oh yuesss?!)
  • Midnight champagne toast
  • Krispy Kreme donuts after midnight
  • Free coat check and parking and….
  • $99 Spiral hotel room rate.  No drinking and driving, kids!

Alllllll that AND $20 off your ticket with promo code LKfest.  What more could you ask for?  Click HERE to get yours now.

Happy happy, darlings!

xx, L

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HOORAY for Hanukkah!

12/20/2011 in Holidays, Random Musings, What we're Doing by Lindsay | No comments

Happy Hanukkah to all of our dear Hanukkah-celebrating peeps!

To officially recognize the Festival of Lights, we’d like for you to please enjoy a brief someecard EXTRAVAGANZA:

AND, my personal favorite:

It’s time to light some candles, spin some dreidels, and eat some latkes, folks!  Most of all, have a very ”happy, happy, happy, happy H-A-N-U-K-K-A-H!”  :)

(Thank you, Adam Sandler, for giving us a cool song.  How about another?!)

xx, L

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Peachtree Dunwoody + Winall Down. See It!

12/13/2011 in Buckhead, Holidays, PSAs, What we're Doing by Lindsay | 2 comments

If you know, you know. 

If you DON’T know, you might get in a car wreck (like I almost did on Sunday night heading home from Kev’s work holiday party)…

The beautiful Buckhead house on the corner of Peachtree Dunwoody + Winall Down has decked out their front lawn with Christmas inflatables.  I’m talking maybe 100 or so if I had to guess.  There isn’t ANY walking room!  It’s hardcore.

The little Jewish girl in me who wasn’t allowed to have Christmas lights or inflatables in my yard growing up wanted to jump out of my moving vehicle and hug each + every one of these colorful, holiday blow ups!  (My brain pretty much exploded…) 

Instead of completely actin’ a fool in my holiday party-appropriate dress + heels, we U-turned and snapped as many photos as we could.  And, we weren’t the only ones. 

We found this, too!  :)

"dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, i made it out of clay..."

Y’all need to see this display at night.  It’s instant holiday cheer.  The kid in you will LOVE it!

xx, L

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Holidays on Peachtree

12/02/2011 in Events, Gifts, Holidays, Midtown, Museums, PSAs, Theatre, Vendors, What we're Doing, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | No comments

Something exciting was going down outside my office last night when I was walking out to my car to head home.  CLEARLY, I did not get the memo…

The holidays are here!  For the entire month of December, you can find the perfect gifts and enjoy all the holiday experiences that Midtown has to offer! 

The kick-off reception was last night (and it looked like fun!), but there’s more! 

12/2 + 12/3: Local Gifts + Treats Pop Up Shop at MidCity Lofts (West Peachtree at 6th St. between Tech Square + Renaissance Hotel).  Vendors include: Olive, Pieces of Me, Lisa Jill Jewelry, Kristi Hyde, and JuneBug.  To compliment your shopping experience, enjoy treats from Sinless Cocktails + Rockin’ Cupcakes!

All Month Long: Midtown’s holiday festivities continue! 
- Ice skate in Piedmont Park at Park Tavern
- Visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s “Garden Lights - Holiday Nights” installation
- Visit the ”Picasso to Warhol” exhibition at the High Museum of Art
- See “A Christmas Carol” at the Alliance Theatre
- Get tickets for “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” at the Fox Theatre
- Revisit the story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at the Center for Puppetry Arts
- Hear “Handel’s Messiah” at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

More info below…

December may be 31 days long, but you’ve got A LOT to do.  It’s going to fly by! 

Happy Holidays from the Q+DD!

xx, L

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Visit New York Butcher Shoppe!

12/01/2011 in Holidays, Midtown, What we're Cooking, Where we're Eating, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | No comments

An exciting new business recently opened in Midtown next door to my second home (Mint Salon).  It’s the New York Butcher Shoppe. 

I had seen it under-construction for a while, but didn’t realize that it opened until recently when Kev came home from a haircut at Mint.  He burst into our condo and raved about New York Butcher Shoppe for the following 20 minutes.  He was talking rapidly, but I caught that he walked into NYBS after his haircut and didn’t want to leave because it “smelled UNBELIEVEABLE in there.”  He was particularly impressed with their assortment of prepared dinners; “all you have to do is pop them in the oven, Linds!”  He made me promise that we could give them “a ton” of business.  (This coming from the guy who would eat a Lean Cuisine every night if I didn’t intervene.)  “Sure – absolutely we will,” I said.  Eh, it was fun seeing him so excited about a new business + the place sounded great.  So welcome, NYBS, to the neighborhood!  I hear that we’ll be signing over our paychecks to you very soon…  :)

Have you visited NYBS yet??

Here’s the Q+DD on New York Butcher Shoppe:

NYBS is a unique shopping experience for customers seeking top-quality products and exceptional customer service at great prices.  We’re a high quality market with an emphasis on personal customer care.  The prices are as good or better than supermarket prices, but at the New York Butcher Shoppe, customers enjoy personal service and expert advice on cooking, grilling and meal planning.

From certified Angus beef steaks and incredibly prepared chicken cordon bleu, to fresh seasonal vegetables, pastas, sauces, wines and more, NYBS is the perfect place to experience cooking bliss.  We are way more than just a butcher shop.  We take pride in the quality of what we serve and the care in how we serve it.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you walk in the door at the selection of products we have.

NYBS

The D’Elia family established the New York Butcher Shoppe in 1999 on Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.  Bill D’Elia is originally from Brooklyn, NY where he began learning the butcher trade at age eleven.  His career has been in the grocery industry since 1970, primarily in butcher and meat areas.  The store in Mount Pleasant quickly grew in popularity, and the concept began franchising in October of 2003.

The NYBS concept is founded on the principles of outstanding customer service and the highest quality product, in a clean and inviting atmosphere.  Our line of hand cut steaks using Premium Angus Beef, prepared entrées, side dishes, salads and dips are always fresh and fill a unique shopping niche for our customers.  We also offer fresh sausages, frozen pastas, vegetables, hard-to-find grocery items, and a top selection of fine wines and cheeses.

a peek inside NYBS

NYBS sounds AWESOME – it’s very clear why Kev is such a big fan!  I can’t wait to visit ASAP.  I bet they have a number of great items we could add to our holiday celebrations. 

In the meantime, here’s some more info about NYBS:

Take a NYBS store tour: Where’s the beef??
Check out their menu: What’s cooking, good lookin’?!
Oooh, they cater, too: NYSB on the move!

Welcome, welcome again!  I’m looking forward to meeting you soon, NYBS.  (I have a feeling that we’ll be your most enthusiastic customers…)

xx, L

New York Butcher Shoppe
985-C Monroe Drive
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.343.3614
www.nybutcher.com

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CYBER MONDAY!

11/28/2011 in Deals + Steals, Holidays, Where we're Shopping by Lindsay | No comments

Sooooooo, are y’all snagging some deals today or WHAT?? 

It’s like the whole Internet is on sale.

I ran out during lunch for SUPER official business (i.e. to work on my sequin-hot mess of a New Years Eve outfit) + my mission is now accomplished!  Nothing I bought was on sale, unfortunately, but sequins are E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E.!  It’s definitely my favorite time of the year.

hey hey, new years eve: prepare yourself...

Happy Cyber Monday, Internet shoppers!

xx, L

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Thanksgiving Cran-Apple Relish {Recipe}

11/23/2011 in Holidays, What we're Cooking by Lauren | No comments

Once again, I participated in an office Thanksgiving Pot Luck with DK’s Cran-Apple relish… and once again it was a huge hit.

If you’re scrambling to figure out a dish to bring to Turkey Day tomorrow… or just want an amazing side for your personal Thanksgiving leftovers… I’d suggest making this bad boy.  It’s so easy and delish and it’s a perfect leftover - the flavors continue to synergize and it just becomes more amazing!

Check it:

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 (1lb) bag fresh cranberries
  • 1 orange, unpeeled
  • 5-6 red apples, unpeeled – DK instructs to use only FIRM apples – she likes Fuji. Per DK: “If you use mushy apples, your relish will be mushy. NO BAG APPLES!”
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans (feel free to use more)

Here’s what you do:

  • Wash cranberries and drain
  • Quarter and seed orange and apples.
  • Grind cranberries, orange and apples coarsely in food processor. Per DK: “You want small pieces but not really small pieces. Grind SEPARATELY – you may have to do apples in two batches.” (I did)
  • Add sugar pineapple and pecans.
  • Mix well and refrigerate overnight.

(Yield – 2 quarts)

Viola!

I think the key is really to let it sit 24 hours if you can, or at least overnight for best results.

I hope you enjoy!  Have a GREAT Thanksgiving, everyone!

xx, L

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Chastain Park Arts Festival (11/5 – 11/6)

11/11/2011 in Buckhead, Events, Festivals, What we're Doing by Lindsay | No comments

Looking for something to do this weekend??  We’ve got you covered…

The Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces will host its third annual Chastain Park Arts Festival in Buckhead on November 5-6, 2011.  Over 180 participating artists and artisans will display their works during this two day event. 

Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, a children’s area, and local food and beverage concessions including several “gourmet” food trucks.  Local acoustic musicians will enliven the atmosphere.  Best of all, it’s entirely free to attend!  

The Chastain Park Arts Festival will benefit Livable Buckhead, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining greenspace and a sustainable community in Buckhead, as well as a scholarship fund for local artists administered by the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces.

Here’s the Q+DD on the Chastain Park Arts Festival:
Location: In Chastain Park near the Chastain Park Amphitheater, the Horse Barn, and the Golf Course.
Times: Sat., November 5 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. + Sun., November 6 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Music: Acoustic music from local musicians.
Admission: FREE!
More Info: I seriously heart a fall festival!

Have fun, festival-goers!  :)

xx, L

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